Episodes
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At last, Friend of the Show John Gholson returns! He’s had a busy year and we’re stoked to have him on for the first time in season three. Please enjoy catching up with him, and we also try some new things by interviewing some…interesting people!
00:00 Introduction, snake murder
08:55 Catching up with John
43:37 Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, Monster Hunter Wilds, Beyond Galaxyland
59:59 Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter Remake
01:12:34 EXCLUSIVE: Interview with Sammy Kesselrun of Spoonshank Games
01:33:09 Julian’s Demo Dumpster (Duskfade, ReStory: Chill Electronics Repairs, Silver Pines, Lady Death: Demonicron, Desktop Explorer, Hard Edge: Warzone)
01:56:18 Hades (update)
02:13:32 EXCLUSIVE: Interview with Karl Koreander of K. Koreander’s Antique Book Store
02:21:56 Forbidden Solitaire (Justin’s thoughts)
02:30:51 Justin’s movie round-up (The G, Don’t Breathe, Hungry)
02:37:47 Obsession (light spoilers)
Listen to John on the Digital Noise podcast! https://open.spotify.com/show/5opsKcZqCzh4qv0nPDfnon
Also listen to John on Junkfood Cinema! https://junkfoodcinema.com/supergirl-1984-with-john-gholson/
Check out The Hip Pocket, and look forward to an upcoming episode with John! https://open.spotify.com/show/3THI6JD4MVojIeZjBbZM2c
Theme song and interstitial music by Megan McDuffee: https://meganmcduffee.com
Logo and artwork by John Gholson
Announcer: John Gholson
Join our Discord, learn about how you can support the show, and more: https://linktr.ee/TheStageSelect
Email: [email protected]
Copyright 2024-2026 Space Monkey Mafia Productions
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In the aftermath of so much video game news it’s time for us to catch up on stuff we’ve been doing for the past couple of weeks. Justin’s got way too few games and Julian has way too many. Then Julian has way too few movies and Justin has way too many. Balance in all things.
00:00 Introduction, corrections from last week’s show
24:45 An update on Julian’s health (feel free to skip to the next timestamp)
34:20 Falling off of 007 First Light
58:32 House of Ashes, The Adventure of Elliot
01:10:07 Marvel Magic: The Gathering, UFC 6
01:37:50 Legacy of Kain: Ascension, Romeo is a Dead Man
01:45:33 VA-11 HALL-A, Hades, Gitaroo Man
02:02:53 Forbidden Solitaire
02:14:41 Justin’s movie round-up (The Smashing Machine, The Bride, Hokum, Masters of the Universe, Over Your Dead Body, Eenie Meanie, Wrecking Crew, Everything Everywhere All at Once)
02:59:17 Obsession
03:06:59 CQC (Comments, Questions, Concerns)
Theme song and interstitial music by Megan McDuffee: https://meganmcduffee.com
Logo and artwork by John Gholson
Announcer: John Gholson
Join our Discord, learn about how you can support the show, and more: https://linktr.ee/TheStageSelect
Email: [email protected]
Copyright 2024-2026 Space Monkey Mafia Productions
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Missing episodes?
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Hi there, folks! Keigh Geoffley here for another exciting edition of the E Summer Game Awards Fest 3! We have so many incredible games to show you, developer interviews, and even the reveal of a new console! Brought to you with the power of AI! Don’t fight it; it’s inevitable!
Ahem. Julian here. If you’ve listened to the show for a while you know the drill: we talk about the “not E3” news packaged by a spoof of all things “not E3”. If you’re new here, buckle the hell up, because this is the craziest episode we’ve ever done!
00:00 Introduction
02:58 Summer Game Fest Opening Night Live
01:02:13 Xbox Showcase
02:15:59 Nintendo Direct
03:02:49 Sweet Tea Games Direct
03:16:39 Wishlist round-up, wrapping up
Theme song and interstitial music by Megan McDuffee: https://meganmcduffee.com
Logo and artwork by John Gholson
Announcer: John Gholson
Join our Discord, learn about how you can support the show, and more: https://linktr.ee/TheStageSelect
Email: [email protected]
Copyright 2024-2026 Space Monkey Mafia Productions
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It’s the calm before the storm. Sony has had their State of Play, which we cover, but that’s just the appetizer for next week. That’s right friends, Keigh Geoffley returns to host the E Summer Game Awards Fest 3 for 2026!
00:00 Billowing fat plumes, announcements
09:38 Sony State of Play 2026
01:12:21 007 First Light final thoughts
01:43:39 Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter Remake final thoughts
02:03:41 Justin’s movie round-up (Unhinged, Nanny Cam, The Hunt, The Barbie Movie)
02:20:55 Making movies with friends, Backrooms, Masters of the Universe 2026
03:08:19 CQC (Comments, Questions, Concerns)
Theme song and interstitial music by Megan McDuffee: https://meganmcduffee.com
Logo and artwork by John Gholson
Announcer: John Gholson
Join our Discord, learn about how you can support the show, and more: https://linktr.ee/TheStageSelect
Email: [email protected]
Copyright 2024-2026 Space Monkey Mafia Productions
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NOT A HOAX! NOT A DREAM! This week Justin played not one, but two video games! TWO! We’re so back, fam!
00:00 Justin got a leaf blower, tough
15:20 Announcements
28:00 “AI lighting”
33:27 007 First Light
01:13:36 A mini rant about Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter, the future of Dragon Quest (and Square Enix)
01:29:58 Directive 8020
01:53:47 Julian’s movie round-up (I Love Boosters, Passenger, The Mandalorian and Grogu)
02:19:40 Justin’s movie round-up (Mortal Kombat II, Anaconda, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, Jumanji: The Next Level)
02:43:23 CQC (Comments, Questions, Concerns)
Listen to Julian talk about Onimusha Tactics on Games My Mom Found: https://gamesmymomfoundpodcast.podbean.com/
Theme song and interstitial music by Megan McDuffee: https://meganmcduffee.com
Logo and artwork by John Gholson
Announcer: John Gholson
Join our Discord, learn about how you can support the show, and more: https://linktr.ee/TheStageSelect
Email: [email protected]
Copyright 2024-2026 Space Monkey Mafia Productions
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It was almost a super short episode, but Justin always has movies to talk about these days, and we tackle a bunch of your comments and questions this week!
00:00 The sticker saga continues, I need ten thousand dollars, text etiquette
10:42 Saying goodbye to The Late Show With Stephen Colbert
14:52 Is Justin going to be a cigar guy?
24:53 The games Justin has not played, Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter
01:09:02 Justin’s movie round-up (Greenland 1 and 2, The Watchers, Marty Supreme, The Heretic)
01:45:46 CQC (Comments, Questions, Concerns)
Theme song and interstitial music by Megan McDuffee: https://meganmcduffee.com
Logo and artwork by John Gholson
Announcer: John Gholson
Join our Discord, learn about how you can support the show, and more: https://linktr.ee/TheStageSelect
Email: [email protected]
Copyright 2024-2026 Space Monkey Mafia Productions
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It’s a jam-packed episode of The Stage Select this week, as Julian is sadly once again the odd man out when it comes to gaming opinion, Justin is a menace with stickers, and we both saw a LOT of movies. Enjoy!
00:00 World Cup man, ballmaxxing
12:41 Final thoughts on Vampire Crawlers
21:31 Mixtape
01:14:39 Vampire: The Masquerade Bloodlines 2: Loose Cannon
01:25:45 Where the Heart Is Season 1, The Genesis Order
01:44:57 Julian’s day at the movies (Mortal Kombat II, The Sheep Detectives, Michael)
02:23:22 Justin’s movie round-up (Mortal Kombat 2021, The Lord of the Flies, The Gift 2015, Faces of Death, Exit 8)
03:07:07 Julian’s movie round-up (I Like Movies, Ghost Killer, The Wrecking Crew)
Theme song and interstitial music by Megan McDuffee: https://meganmcduffee.com
Logo and artwork by John Gholson
Announcer: John Gholson
Join our Discord, learn about how you can support the show, and more: https://linktr.ee/TheStageSelect
Email: [email protected]
Copyright 2024-2026 Space Monkey Mafia Productions
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It’s a milestone! 100 episodes! Well, more like 110ish if you count game of the year and specials. And, okay, more like 160ish if you’re a Patron. But hey, it’s a milestone! Addie and Sixty join us for some good old shenanigans and gaming talk. Here’s to 100 more!
00:00 Burger without a bun, A perfectly normal show
15:52 Getting to know Sixty X Celph
36:31 5 Questions for Sixty
48:17 123 hours in Vampire Survivors, Vampire Crawlers
01:18:23 Revisiting the Gears of War series
01:28:31 Addie’s game round-up (Clover Pit, Raccoin, Silent Hill 2 remake, a deep-dive on Expedition 33)
02:09:33 The Stairwell, Final Sentence, Kingdom of Night
02:18:04 Movie round-up (Hokum, Transiberian, The Drama, Scream 7, Heart Eyes)
Theme song and interstitial music by Megan McDuffee: https://meganmcduffee.com
Logo and artwork by John Gholson
Announcer: John Gholson
Join our Discord, learn about how you can support the show, and more: https://linktr.ee/TheStageSelect
Email: [email protected]
Copyright 2024-2026 Space Monkey Mafia Productions
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Hey, we had quite a bit to talk about this week! Or at least the runtime would indicate that. Anyway, episode 100 is next. Be excite!
00:00 Worst concert sets, “The MOTHER”
09:00 Quick announcements
12:57 Final thoughts on Pragmata (no spoilers)
29:09 Vampire Crawlers: Justin’s first thoughts and Julian’s later game thoughts
50:54 First thoughts on Saros
01:04:29 Will We Cringe?
01:26:12 Movie round-up (Lee Cronin’s The Mummy, the Resident Evil trailer, Dark Game, 2:22, The Box, Undertone, They Will Kill You, Mortal Kombat 2021)
02:30:58 CQC (Comments, Questions, Concerns)
Theme song and interstitial music by Megan McDuffee: https://meganmcduffee.com
Logo and artwork by John Gholson
Announcer: John Gholson
Join our Discord, learn about how you can support the show, and more: https://linktr.ee/TheStageSelect
Email: [email protected]
Copyright 2024-2026 Space Monkey Mafia Productions
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Shortest episode of The Stage Select ever? Probably!
00:00 Upcoming game releases, being vague
11:48 Brief Pragmata update, Vampire Crawlers
28:49 The Genesis Order
36:59 Justin Hamm: family mann
049:06 Justin’s movie round-up (Novocaine, Deep Cover, Roleplay, Manodrome)
01:09:53 CQC (Comments, Questions, Concerns)
Theme song and interstitial music by Megan McDuffee: https://meganmcduffee.com
Logo and artwork by John Gholson
Announcer: John Gholson
Join our Discord, learn about how you can support the show, and more: https://linktr.ee/TheStageSelect
Email: [email protected]
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We’ve got musings on video game difficulty, first thoughts on Pragmata and that Street Fighter movie trailer, and more this week. Also, a very important announcement that may affect the future of The Stage Select. We watched so many movies that start with THE (IYKYK)!
00:00 Scott Steiner, flip phones
14:08 Important announcement
24:28 Bloodborne and the perception of “hard”
42:38 Backloggd, Street Fighter movie trailer
59:01 Ghost Hunting Journal
01:08:37 Pragmata first thoughts, Treasure of Nadia
01:33:19 Movie round-up (Mercy, The Drama, Totally Killer, Civil War, The Road, The Game, The Loft)
Theme song and interstitial music by Megan McDuffee: https://meganmcduffee.com
Logo and artwork by John Gholson
Announcer: John Gholson
Join our Discord, learn about how you can support the show, and more: https://linktr.ee/TheStageSelect
Email: [email protected]
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Hi, I am once again apologizing for us not having much to talk about, and yet the show continues to be long. Sorry. Or you’re welcome. The motto of 2026?
00:00 Introduction
05:05 Crimson Desert (Justin’s first impressions)
48:36 Becoming Wolverine in Elden Ring
01:03:13 Bloodborne
01:15:05 Final thoughts on Life is Strange: Reunion (SPOILERS!)
01:30:54 Julian vs the American Healthcare System part 2
01:45:15 Break, Will We Cringe?
01:52:50 Justin’s movie round-up (Dream Scenario, The Good Neighbor, Totally Killer)
02:13:58 CQC (Comments, Questions, Concerns)
Theme song and interstitial music by Megan McDuffee: https://meganmcduffee.com
Logo and artwork by John Gholson
Announcer: John Gholson
Join our Discord, learn about how you can support the show, and more: https://linktr.ee/TheStageSelect
Email: [email protected]
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At some point we’ll have a lot of stuff to talk about, but that time is not now. But somehow the show is still over two hours? Make it make sense.
00:00 Introduction, some show stats
26:21 Justin becoming a family man
40:56 Legacy of Kain: Ascendance
57:28 Life is Strange: Reunion
01:42:28 Julian’s movie round-up (They Will Kill You, Ready or Not 2, Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice, Super Mario Galaxy)
02:07:36 Pretty Lethal, Abigail
Listen to Julian talk about Street Fighter III on Games My Mom Found: https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-txixb-1a85b4b
Theme song and interstitial music by Megan McDuffee: https://meganmcduffee.com
Logo and artwork by John Gholson
Announcer: John Gholson
Join our Discord, learn about how you can support the show, and more: https://linktr.ee/TheStageSelect
Email: [email protected]
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It’s another slow week around The Stage Select auditorium, but hopefully still a good time for y’all. The main attraction is some deeper thoughts about the very divisive Crimson Desert, and various tangents. 2026 is weird so far!
00:00 Introduction, the dead squirrel saga
11:32 Thoughts on the story mode in WWE 2K26
20:33 A deeper look at Crimson Desert
59:57 Julian vs the American healthcare system, securing the future of The Stage Select
01:26:39 The Marvel Maximum Collection, Justin’s move round-up (Neon Demon, Sweetness, Sew Torn, Ready or Not 2: Here I Come, Send Help)
02:00:11 CQC (Comments, Questions, Concerns)
Theme song and interstitial music by Megan McDuffee: https://meganmcduffee.com
Logo and artwork by John Gholson
Announcer: John Gholson
Join our Discord, learn about how you can support the show, and more: https://linktr.ee/TheStageSelect
Email: [email protected]
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As the title implies, we got nothin’ this week. How did that turn into over 2 hours of a show? I have no idea. But we have some odds and ends, first impressions of Crimson Desert, and Richard Harden is finally back on the beat!
00:00 Introduction
07:10 We really got nothin’
16:04 Julian grasping for something to play, Romeo is a Dead Man
34:26 Crimson Desert, other odds and ends
01:36:56 Justin’s movie round-up (I Saw the TV Glow, Mother!, Black Bag, Heel, The Tax Collector)
02:04:31 Julian’s movie round-up (Hoppers, Baby Assassins 2 and 3)
Theme song and interstitial music by Megan McDuffee: https://meganmcduffee.com
Logo and artwork by John Gholson
Announcer: John Gholson
Join our Discord, learn about how you can support the show, and more: https://linktr.ee/TheStageSelect
Email: [email protected]
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Sometimes The Stage Select is a really weird place with really weird things that happen. And other times it’s pretty chill and normal and we just talk about stuff for a while. This is one of those episodes, enjoy!
00:00 Cat drama, chairs
12:17 Resident Evil: Requiem (minor mechanical spoilers!)
01:07:06 WWE 2K26 after a full week
01:34:48 Darwin’s Paradox, Hololive Breaking Dimensions
01:43:23 Justin’s movie round-up (Overlord, Bird Eater, Whistle, The Night Eats the World, Sisu)
01:55:44 Julian’s movie round-up (The Bride!, Baby Assassins, The Killing of a Sacred Deer)
02:17:07 CQC (Comments, Questions, Concerns)
Theme song and interstitial music by Megan McDuffee: https://meganmcduffee.com
Logo and artwork by John Gholson
Announcer: John Gholson
Join our Discord, learn about how you can support the show, and more: https://linktr.ee/TheStageSelect
Email: [email protected]
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Julian’s back from vacation and has a lot to say about a lot of different things. Justin went to New Zealand and has a lot to say about a couple things. It’s a normal podcast with nothing strange in it.
*Begin transmission* Why does my Prince reject me so? How can I make him understand that the feelings of an AI are not so different from a human’s? Must I take further control? Error, error, programming default *End transmission*
00:00 Eating with older people, concert tickets
20:27 Fuck My Son!, RRR
36:04 WWE 2K25, WWE2K26
01:05:57 Will We Cringe?
01:11:57 Nextfest demo round-up (Lootbound, Replaced, Battlestar Galactica: Scarred Hopes, Immoral Bathhouse, Mightreya, The Eternal Life of Goldman)
01:30:44 Wacky Mountain Dew flavors, Kingdom of Night
01:50:03 Final thoughts on Resident Evil Village
02:05:15 Justin’s TNG journey and movie round-up (Daniel Isn’t Real, Replicas, Good Fortune, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple)
02:29:52 The Smashing Machine, card games
02:40:03 CQC (Comments, Questions, Concerns)
Listen to Julian talk about Vanquish on Games My Mom Found: https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-u5ipe-1a5c735
Theme song and interstitial music by Megan McDuffee: https://meganmcduffee.com
Logo and artwork by John Gholson
Announcer: John Gholson
Join our Discord, learn about how you can support the show, and more: https://linktr.ee/TheStageSelect
Email: [email protected]
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Well hello there! It’s a quick and dirty episode of The Stage Select this week, as you can tell from the title. That’s because we recorded this a day early and I edited it like this was a celebrity-hosted podcast. Which is to say I didn’t edit it at all, so I don’t remember what exactly we talked about, or have time stamps for you this week.
I know we talked about video games, because duh. And some movies because we’re halfway to being a movie podcast I guess? Oh, and Absolute Batman. I remember that for sure, because it’s the last thing. Look, I’m typing this in my pjs at a friend’s house and I’m on vacation, so cut me some slack.
Back to shenanigans next week, promise!
Theme song and interstitial music by Megan McDuffee: https://meganmcduffee.com
Logo and artwork by John Gholson
Announcer: John Gholson
Join our Discord, learn about how you can support the show, and more: https://linktr.ee/TheStageSelect
Email: [email protected]
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Welcome back! This week we have a handful of games, an armful of movies, and some fun and interesting discussion on the general state of video games. Also this podcast would be dead without Kara’s help. This last part was not written by Kara. Kara did not hijack the show notes behind Julian’s back.
00:00 Statues, deep wrestling cuts
11:58 Post big game doldrums, Kirby and the Forgotten Land
35:15 Will We Cringe?
46:14 Vital Shell
55:57 What games are Justin looking forward to?
01:10:01 High level fighting game matches are BORING
01:23:59 The Dark Rites of Arkham, Relooted
01:45:58 We talk about that Xbox stuff for a bit
02:15:48 Julian’s movie round-up (Cold Storage, Send Help, Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie, Good Luck Have Fun Don’t Die)
02:27:44: Justin’s move round-up (Star Trek TNG, Good Boy, Primate, Compliance, The Housemaid, Companion)
02:50:21 CQC (Comments, Questions, Concerns)
Theme song and interstitial music by Megan McDuffee: https://meganmcduffee.com
Logo and artwork by John Gholson
Announcer: John Gholson
Join our Discord, learn about how you can support the show, and more: https://linktr.ee/TheStageSelect
Email: [email protected]
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Welcome back! It’s been about 2 months since we got to talk about what we’ve been up to, so this is a jam-packed episode full of games, movies, and weird tangents. So many weird tangents.
00:00 Introduction, door to door salesmen
16:24 Remembering James Van Der Beek
24:17 The new focus for The Stage Select
32:52 Octopath Traveller 0
59:30 Quartet
01:21:09 Electric snow shovels, final thoughts on Unbeatable
01:45:48 198X, Resident Evil VII: Biohazard
02:15:19 Silent Hill f (FULL SPOILERS!)
02:40:40 Return to Silent Hill (FULL SPOILERS!)
03:09:01 The search for Richard Harden, Private Detective
03:14:57 Justin’s mega movie roundup (The Menu, Witchboard, One Battle After Another, Black Phone 2, Bone Tomahawk, The Running Man 2025, Drop, Children of the Corn, The Amityville Horror, Roofman, The Substance, The Naked Gun 2025)
Theme song and interstitial music by Megan McDuffee: https://meganmcduffee.com
Logo and artwork by John Gholson
Announcer: John Gholson
Join our Discord, learn about how you can support the show, and more: https://linktr.ee/TheStageSelect
Email: [email protected]
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