The Boiled Leather Audio Hour

The Boiled Leather Audio History Hour is coming to your house! Aziz and Ashaya from the “History of Westeros” podcast are doing us the honor of providing not one but two illustrous guest co-hosts for this episode. Of course, I’m taking them to task and interview them about the near and far history of Westeros. We talk the Dance of the Dragons and the Blackfyre rebellion as precursors to the narrative and foreshadowing it, delve into oily black stones and the Long Night and, finally, break some eggs. You have to listen to the show to get that reference.  DOWNLOAD EPISODE 80 Additional Links: Torrent Download Link Stefan’s blog Sean’s blog History of Westeros podcast

The Boiled Leather Audio History Hour is coming to your house! Aziz and Ashaya from the “History of Westeros” podcast are doing us the honor of providing not one but two illustrous guest co-hosts for this episode. Of course, I’m taking them to task and interview them about the near and far history of Westeros. We talk the Dance of the Dragons and the Blackfyre rebellion as precursors to the narrative and foreshadowing it, delve into oily black stones and the Long Night and, finally, break some eggs. You have to listen to the show to get that reference.  DOWNLOAD EPISODE 80 Additional Links: Torrent Download Link Stefan’s blog Sean’s blog History of Westeros podcast

In Sean’s second consecutive month with a leave of abscence, Stefan is joined by Jim McGeehin, who writes the famous tumblr “Wars and Politics of Ice and Fire” and goes by the handle of “Something like a lawyer”. While his lawyering status may be somewhat in doubt, his command of the material is not. Jim’s command of military and political matters is almost without equal in the fandom, and while he is too modest to accept the monicker of “expert” that Stefan tried to bestow on him, that’s really what he is. So it would be malpractice not to put his expertise to the test! What we talk about in this episode are the upcoming Battles of Ice and Fire, referring to Stannis’ fight against Freys and Boltons and Barristan’s fight against the Yunkish in the expected opening of “The Winds of Winter”, when it finally arrives. We talk military strategy as well as political strategy, being aware that in a feudal society, no one can seperate both. We also venture into the literary qualities and discuss some more elaborate fan theories. DOWNLOAD EPISODE 79 Additional Links: Torrent Download Link Stefan’s blog Sean’s blog Jim’s blog Jim’s tumblr

In Sean’s second consecutive month with a leave of abscence, Stefan is joined by Jim McGeehin, who writes the famous tumblr “Wars and Politics of Ice and Fire” and goes by the handle of “Something like a lawyer”. While his lawyering status may be somewhat in doubt, his command of the material is not. Jim’s command of military and political matters is almost without equal in the fandom, and while he is too modest to accept the monicker of “expert” that Stefan tried to bestow on him, that’s really what he is. So it would be malpractice not to put his expertise to the test! What we talk about in this episode are the upcoming Battles of Ice and Fire, referring to Stannis’ fight against Freys and Boltons and Barristan’s fight against the Yunkish in the expected opening of “The Winds of Winter”, when it finally arrives. We talk military strategy as well as political strategy, being aware that in a feudal society, no one can seperate both. We also venture into the literary qualities and discuss some more elaborate fan theories. DOWNLOAD EPISODE 79 Additional Links: Torrent Download Link Stefan’s blog Sean’s blog Jim’s blog Jim’s tumblr

Sean is taking a time off due to personal reasons. Until he’s back, to keep you guys with the content you know and love, Stefan will soldier on and line up co-hosts that are illustrious as Sean, or near enough that makes no matter. The first in this colorful row is Emmet Booth, aka PoorQuentyn. Emmet is righfully famous for his tumblr, and he delivered first-rate analysis of Euron Greyjoy, Quentyn Martell, Tyrion Lannister, Davos Seaworth and Theon Greyjoy, only to name a few. But Emmet is also one of the most ardent defenders of “A Dance with Dragons”’s literary qualities, and Stefan shares this feeling, so this is the topic we chose: What makes “A Dance with Dragons” the best of the five main novels. DOWNLOAD EPISODE 78 Additional Links: Torrent Download  Link Stefan’s blog Sean’s blog Emmet’s blog NotACast

Sean is taking a time off due to personal reasons. Until he’s back, to keep you guys with the content you know and love, Stefan will soldier on and line up co-hosts that are illustrious as Sean, or near enough that makes no matter. The first in this colorful row is Emmet Booth, aka PoorQuentyn. Emmet is righfully famous for his tumblr, and he delivered first-rate analysis of Euron Greyjoy, Quentyn Martell, Tyrion Lannister, Davos Seaworth and Theon Greyjoy, only to name a few. But Emmet is also one of the most ardent defenders of “A Dance with Dragons”’s literary qualities, and Stefan shares this feeling, so this is the topic we chose: What makes “A Dance with Dragons” the best of the five main novels. DOWNLOAD EPISODE 78 Additional Links: Torrent Download  Link Stefan’s blog Sean’s blog Emmet’s blog NotACast

What was life like before A Game of Thrones? No, not for your illustrious cohosts (we can hardly remember; was there life before A Game of Thrones?) — for your favorite POV characters! On this installment of BLAH, Sean & Stefan discuss the attitudes and events they feel must have shaped the day-to-day lives of George R.R. Martin’s main characters prior to the start of A Song of Ice and Fire. How did Ned Stark balance his professional obligations against the ghosts of the past? What did Jaime Lannister have in common with a pro wrestling heel? What was the impact of domesticity on Catelyn Stark, and of domestic violence on Cersei Lannister? Why was Tyrion Lannister less interesting before the books began — and why was Davos Seaworth more interesting? It’s a deep dive into character and theme (and of course pure speculation), and we hope you enjoy it! DOWNLOAD EPISODE 77 Additional links: Mirror. Our Patreon page at patreon.com/boiledleatheraudiohour. Our PayPal donation page (also accessible via boiledleather.com). Our iTunes page. Previous episodes. Podcast RSS feed. Sean’s blog. Stefan’s blog.

What was life like before A Game of Thrones? No, not for your illustrious cohosts (we can hardly remember; was there life before A Game of Thrones?) — for your favorite POV characters! On this installment of BLAH, Sean & Stefan discuss the attitudes and events they feel must have shaped the day-to-day lives of George R.R. Martin’s main characters prior to the start of A Song of Ice and Fire. How did Ned Stark balance his professional obligations against the ghosts of the past? What did Jaime Lannister have in common with a pro wrestling heel? What was the impact of domesticity on Catelyn Stark, and of domestic violence on Cersei Lannister? Why was Tyrion Lannister less interesting before the books began — and why was Davos Seaworth more interesting? It’s a deep dive into character and theme (and of course pure speculation), and we hope you enjoy it! DOWNLOAD EPISODE 77 Additional links: Mirror. Our Patreon page at patreon.com/boiledleatheraudiohour. Our PayPal donation page (also accessible via boiledleather.com). Our iTunes page. Previous episodes. Podcast RSS feed. Sean’s blog. Stefan’s blog.

A long time ago, in a theater near you, a movie named Solo: A Star Wars Story came out. It feels like an eternity has passed since then and now, but what better time to listen to Sean & Stefan discuss the movie that seemed to shatter the Star Wars franchise into a million weird pieces? In this episode recorded a week after the film’s release, we talk about director Ron Howard’s Han Solo origin story — the action, the acting, what worked and didn’t, how it stacks up against the other post-Lucas SW movies and the larger series in general, its place in the bizarre post-Last Jedi debate among fans and critics, how Disney-Lucasfilm screwed up its release and the future of the franchise, and more. If you’re sick to death of the state of the Star Wars discourse, we think you’ll dig what we do in this one. Enjoy! DOWNLOAD EPISODE 76 Additional links: Sean’s essay on The Last Jedi. All of Sean’s recent-ish Star Wars writing. Mirror. Our Patreon page at patreon.com/boiledleatheraudiohour. Our PayPal donation page (also accessible via boiledleather.com). Our iTunes page. Previous episodes. Podcast RSS feed. Sean’s blog. Stefan’s blog.

A long time ago, in a theater near you, a movie named Solo: A Star Wars Story came out. It feels like an eternity has passed since then and now, but what better time to listen to Sean & Stefan discuss the movie that seemed to shatter the Star Wars franchise into a million weird pieces? In this episode recorded a week after the film’s release, we talk about director Ron Howard’s Han Solo origin story — the action, the acting, what worked and didn’t, how it stacks up against the other post-Lucas SW movies and the larger series in general, its place in the bizarre post-Last Jedi debate among fans and critics, how Disney-Lucasfilm screwed up its release and the future of the franchise, and more. If you’re sick to death of the state of the Star Wars discourse, we think you’ll dig what we do in this one. Enjoy! DOWNLOAD EPISODE 76 Additional links: Sean’s essay on The Last Jedi. All of Sean’s recent-ish Star Wars writing. Mirror. Our Patreon page at patreon.com/boiledleatheraudiohour. Our PayPal donation page (also accessible via boiledleather.com). Our iTunes page. Previous episodes. Podcast RSS feed. Sean’s blog. Stefan’s blog.

Television and film critic Matt Zoller Seitz joins us to help celebrate our 75th episode in style! In this special edition of our BLAH Salon interview series, Sean & Stefan talk to Matt about his upcoming Split Screens Festival, a jam-packed series of screenings and panels featuring many of TV’s best writers and performers; the festival runs from May 30-June 3 in New York City. He also tells us about his background, his overall approach to criticism, how the field has changed, and (of course) how he feels about Game of Thrones. Stay tuned after the interview, too, as Sean & Stefan look back on seven years of podcasting. Here’s to seven more! DOWNLOAD EPISODE 75 Additional links: Split Screens Festival homepage. Split Screens Festival tickets. Matt’s work at Vulture and New York. Matt’s work at RogerEbert.com. Mirror. Our Patreon page at patreon.com/boiledleatheraudiohour. Our PayPal donation page (also accessible via boiledleather.com). Our iTunes page. Previous episodes. Podcast RSS feed. Sean’s blog. Stefan’s blog.

Television and film critic Matt Zoller Seitz joins us to help celebrate our 75th episode in style! In this special edition of our BLAH Salon interview series, Sean & Stefan talk to Matt about his upcoming Split Screens Festival, a jam-packed series of screenings and panels featuring many of TV’s best writers and performers; the festival runs from May 30-June 3 in New York City. He also tells us about his background, his overall approach to criticism, how the field has changed, and (of course) how he feels about Game of Thrones. Stay tuned after the interview, too, as Sean & Stefan look back on seven years of podcasting. Here’s to seven more! DOWNLOAD EPISODE 75 Additional links: Split Screens Festival homepage. Split Screens Festival tickets. Matt’s work at Vulture and New York. Matt’s work at RogerEbert.com. Mirror. Our Patreon page at patreon.com/boiledleatheraudiohour. Our PayPal donation page (also accessible via boiledleather.com). Our iTunes page. Previous episodes. Podcast RSS feed. Sean’s blog. Stefan’s blog.

Unleash the kraken! And the dragon, and the Other, and the wight, and the giant, and the direwolf, and the FrankenGregor, and the giant turtle, et cetera. Sean and Stefan tackle the monsters of Ice and Fire — the ones that aren’t human, we mean — and their roles in the setting, the narrative, and the overall project of ASoIaF. Consider it our Walpurgisnacht Special! DOWNLOAD EPISODE 74 Additional links: Mirror. Our Patreon page at patreon.com/boiledleatheraudiohour. Our PayPal donation page (also accessible via boiledleather.com). Our iTunes page. Previous episodes. Podcast RSS feed. Sean’s blog. Stefan’s blog.

Come one, you apes! You wanna live forever? We sure hope not, because when you’re pushed, killing’s as easy as breathing. And so is listening to Sean and Stefan discus two of the most violent — and morally complex — action movies of the modern era, Paul Verhoeven’s Starship Troopers and Sylvester Stallone’s Rambo. Made in 1997 and 2008 respectively, these films use satire (in the former case) and spectacle (in the latter) to probe the gaping wounds of fascism, war, war movies, and the act of killing. If, like us, you’re an admirer of how A Song of Ice and Fire and Game of Thrones use epic-battle tropes to interrogate the horrors of war, this discussion of two strange films that do the same is for you. Enjoy…? DOWNLOAD EPISODE 73Additional links: Sean’s essay on Rambo. Stefan’s essay on Starship Troopers (Patreon subscribers only). Mirror. Our Patreon page at patreon.com/boiledleatheraudiohour. Our PayPal donation page (also accessible via boiledleather.com). Our iTunes page. Previous episodes. Podcast RSS feed. Sean’s blog. Stefan’s blog.

Come one, you apes! You wanna live forever? We sure hope not, because when you’re pushed, killing’s as easy as breathing. And so is listening to Sean and Stefan discus two of the most violent — and morally complex — action movies of the modern era, Paul Verhoeven’s Starship Troopers and Sylvester Stallone’s Rambo. Made in 1997 and 2008 respectively, these films use satire (in the former case) and spectacle (in the latter) to probe the gaping wounds of fascism, war, war movies, and the act of killing. If, like us, you’re an admirer of how A Song of Ice and Fire and Game of Thrones use epic-battle tropes to interrogate the horrors of war, this discussion of two strange films that do the same is for you. Enjoy…? DOWNLOAD EPISODE 73Additional links: Sean’s essay on Rambo. Stefan’s essay on Starship Troopers (Patreon subscribers only). Mirror. Our Patreon page at patreon.com/boiledleatheraudiohour. Our PayPal donation page (also accessible via boiledleather.com). Our iTunes page. Previous episodes. Podcast RSS feed. Sean’s blog. Stefan’s blog.