We’re back!
With the podcast settling back in its original form, @rianfloyd.com and @afictionalescapist.bsky.social delve into a months worth of read, watch and play updates then dive into this month topic.
Handheld gaming! Nostalgia trip or the way of the future 🤔
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The first podcast episode for 2026 is live!
This month, Rian and Kris chat about writing habits, current projects and catch each other up on everything we’ve read, watched and played over the course of January.
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New book review of a not-new book up on the website, James Baldwin’s ‘Notes of a Native Son’. This collection of essays was a challenge thematically but beautiful (and important) to read.
Does anyone have a favourite James Baldwin book?
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A new year means getting ridiculously excited for all the up and coming releases right … RIGHT !?!
It was really fun to listen to each other babble about the things that have snagged our attention so far for 2026! Talk about a mixed bag!
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After years of wanting to watch more movies Kris finally cracked his goal of 25.
Here are some quick thoughts on everything he watched in 2025!
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Flat-lay graphic on a wooden desk showing the title “Micro Reviewing: Every Book I Read in 2025.” Below the heading are six book covers arranged in two rows: The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams, Normal People by Sally Rooney, Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa, Absolution by Jeff VanderMeer, Nemesis Games by James S. A. Corey, and Confessions of a Mask by Yukio Mishima. Glasses, a pen, and pastel sticky notes are visible around the edges of the desk.
Flat-lay graphic on a wooden desk titled “Micro Reviewing: Every Book I Read in 2025.” A cream panel sits in the center with the heading in bold yellow text. Six book covers are arranged in two rows: Butter by Asako Yuzuki, Outline by Rachel Cusk, Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami, Unmasking Autism by Devon Price, The Midnight Library by Matt Haig, and Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes. A pen, black-framed glasses, and stacked pastel sticky notes are visible around the edges of the desk.
Flat-lay graphic on a wooden desk titled “Micro Reviewing: Every Book I Read in 2025.” A cream-colored panel fills the center beneath two teal labels reading “Micro” and “Reviewing.” Six book covers are arranged in two rows: Babylon’s Ashes by James S. A. Corey, Club Contango by Eliane Boey, How High We Go in the Dark by Sequoia Nagamatsu, The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde, The Stand by Stephen King, and A Head Full of Ghosts by Paul Tremblay. A pen, black glasses, and pastel sticky notes sit around the edges of the desk.
Flat-lay graphic on a wooden desk titled “Micro Reviewing: Every Book I Read in 2025.” A cream-colored panel fills the center beneath two teal labels reading “Micro” and “Reviewing.” Six book covers are arranged in two rows: EXODUS: The Archimedes Engine by Peter F. Hamilton, ALPHA by K.D. Marchesi, Automatic Noodle by Annalee Newitz, The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones, This Skin Was Once Mine by Eric LaRocca, and The Long Walk by Stephen King. A pen, black glasses, and pastel sticky notes sit around the edges of the desk.
Well, I may not have met my reading goal for 2025 (life always has other plans). But I certainly read some absolute bangers this year. And since it’s a mostly manageable number, I decided to micro-review each one. So… if there’s room on your TBR, have at it! – R
www.genreblender.net/micro-review...
It is time for the Genre Blender pair to look forward into the new year.
Join us as we share our themes and projects which will see us through 2026!
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And that’s (almost) a wrap on 2025!
This has been a huge year of entertainment for us over at Genre Blender.
Join us on this weeks video to see what we pick as the best of the best for the year that was.
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Do you play early access games? Why or why not?
Check out why Kris loves them in today’s video!
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Welcome to the Watch Party! On today’s episode Rian and Kris tackle Guillermo del Toro’s 2025 Frankenstein.
Was it stunning? Absolutely.
Did we love it? Not so much.
Are we shocked we agreed? You’ll have to watch to find out!
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New video! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Rian discusses the broken state of book star ratings, and what we can do instead. 🤔
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Novembers episode of #genreblenderpodcast was wolf-PACKED!
Rian breaks out their interviewing skills to help celebrate the launch of Kris’s debut ALPHA 🐺
Kris delves into writing, world-building, and the journey to becoming a published author.
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On this weeks episode of Books and Bevvies, Rian and Kris delve into the giant tome that is EXODUS!
To say we had mixed thoughts is an understatement 🤔
Books & Bevvies - EXODUS: The Archimedes Engine | What we thought of this 900+ page sci-fi monster!
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Just over a week ago Rian and Kris were adventuring along the Margaret River in WA.
We knew we wouldn’t last a whole long weekend without book shopping 😅😅
If you’re curious to see what we picked up (and some adorable Australian wildlife), come take a look!
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Today Kris gets to gush about his dream of running a medieval tavern … with craft beers!
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Coming at you with a double dose of content this week!
Today Rian and Kris delve into horror sub genres just in time for Halloween!
Gettin' Spooky With It! - Exploring Horror Subgenres
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Guess what Rian finally watched!!!!
Tune in to this months episode of Genre Blender to find out.
With a new format, we get to delve deeper into everything we’ve read, watched and played over the whole month! As well as delve into noteworthy news that excites us!
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We’re evolving!
There are a few changes to the format of our videos and podcast episodes that we’ve announced in a blog post here (all good things, we promise!):
www.genreblender.net/were-evolvin...
What do you do when the next book on your TBR is 1,211 pages but you’re intimidated by big books? Rian talks about this conundrum and how he overcame it while reading The Stand by Stephen King.
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It’s newbie vs constant reader in today’s video!
Happy spooky season folks! Let’s chat the glory of Stephen King!
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Kris’s first solo video is live!
Exploring his addiction to GrimShire, Kris shares what makes this cozy horror game so dang addictive.
Cozy Horror - What Makes Grimshire Utterly Addictive
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Retro gaming is having a resurgence and we are both thrilled!
Genre Blender - Episode 29: The Rise of Retro Gaming | Emulation, gaming handhelds, and nostalgia
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The YouTube comments on the new Ananta game trailer do not disappoint. e.g.
“Which genre is this game?”
“Yes”
and
“Ah yes, Grand Zenless Spider IV - Sleeping Row”
Tell you what, though… I kinda think the game looks absolutely amazing. - R
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It’s time to get cozy with this weeks episode of Genre Blender as Rian and Kris chat about Tiny Bookshop!
This gem of an indie title offers players the chance to give up the hustle and bustle of everyday life to open a book shop in a quaint seaside town.
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Some pesky technical difficulties appeared meaning this weeks episode is a tad late! Apologies folks, but we will be back soon, chatting about the phenomenon that is The Tiny Bookshop!
The Picture of Dorian Gray is jam packed full of heavy and reflective themes about how we as people view art, human nature, decadence, youth and so much more.
Genre Blender - Episode 27: Art and Morality in The Picture of Dorian Gray | Book discussion
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🎂HAPPY 1st BIRTHDAY!!!🎂
This week over on #genreblender we celebrate the shows first birthday!
Our small following is passionate about storytelling and we have an absolute blast sharing that passion with you!
Genre Blender - Episode 26: It’s Our First Birthday!
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K Pop Demon Hunters is taking the world by storm right now and we have been swept up in the winds with everyone else!
Offering something for everyone this movie is a glorious mix of stunning animation, layered storytelling and catchy tunes.
This episode was Golden 😉
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If watching a couple of nerdy friends freak out over the middle of the year, I have just the thing for you!
Tangents galore in this one folks!
Genre Blender - Episode 24: Mid-Year Freak Out Tag | Books and games for our mid-year review
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What a discussion!
This week #genreblender was joined by Michael to talk about the slow decline of physical media.
I think we could have talked for hours!
What are your thoughts on physical/digital media?
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