Parallel Quest

A story about espionage is a great avenue to get an audience member engaged in a tale. The story can either add to their own conspiracies about how the world of secret intelligence works or begin to deconstruct them. The Bourne Identity is a story that puts us in the shoes of an amnesiac assassin who is trying to figure out who he is, all while surviving against the world’s most adept assets. In this week’s episode of Parallel Quest, the guys discuss drive-in theaters, reaction videos, generational gaps, amnesia, free cam, James Bond, and of course this is all done with the backdrop of the main topic: The Bourne Identity.

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Buy Zach’s newest book, Something Strange at Grandma’s House: https://www.steellakestudio.com/books

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TIMESTAMPS

0:00 Welcome

0:25 Unexpected Upside of the Vaccine

7:30 Drive-In Movie Adventure

17:30 Zach Watching Reaction Videos

20:30 GPS Generational Gap

27:30 Being Resourceful vs. Being Knowledgeable 

32:30 News from Steel Lake Studio

36:00 Main Topic: The Bourne Identity

40:41 Did this Story Inspire the Bourne Series?

46:49 Other Guys Who Could Have Played Jason Bourne

55:00 Stats and Reception

1:00:26 The Aesthetic of The Bourne Identity

1:09:00 A Little bit about the Novel

1:11:42 Seeing the Last film Before any Others

1:19:45 Initially Underappreciating the Film

1:33:55 Preference: James Bond or Jason Bourne

1:37:49 Lasting Appeal

Thank you so much for checking out Parallel Quest. This is a production of Steel Lake Studio. We don't just have one podcast though, we are a team of storytellers trying to use a variety of different mediums to tell stories that we have been working on our whole lives. If you would like to check out more of what we do, check out https://www.steellakestudio.com/

I you enjoy the show and would like to SUPPORT the show, you can do so on Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/steellakestudio

If you REALLY like the show, consider rocking some Parallel Quest themed MERCHANDISE:

https://www.steellakestudio.com/merch

While there may be no perfect ending for a story, one of the most important components of a good story is that the conclusion is satisfactory. However, that does not mean the most talented storytellers are great at sticking the landing. The guys share the components of what makes a strong ending, and examine what it looks like when a story falls flat in its final moments. This is all centered around the main topic for discussion, Lord of the Rings: Return of the King, where both the book and the film have fantastic endings to an epic tale.

Watch the show on YouTube

Buy Zach’s newest book, Something Strange at Grandma’s House: https://www.steellakestudio.com/books

Sign up for our E-MAIL LIST: https://www.steellakestudio.com/email

TIMESTAMPS

0:00 Welcome

0:25 Sauce Conspiracy

10:45 A Surprisingly Good Chicken Sandwich

14:30 Getting Back to Board Games

25:00 Our Favorite and Least Favorite Endings

56:40 MAIN TOPIC: Return of the King

57:30 2003 State of the World

1:08:00 Ditching Friends to see Return of the King

1:17:07 Bringing together Multiple Generations

1:24:00 The Masterful Dialogue

1:26:00 Plot Refresh

1:39:00 The Success of the Movie

1:42:15 How did the Books become Films?

1:45:00 Did the Films “Ruin” the Books?

1:57:00 The Attitude of Adaptation

2:04:00 Why the Lord of the Rings is Special to Us

Thank you so much for checking out Parallel Quest. This is a production of Steel Lake Studio. We don't just have one podcast though, we are a team of storytellers trying to use a variety of different mediums to tell stories that we have been working on our whole lives. If you would like to check out more of what we do, check out https://www.steellakestudio.com/

I you enjoy the show and would like to SUPPORT the show, you can do so on Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/steellakestudio

If you REALLY like the show, consider rocking some Parallel Quest themed MERCHANDISE:

https://www.steellakestudio.com/merch

50 episodes into Parallel Quest felt like a good point to discuss some of our favorite television programs as kids. From Boy Meets World to Courage the Cowardly Dog, there were many shows we enjoyed within the first 12 years of our lives that left a lasting impact. Since we were inspired to talk about these shows, we also got into a very long conversation on Cody’s impressions on Game of Thrones, as he spent the last 2 months watching it. We hope you enjoy this episode of Parallel Quest, and let us know what some of your favorite childhood shows are.

Watch the show on YouTube

Buy Zach’s newest book, Something Strange at Grandma’s House: https://www.steellakestudio.com/books

Sign up for our E-MAIL LIST: https://www.steellakestudio.com/email

TIMESTAMPS

0:00 Welcome

0:35 Grilling Season

3:50 The Beekeeper

15:28 The Phantom Bike Rider

28:00 Game of Thrones series review/discussion

1:13:00 Favorite TV Shows from Childhood

1:15:00 Are you Afraid of the Dark?

1:24:25 Boy Meets World

1:30:42 Smallville

1:33:18 Full House

1:37:24 Ed, Edd, and Eddy

1:46:10 Pokemon

1:51:00 Hey Arnold!

1:59:20 Batman: The Animated Series

2:06:34 Courage the Cowardly Dog

2:15:00 Dragon Ball Z

2:21:42 Goodbye

Thank you so much for checking out Parallel Quest. This is a production of Steel Lake Studio. We don't just have one podcast though, we are a team of storytellers trying to use a variety of different mediums to tell stories that we have been working on our whole lives. If you would like to check out more of what we do, check out https://www.steellakestudio.com/

I you enjoy the show and would like to SUPPORT the show, you can do so on Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/steellakestudio

If you REALLY like the show, consider rocking some Parallel Quest themed MERCHANDISE:https://www.steellakestudio.com/merch

Trilogies make up some of the greatest stories that we get to experience. The second installment in a trilogy has the challenging task of improving on the work of its predecessor but setting up the final part to give great payoff. In this week’s episode of Parallel Quest the guys talk about trilogies and how good the second part of well-known trilogies rank. In the second half of the show, the guys discuss the second installment in Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers.

Watch the show on YOUTUBE

Buy Zach’s newest book, Something Strange at Grandma’s House: https://www.steellakestudio.com/books

Sign up for our E-MAIL LIST: https://www.steellakestudio.com/email

TIMESTAMPS

0:00 Welcome

0:54 Movie Trailer Voice

4:00 Resident FDA expert

11:00 Eating Rotten Food

15:00 The Library

31:00 SLS News update

33:00 Best Part of Trilogies

1:05:00 Featured Story: The Two Towers

1:10:00 State of the World in 2002

1:16:00 Stats and Summary

1:26:00 Book to Film Differences

1:28:00 History and Fun Facts

1:37:00 Experiencing the Great Writing

1:40:00 Getting the 2nd DVD before the 1st

1:44:30 Seeing it with a Random Friend of a Sibling

1:51:00 The Many Attempts of Trying to Read the Book

1:53:20 Is it One of the Best Battle Scenes Still?

2:07:00 The Impact Two Towers had on LotR

Thank you so much for checking out Parallel Quest. This is a production of Steel Lake Studio. We don't just have one podcast though, we are a team of storytellers trying to use a variety of different mediums to tell stories that we have been working on our whole lives. If you would like to check out more of what we do, check out https://www.steellakestudio.com/

I you enjoy the show and would like to SUPPORT the show, you can do so on Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/steellakestudio

If you REALLY like the show, consider rocking some Parallel Quest themed MERCHANDISE:https://www.steellakestudio.com/merch

Some might say that The Patriot could simply be boiled down to a basic revenge tale, while others may claim it to be a great story on the American Revolution. Either way one may look at this film, it was a big deal when it was released in the summer of 2000. Join in on this week’s episode of Parallel Quest as the guys discuss the simple things, journaling, seafood, patriotic films, and the epic film starring Mel Gibson, The Patriot 

Watch on YouTube

Buy Zach’s newest book, Something Strange at Grandma’s House: https://www.steellakestudio.com/books

Sign up for our E-MAIL LIST: https://www.steellakestudio.com/email

TIMESTAMPS

PQ 48 Timestamps

0:00 Welcome

0:40 Thankful for the Little Things

5:00 Keeping a Journal

14:15 Do Midwesterners Appreciate Seafood?

32:30 Patriotic Films

42:00 MAIN TOPIC: THE PATRIOT

42:00 State of the World in 2000

52:00 Plot Summary

59:00 Is The Patriot too Cliche

1:06:00 The Great Scenes

1:09:20 The Jason Isaacs Story... Again

1:13:00 Fun Facts about the Patriot

1:17:00 Didn't Understand the Hype

1:27:00 The Tomahawk Scene

1:31:00 American Revolution Films in the Future?

1:35:00 Romanticizing the Past

1:38:00 Unlikely Plot Points

1:43:00 The Power of Fantasy over History

1:47:00 Goodbye

Thank you so much for checking out Parallel Quest. This is a production of Steel Lake Studio. We don't just have one podcast though, we are a team of storytellers trying to use a variety of different mediums to tell stories that we have been working on our whole lives. If you would like to check out more of what we do, check out https://www.steellakestudio.com/

I you enjoy the show and would like to SUPPORT the show, you can do so on Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/steellakestudio

If you REALLY like the show, consider rocking some Parallel Quest themed MERCHANDISE:https://www.steellakestudio.com/merch

In 2000, the new Millennia brought one of the teams favorite movies, Ridley Scott's Gladiator, starring Russel Crowe. Growing up this was an important movie in the lives of our teenage selves, from the great battle scenes to the script full of one-liners. Even though the final product is something that the guys love, that doesn't mean the production was without its fair share of hiccups. The script full of quotable lines was anything but easy to work with. The relationship with Proximo (Oliver Reed) and Maximus (Russel Crowe) on screen was somewhat reflective of the difficult relationship that these two had off-screen. Historical accuracy was  something that the film strived for but it was not accurate enough to satisfy everyone. 

Watch the show on YouTube

Buy Zach’s newest book, Something Strange at Grandma’s House: https://www.steellakestudio.com/books

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https://www.steellakestudio.com/email

TIMESTAMPS

0:00 Welcome

0:32 New Topic

1:30 Runaway Dog

12:20 Game of Thrones and Shock Value

24:30 SLS/Podcast News

30:00 Best Picture (Thumbs Up/Thumbs Down)

1:00:00 The Gladiator

1:07:30 Our Favorite Quotes from Gladiator

1:11:00 Inspiration for the Film

1:16:00 Fun Facts about Gladiator

1:22:00 How Important is Historical Accuracy

1:30:45 Rising Tension Perfected

1:38:00 A Role Model Hero

1:45:00 Influencing Zach's Writing

1:50:00 How Well We Know this Film

1:53:00 Goodbye

Thank you so much for checking out Parallel Quest. This is a production of Steel Lake Studio. We don't just have one podcast though, we are a team of storytellers trying to use a variety of different mediums to tell stories that we have been working on our whole lives. If you would like to check out more of what we do, check out https://www.steellakestudio.com/

I you enjoy the show and would like to SUPPORT the show, you can do so on Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/steellakestudio

If you REALLY like the show, consider rocking some Parallel Quest themed MERCHANDISE:https://www.steellakestudio.com/merch

The journey through all of the Marvel films had to go on hiatus due to Cody's family coming down with illness, but upon recovery, the Steel Lake Studio team has returned to cover the final 6 films in the MCU. The ride through all of these was wild and the guys are very excited to discuss some of the best ones in all the MCU in this episode of Parallel Quest.

Watch it on YouTube

Timestamps

0:00 Introduction

0:37 Talking Baseball

3:30 Snowing in the Spring

8:30 The Long Hiatus Explained Out Sick

11:00 Zach's Upcoming Trip

15:00 Infinity War

40:45 Ant-Man and the Wasp

54:00 Captain Marvel

1:12:00 Giveaway Opportunity!

1:13:30 Endgame

1:35:00 Spider-Man: Far From Home

1:40:00 WandaVision

1:51:00 Ranking the Final 6

1:57:21 Goodbye, It is Finished

Buy Zach’s newest book, Something Strange at Grandma’s House: https://www.steellakestudio.com/books

Sign up for our E-MAIL LIST: 

https://www.steellakestudio.com/email

Thank you so much for checking out Parallel Quest. This is a production of Steel Lake Studio. We don't just have one podcast though, we are a team of storytellers trying to use a variety of different mediums to tell stories that we have been working on our whole lives. If you would like to check out more of what we do, check out https://www.steellakestudio.com/

I you enjoy the show and would like to SUPPORT the show, you can do so on Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/steellakestudio

If you REALLY like the show, consider rocking some Parallel Quest themed MERCHANDISE:

https://www.steellakestudio.com/merch

Phase 3 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe made a lot of money. However, that does not mean that much had changed for the MCU in phase 3; the general approach was to slightly expand the storylines and introduce new faces using tried and true formulaic tactics. In this episode of Parallel Quest the guys discuss the first 6 films of phase 3 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Watch the Show on YouTube

Buy Zach’s newest book, Something Strange at Grandma’s House: https://www.steellakestudio.com/books

Sign up for our E-MAIL LIST: https://www.steellakestudio.com/email

TIMESTAMPS

0:00 Welcome

1:20 The Worst Voiceover

6:27 A Story About GPS

15:00 Franchise Fatigue

33:00 MCU Phase 3 Trivia

47:00 Captain America: Civil War

1:07:00 Doctor Strange

1:18:00 Guardians of the Galaxy 2

1:30:00 Spider-Man Homecoming

1:37:00 Thor: Ragnarok

1:48:00 Black Panther

1:59:00 Ranking Phase 3 (First Half)

2:04:35 Goodbye

Thank you so much for checking out Parallel Quest. This is a production of Steel Lake Studio. We don't just have one podcast though, we are a team of storytellers trying to use a variety of different mediums to tell stories that we have been working on our whole lives. If you would like to check out more of what we do, check out https://www.steellakestudio.com/

I you enjoy the show and would like to SUPPORT the show, you can do so on Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/steellakestudio

If you REALLY like the show, consider rocking some Parallel Quest themed MERCHANDISE:https://www.steellakestudio.com/merch

In Phase 2 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe it had become quite clear that the MCU was here to stay. In our second part of our extended coverage of the MCU the guys discuss the six movies of Phase 2. Was it an improvement over the first phase? How do these movies rank up against each other? Did the guys fully buy-in to phase 2 or observe from the sideline?

Watch the show on YouTube

Buy Zach’s newest book, Something Strange at Grandma’s House: https://www.steellakestudio.com/books

Sign up for our E-MAIL LIST: https://www.steellakestudio.com/email

TIMESTAMPS

0:00 Welcome

1:00 Driving with Foot out of the car

8:00 Girl Scout Cookies

17:10 Would You Rather (MCU vs. Star Wars)

27:00 MCU Phase 2 Trivia

38:00 Anticipation for Phase 2

44:00 Iron Man 3

1:03:00 Thor: The Dark World

1:19:20 Captain America: The Winter Soldier

1:33:00 Guardians of the Galaxy

1:49:20 Avengers: Age of Ultron

2:06:13 Ant-Man

2:16:30 Ranking Phase 2 Films

2:20:10 Goodbye

Thank you so much for checking out Parallel Quest. This is a production of Steel Lake Studio. We don't just have one podcast though, we are a team of storytellers trying to use a variety of different mediums to tell stories that we have been working on our whole lives. If you would like to check out more of what we do, check out https://www.steellakestudio.com/

I you enjoy the show and would like to SUPPORT the show, you can do so on Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/steellakestudio

If you REALLY like the show, consider rocking some Parallel Quest themed MERCHANDISE:https://www.steellakestudio.com/merch

This is the beginning of our biggest podcasting endeavor to date: Covering the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe. We kick things off by covering Phase 1 of the MCU. In our following episodes we will be covering an entire phase or a portion of a phase, rather than giving each film its own episode. We are sharing our parallel experiences in our lives and impressions of these films as they were coming out, as well as the lasting appeal of each installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Stick around until the end of the episode where we rank the movies in phase 1.

Watch the show on YouTube.

Buy Zach’s newest book, Something Strange at Grandma’s House: https://www.steellakestudio.com/books

Sign up for our E-MAIL LIST: https://www.steellakestudio.com/email

TIMESTAMPS

0:00:00 Welcome/New Series

0:01:35 Collector's Cards

0:15:30 Almost Going to the Movies

0:20:00 The State of the Movie Theater

0:30:00 The Best and Worst Superpowers

0:44:00 A Introductory History to the MCU

0:57:00 The State of 2008 (The MCU's Beginnings)

1:13:50 Iron Man

1:29:30 The Incredible Hulk

1:41:50 Iron Man 2

1:55:00 Thor

2:12:45 Captain America: The First Avenger

2:27:40 The Avengers

2:41:00 Ranking Phase 1

2:47:20 Conclusion and Goodbye

Thank you so much for checking out Parallel Quest. This is a production of Steel Lake Studio. We don't just have one podcast though, we are a team of storytellers trying to use a variety of different mediums to tell stories that we have been working on our whole lives. If you would like to check out more of what we do, check out https://www.steellakestudio.com/

I you enjoy the show and would like to SUPPORT the show, you can do so on Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/steellakestudio

If you REALLY like the show, consider rocking some Parallel Quest themed MERCHANDISE:https://www.steellakestudio.com/merch

The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask, is a great game that gets overshadowed by a variety of different things. It came out at a time where the world was becoming more and more enthralled with Sony and what they were doing with the Playstation 2. Even though the game was very good, it did not have the impact on fans in the same way that its older brother, Ocarina of Time, did.  With those two obstacles in its way, Majora's Mask seems to have aged like that of a fine wine, more special with each passing year. 

Buy Zach’s newest book, Something Strange at Grandma’s House: https://www.steellakestudio.com/books

Sign up for our E-MAIL LIST: 

https://www.steellakestudio.com/email

TIMESTAMPS

0:00:00 Introduction and Setting the Bar

0:08:00 What is a Wedding Critic?

0:14:00 General Thoughts on Critique

0:21:00 Rewatching Marvel Movies

0:24:00 Superhero Movies Coming to PQ

0:30:00 Video Game Movies We Want

0:49:10 News and Zach's New Book

0:55:00 MAIN TOPIC — Majora's Mask

0:56:00 Basic Concept of the Game

1:02:00 Gameplay Concepts/Philosophy

1:06:00 History/Plot/Skull Kid

1:10:00 Is Majora's Mask the Darkest Zelda?

1:16:00 Gameplay and Technological Advancements

1:21:00 Commercial and Critical Reception

1:28:00 Overshadowed by the release of PS2

1:35:40 Gaming for an Audience

1:43:30 Lasting Appeal/Themes

1:54:30 Goodbye

Thank you so much for checking out Parallel Quest. This is a production of Steel Lake Studio. We don't just have one podcast though, we are a team of storytellers trying to use a variety of different mediums to tell stories that we have been working on our whole lives. If you would like to check out more of what we do, check out https://www.steellakestudio.com/

I you enjoy the show and would like to SUPPORT the show, you can do so on Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/steellakestudio

If you REALLY like the show, consider rocking some Parallel Quest themed MERCHANDISE:

https://www.steellakestudio.com/merch

Ready Player One was an explosive success both in written form and on the silver screen. The story of Wade Watts and his journey through the Oasis of James Halliday is one that is filled with charm and jam packed with 80’s nostalgia. While it might not be the most beloved work by literary critics, it is a joy to experience for anyone looking for a fun trip in a world enveloped with pop culture obsession.

Watch the show on YouTube
 

Buy Zach’s newest book, Something Strange at Grandma’s House: https://www.steellakestudio.com/books

Sign up for our E-MAIL LIST: https://www.steellakestudio.com/email

TIMESTAMPS

0:00:00 Introduction and Welcome

0:01:05 Zach shares his excitement about writing his 2nd book

0:02:55 Getting kids to like Lord of the Rings

0:05:45 Cody talks about turning 30

0:07:40 Cody’s tips for people in their 20’s or just those who don’t have kids

0:12:20 Zach’s perspective on meditation

0:23:30 Cody’s story about the “healing” of meditation

0:29:15 Zach’s 2nd book is OUT NOW!

0:32:50 Do readers need to read the Terror Town series in order?

0:34:03 MAIN TOPIC: READY PLAYER ONE

0:36:40 The purpose of Ready Player One and the impact of 80’s culture

0:39:20 History and background of Earnest Cline and Ready Player One

0:43:20 The guys’ thoughts on the critical reception of Ready Player One

0:50:45 Plot Synopsis of Ready Player One

0:58:04 Fun facts associated with Ready Player One

1:03:00 The main differences between the book and the film

1:09:00 Earnest Cline’s other works and Ready Player Two

1:18:25 Earnerst Cline’s characters were based on real life people

1:21:00 Bought the book on a date night, read it in an auto shop

1:27:20 Receiving the book as a gift

1:33:30 Lasting Appeal

1:44:49 Goodbye

Thank you so much for checking out Parallel Quest. This is a production of Steel Lake Studio. We don't just have one podcast though, we are a team of storytellers trying to use a variety of different mediums to tell stories that we have been working on our whole lives. If you would like to check out more of what we do, check out https://www.steellakestudio.com/

I you enjoy the show and would like to SUPPORT the show, you can do so on Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/steellakestudio

If you REALLY like the show, consider rocking some Parallel Quest themed MERCHANDISE:https://www.steellakestudio.com/merch

Supporting/secondary characters serve many functions within the realm of storytelling. At times they are used to drive the plot, other times they are the voice of reason, or maybe the voice of temptation. Oftentimes a story gives us a main character that we are supposed to admire or respect, but in this episode of Parallel Quest the guys shed the spotlight on those in the second chair by listing 10 of their favorite supporting characters and why they like them.

TIMESTAMPS

0:00:00 Introduction and welcome

0:03:08 Zach’s home renovations

0:16:22 Cody might have ruined his favorite movie

0:29:24 SLS news, Zach’s book and Newsletter update

0:34:27 MAIN TOPIC Favorite Supporting Characters and the rules of the list

0:37:13 Falco Lombardi (Star Fox 64)

0:40:58 Rocket Raccoon (Guardians of the Galaxy)

0:43:32 Duncan Idaho (Dune)

0:48:00 Alan Garner (The Hangover)

0:54:11 Larry Underwood (The Stand)

0:58:50 Tifa Lockhart (Final Fantasy VII)

1:04:00 AJ Frost (Armageddon)

1:10:10 Ian Malcolm (Jurassic Park)

1:15:43 Proximo (Gladiator)

1:21:58 Ben Linus (Lost)

1:28:00 Schmidt (New Girl)

1:35:00 Ron Swanson (Parks and Recreation)

1:40:24 Tok the Watchdog (The Phantom Tollbooth)

1:44:24 Hermione Granger (Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban)

1:49:50 Richie Tozier (It)

1:55:45 The Joker (The Dark Knight)

2:00:15 Lando Calrissian (Star Wars)

2:04:50 The Old Man (In God We Trust All others Pay Cash)

2:08:25 Boromir (The Lord of the Rings)

2:16:15 Gandalf (The Lord of the Rings)

2:22:30 Goodbye

Thank you so much for checking out Parallel Quest. This is a production of Steel Lake Studio. We don't just have one podcast though, we are a team of storytellers trying to use a variety of different mediums to tell stories that we have been working on our whole lives. If you would like to check out more of what we do, check out https://www.steellakestudio.com/

Zach’s Book Nightmare at the Fair: https://www.steellakestudio.com/books

Sign up for our E-MAIL LIST: https://www.steellakestudio.com/email

I you enjoy the show and would like to SUPPORT the show, you can do so on Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/steellakestudio

If you REALLY like the show, consider rocking some Parallel Quest themed MERCHANDISE:https://www.steellakestudio.com/merch

Super Mario 64 accompanied by a Nintendo 64 was every young kid’s dream Christmas gift in the mid-90’s. In this week’s episode the guys discuss Super Mario 64, their favorite characters to use in Nintendo games, gamer rage, the rumble pack, and how video games allow us to play a part in crafting our own stories. 

If you would like to watch the podcast check it out on YouTube

TIMESTAMPS

0:00:00 Introduction and welcome to our first video podcast.

0:03:27 The Sleepy Drive-Tru Guy

0:11:28 Kids breaking all the headphones

0:18:18 Steel Lake Studio news and Zach’s new book announcement

0:22:56 CHOOSE YOUR CHARACTER; Cody’s choice — Donkey Kong

0:28:08 CHOOSE YOUR CHARACTER; Zach’s choice — Kirby

0:33:00 MAIN TOPIC Super Mario 64. Our experience with Mario games.

0:37:25 History of Nintendo and Super Mario franchise

0:50:28 What was the inspiration for the Boo ghosts in SM64?

0:52:37 SM64 has more puzzles than any other Mario before it… Why is that?

0:56:49 The initial reception of SM64

0:59:49 Why Cody can sympathize with the Nintendo 64 kid

1:04:32 Playing the first Bowser level over and over again

1:06:51 SM64 was Zach’s introduction into the video gaming world

1:08:34 The most exciting gift for Christmas of ‘96 before opening the N64

1:10:40 First experience playing SM64

1:14:07 The most impactful game of our youth?

1:15:27 The unique type of storytelling that is experienced with video games

1:17:03 The legacy of Mario continues on

1:21:59 The special place that SM64 will have for us

1:27:06 Goodbye

Thank you so much for checking out Parallel Quest. This is a production of Steel Lake Studio. We don't just have one podcast though, we are a team of storytellers trying to use a variety of different mediums to tell stories that we have been working on our whole lives. If you would like to check out more of what we do, check out https://www.steellakestudio.com/

Zach’s Book Nightmare at the Fair: https://www.steellakestudio.com/books

Sign up for our E-MAIL LIST: https://www.steellakestudio.com/email

I you enjoy the show and would like to SUPPORT the show, you can do so on Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/steellakestudio

If you REALLY like the show, consider rocking some Parallel Quest themed MERCHANDISE:https://www.steellakestudio.com/merch

A bad experience with leftovers, our favorite mega monsters, and a terrible plot summary of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is what you have too on this 39th episode of parallel quest.

STORIES FROM THE GUYS

Zach: The quest for the best salad dressing on planet Earth

Cody: When leftovers decide to attack.

OUR FAVORITE MEGA MONSTERS

Something that is not talked about enough when the second Harry Potter is discussed is the fact that it includes a handful of large and terrifying creatures. The Whomping Willow, Aragog, and the Basilisk are all iconically terrifying in their own way and add to the tension of the story. In this segment, each of the guys shares one of their favorite mega monsters.

Zach: Shares about his love for the world’s largest reptilian god of destruction

Cody: A fire drake from the north that is a physical force as well as an intellectual one turns out to be the kind of monster that no one would want to sneak around.

MAIN TOPIC: HARRY POTTER AND THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS

The guys have quite a bit to talk about when it comes to the second Harry Potter story, and not all of it is in the form of a glowing review. They kick things off by giving a plot summary which they will need to apologize to all of the most hardcore Harry Potter fans for. Sure, the summary does suffice but there are many important details that each host remembered far later in the show. However, there are some fascinating nuggets of information that shed light on how The Chamber of Secrets is connected with later Harry Potter installments. The guys end up having a discussion about how much they actually think that JK Rowling had planned when she sat down and started clacking keys. Was Tom Riddle’s diary always supposed to be a horcrux or is that just a retroactive convenience? Cody shares the story about how this installment was initially hard for him to get through, while Zach was about to give up on the stories at Hogwarts after this one. There are many stories and discussions had throughout the episode, we hope you enjoy and would love to hear your stories too.

Thank you so much for checking out Parallel Quest. This is a production of Steel Lake Studio. We don't just have one podcast though, we are a team of storytellers trying to use a variety of different mediums to tell stories that we have been working on our whole lives. If you would like to check out more of what we do, check out https://www.steellakestudio.com/

Zach’s Book Nightmare at the Fair: https://www.steellakestudio.com/books

Sign up for our E-MAIL LIST: https://www.steellakestudio.com/email

I you enjoy the show and would like to SUPPORT the show, you can do so on Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/steellakestudio

If you REALLY like the show, consider rocking some Parallel Quest themed MERCHANDISE:https://www.steellakestudio.com/merch

Velveeta Cheese, Italian authors, lifestyles of the rich and dysfunctional, men in grocery stores, and the question of are there any heroes in The Great Gatsby. All of this and more is discussed in this week’s episode of Parallel Quest.

STORIES FROM THE GUYS

Zach shares with us about his latest road trip and literature that he is reading. The most surprising takeaway is his opinion on where the best Barbecue in the United States can be found.

Cody went on a journey for liquid gold at the most inopportune time. He shares about the stress, challenge, and frustrations of a last minute grocery run. 

BROUGHT TO TEARS

In this segment the guys decide to get a little vulnerable. It isn’t every episode that Zach and Cody allow the listeners to peer into that which makes them cry. However, after an amazing sports season that has come to an end, the guys decide to share some moments when they were brought to tears. However, these are not situations in life that actually matter that bring them to tears, but rather movies that they have watched that have either brought them to the verge of tears or completely opened up the valves to their personal waterworks.

They also discuss their general thoughts on movies that are intentionally made to be tear jerkers. While neither of the guys actively seeks out opportunities to watch these types of films, they have each seen their fair share of them. 

MAIN TOPIC: THE GREAT GATSBY

As the guys discuss what has been labeled “The Great American Novel” they share their thoughts, lessons and memories of The Great Gatsby. Topics that they explore are: The history and influences of F. Scott Fitzgerald; the initial success (or lack thereof) The Great Gatsby had early on; is this book just your typical tropey summer romance story?; Why are we drawn to the lifestyle of the rich and famous while despising it at the same time?; Who is the real hero in The Great Gatsby?

Enjoy as the guys discuss one of their favorite required reads from their youth!

Thank you so much for checking out Parallel Quest. This is a production of Steel Lake Studio. We don't just have one podcast though, we are a team of storytellers trying to use a variety of different mediums to tell stories that we have been working on our whole lives. If you would like to check out more of what we do, check out https://www.steellakestudio.com/

Zach’s Book Nightmare at the Fair: https://www.steellakestudio.com/books

Sign up for our E-MAIL LIST: https://www.steellakestudio.com/email

I you enjoy the show and would like to SUPPORT the show, you can do so on Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/steellakestudio

If you REALLY like the show, consider rocking some Parallel Quest themed MERCHANDISE:https://www.steellakestudio.com/merch

This week’s episode of Parallel Quest discusses many things such as conspiracies about coffee shops, why it would be terrible to be a mermaid, and wrapping up with the main discussion about Treasure Island.

STORIES FROM THE GUYS

Zach shares with us his thoughts on how a large chain of coffee shops may be pulling the wool over everyone’s eyes. To make it even more egregious, this is something happening during the holiday season!

Cody brings up something that he feels not enough people in the world are discussing, the reality that dry cereal is far superior to cereal with milk in it. 

WORLDS WE WOULD NEVER WANT TO LIVE IN

Many people have discussions around what fictional worlds that they would like to experience in real life. While that is fun to imagine, the guys decide to flip that topic of discussion on its head. Each host shares a fictional world that they would absolutely not want to be part of. 

MAIN TOPIC: TREASURE ISLAND

In the main topic of discussion, the guys discuss one of the most iconic adventure stories ever written, Treasure Island. They discuss the history of how the work was made and adapted into many different forms.The guys discuss how they first found out about the story as well as some of their favorite adaptations. They also have a discussion on what they think the proper age is to read the book as well as pondering if target-audiences have gotten older as time has gone by and why. Treasure Island also supplies us with one of the greatest villains in the history of storytelling. What is it about Long John Silver that makes him such a great villain? Finally, the guys share what they feel will be the lasting cultural impact of Treasure Island as time goes by.  

Thank you so much for checking out Parallel Quest. This is a production of Steel Lake Studio. We don't just have one podcast though, we are a team of storytellers trying to use a variety of different mediums to tell stories that we have been working on our whole lives. If you would like to check out more of what we do, check out https://www.steellakestudio.com/

Zach’s Book Nightmare at the Fair: https://www.steellakestudio.com/books

Sign up for our E-MAIL LIST: https://www.steellakestudio.com/email

I you enjoy the show and would like to SUPPORT the show, you can do so on Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/steellakestudio

If you REALLY like the show, consider rocking some Parallel Quest themed MERCHANDISE:https://www.steellakestudio.com/merch

The guys are starting off 2021 with a bang! Kicking off the year by discussing one of their least favorite literary works that they were obligated to read during their tenure in high school, The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne. Even though this was not their favorite read, it turned out to be a rather fun episode for the guys. Zach tells about his latest battle with a random pedestrian. Not a battle of physicality or dominance, but rather a civil sparring of cordiality and polite behavior. While the competition was fierce, we can safely conclude that each of the opponents came out with something to take pride in. Speaking of competition, Cody shares why he loves sports. While this is not a sports podcast, the guys like to sneak in a little sports talk here and there because they are big fans of their hometown teams. Competition is a great thing to witness but once the competition is over, what makes the world of highly competitive sports interesting are the variety of different stories that come out of it.The guys eagerly await as their favorite team gets ready to play in the NFL playoffs for the first time since they had to memorize all of their prepositions. Cody, has a scandal of his own that he must bring up before they discuss the rather scandalous Scarlet Letter. The stakes in the scandal going on within the life of Mr. Haggard is nowhere near as dramatic or traumatic as the one Hester Prynne had to go through but still very frustrating. 

The Scarlet Letter is a work that is known by many people around the world. Most of this is probably accredited to the fact that it is required reading for most us who have gone through the educational system in the United States. With this being a truth, the guys decide to share some of their favorite stories that are not as well known or popular that they think deserve a little bit more love. 

In the main topic discussing The Scarlet Letter the guys discuss many interesting things about the history of the book as well as share their opinions on it. From how Nathaniel Hawthorne decided to change the spelling of his name to the very mysterious case of who should get credit for the work’s publication, there are some rather interesting historical facts that accompany this historical “masterpiece.” The guys discuss their initial impact of the book while also sharing that they read it at a time that was completely irrelevant to the stage of life they were at. Is it worth taking the time within a literature class to examine a book like this, when many students find it somewhere on the spectrum of “not very interesting” to “downright boring.” The formative years should be those that are used to create interest in reading for students, not putting books in front of them that will make them want to run away from it. 

Even though neither of the guys initially liked the Scarlet Letter they can appreciate the story’s accomplishments and literary power. It was a book that challenged the status quo which is a common attribute of the stories we remember the most. Listen in as the guys discuss whether this is a book that they will ever want to revisit or one that they think should just be left for the annals of history.

Thank you so much for checking out Parallel Quest. This is a production of Steel Lake Studio. We don't just have one podcast though, we are a team of storytellers trying to use a variety of different mediums to tell stories that we have been working on our whole lives. If you would like to check out more of what we do, check out https://www.steellakestudio.com/

Zach’s Book Nightmare at the Fair: https://www.steellakestudio.com/books

Sign up for our E-MAIL LIST: https://www.steellakestudio.com/email

I you enjoy the show and would like to SUPPORT the show, you can do so on Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/steellakestudio

If you REALLY like the show, consider rocking some Parallel Quest themed MERCHANDISE:https://www.steellakestudio.com/merch

2020 is almost over and the guys decide to have a discussion that is all over the place to end the year. Listen in as Zach shares about his potential future as a craftsman, now that he is the proud owner of his very own workbench. But, not only is he a future artist in the technique of lumber-slinging, he shares tales of his inner competitive nature. A simple board game of Ticket to Ride might seem like a casual family fun day, however, Zach competes at everything as if it were a championship match. 

Have you ever randomly found a slight error in the construction of your home? Not the kind that are detrimental to the safety of your house, but the kind where a small mistake can cause a big headache far into the future. Well, if you haven't, you are extremely blessed, unfortunately for Cody that blessing has not been extended towards him. As a collector of books, every once in a while you decide to gift yourself a new book shelf in order to expand future works to your collection. The main problem with collecting books, though, is that they take up a rather large amount of physical space as the years go by.  Cody and his wife thought that they found a perfect spot to add more shelves, purchased the shelves, put them together, but late in the fourth quarter ran into a little bit of trouble.

This week the guys devote more time to the stories that they have been taking in. Zach has finally wrapped up his reading of The Stand by Stephen King. As he has mentioned many times over, it is a rather long book and he has been working on it for a while, but finishing something that long brings with it a level of satisfaction and accomplishment. Coming in at roughly 500,000 words, this book is a heavy one, only slightly short than Leo Tolstoy's notoriously long War and Peace. 

The story that Cody listened to over the last week was one that he enjoyed so little that he nearly forgot about it. Upon remembering what it was it spurred on a critique/review that was not very flattering of this disappointing sequel. That story in question is Ready Player Two, the sequel to the beloved Ready Player One. Not everything needs or should have a sequel.  The  saddest part about any sequel is when you can obviously tell that they were set out to be cash grabs from the very beginning. All of this and more is discussed between the guys as they have a rather long discussion about Ready Player Two.

After calming down the guys finally get into their wrap up of 2020. They talk about their favorite moments and their largest difficulties. More exciting then just recapping what already has been, the guys share a few little teasers about the work that they are excited to be sharing in 2021. The team at Steel Lake Studio is so excited about a new year and very thankful for everyone who has joined them to this point. 

To you, the listener and reader of these show notes, we thank you for all of your support to this point and look forward to continuing this quest on into the future. 

Thank you so much for checking out Parallel Quest. This is a production of Steel Lake Studio. We don't just have one podcast though, we are a team of storytellers trying to use a variety of different mediums to tell stories that we have been working on our whole lives. If you would like to check out more of what we do, check out https://www.steellakestudio.com/

Zach’s Book Nightmare at the Fair: https://www.steellakestudio.com/books

Sign up for our E-MAIL LIST: https://www.steellakestudio.com/email

I you enjoy the show and would like to SUPPORT the show, you can do so on Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/steellakestudio

If you REALLY like the show, consider rocking some Parallel Quest themed MERCHANDISE:

https://www.steellakestudio.com/merch

INTRODUCTION 

In today’s episode of Parallel Quest the guys start off by having a discussion of bedside manner. Is it better for a doctor or nurse to be completely silent during an exam or are a few words of assurance that “everything looks good” a little better? One thing leads to another and Zach ends up telling a story about a time that he had swollen lymph nodes or, according to his doctor, “possibly cancer.”

2020 has definitely been the year of strange things and the changing of traditions. Weddings have been one thing that have been quite different in 2020. With canceled and postponed weddings becoming rather popular, somehow, Cody still found himself officiating two of them under expedited circumstances. There is a possibility that his calling in life is to be a professional wedding officiant? Maybe. But more importantly, the guys discuss how people should really approach weddings in the midst of a global pandemic. 

THE RANDOM DISCUSSION TOPIC OF THE WEEK: Zach and Cody agree on a lot of things but not always everything. A recent topic that they found themselves in disagreement over was “which storytelling medium has the largest market size.” Zach thinks that the literary fiction market is larger than that of films. Cody believes the opposite, thinking the the market for films is quite a bit larger than that of literary fiction. Listen in as the guys discuss and let us know what you think about it as well. Write into the show here (https://www.steellakestudio.com/community) to let the guys know what you think about the topic.

MAIN TOPIC: HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS (2000 film) 01:00:30

How the Grinch Stole Christmas was a highly anticipated film for the guys in the year 2000, but it was not a movie that came to life in the easiest of ways. After a crazy agreement to attain the rights to Dr. Seuss’s work, the Grinch was released with a big name star (Jim Carrey) leading the performance and a successful director (Ron Howard) commanding the team that brought Dr. Seuss’s imagination to the live-action screen. The film received rather lukewarm reception by critics upon its release but has gone on to be a classic played around many television sets in the years to follow.

Even though the film wasn’t the best, it captured the imagination of Dr. Seuss’s world in a rather impressive way. The team that brought the film to life was full of talent from people who were formerly writers for Seinfeld to the greatest makeup artist in modern film, Rick Baker. This episode of Parallel Quest digs in to the talent that is, Rick Baker. Cody shares exactly how and why this is a household name in the Haggard house, even though most casual film viewers probably have no idea who he is. 

There are many stories from the guys attached to this film that will allow you to laugh along and hopefully share your own as well.

Thank you so much for checking out Parallel Quest. This is a production of Steel Lake Studio. We don't just have one podcast though, we are a team of storytellers trying to use a variety of different mediums to tell stories that we have been working on our whole lives. If you would like to check out more of what we do, check out https://www.steellakestudio.com/

Zach’s Book Nightmare at the Fair: https://www.steellakestudio.com/books

Sign up for our E-MAIL LIST: https://www.steellakestudio.com/email

I you enjoy the show and would like to SUPPORT the show, you can do so on Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/steellakestudio

If you REALLY like the show, consider rocking some Parallel Quest themed MERCHANDISE:https://www.steellakestudio.com/merch