I know everyone is busy with a new month and a new year, but I must ask. What are the plans for any upcoming episodes? I just haven't see anything on the forums. Sorry to be an annoyance.

We are continuing with our Clash of Kings reread. Recording this weekend hopefully. Pre-episode comments are possible here:

viewforum.php?f=10

-Amin

Are you going to be discussing any more Dance of Dragons theories?

why has there been nothing on Sweets? Seriously I expected hours of hilarious banter about Sweets and Yezzan, after all how often do you have one of the fattest men alive doing the horzontal Charlston with a hermaphrodite!

WHEN

I want episodes every week, starting now.

I realsie that its difficult to organise a session but they are really spread out and the last two havent had all the members inthen and this makes me sad

i want to apologize for this. i've been really bogged down with personal things recently, but it's been rather irresponsible of me to shelve the 'cast. i am going to try my best to be at the next recording. thank god for amin holding this thing together.

its great to see the little yellow pokemon more often on the boards again. hope to hear all of you soon again...

but now some comments on the episode:
- i think amin is right. a smaller cast (with one seat occupied by "new" voices) seem really to lead into straigther episodes in terms of "focused". but that does not mean that i don't miss the "lots of people, lots of digressions, lots of strange topics"-episodes
- i like how 3 canadians seem to talk long times about bears. that somehow fits
- i like the term: "he's polishing his helmet..."

That was the alternate possible title for this episode: Bear Mode/Bear Theory or something to do with Bears

A bear and two maiden fair?

You have nothing to apologize for. We have all been through some shit. Amin rocks. It is known.



cough, cough

now that some Podcast members are here that have dirty minds *cough* mimi *cough* i want to repeat this



i think the next episode should be based about Sweets
though now that time has been given so that all that knowledge has been absorbed Revanjames has a point



hint: Sweets is a Targaryen?

I completely agree with everything said in this post.
One of the things I really enjoy about the podcast is its randomness. I think theres a reason why this podcast is the longest running on SOIAF topic. Ive tryed listen to a couple others and have been bored to tears. The more the merrier, I say.
But small podcast is better than no podcast, thats true.

Now I have to agree
I like the lack of always trying to stay to-the-bone serios that aPoIaF often shows.

I started to hear Boiled Leather and came (at last) to Episode 5 with Amin. I have to say that both of the hosts are well-spoken and intelligent but sometimes it bores me to hell. Especially when one of them presents his idea for several minutes and afterwards the other one only has to add: "I agree totally". I like Stefan's articles a lot as they are thought through and impressively well researched. But they have an advantage over the podcasts: You can skim over them and decide first: Is that part interesting or not and therefore read it or not. The episode with Amin was better - because the coversation between three tends to be more unstable and Amin understood it very well to interview the two of them...

When only the two of them speak, both of them sometimes tend to be a little too philosophical - and (although they would deny that) I have the suspicion that they sometimes forget that they are talking about books. I know the books are intended and written as "fantasy and history combined" but that means that - in fact - not a historical figure "thought" or "decided" something but GRRM has made that specific idea/event up totally on his own. So in consequence when discussing the books it would be more appropriate not to say "Jaime Lannister made A, because,..." but to say "GRRM made Jaime Lannister do A, because,...". I know the story is intriguing and I often tend also to the first argumentation, but I never forget that I do not talk about "real" events.

And in addition to that I have a big problem with one of their main points: They often state that "in our 21st century society" it "seems strange" that somebody could root with Tywin or another of the bad(ass) rulers. Hey, why not - ITS A STORY! I'm totally aware that nobility in medieval times gave a shit about the smallfolk and sometimes also their equals. Most of them are despicable in every way we don't like dictators today. Nevertheless some also accomplished applaudable things in terms of military or science or other fields. And not only in the medieval there were military and other leaders (some of them idiots and/or cruel) who's accomplishements in other fields can be seen as great. And don't get me wrong - I surely do not speak about certain european leaders of the 20th century (Mr. H, Mr. S and others).

In fact I could never root for a real historical figure as much as for some fictional BECAUSE I know they were real and did most likely things I would not support. It seems Stefan and Sean often want to show what smartasses they are. They try to show how everybody else forgets, that some of the cruel things in the book are in fact cruel and horrible. But in the same instance both of them forget the most important thing: ITS A STORY!

We better be careful. We only need one more agreeing party to make a circle jerk. For now, we will just have to settle for a Rub'N'Tug.


I still havent listened to Stefans podcast. I'll probably download the episode Amin was on tonight.
It sounds like you need to write them this in an E-mail or on their message boards. If they have one. With all due respect, of course. haha

I don't think I'll do that, because I don't have plans to listen to them reugularly.

It's a big internet. There's definitely room for lots of podcasts. Everyone surely fits a niche. We are the fun times, dont take ourselves too seriously and go on random tangents niche.

I listened to the one with Amin i wanted to hear someones perspective on the WoW spoiler chapter.I thought it was alright ...... I think Brynden is gonna gut them though

Don't underestimate the podcasts seriosity. I think you all show the right seriousness to bring new and different sights on the whole aSoIaF-world and -fandom. Not everything has to be played for keeps - especially if the focus is on a work/story/movie that is meant for pure entertainment.



I won't hear that one, because don't want to spoil myself with TWOW-content.

Stefan and Sean do have a strong seriousness streak in their podcasting style. They also do tend to, as one commenter put it, "apply 21st century delicate uber-liberal sensibilities to this medieval fantasy world. " However, as Stefan noted in response, that is what they do with their essays and their podcast is just a honest reflection and extension of that. That is what works well for them and their fans.

Some listeners will not like their podcasting style, just like some listeners do not like our laid back style. I agree that I prefer to read their articles and website posts rather than listen to the podcast, but I don't listen to any of the other podcasts out there, other than Elio and Linda's occasional videocasts. There is only so much Ice and Fire I can handle at a time.

Another big difference is that it was just the two of them (until I guest hosted) on each podcast episode. They are used to chatting to each other all the time so it took me a little while to get used to podcasting with them. Yes, they do talk longer than normal, but that makes sense as it is just the 2 of them rather than, say, the 6 person bonanza in one of our Guys Nights Outs. I think that I meshed better with them in episode 6 and it shows, compared to the slow start in episode 5. But both episodes were quite fun to record and they have a great grasp of the series lore.

I have to say, Amin, your appearance on Boiled Leather is what drew me over here - I'm a relatively new fan who is still discovering all the different fan outlets for ASOIAF out there. This one is definitely right up there.
I'm desperately trying to listen to all the podcasts so I can get up to date... only 50 to go. :-/
After the seriousness of Boiled Leather, it's good to be able to laugh at the series. Especially because we are probably going to be waiting for a very, very long time. Keep trucking!

I also went to listen to Amin on Boiled Leather. I like the podcast, but as Kyle pointed out, it's a big internet and there's room for lots of styles/interpretations. I noticed that Stefan and Sean started out the way you guys did - large broad topics on the entire corpus - honor, government, religion, etc. But, I think, like you guys, if the podcast continues, they'll have to start breaking it down into smaller chunks.
Also, I can't even imagine the amount of work Stefan puts into writing his essays for Tower of the Hand. That's dedication and deserves respect!

I like having a serious discussion now and then about the series, but these books are full of snark, and I love our snarky take on them too.

Lastly, I've tried listening to the Cast of Thrones podcast. Since the show has been on hiatus, they've delved into a book reread. I'm not sure how old those podcasters are, but they seem really young. Also, not very well informed, and they never discuss theories or anything from the forums. However, they must have some sort of pull, because they get to interview actors from the show like Syrio (Miltos), Hodor (Kristian), and Loras (Finn?). But, I must say, their version of "girls night out" was pretty good (Wine, Women, and Westeros) and they had a pretty insightful discussion of the women characters in the books. If that's what you want to hear. If you want to hear a bunch of girls cackling while looking at Nikolas Walder-Costau's junk, then listen to our version.

I didn't want to say that Stefan's and Sean's work is not good or any of that (in contrast: I find especially Stefan's essays and analysis skills awesome and admirable). I gave them a try (because Amin said he is on board for ep 5) and heared the existing episodes in chronological order (except the last one) to build my own opinion.

I just found out that I like to read Stefan's work more than to hear the Boiled Leather podcast. I like THEM to read, but I love APoIaF to listen to...

I would compare it to some bands - they make the best music to listen to on CD/MP3 whatever, but in concert they are somehow boring. While there are other bands (sometimes not the most skilled or fabulous musicians) that are able to rock an audience and you go out and tell everyone how great the concert was...

APoIaF is the second band - I prefer those.

Welcome to our forums and I'm glad you decided to give us a try. I feel like our last 30 episodes have been a lot better than the first 30, but there are good ones throughout.


Sometimes I wonder whether I should post a viewing guide in the downloads section or even put the earliest episodes on an archive page (still accessible for those that want to hear all but takes a second click to do so). Because episode 1-2 and some of the other earlier episodes are not really indicative of our current state of podcasting - we are a lot more comfortable podcasting with each other and podcasting in general now.

I think the idea of a 'best-of' which has been floated elsewhere is a great idea that would really help new listeners like me. I don't want to miss all the inside jokes and book discussion, but at the same time, it's frustrating listening to pre-ADWD/GOT TV series discussion.
I have a really boring job and I'm getting through 3-4 eps a day, so I'll eventually catch up.

I went to their site after i read your post and apparently only two of their hosts have actually read all of the books. It seems like they are more focused on the tv series. APOIAF is the Mecca of all ASOIAF podcasts. We should make all other podcasts bend the knee.

2 podcasts enter, 1 podcast leaves.

I was all set to go listen to Amin's appearance, but I'm avoiding advance chapters, so I'm glad I found out they discuss the WoW preview beforehand. I may check out Cast of Thrones just to see what the actors are saying.

Actually, Amin is in two podcasts (I guess one recording split into two), and the first one isn't about the spoiler chapter but one of Stefan's theories about possible motives behind Rickard's (Ned's Dad) "southron ambitions", as related by Lady Dustin. It's pretty interesting, and spoiler free, as long as you've read DWD.

Cool - thanks. I will go find that one, then.