I’m talking to Artyom Nichipurov from Wolffdesigna Games, a Latvian firm that’s most famous for the excellent “Guards of Atlantis II”, a tabletop adaptation of the MOBA game experience. If you don’t know what any of this means, no worry, I got you covered - the first seven minutes of the episode explain what MOBAs are and how GoA2 specifically functions so you can understand the episode. If you already know, feel free to jump to minute 7.26 for the episode proper. Download the episode! Wolffdesi...
Jun 07, 2025
Today, we’re talking about the period from 1966 to 1974. Witness the Grand Coalition and the coming into power of Willy Brandt, heading the first SPD government of the Federal Republic with his slogan of “daring more democracy”. Download the episode.
May 28, 2025
Today, we’re covering the first half of the history of the Democratic Republic of Germany - or East Germany, to its friends. From the earliest days of popular insurrection to the construction of the Berlin Wall and the twilight days of Ulbricht’s reign, we have you covered. Download the episode!...
Apr 23, 2025
In our ongoing series on the best moments of the series, we take apart the Bridge of Dream sequence, which provides us with some unusualy challenges - we don’t really know where any of this leads, so this is more meta and speculative as usual. Download the episode!
Mar 10, 2025
Today, we’re looking at why the CDU could rule for 20 years in the early German republic. There’s a good combination of electoral shenanigans, foreign policy questions and old Nazis involved. Download the episode!
Feb 28, 2025
From the Berlin airlift to the Berlin wall, this episodes covers Germany’s capital (and the capital of spies) from wall to wall. Download the episode!
Dec 22, 2024
This is our 200th episode. Of course we wanted to do something special. George R. R. Martin asked us if he could guest host, but we were too busy, so we settled on doing the Red Wedding. We hope that’s ok. Download the episode!
Dec 14, 2024
Everyone and their mother knows Dungeons&Dragons, at least in concept. But few people know the most important German roleplaying game, “The Dark Eye.” With professor Adrian Daub of Stanford, I talk about this game that’s near and dear to my heart - and maybe yours too, soon. Download the episod e !...
Nov 24, 2024
BLAH 199 | A Tale of Two Germanies - Establishment, with Jim McGeehin We’re back again! With Jim McGeehin, I talk about the founding of not one but two German states. We’ll have a look at why we’re creating two states instead of one and how these two shape out. You might want to reference the following two diagrams, but it’s not essential. We keep it light on the legalese. Download the episode! Diagram of the constitution of East Germany Diagram of the constitution of West Germany...
Oct 10, 2024
After 11 months, we’re back talking the history of the divided Germany! After looking at western Germany last time around, this time, we’re taking the deep dive into East Germany 1946 to 1948 and ask ourselves how to succesfully build socialism in Germany. Download the episode!...
Sep 13, 2024
The season finale is here! Sean and I have a slightly different view about it, but as is our wont, we agree on a lot, and the show stays superb even though Sean left a bit disappointed. Download the episode
Aug 07, 2024
There’s a lot of dragons this episode, and we’re comparing the show to Better Call Saul, The Americans and Halt and Catch Fire, because that makes a lot of sense - as you’ll learn listening! Download the episode!
Jul 31, 2024
Three days, and there’s good news (even earlier if you’re a Patreon!): HotD is STILL one of the best things on TV right now. This episode, characters, actors and dialogue writing are front and center, and the scenes are so damn good we cannot shut up about if for an hour. Download the episode! Podcast RSS feed. Stefan on Twitter. Stefan’s blog....
Jul 24, 2024
“House of the Dragon” continues to be excellent in this laid-back but still incredibly rich and textured episode. We discuss shot compositions, nightmares, thin places and politics, all in one podcast! Download the episode! Podcast RSS feed. Stefan on Twitter. Stefan’s blog....
Jul 17, 2024
The dragons danced and died, but Stefan skipped town. Yet Sean is not flying solo! Friend of the show Gretchen Felker-Martin, the acclaimed horror novelist behind Manhunt and Cuckoo, joins the Illustrious Co-host for a conversation about the most spectacular, violent, important episode of House of the Dragon yet. Join the ol’ Cut to Black team as they discuss this fantasy landmark! Download the episode!...
Jul 10, 2024
This may just be the best episode of a great show yet. Sean and I discuss why in exhaustive and euphoric detail. Also, more detail than you wanted about full-frontal blowjobs, but the show started it. Download the episode! Podcast RSS feed. Stefan on Twitter. Stefan’s blog....
Jul 03, 2024
Now we’re in episode 2. Who won? Ser Arryk or Ser Erryk? We’re not confused. Because we care about themes. Download the episode!
Jun 29, 2024
We finally did it and continue the “Best of ASOIAF” series. It’s a crowd pleaser, Daenerys’ “Dracarys” moment, which also marked a turning point for Emilia Clarke in the series. But we are digging deeper: why is it such a crowd pleaser, and what does it mean? What does it portend for Dany? Follow us into the deep dive and fry some slavers. Download the episode! Torrent Our iTunes page. Previous episodes . Podcast RSS feed. Stefan on Twitter. Stefan’s blog. Sean on Twitter....
Jun 23, 2024
You didn’t think we’d miss this, right? Weekly episodes, from now on, on the regular channel! Listen to us how we discuss the most important thing in season 2: the new title sequence. And some other stuff, like child murder. Download the episode! Torrent Our iTunes page. Previous episodes . Podcast RSS feed. Stefan on Twitter. Stefan’s blog. Sean on Twitter....
Jun 19, 2024
In a special, political episode, I talk with political operative Frank Spring about the upcoming presidential elections. If you don’t want politics from me, stay away from this episode :) You have been warned. Download the episode! Torrent Our iTunes page. Previous episodes . Podcast RSS feed. Stefan on Twitter. Stefan on Bluesky . Stefan’s blog....
Jan 28, 2024
