A Link between Words is a podcast run by two guys who love the legend of Zelda video game franchise. Co-hosts Shane Watterson and Brady Conley leave no pot intact in their discussion and analysis of all things in the series. Episodes range from general topics and themes to deep dives into specific titles. If you just can’t get enough Zelda, then crack a beer with us and give us a listen.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alinkbetweenwordspod/
We are back after Brady's four month second baby hiatus! This is the first part in a deep dive series of episodes where we will discuss the Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds.
00:00: Introductions
00:30: Maps and Catching Up
02:50: The Red Sox Turnaround
04:41: Our First Deep Dive, Star Wars, Corona
08:45: Our Personal Histories with A Link Between Worlds
22:10: Development History
46:08: Narragansett Beer Intermission
49:30: The Opening Hours, Characters, and Gameplay
1:20:20 Wrap Up
3 Jul 2026
Episode 6: The Music of Zelda Part II
This is the second of two episodes where we will analyze the music of the series. Check out the timestamps below for specific topics.
00:00: Introductions
00:29: Baseball
02:56: Unsolicited Political Commentary
05:33: The Need for Two Episodes
06:38: Fi’s Theme
07:50: Shane Sings
08:34: How Zelda Creates Variations on Its Themes
12:14: The Absence of Music
14:26: More Tracks We Missed
15:56: Oath to Order
18:16: The Dark World Theme
20:17: Ikana Valley
22:56: The Flute Boy from A Link to the Past and Emotional Weight in Zelda Scores
26:39: The Song of Time and the Relationship Between Limitations and Creativity
32:06: Link’s Instruments
32:56: The Wind Waker Baton
39:38: The Ocarina and Other Wind Instruments
56:57: Bongos
57:50: Guitar
1:02:05: Link’s Other Instruments
1:05:16: The Problematic Treasure Chest Minigame Girl from Majora’s Mask
1:09:11: Minigame Music
1:17:42: Battle Music
1:19:27: Woodfall Temple Music
1:20:58: Ganondorf Battle Music in Ocarina of Time
1:22:15: Ganondorf Battle Music in Twilight Princess
1:26:43: Colgera Theme
1:27:20: An Apology to Skyward Sword
1:28:14: Boss and Mini-boss Battle Themes
1:35:00: House/Shop/Town Themes
1:36:24: Clock Town
1:46:00: The Astral Observatory
1:53:39: Kakariko Village
1:59:27: Hyrule Castle Town in Ocarina of Time
2:02:27: Hateno Village
2:04:49: Outset and Windfall Islands
2:05:32: Tarrey Town
2:06:11: Other Hyrule Castle Town Themes
2:08:16: Spoiled Boston Sports Fan
2:09:27: Hyrule Castle Courtyard in Ocarina of Time
2:12:13: Inside a House and Shop Themes
2:14:51 Zora’s Domain
2:16:18: Dragon Roost Island and Rito Village
2:21:33: Goron City
2:26:17: Seinfeld Tangent
2:28:37: A PSA for the Arts
2:30:30: Incidental Music
2:43:16: Wrapping Up
2:44:43: Honey and Darling and High School Boy Insecurities
2:49:52: Outro and Future Release Schedule
26 Jun 2026
Episode 5: The Music of Zelda Part I
This is the first of two episodes where we will analyze the music of the series. Check out the timestamps below for specific topics.
00:00: Introductions
00:29: Comedians, Sitcoms, Good Friday, and the Sox
03:59: Music is Integral to Zelda
06:22: History of the Zelda Theme
07:19: Loading Screens in A Link Between Worlds and A Link to the Past
08:27: Zelda, Classical Music, and Film Scores
11:25: The Genius of Koji Kondo and Spaghetti Westerns
19:02: Overworld Themes
42:38: Dungeon Themes
1:05:36: Zelda’s Lullaby
1:12:38: Ganondorf’s Theme
1:13:00: Shane’s Crush on Din
1:14:45 Song of Storms
1:19:00: Link’s Theme
1:20:18: Character and Race Themes
1:48:20: Outro
17 Jun 2026
Episode 4: The Timeline
In this episode, we will analyze the chronology of the history of Hyrule. Special guests include Brady's wife Emily and their dog Wren.
00:00: Introductions
00:37: The Nietzsche Ball Bros
03:02: Special Guests Emily and Wren
04:15: Emily’s Personal History with Zelda
11:30: Introducing Wren
13:36: History and Controversy of the Timeline
17:42: Brady’s Take on the Timeline
20:11 Two Timelines, Not Three
21:27: The Chronology of Nintendo’s Flagship Titles
24:15: Avatar: The Last Air Bender and Star Wars
25:58: Skyward Sword’s Impact on the Timeline
27:35: The Minish Cap
30:13: The Curse of Demise
31:58: The Credibility of the Timeline
34:08: Four Swords
37:43: Ocarina of Time
39:49: Timeline Split
41:48: Hyrulean Satire
43:44: Gary Gulman
45:54: Child Timeline
46:12: Majora’s Mask
50:30: Twilight Princess
52:25: Four Swords Adventures
53:37: How Many Links?
54:31: Who’s Taking Care of the Master Sword?
55:45: Dampé the Gravedigger and Babu Frik
56:59: Adult Timeline
57:57: The Wind Waker
58:38: Emily’s Coughing Fit
1:00:12: Seals in The Wind Waker
1:01:46: Emily’s Coughing Returns
1:02:19: Religion in Hyrule
1:04:04: The Implications of The Wind Waker’s Ending and Shane’s Pizza
1:06:55: Phantom Hourglass
1:08:20: Spirit Tracks
1:08:57: The Races of Hyrule in and Wrap Up of the Adult Timeline
1:16:49: The Downfall Timeline
1:17:13: The Imprisoning War and A Link to the Past
1:18:20: Link’s Awakening
1:19:05: Oracle of Ages and Oracles of Seasons
1:22:43: A Link Between Worlds
1:22:35: Triforce Heroes
1:25:48: Echoes of Wisdom
1:27:03: The Legend of Zelda and Zelda II: the Adventure of Link
1:33:33: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom
1:33:24: Reincarnation in Zelda
1:32:52: The Legend of Laelaps
1:35:30: Wrap Up
1:37:04: Outro
10 Jun 2026
Episode 3: Dungeons, Puzzles, and Items Part II
This is the second of two episodes where we will analyze the dungeons, puzzles, and items in the series.
00:00: Introductions
01:32: Juggling Brothers Cosplay and Thus Spoke Zarathustra
07:18: Items Introduction
08:16: Traversal Items
15:30: An Ode to the Boomerang
16:37: Gust Items and Tangents
19:10: Tools
21:20: The Mirror Shield
23:12: Puzzles and Switches
24:32: Roc’s Cape/Feather and Jumping
26:35: Classic Puzzle and Dungeon Design
30:15 Other Traversal Items
31:45: Items with Multiple Uses are Best
35:18: Twilight Princess’ Temple of Time
38:04: Bombs
44:38: Bow and Arrow
45:31: Hookshot
48:33: Magic
52:14: Some Wind Waker Love
54:23: Masks and other Magic Items
57:16: Swords and Shields
1:08:22: Shane’s Grievances with Breath of the Wild
1:12:18: Breath of the Wild Puzzles
1:17:52: Memorable Puzzles
1:23:25: Little Women and Shane’s Full Name
1:26:30: Back to Memorable Puzzles
1:41:54: Dungeon Order in Ocarina of Time
1:44:21: Other Tools
1:51:03: Musical Instruments
1:53:19: Fishing Rod
1:54:58: Use of Space in Ikana Canyon
2:05:31: Memorable Boss Fights
2:09:24: Shane Loves the Megaton Hammer
2:12:47: Brady Loves the Hookshot
2:13:47: Outros
3 Jun 2026
Episode 2: Dungeons, Puzzles, and Items Part I
This is the first of two episodes where we will analyze the dungeons, puzzles, and items in the series.
00:00: Introductions
03:37: Dungeons are Zelda
06:24: Memorable Leadups to Dungeons
08:38: City in the Sky Tangents
13:11: Other Memorable Leadups to Dungeons
18:47: Dungeons Fitting into the Narrative
21:03: Constraints Inspire Innovation
23:10: Preludes to Dungeons and Dungeons as Organic Spaces
30:01: First Dungeons
37:24: How Zelda Approaches Dungeons
38:54: What Makes a Great Zelda Dungeon
1:08:35: Divine Beasts
1:10:30: Catholic Tangent
1:11:39: “Bad” Zelda Dungeon Qualities
1:15:07: Dungeons as an Experience
1:19:24: Dungeons Are Not Just Puzzles
1:22:25: Items and Dungeon Design
1:29:05: Some Brief Final Dungeon Analysis
1:38:35: Phantom Hourglass and Spirit Tracks Development Choices
1:45:33: 2D vs. 3D Dungeons
1:51:58: Our Favorite Dungeons
1:56:18: Shrines in Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom
2:00:08: Forest, Fire, and Water Trifecta
2:01:40: Pivotal Dungeons
2:03:54: Outro
29 May 2026
Episode 1: Why We Love Zelda
Our first episode of our first podcast ever! In this episode, we will introduce ourselves, the show, and why we love this video game franchise.
00:00: Introductions
02:00: What Zelda Means to Us
08:01: Boston Sports Fans
09:18 More Personal Histories
18:01: Video Games as Art
19:44: Cultural Inspirations in Zelda
21:00: Shane’s College Essay
23:18: Brady’s Examples of What Zelda Means to Him
24:04: Music and Sound Effects
36:30 Zelda is Relatable
40:36: Zelda Stays Fresh
42:49: The World of Hyrule
54:27: Rhode Islanders
55:35: Remasters
56:39: Fantasy and Puzzles
1:03:32: There’s Beer in the Fridge!
1:03:48: Outro
29 May 2026
Trailer
A Link between Words is a podcast run by two guys who love the legend of Zelda video game franchise. Co-hosts Shane Watterson and Brady Conley leave no pot intact in their discussion and analysis of all things in the series. Episodes range from general topics and themes to deep dives into specific titles. If you just can’t get enough Zelda, then crack a beer with us and give us a listen.
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Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
2 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
3 ratings
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