Interview with M.J. Kuhn About Killswitch Protocol: Her New Cyberpunk Thriller
Host Dylan interviews author M.J. Kuhn about her new cyberpunk thriller, Killswitch Protocol, exploring its themes of algorithmic control and revolutionary morality.
25 Feb 2026TRANSCRIPT
Dylan's Fantasy Check-In: My Research Study on SFF Authors; Update on the Podcast; My Recent Reads
After a longer-than-usual break, Dylan drops in with a solo update episode.
First, he shares a quick note about his doctoral dissertation study, Work and Well-Being Among Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers. If you’re a published science fiction, fantasy, and/or speculative fiction author (US, UK, Canada, or Australia) and might be interested in participating, he explains what’s involved and how to get in touch. Please reach out before March 15th, 2026 if you meet the criteria and would like to participate! Best place to reach Dylan is by email at Dylan.Marsh@colostate.edu
Then, he reflects on the Friends Talking Fantasy providing a brief but meandering update on FTF, life changes, and what the podcast has meant over the years.
Finally, Dylan touches on what he’s read within recent months, including:
The Tawny Man Trilogy and beyond in Robin Hobb’s Realm of the Elderlings
The Way of Shadows by Brent Weeks
The Ambassador Chronicles by James Voorhees
The Devils by Joe Abercrombie
If you’re interested in the dissertation study, reach out to me via email:Dylan.Marsh@ColoState.edutheftfpodcast@gmail.com
Or DM me on Instagram or BlueSky at the account @theftfpodcast
Or Twitter/X via the account @theftfpodcast1
22 Sept 2025
Travis Baldree on Brigands and Breadknives | Cozy Fantasy & Legends & Lattes Sequel
Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@friendstalkingfantasy
We are overjoyed to welcome Travis Baldree — #1 New York Times bestselling author of Legends & Lattes and Bookshops & Bonedust — to Friends Talking Fantasy!
Follow Friends Talking Fantasy:
Website: https://www.theftfpodcast.com/
Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/TheFTFPodcast1
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theftfpodcast/
Travis joins us to discuss his highly anticipated new book, Brigands and Breadknives (out November 11, 2025). In this conversation, we explore:
Why Fern takes center stage as the POV character
How the story shifts from cozy “new shop” vibes into adventure
The themes of identity, purpose, and listlessness that drive the book
The true nature of “stakes” in cozy fantasy — and why they’re anything but small
Travis’s career journey from game developer → audiobook narrator → bestselling novelist
📚 Brigands and Breadknives releases November 11, 2025 — preorder your copy today!
Inside a recent episode
Interview with M.J. Kuhn About Killswitch Protocol: Her New Cyberpunk Thriller
Published 24 Aug 2026 · Transcript excerpt
[…] Right. And I always knew I wanted to include that internal voice. Right. The voice that actually is part of this whatever board this part of this board that controls things, because it gives me as a writer and then now as the readers the opportunity to see, OK, sometimes the power structure looks a certain way from one angle and looks a different way from another angle. And, uh, you know, I think Raina is a somewhat sympathetic character, but she's not designed to be super sympathetic because she still kind of sucks. You know, ultimately she's still, she has attained this level of power and she is going to do pretty much anything that it takes to hold onto that power. […]
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