Genre Blender

About Genre Blender

Exploring what makes stories stick, from the page to the screen—with Kris and Rian.

Publisher

Genre Blender

Category

arts

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

6 Aug 2024

Latest episode

27 May 2026

Latest episodes

37 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   27 May 2026

   37: No notes, no plans, no problem!

   Life had other plans this month. Kris and Rian ditch the episode notes and lean into the chaos, using their own unplanned episode as a jumping-off point to talk about what happens when you're a chronic planner and 2026 just won't slow down. In between, there's a detailed Read Watch Play (Rian miraculously finished a book, and there’s a farming sim that's eating Kris's soul), some stuff that’s Coming Right Up, and a Backlog Roulette spin. It's a laid-back one, but an honest one. Come hang. 💬 Join our Discord community! https://genreblender.net/discord (https://genreblender.net/discord) 🌐 Reviews, essays, and more on our website: https://www.genreblender.net (https://www.genreblender.net) Chapters: 0:00 Intro 1:49 Read, Watch, Play 36:18 Planning vs Vibing (main topic) 1:01:04 Coming Right Up 1:05:29 Backlog Roulette 1:08:59 Outro and web links Read: Vile Lady Villains https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/1428054a-07af-4064-aeeb-a174c8174833 (https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/1428054a-07af-4064-aeeb-a174c8174833) Outlander https://app.thestorygraph.com/series/111846 (https://app.thestorygraph.com/series/111846) Contact https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/dc4440f5-4b50-4c83-b45a-db313713bc01 (https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/dc4440f5-4b50-4c83-b45a-db313713bc01) On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/ca6556da-2029-4fa8-a97c-12ddc65d050b (https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/ca6556da-2029-4fa8-a97c-12ddc65d050b) The Notebook https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/9c00cf97-6058-4d19-a825-ba986c83bda1 (https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/9c00cf97-6058-4d19-a825-ba986c83bda1) The Making of the Prince of Persia https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/f368747c-e078-4e0e-9a43-2840c018fb81 (https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/f368747c-e078-4e0e-9a43-2840c018fb81) (and the blog post that lead Rian to it: https://domelian.substack.com/p/read-this-before-your-next-long-project (https://domelian.substack.com/p/read-this-before-your-next-long-project) ) Watch: Memento - https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/77-memento?language=en-AU (https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/77-memento?language=en-AU) Devil Wears Prada 2 - https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/1314481-the-devil-wears-prada-2?language=en-AU (https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/1314481-the-devil-wears-prada-2?language=en-AU) Mother Mary - https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/1102883-mother-mary?language=en-AU (https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/1102883-mother-mary?language=en-AU) Masters of the Universe - https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/454639-masters-of-the-universe?language=en-AU (https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/454639-masters-of-the-universe?language=en-AU) Moonlight https://letterboxd.com/film/moonlight-2016/ (https://letterboxd.com/film/moonlight-2016/) The Boondock Saints https://letterboxd.com/film/the-boondock-saints/ (https://letterboxd.com/film/the-boondock-saints/) The Pitt https://www.themoviedb.org/tv/250307-the-pitt (https://www.themoviedb.org/tv/250307-the-pitt) Masters of the Universe https://letterboxd.com/film/masters-of-the-universe-2026/ (https://letterboxd.com/film/masters-of-the-universe-2026/) Play: Coral Island - https://store.steampowered.com/app/1158160/Coral_Island/ (https://store.steampowered.com/app/1158160/Coral_Island/) The Last Gas Station - https://store.steampowered.com/app/3690030/The_Last_Gas_Station/ (https://store.steampowered.com/app/3690030/The_Last_Gas_Station/) I Was a Teenage Exocolonist InKonbini https://store.steampowered.com/app/2723430/inKONBINI_One_Store_Many_Stories/ (https://store.steampowered.com/app/2723430/inKONBINI_One_Store_Many_Stories/) Vampire Survivors https://store.steampowered.com/app/1794680/Vampire_Survivors/ (https://store.steampowered.com/app/1794680/Vampire_Survivors/) Vampire Crawlers https://store.steampowered.com/app/3265700/Vampire_Crawlers_The_Turbo_Wildcard_from_Vampire_Survivors/ (https://store.steampowered.com/app/3265700/Vampire_Crawlers_The_Turbo_Wildcard_from_Vampire_Survivors/) Yoshi and the Mysterious Book https://store.nintendo.com.au/au/yoshi-and-the-mysterious-book.html (https://store.nintendo.com.au/au/yoshi-and-the-mysterious-book.html) Star Fox https://store.nintendo.com.au/au/star-fox.html (https://store.nintendo.com.au/au/star-fox.html) Mixtape https://store.steampowered.com/app/2582320/Mixtape/ (https://store.steampowered.com/app/2582320/Mixtape/) 🔎 Where to find us 📺 YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@genreblenderpodcast) - https://www.youtube.com/@genreblenderpodcast (https://www.youtube.com/@genreblenderpodcast) 📸 Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/genreblenderpodcast) - https://www.instagram.com/genreblenderpodcast (https://www.instagram.com/genreblenderpodcast) 🦋 BlueSky⁠ (https://bsky.app/profile/genreblenderpodcast.com) - https://bsky.app/profile/genreblender.net (https://bsky.app/profile/genreblender.net) 🌐 Website (https://www.genreblenderpodcast.com/) - https://www.genreblender.net (https://www.genreblender.net) 👉🏼 Follow Kris YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/afictionalescapist) - https://www.youtube.com/afictionalescapist (https://www.youtube.com/afictionalescapist) Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/afictionalescapist/) - https://www.instagram.com/afictionalescapist/ (https://www.instagram.com/afictionalescapist/) Bluesky (https://bsky.app/profile/afictionalescapist.bsky.social) - https://bsky.app/profile/afictionalescapist.bsky.social (https://bsky.app/profile/afictionalescapist.bsky.social) 👉🏼 Follow Rian Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/rian.floyd) - https://www.instagram.com/rian.floyd (https://www.instagram.com/rian.floyd) Bluesky (https://bsky.app/profile/rianfloyd.com) - https://bsky.app/profile/rianfloyd.com (https://bsky.app/profile/rianfloyd.com) Website (https://www.rianfloyd.com) - https://www.rianfloyd.com (https://www.rianfloyd.com)

2. 

   29 Apr 2026

   36: Storytelling in open-world games

   Kris and Rian talk about one of gaming’s most beloved formats: open-world games. What makes them so immersive? Why do they often feel overwhelming? And why is it that sometimes the best thing a game can do is gently pretend it's not telling you what to do? It's a big conversation with plenty of opinions, and a healthy dose of Bethesda jank appreciation. Plus: our Read Watch Play lists, Coming Right Up, and Backlog Roulette. 💬 Join our Discord community! https://genreblender.net/discord (https://genreblender.net/discord) 🌐 Reviews, essays, and more on our website: https://www.genreblender.net (https://www.genreblender.net) 0:00 Intro and episode overview 1:45 Read Watch Play 8:34 What we’ve been playing 16:05 Main Topic: Storytelling in open world-games 16:39 Defining open-world games 22:49 Our favourite open-world games 34:00 What we love: immersion & escapism 36:27 Creating your own stories 41:41 Exploration & freedom of choice 43:41 The downsides: overwhelm & quest fatigue 57:35 The Witcher problem and Bethesda jankiness 56:54 Non-linear vs. linear storytelling 1:08:07 Games we’re looking forward to 1:15:37 Coming Right Up 1:19:11 Backlog Roulette 1:24:46 Outro Books: Demon Star https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/c7d399fd-543d-4ee9-9348-7a7ab2dc2c55 (https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/c7d399fd-543d-4ee9-9348-7a7ab2dc2c55) Together is a Distant Star https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/619b8744-6298-4845-9a16-9d689e74ac45 (https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/619b8744-6298-4845-9a16-9d689e74ac45) Contact https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/dc4440f5-4b50-4c83-b45a-db313713bc01 (https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/dc4440f5-4b50-4c83-b45a-db313713bc01) Film/TV: On Swift Horses https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/1092506-on-swift-horses?language=en-AU (https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/1092506-on-swift-horses?language=en-AU) Companion https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/1084199-companion (https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/1084199-companion) Six Feet Under https://www.themoviedb.org/tv/1274-six-feet-under (https://www.themoviedb.org/tv/1274-six-feet-under) Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu Games: The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion https://store.steampowered.com/app/900883/The_Elder_Scrolls_IV_Oblivion_Game_of_the_Year_Edition_Deluxe_2009/ (https://store.steampowered.com/app/900883/The_Elder_Scrolls_IV_Oblivion_Game_of_the_Year_Edition_Deluxe_2009/) Bully https://store.steampowered.com/app/12200/Bully_Scholarship_Edition/ (https://store.steampowered.com/app/12200/Bully_Scholarship_Edition/) Fallout 4 https://store.steampowered.com/app/377160/Fallout_4/ (https://store.steampowered.com/app/377160/Fallout_4/) L.A. Noire https://store.steampowered.com/app/110800/LA_Noire/ (https://store.steampowered.com/app/110800/LA_Noire/) Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey https://store.steampowered.com/app/812140/Assassins_Creed_Odyssey/ (https://store.steampowered.com/app/812140/Assassins_Creed_Odyssey/) Yakuza 0 https://store.steampowered.com/app/2988580/Yakuza_0_Directors_Cut/ (https://store.steampowered.com/app/2988580/Yakuza_0_Directors_Cut/) Cyberpunk 2077 https://store.steampowered.com/app/1091500/Cyberpunk_2077/ (https://store.steampowered.com/app/1091500/Cyberpunk_2077/) Ghost of Tsushima https://store.steampowered.com/app/2215430/Ghost_of_Tsushima_DIRECTORS_CUT/ (https://store.steampowered.com/app/2215430/Ghost_of_Tsushima_DIRECTORS_CUT/) Starfield https://store.steampowered.com/app/1716740/Starfield/ (https://store.steampowered.com/app/1716740/Starfield/) Mass Effect Legendary Edition https://store.steampowered.com/app/1328670/Mass_Effect_Legendary_Edition/ (https://store.steampowered.com/app/1328670/Mass_Effect_Legendary_Edition/) Fable https://store.steampowered.com/app/2769570/Fable/ (https://store.steampowered.com/app/2769570/Fable/) Kingdoms of Amalur https://store.steampowered.com/app/102500/Kingdoms_of_Amalur_Reckoning/ (https://store.steampowered.com/app/102500/Kingdoms_of_Amalur_Reckoning/) Breath of the Wild https://www.nintendo.com/au/games/nintendo-switch/the-legend-of-zelda-breath-of-the-wild/?srsltid=AfmBOopFMbSarCY0gJA8y94fQuqZlCx4vjAK2CHi6ukMCArk1P2lPnET (https://www.nintendo.com/au/games/nintendo-switch/the-legend-of-zelda-breath-of-the-wild/?srsltid=AfmBOopFMbSarCY0gJA8y94fQuqZlCx4vjAK2CHi6ukMCArk1P2lPnET) Dinkum https://store.steampowered.com/app/1062520/Dinkum/ (https://store.steampowered.com/app/1062520/Dinkum/) Windrose https://store.steampowered.com/app/3041230/Windrose/ (https://store.steampowered.com/app/3041230/Windrose/) Traveller’s Rest https://store.steampowered.com/app/1139980/Travellers_Rest/ (https://store.steampowered.com/app/1139980/Travellers_Rest/) Saint’s Row https://store.steampowered.com/app/742420/Saints_Row/ (https://store.steampowered.com/app/742420/Saints_Row/) Crimson Desert https://store.steampowered.com/app/3321460/Crimson_Desert/ (https://store.steampowered.com/app/3321460/Crimson_Desert/) Dragon’s Dogma 2 https://store.steampowered.com/app/2054970/Dragons_Dogma_2/ (https://store.steampowered.com/app/2054970/Dragons_Dogma_2/) Return to Moria https://store.steampowered.com/app/2933130/The_Lord_of_the_Rings_Return_to_Moria/ (https://store.steampowered.com/app/2933130/The_Lord_of_the_Rings_Return_to_Moria/) My Time at Sandrock https://store.steampowered.com/app/1084600/My_Time_at_Sandrock/ (https://store.steampowered.com/app/1084600/My_Time_at_Sandrock/) Enshrouded https://store.steampowered.com/app/1203620/Enshrouded/ (https://store.steampowered.com/app/1203620/Enshrouded/) Rise of the Tomb Raider https://store.steampowered.com/app/391220/Rise_of_the_Tomb_Raider/ (https://store.steampowered.com/app/391220/Rise_of_the_Tomb_Raider/) Ananta https://www.anantagame.com (https://www.anantagame.com/) Neverness to Everness https://nte.perfectworld.com/en/ (https://nte.perfectworld.com/en/) Assassin’s Creed: Black Flag Resynced https://store.steampowered.com/app/3751950/Assassins_Creed_Black_Flag_Resynced/ (https://store.steampowered.com/app/3751950/Assassins_Creed_Black_Flag_Resynced/) Star Wars: Outlaws https://store.steampowered.com/app/2842040/Star_Wars_Outlaws/ (https://store.steampowered.com/app/2842040/Star_Wars_Outlaws/) 🔎 Where to find us 📺 YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@genreblenderpodcast) 📸 Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/genreblenderpodcast) 🦋 BlueSky⁠ (https://bsky.app/profile/genreblenderpodcast.com) 🌐 Website (https://www.genreblenderpodcast.com/)

3. 

   7 Apr 2026

   35: Why we re-read (and why we keep making excuses not to)

   💬 Join our Discord community! https://genreblender.net/discord (https://genreblender.net/discord) 🌐 Reviews, essays, and more on our website: https://www.genreblender.net (https://www.genreblender.net) Kris and Rian are back with a packed episode after a hectic few weeks. This month, we deep dive into the topic of re-reading: why we do it (or don’t), what we gain from returning to a book years later as a different person, and whether there’s still value in rereading when an AI can just summarise it for you. We also have a full-to-the-brim Read Watch Play segment, share what we’re excited about in Coming Right Up, and spill the beans on what we thought of the Wheels of Chaos video game picks we made for each other from a couple of months back (it’s a wonder we’re still friends after that!). And, of course, we have some new Backlog Roulette spins for the coming month. So strap in, people. This one’s a rollercoaster ride between serious and silly. 0:00 Intro 4:00 Read Watch Play 34:20 Re-reading (main topic) 1:07:16 Coming Right Up 1:10:57 Backlog Roulette (& Wheels of Chaos) 1:15:59 Where to find us Mentioned in this episode: Dreams of the Dying https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/437b0c11-9b2c-4c59-9827-4049b1184bf5 (https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/437b0c11-9b2c-4c59-9827-4049b1184bf5) The Dead Zone https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/a4cfb63a-2477-479e-99ea-e1003ce107d5 (https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/a4cfb63a-2477-479e-99ea-e1003ce107d5) Vile Lady Villains https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/1428054a-07af-4064-aeeb-a174c8174833 (https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/1428054a-07af-4064-aeeb-a174c8174833) Mother Mary - https://letterboxd.com/film/mother-mary-2026/ (https://letterboxd.com/film/mother-mary-2026/) The Silence of the Lambs - https://letterboxd.com/film/the-silence-of-the-lambs/ (https://letterboxd.com/film/the-silence-of-the-lambs/) Hannibal - https://letterboxd.com/film/hannibal/ (https://letterboxd.com/film/hannibal/) Deliver Me from Nowhere - https://letterboxd.com/film/springsteen-deliver-me-from-nowhere/ (https://letterboxd.com/film/springsteen-deliver-me-from-nowhere/) A Big Bold Beautiful Journey - https://letterboxd.com/film/a-big-bold-beautiful-journey/ (https://letterboxd.com/film/a-big-bold-beautiful-journey/) Suffragette - https://letterboxd.com/film/suffragette/ (https://letterboxd.com/film/suffragette/) Mary Queen of Scots - https://letterboxd.com/film/mary-queen-of-scots-2018/ (https://letterboxd.com/film/mary-queen-of-scots-2018/) The Friend - https://letterboxd.com/film/the-friend-2024/ (https://letterboxd.com/film/the-friend-2024/) The Bikeriders https://letterboxd.com/film/the-bikeriders/ (https://letterboxd.com/film/the-bikeriders/) Trails in the Sky: 1st Chapter https://store.steampowered.com/app/3375780/Trails_in_the_Sky_1st_Chapter/ (https://store.steampowered.com/app/3375780/Trails_in_the_Sky_1st_Chapter/) Late Shift https://store.steampowered.com/app/584980/Late_Shift/ (https://store.steampowered.com/app/584980/Late_Shift/) Minishoot’ Adventures https://store.steampowered.com/app/1634860/Minishoot_Adventures/ (https://store.steampowered.com/app/1634860/Minishoot_Adventures/) Slay the Spire https://store.steampowered.com/app/646570/Slay_the_Spire/ (https://store.steampowered.com/app/646570/Slay_the_Spire/) I Was a Teenage Exocolonist https://store.steampowered.com/app/1148760/I_Was_a_Teenage_Exocolonist/ (https://store.steampowered.com/app/1148760/I_Was_a_Teenage_Exocolonist/) The Walking Dead: The Telltale Definitive Series https://store.steampowered.com/app/1449690/The_Walking_Dead_The_Telltale_Definitive_Series/ (https://store.steampowered.com/app/1449690/The_Walking_Dead_The_Telltale_Definitive_Series/) Grimshire https://store.steampowered.com/app/2238470/Grimshire/ (https://store.steampowered.com/app/2238470/Grimshire/) Neopets: Mega Mini Games Collection – The Neopian Arcade Odyssey https://store.steampowered.com/app/4244160/Neopets__Mega_Mini_Games_Collection__The_Neopian_Arcade_Odyssey/ (https://store.steampowered.com/app/4244160/Neopets__Mega_Mini_Games_Collection__The_Neopian_Arcade_Odyssey/) I Am Future https://store.steampowered.com/app/1658040/I_Am_Future_Cozy_Apocalypse_Survival/ (https://store.steampowered.com/app/1658040/I_Am_Future_Cozy_Apocalypse_Survival/) Starfield https://store.steampowered.com/app/1716740/Starfield/ (https://store.steampowered.com/app/1716740/Starfield/) 🔎 Where to find us 📺 YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@genreblenderpodcast) - https://www.youtube.com/@genreblenderpodcast (https://www.youtube.com/@genreblenderpodcast) 📸 Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/genreblenderpodcast) - https://www.instagram.com/genreblenderpodcast (https://www.instagram.com/genreblenderpodcast) 🦋 BlueSky⁠ (https://bsky.app/profile/genreblenderpodcast.com) - https://bsky.app/profile/genreblender.net (https://bsky.app/profile/genreblender.net) 🌐 Website (https://www.genreblenderpodcast.com/) - https://www.genreblender.net (https://www.genreblender.net) 👉🏼 Follow Kris YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/afictionalescapist) - https://www.youtube.com/afictionalescapist (https://www.youtube.com/afictionalescapist) Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/afictionalescapist/) - https://www.instagram.com/afictionalescapist/ (https://www.instagram.com/afictionalescapist/) Bluesky (https://bsky.app/profile/afictionalescapist.bsky.social) - https://bsky.app/profile/afictionalescapist.bsky.social (https://bsky.app/profile/afictionalescapist.bsky.social) 👉🏼 Follow Rian Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/rian.floyd) - https://www.instagram.com/rian.floyd (https://www.instagram.com/rian.floyd) Bluesky (https://bsky.app/profile/rianfloyd.com) - https://bsky.app/profile/rianfloyd.com (https://bsky.app/profile/rianfloyd.com) Website (https://www.rianfloyd.com) - https://www.rianfloyd.com (https://www.rianfloyd.com)

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

9,168

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Spotify

5.0 / 5

2 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 60 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

60

Social presence

100

YouTube

68

Engagement

32