Welcome to the Story x Story podcast! We're having great conversations on stories we love plus giving you tips on creating your own.
Join mayamada co-founder Nigel and gaming lifestyle content creator Tazziii every week as they talk about stories across pop culture.
From deep dives into the most interesting film, TV, comics, anime and video game stories, to interviews and in-depth discussions with incredible guests each time!
Story x Story #267: Behind The Story With Q-Games (Video Games)
This week, Nigel and Tazziii sit down with Technical Producer Janavi Padala and Character Animator Ario Dianto to explore their different paths into the games industry and how two non natives came to work at Q-Games, a Kyoto-based studio founded by a another non native, British game developer Dylan Cuthbert.
Though their journeys are different, they share a passion and a goal to make video games. They discuss their respective roles, how production and animation work together, and the projects they’ve helped bring to life, including Pixel Junk Monsters 3and Beyond the Dark: Nightwatch.
We also get to compare notes when it comes to aspects of game development culture in Japan and the UK, and share advice for aspiring developers and artists looking to break into the industry anywhere in the world. Finally, Janavi explains why Q-Games helped found BitSummit, and why independent game development matters to the wider games ecosystem.
Connect with Q-Games
Website: https://www.q-games.com (https://www.q-games.com)
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/q-games (https://www.linkedin.com/company/q-games)
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/qgamesforever (https://www.instagram.com/qgamesforever)
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PixelJunkNews (https://twitter.com/PixelJunkNews)
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@pixeljunkgames (https://www.tiktok.com/@pixeljunkgames)
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/PixelJunkQ (https://www.youtube.com/user/PixelJunkQ)
Connect with mayamada
mayamada is a manga brand and mission-driven creative agency all about equipping young and aspiring creatives to thrive on the creative journey - whether they're discovering what's possible, developing new skills, or sharing expertise with the next generation.
Website: https://mayamada.com (https://mayamada.com)
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mayamadatv ( https://www.instagram.com/mayamadatv)
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mayamadatv (https://www.tiktok.com/@mayamadatv)
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/mayamada.com (https://bsky.app/profile/mayamada.com)
YouTube: https://youtube.com/mayamadatv (https://youtube.com/mayamadatv)
Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/mayamada (https://www.twitch.tv/mayamada)
Join our Studio77 community on Discord to connect with other creatives and be part of the journey https://discord.gg/b5fmnuT (https://discord.gg/b5fmnuT)
30 Oct 2026
Story x Story #266: Behind The Story With Sara Veal (Video Games)
This week, Nigel and Tazziii sit down with Sara Veal to explore her journey into the games industry and how it compares with working in publishing.
As Chair of Games Aid, Sara shares her perspective on the state of the industry and why initiatives are so important to the future of games. The conversation also gets existential, delving into the challenges of the creative journey and finding the courage to do work that matters.
There’s even time to talk about GTA VI and whether we’ll be joining the masses to play it at launch. This episode is for creatives at any stage of their journey who want to make sure they’re doing work that matters, rather than simply existing in a dream that slowly turns into a nightmare.
Connect with Sara Veal online:
Website: https://www.huhbub.com (https://www.huhbub.com)
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sara-veal-37557715b (https://www.linkedin.com/in/sara-veal-37557715b)
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/digitalbruhaha (https://www.instagram.com/digitalbruhaha)
Twitter: https://twitter.com/digitalbruhaha (https://twitter.com/digitalbruhaha)
Connect with mayamada
mayamada is a manga brand and mission-driven creative agency all about equipping young and aspiring creatives to thrive on the creative journey - whether they're discovering what's possible, developing new skills, or sharing expertise with the next generation.
Website: https://mayamada.com (https://mayamada.com)
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mayamadatv (https://www.instagram.com/mayamadatv)
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mayamadatv (https://www.tiktok.com/@mayamadatv)
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/mayamada.com (https://bsky.app/profile/mayamada.com)
YouTube: https://youtube.com/mayamadatv (https://youtube.com/mayamadatv)
Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/mayamada (https://www.twitch.tv/mayamada)
Join our Studio77 community on Discord to connect with other creatives and be part of the journey https://discord.gg/b5fmnuT (https://discord.gg/b5fmnuT)
23 Oct 2026
Story x Story #265: Your Father Is In Another Castle (Blue Eye Samurai S1)
This week, Nigel and Tazziii revisit season 1 of Blue Eye Samurai (starting at 24:18) with guest Des Gayle, founder and producer of Altered Gene.
Ahead of the second season arriving in 2027, we look back at the first season of this Edo-period adventure, exploring its revenge narrative and Mizu’s emotional character journey.
The visuals are fantastic, but there’s a meaningful story beneath the surface. We discuss the characters who shape the story and deepen its themes of identity, growth, and finding ways for women to exist within 17th-century Japanese patriarchy.
Other stories we're enjoying include: Slow Horses (Apple TV), Friend of the Devil (Comic), Ashes and the Star-Cursed King (Book), As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World (Crunchyroll), Scrubs (Disney+), X-Men '97 (Disney+), Better Call Saul (Netflix), Pluto (Manga), Tomb Raider Chronicles (PS1).
Connect with Des online
Twitter: https://x.com/Kid_Desimo (https://x.com/Kid_Desimo)
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kid_desimo (https://www.instagram.com/kid_desimo)
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@alteredgene (https://www.youtube.com/@alteredgene)
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/kiddesimo.bsky.social (https://bsky.app/profile/kiddesimo.bsky.social)
Itch: https://kid-desimo.itch.io (https://kid-desimo.itch.io)
Connect with mayamada
mayamada is a manga brand and mission-driven creative agency all about equipping young and aspiring creatives to thrive on the creative journey - whether they're discovering what's possible, developing new skills, or sharing expertise with the next generation.
Website: https://mayamada.com (https://mayamada.com)
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mayamadatv (https://www.instagram.com/mayamadatv)
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mayamadatv (https://www.tiktok.com/@mayamadatv)
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/mayamada.com (https://bsky.app/profile/mayamada.com)
YouTube: https://youtube.com/mayamadatv (https://youtube.com/mayamadatv)
Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/mayamada (https://www.twitch.tv/mayamada)
Join our Studio77 community on Discord to connect with other creatives and be part of the journey https://discord.gg/b5fmnuT (https://discord.gg/b5fmnuT)
Who has been a guest on Story x Story
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Gary Swaby
Cameron Keywood
Radiant G
SARE
Feff Silvers
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
1 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
6 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 48 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
83
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
30
Contact Story x Story
Guest appearances
Does not typically book guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
Questions about Story x Story
Who hosts Story x Story?
Nigel and Tazziii host the show. Published by mayamada.
How often do new episodes come out?
The show publishes weekly, based on its RSS feed.
Does Story x Story take guests?
The show does not typically feature guests, based on episode analyses.
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