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Two developers talking about Virtual Reality. What's fun about it? How does it work? What can we learn from it? What will it learn from us? Expect design insights, technical breakdowns, and hot takes that are sure to get angry comments!
en
04/27/2021 17:40:58
Carlos Gutierrez and Matt Levonian
technology
Release Date: 6/15/2023
Duration: 43 Mins
Description:
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Release Date: 12/11/2022
Duration: 55 Mins
Description: We stumble into Season 2 of HMD by posting an episode a full month after recording it.
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Release Date: 5/18/2022
Duration: 40 Mins
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Release Date: 5/5/2022
Duration: 47 Mins
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Release Date: 4/20/2022
Duration: 35 Mins
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Release Date: 3/30/2022
Duration: 46 Mins
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Release Date: 3/9/2022
Duration: 34 Mins
Description: News roundup for February 2022! VR Game Discoverability - https://newsletter.gamediscover.co/p/the-state-of-vr-games-in-2022-surveyPSVR2 Details Revealed - https://www.theverge.com/2022/2/22/21437559/sony-playstation-vr2-psvr-announcement-design-revealHTC’s Viverse - https://uploadvr.com/htc-viverse-backlash/Steam Deck and Standalone VR - https://uploadvr.com/valve-steam-deck-stepping-stone-standalone-vr/
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Release Date: 1/26/2022
Duration: 35 Mins
Description: Today we discuss Shadow Point, a VR puzzle game with more to offer than initially meets the eye.Shadow Point (Oculus link)
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Release Date: 1/12/2022
Duration: 35 Mins
Description: Today we discuss The Room VR: A Dark Matter, a VR puzzle game based on a mobile puzzle game.The Room VR: A Dark Matter (Oculus link)The Room VR: A Dark Matter (Steam link)
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Release Date: 12/29/2021
Duration: 21 Mins
Description: It’s that time of year again! For new VR players (and experienced players looking for new destinations), we give our top suggestions for games to try.
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Release Date: 12/15/2021
Duration: 29 Mins
Description: Today’s episode was recorded IN PERSON! We react to the strange feeling of recording face to face and chat about the removal of self-harm from SUPERHOT. Get ready to get close, personal, and candid.
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Release Date: 12/1/2021
Duration: 28 Mins
Description: STRIDE is a high-octane VR parkour game. Slide into your seat as we discuss this glass shattering, wall jumping, rope swinging spectacle of human momentum!STRIDE on Steam
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Release Date: 11/17/2021
Duration: 28 Mins
Description: WE'VE MADE IT! One year and loving it! This week we're having a casual conversation full of reflection and excitement for the future.
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Release Date: 11/10/2021
Duration: 84 Mins
Description: Today is a very special INTERVIEW episode. We talk with two designers from Cloudhead Games, makers of Pistol Whip: - Antony Stevens (Writer / Designer) - Daniel Taylor (Lead Level Designer)What is it like to be a designer for a best-selling VR game? What’s the process behind designing a Pistol Whip level? We get into the nitty gritty details of VR game development with our guests.Timestamps1:00 - Antony and Daniel's Journey to Cloudhead9:17 - Cloudhead on the Cutting Edge17:18 - The Origin of Pistol Whip31:00 - Changing plans for Pistol Whip after launch40:07 - What it's like inside the development of Pistol Whip1:15:45 - The Future of CloudheadLinksPistol WhipCloudhead Discord
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Release Date: 11/3/2021
Duration: 30 Mins
Description: This week Matt recounts a party where someone was introduced to VR for the first time. We discuss how VR could better fit in social gatherings.
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Release Date: 10/20/2021
Duration: 36 Mins
Description: This week we dive deep into the compelling design behind Pistol Whip’s latest update: Smoke & Thunder.Pistol Whip
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Release Date: 10/6/2021
Duration: 32 Mins
Description: LEAK! Take a look at these new Oculus Touch controllers. No tracking ring? Camera?! Let’s dig into the details and somehow end up talking about Facebook, Oculus, and advertising in VR.Original Reddit Post
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Release Date: 9/22/2021
Duration: 37 Mins
Description: Yo, today we’re talking about what keeps games fresh! That’s right bruh, we got words about progression, cosmetic unlocks, and battle passes. We revisit Demeo from Resolution Games and see how well it keeps players coming back.
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Release Date: 9/8/2021
Duration: 42 Mins
Description: Sometimes a game has all the elements of a smash hit but ends up flopping on arrival. It’s not the ingredients but how you combine and cook them. We explore this idea while discussing our experience playing the demo for Into The Darkness VR.
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Release Date: 8/25/2021
Duration: 33 Mins
Description: Demos allow players to try games before they buy; but they can be hard to create during development. We look at two demos from Steam Next Fest, AGAINST and Detour Bus, and analyze how they succeed as demos. We praise their successful moments, and suggest some paths for improvement.7:18 - AGAINST19:48 - Detour Bus
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Release Date: 8/11/2021
Duration: 39 Mins
Description: Blaston’s new update brings multiplayer lounge spaces and a single player campaign. Massively expanding a game isn’t easy. We walk through the new content, then talk through the new opportunities and issues for Blaston’s future.
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Release Date: 7/28/2021
Duration: 26 Mins
Description: Legendary developer John Carmack is back to publishing VR app reviews, this time for the Oculus Quest platform. His nuanced approach abandons stars and numbers for more insightful commentary and suggestions for improvement. We also compare his stringent quality bar with the quality bar of the Oculus store.
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Release Date: 7/14/2021
Duration: 35 Mins
Description: We unleash our inner karate kids this week with Path of the Warrior; a VR love letter to old-school Beat-Em-Up arcade games. Goons get punched, food gets munched, and ultimately things get underwhelming as we discuss the highs and lows of these rage filled streets.
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Release Date: 6/30/2021
Duration: 46 Mins
Description: Red Matter is a great example of where VR can take players when you rely on grounded principles and wide usage of solid interactions...then why have we barely heard about it!? Today we’re exploring that question and more! Join us for insightful discussion on the mechanics, storytelling, and performance of this eerie adventure title.
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Release Date: 6/16/2021
Duration: 43 Mins
Description: The Climb 2 got new levels! In them, Carlos found an experience closer to Tomb Raider than The Climb. This week we discuss: How does the DLC improve on the base game? What future do we see for The Climb after playing the DLC? And could The Climb deliver on a Tomb Raider experience for VR?The Climb 2Timestamps:1:30 - The Climb 2 vs Tomb Raider7:29 - The Climb 2 DLC20:35 - Where could The Climb go next? (Mechanics)28:15 - Opportunities for Next-gen Tech30:28 - Opportunities for better feedback to player35:42 - Where could The Climb go next? (Game Modes)Other Things We Mention:Rise of the Tomb RaiderMan falls down playing The ClimbThe Climb 1CryEngineAdaptive TriggersBeat Saber
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Release Date: 6/9/2021
Duration: 6 Mins
Description: We chat about how to design mech-piloting and spaceship-piloting experiences for VR.
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Release Date: 6/2/2021
Duration: 42 Mins
Description: Over 40% of VR players only use their headset once a month or less. Why is this? Using Demeo as an example, we explore the reasons for this retention fall-off.DemeoTimestamps:0:58 - Comment Callout3:25 - Funks and TIDI9:42 - Demeo13:06 - Tiredness20:37 - Inertia28:07 - Discomfort32:13 - IndecisionGames We Mention:Pistol WhipRacoon LagoonPOPULATION: ONEBeat SaberWaltz of the WizardPath of the Warrior
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Release Date: 5/19/2021
Duration: 38 Mins
Description: The VR games market is evolving. Pistol Whip - and its latest “2089” update - is the perfect lens for examining the changing expectations for VR games. Will all VR games be expected to provide free updates? What impact does this have on game design? Listen in for these answers and more!Timestamps:0:50 - Pistol Whip3:41 - Gameplay Modifiers and Haptics9:21 - Content Updates and 208923:21 - Cloudhead Games and the VR market27:07 - Games as a Service31:05 - Modularity35:20 - Final ThoughtsGames We Mention:Pistol WhipBeat SaberTitanfall 2Half-Life 2FortniteApex LegendsPopulation: OneWalkabout Mini GolfAsgard's Wrath
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Release Date: 5/5/2021
Duration: 35 Mins
Description: We look at the new PSVR 2 controllers, compare the pros and cons of different VR hardware platforms, and peek into the future of VR hardware.Timestamps:1:45 - Introduction2:50 - VR Controller Standard6:20 - Vive Wands and PS Move10:28 - Dualshock and PSVR15:15 - Inside-out Tracking17:37 - Wired vs Wireless21:15 - What does the next 5 years look like?27:54 - PSVR2 Tracking Ring30:44 - The "Face Factor"33:30 - OutroGames We Mention:SUPERHOTBlood & TruthGun Club VRBattlewakeHalf-Life: Alyx
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Release Date: 4/28/2021
Duration: 6 Mins
Description: Big STRIDEs being made today. Just kidding! We chat for a few minutes about a parkour game.
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Release Date: 4/21/2021
Duration: 36 Mins
Description: Swarm is a new fast-paced, arcade-style grapple shooter, and we think it’s going to perform pretty well. But why do we think that, and what do the developers need to do to ensure it? This week, listen to us inspect (and recommend) the game from a developer’s perspective.Timestamps:1:23 - Swarm7:40 - Grappling Hook Mechanic13:26 - Motion Sickness15:27 - Combat Loop Rhythm22:21 - Juice25:45 - Post-Launch Expansion28:40 - FTUE30:58 - Marketing34:30 - Final ThoughtsOther Games We Mention:SairentoVRRobo RecallWindlandsJet IslandAmazing Spiderman 2
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Release Date: 4/7/2021
Duration: 41 Mins
Description: “The designer doesn’t come in the box.” It’s easy for designers to forget that players don’t initially know how to play their games, and adding tutorials too late in production can lead to bad first time user experiences (FTUE). As always, VR only complicates the problem. This week, we discuss all these issues and more. How exactly do you train your player to play your game?Timestamps:0:58 - Introduction4:50 - FTUE7:56 - "Glimmer Grove" Example10:45 - Walking Dead: Saints and Sinners17:30 - Limiting The Lessons21:00 - Avoid Teaching the Wrong Thing (Battlewake)24:36 - Player Expectations27:47 - Ongoing Instruction31:06 - The VR “Wow!” Moment33:56 - Building Feedback into your Mechanics35:50 - VR Conventions39:09 - Wrap-upGames We Mention:Fruit Ninja VRThe Walking Dead: Saints and SinnersVader ImmortalBattlewakeSUPERHOT VRUntil You FallShadow of WarThe Last of Us Part IIAsgard’s WrathStormland
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Release Date: 3/24/2021
Duration: 36 Mins
Description: We talk about POPULATION: ONE, the next big VR battle royale. Carlos raves about the game while Matt brings a critical eye to temper the fandom. The marketplace of ideas has now become an arena...and to the victor goes the bananas.Catch the full show notes here.
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Release Date: 3/17/2021
Duration: 10 Mins
Description:
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Release Date: 3/10/2021
Duration: 50 Mins
Description: Smooth or Teleport? Armswing or Joystick? These are some of the most contentious questions in the VR community, but as developers we have to know how to design content that works for all players. Listen in to hear how game developers think about how you move in VR!Catch the full show notes here.Timestamps:01:09 - Why do we need both Teleport and Smooth Locomotion?05:26 - Exceptions to the rule10:20 - Challenges of Teleport Locomotion13:15 - Feature Idea: Edge-Aligned Teleport18:10 - Challenges of Smooth Locomotion30:06 - Designing for Both Methods
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Release Date: 2/24/2021
Duration: 54 Mins
Description: Humans need human stories. Lone Echo and Half-Life: Alyx deliver two of the best human stories in VR to date. Where do they excel, and what could be improved? Join us for an exploration of these games and insight into the future of VR storytelling.Lone EchoHalf-Life: AlyxTimestamps:00:51 - Introduction02:04 - Storytelling Challenges in Games10:49 - Lone Echo31:33 - Half-Life: Alyx41:25 - Larger Takeaways
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Release Date: 2/10/2021
Duration: 32 Mins
Description: Did you know there’s a whole other storefront for Quest games? It’s not a black market, it’s not hard to get access to, and lots of the games are free. Come along with us and discover a whole new world of indie games, demos, betas, and experimental experiences!Timestamps and Links:1:00 - Intro to SideQuest10:30 - Virtual Desktop VR Patch14:30 - Puzzling Places Beta15:30 - Attack on Quest17:00 - Crazy Kung Fu18:20 - Crisis VRigade20:10 - Hyper Dash21:00 - Crossplay in VR24:00 - OPERATION SERPENS25:30 - Doom3Quest28:00 - Demos (Racket: NX, Synth Riders), TO THE TOP29:00 - Wrap-up
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Release Date: 1/27/2021
Duration: 35 Mins
Description: Did you recently get an Oculus Quest? Are you “out of games” to play? We give a rundown of our favorite games on the platform, categorized by their appeal and friendliness to new VR users. Look no further for the comprehensive list of Head Mounted Destinations-approved games.Timestamps and Links:3:29 - Bait!4:05 - Virtual Virtual Reality4:37 - Racket: NX5:43 - Dance Central6:33 - Tetris Effect7:49 - Raccoon Lagoon9:31 - Shadow Point9:58 - OhShape, AUDICA14:18 - Color Space15:55 - VR Chat16:25 - Rec Room17:07 - PokerStars VR18:12 - Echo Arena19:45 - Blaston20:59 - POPULATION: ONE22:45 - Pistol Whip24:29 - Phantom: Covert Ops24:52 - Robo Recall: Unplugged26:09 - Sairento VR: Untethered27:18 - Time Stall28:41 - Gun Club VR29:57 - Red Matter30:49 - The Room VR: A Dark Matter31:08 - Moss, Trover Saves the Universe
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Release Date: 1/20/2021
Duration: 3 Mins
Description: Ever wonder what it sounds like when game developers brainstorm game ideas? WONDER NO MORE! In this off-the-clock brainstorm session we discuss a new take on a popular genre.
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Release Date: 1/14/2021
Duration: 36 Mins
Description: We take an in-depth look at VR game lobbies -- our experiences with them, their benefits, downsides, and ways to evolve them in the future. Be sure to check out the extra links at the top of the show notes!Trust SpectrumPatterns for building relationshipsPlayground designProxemics (See this Owlchemy talk for an example of applying the concept in VR)Timestamps:1:05 - Echo Arena and Rec Room6:42 - Lobby Culture and Demographics12:00 - Lobby Activities13:12 - Star Trek Bridge Crew17:30 - What would be the perfect lobby?24:10 - Privacy Spectrum31:30 - Cosmetics and Creating a HomeThings we mention:Echo ArenaRec RoomPopulation OneFortniteStar Trek Bridge CrewDeep Rock Galactic“Making Games That Stand Out and Survive” GDC talk
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Release Date: 12/30/2020
Duration: 21 Mins
Description: Some VR games, like Echo Arena and Blaston, are closer to being sports than they are to being videogames. We feel these ''hypersports'' have the potential to catch on as mainstream sports in a way that e-sports will never be able to. But how do we know if a game is a hypersport? And what is stopping hypersports from going mainstream? Tune in to hear us pick apart these issues.Timestamps:1:01 - What is a Hypersport?4:06 - Why are sports popular?5:37 - Why aren’t Hypersports catching on?14:39 - Subculture and MONEY18:55 - SummaryThings we mention:Echo ArenaBlastonRacket: NX
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Release Date: 12/23/2020
Duration: 17 Mins
Description: A frustrating attempt to play VR with friends spirals into a discussion of friends lists, rooms, lobbies, and social spaces in this bonus episode. We discuss the issues and possible solutions when you just want to play with your dang friends.
Is Closed Captioned: No
Explicit: No
Release Date: 12/16/2020
Duration: 40 Mins
Description: We rave about Until You Fall and investigate why its take on melee combat is so much more compelling than those in Blade and Sorcery and Boneworks. The physics-based simulationism of Boneworks seems super popular on Twitch, Twitter, and Reddit. Why are we championing a cartoony, abstract approach and saying it is more realistic and immersive? Listen to find out!Timestamps:0:00 - Topic Introduction4:07 - Until You Fall overview19:38 - GORN and Boneworks23:41 - Pros and Cons to each approach34:45 - Physics in Combat vs World InteractionGame Link:Until You Fall - https://untilyoufall.schellgames.com/Things we mention:“Flow” - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flow_%28psychology%29Mike Tyson’s Punchout - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punch-Out!!_(NES)Blade and Sorcery - https://warpfrog.com/Saints and Sinners - https://vrwalkingdead.com/GORN - https://store.steampowered.com/app/578620/GORN/Boneworks - https://store.steampowered.com/app/823500/BONEWORKS/They Live fight scene - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-MVMbm6c0kHalf Life: Alyx - https://www.half-life.com/en/alyx
Is Closed Captioned: No
Explicit: No
Release Date: 12/2/2020
Duration: 53 Mins
Description: Why do players become immersed in games? And how do developers keep players grounded in completely fake, virtual worlds? We pick apart the mechanics, narrative, and level progression in Phantom: Covert Ops to shed light on how design choices and technical implementations impact player immersion. It’s time to get grounded!Timestamps:1:25 - Storytelling5:45 - Locomotion and Spatial Presence15:57 - Weapons and Equipment30:30 - Levels and Progression36:18 - World Interaction43:20 - Oculus Quest and Market AnalysisOculus Store Links:Phantom: Covert Ops - https://www.oculus.com/experiences/quest/2302118823192509Other things we mention:Journey to Elysium - https://store.steampowered.com/app/1036260/Journey_For_Elysium/MGS V: The Phantom Pain - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metal_Gear_Solid_V:_The_Phantom_PainJames Bond intro - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUVBRrBl-ycMetroidvanias - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MetroidvaniaGhosts n Goblins - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghosts_%27n_GoblinsCastlevania - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CastlevaniaAssassin's Creed white paint - https://youtu.be/wf245fBGTB4?t=1309Asgard’s Wrath - https://www.oculus.com/experiences/rift/1180401875303371
Is Closed Captioned: No
Explicit: No
Release Date: 11/25/2020
Duration: 5 Mins
Description: We explain who we are and why you can trust our opinions on Virtual Reality. We also wax poetic about the future of VR and the joys of working in the field.
Is Closed Captioned: No
Explicit: No
Release Date: 11/18/2020
Duration: 52 Mins
Description: We discuss our experience using Oculus Hand Tracking in the titles Elixir and Waltz of the Wizard. How responsive is it? How well is it utilized in the two titles? How is it used outside of games? We answer these questions and more!Timestamps:01:10 - Oculus Quest Hand Tracking Beta Impressions11:12 - Elixir23:30 - Waltz of the Wizard36:09 - Carlos learns to snap46:40 - What is the future for Hand Tracking?Oculus Store Links:Elixir - https://www.oculus.com/experiences/quest/3793077684043441/Waltz of the Wizard - https://www.oculus.com/experiences/quest/2280285932034855/Other things we mention:Microsoft Kinect - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KinectLeap Motion - https://www.ultraleap.com/product/leap-motion-controller/Source for 80ms latency claim - https://www.virtualrealitypulse.com/2020/latency/unity/?open-article-id=11655749Tracking Confidence Oculus VRC - https://developer.oculus.com/distribute/vrc-quest-input-6/Pistol Whip - https://cloudheadgames.com/pistol-whip/Sairento VR - http://www.sairentovr.com/Beat Saber - https://beatsaber.com/Oculus Hand Tracking Documentation - https://developer.oculus.com/documentation/native/android/mobile-hand-tracking/?locale=en_US
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Release Date: 8/4/2021
Description: The showcase of our VR-based visual analytics system for aerospace turbomachinary design as it is seen by the head-mounted display (HMD) user.
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Release Date: 4/18/2021
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Description: We talk about travel destinations all over the world.
Explicit: No
Release Date: 4/3/2021
Description: Head of the Physics Department James Stirling introduces the conference celebrating 50 years since the discovery of the Josephson effect. The accompanying photograph shows the commemorative plaque that was mounted on the Mond Building in connection with the conference. Slides available at http://www.dspace.cam.ac.uk/handle/1810/243505.
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Release Date: 4/17/2021
Authors: Weirding Way Media
Description: A radio drama anthology about the shadowy corners of the globe where our haunted past meets our startling future.
Explicit: No
Release Date: 9/26/2020
Authors: Kristen Feldmann
Description: This podcast explores different destinations in the United States and evaluates how dog friendly they are
Explicit: No
Release Date: 9/26/2020
Authors: Not Your Ordinary Rose
Description: Dream Destinations
Explicit: No
Release Date: 2/11/2022
Authors: Experience Rochester
Description: Focused on destination development and a wide range of topics including tourism, entertainment, hospitality, retail, entrepreneurism, economic development and more. Conversations are engaging and relatable. Hosted by Bill Von Bank. Presented by Experience Rochester Minnesota.
Explicit: No
Release Date: 3/3/2022
Authors: Loretta Kress
Description: Spain, Inspiring Destinations Within Your Reach
Explicit: No
Release Date: 8/27/2021
Authors: Kathy & Cathy
Description: *Just like you, we’re obsessed with true crime. We’re also lifelong friends. And it’s this combination that drives our podcast. We tell true crime stories from their unexpected beginnings to their devastating ends, and dive deep into all the details you want to know about. We do intersperse the occasional humor and banter, and our listeners tell us it makes them feel like they’re hanging out with their friends. But, we never forget that we’re talking about real people and real families. Listen to a new episode every Tuesday!*
Explicit: No
Release Date: 6/23/2021
Authors: Michael Devietro
Description: Two folks in their mid 30’s explain their road trip missions. Centered in Western Washington but looking to see every corner of the PNW and beyond.
Explicit: No
Release Date: 8/22/2020
Authors: Diva Gannaban
Description: Gratitude Meditation
Explicit: No
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