My Hill To Die On
by Nate Rudd and Ryan Smith
Everyone has things they are passionate about; things we want our friends to try and experience. So we've convinced each other to try different things. We talk about these experiences to see if we can just get one more person to join us on our hill to die on.
Episodes
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100: A Love Letter to the Fans
Recorded June 13, 2026 The big 100. Nate and Ryan celebrate their 100th anniversary in the only way that seems appropriate — by talking about fans and fandom with some of their closest friends as they discuss the film Galaxy Quest along with it's documentary Never Surrender. By Grabthar's Hammer,...
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99: Recognized as Living Beings
Recorded August 30, 2026 Detectives, Detectors, and Detectoring Ryan went to the theatre and Nate found another way to injure himself. After that, Nate forced Ryan to have yet another Calpis soda. Afterwards, they talk about some of the more memorable detectives before turning their attention to...
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98: Effects of the Time Period in Space
Recorded June 28, 2026 Rockets, Martians, and a terrible lack of communication. This week we have Nate's programming projects, a game from Ryan, and "guilty pleasure" soda. After that, there are lots, and lots... and lots of rockets. Then, Nate and Ryan turn their attention to the main media, The...
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97: A Million to One Chance Always Works Out
Recorded June 7, 2026 Girls don't marry princes all the time, so why should today be any different? This episode Nate and Ryan talk about running, heat, logic games, and board games. Then, after discussing altered and retold fairy tales, they talk about the power of stories, travelogues, how to...
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96: The Shi Rule
Recorded May 17, 2026 As we continue to seek the truth in all things and the inane details within everything, Ryan attempts to bring us the least educational of educational games. He has brought together old "favorite" contestants Keith, Nate, Shi, and Terence as they attempt to out-nerd each…
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95: Gravity Is the Good Stuff
Recorded April 19, 2026 A one way trip to save all mankind… I'd trust that to a middle school science teacher, but did he submit plans for the sub? This week Nate and Ryan talk about teachers, healing, and fighting the embodiment of time. Then they turned their attention to the main media…
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94: Feel the Cold Rage
Recorded March 28, 2026 Spies in space! This week Nate talks about the world baseball classic and hurting himself skiing… again. Ryan talks about a game in which he fights a sentient refrigerator. Then after both of them share some interesting spy stories they turn to their main media. For their...
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93: Crafting of All of These Parodies of the World
Recorded February 25, 2026 Let the music take control! This week, Nate and Ryan talk about running, difficult games, and music with rocks in. Then for the main media, they address taking advantage of artists, leopards with hearing problems, and when death gets a little too existential in their...
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92: Maybe She Is Not the Solution to All of the Things
Recorded January 25, 2026 This week, Nate thinks back on his break, and Ryan dreads upcoming bureaucracy. Then, Ryan takes a moment to show true humility regarding his pick for 2025 Game of the Year. Afterwards, they both bring up some of their favorite space travel stories. Then, for the main...
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91: As a Proper Time Travel Book Everything Should Tie Off
Recorded December 14, 2025 Sometimes it seems necessary to hide in another era just to get time off. This week, cross country season came and went and Nate thinks back on how it was. Then, both Ryan and Nate address the dangers of nostalgia and if those movies we remember were actually any good....
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90: Science Took a Backseat for the Issues in Society
Recorded July 27, 2025 What if it was the Earth… but different? This week, Nate and Ryan discuss new TVs, water parks, and alternate earth stories. That discussion culminates in The Calculating Stars, a book by Mary Robinette Kowal in which they discuss the possibility of social change, being…
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89: Muppet Adjacent
Recorded April 27, 2025 This week Nate and Ryan decided to play another game. So Ryan, perhaps foolishly, surveyed a number of listeners, coworkers, students, and whoever else he could corner, and he asked them the important fundamental questions of human existence—questions like "what song gets...
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88: Cloning Is Such a Tangential Part
Recorded June 15, 2025 This week Nate and Ryan address how the end of the school year went and Ryan talks about his arguably early pick for game of the year. Following another Kiwi drink and salted caramel Kit-Kats, they talk about various support groups that had helped them through their lives....
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87: If You're Gonna Have Crime, It Might as Well Be Organized
Recorded March 30, 2025 This week Nate and Ryan talk about Mickey 17 and their feelings about the changes from the book. Then, Nate talks about a ski trip and Ryan talks about making pants out of dragons. After a KitKat that could qualify as a crime against humanity and a discussion of their...
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86: Ship of Theseus, Blah, Blah, Blah
Recorded February 9, 2025 This week Nate and Ryan are continuing to think about the logistical and moral implications of cloning. So in keeping with that important discussion, they begin with Pinocchio and Disco Zoo. After that, they discuss different things they have ended up with multiple…
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85: Nostalgia Really Worked Well
Recorded December 1, 2024 This week, Nate talks about a cross country event (surprise, surprise) which he hosted and it may have grown a bit larger than he originally expected. After that, Nate and Ryan talk about things that end well, as all good things must. Then, they have what Ryan only could...
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84: We'll Make a New Home and Be Perfectly Fine Without You
Recorded September 1, 2024 This week, Nate went to yet another amusement park- one not so dilapidated this time. Then, Ryan talks about a game that seems to have been designed for the venn diagram that is his entire personality. Afterwards, they have a KitKat cereal and a (better than usual)...
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83: Everyone Had Bought Into His Leadership
Recorded June 28, 2024 This week, Nate brings the perfect trifecta of "Nate topics" to discuss: He bought (yet another) Synology, expresses his concerns over Cross country event planning, and also talks about a new, old amusement park he visited. Then Ryan endures another Calpis (mango this…
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82: Best Teammate Nate's Ever Had
Recorded April 7, 2024 On this episode, Nate and Ryan have invited their friends Keith, Nash, Scott, and Shi to once again abuse the English language (and Ryan's self-esteem) in a game of words and definitions that is definitely legally distinct from any other definition based game. Connect with…
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81: Not Important Enough to Have a Footnote
Recorded March 31, 2024 And we're back! After a (not so) short hiatus, Nate and Ryan resume their antics with a discussion of what makes a game, bread point inflation, and musical theatre. Then after judging Flan KitKats and sparkling juice, they turn their attention to the theatre. All this…
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80: I Want the World to Be Better
Recorded February 12, 2024 It's the end of the world as we know it. Or at least the end of the Stillness. This week Nate and Ryan reach the conclusion of the Broken Earth Trilogy by N.K. Jemisin. In the lead up to their discussion on the book they talk about the start and stop lifestyle of their...
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79: Get to Know Death More
Recorded January 7, 2024 Goals, clubs, and the undead! This week Nate and Ryan talk about their new year, new goals (and themes) including the difficulty of normal bedtimes. Then, they discuss informal groups and clubs while having Matcha KitKats and yet another Lemon drink. Finally, as they talk...
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78: Energy Transfer and "Magic"
Recorded November 12, 2023 Time and tide wait for no one. And so, another year has passed. As is their tradition, Nate and Ryan look back on everything that has happened in the past year and remember their favorite things about it. Then, turning their eyes from their favorite things of the past...
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77: Getting Close but Not Touching
Recorded October 1, 2023 This week Nate and Ryan talk about summer, events, and robots. Nate went on a trip to Okinawa and got a new Synology. Meanwhile, Ryan went to Tokyo Game Show and got sick on a mountain. Then, they talked all about their favorite robots (and robot adjacent beings). After...
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76: Heat and Lava and the Movement of the Earth
Recorded June 21, 2023 This week Ryan and Nate talk about vacations and trips and rocks. Specifically in that order. Nate tried to keep his children up later than the Tokyo government would allow and Ryan took a flight with a seat partner who was all elbows. After that, the two recall stories…
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75: Slightly Supernatural Quality
Recorded May 28, 2023 This week, it's a listener pick episode. First, Nate and Ryan address the shotgun blast of mini topics: everything from bread points, recently read books, to graduation. Then, they try café au lait Kit Kats and… yet another Calpis. Finally, for the listener picked main…
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74: Let's Make a Part of the Movie Have Character Growth
Recorded April 23, 2023 This week, Nate and Ryan have returned from a conference and on their return both engaged in some light consumerism. Then, after drinking a "milk and melon" drink and having some dark cacao Kit-Kats, they discuss the sequels that improved upon the original. Finally, for…
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73: Dragged Along Into Contentedness
Recorded April 9, 2023 This week Nate talks sports and cameras and Ryan talks games (tabletop) and games (video). Then the two of them try some pomegranate juice and cassis KitKats before talking about places they'd like to visit and explore. Finally, for the main media of the day, they discuss...
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72: Arguments Are Uncomfortable, but Silence Is Worse
Recorded March 12, 2023 This week Nate and Ryan talk tech. They address LearnerBuild, Synology RAIDs, and of course FileMaker of all things. Then Ryan talks about his experience escaping from the underworld in Hades before they have another C.C. Lemon offshoot. Then, they bring up the present… or...
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71: Identifying His Own Self-Worth
Recorded February 12, 2023 This week, Nate tells Ryan about his adventures in the snow while Ryan hid indoors. One of them came out with all their bones intact. Hint: it's exactly who you think. Then, Ryan tells Nate about magic parkour before the two of them dream of having money and what they...
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70: Polar Opposites but Very Similar
Recorded November 7, 2022 From the island of Okinawa, this week Nate and Ryan talk about escaping from nature and keeping up with their respective goals. Then Nate finally gets his chance to tell Ryan what it means to "rescue" animals in Disco Zoo. Afterwards they talk about hobbies and what they...
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69: Many Nebulous Enemies
Recorded December 17, 2022 This week, Nate and Ryan summarize their previous year. It was a rich, full year with a lot of different experiences. In their look back, they remember all the good things that stood out. Then, as it seems like a tradition at this point, Ryan had Nate read the next book...
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68: It's Interesting That You Noticed That
Recorded January 22, 2023 Lured in with the promise of Japanese KitKats, the author Dan Moren is cornered by Nate, Ryan, and their friend Scott. As they do, they grilled him all about his Galactic Cold War series along with the newest book, "The Nova Incident". In their discussion, they end up...
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67: Never Forget, You Guys Are #Blessed
Recorded October 2, 2022 This week Nate and Ryan wrap up a final Christmas present, where they are joined by Keith, Nash and Zach as Nate experiences Dungeons and Dragons for the first time (this time with double the dragons). There are orcs, drums, legally-distinct characters that are strangely...
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66: I Was Told There'd Be Dragons
Recorded October 2, 2022 It's Christmas all year 'round here. Your present this year is to witness Nate's first foray into a world of collaborative storytelling. Find out what happens when an owl, a cat, a saytr, and a robot walk into a bar. With heedless forward momentum, drunk tortles, and more...
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65: Simple Can Have Power in Its Creativity
Recorded September 10, 2022 This week, Ryan's adventures with Obsidian and Nate's overly accurate cross country maps created trouble for both of them. Also, Nate got a new iPhone and Ryan reminisced about Ni No Kuni. Afterwards, They tried Salty Lemon Kit-Kats and yet another Calpis before…
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64: Culty Vibes From the Perpetuity Wing
Recorded August 21, 2022 This week, Ryan makes excuses for his "not-quite-so-productive-as-I-meant-it-to-be" summer (and Nate does the same). Also, Nate was able to make it to Disney (surprise, surprise). Afterwards, Ryan talks about the adorable critters wearing hats in Kena: Bridge of Spirits....
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63: The Return of the Kandra
Recorded July 31, 2022 This week, Ryan has been hiding from the summer heat and Nate was with his family on vacation. On his return, Nate uses this opportunity to finally announce his mysterious grading project LearnerBuild. Then the two talk return to a talk about games telling all about their...
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62: All Zhuri Are X, All Ororo Are Y
Recorded July 9, 2022 This week, Nate and Ryan talk about a little bit of everything. First, they talk about their summer trips and what it would be like to have your brain severed. After that, they bring up about some of their favorite portable devices. Finally, after some seltzer for the taste…
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61: Rite to be a Wizard
Recorded June 19, 2022 This week, Nate and Ryan talk about their summer plans and how they gracefully fall face first into their school's summer break. Ryan then talks about games and storytelling in the 2018 God of War. Afterwards they both talk about a few stories and media with good female…
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60: Research So That Humankind Can Grow
Recorded June 5, 2022 This week, Nate and Ryan talk about how they consume media and the efforts they take to not mindlessly munch media. Ryan details what it means to work together and collaborate as instructed by a magical talking book from the game, It Takes Two. After that, they try yet…
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59: To Throw Violently
Recorded May 22, 2022 This week Nate and Ryan invite some of their friends to commit some crimes against the English language and definitional indecency. With special guests Nash, Shi, Keith, and Scott. Connect with us Become a member: myhilltodieon.com/members Reddit: r/MyHillToDieOn Twitter:...
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58: A Bunch of Washed Up Actors
Recorded April 24, 2022 Never give up, Never surrender! This week, Nate and Ryan are joined by their friend Terence as they watch one of the most lovingly created spoofs of Star Trek. Before they dive into that, the three decide it's best to talk about all things sci-fi. Ryan starts by talking...
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57: Sherlock Holmes if Watson Was a Con Man
Recorded April 9, 2022 This week, Nate and Ryan open by talking about Free Guy (with spoilers), Sing 2, and other things they did over their recent break. Later, Nate talks about some of his program fixes and Ryan talks about sad endings for characters in Elden Ring. After that, they talk about...
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56: Seal the Respect for Each Other
Recorded March 26, 2022 Nate and Ryan are happy with the Overcast updates, Nate is optimistic about some updates of his own and Ryan decides to talk about more sad games. The two of them also decide to tell vehicular stories that may lead to varying levels of concern. Then, after trying a craft...
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55: Humor Embedded in the Narration
Recorded March 12, 2022 This week, Ryan kept Nate from catching up on the new Star Trek episodes and Nate talked about his journey to get his daughters introduced into Gene Roddenberry's universe. Soon after that, Ryan ranted all about his journey to remake the Elden Ring. Afterwards, both of…
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54: The Second Book Made Me Angry
Recorded February 27, 2022 This week, as a special treat, we have included one of our "not my hills" that are available to all of our members. On this one, Nate had Ryan watch Encanto, and Ryan gushes about how much he loves the music and lyrics to degree that might border on an existential…
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53: How Does His Beating Make Him the Kung Fu Master?
Recorded February 12, 2022 This week Nate and Ryan look for a touch of levity in everything. Nate begins by talking about his software and the bug (or feature) that he found and fixed. Nate then talked about how he "pulled a Ryan" with health anxiety, and how he fell back in love with the Amazing...
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52: Here Comes the Borg Hexagon
Recorded January 22, 2022 This week, Ryan shares about his life in quarantine, and Nate talks about his winter trip to the House of Mouse. Nate then goes into detail about his debugging process for his grading software and Ryan talks about his love of sad games. The two share some of their…
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51: Can You Just Add Some More Words?
Recorded December 11, 2021 For this episode, Nate and Ryan decided to wrap up and say farewell to 2021. To do so, they reflected on the past year, their accomplishments, and favorite things from a year that, in all honesty, could have treated the world a bit better. In doing so, they talk about...
About this show
Everyone has things they are passionate about; things we want our friends to try and experience. So we've convinced each other to try different things. We talk about these experiences to see if we can just get one more person to join us on our hill to die on.
Hosted by
Nate Rudd and Ryan Smith
Categories