Games & Hobbies
**Know Direction Network**

All of Know Direction’s Shows, including Pathfinder and Starfinder News, Reviews, Interviews, and Actual Play podcasts.

Latest Episodes:

Intrepid Heroes 173 – The Casino (Murder in Metal City Session 8) Dec 08, 2025

Show notes

Our heroes head to the Magenta Orbital Amusement Platform in search of an old friend.

Join our Intrepid Heroes as they solve the mystery of the Murder in Metal City!

Cast:
Jason Keeley – GM
Alex Speidel – Patsy Van Dyne
Isis Wozniakowska – Voss Seltee
Jocelyn Hamilton – Together in Electric Dreams (Dreams)
John Godek – Xabi Fraglorious
Rue Dickey – Whose Boughs Are Lit Within (Boughs)
Tim Nightengale – Dexter Rayne

Starfinder 2nd Edition Actual Play Podcast

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Game Design Unboxed 129: Gelt Galore Dec 02, 2025

Show notes

In this festive episode 129 of Game Design Unboxed, we chat with sister duo Anya and Irina Kagan – game designers and the founders of Gifts Galore – about their Hanukkah-themed party game, Gelt Galore.

They talk about how magical childhood traditions inspired them as adults to bring new energy to holiday gatherings and how a simple homemade game — originally crafted from post-its, stickers, and family trivia — turned into a full-fledged board game.

We discuss several unique design challenges including how to compile authentic and accurate historical info for trivia questions and how to strike the right balance between questions that are easy/fun and questions that are deep or educational.

The sisters also share how they designed Gelt Galore to be accessible and inclusive by using pictures along with colors (considering colorblind accessibility), designing mechanics that work for players of all ages and mobility capabilities, the “bribes” that help them attract playtesters (like candy or pizza), the inviting game design community in Kalamazoo, Michigan, stories of little-known Hanukkah heroines, and the age-old debate of the superior latke topping. Is it sour cream or applesauce? You decide!

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Featuring:

Anya and Irina Kagan – Guests

Danielle Reynolds – Host

Upshift 55: What (Little) We Know About Power Rangers Nov 28, 2025

Show notes

Ryan doesn’t know Power Rangers. Neither does Charles. But here they are, trying to talk about the Power Rangers RPG.

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Video

Show Notes

Essential Builds – Dynamo
Follow Ryan on Instagram and Bluesky, and check out his Budo-A-Day project.
G.I.Joe Headcast: https://www.youtube.com/@G.I.Joe_Headcast The Energon Protocols with Erik Smith
The Universe Awaiting, Charles’ new retro toy and RPG company, is going to be at the Kitchener/Waterloo Toy show on November 23rd.

Although Ryan works for Renegade Game Studios, this podcast and the network that hosts it are not affiliated with Renegade Game Studios.

Digital Divination 149 – Giving Thanks for Gaming Nov 27, 2025

Show notes

John, Jason , and Ron talk about some of the gaming related things they are thankful for.

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Know Direction 308: Monster Core 2 Nov 26, 2025

Show notes

We love a good monster book here at Know Direction. So much so, we declared November to be Monster Month in honour of the release of Monster Core 2 for Pathfinder 2e.

In our first segment this month, Ryan picks and random monster and brainstorms an encounter in real time.

In segment 2, he interviews Joshua Birdsong, one of Monster Core 2’s lead designers.

And finally, Joshua sticks around for the fireside chat to talk about his path to Pathfinder.

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Intrepid Heroes 172 – Split The Party (Murder in Metal City Session 7) Nov 24, 2025

Show notes

With so many clues, our heroes decide to split the party!

Join our Intrepid Heroes as they solve the mystery of the Murder in Metal City!

Starfinder 2nd Edition Actual Play Podcast

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Watch Now!(mp4)

Game Design Unboxed 128: Twinkle Twinkle Nov 18, 2025

Show notes

In episode 128 of Game Design Unboxed, we chat with game designer (publisher, art director, illustrator, and more!) Ammon Anderson about Twinkle, Twinkle, a game born from his lifelong fascination with space.

We discuss the origin of the game’s gorgeous translucent acrylic tiles, its “out of this world” space themes and expansions, and the new scoring app Allplay is developing. Ammon shares how Twinkle, Twinkle being featured at PAX Unplugged streamlined it through the pitching process, and what it’s like navigating publisher timelines and offers.

Other episode highlights include: celebrating completed projects, illustration costs, paying your kids tax-free to help your business, why he loves crafting high-quality prototypes, the importance of a well-written rulebook, and important lessons learned (like always bringing a friend to help you table at conventions).

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Featuring:

Ammon Anderson – Guest

Danielle Reynolds – Host

Upshift 54: G.I. JOE Rangers Nov 14, 2025

Show notes

As requested by fan and friend (frand?) David, Ryan and Charles look at the Ranger. They discuss the military and G.I. JOE origins of rangers, how they were brought into Essence20, and how Ryan solved the Ranger’s Aquaman Problem.

Listen Now! (mp3)

Video

Show Notes

Essential Builds – Analog (Original Transformers PC)
Next Essential Build: A Running Man Stalker: Captain Freedom, Fireball, Buzzsaw, Dynamo, or Sub Zero
G.I.Joe Headcast: https://www.youtube.com/@G.I.Joe_Headcast The Energon Protocols with Erik Smith
The Universe Awaiting, Charles’ new retro toy and RPG company, is going to be at the Kitchener/Waterloo Toy show on November 23rd.

Although Ryan works for Renegade Game Studios, this podcast and the network that hosts it are not affiliated with Renegade Game Studios.