The GeekDads

The Geekdads Episode 5: Electronic Yodelling Pickle Nov 07, 2007

Our special guest this week is Geekdad contributor John Baichtal. We talk about the mousetrap-powered car contest, lego art, Wil Wheaton's new book, and the Geekdad 42 list. Enjoy!

The GeekDads Episode 4: Keep it Geeky! Oct 24, 2007

Welcome to the fourth episode of The GeekDads, with Ken Denmead, Brian Little, Bruce Stewart, and Dan Olson. We chat about the Austin Maker Faire, being stumped by a three year-old, Google Sky, and Ikeahacker.com. Enjoy!

The GeekDads Episode 3: No Rodents Should Be Harmed Oct 04, 2007

Welcome to the third episode of The Geekdads, with Ken Denmead, Brian Little, Russ Neumeier, and Dan Olson. Enjoy!

The GeekDads Episode 2: Frog Blast the Vent Core! Oct 04, 2007

Welcome to the second episode of The Geekdads, with Ken Denmead, Brian Little, Russ Neumeier, and Dan Olson. Enjoy!

The GeekDads Episode 1: Guys Who Launch Balloons Aug 28, 2007

Welcome to the first episode of The Geekdads! The all new podcast from some of the contributors at the Geekdad blog. This week, Ken Denmead, Brian Little, Russ Neumeier, and Dan Olson are joined by special guest and Geekdad founder Chris Anderson to chat about the philosophy behind the blog, and review some of the posts of the last couple weeks. Enjoy!

Special: Interview With Ben Loomes of Syrinscape at Gen Con 2017 Aug 18, 2017

GeekDad Gerry Tolbert interviews Ben Loomes, creator of the awesome Syrinscape app for creating ambient soundtracks for gaming, at Gen Con 2017.

The GeekDads Episode #148: John Kovalic at SFGE 2016 Jun 16, 2016

GeekDad Will James did a one-on-one panel interview with John Kovalic at the Southern-Fried Gameroom Expo this past weekend.

The GeekDads Episode #147: Play Together - 'Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer' Oct 22, 2015

In this special (and unexpected) edition of The GeekDads podcast, Z. and his kids play 'Animal Crossing: Happy Home Academy' together. And wackiness ensues.

The GeekDads Episode #146: The Surprise DragonCon Episode Sep 10, 2015

It's another great GeekDad podcast! Preston, Wil, and Kishore bring us a special recap from DragonCon 2015. Enjoy!

GeekDad.com is the parenting blog edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum, Jonathan Liu, Z and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop culture. The GeekDads podcast is a biweekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

The GeekDads Episode #145: We Are So Much More Important Than Public Radio Mar 12, 2015

It's another great GeekDad podcast! Ken and Matt talk about the loss of some geek greats, and revel in the recent episodes of Agent Carter and Gravity Falls. Enjoy!

GeekDad.com is the parenting blog edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum, Jonathan Liu, Z and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop culture. The GeekDads podcast is a biweekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

The GeekDads Episode #144: Robots and Rocketships Feb 19, 2015

The GeekDads podcast returns! Ken chats with new GeekDad writers Jamie and Will about all the kinds of geeks there are, as well as what brought them to GeekDad in the first place.

(Apologies for the audio - the recorder was set to the wrong mic input, so we got a bit of ambient noise.)

GeekDad.com is the parenting blog edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum, Jonathan Liu, Z and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop culture. The GeekDads podcast is a biweekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

The GeekDads Episode #143: Picking and Choosing the Good Ones Jan 22, 2015

The GeekDads podcast returns! Ken & Matt are back after a year hiatus for more geeky conversaion, talking about recent geeky entertainment, and generally catching up on the lost year.

GeekDad.com is the parenting blog edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum, Jonathan Liu, Z and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop culture. The GeekDads podcast is a biweekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

Bounded Enthusiasm #9: Jennifer Holm and The Fourteenth Goldfish Nov 04, 2014

An interview with author Jennifer Holm about her latest middle-grade novel, The Fourteenth Goldfish.

Bounded Enthusiasm is a podcast by GeekDad Senior Editor Jonathan H. Liu, about books, games, apps, and anything else he feels like talking about at the moment.

Bounded Enthusiasm #8: Elissa Brent Weissman Takes Us Back to Nerd Camp Oct 13, 2014

An interview with Elissa Brent Weissman, author of several middle-grade novels about smart kids. Her latest book is Nerd Camp 2.0, a sequel to Nerd Camp.

Bounded Enthusiasm is a podcast by GeekDad Senior Editor Jonathan H. Liu, about books, games, apps, and anything else he feels like talking about at the moment.

Bounded Enthusiasm #6: Paul Pope, Battling Boy, and The Rise of Aurora West Sep 29, 2014

An interview with Paul Pope, creator of the Battling Boy series, about his new book The Rise of Aurora West.

Bounded Enthusiasm is a podcast by GeekDad Senior Editor Jonathan H. Liu, about books, games, apps, and anything else he feels like talking about at the moment.

Bounded Enthusiasm #7: Tony DiTerlizzi on Ralph McQuarrie and Star Wars Oct 06, 2014

An interview with Tony DiTerlizzi about his latest book, Star Wars: The Adventures of Luke Skywalker, Jedi Knight, which features paintings by Ralph McQuarrie.

Bounded Enthusiasm is a podcast by GeekDad Senior Editor Jonathan H. Liu, about books, games, apps, and anything else he feels like talking about at the moment.

Bounded Enthusiasm #5: B.J. Novak and the Book With No Pictures Sep 22, 2014

An interview with B.J. Novak, writer-producer-actor, recorded on September 19, 2014. B.J. talks about his first book for children, The Book With No Pictures.

Bounded Enthusiasm is a podcast by GeekDad Senior Editor Jonathan H. Liu, about books, games, apps, and anything else he feels like talking about at the moment.

Bounded Enthusiasm #4: Gene Yang and Sonny Liew on The Shadow Hero Jul 15, 2014

An interview with Gene Yang and Sonny Liew, recorded June 24, 2014. Gene and Sonny talk about working on The Shadow Hero, the untold origin story of a WWII-era superhero, arguably the world's first Asian-American superhero.

Bounded Enthusiasm is a podcast by GeekDad Senior Editor Jonathan H. Liu, about books, games, apps, and anything else he feels like talking about at the moment.

Bounded Enthusiasm #3: Daniel H. Wilson Thinks Like a Machine Jun 13, 2014

An interview with Daniel H. Wilson, recorded May 23, 2014. Daniel discusses his latest book, Robogenesis, along with other stories about robot uprisings.

Bounded Enthusiasm is a podcast by GeekDad Senior Editor Jonathan H. Liu, about books, games, apps, and anything else he feels like talking about at the moment.

Bounded Enthusiasm #2: Jonathan Auxier and the Spud Cannon Jun 08, 2014

An interview with Jonathan Auxier, recorded May 6, 2014. Jonathan discusses his new book, The Night Gardener. Along the way we talk about storytelling, board games, reading to kids, and Auxier's mastery of the yo-yo.

Bounded Enthusiasm is a (newly renamed, after a single episode) podcast by GeekDad Senior Editor Jonathan H. Liu, about books, games, apps, and anything else he feels like talking about at the moment.

Bounded Enthusiasm #1: Tony DiTerlizzi May 04, 2014

An interview with Tony DiTerlizzi, recorded on April 29, 2014. Tony talks about his new book, The Battle for WondLa; his Dungeons & Dragons days; and his upcoming Star Wars book featuring artwork by Ralph McQuarrie.

Bounded Enthusiasm (renamed from "Talking About Stuff") is a podcast by GeekDad Senior Editor Jonathan H. Liu, covering books, games, apps, and anything else he feels like talking about at the moment.

Special: Geeks on NPR Talking About D&D's 4th Jan 21, 2014

GeekDad's own John Kovalic and Ethan Gilsdorf were both interviewed on Wisconsin Public Radio in light of the anniversary of the RPG that started it all.

[Audio courtesy WPR - Wisconsin Public Radio]

The GeekDads: CES Exclusive Jan 15, 2015

It's a special episode of The GeekDads! Ken & Z report from the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. They round-up their day on the show floor, and highlight the coolest and strangest gadgets they saw.

GeekDad.com is the parenting blog edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum, Jonathan Liu, Z and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop culture.

The GeekDads Episode #142: Several Minutes of Gore Jan 14, 2014

Ken & Matt are back for more geeky conversaion, talking about the holiday movies and catching up on some recent sci-fi reading.

GeekDad.com is the parenting blog edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum, Jonathan Liu, Z and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop culture. The GeekDads podcast is a biweekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

The GeekDads Episode #141: And Tom Bombadil is The Dude Dec 03, 2013

Ken, Matt, and Jonathan do a deep dive into the Doctor Who 50th Anniversary special, as well as Hunger Games: Catching Fire, and more. Enjoy!

GeekDad.com is the parenting blog edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum, Jonathan Liu, Z and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop culture. The GeekDads podcast is a biweekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

The GeekDads Episode #140: The Galifreyan Elephant in the Room Nov 19, 2013

Ken, Matt, Jonathan, Jason, and Ryan chat about the huge week of Doctor Who, playing RPGs with our kids, and the pending Monty Python reunion. Enjoy!

GeekDad.com is the parenting blog edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum, Jonathan Liu, Z and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop culture. The GeekDads podcast is a biweekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

The GeekDads Episode #139: I’ll Buy You a Delicatessen Nov 05, 2013

Ken and Matt chat about all the upcoming holiday movies. Enjoy!

GeekDad.com is the parenting blog edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum, Jonathan Liu, Z and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop culture. The GeekDads podcast is a biweekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

The GeekDads Episode #138: We Can All Spot Joss' House on Google Earth Oct 15, 2013

Ken, Matt, Jonathan, and Chuck talk about Kickstarter, Disneyland, and summer movies. Enjoy!

GeekDad.com is the parenting blog edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum, Jonathan Liu, Z and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop culture. The GeekDads podcast is a biweekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

The GeekDads Podcast Episode #137: Safer Than Craigslist Jul 30, 2013

Ken, Matt, Jonathan, and Chuck talk about Kickstarter, Disneyland, and summer movies. Enjoy!

GeekDad.com is the parenting blog edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum, Jonathan Liu, Z and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop culture. The GeekDads podcast is a biweekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

The GeekDads Podcast #136: The New Siskel and Ebert Jul 02, 2013

Ken and Matt talk about Disney World vs. Disneyland, summer movies, and more! Enjoy!

GeekDad.com is the parenting blog edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum, Jonathan Liu, Z and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop culture. The GeekDads podcast is a biweekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

The GeekDads Podcast #135: They Parent So You Don't Have To Jun 04, 2013

Ken, Matt, and Jonathan catch up on geeky news, including Forbidden Desert, and the Game of Thrones Red Wedding. Enjoy!

GeekDad.com is the parenting blog edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum, Jonathan Liu, Z and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop culture. The GeekDads podcast is a biweekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

The GeekDads Episode #134: SPOILERS! May 21, 2013

Ken and Matt have a long, spoiler-filled debate about Star Trek Into Darkness (one loved it, one hated it). Plus chat about Maker Faire, the new XBox One, and more. Enjoy!

Caution: Brief Profanity

GeekDad.com is the parenting blog edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum, Jonathan Liu, Z and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop culture. The GeekDads podcast is a biweekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

The GeekDads Episode #133: He's Going to Chew Some Scenery May 07, 2013

Ken, Matt, and Ryan talk about Maker Faire, Iron Man 3, and Star Trek Into Darkness. Enjoy!

GeekDad.com is the parenting blog edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum, Jonathan Liu, Z and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop culture. The GeekDads podcast is a biweekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

The GeekDads Episode #132: Awesome Space Shark Apr 23, 2013

Ken, Matt, and James talk about the changes at GeekDad, plus Scooby Doo!, and revisiting Battlestar Galactica. Enjoy!

GeekDad.com is the parenting blog edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum, Jonathan Liu, Z and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop culture. The GeekDads podcast is a biweekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

The GeekDads Episode #131: If You Didn't Get 1, You're Wrong Mar 12, 2013

Ken, Jonathan, and Matt about upcoming geek movies, Jonathan's Kickstarter project, and the mathematical order of operations. Enjoy!

GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum, Jonathan Liu, Z and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop culture. The GeekDads podcast is a biweekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

The GeekDads Episode #130: Con Panel - The Musical! Feb 26, 2013

Ken, Jonathan, Matt and Jim chat about comic convention panels, Kickstarter projects and more. Enjoy!

GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum, Jonathan Liu, Z and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop culture. The GeekDads podcast is a biweekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

The GeekDads Episode #129: Space Marine™ Feb 12, 2013

Ken, Jonathan, Jason and Ryan chat about smart watches from Pebble and Apple, what's up with Games Workshop and the Space Marine trademark, and the golden age of Internet television. Enjoy!

GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum, Jonathan Liu, Z and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop culture. The GeekDads podcast is a biweekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

The GeekDads Episode #128: Take the 210 to the 57 Jan 30, 2013

Ken, Matt, Jonathan, Ryan and Jim chat about applications to date our daughters, and the Jonathan Coulton/Glee brouhaha. Enjoy!

GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum, Jonathan Liu, Z and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop culture. The GeekDads podcast is a biweekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

The GeekDads Episode #127: Time Traveling Marines Invented SpaghettiOs Jan 15, 2013

Ken, Matt, and Doug chat about the holidays, the Aaron Shwartz tragedy, Disney Infinity, and other cool geek news. Enjoy!

GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum, Jonathan Liu, Z and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop culture. The GeekDads podcast is a biweekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

GeekDad HipTrax 12 Days of Geekmas 2012 #12 Dec 21, 2012

GeekDad HipTrax 12 Days of Geekmas 2012 #11 Dec 19, 2012

GeekDad HipTrax 12 Days of Geekmas 2012 #10 Dec 18, 2012

The GeekDads Episode #126: The Opposite of Klingon Dec 18, 2012

Ken, Matt, Jason and Corinna chat about the Sandy Hook tragedy, The Hobbit, and other cool geek news. Enjoy!

GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum, Jonathan Liu, Z and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop culture. The GeekDads podcast is a biweekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

GeekDad HipTrax 12 Days of Geekmas 2012 #9 Dec 17, 2012

GeekDad HipTrax 12 Days of Geekmas 2012 #8 Dec 16, 2012

GeekDad HipTrax 12 Days of Geekmas 2012 #7 Dec 15, 2012

GeekDad HipTrax 12 Days of Geekmas 2012 #6 Dec 15, 2012

GeekDad HipTrax 12 Days of Geekmas 2012 #5 Dec 14, 2012

GeekDad HipTrax 12 Days of Geekmas 2012 #4 Dec 12, 2012

GeekDad HipTrax 12 Days of Geekmas 2012 #3 Dec 12, 2012

GeekDad HipTrax 12 Days of Geekmas 2012 #2 Dec 12, 2012

GeekDad HipTrax 12 Days of Geekmas 2012 #1 Dec 10, 2012

The GeekDads Episode #125: The Extra P is for Pathetic Nov 20, 2012

Ken and Matt chat about the upcoming holidays, Windows 8, the new TSR, and more. Enjoy!

GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum, Jonathan Liu, Z and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a biweekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

GeekDad HipTrax #100 Nov 27, 2012

Ken and I really struggled to find a way to celebrate the 100th episode of GeekDad HipTrax without simply rehashing a bunch of stuff we’ve already featured. After some careful deliberation we submit for the approval of our longsuffering listening community the following collection which we have dubbed “The HipTrax Definitive 10.”

It’s 10 songs from 10 distinct artists that truly encapsulate what the geeky music meta-community is all about, and it includes old and new tracks like:

“It is Pitch Dark” by MC Frontalot
A classic cut from the Godfather of Nerdcore originally included in our 10th episode.

“Paperman” by Adam WarRock
A brand new song from the new face of pop culture-obsessed hip-hop.

“Take it from Me” by Kirby Krackle
This Mega Man tribute comes from the Seattle geek rockers’ phenomenal E for Everyone.

“Light Up the Night” by The Protomen
Another Mega Man cut that’s also a classic throwback; this piece from the all-original VGM rock opera outfit is surely one of its finest.

“Out on the Floor” by Pixelh8
Danceable electro collides with the artist’s traditional upbeat chiptunes on this And the Revolution standout.

“The Earl of Funk” by The OneUps
The funk fusion game rockers really come through on this song from their latest release.

“Ping Pong Song” by Optimus Rhyme
A sentimental favorite from the long-gone champions of nerdcore.

“Skymall” by Jonathan Coulton
JoCo was quite literally the starting point of this project, so we pause to reflect on his amazing creative output and the sheer breadth of his career.

“Clever Girl” by The Doubleclicks
Elements of filk and geek rock blissfully coexist in this Doubleclicks selection also sometimes known as “Hollywood Raptor.”

“Save Ginny Weasley” by Harry and the Potters
We close with what is easily the most important track in Wizard Rock.

The GeekDads Episode #124: This Year I'm Going to Earn My Griswold Title Nov 20, 2012

Ken, Jonathan, and Matt chat about the rumored NASA Mars announcement, going crazy with holiday lights, the season's best movies, and more. Enjoy!

GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum, Jonathan Liu, Z and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a biweekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

GeekDad HipTrax #99 Nov 13, 2012

As we creep slowly toward our landmark 100th episode (not to mention this year’s 12 Days of Geekmas), Ken and I take a moment to catch up on three new and notable releases.

Sit back and enjoy:

“Kiss My Bits (ComputeHer Mix)” by 8 Bit Weapon

8 Bit Weapon and ComputeHer recently put together a compilation spanning 14 years of chiptune magic. The 8 Bit Weapon Collection 1998-2012 weighs in at an impressive 56 tracks, and it’s available for download now via Bandcamp.

“Act I – To Live is to Love” by Adam WarRock

Last month Adam WarRock worked with Opera Memphis to shrink the four acts of Puccini’s La Boheme down to at tight four track hip-hop EP. High culture and pop culture collide in this fascinating display of narrative lyricism.

“Sunny Days Again” by Shnabubula

Shnabubula’s Fading Light consists of 10 improvised piano pieces that the artist recorded during a very trying personal period. Though originally intended as little more than disparate exercises, they actually fit together into a truly moving musical arc.

The GeekDads Episode #123: He’s Got the Chin For It Oct 23, 2012

Ken, Jonathan, and Matt chat about the Apple announcements, Wreck-it Ralph, and more. Enjoy!

GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum, Jonathan Liu, Z and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a biweekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

GeekDad HipTrax #98 Oct 16, 2012

In this edition of GeekDad HipTrax we take a break from our regularly scheduled Halloween merrymaking to talk with a very special guest, musician-comedian Mike Phirman!

We also rock out to:

"Chicken Monkey Duck" by Mike Phirman

From Mike's own The Very Last Songs I Will Ever Record (Part 1)comes a slice of barnyard funk suitable for your next rural social function.

"Moose Lodge" by Hard 'n Phirm

Hard 'n Phirm, the comedy duo consisting of Phirman and his pal Chris Hardwick, does not exactly create what we would consider family-friendly music. And yet I was able to find a cut from their release Horses and Grasseswith only one minor swear! #gome

The GeekDads Episode #122: We're Already Littering on Mars Oct 09, 2012

Ken, James, and Chuck chat about the Curiosity Rover, the Dragon space craft, home automation, and more. Enjoy!

GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum, Jonathan Liu, Z and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a biweekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

GeekDad HipTrax #97 Oct 02, 2012

Halloween comes early on this edition of GeekDad HipTrax!

Receive ample tricks and/or treats from:

“Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance – Successor of Fate” by Videogame Orchestra
European netlabel Pterodactyl Squad and Greek electro-chip duo Videogame Orchestra kick the show off with a little Castlevania action. This track is available as part of the free-to-download release Last But Not Least.

“King of Brains” by Zombie Lou
Zombie Lou’s Greatest Hits is an entire album based on a classic gag from the You Don’t Know Jack videogame series. It is also awesome, season-appropriate and free.

“Fear of the Dark” by Sam Haynes
Check out Sam Hanyes’ Halloween Carnival, a great collection of creepy electronica perfect for haunts and costume party soundtracks. Then check out the latest from the artist behind Sam Haynes, Cheekyboy.

The GeekDads Episode #121: I Cannot Answer That Question Objectively Sep 26, 2012

Ken and Matt chat about the iPhone 5, The Hobbit, and more. Enjoy!

GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum, Jonathan Liu, Z and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a biweekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

GeekDad HipTrax #96 Sep 18, 2012

Some podcasts are content to simply take over the world, but here at HipTrax we have grander designs; we are gunning for the entire universe!

Reach for the heavens with:

“Birds, Stars, Pigs and Quasars” by The OneUps

The OneUps latest, Intergalactic Continuum, is a funk-fueled journey through the stratosphere with stops in Hyrule and Funkotron. It’s available now at Bandcamp for a cool 10 bones, or you can check out the band’s official merch store for the physical version.

“Space Dojo 1 (Double Dragon 1 – Mission 2)” by Jake Kaufman

Jake Kaufman is likely better known in VGM circles as virt – or, if you prefer, “that guy who composes the soundtracks for all my favorite games.” Recently he added the Double Dragon Neon OST to his already impressive discography, alongside such fan favorites as Contra 4 and Shantae: Risky’s Revenge. It’s also available now via Bandcamp as a pay-what-you-want release.

“The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z” by Tribe One

Last weekend I caught Tribe One (along with tourmates Adam WarRock, Mikal kHill and Jesse Dangerously) in nearby Charlotte, NC. Tribe’s set was phenomenal, but this track in particular was a true standout.

The GeekDads Episode #120: Joss Runs Everything Now Sep 11, 2012

Ken, Matt, and Jonathan chat about PAX Prime, Thor 2 casting rumors, and make a few Apple announcement predictions. Enjoy!

GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum, Jonathan Liu, Z and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a biweekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

GeekDad HipTrax #95 Sep 04, 2012

With PAX Prime and Dragon*Con now behind us, we can finally get back to… whatever it was we were doing. I mean, I’m sure it was important. Or something.

Memorialize the bygone con season with:

“Be My Stalker” by The Doubleclicks
So I’m not saying this song is about me, but I’m also not sayin’ it ain’t, you dig? Be sure to catch the sisters Webber out and about this fall alongside the one and only Molly Lewis on The Ladies of Ragnarok: Tour 2012. I may or may not be sneaking into their van to collect DNA from their hairbrushes as part of a convoluted cloning scheme.

“Theme from Star Trek” by Andrew Allen
The Smooth Federation all-jazz Star Trek tribute is easily one of the coolest projects I’ve ever encountered. And I owe it all to longtime friend of GeekDad and veritable musical birddog Dave the SalesGeek!

“Back To Me” by Dual Core
Dual Core’s latest full-length All the Things was released last week, and it immediately shot to the top of the Bandcamp sales charts. This is particularly telling, as I can guarantee you that each and every Dual Core fan understands how to easily torrent the latest releases.

The GeekDads Episode #119: You Can Say That on Network TV Now Aug 28, 2012

Ken, Matt, and John Jonathan chat about the loss of Neil Armstrong, the Apple/Samsung verdict, and our excitement about the new Joss Whedon TV announcement. Enjoy!

GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum, Jonathan Liu, Z and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a biweekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

GeekDad HipTrax #94 Aug 21, 2012

As the summer draws to a close a young man’s thoughts turn to GeekDad HipTrax episode 94. Or maybe that’s just me.

Enjoy the following fine selections:

“Buggin’ (The Metamorphosis)” by Random

This Monday GeekDad was thrilled to premiere the newest video from rapper Random, a wonderful visual interpretation of this Kafka-inspired track directed by Max Isaacson. And just yesterday Ran followed it up with the release of the 2nd volume of his Language Arts collection.

“I Like It! (ft. MC Frontalot, Beefy)” by Supercommuter

The latest from Seattle chip-hoppers Supercommuter features the Godfather of Nerdcore MC Frontalot along, fellow PacNW geek rapper Beefy, electronic artist Square Wail and the smallest commuter of them all Itty Bitty Bot. Grab your copy right now from Bandcamp for whatever you’d like to pay.

“Gravity Falls” by Adam WarRock

WarRock will be on the road next month with Tribe One, Jesse Dangerously and Mikal kHill as part of the NOFRIENDS 2012 tour. Be sure to catch ‘em when they come through your burg, and don’t forget to check out Adam’s own Gravity Falls fan podcast.

The GeekDads Episode #118: Foiled by Time Machine Aug 14, 2012

Ken, Matt, and John Booth look chat about Star Wars Celebration, bad Tim Burton movies, and coffee vodka. Enjoy!

GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum, Jonathan Liu, Z and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a biweekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

Special: Genre Legend Diane Duane Talks 'Scooby Doo', 'Star Trek,' and Beating 'Harry Potter' to the Punch Aug 12, 2012

Talking with Diane Duane is like having a conversation with a wind storm; things keep coming at you from all directions, and everything blows you away.

If you are a fan of science fiction, fantasy, animation, and just genre entertainment in general, and you're of a certain age like me, you've probably bumped up against Diane's work, even if you don't realize it. In '80s she was at Hannah-Barbera, Filmation, DiC, Sunbow, and Walt Disney. Can you picture the shows she was working on? Captain Caveman, Dinosaucers, Transformers (the ORIGINAL), and Duck Tales to name a few. Then she co-wrote for Batman: The Animated Series (perhaps the Genesis of modern superhero cartoon shows), and Gargoyles. Gargoyles is remembered for having been a well-written series, with a lot of Star Trek: The Next Generation actors doing voice work.

And yes, Diane did a ST:TNG story: "Where No Man Has Gone Before."

She wrote a seminal series of Star Trek novels about the Romulans that informs fans to this day, and had young adult stories about wizards in the modern world on the racks a decade before J.K. Rowling.

There is more, much more, but in a way, that would be spoilers. If you know who Diane Duane is, you'll have a great time listening to this podcast, because the stories she tells about, every corner of genre entertainment in the last 30 years are great. If you don't know Diane, you'll really want to afterwards.

GeekDad HipTrax #93 Aug 07, 2012

This edition of GeekDad HipTrax is all about skillful lyricism and delicate acoustic-rooted instrumentation. And also Pokémon.

Think of it as HipTrax Unplugged:

“Gotta Catch ‘Em All (feat. The Stacey)” by Insane Ian

This song, taken from Ian’s larger work “Ultimate Epic Video Game Medley 3rd Strike,” combines Adele’s “Rolling in the Deep” with the theme song from Pokémon, a mash-up that obviously resonates here on the internet. It features the vocal stylings of his wife Stacey.

“Little Songs” by Grace Kendall

Many listeners likely know Grace as Wizard Rocker Snidget, and similarly associate her more with the dulcimer than the ukelele. Still, her Little Songs puts the uke center stage in a 12-track collection of earnest lyrics and simple, infectious melodies.

“Good” by John Anealio

This classic 90s cover is available as a part of John’s ongoing free Covers project, and it is also featured on my upcoming Hipster, please! compilation Nerd Up the 90s.

The GeekDads Episode #117: It's Still Fun to Drink the Results Jul 31, 2012

Ken, Matt, Dave, and Jonathan look chat about summer vacations, The Hobbit, Batman, and coffee vodka. Enjoy!

GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum, Jonathan Liu, Z and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a biweekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

GeekDad HipTrax #92 Jul 24, 2012

With our fearless leader at last back from vacation, we spend this particular episode of HipTrax reflecting on some exciting new cuts from some of our old favorites.

Enjoy:

“End Credits (Space Based Funk)” by Pixelh8
Last November Pixelh8 announced his retirement from chip music, but just last week he revealed that he has returned to music-making! A sneak preview of the new single from his forthcoming album is available at his site, but we took this opportunity to revisit the amazing soundtrack from his addictive iOS game Ocarbot.

“Language Arts (1st Day of School)” by Random
The first volume of Random’s Kickstarter-funded multimedia project Language Arts is currently available for your listening pleasure. There’s also a comic book, a video game and a great video for this debut single.

“Sharktopus” by Nuclear Bubble Wrap
Nuclear Bubble Wrap affirms their dedication to original material – they announced they were abandoning parody songs last year – with their latest EP, Abracadaver. It’s a seven song collection anchored by this highlight from their previous full-length.

GeekDad HipTrax #91 Jul 10, 2012

I am well aware of the summer concert season, but apparently there is also a summer album season. As it seems that everybody is dropping one this month!

Check out the new hotness:

“Bring Toonami Back” by Richie Branson

If the fan outcry to resurrect Cartoon Network’s long-missed Toonami anime block was a phalanx, then surely Richie’s rallying cry was the tip of the spear. (Now you know a bit more about both American otaku and ancient military history; you’re welcome, internet!) You can own this updated version of the iconic track along with six other hip-hop gems on his amazing new N.E.R.D. EP.

“Co-op Mode (feat. The BossFights)” by Sci-Fried

Sure, I could be stingy with my song leaks, but I like to share ‘em. Especially when they come from Florida’s geek rock royalty Sci-Fried and California’s underground thrash/rap juggernaut The BossFights. This song serves as the title track for Sci-Fried’s forthcoming Co-op Mode, an album featuring other epic musical team-ups with the likes of Warp 11, MC Lars and Insane Ian.

“Take on Me (Live)” by Kirby Krackle

Recorded at Seattle’s Hard Rock Cafe during this year’s Emerald City Comic Con, Live in Seattle represents Kirby Krackle’s first full band live album. Eleven tracks strong and featuring amazing guest performances by Adam WarRock and ALL CAPS‘ (and former Parselmouth) Kristina Horner, it’s a veritable must-own!

GeekDad HipTrax #90 Jun 28, 2012

Welcome, one and all, to the GeekDad HipTrax summer music spectacular. We've got thrills, chills and spills. And also Nine Inch Nails!

Prepare to be shocked and amazed by the geektastic glory of:

"Head Like I-O" by Inverse Phase

Inverse Phase's Pretty Eight Machine is likely the best thing you've heard since… well, Inverse Phase's inspired rendition of a certain Cee Lo Greenchart-topper.

"Just Passing Through" by Benjamin Briggs

Twenty-five years ago Final Fantasy introduced a generation of Western youth to the wonders of the JRPG -- not to mention the wonders of the Nobuo Uematsu soundtrack. And just this month the OverClocked ReMix community paid fitting musical tribute with their 35th album Random Encounter.

"Spring Break 199X" by Slime Girls

The latest from the Pterodactyl Squad netlabel is the Vacation Wasteland EP, a pitch-perfect collection of summer sounds. From garage-flavored punk to chip-driven surf, it's a must-have for all your warm weather listening.

The GeekDads Episode #116: Tom Lehrer Karaoke Jun 19, 2012

Ken, Matt, and Jonathan look back at GeekDad Day, the WWDC announcements, and upcoming geeky summer movies. Enjoy!

GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum, Jonathan Liu, Z and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a biweekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

GeekDad HipTrax #89 May 29, 2012

This week’s theme is musical adventure, and we include a record four tracks from three amazingly geeky artists!

Explore the possibilities with:

“Flash” / “Battle Theme” as covered by The Protomen

Though not technically released until June 1st, those who pre-ordered The Protomen’s new live tribute Present: A Night of Queen – like our own Ken Denmead – received the album early. The rest of you will have to wait, but we’ve provided a couple of tracks to tide you over.

“They Call It Big Blue” by Maximalism

While not serving as a member of Captain Dan and the Scurvy Crew, Brad Podray participates in a number of other unique musical projects. In his new release Soundtrack for a Great Adventure he provides a selection of ten amazing (and totally free) instrumentals to serve as backing tracks to whatever excitement awaits in your daily life.

“…Is About to Explode” by Adam WarRock

Having already conquered the worlds of comic book- and television-inspired music, Adam WarRock recently set his sights on the realm of anime. And since no property is more deserving of a hip-hop tribute than seminal 1988 classic Akira, that’s exactly what Adam’s Neo-Tokyo EP provides.

The GeekDads Episode #115: The Big Purple Elephant in the Room May 22, 2012

Ken, Matt, Doug, and Jonathan do a Maker Faire recap, and talk a bit about the "controversy" surrounding the GeekDad issue of Wired magazine. Enjoy!

GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum, Jonathan Liu, Z and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a biweekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

GeekDad HipTrax #88 May 15, 2012

As the weather warms up the new music just comes rolling in! In this episode we spotlight a trio of fantastic new songs from three of our longtime favorites.

Get your geek on with:

“Mountain Fortress Delta VII” by The OneUps

The newly released Nerdapalooza 2011 Recordings album contains no fewer than three dozen amazing live performance tracks from last year’s festival. Of course you can keep up with all the earth-shattering developments concerning this year’s event over at the official site.

“Never Fall (feat. Kirby Krackle)” by Sci-Fried

That rowdy geek rock crew Sci-Fried is currently finishing up a new album. Co-Op Mode is a collaborative effort featuring special guests like Warp 11, Insane Ian and Kirby Krackle’s Kyle Stevens. And congratulations to Sci-Fried guitarist Chuck Silver, who just participated in an epic team-up of his own. In the form of marriage!

“Let Your Geek Flag Fly” by John Anealio

What started out as a fun word game within the hallowed halls of the new GeekDad Community became the latest single from geek rock troubadour John Anealio. John will be sharing a stage with fellow musical dorks of note Paul & Storm at next month’s Nerdtacular event in Salt Lake City, Utah.

The GeekDads Episode #114: Beard Sharing May 08, 2012

Ken, Matt, and Jonathan spend nearly the entire episode going on and on and on about The Avengers. SPOILERS ABOUND! DO NOT LISTEN TO THIS PODCAST IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THE MOVIE! Enjoy!

GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum, Jonathan Liu, Z and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a biweekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

GeekDad HipTrax #87 May 01, 2012

GeekDad HipTrax is back with another episode dedicated to giving you a whole lot of music with a nigh unbelievable price tag! Check out awesome (and thriftily priced) jams like:

"This Sword" by the modrats

York, South Carolina's the modrats bring a healthy dose of punk to the ever-expanding world of geek rock. Their latest, Huzzah!, is a 15-track powerhouse of nerd hymns about everything from gaming to high fantasy that's available for whatever you'd care to pay.

"Con Rave Two Step" by Ultraklystron

Karl Olson's newest collection of anime- and fandom-inspired rhymes is dubbed Animatic after the traditional storyboarding process used in animation. It is available as a 22-track free download, or you can elect to pick up the deluxe 38-track editionfor a mere $9.

"Escape from L.A." by Shrimps

John Carpenter, the son of a music professor, composed the minimalist scores for many of his own films out of necessity. Netlabel Pterodactyl Squad recently paid homage to many of these phenomenally atmospheric lo-fi creations with their free-to-download chiptune album It's All in the Reflexes - A John Carpenter Tribute.

The GeekDads Episode #113: The Avengers is Not a Failure Apr 24, 2012

Ken, Matt, Dave, James and Cory chat about Matt's seeing Avengers, Ken's seeing robots, and Dave seeing the dark side of Hockey fandom. Enjoy!

GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum, Jonathan Liu, Z and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a biweekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

GeekDad HipTrax #86 Apr 17, 2012

On this edition of HipTrax we take a classic request and pair it with two hot new tracks. If you're a fan of hip-hop, video games or chiptunes, it is not a show to be missed!

Rock out with:

"Hostage Down" by Dual Core

Step into my musical time machine for a trip back to the early days of international nerdcore juggernaut Dual Core. It's the Counter-Strike: Source tribute track that introduced int eighty and c64 to studious hip-hop heads the world over.

"Find Me A Physicist! (Stenobot Remix)" by Supercommuter

Hot on the heels of (what I've been assured was) an amazing showing at PAX East, Seattle's chip-hop masterminds have treated fans to Remixes Vol. 1, a six-song collection of reworked material from the band's first two full-lengths. Best of all it's absolutely free.

"Expand Your Brain" by Tribe One

Atlanta's Tribe One announced at last year's Nerdapalooza that he was working on an entire collection of songs rhymed over repurposed Anamanaguchi riffs. Silly me, I thought he was joking!

The GeekDads Episode #112: Eating Santa Claus's Brain Apr 10, 2012

Ken, Matt, and Jonathan catch up on the aftermath of PAX East and Gamestorm 14. Plus, Ken's going to play with robots, and Matt's seeing Avengers early!

GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum, Jonathan Liu, Z and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a biweekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

GeekDad HipTrax #85 Apr 03, 2012

Here at GeekDad we talk a lot about Kickstarter, and there's a pretty simple reason for that. Though we're contributors to a Wired blog, most of us started out writing for small, independent projects. (Hell, most of us still do!) Kickstarter is an easy way to crowdsource funding for geeky ventures, particularly indie projects, so there's a genuine sense that what we're doing is really just supporting our community.

Kickstart your heart with:

"You Told Me" by Marc with a C
Poor Marc. No sooner was he celebrating the successful funding of his project to release his Normal Bias album on vinyl than he lost one of his musical idols. But rather than wallow in despair, Marc with a C instead elected to release Good Clean Fun, his own tribute to the music of the Monkees.

"Sky Palace of the Dragonriders" by Dethlehem
My name is Z. and I like long walks on the beach, Dungeons & Dragons and heavy metal. Pittsburgh's Dethlehem offers at least two of those things, and I'm pretty sure they could be convinced to walk on the beach with you to boot. Assuming, of course, you help them fund their epic summer tour. They are so very close!

"This Gigantic Robot Kills" by MC Lars
Post-punk laptop rapper MC Lars is currently financing a special fan-picked greatest hits compilation via Kickstarter. If this song doesn't make the cut I am calling shenanigans.

GeekDad HipTrax #84 Mar 06, 2012

Video killed the radio star, but the internet trumps 'em both! This edition of GeekDad HipTrax features a trio of new nerdy singles that also boast some truly inspired videos.

Enjoy the musical madness of:

"Stoop Sale" by MC Frontalot

Frontalot's Solved purported to answer the pressing questions of our day, but the video for "Stoop Sale" certainly confirms one thing I've suspected for years; Damian Hess is part Muppet.

"Tech Support" by Sci-Fried

Only the fierce geek rockers of Sci-Fried could turn a call for computer assistance into an opportunity for romance. The video for this track similarly features delightful puppets.

"I Wanna Live in a World Full of Heros" by Kirby Krackle

Kirby Krackle's Super Powered Love was likely my favorite release of 2011. It's an amazing collection of songs centered firmly in the fictional worlds of comic books and animation, but this track—and its accompanying video—brings it all home.

The GeekDads Episode #111: If We Just Could Have Kept the Internet to Ourselves Mar 13, 2012

Ken, Matt, Jonathan, and Tony talk about the 5th anniversary (that's wood!) of GeekDad, and the brand new community site. Plus, praise for John Carter! Enjoy!

GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum, Jonathan Liu, Z and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a biweekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

Special: We Chat With Neil DeGrasse Tyson Mar 12, 2012

Neil deGrasse Tyson is one of the very few people smart enough, knowledgeable enough, charming enough, and yes, famous enough that he might just be the best spokesperson for science alive. He's certainly the best spokesperson for American space exploration, a subject that has never needed advocates more than it does today. I recently had the chance to talk with Dr. Tyson about these matters and much more.

GeekDad HipTrax #83 Mar 06, 2012

HipTrax isn't fun, of course, but it's no Mass Effect 3.

Thankfully, the amazing musicians from the OverClocked ReMix community at least make it sound as if I'm in my favorite video game world:

"The Sound of the Galaxy" by Mattias Häggström Gerdt

This is currently the only Mass Effect 2 remix available at OCR, but it's easily strong enough to stand on its own. Built upon motifs from many of the original soundtrack selections, it's a suitably epic musical introduction to this episode.

"Nova Siberia" by Big Giant Circles

Big Giant Circles lives up to this name with the big sounds of this tribute to the original Mass Effect. It's important to note that this incredibly talented artist also went on to help compose the soundtrack to smash follow-up Mass Effect 2!

"Uncharted Depths" by Hy Bound

This remix from Hy Bound actually didn't make an OCR appearance 2011, but it may sound oddly familiar to gamers; it's actually based on the music from Mass Effect's galaxy map.

Special: We Chat With Morgan Freeman About First Contact Mar 04, 2012

The Science Channel is featuring its "Are We Alone" week all this week, and one piece of the programming pie is a special episode of Through the Wormhole, with host Morgan Freeman. The episode, titled "Will We Survive First Contact?" talks to a number of scientists about what the possibilities of communicating with extra-terrestrial intelligences really are, and what a first contact scenario might really be like. The episode airs Tuesday, March 6th at 10pm Pacific and Eastern, but we got an early look, and (even better) had the chance to chat with host Morgan Freeman about the show. You can listen to the conversation in the podcast below, or subscribe to our podcast feed.

The GeekDads Episode #110: To All Our Listeners, Neener, Neener Feb 28, 2012

Ken, Matt, Jonathan, and Chuck talk about the upcoming Apple announcements, the "Machete Sequence" for showing the Star Wars movies to our kids, and the awesome archer in the "Brave" trailer from Pixar. Enjoy!

GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum, Jonathan Liu, Z and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a biweekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

Special: Watch the Man of Action Panel From the Image Comics Expo Feb 26, 2012

I had the honor and privilege of moderating the "Man of Action" panel at the Image Comics Expo this weekend. Man of Action is the small group of creators behind the smash hits Ben 10 and Generator Rex on Cartoon Network. The panel included comic industry veterans Joe Casey and Steven Seagle, who had interesting inside stories to tell about the genesis of the series, as well as their new Ultimate Spider-Man show coming later this year, and other project. Also, my son Quinn, who was in the audience, got to have fun acting as both Statler and Waldorf for the panel.

GeekDad HipTrax #82 Feb 21, 2012

After a brief hiatus GeekDad HipTrax is back with songs to entertain and enlighten!

Relish the musical madness of:

"The Year 100,000" by R_Garcia

When not manning the helm at the Nophi Music Co., Atlanta-based Randy Garcia lays down his own amazing tracks. His latest release Resurgens breaks down the barriers between DIY punk rock, lo-fi electronica and danceable pop, blending them all into gorgeous, almost dreamlike soundscapes.

"Hopes Fall to Water" by DragonAvenger and Level 99

The most recent special project from the always impressive OverClocked ReMix community pays tribute to the RPGs you forgot you loved. Unsung Heroes reimagines atmospheric songs from the soundtracks lesser-known games, and among its many inspiring selections is this gem from assistant project directors DragonAvenger and Level 99.

"Snoopy The Dogg" by the great Luke Ski

This stand-out track from Luke's Be Amused By Me album came in at the top of Dr. Demento's Funny 25 of 2011, but the song's roots run much deeper. Discovered unfinished in an idea notebook some 17 years after its original inception, Ski eventually completed it as a musical tribute to one of his heroes.

The GeekDads Episode #109: R2's Freakin' Jets (Special Guest @Stepto) Feb 14, 2012

Ken, Matt, and special guest Stephen Toulouse (aka Stepto) talk all about online gaming with kids, and then geek out about some awesome movies. Enjoy!

GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum, Jonathan Liu, Z and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a biweekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

The GeekDads Episode #108: Aliens on Broadway Jan 31, 2012

Ken, Matt, Jonathan and special guest Chris Gore (from Attack of the Show and Film Threat) talk about movies, parenting in the digital age, and more. Enjoy!

GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum, Jonathan Liu, Z and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a biweekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

GeekDad HipTrax #81 Jan 24, 2012

In this edition of the podcast we catch up with a trio of GeekDad HipTrax favorites. We uncover new music, reflect on some older material and, of course, look toward the majesty of the near musical future.

With the help of:

"Apple Core II" by 8 Bit Weapon

8 Bit Weapon and Computeher are back with a brand new album, Bits with Byte. Several songs from this release (along with some of their earlier tracks) will be featured in the forthcoming "The Art of Video Games" exhibition at the Smithsonian American Art Museum.

"The Transformers Theme" by John Anealio

In addition to providing fans with tons of free music, like this cover of Lion's Transformers theme from last year's Angry Robot E.P., GeekDad John Anealio is also instructing the community in the finer points of music theory via a series of posts focused on the GarageBand app.

"So Far, So Good" by Adam WarRock

Former lawyer and current professional hip-hopper Adam WarRock had a phenomenal showing last year, and it looks as though 2012 will follow suit. With both a tour with fellow comic book lovers Kirby Krackle and a new album coming in early February, he is most definitely starting strong.

The GeekDads Episode #107: And Anyone Who Says Otherwise Is Evil and Bad and Wrong Jan 17, 2012

Ken, Matt, and Jonathan talk about the SOPA blackout, Google+, CES, and more. Enjoy!

GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum, Jonathan Liu, Z and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a biweekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

GeekDad HipTrax #80 Jan 10, 2012

With 2011 now behind us, I can't help but reflect on all the musical goodness that we enjoyed over the course of that year. Sadly, it saw a pair of my longtime favorite artists say goodbye to their previous projects, but it also introduced listeners like me to many amazing new acts only just beginning their meteoric rise!

It's the ciiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiircle of liiiiiiiiiiiiife!

Um... And now on with the show:

"It is Your Turn Now" by Pixelh8

Back in November, famed UK chiptuner Pixelh8 officially retired from the scene. His musical legacy includes a half-dozen phenomenal albums and EPs, not to mention his custom-built music-making software. His parting gift to fans and fellow musicians alike was this inspired (and inspiring) tune.

"Mega Man Forever" by Random

Similarly, hip-hopper Random has announced that, with the release of his Mega Ran 10 album, he is turning in his helmet and arm cannon. It's a sad day for nerdcore, but let's not forget that Ran has made equally amazing music about many other video game characters and franchises.

"No Easy Way to Say This" by The Doubleclicks

While some of our favorite established artists are (sadly) moving in new directions, Portland's nerd folk duo The Doubleclicks are only now starting to garner the attention and respect that they truly deserve. Combining contemporary geek rock with a classic filk lean and a proper helping of cello, they are difficult to resist. So I recommend that you just stop trying.

The GeekDads Episode #106: Skylanders Farming Jan 03, 2012

Ken, Matt, Jonathan, and James talk about the Hobbit trailer games we got for Christmat, and more. Enjoy!

GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum, Jonathan Liu, Z and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a biweekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

12DoG — **12th Day of GeekMas** Dec 23, 2011

At last we have arrived, my friends. It’s our 12th Day of Geekmas, and today’s offerings are even more spectacular than those that came before.

Up for grabs is our last Philips Wireless HDMI Net Connect, a device that streams content wirelessly from your desktop or laptop directly to your HDTV. It’s provided by this year’s 12 Days of Geekmas sponsor, Philips.

Also included in today’s giveaway are a copy of Book Creator for iPad from Red Jumper Studios, an iPad 2 from the fine folks at Target, a Steel Series gaming bundle (including a SteelSeries Sensei laser mouse, a SteelSeries Siberia v2 headset with Cross-Platform Audio Mixer, a SteelSeries 9HD mousepad and a pair of SteelSeries Desmo glasses), a specially-styled Voltron watch, a Kre-O Transformers set from Hasbro, the Logitech Harmony Link, a Captain America and the Avengers Hallmark keepsake ornament, an iCade iPad arcade cabinet and a bonus $10 off $30 coupon code from our friends at ThinkGeek.

Giveaway rules:

Open to North American residents only.

One entry per physical address.

Must be 18 or older to enter.

Winners will be chosen at random from a given day's entries.

Winners will be notified via the email supplied at time of entry, and in the following day’s giveaway post.

Prizes are supplied by 3rd parties, and GeekDad.com cannot be held liable for items damaged or lost in shipping.

The GeekDads Episode #105: Sailors vs. Aliens Dec 13, 2011

Matt, Jonathan, Tony and Jim talk about Tintin, Ender’s Game, Skyrim, Battleship, The Hobbit, and more. Enjoy!

GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum, Jonathan Liu, Z and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a biweekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

The GeekDads Episode #103: If You Can Make Something Light Up, Make it Light Up! Nov 15, 2011

Ken, Matt, Jonathan, and Tony talk about the impending Muppet movie, Ken's new book, and more. Enjoy!

GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum, Jonathan Liu, Z and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a biweekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

Podcast Special: Interview With Felicia Day Nov 14, 2011

Felicia Day talks with GeekDad's Matt Blum about the finale of her Dragon Age: Redemption web series, The Guild, Eureka, Dr. Horrible, and her favorite video games.

GeekDad HipTrax #79 Nov 08, 2011

HipTrax is back with a little post-Halloween treat! This episode features a trio of tracks that, while not our typical spooktastic fare, do have a definite lean toward the eerie and the otherworldly.

Cower before:

"Skeksis Back" by the great Luke Ski

Inspired by the Nerdist podcast, written and recorded by Luke and embraced by Dark Crystal dorks everywhere, this one's got just the right blend of freaky and funny to make it appropriate. Oh, there's also a music video, which you kind of have to see to believe.

"After Midnight (feat. Cam the Wizzard)" by The Garthim-Master

With the help of German producer DJ Extend, Canadian hip-hopper The Garthim-Master recently released the musical pop culture explosion that is Ghosts of Nostalgia. Taking on all comers, from Star Wars to The Watchmen to Heroes, it's a surreal trip down memory lane that's freely available via Bandcamp.

"Frozen" by Supercommuter

Seattle chip-hoppers Supercommuter are still riding high on the critical acclaim of their August release Products of Science. It boasts songs for all tastes -- from the autobiographic to the delightfully outlandish -- including tragic space gothic "Frozen," a tale of love lost and cryogenic stasis gone wrong.

The GeekDads Episode #102: Causation Does Not Imply Causality Oct 18, 2011

Ken, Matt, and John Booth talk about the Apple iPhone 4S announcement, the Kindle Fire, Real Steel, The Muppets, and more. Enjoy!

GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum, Jonathan Liu, Z and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a biweekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

GeekDad HipTrax #78 Oct 11, 2011

Typically Ken and I reserve our October shows for Halloween merriment. With all our recent scheduling and technical problems, however, we've elected to devote this episode to some unfinished business -- namely spotlighting three new releases that certainly warrant your attention.

Suffice it to say you won't be disappointed with:

"Critical Hit" by MC Frontalot

Frontalots new album Solved promises to answer all of life's nagging questions, to unfurl those pesky enigmas in a manner most musical. Assuming, of course, that the bulk of said questions concern the undead and/or giant, multi-pilot robot. For most other issues you're pretty much on your own. Thankfully the album doubles as a more-than-serviceable soundtrack to your daily, dilemma-filled life.

"Good Morning Tucson" by Jonathan Coulton

JoCo's latest takes the geek rock troubadour into unfamiliar territory: in this case a real, professional studio with a big name producer. They Might Be Giants' John Flansburgh helped give Artificial Heart some obvious polish, but as always the charm comes compliments of Coulton's off-kilter (but still somehow relatable) story-songs.

"MAL" by Adam WarRock and Mikal kHill

Blending the country- and folk-flavored soundtracks of the Firefly series and the Serenity feature film with hip-hop lyricism, WarRock and The ThoughtCriminals' Mikal kHill craft the perfect nerdcore mixtape. At once a love letter to fans and a clever metaphor concerning the struggles of the independent artist, The Browncoats Mixtape leverages the strength of fandom into an unforgettable artistic achievement.

The GeekDads Episode #101: Han Shot First, Fahgettaboudit! Oct 04, 2011

Ken, Matt, and John Booth talk about the Apple iPhone 4S announcement, the Kindle Fire, Real Steel, The Muppets, and more. Enjoy!

GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum, Jonathan Liu, Z and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a biweekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

The GeekDads Episode #100: The First Internet Streamed Murder Sep 13, 2011

Ken, Matt, Jonathan and David chat about iPhone lust, Speak With Your Geek Out Week, Spongebob’s effect on kids’ brains, and we celebrate 4 years and 100 episodes of the podcast. Enjoy!

GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum, Jonathan Liu, Z and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a biweekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

GeekDad HipTrax #77 Sep 06, 2011

It's been a long time, HipTrax audience. Too long!

I have missed you, as has Ken. Much has changed since we've been gone... Okay, in actuality very little has changed, but I really felt like that added some nice weight to this missive. And now I'm just babbling.

Instead, musics:

"Man It's So Loud in Here" as covered by Shael Riley and the Double Ice Backfire

Shael and the boys come through with yet another inspired cover tune from a brand new tribute album. Mink Car Cover features an interesting take on They Might Be Giants' 2001 source material from 19 uniquely geeky acts. The digital release and its limited edition physical pressing are both available now, and your purchase benefits the FDNY Foundation.

"Must See MC" by Adam WarRock

Nerd rapper extraordinaire Adam WarRock is currently on an epic fall tour backing up mc chris, MC Lars and Mega Ran. He prepped for the festivities by releasing a free single every week in August. The first of these was called Study Hall (with "Must See MC" serving as the equally amazing b-side).

"Pony Swag (feat. Maros) [Scootaloo-Safe Radio Edit]" by Swagberg

I typically only grasp the true weight of a property's fandom when it filters down to me in musical form. This is how I became aware of the growing legion of bronies, adult male fans of the Hub's My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. There are many musical tributes to the show, but none so enjoyable as this cut from Swagberg and Maros. This kid-friendly edit as well as its original, uncensored version and several other takes are all freely available for your listening pleasure.

Podcast Special: Interview With Tom Kenny Sep 02, 2011

Ken enjoys a wide-ranging interview with prolific voice actor Tom Kenny (Spongebob Squarepants, Adventure Time, Rocko's Modern Life and more), who's work is featured on a number of new titles coming out from The Shout Factory. Enjoy!

GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum, Jonathan Liu, Z and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a biweekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

The GeekDads Episode #99: Inciting a Nerd Storm Aug 30, 2011

Ken, Matt, Jonathan and Dave chat about PAX Prime, the nerd date kerfuffle, and the retirement of Steve Jobs. Enjoy!

GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum, Jonathan Liu, Z and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a biweekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

The GeekDads Episode #98: Chaotic Evil is the Best Kind of Evil Aug 16, 2011

Ken, Matt, Jonathan and Jason chat about Google buying Motorola, Conan and Fright Night, and how much fun we're going to have at PAX Prime. Enjoy!

Special thanks to our sponsor Maphook, the location-based social network for geeks!

GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum, Jonathan Liu, Z and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a biweekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

GeekDad Interview With Simon Jones Aug 03, 2011

Simon Jones, the original Arthur Dent, talks with GeekDad's Matt Blum about the upcoming Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy mobile app.

The GeekDads Episode #97: A Whole New World Behind the Grotto Aug 02, 2011

Ken, Matt, Natania, Russ and Michael chat about Comic-Con, Disneyland, and the weather in Ohio. Enjoy!

Special thanks to our sponsor Maphook, the location-based social network for geeks!

GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum, Jonathan Liu, Z and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a biweekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

The GeekDads Episode #96: A Gushing Flow of Plot Points Jul 19, 2011

Ken, Dave, and Matt chat about Comic-Con, Harry Potter, and the English Tabloid scandal. Enjoy!

Special thanks to our sponsor Maphook, the location-based social network for geeks!

GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum, Jonathan Liu, Z and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a biweekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

GeekDad HipTrax #76 Jul 12, 2011

Before I make a beeline to central Florida (and the annual Nerdapalooza festival), allow me the pleasure of kicking some new tunes your way. This edition of HipTrax presents a trio of groove-heavy, danceable, instantly lovable cuts from three of our favorite purveyors of fine, geeky music.

Behold:

"Super Powered Love" by Kirby Krackle

Kirby Krackle's newest full-length Super Powered Love drops on the 19th of this month. Boasting 13 tracks and another fine cover image from Jim Mahfood, it's definitely something to look forward to. In the meantime, you can cop this title single for 99 cents from your vendor of choice.

"The NiGHT Has Just Begun… (Under Construction)" by ProtoDome

The always amazing fan community at OverClocked ReMix has just released their 26th VGM tribute album. Tackling the highly evocative Sega Saturn classic NiGHTS Into Dreams…, the NiGHTS: Lucid Dreaming collection is 27 songs strong and freely downloadable.

"Don't Wear Those Shoes" as covered by MC Frontalot

While I know you don't need any help spending your money, I'd like to make a couple of suggestions. Suggestion the first: donate to MC Frontalot's Kickstarter campaign to finance his nerdy videos. Suggestion the second: download Twenty-Six and a Half (A Tribute to "Weird Al" Yankovic), as it is freakin' awesome.

The GeekDads Episode #95: Yes, We Are Lazy, But in a Good Way Jun 21, 2011

Ken, Jonathan, and Matt chat about the 4th of July, the upcoming Nerdapalooza, and Comic-Con. Enjoy!

Special thanks to our sponsor Maphook, the location-based social network for geeks!

GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum, Jonathan Liu and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a bi-weekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

GeekDad HipTrax #75 Jun 28, 2011

With the event itself just around the corner, Ken and I couldn't resist the opportunity to chat up the Nerdapalooza team. Herein we discuss this year's amazing artist lineup, the ever-changing nature of the Nerdapalooza festival and GeekDad's proud sponsorship of this year's iteration.

We also play some songs:

"That Boy Could Dance" by Insane Ian

An auto-tuned and uniquely danceable take on the Weird Al original, this Insane Ian track is one of 21 amazing selections from the new tribute album Twenty-Six and a Half. Ian will be appearing alongside fellow FuMPers Devo Spice, the great Luke Ski and the Consortium of Genius at next month's festival.

"Bhost Gusters" by Armcannon

This year's Nerdapalooza features an amazing array of geek rock and videogame cover bands. Among my most anticipated is Buffalo's Armcannon. Members of the group will also be performing alongside project creator Stemage as headliner Metroid Metal.

Want to hear more? Subscribe to the GeekDad podcast in iTunes (see the button on the sidebar), or directly through the RSS feed. You can also download GeekDad HipTrax #75 via this link.

The HipTrax theme song was created by Snake Eyes. He's what's strange in his neighborhood.

Oh, and lest I forget we're giving away two weekend passes to Nerdapalooza 2011. (Although you're on your own regarding travel and accommodations!) To enter just leave a comment below. A winner will be drawn at random next Tuesday, July 5th and contacted via email.i

The GeekDads Episode #94: The Gaga Saga Jun 21, 2011

Ken, Doug, and Matt chat about Ken's appearance on The Nerdist, the new Weird Al album, and why learning Latin is so important. Enjoy!

Special thanks to our sponsor Maphook, the location-based social network for geeks!

GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum, Jonathan Liu and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a bi-weekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

GeekDad HipTrax #74 Jun 14, 2011

It's HipTrax time again, my friends, and this edition is extra special. In addition to spotlighting a pair of new songs from two new HipTrax artists, we are also proud to present a GeekDad-themed track from one of our own!

Peep the hotness:

"Primary Function" by The Runaway Five

The Runaway Five is a four-member Tucson, Arizona-based synth-rock outfit. You read that right; there are only four of them. And I'm calling shenanigans.

"Soccer Practice" by Americans UK

Though the bulk of Americans UK's latest EP Luxuria isn't exactly what one would term "kid-friendly," this jazz-infused funk number will likely prove itself irresistible to listeners of any age.

"GeekDad" by John Anealio

I have long considered John Anealio the official troubadour of GeekDad. This song simply cements that position. All official-like.

The GeekDads Episode #93: We're Even Awesomer This Year Jun 07, 2011

Ken, Dave, and Matt chat about the announcements from E3 and the Apple WWDC, plus Phineas & Ferb, and Ken's upcoming appearance on The Nerdist. Enjoy!

Special thanks to our sponsor Maphook, the location-based social network for geeks!

GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum, Jonathan Liu and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a bi-weekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

GeekDad HipTrax #73 May 31, 2011

Question: What's got four thumbs and loves chiptunes?

Answer: The GeekDad HipTrax team! (Although we would've also accepted a hideously misshapen mutant with discriminating musical taste.)

Get your bleep on with:

"We Throw Shapes" by Superpowerless

Oliver Hindle and Jaylyn Coffin, the same duo that brought you Tetrastar's amazing Songs We Didn't Write, are back with a shiny new Superpowerless single. "We Throw Shapes" is available for download now via iTunes, and the official video is presently blowing up the YouTubes.

"Tickle Tickle!" by seal of quality

The latest release from our friends at netlabel Pterodactyl Squad is the epic Fate Patterns by French chiptuner seal of quality. Boasting eleven tracks of crisp Game Boys, sharp guitars and delightful vocoder, it's available as a free download and as a limited edition physical pressing.

"Reformat the Planet" by Bit Shifter

While this song shares its name with the phenomenal chip culture/Blip Festival documentary, its source EP recently inspired a tribute project of its own. Though five years old, Information Chase still stands out as a textbook example of the beauty and accessibility of contemporary lo-fi electronica.

All the GeekDad podcasts are sponsored by MapHook.com!

The GeekDads Episode #92: Bob, Are You a Cereal Masticator? May 24, 2011

Ken and Matt recap Maker Faire 2011, talk about PotC:OST and X-Men, and get generally silly about a bunch of stuff. Enjoy!

Special thanks to our sponsor Maphook, the location-based social network for geeks!

GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum, Jonathan Liu and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a bi-weekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

GeekDad HipTrax #72 May 17, 2011

This edition of Hiptrax is firmly dedicated to cover songs. Of course since this is GeekDad only the strangest and most dorktastic covers will do!

Explore your rock 'n' roll roots with:

"Back in Your Life" as covered by Marc with a C

Though not a geeky artist in the traditional sense, Jonathan Richman blazed a proto-punk trail with his band The Modern Lovers. His music has inspired acts as diverse as punk pioneers the Sex Pistols and lo-fi troubadour Marc with a C thanks to his whimsical, childlike approach to lyricism and his refusal to operate within the bounds of the aggressive musical conventions of the age.

"I Never Go to Work" as covered by Nuclear Bubble Wrap

With a fine blend of off-kilter originals and irreverent parodies, Nuclear Bubble Wrap's Exploding Head Syndrome is a pitch-perfect example of funny music at its finest. Also included in that 2010 release is this slightly amended and thoroughly enjoyable They Might Be Giants cover.

"Melanie" as covered by Shael Riley and the Double Ice Backfire

This track (as well as selections from the aforementioned artists) appears on the new Weird Al tribute album Twenty-Six and a Half. Along with contributions from MC Frontalot, mc chris, Devo Spice and Al's own backing band, it pays due respect to the most successful and influential geek musician of all time.

The GeekDads Episode #91: That Pause Was Air Quotes May 10, 2011

Ken, Matt, Curtis, and Jonathan chat about the sale of Skype to Microsoft, Thor, and Maker Faire 2011. Enjoy!

Special thanks to our sponsor Maphook, the location-based social network for geeks!

GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum, Jonathan Liu and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a bi-weekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

GeekDad HipTrax #71 May 04, 2011

In this edition of GeekDad HipTrax we celebrate Free Comic Book Day. It's like a High Holy Day for geeks where our only obligation is to hit up our favorite comics retailers. Is that really too much to ask?

Those looking to get the skinny on local FCBD events are encouraged to check out these handy resources from our sponsor MapHook. Individual hooks have been put in place for the American northeast, southeast, west coast and the broad, doughy center of our great nation. Check 'em out now for lists of events and participating vendors, and use the free MapHook app to share photo memories of this year's festivities with your fellow comic lovers.

Enjoy the comic book camaraderie of:

"Uncanny (feat. MC Lars)" by Beefy

Admittedly this track from Beefy's 2010 release With Sprinkles concerns X-Men: The Animated Series, which took its fair share of liberties with proper comic book canon. Still, it's an amazingly fun little song that spotlights a great cartoon with an even better theme song.

"Ring Capacity" by Kirby Krackle

This epic Green Lantern tribute served as many fans' proper introduction to Seattle's foremost comic book rockers. With two phenomenal albums under their belt, 2009's self-titled LP and last year's E for Everyone, the boys are now diligently writing for their forthcoming follow-up.

"The Sixth Gun" by Adam WarRock

Earlier this year Adam WarRock honored one of my favorite publishers with his Oni Press Mixtape. In addition to repping Oni classics (like Jen Van Meter's Hopeless Savages) in verse, Adam also managed to turn me on to a new title, specifically Cullen Bunn and Brian Hurtt's creepily awesome The Sixth Gun.

The GeekDads Episode #90: Was There Celery Involved? Apr 26, 2011

Ken, Matt, Natania, Michael, and Jonathan chat about the Apple tracking controversy, Sony's PSN personal data breach, and the loss of Elisabeth Sladen. Enjoy!

Special thanks to our sponsor Maphook, the location-based social network for geeks!

GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum, Jonathan Liu and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a bi-weekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

GeekDad HipTrax #70 Apr 19, 2011

This edition of GeekDad HipTrax focuses on quirky electronica, a handful of charming musical jewels that you may have overlooked. Like any good parents, Ken and I are here to encourage you to try out these interesting new flavors of geektastic tunage. As the saying goes, you might like it!

Open wide for:

"Dandyceratops" by Dot.AY
Australian chip artist Dot.AY always planned on being a paleontologist, but instead he grew up to make chiptunes. It's a loss for the scientific community, of course, but a big gain for music lovers everywhere. His latest release Ceratopian Society celebrates his twin loves, and is available now via Bandcamp.

"Points" by Comptroller
Scotland's Comptroller just released an amazing new EP entitled Baddies through Liverpool-based netlabel CalmDownKidder. It is their 50th release, and you can score it from their site absolutely free.

"Superimposed" by The Efts
Husband and wife team The Efts have hand-picked eight of their own tunes for the This Music is Probably Too Geeky for You collection. Blending lo-fi electronica and lyrical anti-folk, it's another excellent addition to your nerdy music collection that won't cost you a dime!

The GeekDads Episode #89: Awesomest of Awesome Events Ever Awesomely Possible Apr 12, 2011

Ken, Matt and Jonathan chat about the anniversary of the first man in space, the first Space Shuttle mission, and how effective it is to be a pedant. Enjoy!

Special thanks to our sponsor Maphook, the location-based social network for geeks!

GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum, Jonathan Liu and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a bi-weekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

GeekDad HipTrax #69 Apr 05, 2011

We here at GeekDad HipTrax seem to be slightly preoccupied with Terminator-style dystopias in which mankind's beloved technology has turned against him. This is odd seeing as we are actually a family-friendly music podcast, but, as the saying goes, if it ain't broke, don’t' fix it!

So put on a happy face with these uplifting ditties:

"Zero Day" by MC Frontalot

With the aid of noted hackers computer enthusiasts YTCracker and int eighty, MC Frontalot paints a bleak picture of a not-so-distant future in which all of our security exploits have been... properly exploited. A music video for this title track from Front's latest album was recently released.

"Doomlaser" by Nathan Meunier

The first song from video game journalist/bit-popper Nathan Meunier's Robots. Lasers. Awesome. is a dense, urgent affair. Building on the LSDJ-meets-crunchy-guitar style of his debut The Beacon, the album boasts a more polished sound that is as awesome as advertised.

"Brain Damage" as covered by echosignal

Closing out this edition is a selection from the recent Pterodactyl Squad release Dark Side of the Moon – The 8-bit Album. The follow-up to their highly successful Weezer tribute, it recasts Pink Floyd's 1973 masterpiece as a minimalist, multi-artist chiptune sonata.

The GeekDads Episode #88: Moderately Misplaced Teen Pop Song Mar 29, 2011

Ken, Matt, John, and Russ chat about the "Hop" press junket and how to cook a perfect steak in a cooler. Enjoy!

Special thanks to our sponsor Maphook, the location-based social network for geeks!

GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum, Jonathan Liu and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a bi-weekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

GeekDad HipTrax #68 Mar 22, 2011

After a pleasant sojourn into the magical realm of mc chris (and a brief vacation), GeekDad HipTrax is back to doing what it does best – getting all up in your ear hole with a trio of fine new geeky songs.

While we were in there I noticed some waxy buildup. I’m just sayin’.

Today’s episode highlights new hotness such as:

"Angry Robot" by John Anealio

John Anealio knows science fiction. And what is more sci-fi than robots? Nothin’ – that’s what! Snag this fine selection and covers of the theme from Transformers and Styx’s "Mr. Roboto" on his free Angry Robot EP.

"Hope to See You Again Soon" by ProtoDome & Level 99

The latest OverClocked ReMix album pays tribute to arguably the most important franchise in handheld gaming. Pokémon - The Missingno Tracks is a free-to-download collection of Poké-centric musical goodness, which means you have that much more money to put toward your much-need purchase of Pokémon Blackor White.

"Serenity Lost" by Sci-Fried

Florida’s Sci-Fried continue to be a jewel in the crown of southeastern geek music with their intoxicating blend of roots rock, heavy metal and musical comedy. You can experience all of this and more at the CD release party for their new album Future Tense this Friday, March 25th at A Comic Shop in Orlando.

The GeekDad's Episode #87: The Big Hugfest Mar 15, 2011

Ken, Matt, John, Michael and Russ chat about PAC East, Japan, and the 4-year anniversary of the blog. Enjoy!

Special thanks to our sponsor Maphook, the location-based social network for geeks!

GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a bi-weekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

The GeekDads Episode #86: Science isn't a Matter of Opinion Mar 01, 2011

Ken, Matt, and Jonathan chat about events in the Middle East, Geek Like, the Anti-Vaxers dilemma, and more. Enjoy!

Special thanks to our sponsor Maphook, the location-based social network for geeks!

GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a bi-weekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

GeekDad HipTrax #67 Feb 08, 2011

HipTrax isn't exactly a show about kids' music. Generally it's a podcast more firmly focused on music that parents can enjoy with or in the company of their brood – geeky grown-up music that eschews the worst of language or explicit content. But in this episode we pause to focus on the upcoming release of a very notable children's album, mc chris's Marshmellow Playground.

We spend a good bit of time talking to mc about the project and its genesis, and we even play the album's teaser single:

"Halloween" by mc chris

A song about candy, cavities and dental hygiene, "Halloween" isn't your typical mc chris track. Nor is it your typical piece of kindie rock. Leveraging his own unique brand of hip-hop in a kid-friendly package, Mashmellow Playground promises to be an interesting new addition to mc chris's musical library, and will likely introduce a new generation of fans to the Adult Swim funnyman.

The GeekDads Episode #85: It's Hard Being Dungeon Master for my Wife Feb 15, 2011

Ken, Matt, Mike, Natania and Chuck chat about PAX East, Maker Faire, D&D and more. Enjoy!

Special thanks to our sponsor Maphook, the location-based social network for geeks!

GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a bi-weekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

GeekDad HipTrax #66 Feb 08, 2011

GeekDad HipTrax exists to help you discover nerdy music that you can actually share with your kids. As an added bonus, however, we also try to highlight quality music that is available for free. You know, recession and all that.

In this episode we spotlight selections from two brand new compilations, both of which are freebies from their respective sites:

"Robot Party" by Supercommuter

Hailing from Nerdcore Now Volume 1, consider this a sneak preview of what Wheelie Cyberman and company have in store for their next album. It's a delightful little ditty that equates android merriment with human suffering.

"Bulbasaur" by MC 117

Another fine selection from Nerdcore Now Volume 1, this one's a Flobots parody centered on everyone's favorite grass-/poison-type Pokémon. For some reason the phrase Razor Leaf instantly comes to mind.

"Shredder" by Danimal Cannon

Not to be outdone by their nerdcore brothers-in-arms, the VGM remix community released its own amazing free compilation album this week. Heroes vs. Villains features this cut and 19 more centered on the protagonists and antagonists of some of gamedom's most well respected properties.

The HipTrax theme song was created by Snake Eyes. He is the aural equivalent of both Bebop and Rocksteady. The mutants, not the genres.

The GeekDads Episode #84: Bullet Storm on a Powerpoint Presentation Jan 18, 2011

Ken, Matt, Natania, and Jonathan chat about Egypt, FPS games for your 3 year-old, and how much we love Eureka. Enjoy!

Special thanks to our sponsor Maphook, the location-based social network for geeks!

GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a bi-weekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

GeekDad HipTrax #65 Jan 25, 2011

Here at GeekDad HipTrax we pride ourselves on introducing you to new and exciting artists from across the geeky music meta-community, but we also like to continually reflect back on your old favorites. In this episode we highlight a trio of fine selections from some true musical heavy-hitters.

Enjoy the following delightful tracks:

"Lab Coat" by The Consortium of Genius

Louisiana's foremost musical mad scientists are back again with their newest full-length. A fun-filled stylistic romp from heavy metal to gospel and back again, Music for Supervillains features the COG at its most eclectic. A full review is forthcoming, but for the time being simply rest assured in the knowledge that it is awesome!

"Mako Reactor" by Mega Ran and Lost Perception

Though his name is synonymous with the Mega Ran project, rapper Random has now taken it upon himself to pen a hip-hop ode to another fan-favorite – Final Fantasy VII. Though the full version of his Black Materia album won't be available until the end of the month, eager fans can pick up an incomplete early release right now from Bandcamp.

"LOTROMG" by Uncle Monsterface

When I asked UMF's Dan and Marty to contribute a song to my fantasy role playing-themed 20-Sided Rhymes album they took it as an opportunity to wax poetic about the power and glory of Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings trilogy. This staggering testament to Kiwi greatness can be found alongside 19 other (less family-friendly) selections at my blog Hipster, please!

The GeekDads Episode #83: Every Game's Better With Zombies Jan 18, 2011

Ken, Matt, Jonathan and special guest David Hewlett chat about the geeky gifts we did (and didn't) get for Christmas, and spread a little Tron love. Enjoy!

Special thanks to our sponsor Maphook, the location-based social network for geeks!

GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a bi-weekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

GeekDad HipTrax #64 Jan 11, 2011

GeekDad HipTrax is back for 2011, and we're kicking things off by revisiting some of the best that last year had to offer. Our first two tracks are cuts from albums dropped late in the year – releases which you may have overlooked in the dreaded holiday rush – while the final track is a brand new joint from one of 2010's best new artists.

Relish the hotness:

"Retro" by Never Yet Contested

We spotlighted this single from Brooklyn rapper Never Yet Contested back in November, and since that time the his full Retro EP has become available. Download it for free at Bandcamp, and leave a comment to this post for the opportunity to win a free copy of the physical pressing compliments of the man himself!

"Spider" by Doctor Popular

HipTrax mainstay Doc Pop closed out 2010 with the release of his full-length Beeps and Smudges. This innovative bit-pop masterpiece was recorded using nothing but iPhone and iPad apps, and the results speak for themselves. Check out the video for this debut single, and pick up the full release over at Bandcamp .

"Nightcrawlin'" by Adam WarRock

Last year X-man Nightcrawler met with an unfortunate end during Marvel's "Second Coming" crossover, and I put out the plea via Twitter for a musical tribute. Adam WarRock, the man behind epic comic book concept album The War for Infinity, accepted the challenge and crafted this amazing song. This one is available exclusively through my blog Hipster, please!

The HipTrax theme song was created by Snake Eyes. His mutant power is the uncanny ability to craft tasty beats.

12th Day of Geekmas Dec 18, 2010

Congratulations to Ralph Gill, the winner of our 11th Day of Geekmas prize pack. With prizes from DiscoveryStore.com, Nyko, Sony, Insane Ian, Marc Gunn and an almost ridiculously expansive collection of BBC America swag, it is truly a hard act to follow. Or is it?

Today's winner will score remarkable prizes including our final container of Crazy Aaron's Putty and a pair of Mythbusters bobble heads from DiscoveryStore.com. He or she will also ring in the Geekmas season with a phenomenal GT660 gaming notebook from MSI Global boasting Dynaudio surround sound, two USB 3.0 ports and the Intel Core i7 Processor with NVIDIA GeForce GTX 285M discrete graphics cards! No – I'm not kidding.

In this year's final GeekDad HipTrax Stocking Stuffer Ken and I try to wrap our heads around how we managed to score such amazing prizes, and we fast-forward to year's end for Marc Gunn's stirring rendition of "Auld Lang Syne." We also unveil an additional Geekmas gift made available by our proud podcast sponsor MapHook – a 32GB iPod Touch, the winner of which will be drawn from all of the non-winning entries accumulated throughout the entire 12DoG series. Listen out for that secret code word, which will put you in the running for both random drawings. (Our hearing-impaired friends can find said code word in the podcast file metadata.) Enter that word and your personal information into the form below before 11:59 PM EST tonight to qualify.

Our "12 Days of Geekmas Theme" was created by John Anealio, and we truly couldn't have done this without his amazing contributions!

Giveaway rules:

Open to North American residents only.

One entry per physical address.

Must be 18 or older to enter.

Winners will be chosen by random from a given day's entries.

Winners will be notified via the email supplied at time of entry, and in the following day's giveaway post.

Prizes are supplied by 3rd parties, and GeekDad.com cannot be held liable for items damaged or lost in shipping.

11th Day of Geekmas Dec 18, 2010

All hail Josh Alkire, the winner of our 10th Day of Geekmas prize pack. Please enjoy your Crazy Putty, Hoth LEGO set and fantastic selection of Element cases content in the knowledge that you experienced Geekmas to the fullest.

The prize pack for this penultimate day of our highly specialized holiday season begins with your requisite container of Crazy Aaron's Putty. It is joined by a copy of PlayStation Move-enabled virtual pet title EyePet from our friends at Sony and another of those excellent Raven controllers compliments of Nyko. DiscoveryStore.com has provided another Discovery Chem-X 1000 Science Lab chemistry set, and once again Marc Gunn and Insane Ian have each come through with a pair of fine CDs. And to assure that today's prize offering goes down in geek history, BBC America Shop and Warner Bros. have provided a swag bag of epic proportions. It includes Sherlock season 1, the BBC Earth series Life plus the Life coffee table book, season 2 of monster cohabitation drama Being Human, series 5 of nerd favorite Doctor Who with 3 Who-tastic action figures and a Union Jack light switch cover. The best part? It could all be yours!

In this edition of the GeekDad HipTrax Stocking Stuffer we discuss these prizes at length, as well as our very own podcast sponsor MapHook. We also treat you to "Mr. Grint" by the Funny Music Project's hilarious Steve Goodie. Be sure to listen for the secret code word needed to enter our random drawing. (Our hearing-impaired friends can find said code word in the podcast file metadata.) Enter that word and your personal information into the form below before 11:59 PM EST tonight to qualify.

Our "12 Days of Geekmas Theme" was created by John Anealio. He's a mean one.

Giveaway rules:

Open to North American residents only.

One entry per physical address.

Must be 18 or older to enter.

Winners will be chosen by random from a given day's entries.

Winners will be notified via the email supplied at time of entry, and in the following day's giveaway post.

Prizes are supplied by 3rd parties, and GeekDad.com cannot be held liable for items damaged or lost in shipping.

10th Day of Geekmas Dec 17, 2010

Congrats to Sean Smith, winner of our 9th Day of Geekmas prize pack. That bad boy included a can of Crazy Aaron's Putty, a Raven controller from Nyko, a copy of Dance Dance Revolution from Konami and a 160GB PS3 and copy of ModNation Racers compliments of SCE San Diego Studio. What could you win today?

Why today we have another tin of Aaron's Putty and a Hoth play set from LEGO's famed Star Wars line. Also up for grabs is a phenomenal selection of cases from our friends at Element. Today's winner snags a Satin Nickel Joule iPad stand with a zippered carrying case, a Vapor 007 case from their Extreme Metals line, a Formula 3-part case and a lightweight and super stylish Ion case. No matter what your iOS device of choice, Element Case has you covered. Literally.

In today's GeekDad HipTrax Stocking Stuffer Ken and I enumerate the importance of practicing safe text. (I made an iPhone case-related funny!) We also spread the gospel of MapHook, our proud sponsor and the nerd world's preeminent location based social network. On the musical tip you'll hear Kirby Krackle's "Vigilante Christmas." It's our most violent holiday track yet! And don't forget to listen out for the secret code word – you'll need it to enter the random drawing. (Our hearing-impaired friends can find said code word in the podcast file metadata.) Enter that word and your personal information into the form below before 11:59 PM EST tonight to qualify.

Our "12 Days of Geekmas Theme" was created by John Anealio. When he comes down the chimney you better beware!

Giveaway rules:

Open to North American residents only.

One entry per physical address.

Must be 18 or older to enter.

Winners will be chosen by random from a given day's entries.

Winners will be notified via the email supplied at time of entry, and in the following day's giveaway post.

Prizes are supplied by 3rd parties, and GeekDad.com cannot be held liable for items damaged or lost in shipping.

9th Day of Geekmas Dec 16, 2010

Please join me in congratulating Chris Landon, the winner of our 8th Day of Geekmas giveaway. With a shiny new can of putty, a handsome Nyko Wand+ controller, two sexy t-shirts from 604 Republic and $200 in Groupon credit, surely the world is your oyster.

Friday is always a big day during 12DoG, and today's 9th Day of Geekmas is likely our biggest yet! For you see today's winner receives a fine can of Crazy Aaron's Putty, a brand new Raven controller from Nyko (the peripheral famed for bringing a touch of silky smooth Xbox 360-style control to the PS3), a copy of Dance Dance Revolution from our friends at Konami and, compliments of the extremely talented and equally generous team at SCE San Diego Studio, a 160GB PS3 and a copy of ModNation Racers. How, you may ask, did we manage to secure such fantabulous prizes? Two words: Faustian deal.

In this edition of the GeekDad HipTrax Stocking Stuffer Ken and I manage to find ourselves utterly overwhelmed by today's prize pack. We also reflect on our delightful sponsor MapHook, the location based social network that lets you and others contribute to shared digital memory sets. About, say, the new World of Warcraft expansion. You also get to hear Uncle Monsterface's take on Christmas classic "Jingle Bells" and the secret code word needed to enter our random drawing. (Our hearing-impaired friends can find said code word in the podcast file metadata.) Enter that word and your personal information into the form below before 11:59 PM EST tonight to qualify.

Our "12 Days of Geekmas Theme" was created by John Anealio. Y'know, I hear he actually owns a one-horse open sleigh.

Giveaway rules:

Open to North American residents only.

One entry per physical address.

Must be 18 or older to enter.

Winners will be chosen by random from a given day's entries.

Winners will be notified via the email supplied at time of entry, and in the following day's giveaway post.

Prizes are supplied by 3rd parties, and GeekDad.com cannot be held liable for items damaged or lost in shipping.

8th Day of Geekmas Dec 15, 2010

Congrats to Jason Powers, the proud winner of the 7th Day of Geekmas swag from Hexbugs, Nyko, DiscoveryStore.com and Putty World. I dare say today's prizes are equally eclectic. Not to mention equally awesome.

On our 8th Day of Geekmas both Crazy Aaron's and Nyko have returned with amazing prizes – another random can of putty and a Wand+ controller respectively. Today's winner also scores a pair of tees of his or her choice from epic Canadian clothier 604 Republic. But wait, there's more. In addition to this gaming-, putty- and t-shirt-related goodness you'll also nab a cool $200 worth of credit for that purveyor of wicked-fine deals Groupon. Who among us couldn't use this fine selection of assorted nerdery?

Check out today's GeekDad HipTrax Stocking Stuffer to learn more about the aforementioned prizes, and to hear us discuss the finer points of podcast sponsor MapHook. (Speaking of, be sure to peep this Maphook story; it is the harrowing tale of our pal David's NY Comic Con adventure!) You'll also be treated to a dose of Yuletide Wizard Rock from RiddleTM, "Draco's Christmas Wish," and the secret code word needed to enter our random drawing. (Our hearing-impaired friends can find said code word in the podcast file metadata.) Enter that word and your personal information into the form below before 11:59 PM EST tonight to qualify.

Our "12 Days of Geekmas Theme" was created by John Anealio. His new holiday EP Season's Geekings makes an ideal stocking stuffer.

Giveaway rules:

Open to North American residents only.

One entry per physical address.

Must be 18 or older to enter.

Winners will be chosen by random from a given day's entries.

Winners will be notified via the email supplied at time of entry, and in the following day's giveaway post.

Prizes are supplied by 3rd parties, and GeekDad.com cannot be held liable for items damaged or lost in shipping.

7th Day of Geekmas Dec 14, 2010

The gods of randomness have spoken, and Patrick Mast is the winner of the 6th Day of Geekmas prize pack from Logitech and Crazy Aaron's Putty World. So what's next on the 12DoG agenda? Well, if today's prizes have a theme it's that of good, old fashioned fun.

Of course we're including a container of traditional Geekmas staple Aaron's Crazy Putty, and to that we are adding a fine selection of other toys. DiscoveryStore.com is back with another set of those delightful Mythbuster bobble heads, and they're joined by our friends from Nyko who are offering one of their fantastic Wand+ Wii controllers. (Peep my product review from earlier this year for more info.) And GeekDad Anton came through with a fine selection of Hexbugs including the new Spider, the glow-in-the-dark Nano, the Bridge Battle play set and Hexbug Raceway Habitat Set.

In this edition of the GeekDad HipTrax Stocking Stuffer we talk a lot about today's fabulous prizes, and about our equally fabulous sponsor MapHook. Yes Maphook, the only location-based app that encourages users to create and share travelogues - Oregon Trail style! There's even some music from the The H.P. Lovecraft Historical Society – "Eerie Dreary Solstice" to be exact – and of course the all-import secret code word needed to enter our random drawing. (Our hearing-impaired friends can find said code word in the podcast file metadata.) Enter that word and your personal information into the form below before 11:59 PM EST tonight to qualify.

Our "12 Days of Geekmas Theme" was created by John Anealio. He also does weddings and Bar Mitzvahs.

Giveaway rules:

Open to North American residents only.

One entry per physical address.

Must be 18 or older to enter.

Winners will be chosen by random from a given day's entries.

Winners will be notified via the email supplied at time of entry, and in the following day's giveaway post.

Prizes are supplied by 3rd parties, and GeekDad.com cannot be held liable for items damaged or lost in shipping.

6th Day of Geekmas Dec 12, 2010

Congrats to Jeff Pettorino, the winner of our 5th Day of Geekmas prize pack. But with all those games, CDs and putty containers unceremoniously removed from our prize closet, what remains for the latter half of this year's Geekmas celebration? In a word - lots!

Today, for example, we've got an astounding array of goodies from Logitech including a Harmony One remote, a Performance Mouse MX, their new wireless solar keyboard, a ClearChat Wireless Headset, a Z515 speaker and a Force 3D Pro joystick. And don't forget the customary can of Aaron's Crazy Putty. And it could all be yours.

Today's GeekDad HipTrax Stocking Stuffer contains a frank and explicit discussion of how unbelievably awesome these prizes truly are, as well as similar talk regarding holiday podcast sponsor MapHook. Add in Doctor Octoroc's "Deck the Kremlin" – from his 8-Bit Jesus album – and you've got a perfect example of seasonal merrymaking. Listen close for today's secret code word, as you'll need that to enter our random drawing. (Our hearing-impaired friends can find said code word in the podcast file metadata.) Enter that word and your personal information into the form below before 11:59 PM EST tonight to qualify.

The "12 Days of Geekmas Theme" was created by GeekDad's own John Anealio. There must've been some magic in that old silk hat he found.

Giveaway rules:

Open to North American residents only.

One entry per physical address.

Must be 18 or older to enter.

Winners will be chosen by random from a given day's entries.

Winners will be notified via the email supplied at time of entry, and in the following day's giveaway post.

Prizes are supplied by 3rd parties, and GeekDad.com cannot be held liable for items damaged or lost in shipping.

5th Day of Geekmas Dec 12, 2010

Congratulations to Justin Watermann, winner of our 4th Day of Geekmas prize pack from Putty World and DiscoveryStore.com. Thus far in 12DoG we've focused heavily on science and technology, but today we take it back to the simpler things in life. Like music and video games. And also putty.

Today's winner snags a can of Aaron's Crazy Putty as well as CDs from a pair of HipTrax favorites. Celtic filker Marc Gunn has seen fit to set you up with copies of both his 2010 albums The Bridge and Kilted for Her Pleasure, while FUMPer Insane Ian has likewise provided his two latest releases fairly EPic and The Last Arcade. Our friends at Sony have also once again come through with some amazing prizes – copies of Invizimals and ModNation Racers for the PSP. This means, of course, that to take full advantage of this swag you'll need to be in possession of a PlayStation Portable. But if not you can always, y'know, re-gift.

In this edition of ye olde GeekDad HipTrax Stocking Stuffer we expound upon the virtues of these prizes, as well as those of our very own podcast sponsor MapHook. You're also treated to the I Fight Dragons cover of Fountains of Wayne's "Alien for Christmas" from last year's Come Down the Chimney compilation. And don't forget to listen for today's secret code word, as you'll need that to enter today's random drawing. (Our hearing-impaired friends can find said code word in the podcast file metadata.) Enter that word and your personal information into the form below before 11:59 PM EST tonight to qualify.

The "12 Days of Geekmas Theme" was crafted with pride by GeekDad's own John Anealio. They say he has a very shiny nose.

Giveaway rules:

Open to North American residents only.

One entry per physical address.

Must be 18 or older to enter.

Winners will be chosen by random from a given day's entries.

Winners will be notified via the email supplied at time of entry, and in the following day's giveaway post.

Prizes are supplied by 3rd parties, and GeekDad.com cannot be held liable for items damaged or lost in shipping

4th Day of Geekmas Dec 10, 2010

Congratulations to our 3rd Day of Geekmas prize pack winner Luke McKean. I can only imagine the amazing things possible when you combine your prizes - a copy of Activision's Tony Hawk: Shred and a container of Crazy Aaron's Putty. Oh, to be young and adventurous!

Today – in addition to the requisite container of Aaron's Crazy Putty – we will be giving away a pair of excitingly dorktastic prizes from DiscoveryStore.com. Today's winner will be able to channel his inner mad scientist with the help of the Discovery Chem-X 1000 Science Lab, and may even be inspired to use this new-found scientific acumen for the greater good by a pair of Mythbusters Bobble Heads.

In today's GeekDad HipTrax Stocking Stuffer you'll hear to hear Ken and me get our science on as we discuss these prizes. You'll also get another earful of knowledge regarding podcast sponsor MapHook. On the musical tip you even get some chiptune goodness from 8 Bit Weapon & ComputeHer in the form of "Oh Christmas Tree (Oh Hanukkah)." Which I reckon proves that there are no losers in the 12 Days of Geekmas. But to be a genuine winner you'll want to note the secret code word needed to enter today's random drawing. (Our hearing-impaired friends can also find said code word in the podcast file metadata.) Enter that word and your personal information into the form below before 11:59 PM EST tonight to qualify.

The "12 Days of Geekmas Theme" was created by John Anealio. He is the only man brave enough to explore the gastric implications of el chupacabra in song.

Giveaway rules:

Open to North American residents only.

One entry per physical address.

Must be 18 or older to enter.

Winners will be chosen by random from a given day's entries.

Winners will be notified via the email supplied at time of entry, and in the following day's giveaway post.

Prizes are supplied by 3rd parties, and GeekDad.com cannot be held liable for items damaged or lost in shipping.

3rd Day of Geekmas Dec 10, 2010

Congratulations to our 2nd Day of Geekmas prize pack winner Seth Johnston. Admittedly, yesterday's prize pack of the Star Wars TomTom EASE GPS, Motorola R2-D2 Droid 2 from Verizon and pliable goodness from Putty World makes for a tough act to follow, but that doesn't mean we don’t intend to try!

Today's winner snags both that highly coveted can of Crazy Aaron's equally crazy putty and a copy of Tony Hawk: Shred for the Nintendo Wii (compliments of Activision). While some would see these prizes as a pair of dissimilar items, I imagine that, thanks in part to the title's intuitive board controller, a talented geek could master the subtle arts of both simultaneously.

This time in the GeekDad HipTrax Stocking Stuffer my co-host and I talk about skateboard games and putty and podcast sponsor Maphook. All of which are awesome. We even play Optimus Rhyme's "God Rest Ye Autobeat Allies" – a song that is holiday-themed simply because I say it is. Be sure to listen out for the secret code word, as you'll need that to enter today's random drawing. (Though our hearing-impaired friends can also find said code word in the podcast file metadata.)Enter that word and your personal information into the form below before 11:59 PM EST tonight to qualify.

The "12 Days of Geekmas Theme" was made by elves at the North Pole. Though I hear John Anealio is desperate to take the credit.

Giveaway rules:

Open to North American residents only.

One entry per physical address. Must be 18 or older to enter.

Winners will be chosen by random from a given day's entries.

Winners will be notified via the email supplied at time of entry, and in the following day's giveaway post.

Prizes are supplied by 3rd parties, and GeekDad.com cannot be held liable for items damaged or lost in shipping.

2nd Day of Geekmas Dec 10, 2010

Congratulations to our 1st Day of Geekmas prize pack winner Torri Martin! We kicked this year's festivities off by giving away an amazing PSP Limited Edition Invizimals Entertainment Pack and a can of Crazy Aaron's Putty. So what do we have in store for today's giveaway?

Only a Star Wars-themed prize pack the likes of which hasn't been seen since the great Clone Wars! Today's winner receives not only his/her very own can of Crazy Aaron's Putty – did I mention we love putty? – but also a pair of Star Wars-centric gadgets. Stoke the fires of fanboy jealousy amongst your fellow geeks with you own Star Wars TomTom EASE GPS Device, useful in making the all important Kessel Run. Today's winner also gets a limited edition R2-D2 Motorola Droid 2 phone from Verizon Wireless, a super sexy Android OS mobile phone skinned to look like everyone's favorite astromech.

Peep today's GeekDad HipTrax Stocking Stuffer to hear Ken and me slobber over these amazing prizes as well as to learn more about podcast sponsor MapHook. You'll also get to hear John Anealio's totally appropriate "Millennium Falcon for Christmas" from his latest holiday-themed EP. Listen all the way to the end to discover the secret code word needed to enter today's random drawing. (Our hearing-impaired friends can also find said code word in the podcast file metadata.) Enter that word and your personal information into the form below before 11:59 PM EST tonight to qualify.

The "12 Days of Geekmas Theme" was also created by John Anealio. He truly is our very own Geekmas angel!

1st Day of Geekmas Dec 09, 2010

It's the 1st Day of Geekmas, and we voted – unanimously, I might add – to kick off this year's giveaway with a bang!

Up for grabs is a PSP Limited Edition Invizimals Entertainment Pack that includes a UMD copy of the game itself, the PSP camera peripheral, a 1GB Memory Stick PRO Duo, a download voucher for animated feature Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs and a gorgeous PSP-3000 system in Vibrant Blue - all this from our friends at Sony. Today's winner will also receive a container of Crazy Aaron's Putty. Because putty is awesome.

Check out today's GeekDad HipTrax Stocking Stuffer to learn more about these fabulous prizes, and to get the scoop on our proud podcast sponsor MapHook. You'll even be treated to a little rocked up Hanukkah music in the form of Da Vinci's Notebook's very Alice in Chains-inspired take on "The Dreidel Song." Therein you’ll also discover the secret code word needed to enter today's random drawing. Enter that word and your personal information into the form below before 11:59 PM EST this very night to qualify.

The "12 Days of Geekmas Theme" was created by our own John Anealio. Be sure to check out John's own holiday EP Season's Geekings at Bandcamp. It's the only release clinically proven to get you into the Geekmas spirit

The GeekDads Episode #82: The Toys Don't Hurt Either Dec 07, 2010

Ken, Matt, and John talk about Tron, Narnia and the 12 Days of GeekMas. Enjoy!

GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a bi-weekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

The GeekDads Episode #81: Fluffy and Mr. Snickerpaws Nov 23, 2010

Ken, Matt, John and Chuck talk about Harry Potter 7A, TRON, and the TSA. Enjoy!

GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a bi-weekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

GeekDad HipTrax #63 Nov 16, 2010

s we at GeekDad HipTrax head into the holiday season (and the veritable iron man competition that is the 12 Days of Geekmas), we pause to expound upon the virtues of DC's Music and Gaming Fest. MAGfest's main man Brendan "Inverse Phase" Becker was even kind enough to stop by to chew the proverbial fat with us.

Mmmmm… fat…

Get your game on with:

"Tourian-Mother Brain" by Metroid Metal

Returning this year to the MAGfest stage is Metroid Metal, a band that solemnly swears to rock your face right the hell off! After an amazing turn at MAGfest 7 (not to mention blistering sets at the last three Penny Arcade Expo events), Stemage and company have again sets their sights on conquering the Mid-Atlantic.

"River City Ransom (Boss)" by Year 200x

Michigan video game metal giants Year 200x will be making their 3rd MAGfest appearance at this year's MAGfest 9. In a set that promises classic tracks from their 2008 debut We Are Error mixed with brand new material and special guests, it is not one to be missed.

To learn more about these fantastic acts and the many other bands, events and special guests lined up for MAGfest 9, check out the official event site. Promising 4 days of non-stop gaming related events, the Hilton Alexandria Mark Center in Alexandria, Virginia is surely the place to be next January 13th through 16th.

The GeekDads Episode #80: IV Pitocin to Induce Nov 09, 2010

Ken, Matt, Jonathan and Dan talk about TRON, The Hobbit, and how geeky the holidays can be. Enjoy!

GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a bi-weekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

GeekDad HipTrax #62 Nov 02, 2010

With Halloween behind us, we at GeekDad HipTrax have but a pair of wonderfully regular episodes between us and the gift-giving madness that is the 12 Days of Geekmas. We kick this off with a show thematically centered on childhood. You know how we do.

Reconnect with your inner ragamuffin with:

"Star Wars Uncut" by Adam WarRock

Former attorney and current nerdcore trailblazer Adam WarRock has gotten a much deserved push of late - from being featured on the BBC to pulling together this amazing (and totally official) theme song for the Emmy award-winning Star Wars Uncut. To get the full effect of his musical prowess I suggest picking up his stellar full-length The War for Infinity.

"Soren Lorenson (My Invisible Friend)" by Snidget

Like many other Wizard Rocker, Grace "Snidget" Kendall has really expanded her musical repertoire of late. On this track, for example, she trades in her dulcimer for a ukulele and her lyrical focus on the Potter mythos for an understated tribute to British children's book series/television program Charlie and Lola.

"Far Too Far (feat. Jeff Suffering)" by Stenobot

As a member of Seattle chip-hop outfit Supercommuter, Stenobot has made quite a name for himself producing techno-apocalyptic robot party anthems. His latest release, however, is a collaboration with his 4-year old son with a totally different slant. Channeling the emotional roller coaster that is his son's treatment for leukemia into music, Sink or Swim We'll Go Together is a beautiful, stirring and wholly enjoyable effort. Check it out for free on his site, or pick up the special edition CD with a handmade, hard bound photo book for $15. All proceeds from the latter benefit Child's Play.

The GeekDads Episode #79: John Madden on a Skateboard Oct 26, 2010

Ken, Matt, Russ and Jonathan talk about visiting the White House, seeing Tony Hawk, and playing LEGO Universe. Enjoy!

GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a bi-weekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

GeekDad HipTrax #61 Oct 19, 2010

In preparation for a very special GeekDad event, we here at HipTrax would like to present to you another delightful Halloween-themed podcast. This one is musically centered on everyone's favorite shambling flesh-eaters.

You do realize I mean zombies, right?

Scream in terror at the rotten facades of:

"You'll Always Be My Zombie Friend" by Starla

Not only is Starla's zombie friend nonthreatening, he's also apparently a big fan of frenetic dance beats and crazy, pitch-corrected vocals. You know what? Maybe we've been over-thinking this whole zombie thing. They don’t want our brains – just a solid DJ and reasonably-priced drinks.

"Quick and the Dead" by Death*Star

Nerdcore duo Death*Star puts an interesting spin on the zombie narrative in the track "Quick and the Dead" from their debut full-length The Fandom Menace. Not only do they switch perspective from the survivors to the ravenous horde at the half-way point, they also manage to inject a classic sing-along chorus.

"Zombie Apocalypse" by Kirby Krackle

Seattle's Kirby Krackle write songs about things that really matter. They touch on important subjects like video games and the world's worst superhero team. And also zombies. This fine selection from their debut album was recently interpreted as a delightfully macabre music video.

The GeekDads Episode #78: 99 44/100% Pure Geek Oct 12, 2010

Ken, Matt and special guest Rael Dornfest talk about set top boxes, playing D&D with your family, and whether any of us will want to ride in Google cars. Enjoy!

GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a bi-weekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

GeekDad HipTrax #60 Oct 05, 2010

The first of this year's Halloween-themed October editions of GeekDad HipTrax pays homage to one of the greatest videogame series of all time: Castlevania . While obviously steeped in gothic horror and hardcore platforming, the series is also renowned for its eclectic and atmospheric soundtracks. This has made it a favorite among the videogame remix community, which, in turn, makes it an excellent candidate for a special Hiptrax tribute!

Relish the musical creepiness of:

"Fear of Haze" by Joshua Morse
Castlevania: Sonata of the Damned marks Joshua Morse's second Castlevania tribute. The former is a free download offered from our friends at OverClocked ReMix, while the latter is another amazing freebie from the Bad Dues VGM collective. Cop both to supplement your all-important Halloween playlist.

"Froggy Mosh" by goat
The mysterious guitar-slinger known only as goat also paid proper tribute to the music of Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse in a free album of his own. Unchosen Paths: The Music of Castlevania is a beautiful beast, and you desperately need to experience it for yourself.

"Once Upon a Time in Transylvania" by virt
Closing out this edition is another amazing piece from Jake "virt" Kaufman. You can hear more of virt's original work in recently released games like Shantae: Risky’s Revenge and Batman : The Brave and the Bold: The Videogame.

The GeekDads Episode #77: Jar Jar is a Replicant Sep 28, 2010

Ken, Matt, Chuck and John chat about Star Wars on 3D, and over-engineering your toaster. Enjoy!

GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a bi-weekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

GeekDad HipTrax #59 Sep 21, 2010

We at HipTrax take our mission – to provide our fellow GeekParents with amazingly nerdy music they can actually share with the kids – very seriously. So much so, in fact, that the only thing that thrills us more than unearthing three brand new geek-jams for you every other week is spotlighting music that's available at the very reasonable price of free. As such, each remarkable song presented in this edition of the podcast comes to your from an equally remarkable album that is offered gratis.

Submitted for your perusal:

"Hilltop Zone" by Vernian Process

Have you ever wondered what the music of Sonic the Hedgehog II would sound like if performed orchestral style by San Francisco's preeminent steampunk pioneers? Me neither, but Vernian Process and VGM blog Game Music 4 All provided an answer anyway! Check out volume 1 of their Retro Gaming Retrospective series Sonic Symphony: An Orchestral Tribute to the 16-Bit Sega Classics, as well as additional volumes themed around the Final Fantasy and Castlevania series.

"Vessel of the Void ~Theme of Exdeath~" by zircon

The newest project from our friends at OverClocked ReMix is a celebration of Nobuo Uematsu's classic score for Square's Final Fantasy V. The Fabled Warriors is a five-album set, and Volume I: Wind was just released earlier this month. The remaining four albums will trickle out over the next two to three years, thus assuring that you always have something to look forward to.

"Alternate Ending (Untested Methods remix)" by The Grammar Club

New Orleans-based producer Untested Methods puts the closing track from The Grammar Club's stellar debut release trough his own unique musical filter in this fantastic remix. It's available as part of the recently released Remix Casefiles Vol. 1 – Nerdcore collection from Scrub Club Records. Be sure to give the whole album a listen, but beware that there's a content warning for several of its tracks.

The GeekDads Episode #76: Bacon on a Stick Sep 14, 2010

Ken, Matt and Jonathan chat about all the amazing games at PAX, and work on ideas for some new Great Bacon Odyssey posts. Enjoy!

GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a bi-weekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

GeekDad HipTrax #58 Sep 07, 2010

As summer draws to a close and the faintest bite of autumn appears in the air, we at GeekDad choose to reflect. Today, for example, we focus on the waning convention season, beer and Chris Isaak. Y'know, the important stuff!

This edition of GeekDad HipTrax features:

"CONtact" by Mega Ran & K-Murdock

Conventions are serious business, and personal hygiene is no laughing matter! Just ask poor Random, a cat who's done his time amid the (literally) unwashed masses. Why not brighten the man's day by contributing to his Kickstarter campaign? You'll be glad you did. Because of the hip-hop.

"Beer, Beer, Beer" as interpreted by Marc Gunn

I'm sure some parents would argue that a song about beer isn't an ideal choice for a child-friendly podcast, and I would agree. Of course this one's about the discovery of beer. That makes it educational! Lovers of Celtic-folk and free stuff are encouraged to leave a comment, as a random poster will receive free copies of both Marc's Kilted for Her Pleasure and The Bridge.

"Wicked Game" as covered by sadnes

The GeekDad HipTrax audience has already heard Carl Peczynski's phenomenal cover of Weezer's "In the Garage" under his stage name OxygenStar. Now you can also experience his take on Chris Isaak's classic "Wicked Game," from the Fill My Head EP, which was released under the name sadnes. Yet another fine freebie from netlabel Pause!

The GeekDads Episode #75: Old, Grumpy, and Eccentric Aug 31, 2010

Ken and Matt chat with David Hewlett - geek, dad and actor - about Apple gadgets, Buckaroo Banzai, and the joy of geeky dad-hood. Enjoy!

GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a bi-weekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

GeekDad HipTrax #57 Aug 24, 2010

Last week I overstepped my bounds a bit while blogging about the recent decision to ban the R4 and related devices in the UK. I meant to imply that this was an unfortunate and potentially detrimental turn of events for the European chiptune artists that employ such technology to legitimate ends, but instead it simply sounded like I was writing the whole of the chip music community off because of this single movement by Nintendo and that nation's court system.

I apologize to any in the global micromusic community that I may have unwittingly offended by employing such hyperbole, and, to help make amends, allow me to dazzle you with a trio of fresh selections from the still very-much-alive chiptune scene.

This apologetic edition of GeekDad HipTrax features:

"Heart Beeps" by ComputeHer

Michelle Mitchell is one-half of the dynamic American chiptune duo 8 Bit Weapon, but she is also the one-woman sound machine ComputeHer. This selection, from her fantastic new release Modemoiselle, ably showcases ComputeHer's unique brand of lo-fi electronica. The album (as well as a fine selection of t-shirts and other merchandise) is available at her newly redesigned web site.

"Fami-Dance" by Inverse Phase

I have long known know Brendan Becker as the man behind Virginia's annual Music and Gaming Festival, and now I also know him as chip artist Inverse Phase. His new album Retrocovered boasts 12 tracks of brilliantly realized classic electronic covers of everything from pop hits to cartoon theme songs. It's available at Bandcamp for a mere $5, and a number of tracks are up for free download for the chronically cheap.

"Float On" as covered by Tetrastar

Tetrastar is Oliver Hindle and Jaylyn Coffin – one the well known artist behind trailblazing UK chiptune act Superpowerless, the other a former member of Florida nerdcore outfit Emergency Pizza Party. Their newly released debut is also a charming collection of covers, this one entitled Songs We Didn't Write, and it collects fantastic chip-punk renditions of tracks originally performed by The Postal Service, Jonathan Coulton and Dio. The entire disc is freely available via the band's official site.

And fair warning: the mix is hot this week, because so is the music!

The GeekDads Episode #74: Sir Doug the Infrequent Aug 03, 2010

The GeekDads talk about Star Wars Celebration V, Harry Potter World, and the Jon Stewart Action Figure. Enjoy!

GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a bi-weekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

GeekDad HipTrax #56 Aug 10, 2010

Since folks seemed to dig our video game themed episode from last month, we've decided to do another show in a similar vein. This time around we're touching on a trio of game-focused songs from a bit outside the traditional VGM scene.

Somehow, amid crushing technical difficulties, we manage to feature:

"crimson dreams (feat. Beefy)" by Doctor Popular vs. crashfaster

From the riveting soundtrack of browser game Knifetank – an album entitled, fittingly enough, Knifetank (The Albumhole) – comes this reinterpretation of the game's theme. Building on crashfaster's original composition, Doctor Popular provides appropriately murderous vocals, as does our old friend Beefy. Snag the album from Bandcamp, and play the game at the official Knifetank site.

"Limit Break" by Dale Chase

Weighing in at a healthy 12 tracks worth of hip-hop-flavored awesome, Dale's Limit Break is as fierce as the name implies. Intelligent, soulful and uplifting, it's an amazing effort that showcases the artist at his best. Better yet, it's available as a name-your-own price download from Bandcamp!

"If I Had a Rocket Launcher" by Insane Ian & Possible Oscar

From the new Insane Ian and the MusicIANs album The Last Arcade, "If I Had a Rocket Launcher" is a parody of Barenaked Ladies' "If I Had a Million Dollars." Thus it is not, I must explicitly point out, a cover of the Bruce Cockburn tune of the same name. If Ian's brand of humorous geek rock floats your boat, be sure to check out his extended musical family at The FuMP.

GeekDad Special: Bacon Flavored Ice Cream - the Interview Aug 04, 2010

GeekDad's own Matt Blum is interviewed on 99.1 The Whale, in Bunghamton, NY about his adventures in bacon!

The GeekDads Episode #73: Next Step - Geek Stalkers Aug 03, 2010

The GeekDads talk about Comic-Con, Maker Faire Detroit and Matt's newfound sex-symbol status. Enjoy!

GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a bi-weekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

GeekDad HipTrax #53 Jun 29, 2010

Summertime is here again, and with it comes more music to move you. This edition of HipTrax kicks off with a brand new videogame music remix before moving on to a classic piece of comic book rock (revisited) and a fine selection from a Wizard Rocker's muggle band. All are guaranteed to please.

Featuring:

"Essence of Lime (Intro, Title Screen)" by Hylian Lemon

Hylian Lemon's Legend of Zelda: Essence of Lime tribute album began as a solo reinterpretation of the soundtrack for epic Gameboy title The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages. But between its 2008 inception and recent release, it blossomed into a multiple artist project spanning two discs and 42 songs. Yet despite its considerable length, it's freely available in both MP3 and FLAC formats.

"Up, Up, Down, Down" by Kirby Krackle

This amazing selection from Kirby Krackle's 2009 self-titled debut was recently released as an animated video by Betsy Lee. It will shortly be joined by the band's current project, a music video for Wolverine-inspired E For Everyone standout track " On And On."

"Books Says and I Say" by Harvey Dowd

Harvey Dowd is a muggle music side project by Adam of Wizard Rockers The Mudbloods. This track is from his phenomenal 2008 release Potosi, which is available free via Bandcamp. If you're a fan of rootsy, soulful, guitar-centered songwriting, it is a must-own!

The GeekDads Episode #70: Country Western Shock Jock Jun 22, 2010

The GeekDads talk about the iPhone 4 announcement, and have some painful technical problems. Enjoy!

GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a bi-weekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

GeekDad HipTrax #52 Jun 16, 2010

GeekDad Parents, Kids and the Stuff We Obsess About
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GeekDad HipTrax Logo by Dave Banks

GeekDad HipTrax Logo by Dave Banks

In the spirit of this week’s Electronic Entertainment Expo, this episode of GeekDad HipTrax is all about video game music. From classic NES/SNES soundtrack reinterpretations to original music from a brand new retro-style shooter, we’ve got you covered!

Featuring:

“Bionic Commando / Don’t be Hasty, Advance with Caution” by King Hippo

King Hippo is a one-man VGM outfit out of Los Angeles. Formed from the ashes of eclectic electro-rockers Bad Dudes, King Hippo does video game covers in a style comparable to that of Sacramento’s The Advantage.

“Bowser Castle” by The OneUps

Somehow, amid producing a third of Beefy’s latest LP With Sprinkles and crafting his own Vision Quest EP, Mustin also found time to pull together another amazing release from The OneUps. Super Mario Kart Album runs 10 classic tunes from the Super Mario Kart soundtrack run through The OneUps’ own magnificent musical filter.

“Rocktronic Plague” by 8 Bit Weapon

8 Bit Weapon have just released a Commodore 64/128 two-player simultaneous shoot-em-up entitled Silo 64. And of course they’ve released a 7-song soundtrack CD to accompany the game as well. Both are available for purchase at the dedicated Silo 64 site, as are free sample tracks and a game ROM for your emulation pleasure.

Read More http://www.wired.com/geekdad/2010/06/geekdad-hiptrax-52/?preview=true&preview_id=35070&preview_nonce=049094e7ca#ixzz0qz14n58R

The GeekDads Episode #69: The One With All the SNAFUs Jun 09, 2010

The GeekDads talk about the iPhone 4 announcement, and have some painful technical problems. Enjoy!

GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a bi-weekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

GeekDad HipTrax #51 Jun 02, 2010

This episode of GeekDad HipTrax is what we might call the mad props edition. Each one of today's featured artists is celebrating a recent triumph or musical milestone, and we intend to help them along. After all, that's sort of what we do.

Featuring:

"New Wizard Anthem (live)" by Harry and the Potters

DeGeorge brother Joe – one half of the groundbreaking Wrock duo – just graduated from Clark University with a Bachelor's degree in the almighty Arts. The band is also finally publicly releasing their previous 2009 Wizard Rock EP of the Month Club exclusive Harry and the Potters Live at the Yule Ball 2008 as a double-disc CD/DVD combo. While you wait on that one, feel free to download this amazing live show from July of 2008 compliments of Alienbobz.

"No Power in the Verse " by Antisoc

Meanwhile, nerdcore rapper Antisoc is celebrating the success of his fourth full-length album, Future Hop. Combining his cleverest rhymes to date with blistering production steeped in the electro-industrial tradition, it's 17 tracks of… well, the titular blend of rap and future pop. Best of all, it's free!

"Do I Look Like I Want To Play Volleyball?" by Noisewaves

Last month, our friends at netlabel Pterodactyl Squad released their landmark 25th album. It's a self-titled, 5-song EP from Michigan chiprock duo Noisewaves. And like all the other fine music presented in this episode, the project is available for free download.

The GeekDads Episode #68: And the Fluid Leaked Inappropriately May 26, 2010

The GeekDads talk about Maker Faire and the Facebook security imbroglio. Enjoy!

GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a bi-weekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

GeekDad HipTrax #50 May 19, 2010

This show marks the 50th regular episode of GeekDad HipTrax. Oh, how far we've some!

To celebrate the occasion, this episode is heavily hip-hop. It is also heavenly hip-hop. (See what I did there?).

Today's edition features:

"Different Language" by Beefy

Our own GeekDad Curtis reviewed Beefy's newest offering With Sprinkles earlier this week. I can't imagine you need any further motivation to pick up this nerdcore masterpiece, but I included this track just in case. Now proceed directly to Bandcamp to snag the album in question.

"Dream Master" by Mega Ran & K-Murdock

To say that the Random/K-Murdock collaboration known as Forever Famicom is anxiously awaited is an understatement. There has been a steady stream of hype building up over the previous months, and, after hearing the album's recently released (and free) debut singles, I am pleased to report that it's every bit as amazing as anticipated. It's nostalgic chip-hop at its finest.

"We Don't Need Another Trilogy (feat. Dale Chase)" by John Anealio

John Anealio and Dale Chase are the peanut butter and chocolate of the nerd music meta-community. I always suspected they'd go well together, and this piece is certainly proof positive. It's another fine freebie from John's own Sci-Fi Songs blog.

The GeekDads Episode #67: Can We Do That in LEGO? May 12, 2010

The GeekDads talk about the gulf oil spill, Iron Man 2 and Maker Faire. Enjoy!

GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a bi-weekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

GeekDad HipTrax #49 May 05, 2010

On this episode of GeekDad HipTrax, we get all electronical. Wait; that's not even a cromulent word!

Still, in this edition we do feature a trio of fine tracks from the chippier side of the nerd music meta-community.

Chippier... That's not a real word either, is it?

"Experimutations" by Jonny Nero Action Hero
Helping me keep this streak of imaginary words going strong is the title track from Jonny Nero's new Experimutations EP. This six-track chiprock masterpiece is available from Bandcamp via their ever popular name-your-price option. So head over there and give it a listen.

"Kittens Really Aren't That Great" by Computerization
Derek Dobson really doesn't get the whole cat meme thing, but that's not the sum of his lyrical musings! In his new Fake Music EP he also touches on spaceship races, alien romance and mortality. It's another free download, so make it your own.

"Tron Scherzo (Solar Sailer mix)" by 8 Bit Weapon
Taking us home is another fine selection from 8 Bit Weapon. Just this week Seth and Michelle unveiled a tribute to the Wendy Carlos-penned Tron soundtrack (and a related custom-modded Gameboy.) This tribute EP is also available free of charge. Don't say I never gave you nuthin'!

Want more? Well, you can subscribe to the GeekDad podcast in iTunes (see the button on the sidebar), or directly through the RSS feed. You can also download or play GeekDad HipTrax #49 via this link. And we apologize for the sound quality. Ken was having mic problems he didn't even realize until the taping was done.

The GeekDads Episode #66: It's a Trap! Apr 28, 2010

The GeekDads talk about the iPhone/Gizmodo scandal, Ken's book and (more about) the upcoming Maker Faire. Enjoy!

GeekDad HipTrax #48 Apr 21, 2010

Contents include The Minibosses, Norrin Radd and Snake Eyes.

The GeekDads Episode #65: Hold On- I Gotta to Pull Out My Kin Apr 14, 2010

The GeekDads talk about Fudgiethon and the upcoming Maker Faire. Enjoy!

GeekDad HipTrax #47 Apr 07, 2010

Contents include Dr. Octoroc, MC Frontalot and Brad Smith.

The GeekDads Episode #64: It's Called Wind Mar 30, 2010

The GeekDads talk about PAX East and the Disney Dream. Enjoy!

GeekDad HipTrax #46 Mar 24, 2010

This episode of GeekDad HipTrax is sci-fi themed. Herein we cover all the bases: Firefly, Star Trek and Doctor Who.

Okay, so maybe we left out Star Wars. Well Star Wars and BSG… and also Stargate.

Let me try this again; in today's edition of HipTrax we just cover some of the bases. With the help of:

"Monahan's Mudder's Milk" by Marc Gunn

Marc Gunn, known as "The Godfather of Celtic Music Online," is a musician, blogger, podcaster and champion of contemporary Celtic music on the web. Lucky for us, he's also no stranger to the occasional filk tune. This workers' rights ballad themed around the Firefly episode "Jaynestown" is freely downloadable at his site, but he's also got a fine selection of pay tracks available via Amazon.

"The Saddest Song Ever Written About Star Trek" by Warp 11

Sacramento's Warp 11 are not exactly among the most kid-friendly of acts we've featured on HipTrax. They are, however, a veritable explosion of kick-ass Star Trek musical fandom. They were featured in the 2003 documentary Trekkies 2, and standout track "Everything I Do, I Do With William Shatner" was included in the Comedy Central roast of The Shat. You can check out the breadth of their fantastic back catalog online. Just, y'know, make sure the kids are well out of earshot.

"There's No Such Thing as Impossible" by Turn Left

Turn Left are sisters Victoria and Georgia Minnear, also of UK Wizard Rock outfit RiddleTM. While not writing amazing songs about the power of Potterdom or any of a myriad of other subjects, the ladies also get their Time Lord Rock on. In a manner most divine.

The GeekDads Episode #63: Penguin on a Rainbow Cloud Mar 17, 2010

The GeekDads talk about the GeekDad Awards, Google Fiber, and the joy that is Chineselinuxuniversity.net. Enjoy!

GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a bi-weekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

GeekDad HipTrax #45 Mar 10, 2010

You look sad, my friend. (And not just about the unfortunate Skype noise on this podcast, I bet!)

Is the grind of the mid-week workday already bringing you down? Are you in desperate need of entertainment?

Of course you are!

So kick back and enjoy another piping-hot edition of HipTrax. Today's episode features:

"Painting Pictures" by Dual Core

Dual Core's int 80 and c64 are all about the feel-good tracks. Much as their Zero One classic "The Children's Machine (OLPC)" added stirring prose to the One Laptop Per Child program, this song finds int 80 rapping about the power of the cochlear implant and technology's functional applications in real life.

"Exapno Mapcase" by Comptroller

Created in 28 scant days as part of the RPM Challenge, Comptroller is a diminutive powerhouse. Boasting 10 tracks of chippy goodness, it's available for free download via Bandcamp.

"Going Home" by Kirby Krackle

Kirby Krackle's new album E For Everyone is currently available as a digital download. Of course, you can also head over to their site and order a physical copy. And while you're waiting on that to arrive, be sure to check out their self-titled debut. Album opener "Back to the Beginning" and the incomparable "Marvelous Girls" both come highly recommended.

The GeekDads Episode #62: Now With More Bacon Mar 03, 2010

The GeekDads talk about Portal 2 buzz, and the new OK Go video. Enjoy!

GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a bi-weekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

GeekDad HipTrax #44 Feb 24, 2010

Sometimes nerd life gets to be too much. In those cases, you just need to sit back. Relax. Unwind.

Lucky for you, Hiptrax is here to help!

Kick back and enjoy the smooth sounds of:

"Coder Girl" by Dale Chase

If you dig a super-tight flow, soulful hooks and intelligent, techy rhymes, Dale's Absodefilutely EP is a must-have. New fans also owe it to themselves to check out his "Coder Girl 2.0 (Remix)" and his musical meditation on longtime friend of GeekDad Snipeyhead.

"My Monkey" by Jonathan Coulton

The narrator of this Coulton classic made a mistake. He and his lady-love had a fight, and maybe he said some things he really didn't mean. I can't imagine blaming his monkey butler is going to help matters, but, y'know, live and learn.

"Dock of the Bay" as covered by The Skamatix

Like HipTrax favorite Marian Call, The Skamatix aren't superficially geeky, but trust me; it's in there. Their own Nate Trier, for example, also crafts atmospheric instrumentals for use in tabletop roleplaying games under the clever guise of Mindscape Music.

The GeekDads Episode #61: He Shoveled 15 Tons of Snow Feb 17, 2010

The GeekDads talk about snow, Buzz, and raising racist kids. Enjoy!

GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a bi-weekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

GeekDad HipTrax #43 Feb 10, 2010

Romance is in the air! And that can mean only one thing; our HEPA filter needs to be changed.

Oh wait…

Valentine's Day! Yeah, that totally explains it!

Cuddle up with that special someone and check out this ultra-romantical edition of GeekDad HipTrax featuring:

"To Have and to Hold" by temp sound solutions

Shawn Phase (AKA: temp sound solutions) is a titan in the chiptune, VGM and demoscene communities. He also has the most classic Konami logo tattoos of any single individual in recorded history. Check out the re-release of his amazing Xylox LP for free compliments of our friends at Pause Records.

"Romantic Cheapskate 2.0" by MC Frontalot

Since you obviously already own this track from Front's 2007 release Secrets From the Future, why not head over to the SPIN Magazine site to pick up the first single from his forthcoming Zero Day album. It's a song about Wil Wheaton, and that is the very definition of nerdcore.

"With You" by I Fight Dragons

Please join me in congratulating I Fight Dragons, as the band has just been signed to Photo Finish/Atlantic Records! I'm not sure how major label support will affect our ability to play their future releases, but hope springs eternal.

The GeekDads Episode #60: iPadCast Feb 03, 2010

The GeekDads are back with everyone who wasn't watching the LOST season opener to talk about the iPad, and National Black History Month. Enjoy!

GeekDad HipTrax #42 Jan 27, 2010

It's HipTrax time again, boys and girls! Aren't you excited? I know we are. So gather 'round while we serve you up a trio of nerdy tracks sure to please.

This episode features:

"Heroes in the Snow" by arcadecoma.

Chiptune artist arcadecoma. hales from Edinburgh, home of the Burke and Hare murders (-100 true crime points for those who don't know Burke and Hare) and Wattie Buchan (-100 punk rock points to those who don't know Wattie.) Only, y'know, arcadecoma. is much less scary. He's also a member of geek-centric netlabel Pterodactyl Squad, so head over to there to score the sweet, chippy goodness.

"Group with You" by The Four Eyes

The Four Eyes have recently redesigned their web site. Check out their new digs for a brand new crop of freely downloadable songs, including this one. You do like free stuff, right?

"On Your Six " by Ultraklystron

Karl Olson's new album Romance Language 2 is now available for super-cheap download via Bandcamp. Pick it up and share it with someone you love. Preferably while discussing your favorite fansubs.

Interview: Nathan Fillion Talks Firefly, Dr. Horrible, and Why Kids Need to Read Jan 21, 2010

The GeekDads Episode #59: Please Give Generously to the GeekDad Haiti Relief Fundraiser Jan 20, 2010

The GeekDads are back with a huge crew to talk about all the geeky news of the last two weeks, including smoking in Avatar, GeekDads on TV, and our fundraiser for Haiti relief. Enjoy!

GeekDad HipTrax #41 Jan 13, 2010

HipTrax celebrates the New Year by looking back on the old. Specifically, we reflect on a trio of 2009 releases that fell near year's end, and thus, unfortunately, may have stayed under your radar.

This episode features:

"Autobeat Airbus (live)" by Optimus Rhyme

I hosted Optimus Rhyme's posthumous Live Vol. 1 as a free download at Hipster, please! for the week between Christmas and New Year's. This amazing live EP features a classic performance on Seattle's KEXP from back in 2004. Those who missed it as a free download are encouraged to keep an eye open for the impending iTunes release.

"Tsundere 2x4" by Rai

Rai Kamishiro's Electric Sheep was surely one of the brightest and most eclectic releases of 2009. Long in production under a number of different names, the final product boasts tons of Rai's unique charm and some phenomenal production by Karl "Ultraklystron" Olson. Fans of J-pop, nerdcore and otaku culture are heartily encouraged to check out the full release.

"Summer Glau" by John Anealio

I enjoy John Anealio's new album so much that we're giving away a copy to a lucky HipTrax listener! Just leave a comment to this post listing your favorite science fiction property (film, television show, videogame or book), and you'll be entered to win your own Sci Fi Songs CD. In the meantime, explore John's blog of the same name for tons of filk-flavored freebies.

The GeekDads Episode #58: And Now Back to Voltron Defender of the Universe Jan 06, 2010

The GeekDads are back for the New Year with a holiday wrap-up. They re-cap the Wired Holiday Store, and discuss Avatar and what geeky presents they got. Enjoy!

12 Days of GeekDad #12 Dec 22, 2009

12Dog #12: 12 Days, 12 geeky songs, and 12 giveaways! Make sure you listen to the whole podcast to learn the secret word and get entered in the giveaway drawing!

12 Days of GeekDad #11 Dec 21, 2009

12Dog #11: 12 Days, 12 geeky songs, and 12 giveaways! Make sure you listen to the whole podcast to learn the secret word and get entered in the giveaway drawing!

12 Days of GeekDad #10 Dec 20, 2009

12Dog #10: 12 Days, 12 geeky songs, and 12 giveaways! Make sure you listen to the whole podcast to learn the secret word and get entered in the giveaway drawing!

12 Days of GeekDad #09 Dec 19, 2009

12Dog #09: 12 Days, 12 geeky songs, and 12 giveaways! Make sure you listen to the whole podcast to learn the secret word and get entered in the giveaway drawing!

12 Days of GeekDad #08 Dec 18, 2009

12Dog #08: 12 Days, 12 geeky songs, and 12 giveaways! Make sure you listen to the whole podcast to learn the secret word and get entered in the giveaway drawing!

12 Days of GeekDad #07 Dec 17, 2009

12Dog #07: 12 Days, 12 geeky songs, and 12 giveaways! Make sure you listen to the whole podcast to learn the secret word and get entered in the giveaway drawing!

12 Days of GeekDad #06 Dec 16, 2009

12Dog #06: 12 Days, 12 geeky songs, and 12 giveaways! Make sure you listen to the whole podcast to learn the secret word and get entered in the giveaway drawing!

12 Days of GeekDad #05 Dec 15, 2009

12Dog #05: 12 Days, 12 geeky songs, and 12 giveaways! Make sure you listen to the whole podcast to learn the secret word and get entered in the giveaway drawing!

12 Days of GeekDad #04 Dec 14, 2009

12Dog #04: 12 Days, 12 geeky songs, and 12 giveaways! Make sure you listen to the whole podcast to learn the secret word and get entered in the giveaway drawing!

12 Days of GeekDad #03 Dec 13, 2009

12Dog #03: 12 Days, 12 geeky songs, and 12 giveaways! Make sure you listen to the whole podcast to learn the secret word and get entered in the giveaway drawing!

12 Days of GeekDad #02 Dec 12, 2009

12Dog #02: 12 Days, 12 geeky songs, and 12 giveaways! Make sure you listen to the whole podcast to learn the secret word and get entered in the giveaway drawing!

12 Days of GeekMas #01 Dec 11, 2009

12Dog #01: 12 Days, 12 geeky songs, and 12 giveaways! Make sure you listen to the whole podcast to learn the secret word and get entered in the giveaway drawing!

The GeekDads Episode #57: She Didn't Take the Paris Hilton Roles Dec 08, 2009

The GeekDads talk with John Kovalic, creator of Dork Tower and illustrator of Munchkin and Apples to Apples, and make a SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT. Enjoy!

GeekDad HipTrax #40 Dec 01, 2009

This year has seen a disproportionate amount of great albums released from across the greater geeky music spectrum. So many, in fact, that it has proven difficult to keep up. Thankfully for you, there's HipTrax!

In this edition we feature songs from a trio of new releases from three of our favorite artists:

"Worms Make Dirt" as covered by Uncle Monsterface

Truly there is no better way to kick off an episode of HipTrax than with this Uncle Monsterface take on an Aquabats classic. This cover, along with four other stellar examples, is available on Jokey Jingles Ultimate Dance Party Mix Volume 3, an EP given away for free to subscribers of the UMF mailing list.

"Contains Mild Euphoria" by Pixelh8

Pixelh8 is not only an honorary GeekDad, he is also a bona fide contributor to GamePeople, the family-centered gaming site of our own Paul Govan. And did I mention he's a groundbreaking chiptune artist? You can experience his refreshing brand of warm, emotionally resonant electronica on his new release And the Revolution.

"Sixteen Bit" by Elfonso

Uniquely blending folksy, almost Gaelic instrumentation with classic videogame imagery, Elfonso has been a HipTrax favorite ever since our third episode. Now, with a fresh new self-titled album, the UK game rockers are poised to further redefine what VGM can (and should) be.

The GeekDads Episode #56: Fried Turducken Nov 24, 2009

The GeekDads talk about the Mythbusters at the White House, the Wired Holiday Store, and what we're doing for Thanksgiving. Enjoy!

**GeekDad HipTrax #39** Nov 03, 2009
Yes, we realize that we missed Halloween by a few days. But what were we gonna do? I mean, we promised you two episodes of appropriately creepy HipTrax music, and we plan to deliver. Even if it's slightly later than anticipated.

This posthumous collection of Halloween geekery includes:

"What a Horrible Night" by virt

In addition to sharing music at VGMix, a videogame remix community that he founded in 2002, virt has also supplied original soundtracks for a number of high profile videogames. You may have heard his work in titles like Contra 4 or Red Faction: Guerrilla.

"Thriller" by Superpowerless

By my estimation, Superpowerless has released 9 bajillion albums this year alone. In the time it took me to write that last sentence he released an additional 74. Though it is truly a fool's errand to try and keep up, you can at least attempt to monitor his prolific output with the help of our friends at Scrub Club Records.

"Bucket O' Blood " as covered by The Consortium of Genius

The two coolest things in the world are pirates and vampires. Leave it to The Consortium of Genius to unceremoniously wed the two in lyrical matrimony! This track was included on their fantastic career retrospective 10th Anniversary Compilation.

The GeekDads Episode #54: Do Minifigs Have a Soul? Oct 27, 2009

The GeekDads wish John Cleese happy birthday, and talk about LEGO Universe and W00tstock! Enjoy!

The GeekDads Episode #53: Oh no, not again... Oct 13, 2009

The GeekDads talk about Where the Wild Things Area and the upcoming Paul and Storm concert W00tstock! Enjoy!

GeekDad HipTrax #38 Oct 06, 2009

The GeekDads Episode 52: Until the Spiders Unionize Sep 29, 2009

GeekDad HipTrax #37 Sep 22, 2009

Special: An Interview With Swampy Marsh Sep 17, 2009

Special: An Interview With Greg Grunberg Sep 17, 2009

GeekDad HipTrax #36 Sep 08, 2009

The GeekDads Episode #51: It Would've Been Awesome! Sep 01, 2009

The GeekDads talk about playing RPGs with your kids!

GeekDad HipTrax #35 Aug 25, 2009

It's back-to-school time once again. Thus GeekParents and geeklings alike are no doubt already feeling the crunch of another year's worth of bag lunches, science projects and PTA bake sales. It's just too much. To steal a line from the Clown Prince of Cholesterol: you deserve a break today. And GeekDad HipTrax is more than happy to oblige. This edition features: "Let's Hear it for Capitalism" by Math the Band Math the Band creates lo-fi synth rock in the style of Atom and His Package melded with the power of poppy noise rockers like Andrew W.K. On CD, this translates into light-hearted, surrealistic musings on daily life, but onstage they are akin to a rock 'n' roll bazooka being fired directly into our face. Buy the album, but catch them live for the full effect. "Chinese Ninja Warrior" as covered by Shael Riley and the Double Ice Backfire This Lords of Acid-penned theme song for Mortal Kombat's Sub-Zero rests firmly in Shael's wheelhouse. Not only is he a fighting game aficionado – Shael was co-director of the OverClocked ReMix community's soundtrack for Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix – but he's also a purveyor of dark electro-pop. The Double Ice Backfire's Songs from the Pit is a moody masterpiece that's only available on limited edition cassette. "Saria's Ragtime Jazz" by Kento Khromatic Kento Khromatic is a composer that speaks the language of music and a VGM fan with a knack for razor sharp improvisation. You can stay abreast of his latest creations by subscribing to his YouTube channel or following him on Twitter. Either way, prepare to be both entertained and amazed.

**The GeekDads Episode #50: I Could Feel the Meat Sweats Coming On** Aug 18, 2009
The GeekDads talk about District 9, the PS3 Slim, and being on TV!

**GeekDad HipTrax #34** Aug 11, 2009
If you've ever found yourself hoping that GeekDad HipTrax would somehow become a lot more… danceable, then this episode is for you. Listen in wonder as we crank out some amazing electronica in the geekiest of veins. Marvel as we effortlessly transition from chiptunes to nerdcore to Wizard Rock without so much as batting an eyelash. Suppress a chuckle as Ken and I attempt to shake our groove things without spilling our drinks.

John Rogers Interview Jul 13, 2009

In conjunction with the upcoming premiere of his TV show Leverage's second season premiere, I got the chance to talk to John about the cool things he's done (Warren Ellis' Global Frequency pilot, Jackie Chan Adventures), the things that humble him (he is credited as one of the writers of the Catwoman movie), and how he's trying to drag the television industry into the internet age one show at a time.

GeekDad HipTrax #27 May 05, 2009

The GeekDads bring you HipTrax: three geeky songs you can share with your kids. GDHT #27 includes Random, 8 Bit Weapon, and Scared of Dinosaurs.

The GeekDads Episode 43: Everything's Better With Bacon Apr 28, 2009

The GeekDads talk about geek news of the week, including how the swine flu may effect bacon consumption, and if the Wolverine movie will suck.

GeekDad HipTrax #26 May 13, 2009

The GeekDads bring you HipTrax: three geeky songs you can share with your kids. GDHT #26 includes DJ Pretzel, Injury, and The Minibosses.

The GeekDads Episode 42: Wait Wait Don't Smell Me! Apr 14, 2009

The GeekDads interview Peter Sagal, and talk about geek news of the week, including the fart tweeter, and more about SyFy.

GeekDad HipTrax #25 Apr 07, 2009

The JockDads Episode 01: Don't Let Your Kids Grow Up to be Geeks! Mar 31, 2009

GeekDad HipTrax #24 Mar 24, 2009

The GeekDads Episode 40: Grace Park Reads the Yellow Pages to Adam Savage Mar 17, 2009

The GeekDads Episode 39: Boozy Pixels Mar 03, 2009

GeekDad HipTrax #23 Feb 24, 2009

The GeekDads Episode 38: The Water's Gotten Into the DSL Line Feb 17, 2009

GeekDad HipTrax #22 Feb 10, 2009

A GeekDads Special: The Creators of Phineas and Ferb Feb 08, 2009

The GeekDads Episode 37: Besides, Tapeworms Make You Skinny Feb 03, 2009

GeekDad HipTrax #21 Jan 27, 2009

The GeekDads Episode 36: Especially if it Farts Jan 20, 2009

A GeekDads Special: Wil Wheaton and Batman, the Brave and the Bold Jan 13, 2009

GeekDad HipTrax #20 Jan 12, 2009

The GeekDads Episode 35: Think Faster, Elf Boy! Jan 06, 2009

GeekDad HipTrax 12 Days of Geekmas #12 Dec 22, 2008

GeekDad HipTrax 12 Days of Geekmas #11 Dec 21, 2008

GeekDad HipTrax 12 Days of Geekmas #10 Dec 20, 2008

GeekDad HipTrax 12 Days of Geekmas #9 Dec 19, 2008

GeekDad HipTrax 12 Days of Geekmas #8 Dec 18, 2008

GeekDad HipTrax 12 Days of Geekmas #7 Dec 17, 2008

The GeekDads Episode 34: Six Degrees of Stephen Hawking Dec 16, 2008

GeekDad HipTrax 12 Days of Geekmas #6 Dec 16, 2008

GeekDad HipTrax 12 Days of Geekmas #5 Dec 15, 2008

GeekDad HipTrax 12 Days of Geekmas #4 Dec 14, 2008

GeekDad HipTrax 12 Days of Geekmas #3 Dec 13, 2008

GeekDad HipTrax 12 Days of Geekmas #2 Dec 12, 2008

GeekDad HipTrax 12 Days of Geekmas #1 Dec 11, 2008

The GeekDads Episode 33: The Dragon Really is a Duck Dec 01, 2008

GeekDad HipTrax #19 Nov 24, 2008

The GeekDads Episode 32: Dude, Where's My Zebra? Nov 17, 2008

GeekDad HipTrax #18 Nov 10, 2008

The GeekDads Episode 31: If You Answered T-Negative, You're a Geek Nov 03, 2008

GeekDad HipTrax #17 Oct 28, 2008

The GeekDads Episode 30: Phillips-head Entry Wound Oct 21, 2008

GeekDad HipTrax #16 Oct 15, 2008

The GeekDads Episode 29: Get Your Face-melting Movie References Right! Oct 07, 2008

GeekDad HipTrax #15 Oct 01, 2008

The GeekDads Episode 28: Waterboarding Ewoks Sep 24, 2008

GeekDad HipTrax #14 Sep 17, 2008

The GeekDads Episode 27: *Crickets* Sep 10, 2008

GeekDad HipTrax #13 Sep 03, 2008

The GeekDads Episode 26: Styrobot Favicon Aug 27, 2008

GeekDad HipTrax #12 Aug 20, 2008

The GeekDads Episode 25: One Horseman Short of an Apocalypse Aug 13, 2008

GeekDad HipTrax #11 Aug 06, 2008

The GeekDads Episode 24: Mo' Danger, Mo' Better Jul 30, 2008

GeekDad HipTrax #10 Jul 23, 2008

The GeekDads Episode 23: They Invented Stuff Because They Were Lazy Jul 16, 2008

GeekDad HipTrax #9 Jul 09, 2008

The GeekDads Episode 22: Pocahontas was a Senator? Jul 02, 2008

GeekDad HipTrax #8 Jun 25, 2008

The GeekDads Episode 21: He Whips, She Screams Jun 18, 2008

GeekDad HipTrax #7 Jun 11, 2008

The GeekDads Episode 20: Our Beautiful Blue Marble Jun 04, 2008

GeekDad HipTrax #6 May 28, 2008

The GeekDads Episode 19: Plugging Unplugged May 21, 2008

GeekDad HipTrax #5 May 14, 2008

The GeekDads Episode 18: The Lollipop Ladies are Watching. May 07, 2008

GeekDad HipTrax #4 Apr 30, 2008

The GeekDads Episode 17: What Happened to His Horns, Daddy? Apr 23, 2008

GeekDad HipTrax #3 Apr 16, 2008

The GeekDads Episode 16: Pneumatic Koitapult Apr 09, 2008

GeekDad HipTrax #2 Apr 02, 2008

The GeekDads Episode 15: The Kopi Luwak of Podcasts Mar 26, 2008

GeekDad HipTrax #1 Mar 20, 2008

The GeekDads Episode 14: Where Law And Chaos Are Forever At Odds Mar 12, 2008

The GeekDads Episode 13: Rule Number One - Pillage First, Then Burn Feb 27, 2008

The GeekDads Episode 12: The Eight Diagram Pole Fighter Meets The Five Deadly Venoms Feb 13, 2008

The GeekDads Episode 11: You Too Can Purchase A Tattoo For Your Child Jan 30, 2008

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