SEASON ONE
Episode 1: Bone Hammers and Treasure Map Tattoos
Published March 1st, 2021
An introduction to the Cool Story Guys and our unpredictable collaborative writing project.
Episode 2: Chapter One - The Untouched
Published March 2nd, 2021
The first chapter in the Cool Story Guys saga.
Episode 3: Meathands Johnson and the Salmon Man
Published March 3rd, 2021
A deep dive into the first chapter of the book and how the initial rolls from the Fate Index set the tone for everything moving forward.
Episode 4: Chapter Two - An Impossible Sea
Published March 4th, 2021
Morwell awakens in a brutal and barren landscape, his boat run aground and destroyed.
Episode 5: Fantasy Toilet Wine
Published March 18th, 2021
Only two chapters in, the Fate Index is already making us do stuff we don’t want to.
Episode 6: Chapter Three - The Heart of the Flame
Published March 18th, 2021
With Morwell unconscious and her grandfather missing, Laureena must improvise with what is available on the wrecked trawler and bide her time until help arrives.
Episode 7: Tween Romance Revue
Published April 5th, 2021
We are forced to deal with the war crimes the Fate Index forced us to commit in Chapter 3 and the fact that our dice rolls so far have been such unrelenting bummers.
Episode 8: Chapter Four - The Storm Still Rages
Published April 5th, 2021
Shaken from her vision in the cavern, fear begins to cloud the mind of the crimson woman, causing her abilities to falter when Koa desperately needs her assistance.
Episode 9: La Femme Magenta
Published April 19th, 2021
The Fate Index's bloodlust has left us in a precarious situation. Where do we go from here? How can we possibly salvage this miserably-paced story and sell it to Netflix or Amazon?
Episode 10: Chapter Five - Coffee and the Paper
Published April 19th, 2021
An outlander comes to the Northern Plateaus looking for leads on a powerful girl whose actions threaten to topple a world that has already been thrown perilously off balance.
Episode 11: Post-Apocalyptic Candy Currency
Published May 3rd, 2021
Desperate to be anywhere other than inside our urban apartments, we discuss the idea of using fantasy as an escape, and how our story isn't a particularly inviting travel destination.
Episode 12: Chapter Six - The Sea Mothers' Blessing
Published May 3rd, 2021
Faullen Danvers has spent his life on the sea, always mindful to honor its protectors thanks to customs passed down by his father. When the future of Delvorn is compromised, will the Sea Mothers hear his call?
Episode 13: Idea Pillaged
Published May 17th, 2021
After learning that one of our big original ideas is now being used by a much more legitimate media venture, we discuss the idea of do-overs and whether or not we'd indulge in them if we had the option.
Episode 14: Chapter Seven - Context Clues
Published May 17th, 2021
When the Capitol Islands military forces reveal unsettling tactics for relocating the Touched to the mainland, Danvers escapes from Delvorn with the Sea Mother and is forced to make life-altering decisions in order to continue with her on her quest.
Episode 15: Animorph Tummyache
Published May 31st, 2021
After Ethan's son develops Beast Tongue and speaks with a duck, we discuss the very real probability that humans will someday be able to communicate with animals, as well as other fantasies that may eventually become realities.
Episode 16: Chapter Eight - The Loss of Self
Published May 31st, 2021
Disfigured and bewildered, a woman awakens encased inside a massive mollusk shell. Someone - or something - has been regenerating her broken body in a bizarre laboratory deep beneath the ground, but for what purpose?
Episode 17: Lazy, Sexy Bugs
Published June 14th, 2021
Lots of bug talk in this episode! Discussing Ethan's crab- and insect-heavy chapter is a perfect reason to talk all about the swarm of cicadas overtaking much of the United States and how he's going to have to deal with the bug swarm on his trip home to Indiana.
Episode 18: Chapter Nine - Banishment Realms
Published June 14th, 2021
Elinea navigates the perilous island of Vlyk, finding herself in constant danger thanks the loss of her abilities and a new, unpredictable appendage. Seeking shelter and knowledge from a sequestered Magi named Corrilous Hallister, she discovers the man isn't at all what she expected him to be.
Episode 19: Protocol for Beefin' It
Published July 26th, 2021
Big life changes are underway for the Cool Story Guys: Ethan is moving back to America, threatening to dispel the magic and magnetism of our face-to-face recording sessions. In anticipation of our podcast inevitably becoming awful, we discuss the etiquette of content creators addressing the fact that they've made something terrible.
Episode 20: Chapter Ten - Beneath the Surface
Published July 26th, 2021
Finnegan explores the smoldering wreckage of the Irapa village, looking for clues that will lead him to Laureena. With a snowstorm bearing down and a host of unfriendly characters trying to do him harm, the ex-soldier worries he might have bitten off more than he can chew.
Episode 21: Goofball Tank
Published August 23rd, 2021
Looking over NPR's list of the best fantasy and science fiction of the last decade, we realize that we probably aren't reading enough books, and discuss whether reading or writing has the better return on time investment for aspiring storytellers.
Episode 22: Chapter 11 - Working as One
Published August 23rd, 2021
Before the Shift, Laureena was insightful, fiercely competitive, and a loyal friend. How much of her personality and agency remain after years possessed by an embittered primordial deity?
Episode 23: The Fantastic Names of Notable Men
Published September 6th, 2021
In honor of the possibility that someone might accidentally stumble upon our fantasy writing podcast while looking for fantasy football, we have created a new game called "the Fantastic Names of Notable Men." In it, Ethan has to guess which names on Jeff's list are from fantasy and sci-fi books and which are the names of actual NFL players.
Episode 24: Chapter 12 - Sins of the Callans
Published September 6th, 2021
Danvers is led to the underwater city of Vandenala, where Adan lays out her plan for counteracting the Shift and saving Laureena.
Episode 25: Fully-Realized Manchild
Published September 27th, 2021
We take a look at some of our biggest literary pet peeves, ranging from merely annoying to completely story-ruining.
Episode 26: Chapter 13 - Vertical Migration
Published September 27th, 2021
Searching for containment shrines, Elinea and the blind wanderer discover a dangerous new threat from the underworld.
Episode 27: Danny Elfman Bathroom Theme
Published October 11th, 2021
Inspired by some nebulous lists of dogs, we play a new game called "More or Less" in which we decide whether there is too much or not enough of things like romance and going to the bathroom in books, TV, and movies.
Episode 28: Chapter 14 - A Sting from the Past
Published October 11th, 2021
Deep underground with the Irapa, Finnegan relives a traumatic experience from his past in a vivid dream, but key aspects of the memory have changed in startling ways. Although it's clear his emotions are being manipulated, his grip on reality begins to slip away as corruption takes hold.
Episode 29: Accidental Batman
Published October 25th, 2021
It's our October Spooktacular episode, with resident horror master Ethan taking over the reigns to make Jeff play a spooky game inventing the perfect monster. Spoiler alert: the perfect monster is named "Carol."
Episode 30: Chapter 15 -Interfacing
Published October 25th, 2021
Skeptical of the Nemarus' plan, Danvers meets with Hallister and discovers the story he was told regarding the Shift was not the whole truth.
Episode 31: Mid-Life Multiclassing
Published November 8th, 2021
In preparation of our impending mid-life crises, we take a look at the new skills we want to learn in our elder years to replace the useless ones we've acquired so far.
Episode 32: Chapter 16 -Seeking Truth
Published November 8th, 2021
Stuck on the Northern Plateaus and drained of power, Laureena attempts to break free from the dark force that has been controlling her for the last four years.
Episode 33: Ethan's Quest
Published November 22nd, 2021
Come along on the adventure of a lifetime in ETHAN'S QUEST, an exciting new game where you attempt to navigate uncomfortable social situations with a magic hat and are reincarnated behind a Burger King in the woods every time you die.
Episode 34: Chapter 17 -Visions
Published November 22nd, 2021
Different factions quarrel over how to act upon the Remnant’s vision, and the outcome will determine the fate of the Capital Islands and its people.
Episode 35: Are We Living in a Simulation?
Published December 13th, 2021
Shook by the idea that we've taken free will away from the characters in our story, we discuss whether or not we have any free will of our own, or if the reason Jeff eats a turkey sandwich for lunch every day is because he lives inside a simulation.
Episode 36: Chapter 18 - Lost and Found
Published December 13th, 2021
It's the last stand for Finnegan and the Irapa as an overwhelming swarm of Vist make a final push to turn the Northern Plateaus into a column.
Episode 37: Flop Reel
Published January 10th, 2022
Another year of toil and wasted promise is in the books, so we take a look at stuff we liked, stuff that sucked, and whether or not we should try harder on this podcast in 2022.
Episode 38: Chapter 19 - Ascension
Published January 10th, 2022
Everyone has gathered at the base of the column from the vision. Will they ascend to a better world, or to a cruel and violent demise?
Episode 39: Epilogue
Published January 26th, 2022
It's been 20 years since the Shift changed the world forever. Have the survivors actualized the brighter future they saw atop the platform, or have the same old mistakes returned to haunt them again?
Episode 40: Jumbo-Sized Season Finale Jamboree
Published January 26th, 2022
We celebrate the end of our first season with a big discussion of the last two chapters and an imaginary casting session for the inevitable big-budget TV series or film adaptation.
Cool Story Guys One-Shot: Elden Ring
Published March 28th, 2022
Elden Ring is one of the most exciting things to happen to video games in years and we are smitten. Ethan is a veteran of the Dark Souls games and Jeff is new to the series, but we've both been deeply enjoying our time getting killed over and over and over in the lands between.