Exploring what makes stories stick, from the page to the screen—with Kris and Rian. 📚📺🎮 New videos weekly. 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ youtube.com/@GenreBlenderPodcasthttps://bsky.app/profile/genreblender.nethttps://bsky.app/profile/genreblender.net/post/3mmw4bw7h7k2k2026 has sure thrown some curveballs! So as avid planners, what do you do when life … life’s? Rian and Kris chat about this very thing on this months podcast! No notes, no plans, no problem! | Genre Blender Podcast 37 youtu.be/LuInZftDCvk https://youtu.be/LuInZftDCvk28 May 2026 13:18 +0000at://did:plc:fsmeorbtjbfxetu7ttd2lsae/app.bsky.feed.post/3mmw4bw7h7k2khttps://bsky.app/profile/genreblender.net/post/3mkof4ergys26On this months episode of Genre Blender, Rian and Kris delve into open world gaming! Can compelling stories still be found with so much to do? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrydfUcbdx430 Apr 2026 00:44 +0000at://did:plc:fsmeorbtjbfxetu7ttd2lsae/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkof4ergys26https://bsky.app/profile/genreblender.net/post/3miwxxb3es22hRe-reading is a concept that both Rian and Kris have struggled to get on bored with over the course of their reading lives. This month the duo explore why that is, and delve into the reasons they haven’t re-read in the past and what might drive them to do it in the future. youtu.be/l36zO7Kgsvg https://youtu.be/l36zO7Kgsvg07 Apr 2026 23:52 +0000at://did:plc:fsmeorbtjbfxetu7ttd2lsae/app.bsky.feed.post/3miwxxb3es22hhttps://bsky.app/profile/genreblender.net/post/3mheoh5mioc2aThe first Books & Bevvies episode for 2026 is live! This quarter Rian and Kris tackle Babel by R.F. Kuang. Shocking no one, the two hosts share some mixed thoughts on this academic fantasy entry, adoring some aspects while scratching their heads at others. https://youtu.be/NW43jrSvBg0?si=tTeIKJB9anrp3vYS18 Mar 2026 23:49 +0000at://did:plc:fsmeorbtjbfxetu7ttd2lsae/app.bsky.feed.post/3mheoh5mioc2ahttps://bsky.app/profile/genreblender.net/post/3mg6vzq2upc2uWe’re back! With the podcast settling back in its original form, @rianfloyd.com and @afictionalescapist.bsky.social delve into a months worth of read, watch and play updates then dive into this month topic. Handheld gaming! Nostalgia trip or the way of the future 🤔 https://youtu.be/MoRQoL2bVqQ?si=ql6h-mV8VVTqLayO03 Mar 2026 23:23 +0000at://did:plc:fsmeorbtjbfxetu7ttd2lsae/app.bsky.feed.post/3mg6vzq2upc2uhttps://bsky.app/profile/genreblender.net/post/3mdicsabnzs2bThe first podcast episode for 2026 is live! This month, Rian and Kris chat about writing habits, current projects and catch each other up on everything we’ve read, watched and played over the course of January. https://youtu.be/m40lQqCA1xY?si=NopazmkyMdjIwPzu28 Jan 2026 12:50 +0000at://did:plc:fsmeorbtjbfxetu7ttd2lsae/app.bsky.feed.post/3mdicsabnzs2bhttps://bsky.app/profile/genreblender.net/post/3md4rx44m4k2fNew book review of a not-new book up on the website, James Baldwin’s ‘Notes of a Native Son’. This collection of essays was a challenge thematically but beautiful (and important) to read. Does anyone have a favourite James Baldwin book? https://www.genreblender.net/review-notes-of-a-native-son/23 Jan 2026 22:49 +0000at://did:plc:fsmeorbtjbfxetu7ttd2lsae/app.bsky.feed.post/3md4rx44m4k2fhttps://bsky.app/profile/genreblender.net/post/3mcvftznat22sA new year means getting ridiculously excited for all the up and coming releases right … RIGHT !?! It was really fun to listen to each other babble about the things that have snagged our attention so far for 2026! Talk about a mixed bag! https://youtu.be/8iNRv8h7l5g?si=MsQKznF_Fr_GY1-721 Jan 2026 00:24 +0000at://did:plc:fsmeorbtjbfxetu7ttd2lsae/app.bsky.feed.post/3mcvftznat22shttps://bsky.app/profile/genreblender.net/post/3mce3s7f4xk2pAfter years of wanting to watch more movies Kris finally cracked his goal of 25. Here are some quick thoughts on everything he watched in 2025! https://youtu.be/V9V66EIZcUI?si=i2NmMxkUsULTeWAQ14 Jan 2026 03:09 +0000at://did:plc:fsmeorbtjbfxetu7ttd2lsae/app.bsky.feed.post/3mce3s7f4xk2phttps://bsky.app/profile/genreblender.net/post/3mbsaglede22kWell, I may not have met my reading goal for 2025 (life always has other plans). But I certainly read some absolute bangers this year. And since it’s a mostly manageable number, I decided to micro-review each one. So… if there’s room on your TBR, have at it! – R https://www.genreblender.net/micro-reviewing-every-book-i-read-in-2025/07 Jan 2026 00:44 +0000at://did:plc:fsmeorbtjbfxetu7ttd2lsae/app.bsky.feed.post/3mbsaglede22khttps://bsky.app/profile/genreblender.net/post/3mbahqdyh2c2jIt is time for the Genre Blender pair to look forward into the new year. Join us as we share our themes and projects which will see us through 2026! https://youtu.be/ccvE6Gxe9Vw?si=mK4gHrLQoM59EicT30 Dec 2025 23:07 +0000at://did:plc:fsmeorbtjbfxetu7ttd2lsae/app.bsky.feed.post/3mbahqdyh2c2jhttps://bsky.app/profile/genreblender.net/post/3mara24kse222And that’s (almost) a wrap on 2025! This has been a huge year of entertainment for us over at Genre Blender. Join us on this weeks video to see what we pick as the best of the best for the year that was. youtu.be/_JX4vhuDm4o https://youtu.be/_JX4vhuDm4o24 Dec 2025 21:39 +0000at://did:plc:fsmeorbtjbfxetu7ttd2lsae/app.bsky.feed.post/3mara24kse222https://bsky.app/profile/genreblender.net/post/3ma5ere3nj226Do you play early access games? Why or why not? Check out why Kris loves them in today’s video! https://youtu.be/YOGkzX9iB3o?si=uC_7AIaaXmkalkBJ17 Dec 2025 00:11 +0000at://did:plc:fsmeorbtjbfxetu7ttd2lsae/app.bsky.feed.post/3ma5ere3nj226https://bsky.app/profile/genreblender.net/post/3m7loyorhec2sWelcome to the Watch Party! On today’s episode Rian and Kris tackle Guillermo del Toro’s 2025 Frankenstein. Was it stunning? Absolutely. Did we love it? Not so much. Are we shocked we agreed? You’ll have to watch to find out! https://youtu.be/6VFUiPzbjb0?si=qBG6D4QC25ivQBr909 Dec 2025 23:26 +0000at://did:plc:fsmeorbtjbfxetu7ttd2lsae/app.bsky.feed.post/3m7loyorhec2shttps://bsky.app/profile/genreblender.net/post/3m723npg73s24New video! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Rian discusses the broken state of book star ratings, and what we can do instead. 🤔 youtu.be/b-Vc1nVf2DI https://youtu.be/b-Vc1nVf2DI02 Dec 2025 23:24 +0000at://did:plc:fsmeorbtjbfxetu7ttd2lsae/app.bsky.feed.post/3m723npg73s24https://bsky.app/profile/genreblender.net/post/3m6ijk5g4vk2fNovembers episode of #genreblenderpodcast was wolf-PACKED! Rian breaks out their interviewing skills to help celebrate the launch of Kris’s debut ALPHA 🐺 Kris delves into writing, world-building, and the journey to becoming a published author. https://youtu.be/pbIeDxYLgGI?si=j9I8z-y1lfUhQHuO25 Nov 2025 23:45 +0000at://did:plc:fsmeorbtjbfxetu7ttd2lsae/app.bsky.feed.post/3m6ijk5g4vk2fhttps://bsky.app/profile/genreblender.net/post/3m5wyb7kubc2wOn this weeks episode of Books and Bevvies, Rian and Kris delve into the giant tome that is EXODUS! To say we had mixed thoughts is an understatement 🤔 Books & Bevvies - EXODUS: The Archimedes Engine | What we thought of this 900+ page sci-fi monster! youtu.be/rnqlplIU-I8 https://youtu.be/rnqlplIU-I819 Nov 2025 00:21 +0000at://did:plc:fsmeorbtjbfxetu7ttd2lsae/app.bsky.feed.post/3m5wyb7kubc2whttps://bsky.app/profile/genreblender.net/post/3m5jacpy3z22fJust over a week ago Rian and Kris were adventuring along the Margaret River in WA. We knew we wouldn’t last a whole long weekend without book shopping 😅😅 If you’re curious to see what we picked up (and some adorable Australian wildlife), come take a look! https://youtu.be/rKze2nJihTY?si=rmtsnOT67mjY5RaC13 Nov 2025 13:07 +0000at://did:plc:fsmeorbtjbfxetu7ttd2lsae/app.bsky.feed.post/3m5jacpy3z22fhttps://bsky.app/profile/genreblender.net/post/3m4w6r3se422uToday Kris gets to gush about his dream of running a medieval tavern … with craft beers! https://youtu.be/zA_gjgTYGOM?si=hEelGO2y171YWs7g05 Nov 2025 23:19 +0000at://did:plc:fsmeorbtjbfxetu7ttd2lsae/app.bsky.feed.post/3m4w6r3se422uhttps://bsky.app/profile/genreblender.net/post/3m4c7d7r3ec2aComing at you with a double dose of content this week! Today Rian and Kris delve into horror sub genres just in time for Halloween! Gettin' Spooky With It! - Exploring Horror Subgenres youtu.be/So_mkNQvDNQ https://youtu.be/So_mkNQvDNQ29 Oct 2025 00:36 +0000at://did:plc:fsmeorbtjbfxetu7ttd2lsae/app.bsky.feed.post/3m4c7d7r3ec2ahttps://bsky.app/profile/genreblender.net/post/3m44zjcs42226Guess what Rian finally watched!!!! Tune in to this months episode of Genre Blender to find out. With a new format, we get to delve deeper into everything we’ve read, watched and played over the whole month! As well as delve into noteworthy news that excites us! youtu.be/9UwJCy1k_8s https://youtu.be/9UwJCy1k_8s26 Oct 2025 23:09 +0000at://did:plc:fsmeorbtjbfxetu7ttd2lsae/app.bsky.feed.post/3m44zjcs42226https://bsky.app/profile/genreblender.net/post/3m3wfmxvwfk2xWe’re evolving! There are a few changes to the format of our videos and podcast episodes that we’ve announced in a blog post here (all good things, we promise!): https://www.genreblender.net/were-evolving-upcoming-changes-for-genre-blender/24 Oct 2025 07:57 +0000at://did:plc:fsmeorbtjbfxetu7ttd2lsae/app.bsky.feed.post/3m3wfmxvwfk2xhttps://bsky.app/profile/genreblender.net/post/3m3qliee2322mWhat do you do when the next book on your TBR is 1,211 pages but you’re intimidated by big books? Rian talks about this conundrum and how he overcame it while reading The Stand by Stephen King. youtu.be/w7VvkjEVFA4 https://youtu.be/w7VvkjEVFA422 Oct 2025 00:26 +0000at://did:plc:fsmeorbtjbfxetu7ttd2lsae/app.bsky.feed.post/3m3qliee2322mhttps://bsky.app/profile/genreblender.net/post/3m3bga4tqpk2jIt’s newbie vs constant reader in today’s video! Happy spooky season folks! Let’s chat the glory of Stephen King! https://youtu.be/UQ1VK2Wlkus?si=IMmQeoqsX3Gr-WXP15 Oct 2025 23:42 +0000at://did:plc:fsmeorbtjbfxetu7ttd2lsae/app.bsky.feed.post/3m3bga4tqpk2jhttps://bsky.app/profile/genreblender.net/post/3m2n57v4hfs2tKris’s first solo video is live! Exploring his addiction to GrimShire, Kris shares what makes this cozy horror game so dang addictive. Cozy Horror - What Makes Grimshire Utterly Addictive youtu.be/auLU3tSjMgo https://youtu.be/auLU3tSjMgo07 Oct 2025 22:07 +0000at://did:plc:fsmeorbtjbfxetu7ttd2lsae/app.bsky.feed.post/3m2n57v4hfs2thttps://bsky.app/profile/genreblender.net/post/3lzwrdpkzwc22Retro gaming is having a resurgence and we are both thrilled! Genre Blender - Episode 29: The Rise of Retro Gaming | Emulation, gaming handhelds, and nostalgia youtu.be/iNtPSJJyIbY https://youtu.be/iNtPSJJyIbY29 Sep 2025 00:36 +0000at://did:plc:fsmeorbtjbfxetu7ttd2lsae/app.bsky.feed.post/3lzwrdpkzwc22https://bsky.app/profile/genreblender.net/post/3lzmkygoook2gThe YouTube comments on the new Ananta game trailer do not disappoint. e.g. “Which genre is this game?” “Yes” and “Ah yes, Grand Zenless Spider IV - Sleeping Row” Tell you what, though… I kinda think the game looks absolutely amazing. - R https://youtu.be/BMzzXYQ8zoQ?si=xKophuxZoUYaTQWV24 Sep 2025 23:16 +0000at://did:plc:fsmeorbtjbfxetu7ttd2lsae/app.bsky.feed.post/3lzmkygoook2ghttps://bsky.app/profile/genreblender.net/post/3lyyl5ilj622rIt’s time to get cozy with this weeks episode of Genre Blender as Rian and Kris chat about Tiny Bookshop! This gem of an indie title offers players the chance to give up the hustle and bustle of everyday life to open a book shop in a quaint seaside town. https://youtu.be/FmV10kcBzv0?si=acLz88N_6vFoVbqv17 Sep 2025 00:25 +0000at://did:plc:fsmeorbtjbfxetu7ttd2lsae/app.bsky.feed.post/3lyyl5ilj622rhttps://bsky.app/profile/genreblender.net/post/3lyvum6m3os2xSome pesky technical difficulties appeared meaning this weeks episode is a tad late! Apologies folks, but we will be back soon, chatting about the phenomenon that is The Tiny Bookshop!15 Sep 2025 22:37 +0000at://did:plc:fsmeorbtjbfxetu7ttd2lsae/app.bsky.feed.post/3lyvum6m3os2xhttps://bsky.app/profile/genreblender.net/post/3lxqcvqhncc2qThe Picture of Dorian Gray is jam packed full of heavy and reflective themes about how we as people view art, human nature, decadence, youth and so much more. Genre Blender - Episode 27: Art and Morality in The Picture of Dorian Gray | Book discussion youtu.be/jqHAf0ERRag https://youtu.be/jqHAf0ERRag01 Sep 2025 00:11 +0000at://did:plc:fsmeorbtjbfxetu7ttd2lsae/app.bsky.feed.post/3lxqcvqhncc2q