Things we mention include:

In this episode we discuss:

• Chooch is a lumberjack and he’s ok
• Should we have an unliving trust?
• Balticon 44
  • Viv’s Lengthy Balticon Blog Posts Thurs/Fri, Sat, Sun/Mon with photo slideshows
• DragonCon is coming
• LT was home for summer
• We all went to California to see J
• Android tether facilitated Skype video conference
• Mini game review: Naughty Bear
• There was cheesecake
• Chooch joined a band
• Phil Rossi
• Chooch has been writing
• Gabrielle Harbowy
• Dragon Moon Press
• Viv edited her NaNoWriMo novel
• Paulette Jaxton’s The Empress Sword will be published!
• Martyn Darkly’s Movie Mantras had it’s 100th episode!
• Girls Rules live at Balticon
• Promo: FETIDUS

Our guest are:

• P.G. Holyfield – author of Murder at Avedon Hill
• Christiana Ellis – author and prolific podcaster. Her latest endeavor is Merciless Storytellers
• Thomas “Cmdln” Gideon – podcaster and velociraptor wrangler

We love talking to P.G. so much that this went a bit long (just under an hour), so the episode doesn’t have any news or updates for us- we jump straight into the interview!

In this episode we discuss:

• Murder at Avedon Hill
• Available May 15, 2010 from Amazon
• George R. R. Martin
• Dungeons and Dragons
• Neverwinter Nights
• Gabriel Harbowy, Dragon Moon Press
• Tee Morris - Survival Guide to Writing Fantasy
• Brave Men Run – Matthew Wayne Selznick
• Scott Sigler
• Alex White
• “Fargo” spoof
• Balticon
• Dragon*Con
• Patrick McLean - “Stories I Told Myself“
• Nathan Lowell - “Quarter Share”
• Tales of the Children
• Dan Absalonson
• Donate to ToTC, aka PG’s Beer Fund
• For Tales of the Children (Donations will be passed directly to the Leiomyosarcoma Direct Research Fund, i
• Jack Mangan
• Katherine Kurtz
• Stephen R. Donaldson
• Name of the Rose (Der Name der Rose)
• Twin Peaks
• Brotherhood of the Wolf /Le Pacte Des Loups
• StoryCasting.com – Share your dream casting of Murder at Avedon Hill!
• Phineas and Ferb
• Book Launch Party for P.G., Patrick McLean and Nathan Lowell at Balticon 44 – Saturday 8 pm in the Chesapeake
• Podiobooks
• www.twitter.com/pgholyfield

This time we talk about:

• Somehow we discuss Wendy Williams Slim Jim addiction
• Our friend Nobilis raises the question about disciplining a child when they’ve had a bad day
• Kids getting MMO accounts hacked
• Long distance parenting
• Promo: Birdhouse Rules

Prom the way *we* want it

This is the prom where geeks rule, and freak flags fly. The only prom around with costumes and prizes so come as your favorite fantasy or sci-fi character. Don’t have a partner? Throw on an undershirt and bring a toaster – bam, you’re Chief Tyroll!

Music will be DJ’d by Tee Morris, and Podcasting’s Rich Sigfrit is the Master of Ceremonies.

Feel free to spread the promo far and wide and add to your podcast!

Thanks to Paulette Jaxton for lending her voice

In this episode we discuss:

• Viv’s geek chasm
• Record snow fall
• Snow burglars break into the house?
• Kaylee turned 1
• New Years board gaming
• Chooch gets a (virtual) bunny
• CoH Podcast ends
• T turned 13
• Kid birthdays suck when they don’t live with you
• M and his girlfriend may be getting back together (again)
• J is loving Rock Band
• Kaylee loves snow
• Viv’s now a knitter
• MA’s a Modern Domestic Geek Godess
• We help Tee get his house back in shape
• Looking forward to Farpoint
• Looking forward to Balticon
• Quickie health update
• Chooch is still caffeine free – and dreams about soda
• Promo: Variant Frequencies

This charity drive is a live, online auction to raise money for the trust fund of Tee Morris’ daughter who lost her mother on January 5, 2010. There will be at least 5 hours of entertainment hosted by Podcasting’s Rich Sigfrit. We’ll be in the live audience cheering everybody on, and likely on camera on the main feed as well. It’s shaping up to be a really fun time. You’ll be able to bid from the chat room, through e-mail, proxy-bid on the website, and I think via video or audio on Skype or UStream.

And with over 70 items up for auction (so far!!) there is something for everyone to get excited about and bid for! Everything from jewelry, to pictures, paintings by celebrities, custom music, book dedications, food, clothes, signed DVDs and books, knitwear, and even Mozart’s Balls!! Seriously, go check out everything up for auction!

Hope to see you there!

In this episode we discuss:

• Christmas and LT’s visit update
• Crusty gamer time with cousins
• Christmas Day with family
• J’s excitement over Wii
• M’s tricky prezzie wrapping
• M and his girlfriend break up (again)
• Chooch’s brick & mortar shopping ethos
• Viv’s health update
• Promo: The Command Line

In this episode we discuss:

• A forgotten thought on NaNoWriMo
• Thanks to Dee and Nobilis
• Voicemail from Ryan at Daddy Digest
• Chooch kicked caffeine
• Remember Natalie
• The Boom Effect
• Promo: The Empress Sword

Promo: P.C. Haring’s Cybrosis

Rather than do a blow-by-blow account of the cons, we describe our favorite parts of the experiences, and our biggest regrets.

Some things we mention:

• P.G. Holyfield, Author of Murder at Avedon Hill
• Patrick McLean, Author of The Seanachai and How to Suceed in Evil
• Thomas Gideon of The Command Line Podcast
• Brandon “Gutshot” Hill of The Morning Nom Podcast
• Susan Z. of The Kulture Kast 2.0 Podcast
• Podcasting’s Rich Sigfrit of The Requiem of The Outcast Podcast and Mr. Adventure Radio Drama
• Christiana Ellis of Nina Kimberly the Merciless, Shallow Thoughts, Requiem of the Outcast and more
• Mur Lafferty of Playing for Keeps, The Heaven Series, I Should Be Writing and more
• Christof Laputka, Author of Leviathan Chronicles
• Steve Riekeberg of Geek Cred Podcast
• Felicia Day, Actress and Fey Creature
• Dragon*Con Thriller
• The Alien dancing to Thriller (he shows up about 30 seconds in)
• Photo taken by Thomas Gideon of us with our roomies, P.G. Holyfield and Patrick McLean from Viv’s D*C Flickr Stream.
  
• Many thanks to our roomies P.G. and Patrick for all the laughter and great memories!

• Promo: 7th Son Descent in print!

We also discuss:

• Chooch’s dad’s 80th birthday
• Checkup on his brother’s family
• Breast cancer awareness month
• Charities research
• New stuff we’ve started listening to
• Promo: Purgatory, by Tim Dodge

In this episode we discuss:

• Our empty nest
• Announcing the Predestination cover print contest winner
• Anticipating DragonCon
• Catching up on what we’re listening to
  • Harvey by Phil Rossi
  • Singularity by Bill DeSmedt’s
  • Doctor Jack’s Soapbox Seminars
  • War by Mur Lafferty
  • Tumbler by Brand Gamblin
  • Guardians by Kimi Alexandre
  • Morevi by Tee Morris
  • Crescent by Phil Rossi
  • Second Shift
  • Pieces
  • Billibub Baddings by Tee Morris
  • The Seanachai
  • How To Succeed In Evil by Patrick McLean
  • Murder At Avedon Hill by P.G. Holyfield
  • The H.P. Lovecraft Literary Podcast
  • Geek Acres
  • Geek Survival Guide
  • The Leviathan Chronicles by Christof Laputka
  • The Immortals by Tracy Hickman
  • Shadowmagic by John Lenahan
  • Weatherchild by Philippa Ballantine
  • Antithesis and Down From Ten by J.D. Sawyer
  • Nina Kimberly the Merciless by Christiana Ellis
  • Geek Radio Daily
• Promo: The Leviathan Chronicles

In this episode we discuss:

• COHPodcast is a Parsec Awards finalist (again!)
• After much debate and money shuffling, we will be attending DragonCon!
• An evening talking movies with Tee Morris
• Fourth of July with Command Line and Kamikat
• Pandemic
• Settlers of Catan
• Carcassonne
• Serenity RPG
• Baby mama and Baby J have Birthdays
• Jared’s Birthday Party
• Flying Monkey Cupcakes
• The new Ventriloquist
• Marc & Heather
• MA & Dan
• BlenderCon
• RDs Birthday
• All a Twitter
• We’re having a contest
  
  • A signed print of the cover to J.D. Sawyer’s Predestination!
  • Entering is as easy as 1-2-3:
    • 1) Send a post card to:
      Chooch and Viv
      43 Town and Country Drive
      Suite 182
      Fredericksburg, VA 22405
    • 2) Make sure to include your name and return address (where we’ll ship the print) and a statement that you are at least 18 years old.
    • 3) All entries must be post marked no later than August 26, 2009
      We’ll do a random drawing w/ a single winner receiving the print through the mail.
• Happy Birthday Mur, Greg, and Matt!
• Second Shift
• Promo: Down From Ten

The Tyler Schubert Fund

I didn’t feel right about dropping these directly into either of our podcast feeds since they contain no gaming, parenting, or blending content They are focused on podcasting/recording/audio techie stuff.

You can check them out over at my new site Random Acts of Chooch. The three panels contain different combinations of me, Viv, Scott Sigler, PG Holyfield, MAinPA, Thomas “Command Line” Gideon, Dan the Fan, Nobilis Reed, Marc “Grailwolf” Bailey, Heather Welliver, and Tyler Waldeman.

New ITB specific content is Coming Soon™

A special thanks to everybody who came out and participated. You truly made this a special event for us!

In this episode we discuss:

• Kaylee chewing but a good girl
• Blizzard
• Viv starting her new job
• Slight kid grade droop
• Chooch sees the President
• Watchmen in IMAX
• Brief visit with Paulette Jaxton
• Out to dinner for a friend’s bday party
• Chooch’s birthday
• We buy a new car
• A visit from MAinPA, Dan the Fan and the Quicksilver Kid
• The Graveyard Book
• Anansi Boys
• Promo: Antithesis

• Marc’s bday party at Hard Times
• Viv’s new job
• Heather’s baby shower
• Valentine’s Day
• Kaylee Sioux Valentine
• Coraline 3D
• and lots of other stuff
• Promo: Nina Kimberly the Merciless

In this episode we discuss:

• Puppy sneak peak
• Obama Inauguration
• LTs Birthday party(s err… ies… parties)
• Paulette Jaxton
• Jett
• Tee Morris
• Brand Gamblin & Allie
• Scott and Mae Breakall
• Heather Welliver and Marc Bailey
• Biscuit and Kath
• Gutshot
• Nachos!!!
• Scott Siger Washington DC book signing
• MA and Dan
• Very rude Coldstone (no link for you!)
• Mongolian BBQ (nom!)
• Christiana Ellis
• Mur Lafferty
• John Cmarr
• Laura Burns
• Beatles White Album jigsaw puzzle
• Dogfish Head
• Earl Newton
• Greg Wright
• Balticon
• Sailor Jerry’s
• Buffy Between the Lines
• Nuchtchas
• Blended family phone call scheduling issues
• Crusty gamer weekend
• Nobilis
• Promo: Singularity podiobook

Buuuuut – we did have time to release a new episode!

In this episode we discuss:

• Getting ready for guests and LT’s bday
• Terry Tegler
• Bro’s separation
• Teacher conference, LT’s grades
• LT’s bday
• Tentative job offer
• Chooch’s projects and plans
• Promo: The Seanachai
• Quickie feedback from Nobilis

In this episode we discuss:

• Grailwolf’s Geek Life
• Dancing Cats Studios
• Serve It Cold
• The ADDCast
• The BaltiCon Podcast
• Second Shift Podcast
• Calls for Cthulu
• Tee Morris
• Morevi
• Podcasting forDummies
• Expert Podcasting Practices for Dummies
• Milton Bradley Dark Tower
• Flash version of Dark Tower
• Klaxon
• Lord of the Rings, Return of the King
• Little Big Planet
• Chooch gets a machine gun in the face
• Chris Lester
• The Metamor City Podcast
• Pip Ballantine
• J. Daniel Sawyer
• The Leviathan Chronicles
• Antithesis
• Promo: Movie Mantras

We are happy to bring you this December cast about our Holidays and what all we’ve been up to since last time.

Correction: In the episode Chooch gives his GMail account as the name to add as a PS3 buddy. Actually, the name is “choochus2″. And for some reason, PS3 is case sensitive, so all lower case

In this ep we discuss:

• Our Thanksgiving(s)
• LotR marathon fail
• Chooch’s trip to California
• Christmas
• Nephews over
• Video games.. and more video games
• Little Big Planet (speaking of video games
• Last years resolutions and looking forward to 2009

Linkage:

• Christiana Ellis
• Daddy Digest
• Nobilis Erotica (as the name implies – not safe for kids)
  
• Little Big Planet

Promo: Scott Sigler’s Contagious

Warning: Since there is so much to catch up on, this is a loooooooooong episode!

In this episode we discuss:

• Viv’s B-DAY
• J’S B-DAY
• Viv’s running and progress on other goals
• Viv’s new job
• MA and Dan’s wedding
• Lots of teen driving
• Chooch’s business trip to Washington and Canada
• Christmas in October – G1′s
• NaNoWriMo

This time around we talk about:

• LT is HOME!
• M and LTs dad over for dinner.
• Virgin Music Festival – LT, M and GK
• Biscuit and Kath visit!
• Party at Brand and Allie‘s
• City of Heroes Podcast Listener meet up
• Plans for not going to D*C, Parsec nom for CoH Podcast
• Dinner with Pip
• 5K in Manassas
• Congrats to the winners of Podcast Peer awards!
• My birthday plan FAIL
• Discussion of handling discipline in a blended family
• Feedback
• Promo: 7th Son Obsidian

In this special episode we interview Mur Lafferty – author of the new novel from Swarm Press “Playing for Keeps”

We discuss:

• Playing for Keeps
• Writing
• JC Hutchins and Matt Wallace are hacks
• City of Heroes compared to other MMOs
• A contest for a free signed copy of Playing for Keeps
• How awesome Cheyenne Wright is
• Pie!

• 4th of July Party
• Mae’s Birthday
• Work work work
• CoH Gaming
• RD and Baby J
• M home
• LT home next week!
• Wine tasting and tour
• Sonic
• The Dark Knight
• Ranking super hero movies
• Hanging with Marc Bailey and Heather Welliver
• Dr. Horrible
• The Office and The Office
• Coupling and Coupling
• The IT Crowd and The IT Crowd
  
• Promo: Movie Mantras

In this episode we talk about:

• Another lunch at DFH (Happy Birthday Heather!)
• Can’t Stop the Serenity Event benefiting Equality Now
• Dinner and game night at Paul Fischer and Martha Holloway‘s
• Blockus Trigon
• We hit 50 in CoH for the second time
• A night at the Breakall’s playing Arkham Horror
• Pre-surgery party for RD
  
• Our niece’s birthday
• RD’s surgery
• 4th of july
• Indiana Jones 4
• Hancock
  
• Baby J arrives early
• Promo: Form Letter Rejection Theater – with us!

This episode we discuss:

• Viv receives first college degree!!
• M’s bday
• Crazy storms
• Cheesecake domination
• Viv got a tattoo!
• M school performance
• LT graduated from elementary school
• Dad’s birthday party
• Getting the boys ready to go away for the summer
• Nephews stay a couple nights with us
• Update on RDs health

In the episode we mention meeting and interacting with the following awesome people, in quasi alphabetical order. No offense if I left somebody off of the list- please let me know so I can fix it!

• Brand Gamblin and Allie and Elf Princess
• Chris Lester
• Christiana Ellis
• Command Line and Andrea
• Dan The Fan
• David Kanter
• David Moldawer
• Doug Rapson
• Earl Newton
• Fantastic Foe
• Grailwolf
• Greg Wright
• Heather Welliver
• Indiana Jim
• Jack Jaffee
• JC Hutchins
• Jared Axelrod
• Jason Adams
• Jett
• John Cmarr
• JR Blackwell
• Laura Burns
• MAinPA
• Martha Holloway
• Martyn Casserly
• Matt Wallace
• Max
• Nobilis
• Jim Van Verth
• Mur Lafferty
• Nathan Lowell
• Paul Fischer
• PG Holyfield
• Paulette Jaxton
• Podcasting’s Rich Sigfrit and Carissa
• Philippa Ballantine
• Scott & Mae Breakall
• Scott Phillips
• Susan Z and Biscuit of Kulture Kast
• Tee Morris

This time we talk about:

• A Kid free weekend
• We went to watch the movie “21″
• We also went to see Baby Mama on the same day (I know, we’re rebels)
• DFH Meetup Part 2
• Gaming w/friends
• M and girlfriend back together
• Race for the Cure
  • Raised crazy money for the Susan G. Komen Fund
  • Mostly thanks to Tee Morris
  • Give Us A Minute Podcast
  • Paulette Jaxton did the race with us
  • Mae and Scott Breakall were there to cheer us on
  • Kory Mohr went out to lunch with us afterwards
• Mother’s Day
• Went with the kids to see Iron Man
• Trying to schedule summer for Viv’s boys, new dynamic of M not going for the same amount of time as LT
• Promo: Christiana’s Shallow Thoughts

In this episode we discuss:

• Getting over being sick
• Gut Check Cast
• Prepping for the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure
• We got to play some Rock Band for the first time. Thanks, MA and Dan!
• RavenCon – Great Con, Great Peeps
  • Heaven Series by Mur Lafferty
  • Kulture Kast
  • MA in PA visited with Dan and Quicksilver Kid!
  • Rich Sigfrit
• M heads to his first prom.. and immediately he and his girlfriend break up again
• LT goes to see Jimmy Eat World and Parmore with coolest aunt evah!
• Promo: 7th Son Obsidian

In this episode we discuss:

• Health update – plague outbreak and (continued) E.R. adventures
• Comments from;
  • Chris Lester
  • Tabs from Buffy Between the Lines
• Voicemail from Doug at Geek Acres
• T-shirts we love;
  • Geeklabel
  • Thinkgeek
  • Metamorcity.com t-shirts – thru May 3rd -
• Props to Zack from Geek Survival Guide
• Music by The Shillas available for purchase !
• Request for feedback;
  • What is your biggest challenge living in a blended family?
  • Blended could mean as a step son/daughter; step parent; mixed religions; mixed race; mixed sexual orientation – blendings of all kinds welcome!
• Promo: JC Hutchins for Liz Strauss and SOBcon

This episode we discuss:

• The teens relationship
• of doctors and emergency rooms
• Much (more) home improvement (some a surprise to us)
• Metamor City
• DFH Meetup
• Scott and Mae Breakall
• Tribal Fit Club
• Marc Bailey
• Heather Welliver
• Dr. John Cmar and Laura Burns
• Paul Fischer and Martha Holloway
• The Balticon Podcast
• Brand Gamblin and Allison
• Calls for Cthulu
• Paulette Jaxton
• Richmond Race for the Cure
• Playing for Keeps
• Heaven
• Jim Van Verth
• The Pink Tornado
• Tee, Nat, and Sonic Boom Morris
• Morevi Remastered
• Chooch’s Mom’s Birthday
• Scott Siglers INFECTED launch
• Buffy Between the Lines
• Chasing the Bard
• Mur’s lessons learned from WASTELAND
• The Shillas
• Promo: The Metamor City Podcast

Jinkies! I think that’s the most links I’ve ever put in show notes

The second group were past guests of ADDCast including Tee Morris, Marc Bailey, Heather Welliver, Brand Gamblin and Allison. I’m not quite sure what they discussed, but there was a lot of laughter and Tee’s daughter, Sonic Boom, was bouncing between us in the living room and crashing the recording session.

Enjoy!

This week we discuss:

• Continued work in the basement
• We’ve moved the studio
• Still losing weight
• The new Nine Inch Nail Album
• Tween gets a good school report
• Teen breakup
• Teen driving
• We’ll be attending RavenCon and Balticon !!
• Feedback / Main topic from MAinPA (kids reaction to new boyfriend)
• Oppositional Defiance Disorder
• Geek Acres
• Geek Survival Guide
• Better Late Than Never
• Promo: Wasteland

Topics include:

• Exercise checkups
• Marathon training
• National Race for the Cure
• Cool Running
• Couch to 5k Podcast
• Chooch was sick last week
• M took a trip to Disneyworld
• Clearing through boxes in the basement
• Chooch’s brother and nephew
• Viv and Chooch ask for basement flooring ideas
• Promo: Chasing The Bard

Then we are proud to bring an interview with MAinPA in which we discuss how to make your kids birthday special when it is so close to Christmas, as well as other challenges with January birthdays.

Links:

• Birthday Express (actually part of Celebrate Express)
• Frets on Fire — I didn’t mention on the show, but this is a completely free/open source program that runs on Windows, Mac, and Linux! It includes the ability to play with a Guitar controller.
• Flash Hero (aka Keytar Hero)
  
• Promo: Better Late Than Never

• Family health history
• Health screenings
• Diets
• Selenium
• Viactive
• Green tea extract
• Promo: Mur / JC Hutchins / Podiobooks.com

We discuss;
Chooch’s New Schedule
Chooch on business trip
2nd anniversary of Viv’s mother passing
Chooch’s goals for 2008
Viv’s goals for 2008
I Should Be Writing
Mike Stackpole’s The Secrets
Geek Acres

Links:

• 7th Son
• Nocturnal
• Earthcore
• Ancestor
• The Rookie
• Playing For Keeps
  
• Space Casey
• Murder at Avedon Hill
• Morevi Remastered
• Metamor City
• Promo: Murder at Avedon Hill

This episode includes:

• Our Holiday traditions
• A call from MAinPA
• A call from Doug Rapson
• M’s Holiday concert at school
• ‘Hey Wanna Watch A Movie’ podcast

Links:

• Better Late Than Never
• Geek Acres
• Hey, Wanna Watch A Movie

• Bug Eyed Monster
• In The 80s
• Chooch on Twitter
• Viv on Twitter
• Kulture Kast

Don’t forget – we are still looking for Holiday traditions to share. Please leave a voicemail, e-mail, or comment here on the site and share yours! 413-669-4720

We haven’t discussed Religion on the show yet, but I’m sure it will happen sooner or later. The concept of blending families could clearly refer to bringing children from previous marriages together (which is our case) or bringing diverse religions, races, ethnicities and cultures together. All of which is appropriate to the show, and are all certainly welcome.

So – with that in mind – please call with ANY of your traditions, be it holiday specific or not. I am fascinated by all of the above, and I’m sure your fellow listeners are as well.

The number to call is: 413-669-4720
Or, you can send an e-mail to intotheblender -at- gmail.com
Or – leave a comment here on the site – whichever is most comfortable for you, we’d love to hear from you!

We didn’t discuss This Film Is Not Yet Rated in the episode, but we watched it recently, and highly recommend it- especially as a parent. It will greatly open your eyes to the shortcomings of the MPAA film ratings process!!

Items Covered include:

• An intro from T
• Our early family Christmas party
• Gamer Dad
• Common Sense Media
• Kids in Mind
• Feedback from Doug Rapson of Geek Acres
• Our new voicemail line: 413-669-4720
• Amazon Wishlists (linked here solely as an example.. you know, as a service to YOU our loyal listeners.. really!)
• Line Rider
• Promo for Better Late Than Never

Notes:

• A meltdown of sorts last week
• National Pie Day (well, perhaps premature, but hey – PIE! nom..nom..nom)
• Some good family news
• Martian Child
• Accelerated Holiday planning
• Promo for a great new serial fiction podcast: Space Casey

We go in depth about our courtship and meeting the kids for the first time. It was a very tumultuous time that included two near death illnesses and a fast forward button on our relationship.

No news this week since the main topic goes so long, but we do play a piece of audio feedback from Doug at Geek Acres.

.

This week we discuss:

• How Halloween went
• T’s Gir costume
• City of Heroes
• Chooch’s cross country trip to visit his son for his birthday
• and mixing into the blender with their extended family

Promo this week is for the Crescent Station finale event on in Second Life.

.

Topics this episode include:

• Nightmare Before Christmas 3-D
• Bionic Woman
• Chuck
• Journeyman
• Reaper
• Battlestar Galactica
• Lost
• The Office
• My Name is Earl ( Chooch went to High School with Jason Lee)
• Survivor
• Teen goes to the homecoming dance

Enjoy!

As a true tribute to the rigors and time constraints of a blended family (well ok, any family) this release is later than we wanted, but now we are on the map and ready to roll!

This episode is a quick introduction of ourselves, and some of the things we hope to explore with this podcast as a whole.

As stated in the episode, you can comment on each episode right here and send feedback, topic ideas, or comments to feedback@intotheblender.com