Ep. 449 - Gathering Lavender, with Jesse Thorn

Legendary podcaster and founder of Maximum Fun Jesse Thorn (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesse_Thorn) joins Ash and Brandon for summer speedruns, a Def Jam: Vendetta update, and the besta Bethesda. Hosted by Alex Jaffe, with Ash Parrish, Brandon Sheffield, and Jesse Thorn. Edited by Esper Quinn, original music by Kurt Feldman.

Watch episodes with full video on YouTube (youtube.com/insertcreditshow)

Discuss this episode in the Insert Credit Forums (forums.insertcredit.com)

SHOW NOTES:

•
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vampire

•
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diphthong

•
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teenage_Mutant_Ninja_Tur…)

•
“Striker to the line! Leg it! Leg it!” (maximumfun.org/podcasts/jordan-jesse-go)

•
selectbutton podcast (wiki.selectbutton.net/sb:podcast:index)

•
Topher Florence (bsky.app/profile/topherflorence.bsky.social)

•
GameRankings.com (metacritic.com/game)

•
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WatchMojo

•
Splitscreen (kotaku.com/splitscreen-kotakus-video-game-podc…)

•
Kotaku (kotaku.com)

•
Retronauts (retronauts.com)

•
Bonk series (mobygames.com/group/4907/bonk-series)

•
PC Engine (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TurboGrafx-16)

•
Sega Saturn (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sega_Saturn)

•
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taito

•
Gamasutra (gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/gamasutra-is-…)

•
GDC (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Game_Developers_Conference)

•
Jordan, Jesse, Go! (maximumfun.org/podcasts/jordan-jesse-go)

•
Jordan Morris (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jordan_Morris_(screenwri…))

•
Judge John Hodgman (maximumfun.org/podcasts/judge-john-hodgman)

•
Bullseye with Jesse Thorn (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bullseye_with_Jesse_Thorn)

•
Maximum Fun (maximumfun.org)

•
Jesse Thorn (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesse_Thorn)

•
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monk_(TV_series)

•
Never Not Funny (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Never_Not_Funny)

•
Archive.org (archive.org)

1: What’s going on with speedrunning lately? ()

•
Summer Games Done Quick (gamesdonequick.com)

• Kotaku: 8 Incredible Speedruns You Have To Watch Right Now (kotaku.com/best-summer-games-done-quick-2026-s…)

•
Balatro by adef in (youtube.com/watch?v=A7Go7IXlYLg)

•
Tetris by meme and huff (youtube.com/watch?v=Iuq2uZ5sr5s)

•
Sonic Dream Team by huds601 and Argick in (youtube.com/watch?v=4b5JT33N8r8)

•
Hollow Knight: Silksong by mathulu in (youtube.com/watch?v=jUf7ZLCpong)

•
Peanut Butter the Speedrunning Dog (kotaku.com/agdq-2024-dog-peanut-butter-speedru…)

•
Ken Griffey Jr. Presents MLB by Peanut Butter the Dog & JSR_ in (youtube.com/watch?v=m2FZKJ4QBdA)

•
Mr. Bones by shmumbler and Spectral in (youtube.com/watch?v=1W5MaSkqrrI)

•
Ep. 423 - Explode My Bones (insertcredit.com/show/423)

•
Gracie’s Game Gauntlet (maximumfun.org/episodes/jordan-jesse-go/gracie…)

•
Superman 64 (mobygames.com/game/9239/superman)

•
Wayne’s World (mobygames.com/game/15137/waynes-world)

•
Costco Connection (costcoconnection.com)

•
Gray Matter Inc. (mobygames.com/company/2068/gray-matter-inc)

•
The Crow: City of Angels (mobygames.com/game/18012/the-crow-city-of-angels)

•
God Hand (mobygames.com/game/27017/god-hand)

2: How are old bad games bad differently from how new bad games are bad? ()

•
PowerWash Simulator (mobygames.com/game/188039/powerwash-simulator)

•
Roblox (mobygames.com/game/74075/roblox)

•
Call of Ponchy: Mahjong Warfare (store.steampowered.com/app/3431340/Call_of_Pon…)

3: Design a new Def Jam fighting game for 2026 ()

•
Def Jam: Vendetta (mobygames.com/game/9307/def-jam-vendetta)

•
PaRappa the Rapper (mobygames.com/game/3525/parappa-the-rapper)

•
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scarface_(rapper)

•
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ludacris

•
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WC_(rapper)

•
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jay-Z

•
Mankind (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mick_Foley)

•
Stone Cold Steve Austin (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_Cold_Steve_Austin)

•
Wu-Tang: Shaolin Style (mobygames.com/game/25600/wu-tang-shaolin-style)

•
Shaq Fu (mobygames.com/game/14585/shaq-fu)

•
Wu-Tang: Rise of the Deceiver (store.steampowered.com/app/3763470/WuTang_Rise…)

•
Evan Narcisse (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evan_Narcisse)

•
Zoe Tunnell (bsky.app/profile/zoewithasword.bsky.social/pos…)

•
Carmen Electra (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carmen_Electra)

•
Lil’ Kim (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lil%27_Kim)

•
Megan Thee Stallion (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Megan_Thee_Stallion)

•
Bayonetta (mobygames.com/game/43659/bayonetta)

•
Umamusume: Pretty Derby (mobygames.com/game/161656/uma-musume-pretty-de…)

•
Crazy Taxi series (mobygames.com/group/514/crazy-taxi-series)

•
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cappadonna

•
Chap hop (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chap_hop)

•
MC Chris (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MC_Chris)

•
They Might Be Giants (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/They_Might_Be_Giants)

•
John Hodgman (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Hodgman)

•
Musique concrète (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Musique_concr%C3%A8te)

•
Mr.B The Gentleman Rhymer (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mr.B_The_Gentleman_Rhymer)

•
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trap_music

•
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grime_music

•
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drill_music

•
King of Fighters series (mobygames.com/group/478/king-of-fighters-series)

•
Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marvel_Tokon%3A_Fighting…)

•
Tony Hawk Pro Skater 1 + 2 (mobygames.com/game/150140/tony-hawks-pro-skate…)

•
Snoop Dogg (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snoop_Dogg)

•
Jean-Michel Basquiat (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean-Michel_Basquiat)

•
Too Short (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Too_Short)

•
Roxanne Shante (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roxanne_Shante)

•
Yakuza series (mobygames.com/group/8208/ryu-ga-gotoku-like-a-…)

•
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E-40

4: Are video games artsy? ()

•
Katamari Damacy (mobygames.com/game/14970/katamari-damacy)

•
Walking simulator (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walking_simulator)

•
Yume Nikki (mobygames.com/game/44624/yume-nikki)

•
Tactile Dome (exploratorium.edu/visit/tactile-dome)

•
Viewfinder (mobygames.com/game/205980/viewfinder)

5: LeFish asks, would you rather live one year of your life with big head mode, loudly speak like a Mario, or only be able to walk like you’re tank controlled? ()

•
Big Head Mode (tekken.fandom.com/wiki/Big_Head_Mode)

•
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mario

•
Tank controls (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tank_controls_(video_games))

•
Charles Martinet (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Martinet)

•
Metaphor: ReFantazio (mobygames.com/game/231733/metaphor-refantazio)

•
Yes Man (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yes_Man_(book))

•
Eat Pray Love (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eat_Pray_Love_(book))

•
Granada (mobygames.com/game/37896/granada)

•
Pop’n Tanks! (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pop%27n_Tanks!)

•
Bolo (mobygames.com/game/29438/bolo)

•
Girls und Panzer series (mobygames.com/group/15445/girls-und-panzer-ser…)

•
Armored Core series (mobygames.com/group/758/armored-core-series)