Rish and Big don't have a story for this one, but they always have a Christmas episode, so they got together and had a quick conversation about Christmas songs, and talked about their favorites.

It's Jason Sanford month everybody! So put on your ugly Jason Sanford Month sweaters; make yourself a mug of The Ships Like Clouds, Risen By Their Rain tea, and gather around the table for the roast Plague Birds. It's time to enjoy some more Jason Sanford!

Today, we have a vintage Dunesteef production of Jason's story, When Thorns Are The Tips Of Trees, originally produced for the StarShipSofa podcast back in 2009. Miles and his father care for the local memorial grove, but the job has become a more dangerous as gangs of deteriorating thorn die, almost zombie-like people driven mad by the phage that is rewriting their DNA, have begun attacking the groves all around the area. Can they survive, or will they become thorn die themselves?

Afterward, Rish and Big talk about how much of a formative moment this story was in the history of the podcast, and look back at the production process for putting it all together.

Jason Sanford recently published his first novel, and it has a title that might sound familiar to long time listeners of the Dunesteef. His new book is called "Plague Birds." That's right, the book is the further and expanded adventures of Crista and her AI symbiote that we first brought to you back in episode 92 and then continued their story in episodes 125 and 126 with Jason's sequel. Now you can buy the novel length story which further explores the detailed and fascinating world the characters occupied, expands the story of Crista, and uncovers an extremely personal conspiracy that threatens the lives of millions.

We got the amazing opportunity to sit down and talk with Jason about his novel, his process, and pitfalls of the industry. Listen to (or watch) the interview, and be sure to support Jason by buying the book.

P.S. - Sorry about Big's microphone. He thought he was getting the sound from the nice mic you can see in the shot, but he was actually getting his sound from the built-in mic on his computer, recording all the echoes bouncing around that big study he is sitting in.

So, this is an episode that was recorded just about two years ago (the last week of February 2019) with Rish, Big, and Marshal Latham, in preparation for the release of AVENGERS: ENDGAME later that year. Rish really wanted to talk about the monumental achievement that was AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR, and that, for a year, the world was stuck with the unhappy ending of all unhappy endings.

Of course, we talk about THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK, and also speculate a bit about where the fourth Avengers film might go. And then Rish lost the file.

But he found it again when it was far too late to be even remotely relevant, but if you've missed us and our conversations, here it is, in all its . . . glory?

It's another episode of the Anklecast. I'm going to do one every month, and, well...I barely made it in time, but here we are.

Today's story is "Party Girl." It's one that I wrote just last year as I was working my way towards 300,000 words.

After the story, I made a sort of vlog of my experiences in the Arctic Blast that froze Texas last week. It was an interesting month for sure, especially that week. If you're interested in that stuff, stick around after the story to hear all about it. To see the video elements, go to my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDPrbMMyCaE

That's right, it's another Anklecast. Today, I bring you a story called "Active Shooter Training" and a second little drabble-esque story called "Date Night". I hope you enjoy them.

Franklin has a huge crush on Jillian, but up until now she hasn't returned his affection at all. Surprisingly, this Christmas Eve she changed her tune, and suddenly asking him back to her house for Christmas Eve dinner with her family. Turns out that the meal was not what Franklin was expecting...

Afterwards, Rish and Big talk about the story, Broken Mirror contests, and the joys and hassles of Christmas music.

Six Christmas stories on the Dunesteef just wasn't enough, so I decided that I would give y'all one more. It's a story I wrote earlier this year about James, a guy whose Christmas plans get ruined, so he volunteers to work someone's shift at his job to give them a chance at having a merry Christmas. He thinks he knows how his night will end, but someone has a different idea, and it's going to take a left turn before the night is through.

Declan's boyfriend, Brooks, is taking him to meet the parents for the first time today at Christmas dinner. He's a little nervous, but it couldn't be as bad as it was when Brooks met Declan's parents at Thanksgiving, could it? Could it?

Afterward, Big and Rish talk about the story, the year we've had, and about having hope for the future.

Zane and Delanna don't come from similar backgrounds. Zane is a run-of-the-mill Lunar who's had to pull himself by his bootstraps everywhere he went. Delanna, on the other hand, comes from one of the richest families on Mars. Somehow, the two came together as a couple, and have hit it off amazingly ever since, but Delanna's family has never approved, and now the two of them are going home for Christmas with the folks...

Afterward, Big and Rish talk about beefalopes, the rite of passage that is meeting the parents, and Santa Claus III. This is going to be delightful.

Damien meets a girl named Lynn who wants to know all about sci-fi, and since she's cute, he does his best to help her learn. Soon, they're dating, and then comes the invite to meet the folks at Christmas dinner, but, as you might have grown accustomed to during this Christmas extravaganza, the meal isn't what he was expecting.

Afterwards, Rish and Big talk about what aliens might think of our sci-fi films, Ian syndrome, and whether Marshal needs to make this story into a novel.

Sam is having a really hard time getting over the loss of his dearly departed pet cat, Boots. His girlfriend, Beth, hopes that bringing him home to the family for Christmas dinner might help him overcome his loss.

Afterward, Big and Rish go off the farm talking about all the weird stuff you might guess they would, however, I won't mention it here, so as to not spoil the story.

It's the first installment in our 2020 Christmas Extravaganza! We'll be bringing you several stories from our Broken Mirror Story Event, the first being "Service with a Smile" by Rob Broughton. When Tommy gets a mysterious invitation to his girlfriend's parents' house for the holidays, he finds that not everyone is acting of their own accord.

Afterward, Rish and Big talk about Shamong, meeting the parents, and eating worms and insects...really? Actually, why am I surprised, of course they do.

Something is going wrong at the space outpost that Captain Seymour just docked at. Things seem to be deteriorating quickly. Luckily for him, someone grabbed him, and pulled him into a hiding place. Or was it lucky for him? Now he's trapped in here with two strangers, and it seems as though one of them is not who he seems after all.

Afterward, Big and Rish talk about the process of adapting a story from one format to another. What does it take? How do you go about it? What sacrifices to dark gods of chaos and evil must be made? Whose name appears first on the byline? We answer none of those questions, coming up!

In Jason Sanford's "What Is Sand But Earth Purified?" New widower Anchor is approached by TV personalities to be their guide into the living sandstorm out in the ocean, the same sandstorm that killed his wife.

Afterward, Big and Rish talk about Jason's various possible futures, and what makes a body human.

It's the Rish Outcast/That Gets My Goat crossover! Continuing their discussion about the writers conference Rish went to. Big and Rish talk about cover art, not giving up, being inspired, and the Four Yorkshiremen.

So, February came and went, with an extra day thrown in for good measure. Did Big and Rish sweep?

Did you?

So, Big has been writing like his life depends on it, and in the month of February, Rish is going to accept the challenge to write every single day. In this episode, they put it in writing.

Well, not in writing, exactly, since it's a podcast. They make their announcement official.

Well, not official, exactly, since I don't know that a notary was present, but hey, wish Big 'n Rish luck anyway.

Hey, kids, do you like Hard Rock? Do you like our Guess-The-List episodes? Would you like to waste an hour or so of your day?

Then join Rish Outfield and Big Anklevich as Big tries to identify VH1's list of 100 Best Hard Rock Songs!

And if you liked this one (which I doubt), let us know. It could always be Rish's turn to guess!

Doug was rushing to get to his sister's house on Christmas Eve, when he happened upon the most pathetic looking old couple broken down on the side of the road. They needed his help. They had to be somewhere, somewhere very special, before midnight. It was a matter of life or death. Couldn't he possibly help them out?

Afterward, Rish and Big talk about Christmas songs on the radio for a surprisingly long time, then eventually mention the writing of the story "What You Deserve", and what moved Rish to write such a tale.

Brand and Macee were trying to have a nice Christmas together, but their shelf elf seems to be possibly possessed and on the attack. What do they do? Find out in the exciting conclusion to The Christmas Creature.

Afterward, Rish and Big talk about several things...including the challenge of making something like a child's plaything into a viable antagonist.

Brand is watching his daughter, Macee, for Christmas. Rose, the girl's mother, wasn't happy about it, but it was her only choice when grandma got sick at the last minute. Brand is going to make up for his failures of the past, though. He even got Macee a cute little Elf on the Shelf to make it the perfect holiday...or did he?

Afterward, Rish and Big go through all the story prompt suggestions provided by the listeners, and decide on what they will use to write their Christmas story this year.

Best friends, Scott and Brian, loved their job working together at Little Caesars, but one day, Brian died in a car crash...but he still came to work.

Afterward, Rish and Big talk about their own experiences working behind the counter at their own respective Little Caesars restaurants, and other surprising similarities that made them destined to be eventual friends.

"On the go!" - Big Anklevich

"This is the worst episode we've ever done." - Rish Outfield

In March of 2017, Big and I recorded this episode during a road trip, and I thought it turned out so poorly that I never released it.* But at the same time, I never deleted the file.

Well, I decided to listen to it the last time I went camping, and after the first ten minutes or so, I decided it might be entertaining, at least to me and Big. So, here is Big and me discussing the books that shaped America. At least, the books after the most important ones.

Whether you agree with the list, and our thoughts about the books on it, I'm sure we can all agree . . . that the sound DEFINITELY makes the episode unlistenable.

*Also, the audio quality is slightly worse than terrible.

Radio hosts Ben and Ricky need to talk about their career. Unfortunately, they choose Charburger on State Street to meet for lunch. It's Rish Outfield's "Last Lunch at Charburger"

Afterward, Rish talks about why he wrote the story, and the ever-present danger of putting the people you know in your writing.

When Rish went into a bookstore and saw Orson Scott Card's new book "Lost and Found" on the shelf, he thought, "Hey, I wrote a story called that once." But when he read the description of the book, he thought, "Hey, I wrote a story with that plot once."

Just that week, he had started work on a sequel, but now he wondered what the point was. What does Big say? What do you say? What might Orson Scott Card say?

In David Erik Nelson's story, adjunct professor James Hodge is approached after a lecture concerning the mythical Slender Men, by a young woman who is absolutely convinced they are not a myth.

Afterward, Rish and Big talk about belief in the supernatural and, I dunno, probably say something offensive along the way.

Special thanks to Tena Kolokowski for lending her voice to today's story.

Yeah, it happened. Rish broke down and saw a Bayverse Transformers movie.

But don't worry, Big Anklevich still has his integrity.

Oscar and Simi now know what's causing the problem in their home, but what can they do about it? How can they fix it? Or is it something that they just have to ride out and hope for the best? Find out in part two of Fireflies written by show host B.D. (Big) Anklevich.

After the (finale of) the story, Big and Rish talk about the story, how big feels about it now that it's in the rear view mirror, and whether he would write a story like that today.

This may be our longest--and latest?--episode yet, wherein we discuss SPIDER-MAN: FAR FROM HOME, its spoilers, and its implications.

It should have been done long ago (and perhaps split into multiple shows), but Rish wasn't able to get to it until now. We assure you he'll be much quicker in getting you their review of the recent LONDON AFTER MIDNIGHT, starring Lon Chaney and Marceline Day.

Weird things have started happening to Oscar and Simi. Are they visions? Dreams? Hauntings? Are they just going crazy? And how bad could it get? Find out in part one of Fireflies written by show host B.D. (Big) Anklevich.

After the (first part of) the story, Big and Rish talk about some of the worries, anxieties, and joys of being responsible for children who rely on you to shelter, nurture, and protect them.

Big and Rish get together in the flesh(!) to talk about TOY STORY 4.

Which one didn't want to go see it? Which one hates the Disney live-action remakes more? Which one actually liked one of them? Which one can do a Keanu Reeves impression? Which one brings up STAR WARS first? Which one actually likes sequels? Which one can remember the name of the next Pixar film? Which one is sick of the MCU's box office record-breaking? Which one is upset by the LITTLE MERMAID remake's casting? And which one was made terribly sad by the ending of TOY STORY 4?

In a throwback episode to when these shows were used to complain, Rish bends Big's ear about Pop Vinyls (or Funko Pops). Does Rish compare Pop collectors to Star Wars collectors? Does Big own any Pop Vinyls? Does Rish?

If so, does that make him a hypocrite? You be the judge.

Join Big, Marshal Latham, and Renee Chambliss as they perform Rish's sketch "Positive Spin," about finding good movie reviews in hard-to-reach places.

Afterward, Rish and Big discuss writing something bad . . . and what to do when it turns out not-so-good. Was this sketch as bad as New Mutants (2018), The Room, or Troll 2?

Special thanks to Renee Chambliss and Marshal Latham for providing their voice talents for the story.

Continuing where we left off, Big, Rish, and Renee discuss AVENGERS: ENDGAME, and its ramifications (and spoilers).

It's the episode that totally burned out Renee Chambliss's voice, kids!

Rish 'n Big get together to talk about (and spoil) AVENGERS: ENDGAME. It's the discussion too big for one episode . . . and too big for just us to talk about!

Meaning, Renee Chambliss joins us to chat about the film as well. Who's your favorite Avenger?

Big and Rish talk about the newest DC Comics film adaptation SHAZAM! Was it too silly? Was it too horrifying? Where did he get that frilly cape? And how many times can Gomer Pyle say the magic word?

Big's vagabond shoes are longing to stray, so he regales Rish (and you) with details of his recent trip to New York City. He checks out the Statue of Liberty, Times Square, Ellis Island, the Flatiron Building, the Place Where They Keep The CHUDs, the subway (oops already said that), the Empire State Building, the 9/11 Memorial, and Broadway (twice!).

*No, Big doesn't spell his name with an extra g, as I'm well aware. But thanks for reminding me.

Oh, and while you've got me in a bad mood, sit down and listen to this episode like a lady or gentleman. We've worked damned hard for you over the years, providing entertainment that's, for all intents and purposes, free . . . you owe us this one.

Unless you've donated to the show or support me on Patreon. In which case, you're off the hook. Just barely.

It's time for more Marvel Studios, kids. This time Big 'n Rish saw CAPTAIN MARVEL.

Was it Crap(tain)? Or was it Marvel(ous)? Okay, that wasn't great. But you try naming these things, week after week. See what it does to you.

So, not content with the first hour, Big and Rish ask about more franchises, like Terminator, Universal Monsters, Highlander, John Carter, and the DCEU. Can they be fixed, Bob?

Remember Bob the Builder asking, "Can we fix it?" in every episode? Well, today Rish and Big ask the same musical question, regarding the Ghostbusters, Star Wars, Indiana Jones, and Transformers franchises.

Watch (in horror) as Rish says something positive about the Prequels and Big refuses to take his own daughter to the movies. Oh wait, it's a podcast, guess you won't be watching anything. Can you fix it?

Tom Mathers hasn't finished his book, despite the deadlines. What he needs is a muse...a magical muse...a dragon muse?

Afterwards, Big and Rish sympathize with him.

Special thanks to Bria Burton for providing her voice talents for the story.

Music by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Episode art was from Pat Pilon on Flickr. It was resized and the background smudged for effect.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/pat00139/6678883669

or "The Cautionary Tale of M. Night Shyamalan."

Big and Rish talk about--spoilers!--GLASS, the sequel(ish) of UNBREAKABLE and SPLIT. But Rish doesn't even care if you see it. Do you?

Rish Outfield, world's biggest Spider-man fan (or maybe it's world's biggest Bossk fan, maybe you should just ignore that statement), and Big Anklevich, world's biggest waist, got together (virtually) to talk about the new Spider-man animated feature film called SPIDER-MAN: INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE. Did they like the film? Did they like the animation style? Did Big Anklevich continually use annoying phrases like, "second verse, same as the first," over and over again? Find out by...you know, listening to the show.

Big and Rish talk about the newest "Wizarding World" installment, The Crimes of Grindelwald. How does it measure up to other famous spin-off series? See how many times they bring up the Prequels, just for a laugh.

Gregg Chamberlain tells us the funnest tale involving a Satanist since Harry Potter, in "Bunnies of the Apocalyse!"

Afterward, Big and Rish talk about the story, about the Four Horsemen, and a recent difficulty in the Outfield home.

It was with sadness that we heard about the passing of Stan Lee, the father of Marvel Comics. So, Big and I got together with fellow comics fan Marshal Latham, to talk about the late, great writer and creator.

Excelsior!

Just in time for Halloween, Rish brings us another barbecue sketch . . . only without the barbecue. A trio of friends gather around the campfire to tell "Increasingly Scarier Stories To Tell In The Dark."

Afterward, join Big and Rish as they talk o--what, you've already turned it off? Oh.

Special thanks to Renee Chambliss and Marshal Latham for lending their voices to this production.

Rish Outfield has been bugging me to do an episode in which I talk about the emotional toll that it takes on a parent to have their child go off to college and essentially leave the family for good to start their own life and possibly their own family one day. Well, I resisted the peer pressure as long as I could, but when he called me a poopoo head, it was more than I could bear, so I caved in and made the episode. Here is the result, what is probably a far too intimate glimpse into my life. Hope you like what you see...

In 1937, Carl H. Claudy published a story called "Creeping Danger" in a popular magazine called American Boy magazine. In 2018, Rish Outfield discovered a copy of American Boy magazine in an old trunk in a shed called the Tin Garage, and decided that story would make an interesting episode of the Dunesteef Audio Fiction Magazine. So, here it is, a reading of a historical pulp science fiction story from the thirties. Hope you enjoy!

Special thanks to Marshal Latham for lending his voice to this production.

Here it is, part two of that big listener submitted question and answer session. More of the things you never wanted to know about the Dunesteef...except that big teaser about Announcer Man finally revealed.

Again, a very special thanks to everyone who helped us out over the last ten years, without all of your help the show wouldn't have made it past its two year anniversary tops, and we'd probably be having some kind of Kickstarter to relaunch it right now. You guys are the greatest.

I finish the story of my weight loss journey, then talk about the theory behind it. It's something that I'm really passionate about, but I know that not everybody cares so much. So, I won't be too upset if you skip it. I feel like I've finally found the key, and I want everyone who might be in a similar situation as me to also know it. It's all about hormones folks. Anyway, watch the show if you're interested. I'll be back with something completely different next time, but I'll probably come back to this subject again eventually when I finish losing all the weight.

It's hard to believe but it's been ten whole years since we started this podcast. As a sort of a celebration, Rish and Big sat down and answered questions from listeners. It's all the things you ever never wanted to know about the Dunesteef...well, not all of it, there's still a part two that we're stringing you along for.

Special super thanks to everyone who helped us out over the last ten years, we couldn't have done it without all of our friends' help. You guys are the greatest.

Warning: So (potentially) offensive we disclaim it twice!*

Rish and Big discus the firing of James Gunn from the third GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY film over incendiary Tweets he made years ago. Then their heads start turning...can everyone's past words come back to haunt them? Are jokes no longer fair game?

*Or thrice, if that warning counts.

Kage Gray hasn't been back to Waypoint 5 in 12 cycles as the T'Tin reckon things. He never meant to come back again at all, but he's got a problem that needs to be solved. What's worse, Waypoint 5 has only gotten worse since he left. Now there's an Iniquity operating onboard, and he's going to have to go inside...

Afterward, Big and Rish talk about the long and winding road that this story traveled toward its final appearance on the show, and just how patient Mr. Roseman has been in awaiting that day.

Special super duper thanks to Justin Charles for producing the story and also to Bria Burton, Tena Kolokowski, Chris White, Gino Moretto, Cameron Howard, Bill Bowman, Leo Godin, and John Higham for lending their voices to this episode.

It's Marvel's last entry in the 2018 books, the sequel to 2015's improbable hit, Ant-Man. This time he's got a super heroic friend called the Wasp fighting at his side. In that spirit, Rish Outfield got together with his super heroic friend Big Anklevich to talk about the film, and how it made them feel deep inside in their special place.

In honor of the Marvel Cinematic Universe's tenth anniversary, Rish brings Big (and you) another episode of nobody's favorite game show, "Rock The Quote." Fake Arnold Schwarzenegger presents 33 quotes from Marvel Studios films . . . can Big identify them all?

Can you?

In today's episode, Big tells the beginning of the story that he is right in the middle of living. It's a bit of a weight loss journey combined with a bit of paradigm shifting journey. Sadly, he blabbed so long that he couldn't tell it all, so he will be back again (eventually) to tell you part two, and if it goes as well as this one, part three on another day.

So, way too soon for Big and Rish, the new STAR WARS movie has hit theaters. Here's their feelings, as well as a bit about its lackluster first weekend at the box office.

Clint got detention for giving Byron Lincoln a purple nurple in class, but that's not the reason he needed to talk to his parents. No, Clint needs to come out to them about something that he has finally come to terms with. It's time to let it out of the bag...

Afterward, Big and Rish talk about the Dunesteef show, and what you might be able to look forward to from them in the future.

Special thanks to Tena Kolokowski for lending her voice to this episode.

A married couple finally gets a well-deserved night out at one of their favorite restaurants. It's been a while since they've really talked, so they decide to really break that ice by admitting to some of those things that they've never said to each other. But then a seemingly trivial admission turns out to not be so trivial after all...

Afterward, Big and Rish talk about Pride and Prejudice, the various versions out there, and, of course, the dreamy Colin Firth.

Special thanks to Renee Chambliss for lending her voice to this episode.

I think the Incredible Hulk must have caused some criminal mischief and has some community service to perform, because he's back with another PSA for Dunesteef listeners. Here's the smartest of the Avengers (along with a couple of other people who had to perform community service) to tell you about Net Neutrality, and what you can do to help.

Brother Marrow has taken a monastic vow to live within the real world, and avoid opening his neural connection to the virtual, but one day something forces its way into his connection, and at the same time in the village below someone is killed...

Afterward, Big and Rish talk about whether the far future would be recognizable to those of us in the present, and how to get your loved ones to look up from their phones once in a while.

Captain Justice is making his way through Dr. Genocide's deathtrap. He's defeated Dr. Genocide every single time in the past, so what makes him think things will be different this time? And what would happen if they were?

Afterward, Big and Rish talk about the Joker, Skeletor, Megatron and telling a story with tropes or despite tropes.

Lindsey is a paranormal investigator, but she has an advantage on most, because she has the demon Adramelech captured in a Raggedy Ann doll, and it does her bidding, which makes casting out the demon really simple. Today, however, things are different. The house they've come to investigate has an <em>actual</em> presence that's already there, and it has bad intentions.

Afterward, Big and Rish talk about continuing stories, Patreons, and changes coming to the podcast in the near future.

Special thanks to Margaret Essex for lending her voice to this production.

We conclude our presentation of "Like A Good Neighbor."  AKA many things.  Lara spends more time with Old Widow Holcomb, learning spells and finding out more about her.  And where it stops, nobody knows!

Afterward, Big and Rish talk about endings, story length and decisions, and knowing when to walk away (and knowing when to run).

Oh, and here's a link to the "announcement episode" of That Gets My Goat they refer to.

Special thanks to Bria Burton for lending her voice to this production.

When Lara Demming awakens at night, she discovers Old Lady Holcomb next door is more than she appears to be.

Afterward, Rish and Big talk about the few things that they can after only reaching the halfway point of a story. So, they discuss the origin of the tale, and the many iterations of the title.

Note: the title Rish could not remember was "Believe It Or Not."  Yeah.

"Time to feed the toilet monster."

He has a different kind of monster than most, and he can't shake it. He sees it every day of his life. Is there no way he can defeat it? Find out in "My Porcelain Monster" by Eric Dean.

Afterward, Rish and Big talk about the difficulties and the triumphs of taking something not generally considered scary, and making it so.

Jacob was working at his record store when the bell over the door tinkled, and he looked up to see his old friend Justin come in to look at the albums. Funny thing, though, his old friend Justin died two years ago...

Afterward, Rish and Big talk about the Mandela affect, as well as...gasp...Patreon. Looks like they're asking for listener feedback on the subject.

Special thanks to Justin Charles for producing the story, and to Renee Chambliss for lending her voice to the story, as well as Gino Moretto for providing the art.

Hey, it's another edition of the Rish Outfield barbecue sketch. If you enjoy people standing around a barbecue, listening to Travis Tritt, and trying to one up each other on any subject that happens to come up, with a little Rish Outfield sauce put right on top, then this episode is for you...you sick bastard.

Special thanks to Renee Chambliss and Adam Gifford for lending their voices to the production.

"No one knew who the present was from; there was no name written on the box."

Amazingly, we bring you the second installment of our Broken Mirror Holiday Spectacular (or Episode, depending on how well it goes over), with stories based on that premise.  This time, we present "The Box" by Gino Moretto, "The Holiday Trip: Guest-Starring Captain America and Bucky" by Rish Outfield, and "A Christmas Wish" by B.D. Anklevich.  And don't forget, Christopher Walken is always watching.

It's the first half of the 2016 Dunesteef holiday spectacular! It's a massive episode with contributions from Michael Grey, Josh Roseman, Nathan Ahlgrim, Marshal Latham, Bria Burton, Michael O'Haegher, and...Aspiration Realized (not his real name!). It's a jampacked show! Hope you love it!

The holiday season is upon us, and Rish and Big are planning some sort of holiday spectacular...which is bound to be a spectacular failure, but you know, this is the Dunesteef after all...anyway, they are offering the listeners an opportunity to join in the fun. Take a listen to this to find out how.

In the tradition of those "Ghost Hunters" shows and possibly BLAIR WITCH, we bring you "The Dune Steef Project."  Rish and Big brave a visit to his uncle's purportedly-haunted house to spend a couple of hours podcasting and seeing what might go bump in the night.  Will they uncover evidence of an actual supernatural presence, or will this end up being, well, like those "Ghost Hunters" shows and BLAIR WITCH?

Happy Halloween!

Special thanks to Chris and Tena Kolakowski for music and other assistance with today's episode.

Three girls, with rhyming names, from a small town in Montana, are celebrating the final day of summer vacation when they witness something amazing. You'll never guess what is waiting for them over the next rise.

Afterward, in an episode that was recorded on the day that David Bowie passed away last January, Big and Rish talk about Bowie's legacy, victories, value, and also Bruce Springsteen.

Special thanks to Jonathan Wilson for producing today's story, and to Renee Chambliss, Abigail Hilton, Tena Kolokowski, and Wendy Repchin for lending their voice to the episode.

When the zombie apocalypse arrived, we weren't prepared. We fought amongst ourselves. We did everything wrong. Now, breathers are a minority to the zees. We run and hide constantly from the shambling hordes, as they are driven onward by their never-ending hunger for warm, living flesh. That's why they do it, right?

Afterward, Big and Rish talk...well, zombies of course. Then they hit two things that they forgot to include in the last episode. Sorry about that guys, we meant to do them, but when we lost our first recording, we became scatterbrained.

A while back, Big's child displayed an irrational fear of bees, causing concern, irritation, and sleeplessness.  But something positive has come out of it . . . an all-new episode of the Dunesteef.  Join Big, Rish, and a friendly policeman as we hear various takes on the idea, from listeners Andrew O'Dell, Gino Moretto, Sam, Bria Burton, Andy Dillbeck, Cameron, Nobilis Reed, and Rish Outfield.  Yes, the Bee Episode.

No, we're not circling the drain. We actually have several stories in various stages of production. However, we aren't presenting any of those to you today, and we didn't want you to have to wait too long for the next episode. So, today is one of those...uh...meta episodes, where we talk about the upcoming changes to the podcast, as well as a nice introduction to Rish Outfield's now available first novel, <em>Into The Furnace</em>. Enjoy the show, and be sure to purchase the book. The more sales, the faster Rish will have another written and produced.

Joel's luck has gone south. He's lost his job, his marriage has dissolved, and his truck crashed and his dog died...wait a minute, sorry, scratch those last two. This isn't a country song, it's a short story. Anyway, Joel has been pushed to the limit, and he's thinking of giving up, unless something can change his luck...

Afterward, Big and Rish have an announcement to make about the future of the podcast. What changes might be in store, find out on the Dunesteef Audio Fiction Magazine!

Special thanks to Gino Moretto, Barry Haworth, Bria Burton and Marshal Latham for lending their voices.

With Superman v Batman: Dawn of Justice hitting theaters, Fake Sean Connery hopped in the car to head out to the theater, but his automobile had different plans, and Fake Sean found himself in hot water. If only someone could help...a bird, or a plane, or...or...

What a strange trip it's been.  And speaking of strange trips, we bring you the final winning entry in the Triple Word Score Contest, "Greetings from the Ninth Sector."  Corporal Bruce Otterson sends home a message each day as the ship he's on travels where very few men have gone before . . . for a reason.

Afterword, surprise, Big and Rish talk about the story!  And give special thanks to Sonny See for his unusual production of the story.

By the way, special thanks to Sonny See and Josh Roseman for lending their voices, and to Sonny See for producing the story as well as the art, and the awesome YouTube video for that matter.

Almost there folks. We're coming to the end of our TWSC stories. This time it's Big Anklevich with a tale about a doppelganger, and the mischief that he can get up to.

Afterward, Rish and Big talk about writing, goals, and facing a grocery store. It's scintillating stuff.

Special thanks to Brian Lincoln for producing and lending his voice to the story.

We've all met one of them in our life. You know those people who think Christmas is a humbug. People that think there's more of gravy than of grave to a ghost story. People that just don't care about the holidays...if only they had a name to call them...anyway, today's story is about that guy.

Afterward, Rish and Big talk about the story and just what it means, oh, and I'll let you know right now, California Rish does not make an appearance.

Special thanks to Tena Kolakowski for lending her voice to the story.

The International Association of Time Travelers member forum has some lively discussion going on over at the Europe – Twentieth Century – Second World War subforum. Let's listen in and see...

Afterward, Rish and Big talk about online culture and World War II, but separately, because, you know, there'd have to be time travel involved for them to come together at all.

Special thanks to Marshal Latham, Bria Burton, Tena Kolakowski, John Higham, and Jonathan Wilson for lending their voices to the story, to Justin Charles for producing the episode and to Jonathan Wilson for providing the art.

Katherine Inskip has a bit of Biopunk for you. The Company is under attack. Someone's hacked Factory-9's fruiting knotweed. Water filtration's screwed, there's untreated effluent everywhere...oh, and the plants are oozing blood, apparently. And if all that wasn't enough, Chris has got a friggin' tour group to deal with. Could it be worse?

Afterward, Rish and Big talk about Biopunk, not being smart enough for Biopunk, and all the things that they talked about the first time they tried to do the episode and the recorder's battery died.

Special thanks to Renee Chambliss and Katherine Inskip for lending their voices to the story, and to Justin Charles for producing the episode and providing the art.

At long last, the second half of David Farland's "Ship of Fools."  What has become of Erstwhyle, Baron Blunder, and Amilee. Will Prince Crydon have them to rend to pieces and stomp underfoot, or will they find some way to counter his evil magic?

Afterward, Rish and Big about...oh, they talk about writing again? You gotta be kidding me.

Special thanks to Renee Chambliss, Graeme Dunlop and Ben Gifford for lending their voices to the story.

David Farland brings us the tale of a group of jesters; Erstwhyle, Baron Blunder, and Amilee; making a long journey to the dark and forbidding Castle Crydon to compete in a contest of fools that could fetch them a purse of 1,000 guldars. Could they possibly win? And if they win, might they still lose?

Afterward, Rish and Big surprisingly talk very little, but after all it's only the end of part one, they'll surely gabble on for hours after part two, so if you like that sort of thing, fear not.

Special thanks to Renee Chambliss, Graeme Dunlop and Ben Gifford for lending their voices to the story.

Wendy Conroy has a lovely little tale for us about a woman who really wants to be haunted, but she isn't...is she?

Afterward, Rish and Big talk about creating, Bad Religion, and the Paleo diet, but not really.

Special thanks to Renee Chambliss and Amy Hudson for lending their voices to the story, and to Tom Tancredi for producing the episode and providing the art.

Returning author J.M. Perkins is back again, and it's a Triple Word Score Contest finalist. In a superhero training program, Ryan and Victor are having trouble finding their way. If they do things right, they might be allowed to participate in the upcoming field exercise. But of course we all know they're not going to do things right.

Afterward, Rish and Big talk about Dr. Light, Elongated Man, and Paste-Pot Pete. Get ready.

Special thanks to Justin Charles for producing the episode and to Sonny See for providing the art.

It's a Triple Word Score Contest finalist from Christopher Munroe! He wove his three words into an intriguing tale of terrorism, spies, and an unfortunate given name.

Afterward, Rish and Big talk about...well, Michael Jackson, of course.

Special thanks to Justin Charles for producing the episode and providing the art.

Hey! It's another barbecue sketch! Hope you're up for it. This time we get to see a bunch of guys try to one up each other on just how amazingly progressive they are. Enjoy?

Afterward, Rish and Big try to apologize for the sketch, oh and they talk about a few other things too.

Special thanks to Johnny Fiesty and Dave Thompson, Ex-Podcastle Enforcer for lending their voices to the sketch.

The Trench is the only waterway that a ship can take to get to the western continent. Unfortunately, there at the entrance, between the twin peaks of Seidar and Phaestia, prowls Ol' Sly, a gigantic squid creature that would like nothing more than to crack a ship open like a jaca fruit, and pick the sailors out and eat them like the sweet seeds. Small Fry and the Admiral have a plan, though. They mean to take down Ol' Sly once and for all, and open the western continent to their ships.
 
Afterward, Rish and Big try to decide what really is the worst way to wake up, live squid or porcupine covered in hair gel? Oh, and song. You have been warned.

Special thanks to Justin Charles for producing the story and doing the episode art, and to Julie Hoverson for lending her voice to the tale.

Hey kids, remember when each episode of "That Gets My Goat" consisted of Rish complaining to Big about something he didn't like? Well, you're in for a flashback from the rash-sack! In today's episode, Rish complains about the new(ish) trend of turning one movie into two movies (or worst, three). To be conti--

I got a hitch in my giddy up. My groove has been disturbed, despite The System warning everyone against it for me in 1988. Something must be done to fix it, but what?

Listen in and find out.

This was an episode that was recorded a long time ago (I know, I know, they all are), and it was supposed to go up before Christmas. But what the heck, there's not time like the president, right?

This one presents a recent short called "The Key Collector. I entered a contest where you had to write a story based on a photo of a bank of keys on a wall. They were not hotel keys, we were told, so I wrote this story. Needless to say, I was not the winner.

So, Rish and Big have finally gotten together again, and in honor of the New Year, they look ahead and make a couple of goals. Wish them luck.

Indeed, wish yourself luck while you're at it.

Cal is driving down the road, his two year old nephew in the back, when the boy makes a strange sound.  And begins to talk.  And talk.  And talk.
 
Afterward, Rish tries to defend his story, and Big talks about time travel.  Again.

Special thanks to Tobias Queen and Abigail Hilton for lending their voices to the tale.

Just under the wire, since there's still a few hours left of Christmas...at least in our time zone, here's our annual holiday spectacular.

Jaxon has written a letter to Santa Claus. He needs something a little out of the ordinary this Christmas. Will he get it? Ho, ho ho!

Afterwards, Big and Rish talk about the story, believing in Santa, and the crazy things people name their children...and their characters these days.

Special thanks to Justin Charles for producing today's story, and to Renee Chambliss and Dave Robison for lending their voices to the tale.

Sorry kids, I'm a bit too tired and busy to do a Christmas story this year.*  But I'm still up for talking about doing a story, and about the Christmasness of it all.