My Game of Thrones podcast, Stark Raven Mad, will be doing a live podcast at the first ever Philly Podcast Festival. Below is an interview conducted by Geekadelphia about SRM. Thank you to Geekadelphia and to Polly Math for the interview. By the way, Gettin Close will also be doing a live show. That will be on 8/1 and will feature comedian Mike Rainey. Both shows take place at the PhilaMOCA.
What do your Sunday night living room, MetaFilter, reddit, twitter, and Monday morning water cooler at the office have in common, beginning of April through beginning of June? They probably sound a lot like Stark Raven Mad, a new Game of Thrones podcast. Each week, Mike Marbach and friends discuss what happens in that week’s episode, adding commentary and backstory exposition comparing the HBO series to the book (both traditional and audio versions). Mike’s cat Arya makes special guest appearances from time to time.
What gave you the idea for Stark Raven Mad? (Nice name, by the way!)
Ha, glad you like the name. I started doing this because I was a big fan of the show. As big a fan you can be without really knowing names or places… or generally why anything is happening at all. So I wanted to learn more. I guess I started this for purely selfish reasons. Surround myself with more knowledgeable people that I like and learn. I didn’t want to be a dope about GoT anymore. Still waiting on that.
How does your podcast differ from other Game of Throne podcasts?
In the other GoT podcasts I’ve listened to they are real inside-jokey, spoilery and waste a lot of time-y. Don’t get me wrong, I think SRM wastes a lot of time too, but at least it’s relevant to the show. We have our tangents and bits, but even those are still related to GoT topics. Other shows talk about their lives and what’s happening- who cares. I want to know why he did that to her, because I thought they were on the same side and why she cares that so and so is traveling to that place and why is that place relevant? So we get right to it, but keep it fun as well. As the season went on I felt the episodes got better and better as we found our style and groove. It’s also pretty raunchy at times and I think that separates it. But it’s relevant raunch. Not side raunch. Yeah, I’d say at times it’s the dirtiest GoT podcast you’re gonna listen to.
Who is your intended audience? (Apparently you have a lot of fans in Brazil.)
Oh we lost Brazil. Fast. There was a large number of downloads early on, but they’ve since turned their back on us. Our intended audience is really any fan of the show from any GoT experience level. The makeup of the panel, if I may elevate our status with such a term, spans people that have read none of the books, some of the books and all of the books or have listened to some or all of the audio books. We keep each other in spoiler check so the podcast is really safe for anyone who enjoys the show and wants to expand their understanding of what’s happening.
We hear you referring to the notes you take while watching the show. What else do you do to prepare?
Yeah, I watch the show and take notes on what’s happening during the different storylines. That’s just an effort to keep things organized. Other podcasts are all over the place, so this keeps us focused and we hit all of the episodes characters while filling in some insight from the books. We don’t really prepare anything else. There’s a couple episodes where we did different GoT inspired commercials, but other than that it’s all whatever happens.
How did you assemble your merry band of guests?
Well, me, Kevin, Jess and Corin would watch season 2 together when we could. So I knew they’d probably be on board. Andrew said he was super into the show and knew a lot about it. He wasn’t kidding. He’s also one of the funniest guys I know, so he was in either way. Kaitlin came on a few episodes later and she’s been great. Lots of great insight and is always good to help us maintain that R rating.
Follow-up question – Andrew Stanton is your resident authority and nerd genius. What would you do if he quit?
I half expect Andrew to quit after every episode. Sometimes even mid-episode. Dude knows his shit no doubt about it. I don’t think he’d ever quit as long we can work out schedules. I think he enjoys it too much. It really is a good time when we’re sitting there chatting and about this made-up world and heatedly debating the Hound or Sansa or Little Finger or any other topic that comes up repeatedly. If he actually did stop doing it… I guess I’d have to step up and actually know more than I do and earn my place as host of this thing.
What are you doing between seasons?
We started at Season 3, so we’re going to go back and do seasons one and two. We’ll be starting that soon and we’re going to have someone join the team that has not read the books or watched any the show. Someone brand new that by the end will be just as emotionally worn down as the rest of us. We also plan on doing a few character episodes that will focus on one character’s story, growth, issues, etc.
Based on your extra-GoT book/movie tie ins, it sounds like you’re a big Harry Potter and Lord of The Rings fan, but you are not a fan of the Office, the British or the American version? Please explain.
Did I say that? I mean I reference Harry Potter a bit as well as LOTR. Do I shit on the office? I didn’t mean to. I do like the Office. With the American version I just sort of stopped watching after a few seasons. And the British version, I just haven’t gotten around to watching. I will do that and I’m sure I will love it. I’ll tell ya what I really don’t like…
Eh hem. Moving right along… Which Game of Thrones character are you? (Note: You can’t be Arya. I’m Arya.)
This one I fielded to the cast members for thoughts.
Kevin: Davos is the shit. I’d be him. (I, Mike, would also add that Kevin is learning to read)
Corin: Rhaegar Targaryean. Exceedingly intelligent. Excelled at anything. “born in grief”. Melancholic at times. Dead.
Jessica: I think I would be Ygritte. I like the cold and wearing lots of layers. I like acting like one of the boys. And when I like someone I tease them and tell them how dumb they are all the time and boss them around, but deep down I love them lots.
Andrew: Sam. (Jess chimed in and said she thinks Andrew is tougher and more bad ass than Sam, but I’m sure Andrew is basing this on what Sam’s character will likely do down the line).
Fan Fiction – If you could add a character who’s not in the book/in the series, who would he, she, or it be?
Mike: This one I also fielded to the panel:
Kevin: Ash from Evil Dead, NOT Pokemon. To be clear.
Corin: Scoob and the Gang. or Eric Northman. One of the First Men, right? Because he’s a Vampyr and he got turned by one of the Children of the Forest (because they’re probably descendants of Lilith amiright?) And he now lives North of the Wall deep in the forest and Bran and Hodor come across his massive castle that isn’t on the map and Bran drinks his blood and can walk again but only temporarily… (OMG IT WRITES ITSELF!)
Jessica: Rhaego Lives! – Dany’s unborn baby didn’t die, but was sent to the evil spirit world Mirri Maz Duur summoned. He becomes an evil warrior beast. He is part dragon, part stallion, and part super hot dude (cause he’s the perfect combo of his super hot parents). He’s like a centaur with dragon wings and he breaths fire, evil fire! And his hooves catch fire too when he runs. So he could be running across a village and the whole thing goes up in smoke and then he flies! And he brings the demons from the spirit world up to fight Westoros. So now everyone is fighting each other, and White Walkers, and fire demons!!!
One final, very important question – Do you have a favorite Game of Thrones drinking game, or have you created one yourself? What are the rules?
Lately it seems our favorite GoT drinking game is straight up drinking while watching GoT and then trying to do a coherent podcast after it. The rules are simple: Everyone drinks. I do a lot of editing later.
One does not simply talk about Game of Thrones. Stark Raven Mad will be recording a live show at the first Philly Podcast Festival this Friday, 8/2, at 9:30pm. Bring your questions for the panel. Cosplay is encouraged.
You can email Stark Raven Mad at srmpodcast@gmail.com with any questions or topics you would like them to discuss, and follow them on twitter and facebook, @SrmPodcast and StarkRavenMadPodcast respectively. Look for StarkRavenMadPodcast.net coming soon, hopefully before winter.
