OH!CAST | Exploring Geek Culture, Fandom and Pop Culture

Rubi Roberts: From Chronic Illness to the Wrestling Ring | Hebrdiean Hammerlock

In this episode of Hebridean Hammerlock, hosts Cal and Graeme sit down with Scottish wrestler Rubi Roberts — aka Rubi the Basic Slayer and Ruby the Gothic Schemie — for an inspiring and hilarious conversation about her journey into professional wrestling. Rubi shares how she fell in love with wrestling as a kid watching Saturday morning SmackDown at her gran's house, dreaming of becoming the next Chyna. After stepping away from the sport and later battling chronic illness and limited mobility, her cousin Bobby Roberts invited her to train at his school, Respect for Wrestling, as a way to rehabilitate. What started as physical therapy became a life-changing pursuit. In this episode: * Growing up a wrestling fan in 90s Scotland on a tight budget * Her hilarious (and mortifying) first bump story * Overcoming chronic illness and fear to get back in the ring * Why wrestling is the best therapy she's ever had * How the wrestling community welcomes every body type and ability * The evolution of wrestling from the Attitude Era to today's inclusive scene * Sharing wrestling tapes in school and the nostalgia of 90s fandom Subscribe for more interviews with wrestlers from the Scottish and UK indie scene! Wrestling #ProWrestling #ScottishWrestling #CastleIsland #RubyRoberts #IndieWrestling #WrestlingPodcast

Beyond the Hellmouth: Nancy Holder on Writing the Buffy Expanded Universe

New York Times bestselling author Nancy Holder joins us to dive deep into the unseen side of the Buffy universe. From co-writing the very first Buffy original novel Halloween Rain with Christopher Golden to navigating the ever-changing show mythology, Nancy shares fascinating behind-the-scenes stories about life as a tie-in writer — including getting scripts via FedEx, coining "Slayer Speak," and the time she had to rewrite an entire Angel novel. She opens up about visiting the Buffy set, heartwarming encounters with David Boreanaz and Marc Blucas, and the infamous Spike vs. Angel fan war that led to coordinated one-star Amazon reviews. Nancy also reflects on beating Stephen King for a Bram Stoker Award, her journey from aspiring ballerina to horror author, writing the 2016 Ghostbusters novelization, the snobbery tie-in and genre writers face, and her advice for women navigating creative industries. Plus: a quick-fire round that answers the important questions, like what a cheese monster's demon name would be.

From Pixels to Indie: Simon Butler's 40-Year Journey in Gaming

In this episode of OH!CAST, the hosts welcome veteran game artist Simon Butler, whose career spans more than four decades and hundreds of games—from the earliest 8-bit era to modern indie development. (Content advisory: this episode contains strong language and frank discussion throughout.) Simon shares the remarkable story of how he accidentally fell into the games industry in the early 1980s, back when the role of a "game artist" barely existed and developers were inventing the craft as they went along. From drawing sprites on graph paper to pushing pixels across multiple platforms, he recounts what it was really like working during the formative years of the industry. The conversation explores Simon's time with studios such as Ocean Software, the realities of developing movie tie-ins, and the chaotic creativity of early game development. He talks about working on titles connected to classic franchises, contributing graphics to Worms, and the infamous Highlander adaptation—while offering candid reflections on what worked, what didn't, and why some games became legends for the wrong reasons. Along the way, Simon shares stories about tight deadlines, overnight crunch sessions, and the culture of the 8-bit development scene—plus his unfiltered thoughts on retro nostalgia, the AAA industry, and why indie developers today are closer to the original spirit of game creation. It's a funny, honest, and occasionally brutal look behind the curtain at how classic games were really made—and how the myth of the "golden age" compares to the reality.

Hebridean Hammerlock - Big Rig Bryan Colton

The conversation covers Big Rig Brian Colton's journey into wrestling, the challenges he faced, the support from his family, and the influence of inspirational wrestling matches. It also delves into his training, character development, and the balance between wrestling, work, and family. The discussion highlights his first match experience, proud matches and feuds, promoter relationships, and misconceptions about his character. Additionally, it explores his proud wrestling moves and chemistry in the ring. The conversation delves into the art of wrestling, the challenges of balancing a full-time job and wrestling career, and the unique experience of connecting with fans in indie wrestling. It highlights the dedication and hard work required to pursue a career in wrestling while managing other responsibilities, and the rewarding experience of building chemistry with fans and achieving success in the indie wrestling scene. Takeaways * Follow your dreams * Learning from experience Balancing a full-time job, family, and wrestling requires dedication and hard work. * The direct connection with fans in indie wrestling creates a unique and rewarding experience. Chapters * 00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction * 05:32 Inspirational Wrestling Matches and Influences * 11:48 Transition to In-Ring and Challenges * 17:12 Acceptance and Learning in the Wrestling Community * 23:12 Proud Matches and Feuds * 32:48 Proud Wrestling Moves and Chemistry in the Ring * 38:30 Managing a Full-Time Job and Wrestling Career

Fallout S2: Humanity Mutates Firs

The conversation begins with an introduction and anticipation for payday, followed by an acknowledgment of the editing team. The main discussion revolves around the review of Fallout Season 2, highlighting the easter eggs and self-contained storytelling. The conversation also delves into character arcs and the introduction of super mutants, providing a solid adaptation with nostalgic easter eggs and self-contained storytelling with engaging characters. The conversation delves into the portrayal of characters in the Fallout TV series, exploring their roles and storylines. It also discusses the themes of education and child labor, as well as the potential role of the Institute in the Fallout TV series. The conversation delves into the exploration of character depth and the power of storytelling in the context of the Fallout Season 2 review. It highlights the importance of well-developed characters and the impact of storytelling on the overall narrative. Takeaways * Solid adaptation with nostalgic easter eggs * Self-contained storytelling with engaging characters Character portrayal in Fallout TV series * Exploring the themes of education and child labor * The role of the Institute in the Fallout TV series Character depth * Storytelling Chapters * 00:00 Introduction and Payday Anticipation * 13:40 Easter Eggs and Self-Contained Storytelling * 28:20 Character Arcs and Super Mutant Introduction * 33:26 Exploring Education and Child Labor * 48:24 The Role of the Institute in the Fallout TV Series * 01:02:47 Exploring Character Depth