SLICES: Why Sports Fans Hate Change

SLICES: Why Sports Fans Hate Change

The 2026 World Cup in North America introduced mandatory Hydration Breaks every 20-ish minutes.  Fans are big mad that soccer is now “played in quarters,” and the players get a chance to be coached during these mandatory breaks.  But … the field of play is much more humid and also hotter than these players (and their fans) are used to, so FIFA stepped in to protect the players.  OR DID THEY? Scott and A discuss the current situation.  — Slices is created by Scott Sigler [http://www.scottsigler.com/] and A B Kovacs [https://abkovacscom.wordpress.com] — Produced by Steve Riekeberg [http://www.steveriekeberg.com] — Production Assistance by Allie Press [http://www.alliepress.net/] — Copyright 2026 by Empty Set Entertainment  [http://www.emptyset.com/] Øh, you need a little sippy poo of water? OF COURSE YOU DO.  I am a person who never drinks enough water. I thought I was in the minority, but apparently footy players also don’t slake themselves. I could post a tutorial by using GoDaddy Promo Code CJCFOSSIG3 [http://www.scottsigler.com/godaddy-promo-codes%20CJCFOSSIG3], so I save ninety-nine percent off of my three-year domain’s 1st year. Let’s toast to that! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

SLICES: AI Invades the World Cup

The 2026 World Cup features Virtual Assistant Referees, or “VAR.” Some fans love it, some fans hate it. Sometimes based on whether their team benefits from the call.  We do a deeper dive specifically into how the computer-assisted officiating has changed the 2026 World Cup, and how folks feel about it. — Slices is created by Scott Sigler [http://www.scottsigler.com/] and A B Kovacs [https://abkovacscom.wordpress.com] — Produced by Steve Riekeberg [http://www.steveriekeberg.com] — Production Assistance by Allie Press [http://www.alliepress.net/] — Copyright 2026 by Empty Set Entertainment  [http://www.emptyset.com/] I don’t need a computer to know they’re cheating! World Cup has me all up in my feels. If YOU have big opinions and nowhere to put ‘em, consider a blog and use GoDaddy Promo Code CJCFOSSIG3 [http://www.scottsigler.com/godaddy-promo-codes%20CJCFOSSIG3] to save 99% off your 1st year of a 3-year domain registration. Don’t need a red card for that! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

SLICES: The Dawn of AI Refs

The 2026 World Cup features Virtual Assistant Referees, or “VAR.” Some fans love it, some fans hate it. Sometimes based on whether their team benefits from the call.  So “AI Refs” also raise the ire of sports fans around the world, just like their human counterparts.  Scott and A dive into “computer-assisted refereeing” and what it means for sports and sports fans around the world.  — Slices is created by Scott Sigler [http://www.scottsigler.com/] and A B Kovacs [https://abkovacscom.wordpress.com] — Produced by Steve Riekeberg [http://www.steveriekeberg.com] — Production Assistance by Allie Press [http://www.alliepress.net/] — Copyright 2026 by Empty Set Entertainment  [http://www.emptyset.com/] That was totally not offsides!  Need help figuring out which team to root for? Can’t help you there! But if you use GoDaddy Promo Code CJCFOSSIG3 [http://www.scottsigler.com/godaddy-promo-codes%20CJCFOSSIG3], you’ll save ninety-nine percent off your first year of a 3-year domain registration, and brah, that is gold. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

SLICES: The GIRTHifcation of SLAY

When Aethon Books bought SLAY Book I, they wanted more story.  More story!  Well, they got a couple of girthons put right in their eye. How y’all like me now! SLAY co-author Rob Otto joins us to talk about the process of taking a 108,000-word podcast novel to 160,000 words for the full book release. What did we add? What did we cut? How did we do it? We'll answer those questions and more, along with any you post in the chat room. — Slices is created by Scott Sigler [http://www.scottsigler.com/] and A B Kovacs [https://abkovacscom.wordpress.com] — Produced by Steve Riekeberg [http://www.steveriekeberg.com] — Production Assistance by Allie Press [http://www.alliepress.net/] — Copyright 2026 by Empty Set Entertainment  [http://www.emptyset.com/] Getting Girthy With It!   Want to swole up your web presence? Use the GoDaddy Promo Code CJCFOSSIG3 [http://www.scottsigler.com/godaddy-promo-codes%20CJCFOSSIG3] to save 99% off on the first year of a new three-year domain registration. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

SLICES: When Your Childhood Team Wins It All

The New York Knickerbockers just won the NBA championship for the first time in 53 years. We talk about how the city came together for a joyous celebration. And one co-host of this cast followed the Knicks as a kid but fell off her fandom due to life and stuff. What’s it like when the team you knew in your youth wins it all? We discuss! — Slices is created by Scott Sigler [http://www.scottsigler.com/] and A B Kovacs [https://abkovacscom.wordpress.com] — Produced by Steve Riekeberg [http://www.steveriekeberg.com] — Production Assistance by Allie Press [http://www.alliepress.net/] — Copyright 2026 by Empty Set Entertainment  [http://www.emptyset.com/] Knicks in Five The Knickerbockers should use the GoDaddy Promo Codes [http://www.scottsigler.com/godaddy-promo-codes] CJCFOSSIG3 to make a new site for their title, because that code blocks 99% of the cost of a new domain registration. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]