Posts Tagged ‘Stefan Sasse’
đș THE COMPLETE BOILED LEATHER AUDIO HOUR ARCHIVES NOW AVAILABLE đș
July 23, 2025I’ve waited for years to announce this: The complete Boiled Leather Audio Hour archives â over 200 episodes dating back to 2011 â are now available wherever you get your podcasts!
Dive into fourteen years of analysis of A Song of Ice and Fire, Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon; wide-ranging discussions about SFF literature, television, and cinema driven by our resident critic, Sean T. Collins; history and politics coverage spearheaded by our resident historian, Stefan Sasse; countless special guests, including Game of Thrones writer Bryan Cogman, New York Times columnist Jamelle Bouie, acclaimed horror novelist Gretchen Felker-Martin, big names from throughout the ASOIAF fandom, and much more!
Friends, one of the perils of being the longest-running ASOIAF podcast on the internet is that much of our infrastructure was set up years ago, making updating it a real challenge. Until now, only the 20 most recent BLAH episodes were available at any given time via podcasting apps, and you had to dig through our download archives manually if you wanted more. We’ve hunted for a fix for years, hiring professionals and everything, so of course in the end it was something unbelievably simple that everyone had just somehow failed to catch. Ain’t technology grand?
Be that as it may! I could not be more thrilled than to present to you what has become one of my life’s great efforts and achievements. Endless thanks to Andrew Fulton for the miracle work, and of course to my illustrious cohost, Stefan Sasse, without whose herculean efforts and effortless command of countless topics this podcast would have ceased to exist long ago. This is for you, buddy.
And it’s for all of you who’ve ever listened, or ever been curious about listening. Please spread the word far and wide in the fandom: There’s never been a better time for BLAH! BOILED LEATHER FOREVER
art by the mighty Julia Gfrörer
The Boiled Leather Audio Hour Turns Ten!
December 17, 2021The Boiled Leather Audio Hour Episode 79!
October 9, 2018Whoa ho ho, whatâs this? Illustrious Co-Host Stefan Sasse and @warsofasoiafâs Something Like a Lawyer discussing the upcoming Battles of Ice and Fire in the latest episode of the Boiled Leather Audio Hour podcast? Sure seems like it! Let’s see what Stefan has to say about it…
In Seanâs second consecutive month with a leave of absence, Stefan is joined by Jim McGeehin, who writes the famous tumblr âWars and Politics of Ice and Fireâ and goes by the handle of âSomething like a lawyerâ. While his lawyering status may be somewhat in doubt, his command of the material is not.
Jimâs command of military and political matters is almost without equal in the fandom, and while he is too modest to accept the monicker of âexpertâ that Stefan tried to bestow on him, thatâs really what he is. So it would be malpractice not to put his expertise to the test!
What we talk about in this episode are the upcoming Battles of Ice and Fire, referring to Stannisâ fight against Freys and Boltons and Barristanâs fight against the Yunkish in the expected opening of âThe Winds of Winterâ, when it finally arrives. We talk military strategy as well as political strategy, being aware that in a feudal society, no one can seperate both. We also venture into the literary qualities and discuss some more elaborate fan theories.
Additional Links:
The Boiled Leather Audio Hour Episode 78!
September 14, 2018First, a brief note: ALL LEATHER MUST BE BOILED, even when Iâm not the one boiling it. Iâm on hiatus from the Boiled Leather Audio Hour, so my Illustrious Co-Host Stefan Sasse is taking the reins, and heâs brought @poorquentyn aboard as his first guest to talk A Dance with Dragons!
Stefan, take it away…
Sean is taking a time off due to personal reasons. Until he’s back, to keep you guys with the content you know and love, Stefan will soldier on and line up co-hosts that are illustrious as Sean, or near enough that makes no matter.
The first in this colorful row is Emmet Booth, aka PoorQuentyn. Emmet is rightfully famous for his tumblr, and he delivered first-rate analysis of Euron Greyjoy, Quentyn Martell, Tyrion Lannister, Davos Seaworth and Theon Greyjoy, only to name a few.
But Emmet is also one of the most ardent defenders of “A Dance with Dragons”‘s literary qualities, and Stefan shares this feeling, so this is the topic we chose: What makes “A Dance with Dragons” the best of the five main novels.
Additional Links:
an announcement
September 6, 2018Well, it looks like it’s gonna be a slow news day, so I might as well announce that I’m taking a break from the Boiled Leather Audio Hour podcast. I’m leaving it in the capable hands of My Illustrious Cohost @StefanSasse, who’s already got some killer guest hosts from the ASoIaF/GoT world lined up. We have a backlog of Boiled Leather Audio Moments for our patreon subscribers (http://patreon.com/boiledleatheraudiohour BAY-BAY) that I hope to roll out this month as well, and I will CERTAINLY return to talk about Fire and Blood in a couple months. For now I need to recharge and free up some time to work on long-delayed projects, so that when I return, which I hope to do, I can give this beloved thing of ours the attention it deserves. I’ve loved recording every episode and I’m so grateful for everyone’s support.
The Boiled Leather Audio Hour Episode 56
November 27, 2016
Sean and Stefan discuss the election of white nationalist Donald Trump as President of the United States of America.
Additional links:
Our Patreon page at patreon.com/boiledleatheraudiohour.
Our PayPal donation page (also accessible via boiledleather.com).
The Boiled Leather Audio Hour Episode 43!
December 21, 2015Star Wars: The Force Awakens, or Episode Seven Kingdoms
A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away, Sean and Stefan discuss the new Star Wars movie! Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens Jedi mind tricked us into dedicating this episode of our A Song of Ice and Fire podcast to an entirely different fantasy franchise. How did the film fit in with larger saga? How did J.J. Abramsâs direction differ from George Lucasâs? Is Rey a Mary Sue, and if so, how does that impact the film? What the hell was up with Starkiller Base? We answer all these questions and more, including a discussion of the filmâs cinematography, the performances of its actors, the pros and cons of the characters, and even a few connections to the world of Westeros. Iâve got a good feeling about thisâŠ
Additional links:
Stefanâs review of the movie.
The Great Boiled Leather Audio Hour/A Podcast of Ice and Fire Crossover 2015!
October 26, 2015Exciting news from the world of ASoIaF podcasts: Stefan and I are the special guests on this weekâs edition of A Podcast of Ice and Fire. Join us and host Amin Javadi as we celebrate the 100th installment of Stefan & Aminâs Supreme Court of Westeros Q&A feature (which I all too infrequently remember to post here at boiledleather.com) by tackling a host of reader-generated questions about the seriesâ biggest mysteries, theories, and themes. Consider it the Boiled Leather Audio Hour Episode 42.5!
The Boiled Leather Audio Hour Episode 41!
September 29, 2015The Walking Dead in Westeros
Weâre comparing two of the biggest shows on television in this episode of the Boiled Leather Audio Hour. One of them is an adaptation of a popular staple of nerd cultureâa genre work that had only appeared in print beforeâwhich has translated its bleak themes, wide scope, and controversial use of violence into a modern-day ratings blockbuster. The other is Game of Thrones.
Thatâs rightâthe BLAH Boys are taking on The Walking Dead, and its current spinoff Fear the Walking Dead, by contrasting the shows and their source material to Game of Thrones and A Song of Ice and Fire. How does their treatment of violence in an unforgiving world of real and supernatural menace differ? What do the relationships between the original works by George R.R. Martin, Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore, and Charlie Adlard and their adaptations by David Benioff, D.B. Weiss, and AMCâs land of a thousand showrunners reveal about their respective ideas, ideals, aesthetics, and ethics? Which shows really deserve our moral outrage, and why? Weâll be examining all these questions and more. And one of us, at least, will be getting really freaking worked up. Enjoy!
Download Episode 41
Sean on the Fear the Walking Dead pilot.
The Boiled Leather Audio Hour Episode 40!
July 28, 2015Women of Westeros, Part V: Arya, Lyanna, the Sand Snakes, Arianne, & Ygritte
Itâs ladiesâ night once again for the Boiled Leather Audio Hour! Weâre resuming our irregular series on the women of Westeros after over two years for an episode on a bunch of characters who break the world of Ice and Fireâs gender mold: Arya Stark, Lyanna Stark, the Sand Snakes, Arianne Martell, and Ygritte. Our topics of discussion are as diverse and varied as the women themselves: why Arya is too complex for the hero, victim, or monster labels; how Lyannaâs larger-than-life reputation suits her potential prophetic destiny; the Sand Snakes as Dorneâs answer to the #CarefreeBlackGirls movement-cum-meme; what Arianne has in common with another rebellious scion of a dynasty, Jaime Lannister; how seeing Ygritte exclusively through the eyes of the man who loves her shapes our experience; the true meaning of âstrong female characterâ; and much more. Drop your Needle on that mp3 and tune in!
Additional links:
The Boiled Leather Audio Hour Episode 39!
June 11, 2015BLAH 39 | (What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace Love and Bummer Stannis: Discussing “The Dance of Dragons” and Other Elements of Late Season Five “Game of Thrones”
Weâre back, and weâve got a burning desire to discuss Stannis, Shireen, and the controversial scene that dominated the conversation around “The Dance of Dragons,” Game of Thrones Season Fiveâs penultimate episode! This time out, Stefan and I tackle what the Mannisâs heel turn really means for the character, the adaptation, the fandom and more. We also take a quick tour of the disappointments of Dorne, gaze into the fires and give you our predictions for the season finale (including a theory from Sean thatâs either bold or batshit), and address the very nature of criticism itself. All in a tight 32 minutes and 32 seconds!
Additional links:
Seanâs review of the episode.
Stefanâs review of the episode.
George R.R. Martin recommends Boiled Leather for your fighting about GoT needs.
Seanâs piece on the four worst types of TV critics.
James Poniewozikâs essay on tapping out of extreme art.
The Boiled Leather Audio Hour Episode 38!
April 24, 2015The Alayne Game: Discussing the New “The Winds of Winter” Sample Chapter and the Start of “Game of Thrones” Season Five
BLAH is back with two, count âem, two topics! This go-round, Stefan & Sean tackle the new âAlayneâ sample chapter from The Winds of Winter and the first two episodes of Game of Thrones Season Five. Whatâs in store for Sansa in book six? Whatâs our read on GoTs05e01-02âČs plotlines and performances? Listen and learn, ladies and gents! And while you do, youâll discover some very happy news from House Sasse, as well as musical surprise or two. Enjoy!
Additional links:
The Alayne TWoW sample chapter.
The Boiled Leather Audio Hour Episode 37!
January 19, 2015The Theory of Everything: Analyzing Popular Theories from a Narrative & Thematic Perspective
A Song of Ice and Fire fans are a meticulous, scholarly lot. That first baby step into the wider world of fandom that we all take instantly introduces us to an eye-popping array of theories about past, present, and future events in the story that our fellow fans have painstakingly assembled from hints and clues embedded within the text. We all have our favorites and our least favorites, theories we think is a sure thing and theories we break out our tinfoil hats to discuss.
In this episode, Stefan and I vote yay or nay on many of the biggest, coolest, and crackiest â from R+L=J to fAegon, from Tyrion Targaryen to the Bran-tichrist, from âOberyn poisoned Tywinâ to the eternal question âWhere do whores go?â â but with a twist. Our main metric: Does this theory make narrative and thematic sense?
Even the most beautifully constructed theories constructed from tantalizing tidbits in the text often fall apart when theorizers focus on how but ignore the why. Would this theory make for a satisfying story? Does it support the seriesâ primary thematic concerns or undermine them? Does it have a point at all beyond being a secret to uncover? Forget about why Roose Bolton or Obery Martell or Varys the Spider might do whateverâs being theorized about â Why would George R.R. Martin want them to do it? This has long been the approach both of us take, and we had a blast going full-throttle with it in this episode. Hopefully, you will too.
One quick note: Right at the end of the episode Stefan and I begin discussing a recently discovered note in the publicly available manuscript for A Dance with Dragons that appears to spoil a much speculated-about theory in a way neither of us are quite comfortable declaring was intentional on the part of Martin or his editor/publisher. We give ample spoiler warning at that point, so feel free to bail on the episode during those final moments if such a thing makes you uncomfortable.
The Boiled Leather Audio Hour Episode 36!
January 5, 2015Slate.com’s Jamelle Bouie joins us for the start of a project we’ve been planning practically since the Long Night: The BLAH Salon! In each installment of this series, we’ll be spotlighting a writer or artist whose work doesn’t normally touch on A Song of Ice and Fire or Game of Thrones but who is nonetheless a fan, exploring how the world of Westeros interests and influences them.
Our first guest in the BLAH Salon is Jamelle Bouie, staff writer for Slate. As a national political correspondent with a specific focus on race, he’s written with compelling clarity about the tumultuous, troubling year that just ended. He was also the first famous face I spotted in boiledleather.com’s followers. His insightful and enthusiastic commentary on the books, the show, along with other pop- and nerd-culture cornerstones, coupled with his insight into sociopolitics, made Stefan and I think he’d be the perfect guest for this inaugural installment. Our wide-ranging discussion hits on Slaver’s Bay, the role of Roose & Ramsay, the problem with privilege discourse, how good hip-hop and good fantasy both wear their influences on their sleeves, the bizarrely productive racism of H.P. Lovecraft, and the scene that made him a believer in George R.R. Martin’s magnum opus. Enjoy!
The Boiled Leather Audio Hour Episode 35!
December 1, 2014Four Against the World: A “World of Ice and Fire” Roundtable feat. Steven Attewell and Amin Javadi
Celebrate Cyber Monday the old-fashioned way: in boiled leather! The Boiled Leather Audio Hour is back for our second episode in one week, and once again it’s our biggest to date. Since no one episode, and no two hosts, could contain The World of Ice and Fire, Stefan and I have tapped Race for the Iron Throne’s Steven Attewell and A Podcast of Ice and Fire’s Amin Javadi to join in the discussion of George R.R. Martin, Elio M. GarcĂa Jr., and Linda Antonsson’s seemingly inexhaustible world book. We tackle many of the topics we missed in our first episode on the book, and double back on a few besides.
One more note and then it’s on with the show: Thank you so much for your generous donations to BLAH’s emergency tech-crisis fund. Your support has done a great deal to help defray the cost of the new computer and software I needed to continue recording the podcast. If you haven’t already, and you’re still in a spending mood after all those hot online deals, and if you enjoy the show or the blogs enough to warrant it, you can donate via paypal here. Any amount is extraordinarily appreciated.
Alright, that concludes our message from the Iron Bank. Check the links below for a host of posts and podcasts this fearsome foursome has already done on the book, then listen and enjoy!
Sean & Stefan’s previous BLAH episode on TWoIaF
Amin interviews Elio & Linda about the making of TWoIaF for A Podcast of Ice and Fire
The whole Podcast of Ice and Fire gang discusses TWoIaF
Steven’s chapter-by-chapter analysis of TWoIaF
Seanâs Rolling Stone article: The 10 Craziest Things We Learned from The World of Ice and Fire
Stefanâs âruminationsâ on TWoIaF for Tower of the Hand
The Boiled Leather Audio Hour Episode 34!
November 24, 2014Around the World: Discussing âThe World of Ice and Fireâ
Weâre back, and a world awaits! Released with deserved fanfare a few weeks ago, The World of Ice and Fire, the long-awaited world book by George R.R. Martin and his co-authors Elio M. GarcĂa Jr. and Linda Antonsson of Westeros.org, has proven to be an extraordinarily fecund source of information, speculation, and general wonderment. Thatâs a pretty fair characterization of this episode of The Boiled Leather Audio Hour, as a matter of fact: No muss, no fuss, just me and Stefan the best and most baffling moments of this extensive fake history in our biggest episode yet.
But before you begin, a quick housekeeping note: Stefan and I havenât been able to record a podcast since July, as a series of professional, personal, and (most insurmountably) technical issues scuttled half a dozen different scheduled recording times. The resolution of these issues necessitated the purchase of a whole new computer and set of software, which I was happy to do, but which obviously took a hefty chunk out of the old Boiled Leather budget.
So if you enjoy The Boiled Leather Audio Hour, boiledleather.com, The Nerdstream Era, or any of our assorted projects, please consider clicking here to donate a few dollars to help offset the cost of the show via PayPal. (Thereâs also a Donate button at the top of boiledleather.com.) You all have been so tremendously complimentary and supportive, and weâre extraordinarily grateful that you listen!
Seanâs Rolling Stone article: The 10 Craziest Things We Learned from The World of Ice and Fire
Stefanâs âruminationsâ on TWoIaF for Tower of the Hand
Seanâs essay on the Deep Ones
The Boiled Leather Audio Hour Episode 32!
July 8, 2014Going Rogue: Discussing “The Rogue Prince, or, A King’s Brother”
Another chapter from the GRRMArillion? You betcha! Rogues, the latest cross-genre anthology edited by George R.R. Martin & Gardner Dozois, is out, and you know what that means: another long short story/novella set in the world of Ice and Fire and written by Martin himself. As was the case with Dangerous Women‘s “The Princess and the Queen,” Martin’s contribution this time around is an excerpt from the larger history of the Targaryen dynasty eventually to be published in expanded form as Fire and Blood. And it turns out it’s a direct prequel to “The Princess and the Queen”‘s tale of internecine Targaryen civil war — like, it ends the moment “TPatQ” begins. As such, it casts many of the events and characters of that story in a whole new light. And like that story, it strrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrretches the boundaries of the rubric for its inclusion in the anthology in which it appears. Is it worth it? Listen and find out! (And try not to be perturbed by the sounds of chaos in revelry in the background, as Stefan’s native Germany defeats a rival in the World Cup whilst we record. Just imagine we’re discussing this over a bowl o’ brown in the stews of Flea Bottom. I know I always do!)
The Boiled Leather Audio Hour Episode 31!
June 23, 2014Rhoyne Like Hell: Westeros.orgâs Rhoynar-centric âThe World of Ice and Fireâ Excerpt
The bodies havenât even been removed from the battlefield of our last podcast, but Stefan and I are back already with a brand-new BLAH! Today weâre talking about the excerpt from George R.R. Martin, Elio GarcĂa Jr., and Linda Antonssonâs The World of Ice and Fire about the Rhoynar, which was posted a few weeks ago on the latter two writerâs seminal Westeros.org website. Its title, âThe Ten Thousand Ships,â is somewhat inapt given that it doesnât in fact cover the naval exodus of the people of the Rhoyne from that Essosi river to the southern lands of Dorne in Westeros. But thereâs plenty to talk about up until that point, from the sudden revelation that an entire water-based form of magic exists (or existed) to the wartime conduct of Old Valyria and its allies. Saddle up a turtle and enjoy!
The Boiled Leather Audio Hour Episode 30!
June 23, 2014The Post-âGameâ Show: âGame of Thronesâ Season Four Reviewed
Our biggest episode! Game of Thrones Season Four is over, and in this mega-sized BLAH, Stefan and I analyze it for damn near 90 minutes. Every major storyline is covered, every big controversy is addressed, every substantial change from the books is explored, and every complaint we have about the fandom is given an obscenity-laden airing. Hey, we told you it was a big episode!
Below, weâve included some links to pieces on the show that we mention in the podcast. Read, listen, enjoy!
Seanâs reviews of the show for Rolling Stone
Stefanâs reviews of the show for Tower of the Hand
Seanâs Rolling Stone list of Season Fourâs Top 10 greatest moments
Stefanâs âOutside the Buzzâ piece on fandomâs bubble mindset
The AV Clubâs Sonia Saraiya on the role of violence on the show
HuffPoâs Maureen Ryan arguing the show is good but not great
The Boiled Leather Audio Hour Episode 29!
May 16, 2014Conquest!: GeorgeRRMartin.comâs Aegon Targaryen-centric âThe World of Ice and Fireâ Excerpt
Another week, another sample from something Good King George has got cooking â if, of course, by âanother weekâ you mean âlast week.â Yes, since Stefan and I recorded this episode, yet another excerpt from George R.R. Martin, Elio Garcia Jr., and Linda Antonssonâs worldbook The World of Ice and Fire has been released. No matter! Like the modern-day maesters we are, we stay focused on the matters at hand, specifically the sample unveiled on GeorgeRRMartin.com regarding House Targaryenâs flight from Valyria and Aegonâs Conquest of Westeros. The sample raises many intriguing questions â indeed, more than it answers â on everything from the bloody century the Targaryens spent on Dragonstone between the Doom and the Conquest to Aegon and his sistersâ adoption of the Faith of the Seven. After Stefan and I discuss these matters, we follow up on a related Tower of the Hand roundtable and ask what place supplementary materials like this should even have in a work of narrative fiction. Saddle up, dragonlords!