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We believe that video games can serve as tools for understanding ourselves, each other, and the world around us— and we celebrate gaming in its many contexts: as a hobby; as an art form; as therapy.

Get cozy – this is Pixel Therapy.

We believe that video games can serve as tools for understanding ourselves, each other, and the world around us— and we celebrate gaming in its many contexts: as a hobby; as an art form; as therapy.

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Latest Episodes

To the Moon and the Spider Diagram of Autism with Laura Kate Dale – Pixel Therapy Pod

Note: This episode contains some light spoilers for To The Moon starting around 01:09:00! Happy Halloween, gamers!! Pick out your favorite candy from the pile and join us around the pixelated fire as Spencer plays their scariest game yet in Bloober Team's eerie and atmospheric The Medium, while Jamie takes to the stars in Outer Wilds' new expansion-slash-sequel-within-a-game, Echoes of the Eye! Then we're joined by the delightfully insightful Laura Kate Dale, video game butt reviewer, games journalist, and author of Uncomfortable Labels, Things I Learned From Mario's Butt, and the forthcoming Who Hunts The Whale- a satirical novel set in the exploitative world of big-budget game development! We had an amazing time hanging out with Laura, chatting about everything from the meaning and construction of bodies in games to choosing optimism in the face of the uglier sides of the industry. Finally, we go deep on Freebird Games' unforgettable narrative adventure To the Moon, and the way it not only made Laura feel seen in a new way, but changed the way she wanted to approach thinking and writing about games. Follow Laura on Twitter: twitter.com/LaurakBuzz Check out Who Hunts the Whale: unbound.com/books/whale/ Austin Walker's Outer Wilds review: vice.com/en/article/mb8p7y/outer-wilds-is-a-captivating-sci-fi-mystery-about-the-end-of-the-world Side Quest Deaf Rainbow UK First a Facebook group, then a website, now a community-run organization offering trainings, consultations, and surveys aimed at building a better world for Deaf LGBTQIA+ people in the UK and around the world, Deaf Rainbow UK provides information and resources for deaf queer folks, bringing attention to the lived experiences of folks who fall within this intersection of marginalization. To learn more, access resources, volunteer, and/or donate, visit deafrainbowuk.org.uk ! About Pixel Therapy New episodes drop every other Tuesday. Learn more at pixeltherapypod.com or follow us on social media @pixeltherapypod. We're proud members of the But Why Tho? Podcast Network: visit ButWhyThoPodcast.com for everything pop culture in an inclusive geek community! If you like what you hear, please take a moment to rate us, leave us a review on Apple Podcasts (or your listening app of choice) & subscribe! Want more? Unlock monthly bonus episodes for $2/mo at patreon.com/pixeltherapypod ! Support this podcast
  1. To the Moon and the Spider Diagram of Autism with Laura Kate Dale
  2. The Antidote to Doomscrolling and The Witcher 3 with Games Journalist Isaiah Colbert
  3. It's Our 1-Year Anniversary! with Your Co-Hosts, Jamie and Spencer
  4. How Kena: Bridge of Spirits was Shaped by Balinese Gamelan with Dancer and Artist Ayu Larassanti
  5. DIYing Game Dev with Game Designer in Residence and Author Anna Anthropy
  6. Envisioning Our Best Selves in Mass Effect with Professional Trekkie Swapna Krishna
  7. Adapting to Change and Shifting Perspectives with Beekeeper Ang Roell

Nice things folks have said about us

It’s really opened my mind thinking about how queerness and gaming can intersect.

5-Star Listener Review

This podcast is absolutely amazing. I have never heard people talk about this aspect of video games.

5-Star Listener Review
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Access monthly bonus episodes, exclusive blog posts, and more (like STICKERS) while helping us build an inclusive and friendly space that welcomes anyone who enjoys games and wants to talk about their feelings.

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Pixel Therapy in the press

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What is my most gender euphoric video game and why is it persona 5??? We’re here, we’re queer, we’ve been around one whole year! We are very much still making episodes and have been so grateful for the growth of our Patreon over these past few weeks. Sorry for the IG silence! Posting here has slowed down due to how much this app limits our reach (and affects our mental health). I (Spencer) am trying to be patient with myself, and perhaps I’ll return to posting regularly. For now, follow us on Twitter @pixeltherapypod to stay up-to-date on new episode releases if you aren’t subscribed to us on your podcast listening app of choice already! Have you listened to our new episode yet?! Big thank you to the wonderful folks at @emberlab for connecting us with Ayu Larassanti, the voice of Kena in the upcoming PS-exclusive, #KenaBridgeofSpirits! We had the loveliest time talking all about Kena, and specifically how Balinese instruments and vocals were infused into the spirit of the game ❤️ We literally can’t wait to play come September 21st! New ep dropped yesterday! 💖 Featuring the wonderful @annaanthropy!! Check it out everywhere podcasts are found and let us know what you think by dropping us a star rating / review ❣️😘 New episode! ❣️ Jamie and Spencer kick things off by diving into two visual novel-esque games that couldn't be more different in their content and execution: Kitfox Games' Boyfriend Dungeon and Modern Storyteller's The Forgotten City! Join us as we date weapons and sink our teeth into some queer subtext, and work to escape a time loop while evading avenging angels, respectively. Is humanity truly capable of taking responsibility for each other? Is a polyam queer utopia possible? Join us as we discuss all this and more! 𝑫𝑬𝑨𝑻𝑯’𝑺 𝑫𝑶𝑶𝑹 ⚔️ This incredible game is out now for Xbox and Steam from the amazing two-person UK-based team at #AcidNerve 🧪 This immersive and irreverent dungeon-crawler follows a young soul-reaping Crow as he slowly becomes aware that the company he harvests souls for may have questionable motives… Check out our latest episode everywhere podcasts are found for Jamie’s full review - and in the meantime enjoy feasting your eyes upon Jamie’s custom @xboxdesignlab controller 😍😍😍😍 NEW!🐝 Sup y'all! August already?! Spencer kicks things off this week by hurling baseless accusations at Jamie for not vocally praising Ratchet and Clank: A Rift Apart enough (which has dimensionated itself right into Spencer's heart and the top of their totally unofficial Games of the Year list), while Jamie shares a peek into Death's Door and the life and times of a soul-reaping crow. 𝘿𝙤𝙠𝙞 𝘿𝙤𝙠𝙞 𝙇𝙞𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚 𝘾𝙡𝙪𝙗 𝙋𝙡𝙪𝙨!

About the show

We’re a bi-weekly podcast bringing you new perspectives on video game culture and current events with folks who may or may not identify as gamers– from streamers and industry folks to artists and activists, everyone deserves a little pixel therapy. Launched September 2020, we have fun, we go deep, and we explore the love of games within a broader social and cultural context while challenging conventional notions of what it means to be a “gamer”— and who gets to call themselves one. Pixel Therapy Pod is independently produced and co-hosted by Spencer Icasiano (they/them), a queer and trans, mixed race Filipino writer and UX designer, and Jamie Siebenaler (she/her), a queer team and project manager with a deep passion for games.