Now to Play

Who's That Gym Leader?

Tue, 02 Sep 2025 08:00:00 -0500

This is it! The final gym badge in the Kanto Region, but where is the gym? What secrets await Fin and Jon? Who is the finale gym leader and how hard will they be? As kids can they be the very best and defeat the perils that are in front of them? Find out now!

00:00 - Intro

01:15 - Recap

02:06 - The Hidden Finale

04:18 - The Final Gym Leader

08:23 - Team Rocket Defeated

09:40 - How Fin Would Fix This

12:45 - Rival Battle on Victory Road

18:12 - Getting Ready for the Elite 4

23:48 - The Indigo Plateau

29:47 - Blaine & The Volcano Badge

34:52 - Outro

New episodes of Now To Play release every other Tuesday! Video version is available at YouTube.com/CouchCapades

Check out our other podcasts:

A Side of Popcorn ▶ https://asideofpopcorn.captivate.fm/listen

Couch of Randomness ▶ Live recording Wednesdays at 6 pm Central https://couchofrandomness.captivate.fm/listen

Mysteries of Cinnabar

Tue, 05 Aug 2025 06:00:00 -0500

In the quest for the penultimate badge, our duo sets sail for Cinnabar

Island. The Pokémon Lab demonstrates the wonders of modern science by

resurrecting ancient fossils. The great mansion of Cinnabar hold secrets

of earth-shattering magnitude. The eccentric gym leader Blaine tests

our knowledge and our mettle. The World of Pokémon continues to excite

and amaze with each new step of the journey.

00:00 - Intro

01:49 - Recap

02:53 - Seafoam Islands

12:10 - Power Plant

13:38 - Cinnabar Island

14:06 - Pokémon Lab

21:38 - Cinnabar Mansion

23:15 - Mew & Mewtwo

29:13 - Cinnabar Mansion (cont'd.)

36:46 - Blaine & The Volcano Badge

42:13 - We Gotta Talk About Iggy

43:46 - Next Time

44:55 - Outro

New episodes of Now To Play release every other Tuesday! Video version is available at YouTube.com/CouchCapades

Check out our other podcasts:

A Side of Popcorn ▶ https://asideofpopcorn.captivate.fm/listen

Couch of Randomness ▶ Live recording Wednesdays at 6 pm Central https://couchofrandomness.captivate.fm/listen

Safari So Good

Tue, 22 Jul 2025 06:00:00 -0500

The Safari Zone of Fuchsia City is a major attraction for our heroes. It

houses many rare Pokémon and with our nuzlocke rules, the oppurtunity

only becomes more alluring. What does fate have in store for Fin and

Jon?

00:00 - Intro

01:16 - Recap

01:49 - Fin's Hot Streak

05:01 - Jon Receives a Gift

06:19 - Our Winding Roads to Fuchsia

10:24 - Cycling Road

16:10 - Fuchsia City

16:44 - Safari Zone

27:00 - Helping the Safari Warden

29:54 - Koga & The Soul Badge

34:38 - Where to now?

35:47 - Checking in on our teams

41:12 - Outro

New episodes of Now To Play release every other Tuesday! Video version is available at YouTube.com/CouchCapades

Check out our other podcasts:

A Side of Popcorn ▶ https://asideofpopcorn.captivate.fm/listen

Couch of Randomness ▶ Live recording Wednesdays at 6 pm Central https://couchofrandomness.captivate.fm/listen

Becoming a Hero

Tue, 08 Jul 2025 07:00:00 -0500

Until now, Fin and Jon have been adventuring for their own sake.

However, as our journey continues, they're asked to step up to fill the

shoes of a hero. Saffron City in the throes of a turf war between rival

gyms, Silph Co. finds itself under attack from Team Rocket. Amidst all

the turmoil, our would-be heroes will still always find a way to goof

off.

00:00 - Intro

01:12 - Recap

04:23 - Route 12 Snorlax

07:43 - Saffron City

09:24 - Taking Back Silph Co.

14:06 - Mysteries of Silph Co.

22:42 - Rival Battle

35:17 - A Rematch with Giovanni

39:22 - Fighting Dojo

44:31 - Sabrina & The Marsh Badge

51:27 - Next Time

52:08 - Outro

New episodes of Now To Play release every other Tuesday! Video version is available at YouTube.com/CouchCapades

Check out our other podcasts:

A Side of Popcorn ▶ https://asideofpopcorn.captivate.fm/listen

Couch of Randomness ▶ Live recording Wednesdays at 6 pm Central https://couchofrandomness.captivate.fm/listen

Haunted by the Fallen

Tue, 10 Jun 2025 06:00:00 -0500

The Lavender Tower beckons, as the haunted souls of fallen Pokémon cry

out. Jon and Fin will need to grapple with the mortality of their

Pokémon allies, in order to put a stop to Team Rocket's vile schemes.

But perhaps, even more frightening, is the beckoning of the Game Corner

of Celadon City.

00:00 - Intro

01:38 - Recap

04:14 - Rock Tunnel

10:54 - Lavender Town

13:07 - Pokémon Tower

15:57 - Rival Battle

20:13 - Ghost Pokémon

27:43 - Celadon City

27:56 - Game Corner

34:05 - Rocket Hideout

39:30 - Disaster Strikes

44:09 - Back to Pokémon Tower

55:03 - Erika & The Rainbow Badge

58:29 - Next Time

59:14 - Outro

New episodes of Now To Play release every other Tuesday! Video version is available at YouTube.com/CouchCapades

Check out our other podcasts:

A Side of Popcorn ▶ https://asideofpopcorn.captivate.fm/listen

Couch of Randomness ▶ Live recording Wednesdays at 6 pm Central https://couchofrandomness.captivate.fm/listen

Party on the S.S. Anne

Tue, 27 May 2025 06:00:00 -0500

Jon and Fin are deep into their adventure now and the journey is about

to take many twists and turns. From deep underground to an ocean voyage

what strange new Pokémon will they encounter?

00:00 - Intro

01:14 - Recap

02:44 - Jon Suffers a Loss

08:17 - Vermilion City

12:25 - Pokémon Philosophy

18:18 - S.S. Anne

26:57 - Cut

27:54 - Diglett Cave

33:21 - Cut (cotd.)

39:15 - Lt. Surge & the Thunder Badge

42:48 - Next Time

43:44 - Outro

New episodes of Now To Play release every other Tuesday! Video version is available at YouTube.com/CouchCapades

Check out our other podcasts:

A Side of Popcorn ▶ https://asideofpopcorn.captivate.fm/listen

Couch of Randomness ▶ Live recording Wednesdays at 6 pm Central https://couchofrandomness.captivate.fm/listen

Prepare for Trouble

Tue, 13 May 2025 18:00:00 -0500

Jon and Fin's adventure takes a dramatic tonal shift as the possibility

of losing one of their beloved Pokémon truly sets in. As they head for

Mt. Moon, Team Rocket reveal themselves. Can our heroes overcome these

dastardly villains. And at what cost...?

00:00 - Intro

00:51 - Quick Recap

01:56 - Route 3

08:00 - Jon re-lives his childhood

09:33 - Mt. Moon

15:08 - Foiling Team Rocket

18:12 - Cerulean City

20:39 - Nugget Bridge

30:09 - Route 25

31:18 - Bill the Pokémaniac

36:46 - Misty & the Cascade Badge

40:42 - Foiling Team Rocket (again)

42:47 - Route 5

43:20 - Next Time

43:57 - Fin wants to trade

47:25 - Outro

48:03 - Epilogue

New episodes of Now To Play release every other Tuesday! Video version is available at YouTube.com/CouchCapades

Check out our other podcasts:

A Side of Popcorn ▶ https://asideofpopcorn.captivate.fm/listen

Couch of Randomness ▶ Live recording Wednesdays at 6 pm Central https://couchofrandomness.captivate.fm/listen

Welcome to the World of Pokémon

Tue, 29 Apr 2025 06:00:00 -0500

On this brand new podcast, Jon and Fin will play through the same game, at the same time, checking in periodically with each other to share their adventures. Each season will feature a brand new game.

This season we're playing Pokémon Red & Blue.

First released in the west in 1998, these classic Game Boy RPGs laid the groundwork for what would become the highest grossing media franchise of all time. Our two heroes must choose their starters and set off on a journey through the fantastical region of Kanto. They must tread carefully though, as the newly imposed nuzlocke rule set means there is no room for error.

Can these two make it all the way to the Indigo League and become Pokémon Champion? Their journey starts here!

00:00 - Intro

01:04 - Fin's Pokémon Credentials

01:44 - Jon's Pokémon Credentials

03:09 - Nuzlocke Rules

05:43 - Welcome to the World of Pokémon

11:29 - Choose Your Starter

17:39 - Gotta Catch 'em All?

27:06 - Battling our Rivals

28:17 - Viridian Forest

32:04 - Evolution is a Mystery

37:22 - Brock & The Boulder Badge

43:49 - Next Time on Now To Play

New episodes of Now To Play release every other Tuesday! Video version is available at YouTube.com/CouchCapades

Check out our other podcasts:

A Side of Popcorn ▶ https://asideofpopcorn.captivate.fm/listen

Couch of Randomness ▶ Live recording Wednesdays at 6 pm Central https://couchofrandomness.captivate.fm/listen