Y-Button

Kyle Starr

Interviews with video game creators, enthusiasts, journalists, and media personalities about their origins with video games, what keeps them so interested in the medium, and what excites them about the future.

17 Episodes

Reset: Awestuck
12/30/2025
14:43
On this special epsiode of Y-Button, host Kyle Starr takes a moment to reflect on his relationship with games and games related media in a time of life changes, growing responsibilitites, and future considerations.------SocialHost: Kyle StarrBluesky | Instagram | MastodonShow: Y-ButtonBluesky | Threads | Instagram | Mastodon
16. Kevin Nguyen (Author, Features Editor @ The Verge)
5/8/2025
56:47
Kevin Nguyen, author and Features Editor at The Verge, discusses his new novel "Mỹ Documents", what it means to write about video games, comparisons between mediums as a critic, and the unfortunate sale of Polygon.(01:30) - Intro and Blue Prince (03:08) - The sale of Polygon to Valnet (06:42) - Pivoting to My Documents (15:04) - Brazil and Bossa Nova in New Waves and My Documents (16:34) - First gaming memory (18:47) - How does gaming come up in the writing? (30:08) - Gaming sweet spots (34:40) - A-ha moments (37:24) - Favorite games (39:37) - What is the draw to games? (46:36) - Lightning round (50:43) - The future of games (51:58) - Blue Prince pro strats (52:46) - Final thoughts ------Links"Mỹ Documents" (Penguin Random House)"New Waves" (Penguin Random House)Strong Songs Podcast (Website)Game Maker's Toolkit - Developing (YouTube)Press Reset: The Story of Polygon (YouTube)------SocialGuest: Kevin NguyenBlueskyHost: Kyle StarrBluesky | Threads | Instagram | MastodonShow: Y-ButtonBluesky | Threads | Instagram | Mastodon
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15. Andy Robertson (Ludocene, Family Gaming Database, Taming Gaming)
2/21/2025
51:45
Video game journalist Andy Robertson discusses his new project Ludocene — a game discovery service in the form of a deck-building dating app. Ludocene is based on human-curated data and offers users the ability to augment their recommendations with filters and "Expert cards" — games journalists and trusted curators who've been paid to provide recommendations — to offer a truly one-of-a-kind discovery experience.Andy also dives into his origins with video games and why he thinks they're important for people of all ages and the culture at large.------LinksLudocene (Kickstarter)Family Gaming Database (website)Taming Gaming (Unbound | Amazon)------SocialGuest: Andy RobertsonBluesky | Twitter/XHost: Kyle StarrBluesky | Threads | Instagram | MastodonShow: Y-ButtonThreads | Instagram | Mastodon
14. Alanna Okun (Writer, Programmer)
9/10/2024
1:25:37
Writer and programmer Alanna Okun shares how video games influenced the recent decision to leave her tenured career in journalism for an education in interactive technology — a conversation through the boom and bust of the 2010s media landscape to a revelation of control and expression found in making video games. ------Linksbitsy (website)Knit a Hat: A Beginner's Guide to Knitting (Microcosm Publishing)NYU Interactive Telecommunications Program (ITP) (website)------SocialGuest: Alanna OkunWebsite | itch.io | InstagramHost: Kyle StarrThreads | Instagram | MastodonShow: Y-ButtonThreads | Instagram | Mastodon
13. Tasha Sounart (Creative Director @ Pixar, Theme Parks)
6/25/2024
1:11:26
Pixar Creative Director (Theme Parks), Tasha Sounart, discusses her career journey, from animating at Pixar on A Bug's Life through Cars to directing Double Fine's Costume Quest, to her return to Pixar and overseeing the implementation of Pixar properties in Disney Parks. She shares how video games influence physical attractions, gaming as a family, and her fondness for RPGs and MMOs.[DISCLAIMER: Kyle here. My Host audio quality is subpar in this episode. I failed to realize that I was peaking a bit when captured. AJ did everything in their power to clean this up, but there's only so much that can be done with poorly captured audio. I've listened back to this episode a few times and I don't feel it detracts from Tasha's interview whatsoever. That said, I'll be more mindful in the future.]------LinksPikuniku (website)Pixar pixel-art tile artwork (LinkedIn) ------SocialGuest: Tasha SounartMastodon | LinkedIn Host: Kyle StarrThreads | Instagram | MastodonShow: Y-ButtonThreads | Instagram | Mastodon
12. Simon Parkin (Journalist @ The New Yorker, My Perfect Console)
4/17/2024
56:11
Award-winning journalist and non-fiction writer, Simon Parkin, discusses his journey into journalism, curiosity about video games, the transition from 2D to 3D gaming, and informing the broader culture about the medium.------Simon Parkin's website (with links to his books, articles, and audio)simonparkin.comMy Perfect Consoleshows.acast.com/my-perfect-consolePushing Buttons newsletter from The Guardiantheguardian.com/games/series/pushing-buttonsRaiden (Youtube)DoDonPachi (Youtube)Return of the Obra Dinnobradinn.comChants of Sennaarrundisc.io/chants-of-sennaar/"The Wager" by David Granndavidgrann.com/book/the-wager/------SocialGuest: Simon ParkinInstagram | Twitter/XGuest Show: My Perfect ConsoleInstagram | Twitter/XHost: Kyle StarrThreads | Instagram | MastodonShow: Y-ButtonThreads | Instagram | Mastodon
11. Chris Plante (Editor-in-chief @ Polygon; The Besties podcast)
2/16/2024
1:13:33
Chris Plante, Editor-in-chief of Polygon and co-host of The Besties podcast, chronicles his journey into games journalism, his fondness for "7/10 (rated)" video games, and what makes video games different (and the same!) as other mediums.------Polygon: Gaming and Entertainment News, Reviews, and MorePolygon.comThe Besties (podcast)themcelroy.family/bestiesThe Besties (newsletter)thebesties.substack.comGameDiscoverCo (Simon Carless's awesome newsletter)gamediscover.co1994 Fisher Price Magna Mover TownYoutube ------SocialHost: Kyle StarrThreads | Instagram | MastodonShow: Y-ButtonThreads | Instagram | Mastodon
10. Stephen Hilger (Into the Aether podcast)
8/24/2023
1:16:35
Stephen Hilger, co-host of Into the Aether podcast, discusses the power of video games on childhood, art, and imagination.------Into the Aetherintothecast.online------SocialGuest: Stephen Hilger (Into the Aether)Twitter/X | InstagramHost: Kyle StarrMastodon | Threads | Twitter/X | InstagramShow: Y-ButtonMastodon | Twitter/X
9. Tom Mullen (Washed Up Emo)
8/10/2023
1:10:46
Music industry extraordinaire and founder of Washed Up Emo, Tom Mullen, joins the show to discuss his lifelong fascination with video games, the link between music and games, staying relevant with the youths, and his love of strategy guides. Can you guess the song he brought to Guitar Hero III?------Washed Up Emohttps://www.washedupemo.com/Is This Band Emo?http://isthisbandemo.com/------Music'Liminal Fields' by Vulture Featherhttps://vulturefeather.bandcamp.com/album/liminal-fields------SocialGuest: Tom Mullen (Washed Up Emo)Twitter | InstagramHost: Kyle StarrMastodon | Threads | Twitter | InstagramShow: Y-ButtonMastodon | Twitter
8. AJ Fillari (Podcast Producer: Into the Aether, Ten Very Big Books, Y-Button)
7/27/2023
1:29:14
Y-Button producer AJ Fillari doubles up as a guest to discuss their fascination with games, why video games media doesn't get old, how chip tunes change their world, and why it's important to enjoy the simple act of playing.PodcastsTen Very Big Books - A Malazan Read-through Podcasthttps://www.patreon.com/tenverybigbooksInto the Aether - A Low Key Video Game Podcasthttps://intothecast.online/Asynchronous - A Video Game Catch-Up Showhttps://feeds.transistor.fm/asynchronousFrog of the Weekhttps://frogpod.online/Music'Atebite and the Warring Nations' by Disasterpeacehttps://disasterpeace.bandcamp.com/album/atebite-and-the-warring-nations'Simulant Rain' by _amaranthinehttps://amaranthine.bandcamp.com/album/simulant-rain------SocialGuest: AJ FillariTwitter | MastodonHost: Kyle StarrMastodon | Threads | Twitter | InstagramShow: Y-ButtonMastodon | Twitter

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Y-Button

Kyle Starr

17 Episodes

Reset: Awestuck

16. Kevin Nguyen (Author, Features Editor @ The Verge)

15. Andy Robertson (Ludocene, Family Gaming Database, Taming Gaming)

14. Alanna Okun (Writer, Programmer)

13. Tasha Sounart (Creative Director @ Pixar, Theme Parks)

12. Simon Parkin (Journalist @ The New Yorker, My Perfect Console)

11. Chris Plante (Editor-in-chief @ Polygon; The Besties podcast)

10. Stephen Hilger (Into the Aether podcast)

9. Tom Mullen (Washed Up Emo)

8. AJ Fillari (Podcast Producer: Into the Aether, Ten Very Big Books, Y-Button)