Best Automata Podcasts (2025)

1
Short-Long-Distance Love in Firewatch 1:53:19

17d ago1:53:19

1:53:19

Today Fran and Jason talk a walk through Wyoming with Delilah and Henry in Campo Santo's Firewatch from 2016. Don't forget to use your antlers! Spoilers begin at 1:19:00 Credits Field Notes: How Devs Recreate Wilderness In Gameshttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/making-of-ethan-carter-firewatch#more-243319M Firewatch: hope and heartbreak in the Ameri…

1
Pollination 50:10

1M ago50:10

50:10

Since plants have to mate and produce offspring while rooted to the spot, they have to be pollinated – by wind, water, or animals – most commonly insects. They use a surprising array of tricks to attract pollinators: striking colours, iridescent light effects, and enticing scents, to name but a few. Insects, on the other hand, do not seek to pollin…

1
Finite Automata - What you need to know 26:13

1M ago26:13

26:13

Automata theory: it's a computational model study, focusing on finite automata (DFA and NFA) and push-down automata (PDA). The course explores regular languages, their properties and proofs of non-regularity using concepts like the pumping lemma and Myhill-Nerode theorem. Foundational mathematical concepts such as set theory, sequences, relations, …

1
Episode 29 - Tunic 49:44

1M ago49:44

49:44

Send us a text We scratch the surface of Tunic - a game that seems to always have more beneath the surface. We thank our patron Rick for choosing this wildly mysterious game.By Chris & Ryan Alley

1
Shamir's Secret: A PayPal Near-Disaster 8:21

1M ago8:21

8:21

This account recounts a nightmarish incident at PayPal where a flawed implementation of Shamir Secret Sharing, a cryptographic technique for distributing a secret key among multiple parties, nearly caused a catastrophic system failure. The author, a PayPal engineer, explains the process of Shamir Secret Sharing and how he implemented it to improve …

1
Final Fantasy VII Remake - Spikes, Bikes, and Suspenders 2:57:51

1M ago2:57:51

2:57:51

Use your items celebrates a year of recording by returning to the game that started it for them with Final Fantasy VII...REMAKE! Break down with us as we dig into the history of the remake, the character design, and the Nomura of it all! RPG history at your fingertips. Spoiler-free: 0:00-1:22 Spoilers: 1:23-end Credits Final Fantasy remakes sold se…

1
SLAP and FLOP: Apple Silicon Speculative Execution Attacks 15:33

2M ago15:33

15:33

SLAP and FLOP are two new speculative execution attacks targeting Apple's M-series chips. SLAP exploits the Load Address Predictor (LAP) to leak data by predicting incorrect memory addresses, while FLOP leverages the Load Value Predictor (LVP) to predict incorrect data values. Both attacks allow unauthorized access to sensitive information from web…

1
Subaru Starlink Security Flaw 10:51

2M ago10:51

10:51

Security researchers discovered and exploited a vulnerability in Subaru's Starlink connected car system. This flaw allowed unauthorized access to sensitive data, including vehicle location history, and control over features like door locks. The vulnerability stemmed from weaknesses in the Starlink admin panel, which was accessible using readily ava…

1
The Snatcher That Stole Christmas 2:09:31

2M ago2:09:31

2:09:31

Jason accuses a Snatcher of stealing Fran's body and impersonating him to access our excessive and gross podcast revenue. This time, we discuss the Kojima cult classic, Snatcher! Played on the Sega CD; we get into the details of cyberpunk, Snatcher's role in that genre, and some meta-narrative discussion of the game at large. Spoiler-Free: 0-1:04 S…

1
Hash Tables: Theory, Implementation, and Universal Hashing 16:14

3M ago16:14

16:14

In this episode, we explore hash tables, a data structure designed for efficient insertion, deletion, and searching of data using keys. The document contrasts direct addressing with hashing, highlighting the space efficiency of hash tables when dealing with large key universes. It discusses collision resolution techniques like chaining and open add…

1
Suffix Trees: Construction, Properties, and Applications 9:53

3M ago9:53

9:53

Today, we are exploring suffix trees, a data structure used for solving string problems.We begin with basic definitions related to strings and alphabets, then introduces suffix trees as compressed tries containing all suffixes of a given text. Applications include substring searching, finding repeated substrings, and data compression. The discussio…

1
Disjoint Sets: Data Structures and Algorithms 12:09

3M ago12:09

12:09

We discuss disjoint sets, also known as union-find data structures. Disjoint sets maintain collections of elements partitioned into non-overlapping sets, each with a representative element. Key operations include Make-Set (creating a new set), Find-Set (locating a set's representative), and Union (merging two sets). Different representations are ex…

1
B-Tree Data Structure: Search, Insertion, and Deletion 17:53

3M ago17:53

17:53

Jump in and discover the B-tree data structure, a fundamental tool for processing queries on one-dimensional data stored on disk. We explain how B-trees efficiently support range reporting, successor/predecessor searches, insertion, and deletion operations.By AmCan Tech

1
Nier: Automata, Episode 3: A Walk in the [P]ark 44:42

3M ago44:42

44:42

As we make our way through Nier Automata's post-apocalyptic world, we stumble upon an amusement park. Here we find some interesting wrinkles in how Automata frames its android vs. machine war and ponder if it succeeds in some of the ways we felt The Last of Us didn't. Enjoy the show!Become a Normandy FM patron:http://patreon.com/normandyfmFollow us…

1
Slime Moulds 51:30

3M ago51:30

51:30

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss slime mould, a basic organism that grows on logs, cowpats and compost heaps. Scientists have found difficult to categorise slime mould: in 1868, the biologist Thomas Huxley asked: ‘Is this a plant, or is it an animal? Is it both or is it neither?’ and there is a great deal scientists still don’t know about it. But de…

1
BioBit - Vigilance 55:04

3M ago55:04

55:04

BioWare has been hit with layoffs and reassignments as it pivots to Mass Effect 5, and that includes veteran talent that helped make the Dragon Age series what it is today. Ken and Eric sit down to try and figure out what it all means, ponder the future of the studio, and look toward our upcoming Veilguard season.Follow us on Bluesky:Normandy FM: @…

1
The Many Lies and Lives of INDIKA 1:37:56

3M ago1:37:56

1:37:56

CW: War, Sexual Abuse Jason and Fran talk religion, crime, and ethical perogatives when checking out INDIKA, indie masterpiece from 2024. Between bad, good, evil, sin, and virtue what is left to decide for ourselves? What does it mean to experience true nostalgia and absent fondness? What happens when we impose ourselves unto others? 0-46m Spoiler …

1
Tries: Data Structures for String Processing 15:45

3M ago15:45

15:45

A Trie, also known as a prefix tree, is a specialized tree-based data structure primarily used for efficiently storing and retrieving strings. Unlike traditional search trees where a node stores the entire key, each node in a trie represents a prefix shared by all its descendants. This unique structure facilitates fast search, insertion, and deleti…

1
Topological Sort and Strongly Connected Components 14:04

4M ago14:04

14:04

This podcast reviews key concepts related to Depth First Search (DFS) algorithm and its application in topological sorting and finding strongly connected components in graphs.By AmCan Tech

1
Episode 28 - Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes 1:11:11

4M ago1:11:11

1:11:11

Send us a text We brothers endeavor to relive the glory days of classic RPGs as we play the spiritual successor of the Suikoden games - the kickstarted game Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes. Does it rekindle the magic of the originals or does nostalgia do most of the heavily lifting to keep this adventure aloft?…

1
The Habitability of Planets 52:50

4M ago52:50

52:50

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss some of the great unanswered questions in science: how and where did life on Earth begin, what did it need to thrive and could it be found elsewhere? Charles Darwin speculated that we might look for the cradle of life here in 'some warm little pond'; more recently the focus moved to ocean depths, while new observatio…

1
ENDING [KH]: Nier Automata Final Ending 1:29:41

4M ago1:29:41

1:29:41

Fran and Jason cannot upload their data to the bunker. There is a problem with the uplink. ERROR-ERROR-ERROR-ERROR-ERROR-ERROR-ERROR Spoiler Free for about an hour Works Cited: https://www.theverge.com/2018/3/28/17173244/nier-automata-yoko-taro-interview-gdc-2018 Yoko Taro Predicts Metaphor Francisco is a game designer and engineer, while Jason bri…

1
ENDING [A]: Nier Automata 2:30:13

4M ago2:30:13

2:30:13

Fran and Jason upload their data to the Bunker talking about Nier Automata! Spoiler Free for about an hour Works Cited: https://www.theverge.com/2018/3/28/17173244/nier-automata-yoko-taro-interview-gdc-2018 Yoko Taro Predicts Metaphor Francisco is a game designer and engineer, while Jason brings a literary background to each game analysis as they p…

1
The Last MOLMF 1:20:23

4M ago1:20:23

1:20:23

Hey all, thanks for joining us along this journey for the last 9 years. We stared Men Of Low Moral Fiber when I was 30 years old and I just turned 39, so all of my 30s were consumed with recording MOLMF episodes, editing them, publishing, planning, scheduling, and playing the actual MOLMF games. It was exhausting and exhilarating and I'll never for…

1
QuickSort and Order Selection 14:08

5M ago14:08

14:08

This episode focuses on QuickSort, a divide-and-conquer sorting algorithm, comparing it to MergeSort, and analyzing its average and worst-case time complexities. It then explains the order selection problem, which involves finding the kth smallest element in a dataset, presenting several algorithms with varying time complexities and practical consi…

1
Recurrence Equations and Asymptotic Notation 19:30

5M ago19:30

19:30

This episodes presents methods for solving recurrence equations, which are crucial for analyzing the time complexity of recursive algorithms. It introduces asymptotic notations (Big O, Big Omega, Big Theta, little o, little omega) to describe the growth of functions. The lecture then explores several techniques for solving recurrences, including th…

1
The Antikythera Mechanism 50:35

5M ago50:35

50:35

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the 2000-year-old device which transformed our understanding of astronomy in ancient Greece. In 1900 a group of sponge divers found the wreck of a ship off the coast of the Greek island of Antikythera. Among the items salvaged was a corroded bronze object, the purpose of which was not at first clear. It turned out to…

1
BioBit: Dragon Age: The Veilguard Spoilercast feat. Ash Parrish and James Whitbrook 2:14:52

5M ago2:14:52

2:14:52

Now that folks are rolling credits on Dragon Age: The Veilguard, we wanted to take some time to break down our spoiler-filled overarching thoughts. Ken and Eric are joined by returning guests Ash Parrish and James Whitbrook as we talk about Rook, the ending, Varric, Solas, and all the other big reveals in The Veilguard. Think of it as an appetizer …

1
This is a Box; not a retrospective of Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty 2:32:08

5M ago2:32:08

2:32:08

We, uh, played a game called Metal Gear Solid 2. Or maybe it played us, jump in to find out. CW: 9/11 at 50m 0-1:05 Spoiler Free/History 1:06-End Spoilers and verdicts Works Cited: Metal Gear Solid 2 Grand Game Plan - Kojima (ping us for a copy) The Final Hours of Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty Super Bunnyhop MGS2 video Francisco is a game des…

1
Physics and Computer Science 12:31

5M ago12:31

12:31

The 2024 Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded to John Hopfield and Geoffrey Hinton for their foundational work on artificial neural networks (ANNs). The award citation highlights their contributions to machine learning, linking ANNs to concepts in physics, such as spin models and statistical mechanics. Hopfield's research focused on recurrent network…

1
Nier Automata, Episode 2: M[o]del Behavior 1:17:37

5M ago1:17:37

1:17:37

It's time to head back down to Earth as we learn more about what's happened in the world of Nier since the events of Replicant. This episode we talk the beginnings of the connections between games, how Automata uses UI for storytelling, and how we're feeling about the game's genre-blending. Enjoy the show!Become a Normandy FM patron:http://patreon.…

1
Combinatorics: Counting and Permutations 20:42

5M ago20:42

20:42

This episode focuses on fundamental counting principles. It covers the product rule, sum rule, and subtraction rule for counting the number of ways to perform tasks that can be broken down into subtasks. Additionally, it explores the pigeonhole principle, counting in two different ways, and the relationship between permutations and combinations.…

1
Episode 27 - The Secret of Monkey Island 54:11

6M ago54:11

54:11

Send us a text We pilot the lovably inept Guybrush Threepwood across a fictional version of the Caribbean to talk about the enduring charm of the 1990 point-and-click adventure The Secret of Monkey Island, our second from Lucasfilm Games.By Chris & Ryan Alley

1
Unlocking the Secrets of Sentential Logic 13:38

6M ago13:38

13:38

Dive into the fascinating world of sentential logic! In this episode, we explore the foundations of propositional logic, the art of constructing truth tables, and how logical connectives like "and," "or," and "not" shape our reasoning. Whether you're a philosophy enthusiast, a math lover, or just curious about how we break down complex arguments in…

1
Introduction to Graph Theory 19:44

6M ago19:44

19:44

This episode explores key concepts in graph theory, starting with fundamental definitions of graphs, vertices, and edges. The text then examines the handshake lemma and related theorems that deal with the relationship between vertex degrees and the number of edges in a graph.By AmCan Tech

1
The Gang Goes Scanning Again - Metroid Prime Remastered 2:48:56

6M ago2:48:56

2:48:56

Metroid Prime Remastered is a miraculous masterpiece and not enough can be said about it. We dive in to explore the history of the genre, the development, and the pacing of Tallon IV. 0-1:46 Spoiler Free/History 1:46-End Spoilers and verdicts Works Cited: DGC Ep 355: Metroid Prime Bonus Interview with Jack Mathews! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/pod…

1
Ep 90: Thank Goodness You're Here! - Unexpected Body Horror and Goop 1:26:46

6M ago1:26:46

1:26:46

This game is a delight. Hope you get a chance to check it out. Plus there aren't really any spoilers so feel free to listen then play it—it's only 3-4 hours anyway. Enjoy! After some bonding and bff-ing Corri and Ben finally get to talking about the game (10:00) before talking about the actual development shortly after and eventually getting the ga…

1
BioBit: Dragon Age: The Veilguard Review 1:54:39

6M ago1:54:39

1:54:39

Oh, hey. Don't know if y'all heard but a little game called Dragon Age: The Veilguard is out on October 31. Ken and Eric both got review copies for the game, and so we had to come together for a (spoiler-free, except for what BioWare has already talked about) review. We talk Rook, the party, the game's limited carry over from previous games, and th…

1
Wormholes 1:00:56

7M ago1:00:56

1:00:56

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the tantalising idea that there are shortcuts between distant galaxies, somewhere out there in the universe. The idea emerged in the context of Einstein's theories and the challenge has been not so much to prove their unlikely existence as to show why they ought to be impossible. The universe would have to folded bac…

1
Episode 26 - Sifu 45:30

7M ago45:30

45:30

Send us a text Ryan stops hitting his wing chun dummy to discuss Sifu with Chris. We discuss the desire within all mens' hearts to do kung-fu, and how we've settled for the immaculate combat system in this 2022 beat'em up game from Sloclap.By Chris & Ryan Alley

1
Nier Automata, Episode 1 - This Ca[n] Continue 52:44

8M ago52:44

52:44

We're back in the trenches of Nier, but things look a little different this time. It's time to start Nier Automata and unpack the apparent genre shift between the sequel and Replicant, 2B and 9S' dynamic, and how much better the game feels to play.Enjoy the show!Become a Normandy FM patron:http://patreon.com/normandyfmFollow us on Twitter:Normandy …

1
BioBit: We Played Dragon Age: The Veilguard 1:12:06

8M ago1:12:06

1:12:06

The boys got to go hands-on with Dragon Age: The Veilguard and talked with some of the developers at BioWare. In this BioBit, we talk about the many hours we got to play, our feelings on Rook, the action RPG pivot, the state of Dragon Age, and what the next two months mean for BioWare. Enjoy the show!Become a Normandy FM patron:http://patreon.com/n…

1
Ep 89: What The Golf? - This dumb game about golf is actually saying something 46:51

8M ago46:51

46:51

What the Golf!? If you like golf, you'll like this game. If you don't like golf, you'll LOVE this game. Seriously though, this game was great. Hope you get a chance to check it out! Thanks for subscribing to MOLMF! We really do appreciate you! If you enjoyed this episode please go rate and review it on iTunes or wherever else you're listening to it…

1
Episode 25 - Baldur's Gate 3, with Special Guests Jared and Jason 1:21:47

8M ago1:21:47

1:21:47

Send us a text We take a break from our usual format to revisit Baldur's Gate 3 with a second set of brothers. We chat about our Honour Mode close calls and how it changed the game for us. As this podcast plays, power courses through you. Authority.By Chris & Ryan Alley

1
Nier Replicant, Episode 13 - You Can (Not) Re[M]ake feat. Alex Donaldson 1:16:51

8M ago1:16:51

1:16:51

We finally finished Nier Replicant (until Ending E, which we'll be covering at the very end of the Nier season). It took us a lot longer than it was supposed to, but Alex Donaldson is here to help us unpack endings C and D as we finally prepare to head into Nier Automata.Enjoy the show!Become a Normandy FM patron:http://patreon.com/normandyfmFollow…

1
MOLMF Book Club: Nier Automata Pt.3 1:24:43

8M ago1:24:43

1:24:43

Welcome back to the MOLMF Book Club! Jason and Jim are back for their third and final book club episode all about the many playthroughs of Nier Automata. Hope you've enjoyed our first MOLMF Book Club. Hoping we'll be back at it again in soon with another limited series for ya. Thanks for subscribing to MOLMF! We really do appreciate you! If you enj…

1
Episode 14 14:24

9M ago14:24

14:24

Cara finally finds out where she is,By Tony Warner

1
Ep 88: Balatro - I Thought I Was Good At This Game 1:01:17

9M ago1:01:17

1:01:17

It's Gwent! It's Sabacc! It's Inscryption! Nope. It's Balatro!!! And boy howdy, is it a fun freaking game. If you like card games or deck builders, you'll probably fall in love with this delightful poker-adjascent game, just as we did. Give it a shot! Hope you enjoy our conversation about it... We chat about well, just about everything for a bit, t…

1
Bacteriophages 50:43

9M ago50:43

50:43

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the most abundant lifeform on Earth: the viruses that 'eat' bacteria. Early in the 20th century, scientists noticed that something in their Petri dishes was making bacteria disappear and they called these bacteriophages, things that eat bacteria. From studying these phages, it soon became clear that they offered coun…