What an amazing podcast! Mother 1 is a game dear to my heart, and it’s beautiful to see Cat and Jess flesh it out in such a thoughtful and entertaining way. And big shoutout to Jess for posting the videos of her playthrough, those are super fun! Love your wry commentary - and was astounded when after completing the objective at Duncan “Destroyer of Souls” Factory, you kept exploring it more! A real trooper of retro gaming!

I have been a diehard fan of the MOTHER series for 14 years, and never have I encountered such a transformative, provocative, and entertaining fanwork as “Mother,” She Wrote. Every facet of this production oozes an unyielding passion for the series and popular culture as a whole, from the immersive and engaging audio dramas, to the in-depth analyses of MOTHER’s themes, influences, history, localization, and beyond. On a more personal note, MOTHER’s themes of unconditional love and unwavering belief in the human spirit have helped me withstand the darkest moments of my life. Yet the unique perspectives presented by Cat, Jess, and their many guests have led me to appreciate the series in more ways than I ever considered. This show is a must for all existing MOTHER fans and all those wanting to learn more about this touchstone of modern popular culture.

There really is something special about the way the mother series conveys the story. From charming characters to fourth wall breaks to… implications… it really is a beautiful game and this podcast reminded me that you are playing games, not to beat them, but immerse yourself in them. (And Poo’s almost as strong a death laser.) This podcast is SMAAAASHING!

When I was young, I like to play earthbound and I forgot about it for a very long time until like two months ago when I finally got into it, your podcast really helped me because I forgot about earthbound till then and now I’m playing earthbound beginnings with my friend and you’re just really helping me. Thank you.

So far I love the podcast I’m only on the second episode, but if any of you guys have listened to Nightingale, then I think that you guys will agree with me because the black cloud over the mountain I think that it’s the darkness not sure but maybe. Also this game seems like a very weird game Thanks Raegan Thank you guys soooo much for the shout out I was getting my Halloween costume together an I just completely freaked out!!!!!!

I am not a gamer by any means and I don’t play this game but wow is this interesting! Makes me want to play! But I don’t have a Nintendo!😔

I’m going through a tough time in my life right now. I am a long time fan of the Mother series. This has been an oasis for me! Thank you for creating this podcast!

This podcast has it all: -Deep analysis -High production value -One of the best video game series of all time, Mother/EarthBound -Two great hosts -goofs I binged the whole thing and am eagerly waiting for the next episode!

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Can’t wait for more episodes. I could listen to them talk about these games forever!

I'll admit that I wasn't entirely certain what to expect from Mother She Wrote, since the premise is so absolutely niche. Audio drama reenactments of a cult videogame? Detailed analyses of the game as an experience AND as a cultural phenomenon? A new original soundtrack in the style of the original Nintendo music? There's just so much happening here! I'm a huge fan of Cat Blackard's other work on Call of Cthulu Mystery Program, but I was still completely blown away by what she and Jessica Mudd have accomplished in MSW! The audio drama sections are compelling and polished, the conversations are fascinating and meticulously researched, and the music underlying all of it is delightful and often quite moving! It's also often laugh-out-loud funny: MINNIE: "Why is that crow smoking a cigarette?" CROW (in background): *squack!* *Cough* *Cough* MOM: "Okay, we're playing *inside* today!" Something about Jess's delivery of that last line just cracks me up every time I hear it! Mother She Wrote is an ambitious but accessible exploration of the Earthbound/Mother series that is fascinating and enjoyable even if--like me-- you have never played the original games! It's unlike anything else out there in the best possible ways! You owe it to yourself to check it out!

Listening to this was like receiving a belated Christmas present! The production values and vocal deliveries were immaculate; the hosts' prowess over this medium was immediately made plain to see (or rather, hear.) I had assumed that the "diary" in question would be written from your point of view as a player. That angle would surely have been serviceable, but I was delighted to be greeted with a serialized audio drama adaptation, whose events are grippingly recounted by a charmingly characterized Ninten. I dare say this is the best auditory retelling of a MOTHER game since "Fobbies are Borange". Speaking of Starmen.net, I was excited by Cat's experience as a veteran of the website’s heyday. No doubt she have amassed over many years a great deal of talking points pertaining to MOTHER and the community that blossomed around it. And what a better person to compliment a series “oldhead” and balance out the podcast than a (relative) newcomer! I look forward to hearing Jess’s reactions to the games, especially in the case of the divisive first installment. In spite of their differing histories with MOTHER, it is clear to me that the two of them are both astute and erudite individuals. They really have their fingers on the pulse of the games, and I admire the duo's capacity to relate them to other works of art and note their possible intertextuality. Among the podcast’s highlights were the moments in which the impressionistic storytelling at hand was highlighted, evoking what could not be portrayed within the technological limits. I was already aware of Itoi’s desire to answer the question of, “If Steven Spielberg created an RPG, what would it be like?” but hadn't considered how readily certain scenes in the game lend themselves to cinematic adaptation. It’s great stuff, and I hope they continue to make such intriguing observations. This will go down in my book as one of the great projects to come out of the MOTHER community. Best of luck for this 11/10 podcast!

Come for the story and stay for the fun, puns, and smashing home runs.