Why did Xbox make a South of Midnight Documentary?
South of Midnight is an upcoming title from Compulsion Games published by Xbox, so why are they releasing a documentary? Follow along as Danny and Riana discuss this approach to showing how (and why) this game is being made. Are you excited about South of Midnight? What other titles would you like to see a documentary about? Got feedback for the show or want to ask Danny & Riana a question? R...
24m Nov 13, 2024
24m
Quick Update About The Podcast
Danny and Riana shares an update about the podcast.
6m Nov 10, 2024
6m
Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl Review
Netflix invited Riana to an exclusive early screening of the new animated film, Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl. Here's her spoiler-free review. Got feedback for the show or want to ask Danny & Riana a question? Reach out at http://www.dannyandriana.com/contact or hit us up on socials: Twitter/X @godfree (http://x.com/godfree) @RianaTweetsNow (http://x.com/rianatweetsnow) Instagram @godf...
15m Oct 28, 2024
15m
Prime Video's Secret Level: New World: Aeternum Preview & The Future of Gaming TV Shows
Prime Video's highly anticipated series, Secret Level, is on the horizon and Danny has seen a preview of the New World: Aeternum episode! Join us as we break down his spoiler free preview, discuss what does and doesn't work about these videos game adaptations, and share what we're excited for in the remaining episodes. Are you excited about Secret Level? Which release strategy do you think wor...
27m Oct 16, 2024
27m
5 Tips to Get a Job In Video Games
This episode is a hit list of Danny and Riana's best advice for landing a job in video games,  whether you're an artist, developer, designer, or still figuring it out! These top 5 tips from our 30+ years of industry experience will help you prepare for a successful career in games and increase your chances of landing your dream job. Got feedback for the show or want to ask Danny & Riana a ques...
30m Oct 09, 2024
30m
Google Notebook LM: AI Game-Changer for Content Creators & Small Business Owners
In this episode, Danny and Riana explore the new Google Notebook LM AI tools in real time! We'll hear their honest first impressions as they listen to an AI podcast discussing their consulting deck, and get their thoughts on this tool's practical applications for content creation and small business operations. #businessowner #contentcreator #freelance #career #podcast Got feedback for the sho...
24m Oct 03, 2024
24m
OMG! We Flew A Cirrus Vision SF50 Jet!
Danny and Riana have been on their fair share of press trips, but this one takes the top spot! Thank you to Xbox and the team at Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 for sponsoring this unforgettable trip to the Grand Canyon! Not only did we see this wonder up close and personal, we saw it in the sim and from the sky! Listen for our thoughts on the most ambitions game from Xbox this year, and what i...
23m Sep 19, 2024
23m
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Open Beta Impressions
Danny and Riana both love to play shooters, and they are ready to talk details on the upcoming Black Ops 6! Hear their thoughts after spending time in the closed and open betas, what they like, and what they hope to see more of in the full game's release. Also, we get a quick bonus topic of favorite shooters over the years! Got feedback for the show or want to ask Danny & Riana a question? Rea...
26m Sep 13, 2024
26m
Unveiling Our Hidden Talents
In this lighthearted episode, Danny and Riana discuss their hidden talents. Danny shares his talent for fixing and building things, his business acumen as a kid, and his passion for video production. Riana talks about her lifelong love for dance, from ballet to jazz to Latin dance, and her talent for singing. They reminisce about their past projects and performances, showcasing their diverse sk...
19m Aug 28, 2024
19m
What Should Be Free in an Ideal World?
For this conversation, Danny and Riana polled their audience on what things they wish were available for free. Sharing their own opinions as well, they also theorize how these things would be paid for and the impact of voting - either in local politics or with your wallet. Bringing it back to games, they also examine the balance between the cost of games and supporting developers and the import...
26m Aug 21, 2024
26m
The End of What's Good Games
Last week, the hosts of What's Good Games announced that they will soon be airing their series finale of video game news, commentary, analysis, and funny stuff after seven years and over 375 episodes. In this episode of the Danny & Riana Show, Riana reflects on her time as both a fan and a member of What's Good Games, and shares how the show, its community, and her cohosts have changed her life...
23m Aug 14, 2024
23m
How To Get A Job In Games
It's our first Danny & Riana Show interview! Today we're chatting with Dani Wallace, a game dev who has taken a much more traditional route in her career than our humble hosts have. Follow along as Dani retraces her deliberate steps into the industry and learn more about the hands-on side of working in games. Poll of the week: Did your career take a straightforward path? Yup - from school to j...
23m Jul 31, 2024
23m
We Find Out Where Are All The Black People?
During Riana's daily "nap trap" scrolling, she came across an interesting event headline asking Where Are All The Black People? Out of curiosity, she clicked to learn more and discovered a premiere LA diversity in advertising event from The One Club! In this episode, we'll relive Riana's conference experience and hear from her and Danny on the importance of making new professional connections. ...
23m Jul 25, 2024
23m
Living Big While Saving Money
After buying a house, getting married, having a kid, and leaving behind full-time work, Danny & Riana are living even more lavishly than before - but how? In this episode, we get a peek behind the curtain of how these entrepreneurs are managing their money and saving for the long term all while living their rich lives to the fullest. Poll of the week: Are you happy with your finances? Yes No W...
24m Jul 17, 2024
24m
A Gen X and Millennial Have Their First Kid
In this episode Danny and Riana are getting personal again - this time talking about their journey into parenthood. Strap in for some real talk about what not to say to expecting parents, the challenges of having your first kid in your 30s and 40s, and advice for anyone considering adding to their family unit. Plus, a very special guest makes a (partial) appearance! Got feedback for the show o...
40m Jul 10, 2024
40m
Going Independent pt.2 Co-Owners and Co-Parents
It's been 4 months since Danny & Riana launched their business, and in this episode they're sharing details on how they're making it work! From daily schedules to finding clients to how the heck you get anything done without childcare, we're unpacking our early lessons learned and leaving some advice for anyone out there considering striking out on their own. Housekeeping! We'll be taking next...
34m Jun 27, 2024
34m
Things To Do Summer 2024
Summer is here and we're talking about all the things we can't wait to do with our new family! In this episode, Danny and Riana discuss their summer wishlists for travel, movies, tv, and games and give tips for new parents on how to fit it all in. What's on your summer to-do list? Got feedback for the show or want to ask Danny & Riana a question? Reach out at www.dannyandriana.com/contact or h...
38m Jun 19, 2024
38m
Biggest Summer Game Fest 2024 Trends
We're back from Summer Game Fest 2024 and breaking down our experience! Hear what it was like for mom & dad to cover the biggest weekend in gaming news. Plus, Danny and Riana break down the biggest trends they saw across all of the announcements and forecast what they think we can expect from the future of gaming. Poll of the week: Did you see anything announced at Summer Game Fest that surpri...
38m Jun 13, 2024
38m
Why is Summer Game Fest So Important?
If you follow gaming at all, you e probably heard of E3. But since 2020 there's been an astronomical rise of the new big gaming event in town, Summer Game Fest. Why do we (and thousands of other content creators, games media, and fans) gather in LA each June to watch presentations and play games from publishers of all sizes? Danny & Riana talk about their reasons in this episode and list a few ...
35m Jun 06, 2024
35m
Vice or Value? Consuming Content in Uncertain Times
Our dollars don't go as far as they used to, and we are seeing layoff after layoff in multiple industries. When the economy feels so strained, how do we decide what to watch and play? In this week's episode, Danny and Riana discuss what gamers want and how we choose where to spend our money. Poll of the week: do you choose between game, movie, or TV content to save money? Yes No N/A (It's My J...
36m May 30, 2024
36m
Going Independent
In this very vulnerable episode, Riana shares the reasoning behind her big life change. Follow along as Danny and Riana open up about leaving their traditional careers behind, going all-in on their business, and betting on their own future. Poll of the week: Is full-time work a sure thing? Yes No Not these days Got feedback for the show or want to ask Danny & Riana a question? Reach out at ww...
37m May 22, 2024
37m
What Makes A Great Handheld?
Danny and Riana are back with a life update and an in-depth discussion about handheld consoles and what makes them great. Follow along as we recall what we loved (and hated) about handhelds of the past and present, and look ahead to what we hope to see in future handhelds from Nintendo and Xbox. Poll of the week: How do you prefer to play games? Handheld Console Mobile PC Got feedback for the...
50m May 15, 2024
50m
Hades 2 Technical Test Impressions
This week Danny and Riana go hands-on with Hades 2! The Hades series is one of the first games this duo played side-by-side, and the hype for the sequel is REAL! We also discuss what a technical test even is, why game studios "release" games before they're finished, and how we hope to cover gaming reviews on this channel. Poll of the week: Are you excited for Hades 2? Yes No I still need to pl...
34m Apr 25, 2024
34m
Video Game Adaptations
Since we can't stop thinking about the Fallout TV series, this week let's continue our video game adaptation conversation! We talk about our favorite adaptations over the years, what we think made them successful, and where others fell short. We also offer our industry insider perspective on why there are so many new video game adaptations coming out right now, and briefly discuss our most anti...
37m Apr 17, 2024
37m
The Fallout TV Series Review (Non-Spoiler)
Danny and Riana's non-spoiler review of the Fallout TV Series. Poll of the week: Are you going to watch the Fallout TV series? Yes No Got feedback for the show or want to ask Danny & Riana a question? Reach out at http://www.dannyandriana.com/contact or hit us up on socials: Twitter/X @godfree (http://x.com/godfree) @RianaTweetsNow (http://x.com/rianatweetsnow) Instagram @godfree (http://inst...
23m Apr 10, 2024
23m
Are Marketing Events Still Relevant?
Video game studios used to shell out big bucks for larger-than-life convention hall booth displays and all-expenses-paid international invite-only hands-on preview events like it was nothing. Today, Danny and Riana attend everything from parties to behind-closed doors to red-carpet premiers for video games, movies, and TV shows. What makes an event worth the time and effort? What trends and cha...
43m Apr 03, 2024
43m
Do Reviews Matter?
Professional reviews are part of our day-to-day business, but how much do they matter, really? Are critic scores more important than general audience scores? Does a Metacritic or Rotten Tomatoes number impact how future business is conducted for the companies releasing media? We discuss all of this and more in this reality-check episode. Poll of the week: should media reviews have numbered sco...
34m Mar 27, 2024
34m
Is AI Taking Over?
"Artificial Intelligence" has been around for ages, but over the last few years, we've seen a quantum leap in the applications of AI technology. What are the implications of creating an "original" song written by a bot that mimics a real person's voice with the click of a button? How do artists protect their livelihoods when their work is reproduced by a phone app? We tackle these questions, lo...
33m Mar 20, 2024
33m
How Bad Is Your Backlog?
Between the newest Netflix series buzz, hit movies, and must-play games everyone is talking about, it's hard to keep up with content these days. Since part of our jobs is staying up-to-date on everything we have to find a way to make it work. Listen in as we discuss how we do it, what we're enjoying now, and what we're looking forward to adding to the top of our lists next. Poll of the week: w...
32m Mar 13, 2024
32m
Tips for Traveling With A Baby
Episode 5 | Tips for Traveling With A Baby Driving from LA to Las Vegas and flying from Burbank to Montana within 2 weeks with a 3-month-old baby was a learning experience for Danny & Riana, to say the least! Hear them recount their adventures of back-to-back travel with an infant from the DICE Summit to a snow-covered family cabin and hear their tips for making family trips as seamless as poss...
58m Mar 06, 2024
58m
Physical vs. Digital Media
Vinyl, VHS, and floppy discs are harder to come by these days as digital downloads have replaced nearly everything we watch, listen to, or read. Have advancements in technology actually made entertainment better? Are we happier paying for convenience rather than permanence? Danny & Riana discuss these questions and more in this in-depth discussion about physical vs. digital media. Poll of the ...
44m Feb 28, 2024
44m
Growing Up Gaming
For Danny it was the Atari 2600. For Riana it was the NES Action Set. These two lovenerds have been gaming their whole lives. Take a sidequest down memory lane and reminisce over gaming throughout the decades. Poll of the week: Which decade did you start gaming? 80's 90's 00's 2010's Got feedback for the show or want to ask Danny & Riana a question? Reach out at http://www.dannyandriana.com/c...
48m Feb 21, 2024
48m
Our Love Story
Episode 2 | Our Love Story It all started with a DM, and the rest is history! In this special Valentine's Day episode, you'll hear the play-by-play recollection of Danny & Riana's love story from how they met on Twitter to walking down the aisle just 1 month after buying their first house together! Got feedback for the show or want to ask Danny & Riana a question? Reach out at www.dannyandria...
41m Feb 14, 2024
41m
Meet Danny & Riana!
Episode 1 | Meet Danny & Riana! Danny Peña and Riana Manuel-Peña have worked in the games industry for a combined 30+ years, but they didn't always work in games! Learn more about "gaming's power couple," where they've been, and what inspired them to make this brand-new show in this intimate introduction. Got feedback for the show or want to ask Danny & Riana a question? Reach out at www.dann...
28m Feb 14, 2024
28m
The Danny and Riana Show Trailer
Danny Peña (http://x.com/godfree) and Riana Manuel-Peña (http://x.com/rianatweetsnow) have lived and worked in the games industry for a combined 30+ years. What have they learned in that time? Life (like gaming) is better together! Join them on their journey through gaming conferences, red carpet events, baby milestones, marriage hurdles, and the occasional work update. Play along with game re...
1m Feb 09, 2024
1m