Grant Rants: Recent Episodes
Grant Rants
Writer, history buff, pop culture enthusiast, and all-around everyman Grant Nordine takes you on a tour through whatever has been occupying his brain lately. Featuring interviews, recommendations, and jokes! For those who are interested in a variety of topics, presented by a charming host.
Fantasy First Friday, a Grant Rants tabletop RPG series with a rotating cast, posts on the first Friday of every month!
This month we are playing SATURDAY THE 14TH! An original situation for Call of Cthulhu! A team of investigators arrives the day AFTER a mass murder at a summer camp where nothing is as it seems. Will they survive the horrors that await them?
This month's players!
Chris Dunn as Melvin Jamison
Kaity Terry as Sgt. Meredith Leroy
Evanne Offenbacker as Sue Branson
Jenny Nordine as Detective Walker Ranger
Saturday the 14th was written by Rina Haenze and can be purchased at https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/405700/Saturday-the-14th?affiliate_id=2747247
This month we are PROUD to promote Slay the Stars! If you love cosmic fantasy and wonderful world-building, we highly recommend checking their show out at https://www.slaythestars.com/
We are honored this month to play BRAINS AND BRAWN by Fighter Guy Studios! Give them a follow on Twitter @FighterGuyStudio and support the game!
This month's cast:
Jenny Nordine as Pythia Delphino
Jacob Moore as Coach Cam Carmichael
Aaron Barry as Brad Bradley III
Brains and Brawn can be purchased at https://www.fighterguystudios.com
Grant ran into this list ESPN made of the 100 Greatest American Athletes of the 20th century and a certain entry on the list led him down a rabbit hole of athletics, horses, and how we rank said things. Listen in awe as Grant slowly loses his mind over this.
The movie Prey kicks ass and is a shining example of Native representation in media. In this episode, Grant breaks down the real history of the Comanche people the movie is based on, checks in on the historical accuracy of Prey, and makes an argument for more entertainment media to up their minority representation.
Welcome to the NEW edition of Game Master Monday! This month we play SPELLJAMMER for DnD 5e! A gang of thieves! A massive ship! An array of unusual passengers! This adventure's got it all!
This month's players:
Jenny Nordine as Bishoko (Plasmoid Druid)
Michael Childs as Draco Mouthstuff (Dragonborn Fighter)
Joel Ruud as Josette Hinez (Half Elf Rogue)
Grant turned 31 so he's going to rant about 31 things. All topics submitted by YOU the audience and curated by Ari!
In today's episode, Grant's wife Ari discusses her history with Mormonism, making art, and goes in depth about her brand new greeting card!
Follow Ari @byarisol on Instagram and visit her shop at linktr.ee/ByAriSol
Julae, Ferguson, and Maisie RETURN! The Sheep Gang conclude their Dnd 5e adventure! Following their adventure, we play the TTRPG module WORLD ENDING GAME! An addition created to help tie all the loose ends that naturally come with the conclusion of a fantastic adventure!
This month's players:
Jenny Nordine: Maisie Higgins (Half Orc Ranger)
Jacob Moore: Ferguson Tasmarian (Human Bard)
Aaron Barry: Julae Ward (Human Wizard)
World Ending Game was created by Everest Pipkin and can be pre-ordered at https://everestpipkin.itch.io/world-ending-game#:~:text=World%20Ending%20Game%20is%20a,over%2C%20the%20great%20mystery%20solved.
Is Bo Burnham's "Inside" actually a musical? Like, a MUSICAL musical? Grant sure has some thoughts about that.
Special thanks to: Ari, Joey Hines, Jesse Spooner, and Brandon Alan McClenahan for talking through this concept with me.
This month we play EXECUTIVE DECISION! A real time political strategy game that requires no outside tools or prep!
This month's cast:
"Percy" Thomas Louis: President Dick Richardson Premal Bhatt: Chief of Staff Thomas Nolan "Wayno" Way Thomas Gironda: Secratary of State Dr. Willie Fister
Executive Decision was written by Greg Stolze and be downloaded for free at http://www.gregstolze.com/downloads.html
We're playing Parsely! A tabletop RPG based on text adventure games of the 80s!
This month's cast:
Jenny Nordine
Parsely was created by Jacob A. Sorenson. Parsely contains 12 action-packed adventures including this month's game Six Gun Showdown and can be purchased at http://www.memento-mori.com/
The party from THE WILD SHEEP CHASE returns! They wake up in an unidentifiable land. What could possibly go wrong? This episode a'int for kids. No really. This month's cast: Jenny Nordine: Maisie Higgins (Half-orc Ranger) Jacob Moore: Ferguson Tasmerian (Human Bard) Aaron Barry: Julae Warde (Human Wizard)
Cinephile Joe Mateo and Prem Brulee host Premal Bhatt join Grant to discuss the 2022 Academy Awards! Who should win? Who WILL win? Who shouldn't be here? Are the Oscars even relevant anymore?
Grant and his friend Michael Childs swapped 28 albums to listen to over the course of February. Today they get together to discuss their lists, interests, and learning to like the music they wouldn't normally seek out.
We're playing TOGETHER AMONG THE STARS! A collaborative storytelling role-playing game by Takuma Okada!
This month's cast:
Joel Ruud as Joel Ruud
Together Among the Stars can is available for "pay what you want" download at https://noroadhome.itch.io/together-among-the-stars
Grant returns to his internship in hell and talks about more Presidents who are definitely down there.
Grant DMs What A Beautiful Wedding! A one-shot adventure for Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition! This month's cast: Berto Gonzalez: Cobtha Elor (Rogue Wood Elf) Charlie McDonald: Aldreth Jale (Druid Wood Elf) What A Beautiful Wedding was designed for Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition and was written by Grant Nordine.
Grant explains why he became so obsessed with finding new music and poses a challenge to the musically curious.
Grant is joined by Las Vegas band The Maybe Four for the band's FIRST EVER interview! https://www.instagram.com/themaybefour/ https://crescendunn.bandcamp.com/ https://russellchristian.bandcamp.com/ https://joeyhines.bandcamp.com/ https://open.spotify.com/album/4XYyIpA4VGTMHxPEKYLn0T?si=1OJdAvRrTbWe-Xt7TdFyQQ
Grant is joined by The Maybe Four to play Summer Break! Featuring: Chris Dunn as Rusty Joey Hines as Knox Manda Lyn as Molly Russell Christian as Gonzo https://www.instagram.com/themaybefour/ Summer Break is by Joey Barranco and can be found in The Ultimate Micro-RPG Book https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781507212868?aff=simonsayscom
Grant listened to a lot of music this year and then agonized over for a few weeks over organizing a "top 10" of all the albums he heard because of course he did.
CHECK OUT GRANT'S TOP ALBUMS ON SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3UF3G6VBze6gwYUJwMthzR?si=412ab4b2a5384d2a
Spiderman super fan and Hit Singhal host Akshat Singhal joins Grant to geek about Spiderman.
The grand debut of Grant & Jenny Nordine's new Table Top RPG God Bless Us, Everyone!
This month's players:
Michael Childs as Martha
Elizabeth Childs as Matthew
Ari as Peter
God Bless Us, Everyone was created by Grant & Jenny Nordine and can be downloaded for free at https://grantrants.itch.io/god-bless-us-everyone
If you so choose, you may also purchase the game. All proceeds will be sent to local charities.
Grant talks about one of his favorite holiday classics and discusses why the story has endured for nearly 200 years. There's also some shameless self-promotion in there.
Grant is GMing the one-sheet RPG Lasers and Feelings! This month's characters:
Thy Walker (Hot Shot Envoy)
Sir Fiddles (Alien Scientist)
Fat Tony "Blackjack" Razza (Dangerous Scientist)
Kermit (Dangerous Pilot)
Dr. Roscoe "Rock" De Francis II Jr. (Intrepid Doctor)
Lasers and Feelings was created by John Harper and can be downloaded at http://www.onesevendesign.com/laserfeelings/
Grant talked a big game when discussing the supernatural all year, so how does he fare when he has a haunted bear in his studio?
Grant talks about the strange and tragic history of the town of Tonopah and gets a little too worked up about a motel full of clowns.
Grant does a dive into some of history's most famous curses, why we keep coming up with curses and offers some strong opinions about a football stadium in Miami.
Grant is GMing the one sheet RPG The Witch Is Dead!
This Month's Players
Ari: Peter the Spider Michael Childs: Corvus Christi the Crow Jenny Nordine: Fluffy the Toad
The Witch is Dead was written by Grant Howitt and can be download for pay what you want at https://gshowitt.itch.io/the-witch-is-dead
Author and Lounge Writers founder Oksana Marafioti joins Grant to discuss her Las Vegas Writing Studio, the art of writing, and how to keep working on your craft even when you don't want to.
https://www.loungewriters.com/
Instagram: @loungewriters
Twitter: @lounge_writers
Follow Grant Rants on Instagram @grantrantspod
Ari returns to HOST Grant Rants! She's holding an interview with Grant himself to celebrate a year of Rants, ask Grant audience submitted questions, and discuss what happens next for the show.
I have a great idea.
Grant is DMing the Single Session Dungeons & Dragons 5e Add on The Wild Sheep Chase
This Month's Players:
Jenny Nordine as Magdaline "Maisie" Higgins (Half-Orc Ranger)
Aaron Barry as Julae Ward (Human Wizard)
Jacob Moore as Ferguson Tasmareon (Human Bard)
The Wild Sheep Chase is from Winghorn Press and authored by Richard Jansen-Parkes. It can be downloaded at https://www.dmsguild.com/product/170937
Grant tells you about the shows that give him the warm fuzzies and talks about the shows that give YOU the warm fuzzies. Real chill episode this one.
FANTASY FIRST FRIDAY IS HERE!
Today Grant is GMing the One-Sheet RPG Ah Dang! Mothman Won't Move Out! (He Said It Was Just for the Weekend!)
This Month's Players:
Thomas Louis as Slip Lick Berto Gonzalez as Bonifasio "Fasi" Raymond Charlie McDonald as Boof Doofus
Ah, Dang! Mothman Won't Move Out! (He Said It Was Just For The Weekend) is by Paul Matijevic and can be downloaded at https://ettin.itch.io/mothman
Grant spent a good portion of the pandemic learning about Dungeons and Dragons. He thinks its high time the world at large starts playing it too.
PREMIERING AUGUST 6TH!
Grant Rants Presents: Fantasy First Fridays
Grant spent the weekend watching the Space Jam movies on HBO Max. He also saw a tweet that got him riled up.
Grant just got a sweet new gig. He now gives tours in hell and tells you some of the awful things some of the most beloved presidents in history did.
Grant is once again joined by his wife Ari to read and react to excerpts from the CIA's declassified documents on UFOs. They also seem convinced that the CIA will eventually start their own podcast. LINKS TO THE DOCUMENTS IN TODAY'S EPISODE: https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/docs/DOC_0000015474.pdf VETERAN SWEDISH AIRMEN OBSERVE, DESCRIBE DISK-SHAPED AIRCRAFT OVER SKAAN E https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/docs/DOC_0000098713.pdf POLICE OFFICERS SPOT UFO; RAPID REACTION FORCE ALERTED https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/docs/DOC_0000015464.pdf 'FLYING SAUCERS' IN EAST GERMANY
Prem Brulee host Premal Bhatt joins Grant to discuss the daunting task of maintaining a sense of positivity during one of the shittiest years in history.
Prem Brulee: https://open.spotify.com/show/4ThoFGaO0Ultu6X6MRLXnv?si=dSyeRoUPRom6ZWHa4pJkLg&dl_branch=1
Prem Brulee 'Guy Talk' episode focused on mental health: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7cJ5Hpz23OYRfNEvL46KNU?si=neNYkIyIQyaKQ5sMcCZjWA&dl_branch=1
Prem Brulee 'Domestic Violence in Sports' https://open.spotify.com/episode/0y9Zfl1Qm9nLrUNf2QJOrD?si=QydJy5kJS8qtOJF4dCgOug&dl_branch=1
Pride Month just got started and Grant wanted to make a desperate plea to those who feel torn between religion and allyship. Shit's heavy.
Oops haven't posted since April. Anyway here's some "so bad they're good" movies that Grant really likes and wants you to watch. What else are ya gonna do, go outside?
Grant somehow secured an interview with Amanda Poker, a Hercules beetle expert operating in Japan, to talk about the ins and outs of underground beetle fighting.
Mario Paint style music composer and Grant's sister Jenny joins the show to discuss her favorite band Daft Punk.
Hit Singhal host Akshat Singhal joins Grant to talk about some of the shows they've binged now that they can't leave their houses. They also gush about WandaVision in particular. Like for a WHILE.
Podcasters Drew Steele and Berto Gonzalez join Grant to talk about their favorite elements, artists, and albums in the hip hop genre.
Grant's wife Ari makes her second appearance on the show to read cringy date stories from you! Yes! YOU!
Grant and Thom went off topic a lot while recording their episode of Alternate Jersey. So Grant saw an opportunity to crank out more content. Listen to the episode to help him sell and out and justify his lazy creative decisions.
Grant listened to a lot of music this year and then agonized for a few weeks over organizing a "top 10" of all the albums he heard because of course, he did.
Grant invites attorney at law Thomas Gironda to debate if Die Hard is actually a Christmas movie. These are the kinds of things Grant talks to lawyers about.
Grant is joined by singer/songwriter Joey Hines to discuss his latest full-length album "Hines Sight" "Hines Sight" can be streamed at: BANDCAMP: https://bit.ly/2WfIEm8 SPOTIFY: https://spoti.fi/2WptjQp APPLE MUSIC: https://apple.co/3oO50Yj AMAZON: https://amzn.to/3aczP4T YOUTUBE: https://bit.ly/3a9LykU
Las Vegas actor Aaron Barry joins Grant to talk about their shared interest in game shows.
AaronBarryForJeopardy
Grant watched all the Peanuts Holidays specials in one sitting so he could make this episode.
Grant has a lot of thoughts about a thing that happened nearly 200 years ago and thinks it pertains to a thing that happened nearly two weeks ago. He talks about it a lot. Probably best to hear him out.
The Quacks musician and runner of moths_masks on Instagram Shelley Moth joins Grant to talk about the history of Halloween masks, underrated horror flicks and discusses their unpopular opinions on the Halloween franchise.
Grant shares some his friend's ghost experiences and expounds on the art of the ghost story.
Grant talks about all the shit the Lincoln family had to go through. Abraham Lincoln might also be a ghost.
Instagram Artist and Real Housewives enthusiast Ari Solache (Grant's wife) joins the show to talk about spooky movies, famous monsters, tell ghost stories, and play a rousing game of F/M/K
Oh, boy Grant's talking about musicals. Good thing he has this show or he'd probably like, post this on Twitter or something.
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist/Play Therapy Supervisor Janet Nordine (aka Grant's Mom) joins the show to talk about growing up in Las Vegas and old ladies in caves.
Grant introduces the show. Consider it the thesis statement for how Grant Rants will operate.