Texas Steampunk Connection

recorded September 4, 2024 Asia has always had a rich tapestry of cultures that are often a mystery to western audiences. Add to that the embrace of the steampunk aesthetic and you may have discovered SilkPunk. Writer Ken Liu coined the term as a multicultural Steampunk label. Let's chat about it! the Dandelion Dynasty - Ken Liu The SEA Is Ours: Tales of Steampunk Southeast Asia - Nghi Vo Gunpowder Alchemy - Jeannie Lin the Windup Girl - Paolo Bacigalupi Tales of the Far West - Gareth-Michael Skarka Jani and the Greater Game - Eric Brown

recorded August 21, 2024 Tonight we are joined with accomplished leatherworker and long time steampunk, Lauren Bonneau. If you've ever thought to make your own leather goods but have questions, we're here for um. Ms. Bonneau's work may inspire you to just jump in. Free armor patterns, essays, discourse at The Armour Archive  Lauren's tiktok 

recorded July 6, 2024 A macguffin, an object serving merely as a trigger for a plot, is a common literary device. What macguffins do we find in Steampunk stories? Are they different than other genres?  Getting a little meta this time. Let's talk about it.  

recorded July 23, 2024 How do animals fit into your steampunk vision? What animals are the most steampunk? What animals can we see in Steampunk media? From family pets to big game, we're going to talk about animals! Steampunk Tea Duelling Rules Nantes Mechanical Elephant Little Nemo Adventures in Slumberland

recorded July 9, 2024 As the forebearer of Steampunk, what place does Cyberpunk play in out collection of stories, styles, and themes? What do we think of a future without 'retro? Lets Talk about it. Max Headroom: 20 Minutes into the Future https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092402/ Johnny Mnemonic https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0113481/ Rita's link: YMYW https://yourmindyourworld.com/

recorded June 11, 2024 It started out so innocent, learning about a Victorian confection, the Penny Lick. Which apparently was a disease vector, which lead to epidemics and death due to terrible sanitation, not just despite, but because of the invention of indoor plumbing. What a wild disgusting ride. Dangers of Victorian Penny Licks Dubious Victorian Cures 

recorded June 11, 2024 We've covered a lot of aspects of steampunk on this show. This week Jack asked what do we wish was included that we've not seen. What would you like to see in 'the scene' that you haven't? What could make steampunk more compelling, more interesting? Let's have a bit of a brainstorm, for fun.

recorded May 28, 2024 Summer is a great time to build your Steampunk kit but budgets are very tight. Between Shein, Temu, and Alibaba, what are the risks ordering from China? Tonight you can learn from our mistakes, and get some advice on finding the quality stuff from overseas. 

recorded May 14, 2024 Diverging from our punk series, tonight we discuss post-apocalyptic stories that we call steampunk, why are they SP, how are they different from more historical SP? And is there a sub genre 'punk for this?

recorded April 30, 2024 Continuing our punk series, tonight we explore the wild west of Steampunk. What makes Steampunk in America different than in Britain? Dust Punk and Weird West have a lot to offer the Steampunk genre. Lets talk about it. Burke’s Peerage lists U.K. nobles and titles Native Steampunk with Michael RedTurtle: A Personal Essay The Clockwork Century Series 

We're home from the the big spring event for Texas Steampunks, and it's time for a debrief. Let's chat with producer, Johnny "Starship" Steverson about the successes and challenges and secrets for what's to come.

recorded April 2, 2024 Continuing our punk series, tonight we explore how literary horror has crept and scuttled its way into the Steampunk scene. Weird Fiction- late 19th, early 20th cent. Supernatural fiction blending sci-fi, gothic fiction, folk tales, romanticis, ghost stories, and fantasy while avoiding genre tropes, and making them... weird. Edgar Allen Poe Cosmic Horror- Themes of Detachment and Isolation, the Unknown, the Fragility of Sanity, pointlessness of human existence, and Visceral Textures (like tentacles). HP Lovecraft The oldest and strongest emotion of mankind is fear, and the oldest and strongest kind of fear is fear of the unknown. -HPL  

recorded March 19, 2024 Tonight we begin a series on punk genres by diving into the Dieselpunk, or Petrolpunk, theme. How is it distinguished from Steampunk? What are some examples? Where lies the 'punk'?  

recorded March 5, 2024 "What's with those goggles?" Have you been in a "Steampunk 101" lecture at any convention with a steampunk track? Near all of us have. But how would you boil down the length and breadth of our hobby(s) to a succinct message to curious normies? Tonight we will struggle over this topic while we share a drink and idle banter. Another writer's take  and another  Bonus: Bluestocking's SP music essentials 

recorded February 20, 2024 Johnny Starship has new surprises for Galveston Steampunk Fest including plans for Tx Steampunk Connection! And we have the usual brews, news, and drivel. Also Thax's birthday. Galveston Steampunk Festival Intergalactic Krewe of Chewbacchus  Galveston Pirate Museum

recorded February 6, 2024 Tonight special guests, Janie Mitcham and Jo Gill of the League-Kempner House nonprofit tell us about restoring this victorian mansion in Galveston, Texas, into a historic museum. If you like home renovation shows like This Old House, this is the episode for you! League-Kempner House website  YouTube channel 

recorded January 23, 2024 January has flown by with Texas winter weather. Tonight Jack found that movie producers insist Steampunk is dead and trying to bill something as SP is a death sentence. But is this true? Let's talk about it.

recorded January 9, 2024 First transmission of the year! Jack has a birthday! And Johnny Steverson, producer of the Galveston Steampunk Festival, has joined us to share what's new with the fest, including some details shared here for the first time! This cold will not last, and it's time to make plans for warmer days! Galveston Steampunk Festival 

recorded December 26, 2023 Day after Christmas and we're a little fried. Laura Meyer's new book has reached it's goal and she celebrates with us. We just yammer for a while at the end of the year, happy that you're with us. 

recorded December 12, 2023 Laura Meyer returns tonight with her latest book, The Halloween Collection, that gives insight into costumes and cosplay building from experts of the craft. The Halloween Collection: Costume and Cosplay Techniques