S6 E16 | David and Andy get together to discuss the relationship of the Sacred Realm to the Spirit Realm. HOST: David Geisler GUEST: Andy Barney DIRECTED AND PRODUCED BY DAVID GEISLER | WRITTEN BY DAVID GEISLER AND ANDY BARNEY | EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: DAVID GEISLER | EDITOR: DAVID GEISLER | SOUND DESIGNER: DAVID GEISLER THIS EPISODE FEATURES MUSIC BY MIKEL & GAMECHOPS, TITLED "THE LEGEND OF ZELDA" AS WELL AS "KAKARIKO VILLAGE" FROM THE ALBUM "ZELDA & CHILL" AVAILABLE ON APPLE MUSIC AND YOUTUBE. COPYRIGHT 2023 SIXFIVE MEDIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THE VIEWS INFORMATION, OR OPINIONS EXPRESSED DURING ANOTHER ZELDA PODCAST ARE SOLELY THOSE OF THE INDIVIDUALS INVOLVED AND DO NOT NECESSARILY REPRESENT THOSE OF SIXFIVE MEDIA AND ITS EMPLOYEES.

S6 E15 | Kady and David talk about some of their favorite monsters in the Legend of Zelda series. HOSTS: Kady Roberts, David Geisler DIRECTED AND PRODUCED BY DAVID GEISLER | WRITTEN BY DAVID GEISLER AND KADY ROBERTS | EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: DAVID GEISLER | EDITOR: DAVID GEISLER | SOUND DESIGNER: DAVID GEISLER THIS EPISODE FEATURES MUSIC BY MIKEL & GAMECHOPS, TITLED "THE LEGEND OF ZELDA" AS WELL AS "KAKARIKO VILLAGE" FROM THE ALBUM "ZELDA & CHILL" AVAILABLE ON APPLE MUSIC AND YOUTUBE. COPYRIGHT 2023 SIXFIVE MEDIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THE VIEWS INFORMATION, OR OPINIONS EXPRESSED DURING ANOTHER ZELDA PODCAST ARE SOLELY THOSE OF THE INDIVIDUALS INVOLVED AND DO NOT NECESSARILY REPRESENT THOSE OF SIXFIVE MEDIA AND ITS EMPLOYEES.

S6 E14 | David and Kady get togther to talk about the making of Breath of the Wild. HOSTS: David Geisler, Kady Roberts DIRECTED AND PRODUCED BY DAVID GEISLER | WRITTEN BY DAVID GEISLER AND KADY ROBERTS | EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: DAVID GEISLER | EDITOR: DAVID GEISLER | SOUND DESIGNER: DAVID GEISLER THIS EPISODE FEATURES MUSIC BY MIKEL & GAMECHOPS, TITLED "THE LEGEND OF ZELDA" AS WELL AS "KAKARIKO VILLAGE" FROM THE ALBUM "ZELDA & CHILL" AVAILABLE ON APPLE MUSIC AND YOUTUBE. COPYRIGHT 2023 SIXFIVE MEDIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THE VIEWS INFORMATION, OR OPINIONS EXPRESSED DURING ANOTHER ZELDA PODCAST ARE SOLELY THOSE OF THE INDIVIDUALS INVOLVED AND DO NOT NECESSARILY REPRESENT THOSE OF SIXFIVE MEDIA AND ITS EMPLOYEES.

by Nik Cabezas Nik explores the origin of the Demon King, Demise, and the possible reason for his existence. Before Breath of the Wild (and, subsequently, Tears of the Kingdom) came along, I had a more difficult time choosing my favourite Zelda game. Anytime this question was brought up, I answered with either Ocarina of Time, Twilight Princess, or Skyward Sword, usually depending on whichever one I had played last. Out of the three, Skyward Sword tends to be the more polarizing one, but I have always loved it–so much so that I once played through it eight times back to back! While I understand some of the criticism it gets, something that allows me to overlook its flaws is how much lore it brings to the table. As the first game in the series canon, it needs to tell some semblance of an origin story and answer a lot of questions, which I would argue it does very well. For instance, possibly the biggest question it answers is the nature of the evil that returns time after time to threaten Hyrule. Ganon, of course, is the most common example, but it all goes back to the Demon King who started it all: Demise. Now, don’t get me wrong; I love me some Ganondorf. But since we’ve seen him so much, we already know who he is, what his motivations are, and how he came to be. On the other hand, I find Demise to be so fascinating because despite how integral he is, his story is left ambiguous. For a long time, this was a question without an answer for me, but during my most recent playthrough of Skyward Sword, a thought struck me during Zelda’s big exposition speech, and a theory began to form. Okay, let me backpedal a bit and say that it wasn’t a question totally without an answer, as there are a decent number of theories already out there as to who Demise is. Several ideas have been put forward, such as his being from Lorule, his being a former Hero who became disillusioned with the Goddesses, or even his being a former god himself who betrayed the Goddesses (or was betrayed by them). So, with that being said, I thought I would throw my two cents in. First of all, let’s recap what we know about the Demon King. In Skyward Sword, it is explained that long before the events of the game, Demise emerged through a fissure in the earth. During his attempt to conquer the world, the Goddess Hylia and her forces fought back and eventually sealed him away, but not before sending the surviving Hylians into the sky on a floating island. He could not be sealed forever, though, and, knowing that the Triforce could not be used by the gods, Hylia decided to reincarnate herself as a human. When Demise eventually does break free and takes the form of a giant avocado with teeth, he is destroyed when Hylia’s chosen hero wishes on the Triforce. Unfortunately, Demise’s servant Ghirahim is able to resurrect him in the past, and so Demise faces the hero in a one-on-one duel that ends ultimately in his defeat. During this brief showdown, Demise makes his disdain for the gods pretty evident. So much so that, in his final moments, he curses Link and Zelda to be forever bound to an incarnation of his hatred. This concept struck me as odd. Seeking the power to rule over everything is one thing, but to harbour such an intense hatred shows that they have some sort of history. Of course, you could say that his hatred comes simply from Hylia opposing him, but I don’t believe that’s the case. For one thing, he seems to have some sort of admiration for Hylia, as he comments on the “magnificence of her previous form.” I admit that’s a very small detail, but it's still worth considering, I think. Maybe this is just me, but I got the feeling that he sees Hylia as more of a respectable adversary. With this in mind, when he speaks about his hatred of the gods, it may be solely directed at the three Golden Goddesses, Din, Farore, and Nayru. After all, Demise and Hylia have quite a bit in common and are surrounded by symbols of duality. Hylia’s realm seems to be thought of as the heavens, whereas Demise emerged from beneath the ground. Hylia was charged with guarding the Triforce, while Demise’s primary goal is to claim the Triforce. Hylia reincarnated herself as a human to be able to use the Triforce, and, in the end, Demise does the same thing and becomes Ganondorf. It was while thinking of their duality that it finally hit me. Maybe it’s just that simple: Demise exists because Hylia exists. Think about it: in Ocarina of Time, we are given the first-ever glimpse into the creation of Hyrule by the three goddesses. Din created the physical world, Farore filled it with life, and Nayru created the laws of the world. This was not the last of their works, however, as they then left behind the Triforce with Hylia to guard it. Now, as she is not mentioned with them in the creation story, and they seem to have some sort of authority over her, I think it’s safe to say that the three goddesses created Hylia as well. Unfortunately, thanks to Nayru, laws were also made to be upheld, such as the laws of balance in the universe. So, what if that’s it? Instead of Demise’s being a scorned hero from the past or the fourth piece of the Triforce, maybe it’s much simpler. What if the second that Hylia was created with the job of keeping the Triforce safe, Demise also came into being as her opposition, purely because the laws of balance demanded it? If this is true, it would mean that Demise began as something more similar to a force of nature, a being who existed because he had to. In that case, his hatred of the gods who wanted to destroy him for merely existing, when they practically created him in the first place, seems a bit more justified. This doesn’t make him any less evil (and I’m not saying he deserves to win), but, to me, this is a satisfying and somewhat sympathetic answer to the question,” Who is the Demon King?” What do you think? Do you have any theories on the origins of the Demon King? I’d love to know them! Follow me on Twitter at @JustShortofHero to share your thoughts!

S6 E13 | Mases Hagopian, creator of Zelda Dungeon, joins David to talk about the site's early days as well as its annual Marathon streams. HOST: David Geisler GUEST: Mases Hagopian WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY KADY ROBERTS | PRODUCED BY DAVID GEISLER AND CELESTE ROBERTS | EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: DAVID GEISLER | EDITOR: DAVID GEISLER | SOUND DESIGNER: DAVID GEISLER THIS EPISODE FEATURES MUSIC BY MIKEL & GAMECHOPS, TITLED "THE LEGEND OF ZELDA" AS WELL AS "KAKARIKO VILLAGE" FROM THE ALBUM "ZELDA & CHILL" AVAILABLE ON APPLE MUSIC AND YOUTUBE. COPYRIGHT 2023 SIXFIVE MEDIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THE VIEWS INFORMATION, OR OPINIONS EXPRESSED DURING ANOTHER ZELDA PODCAST ARE SOLELY THOSE OF THE INDIVIDUALS INVOLVED AND DO NOT NECESSARILY REPRESENT THOSE OF SIXFIVE MEDIA AND ITS EMPLOYEES.

S1 EP13 | Kate and David talk about some of their favorite 'brothers' the Gorons. ▶︎ Direct Download iTunes | Google Play | YouTube CAST: David Geisler Kate Fischer Season 1 | Episode 13

S6 E12 | Kady hosts her first episode as Al from The Zelda Cast joins her at the Zelda Dungeon marathon stream to talk about how the champions have changed from Breath of the Wild to Tears of the Kingdom. HOST: Kady Roberts GUEST: Alasyn Eletha WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY KADY ROBERTS | PRODUCED BY DAVID GEISLER AND CELESTE ROBERTS | EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: DAVID GEISLER | EDITOR: DAVID GEISLER | SOUND DESIGNER: DAVID GEISLER THIS EPISODE FEATURES MUSIC BY MIKEL & GAMECHOPS, TITLED "THE LEGEND OF ZELDA" AS WELL AS "KAKARIKO VILLAGE" FROM THE ALBUM "ZELDA & CHILL" AVAILABLE ON APPLE MUSIC AND YOUTUBE. COPYRIGHT 2023 SIXFIVE MEDIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THE VIEWS INFORMATION, OR OPINIONS EXPRESSED DURING ANOTHER ZELDA PODCAST ARE SOLELY THOSE OF THE INDIVIDUALS INVOLVED AND DO NOT NECESSARILY REPRESENT THOSE OF SIXFIVE MEDIA AND ITS EMPLOYEES.

by Nik Cabezas Nik explores the elements of the Triforce and ideas for new ownership. If you asked the average Zelda fan which characters are associated with each piece of the Triforce, they would most likely say that Link wields the Triforce of Courage, Zelda the Triforce of Wisdom, and Ganon the Triforce of Power. Imagine my surprise when I looked closely at the series and realized that this is the case in only a few of the games. However, while the Triforce is more often used as a whole or sometimes not at all, these connections are iconic and representative of our main characters’ qualities. That being said, does it have to be this way? Is there a story in which the Triforce could be split apart without following this pattern? Well, to answer that, we have to look at the history of the golden triangles and why they’re set up like this in the first place. Regarding the origin of the Triforce, two games, Ocarina of Time and Skyward Sword, tell us the most information on the subject. Using both, we can piece together that in the beginning, the three Golden Goddesses (Din, Farore, and Nayru) created the world and everything in it, and then they departed for the heavens. Before leaving, however, the goddesses created the Triforce, a set of three sacred triangles with the power to grant any desire. This was entrusted to the Goddess Hylia who, while she was also immensely powerful, could not use it. You see, the three goddesses had created the Triforce so that it could not be used by one of their own. While the reason behind this is never confirmed, Zelda in Skyward Sword posits that it was to give the mortals of the world hope. This is important to note: since the Triforce was given to all mortals, it has a sort of neutral quality to it. Although it is a sacred power, the Triforce can be used by anyone, no matter what their intentions are. Of course, this is with one caveat. If the person who touches the Triforce has a heart that is both pure and balanced between power, wisdom, and courage, then they shall have their wish granted immediately. On the other hand, if the person is unbalanced, the Triforce will split apart and leave the person with the piece that is most indicative of who they are. The remaining two pieces will then find owners who most embody their respective qualities, and all three pieces will need to be brought back together before the wish can be granted. The obvious example here is Ganondorf trying to use the Triforce in Ocarina of Time, only for it to break apart, leaving him with the Triforce of Power and Link and Zelda with the Triforces of Courage and Wisdom, respectively. With all this in mind, could this pattern be broken? Not only would I say yes, but I would love to see this change in the future. Imagine if the villain of a future game, whether Ganon or not, favored cunning instead of strength and tried to claim the Triforce. After the triangles split apart, this villain could be left with the Triforce of Wisdom, along with all the corresponding abilities. This would mean that the Triforces of Power and Courage would be given most likely to the heroes of our story. In the interest of switching things up, we could see what it’s like to have a Princess Zelda who has a more reckless and gung-ho attitude, probably not too different from Tetra in The Wind Waker. That leaves the Triforce of Power for Link, who could be made into more of a typical warrior-type, almost like a mix of Link from Breath of the Wild and Link from Hyrule Warriors. Let’s take it in another direction. Let’s say the villain isn’t insanely clever or immensely strong but instead brash or overconfident, granting them the Triforce of Courage. Following that, Link could possess the Triforce of Wisdom, while Princess Zelda could wield the Triforce of Power. Who knows? This could be a great way for Zelda to be playable. Another detail to go off of is that the main criterion causing the Triforce to split is an unbalanced heart, which may not necessarily mean an evil one. In that sense, this pattern could be shaken up even with the characters keeping their respective qualities. For instance, if Hyrule is threatened in a future game, a desperate Princess Zelda could attempt to use the Triforce even though her heart is unbalanced. Yes, this would split the Triforce up in a familiar way, but it could also result in Zelda inadvertently powering up the villain she’s trying to get rid of. At the end of the day, if the last few Zelda games are any indication, it’s unclear if we’ll see the Triforce split apart again. However, if we do, it would be a welcome and fascinating change of pace to see the Triforce pieces belong to other characters–or, at the very least, split apart by someone other than Ganon. Would you like to see other characters possess pieces of the Triforce? What are your ideas for this kind of scenario? Which piece of the Triforce would you like to possess? Let me know! Follow me on Twitter at @JustShortofHero and share your thoughts.

S6 E11 | David and Kady catch their breath and hangout on a patio at the 2023 Zelda Dungeon Marathon to discuss their first impression of Tears of the Kingdom. HOSTS: David Geisler, Kady Roberts WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY DAVID GEISLER | PRODUCED BY DAVID GEISLER AND CELESTE ROBERTS | EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: DAVID GEISLER | EDITOR: DAVID GEISLER | SOUND DESIGNER: DAVID GEISLER THIS EPISODE FEATURES MUSIC BY MIKEL & GAMECHOPS, TITLED "THE LEGEND OF ZELDA" AS WELL AS "KAKARIKO VILLAGE" FROM THE ALBUM "ZELDA & CHILL" AVAILABLE ON APPLE MUSIC AND YOUTUBE. COPYRIGHT 2023 SIXFIVE MEDIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THE VIEWS INFORMATION, OR OPINIONS EXPRESSED DURING ANOTHER ZELDA PODCAST ARE SOLELY THOSE OF THE INDIVIDUALS INVOLVED AND DO NOT NECESSARILY REPRESENT THOSE OF SIXFIVE MEDIA AND ITS EMPLOYEES.

S6 E9 | Kevin Goodwin joins David to discuss and reminisce about playing Zelda games throughout their lives. HOST: David Geisler GUEST: Kevin Goodwin WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY DAVID GEISLER | PRODUCED BY DAVID GEISLER AND CELESTE ROBERTS | EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: DAVID GEISLER | EDITOR: DAVID GEISLER | SOUND DESIGNER: DAVID GEISLER THIS EPISODE FEATURES MUSIC BY MIKEL & GAMECHOPS, TITLED "THE LEGEND OF ZELDA" AS WELL AS "KAKARIKO VILLAGE" FROM THE ALBUM "ZELDA & CHILL" AVAILABLE ON APPLE MUSIC AND YOUTUBE. COPYRIGHT 2023 SIXFIVE MEDIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THE VIEWS INFORMATION, OR OPINIONS EXPRESSED DURING ANOTHER ZELDA PODCAST ARE SOLELY THOSE OF THE INDIVIDUALS INVOLVED AND DO NOT NECESSARILY REPRESENT THOSE OF SIXFIVE MEDIA AND ITS EMPLOYEES.

David sits down to play the first ten minutes of Tears of the Kingdom. HOST: David Geisler COPYRIGHT 2023 SIXFIVE MEDIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THE VIEWS INFORMATION, OR OPINIONS EXPRESSED DURING ANOTHER ZELDA PODCAST ARE SOLELY THOSE OF THE INDIVIDUALS INVOLVED AND DO NOT NECESSARILY REPRESENT THOSE OF SIXFIVE MEDIA AND ITS EMPLOYEES.

by Carlos Gomez (aka The Lost Hylian) Carlos explores the possibilities of technology's presence within the Zelda series. Note: This article may have spoilers spanning the entire Zelda series. Like many of you, I have been enveloped in Tears of the Kingdom’s (TotK) portrayal of Hyrule. I have climbed the highest tip of the Sky Islands and explored the deepest point of the subterranean Depths. It was on one such adventure as I was interacting with a Steward Construct that I realized how different the newest titles in the series had become. Breath of the Wild (BotW) and then TotK were lauded as gaming masterpieces, much like Ocarina of Time (OoT) and A Link to the Past (ALttP) before them. OoT is as different from ALttP as BotW is from Skyward Sword. This makes me wonder … is this series high fantasy or sci-fi? Some might argue that it has gone full circle with the Switch editions calling back to the original’s openness and “do as thou wilt” approach. Some have said that BotW departed so far from the likes of OoT that it didn’t feel like a Zelda game at all as it lacked true dungeons. All perspectives seem to have a grain of truth as to what makes a Zelda game feel like “Zelda,” which may be different to all of us. I know I found BotW to feel a little empty, and some now say TotK has too much. Some love Toon Link, and some think that he is too “kiddish.” Disagreements on those differences are easily found in chat forums across the web, yet there is another change that has been happening more and more in the series. So often, in fact, that this once novelty has now become the driving factor of the game. It’s the reason why I wonder if Zelda is a high fantasy or sci-fi game. It’s technology. The first true iteration of technology that I can recall would be the Beamos, which premiered in ALttP. You may remember that it has a searching eye that shoots light beams directly at you once you are seen. For me as a child, it seemed to be a cross between a machine and a living creature. I would argue that the interpretation could go either way as there is a similar villain known as the Stone Statue that shoots fireballs at Link in the original title, and it is surely not robotic. It wasn’t until Link’s Awakening that we really saw technology included in the game. Link’s Awakening is a dream, which really allowed the development team to explore different technologies, from phone booths to a crane in the Trendy Shop (and even a photo of “Christine,” implying camera tech). At the time, these ideas were sort of shockers, yet now they would be considered tame. As the series has progressed, we find automatic lifts, light bulbs, and grids that generate magnetic fields. We see steam-powered trains and boats. The Lanayru Mining Facility in Skyward Sword features flying Sentrobes, bouncing wind-triggered Armos, and, yes, robots. This gradual build up over time in the series becomes fully realized in BotW with Sheikah tech, and it then explodes in its sequel with Zonai technology. The series now relies on rockets, bird-shaped planes, and vehicles with laser turrets to assist Link in his quest. This is a far cry from a wooden boomerang or bomb that are the staples of the original. So, have they gone too far? Have they left the vision that Shigeru Miyamoto created for the series? From my perspective, no. The original The Legend of Zelda is supposed to be set in both the past and the far future, with the Triforce being computer chips. That idea was scrapped late in development–or so the story goes. In a way, this means that the story has come full circle with future technologies being found in Hyrule’s far past. This lends to the question of what is next? If the series is transitioning to more of a sci-fi feel, will we get a futuristic Zelda title in the series? I’m just saying that if Mario can explore the galaxy, why can’t Link? Perhaps Link will live in an urban world where the legends of Zelda are no more than children's stories, and he will have to go back in time and find the Triforce in order to save his future. Zelda is a scientist who has discovered something is wrong with Hyrule. Nature itself is failing, and Link must go back in time to bring twelve young Deku trees back in order to save the land. Or maybe a futuristic Link will live in a world where Hyrule has been lost and the races are spread among the stars in a futuristic but fantasy-style world. I think of Eternia in the old He-Man cartoons as a good example. It features swords and laser guns in a post-dystopian world. Link could travel across fractured worlds in an effort to find the pieces of the Triforce like in the original game. Link traveling the stars in a spaceship named Epona may sound far-fetched or even unimaginable. Then again, twelve years ago, I would have said the same thing about Link riding a motorcycle. Thanks for taking the time to read my blog. I would love to know what you think about the future of the series. Will we get Zelda in space, or am I overreaching? Can you think of any other interesting tech in the series? If you want to share your thoughts, you can reach me The Lost Hylian on Twitter, thelosthylian on Instagram, or check out my Facebook page, The Lost Hylian.

Kevin shares his second-grade class's next stop-motion video about a boy and a dragon, a tale that reminds his students of themes in The Legend of Zelda series. All photos and video were created and provided by the author. Earlier this year, I shared my 2nd grade class’s journey with the My Father’s Dragon book series by Ruth Stiles. My students immediately connected the books’ adventures, characters, and themes with The Legend of Zelda series, and we worked on a stop-motion movie (check it out here). The first book has lots of connections to Zelda; it contains a young boy on a quest who uses many different items to solve many different problems. The first book is pretty straightforward, honestly: a boy goes on a quest to save a dragon, solves some problems, and saves the dragon. Towards the end of the school year, we read the second book, Elmer and the Dragon. The sequel to the story reads very much like a true Zelda sequel with a simpler and more contained story. It’s also a little … weirder. It revolves around a mystery on an island of talking canaries, which makes me think of Link’s Awakening. There is a sense of wonder and uncertainty to the island, and you learn more about the main characters. There are enemies to fight, but for the most part, that island feels like a safe place to explore. Elmer and the Dragon is the same way. The characters are not being pursued by anyone; instead, they are left to explore a space at their own pace and wonder what is going on. After finishing the second book, my classroom created another stop motion movie. As Zelda games grow from game to game in their complexity, my students' storytelling and animations have grown more complex, too. I always connect Zelda with these kinds of projects: just as Link grows and matures and becomes more capable as he experiences his adventures, the kids in my class seem to grow in so many ways throughout the year. They become independent and gain freedoms in their own ways. They become fluent in the tools for sewing and woodworking. They learn to create the best versions of themselves. We created a video for the second book, and we hope you enjoy it! We have a third one on the way.

S6 E10 | David and Kady hang out with Andy and Al of The Zeldacast at the 2023 Zelda Dungeon Marathon stream to talk about some of the most epic moments in Zelda games. SPECIAL GUESTS: Andy Spiteri & Alasyn Eletha HOST: David Geisler CAST: Kady Roberts WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY DAVID GEISLER | PRODUCED BY DAVID GEISLER AND CELESTE ROBERTS | EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: DAVID GEISLER | EDITOR: DAVID GEISLER | SOUND DESIGNER: DAVID GEISLER THIS EPISODE FEATURES MUSIC BY MIKEL & GAMECHOPS, TITLED "THE LEGEND OF ZELDA" AS WELL AS "KAKARIKO VILLAGE" FROM THE ALBUM "ZELDA & CHILL" AVAILABLE ON APPLE MUSIC AND YOUTUBE. COPYRIGHT 2023 SIXFIVE MEDIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THE VIEWS INFORMATION, OR OPINIONS EXPRESSED DURING ANOTHER ZELDA PODCAST ARE SOLELY THOSE OF THE INDIVIDUALS INVOLVED AND DO NOT NECESSARILY REPRESENT THOSE OF SIXFIVE MEDIA AND ITS EMPLOYEES.

by David Lopez David shares how a monumental moment in Ocarina of Time inspired him to regain his strength after an unexpected challenge changed his life. I’ve always been a believer that the hardest challenges in life are the experiences that make us better versions of ourselves. So, it makes sense that the moment I remember most from Ocarina of Time is the Water Temple battle with Dark Link. As a kid, I really struggled with that temple. It was the vertical nature of the temple that made it so complicated and confusing to navigate. If you missed a room, you had to take ten steps backwards to set things right, and then you could continue. Often I struggled to retrace my steps. The challenge felt greater because this temple required greater patience than most other temples in the game. Now that I understand how the temple works, I realize the things that frustrated me about this temple are exactly what make it such a brilliant Zelda experience. Once I got my bearings and made progress in the temple, then came the mini-boss: Dark Link. I couldn’t crack the code. The mirroring of my attacks left me puzzled and confused. I grew frustrated, and the harder I tried to attack him with my sword, the more he’d just mirror my attacks and leave me more frustrated. I wasn’t sure how to move forward. Finally, I had a friend who educated me on using Din’s Fire. Dark Link can mirror you, but he can’t “out magic” you. As an adult, I cringe that that was my solution, but I was stuck without that tip. But it wasn’t just the struggle that made that battle so memorable: when I frantically Z-targeted Dark Link and asked Navi for help, she gave me advice that would one day save my life: “Conquer yourself.” This is a therapeutic retelling of the most horrifying month of my life in hopes that it might positively affect another reader. I was sitting at my desk at work when I felt my right arm go numb from my shoulder down to my fingers. Immediately I knew this was a new sensation, and it was something bigger than just my arm falling asleep. I got up and paced around the office, shaking my hand and trying to get the blood circulating when my lips started to tingle. That’s when I officially hit panic level 10. I talked to a coworker and asked her, “Do I look all right? I’m not feeling great.” You know how everyone hates the sound of their own voice when they hear it played back for them? I heard myself from outside of my body; I was hearing myself speak from another perspective. She replied, “You look fine,” which gave me some comfort. Not convinced, though, I stepped outside, called my mom, and told her I’d like to go to the emergency room because I wasn’t feeling great. My mom asked me what off-ramp she should take, and I blanked. Reyes Adobe. I’ve taken this off-ramp for the last eight years. How something so familiar could elude me made me panic even more. Eventually I was able to send her the address, and she arrived at my workplace. When we got to the emergency room, I was talking to my dad on the phone, and I couldn’t put together a coherent sentence. I have a two-year-old who can put his thoughts together better than I could in that moment. Pretty quickly I was taken back into the emergency room. “Code stroke,” I heard the ER nurse who was moving me through rooms say. “I need assistance for this code stroke, STAT.” I was still coherent enough to know that that was not a phrase you wanted to hear about yourself. They immediately placed an IV catheter in my arm–I didn’t feel a thing. They sent me to get a CT scan on my brain–it happened in less than 2 seconds. Then, they conducted an MRI on my brain, which felt like 30 seconds of real time. In reality, it was 15 minutes. For all that I couldn’t comprehend, I could put one thought together: “I’m dying, and my brain is protecting me from knowing that my heart is about to stop beating.” I dealt with about four of these stroke-like episodes over a month, and each time involved a new trip to the ER. On the last trip to the ER, they finally decided to see if perhaps I had something else. The ER doctor gave me a lumbar puncture to check my spinal fluids. I was smart enough not to look at the needle, but the ER doc explained enough for me to understand what he was about to do. I told myself I could do it–after all, I had watched my wife get an epidural. If she could be strong, so could I. After the dust settled and I was in a hospital room, I had a doctor of internal medicine come and speak very openly and honestly with me. “You have meningitis. You're 32 years old, and you weigh 400 pounds. I have a lot of patients who are struggling with your condition, but they’re over 50, and it breaks my heart because there’s really not much they can do for themselves at that age,” he said. “But you’re 32. You don’t have to live like this. You can reverse this trend for yourself, if you want to. It’s not going to be easy, but I don’t want to see you die of a heart attack at 45. You’re capable of changing, and the only person that’s holding you back is yourself.” Conquer yourself. It felt as though Navi herself was instructing me on how to defeat “Dark David.” I appreciated the doctor’s candid approach with me, as I used to be an athlete, and tough love is something that I’m familiar with. I knew my life would have to look differently than it had for the first 32 years. The happy ending is that I have taken steps to start to defeat Dark David. I’ve lost nearly 50 pounds and have my blood pressure in check. I’ve also started running again and have eclipsed the four-mile mark. “Conquer yourself” has been so important to me because I’ve known that I was obese my whole adult life. I’ve tried to lose weight in the past by out-exercising my unhealthy relationship with food. I’m a binge eater by nature. It wasn’t until I approached my issues with food that I had any chance of losing weight. Gone are the impulses to snack when I’m stressed. Gone are the impulses to snack when I’m bored. Meningitis did me one giant favor: it took away my appetite while I struggled with it for a month. So I took advantage of that and have just kept my diet the same as it was while I was sick. My brain is functioning properly, and I had a doctor tell me after the whole meningitis episode that “most people come out of this with some negative effects on their body, but you seem to be lucky in that you came out of this with a healthier approach to life.” Conquer yourself. I remind myself of it daily and have that be the first thing I say to myself when I wake up. I’m determined to get “Conquer Yourself,” along with the Master Sword, tattooed on my right wrist. I want the permanent reminder above my right hand that food isn’t happiness. Happiness is being healthy and being able to play with my family. Happiness is being healthy and being able to talk about Zelda with you. Happiness is being alive. Just as I helped Link to conquer his dark side, I have been able to conquer my own obstacles. My experience with meningitis was my own personal Water Temple. After I getting through the most troublesome month of my life, I can look back at it and understand how I’ve been able to make meaningful changes in my life. I understand that what I hated about the experience is what made it a life changing experience. I’m so grateful that Ocarina of Time taught me a lesson that gave me a second chance at life. Cover image source: Zelda Universe

S6 E8 | David meets up with Dan McCoy at his house in St. Louis to answer a few more questions Dan has acquired as he enters a deeper Zelda fandom. HOST: David Geisler CAST: Dan McCoy WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY DAVID GEISLER | PRODUCED BY DAVID GEISLER AND CELESTE ROBERTS | EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: DAVID GEISLER | EDITOR: DAVID GEISLER | SOUND DESIGNER: DAVID GEISLER THIS EPISODE FEATURES MUSIC BY MIKEL & GAMECHOPS, TITLED "THE LEGEND OF ZELDA" AS WELL AS "KAKARIKO VILLAGE" FROM THE ALBUM "ZELDA & CHILL" AVAILABLE ON APPLE MUSIC AND YOUTUBE. COPYRIGHT 2023 SIXFIVE MEDIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THE VIEWS INFORMATION, OR OPINIONS EXPRESSED DURING ANOTHER ZELDA PODCAST ARE SOLELY THOSE OF THE INDIVIDUALS INVOLVED AND DO NOT NECESSARILY REPRESENT THOSE OF SIXFIVE MEDIA AND ITS EMPLOYEES.

by Steve Weir In this article, the author reflects on his recent experience finding community and a sense of belonging within the Zelda fandom, specifically the Another Zelda Podcast (AZP) community. He describes his belief that each of us, as human beings, has a deep longing for community, friendship, and belonging. In the end, he encourages his fellow Zelda fans to be bold and unashamed as they live out their love for all things Zelda. While it doesn’t happen often, there are occasions when I will be out and about in town and notice a potential fellow fan of The Legend of Zelda. Most recently, I was walking through a parking lot and noticed a red-colored sedan with a small decal on the rear bumper. My eye was drawn to the very strategically placed Royal Crest of Hyrule in white against the reddish maroon color of the vehicle. My initial thought was, “Ah, my people.” Many weeks ago, I noticed that one of the grocery store clerks had a very prominently placed Triforce tattoo on his forearm. Again, I thought, “Ah, my people.” While I’ve only recently begun wearing more Zelda-themed attire (socks, zipper hoodie, and my favorite AZP t-shirt, among others), I feel a sense of calm and belonging whenever I encounter someone who appears to be a Zelda fan. I’ve had similar experiences in my Doctor Who fandom – “Whovians,” we call ourselves. I distinctly remember when a fellow Whovian left an actual note under my windshield wiper, indicating their love and appreciation for my TARDIS magnet on my car. One other occasion, I had just entered the produce section of my local grocery store, and a produce stocker noticed my navy blue Police Box zipper hoodie. We engaged in a brief conversation about our favorite Doctor, how and when we got into Doctor Who, and what we’re looking forward to in (the then) next season. Again, I felt a sense that this produce gent was part of “my people.” I believe that we all have an internal desire rooted deep in our souls to belong. We want to feel loved, appreciated, cared for, and known – free from judgment, second-guessing, and prejudice. It is inherent to our core as human beings. Sure, there is the collective “human experience,” and we often will commiserate together about our struggles. But it goes deeper than the “life isn’t fair” mantra: there is a longing deep within each of us to have and experience a true community and that sense of togetherness. Throughout my years of schooling, I struggled at times to find my place of belonging. I think we all know what that’s like when we are searching. There’s often a feeling of aimless, hopeful wandering as we search for our elusive “people.” While I never felt lonely as a child and would have admitted to having lots of friends, I never felt like I “fit in.” For me, there were many opportunities to identify with a particular show, action figure series, music, or sports team. However, at the time, I wasn’t particularly passionate about any one show, activity, or cultural phenomenon, or, if I did feel passionate about something in those early impressionable years, I feared embarrassment, rejection, and isolation. I wasn’t one of the guys who played sports, so I never felt like I belonged with them. I wasn’t into heavy metal, and so I didn’t fit in with the stoners. It wasn’t until later in my life that I realized that 1) I didn’t have to fit in those groups; 2) I was unique, had unique interests, and shouldn’t try to fit into one of those awkwardly shaped boxes; and 3) perhaps I just hadn’t found my people yet. Many spend their entire lives trying to find their people. Sometimes they do, and it’s easy to fit in. I live in the heart of Philadelphia Eagles country. Eagles fans are hard to miss. Others find their people based on occupation, skills, hobbies, lifestyles, or choice of vehicles. Do you know how large the Harley-Davidson community really is?? I believe Seth Godin calls these groups of people “tribes” – not in a tribal, barbaric sense but rather a collective group of individuals who share common interests and ideas. We can take this further and say that tribes share a common language, cultural norms, values, and even practices. Just within the last three years, I found the AZP community. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to each podcast episode, chock-full of “normal conversations” by normal people – not self-proclaimed experts. Discovering the AZP Discord server and the various opportunities to chat about all things Zelda has been encouraging. The AZP community (and really the Zelda community as a whole) is a unique tribe unto itself. We speak a common language. Ninety percent of us know exactly what I mean in the following terms: WW, MM, OoT, Like Like, ReDead, BOTW, Hylia, Din, and Fi. I don’t need to explain them. They get it. They understand. As you, the reader, read those terms, I bet images flashed to your mind from your own experiences, gameplay, and lore, too. While our opinions vary (especially on the best Zelda game), we have our shared experiences. We know and understand the dangers of toils of a particular Forest Temple. We collectively groan at the idea of slashing the toes of The Imprisoned as we attempt to reach the top. When it rains, we know we’re never going to reach the mountainside cliff, so we just wait and save ourselves the frustration. We have individually battled the same evil that threatens the world we all hold near and dear. We are a tribe. The AZP tribe. A Zelda tribe. Forever linked. ;) As members of this unique tribe, we must not be ashamed. Let’s live it out. Wear that Zelda t-shirt, get that Triforce tattoo, don those goofy Hylian Shield socks, place that Royal Crest decal on your car, and, by all means, invest in your best cosplay. We need you. We appreciate you. You belong here, and we belong together. We make up this tribe together. So, next time I see you out in the wild, I will speak up, say an encouraging word, or cheer you on. Because, my fellow Zelda fan, I see you. Cover Image Source: Provided by Author

S6 E7 | David and Kady get together to talk about the 8(ish) regions of Hyrule in Breath of the Wild. HOST: David Geisler CAST: Kady Roberts WRITTEN BY DAVID GEISLER AND KADY ROBERTS | DIRECTED BY DAVID GEISLER | PRODUCED BY DAVID GEISLER AND CELESTE ROBERTS | EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: DAVID GEISLER | EDITOR: DAVID GEISLER | SOUND DESIGNER: DAVID GEISLER THIS EPISODE FEATURES MUSIC BY MIKEL & GAMECHOPS, TITLED "THE LEGEND OF ZELDA" AS WELL AS "KAKARIKO VILLAGE" FROM THE ALBUM "ZELDA & CHILL" AVAILABLE ON APPLE MUSIC AND YOUTUBE. COPYRIGHT 2023 SIXFIVE MEDIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THE VIEWS INFORMATION, OR OPINIONS EXPRESSED DURING ANOTHER ZELDA PODCAST ARE SOLELY THOSE OF THE INDIVIDUALS INVOLVED AND DO NOT NECESSARILY REPRESENT THOSE OF SIXFIVE MEDIA AND ITS EMPLOYEES.

S6 E6 | David travels to St. Louis to meet up with Dan McCoy and do a deep dive on the Yiga Clan. HOST: David Geisler CAST: Dan McCoy WRITTEN BY DAVID GEISLER AND DAN MCCOY | DIRECTED BY DAVID GEISLER | PRODUCED BY DAVID GEISLER AND CELESTE ROBERTS | EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: DAVID GEISLER | EDITOR: DAVID GEISLER | SOUND DESIGNER: DAVID GEISLER THIS EPISODE FEATURES MUSIC BY MIKEL & GAMECHOPS, TITLED "THE LEGEND OF ZELDA" AS WELL AS "KAKARIKO VILLAGE" FROM THE ALBUM "ZELDA & CHILL" AVAILABLE ON APPLE MUSIC AND YOUTUBE. COPYRIGHT 2023 SIXFIVE MEDIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THE VIEWS INFORMATION, OR OPINIONS EXPRESSED DURING ANOTHER ZELDA PODCAST ARE SOLELY THOSE OF THE INDIVIDUALS INVOLVED AND DO NOT NECESSARILY REPRESENT THOSE OF SIXFIVE MEDIA AND ITS EMPLOYEES.

S6 E5 | David and Kady meet up at the Columbia College Student Center to talk about some of the music from Breath of the Wild. HOSTS: David Geisler, Kady Roberts WRITTEN BY KADY ROBERTS | DIRECTED BY DAVID GEISLER | PRODUCED BY DAVID GEISLER AND CELESTE ROBERTS | EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: DAVID GEISLER | EDITOR: DAVID GEISLER | SOUND DESIGNER: DAVID GEISLER THIS EPISODE FEATURES MUSIC BY MIKEL & GAMECHOPS, TITLED "THE LEGEND OF ZELDA" AS WELL AS "KAKARIKO VILLAGE" FROM THE ALBUM "ZELDA & CHILL" AVAILABLE ON APPLE MUSIC AND YOUTUBE. COPYRIGHT 2023 SIXFIVE MEDIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THE VIEWS INFORMATION, OR OPINIONS EXPRESSED DURING ANOTHER ZELDA PODCAST ARE SOLELY THOSE OF THE INDIVIDUALS INVOLVED AND DO NOT NECESSARILY REPRESENT THOSE OF SIXFIVE MEDIA AND ITS EMPLOYEES.