Join Samuel as the mystery heats up aboard the Karnak in Death on the Nile! We investigate a chilling attempted murder involving hidden glass shards in a walnut-free caviar verine, interrogate the crew, chase down the source of suspicious black smoke, and solve a pressure-pipe puzzle in the engine room that reveals the key evidence: melted blue glass. With motives exposed and a suspect arrested, the voyage continues and we set up a New York lead with Detective Royce pointing toward “The Spider.”
Going Through Who 19.7: Vincent and The Doctor
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Samuel and Jacob dive into one of Doctor Who’s most emotionally powerful episodes, “Vincent and the Doctor” (original airdate: June 5, 2010). They celebrate the craft behind the story—Tony Curran’s performance, Richard Curtis’s approach to treating Vincent with empathy, and the episode’s blend of whimsy and heartbreak—while also having a candid conversation about mental health, how hard it can be to recognize when someone is struggling, and why compassion (and support resources) matter.
Episode highlights:
- A warm (and pun-filled) intro before jumping into why this episode “threads the needle” emotionally.
- Behind-the-scenes notes: the original working title idea (“Eyes That See the Darkness”), Matt Smith’s influence on the music choice (“Chances” by Athlete), and why Bill Nighy was the perfect voice for the museum scene.
- Spot-the-painting fun: a rapid-fire rundown of Van Gogh works referenced throughout the episode (for the “if you know, you know” viewers).
- A discussion of how the episode handles Vincent’s suffering with respect—without reducing him to a joke—and why that matters.
- The invisible Krafayis: why it works as a concept, how the practical effects sell its presence, and why its reveal hits harder than a typical “monster of the week.”
- The museum scene: why it devastates every time, and the extra layer of heartbreak in what the Doctor likely knows (even as Amy hopes they can change history).
- A real-world mental health segment: the reality that you can’t always “see it coming,” plus a reminder to seek help and not carry blame alone.
Content note: This episode of the podcast includes discussion of suicide / “death by suicide” and mental health stigma.
Resources (US):
- 988 — Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (call/text 988) https://988lifeline.org/
To find previous episodes go to: tscn.tv/gtw
To subscribe to this podcast put this link in your favorite podcatcher:
http://feeds.feedburner.com/GoingThroughWho
Want to support our content? Go to tscn.tv/support to find out how!
Send feedback to: goingthroughwho@gmail.com or comment in the post below!
Artwork by Baniee
Theme music by ThePantychrist
Playing Through Death on the Nile Part 2: Break-ins, Clues, and a Big New York Reveal
In this Death on the Nile playthrough, we step into a fresh mystery as Jane Royce investigates a stolen snake-shaped ruby bracelet at Mrs. Leech’s estate—interviewing guests, piecing together alibis, and solving deduction puzzles that reveal how the thief used an unlocked window, a late-night break, and a clever hiding spot to swap the jewelry. The case closes with a major twist: a hidden compartment and decoded message point to “the Spider” and a crucial meetup in New York on February 18, pushing the bigger conspiracy forward.
Broadcasted live on Twitch — Watch live at https://www.twitch.tv/tscnsam
Going Through Who 19.6: Cold Blood
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In this episode of Going Through Who, Samuel and Jacob dig into Cold Blood and unpack why it’s a solid story that still feels wonky in execution. They talk pacing issues common to Modern Who two-parters, character “switch flips” that feel abrupt, and how some standout performances (especially the Rory moment) help carry the episode’s big season-arc beats.
Highlights
The season-arc stuff still hits: Rory’s death is devastating thanks to Arthur Darvill, and Amy forgetting Rory lands because Karen Gillan sells it—even if the setup feels forced and overly convenient near the crack.
The “Matrix” facts corner includes behind-the-scenes bits: a cut Nezrine/Doctor exchange about execution, “squeaky bum time,” and why Matt Smith avoided aiming the sonic like a weapon.
Pacing critique: the episode feels like ~25 minutes of plot stretched to a 40-minute runtime, with dead space and a “we need something for Amy & Mo to do” escape subplot that loops back to capture anyway.
Character consistency issues: Malohkeh’s shift into the episode’s empathy engine feels like a light switch; Restac reads as a classic one-note “military figure” that tanks nuance (and, yes, the episode fails “the test” hard).
The big moral tipping point: Ambrose goes from “terrible mistake” to “full villain mode,” escalating from a death that feels too easy (“I tase you and you’re dead”) to attempted genocide via the drill.
To find previous episodes go to: tscn.tv/gtw
To subscribe to this podcast put this link in your favorite podcatcher:
http://feeds.feedburner.com/GoingThroughWho
Want to support our content? Go to tscn.tv/support to find out how!
Send feedback to: goingthroughwho@gmail.com or comment in the post below!
Artwork by Baniee
Theme music by ThePantychrist
Playing Through Death On The Nile Part 1: Poirot in the 70’s!?
Hercule Poirot drops into Chez Matante in August 1974 and ends up on the spot when an engagement ring reveal goes sideways—because the ring box is empty. We interrogate the key people around the bar/safe, crack the code, and use the game’s “mental reconstruction” timeline to pin down exactly who slipped into the office and why. With the club mystery resolved, the story jumps to Egypt: Poirot arrives at the Imperial Nile Hotel in Aswan and steps into the newlywed chaos of Lynette and Simon Doyle—while Jacqueline de Belfort’s obsession, threats, and “our song” drama start boiling over. The episode closes with a fresh hook: a new investigation tied to Emmy’s murder, stolen AWL documents, and a lead pulling us toward Mallorca.
Samuel’s Thoughts 174: The Year of Balance
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Samuel is in the final week of his break before jumping back into master’s work, and he’s using the downtime to fine-tune his systems and reset his mindset for the year ahead. He shares a few takeaways from How to Take Smart Notes—especially around linking ideas—and talks about building out Stream Deck workflows that speed up podcasting, research, and even launching games. The main focus is his annual “theme of the year” tradition: after a successful 2025 “Year of Relationship,” he’s naming 2026 the “Year of Balance,” with practicum and heavier program demands coming up—and a deliberate goal to avoid burnout while still making room for the people and projects he loves.
Highlights
- Finished How to Take Smart Notes and wants to tweak his “second brain,” especially by linking related notes more intentionally.
- Stream Deck is becoming a one-button workflow hub (audio production, show prep for “Going Through Who,” research tabs, and more).
- Set up game-launch shortcuts too—less about “saving seconds,” more about fully using the tool he already owns.
- Explains why he prefers “year themes” over New Year’s resolutions (plus a quick tangent on “science,” skepticism culture, and not being a jerk).
- 2025 recap: “Year of Relationship” brought more intentional time with friends, new groups, and deeper community ties.
- 2026 theme: “Year of Balance,” especially with practicum approaching and the need to protect mental health and prevent burnout.
How to Take Smart Notes: https://a.co/d/cQOSzFq
To find previous episodes go to: tscn.tv/st
To subscribe to this podcast put this link in your favorite podcatcher:
http://feeds.feedburner.com/tscnst
Want to support our content? Go to tscn.tv/support to find out how!
Send feedback to: samcastfeedback@gmail.com or leave a comment below!
Music from https://filmmusic.io
“NewsSting” and “News Theme” by Kevin MacLeod
(https://incompetech.com)
License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
Going Through Who 19.5: The Hungry Earth
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Samuel and Jacob kick off 2026 by returning to Going Through Who with part one of the Silurian two-parter, “The Hungry Earth.” They run the Matrix (trivia + production notes), then dig into why this first half works as a character-driven setup: competing perspectives, escalating misunderstandings, and a conflict where neither side feels purely “evil” (except maybe that one scientist).
Highlights
- Matrix facts & behind-the-scenes: original working title “The Ground Beneath Their Feet,” the story’s timeframe shifting to 2020, plus production notes on prosthetics/masks and the scrapped “armadillo dinosaur” concept.
- Silurians on-screen milestone: discussion of the episode as the first televised Silurian story featuring a female Silurian on screen.
- Themes of perspective & escalation: they love that the humans can be the aggressors without realizing it, turning the situation into a hostage-fueled feedback loop.
- Disability rep talk: Samuel praises the pragmatic depiction of dyslexia through Elliot and how competence/coping strategies are shown rather than sensationalized.
- Eleven’s “goofy + terrifying” switch: favorite lines and moments of 11’s sass, charm, and intimidation—plus the “Sonicking and entering” bit.
- Cliffhanger hype: the “half a dozen… or a whole civilization” reveal lands perfectly, setting up big expectations for “Cold Blood.”
To find previous episodes go to: tscn.tv/gtw
To subscribe to this podcast put this link in your favorite podcatcher:
http://feeds.feedburner.com/GoingThroughWho
Want to support our content? Go to tscn.tv/support to find out how!
Send feedback to: goingthroughwho@gmail.com or comment in the post below!
Artwork by Baniee
Theme music by ThePantychrist
Samuel’s Thoughts 173: Hard Decisions and a Second Brain
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Samuel is back behind the mic for a catch-up episode, talking about how his master’s program has taken over schedule-wise, why he had to step away from his job working with kids, and how he’s rebuilding his space and systems to better support his brain, his projects, and his people. Along the way he plugs new voice-acting work in Bill Meeks’ Everly Heights universe, reflects on a deep conversation about faith and disagreement on the podcast Agenda Fluid, and explains how Tiago Forte’s “Building a Second Brain” and the PARA method are helping him stay organized without pretending there’s a one-size-fits-all solution. He also teases his upcoming “year theme” episode and the annual Diamond Club New Year’s stream-a-thon for Children’s Miracle Network.
Highlights in this episode:
- Why the master’s workload forced Samuel to give up his job working with kids (and what he took away from it)
- Decluttering the home studio with his mom’s “organization wizardry” and the saga of oversized academic textbooks
- Voice-acting as Louis Loop in Everly Heights Tales and helping introduce listeners to Bill Meeks’ new shared universe
- Guesting on Agenda Fluid to talk religion, faith, disagreement, and why “enemy mindset” and outrage politics are so harmful
- Living with anger as an epilepsy trigger, why Samuel refuses to lean into rage, and how that shapes how he shows he cares
- How “Building a Second Brain” and the PARA method (Projects, Areas, Resources, Archive) power his Notion setup, tabletop campaigns, joke file, Bible notes, and more
- Why organizing is a coping strategy for him (not a moral high ground), and his argument that everyone needs the system that fits their own brain
- Teasing the upcoming “Year of Relationship” recap and next year’s personal theme, plus the Diamond Club New Year’s stream-a-thon for Children’s Miracle Network
Building a Second Brain: https://a.co/d/7BbihaL
Everly Heights: https://everlyheights.tv/everlyheightstales/
Agenda Fluid episode: https://agendafluid.com/podcast/is-religion-necessary-in-a-scientific-world/
To find previous episodes go to: tscn.tv/st
To subscribe to this podcast put this link in your favorite podcatcher:
http://feeds.feedburner.com/tscnst
Want to support our content? Go to tscn.tv/support to find out how!
Send feedback to: samcastfeedback@gmail.com or leave a comment below!
Music from https://filmmusic.io
“NewsSting” and “News Theme” by Kevin MacLeod
(https://incompetech.com)
License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
GTW Announcement 12-10-2025
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GTW is going on hiatus for the month of December to celebrate the holidays and a special time for Jacob and his wife Rebecca! We will be back at it in January. Have a happy holidays and a happy New Year!
Let’s Play Secret of The Mimic Part 6: The Parchute Protocol
In this high-tension run of Secret of the Mimic, Samuel and Shay navigate light-to-light stealth, decode a family’s tragic backstory (Edwin, Fiona, and the rogue M2), and survive a finale chase to the van—without handing over the Data Diver. Along the way they discover radio clues (4625), spring-lock suits, color-coded film reels that yield the code 93-0-5-4, and a choice that branches the ending.