Leveller
Welcome to Leveller, the podcast where two academics dive deep into the intersection of video games and politics. Join PhD students Emma Brewis and Adam Cooper as they discuss video games as a medium through which to stretch, challenge, and transform our thinking.
In each episode, they dissect how games reflect, shape, and inform political discourse. Through engaging discussions and interviews with fellow academics, they delve into topics like security, democracy and the influence of gaming communities on real-world politics.
Whether you're a seasoned gamer, a political junkie, or simply curious about the ways in which games intersect with the wider world, Leveller has something for you. Join us as we embark on an intellectual journey through the pixels, exploring the rich and complex relationship between video games and politics.
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- Update frequency
- every 13 days
- Average duration
- 53 minutes
- Episodes
- 9
- Years Active
- 2024
Christmas Special - Alternative Political Game Awards
In this very special final episode of the first season of Leveller, we look back on our year and discuss which games we think deserve some extra attention in our Alternative Political Game Awards. Jo…
Oliver Booth: Crusader Kings 3 and chaos in the Conservative Party
Why do the Tories choose bad leaders? Why are they so divided? And what role does ideology play?
In this episode, we are joined by Oliver Booth, fellow PGR at the University of Leeds and researcher o…
Alba: What can Alba teach us about local activism as a response to environmental challenges?
In this episode, we discuss Ustwo’s 2020 Alba: A Wildlife Adventure, a heartwarming exploration game in which you play a young girl who documents wildlife and strives to save the local nature reserv…
Paul Geyer: What insights does "Watchdogs 2" offer into social media, data and democracy?
What role does social media play in our lives? Is there life after data? And what does the future look like in a world where privacy is a luxury?
In this episode, we welcome Paul Geyer, PGR at the Un…
Papers, Please: Can bureaucracy accommodate morality?
In this podcast episode, we delve into "Papers, Please," the 2013 simulation game which immerses players in the role of an immigration officer in the fictional country of Arstotzka. Through its gamep…
Emily Gee: What insights does "The Last of Us Part II" provide about the identities and dynamics of perpetrators and victims of violence?
What is legitimate violence for women? How does emotion guide gendered violence? And who gets to tell women's stories?
In this episode, we welcome our friend and scholar Emily Gee, PGR at the Univers…
Stardew Valley: How well does Stardew Valley function as a critique of capitalism, harmful environmental practice, and community?
What does Stardew Valley have to say about corporations? How does it encourage us to think about and interact with the environment? And is community romanticised in Stardew Valley?
In this episode, we…
Ged Hiscoke: What can Deus Ex: Mankind Divided tell us about discrimination, civil unrest, and reintegration?
What role does employment play in rebuilding after conflict? Can you do peace without justice? And what gets in the way of reintegration ?
In this episode, we welcome our friend and colleague Ged Hisc…
Night in the Woods: What does it tell us about alienation, nostalgia and deindustrialisation?
What role does resentment play in shaping our political choices? Why might the left behind be nostalgic, even for a past that never existed? And why might someone turn to sacrificing the young to a d…