Skip to main content
The Optional Podcast

The Optional Podcast

By The Optional Podcast

A fresh new take on video game criticism by people of color with a New York twist. Hosted by Paul Tamayo alongside the one and only Cam Brewster, The Optional covers the latest in gaming with a mix of hip-hop, comedy, and real conversations surrounding the culture. This isn't your typical games podcast. This is video game commentary for the rest of us.
Available on
Apple Podcasts Logo
Castbox Logo
Google Podcasts Logo
Overcast Logo
RadioPublic Logo
Spotify Logo
Currently playing episode

183 - J.O.M.O.

The Optional PodcastNov 11, 2019

00:00
01:00:46
217 - Shut Up And Listen (feat. Roman France)

217 - Shut Up And Listen (feat. Roman France)

That's all, folks. We've come to the end of this particular journey for now and we brought in our original co-host Roman France, who now works at Activision to talk about his journey so far in the games industry, our current playlists, a couple of listener questions, one last Feelin' It for the road and a final farewell to all of you lovely listeners. Thanks for supporting us for so long. It's been real.

Sep 14, 202002:21:21
216 - Sign of the Times
Jul 20, 202002:00:50
215 - CTRL + Z (feat. Jeffrey Rousseau)
Jul 06, 202001:41:02
214 - System Reset (feat. Alan Torres)

214 - System Reset (feat. Alan Torres)

This week the guys are joined by our fellow young New York legend Alan Torres, freelance video producer for the likes of IGN, Kotaku and his own channel Spectr Gaming, to talk more Last of Us Part II, Bloodborne, Half Life: Alyx, allegations in the games space, Mixer coming to an end, Twitch’s own batch of issues that include everyone’s least favorite pseudo medical professional, our favorite bodega picks, quarantine habits, what games we want as MOBA’s and TONS more. Tune in already!

Continue the convo with us on Discord: https://discord.gg/T2v8CDc

Spread the word and review us on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2UvzcId

Get our weekly newsletter for bonus content: bit.ly/3ewWLeN

Help the keep the lights on: https://bit.ly/2RSIvU3

Jun 29, 202001:48:22
213 - Technical Spectacle
Jun 22, 202001:43:09
212 - For the Culture (feat. Kahlief Adams)
Jun 15, 202002:15:15
211 - We’re All We Got
Jun 08, 202001:19:17
210 - Simulations (feat. Jeff Legaspi)
Jun 01, 202001:53:34
209 - Focal Points (feat. Dia Lacina)
May 25, 202002:31:23
208 - Same Energy (feat. Caitlin Galiz-Rowe + Monti Velez)
May 18, 202002:22:54
207 - Qué Lo Qué Slider (feat. Nico Deyo)

207 - Qué Lo Qué Slider (feat. Nico Deyo)

This week we’re joined by freelance media critic and stream coordinator extraordinaire Nico Deyo to talk Valorant, Overwatch, Deliver Us The Moon, Animal Crossing hustling, last week’s Inside Xbox, Digital TGS, OWL, problematic herbs being rewarded AGAIN, The Sopranos, Internet Shaquille, Disney Gallery and TONS more. Tune in already, ya jerks.

Continue the convo with us on Discord: https://discord.gg/T2v8CDc

Spread the word and review us on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2UvzcId

Get our weekly newsletter for bonus content: bit.ly/3ewWLeN

Help the keep the lights on: https://bit.ly/2RSIvU3

May 11, 202002:23:47
206 - Crumbs Ain’t Good Enough (feat. Natalie Flores)

206 - Crumbs Ain’t Good Enough (feat. Natalie Flores)

This week we’re joined by the illustrious Natalie Flores, weekend writer at Fanbyte and writer for Paste, to talk Valorant, Streets of Rage 4, Ring Fit Adventure, Last of Us 2 leaks, corny Twitch bozos, social distancing life hacks, Final Fantasy XIII love, Killing Eve, The Last Dance, and so much more. Seriously, strap in because this is filled to brim. Tune in already!

Continue the convo with us on Discord: https://discord.gg/T2v8CDc

Spread the word and review us on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2UvzcId

Get our weekly newsletter for bonus content: bit.ly/3ewWLeN

May 04, 202002:40:18
205 - Mas EFX (feat. Chase Carter)

205 - Mas EFX (feat. Chase Carter)

This week we’re joined by Optional family Chase Carter, Freelance Journalist, Podcaster, and Discord Moderator extraordinaire to talk Horizon’s Gate, This, Too, Shall Pass, Animal Crossing shattering sales records, GameStop reopening stores, questionable representation in games, Little Fires Everywhere, Sherman’s Showcase, Outer Banks and TONS more. Tune in already, you jerks.

Continue the convo with us on Discord: https://discord.gg/T2v8CDc

Spread the word and review us on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2UvzcId

Get our weekly newsletter for bonus content: bit.ly/3ewWLeN

Help us the keep the lights on: https://bit.ly/2RSIvU3

Apr 27, 202001:36:03
204 - Mr. Zest (feat. Bo Lee)

204 - Mr. Zest (feat. Bo Lee)

This week we’ve got our good friend Bo Lee, reporting from Dallas, back on the show to talk more Final Fantasy VII Remake, Animal Crossing, Streets of Rage hype, PlayStation companion robots for gamers, Tifa appreciation, DEVS, new Kid Cudi, and tons more.

Continue the convo with us on Discord: https://discord.gg/T2v8CDc

Spread the word and review us on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2UvzcId

Get our weekly newsletter for bonus content: bit.ly/3ewWLeN

Help the keep the lights on: https://bit.ly/2RSIvU3

Apr 20, 202001:43:57
203 - Final Fantasy Haptics (feat. Tom Caswell)

203 - Final Fantasy Haptics (feat. Tom Caswell)

This week we’ve got our friend Tom Caswell (@GreatBriTom) on the show to talk about Final Fantasy VII Remake, Call of Duty: Warzone, Animal Crossing, Resident Evil 3, PS5 controllers, Xbox Series X news, Cyberpunk delayed, listener questions and our recommendations to help you get through another week of quarantine. So boot it up and redeem some Nook Miles.

Tom’s Mixer Channel: https://mixer.com/greatbritom

Support us on Anchor: https://anchor.fm/the-optional-podcast

Talk with us on Discord: https://discord.gg/T2v8CDc

Please Review us on iTunes: https://apple.co/2UvzcId

Apr 13, 202002:06:25
202 - Miss Me With That Gamer Sh**

202 - Miss Me With That Gamer Sh**

This week we’re talking more Animal Crossing, Resident Evil 3, RE: Resistance, Doom Eternal, the week’s news, listener questions and calls, and TONS more. So tune in already, you JERKS.

Apr 06, 202001:54:11
201 - Shut Up and Dance

201 - Shut Up and Dance

This week we’re talking about Animal Crossing, Resident Evil 3 Remake, VR Chat, new Neir, esports during covid-19, Portrait of a Lady On Fire, Dave on Hulu, listener questions and TONS more. Tune in already.

Mar 30, 202001:38:13
200 - New Horizons Zero Doom
Mar 23, 202001:47:06
199 - Settler Simulator

199 - Settler Simulator

This week we’re talking ANIMAL CROSSING: NEW HORIZONS, Call of Duty Modern Warfare: Warzone, E3 canceled, Stadia woes, Lego Mario, Minecraft libraries, listener questions, and tons more. Tune in, you jerks.

Mar 16, 202001:34:39
198 - Hexagon Don

198 - Hexagon Don

This week we’re revisiting Into the Breach, Breath of the Wild and talking new games like Yes, Your Grace. We’re also talking Twitch streamers shooting their shots, more GeForce Now drama, Last of Us live-action series, Nintendo PlayStations, Bad Bunny, Mythic Quest and TONS more. Tune in, you jerks.

Mar 09, 202001:10:38
197 - Games, Stop

197 - Games, Stop

This week Cam’s back and we’re talking more No Man’s Sky, Bloodroots, Iris and the Giant, Frostpunk, GDC postponed, Gentefied, Hunters, and TONS more. Tune in already, ya jerks.

Mar 02, 202001:16:41
196 - xXEmo_Gamer420Xx (feat. Chase Carter)
Feb 24, 202001:56:12
195 - Dreamy

195 - Dreamy

This week we’re talking Dreams, Coffee Talk, Frostpunk, the end of E3, Division 2 DLC, Kenny Beats, Roast Me, listener questions and TONS more. Tune in already, ya jerks.

Feb 17, 202001:41:21
194 - 90’s Kinda World (feat. Natalie Degraffinried)

194 - 90’s Kinda World (feat. Natalie Degraffinried)

This week, Kotaku’s Senior Editor and friend of the show, Natalie Degraffinried joins us to talk Dragon’s Dogma, Apex Legends Season 4, Haikyuu!!, Living Single, and so much more. Tune in, ya jerks.

Feb 10, 202001:45:59
193 - Gamers Arisen

193 - Gamers Arisen

This week we’re talking more Dragon’s Dogma, The Pedestrian, Yoku’s Island Express, Journey to the Savage Planet, Animal Crossing Switch, AND TONS MORE. Tune in, ya jerks.

Feb 03, 202001:11:11
192 - Delay Season

192 - Delay Season

This week we’re talking more Disco Elysium, Obra Dinn, Wattam, GTA 5, Cyberpunk AND FF VII remake delays, listener questions and tons more. TUNE IN, YA JERKS.

Jan 20, 202057:14
191 - Knock It Off

191 - Knock It Off

This week we’re talking Disco Elysium, GTA V, Wattam, The Witcher 3, Return of the Obra Dinn, Alienware knockoffs, PlayStation 5 logos, and TONS more. TUNE IN ALREADY!

Jan 13, 202052:10
190 - Wild Buns

190 - Wild Buns

We’re starting of 2020 with a quick update on EVERYTHING we’ve caught up on during the two week hiatus. Things like The Witcher Netflix series, Rise of Skywalker, Knives Out, Katana Zero and… Farming Simulator? It’s also time for The Optional Listener Awards! We combed through all of your submissions and picked the winners for some very unique categories. Hear a couple of listener questions from the vault and our non-gaming recommendations for the week. TUNE IN!

Dec 30, 201901:39:16
189 - An Optional Review Of The Decade

189 - An Optional Review Of The Decade

Are we old now? Yup. Let's take a look back at the decade in video games and find out our picks for games that shaped the decade for us. Also, we reveal our favorite console of the decade too! JOIN US. HAPPY NEW YEAR.

Dec 23, 201901:14:48
188 - The 3rd Annual Optional Awards

188 - The 3rd Annual Optional Awards

It's Gaming's biggest night. Paul and Cam break down the year's games. Suit up and sit down. It's time to eat some hot chips and slam some Baha Blast, baby.

Dec 16, 201901:11:41
187 - Lore Have Mercy

187 - Lore Have Mercy

This week we’re talking more Destiny 2, Super Mario Maker 2, Touryst, Remnant: From the Ashes, and TONS more. TUNE IN, YA JERKS.

Dec 09, 201901:00:35
186 - Pure Moods
Dec 02, 201901:29:05
185 - Conflicts of Interest
Nov 25, 201901:01:50
184 - Dexit Through The Gift Shop

184 - Dexit Through The Gift Shop

This week, the guys are joined by Kotaku’s Staff Editor Natalie Degraffinried to talk Pokemon, Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order, Google Stadia, X0 ‘19, Sonic, Anthem 2.0, and TONS more. Tune in already, ya jerks.

Nov 18, 201901:44:16
183 - J.O.M.O.

183 - J.O.M.O.

This week, we’re talking more Death Stranding, Need for Speed: Heat, Modern Warfare, Destiny 2, The Stretchers, RDR2 on PC, fries, starter games and TONS more. Tune in already, ya jerks.

Nov 11, 201901:00:46
182 - Now That's What I Call War Crimes

182 - Now That's What I Call War Crimes

This week we're talking Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, The Outer Worlds, Death Stranding, Fallout 76 subscriptions, Blizzcon news and TONS more. So tune in already, ya jerks.

Nov 04, 201901:40:53
181 - Ring Fitteds

181 - Ring Fitteds

WE’RE BACK. SO many games to talk about. Ring Fit Adventure, Call of Duty Mobile, Gears 5, Apex Legends, Overwatch on Switch and so much more. Plus the past few weeks news, listener questions, and our recommendations for the week. TUNE IN.

Oct 21, 201902:01:08
180 - Lisa Lisa and the Cult Jam

180 - Lisa Lisa and the Cult Jam

We’re back with a jam-packed show talking Modern Warfare Crossplay Beta, Untitled Goose Game, Sayonara Wild Hearts, Overland, Red Dead Online and tons more. We’re also talking the week’s news, listener questions, and our recommendations for the week. TUNE IN ALREADY.

Sep 30, 201901:42:47
179 - Unmistakingly Duty

179 - Unmistakingly Duty

We’re back and talking Modern Warfare beta, Borderlands 3, Sega Genesis Mini, Red Dead Redemption 2 Online, Lone Echo, VR Chat, P.T., Ring Fit Adventure, and how the hell is J Lo 50 years old? TUNE IN.

Sep 16, 201901:22:10
178 - Niche af

178 - Niche af

This week we’re talking more Control, Final Fantasy VIII, Tetris 99, more VR, Nintendo Directs, heated problematic gamers, Carole & Tuesday, Naked Director, SiR, and TONS more. Tune in!

Sep 09, 201901:11:51
177 - Ancestral Plane

177 - Ancestral Plane

We’re back and this week we’re talking Control, Final Fantasy VIII, Ancestors, Forager, Creature in the Well, and Paul’s stupid impulse VR purchase. We’re also talking the week’s news about Yakuza 7, Telltale Games, gaming’s #metoo movement, listener questions, and our recommendations for the week with a superhero show and a rich greedy family. TUNE IN!

Sep 03, 201901:11:56
176 - Solo Dolo
Aug 19, 201946:38
175 - Paul Forgot Which Title He Said He'd Use

175 - Paul Forgot Which Title He Said He'd Use

This week we're joined by our good friend Bo! Tune in to hear us talk video game vision quests, new Black Ops 4 modes, Ooblets backlash, Walmart, favorite speed runs and why Pokemon and Kingdom Hearts are trash (to Bo). Tune in!

Aug 12, 201901:36:31
174 - Two-Hour Tech Demo

174 - Two-Hour Tech Demo

This week we’re talking Gundam Battle Gunpla Warfare, Wolfenstein: Youngblood, Fire Emblem, Black Desert Online, ESA screwups, EVO, corny Twitch streamers, and tons more. Tune in! 

Aug 05, 201901:29:55
173 - Indigenous Jiggyness with Jason Vega
Jul 29, 201901:03:29
172 - Drift Kings

172 - Drift Kings

 This week we’re talking more Fire Emblem: Three Houses, Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3, Apex Legends, Splatoon 2’s last Splatfest, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, the week’s news, listener questions and our recommendations for the week. So tune in already! 

Jul 22, 201901:45:26
171 - Lite Work

171 - Lite Work

 This week we’re talking Fire Emblem: Three Houses, Teppen, Dr. Mario, Super Mario Maker 2, Switch Lite, The Farewell, Midsommar and tons more. Tune in! 

Jul 15, 201901:19:15
170 - Politically-Charged

170 - Politically-Charged

This week we’re talking Spider-Man: Far From Home, Outer Worlds’ politics, Super Mario Maker 2, Apex Legends Season 2, listener questions and our recommendations for the week. Tune in! 

Jul 08, 201901:15:35
169 - Super Mario Makings

169 - Super Mario Makings

 This week we’re talking more Outer Wilds, Super Mario Maker 2, Harry Potter: Wizards Unite, the week’s news, listener questions, and TONS more. Tune in. 

Jul 01, 201901:10:42
168 - Take it Eaze

168 - Take it Eaze

This week we're talking gamer chairs, health checks, Cadence of Hyrule, My Friend Pedro, Outer Wilds, Blops 4, Hollow Knight, Void Bastards, the week's news, listener questions, and our recommendations for the week! Oh, and join the DISCORD ALREADY, FAM. TALK TO US.

Jun 24, 201901:31:01