GeekDad Gerry Tolbert interviews Ben Loomes, creator of the awesome Syrinscape app for creating ambient soundtracks for gaming, at Gen Con 2017.

GeekDad Will James did a one-on-one panel interview with John Kovalic at the Southern-Fried Gameroom Expo this past weekend.

In this special (and unexpected) edition of The GeekDads podcast, Z. and his kids play 'Animal Crossing: Happy Home Academy' together. And wackiness ensues.

It's another great GeekDad podcast! Preston, Wil, and Kishore bring us a special recap from DragonCon 2015. Enjoy! GeekDad.com is the parenting blog edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum, Jonathan Liu, Z and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop culture. The GeekDads podcast is a biweekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

It's another great GeekDad podcast! Ken and Matt talk about the loss of some geek greats, and revel in the recent episodes of Agent Carter and Gravity Falls. Enjoy! GeekDad.com is the parenting blog edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum, Jonathan Liu, Z and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop culture. The GeekDads podcast is a biweekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

The GeekDads podcast returns! Ken chats with new GeekDad writers Jamie and Will about all the kinds of geeks there are, as well as what brought them to GeekDad in the first place. (Apologies for the audio - the recorder was set to the wrong mic input, so we got a bit of ambient noise.) GeekDad.com is the parenting blog edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum, Jonathan Liu, Z and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop culture. The GeekDads podcast is a biweekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

The GeekDads podcast returns! Ken & Matt are back after a year hiatus for more geeky conversaion, talking about recent geeky entertainment, and generally catching up on the lost year. GeekDad.com is the parenting blog edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum, Jonathan Liu, Z and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop culture. The GeekDads podcast is a biweekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

It's a special episode of The GeekDads! Ken & Z report from the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. They round-up their day on the show floor, and highlight the coolest and strangest gadgets they saw. GeekDad.com is the parenting blog edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum, Jonathan Liu, Z and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop culture.

An interview with author Jennifer Holm about her latest middle-grade novel, The Fourteenth Goldfish. Bounded Enthusiasm is a podcast by GeekDad Senior Editor Jonathan H. Liu, about books, games, apps, and anything else he feels like talking about at the moment.

An interview with Elissa Brent Weissman, author of several middle-grade novels about smart kids. Her latest book is Nerd Camp 2.0, a sequel to Nerd Camp. Bounded Enthusiasm is a podcast by GeekDad Senior Editor Jonathan H. Liu, about books, games, apps, and anything else he feels like talking about at the moment.

An interview with Tony DiTerlizzi about his latest book, Star Wars: The Adventures of Luke Skywalker, Jedi Knight, which features paintings by Ralph McQuarrie. Bounded Enthusiasm is a podcast by GeekDad Senior Editor Jonathan H. Liu, about books, games, apps, and anything else he feels like talking about at the moment.

An interview with Paul Pope, creator of the Battling Boy series, about his new book The Rise of Aurora West. Bounded Enthusiasm is a podcast by GeekDad Senior Editor Jonathan H. Liu, about books, games, apps, and anything else he feels like talking about at the moment.

An interview with B.J. Novak, writer-producer-actor, recorded on September 19, 2014. B.J. talks about his first book for children, The Book With No Pictures. Bounded Enthusiasm is a podcast by GeekDad Senior Editor Jonathan H. Liu, about books, games, apps, and anything else he feels like talking about at the moment.

An interview with Gene Yang and Sonny Liew, recorded June 24, 2014. Gene and Sonny talk about working on The Shadow Hero, the untold origin story of a WWII-era superhero, arguably the world's first Asian-American superhero. Bounded Enthusiasm is a podcast by GeekDad Senior Editor Jonathan H. Liu, about books, games, apps, and anything else he feels like talking about at the moment.

An interview with Daniel H. Wilson, recorded May 23, 2014. Daniel discusses his latest book, Robogenesis, along with other stories about robot uprisings. Bounded Enthusiasm is a podcast by GeekDad Senior Editor Jonathan H. Liu, about books, games, apps, and anything else he feels like talking about at the moment.

An interview with Jonathan Auxier, recorded May 6, 2014. Jonathan discusses his new book, The Night Gardener. Along the way we talk about storytelling, board games, reading to kids, and Auxier's mastery of the yo-yo. Bounded Enthusiasm is a (newly renamed, after a single episode) podcast by GeekDad Senior Editor Jonathan H. Liu, about books, games, apps, and anything else he feels like talking about at the moment.

An interview with Tony DiTerlizzi, recorded on April 29, 2014. Tony talks about his new book, The Battle for WondLa; his Dungeons & Dragons days; and his upcoming Star Wars book featuring artwork by Ralph McQuarrie. Bounded Enthusiasm (renamed from "Talking About Stuff") is a podcast by GeekDad Senior Editor Jonathan H. Liu, covering books, games, apps, and anything else he feels like talking about at the moment.

GeekDad's own John Kovalic and Ethan Gilsdorf were both interviewed on Wisconsin Public Radio in light of the anniversary of the RPG that started it all. [Audio courtesy WPR - Wisconsin Public Radio]

Ken & Matt are back for more geeky conversaion, talking about the holiday movies and catching up on some recent sci-fi reading. GeekDad.com is the parenting blog edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum, Jonathan Liu, Z and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop culture. The GeekDads podcast is a biweekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

Ken, Matt, and Jonathan do a deep dive into the Doctor Who 50th Anniversary special, as well as Hunger Games: Catching Fire, and more. Enjoy! GeekDad.com is the parenting blog edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum, Jonathan Liu, Z and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop culture. The GeekDads podcast is a biweekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

Ken, Matt, Jonathan, Jason, and Ryan chat about the huge week of Doctor Who, playing RPGs with our kids, and the pending Monty Python reunion. Enjoy! GeekDad.com is the parenting blog edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum, Jonathan Liu, Z and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop culture. The GeekDads podcast is a biweekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

Ken and Matt chat about all the upcoming holiday movies. Enjoy! GeekDad.com is the parenting blog edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum, Jonathan Liu, Z and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop culture. The GeekDads podcast is a biweekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

Ken, Matt, Jonathan, and Chuck talk about Kickstarter, Disneyland, and summer movies. Enjoy! GeekDad.com is the parenting blog edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum, Jonathan Liu, Z and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop culture. The GeekDads podcast is a biweekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

Ken, Matt, Jonathan, and Chuck talk about Kickstarter, Disneyland, and summer movies. Enjoy! GeekDad.com is the parenting blog edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum, Jonathan Liu, Z and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop culture. The GeekDads podcast is a biweekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

Ken and Matt talk about Disney World vs. Disneyland, summer movies, and more! Enjoy! GeekDad.com is the parenting blog edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum, Jonathan Liu, Z and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop culture. The GeekDads podcast is a biweekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

Ken, Matt, and Jonathan catch up on geeky news, including Forbidden Desert, and the Game of Thrones Red Wedding. Enjoy! GeekDad.com is the parenting blog edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum, Jonathan Liu, Z and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop culture. The GeekDads podcast is a biweekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

Ken and Matt have a long, spoiler-filled debate about Star Trek Into Darkness (one loved it, one hated it). Plus chat about Maker Faire, the new XBox One, and more. Enjoy! Caution: Brief Profanity GeekDad.com is the parenting blog edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum, Jonathan Liu, Z and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop culture. The GeekDads podcast is a biweekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

Ken, Matt, and Ryan talk about Maker Faire, Iron Man 3, and Star Trek Into Darkness. Enjoy! GeekDad.com is the parenting blog edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum, Jonathan Liu, Z and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop culture. The GeekDads podcast is a biweekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

Ken, Matt, and James talk about the changes at GeekDad, plus Scooby Doo!, and revisiting Battlestar Galactica. Enjoy! GeekDad.com is the parenting blog edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum, Jonathan Liu, Z and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop culture. The GeekDads podcast is a biweekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

Ken, Jonathan, and Matt about upcoming geek movies, Jonathan's Kickstarter project, and the mathematical order of operations. Enjoy! GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum, Jonathan Liu, Z and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop culture. The GeekDads podcast is a biweekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

Ken, Jonathan, Matt and Jim chat about comic convention panels, Kickstarter projects and more. Enjoy! GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum, Jonathan Liu, Z and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop culture. The GeekDads podcast is a biweekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

Ken, Jonathan, Jason and Ryan chat about smart watches from Pebble and Apple, what's up with Games Workshop and the Space Marine trademark, and the golden age of Internet television. Enjoy! GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum, Jonathan Liu, Z and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop culture. The GeekDads podcast is a biweekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

Ken, Matt, Jonathan, Ryan and Jim chat about applications to date our daughters, and the Jonathan Coulton/Glee brouhaha. Enjoy! GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum, Jonathan Liu, Z and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop culture. The GeekDads podcast is a biweekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

Ken, Matt, and Doug chat about the holidays, the Aaron Shwartz tragedy, Disney Infinity, and other cool geek news. Enjoy! GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum, Jonathan Liu, Z and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop culture. The GeekDads podcast is a biweekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

Ken, Matt, Jason and Corinna chat about the Sandy Hook tragedy, The Hobbit, and other cool geek news. Enjoy! GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum, Jonathan Liu, Z and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop culture. The GeekDads podcast is a biweekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

Ken and I really struggled to find a way to celebrate the 100th episode of GeekDad HipTrax without simply rehashing a bunch of stuff we’ve already featured. After some careful deliberation we submit for the approval of our longsuffering listening community the following collection which we have dubbed “The HipTrax Definitive 10.” It’s 10 songs from 10 distinct artists that truly encapsulate what the geeky music meta-community is all about, and it includes old and new tracks like: “It is Pitch Dark” by MC Frontalot A classic cut from the Godfather of Nerdcore originally included in our 10th episode. “Paperman” by Adam WarRock A brand new song from the new face of pop culture-obsessed hip-hop. “Take it from Me” by Kirby Krackle This Mega Man tribute comes from the Seattle geek rockers’ phenomenal E for Everyone. “Light Up the Night” by The Protomen Another Mega Man cut that’s also a classic throwback; this piece from the all-original VGM rock opera outfit is surely one of its finest. “Out on the Floor” by Pixelh8 Danceable electro collides with the artist’s traditional upbeat chiptunes on this And the Revolution standout. “The Earl of Funk” by The OneUps The funk fusion game rockers really come through on this song from their latest release. “Ping Pong Song” by Optimus Rhyme A sentimental favorite from the long-gone champions of nerdcore. “Skymall” by Jonathan Coulton JoCo was quite literally the starting point of this project, so we pause to reflect on his amazing creative output and the sheer breadth of his career. “Clever Girl” by The Doubleclicks Elements of filk and geek rock blissfully coexist in this Doubleclicks selection also sometimes known as “Hollywood Raptor.” “Save Ginny Weasley” by Harry and the Potters We close with what is easily the most important track in Wizard Rock.

Ken and Matt chat about the upcoming holidays, Windows 8, the new TSR, and more. Enjoy! GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum, Jonathan Liu, Z and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a biweekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

Ken, Jonathan, and Matt chat about the rumored NASA Mars announcement, going crazy with holiday lights, the season's best movies, and more. Enjoy! GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum, Jonathan Liu, Z and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a biweekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

As we creep slowly toward our landmark 100th episode (not to mention this year’s 12 Days of Geekmas), Ken and I take a moment to catch up on three new and notable releases. Sit back and enjoy: “Kiss My Bits (ComputeHer Mix)” by 8 Bit Weapon 8 Bit Weapon and ComputeHer recently put together a compilation spanning 14 years of chiptune magic. The 8 Bit Weapon Collection 1998-2012 weighs in at an impressive 56 tracks, and it’s available for download now via Bandcamp. “Act I – To Live is to Love” by Adam WarRock Last month Adam WarRock worked with Opera Memphis to shrink the four acts of Puccini’s La Boheme down to at tight four track hip-hop EP. High culture and pop culture collide in this fascinating display of narrative lyricism. “Sunny Days Again” by Shnabubula Shnabubula’s Fading Light consists of 10 improvised piano pieces that the artist recorded during a very trying personal period. Though originally intended as little more than disparate exercises, they actually fit together into a truly moving musical arc.

Ken, Jonathan, and Matt chat about the Apple announcements, Wreck-it Ralph, and more. Enjoy! GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum, Jonathan Liu, Z and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a biweekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

In this edition of GeekDad HipTrax we take a break from our regularly scheduled Halloween merrymaking to talk with a very special guest, musician-comedian Mike Phirman! We also rock out to: "Chicken Monkey Duck" by Mike Phirman From Mike's own The Very Last Songs I Will Ever Record (Part 1)comes a slice of barnyard funk suitable for your next rural social function. "Moose Lodge" by Hard 'n Phirm Hard 'n Phirm, the comedy duo consisting of Phirman and his pal Chris Hardwick, does not exactly create what we would consider family-friendly music. And yet I was able to find a cut from their release Horses and Grasseswith only one minor swear! #gome

Ken, James, and Chuck chat about the Curiosity Rover, the Dragon space craft, home automation, and more. Enjoy! GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum, Jonathan Liu, Z and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a biweekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

Halloween comes early on this edition of GeekDad HipTrax! Receive ample tricks and/or treats from: “Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance – Successor of Fate” by Videogame Orchestra European netlabel Pterodactyl Squad and Greek electro-chip duo Videogame Orchestra kick the show off with a little Castlevania action. This track is available as part of the free-to-download release Last But Not Least. “King of Brains” by Zombie Lou Zombie Lou’s Greatest Hits is an entire album based on a classic gag from the You Don’t Know Jack videogame series. It is also awesome, season-appropriate and free. “Fear of the Dark” by Sam Haynes Check out Sam Hanyes’ Halloween Carnival, a great collection of creepy electronica perfect for haunts and costume party soundtracks. Then check out the latest from the artist behind Sam Haynes, Cheekyboy.

Ken and Matt chat about the iPhone 5, The Hobbit, and more. Enjoy! GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum, Jonathan Liu, Z and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a biweekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

Some podcasts are content to simply take over the world, but here at HipTrax we have grander designs; we are gunning for the entire universe! Reach for the heavens with: “Birds, Stars, Pigs and Quasars” by The OneUps The OneUps latest, Intergalactic Continuum, is a funk-fueled journey through the stratosphere with stops in Hyrule and Funkotron. It’s available now at Bandcamp for a cool 10 bones, or you can check out the band’s official merch store for the physical version. “Space Dojo 1 (Double Dragon 1 – Mission 2)” by Jake Kaufman Jake Kaufman is likely better known in VGM circles as virt – or, if you prefer, “that guy who composes the soundtracks for all my favorite games.” Recently he added the Double Dragon Neon OST to his already impressive discography, alongside such fan favorites as Contra 4 and Shantae: Risky’s Revenge. It’s also available now via Bandcamp as a pay-what-you-want release. “The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z” by Tribe One Last weekend I caught Tribe One (along with tourmates Adam WarRock, Mikal kHill and Jesse Dangerously) in nearby Charlotte, NC. Tribe’s set was phenomenal, but this track in particular was a true standout.

Ken, Matt, and Jonathan chat about PAX Prime, Thor 2 casting rumors, and make a few Apple announcement predictions. Enjoy! GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum, Jonathan Liu, Z and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a biweekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

With PAX Prime and Dragon*Con now behind us, we can finally get back to… whatever it was we were doing. I mean, I’m sure it was important. Or something. Memorialize the bygone con season with: “Be My Stalker” by The Doubleclicks So I’m not saying this song is about me, but I’m also not sayin’ it ain’t, you dig? Be sure to catch the sisters Webber out and about this fall alongside the one and only Molly Lewis on The Ladies of Ragnarok: Tour 2012. I may or may not be sneaking into their van to collect DNA from their hairbrushes as part of a convoluted cloning scheme. “Theme from Star Trek” by Andrew Allen The Smooth Federation all-jazz Star Trek tribute is easily one of the coolest projects I’ve ever encountered. And I owe it all to longtime friend of GeekDad and veritable musical birddog Dave the SalesGeek! “Back To Me” by Dual Core Dual Core’s latest full-length All the Things was released last week, and it immediately shot to the top of the Bandcamp sales charts. This is particularly telling, as I can guarantee you that each and every Dual Core fan understands how to easily torrent the latest releases.

Ken, Matt, and John Jonathan chat about the loss of Neil Armstrong, the Apple/Samsung verdict, and our excitement about the new Joss Whedon TV announcement. Enjoy! GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum, Jonathan Liu, Z and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a biweekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

As the summer draws to a close a young man’s thoughts turn to GeekDad HipTrax episode 94. Or maybe that’s just me. Enjoy the following fine selections: “Buggin’ (The Metamorphosis)” by Random This Monday GeekDad was thrilled to premiere the newest video from rapper Random, a wonderful visual interpretation of this Kafka-inspired track directed by Max Isaacson. And just yesterday Ran followed it up with the release of the 2nd volume of his Language Arts collection. “I Like It! (ft. MC Frontalot, Beefy)” by Supercommuter The latest from Seattle chip-hoppers Supercommuter features the Godfather of Nerdcore MC Frontalot along, fellow PacNW geek rapper Beefy, electronic artist Square Wail and the smallest commuter of them all Itty Bitty Bot. Grab your copy right now from Bandcamp for whatever you’d like to pay. “Gravity Falls” by Adam WarRock WarRock will be on the road next month with Tribe One, Jesse Dangerously and Mikal kHill as part of the NOFRIENDS 2012 tour. Be sure to catch ‘em when they come through your burg, and don’t forget to check out Adam’s own Gravity Falls fan podcast.

Ken, Matt, and John Booth look chat about Star Wars Celebration, bad Tim Burton movies, and coffee vodka. Enjoy! GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum, Jonathan Liu, Z and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a biweekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

Talking with Diane Duane is like having a conversation with a wind storm; things keep coming at you from all directions, and everything blows you away. If you are a fan of science fiction, fantasy, animation, and just genre entertainment in general, and you're of a certain age like me, you've probably bumped up against Diane's work, even if you don't realize it. In '80s she was at Hannah-Barbera, Filmation, DiC, Sunbow, and Walt Disney. Can you picture the shows she was working on? Captain Caveman, Dinosaucers, Transformers (the ORIGINAL), and Duck Tales to name a few. Then she co-wrote for Batman: The Animated Series (perhaps the Genesis of modern superhero cartoon shows), and Gargoyles. Gargoyles is remembered for having been a well-written series, with a lot of Star Trek: The Next Generation actors doing voice work. And yes, Diane did a ST:TNG story: "Where No Man Has Gone Before." She wrote a seminal series of Star Trek novels about the Romulans that informs fans to this day, and had young adult stories about wizards in the modern world on the racks a decade before J.K. Rowling. There is more, much more, but in a way, that would be spoilers. If you know who Diane Duane is, you'll have a great time listening to this podcast, because the stories she tells about, every corner of genre entertainment in the last 30 years are great. If you don't know Diane, you'll really want to afterwards.

This edition of GeekDad HipTrax is all about skillful lyricism and delicate acoustic-rooted instrumentation. And also Pokémon. Think of it as HipTrax Unplugged: “Gotta Catch ‘Em All (feat. The Stacey)” by Insane Ian This song, taken from Ian’s larger work “Ultimate Epic Video Game Medley 3rd Strike,” combines Adele’s “Rolling in the Deep” with the theme song from Pokémon, a mash-up that obviously resonates here on the internet. It features the vocal stylings of his wife Stacey. “Little Songs” by Grace Kendall Many listeners likely know Grace as Wizard Rocker Snidget, and similarly associate her more with the dulcimer than the ukelele. Still, her Little Songs puts the uke center stage in a 12-track collection of earnest lyrics and simple, infectious melodies. “Good” by John Anealio This classic 90s cover is available as a part of John’s ongoing free Covers project, and it is also featured on my upcoming Hipster, please! compilation Nerd Up the 90s.

Ken, Matt, Dave, and Jonathan look chat about summer vacations, The Hobbit, Batman, and coffee vodka. Enjoy! GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum, Jonathan Liu, Z and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a biweekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

With our fearless leader at last back from vacation, we spend this particular episode of HipTrax reflecting on some exciting new cuts from some of our old favorites. Enjoy: “End Credits (Space Based Funk)” by Pixelh8 Last November Pixelh8 announced his retirement from chip music, but just last week he revealed that he has returned to music-making! A sneak preview of the new single from his forthcoming album is available at his site, but we took this opportunity to revisit the amazing soundtrack from his addictive iOS game Ocarbot. “Language Arts (1st Day of School)” by Random The first volume of Random’s Kickstarter-funded multimedia project Language Arts is currently available for your listening pleasure. There’s also a comic book, a video game and a great video for this debut single. “Sharktopus” by Nuclear Bubble Wrap Nuclear Bubble Wrap affirms their dedication to original material – they announced they were abandoning parody songs last year – with their latest EP, Abracadaver. It’s a seven song collection anchored by this highlight from their previous full-length.

I am well aware of the summer concert season, but apparently there is also a summer album season. As it seems that everybody is dropping one this month! Check out the new hotness: “Bring Toonami Back” by Richie Branson If the fan outcry to resurrect Cartoon Network’s long-missed Toonami anime block was a phalanx, then surely Richie’s rallying cry was the tip of the spear. (Now you know a bit more about both American otaku and ancient military history; you’re welcome, internet!) You can own this updated version of the iconic track along with six other hip-hop gems on his amazing new N.E.R.D. EP. “Co-op Mode (feat. The BossFights)” by Sci-Fried Sure, I could be stingy with my song leaks, but I like to share ‘em. Especially when they come from Florida’s geek rock royalty Sci-Fried and California’s underground thrash/rap juggernaut The BossFights. This song serves as the title track for Sci-Fried’s forthcoming Co-op Mode, an album featuring other epic musical team-ups with the likes of Warp 11, MC Lars and Insane Ian. “Take on Me (Live)” by Kirby Krackle Recorded at Seattle’s Hard Rock Cafe during this year’s Emerald City Comic Con, Live in Seattle represents Kirby Krackle’s first full band live album. Eleven tracks strong and featuring amazing guest performances by Adam WarRock and ALL CAPS‘ (and former Parselmouth) Kristina Horner, it’s a veritable must-own!

Welcome, one and all, to the GeekDad HipTrax summer music spectacular. We've got thrills, chills and spills. And also Nine Inch Nails! Prepare to be shocked and amazed by the geektastic glory of: "Head Like I-O" by Inverse Phase Inverse Phase's Pretty Eight Machine is likely the best thing you've heard since… well, Inverse Phase's inspired rendition of a certain Cee Lo Greenchart-topper. "Just Passing Through" by Benjamin Briggs Twenty-five years ago Final Fantasy introduced a generation of Western youth to the wonders of the JRPG -- not to mention the wonders of the Nobuo Uematsu soundtrack. And just this month the OverClocked ReMix community paid fitting musical tribute with their 35th album Random Encounter. "Spring Break 199X" by Slime Girls The latest from the Pterodactyl Squad netlabel is the Vacation Wasteland EP, a pitch-perfect collection of summer sounds. From garage-flavored punk to chip-driven surf, it's a must-have for all your warm weather listening.

Ken, Matt, and Jonathan look back at GeekDad Day, the WWDC announcements, and upcoming geeky summer movies. Enjoy! GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum, Jonathan Liu, Z and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a biweekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

This week’s theme is musical adventure, and we include a record four tracks from three amazingly geeky artists! Explore the possibilities with: “Flash” / “Battle Theme” as covered by The Protomen Though not technically released until June 1st, those who pre-ordered The Protomen’s new live tribute Present: A Night of Queen – like our own Ken Denmead – received the album early. The rest of you will have to wait, but we’ve provided a couple of tracks to tide you over. “They Call It Big Blue” by Maximalism While not serving as a member of Captain Dan and the Scurvy Crew, Brad Podray participates in a number of other unique musical projects. In his new release Soundtrack for a Great Adventure he provides a selection of ten amazing (and totally free) instrumentals to serve as backing tracks to whatever excitement awaits in your daily life. “…Is About to Explode” by Adam WarRock Having already conquered the worlds of comic book- and television-inspired music, Adam WarRock recently set his sights on the realm of anime. And since no property is more deserving of a hip-hop tribute than seminal 1988 classic Akira, that’s exactly what Adam’s Neo-Tokyo EP provides.

Ken, Matt, Doug, and Jonathan do a Maker Faire recap, and talk a bit about the "controversy" surrounding the GeekDad issue of Wired magazine. Enjoy! GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum, Jonathan Liu, Z and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a biweekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

As the weather warms up the new music just comes rolling in! In this episode we spotlight a trio of fantastic new songs from three of our longtime favorites. Get your geek on with: “Mountain Fortress Delta VII” by The OneUps The newly released Nerdapalooza 2011 Recordings album contains no fewer than three dozen amazing live performance tracks from last year’s festival. Of course you can keep up with all the earth-shattering developments concerning this year’s event over at the official site. “Never Fall (feat. Kirby Krackle)” by Sci-Fried That rowdy geek rock crew Sci-Fried is currently finishing up a new album. Co-Op Mode is a collaborative effort featuring special guests like Warp 11, Insane Ian and Kirby Krackle’s Kyle Stevens. And congratulations to Sci-Fried guitarist Chuck Silver, who just participated in an epic team-up of his own. In the form of marriage! “Let Your Geek Flag Fly” by John Anealio What started out as a fun word game within the hallowed halls of the new GeekDad Community became the latest single from geek rock troubadour John Anealio. John will be sharing a stage with fellow musical dorks of note Paul & Storm at next month’s Nerdtacular event in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Ken, Matt, and Jonathan spend nearly the entire episode going on and on and on about The Avengers. SPOILERS ABOUND! DO NOT LISTEN TO THIS PODCAST IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THE MOVIE! Enjoy! GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum, Jonathan Liu, Z and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a biweekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

GeekDad HipTrax is back with another episode dedicated to giving you a whole lot of music with a nigh unbelievable price tag! Check out awesome (and thriftily priced) jams like: "This Sword" by the modrats York, South Carolina's the modrats bring a healthy dose of punk to the ever-expanding world of geek rock. Their latest, Huzzah!, is a 15-track powerhouse of nerd hymns about everything from gaming to high fantasy that's available for whatever you'd care to pay. "Con Rave Two Step" by Ultraklystron Karl Olson's newest collection of anime- and fandom-inspired rhymes is dubbed Animatic after the traditional storyboarding process used in animation. It is available as a 22-track free download, or you can elect to pick up the deluxe 38-track editionfor a mere $9. "Escape from L.A." by Shrimps John Carpenter, the son of a music professor, composed the minimalist scores for many of his own films out of necessity. Netlabel Pterodactyl Squad recently paid homage to many of these phenomenally atmospheric lo-fi creations with their free-to-download chiptune album It's All in the Reflexes - A John Carpenter Tribute.

Ken, Matt, Dave, James and Cory chat about Matt's seeing Avengers, Ken's seeing robots, and Dave seeing the dark side of Hockey fandom. Enjoy! GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum, Jonathan Liu, Z and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a biweekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

On this edition of HipTrax we take a classic request and pair it with two hot new tracks. If you're a fan of hip-hop, video games or chiptunes, it is not a show to be missed! Rock out with: "Hostage Down" by Dual Core Step into my musical time machine for a trip back to the early days of international nerdcore juggernaut Dual Core. It's the Counter-Strike: Source tribute track that introduced int eighty and c64 to studious hip-hop heads the world over. "Find Me A Physicist! (Stenobot Remix)" by Supercommuter Hot on the heels of (what I've been assured was) an amazing showing at PAX East, Seattle's chip-hop masterminds have treated fans to Remixes Vol. 1, a six-song collection of reworked material from the band's first two full-lengths. Best of all it's absolutely free. "Expand Your Brain" by Tribe One Atlanta's Tribe One announced at last year's Nerdapalooza that he was working on an entire collection of songs rhymed over repurposed Anamanaguchi riffs. Silly me, I thought he was joking!

Ken, Matt, and Jonathan catch up on the aftermath of PAX East and Gamestorm 14. Plus, Ken's going to play with robots, and Matt's seeing Avengers early! GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum, Jonathan Liu, Z and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a biweekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

Here at GeekDad we talk a lot about Kickstarter, and there's a pretty simple reason for that. Though we're contributors to a Wired blog, most of us started out writing for small, independent projects. (Hell, most of us still do!) Kickstarter is an easy way to crowdsource funding for geeky ventures, particularly indie projects, so there's a genuine sense that what we're doing is really just supporting our community. Kickstart your heart with: "You Told Me" by Marc with a C Poor Marc. No sooner was he celebrating the successful funding of his project to release his Normal Bias album on vinyl than he lost one of his musical idols. But rather than wallow in despair, Marc with a C instead elected to release Good Clean Fun, his own tribute to the music of the Monkees. "Sky Palace of the Dragonriders" by Dethlehem My name is Z. and I like long walks on the beach, Dungeons & Dragons and heavy metal. Pittsburgh's Dethlehem offers at least two of those things, and I'm pretty sure they could be convinced to walk on the beach with you to boot. Assuming, of course, you help them fund their epic summer tour. They are so very close! "This Gigantic Robot Kills" by MC Lars Post-punk laptop rapper MC Lars is currently financing a special fan-picked greatest hits compilation via Kickstarter. If this song doesn't make the cut I am calling shenanigans.

Ken, Matt, Jonathan, and Tony talk about the 5th anniversary (that's wood!) of GeekDad, and the brand new community site. Plus, praise for John Carter! Enjoy! GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum, Jonathan Liu, Z and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a biweekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

Neil deGrasse Tyson is one of the very few people smart enough, knowledgeable enough, charming enough, and yes, famous enough that he might just be the best spokesperson for science alive. He's certainly the best spokesperson for American space exploration, a subject that has never needed advocates more than it does today. I recently had the chance to talk with Dr. Tyson about these matters and much more.

Video killed the radio star, but the internet trumps 'em both! This edition of GeekDad HipTrax features a trio of new nerdy singles that also boast some truly inspired videos. Enjoy the musical madness of: "Stoop Sale" by MC Frontalot Frontalot's Solved purported to answer the pressing questions of our day, but the video for "Stoop Sale" certainly confirms one thing I've suspected for years; Damian Hess is part Muppet. "Tech Support" by Sci-Fried Only the fierce geek rockers of Sci-Fried could turn a call for computer assistance into an opportunity for romance. The video for this track similarly features delightful puppets. "I Wanna Live in a World Full of Heros" by Kirby Krackle Kirby Krackle's Super Powered Love was likely my favorite release of 2011. It's an amazing collection of songs centered firmly in the fictional worlds of comic books and animation, but this track—and its accompanying video—brings it all home.

HipTrax isn't fun, of course, but it's no Mass Effect 3. Thankfully, the amazing musicians from the OverClocked ReMix community at least make it sound as if I'm in my favorite video game world: "The Sound of the Galaxy" by Mattias Häggström Gerdt This is currently the only Mass Effect 2 remix available at OCR, but it's easily strong enough to stand on its own. Built upon motifs from many of the original soundtrack selections, it's a suitably epic musical introduction to this episode. "Nova Siberia" by Big Giant Circles Big Giant Circles lives up to this name with the big sounds of this tribute to the original Mass Effect. It's important to note that this incredibly talented artist also went on to help compose the soundtrack to smash follow-up Mass Effect 2! "Uncharted Depths" by Hy Bound This remix from Hy Bound actually didn't make an OCR appearance 2011, but it may sound oddly familiar to gamers; it's actually based on the music from Mass Effect's galaxy map.

The Science Channel is featuring its "Are We Alone" week all this week, and one piece of the programming pie is a special episode of Through the Wormhole, with host Morgan Freeman. The episode, titled "Will We Survive First Contact?" talks to a number of scientists about what the possibilities of communicating with extra-terrestrial intelligences really are, and what a first contact scenario might really be like. The episode airs Tuesday, March 6th at 10pm Pacific and Eastern, but we got an early look, and (even better) had the chance to chat with host Morgan Freeman about the show. You can listen to the conversation in the podcast below, or subscribe to our podcast feed.

Ken, Matt, Jonathan, and Chuck talk about the upcoming Apple announcements, the "Machete Sequence" for showing the Star Wars movies to our kids, and the awesome archer in the "Brave" trailer from Pixar. Enjoy! GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum, Jonathan Liu, Z and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a biweekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

I had the honor and privilege of moderating the "Man of Action" panel at the Image Comics Expo this weekend. Man of Action is the small group of creators behind the smash hits Ben 10 and Generator Rex on Cartoon Network. The panel included comic industry veterans Joe Casey and Steven Seagle, who had interesting inside stories to tell about the genesis of the series, as well as their new Ultimate Spider-Man show coming later this year, and other project. Also, my son Quinn, who was in the audience, got to have fun acting as both Statler and Waldorf for the panel.

After a brief hiatus GeekDad HipTrax is back with songs to entertain and enlighten! Relish the musical madness of: "The Year 100,000" by R_Garcia When not manning the helm at the Nophi Music Co., Atlanta-based Randy Garcia lays down his own amazing tracks. His latest release Resurgens breaks down the barriers between DIY punk rock, lo-fi electronica and danceable pop, blending them all into gorgeous, almost dreamlike soundscapes. "Hopes Fall to Water" by DragonAvenger and Level 99 The most recent special project from the always impressive OverClocked ReMix community pays tribute to the RPGs you forgot you loved. Unsung Heroes reimagines atmospheric songs from the soundtracks lesser-known games, and among its many inspiring selections is this gem from assistant project directors DragonAvenger and Level 99. "Snoopy The Dogg" by the great Luke Ski This stand-out track from Luke's Be Amused By Me album came in at the top of Dr. Demento's Funny 25 of 2011, but the song's roots run much deeper. Discovered unfinished in an idea notebook some 17 years after its original inception, Ski eventually completed it as a musical tribute to one of his heroes.

Ken, Matt, and special guest Stephen Toulouse (aka Stepto) talk all about online gaming with kids, and then geek out about some awesome movies. Enjoy! GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum, Jonathan Liu, Z and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a biweekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

Ken, Matt, Jonathan and special guest Chris Gore (from Attack of the Show and Film Threat) talk about movies, parenting in the digital age, and more. Enjoy! GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum, Jonathan Liu, Z and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a biweekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

In this edition of the podcast we catch up with a trio of GeekDad HipTrax favorites. We uncover new music, reflect on some older material and, of course, look toward the majesty of the near musical future. With the help of: "Apple Core II" by 8 Bit Weapon 8 Bit Weapon and Computeher are back with a brand new album, Bits with Byte. Several songs from this release (along with some of their earlier tracks) will be featured in the forthcoming "The Art of Video Games" exhibition at the Smithsonian American Art Museum. "The Transformers Theme" by John Anealio In addition to providing fans with tons of free music, like this cover of Lion's Transformers theme from last year's Angry Robot E.P., GeekDad John Anealio is also instructing the community in the finer points of music theory via a series of posts focused on the GarageBand app. "So Far, So Good" by Adam WarRock Former lawyer and current professional hip-hopper Adam WarRock had a phenomenal showing last year, and it looks as though 2012 will follow suit. With both a tour with fellow comic book lovers Kirby Krackle and a new album coming in early February, he is most definitely starting strong.

Ken, Matt, and Jonathan talk about the SOPA blackout, Google+, CES, and more. Enjoy! GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum, Jonathan Liu, Z and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a biweekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

With 2011 now behind us, I can't help but reflect on all the musical goodness that we enjoyed over the course of that year. Sadly, it saw a pair of my longtime favorite artists say goodbye to their previous projects, but it also introduced listeners like me to many amazing new acts only just beginning their meteoric rise! It's the ciiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiircle of liiiiiiiiiiiiife! Um... And now on with the show: "It is Your Turn Now" by Pixelh8 Back in November, famed UK chiptuner Pixelh8 officially retired from the scene. His musical legacy includes a half-dozen phenomenal albums and EPs, not to mention his custom-built music-making software. His parting gift to fans and fellow musicians alike was this inspired (and inspiring) tune. "Mega Man Forever" by Random Similarly, hip-hopper Random has announced that, with the release of his Mega Ran 10 album, he is turning in his helmet and arm cannon. It's a sad day for nerdcore, but let's not forget that Ran has made equally amazing music about many other video game characters and franchises. "No Easy Way to Say This" by The Doubleclicks While some of our favorite established artists are (sadly) moving in new directions, Portland's nerd folk duo The Doubleclicks are only now starting to garner the attention and respect that they truly deserve. Combining contemporary geek rock with a classic filk lean and a proper helping of cello, they are difficult to resist. So I recommend that you just stop trying.

Ken, Matt, Jonathan, and James talk about the Hobbit trailer games we got for Christmat, and more. Enjoy! GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum, Jonathan Liu, Z and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a biweekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

At last we have arrived, my friends. It’s our 12th Day of Geekmas, and today’s offerings are even more spectacular than those that came before. Up for grabs is our last Philips Wireless HDMI Net Connect, a device that streams content wirelessly from your desktop or laptop directly to your HDTV. It’s provided by this year’s 12 Days of Geekmas sponsor, Philips. Also included in today’s giveaway are a copy of Book Creator for iPad from Red Jumper Studios, an iPad 2 from the fine folks at Target, a Steel Series gaming bundle (including a SteelSeries Sensei laser mouse, a SteelSeries Siberia v2 headset with Cross-Platform Audio Mixer, a SteelSeries 9HD mousepad and a pair of SteelSeries Desmo glasses), a specially-styled Voltron watch, a Kre-O Transformers set from Hasbro, the Logitech Harmony Link, a Captain America and the Avengers Hallmark keepsake ornament, an iCade iPad arcade cabinet and a bonus $10 off $30 coupon code from our friends at ThinkGeek. Giveaway rules: Open to North American residents only. One entry per physical address. Must be 18 or older to enter. Winners will be chosen at random from a given day's entries. Winners will be notified via the email supplied at time of entry, and in the following day’s giveaway post. Prizes are supplied by 3rd parties, and GeekDad.com cannot be held liable for items damaged or lost in shipping.

It's the 11th Day of Geekmas, the penultimate day of this year's celebration. And do we have fantastic prizes for our next-to-last winner? Yes. Yes we do. Of course we're including the Philips Wireless HDMI Net Connect, which will get you one step closer to a life without cords. It's provided by our sponsor for the 12 Days of Geekmas 2011, Philips. Also included in today's giveaway is a copy of Book Creator for iPad from Red Jumper Studios, the LEGO Collection (containing The LEGO Book and The LEGO Ideas Book ) from DK Publishing, a Kre-O Transformers set from Hasbro, a solar-powered Logitech Wireless Keyboard K750 for Mac, a Thor Hallmark keepsake ornament, a Portal coaster/cookie cutter set and a bonus $10 off $30 coupon code from our friends at ThinkGeek. Giveaway rules: Open to North American residents only. One entry per physical address. Must be 18 or older to enter. Winners will be chosen at random from a given day's entries. Winners will be notified via the email supplied at time of entry, and in the following day’s giveaway post. Prizes are supplied by 3rd parties, and GeekDad.com cannot be held liable for items damaged or lost in shipping.

It's the 10th Day of Geekmas, and while this year's event may be drawing to a close the prize closet is far from empty. Up for grabs today is the Philips Wireless HDMI Net Connect, a handy device that streams content in the unmatched clarity of 1080P. It's provided by our 12 Days of Geekmas sponsor, Philips. Also included in today's giveaway are a copy of Book Creator for iPad from Red Jumper Studios, a honeycomb ring from Jeff Bare Design, a Kre-O Transformers set from Hasbro, a Logitech Mini Boombox, a Green Lantern Hallmark keepsake ornament and a bonus $10 off $30 coupon code from our friends at ThinkGeek. Giveaway rules: Open to North American residents only. One entry per physical address. Must be 18 or older to enter. Winners will be chosen at random from a given day's entries. Winners will be notified via the email supplied at time of entry, and in the following day’s giveaway post. Prizes are supplied by 3rd parties, and GeekDad.com cannot be held liable for items damaged or lost in shipping.

Today marks the 9th Day of Geekmas, and today's prizes combine some of the best we've offered thus far. Of course we start off with the Philips Wireless HDMI Net Connect, a great gadget that's sure to help with your holiday entertaining. It's provided by the sponsor of the 12 Days of Geekmas 2011, Philips. Also included in today's giveaway are a copy of Book Creator for iPad from Red Jumper Studios, a custom kid-size super hero cape from Power Capes, a Kre-O Transformers set from Hasbro, a LEGO Darth Vader Hallmark keepsake ornament, a Yoda Nutcracker, a Lightsaber Candlestick and a bonus $10 off $30 coupon code from our friends at ThinkGeek. Giveaway rules: Open to North American residents only. One entry per physical address. Must be 18 or older to enter. Winners will be chosen at random from a given day's entries. Winners will be notified via the email supplied at time of entry, and in the following day’s giveaway post. Prizes are supplied by 3rd parties, and GeekDad.com cannot be held liable for items damaged or lost in shipping.

It's the 8th Day of Geekmas, and we're helping to ease you back into the work week with another amazing giveaway. Up for grabs today is the Philips Wireless HDMI Net Connect, the perfect holiday gift for that media-minded loved one. It's provided by this year's 12 Days of Geekmas sponsor Philips. Also included in today's giveaway are a copy of Book Creator for iPad from Red Jumper Studios, a LEGO Star Wars Collection (containing the LEGO Star Wars Character Encyclopedia and LEGO Star Wars: The Visual Dictionary ) from DK Publishing, a Kre-O Transformers set from Hasbro, a LEGO Darth Vader Hallmark keepsake ornament, 30 postcards from the innovative Postagram App, a Darth Vader Nutcracker, a Lightsaber Candlestick and a bonus $10 off $30 coupon code from our friends at ThinkGeek. Giveaway rules: Open to North American residents only. One entry per physical address. Must be 18 or older to enter. Winners will be chosen at random from a given day's entries. Winners will be notified via the email supplied at time of entry, and in the following day’s giveaway post. Prizes are supplied by 3rd parties, and GeekDad.com cannot be held liable for items damaged or lost in shipping.

On the 7th Day of Geekmas the GeekDads might just give to you… another amazing selection of prizes. We start off with the Philips Wireless HDMI Net Connect, a simple wireless solution that lets you stream media from your laptop to your HDTV for the whole family to enjoy. It's provided by this year's 12 Days of Geekmas sponsor Philips. Also included in today's giveaway are a copy of Book Creator for iPad from Red Jumper Studios, an Evil Genius pack (containing The Alien Robots Kit and The Science Kit ) from DK Publishing, a Kre-O Transformers set from Hasbro, a Thor Hallmark keepsake ornament, a special TechShop Holiday Sampler, an Air Swimmer Shark and a bonus $10 off $30 coupon code from our friends at ThinkGeek. Giveaway rules: Open to North American residents only. One entry per physical address. Must be 18 or older to enter. Winners will be chosen at random from a given day's entries. Winners will be notified via the email supplied at time of entry, and in the following day’s giveaway post. Prizes are supplied by 3rd parties, and GeekDad.com cannot be held liable for items damaged or lost in shipping.

The 6th Day of Geekmas marks the halfway point of this year's giveaway, but we still have so many more amazing prizes to reward the luckiest of our readers! Today's offering starts with the Philips Wireless HDMI Net Connect, an incredibly simple way to share your life in high definition. Special thanks go out to 12 Days of Geekmas 2011 sponsor Philips for providing yet another of these great little devices. Also included in today's giveaway are a copy of Book Creator for iPad from Red Jumper Studios, a custom iPad2 wrap from Jeff Bare Design, a Logitech Fold-Up Keyboard for the iPad2, a Kre-O Transformers set from Hasbro, a Captain America and the Avengers Hallmark keepsake ornament and a bonus $10 off $30 coupon code from our friends at ThinkGeek. Giveaway rules: Open to North American residents only. One entry per physical address. Must be 18 or older to enter. Winners will be chosen at random from a given day's entries. Winners will be notified via the email supplied at time of entry, and in the following day’s giveaway post. Prizes are supplied by 3rd parties, and GeekDad.com cannot be held liable for items damaged or lost in shipping.

It's the 5th Day of Geekmas, and, more to the point, it's Friday. And as you all know, you gotta get down on Friday. It's, like, the law. Now that I've met my annual quota for Rebecca Black references: prizes! We kick it all off with the Philips Wireless HDMI Net Connect, a fast and hassle free way to watch your favorite online shows on your high definition television. Special thanks go out to 12 Days of Geekmas 2011 sponsor Philips for this one. Also included in today's giveaway are a copy of Book Creator for iPad from Red Jumper Studios, a custom kid-size super hero cape from Power Capes, a positively enormous prize pack (featuring four shirts, four posters and two beanies of our winner's choosing) from the crew at 604 Republic, a Kre-O Transformers set from Hasbro, a "Blazing Sword" Voltron action figure, a Green Lantern Hallmark keepsake ornament and a bonus $10 off $30 coupon code from our friends at ThinkGeek. Giveaway rules: Open to North American residents only. One entry per physical address. Must be 18 or older to enter. Winners will be chosen at random from a given day's entries. Winners will be notified via the email supplied at time of entry, and in the following day’s giveaway post. Prizes are supplied by 3rd parties, and GeekDad.com cannot be held liable for items damaged or lost in shipping.

As we celebrate the 4th Day of GeekMas, let us pause to marvel at the majesty of days one through three. With that out of the way, on to the prizes! Today's list starts off with the Philips Wireless HDMI Net Connect. This amazing piece of technology allows you to wirelessly project high-definition sound and video content at 1080p from your PC/laptop directly to your HDTV without buffering or signal delays. And of course it's provided by this year's 12 Days of GeekMas sponsor, Philips. Also up for grabs are a copy of Book Creator for iPad from Red Jumper Studios, a signed copy of the epic Halo Encyclopedia from DK Publishing, a pair of Logitech's own Ultimate Ears 500 Noise-Isolating Earphones, a Kre-O Transformers set from Hasbro, a Spider-Man Hallmark keepsake ornament and a bonus $10 off $30 coupon code from our friends at ThinkGeek. Giveaway rules: Open to North American residents only. One entry per physical address. Must be 18 or older to enter. Winners will be chosen at random from a given day's entries. Winners will be notified via the email supplied at time of entry, and in the following day’s giveaway post. Prizes are supplied by 3rd parties, and GeekDad.com cannot be held liable for items damaged or lost in shipping.

Matt, Jonathan, Tony and Jim talk about Tintin, Ender’s Game, Skyrim, Battleship, The Hobbit, and more. Enjoy! GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum, Jonathan Liu, Z and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a biweekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

It’s the 3rd Day of Geekmas, and the prize train just keeps on rolling! Of course today’s winner will receive the Philips Wireless HDMI Net Connect, which boasts a simple plug-and-play setup that allows you to send HD quality content directly to your television without the hassle of wires or complicated software. It comes to us compliments of Philips, the sponsor of the 12 Days of Geekmas 2011. Our winner also walks away with a copy of Book Creator for iPad from Red Jumper Studios, a signed copy of John Landis’s Monsters in the Movies from DK Publishing, a Kre-O Transformers set from Hasbro, a “Batman Takes Flight” Hallmark keepsake ornament, not to mention an Air Swimmers Shark and a bonus $10 off $30 coupon code from our friends at ThinkGeek. Check out today’s GeekDad HipTrax Stocking for more information concerning the Philips Wireless HDMI Net Connect’s effortless installation, and to hear Helen Arney’s delightful musical warning against holiday travel “The Only Way to Spend Christmas Day.” After that, toss your name into the proverbial hat by inputting the relevant information into the form below before 11:59 PM EST tonight for your chance to win. Feel free to subscribe to the GeekDad podcast in iTunes (see the button on the sidebar), or directly through the RSS feed. You can also download GeekDad HipTrax Stocking Stuffer #3 via this link. Problem with then embedded form? Try a direct link. Giveaway rules: Open to North American residents only. One entry per physical address. Must be 18 or older to enter. Winners will be chosen by random from a given day’s entries. Winners will be notified via the email supplied at time of entry, and in the following day’s giveaway post. Prizes are supplied by 3rd parties, and GeekDad.com cannot be held liable for items damaged or lost in shipping.

On this 2nd Day of Geekmas we are offering yet another fine selection of holiday delights to one lucky GeekDad reader. Today’s gifts begin with the Philips Wireless HDMI Net Connect, a device that easily allows users to cut the cord of cable television and simply use their laptop to stream video content directly to their HD TVs. It comes compliments of this year’s 12 Days of Geekmas sponsor, Philips. But that’s not all. Also up for grabs are a copy of Book Creator for iPad from Red Jumper Studios, a custom building block from Jeff Bare Design, a Kre-O Transformers set from Hasbro, a Spider-Man Hallmark keepsake ornament, as well as a Portal coaster/cookie cutter set and a bonus $10 off $30 coupon code from our friends at ThinkGeek. Check out today’s GeekDad HipTrax Stocking Stuffer to learn about how the Philips Wireless HDMI Net Connect can reshape the way you think about streaming content, and to hear 8 Bit Weapon and ComputeHer put a chiptune spin on holiday classic “Deck the Halls.” Then toss your name into the proverbial hat by inputting the relevant information into the form below before 11:59 PM EST tonight for your chance to win. Feel free to subscribe to the GeekDad podcast in iTunes (see the button on the sidebar), or directly through the RSS feed. You can also download GeekDad HipTrax Stocking Stuffer #2 via this link. Problem with then embedded form? Try a direct link. Giveaway rules: Open to North American residents only. One entry per physical address. Must be 18 or older to enter. Winners will be chosen by random from a given day’s entries. Winners will be notified via the email supplied at time of entry, and in the following day’s giveaway post. Prizes are supplied by 3rd parties, and GeekDad.com cannot be held liable for items damaged or lost in shipping.

It’s the 1st Day of Geekmas, and the GeekDad team has been working overtime to assure that this year’s prizes will make today’s winner the envy of nerds everywhere! It all starts with the Philips Wireless HDMI Net Connect, an ideal way to expand your home entertainment options by streaming content from your laptop directly to your TV. It comes compliments of our esteemed sponsor for the 12 Days of Geekmas 2011, Philips. Add to this a copy of Book Creator for iPad from Red Jumper Studios, a custom kid-size super hero cape from Power Capes, 300 credits for use with the innovative card creation app Sincerely Ink, a Kre-O Transformers set from Hasbro, a Star Wars “Showdown at the Cantina” Hallmark ornament, a deliciously clean bar of Bacon Soap and a bonus $10 off $30 coupon code from our friends at ThinkGeek, and you’ve got a prize pack like no other. Check out today’s GeekDad HipTrax Stocking Stuffer to learn more about these fabulous prizes, and to get an overview of the aforementioned Philips Wireless HDMI Net Connect. Then toss your name into the proverbial hat by inputting the relevant information into the form below before 11:59 PM EST this very night to qualify. Feel free to subscribe to the GeekDad podcast in iTunes (see the button on the sidebar), or directly through the RSS feed. You can also download GeekDad HipTrax Stocking Stuffer #1 via this link. Problem with then embedded form? Try a direct link. Giveaway rules: Open to North American residents only. One entry per physical address. Must be 18 or older to enter. Winners will be chosen by random from a given day’s entries. Winners will be notified via the email supplied at time of entry, and in the following day’s giveaway post. Prizes are supplied by 3rd parties, and GeekDad.com cannot be held liable for items damaged or lost in shipping.

Ken, Matt, Jonathan, and Tony talk about the impending Muppet movie, Ken's new book, and more. Enjoy! GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum, Jonathan Liu, Z and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a biweekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

Felicia Day talks with GeekDad's Matt Blum about the finale of her Dragon Age: Redemption web series, The Guild, Eureka, Dr. Horrible, and her favorite video games.

HipTrax is back with a little post-Halloween treat! This episode features a trio of tracks that, while not our typical spooktastic fare, do have a definite lean toward the eerie and the otherworldly. Cower before: "Skeksis Back" by the great Luke Ski Inspired by the Nerdist podcast, written and recorded by Luke and embraced by Dark Crystal dorks everywhere, this one's got just the right blend of freaky and funny to make it appropriate. Oh, there's also a music video, which you kind of have to see to believe. "After Midnight (feat. Cam the Wizzard)" by The Garthim-Master With the help of German producer DJ Extend, Canadian hip-hopper The Garthim-Master recently released the musical pop culture explosion that is Ghosts of Nostalgia. Taking on all comers, from Star Wars to The Watchmen to Heroes, it's a surreal trip down memory lane that's freely available via Bandcamp. "Frozen" by Supercommuter Seattle chip-hoppers Supercommuter are still riding high on the critical acclaim of their August release Products of Science. It boasts songs for all tastes -- from the autobiographic to the delightfully outlandish -- including tragic space gothic "Frozen," a tale of love lost and cryogenic stasis gone wrong.

Ken, Matt, and John Booth talk about the Apple iPhone 4S announcement, the Kindle Fire, Real Steel, The Muppets, and more. Enjoy! GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum, Jonathan Liu, Z and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a biweekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

Typically Ken and I reserve our October shows for Halloween merriment. With all our recent scheduling and technical problems, however, we've elected to devote this episode to some unfinished business -- namely spotlighting three new releases that certainly warrant your attention. Suffice it to say you won't be disappointed with: "Critical Hit" by MC Frontalot Frontalots new album Solved promises to answer all of life's nagging questions, to unfurl those pesky enigmas in a manner most musical. Assuming, of course, that the bulk of said questions concern the undead and/or giant, multi-pilot robot. For most other issues you're pretty much on your own. Thankfully the album doubles as a more-than-serviceable soundtrack to your daily, dilemma-filled life. "Good Morning Tucson" by Jonathan Coulton JoCo's latest takes the geek rock troubadour into unfamiliar territory: in this case a real, professional studio with a big name producer. They Might Be Giants' John Flansburgh helped give Artificial Heart some obvious polish, but as always the charm comes compliments of Coulton's off-kilter (but still somehow relatable) story-songs. "MAL" by Adam WarRock and Mikal kHill Blending the country- and folk-flavored soundtracks of the Firefly series and the Serenity feature film with hip-hop lyricism, WarRock and The ThoughtCriminals' Mikal kHill craft the perfect nerdcore mixtape. At once a love letter to fans and a clever metaphor concerning the struggles of the independent artist, The Browncoats Mixtape leverages the strength of fandom into an unforgettable artistic achievement.

Ken, Matt, and John Booth talk about the Apple iPhone 4S announcement, the Kindle Fire, Real Steel, The Muppets, and more. Enjoy! GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum, Jonathan Liu, Z and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a biweekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

Ken, Matt, Jonathan and David chat about iPhone lust, Speak With Your Geek Out Week, Spongebob’s effect on kids’ brains, and we celebrate 4 years and 100 episodes of the podcast. Enjoy! GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum, Jonathan Liu, Z and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a biweekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

It's been a long time, HipTrax audience. Too long! I have missed you, as has Ken. Much has changed since we've been gone... Okay, in actuality very little has changed, but I really felt like that added some nice weight to this missive. And now I'm just babbling. Instead, musics: "Man It's So Loud in Here" as covered by Shael Riley and the Double Ice Backfire Shael and the boys come through with yet another inspired cover tune from a brand new tribute album. Mink Car Cover features an interesting take on They Might Be Giants' 2001 source material from 19 uniquely geeky acts. The digital release and its limited edition physical pressing are both available now, and your purchase benefits the FDNY Foundation. "Must See MC" by Adam WarRock Nerd rapper extraordinaire Adam WarRock is currently on an epic fall tour backing up mc chris, MC Lars and Mega Ran. He prepped for the festivities by releasing a free single every week in August. The first of these was called Study Hall (with "Must See MC" serving as the equally amazing b-side). "Pony Swag (feat. Maros) [Scootaloo-Safe Radio Edit]" by Swagberg I typically only grasp the true weight of a property's fandom when it filters down to me in musical form. This is how I became aware of the growing legion of bronies, adult male fans of the Hub's My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. There are many musical tributes to the show, but none so enjoyable as this cut from Swagberg and Maros. This kid-friendly edit as well as its original, uncensored version and several other takes are all freely available for your listening pleasure.

Ken enjoys a wide-ranging interview with prolific voice actor Tom Kenny (Spongebob Squarepants, Adventure Time, Rocko's Modern Life and more), who's work is featured on a number of new titles coming out from The Shout Factory. Enjoy! GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum, Jonathan Liu, Z and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a biweekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

Ken, Matt, Jonathan and Dave chat about PAX Prime, the nerd date kerfuffle, and the retirement of Steve Jobs. Enjoy! GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum, Jonathan Liu, Z and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a biweekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

Ken, Matt, Jonathan and Jason chat about Google buying Motorola, Conan and Fright Night, and how much fun we're going to have at PAX Prime. Enjoy! Special thanks to our sponsor Maphook, the location-based social network for geeks! GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum, Jonathan Liu, Z and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a biweekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

Simon Jones, the original Arthur Dent, talks with GeekDad's Matt Blum about the upcoming Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy mobile app.

Ken, Matt, Natania, Russ and Michael chat about Comic-Con, Disneyland, and the weather in Ohio. Enjoy! Special thanks to our sponsor Maphook, the location-based social network for geeks! GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum, Jonathan Liu, Z and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a biweekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

Ken, Dave, and Matt chat about Comic-Con, Harry Potter, and the English Tabloid scandal. Enjoy! Special thanks to our sponsor Maphook, the location-based social network for geeks! GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum, Jonathan Liu, Z and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a biweekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

Before I make a beeline to central Florida (and the annual Nerdapalooza festival), allow me the pleasure of kicking some new tunes your way. This edition of HipTrax presents a trio of groove-heavy, danceable, instantly lovable cuts from three of our favorite purveyors of fine, geeky music. Behold: "Super Powered Love" by Kirby Krackle Kirby Krackle's newest full-length Super Powered Love drops on the 19th of this month. Boasting 13 tracks and another fine cover image from Jim Mahfood, it's definitely something to look forward to. In the meantime, you can cop this title single for 99 cents from your vendor of choice. "The NiGHT Has Just Begun… (Under Construction)" by ProtoDome The always amazing fan community at OverClocked ReMix has just released their 26th VGM tribute album. Tackling the highly evocative Sega Saturn classic NiGHTS Into Dreams…, the NiGHTS: Lucid Dreaming collection is 27 songs strong and freely downloadable. "Don't Wear Those Shoes" as covered by MC Frontalot While I know you don't need any help spending your money, I'd like to make a couple of suggestions. Suggestion the first: donate to MC Frontalot's Kickstarter campaign to finance his nerdy videos. Suggestion the second: download Twenty-Six and a Half (A Tribute to "Weird Al" Yankovic), as it is freakin' awesome.

With the event itself just around the corner, Ken and I couldn't resist the opportunity to chat up the Nerdapalooza team. Herein we discuss this year's amazing artist lineup, the ever-changing nature of the Nerdapalooza festival and GeekDad's proud sponsorship of this year's iteration. We also play some songs: "That Boy Could Dance" by Insane Ian An auto-tuned and uniquely danceable take on the Weird Al original, this Insane Ian track is one of 21 amazing selections from the new tribute album Twenty-Six and a Half. Ian will be appearing alongside fellow FuMPers Devo Spice, the great Luke Ski and the Consortium of Genius at next month's festival. "Bhost Gusters" by Armcannon This year's Nerdapalooza features an amazing array of geek rock and videogame cover bands. Among my most anticipated is Buffalo's Armcannon. Members of the group will also be performing alongside project creator Stemage as headliner Metroid Metal. Want to hear more? Subscribe to the GeekDad podcast in iTunes (see the button on the sidebar), or directly through the RSS feed. You can also download GeekDad HipTrax #75 via this link. The HipTrax theme song was created by Snake Eyes. He's what's strange in his neighborhood. Oh, and lest I forget we're giving away two weekend passes to Nerdapalooza 2011. (Although you're on your own regarding travel and accommodations!) To enter just leave a comment below. A winner will be drawn at random next Tuesday, July 5th and contacted via email.i

Ken, Jonathan, and Matt chat about the 4th of July, the upcoming Nerdapalooza, and Comic-Con. Enjoy! Special thanks to our sponsor Maphook, the location-based social network for geeks! GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum, Jonathan Liu and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a bi-weekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

Ken, Doug, and Matt chat about Ken's appearance on The Nerdist, the new Weird Al album, and why learning Latin is so important. Enjoy! Special thanks to our sponsor Maphook, the location-based social network for geeks! GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum, Jonathan Liu and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a bi-weekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

It's HipTrax time again, my friends, and this edition is extra special. In addition to spotlighting a pair of new songs from two new HipTrax artists, we are also proud to present a GeekDad-themed track from one of our own! Peep the hotness: "Primary Function" by The Runaway Five The Runaway Five is a four-member Tucson, Arizona-based synth-rock outfit. You read that right; there are only four of them. And I'm calling shenanigans. "Soccer Practice" by Americans UK Though the bulk of Americans UK's latest EP Luxuria isn't exactly what one would term "kid-friendly," this jazz-infused funk number will likely prove itself irresistible to listeners of any age. "GeekDad" by John Anealio I have long considered John Anealio the official troubadour of GeekDad. This song simply cements that position. All official-like.

Ken, Dave, and Matt chat about the announcements from E3 and the Apple WWDC, plus Phineas & Ferb, and Ken's upcoming appearance on The Nerdist. Enjoy! Special thanks to our sponsor Maphook, the location-based social network for geeks! GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum, Jonathan Liu and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a bi-weekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

Question: What's got four thumbs and loves chiptunes? Answer: The GeekDad HipTrax team! (Although we would've also accepted a hideously misshapen mutant with discriminating musical taste.) Get your bleep on with: "We Throw Shapes" by Superpowerless Oliver Hindle and Jaylyn Coffin, the same duo that brought you Tetrastar's amazing Songs We Didn't Write, are back with a shiny new Superpowerless single. "We Throw Shapes" is available for download now via iTunes, and the official video is presently blowing up the YouTubes. "Tickle Tickle!" by seal of quality The latest release from our friends at netlabel Pterodactyl Squad is the epic Fate Patterns by French chiptuner seal of quality. Boasting eleven tracks of crisp Game Boys, sharp guitars and delightful vocoder, it's available as a free download and as a limited edition physical pressing. "Reformat the Planet" by Bit Shifter While this song shares its name with the phenomenal chip culture/Blip Festival documentary, its source EP recently inspired a tribute project of its own. Though five years old, Information Chase still stands out as a textbook example of the beauty and accessibility of contemporary lo-fi electronica. All the GeekDad podcasts are sponsored by MapHook.com!

Ken and Matt recap Maker Faire 2011, talk about PotC:OST and X-Men, and get generally silly about a bunch of stuff. Enjoy! Special thanks to our sponsor Maphook, the location-based social network for geeks! GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum, Jonathan Liu and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a bi-weekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

This edition of Hiptrax is firmly dedicated to cover songs. Of course since this is GeekDad only the strangest and most dorktastic covers will do! Explore your rock 'n' roll roots with: "Back in Your Life" as covered by Marc with a C Though not a geeky artist in the traditional sense, Jonathan Richman blazed a proto-punk trail with his band The Modern Lovers. His music has inspired acts as diverse as punk pioneers the Sex Pistols and lo-fi troubadour Marc with a C thanks to his whimsical, childlike approach to lyricism and his refusal to operate within the bounds of the aggressive musical conventions of the age. "I Never Go to Work" as covered by Nuclear Bubble Wrap With a fine blend of off-kilter originals and irreverent parodies, Nuclear Bubble Wrap's Exploding Head Syndrome is a pitch-perfect example of funny music at its finest. Also included in that 2010 release is this slightly amended and thoroughly enjoyable They Might Be Giants cover. "Melanie" as covered by Shael Riley and the Double Ice Backfire This track (as well as selections from the aforementioned artists) appears on the new Weird Al tribute album Twenty-Six and a Half. Along with contributions from MC Frontalot, mc chris, Devo Spice and Al's own backing band, it pays due respect to the most successful and influential geek musician of all time.

Ken, Matt, Curtis, and Jonathan chat about the sale of Skype to Microsoft, Thor, and Maker Faire 2011. Enjoy! Special thanks to our sponsor Maphook, the location-based social network for geeks! GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum, Jonathan Liu and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a bi-weekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

In this edition of GeekDad HipTrax we celebrate Free Comic Book Day. It's like a High Holy Day for geeks where our only obligation is to hit up our favorite comics retailers. Is that really too much to ask? Those looking to get the skinny on local FCBD events are encouraged to check out these handy resources from our sponsor MapHook. Individual hooks have been put in place for the American northeast, southeast, west coast and the broad, doughy center of our great nation. Check 'em out now for lists of events and participating vendors, and use the free MapHook app to share photo memories of this year's festivities with your fellow comic lovers. Enjoy the comic book camaraderie of: "Uncanny (feat. MC Lars)" by Beefy Admittedly this track from Beefy's 2010 release With Sprinkles concerns X-Men: The Animated Series, which took its fair share of liberties with proper comic book canon. Still, it's an amazingly fun little song that spotlights a great cartoon with an even better theme song. "Ring Capacity" by Kirby Krackle This epic Green Lantern tribute served as many fans' proper introduction to Seattle's foremost comic book rockers. With two phenomenal albums under their belt, 2009's self-titled LP and last year's E for Everyone, the boys are now diligently writing for their forthcoming follow-up. "The Sixth Gun" by Adam WarRock Earlier this year Adam WarRock honored one of my favorite publishers with his Oni Press Mixtape. In addition to repping Oni classics (like Jen Van Meter's Hopeless Savages) in verse, Adam also managed to turn me on to a new title, specifically Cullen Bunn and Brian Hurtt's creepily awesome The Sixth Gun.

Ken, Matt, Natania, Michael, and Jonathan chat about the Apple tracking controversy, Sony's PSN personal data breach, and the loss of Elisabeth Sladen. Enjoy! Special thanks to our sponsor Maphook, the location-based social network for geeks! GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum, Jonathan Liu and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a bi-weekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

This edition of GeekDad HipTrax focuses on quirky electronica, a handful of charming musical jewels that you may have overlooked. Like any good parents, Ken and I are here to encourage you to try out these interesting new flavors of geektastic tunage. As the saying goes, you might like it! Open wide for: "Dandyceratops" by Dot.AY Australian chip artist Dot.AY always planned on being a paleontologist, but instead he grew up to make chiptunes. It's a loss for the scientific community, of course, but a big gain for music lovers everywhere. His latest release Ceratopian Society celebrates his twin loves, and is available now via Bandcamp. "Points" by Comptroller Scotland's Comptroller just released an amazing new EP entitled Baddies through Liverpool-based netlabel CalmDownKidder. It is their 50th release, and you can score it from their site absolutely free. "Superimposed" by The Efts Husband and wife team The Efts have hand-picked eight of their own tunes for the This Music is Probably Too Geeky for You collection. Blending lo-fi electronica and lyrical anti-folk, it's another excellent addition to your nerdy music collection that won't cost you a dime!

Ken, Matt and Jonathan chat about the anniversary of the first man in space, the first Space Shuttle mission, and how effective it is to be a pedant. Enjoy! Special thanks to our sponsor Maphook, the location-based social network for geeks! GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum, Jonathan Liu and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a bi-weekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

We here at GeekDad HipTrax seem to be slightly preoccupied with Terminator-style dystopias in which mankind's beloved technology has turned against him. This is odd seeing as we are actually a family-friendly music podcast, but, as the saying goes, if it ain't broke, don’t' fix it! So put on a happy face with these uplifting ditties: "Zero Day" by MC Frontalot With the aid of noted hackers computer enthusiasts YTCracker and int eighty, MC Frontalot paints a bleak picture of a not-so-distant future in which all of our security exploits have been... properly exploited. A music video for this title track from Front's latest album was recently released. "Doomlaser" by Nathan Meunier The first song from video game journalist/bit-popper Nathan Meunier's Robots. Lasers. Awesome. is a dense, urgent affair. Building on the LSDJ-meets-crunchy-guitar style of his debut The Beacon, the album boasts a more polished sound that is as awesome as advertised. "Brain Damage" as covered by echosignal Closing out this edition is a selection from the recent Pterodactyl Squad release Dark Side of the Moon – The 8-bit Album. The follow-up to their highly successful Weezer tribute, it recasts Pink Floyd's 1973 masterpiece as a minimalist, multi-artist chiptune sonata.

Ken, Matt, John, and Russ chat about the "Hop" press junket and how to cook a perfect steak in a cooler. Enjoy! Special thanks to our sponsor Maphook, the location-based social network for geeks! GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum, Jonathan Liu and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a bi-weekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

After a pleasant sojourn into the magical realm of mc chris (and a brief vacation), GeekDad HipTrax is back to doing what it does best – getting all up in your ear hole with a trio of fine new geeky songs. While we were in there I noticed some waxy buildup. I’m just sayin’. Today’s episode highlights new hotness such as: "Angry Robot" by John Anealio John Anealio knows science fiction. And what is more sci-fi than robots? Nothin’ – that’s what! Snag this fine selection and covers of the theme from Transformers and Styx’s "Mr. Roboto" on his free Angry Robot EP. "Hope to See You Again Soon" by ProtoDome & Level 99 The latest OverClocked ReMix album pays tribute to arguably the most important franchise in handheld gaming. Pokémon - The Missingno Tracks is a free-to-download collection of Poké-centric musical goodness, which means you have that much more money to put toward your much-need purchase of Pokémon Blackor White. "Serenity Lost" by Sci-Fried Florida’s Sci-Fried continue to be a jewel in the crown of southeastern geek music with their intoxicating blend of roots rock, heavy metal and musical comedy. You can experience all of this and more at the CD release party for their new album Future Tense this Friday, March 25th at A Comic Shop in Orlando.

Ken, Matt, John, Michael and Russ chat about PAC East, Japan, and the 4-year anniversary of the blog. Enjoy! Special thanks to our sponsor Maphook, the location-based social network for geeks! GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a bi-weekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

Ken, Matt, and Jonathan chat about events in the Middle East, Geek Like, the Anti-Vaxers dilemma, and more. Enjoy! Special thanks to our sponsor Maphook, the location-based social network for geeks! GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a bi-weekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

Ken, Matt, Mike, Natania and Chuck chat about PAX East, Maker Faire, D&D and more. Enjoy! Special thanks to our sponsor Maphook, the location-based social network for geeks! GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a bi-weekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

GeekDad HipTrax exists to help you discover nerdy music that you can actually share with your kids. As an added bonus, however, we also try to highlight quality music that is available for free. You know, recession and all that. In this episode we spotlight selections from two brand new compilations, both of which are freebies from their respective sites: "Robot Party" by Supercommuter Hailing from Nerdcore Now Volume 1, consider this a sneak preview of what Wheelie Cyberman and company have in store for their next album. It's a delightful little ditty that equates android merriment with human suffering. "Bulbasaur" by MC 117 Another fine selection from Nerdcore Now Volume 1, this one's a Flobots parody centered on everyone's favorite grass-/poison-type Pokémon. For some reason the phrase Razor Leaf instantly comes to mind. "Shredder" by Danimal Cannon Not to be outdone by their nerdcore brothers-in-arms, the VGM remix community released its own amazing free compilation album this week. Heroes vs. Villains features this cut and 19 more centered on the protagonists and antagonists of some of gamedom's most well respected properties. The HipTrax theme song was created by Snake Eyes. He is the aural equivalent of both Bebop and Rocksteady. The mutants, not the genres.

HipTrax isn't exactly a show about kids' music. Generally it's a podcast more firmly focused on music that parents can enjoy with or in the company of their brood – geeky grown-up music that eschews the worst of language or explicit content. But in this episode we pause to focus on the upcoming release of a very notable children's album, mc chris's Marshmellow Playground. We spend a good bit of time talking to mc about the project and its genesis, and we even play the album's teaser single: "Halloween" by mc chris A song about candy, cavities and dental hygiene, "Halloween" isn't your typical mc chris track. Nor is it your typical piece of kindie rock. Leveraging his own unique brand of hip-hop in a kid-friendly package, Mashmellow Playground promises to be an interesting new addition to mc chris's musical library, and will likely introduce a new generation of fans to the Adult Swim funnyman.

Here at GeekDad HipTrax we pride ourselves on introducing you to new and exciting artists from across the geeky music meta-community, but we also like to continually reflect back on your old favorites. In this episode we highlight a trio of fine selections from some true musical heavy-hitters. Enjoy the following delightful tracks: "Lab Coat" by The Consortium of Genius Louisiana's foremost musical mad scientists are back again with their newest full-length. A fun-filled stylistic romp from heavy metal to gospel and back again, Music for Supervillains features the COG at its most eclectic. A full review is forthcoming, but for the time being simply rest assured in the knowledge that it is awesome! "Mako Reactor" by Mega Ran and Lost Perception Though his name is synonymous with the Mega Ran project, rapper Random has now taken it upon himself to pen a hip-hop ode to another fan-favorite – Final Fantasy VII. Though the full version of his Black Materia album won't be available until the end of the month, eager fans can pick up an incomplete early release right now from Bandcamp. "LOTROMG" by Uncle Monsterface When I asked UMF's Dan and Marty to contribute a song to my fantasy role playing-themed 20-Sided Rhymes album they took it as an opportunity to wax poetic about the power and glory of Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings trilogy. This staggering testament to Kiwi greatness can be found alongside 19 other (less family-friendly) selections at my blog Hipster, please!

Ken, Matt, Natania, and Jonathan chat about Egypt, FPS games for your 3 year-old, and how much we love Eureka. Enjoy! Special thanks to our sponsor Maphook, the location-based social network for geeks! GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a bi-weekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

Ken, Matt, Jonathan and special guest David Hewlett chat about the geeky gifts we did (and didn't) get for Christmas, and spread a little Tron love. Enjoy! Special thanks to our sponsor Maphook, the location-based social network for geeks! GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a bi-weekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

GeekDad HipTrax is back for 2011, and we're kicking things off by revisiting some of the best that last year had to offer. Our first two tracks are cuts from albums dropped late in the year – releases which you may have overlooked in the dreaded holiday rush – while the final track is a brand new joint from one of 2010's best new artists. Relish the hotness: "Retro" by Never Yet Contested We spotlighted this single from Brooklyn rapper Never Yet Contested back in November, and since that time the his full Retro EP has become available. Download it for free at Bandcamp, and leave a comment to this post for the opportunity to win a free copy of the physical pressing compliments of the man himself! "Spider" by Doctor Popular HipTrax mainstay Doc Pop closed out 2010 with the release of his full-length Beeps and Smudges. This innovative bit-pop masterpiece was recorded using nothing but iPhone and iPad apps, and the results speak for themselves. Check out the video for this debut single, and pick up the full release over at Bandcamp . "Nightcrawlin'" by Adam WarRock Last year X-man Nightcrawler met with an unfortunate end during Marvel's "Second Coming" crossover, and I put out the plea via Twitter for a musical tribute. Adam WarRock, the man behind epic comic book concept album The War for Infinity, accepted the challenge and crafted this amazing song. This one is available exclusively through my blog Hipster, please! The HipTrax theme song was created by Snake Eyes. His mutant power is the uncanny ability to craft tasty beats.

All hail Josh Alkire, the winner of our 10th Day of Geekmas prize pack. Please enjoy your Crazy Putty, Hoth LEGO set and fantastic selection of Element cases content in the knowledge that you experienced Geekmas to the fullest. The prize pack for this penultimate day of our highly specialized holiday season begins with your requisite container of Crazy Aaron's Putty. It is joined by a copy of PlayStation Move-enabled virtual pet title EyePet from our friends at Sony and another of those excellent Raven controllers compliments of Nyko. DiscoveryStore.com has provided another Discovery Chem-X 1000 Science Lab chemistry set, and once again Marc Gunn and Insane Ian have each come through with a pair of fine CDs. And to assure that today's prize offering goes down in geek history, BBC America Shop and Warner Bros. have provided a swag bag of epic proportions. It includes Sherlock season 1, the BBC Earth series Life plus the Life coffee table book, season 2 of monster cohabitation drama Being Human, series 5 of nerd favorite Doctor Who with 3 Who-tastic action figures and a Union Jack light switch cover. The best part? It could all be yours! In this edition of the GeekDad HipTrax Stocking Stuffer we discuss these prizes at length, as well as our very own podcast sponsor MapHook. We also treat you to "Mr. Grint" by the Funny Music Project's hilarious Steve Goodie. Be sure to listen for the secret code word needed to enter our random drawing. (Our hearing-impaired friends can find said code word in the podcast file metadata.) Enter that word and your personal information into the form below before 11:59 PM EST tonight to qualify. Our "12 Days of Geekmas Theme" was created by John Anealio. He's a mean one. Giveaway rules: Open to North American residents only. One entry per physical address. Must be 18 or older to enter. Winners will be chosen by random from a given day's entries. Winners will be notified via the email supplied at time of entry, and in the following day's giveaway post. Prizes are supplied by 3rd parties, and GeekDad.com cannot be held liable for items damaged or lost in shipping.

Congratulations to Ralph Gill, the winner of our 11th Day of Geekmas prize pack. With prizes from DiscoveryStore.com, Nyko, Sony, Insane Ian, Marc Gunn and an almost ridiculously expansive collection of BBC America swag, it is truly a hard act to follow. Or is it? Today's winner will score remarkable prizes including our final container of Crazy Aaron's Putty and a pair of Mythbusters bobble heads from DiscoveryStore.com. He or she will also ring in the Geekmas season with a phenomenal GT660 gaming notebook from MSI Global boasting Dynaudio surround sound, two USB 3.0 ports and the Intel Core i7 Processor with NVIDIA GeForce GTX 285M discrete graphics cards! No – I'm not kidding. In this year's final GeekDad HipTrax Stocking Stuffer Ken and I try to wrap our heads around how we managed to score such amazing prizes, and we fast-forward to year's end for Marc Gunn's stirring rendition of "Auld Lang Syne." We also unveil an additional Geekmas gift made available by our proud podcast sponsor MapHook – a 32GB iPod Touch, the winner of which will be drawn from all of the non-winning entries accumulated throughout the entire 12DoG series. Listen out for that secret code word, which will put you in the running for both random drawings. (Our hearing-impaired friends can find said code word in the podcast file metadata.) Enter that word and your personal information into the form below before 11:59 PM EST tonight to qualify. Our "12 Days of Geekmas Theme" was created by John Anealio, and we truly couldn't have done this without his amazing contributions! Giveaway rules: Open to North American residents only. One entry per physical address. Must be 18 or older to enter. Winners will be chosen by random from a given day's entries. Winners will be notified via the email supplied at time of entry, and in the following day's giveaway post. Prizes are supplied by 3rd parties, and GeekDad.com cannot be held liable for items damaged or lost in shipping.

Congrats to Sean Smith, winner of our 9th Day of Geekmas prize pack. That bad boy included a can of Crazy Aaron's Putty, a Raven controller from Nyko, a copy of Dance Dance Revolution from Konami and a 160GB PS3 and copy of ModNation Racers compliments of SCE San Diego Studio. What could you win today? Why today we have another tin of Aaron's Putty and a Hoth play set from LEGO's famed Star Wars line. Also up for grabs is a phenomenal selection of cases from our friends at Element. Today's winner snags a Satin Nickel Joule iPad stand with a zippered carrying case, a Vapor 007 case from their Extreme Metals line, a Formula 3-part case and a lightweight and super stylish Ion case. No matter what your iOS device of choice, Element Case has you covered. Literally. In today's GeekDad HipTrax Stocking Stuffer Ken and I enumerate the importance of practicing safe text. (I made an iPhone case-related funny!) We also spread the gospel of MapHook, our proud sponsor and the nerd world's preeminent location based social network. On the musical tip you'll hear Kirby Krackle's "Vigilante Christmas." It's our most violent holiday track yet! And don't forget to listen out for the secret code word – you'll need it to enter the random drawing. (Our hearing-impaired friends can find said code word in the podcast file metadata.) Enter that word and your personal information into the form below before 11:59 PM EST tonight to qualify. Our "12 Days of Geekmas Theme" was created by John Anealio. When he comes down the chimney you better beware! Giveaway rules: Open to North American residents only. One entry per physical address. Must be 18 or older to enter. Winners will be chosen by random from a given day's entries. Winners will be notified via the email supplied at time of entry, and in the following day's giveaway post. Prizes are supplied by 3rd parties, and GeekDad.com cannot be held liable for items damaged or lost in shipping.

Please join me in congratulating Chris Landon, the winner of our 8th Day of Geekmas giveaway. With a shiny new can of putty, a handsome Nyko Wand+ controller, two sexy t-shirts from 604 Republic and $200 in Groupon credit, surely the world is your oyster. Friday is always a big day during 12DoG, and today's 9th Day of Geekmas is likely our biggest yet! For you see today's winner receives a fine can of Crazy Aaron's Putty, a brand new Raven controller from Nyko (the peripheral famed for bringing a touch of silky smooth Xbox 360-style control to the PS3), a copy of Dance Dance Revolution from our friends at Konami and, compliments of the extremely talented and equally generous team at SCE San Diego Studio, a 160GB PS3 and a copy of ModNation Racers. How, you may ask, did we manage to secure such fantabulous prizes? Two words: Faustian deal. In this edition of the GeekDad HipTrax Stocking Stuffer Ken and I manage to find ourselves utterly overwhelmed by today's prize pack. We also reflect on our delightful sponsor MapHook, the location based social network that lets you and others contribute to shared digital memory sets. About, say, the new World of Warcraft expansion. You also get to hear Uncle Monsterface's take on Christmas classic "Jingle Bells" and the secret code word needed to enter our random drawing. (Our hearing-impaired friends can find said code word in the podcast file metadata.) Enter that word and your personal information into the form below before 11:59 PM EST tonight to qualify. Our "12 Days of Geekmas Theme" was created by John Anealio. Y'know, I hear he actually owns a one-horse open sleigh. Giveaway rules: Open to North American residents only. One entry per physical address. Must be 18 or older to enter. Winners will be chosen by random from a given day's entries. Winners will be notified via the email supplied at time of entry, and in the following day's giveaway post. Prizes are supplied by 3rd parties, and GeekDad.com cannot be held liable for items damaged or lost in shipping.

Congrats to Jason Powers, the proud winner of the 7th Day of Geekmas swag from Hexbugs, Nyko, DiscoveryStore.com and Putty World. I dare say today's prizes are equally eclectic. Not to mention equally awesome. On our 8th Day of Geekmas both Crazy Aaron's and Nyko have returned with amazing prizes – another random can of putty and a Wand+ controller respectively. Today's winner also scores a pair of tees of his or her choice from epic Canadian clothier 604 Republic. But wait, there's more. In addition to this gaming-, putty- and t-shirt-related goodness you'll also nab a cool $200 worth of credit for that purveyor of wicked-fine deals Groupon. Who among us couldn't use this fine selection of assorted nerdery? Check out today's GeekDad HipTrax Stocking Stuffer to learn more about the aforementioned prizes, and to hear us discuss the finer points of podcast sponsor MapHook. (Speaking of, be sure to peep this Maphook story; it is the harrowing tale of our pal David's NY Comic Con adventure!) You'll also be treated to a dose of Yuletide Wizard Rock from RiddleTM, "Draco's Christmas Wish," and the secret code word needed to enter our random drawing. (Our hearing-impaired friends can find said code word in the podcast file metadata.) Enter that word and your personal information into the form below before 11:59 PM EST tonight to qualify. Our "12 Days of Geekmas Theme" was created by John Anealio. His new holiday EP Season's Geekings makes an ideal stocking stuffer. Giveaway rules: Open to North American residents only. One entry per physical address. Must be 18 or older to enter. Winners will be chosen by random from a given day's entries. Winners will be notified via the email supplied at time of entry, and in the following day's giveaway post. Prizes are supplied by 3rd parties, and GeekDad.com cannot be held liable for items damaged or lost in shipping.

The gods of randomness have spoken, and Patrick Mast is the winner of the 6th Day of Geekmas prize pack from Logitech and Crazy Aaron's Putty World. So what's next on the 12DoG agenda? Well, if today's prizes have a theme it's that of good, old fashioned fun. Of course we're including a container of traditional Geekmas staple Aaron's Crazy Putty, and to that we are adding a fine selection of other toys. DiscoveryStore.com is back with another set of those delightful Mythbuster bobble heads, and they're joined by our friends from Nyko who are offering one of their fantastic Wand+ Wii controllers. (Peep my product review from earlier this year for more info.) And GeekDad Anton came through with a fine selection of Hexbugs including the new Spider, the glow-in-the-dark Nano, the Bridge Battle play set and Hexbug Raceway Habitat Set. In this edition of the GeekDad HipTrax Stocking Stuffer we talk a lot about today's fabulous prizes, and about our equally fabulous sponsor MapHook. Yes Maphook, the only location-based app that encourages users to create and share travelogues - Oregon Trail style! There's even some music from the The H.P. Lovecraft Historical Society – "Eerie Dreary Solstice" to be exact – and of course the all-import secret code word needed to enter our random drawing. (Our hearing-impaired friends can find said code word in the podcast file metadata.) Enter that word and your personal information into the form below before 11:59 PM EST tonight to qualify. Our "12 Days of Geekmas Theme" was created by John Anealio. He also does weddings and Bar Mitzvahs. Giveaway rules: Open to North American residents only. One entry per physical address. Must be 18 or older to enter. Winners will be chosen by random from a given day's entries. Winners will be notified via the email supplied at time of entry, and in the following day's giveaway post. Prizes are supplied by 3rd parties, and GeekDad.com cannot be held liable for items damaged or lost in shipping.

Congrats to Jeff Pettorino, the winner of our 5th Day of Geekmas prize pack. But with all those games, CDs and putty containers unceremoniously removed from our prize closet, what remains for the latter half of this year's Geekmas celebration? In a word - lots! Today, for example, we've got an astounding array of goodies from Logitech including a Harmony One remote, a Performance Mouse MX, their new wireless solar keyboard, a ClearChat Wireless Headset, a Z515 speaker and a Force 3D Pro joystick. And don't forget the customary can of Aaron's Crazy Putty. And it could all be yours. Today's GeekDad HipTrax Stocking Stuffer contains a frank and explicit discussion of how unbelievably awesome these prizes truly are, as well as similar talk regarding holiday podcast sponsor MapHook. Add in Doctor Octoroc's "Deck the Kremlin" – from his 8-Bit Jesus album – and you've got a perfect example of seasonal merrymaking. Listen close for today's secret code word, as you'll need that to enter our random drawing. (Our hearing-impaired friends can find said code word in the podcast file metadata.) Enter that word and your personal information into the form below before 11:59 PM EST tonight to qualify. The "12 Days of Geekmas Theme" was created by GeekDad's own John Anealio. There must've been some magic in that old silk hat he found. Giveaway rules: Open to North American residents only. One entry per physical address. Must be 18 or older to enter. Winners will be chosen by random from a given day's entries. Winners will be notified via the email supplied at time of entry, and in the following day's giveaway post. Prizes are supplied by 3rd parties, and GeekDad.com cannot be held liable for items damaged or lost in shipping.

Congratulations to Justin Watermann, winner of our 4th Day of Geekmas prize pack from Putty World and DiscoveryStore.com. Thus far in 12DoG we've focused heavily on science and technology, but today we take it back to the simpler things in life. Like music and video games. And also putty. Today's winner snags a can of Aaron's Crazy Putty as well as CDs from a pair of HipTrax favorites. Celtic filker Marc Gunn has seen fit to set you up with copies of both his 2010 albums The Bridge and Kilted for Her Pleasure, while FUMPer Insane Ian has likewise provided his two latest releases fairly EPic and The Last Arcade. Our friends at Sony have also once again come through with some amazing prizes – copies of Invizimals and ModNation Racers for the PSP. This means, of course, that to take full advantage of this swag you'll need to be in possession of a PlayStation Portable. But if not you can always, y'know, re-gift. In this edition of ye olde GeekDad HipTrax Stocking Stuffer we expound upon the virtues of these prizes, as well as those of our very own podcast sponsor MapHook. You're also treated to the I Fight Dragons cover of Fountains of Wayne's "Alien for Christmas" from last year's Come Down the Chimney compilation. And don't forget to listen for today's secret code word, as you'll need that to enter today's random drawing. (Our hearing-impaired friends can find said code word in the podcast file metadata.) Enter that word and your personal information into the form below before 11:59 PM EST tonight to qualify. The "12 Days of Geekmas Theme" was crafted with pride by GeekDad's own John Anealio. They say he has a very shiny nose. Giveaway rules: Open to North American residents only. One entry per physical address. Must be 18 or older to enter. Winners will be chosen by random from a given day's entries. Winners will be notified via the email supplied at time of entry, and in the following day's giveaway post. Prizes are supplied by 3rd parties, and GeekDad.com cannot be held liable for items damaged or lost in shipping

Congratulations to our 3rd Day of Geekmas prize pack winner Luke McKean. I can only imagine the amazing things possible when you combine your prizes - a copy of Activision's Tony Hawk: Shred and a container of Crazy Aaron's Putty. Oh, to be young and adventurous! Today – in addition to the requisite container of Aaron's Crazy Putty – we will be giving away a pair of excitingly dorktastic prizes from DiscoveryStore.com. Today's winner will be able to channel his inner mad scientist with the help of the Discovery Chem-X 1000 Science Lab, and may even be inspired to use this new-found scientific acumen for the greater good by a pair of Mythbusters Bobble Heads. In today's GeekDad HipTrax Stocking Stuffer you'll hear to hear Ken and me get our science on as we discuss these prizes. You'll also get another earful of knowledge regarding podcast sponsor MapHook. On the musical tip you even get some chiptune goodness from 8 Bit Weapon & ComputeHer in the form of "Oh Christmas Tree (Oh Hanukkah)." Which I reckon proves that there are no losers in the 12 Days of Geekmas. But to be a genuine winner you'll want to note the secret code word needed to enter today's random drawing. (Our hearing-impaired friends can also find said code word in the podcast file metadata.) Enter that word and your personal information into the form below before 11:59 PM EST tonight to qualify. The "12 Days of Geekmas Theme" was created by John Anealio. He is the only man brave enough to explore the gastric implications of el chupacabra in song. Giveaway rules: Open to North American residents only. One entry per physical address. Must be 18 or older to enter. Winners will be chosen by random from a given day's entries. Winners will be notified via the email supplied at time of entry, and in the following day's giveaway post. Prizes are supplied by 3rd parties, and GeekDad.com cannot be held liable for items damaged or lost in shipping.

Congratulations to our 1st Day of Geekmas prize pack winner Torri Martin! We kicked this year's festivities off by giving away an amazing PSP Limited Edition Invizimals Entertainment Pack and a can of Crazy Aaron's Putty. So what do we have in store for today's giveaway? Only a Star Wars-themed prize pack the likes of which hasn't been seen since the great Clone Wars! Today's winner receives not only his/her very own can of Crazy Aaron's Putty – did I mention we love putty? – but also a pair of Star Wars-centric gadgets. Stoke the fires of fanboy jealousy amongst your fellow geeks with you own Star Wars TomTom EASE GPS Device, useful in making the all important Kessel Run. Today's winner also gets a limited edition R2-D2 Motorola Droid 2 phone from Verizon Wireless, a super sexy Android OS mobile phone skinned to look like everyone's favorite astromech. Peep today's GeekDad HipTrax Stocking Stuffer to hear Ken and me slobber over these amazing prizes as well as to learn more about podcast sponsor MapHook. You'll also get to hear John Anealio's totally appropriate "Millennium Falcon for Christmas" from his latest holiday-themed EP. Listen all the way to the end to discover the secret code word needed to enter today's random drawing. (Our hearing-impaired friends can also find said code word in the podcast file metadata.) Enter that word and your personal information into the form below before 11:59 PM EST tonight to qualify. The "12 Days of Geekmas Theme" was also created by John Anealio. He truly is our very own Geekmas angel!

Congratulations to our 2nd Day of Geekmas prize pack winner Seth Johnston. Admittedly, yesterday's prize pack of the Star Wars TomTom EASE GPS, Motorola R2-D2 Droid 2 from Verizon and pliable goodness from Putty World makes for a tough act to follow, but that doesn't mean we don’t intend to try! Today's winner snags both that highly coveted can of Crazy Aaron's equally crazy putty and a copy of Tony Hawk: Shred for the Nintendo Wii (compliments of Activision). While some would see these prizes as a pair of dissimilar items, I imagine that, thanks in part to the title's intuitive board controller, a talented geek could master the subtle arts of both simultaneously. This time in the GeekDad HipTrax Stocking Stuffer my co-host and I talk about skateboard games and putty and podcast sponsor Maphook. All of which are awesome. We even play Optimus Rhyme's "God Rest Ye Autobeat Allies" – a song that is holiday-themed simply because I say it is. Be sure to listen out for the secret code word, as you'll need that to enter today's random drawing. (Though our hearing-impaired friends can also find said code word in the podcast file metadata.)Enter that word and your personal information into the form below before 11:59 PM EST tonight to qualify. The "12 Days of Geekmas Theme" was made by elves at the North Pole. Though I hear John Anealio is desperate to take the credit. Giveaway rules: Open to North American residents only. One entry per physical address. Must be 18 or older to enter. Winners will be chosen by random from a given day's entries. Winners will be notified via the email supplied at time of entry, and in the following day's giveaway post. Prizes are supplied by 3rd parties, and GeekDad.com cannot be held liable for items damaged or lost in shipping.

It's the 1st Day of Geekmas, and we voted – unanimously, I might add – to kick off this year's giveaway with a bang! Up for grabs is a PSP Limited Edition Invizimals Entertainment Pack that includes a UMD copy of the game itself, the PSP camera peripheral, a 1GB Memory Stick PRO Duo, a download voucher for animated feature Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs and a gorgeous PSP-3000 system in Vibrant Blue - all this from our friends at Sony. Today's winner will also receive a container of Crazy Aaron's Putty. Because putty is awesome. Check out today's GeekDad HipTrax Stocking Stuffer to learn more about these fabulous prizes, and to get the scoop on our proud podcast sponsor MapHook. You'll even be treated to a little rocked up Hanukkah music in the form of Da Vinci's Notebook's very Alice in Chains-inspired take on "The Dreidel Song." Therein you’ll also discover the secret code word needed to enter today's random drawing. Enter that word and your personal information into the form below before 11:59 PM EST this very night to qualify. The "12 Days of Geekmas Theme" was created by our own John Anealio. Be sure to check out John's own holiday EP Season's Geekings at Bandcamp. It's the only release clinically proven to get you into the Geekmas spirit

Ken, Matt, and John talk about Tron, Narnia and the 12 Days of GeekMas. Enjoy! GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a bi-weekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

Ken, Matt, John and Chuck talk about Harry Potter 7A, TRON, and the TSA. Enjoy! GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a bi-weekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

s we at GeekDad HipTrax head into the holiday season (and the veritable iron man competition that is the 12 Days of Geekmas), we pause to expound upon the virtues of DC's Music and Gaming Fest. MAGfest's main man Brendan "Inverse Phase" Becker was even kind enough to stop by to chew the proverbial fat with us. Mmmmm… fat… Get your game on with: "Tourian-Mother Brain" by Metroid Metal Returning this year to the MAGfest stage is Metroid Metal, a band that solemnly swears to rock your face right the hell off! After an amazing turn at MAGfest 7 (not to mention blistering sets at the last three Penny Arcade Expo events), Stemage and company have again sets their sights on conquering the Mid-Atlantic. "River City Ransom (Boss)" by Year 200x Michigan video game metal giants Year 200x will be making their 3rd MAGfest appearance at this year's MAGfest 9. In a set that promises classic tracks from their 2008 debut We Are Error mixed with brand new material and special guests, it is not one to be missed. To learn more about these fantastic acts and the many other bands, events and special guests lined up for MAGfest 9, check out the official event site. Promising 4 days of non-stop gaming related events, the Hilton Alexandria Mark Center in Alexandria, Virginia is surely the place to be next January 13th through 16th.

Ken, Matt, Jonathan and Dan talk about TRON, The Hobbit, and how geeky the holidays can be. Enjoy! GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a bi-weekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

With Halloween behind us, we at GeekDad HipTrax have but a pair of wonderfully regular episodes between us and the gift-giving madness that is the 12 Days of Geekmas. We kick this off with a show thematically centered on childhood. You know how we do. Reconnect with your inner ragamuffin with: "Star Wars Uncut" by Adam WarRock Former attorney and current nerdcore trailblazer Adam WarRock has gotten a much deserved push of late - from being featured on the BBC to pulling together this amazing (and totally official) theme song for the Emmy award-winning Star Wars Uncut. To get the full effect of his musical prowess I suggest picking up his stellar full-length The War for Infinity. "Soren Lorenson (My Invisible Friend)" by Snidget Like many other Wizard Rocker, Grace "Snidget" Kendall has really expanded her musical repertoire of late. On this track, for example, she trades in her dulcimer for a ukulele and her lyrical focus on the Potter mythos for an understated tribute to British children's book series/television program Charlie and Lola. "Far Too Far (feat. Jeff Suffering)" by Stenobot As a member of Seattle chip-hop outfit Supercommuter, Stenobot has made quite a name for himself producing techno-apocalyptic robot party anthems. His latest release, however, is a collaboration with his 4-year old son with a totally different slant. Channeling the emotional roller coaster that is his son's treatment for leukemia into music, Sink or Swim We'll Go Together is a beautiful, stirring and wholly enjoyable effort. Check it out for free on his site, or pick up the special edition CD with a handmade, hard bound photo book for $15. All proceeds from the latter benefit Child's Play.

Ken, Matt, Russ and Jonathan talk about visiting the White House, seeing Tony Hawk, and playing LEGO Universe. Enjoy! GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a bi-weekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

In preparation for a very special GeekDad event, we here at HipTrax would like to present to you another delightful Halloween-themed podcast. This one is musically centered on everyone's favorite shambling flesh-eaters. You do realize I mean zombies, right? Scream in terror at the rotten facades of: "You'll Always Be My Zombie Friend" by Starla Not only is Starla's zombie friend nonthreatening, he's also apparently a big fan of frenetic dance beats and crazy, pitch-corrected vocals. You know what? Maybe we've been over-thinking this whole zombie thing. They don’t want our brains – just a solid DJ and reasonably-priced drinks. "Quick and the Dead" by Death*Star Nerdcore duo Death*Star puts an interesting spin on the zombie narrative in the track "Quick and the Dead" from their debut full-length The Fandom Menace. Not only do they switch perspective from the survivors to the ravenous horde at the half-way point, they also manage to inject a classic sing-along chorus. "Zombie Apocalypse" by Kirby Krackle Seattle's Kirby Krackle write songs about things that really matter. They touch on important subjects like video games and the world's worst superhero team. And also zombies. This fine selection from their debut album was recently interpreted as a delightfully macabre music video.

Ken, Matt and special guest Rael Dornfest talk about set top boxes, playing D&D with your family, and whether any of us will want to ride in Google cars. Enjoy! GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a bi-weekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

The first of this year's Halloween-themed October editions of GeekDad HipTrax pays homage to one of the greatest videogame series of all time: Castlevania . While obviously steeped in gothic horror and hardcore platforming, the series is also renowned for its eclectic and atmospheric soundtracks. This has made it a favorite among the videogame remix community, which, in turn, makes it an excellent candidate for a special Hiptrax tribute! Relish the musical creepiness of: "Fear of Haze" by Joshua Morse Castlevania: Sonata of the Damned marks Joshua Morse's second Castlevania tribute. The former is a free download offered from our friends at OverClocked ReMix, while the latter is another amazing freebie from the Bad Dues VGM collective. Cop both to supplement your all-important Halloween playlist. "Froggy Mosh" by goat The mysterious guitar-slinger known only as goat also paid proper tribute to the music of Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse in a free album of his own. Unchosen Paths: The Music of Castlevania is a beautiful beast, and you desperately need to experience it for yourself. "Once Upon a Time in Transylvania" by virt Closing out this edition is another amazing piece from Jake "virt" Kaufman. You can hear more of virt's original work in recently released games like Shantae: Risky’s Revenge and Batman : The Brave and the Bold: The Videogame.

Ken, Matt, Chuck and John chat about Star Wars on 3D, and over-engineering your toaster. Enjoy! GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a bi-weekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

We at HipTrax take our mission – to provide our fellow GeekParents with amazingly nerdy music they can actually share with the kids – very seriously. So much so, in fact, that the only thing that thrills us more than unearthing three brand new geek-jams for you every other week is spotlighting music that's available at the very reasonable price of free. As such, each remarkable song presented in this edition of the podcast comes to your from an equally remarkable album that is offered gratis. Submitted for your perusal: "Hilltop Zone" by Vernian Process Have you ever wondered what the music of Sonic the Hedgehog II would sound like if performed orchestral style by San Francisco's preeminent steampunk pioneers? Me neither, but Vernian Process and VGM blog Game Music 4 All provided an answer anyway! Check out volume 1 of their Retro Gaming Retrospective series Sonic Symphony: An Orchestral Tribute to the 16-Bit Sega Classics, as well as additional volumes themed around the Final Fantasy and Castlevania series. "Vessel of the Void ~Theme of Exdeath~" by zircon The newest project from our friends at OverClocked ReMix is a celebration of Nobuo Uematsu's classic score for Square's Final Fantasy V. The Fabled Warriors is a five-album set, and Volume I: Wind was just released earlier this month. The remaining four albums will trickle out over the next two to three years, thus assuring that you always have something to look forward to. "Alternate Ending (Untested Methods remix)" by The Grammar Club New Orleans-based producer Untested Methods puts the closing track from The Grammar Club's stellar debut release trough his own unique musical filter in this fantastic remix. It's available as part of the recently released Remix Casefiles Vol. 1 – Nerdcore collection from Scrub Club Records. Be sure to give the whole album a listen, but beware that there's a content warning for several of its tracks.

Ken, Matt and Jonathan chat about all the amazing games at PAX, and work on ideas for some new Great Bacon Odyssey posts. Enjoy! GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a bi-weekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

As summer draws to a close and the faintest bite of autumn appears in the air, we at GeekDad choose to reflect. Today, for example, we focus on the waning convention season, beer and Chris Isaak. Y'know, the important stuff! This edition of GeekDad HipTrax features: "CONtact" by Mega Ran & K-Murdock Conventions are serious business, and personal hygiene is no laughing matter! Just ask poor Random, a cat who's done his time amid the (literally) unwashed masses. Why not brighten the man's day by contributing to his Kickstarter campaign? You'll be glad you did. Because of the hip-hop. "Beer, Beer, Beer" as interpreted by Marc Gunn I'm sure some parents would argue that a song about beer isn't an ideal choice for a child-friendly podcast, and I would agree. Of course this one's about the discovery of beer. That makes it educational! Lovers of Celtic-folk and free stuff are encouraged to leave a comment, as a random poster will receive free copies of both Marc's Kilted for Her Pleasure and The Bridge. "Wicked Game" as covered by sadnes The GeekDad HipTrax audience has already heard Carl Peczynski's phenomenal cover of Weezer's "In the Garage" under his stage name OxygenStar. Now you can also experience his take on Chris Isaak's classic "Wicked Game," from the Fill My Head EP, which was released under the name sadnes. Yet another fine freebie from netlabel Pause!

Ken and Matt chat with David Hewlett - geek, dad and actor - about Apple gadgets, Buckaroo Banzai, and the joy of geeky dad-hood. Enjoy! GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a bi-weekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

Last week I overstepped my bounds a bit while blogging about the recent decision to ban the R4 and related devices in the UK. I meant to imply that this was an unfortunate and potentially detrimental turn of events for the European chiptune artists that employ such technology to legitimate ends, but instead it simply sounded like I was writing the whole of the chip music community off because of this single movement by Nintendo and that nation's court system. I apologize to any in the global micromusic community that I may have unwittingly offended by employing such hyperbole, and, to help make amends, allow me to dazzle you with a trio of fresh selections from the still very-much-alive chiptune scene. This apologetic edition of GeekDad HipTrax features: "Heart Beeps" by ComputeHer Michelle Mitchell is one-half of the dynamic American chiptune duo 8 Bit Weapon, but she is also the one-woman sound machine ComputeHer. This selection, from her fantastic new release Modemoiselle, ably showcases ComputeHer's unique brand of lo-fi electronica. The album (as well as a fine selection of t-shirts and other merchandise) is available at her newly redesigned web site. "Fami-Dance" by Inverse Phase I have long known know Brendan Becker as the man behind Virginia's annual Music and Gaming Festival, and now I also know him as chip artist Inverse Phase. His new album Retrocovered boasts 12 tracks of brilliantly realized classic electronic covers of everything from pop hits to cartoon theme songs. It's available at Bandcamp for a mere $5, and a number of tracks are up for free download for the chronically cheap. "Float On" as covered by Tetrastar Tetrastar is Oliver Hindle and Jaylyn Coffin – one the well known artist behind trailblazing UK chiptune act Superpowerless, the other a former member of Florida nerdcore outfit Emergency Pizza Party. Their newly released debut is also a charming collection of covers, this one entitled Songs We Didn't Write, and it collects fantastic chip-punk renditions of tracks originally performed by The Postal Service, Jonathan Coulton and Dio. The entire disc is freely available via the band's official site. And fair warning: the mix is hot this week, because so is the music!

Since folks seemed to dig our video game themed episode from last month, we've decided to do another show in a similar vein. This time around we're touching on a trio of game-focused songs from a bit outside the traditional VGM scene. Somehow, amid crushing technical difficulties, we manage to feature: "crimson dreams (feat. Beefy)" by Doctor Popular vs. crashfaster From the riveting soundtrack of browser game Knifetank – an album entitled, fittingly enough, Knifetank (The Albumhole) – comes this reinterpretation of the game's theme. Building on crashfaster's original composition, Doctor Popular provides appropriately murderous vocals, as does our old friend Beefy. Snag the album from Bandcamp, and play the game at the official Knifetank site. "Limit Break" by Dale Chase Weighing in at a healthy 12 tracks worth of hip-hop-flavored awesome, Dale's Limit Break is as fierce as the name implies. Intelligent, soulful and uplifting, it's an amazing effort that showcases the artist at his best. Better yet, it's available as a name-your-own price download from Bandcamp! "If I Had a Rocket Launcher" by Insane Ian & Possible Oscar From the new Insane Ian and the MusicIANs album The Last Arcade, "If I Had a Rocket Launcher" is a parody of Barenaked Ladies' "If I Had a Million Dollars." Thus it is not, I must explicitly point out, a cover of the Bruce Cockburn tune of the same name. If Ian's brand of humorous geek rock floats your boat, be sure to check out his extended musical family at The FuMP.

GeekDad's own Matt Blum is interviewed on 99.1 The Whale, in Bunghamton, NY about his adventures in bacon!

The GeekDads talk about Star Wars Celebration V, Harry Potter World, and the Jon Stewart Action Figure. Enjoy! GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a bi-weekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

The GeekDads talk about Comic-Con, Maker Faire Detroit and Matt's newfound sex-symbol status. Enjoy! GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a bi-weekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

Summertime is here again, and with it comes more music to move you. This edition of HipTrax kicks off with a brand new videogame music remix before moving on to a classic piece of comic book rock (revisited) and a fine selection from a Wizard Rocker's muggle band. All are guaranteed to please. Featuring: "Essence of Lime (Intro, Title Screen)" by Hylian Lemon Hylian Lemon's Legend of Zelda: Essence of Lime tribute album began as a solo reinterpretation of the soundtrack for epic Gameboy title The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages. But between its 2008 inception and recent release, it blossomed into a multiple artist project spanning two discs and 42 songs. Yet despite its considerable length, it's freely available in both MP3 and FLAC formats. "Up, Up, Down, Down" by Kirby Krackle This amazing selection from Kirby Krackle's 2009 self-titled debut was recently released as an animated video by Betsy Lee. It will shortly be joined by the band's current project, a music video for Wolverine-inspired E For Everyone standout track " On And On." "Books Says and I Say" by Harvey Dowd Harvey Dowd is a muggle music side project by Adam of Wizard Rockers The Mudbloods. This track is from his phenomenal 2008 release Potosi, which is available free via Bandcamp. If you're a fan of rootsy, soulful, guitar-centered songwriting, it is a must-own!

The GeekDads talk about the iPhone 4 announcement, and have some painful technical problems. Enjoy! GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a bi-weekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

GeekDad Parents, Kids and the Stuff We Obsess About Previous post GeekDad HipTrax #52 * By Z Email Author * June 16, 2010 | * 7:00 am | * Categories: GeekDad Podcasts * | Edit • GeekDad HipTrax Logo by Dave Banks GeekDad HipTrax Logo by Dave Banks In the spirit of this week’s Electronic Entertainment Expo, this episode of GeekDad HipTrax is all about video game music. From classic NES/SNES soundtrack reinterpretations to original music from a brand new retro-style shooter, we’ve got you covered! Featuring: “Bionic Commando / Don’t be Hasty, Advance with Caution” by King Hippo King Hippo is a one-man VGM outfit out of Los Angeles. Formed from the ashes of eclectic electro-rockers Bad Dudes, King Hippo does video game covers in a style comparable to that of Sacramento’s The Advantage. “Bowser Castle” by The OneUps Somehow, amid producing a third of Beefy’s latest LP With Sprinkles and crafting his own Vision Quest EP, Mustin also found time to pull together another amazing release from The OneUps. Super Mario Kart Album runs 10 classic tunes from the Super Mario Kart soundtrack run through The OneUps’ own magnificent musical filter. “Rocktronic Plague” by 8 Bit Weapon 8 Bit Weapon have just released a Commodore 64/128 two-player simultaneous shoot-em-up entitled Silo 64. And of course they’ve released a 7-song soundtrack CD to accompany the game as well. Both are available for purchase at the dedicated Silo 64 site, as are free sample tracks and a game ROM for your emulation pleasure. Read More http://www.wired.com/geekdad/2010/06/geekdad-hiptrax-52/?preview=true&preview_id=35070&preview_nonce=049094e7ca#ixzz0qz14n58R

The GeekDads talk about the iPhone 4 announcement, and have some painful technical problems. Enjoy! GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a bi-weekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

This episode of GeekDad HipTrax is what we might call the mad props edition. Each one of today's featured artists is celebrating a recent triumph or musical milestone, and we intend to help them along. After all, that's sort of what we do. Featuring: "New Wizard Anthem (live)" by Harry and the Potters DeGeorge brother Joe – one half of the groundbreaking Wrock duo – just graduated from Clark University with a Bachelor's degree in the almighty Arts. The band is also finally publicly releasing their previous 2009 Wizard Rock EP of the Month Club exclusive Harry and the Potters Live at the Yule Ball 2008 as a double-disc CD/DVD combo. While you wait on that one, feel free to download this amazing live show from July of 2008 compliments of Alienbobz. "No Power in the Verse " by Antisoc Meanwhile, nerdcore rapper Antisoc is celebrating the success of his fourth full-length album, Future Hop. Combining his cleverest rhymes to date with blistering production steeped in the electro-industrial tradition, it's 17 tracks of… well, the titular blend of rap and future pop. Best of all, it's free! "Do I Look Like I Want To Play Volleyball?" by Noisewaves Last month, our friends at netlabel Pterodactyl Squad released their landmark 25th album. It's a self-titled, 5-song EP from Michigan chiprock duo Noisewaves. And like all the other fine music presented in this episode, the project is available for free download.

The GeekDads talk about Maker Faire and the Facebook security imbroglio. Enjoy! GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a bi-weekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

This show marks the 50th regular episode of GeekDad HipTrax. Oh, how far we've some! To celebrate the occasion, this episode is heavily hip-hop. It is also heavenly hip-hop. (See what I did there?). Today's edition features: "Different Language" by Beefy Our own GeekDad Curtis reviewed Beefy's newest offering With Sprinkles earlier this week. I can't imagine you need any further motivation to pick up this nerdcore masterpiece, but I included this track just in case. Now proceed directly to Bandcamp to snag the album in question. "Dream Master" by Mega Ran & K-Murdock To say that the Random/K-Murdock collaboration known as Forever Famicom is anxiously awaited is an understatement. There has been a steady stream of hype building up over the previous months, and, after hearing the album's recently released (and free) debut singles, I am pleased to report that it's every bit as amazing as anticipated. It's nostalgic chip-hop at its finest. "We Don't Need Another Trilogy (feat. Dale Chase)" by John Anealio John Anealio and Dale Chase are the peanut butter and chocolate of the nerd music meta-community. I always suspected they'd go well together, and this piece is certainly proof positive. It's another fine freebie from John's own Sci-Fi Songs blog.

The GeekDads talk about the gulf oil spill, Iron Man 2 and Maker Faire. Enjoy! GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a bi-weekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

On this episode of GeekDad HipTrax, we get all electronical. Wait; that's not even a cromulent word! Still, in this edition we do feature a trio of fine tracks from the chippier side of the nerd music meta-community. Chippier... That's not a real word either, is it? "Experimutations" by Jonny Nero Action Hero Helping me keep this streak of imaginary words going strong is the title track from Jonny Nero's new Experimutations EP. This six-track chiprock masterpiece is available from Bandcamp via their ever popular name-your-price option. So head over there and give it a listen. "Kittens Really Aren't That Great" by Computerization Derek Dobson really doesn't get the whole cat meme thing, but that's not the sum of his lyrical musings! In his new Fake Music EP he also touches on spaceship races, alien romance and mortality. It's another free download, so make it your own. "Tron Scherzo (Solar Sailer mix)" by 8 Bit Weapon Taking us home is another fine selection from 8 Bit Weapon. Just this week Seth and Michelle unveiled a tribute to the Wendy Carlos-penned Tron soundtrack (and a related custom-modded Gameboy.) This tribute EP is also available free of charge. Don't say I never gave you nuthin'! Want more? Well, you can subscribe to the GeekDad podcast in iTunes (see the button on the sidebar), or directly through the RSS feed. You can also download or play GeekDad HipTrax #49 via this link. And we apologize for the sound quality. Ken was having mic problems he didn't even realize until the taping was done.

The GeekDads talk about the iPhone/Gizmodo scandal, Ken's book and (more about) the upcoming Maker Faire. Enjoy!

Contents include The Minibosses, Norrin Radd and Snake Eyes.

The GeekDads talk about Fudgiethon and the upcoming Maker Faire. Enjoy!

Contents include Dr. Octoroc, MC Frontalot and Brad Smith.

The GeekDads talk about PAX East and the Disney Dream. Enjoy!

This episode of GeekDad HipTrax is sci-fi themed. Herein we cover all the bases: Firefly, Star Trek and Doctor Who. Okay, so maybe we left out Star Wars. Well Star Wars and BSG… and also Stargate. Let me try this again; in today's edition of HipTrax we just cover some of the bases. With the help of: "Monahan's Mudder's Milk" by Marc Gunn Marc Gunn, known as "The Godfather of Celtic Music Online," is a musician, blogger, podcaster and champion of contemporary Celtic music on the web. Lucky for us, he's also no stranger to the occasional filk tune. This workers' rights ballad themed around the Firefly episode "Jaynestown" is freely downloadable at his site, but he's also got a fine selection of pay tracks available via Amazon. "The Saddest Song Ever Written About Star Trek" by Warp 11 Sacramento's Warp 11 are not exactly among the most kid-friendly of acts we've featured on HipTrax. They are, however, a veritable explosion of kick-ass Star Trek musical fandom. They were featured in the 2003 documentary Trekkies 2, and standout track "Everything I Do, I Do With William Shatner" was included in the Comedy Central roast of The Shat. You can check out the breadth of their fantastic back catalog online. Just, y'know, make sure the kids are well out of earshot. "There's No Such Thing as Impossible" by Turn Left Turn Left are sisters Victoria and Georgia Minnear, also of UK Wizard Rock outfit RiddleTM. While not writing amazing songs about the power of Potterdom or any of a myriad of other subjects, the ladies also get their Time Lord Rock on. In a manner most divine.

The GeekDads talk about the GeekDad Awards, Google Fiber, and the joy that is Chineselinuxuniversity.net. Enjoy! GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a bi-weekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

You look sad, my friend. (And not just about the unfortunate Skype noise on this podcast, I bet!) Is the grind of the mid-week workday already bringing you down? Are you in desperate need of entertainment? Of course you are! So kick back and enjoy another piping-hot edition of HipTrax. Today's episode features: "Painting Pictures" by Dual Core Dual Core's int 80 and c64 are all about the feel-good tracks. Much as their Zero One classic "The Children's Machine (OLPC)" added stirring prose to the One Laptop Per Child program, this song finds int 80 rapping about the power of the cochlear implant and technology's functional applications in real life. "Exapno Mapcase" by Comptroller Created in 28 scant days as part of the RPM Challenge, Comptroller is a diminutive powerhouse. Boasting 10 tracks of chippy goodness, it's available for free download via Bandcamp. "Going Home" by Kirby Krackle Kirby Krackle's new album E For Everyone is currently available as a digital download. Of course, you can also head over to their site and order a physical copy. And while you're waiting on that to arrive, be sure to check out their self-titled debut. Album opener "Back to the Beginning" and the incomparable "Marvelous Girls" both come highly recommended.

The GeekDads talk about Portal 2 buzz, and the new OK Go video. Enjoy! GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a bi-weekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

Sometimes nerd life gets to be too much. In those cases, you just need to sit back. Relax. Unwind. Lucky for you, Hiptrax is here to help! Kick back and enjoy the smooth sounds of: "Coder Girl" by Dale Chase If you dig a super-tight flow, soulful hooks and intelligent, techy rhymes, Dale's Absodefilutely EP is a must-have. New fans also owe it to themselves to check out his "Coder Girl 2.0 (Remix)" and his musical meditation on longtime friend of GeekDad Snipeyhead. "My Monkey" by Jonathan Coulton The narrator of this Coulton classic made a mistake. He and his lady-love had a fight, and maybe he said some things he really didn't mean. I can't imagine blaming his monkey butler is going to help matters, but, y'know, live and learn. "Dock of the Bay" as covered by The Skamatix Like HipTrax favorite Marian Call, The Skamatix aren't superficially geeky, but trust me; it's in there. Their own Nate Trier, for example, also crafts atmospheric instrumentals for use in tabletop roleplaying games under the clever guise of Mindscape Music.

The GeekDads talk about snow, Buzz, and raising racist kids. Enjoy! GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a bi-weekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

Romance is in the air! And that can mean only one thing; our HEPA filter needs to be changed. Oh wait… Valentine's Day! Yeah, that totally explains it! Cuddle up with that special someone and check out this ultra-romantical edition of GeekDad HipTrax featuring: "To Have and to Hold" by temp sound solutions Shawn Phase (AKA: temp sound solutions) is a titan in the chiptune, VGM and demoscene communities. He also has the most classic Konami logo tattoos of any single individual in recorded history. Check out the re-release of his amazing Xylox LP for free compliments of our friends at Pause Records. "Romantic Cheapskate 2.0" by MC Frontalot Since you obviously already own this track from Front's 2007 release Secrets From the Future, why not head over to the SPIN Magazine site to pick up the first single from his forthcoming Zero Day album. It's a song about Wil Wheaton, and that is the very definition of nerdcore. "With You" by I Fight Dragons Please join me in congratulating I Fight Dragons, as the band has just been signed to Photo Finish/Atlantic Records! I'm not sure how major label support will affect our ability to play their future releases, but hope springs eternal.

The GeekDads are back with everyone who wasn't watching the LOST season opener to talk about the iPad, and National Black History Month. Enjoy!

It's HipTrax time again, boys and girls! Aren't you excited? I know we are. So gather 'round while we serve you up a trio of nerdy tracks sure to please. This episode features: "Heroes in the Snow" by arcadecoma. Chiptune artist arcadecoma. hales from Edinburgh, home of the Burke and Hare murders (-100 true crime points for those who don't know Burke and Hare) and Wattie Buchan (-100 punk rock points to those who don't know Wattie.) Only, y'know, arcadecoma. is much less scary. He's also a member of geek-centric netlabel Pterodactyl Squad, so head over to there to score the sweet, chippy goodness. "Group with You" by The Four Eyes The Four Eyes have recently redesigned their web site. Check out their new digs for a brand new crop of freely downloadable songs, including this one. You do like free stuff, right? "On Your Six " by Ultraklystron Karl Olson's new album Romance Language 2 is now available for super-cheap download via Bandcamp. Pick it up and share it with someone you love. Preferably while discussing your favorite fansubs.

The GeekDads are back with a huge crew to talk about all the geeky news of the last two weeks, including smoking in Avatar, GeekDads on TV, and our fundraiser for Haiti relief. Enjoy!

HipTrax celebrates the New Year by looking back on the old. Specifically, we reflect on a trio of 2009 releases that fell near year's end, and thus, unfortunately, may have stayed under your radar. This episode features: "Autobeat Airbus (live)" by Optimus Rhyme I hosted Optimus Rhyme's posthumous Live Vol. 1 as a free download at Hipster, please! for the week between Christmas and New Year's. This amazing live EP features a classic performance on Seattle's KEXP from back in 2004. Those who missed it as a free download are encouraged to keep an eye open for the impending iTunes release. "Tsundere 2x4" by Rai Rai Kamishiro's Electric Sheep was surely one of the brightest and most eclectic releases of 2009. Long in production under a number of different names, the final product boasts tons of Rai's unique charm and some phenomenal production by Karl "Ultraklystron" Olson. Fans of J-pop, nerdcore and otaku culture are heartily encouraged to check out the full release. "Summer Glau" by John Anealio I enjoy John Anealio's new album so much that we're giving away a copy to a lucky HipTrax listener! Just leave a comment to this post listing your favorite science fiction property (film, television show, videogame or book), and you'll be entered to win your own Sci Fi Songs CD. In the meantime, explore John's blog of the same name for tons of filk-flavored freebies.

The GeekDads are back for the New Year with a holiday wrap-up. They re-cap the Wired Holiday Store, and discuss Avatar and what geeky presents they got. Enjoy!

12Dog #12: 12 Days, 12 geeky songs, and 12 giveaways! Make sure you listen to the whole podcast to learn the secret word and get entered in the giveaway drawing!

12Dog #11: 12 Days, 12 geeky songs, and 12 giveaways! Make sure you listen to the whole podcast to learn the secret word and get entered in the giveaway drawing!

12Dog #10: 12 Days, 12 geeky songs, and 12 giveaways! Make sure you listen to the whole podcast to learn the secret word and get entered in the giveaway drawing!

12Dog #09: 12 Days, 12 geeky songs, and 12 giveaways! Make sure you listen to the whole podcast to learn the secret word and get entered in the giveaway drawing!

12Dog #08: 12 Days, 12 geeky songs, and 12 giveaways! Make sure you listen to the whole podcast to learn the secret word and get entered in the giveaway drawing!

12Dog #07: 12 Days, 12 geeky songs, and 12 giveaways! Make sure you listen to the whole podcast to learn the secret word and get entered in the giveaway drawing!

12Dog #06: 12 Days, 12 geeky songs, and 12 giveaways! Make sure you listen to the whole podcast to learn the secret word and get entered in the giveaway drawing!

12Dog #05: 12 Days, 12 geeky songs, and 12 giveaways! Make sure you listen to the whole podcast to learn the secret word and get entered in the giveaway drawing!

12Dog #04: 12 Days, 12 geeky songs, and 12 giveaways! Make sure you listen to the whole podcast to learn the secret word and get entered in the giveaway drawing!

12Dog #03: 12 Days, 12 geeky songs, and 12 giveaways! Make sure you listen to the whole podcast to learn the secret word and get entered in the giveaway drawing!

12Dog #02: 12 Days, 12 geeky songs, and 12 giveaways! Make sure you listen to the whole podcast to learn the secret word and get entered in the giveaway drawing!

12Dog #01: 12 Days, 12 geeky songs, and 12 giveaways! Make sure you listen to the whole podcast to learn the secret word and get entered in the giveaway drawing!

The GeekDads talk with John Kovalic, creator of Dork Tower and illustrator of Munchkin and Apples to Apples, and make a SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT. Enjoy!

This year has seen a disproportionate amount of great albums released from across the greater geeky music spectrum. So many, in fact, that it has proven difficult to keep up. Thankfully for you, there's HipTrax! In this edition we feature songs from a trio of new releases from three of our favorite artists: "Worms Make Dirt" as covered by Uncle Monsterface Truly there is no better way to kick off an episode of HipTrax than with this Uncle Monsterface take on an Aquabats classic. This cover, along with four other stellar examples, is available on Jokey Jingles Ultimate Dance Party Mix Volume 3, an EP given away for free to subscribers of the UMF mailing list. "Contains Mild Euphoria" by Pixelh8 Pixelh8 is not only an honorary GeekDad, he is also a bona fide contributor to GamePeople, the family-centered gaming site of our own Paul Govan. And did I mention he's a groundbreaking chiptune artist? You can experience his refreshing brand of warm, emotionally resonant electronica on his new release And the Revolution. "Sixteen Bit" by Elfonso Uniquely blending folksy, almost Gaelic instrumentation with classic videogame imagery, Elfonso has been a HipTrax favorite ever since our third episode. Now, with a fresh new self-titled album, the UK game rockers are poised to further redefine what VGM can (and should) be.

The GeekDads talk about the Mythbusters at the White House, the Wired Holiday Store, and what we're doing for Thanksgiving. Enjoy!

The GeekDads talk about sucky broadband, cell phones, new movies, and a certain new product at ThinkGeek. No, the other new product. Enjoy!

Yes, we realize that we missed Halloween by a few days. But what were we gonna do? I mean, we promised you two episodes of appropriately creepy HipTrax music, and we plan to deliver. Even if it's slightly later than anticipated. This posthumous collection of Halloween geekery includes: "What a Horrible Night" by virt In addition to sharing music at VGMix, a videogame remix community that he founded in 2002, virt has also supplied original soundtracks for a number of high profile videogames. You may have heard his work in titles like Contra 4 or Red Faction: Guerrilla. "Thriller" by Superpowerless By my estimation, Superpowerless has released 9 bajillion albums this year alone. In the time it took me to write that last sentence he released an additional 74. Though it is truly a fool's errand to try and keep up, you can at least attempt to monitor his prolific output with the help of our friends at Scrub Club Records. "Bucket O' Blood " as covered by The Consortium of Genius The two coolest things in the world are pirates and vampires. Leave it to The Consortium of Genius to unceremoniously wed the two in lyrical matrimony! This track was included on their fantastic career retrospective 10th Anniversary Compilation.

The GeekDads wish John Cleese happy birthday, and talk about LEGO Universe and W00tstock! Enjoy!

The GeekDads talk about Where the Wild Things Area and the upcoming Paul and Storm concert W00tstock! Enjoy!

The GeekDads talk about playing RPGs with your kids!

It's back-to-school time once again. Thus GeekParents and geeklings alike are no doubt already feeling the crunch of another year's worth of bag lunches, science projects and PTA bake sales. It's just too much. To steal a line from the Clown Prince of Cholesterol: you deserve a break today. And GeekDad HipTrax is more than happy to oblige. This edition features: "Let's Hear it for Capitalism" by Math the Band Math the Band creates lo-fi synth rock in the style of Atom and His Package melded with the power of poppy noise rockers like Andrew W.K. On CD, this translates into light-hearted, surrealistic musings on daily life, but onstage they are akin to a rock 'n' roll bazooka being fired directly into our face. Buy the album, but catch them live for the full effect. "Chinese Ninja Warrior" as covered by Shael Riley and the Double Ice Backfire This Lords of Acid-penned theme song for Mortal Kombat's Sub-Zero rests firmly in Shael's wheelhouse. Not only is he a fighting game aficionado – Shael was co-director of the OverClocked ReMix community's soundtrack for Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix – but he's also a purveyor of dark electro-pop. The Double Ice Backfire's Songs from the Pit is a moody masterpiece that's only available on limited edition cassette. "Saria's Ragtime Jazz" by Kento Khromatic Kento Khromatic is a composer that speaks the language of music and a VGM fan with a knack for razor sharp improvisation. You can stay abreast of his latest creations by subscribing to his YouTube channel or following him on Twitter. Either way, prepare to be both entertained and amazed.

The GeekDads talk about District 9, the PS3 Slim, and being on TV!

If you've ever found yourself hoping that GeekDad HipTrax would somehow become a lot more… danceable, then this episode is for you. Listen in wonder as we crank out some amazing electronica in the geekiest of veins. Marvel as we effortlessly transition from chiptunes to nerdcore to Wizard Rock without so much as batting an eyelash. Suppress a chuckle as Ken and I attempt to shake our groove things without spilling our drinks.

The GeekDads talk about the MoonBots Challenge, and living in a small town!

Here at HipTrax, it is our mission to provide geeky music that's still suitable for the sensitive ears of our brood, but we seldom devolve into what one would call a kid's music podcast. This episode is no exception, but it did prove an ample opportunity for Ken and me to channel our own inner rugrats. Listen as we wax poetic about Transformers, long lost action figures and the tech that is creating the dorks of tomorrow.

The GeekDads talk about the new Harry Potter Movie, casting for The Hobbit Movies, and more! Enjoy!

Here at HipTrax, it is our mission to provide geeky music that's still suitable for the sensitive ears of our brood, but we seldom devolve into what one would call a kid's music podcast. This episode is no exception, but it did prove an ample opportunity for Ken and me to channel our own inner rugrats. Listen as we wax poetic about Transformers, long lost action figures and the tech that is creating the dorks of tomorrow.

In conjunction with the upcoming premiere of his TV show Leverage's second season premiere, I got the chance to talk to John about the cool things he's done (Warren Ellis' Global Frequency pilot, Jackie Chan Adventures), the things that humble him (he is credited as one of the writers of the Catwoman movie), and how he's trying to drag the television industry into the internet age one show at a time.

The GeekDads talk about all the geeky shows and movies coming out this summer. Enjoy!

The Nerdapalooza Special, with Hex Warrior

"The Crystal Shard" by Selfhelp"Burn" by Evil Giraffes on Mars"Chance of Showers (feat. MC Lars)" by My Parents' Favorite Music

The GeekDads talk about Maker Faire, buying a cell phone for your kids, and the movie UP!

HipTrax #29 includes a special interview with Marty Allen and Dan Brennan of Uncle Monsterface.

The GeekDads talk about the upcoming Maker Faire and all that's planed for the two-day event.

HipTrax #28 includes Jesse Dangerously, The Grammar Club, and The Gamer Symphony. Please excuse the audio problems, and re-uploaded because the songs dropped out on the original recording.

The GeekDads bring you HipTrax: three geeky songs you can share with your kids. GDHT #26 includes DJ Pretzel, Injury, and The Minibosses.

The GeekDads geek out about Star Trek. SPOILER ALERT.

The GeekDads bring you HipTrax: three geeky songs you can share with your kids. GDHT #27 includes Random, 8 Bit Weapon, and Scared of Dinosaurs.

The GeekDads talk about geek news of the week, including how the swine flu may effect bacon consumption, and if the Wolverine movie will suck.

The GeekDads interview Peter Sagal, and talk about geek news of the week, including the fart tweeter, and more about SyFy.

Our special guest this week is Geekdad contributor John Baichtal. We talk about the mousetrap-powered car contest, lego art, Wil Wheaton's new book, and the Geekdad 42 list.  Enjoy!

Welcome to the fourth episode of The GeekDads, with Ken Denmead, Brian Little, Bruce Stewart,  and Dan Olson. We chat about the Austin Maker Faire, being stumped by a three year-old, Google Sky, and Ikeahacker.com.  Enjoy!

Welcome to the third episode of The Geekdads, with Ken Denmead, Brian Little, Russ Neumeier, and Dan Olson. Enjoy!

Welcome to the second episode of The Geekdads, with Ken Denmead, Brian Little, Russ Neumeier, and Dan Olson. Enjoy!

Welcome to the first episode of The Geekdads! The all new podcast from some of the contributors at the Geekdad blog.  This week, Ken Denmead, Brian Little, Russ Neumeier, and Dan Olson are joined by special guest and Geekdad founder Chris Anderson to chat about the philosophy behind the blog, and review some of the posts of the last couple weeks.  Enjoy!