We rewind to mall culture at its peak — food courts, arcades, forgotten stores, and the era when the mall was the place to be.

This week on The Midnight Release, Chase and Austin take a nostalgic walk through one of the most iconic parts of growing up in the 90s and 2000s with Episode 8: “Meet Me at the Mall.”

From Jefferson Mall’s golden days to arcades like Aladdin’s Castle, fountains full of coins, and food courts that somehow fed an entire generation, we dive deep into mall culture at its peak. We revisit forgotten stores like Gadzooks, Camelot Music, KB Toys, Suncoast, RadioShack, Babbage’s, Funcoland, EB Games, and the early days of Hot Topic — before it became what it is today.

This episode also opens the door to broader nostalgia: mall rat culture, first jobs, hanging out until closing time, clothing trends, music stores, and how malls naturally overlapped with the rise of early social media like MySpace. Chase relives a lifetime of mall memories, while Austin reflects on how different that era felt compared to now.

On the Side Quest front, we bring back Listener Memory Card, catching up on weeks of listener responses — including GameStop stories, Blockbuster memories, favorite handheld consoles, gaming snacks, and beloved (or long-gone) mall stores.

It’s a laid-back, memory-packed episode about a time when you didn’t need plans — you just met at the mall.

🛍️ Some memories didn’t need a destination — just a food court and a fountain.

From Game Boy and PSP to Switch and Steam Deck, we rewind through handheld gaming history. Plus: Game Awards reactions, reveals we loved (and hated), and a handheld-themed quiz.

This week on The Midnight Release, Chase and Austin jump back into gaming with Episode 7: “Pocket Power”, a full rewind through the history of handheld gaming — from the original Game Boy all the way to modern handheld PCs like the Steam Deck and the Switch 2.

We talk about where we each started, our favorite handheld consoles and games, unforgettable Pokémon memories, funny (and painful) stories from the road, and how handheld gaming has evolved from simple pixels to full console-level experiences in your hands. We also dig into GameStop-era handheld chaos — trades, bundles, thefts, and holiday madness.

On the Side Quest front, Chase flips the script in Now Loading, quizzing Austin with “opposite-name” versions of classic handheld games. Then we introduce a brand-new segment, Checkpoint Chat, where we break down the Game Awards — winners, snubs, reveals, and what has us hyped heading into 2026.

It’s a nostalgia-heavy episode packed with handheld history, industry talk, and the kind of conversations that only happen when you’ve lived through every generation.

🎮 Some power fits right in your pocket.

Blockbuster nights, VHS nostalgia, Netflix’s mail-in era, midnight movie releases, and the rise (and fall) of physical media. Plus: GOTY predictions, upcoming movie hype, and deep-pull memories from the video rental days.

This week on The Midnight Release, Chase and Austin jump out of the gaming lane and back into another core part of 90s–2000s childhood: Friday nights at Blockbuster. From VHS tapes and late fees to catching that one copy of a new release before anyone else, this episode dives into movie culture, video rental rituals, and how physical media shaped an entire generation.

But it doesn’t stop there — we rewind all the way through Netflix’s mail-in DVD era, GameFly, Redbox luck, and late-night midnight movie premieres before big studios phased them out. We also break down how movie culture has shifted, why physical media is disappearing, and which films defined our childhoods before 2010.

As always, the episode rounds out with our recurring and brand-new segment lineup, including nostalgia deep-dives, upcoming movie hype, and a quick look at this week’s big event: The Game Awards.

📼 Be kind, rewind — and enjoy the nostalgia trip.

Before Xbox Live and Discord, there were basements full of CRTs, ethernet cables running like spiderwebs, and hands covered in Dorito dust. This week, Chase and Austin are joined by Wayne and Howie to relive the glory days of LAN parties, couch co-op, early multiplayer memories, and the snacks that fueled them.

Grab your controllers, fire up the ethernet hub, and keep your hands clean (or don’t) — because Episode 5 is all about LAN Parties and Doritos Dust.

This week, Austin and Chase are joined by two very special guests: Howie (aka Scott) and Wayne, Austin’s older — and according to Chase — “much better-looking” brother. Together, the crew rewinds to a time before online gaming took over the world, reliving the magic of couch co-op, local multiplayer chaos, and all-night LAN marathons.

We cover:
🎮 Life before online gaming — from Mario/Duck Hunt to GoldenEye to the first FPS experiences
👾 Arcade glory days — TMNT: Turtles in Time, X-Men, Rampage, Power Rangers
🔌 LAN party setups — multi-TV madness, ethernet cables everywhere
🎮 Halo, Gears, CoD — local tournaments, campaign runs, and Wayne’s legendary Gears soapbox
🎮 Pokémon link cables, Double Dash battles, NBA Street, Shaolin Monks, and more
🕹️ First gamertags — BlueSanta117, IZI Pwnage IZI
🥤 Snacks & drinks of the era — Game Fuel, Red Bull, fork-eaten chips, Monsters, and of course… Doritos

We also introduce two brand new segments this week:

👫 Co-Op Mode (New)

A collaborative segment featuring guest opinions, crossovers, and crew-based conversations. For its debut, we discuss the group’s current gaming obsessions and what they’re most excited for in 2026

💾 Listener Memory Card (New)

Your stories take center stage! We dig into your submitted favorite games and first COD experiences.

Finally, we reach our Save Point, reflecting on how the four of us still run DnD campaigns together today and how these early multiplayer moments shaped entire friendships.

Next week, we take a detour into film nostalgia with “Be Kind, Rewind,” covering Blockbuster, Friday night rentals, DVDs, and the golden era of physical media.

🎧 Want to be featured in a future Listener Memory Card segment?
This week’s question:
Which of these give you the most nostalgic, warm-fuzzy media memories — Blockbuster, Netflix (early days), Redbox, GameFly, or something else? And why?

Email us at: themidnightreleasepod@gmail.com

We’re heading back behind the counter at GameStop for a collection of wild, weird, and unforgettable stories from the trade-in trenches. From cockroaches in consoles to Black Friday chaos, join Austin and Chase as they relive the retail madness that shaped a generation of gamers.

Grab your Edge Card, dust off your old trade-ins, and step behind the counter — because this week, we’re diving headfirst into “Tales from the Trade-In.”

In Episode 4, Austin and Chase revisit their early GameStop days and the unbelievable moments that defined life in video game retail. From bizarre customer interactions to legendary coworker antics, this one is loaded with nostalgia, chaos, and the kind of stories only GameStop employees truly understand.

We talk:
How we got started at GameStop (quick refresher)
The strangest and funniest customer encounters
Cockroaches inside consoles
Free snacks and the golden age of Red Bull
Storage nightmares
Black Friday madness, overnight marathons
Launch nights, coworker chaos, conferences, Vegas stories, and more

We also bring back Disc of the Day, this time featuring the Grand Theft Auto series, including Hot Coffee, ESRB controversies, and some midnight launch memories.

Then we debut our new segment: Bonus Level — a deep-dive into more niche corners of fandom. For this first installment, we take on card games, from our childhood obsession to today’s collecting vs playing culture… and of course, GameStop’s modern fixation on trading cards.

Finally, we hit the Save Point as we reflect on how GameStop shaped our lives, friendships, and pathways — and how a single job can ripple through the years like a real-life Butterfly Effect.

Next week, get ready for “LAN Parties & Doritos Dust,” featuring special guests Wayne and Howie (Scott), plus a brand-new segment called Co-Op Mode.

Thanks for listening — and don’t forget to like, follow, subscribe, and send your stories or answers to this week’s question:
What was your go-to gaming/midnight launch snack and drink back in the day?
Email us at: themidnightreleasepod@gmail.com

This week, Chase and Austin hit rewind on the Saturday morning era, weekly show blocks, cartoons, toys, and the shows that shaped a generation. From Toonami and TMNT to Limewire nostalgia and cereal-fueled memories, it’s pure retro comfort.

Grab your cereal and your comfiest blanket — this week, we’re rewinding to an era when Saturday mornings meant something.

In “Saturday Morning Saved Us,” Chase and Austin dive into the shows that shaped their childhoods and beyond: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, X-Men, Sonic, Freakazoid, Animaniacs, Dragon Ball Z, and the mighty Toonami block that introduced an entire generation to anime.

They swap stories about growing up in the golden age of Fox Kids, WB Kids, Nickelodeon, and Cartoon Network; plus, how the transition from Saturday mornings to streaming changed everything.

From Crossfire commercials to Limewire regrets, this episode is a nostalgic ride through TV, toys, and the moments that made the ‘90s and ‘00s unforgettable.

🎮 Side Quests this week:

• Now Loading: 15 words or less — Austin gives two-word hints for retro characters from shows, Chase guesses the lineup.
• Rewind Select: A deep pull into the toy box — Dragon Ball Z figures, Mighty Max, TMNT, Power Rangers, and more.

And as always, they close out with this week’s listener question:
💬 “What’s your favorite GameStop story — as an employee, customer, or spectator of the madness?”

🎧 Segments This Episode:

Press Start: Reflecting on The Midnight Release’s growing community and introducing “Listener Memory Card”
Story Mode: Saturday Morning Saved Us — a trip through cartoons, anime, and the magic of weekend TV
Side Quests:

• Now Loading — Guess the character in 15 words or less
• Rewind Select — Nostalgia toys and childhood merch memories
  Save Point: Wrap-up & listener challenge: Your best GameStop memory

The Console Wars defined a generation — and for those of us behind the counter at GameStop, and even for the launches where we weren't behind the counter, it was more than just competition; it was a culture.

In this episode, Chase and Austin boot up Story Mode to revisit the epic clash between PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo through the 2000s — from the PS2 and Xbox launch madness to the unforgettable 360 vs. PS3 rivalry. Along the way, they share personal stories from midnight launches, nostalgic memories of classic IPs like Halo, Uncharted, Bioshock, and The Last of Us, and debate which console truly reigned supreme.

Then, they take on Side Quests:
🎮 Disc of the Day: A dive into Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 — “No Russian,” multiplayer mayhem, and the golden age of FPS.
💭 Power Cycle: A more personal conversation on what gaming really means — creativity, connection, and comfort. From Metal Gear Solid to Pokémon, from Final Fantasy VIII to Ghost of Tsushima, it’s all about the games (and moments) that made us who we are.

Finally, in Save Point, the hosts reflect, tease next week’s “Saturday Morning Saved Us,” and ask: What was your first Call of Duty, and how did it shape your love of FPS?

So power up your nostalgia and remember — some memories are worth lining up for.

🎧 Segments This Episode:

Press Start: Rewind with Chase & Austin to the golden era of the Console Wars.

Story Mode: Deep dive into the rivalries that defined generations, starting with PS2 all the way to PS5, Xbox to Series X, and the unforgettable midnight launch madness at GameStop and before.

Side Quests:
🎮 Disc of the Day - Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 and the golden age of FPS: “No Russian,” Halo LAN parties, and why couch co-op will never die.
💭 Power Cycle - When did you become a gamer? A nostalgic and personal reflection on how games, anime, and music shaped who we are.

Save Point: Wrap-up & listener challenge — What was your first Call of Duty experience, and how did it shape your view of modern FPS gaming?

We’re kicking off The Midnight Release by rewinding to those legendary GameStop midnight launches — chaos, nostalgia, caffeine, and the golden age of gaming culture.

In our official kickoff episode, Chase and Austin press start on The Midnight Release and take you back to a time when gamers lined up outside GameStop for the biggest launches of the 2000s.

From Halo 2 to Modern Warfare 2 and everything in between, the guys share their memories as both fans and employees during the golden era of midnight releases; the hype, the chaos, and the unforgettable stories from behind the counter.

Then in Now Loading, they rank the entire Halo franchise in honor of the current buzz around Halo: Campaign Evolved Remake. And in The DLC Drop, they dive into remakes and reboots worth your time — from Fallout nostalgia to Final Fantasy Tactics and Lunar remasters.

Grab your energy drink, dust off your pre-order receipts, and settle in — because some memories are worth lining up for.

Press Start: Meet Chase & Austin, and learn how The Midnight Release works

Story Mode: Midnight at GameStop — legendary launches & wild customer stories

Side Quests:

• Now Loading — Ranking the Halo series
• The DLC Drop — Which remakes deserve your time

Save Point: Wrap-up & listener challenge: What’s your favorite game of all time?