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Artwork for Into the Aether

Into the Aether - A Low Key Video Game Podcast

Stephen Hilger + Brendon Bigley
Baldur's Gate 3
Hades II
Final Fantasy
Nintendo
Kingdom Hearts
Dungeons & Dragons
Persona 4 Golden
The Legend Of Zelda
Yakuza 0
Dragon Age: Veilguard
Dragon's Dogma 2
Mina the Hollower
Nintendo Switch
Uncharted Series
Persona 3 Reload
Nintendo Switch 2
Supergiant Games
Animal Well
Metroidvania
Nintendo Direct

A low key video game podcast by Stephen Hilger and Brendon Bigley. Produced by AJ Fillari!

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes463Founded8 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Video GamesGamesLeisure

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Into the Aether

Latest Episodes

Finally, a Zelda game that takes inspiration from one of the great dungeon-crawling adventurers of our time: Elliot.

Discussed: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (2026)

Find us everywhere: intothecast.online

Buy some merch, if you'd like... more

Boo!! Haha, just kidding. I'm not a ghost, I'm just a new bonus episode of Into the Aether all about the first Silent Hill for the PlayStation One featuring Chase Allhart of Video Game Podtimism and dotzip. Join Stephen, Brendon, Chase, and Harry "Ga... more

Just two spooky guys playing table tennis and riding jet skis.

Discussed: Final Screamin’ Stevie & BB, upcoming Silent Hill bonus episode, Nintendo Switch Sports Resort, the legend of Matt, Belmont’s Curse, Pokémon Ghost Grey, Penguin Colony

Find u... more

Yeah, we have vampires in here. Oh, you're visiting for another reason? You want a skeleton dressed as a waiter to pelt you with bowls of spicy pork curry? I can't guarantee we'd have that here but — oh, wait. Hang on a second. We absolutely have you... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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People also subscribe to these shows.

Post Games
Post GamesChris Plante
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The Besties
The BestiesRuss Frushtick, Chris Plante, Griffin McElroy, Justin McElroy

Recent Guests

Ben Hanson
Guest linked to Trivia Tower discussion; noted during the Penn & Teller segment
MinnMax
Episode: Penn & Tetris (feat. Fields of Mistria, Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave, and Penn & Teller VR)
Murray Somerwolff
Creative director of Wax Heads (Wax Heads development)
Wax Heads / Patata Games
Episode: Come Back Later with Murray Somerwolff (feat. Wax Heads, Meccha Chameleon, and more!)
Chris Plante
Host of Post Games, invited to discuss Persona Summer
Post Games
Episode: Persona Summer - A Post Games Crossover Clip!
AJ Fillari
Producer for the podcast
Into the Aether
Episode: The 2025 Game of the Year Spectacular
Joshua Rivera
Guest from Trails Through Trails
Trails Through Trails
Episode: The 2025 Game of the Year Spectacular
Brandon Sheffield
Creative Director at Necrosoft, and panelist on Insert Credit Podcast
Necrosoft
Episode: Rorchad's Journal with Brandon Sheffield (feat. Demonschool and Metroid Prime 4: Beyond)
Erik Morrison
An extremely talented artist and comedian.
Episode: Yakuza 0 (with Erik Morrison) | Bonus
Matt Horton
Podcaster and guest host
TWG
Episode: Parasite Steve (feat. Hades II, Ender Magnolia, and Parasite Eve)
Chase Allhart
Podcaster and guest host
TWG
Episode: Parasite Steve (feat. Hades II, Ender Magnolia, and Parasite Eve)

Hosts

Brendon Bigley
Video game host and writer.
Stephen Hilger
Video game host and video creator.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 1.7k ratings
  • Positive gaming talk

    Brendon and Stephen are kind and (mostly) chill hosts who also happen to be funny and have great chemistry. They just might ruin other podcasts for you.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Fverret
    United States2 months ago
  • Claims not to be a first impressions podcast, but that's basically what it is at this point, baseless generalizations and extrapolations based on those first few hours included.

    Podcast Addict
    3
    fourthmarker
    2 months ago
  • Fine

    Hosts are decent at articulating their thoughts about games and fun banter. However, when they dip into real world issues, sometimes irrelevant to the topic, it’s off the rails. It’s been a long time since I’ve listened to individuals so removed from reality

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Remoulade
    United States3 months ago
  • It ain’t bad

    These guys are kind of in this awkward place where they are in between being friends who record themselves talking about games and professional influencers. I think the show is most authentic feeling in that former category. You can really tell when they are trying to be authoritative by demonstrating that they have played all the newest games and gotten up on all the current discourse.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Kamille Biden
    United States3 months ago
  • Best games podcast period

    Most everything else seems so dull and perfunctory, these guys have the best dynamic in games commentary.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Max Health Points
    United States4 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners frequently praise Brendon and Stephen's easy chemistry, humor, and relaxed conversational style.
Some listeners appreciate detailed discussions and retrospectives, while others find the pace quick and the range of titles too broad.
A minority of reviewers object to political commentary or feel disagreements with the hosts and community are handled poorly.
Fans value the hosts' enthusiasm, generally positive approach, and recommendations across both new releases and older games.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#12
United States/Leisure/Video Games
Apple Podcasts
#40
United States/Leisure
Apple Podcasts
#16
Canada/Leisure/Video Games
Apple Podcasts
#18
United Kingdom/Leisure/Video Games
Apple Podcasts
#71
Canada/Leisure
Apple Podcasts
#78
United Kingdom/Leisure

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Persona 4 Golden | Bonus Episode
Q: Given the length and complexity of Persona 4 Golden, what would you keep or change in a remake?
The core loop and character-driven downtime are essential; I'd keep the friends-as-partners feel but would streamline or rework some side quests, tighten dungeon pacing, and adjust problematic social-link scenes to be more inclusive while preserving the emotional beats.
I Norted Myself (feat. Kingdom Hearts 3, Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory, Theatrhythm Final Bar Line)
Q: Do we get a satisfying follow up with Aqua, Terra and Ventus?
Yes, you will walk away feeling like their story wraps up in a conclusive way.
I Norted Myself (feat. Kingdom Hearts 3, Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory, Theatrhythm Final Bar Line)
Q: How was the last seven hours?
The last seven hours are really great, filled with boss fights and a culmination of the plot.
Kingdom Hearts: Birth By Sleep | Bonus
Q: What two franchises if mashed together would make a Kingdom Hearts esque phenomena?
Fire Emblem and Pokemon.
The 2023 Game of the Year Spectacular
Q: What is your number one game of the year?
Our number one game of the year for 2023 is Baldur's Gate 3!

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Into the Aether

What is Into the Aether about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Brendon Bigley and Stephen Hilger host relaxed, long-form conversations about games they are playing, spanning new releases, indie discoveries, older console classics, and overlooked corners of gaming culture. Their format mixes hands-on impressions and design criticism with personal anecdotes, humor, recommendations, and occasional discussions of industry trends. Recurring interests include role-playing games, horror, strategy, roguelikes, Nintendo titles, and remakes, alongside substantial retrospectives on particular consoles and game libraries. The emphasis is on the hosts' contrasting reactions and enthusiasm rather than formal news coverage or tightly scripted reviews. Some episodes feature game creators discussing how a project took ... more

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How many listeners does Into the Aether get?

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How many subscribers and views does Into the Aether have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Into the Aether has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Into the Aether?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Into the Aether:

1. Post Games
2. Triple Click
3. The Besties
4. The MinnMax Show
5. Overworld Weekly: A Wider View of Video Game News

How many episodes of Into the Aether are there?

Into the Aether launched 8 years ago and published 463 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Into the Aether?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Into the Aether?

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What guests have appeared on Into the Aether?

Recent guests on Into the Aether include:

1. Ben Hanson
2. Murray Somerwolff
3. Chris Plante
4. AJ Fillari
5. Joshua Rivera
6. Brandon Sheffield
7. Erik Morrison
8. Matt Horton

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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