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Artwork for Tales under the cat tree: Conversations on Imagination, Tech & Human Adventure

Tales under the cat tree: Conversations on Imagination, Tech & Human Adventure

Duleepa Wijayawardhana | Tech Leader & Storyteller
Bioware
AI Adoption
Artificial Intelligence
Engineering Teams
Hong Kong
Sri Lanka
Fiction
Video Games
Software Development
Chile
Paradigm Shift
Sigiriya
St. Patrick's Day
Cultural Code Switching
St. John's
Newfoundland and Labrador
St. John's, Canada
Internet
Albania
Propaganda

From the interactive masterpieces of video games to the turning points of history and the thrills of real-world exploration, our reality is defined by the stories we tell. Tales under the cat tree is a weekly exploration of the architecture of imagination. Hosted by tech leader and lifelong geek Duleepa Wijayawardhana, we dive into the mechanics of world-building. Whether that building happens in ... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes59Foundeda year ago
Number of ListenersCategories
FictionTechnology

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Artwork for Tales under the cat tree: Conversations on Imagination, Tech & Human Adventure

Latest Episodes

This is part two of my series on Canada.

Today, we will explore what it means to be Canadian in 2026 by looking back at the last 50 years of Canada through the eyes of two of my best friends. On a beautifully sunny day in a small tea garden in Berli... more

YouTube

This is part 1 of four episodes celebrating Canada.

On July 1 is Canada Day, and this year in 2026, it will be my 25th anniversary as a Canadian citizen. It is the country I choose to call home. Canada has as many problems as any other country. As w... more

YouTube

Johnny Nolan returns as my co-host for another Newfoundland Alternative music deep dive, but this time we are honoured to be joined by author and journalist Rhea Rolman. We wanted to explore the influence of alternative music on alternative communiti... more

YouTube

Today on the podcast, I’m joined by my old friend and former BioWare colleague, Brent Knowles. We chat all about the art and magic of world-building, drawing from Brent’s several decades of experience as a game designer and writer. Brent shares his c... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Irwin Warkentin
Former professor, media and propaganda scholar
Memorial University
Episode: Ep55: Manufacturing reality
Andres Díez de Castro
World-builder, collaborative game master mentioned as guest
Unspecified in transcript
Episode: Ep54: Manufacturing worlds - an introduction
Nick Paro
World-builder, collaborative game master mentioned as guest
Unspecified in transcript
Episode: Ep54: Manufacturing worlds - an introduction
Dr. Irvin Warkentin
Philosopher/Theorist featured on the episode
Episode: Ep50: Are Video Games Art? Part 1 - Brecht and the Ancient Greeks
Trent Oster
CEO of Beamdog; former BioWare contributor
Beamdog
Episode: Ep48: Forging swords and knives with video game CEO Trent Oster
Dave Chan
Sound designer and audio director with BioWare history
BioWare
Episode: Ep47: BioWare Stories Part 4 - Sound design with Dave Chan
Niall Brown
Friend of the host, Montreal-based; instrumental in the drunk dial project
Montreal, Canada
Episode: Ep45: The St. Patrick’s Day Drunk Dial Contest
Mike Mannion
Climber and friend
Episode: Ep44: Mountaineering Misadventures with Keli and Mike
Keli Ryan
Climber and friend
Episode: Ep44: Mountaineering Misadventures with Keli and Mike

Chart Rankings

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Apple Podcasts
#149
Finland/Fiction

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Ep49: Newfoundland Alternative music and CHMR with Johnny Nolan (Part 2)
Q: Can you describe the impact CHMR had on launching local bands?
CHMR provided a recording space, access to producers, radio airplay, and a platform for early demos, which helped local bands reach audiences and sometimes launch careers.
Ep48: Forging swords and knives with video game CEO Trent Oster
Q: Why pursue blacksmithing as a passion alongside a career in game development?
The guest explains that blacksmithing is a solitary, fast feedback-driven craft that offers stress relief and a chance to explore momentum, control, and problem-solving outside of the collaborative, multi-person game development process.
Ep. 30: The magic of story editing
Q: Can you walk through a concrete example from the Climbing story where you made a pivotal change?
I adjusted a line that created misleading foreshadowing by removing early hints about the daughter and altering how the climber's age was presented, which clarified the narrative focus and preserved the emotional core without giving away backstory too early.
Ep. 30: The magic of story editing
Q: How does editing differ from writing, and how do you balance improving a piece with preserving the author's voice?
Editing is about clarifying and amplifying the author's vision without stealing their voice. I approach it by understanding what the writer is trying to say, then remove distractions, tighten phrasing, and occasionally adjust structure to improve momentum, all while ensuring the author recognizes their own intent in the final version.
Ep55: Manufacturing reality
Q: Is there a way to recognize when media is manipulating perception without falling into cynicism?
Develop media literacy, examine the context of information, and favor sources that provide multiple viewpoints and transparent editorial processes.

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Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show explores imagination and world-building across a wide range of domains, from software and games to history, travel, and storytelling. Conversations consistently orbit how people craft systems, narratives, and experiences—whether designing AI-enabled teams, composing game audio, narrating historical events, or climbing mountains. Guests span technologists, writers, journalists, academics, investors, and adventurers who bring practical insight, creative rigor, and personal storytelling. A recurring strength is tying technical or cultural topics to human outcomes, making complex ideas accessible through vivid anecdotes and thoughtful analysis. Unique angles include deep dives into sound design, open publishing philosophies in RPGs, a... more

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1. Inner Cosmos with David Eagleman

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this podcast launched a year ago and published 59 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Irwin Warkentin
2. Andres Díez de Castro
3. Nick Paro
4. Dr. Irvin Warkentin
5. Trent Oster
6. Dave Chan
7. Niall Brown
8. Mike Mannion

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