High Level Chronicles Podcast

Episode 056: National Video Game Day – Origins, Do-Overs & Evolution

National Video Game Day special! We share our first-hit gaming origin stories (NES, SOCOM, N64), pick the games we’d wipe and replay (The Last of Us, Pokémon Blue, NES TMNT, Divinity/BG3), and put modern gaming on trial—do bigger worlds, cross-play, and Unreal-level graphics beat couch co-op, LAN nights, and simple split-screen fun? Plus a strain review (Bubba Kush x Jelly Donuts), listener shoutouts (Skyrim, Mario Kart 8 Rainbow Road, The Boys), and full giveaway details.
Giveaway (Sept): 5 seed packs (winner’s choice, availability applies) + 5 pre-rolls + Grove Bags + guest spot on HLC to pick our topic.How to enter: Subscribe at youtube.com/@HLCpodcast420 and like any video.Winner announced: Oct 4 episode (by YouTube username).
Chapters in description.Subscribe + drop your Leveled Up: strain + game/show you’re vibing on.Stay leveled up!

Episode 055: Greatest Video Game Heroes and Villains of All Time | High Level Chronicles

From legendary heroes like Link, Kratos, and Geralt to unforgettable villains like Sephiroth, Wesker, and even that damn Duck Hunt dog, Chris and Paul dive into the characters who shaped gaming history. In this episode of High Level Chronicles, the guys debate what makes a true hero, why some villains are so iconic, and whether every bad guy deserves a redemption arc. Plus: listener “Leveled Up” stories, stoner strains, wild gaming sessions, and a High Court debate you won’t want to miss.
 
Stay leveled up. We are out.

Episode 054: Patch Notes: Our Personal Updates

In this “emotionally patched” episode, Chris and Paul roll out personal patch notes like it’s a major game update — except instead of fixing FPS drops, they’re fixing life habits.
 
The Leveled Up segment delivers peak stoner-gamer chaos, from spending hours making naked elf characters to rage quitting Mario Kart over a blue shell from a 6-year-old. Then the guys share their own bug fixes, like Chris changing his Black Myth skill tree to finally wreck a boss in one try, and Paul discovering rowing as his joint-friendly cardio after a nasty knee injury.
 
New features include journaling to calm insomnia brain loops, more protein in their diets to protect muscle gains, and building a dual-purpose home drum and workout studio. The High Court wraps up debating whether you should be able to publish patch notes on other people — spoiler: it depends if you like drama.

Episode 053: The Side Quest Spiral: Gaming Dopamine Hits & Real-Life Avoidance

Chris and Paul are back after battling tech gremlins and side questing through both their PCs and lives. Chris recounts how his power supply took out his motherboard in a blaze of glory, triggering a full-blown hardware glow-up with a beastly new build. Meanwhile, Paul ditched his sluggish laptop for a real-deal gaming rig and instantly felt the digital upgrade.
 
From “Tony Hawk Pro Skater” nostalgia to getting wrecked in “Black Myth: Wukong,” the boys spiral into why side quests in games hit way harder than actual real-life responsibilities. Listeners chime in with their own legendary detours — cheese wheel pyramids in Skyrim, mushroom hunts in Zelda, and horse pampering in Red Dead 2.
 
The crew even dips into shows like Mr. Robot, The Sandman, and that new Superman flick, and Chris shares how he's been converting grow rooms into drum dungeons and backyard hangouts. The High Court segment returns with a banger: Should side quests be optional — or are they the real meat of the game?

Episode 052: CERN, Satellites, and Sativa: Conspiracies That Slap When You’re High

This week on High Level Chronicles, Chris and Paul fire up the lemon cherry gelato and dive beak-first into the world of baked conspiracy theories. Ever wonder why you've never seen a baby pigeon? Or why the flag on the moon looks like it’s caught in a gust of interstellar wind? From AI shirts to Raven Rock, and from Black Myth: Wukong to bandwidth upgrades, it's all on the table today. Get ready for government pigeons, Kubrick’s lighting budget, and more bizarro logic than a Reddit thread at 2AM.

Episode 51.5 - If Respawning Was Real Life

What’s up, Levelers — your boy Chris is crawling out of the haze with a quick solo update from the High Level Chronicles bunker.
After getting absolutely bodied by a mystery virus (seriously, it was like a surprise boss fight we weren’t specced for), Paul and I are alive… barely. Spiritually? Still respawning.
But here’s the good news: while we were down, we were still leveling up the show behind the scenes. We're talkin’ fresh segments, tighter flow, same chaotic stoner energy. And on July 16, we're back with a brand new episode you don’t wanna miss.
Teaser Drop:We’re introducing High Court — the most ridiculous, herb-fueled debate segment you’ve ever heard. Imagine Judge Judy if she hotboxed her chambers with Saul from Pineapple Express. Yeah. That vibe.
And here's a taste:Which video game universe would you survive in for 24 hours while tripping face on edibles?No maps. No health potions. Just you, your paranoia, and the cosmos. Let that marinate.

Episode 051: Couch Locked and Questing

In this hilariously chaotic episode of High Level Chronicles, Chris and Paul go full send into a night of high vibes, gaming tangents, and snack-fueled storytelling. They share listener submissions from levelers who’ve had peak stoner gaming moments (shoutout Couch Locked Carl and Budtender Brad!), and riff on the latest with Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, Expedition 33, and Handmaid’s Tale.
From game pricing rants (GTA 6 gonna be $100?!) to Switch 2 launch snacks (Coca-Cola and Pringles, Walmart style), nothing is off-limits. The Wheel of Levels makes a return, leading to dream guest lists (Wiz, Snoop, Elon??), high-stakes movie marathons, and wild munchie confessions — yes, beaver nuggets make a cameo.
Whether you’re on the couch with a controller or floating in a meditation sesh with a hybrid strain, this one’s a trip.
Stay leveled up. We’re out.

Episode 050: Leveling Up: Personal Growth and Travel Tales

Chris is back from his Eurotrip and he’s got stories, growth, and first-class bougie energy to share. In this episode of High Level Chronicles, he and Paul reconnect over joints and jet lag, diving into wild adventures through Amsterdam, Paris, and Italy. From vibin’ in coffee shops to culinary highs (and some serious lows — lookin' at you, Pisa), it’s a globetrotting session with laughs and lessons. 
They hit the Leveled Up segment with some dope listener stories and then go deep — like stoner-philosopher-deep. Chris opens up about what this trip sparked in him: a new chapter of fitness, therapy, and embracing vulnerability. The guys talk real talk about the power of community, the challenges men face in opening up, and how leveling up in life sometimes means breaking down first. 
Also: 4DX movies, changing priorities, new hobbies, and yeah… the long-ass wait for GTA VI.
Grab your bong, roll something fresh, and settle in — this one hits all the highs.

Episode 049: Weed It and Wing It

On this episode of High Level Chronicles, Chris and Paul are all over the damn place — from bitching about allergies to talking gaming updates, fresh strains, and Chris’ new obsession with drumming. They dive into travel plans (hello Europe!), brainstorm wild cannabis mods for video games, and roast how Idiocracy feels way too real these days.
They also swap stories about dark tourism in Rome, Amsterdam coffee shops, and why you need to learn a few words before you hop on a plane. It’s chaotic, it’s hilarious, it’s peak HLC.

Episode 048: High Scores & Higher Thoughts

In this episode of High Level Chronicles, Chris and Paul light up and dive into all kinds of wild topics—games, weed, and whatever else is poppin’ in entertainment. We’re talking about the dankest strains we've been vibin’ with lately, plus what shows and games are worth your high time. Ever wonder which video game character would be the most fun to blaze with? Yeah, we go there.
We also get into the evolution (and kinda annoying state) of in-game ads, the ridiculous new Monopoly reality show, and how UFC might end up on Netflix. Sports on a streaming service? We’ve got thoughts. There’s also hype around the Nintendo Switch 2, and we chat about why co-op gaming is finally getting the love it deserves.
And of course, it wouldn’t be High Level Chronicles without a little music talk—we’re breaking down how digital media has changed everything and what genres hit hardest when you’re high. Expect some eclectic tastes, weird takes, and a good time as always.