Best Valerie Petrarca Podcasts (2025)

1
Beast of Bourbon 1:31:46

2d ago1:31:46

1:31:46

It's time to brush up on your bruxa because this week we're diving into the graphic novel adaptation of “A Grain of Truth,” the early Witcher tale that introduced us to Nivellen, Vereena and Andrzej Sapkowski's penchant for provocative endings. Over a bottle of Wilderness Trail Kentucky Straight Bourbon, one of the more challenging whiskeys we've h…

1
The Sound of Sirens 2:21:37

10d ago2:21:37

2:21:37

It's finally here! With The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep now streaming on Netflix, we're setting sail with Geralt and Jaskier as we unpack their newest animated movie. Over a bottle of Jefferson's Ocean Aged at Sea Bourbon, we search for pearls of the verbal variety while tackling all the tough questions. What do we think of the added events and cha…

1
A Picture's Worth a Thousand (Somewhat Slurred) Words 51:53

16d ago51:53

51:53

We're back for an all-new season! We've heeded the siren's song (it's absolutely ear-piercing when you're nursing a hangover) and returned to the studio for a full season devoted to Witcher comics and animation, starting with the soon-to-debut Sirens of the Deep! We explain what we'll be discussing and what we won't, and how you can read and watch …

1
Our Grand Fanale (Featuring Our Witcher 4 Trailer Reaction) 2:12:35

2M ago2:12:35

2:12:35

Is it last call already? Sadly, our fandom season has reached its end, but we're giving it an extra-sized, extra-sauced sendoff that's just as unhinged (and often unfortunate) as the year to which we're saying goodbye. Over some seriously strong Old Fashioneds, we unpack what we've discovered about fandom, revealing things that have surprised and d…

1
Monster Mixology with Adam Carbonell 1:25:11

2M ago1:25:11

1:25:11

We’re simple people here at Whiskey With Witcher. We love geeky stuff and things that are high in alcohol, so it was only a matter of time until we spoke to a fan who combines both. This week, we say hello to Adam Carbonell, one of the authors of Supernatural: Join the Hunt, the official cocktail book of the Supernatural TV series. A longtime brewe…

1
Side Quest: Boozing About the Biz 1:41:49

3M ago1:41:49

1:41:49

We're leaving the Continent behind and heading somewhere even stranger—Hollywood! In our newest side quest, we welcome Christina Newhall (aka Tim's wife) back to the podcast to tipsily tackle some of the entertainment questions we've heard arise again and again over the years. What causes some movies and shows to get announced, but never made? Why …

1
Your Pod or Mine with Breakfast in Beauclair 1:15:57

3M ago1:15:57

1:15:57

Who says you can't have whiskey for breakfast? In our newest fandom episode, we're joined by Alyssa, the host of the Breakfast in Beauclair podcast (you know, the Witcher pod that actually knows what they're doing) for a free-flowing conversation on creating fan podcasts. When did Alyssa first get the idea for Breakfast in Beauclair? How did it dev…

1
Continental Centennial: The Afterparty 39:59

3M ago39:59

39:59

We don't hit 100 episodes every day, so perhaps we went a little overboard when planning and recording last week's milestone. But that just means the party's not over yet! This week, we're continuing our celebration by answering all the questions we received from you—our listeners. What's the most surprising thing we've learned about Witcher canon?…

1
A Continental Centennial 1:55:12

3M ago1:55:12

1:55:12

Look, we're not sure how it happened either, but somehow we made to 100 episodes. That's 100 episodes of bourbon, bards, Brotherhoods, Blood Origins, bloopers, barrel-proofs, bone caves, broken bottles, bad subtitles, and beastly shots of bitter booze. Oh yes, and absolutely wonderful conversations about our favorite fantasy franchise with all of y…

1
Side Quest: Spilling the Tea 1:22:51

4M ago1:22:51

1:22:51

This week, we're taking a break from all the fandom talk to sip some of the finest Witcher tea—literally and figuratively! In this new side quest, we sample three different Witcher-themed teas from Geek Grind Coffee, offering our opinions on each of them while considering if they actually reflect the character they were inspired by. (A Yennefer tea…

1
Connecting Cultures with Ronin of Rivia 1:18:17

4M ago1:18:17

1:18:17

The Witcher is going to Japan! Well, sort of. With a Witcher manga now available, a line of Japanese-influenced statues in stores and a new Witcher tabletop game inspired by feudal Japan shipping next year, Geralt's flirtation with the far east shows no sign of slowing. What's behind it? This week, we welcome Gosia, the passionate fan, translator a…

1
Toss a Coin to Your Twitcher with Lucy J Robyn 1:29:12

4M ago1:29:12

1:29:12

We're glad people can't see how bad we often are at videogames, but our latest guest shares her every jump, attack, and block with the world! Lucy Robyn is a Twitch streamer, podcaster and good friend of ours who not only joins us this week to talk about her love of The Witcher, but surprises us with a very nice bottle of Bushmills Black Bush to ac…

1
Sirens and Songs 1:23:47

5M ago1:23:47

1:23:47

Much like Sirens of the Deep itself, releasing this episode on the upcoming new Witcher animated movie was a bit delayed. But we think you’ll agree it's worth the wait, as we unpack the recent Geeked Week sneak peek (try saying that five times fast) and come to terms with the movie’s new release date. And that’s just the start! In the second half o…

1
Conventional Wisdom 1:31:07

7M ago1:31:07

1:31:07

Between the cosplay, panels, meetups, screenings, booths, signings and overall excitement, there’s nothing better than a convention! Well, at least if you ignore all the crowds, lines, overpriced food, unshowered attendees and the possibility of coming home sick (something one of our hosts knows a lot about). Still, it’s hard to deny the appeal of …

1
Fact or Fanfiction with Rebekah Rodriguez-Lynn, Part Two 59:32

7M ago59:32

59:32

Our conversation on fanfiction continues, as the always insightful Rebekah Rodriguez-Lynn discusses some of the Witcher fics she’s authored and what it’s been like developing as a writer on AO3. Which of her favorite Witcher ships resonate with readers and which one, despite all her best intentions, has not? What has writing and reading fanfiction …

1
Fact or Fanfiction with Rebekah Rodriguez-Lynn, Part One 1:01:07

7M ago1:01:07

1:01:07

The best writing often challenges you, so it’s only natural that our episode on writing and fanfiction does as well! We’re excited to welcome back one of our favorite past guests, fanfiction writer and Witcher expert Rebekah Rodriguez-Lynn, for a little wining and opining about all things fanfiction. We uncork two bottles of wine from Suveg Cellars…

1
The Art of Appreciation with Maja 1:29:07

7M ago1:29:07

1:29:07

You can be a fan of art. But is there an art to being a fan? There certainly is when we’re talking about our friend Maja, who over the past few years has become one of the most talented, distinct and sought after Witcher fan artists working today. Maja’s clever illustrations of characters like Yennefer, Jaskier and Geralt (to say nothing of our pod…

1
Sew and Tell with Elias the Bard 1:22:51

8M ago1:22:51

1:22:51

Dandelion’s biggest fan...is probably himself. Dandelion’s second biggest fan, however, is arguably Elias the Bard, the extraordinarily gifted cosplayer and Witcher fan who has made a name for himself cosplaying as the flamboyant troubadour. In this week’s episode, we welcome Elias to the podcast, who discusses discovering The Witcher through the t…

1
An Animated Conversation with Edward Kurchevsky 55:51

8M ago55:51

55:51

How do you know you’re a pretty big Witcher fan? When you spend over a year of your life bringing it to life! This week, we welcome Lihtar Studio’s Edward Kurchevsky to the podcast to discuss the recent animated tribute short he directed based on Andrzej Sapkowski’s short story, “A Grain of Truth.” A stylish interpretation of Geralt and his world, …

1
Getting Drawn into Fandom with Joanna Estep 1:33:34

8M ago1:33:34

1:33:34

Some artists draw comics full of deep emotion. Others draw comics full of sexy naked people! Getting it on! In all kinds of creative ways! Joanna Estep is one of the few who manages to do all of the above while also setting her stories within the world of The Witcher. This week, we welcome Jo back to the podcast to find out exactly how she pulls it…

1
Introducing a Fan-tastic New Season 1:42:40

8M ago1:42:40

1:42:40

Your days of sober-minded conversation are over, as Whiskey with Witcher is back with an all-new season devoted entirely to fandom! Why do we fall hard for things like The Witcher, and why does that passion manifest so differently for all of us? How can we love a franchise so much, but still feel driven to write fanfic that’s completely at odds wit…

1
I Spy a Crossover 2:18:43

10M ago2:18:43

2:18:43

It’s a whirlybird of a crossover! In this special bonus episode, Tim and Valerie guest on the Tentpole Trauma podcast to discuss Henry Cavill’s recent box office misfire, Argylle. We break down the film with host Sebastian Bendix to see if we can figure out why the movie failed to find an audience before discussing where Cavill’s career should go f…

1
News, Booze, and Glassy-Eyed Views 1:23:57

10M ago1:23:57

1:23:57

We’re back…sort of. While the official debut of our upcoming season is still a few weeks away, we just couldn’t wait to weigh in on all the latest Witcher news! Season 4 is officially in production! Season 5 has been greenlit—and it’s the show’s final season?!? We debate whether this is a good or bad thing before sharing what we’d like to see in Th…

1
A Festive Little Feast 1:19:11

1y ago1:19:11

1:19:11

Take seven different Witcher-themed recipes prepared by four Continent-loving cooks, serve generously and garnish with a bottle of Woodford Reserve BevMo! Barrel Select Double Oaked Bourbon and what do you get? Our 2023 season finale! The highly anticipated Witcher Official Cookbook is now in stores, and we’ve asked our friends (and previous guests…

1
Best in Glass 1:36:25

1y ago1:36:25

1:36:25

The year may be winding down, but Witcher fans have had much to celebrate in 2023, from one of the most thrilling and book-faithful seasons so far, to news of a new Witcher novel in the works, to the announcement of an all-new animated film. So, in that spirit, we’re doing some celebrating ourselves and revealing a few of our personal favorites fro…

1
Knowing the Score 1:48:00

1y ago1:48:00

1:48:00

For all its evil mages, freaky monsters, and conquest-minded kings, music has always been an important part of The Witcher. And while Dandelion may love to take credit, we know that it’s really the hard work of some talented composers who have shaped and finessed the sound of this world that we’ve all come to love. In this episode, we’re raising a …

1
Holding Court with Queen Denise 1:08:05

1+ y ago1:08:05

1:08:05

We’re in the presence of royalty this week as we welcome Queen Denise to the podcast for the first time. If you’re a regular listener, you know who Queen Denise is, but you may not know what she actually does for a living…and how cool it is! Denise joins us to talk about her career as a bourbon steward (yes, it’s a real job!), explaining what it’s …

1
Diving Into Sirens of the Deep 1:01:58

1+ y ago1:01:58

1:01:58

Geeked Week has come and gone and we may have celebrated a bit TOO hard, but that’s not about to stop us from unpacking some of the Witcher-shaped surprises it brought us. We got our first peek at Geralt’s new animated movie with not one, but two different teaser trailers, plus all sorts of juicy details about what we can expect when it hits Netfli…

1
The Psychology of The Witcher with Dr. Rachel Kowert 56:08

1+ y ago56:08

56:08

https://press.etc.cmu.edu/books/psychgeist-pop-cultureBy Dr. Rachel Kowert, Sean Farina, Valerie Petrarca, Tim Beedle

1
Whiskey with Wednesday 2:19:45

1+ y ago2:19:45

2:19:45

What’s this? You may be forgiven for thinking you were getting yet another episode of Tim and Valerie reminding you of how excruciatingly long you’ll have to wait for more of your favorite fantasy show as they mask the despair of their existence with alcohol and bad takes. But if you’re into torturing yourself like that, you really should call in a…

1
Pouring Over Pages 1:45:35

1+ y ago1:45:35

1:45:35

We’re returning to the world of word balloons this week as we take on the latest Witcher comic books! Dark Horse’s second omnibus collection features four very different tales starring Geralt of Rivia, each drawn by a different artist. We discuss and unpack all of them, finding much to enjoy in these stories set within the universe of the Witcher g…

1
A Farewell to Henry Cavill 1:48:20

1+ y ago1:48:20

1:48:20

Five years. Three seasons. Twenty-four episodes. And a whole lot of “Hmms.” It’s hard to overstate the impact Henry Cavill has had on The Witcher and the role of Geralt of Rivia, which makes his departure from the series difficult for so many of its fans. But rather than being sad that he’s leaving, we’re celebrating his time on the Continent with …

1
Last Call for Season Three 1:54:26

1+ y ago1:54:26

1:54:26

With all eight episodes now unpacked, Producer Sean at last weighs in as we bid farewell to The Witcher’s latest season. To borrow from our favorite bard, season three is full of “extraordinary things” and we offer our final thoughts on all of them, from the wonderful found family Geralt builds with Yen and Ciri, to Jaskier’s tantalizing relationsh…

1
Rye, Witcher, Rye 2:23:30

1+ y ago2:23:30

2:23:30

We’ve finally reached the end of The Witcher’s latest season and we’re feeling pretty emotional about it, at least if this week’s discussion is any indication. We have some big laughs. We shed some actual tears (we’re as surprised as you!). We get frustrated with characters, angry at toxic fans and a teensy bit testy with each other before declarin…

1
Little Horse, Big Pours 2:08:31

1+ y ago2:08:31

2:08:31

When we ordered a Blood and Sand, this really wasn’t what we had in mind. Season three’s penultimate episode features a small bit of Brokilon, a handful of teary reunions and a whole lot of Ciri wandering through the desert while hallucinating and hanging out with a unicorn. It’s not the most action-packed hour of Witcher, which may be why we paire…

1
You Mistook a Bourbon Reflected in a Glass at Night for a Rye 2:09:10

1+ y ago2:09:10

2:09:10

Mix two parts sorcery and one part elven revenge. Add a dash of political intrigue with a light splash of Nilfgaardian conquest. Shake violently and you have the recipe for Vol. 2’s first episode, “Everybody Has a Plan ‘til They Get Punched in the Face.” Considering the game-changing nature of the episode, we thought it was only fitting that our di…

1
Side Quest: Cutting Ourselves Off 1:09:59

1+ y ago1:09:59

1:09:59

It’s amazing what you can discover when you’re passed out on the cutting room floor. It’s our first side quest of the season, and we’re bringing you a treasure trove of past moments that were never lost and always found…but that we still had to cut for time. Why is there a woman in Arizona who thinks Tim has blue eyes? What would it take for Valeri…

1
Sexposing the Truth 2:00:52

1+ y ago2:00:52

2:00:52

It’s a party onscreen and in the Whiskey with Witcher recording studio! We uncork a bottle of Johnny Smoking Gun Whiskey to accompany Geralt and Yen’s search for proof and dance our way through season three’s mélange of a fifth episode. And you know what? It turns out all is indeed not as it seems when it comes to the hour’s mix of repeating timeli…

1
Motherf*ckin’ Valdo Marx! 1:43:07

1+ y ago1:43:07

1:43:07

Jaskier might not be a fan of the flamboyantly-mannered songsmith introduced in season three’s fourth episode, but we sure are! Actually, there’s quite a bit we’re fond of in this one. From its shipside monster fight, to Fringilla living her best barfly life, to the line that made Radskier shippers squeal the world over, “The Invitation” is easily …

1
A Rye Reunion 2:03:57

1+ y ago2:03:57

2:03:57

Yennefer reconnects with Tissaia. Geralt reacquaints himself with a friend. Jaskier reconciles with Vespula! There are reunions a-plenty in season three’s third episode, so it’s only fitting that our whiskey pairing is one as well. We first discovered Milam & Greene back in our second season, but this time, we’re sampling their Port Cask Finished R…

1
A Little Shipping, A Little Whipping 1:55:59

1+ y ago1:55:59

1:55:59

There are “Extraordinary Things” to be found within season 3’s stellar second episode, as well as some real nightmares, and we have a blast discussing both. Keira Metz makes her debut! Jaskier drops an eye-opening new song! Philippa whips Dijkstra into shape (literally)! Fringilla gets drunker than we do! And as for the episode’s monster, well let’…

1
What Happens at Belleteyn, Stays at Belleteyn 1:54:58

1+ y ago1:54:58

1:54:58

It’s time to celebrate, Witcher fans, because season 3 is here! In “Shaerrawedd,” Geralt, Yen and Ciri are finally together...but sadly, the same isn’t true for us. Valerie’s out of town, so we’re recording our discussion of the season’s first episode virtually, but on the bright side, that means more delicious Clyde May’s Alabama Style Whiskey for…

1
Season 3 Speculation with Rebekah Rodriguez-Lynn 1:19:00

1+ y ago1:19:00

1:19:00

The Witcher’s all-new season is mere hours away, so we’re doing a little pre-gaming with one of our favorite fans. Writer and “I Can’t Believe it’s Not Fanon” creator Rebekah Rodriguez-Lynn joins us for a surprisingly classy discussion on Witcher fandom (hey, we’re capable!) and what we can expect from season three…all over a round of fiery margari…

1
Bye Bye, Blood Origin 1:31:25

1+ y ago1:31:25

1:31:25

And so two became three… In our final episode devoted to the Witcher prequel series, Producer Sean joins the discussion as we look back at the series as a whole and unpack what worked and what didn’t. (Spoiler alert, there’s a lot more in one category than the other.) We also speculate on what influence Blood Origin may have on The Witcher’s upcomi…

1
Of Scene-Stealers, Spheres and Sadly Sung Songs 1:39:59

1+ y ago1:39:59

1:39:59

We’re four episodes into Blood Origin and…we’re finished? Yes, hard as it is to believe, we’ve reached the finale of the Witcher spinoff series and all we can say is that it’s a good thing we paired it with a strong whiskey—the 112-proof Seven Spheres Rye by The Obscure, to be specific. While there are moments here and there that we enjoyed (most o…

1
Of Ballads, Betrayals and Boning Broken Beast-Men 1:39:46

1+ y ago1:39:46

1:39:46

Things get downright feisty on screen—and in our recording studio—this week as we take on The Witcher: Blood Origin’s third episode. At last, our seven heroes are united as our beloved Meldof joins the team. But our mutual love for the dwarven warrior seems like the only thing we can agree on in what proves to be one of our most contentious episode…

1
Of Hair Hats, Healers and Homicides by Hammer 1:41:34

1+ y ago1:41:34

1:41:34

Our heroic team doubles in size over Blood Origin’s second chapter, as we’re introduced to the cleaver-wielding Brother Death and the two magical celestial twins Syndril and Zacare. So, with siblings playing such a big role in this Witcher spinoff, we liven things up with a bottle of Garrison Brothers Small Batch Texas Straight Bourbon, which prove…

1
Of Prequels, Protests and Problematic Pronunciation 1:44:32

1+ y ago1:44:32

1:44:32

Much like Blood Origin itself, our season covering the four-episode Witcher spinoff was more than a little delayed. But the time has finally come to dive into this sometimes-fun-sometimes-frustrating prequel tale, which we kick off with a bottle of Caol Ila Distillery’s North Star Single Malt Scotch Whisky. (Why this particular scotch? Much like mo…

1
Side Quest: Swords Sheathed, Pencils Down 27:40

2y ago27:40

27:40

Things got soberingly real for our favorite fantasy franchise this month with the Writers Guild of America (WGA) choosing to go on strike and fight for a better deal for its members. Yet, while writers and studios may be at the heart of this work stoppage, the effects are being felt all throughout Hollywood. In this new bonus episode, we lay out th…

1
Side Quest: Three Things The Hexer Does Better Than Netflix’s Witcher 52:06

2y ago52:06

52:06

We’re not going to say that The Hexer is a good show. (We’re nowhere near drunk enough for that.) But the 2002 Polish production isn’t entirely without merit. In fact, for all its why-is-Ciri-wearing-a-gimp-mask strangeness, there are some things The Hexer does quite well. Perhaps even better than Netflix’s Witcher series. In our latest bonus episo…

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