Welcome to The Reality Escape Pod, your lifeline when you need a getaway from the real world.

With this Podcast, your hosts David Spira &amp; Peih-Gee Law explore escape rooms and immersive gaming from all angles, alongside guests with incredible experience in this realm.

Our guests have made awesome stuff: ARGs, puzzle hunts, tabletop games, and of course, escape rooms… to name a few. Our aim is to bring together different segments of the gaming world and share ideas between them.

Co-Hosts

The Reality Escape Pod is brought to you by co-hosts David Spira and Peih-Gee Law.

David is one half of the driving force behind Room Escape Artist and a user-experience designer.

Peih-Gee is a two-time contestant on Survivor and also an enthusiastic ambassador for the immersive gaming community.

"It's the first science-based escape room."
 
If you ask an escape room enthusiast about entanglement puzzles, what likely springs to mind are those intertwined, bent metal nails that you need to separate. However, for Paul Kwiat, an entanglement puzzle is something else completely. Professor Kwiat is an acclaimed physicist, specializing in quantum physics, including quantum entanglement, along with quantum cryptography, dense-coding, quantum teleportation, entanglement distillation, and most recently, optical quantum gates. Phew!
 
But what's a physicist doing on REPOD? Besides his many other accomplishments, Professor Kwiat has also created LabEscape, the first science-based escape room. Most of the puzzles in his games are built on different science phenomena such as magnetism, thermodynamics, and polarization. Many of these are rather advanced principles that would be taught at a college-level course. These are not games for kids!

Professor Kwiat explains that he had three goals when creating his escape room. One—to show that science can be both relevant and accessible. Two—to show that these scientific effects are aesthetically beautiful. Three—that science is fun!
 
His love of science and physics is certainly infectious. We couldn't resist the opportunity to chat about quantum mechanics, including quantum computers, and cryptography. I truly appreciated that he took the time to explain all these principles to us, even if it meant crushing my romantic notions of how quantum entanglement works. This episode is a bit different, but I think you'll certainly learn something.

 

Episode Sponsors
Thank you to our sponsors: Weldwood Marketing, Buzzshot, COGS by Clockwork Dog, and Patreon supporters like you. 
 
<a href='https://weldwoodmarketing.com/repod/'>Weldwood Marketing</a>
Maximize your online presence with Weldwood Marketing. It's a one-stop shop for digital marketing—specializing in web design, SEO, online ads, and best business practices. They can even manage all your integrations so you can track the customer journey from clicking on an ad to booking your game. Let Weldwood help unlock more money for your business.


Special offer exclusively for REPOD listeners:
 
Weldwood rarely offers discounts, but they did for us. REPOD listeners get 15% off Marketing Services for the first 3 months, PLUS $750 off escape room websites. Schedule your Discovery Call and mention REPOD in the notes! Visit <a href='https://weldwoodmarketing.com/repod/'>weldwoodmarketing.com/repod</a> to learn more about this exclusive offer.
 
<a href='https://buzzshot.com/repod/'>Buzzshot</a>

Buzzshot is Escape Room Software, Powering Business Growth, Player Marketing, and improving the Customer Experience. They offer an assortment of pre and post game features including robust waiver management, branded team photos, and streamlined review management for Yelp, TripAdvisor, Google Reviews, and Morty. Buzzshot now has integration with the other REPOD sponsors: Morty and COGS.
 
Special Offer for REPOD Listeners:
 
REPOD listeners get an extended 21-day free trial plus 20% off your first 3 months, with no set-up fees or hidden charges. Visit <a href='https://buzzshot.com/repod/'>buzzshot.com/repod</a> to learn more about this exclusive offer.
 
<a href='https://cogs.show/'>COGS</a>

COGS by Clockwork Dog is an easy to use software/ hardware platform for running interactive events, including escape rooms, and other immersive experiences. They have plug & play hardware that seamlessly integrates with their software so you can create a show with lighting and sound cues without having to write a single line of code. Map all kinds of inputs to outputs by building up simple logic steps which determine what you want to happen and when.
 
Special Offer for REPOD Listeners:
 
REPOD listeners can get the COGS Starter Set for only $130 + free shipping to the USA. This bundle is usually valued at $257. You can learn more and purchase your Starter Set at <a href='https://cogs.show/#start'>cogs.show</a>. Use code REPOD at checkout.
 
<a href='https://www.patreon.com/roomescapeartist'>Become a Patron Today!</a>

Supporitng us on Patreon helps to fund our work, pay our team, and it grants you access to an incredible library of bonus content including: 
<ul>
<li>The REPOD Bonus Show</li>
<li>The Spoilers Club</li>
<li>The Travelogue Series</li>
</ul>
Thank you to all of our ongoing supporters 💙


 
 
Production Credits
Hosted by David Spira & Peih-Gee Law
Produced by Theresa Piazza
Supported by Lisa Spira
Edited by <a href='https://standinsidemedia.com/'>Steve Ewing</a>
Music by <a href='https://www.ryaneldermusic.com/'>Ryan Elder</a>
Logo by Janine Pracht

Reality Escape Pod - Escape Rooms & Immersive Games

S9E10: Untangling Quantum Mechanics - Paul Kwiat of LabEscape

When Miss Jezebel first debuted, no one had really ever seen anything like it before. It incorporated an actor into the gameplay in a way that felt more akin to larp or interactive theater. For those in the right mindset, it was uproariously funny. It was also screamingly vulgar, with adult props that would make a bachelor party blush. It was an instant darling of the Los Angeles escape room scene.
 
Brian Corbitt, creator of Miss Jezebel, joins us in his second appearance on the Spoilers Club for a tell-all. One of his mantras is "Players loved getting trolled." Indeed he did, especially when it came to making out with sock puppets, having to quietly rip a giant piece of velcro apart, or searching for limes. Many of his interactions were designed to maximize fun, while showcasing the players' ability to improvise under pressure. They usually rose to the occasion, much to the amusement of their friends.

When you support Room Escape Artist on Patreon at $15 per month (or above), you get access to the Spoilers Club, our exclusive podcast where hosts David Spira and Peih-Gee Law chat in depth with creators about iconic escape rooms... spoilers and all!
<a href='https://www.patreon.com/roomescapeartist'>https://www.patreon.com/roomescapeartist</a>

How Miss Jezebel Trolled Escape Room Players

"It was like a laser tag basement with Party City decorations."
 
Escape rooms? What are those? Well, it says here that you're locked in a room, and if you can't solve the puzzles fast enough, a zombie will get you! According to Trip Advisor, it's the top rated activity in the city.
 
The year is 2014. Amanda Harris has just discovered her first escape room... and her life was changed forever. Since that fateful day, she has gone on to play well over 1,700 escape rooms. She is currently one of the most experienced escape room players in the country, if not the world.
Amanda joins us to talk about the escape room era of yore, when most rooms were festooned with cheap locks and even cheaper furniture. The puzzles were mostly bad, and many of the games were created and run by slightly sadistic gamemasters who guarded hints like dragons sitting on their hoards. Yet she played game after game after game.
 
Despite how terrible many of the early escape rooms were, she still loved them, and played as many as she could find. Indeed, even finding the games themselves was a challenge back then, let alone finding the gems. Those few gems, however, were absolutely incredible. That's a large part of the reason why David and Lisa created Room Escape Artist all those years ago. Tune in to this episode to hear David and Amanda reminisce about the bad old days and trade war stories about "the early days of  completely bananas, insane escape rooms."

 
 

Episode Sponsors
Thank you to our sponsors: Weldwood Marketing, Buzzshot, COGS by Clockwork Dog, and Patreon supporters like you. 
 
<a href='https://weldwoodmarketing.com/repod/'>Weldwood Marketing</a>
Maximize your online presence with Weldwood Marketing. It's a one-stop shop for digital marketing—specializing in web design, SEO, online ads, and best business practices. They can even manage all your integrations so you can track the customer journey from clicking on an ad to booking your game. Let Weldwood help unlock more money for your business.


Special offer exclusively for REPOD listeners:
 
Weldwood rarely offers discounts, but they did for us. REPOD listeners get 15% off Marketing Services for the first 3 months, PLUS $750 off escape room websites. Schedule your Discovery Call and mention REPOD in the notes! Visit <a href='https://weldwoodmarketing.com/repod/'>weldwoodmarketing.com/repod</a> to learn more about this exclusive offer.
 
<a href='https://buzzshot.com/repod/'>Buzzshot</a>

Buzzshot is Escape Room Software, Powering Business Growth, Player Marketing, and improving the Customer Experience. They offer an assortment of pre and post game features including robust waiver management, branded team photos, and streamlined review management for Yelp, TripAdvisor, Google Reviews, and Morty. Buzzshot now has integration with the other REPOD sponsors: Morty and COGS.
 
Special Offer for REPOD Listeners:
 
REPOD listeners get an extended 21-day free trial plus 20% off your first 3 months, with no set-up fees or hidden charges. Visit <a href='https://buzzshot.com/repod/'>buzzshot.com/repod</a> to learn more about this exclusive offer.
 
<a href='https://cogs.show/'>COGS</a>

COGS by Clockwork Dog is an easy to use software/ hardware platform for running interactive events, including escape rooms, and other immersive experiences. They have plug & play hardware that seamlessly integrates with their software so you can create a show with lighting and sound cues without having to write a single line of code. Map all kinds of inputs to outputs by building up simple logic steps which determine what you want to happen and when.
 
Special Offer for REPOD Listeners:
 
REPOD listeners can get the COGS Starter Set for only $130 + free shipping to the USA. This bundle is usually valued at $257. You can learn more and purchase your Starter Set at <a href='https://cogs.show/#start'>cogs.show</a>. Use code REPOD at checkout.
 
<a href='https://www.patreon.com/roomescapeartist'>Become a Patron Today!</a>

Supporitng us on Patreon helps to fund our work, pay our team, and it grants you access to an incredible library of bonus content including: 
<ul>
<li>The REPOD Bonus Show</li>
<li>The Spoilers Club</li>
<li>The Travelogue Series</li>
</ul>
Thank you to all of our ongoing supporters 💙


 
 
Production Credits
Hosted by David Spira & Peih-Gee Law
Produced by Theresa Piazza
Supported by Lisa Spira
Edited by <a href='https://standinsidemedia.com/'>Steve Ewing</a>
Music by <a href='https://www.ryaneldermusic.com/'>Ryan Elder</a>
Logo by Janine Pracht

S9E9: Ye Olden Days of Escape Rooms with Amanda Harris

"Once it clicks, you have sweet epiphany."
 
In the dingy dark hallway of an asylum or prison, two men are struggling in a battle of life or death. One man is writhing on the ground while the other has something wrapped around his throat. The art is captivating and gothic, verging on grotesque, and they're animated in an unsettling way. The movement suggests a moment caught in time. We, as investigators, are tasked with uncovering the sequence of events behind this story.


The Rise of the Golden Idol is a mystery-solving, narrative-driven game, and the gameplay truly makes the players feel like detectives investigating the scene of a crime. You hear from suspects, examine the evidence and search crime scenes for clues. The story itself is twisty and fantastical, and feels almost impossible to solve at first until you start pulling at threads. There is a deep satisfaction to solving the puzzles and creating order from the chaos.
 
Brothers Andrejs Klavins and Ernests Klavins of Color Gray Games join us all the way from Latvia to talk about creating this popular series of games. I really enjoyed hearing about the changes they made from The Case of the Golden Idol when developing the sequel, and how to fine-tune difficulty in these types of mystery games. I was also especially impressed to hear that these games are written in English, which is not their native language. If you love escape rooms, puzzle games, or solving investigative mysteries, I highly recommend you check out The Case of the Golden Idol and The Rise of the Golden Idol.

 
 

Episode Sponsors
Thank you to our sponsors: Weldwood Marketing, Buzzshot, COGS by Clockwork Dog, and Patreon supporters like you. 
 
<a href='https://weldwoodmarketing.com/repod/'>Weldwood Marketing</a>
Maximize your online presence with Weldwood Marketing. It's a one-stop shop for digital marketing—specializing in web design, SEO, online ads, and best business practices. They can even manage all your integrations so you can track the customer journey from clicking on an ad to booking your game. Let Weldwood help unlock more money for your business.


Special offer exclusively for REPOD listeners:
 
Weldwood rarely offers discounts, but they did for us. REPOD listeners get 15% off Marketing Services for the first 3 months, PLUS $750 off escape room websites. Schedule your Discovery Call and mention REPOD in the notes! Visit <a href='https://weldwoodmarketing.com/repod/'>weldwoodmarketing.com/repod</a> to learn more about this exclusive offer.
 
<a href='https://buzzshot.com/repod/'>Buzzshot</a>

Buzzshot is Escape Room Software, Powering Business Growth, Player Marketing, and improving the Customer Experience. They offer an assortment of pre and post game features including robust waiver management, branded team photos, and streamlined review management for Yelp, TripAdvisor, Google Reviews, and Morty. Buzzshot now has integration with the other REPOD sponsors: Morty and COGS.
 
Special Offer for REPOD Listeners:
 
REPOD listeners get an extended 21-day free trial plus 20% off your first 3 months, with no set-up fees or hidden charges. Visit <a href='https://buzzshot.com/repod/'>buzzshot.com/repod</a> to learn more about this exclusive offer.
 
<a href='https://cogs.show/'>COGS</a>

COGS by Clockwork Dog is an easy to use software/ hardware platform for running interactive events, including escape rooms, and other immersive experiences. They have plug & play hardware that seamlessly integrates with their software so you can create a show with lighting and sound cues without having to write a single line of code. Map all kinds of inputs to outputs by building up simple logic steps which determine what you want to happen and when.
 
Special Offer for REPOD Listeners:
 
REPOD listeners can get the COGS Starter Set for only $130 + free shipping to the USA. This bundle is usually valued at $257. You can learn more and purchase your Starter Set at <a href='https://cogs.show/#start'>cogs.show</a>. Use code REPOD at checkout.
 
<a href='https://www.patreon.com/roomescapeartist'>Become a Patron Today!</a>

Supporitng us on Patreon helps to fund our work, pay our team, and it grants you access to an incredible library of bonus content including: 
<ul>
<li>The REPOD Bonus Show</li>
<li>The Spoilers Club</li>
<li>The Travelogue Series</li>
</ul>
Thank you to all of our ongoing supporters 💙


 
 
Production Credits
Hosted by David Spira & Peih-Gee Law
Produced by Theresa Piazza
Supported by Lisa Spira
Edited by <a href='https://standinsidemedia.com/'>Steve Ewing</a>
Music by <a href='https://www.ryaneldermusic.com/'>Ryan Elder</a>
Logo by Janine Pracht

David Spira & Peih-Gee Law

Reality Escape Pod - Escape Rooms & Immersive Games by David Spira & Peih-Gee Law

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