Canopy Archive: 235 bloom | Podcast on RSS.com

Canopy Archive: 235 bloom

Canopy Archive: 235 bloom

by the Institute for Manufactured Futures x Des Moines & Dragons

Science Fiction Games

Season 1

0) An Introduction to '235 bloom'

Paul from Des Moines & Dragons and Jordan from the Institute for Manufactured Futures create a speculative fiction story set in Des Moines in the year 2089. Listen here to know what you’re getting into and why it took 3 years to go online! Content Warnings: Descriptions of current events in Minneapolis, MN (Q1 2026) Things we talked about in this episode for you to look at: Pre-order Dog Eat Dog 2nd Edition by Liam Liwanag Burke Lyline Press's shop for all things Salvage Union, soon to include their new starter set Also check out the rest of the games we play in this series, including ECOPUNK: 2044, The Ground Itself, World Ending Game, and Conquest & Glory Scot Nakagawa's article Refusal and Care, mentioned in this introduction Produced by Paul Privitera and Jordan Lee Thompson. Edited by Jordan Lee Thompson. Music by Javier Lopez of Goatfoam. Cover Art by Maddy Fusco. 235 bloom is a collaboration between Des Moines & Dragonsand The Institute for Manufactured Futures. It is a work of speculative fiction taking place in the year 2089. The locations may be real, but any similarity to actual persons or their descendants is unintentional.

BONUS: '235 bloom' Has Infiltrated Paul's Brain

This is a short excerpt from a conversation we had at the end of recording episode 10 - Jordan was touched by it, saved it, and we decided to include it here. 235 bloom is a collaboration between Des Moines & Dragons and The Institute for Manufactured Futures. It is a work of speculative fiction taking place in the year 2089. The locations may be real, but any similarity to actual persons or their descendants is unintentional.

1) Prologue: The Land Between Two Caseys - The Ground Itself

In episode 1 we play the TTRPG The Ground Itself by Everest Pipkin to collaboratively build a vivid future off-grid community nestled in the Des Moines metro, facing climate challenges and social upheaval. Explore themes of land, community, and resilience as we imagine a world shaped by collective action. With guests Dan Umthun of The DOOMCAST and Lisa Irey of Irey Shire Gardens, this episode sets the stage for an important new neighborhood in 2089 Des Moines. Content Warnings: Paramilitary violence, occupation and resistance Themes of colonialism and land ownership disputes Natural disasters such as floods, heat waves, and fires Produced by Paul Privitera and Jordan Lee Thompson, supported by Lisa Irey and Dan Umthun. Edited by Jordan Lee Thompson. Music by Javier Lopez of Goatfoam. Cover Art by Maddy Fusco. Voice over by LIPING VONG. 235 bloom is a collaboration between Des Moines & Dragonsand The Institute for Manufactured Futures. It is a work of speculative fiction taking place in the year 2089. The locations may be real, but any similarity to actual persons or their descendants is unintentional.

2) Prologue: Occupation - Conquest & Glory

This episode of 235 bloom features guests from outside the Des Moines area, who dive into the TTRPG Conquest & Glory (Expanded) by Kyle Serafin of Salmonjumpsuit, a game about exploring themes of conquest, occupation, and those who glorify it. Playing as rival factions within the Demeter Group, our cast explores and invades a transformed Des Moines cityscape. During play the participants collaboratively build the world’s social fabric through their roles—ranging from propagandist mercenaries to theocratic fascists to technocratic girlbosses—they define their strategy and routes across the city. The episode ends with our player characters changed and the city changed further. Featuring guests intentionally from outside of Des Moines: Jennings Mergenthal of the Department of Puppet Studies, rapper and podcast producer Tony Williams, and artist/educator/software engineer Anniessa Antar. Content Warnings: Themes of conquest and occupation Depictions of violence and warfare Discussion of colonialism and settler colonialism References to death and loss Exploration of oppressive systems and resistance Possible distress related to bio-horror and body horror elements Discussion of sex toys Spiders Produced by Jordan Lee Thompson and Paul Privitera, supported by Anniessa Antar, Tony Williams, Jennings Mergenthal, and guest co-facilitator Annelise Tarnowski. Edited by Jordan Lee Thompson. Music by Javier Lopez of Goatfoam. Cover Art by Maddy Fusco. Voice over by LIPING VONG. 235 bloom is a collaboration between Des Moines & Dragonsand The Institute for Manufactured Futures. It is a work of speculative fiction taking place in the year 2089. The locations may be real, but any similarity to actual persons or their descendants is unintentional.

3) Prologue: Seeds of Resistance - Dog Eat Dog

This episode sees our hosts and guests dive into a TTRPG called Dog Eat Dog by Liam Liwanag Burke, exploring themes of colonialism and occupation set in a future East Village neighborhood of Des Moines, Iowa. Using the game's mechanics, our storytellers create rich character traits and backstories, and collaboratively build a tense narrative about the struggle between the occupying Demeter Group factions and the local residents of Des Moines who resist them or comply. This is the last prologue episode to set the stage for the narrative of 235 bloom. Featuring Annelise Tarnowski and Tony Tandeski from The Rook Room. Content Warnings: Colonialism and its consequences, including themes of occupation and assimilation Violence, including gunshots, injury, and potential death Surveillance and restrictions on movement Medical procedures and blood donation (bio exchange) Produced by Paul Privitera and Jordan Lee Thompson, supported by Annelise Tarnowski and Tony Tandeski. Edited by Jordan Lee Thompson. Music by Javier Lopez of Goatfoam. Cover Art by Maddy Fusco. Voice over by LIPING VONG. 235 bloom is a collaboration between Des Moines & Dragonsand The Institute for Manufactured Futures. It is a work of speculative fiction taking place in the year 2089. The locations may be real, but any similarity to actual persons or their descendants is unintentional.

4) Emil's Story: The Des Moines Art Center

This episode kicks off our game of ECOPUNK: 2044 by Liam Hevey of Dice Kapital, featuring Paul’s character Emil Kampfer. While grappling with the consequences of our prologue episodes, Emil comes to grips with the seriousness of his work against the occupation. Follow his journey through a vision of the future for our city and meet a few of the people who live there, trying to navigate towards a better future themselves. Content Warnings: Themes of occupation, oppression, and resistance movements Scenes involving violence, including descriptions of bombings and armed conflict Mentions of cold, harsh weather conditions and physical hardship Produced by Jordan Lee Thompson. Featuring Paul Privitera. Edited by Jordan Lee Thompson. Music by Isac Lundholm. Cover Art by Maddy Fusco. Voice over by LIPING VONG. 235 bloom is a collaboration between Des Moines & Dragonsand The Institute for Manufactured Futures. It is a work of speculative fiction taking place in the year 2089. The locations may be real, but any similarity to actual persons or their descendants is unintentional.

5) Bazil's Story: Isadore's Rest

Launching our game of Salvage Union by Panayiotis Lines and Aled Lawlor of Leyline Press, we follow Jordan’s character Bazil “Baz” Andrija-Cardoso for the first mech adventure set in 2089 Des Moines. Follow the tense and thrilling mission of Royal Team’s BE-TLE pilots as they navigate brutal winter storms and high-stakes mecha combat against the Cyrenian forces we first saw in Episode 2. Content Warnings: Violence and combat Depictions of warfare and military operations Injury and medical emergencies Hostage situation and armed threats Cold and harsh weather conditions (blizzard, deep freeze) Produced by Paul Privitera. Featuring Jordan Lee Thompson. Edited by Jordan Lee Thompson. Music by Tommy Ljungberg. Cover Art by Maddy Fusco. Voice over by LIPING VONG. 235 bloom is a collaboration between Des Moines & Dragons and The Institute for Manufactured Futures. It is a work of speculative fiction taking place in the year 2089. The locations may be real, but any similarity to actual persons or their descendants is unintentional.

6) Emil's Story: The Tower

Continuing our game of ECOPUNK: 2044, this episode follows Emil and his emergency response team as they search for a missing ally amongst the aftermath of a pitched BE-TLE battle. Content Warnings: Violence and armed conflict Weapons and gun use Themes of occupation and resistance Injury and medical emergencies Emotional distress and relationship tension Flooding and natural disaster impacts Produced by Jordan Lee Thompson. Featuring Paul Privitera. Edited by Jordan Lee Thompson. Music by Isac Lundholm. Cover Art by Maddy Fusco. Voice over by LIPING VONG. 235 bloom is a collaboration between Des Moines & Dragons and The Institute for Manufactured Futures. It is a work of speculative fiction taking place in the year 2089. The locations may be real, but any similarity to actual persons or their descendants is unintentional.

7) Bazil's Story: Big Sister Territory

Continuing our game of Salvage Union, join Baz and the rest of Royal Team as they dive into an intense mech simulation, a growing community conflict, and a moment that shows us the cost of survival in a recovering ecology of future Des Moines. Content Warnings: Violence Death and injury references Themes of trauma and loss Discovery of a corpse Alcohol use and drinking scenes Produced by Paul Privitera. Featuring Jordan Lee Thompson. Edited by Jordan Lee Thompson. Music by Tommy Ljungberg. Cover Art by Maddy Fusco. Voice over by LIPING VONG. 235 bloom is a collaboration between Des Moines & Dragonsand The Institute for Manufactured Futures. It is a work of speculative fiction taking place in the year 2089. The locations may be real, but any similarity to actual persons or their descendants is unintentional.

8) Emil's Story: Such a Bad Liar

Continue Emil's journey through Des Moines in our game of ECOPUNK: 2044. In this episode, Emil navigates the aftermath of a devastating flood, confronts a dangerous new faction, and wrestles with trust and loyalty within the Civil Resistance. Content Warnings: Violence and references to violence (including shootings and physical confrontations) Kidnapping and captivity Torture or restraint Intense heat and physical exhaustion Flooding and natural disaster impacts Injury and medical emergencies Produced by Jordan Lee Thompson. Featuring Paul Privitera. Edited by Jordan Lee Thompson. Music by Isac Lundholm. Cover Art by Maddy Fusco. Voice over by LIPING VONG. 235 bloom is a collaboration between Des Moines & Dragons and The Institute for Manufactured Futures. It is a work of speculative fiction taking place in the year 2089. The locations may be real, but any similarity to actual persons or their descendants is unintentional.

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