Steve Guntli
Ultra 64 / Wii Universe
I founded Ultra 64 in 2017 with my co-host Woody Ciskowski. As a longtime video game fan and collector, I'd amassed a nearly-complete collection of Nintendo 64 games, and decided to put them to good use. Each week, Woody and I would play the games and then give our thoughts on it, ultimately ranking all games in the N64 catalog. In addition to our thoughts and insights, I would also supplement the show with history, facts, and context based on my own in-depth research. I was solely responsible for spearheading the show, securing hosting, building websites and social media accounts, designing logos, booking guests, and editing the episodes each week.
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The show has had more than 500,000 lifetime downloads, a modest number for most shows but accomplished completely organically, with no advertising or corporate sponsorship. Through sheer word of mouth, we were able to build an audience and attract some noteworthy guests from the gaming world, including Chris Antista, Mikel Reparaz, and Matthew Allen from the Vidjagame Apocalypse podcast, noted ROM-hacker Kaze Emanuar, and games journalist and author Dan Amrich. We would also host celebrity guests like actress and comedian Betsy Sodaro (TV's "Brooklyn Nine-Nine," "Duncanville," "Ghosts"), and author/comedian/podcaster Jordan Morris (Jordan Jesse Go, Bubble).
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In 2019, we started a Patreon series called Ultra 64 DD, and produced more than 200 bonus episodes for patrons and supporters. On that show, we did deep dives (DDs) into different gaming franchises that our listeners would vote on. This allowed us to cover a wide variety of topics that didn't appear on our covered systems. We also would host special episodes for our top-tier Patrons in which they would join us on-air to discuss any game of their choice.
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We completed the Nintendo 64 library in 2020, and from there moved on to my next complete collection, the Wii U. While the Wii U is considered something of a failed system with less of a built-in fanbase, we were able to retain our audience and maintain consistent downloads for the entire run of the series.
I'm very proud that in five years, we never once missed an episode. Wii Universe is set to officially end on December 31, 2022, and from there I'll be developing some new ideas for future podcast ventures.
LISTENER REVIEWS
"Charismatic Dudes"
"A great balance of nostalgia and genuine warmth, humor, and charisma. These guys are good!"
- Jeff Graham 91
"Hey! Listen!"
"My new favorite podcast"
“'The Definitive N64 Podcast' is No Joke"
"Steve and Woody have managed to create one of my favorite podcasts with Ultra 64."
-wildvine47
"Good fun and a bright future"
"Nostalgia without the glasses"
"Funny and Informative"
"If you love the N64 and you love laughing, you’ll love this podcast."
- jedislurpee
"Delightful!"
'Nostalgia at its finest"
"64 bits of pure greatness"
Co-Hosting
In 2020, I was brought on as a permanent fourth co-host to TALKING TERRIFIC TELEVISION after a handful of successful guest appearances. The show is an episode-by-episode analysis of HBO's "The Sopranos." I helped hosts JR Ralls, Jared Hornbeck, and Vanessa Murray break down the final two seasons of the show, and recorded a bonus episode about the newly-released film THE MANY SAINTS OF NEWARK.
JEST FRIENDS was a book club podcast in which myself, Woody Ciskowski, and Mikayla Nicholson motivated and encouraged one another to read David Foster Wallace's intimidating magnum opus INFINITE JEST. Over the course of 20 episodes, we read and discussed the novel, discussing our fluctuating feelings on it and trying to unravel it's deeper mysteries. The project was Woody's suggestion but I provided the editing, hosting, and social media marketing for the show. While the show didn't have the same audience as our video game-based projects, we've received hugely positive feedback over the years, including several messages from people who read the book along with us, which of course was our exact goal.
For the last year I've been collaborating with the podcasters at the Laser Time Network, particularly for the show THIRTY TWENTY TEN, which explores pop culture on specific weeks 30, 20, and 10 years ago. I've been a regular co-host on their Patreon-exclusive show, called "Eighties In-Depth," in which we go back a little further, specifically exploring the incredible film year that was 1982. I was also brought in as a guest host for a special episode commemorating the 10-year anniversary of the Wii U.
My very first podcasting project was an episode-by-episode breakdown of Matt Groening's show FUTURAMA. For this series, I partnered with my co-host Emily Aguila to offer criticisms and share our favorite and least-favorite moments from throughout the series. Collaborating with Emily was a blast, and while the show was discontinued due to persistent scheduling conflicts, it was a great early recording experience.
Guest Appearances
I've been very fortunate to be invited to guest on multiple episodes of several really great shows from around the world. I'm always excited and happy to chat with fellow podcasters and put more nerdy energy into the world. For inquiries relating to guest appearances, contact my podcasting account at ultra64podcast@gmail.com.