Long Game: a Heated Rivalry Podcast

Declan is back for Part 2 of our Common Goal discussion, and is joined by Brittany from the Long Game Book Club to finish unpacking Rachel Reid's fourth Game Changers novel. This time, we're asking some bigger questions, like does the age gap between Eric and Kyle really matter? Why is Eric so emotionally self-aware but so terrible at communicating? And did Common Goal miss an opportunity to explore the realities of retiring from professional hockey and coming out later in life? Brittany makes a surprisingly convincing case for changing the reading order of the entire series. Should Common Goal actually come before Tough Guy? Things get a little competitive as we put our favourite Game Changers couples head-to-head. From chemistry and emotional intelligence to grand romantic gestures and long-term compatibility, we're ranking Shane and Ilya, Scott and Kip, Ryan and Fabian, and, of course, Eric and Kyle. Some couples come out looking considerably better than others. Join the conversation in our Long Game Book Club on Fable, and check out our Patreon for early access, exclusive newsletters and more. As a note, we will be moving our scheduled weekly drops to every 2 weeks. This is to give us more time to balance editing and recording with life stuff so that we can keep the quality high. Thanks for your understanding. Long Game Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/LongGamePodcast?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink Join our Long Game Podcast Book Club on Fable to read along with us each week.: https://fable.co/club/long-game-pod-book-club-with-long-game-pod-349252537194?invite=fc285de0-86ea-45c4-ab3f-8dcc82b8cad8&referralID=4tVUzsxlCC Find us on instagram: longgame.heatedrivalry.pod Write to us: [email protected] Find Declan: Instagram: declan712 Tiktok: declanmccallion1 Find Silvan: Instagram: Silvates Tiktok: silvates1 Listen to the Podcast on: Apple podcast: Spotify Amazon podcast: Watch it on youtube: https://youtu.be/DjZ4LJQrWwY Listen to Silvan’s ‘Silvates’ podcast on mental health and wellbeing here: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/silvates/id1531620495 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2xMX59teVzpf6M86Cv7WG9?si=016f5477aed14697

Declan is joined by Kirsty from the Book Hashira as we move on to Common Goal, the fourth instalment in Rachel Reid’s Game Changers series. This is one of the most divisive books. In Part One, we dive into Eric and Kyle’s relationship and ask whether their romance really feels like a happily-ever-after, or whether “happy for now” might be a better fit. We explore the book’s significant age gap, Eric’s anxieties about retirement and getting older, and whether the story misses an opportunity to dig deeper into what leaving professional hockey might mean for someone whose life has revolved around the sport. We also unpack Kyle’s lingering feelings for Kip, his difficult past and the unresolved questions surrounding what happened to him at 18. We discuss if Common Goalgives Kyle enough space to work through his own story, and if we are we actually convinced that he wants Eric more than he ever wanted Kip? There’s plenty of discussion about third-act breakups, miscommunication, the evolution of Rachel Reid’s writing across the series, why alot of poeple love Role Model and how Ilya continues his unofficial second career as the Game Changers resident lurker, matchmaker and dispenser of unsolicited relationship advice. Find Kirsty: Instagram: thebookhashira_ Long Game Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/LongGamePodcast?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink Join our Long Game Podcast Book Club on Fable to read along with us each week.: https://fable.co/club/long-game-pod-book-club-with-long-game-pod-349252537194?invite=fc285de0-86ea-45c4-ab3f-8dcc82b8cad8&referralID=4tVUzsxlCC Find us on instagram: longgame.heatedrivalry.pod Write to us: [email protected] Find Declan: Instagram: declan712 Tiktok: declanmccallion1 Find Silvan: Instagram: Silvates Tiktok: silvates1 Listen to the Podcast on: Apple podcast: Spotify Amazon podcast: Watch it on youtube: https://youtu.be/VrffkZ_Eix0 Listen to Silvan’s ‘Silvates’ podcast on mental health and wellbeing here: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/silvates/id1531620495 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2xMX59teVzpf6M86Cv7WG9?si=016f5477aed14697 hashta Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Common Goal and the Game Changer Series 02:19 Character Development and Themes in Common Goal 05:08 Comparative Analysis of the Game Changer Series 08:18 Standout Characters and Their Arcs 10:22 The Complexity of Eric's Character 13:06 The Third Act Breakup and Its Implications 14:36 Realism in Age Gap Romance 18:45 Power Dynamics in Age Gap Relationships 21:45 The Impact of Past Trauma on Characters 26:29 Unresolved Themes and Character Arcs 34:06 Character Development and Unresolved Threads 38:30 The Impact of Miscommunication in Relationships 42:37 Retirement and Its Emotional Toll 48:06 Unrequited Love as a Plot Device 54:33 Character Arcs and Redemption Themes

Silvan is joined by actor and musician Justin Stanek for a conversation about acting, music, Next Door and the reality of pursuing a creative career in Los Angeles. Justin takes us back to where it all began, from community theatre and an unexpected first commercial to packing up his life and moving across the country to LA. He opens up about the less glamorous side of being a working actor: endless auditions, day jobs, rejection, last-minute bookings and learning to confidently say, “I’m an actor.” Of course, we have to talked about River, his character from the Next Door. Justin shares the story of almost playing a completely different character in Next Door, his chemistry read with Nick, developing River with director Caroline Plyler, and why those lingering looks at Kit were absolutely intentional. We also get into the rapidly growing world of vertical filmmaking, what Justin thinks the format gets right, and wrong, and why he believes verticals aren't going anywhere. We discuss Justin's love for music. We dive into musical theatre, songwriting, finding confidence in his own voice, his love of beautifully sad music, his dream of releasing original material and the musician he'd love to play in a biopic. Plus: Ben Platt, Rachel Zegler, The Last Five Years, Waitress, Phoebe Bridgers, a potentially lost Tori Kelly Vine and our campaign to get Caroline to make a boy-band movie. This was such a fun conversation about taking chances, finding your people and figuring out what kind of artist, and person, you want to be. The next episode of the Long Game podcast will be released on Sunday 27th September 2026. Find Justin: Instagram: justin_stanek TikTok: _jutty_ Long Game Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/LongGamePodcast?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink Join our Long Game Podcast Book Club on Fable to read along with us each week.: https://fable.co/club/long-game-pod-book-club-with-long-game-pod-349252537194?invite=fc285de0-86ea-45c4-ab3f-8dcc82b8cad8&referralID=4tVUzsxlCC Find us on instagram: longgame.heatedrivalry.pod Write to us: [email protected] Find Declan: Instagram: declan712 Tiktok: declanmccallion1 Find Silvan: Instagram: Silvates Tiktok: silvates1 Listen to the Podcast on: Apple podcast: Spotify podcast: Amazon podcast: Watch it on youtube: https://youtu.be/g0NBXcO3wdY Listen to Silvan’s ‘Silvates’ podcast on mental health and wellbeing here: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/silvates/id1531620495 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2xMX59teVzpf6M86Cv7WG9?si=016f5477aed14697 Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Justin Stanek 02:10 The Journey into Acting 05:03 Transitioning to LA Life 08:02 Family Support and Relationships 11:04 The Reality of Being an Actor 14:15 Auditioning and Resilience 17:04 Booking Roles and Project Selection 19:39 Behind the Scenes of Next Door 36:44 Exploring Vertical Filmmaking 40:28 Collaboration with Caroline and New Projects 44:23 Character Development in Next Door 53:11 The Impact of Vertical Filmmaking on the Industry 57:34 Navigating Social Media as an Actor 01:07:35 The Intersection of Music and Acting 01:10:46 Musical Theatre Memories 01:14:49 The Art of Songwriting 01:18:09 Musical Inspirations and Influences 01:24:33 Future Roles and Aspirations 01:30:23 Connecting with the Audience

Declan is joined with Jenn from The Book Refuge for Part 2 of our deep dive into Tough Guy by Rachel Reid. This time, we’re putting Ryan and Fabian to the ultimate test and discussing how they actually compare to Shane and Ilya? Declan and Jenn go head-to-head across everything that makes a romance work, including chemistry, emotional intelligence, romantic gestures, sex, conflict resolution and, ultimately, whether these couples are built for the long game. We get into why Tough Guy feels so different from Heated Rivalry, how Rachel Reid moves queerness away from being the central conflict, and why Ryan’s anxiety creates a very different kind of obstacle to love. We also unpack Fabian’s patience and occasional impulsiveness, Ryan’s quiet romantic streak, and why the intimacy between them might be one of the most important parts of their story. We discuss Shane and Ilya and which is the romatic one. Why are they so terrible at resolving conflict? And just how much of their relationship is actually communicated through sex? We have ratings, disagreements and Jenn may change Declan’s mind. The next episode of the Long Game podcast will be released on Sunday 27th September 2026. Find Jenn: Instagram: thebookrefuge18 Youtube: TheBookRefuge Patreon: https://l.instagram.com/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.patreon.com%2Fthebookrefuge%3Futm_campaign%3Dcreatorshare_creator&e=AUDcHdy3h2tYt5j5YUAD8Re3PXU1crwrEij1q-82r98fN984taClIYwUaMLBoe1PQnXUsfy1kbJQXvs4wTt0GnLYX0NObFyxW6nlNS1UcBO3-FyOMD1ZLVw6643uo0WL8EueRlFiJe3shYKbyw Our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/LongGamePodcast?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink Join our Long Game Podcast Book Club on Fable to read along with us each week.: https://fable.co/club/long-game-pod-book-club-with-long-game-pod-349252537194?invite=fc285de0-86ea-45c4-ab3f-8dcc82b8cad8&referralID=4tVUzsxlCC Find us on instagram: longgame.heatedrivalry.pod Write to us: [email protected] Find Declan: Instagram: declan712 Tiktok: declanmccallion1 Find Silvan: Instagram: Silvates Tiktok: silvates1 Listen to the Podcast on: Apple podcast: Spotify podcast: Amazon podcast: Watch it on youtube: https://youtu.be/_rI4UEwRiR8 Listen to Silvan’s ‘Silvates’ podcast on mental health and wellbeing here: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/silvates/id1531620495 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2xMX59teVzpf6M86Cv7WG9?si=016f5477aed14697

Declan is joined by Jenn from The Book Refuge to dive into Tough Guy, the third book in Rachel Reid’s Game Changers series, and it’s quite the change of pace after Heated Rivalry. This time, we’re talking Ryan Price and Fabian Salah, two characters who couldn’t seem more different, but who might be exactly what the other needs. We unpack Ryan’s anxiety and complicated relationship with hockey, Fabian’s unapologetic confidence and queerness, and why their much slower journey towards intimacy makes their relationship feel so different from Shane and Ilya’s. We also get into the book’s exploration of toxic masculinity and hockey culture, the importance of friendship and support, Ryan’s experiences with performance anxiety, and the way Rachel Reid writes intimacy without making sex the end goal. Plus, we ask whether Fabian is always quite as understanding as he thinks he is, discuss why Wyatt might secretly be one of the best characters in the series, and inevitably find several excuses to talk about Shane and Ilya again. Is Tough Guy actually the best-written Game Changers book so far? The next episode of the Long Game podcast will be released on Sunday 20th September 2026. Find Jenn: Instagram: thebookrefuge18 Youtube: TheBookRefuge Patreon: https://l.instagram.com/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.patreon.com%2Fthebookrefuge%3Futm_campaign%3Dcreatorshare_creator&e=AUDcHdy3h2tYt5j5YUAD8Re3PXU1crwrEij1q-82r98fN984taClIYwUaMLBoe1PQnXUsfy1kbJQXvs4wTt0GnLYX0NObFyxW6nlNS1UcBO3-FyOMD1ZLVw6643uo0WL8EueRlFiJe3shYKbyw Our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/LongGamePodcast?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink Join our Long Game Podcast Book Club on Fable to read along with us each week.: https://fable.co/club/long-game-pod-book-club-with-long-game-pod-349252537194?invite=fc285de0-86ea-45c4-ab3f-8dcc82b8cad8&referralID=4tVUzsxlCC Find us on instagram: longgame.heatedrivalry.pod Write to us: [email protected] Find Declan: Instagram: declan712 Tiktok: declanmccallion1 Find Silvan: Instagram: Silvates Tiktok: silvates1 Listen to the Podcast on: Apple podcast: Spotify podcast: Amazon podcast: Watch it on youtube: https://youtu.be/S22mVMWG5JA Listen to Silvan’s ‘Silvates’ podcast on mental health and wellbeing here: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/silvates/id1531620495 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2xMX59teVzpf6M86Cv7WG9?si=016f5477aed14697 00:00 Introduction to Tough Guy and the Series 02:15 Character Dynamics and Emotional Connections 05:18 Themes of Mental Health and Anxiety 08:09 Exploring Hockey Culture and Masculinity 10:03 Ryan and Fabian: A New Kind of Relationship 13:05 The Role of Support Systems in Mental Health 16:08 Fabian: The Antithesis of Traditional Masculinity 19:04 Concluding Thoughts on Character Growth and Relationships 26:59 Exploring Representation in MM Romance 30:10 Feminine Characters and Their Importance 34:44 Diversity in Character Types 38:00 The Complexity of Relationships 41:41 Character Flaws and Growth 47:50 Missed Opportunities for Character Development 52:27 Character Development and Relationship Dynamics 55:00 Exploring Career Choices and Personal Growth 58:38 Navigating Sexual Performance Anxiety 01:06:51 The Complexity of Identity and Relationships