Stephen and Brendon discuss the entirety of Persona 4 Golden and answer questions about friendship, social psychology, and what it's like to be a maligned cartoon bear in the human world.

Discussed: Persona 4 Golden

ITA's PS1 Playlist

Matt Horton's video essay on P4G for Flow State

"It's Time to Talk About it: Atlus, Naoto, and Transphobia" by Mattie Brice
"Atlus, We Haven't Forgotten Your Mishandling of LGBTQ Characters" by Carol Grant
"Persona 4's Identity Crisis Invalidates its Themes" by Lucas White
"Denial of the Self: Queer Characters in Persona 4" by Carolyn Petit

Find us everywhere: https://intothecast.online
Buy some merch, if you'd like: https://shop.intothecast.online
Join the Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/intothecast
---
Follow Stephen Hilger: https://bsky.app/profile/stephenhilger.bsky.social
Follow Brendon Bigley: https://bsky.app/profile/bb.wavelengths.online
Produced by AJ Fillari: https://bsky.app/profile/ajfillari.bsky.social
---
Season 8 cover art by Scout Wilkinson: https://scoutwilkinson.myportfolio.com/
Theme song by Will LaPorte: https://ghostdown.online/
---
Timecodes:

• (00:00) - "Shadow World" composed by Shoji Meguro, Vocals by Shihoko Hirata, lyrics by Benjamin Franklin
• (00:10) - There's no way you thought this would actually be lowkey right?
• (02:52) - Hey welcome to the show!
• (05:12) - The culmination of an eight year journey
• (13:30) - Stephen's history with the franchise
• (23:28) - General thoughts
• (01:05:42) - Should you start with this one?
• (01:11:32) - Spoiler checkpoint!
• (01:11:53) - "Time to Make History" Composed by Shoji Meguro, Vocals by Shihoko Hirata, lyrics by Benjamin Franklin
• (01:12:29) - FINAL SPOILER WARNING
• (01:14:10) - How it begins
• (01:25:24) - The first dungeon
• (01:27:22) - Teddie pt. 1
• (01:31:29) - Yukiko and the first dungeon
• (01:46:28) - The progress-gating
• (02:00:09) - "Signs of Love" Composed by Shoji Meguro, Vocals by Shihoko Hirata
• (02:00:34) - It's Kanji time
• (02:21:48) - Dojima and Nanako
• (02:27:50) - The fridge
• (02:29:08) - The family unit
• (02:31:53) - Rise
• (02:40:47) - Teddie pt. 2
• (02:51:35) - The Summer
• (02:57:46) - Naoto
• (03:06:17) - We've got the full party!
• (03:08:20) - "Heartbeat, Heartbreak" Composed by Shoji Meguro, Vocals by Shihoko Hirata
• (03:08:54) - The endings
• (03:18:51) - How was the final reveal?
• (03:25:31) - SPOILERS FOR PERSONA 5 INCOMING
• (03:26:56) - The culprit's motivations and moving toward the true ending
• (03:35:31) - Fighting God
• (03:38:21) - The Jungian lectures
• (03:48:10) - The final months
• (04:04:28) - The ski trip
• (04:16:30) - The epilogue
• (04:20:21) - "Reach Out To The Truth" Composed by Shoji Meguro, Vocals by Shihoko Hirata
• (04:20:45) - Listener questions
• (04:20:59) - Favorite way to make tofu from Jared (feat Percia)
• (04:26:44) - Stephen's prop
• (04:39:28) - Favorite and least favorite social links from Everyone
• (05:08:04) - Dream/Nightmare blunt rotations from Neo Geo Pocket
• (05:09:35) - Adjusting arcana from Lex
• (05:13:34) - What is it like replaying Personas from Neo Geo Pocket
• (05:18:43) - Favorite vocal performance from Ashley
• (05:20:59) - Best visual/mechanical boss design AND best track from Matt
• (05:25:03) - Era appropriate albums from Brittlemoon
• (05:29:15) - Arcana resonance from Brady
• (05:31:36) - Antagonist comparison from King Blackjack
• (05:33:50) - What music genre from Biscuit
• (05:38:08) - Chapter 50
• (05:50:22) - THAT'S IT

---
Thanks to all of our amazing patrons, including our Eternal Gratitude members:
Brian M
SuperThisWay
Nick G
Starfallrondo
Susan H
0nlygh0sts
Vincent J
Patrick K
Ed A
Samantha D
North Hero
Sam H
Snzzn
Gregory Mark S
Cmndr Biscuit
iceman
Christian H
Rydan B
Caleb H
Arden F
Eye of the Duck
Kale
Nathan E
J. H. A
joelchrono
Mellow
Matthew B
Robin LP
SeekingSeaking
Jimmers
zoey!
Vinny M
Matt
Kerry K
Brian M
Noah D
Zach D
Christopher TD
Hugo W
Todd
Chris B
Lukerfuffle
Stephen Y
Daniel G
Eric F
Taran W
Brendan O
Chris Z
Clayton M
Zach R
Dylan N
Federico V
Tigerz Revenge
Logan H
Alan R
John A
Mike L
mattjanzz
David M
HeavyPixels
Kaleb H
Tyler J
Corey Z
Susan H
Barry T
Robert R
Chris J
Brett Allen H
Dan S
Jack S
Garrett C
jimiibo
John H
Dirch F
Jim E
Jim W
Tristan L
Evan B
AwfulHanzo
min2
Aaron G
Jean H
Todd N
red_wagon
Neil
Peter B
John V
v
Erik M
Redmage77
Joshua J
Tony L
Danny K
Gibson G
Kate Duncan B
Richard M
Daniel N
Seth M
James
Andy H
Demo
Emma
Lyn E
Corey T
Caleb W
Jake L
Jesse W
Mike T
Codes
Matt B
Wesley
mebezac
Alex L
Sergio L
ninjadeathdog
Rory B
A42PoundMoose
Robert M
Michael W
Andrew
this_JUSTIN
Ryan O
14.3 billion years
Brendan K
Megan B
SecretAgentKoala
Noah O
Arcturus
Andrew W
hepahe
Chase A
LoveDies
Nick Q
Chris M
RB
Karen H
Adam F
Scott H
Alexander S
Matt H
Murray
David P
Jason K
Micah O
Kamrin H
Andrew D
Kyle S
Philip N