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.

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.

We return to our BE-TLE pilot Baz and his crew in our game of Salvage Union as they deal with an unexpected attack on Carabis. Piloting mechs in a desperate battle for survival, Royal Team and their allies fight with everything they have to maintain their position in Des Moines.

Content Warnings:

• Violence and combat scenes involving mechs and military engagements
• Injury and graphic descriptions of wounds and explosions
• Death and critical injury of characters
• Themes of grief and mental health struggles

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.

This episode continues our game of ECOPUNK: 2044 and the story of Emil Kampfer. Emil struggles to balance his work against the occupation with maintaining his civilian life and the safety of those who he cares for. Despite his hesitation, Emil commits to a risky mission putting himself in GK’s crosshairs.

Content Warnings:

• Violence and threats of violence
• Gun use and gun threats
• Drug use and references
• Intense emotional distress and anxiety
• Coercion and intimidation
• References to war, resistance, and occupation

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.

We return to Royal Team and our game of Salvage Union after the devastating attack that pushed the crew to their limits to defend Carabis’s position. Baz and his team face hard decisions as they work through shattered loyalties and critical injuries.

Content Warnings:

• Violence and combat, including mech battles and gunfire
• Death and loss
• Descriptions of explosions and destruction
• Themes of betrayal
• Scenes involving panic and crisis situations

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.

Emil’s harrowing journey continues in our game of ECOPUNK: 2044 as he faces betrayal, injury, and uncertain alliances. Emil must navigate the tense aftermath of what he was able to accomplish, and where he fell short.

Content Warnings:

• Descriptions of explosions and destruction
• Kidnapping and captivity
• Non-consensual substance use and psychological torture
• Injury and graphic descriptions of wounds
• Violent crowds

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.

The resistance makes a stand against the GK forces in a storm-blasted urban battlefield, in our game of Salvage Union. Tall angry clouds line the horizon while Baz and his team face off against stealth BE-TLE’s fighting to break through to a critical checkpoint. With the city embroiled in combat and communications disrupted, trust is tested and sacrifices are made.

Content Warnings:

• Intense combat
• Descriptions of injuries
• Scenes of explosions and destruction
• References to death and potential loss of life
• Stressful and tense situations involving survival in a violent storm
• Themes of war, resistance, and occupation

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.

Emil closes the book on our game of ECOPUNK: 2044 as he traverses a city on the brink of open revolt. With tense confrontations at an armed checkpoint and urgently needed medical aid during a devastating storm, Emil finally learns just what he’s been carrying around this whole time.

Content Warnings:

• Torture and physical abuse
• Injury and broken bones
• Violence and gunfire
• Occupation and military checkpoints
• Medical emergencies and blood loss
• Death and mourning
• Intense weather events (storm, derecho)
• Themes of resistance and conflict

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, Alex Walton, Oanh Vu, Ruben Vallejo Regalado, David Valentine, nouf saleh, and H. LaVeau.

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.

In the final episode of our game of Salvage Union, Baz is left to piece together the fragile aftermath of conflict in a war-torn Des Moines. He works to square up with his past and decide on his future.

*The title of this episode is an homage to Nnedi Okorafor’s novella of the same name, the third installment of her Africanfuturist Binti trilogy, about a young Himba woman navigating interstellar conflict and her own identity. It’s very good, you should read it.

Content Warnings:

• Violence and combat scenes
• Injury and death references
• Emotional distress and anxiety
• Mention of war, ambush, and military operations
• Descriptions of damaged buildings and post-disaster environments
• References to trauma and nightmares

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.

In the epilogue of 235 bloom we explore the aftermath of occupation with Everest Pipkin’s World Ending Game. Jordan and Paul create a montage of continuing stories for some of the characters we’ve met along this journey. We end with an invitation for you to contribute to a vision for this city’s future.

*The title of this episode is a quote from Kyle Tran Myhre’s Not A Lot of Reasons to Sing, But Enough, a book about two wandering poets on “a prison colony moon full of exiled rebels, robots, and storytellers.” It’s truly worth your time and dollars, go pick up a copy.

Content Warnings:

• Depictions of war and military occupation
• Discussions of trauma and loss
• Scenes involving violence and destruction
• Themes of political and corporate power struggles
• References to death and memorials

Produced by Paul Privitera and Jordan Lee Thompson.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.