In this episode, I automate solar panels after adding another module to my steam power area. I also address a water shortage issue affecting the production of blue science packs, and I advance the research queue towards robotics, which will make my life easier in the long run.
Swag Plays Banished S2 E14 – Prepping for Trade with Cherry Brew
In this episode of Banished, the community gears up for trading by building a tavern to brew cherry alcohol. Faced with a resource shortage, the town must strategize, while Swag explains how farmers become essential laborers during late fall and winter.
Episode 26: The Writings and Legacy of St. Augustine
In this episode of “A Few Moments with God,” I delve into the profound writings and enduring legacy of St. Augustine. Join your host, Swagnilla Ice, as he explores Augustine’s influential theological contributions, his stance on key moral issues, and his impact on the structure of the Church. I’ll also touch upon his views on free will, just war, and opposition to slavery. Tune in to discover how St. Augustine’s thoughts continue to shape Christian thought and practice today.
Introducing the Pyramid of Support
Hey everyone,
I’m thrilled to share a project that I’ve been working on in Minecraft: a solid square pyramid made entirely out of sandstone, with each block representing one of my amazing Twitch followers or YouTube subscribers. 🎉
This Pyramid of Support symbolizes the foundation you all have helped me build. Every block stands for someone who has believed in me, watched my content, and engaged with the community.
Building this pyramid has been a labor of love, and seeing it take shape has been incredibly rewarding. It’s a testament to the incredible journey we’ve had together, from the first subscriber to the newest follower. We’re also getting so close to our first milestone of 500 supporters, which makes this project even more special!
Thank you for being part of this adventure. Your support means the world to me, and I couldn’t have done it without each and every one of you. Here’s to many more blocks and many more adventures! (And yes, it will keep on growing for every new Twitch follower and YouTube subscriber I get. My hope is that it grows so big, it’ll touch the build height limit!)
Stay awesome,
Swagnilla Ice (Nathan Pinno)
Creative Engineering E7: Fuel-Free Smelting and Cooking with the Create Mod
In this episode, Swag walks you through setting up the mixer and four encased fans using the Create mod. He demonstrates how to use one encased fan to make charcoal and another to craft a piece of soul sand, which he borrowed from his lava setup two episodes ago, for the soul campfire. Swag then shows how easy it is to make soul sand, explains how it can be turned into quartz, and places it back in the lava setup. He also shows how you can smelt ores and cook food without fuel. In the end, Swag explains how the mixer can halve the cost of andesite alloy from 2 andesite and 2 iron nuggets per alloy to just 1 andesite and 1 iron nugget. These game-changing tips will definitely enhance your game play!
Swag Plays Factorio S2 E21: Improving Green Science Production
Swag ramps up his green science production and delves deeper into the tech tree in this episode of Swag Plays Factorio. As his factory grows, so does his power consumption. Get ready for a power expansion in the next episode!
Swag Plays Banished S2 E13 – Preparing for Trading
In the latest gripping episode of Banished, the townspeople complete the boarding house and a second pasture, paving the way for trading their tailor’s exquisite wool coats for new seeds, livestock, and vital resources. Watch as Swag and the citizens prepare for the arrival of the town’s first merchant by resuming work on the bustling trading dock. Join us for an unmissable journey as this resilient colony fights to survive and flourish in the untamed wilderness. Don’t miss a moment of the action!
Episode 25: St. Augustine
In this week’s episode, Swag delves into the life of St. Augustine of Hippo, kicking off an enlightening new mini-series on the lives of the Saints.
Behind the Scenes: Crafting Engaging Content for YouTube and Podcasts
Hi everyone,
Creating family-friendly content for YouTube and Podbean is a process I truly enjoy each week. Let me take you behind the scenes and show you how I craft each type of content.
I’ll start by explaining the process behind my gaming videos first, as they are easier for me to explain. When starting a new series, I first decide which game to play. The next step is to choose whether to play the game in its vanilla form or with mods. If I opt for modded gameplay, I select the mods that will enhance the experience. For games like Minecraft, this can be an evolving decision if bugs pop up along the way.
The next step is to play the game while recording my gameplay and commentary using OBS. I utilize a dedicated Recording scene setup and have a key combination to start and stop recording seamlessly. Any reactions you hear from me are genuine and captured live during gameplay; I don’t edit the sound afterward. To avoid any copyright issues, I turn off the game’s in-game music before I start recording.
I then import the recorded video into Wondershare Filmora, where I add a title screen and sometimes an ending scene as well. I take a screenshot for the YouTube thumbnail and, if needed, add transitions to keep the video as smooth as possible. I then decide on what music to add, where it should go in the video, and what edits are needed for each track—such as reducing the volume and adding fade-ins or fade-outs.
Next, I decide on the episode’s title and export the video using Filmora’s built-in system to export it as an MP4 file. This MP4 file is what I upload to YouTube, with the screenshot becoming the YouTube thumbnail. While the video is being exported, I determine the YouTube description, appending a set of links for uniformity. I make sure to schedule any new uploads for the proper date at 4 am MST, while also adding the proper YouTube parts (subscribe and suggested video at the end, and perhaps a card with the series if it’s not the first episode).
Now that I’ve explained how I create each new gaming episode for YouTube, let me switch gears and explain how I write and record each new podcast episode, as the process is quite different.
The first thing I do is decide what topic I want to talk about in the podcast. This is easier if I am doing a series, as I either have a fixed set of episodes I want to research, write, and record, or at least a limited number of topics to choose from.
The next step is to search on Google for information about the topic I’m covering that week. I aim to pick at least two or three different sources to ensure a well-rounded understanding. This allows me to write the episode in my own words after comprehending the topic thoroughly.
I then proceed to write the topic using both OpenOffice Writer and Microsoft Copilot. I write out a paragraph at a time and ask Copilot for help improving it for flow. In fact, as I am writing this blog post, I am using Copilot to ensure you understand me clearly.
Finally, I proceed to record the episode using Audacity. I use headphones during recording to ensure that sounds from the speakers are not picked up by the microphone, allowing my voice to be heard clearly. After recording, I use Audacity to export the file as an MP3, adding metadata such as track name, recording artist, genre, track number, album name, and year. I then use Copilot to help me craft the episode description when I upload it to Podbean on Sunday.
As I currently cannot schedule podcast episodes on Podbean, I manually publish each one on Sunday morning. This is why they don’t come out at the same time each week and sometimes get published on Monday morning instead. I make sure to set the episode name, description, and duration in minutes and seconds. Once I get the funds to upgrade my subscription, I’ll start scheduling my podcast episodes as well. After publishing each episode, I share it on social media, and it is automatically added to my YouTube podcast feed.
Thank you for taking the time to read about my content creation process for both YouTube and podcast episodes. I hope you found it insightful and informative. If you enjoy my content and would like to support my work, please consider becoming a supporter on Ko-fi. Your support helps me continue creating family-friendly content and improving my setup. Every little bit helps and is greatly appreciated. Thank you for being a part of this journey with me!
Creative Engineering E6: Pressing Matters
In this episode of Creative Engineering, Swag ventures into the Nether to gather quartz. He then demonstrates how to use a pedestal to generate an endless supply of netherrack and sets up the Mechanical Press from Create.