LightNews — News, ranked by scholars

Having mustered what allies we can for our rescue attempt, we venture into the seat of the Holy See's power: The Vault. Join us as we challenge this iconic Heavensward dungeon! https://discord.gg/SU...

September 28, 2026 at 9:30 PM

Pod Return to the Waking Sands

@podreturnffxiv.bsky.social

THIS WEEK NOTHING BAD HAPPENS! CERTAINLY NOTHING THAT ALTERS HOW WE REACT TO THIS GAME! JOIN JEN AND LEVI AND SOME LISTENERS AS THEY TAKE A LOVELY TOUR OF THE VAULT AND THAT'S IT!
#PodReturn #TheVault #FinalFantasty14
www.podbean.com/ew/pb-cfhxt-...

Ep 162: The Vault

September 29, 2025 at 7:30 AM

Pod Return to the Waking Sands

@podreturnffxiv.bsky.social

Somehow even more Alexander! Jen and Levi, with the help of some listeners, finish off the Father arm of Alexander and get some lore drops! Yay, lore!
#PodReturn #Alexander

youtu.be/yMbiIXZ4e_A

Ep 196: Alexander Part 3

July 16, 2026 at 12:00 AM

Pod Return to the Waking Sands

@podreturnffxiv.bsky.social

It's the return of the MSQ! This week Jen and Levi head to Falcon's Nest to help prepare with the conference between Ishgard and the Dravanians! And nothing bad happens during that! Certainly not any... Consequences...
#PodReturn #FinalFantasy14

youtu.be/FTtEbsqyHyk

Ep 203: Consequences

Bonus: Card Sharks 1 — Final Fantasy Trading Card Game

September 21, 2026 at 4:00 PM

Pod Return to the Waking Sands

@podreturnffxiv.bsky.social

It's a bonus episode from the Patreon! Jen, Levi, and special guest Ned talk about the Final Fantasy TCG! They talk dome cards, how it plays, and an insight into some battles.
#PodReturn #FFTCG #CardSharks

youtu.be/EbKfSNN7lr8

April 30, 2026 at 11:51 PM

Pod Return to the Waking Sands

@podreturnffxiv.bsky.social

After beating up the Father, Jen and Levi, once again with listeners, take on the Father in this jam packed episode where they fight through all of Gordias! With more lore and discussions of time travel as a plot device!
#PodReturn #Alexander #Jeniswrongbtw

youtu.be/vsi28wg6frk

Ep 197: Alexander Part 4

Fearing for Aymeric's fate, we prepare to mount a daring rescue. This sort of venture cannot be made alone though. And so, we turn to the only ally we can think of: The Mongrel. Join us as we continue...

July 21, 2026 at 12:00 AM

Pod Return to the Waking Sands

@podreturnffxiv.bsky.social

It's time to spark the long awaited Ishgardian Revolution! Power to the people! But first Jen and Levi engage in a table top bid to find some allies. Criminal Allies at that. Join them as they attempt to parlay in the Brume.
#PodReturn #TheMongrel #FinalFantasy14

www.podbean.com/ew/pb-qgysf-...

Ep 161: Fire and Blood

Ep 177: The Aetherochemical Research Facility

September 22, 2025 at 11:38 PM

Pod Return to the Waking Sands

@podreturnffxiv.bsky.social

Jen and Levi (and listeners!) brave the depths of Allagan depravity as they venture into the Aetherochemical Research Facility! Watch as they take on a Garlean who never shows up again, get approved for mass production, and some Ascians!
#PodReturn #Heavensward

www.podbean.com/ew/pb-exj92-...

Horrors both old and new await within the ancient Allagan aetherochemical facility. Join us as we delve into the Heavensward capstone dungeon! https://discord.gg/SUHTBVMVxj podreturnffxiv@gmail ht...

Ep 189: 2 Girls 1 Chakra — Monks in Heavensward

February 16, 2026 at 4:00 PM

Pod Return to the Waking Sands

@podreturnffxiv.bsky.social

I... don't even know what to write here...like really!? What am I supposed to put?! I guess that Jen and Levi help two cat girls become better Monks, I guess? Just...just listen to this one. It's crazy.
#PodReturn #FinalFantasy14 #Ididnotcreatethattitle

youtu.be/RNvEo1HKxYQ

May 20, 2026 at 9:03 PM

Pod Return to the Waking Sands

@podreturnffxiv.bsky.social

It's the 200th episode of the Pod! And to celebrate Jen and Levi are going *Extreme* (with the help of listeners)! After meeting some masked kid who warns them about the summoning of harder primals, they ready themselves for some hard fights!
#PodReturn #ExtremeRaids
www.youtube.com/watch?v=G43O...

Ep 200: Gods of Eld

Inside the Aetherochemical facility we make our final confrontation: the long awaited showdown with the Heavens Ward. Join us for the conclusion to the (pre-patch!) Heavensward main scenario quest. ...

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August 19, 2026 at 3:30 AM

Pod Return to the Waking Sands

@podreturnffxiv.bsky.social

And that's (pre-patch) Heavesward done! Join Jen, Levi, and Listeners like you as they beat up an old man and discuss the epilogue and what is likely to come next! Including a so-called "Warrior of Darkness" and Alexander.
#PodReturn #Heavensward #DragonFacts

www.podbean.com/ew/pb-vm4ez-...

Ep 178: Heavensward

February 23, 2026 at 8:45 PM

Pod Return to the Waking Sands

@podreturnffxiv.bsky.social

This week Jen and Levi tackle The Antitower! A sprawling underground complex said to touch the very Lifestream itself. They have to tackle guardians and Dolls to find what they seek...the fate of a fallen Scion....
#FinalFantasy14 #PodReturn

youtu.be/T3nlsmRvftk

Ep 173: Livin Leveva Loca — Astrologian Part 2

September 1, 2026 at 3:00 PM

Pod Return to the Waking Sands

@podreturnffxiv.bsky.social

Pod Return is back from the holidays to...do more Astrologian! Yay? Listen in as Jen and Levi be slightly less critical of a story that involves jokes and deep political intrigue that should be really interesting!
#PodReturn #Astologian #FinalFantasy14

www.podbean.com/ew/pb-m6cck-...

We conclude the Heavensword AST storyline with more hijinks from the astrologian gang. The stakes are high, but if we pull through we might just learn the Ishgardians a thing or two about astrology......

Ep 170: Forbidden Knowledge

January 6, 2026 at 12:00 AM

Pod Return to the Waking Sands

@podreturnffxiv.bsky.social

Jen and Levi meet the mysterious and magical Master Matoya and after being told that the secrets of an "aesthetic ram" lie in overrun library....decide to do more side quests! Like helping magical brooms, magical frogs, and racists!
#PodReturn #FF14 #Sidequests
www.podbean.com/ew/pb-ctbyv-...

At last we may meet the infamous Master Matoya. It turns out she's as prickly as promised. Perhaps her minions will help us unearth her secrets? Join us for Matoya's inside story in this continuation ...

Ep 166: Devourer of Worlds

November 24, 2025 at 4:43 PM

Pod Return to the Waking Sands

@podreturnffxiv.bsky.social

This week, Jen and Levi make their way up to the northern parts of the Sea of Clouds! Where they meet some fat Bird people who are being menaced by the Primal Bismarck! And after that more side quests!
#PodReturn #FinalFantasy14 #BismarckIhardlyknewher
www.podbean.com/ew/pb-rw92k-...

We return to the Sea of Clouds in pursuit of the Archbishop! Standing between us and our quarry is the mighty leviathan Bismarck. It's up to us to spear this voracious whale. https://discord.gg/SUHT...

Ep 172: Me Not That Kind of Oracle — Astrologian Part I

October 27, 2025 at 3:38 PM

Pod Return to the Waking Sands

@podreturnffxiv.bsky.social

Jen and Levi pick up a deck of cards and look to the stars to predict the future! I wonder if they'll be able to predict the changes Astro will go through in the newest patch cycle. It's Astrologian!
#PodReturn #FF14 #LivingLevevaLoca
www.podbean.com/ew/pb-vzhue-...

As was foretold in the heavens, we embark upon the Astrologian quests! Stars meet cards in this Heavensward healer. Join us for part 1 of the job quest! https://discord.gg/SUHTBVMVxj podreturnffxiv...

December 15, 2025 at 4:23 PM

Pod Return to the Waking Sands

@podreturnffxiv.bsky.social

Another timeloop caught this one! Jen and Levi, with listeners, finish up the Alexander! They take on the best antagonist of all years and then take the...time....to discuss the story and how it all fits!
#PodReturn #Alexander

www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpE7...

Ep 199: Alexander Part 6

Ep 190: Every Rose Has Its Human Torso — Saint Mocianne's Arboretum

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August 9, 2026 at 6:00 PM

Pod Return to the Waking Sands

@podreturnffxiv.bsky.social

A breezy episode for a breezy dungeon! Actually would that help plants? Surely right? Anyways, Jen and Levi (and Discord members!) explore the depths of Saint Mocianne's Arboretum that's not explained to them why until later!
#PodReturn #FinalFantasy14

youtu.be/jD2k3RxmwfM

May 26, 2026 at 12:00 AM

Pod Return to the Waking Sands

@podreturnffxiv.bsky.social

This would have been posted bit eariler, but it got caught in a timeloop. Jen and Levi, and more listeners!, tackle the first half of the last part of Alexander: The Creator! They battle a junk monster and a large Gobbie, while also talking timeloops!
#PodReturn

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fjy5...

Ep 198: Alexander Part 5

The Make It Rain Campaign 2026 - An Otterly Irresistible Collaboration | FINAL FANTASY XIV, The Lodestone

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July 31, 2026 at 7:00 PM

Pod Return to the Waking Sands

@podreturnffxiv.bsky.social

AWWWW, LOOK AT THE LITTLE GGUYYYYSSS!!! Make It Rain is on! Gain a lot of MGP and more importantly the OTTER backpack and OTTER MINIONTHEYRESOCUTE!
#MakeItRain #PodReturn #LOOKATTHEM

na.finalfantasyxiv.com/lodestone/sp...

Event Schedule / From Friday, May 29, 2026 at 1:00 a.m. to Wednesday, June 24, 2026 at 7:59 a.m. (PDT)

na.finalfantasyxiv.com

May 29, 2026 at 11:15 PM

Pod Return to the Waking Sands

@podreturnffxiv.bsky.social

NIDHOGG IS DEAD! LONG LIVE ISHGARD! The state built upon being the aggressor winning will surely have no consequences right? Join Jen and Levi as we do infact deal with those consequences.
#PodReturn #FinalFantasy14

www.podbean.com/ew/pb-f8ing-...

Ep 160: He Who Would Not Be Denied

Nidhogg's defeat may have left us with more problems than it solved. We barely begin to unravel the wyrm's age-old mysteries when we are called back to Ishgard to deal with a much more immediate crisi...

Ep 169: A Great New Nation

September 15, 2025 at 3:35 PM

Pod Return to the Waking Sands

@podreturnffxiv.bsky.social

Jen and Levi arrive in the city of Idyllshire and help out to gain "citizenship" to allow passage through the city. But more importantly they also help set it on its first steps as a nation state in more side quests!
#PodReturn #Idyllshire #SideQuests
www.podbean.com/ew/pb-kv94a-...

At last we set foot into the Dravanian Hinterlands: home of the former Sharlayan colony until the scholarly nation withdrew from its Eorzean foothold. What has become of this sagely city? Find out as ...

The manacutters are prepped and Estinien is getting antsy. It's time to plunge into Nidhogg's domain to strike at the great wyrm himself! Join us as we delve into this climactic dungeon in the FFXIV H...

November 17, 2025 at 4:18 PM

Pod Return to the Waking Sands

@podreturnffxiv.bsky.social

It's time to take on the dreadwyrm Nidhogg! Jen, Levi, and listeners in the Discord (join sometime!) trek up in the summit of The Aery to strike at the heart of the Dragonsong War! And then also talk about sleeping dragons!
#TheAery #PodReturn #FinalFantasy14

www.podbean.com/ew/pb-q4i2v-...

Ep 159: Into the Aery

Ep 180: No reap!! ONLY SOW — The Neverreap

September 8, 2025 at 8:08 PM

Pod Return to the Waking Sands

@podreturnffxiv.bsky.social

It's time for a breezy (near literally) dungeon run! Jen and Levi get suckered- I mean graciously accept a mission from their Vanu allies! Kill a snake and grab it's scales! They also kill the creator of the FleshGourd(tm)!

www.podbean.com/ew/pb-xa6pn-...
#Neverreap #PodReturn #FinalFantasy14

None are allowed to reap from the sacred birthplace of Bismarck. Until a Vanu Vanu chieftain wants a new headdress, who exports his blasphemy on to us! Join us for the Neverreap optional dungeon in FF...