Squid Game: The Official Podcast (2024 - 2025)

Host Phil Yu is joined by the iconic comedian and actor, Margaret Cho as they break down episodes 4, 5, and 6 of Squid Game. The two dive into the brutal tug-of-war game, the heart-wrenching marbles showdown, and the dark twists of organ trafficking, all while exploring deeper themes of Korean culture. Plus, we call Lauren Bowser, professional mortician, to shed light on the grisly reality of organ harvesting. And Phil’s mom weighs in on what Phil’s biggest advantage would be in the games.

Phil is joined by cosplayer and Squid Game superfan Kiera Please as they relive the thrilling conclusion of Season 1. From the terrifying glass bridge challenge to the intense final showdown between Gi-hun and Sang-woo, and the shocking twist that reveals the masterminds behind the games, Phil and Kiera break down the aftermath and analyze the twisted worldview of those responsible for creating the deadly competition. Plus, a spicy truth-or-dare segment, and Phil’s mom shares what she’d do with the Squid Game prize money!

In the gripping Season 2 premiere, Player 456 returns with a vengeance, leading a covert manhunt for the Recruiter. Hosts Phil Yu and Kiera Please dive into Gi-hun’s transformation from victim to vigilante, the Recruiter’s twisted philosophy on fairness, and the dark experiments that continue to haunt the Squid Game. Plus, we touch on the new characters, the enduring trauma of old ones, and Phil and Kiera go head-to-head in a game of Ddakjji. Finally, our resident mortician, Lauren Bowser is back to drop more truth bombs on all things death.

In Episode 2, Gi-hun teams up with Detective Jun-ho for a high-stakes Halloween mission. Hosts Phil Yu and Kiera Please are joined by special guest Jaeki Cho (Founder of Righteous Eats) to discuss Gi-hun’s dramatic transformation from Season 1 to Season 2, analyze the Front Man’s unsettling worldview, and delve into the origin story of No-eul, a North Korean defector whose haunting past drives her to a pivotal—and chilling—decision. Plus, Jaeki faces off with Kiera in a high-stakes game of Rock, Paper, Scissors (with a Squid Game twist).

Phil and Kiera break down Episode 3, “001,” with special guest Heidi Wong—poet, writer, and horror fanatic. Gi-hun’s shocking return to the games sets the stage for a Red Light, Green Light redux like we’ve never seen before. As he tries to lead the players to safety, the question looms: how much can he really change the games? And the biggest twist yet—Player 001’s true identity is finally revealed, leaving us with more questions than answers. Plus, we dive into the complex morality of the players, and debate which players we’re rooting for…and who we’d love to see lose. (Hint: “Señorita!”) Finally, Heidi and Phil face off in a chaotic 1:1 battle of Sikhye Pong—powered by the sweet, traditional Korean rice drink.

In Episode 4, “Six Legs,” alliances are formed as players are thrown into their first team game. Hosts Phil Yu and Kiera Please unpack the heart-pounding moments as Gi-hun reluctantly steps into the role of leader as the players face a grueling six-legged pentathlon that demands far more than brute strength to survive. Meanwhile, Pink Guard 011 grapples with her own complex morality, further blurring the lines between mercy and brutality. We’ll explore the unexpected strength of the “misfits” team, while Detective Jun-ho’s rescue mission takes a darker turn. It all raises the pressing question: How far up the chain of command do the games truly go? Finally, Phil and Kiera try their hand at Gonggi, a classic Korean schoolyard game inspired by this episode, and Phil’s mom joins in to share her take on Season 2!

In Episode 5, “One More Game,” the surviving players rally together after an inspiring finish to the Six-Legged Pentathlon, only to face a pivotal vote: split the cash and leave now, or risk their lives in hopes of winning more? Hosts Phil Yu and Kiera Please are joined by special guests Trey Plutnicki and LeAnn Wilcox Plutnicki from Squid Game: The Challenge S1 to reflect on chosen family—and the remarkable women of the games who rise to the occasion.

In Episode 6, “O X,” Phil and Kiera dive into the shocking twists of “Round and Round,“ the carousel game. Special guest Dash Katz, from Squid Game: The Challenge S1, joins the conversation to talk survival strategies and share their fiery takes on the season’s most dramatic betrayals. Plus, we unpack the game makers’ introduction of the O vs. X rivalry and its ripple effects, while delving into the factors that widen this growing divide. And for a much-needed laugh, Phil and Kiera face off in Chubby Bunny: Gimbap Edition.

In the Season 2 finale of Squid Game, an explosive fight ignites between the remaining players and the game’s architects. Hosts Phil Yu and Kiera Please, joined by special guest Jason Concepcion, unpack the episode’s most shocking moments, from Gi-hun’s bloody “special game” revolt, to Player 001’s masterclass in deception—and ask: Can Gi-hun’s heroism withstand the crushing weight of sacrifice? Plus, Phil and Kiera share their theories, reflections, and predictions for what Season 3 could bring.

Squid Game is back—and this time, the knives are out. In the thrilling Season 3 premiere, Player 456 is spiraling and a brutal round of hide-and-seek forces players to kill or be killed. Hosts Phil Yu and Kiera Please break down Gi-hun’s descent into vengeance, Guard 011’s daring betrayal of the Game, and the shocking moment players are forced to choose between murdering their friends… or dying. Then, Carlos Juico and Gavin Ruta from the Jumpers Jump podcast join us to unpack their wild theories for the season. Plus, Phil and Kiera face off in a high-stakes round of “Hot Sweet Potato.”

The body count rises—and a Squid baby is born—during a brutal game of hide-and-seek. Player 120 steps up as an unlikely protector, MG Coin forms a deadly new alliance, and Player 456 crosses a line he may never come back from. Phil and Kiera unpack the players’ breaking points, the emotional fallout of a beloved character’s exit, and what a baby could mean for the future of the Game. Then, YouTuber and Squid Game: The Challenge alum Kevin Ninh (aka “Flawless Kevin”) joins in-studio to talk about bullying, survival, and the pressure to prove yourself. Plus, things get messy (literally) in a wild round of “Open the Locks.”

What does it mean to protect a child in a world designed to crush the innocent? In this episode, hosts Phil Yu and ‪@KieraPlease‬ react to one of the season’s most devastating twists, the newborn baby’s forced induction into the Game and Player 456’s newfound purpose. Plus, we break down the backstory of our favorite creepy dolls: Young-hee and Chul-su and their role in Korean education. Then, special guest ‪@wongfupro‬ of Spill The Boba Tea & Wong Fu Productions joins to talk about the show’s evolving definition of family–and what it means when even the heroes have blood on their hands. Plus, the trio face off in a morally impossible round of “The Lesser Evil”- because sometimes, there are no right answers.

Phil Yu and Kiera Please unpack how innocence gets weaponized when the baby is named the Game’s newest player—and explore what South Korea’s plummeting birth rate says about why this baby holds so much weight. Then, activist and content creator Amber Whittington (aka “AmbersCloset”) joins to break down the heartbreaking end to the Jump Rope game, the Front Man’s shocking reveal, and faces off with Kiera in a game of “Poisoned Bottle” that’s equal parts delicious and disgusting.

It’s the second-to-last episode of Squid Game — and the final challenge is here: Sky Squid Game. With only a few players remaining, a brutal “democratic” vote determines who lives, who dies, and who becomes a sacrifice. Hosts Phil Yu and Kiera Please unpack the twisted politics of fairness, the final betrayal of the Os, and Player 456’s decision to protect the baby — even if it means risking everything. And Comedian Steven He (“EMOTIONAL DAMAGE!”) joins the pod to break down Guard 011’s revenge, Min-su’s haunting farewell, and the flashback that finally reveals how the Front Man won his season. Plus, we put Steven in the hot seat for a ruthless game of “Who Wants to Be a Squid-ionaire?”

The Game ends here. In the gripping series finale of Squid Game, Player 456, Gi-hun, finds himself right back where he started—one of the final two players. Hosts Phil Yu and Kiera Please sit with the full emotional weight of the series’ conclusion—unpacking Player 456’s remarkable final act of defiance, the Front Man’s quiet reckoning, and the question at the heart of the show: what does it mean to be human in an inhumane world? They revisit lingering fan theories, reflect on the characters they’ll never forget, and explore a final twist that raises even more questions than it answers.

For our final bonus episode, hosts Phil Yu and Kiera Please head to New York City for an exclusive sit-down with the minds and hearts behind Squid Game. Joining them are series creator and director Hwang Dong-hyuk, the unforgettable Player 456 himself, Lee Jung-jae, and the enigmatic Front Man, Lee Byung-hun. It’s the deep-dive fans have been waiting for. From burning questions about the show’s most iconic moments to revelations about its unforgettable characters and what to expect in the final season—nothing is off limits. Join us as we peel back the mask and get real with the legends behind the global phenomenon.