Have you heard? Aliens have made first contact with us!

...And who better to decipher the message from the stars than a seasoned podcasting trio who are experts in not only puzzle solving, but also audio communication and perhaps most importantly: diplomacy. Thanks to the Super Sophisticated Alien Communication Terminal (or SSACT for short).

These beings have travelled billions of lightyears to impart an important message... I wonder what it'll be?

In this episode, you can also play along on your own SSACT device here.

• Puzzle Maestro: Mairi Nolan

• Solvers: Jon Saunders, Mike Collins, Jamie Gibbs

• Episode Art: Dom Jordan

• Editor: Jamie Gibbs

TLDR: A language-deciphering and communication episode about talking to aliens.

His Royal Majesty is on his way to the legally distinct underground sandwich shop for his daily favourite footlong. But this week's solvers will first need to figure out exactly what that sandwich is, and how to make it.

The stakes quite literally could not be higher.

So join in, lettuce investigate...

• Puzzle Maestro: Jamie Gibbs

• Solvers: Jon Saunders, Mike Collins, Mairi Nolan

• Episode Art: Dom Jordan

• Editor: Jamie Gibbs

TLDR: The solvers must reconstruct the king's favourite sandwich in a logical deduction puzzle about finding the right ingredients.

Join us in this week's 'cafe-isode' at Squeaky Cream's Artisanal Fromagery and Coffee Roastery, where instead of coffee foam they serve cappuccinos with a dollop of gorgonzola.

Here we'll be reflecting on a big question in the escape room industry: Is escaping "enough" anymore? Or do you have another core central mechanic? How about inserting other mechanics into rooms, such as achievements and side games? What makes a room memorable?

As always, here are your recommendations for this month.

Jamie - The Rest is Science (podcast), an accessible and fun science podcast that tackles questions of life and the universe.

Bailey - Museum of Pop Culture with Josh Widdicombe (podcast) that is about exactly that - moments in pop culture history!

Mike - Ade Edmondson's Beserker! (book), a fantastic read from a national treasure.

Hosts: Mike Collins, Jamie Gibbs, Emma Bailey

Editor: Jamie Gibbs