Writing Alchemy

Awkward meetings abound as our heroes are drawn together. Gail writes an email. Vanessa is standoffish, but she really cares. Janus decides to not back down. And we are all certain that Gail's shack is not a love shack. Cast and Crew: Game Master: Jordan Green (they/them) Vanessa the Witch (she/her): played by Fay Onyx (ze/hir) Janus the Ghoul (she/her): played by Tobi Hill-Meyer (she/her) Gail the Ghost (she/her): played by William (Billie) Rain (ze/hir) Audio Editing: Ryan Boelter (he/they) Sound Design: Fay Onyx Transcription: Nikki Yager (she/her), with help from Fay Onyx, using Otter.ai Content warnings are listed at the bottom of these show notes. TRANSCRIPT For maximum accessibility, each transcript has four formats. Online transcript: https://writingalchemy.net/2021/11/22/transcript-of-inside-the-first-responders-training-program-part-2/ Word doc with low-vision friendly font Veranda: Writing Alchemy E41 Transcript Pdf with dyslexia friendly font OpenDyslexic3: Writing Alchemy E41 Transcript OpenDyslexic3 Low contrast blue on black pdf: Writing Alchemy E41 Transcript blue on black Main transcripts page: https://writing-alchemy.net/podcast-2/transcripts/ Transcription by: Nikki Yager (she/her), with help from Fay Onyx, using Otter.ai LINKS Game System Monsterhearts 2: https://buriedwithoutceremony.com/monsterhearts Podcast Recommendation Hit the Bricks: https://hitthebricks.com/ Support Writing Alchemy Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/WritingAlchemy Ko-fi donation: https://ko-fi.com/S6S4BFL0 Tee Public Store: https://www.teepublic.com/stores/writing-alchemy?ref_id=8162 Writing Alchemy Links Website: https://writing-alchemy.net/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/@writing_alchemy Contact Fay: https://writingalchemy.net/about/contact-form/ Podcast RSS feed: https://writing-alchemy.net/feed/podcast Jordan's Link Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/jordonaut Tobi's Link Website: https://tobihillmeyer.com/ William's (Billie's) Links Website: http://www.billierain.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/billierain Ryan's Link Twitter: https://twitter.com/lordneptune Nikki's Link Linktree: https://linktr.ee/BeholdertoNoOne MUSIC AND SOUND EFFECT CREDITS Intro: Kickin' in the Turbo (Alasdair Cooper) / CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Game theme: Levels Of Greatness by Scott Holmes Music is licensed under a Attribution License Light medieval music: Pippin the Hunchback (Kevin MacLeod) / CC BY 3.0 Humorous guitar music: My Lady Carey's Dompe composed by Anonymous and played by Jon Sayles and available at http://www.jsayles.com/familypages/earlymusic.htm Gail's crush wonder music: The Forest and the Trees (Kevin MacLeod) / CC BY 3.0 Tinkly crush music: The Flight of the Lulu by Possimiste from Free Music Archive Soft piano music: Touching Moments Two - Higher (Kevin MacLeod) / CC BY 3.0 Uplifting slow piano music: There Is Romance (Kevin MacLeod) / CC BY 3.0 Optimistic guitar music: Green Fields by Scott Holmes Music is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License Mid-roll music: The Place Where I'll Return To (Alasdair Cooper) / CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Humorous guitar music: Saltarello by Anonymous and played by Jon Sayles and available at http://www.jsayles.com/familypages/earlymusic.htm Sensual jazz music: Isolated (Kevin MacLeod) / CC BY 3.0 Dramatic folk music: Kings of Tara (Kevin MacLeod) / CC BY 3.0 Hip and spooky synthetic track: Spellbound (Kevin MacLeod) / CC BY 3.0 Geiger counter sounds : Radioactive Machine by leonelmail | License: Creative Commons 0 Outro: Everybody's Got Problems That Aren't Mine (Chris Zabriskie) / CC BY 4.0 CONTENT WARNINGS Social awkwardness and anxiety, uncomfortable public displays of affection, discussion of recent violence  

Writing Alchemy Collaboration 4 Summary A record shaped world, where music is magic, is under threat by evil corporations! These corporate villains are trying to control the magic and destroy musical freedom. Can our mixed-gender team of magical girl superheroes stop their plans in time?! Cast and Crew: Genre Moderator: Ryan Boelter (he/they). Cyrus Wright/Cyberet (he/him): Played by Vincent MacElroy (they/them). Rose/Phoenix Rose (she/her): Played by Fay Onyx (ze/hir). Markus Martes (he/him)/Ghostwriter (she/her): Played by Liz (They/Them). Carpenter (they/them): Played by Jonn (he/him). Sound Cleanup, Dialogue Editing, Environmental Sound Design, and Scoring: Ryan Boelter. Action Sound Design and Accessibility Consulting: Fay Onyx. Transcription: Vincent MacElroy. Content warnings are listed at the bottom of these show notes. Collaboration 4 Transcript For maximum accessibility, each transcript has four formats: an online post for access convenience, a word document with a low-vision friendly font (Veranda), a pdf with a dyslexia friendly font (OpenDyslexic3), and a low contrast blue on black pdf for people with migraines (Veranda). Online transcript: https://writingalchemy.net/2021/10/09/transcript-of-collaboration-4/ Word doc: Writing Alchemy Collaboration 4 Transcript Complete Pdf: Writing Alchemy Collaboration 4 Transcript in OpenDyslexic3 Blue on black: Writing Alchemy Collaboration 4 Transcript blue on black Main transcripts page: https://writing-alchemy.net/podcast-2/transcripts/ Transcription by: Vincent MacElroy Links Game System: Chimera RPG by Ryan Boelter and Amr Ammourazz Twitter: @ChimeraRPG (https://twitter.com/ChimeraRPG) Website: https://chimera.games/ Purchase: https://play.chimera.games/ International Podcast Month Website: http://internationalpodcastmonth.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/PodMonth Hashtag: https://twitter.com/hashtag/PodMonth21 Transcripts: https://www.internationalpodcastmonth.com/transcripts Ryan's Links Twitter: @lordneptune (https://twitter.com/lordneptune) Website: https://lordneptune.com Character Creation Cast - Co-Host and Producer Twitter: @CreationCast (https://twitter.com/CreationCast) Website: https://charactercreationcast.com/ Patreon: https://patreon.com/OneShotPodcast A Horror Borealis - Sound Designer and Producer Twitter: @AHorrorBorealis (https://twitter.com/AHorrorBorealis) Website: https://oneshotpodcast.com/actual-play/a-horror-borealis/ Patreon: https://patreon.com/PaperBoatPods The Broadswords - Dialogue Editor Twitter: @TheBroadswords (https://twitter.com/TheBroadswords) Website: https://thebroadswords.com/ Patreon: https://patreon.com/TheBroadswords Vincent's Links Twitter: @VincentMacElroy (https://twitter.com/VincentMacElroy) Heroes in Progress Podcast Twitter: @H_i_P_Podcast (https://twitter.com/H_i_P_Podcast) Website: https://www.heroesinprogresspodcast.com/ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/heroes-in-progress/id1479056853 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5NyuknwJosV9Pw1Ao31jTD Youtube [CC]: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxRrs68pjBGZBA235q3JJww/featured Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/heroesinprogresspodcast Fay's Links Twitter: @writing_alchemy (https://twitter.com/writing_alchemy) Website: https://writing-alchemy.net/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/WritingAlchemy Liz's Links Twitter: @littoralchemist (https://twitter.com/littoralchemist) October Jones & Fish with Legs Twitter: @octoberandfish (https://twitter.com/octoberandfish) Website: https://www.octoberandfish.ca/ Natural Toonie: Web Links: https://linktr.ee/naturaltoonie Jonn's Links Twitter: https://twitter.com/sleypy Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sleypy.art/ Redacted Files - Cast Member Twitter: @trfpodcast (https://twitter.com/trfpodcast) Website: http://www.theredactedfiles.com/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/theredactedfiles Tabletop Comics - Cast Member Twitter: @tabletop_comics (https://twitter.com/tabletop_comics) Vibrant Legends: Reoccuring GM/Player Twitter: @VibrantLegends (https://twitter.com/VibrantLegends) Website: https://www.vibrantlegends.com/ Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/diceyamazons Music Credits Opening Fanfare: Evening Melodrama by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/3722-evening-melodrama License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license On the Bright Side: Happy Whistling Ukulele by Rafael Krux Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/5453-happy-whistling-ukulele- License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license The Echo: IntheSun by Lilo Sound Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/5814-inthesun License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Markus/Ghostwriter: Around The Globe by Alexander Nakarada Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/4862-around-the-globe License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Cyrus: Fast Talkin by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/3740-fast-talkin License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Rose Part 1: The Joy Of Victory by WinnieTheMoog Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/7767-the-joy-of-victory License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Rose Part 2: Serpentine by WinnieTheMoog Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/7947-serpentine License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Carpenter: Street Trap by WinnieTheMoog Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/5181-street-trap License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Music Store: Tavern Loop One by Alexander Nakarada Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6282-tavern-loop-one License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Flash Dance: StompDance by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/4419-stompdance License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Mix Tape: Edm Detection Mode by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/4987-edm-detection-mode License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Ghostwriter Transformation Part 1: The Joy Of Victory by WinnieTheMoog Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/7767-the-joy-of-victory License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Ghostwriter Transformation Part 2: Quantum Computer Love by MusicLFiles Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6943-quantum-computer-love License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Comforting Duet: Before The Storm by Alexander Nakarada Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/4863-before-the-storm License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Cryus's Emotional Duet: Brothers Unite by Alexander Nakarada Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/4864-brothers-unite License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Rose's Emotional Duet: Return Of A Hero by Alexander Nakarada Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/4896-return-of-a-hero License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Carpenter Transforms!: Voxel Revolution by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/7017-voxel-revolution License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license The Servers Are Against Us!: Super Sweet Sounds by Musikhalde Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6983-super-sweet-sounds License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Bet You've Never Seen This Before!: Trap de Bondby Frank Schröter Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/8004-trap-de-bond- License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Rose Transforms!: Rise Phoenix by Mikael Hellman Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/5863-rise-phoenix License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license The Power of Friendship: Emotionalism by Alexander Nakarada Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/5867-emotionalism License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license United: Happy Boy Theme by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/3855-happy-boy-theme License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license A New World: Epic Cinematic Orchestra Instrumental by EdiKey20 Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/7594-epic-cinematic-orchestra-instrumental License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Sound Effect Credits The action sound effects are from Free Sound: https://freesound.org/ Many sounds were altered by Fay Onyx. The following sounds require attribution: Electric skateboard by Eelke | License: Attribution Opening and closing metal mailbox.wav by CGEffex | License: Attribution Bamboo Swing, A5.wav by InspectorJ | License: Attribution shuriken3.mp3 by Taira Komori | License: Attribution Poison Spell Magic by qubodup | License: Attribution good kick in the head sound.aif by mwl500 | License: Attribution long wispy woosh1.wav by newagesoup | License: Attribution Heavy Impacts by RICHERlandTV | License: Attribution 56 shot candle barrage 1, 5th november 2012.aif by crosbychris | License: Attribution Smashing head on wall by pfranzen | License: Attribution THE CRASH.wav by sandyrb | License: Attribution tommygoogle_smash_tv.wav by tommygoogle | License: Attribution Climbing Ladder by Mountain852 | License: Attribution Noncommercial Attic Door Springs 2 (climbing the ladder) by officialfourge | License: Attribution generator_rumble.flac by primeval_polypod | License: Attribution metal-ring by CosmicEmbers | License: Attribution Barrier.wav by aj_heels | License: Attribution Content Warnings  Story Content: Bee-person, mild violence, mild language. SFX: Flame burst, fireworks, violent crash, explosion.  

Writing Alchemy Unfamiliar Heroes 21 Summary We return to the First Responder's Training Program to catch up with Vanessa the Witch and Janus the Ghoul. In this sequel adventure, meet Gail the Ghost and follow the drama that swirls around the popular Chaz Drakon, as everyone prepares for another pivotal full moon ritual. Game Master: Jordan Green (they/them) Vanessa the Witch (she/her): played by Fay Onyx (ze/hir) Janus the Ghoul (she/her): played by Tobi Hill-Meyer (she/her) Gail the Ghost (she/her): played by Billie Rain (ze/hir) Audio Editing: Kimberly Loftus (she/her)   Sound Design: Fay Onyx Transcription: Goblin (they/them), with help from Fay Onyx, using Otter.ai Content warnings are listed at the bottom of these show notes. Transcript For maximum accessibility, each transcript has four formats: an online post for access convenience, a word document with a low-vision friendly font (Veranda), a pdf with a dyslexia friendly font (OpenDyslexic3), and a low contrast blue on black pdf for people with migraines (Veranda). Online transcript: https://writingalchemy.net/2021/09/03/transcript-of-inside-the-first-responders-training-program-part-1 Word doc: Writing Alchemy E40 Transcript Pdf: Writing Alchemy E40 Transcript OpenDyslexic3 Blue on black: Writing Alchemy E40 Transcript blue on black Main transcripts page: https://writing-alchemy.net/podcast-2/transcripts/ Transcription by: Goblin and Fay Onyx, with the help of Otter.ai Show Notes Game System Monsterhearts 2: https://buriedwithoutceremony.com/monsterhearts Recommendation Kalila Stormfire's Economical Magick Services: https://www.kalilastormfire.com/ Support Writing Alchemy Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/WritingAlchemy Ko-fi donation: https://ko-fi.com/S6S4BFL0 Tee Public Store: https://www.teepublic.com/stores/writing-alchemy?ref_id=8162 Writing Alchemy Links Website: https://writing-alchemy.net/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/@writing_alchemy Contact Fay: https://writingalchemy.net/about/contact-form/ Podcast RSS feed: https://writing-alchemy.net/feed/podcast Jordan's Link Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/jordonaut Johnny Tsunami: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnny_Tsunami Tobi's Links Website: https://tobihillmeyer.com/ Consenticle: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/metasynthie/consentacle-a-card-game-of-human-alien-intimacy Billie's Links Website: http://www.billierain.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/billierain Kimberly's Links Twitter: https://twitter.com/kimberloft/ Actor, Audiobook Narrator, and Crocheter: https://linktr.ee/Kimberloft Goblin's Links Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@trashgoblin69420 Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/goblinfroot Music and Sound Credits Intro: Kickin' in the Turbo (Alasdair Cooper) / CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Game theme: Levels Of Greatness by Scott Holmes Music is licensed under a Attribution License. Vanessa's meeting with Profesora de la Cruz: Anamalie (Kevin MacLeod) / CC BY 3.0 Chaz's theme: Pyro Flow (Kevin MacLeod) / CC BY 3.0 Skateboard Sounds: Skateboard Indoor.wav by et_graham | License: Attribution Noncommercial Mid-roll music: The Place Where I'll Return To (Alasdair Cooper) / CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 The Hallway Collision was made up of the following four sounds: Paper slap: Notebook_Drop_Concrete.aif by amszala | License: Sampling+ Paper splat: Notebook_Drop2_Concrete.aif by amszala | License: Sampling+ Paper rustling: Paper Throw Into Air; 3.wav by RossBell | License: Creative Commons 0 Thuds and paper flutter: falling papers.wav by FreqMan | License: Attribution Anxiety music: Target Group (Instrumental) by The Bell is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial License. Picking up papers individually: 81-Paper Falling.wav by Leoctiurs | License: Attribution Handling a larger quantity of paper: falling papers.wav by FreqMan | License: Attribution Chaz skating into class is the same effect above Chaz skating outside: skateboard_ride.wav by PHetish | License: Creative Commons 0 Janus has something to ask Chaz tension music: Deep Haze (Kevin MacLeod) / CC BY 3.0 Chaz's excited response music: Free Music & Free Beer by Alex (c) copyright 2012 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) Outro: Everybody's Got Problems That Aren't Mine (Chris Zabriskie) / CC BY 4.0 Content Warnings  Sexual references, discussion of historic violence, discussion of trauma and triggers  

Today I’m sharing some tools I have been using that have been extremely helpful for dealing with anxiety. I’ll also be giving an update on what is going on for me, and I’ll wrap up by sharing some of the projects I’ve been working on. The goal of this tool set is to help a person’s nervous system connect to the present moment. The way I understand it is that when people are upset, their mind is usually focusing on the past or the future. Helping the nervous system connect to the present helps it calm down. I find that these tools are helpful during stressful moments, but they can also can be used at other times to increase calm and relaxation. For example, I often use them to help myself get sleepy at bedtime.

Bob the slime-person druid, Nikau the parrotfolk rogue, and Aery the animated statue athlete are part of a team of investigative journalists working for the Crossroads Observer. The Observer has obtained a sample that could finally expose the dirty dealings of the wealthy Steward Family. Their job is to get this sample to the expert Juniper Huckleberry. The only problem is that Juniper is an infamously reclusive gnome druid who lives in her research garden, which is full of dangerous magical plants.

This is an experimental episode of Writing Alchemy where Fay describes five beautiful photographs of the Pacific Ocean in detail with the soothing sound of ocean waves in the background. This is an internet hug going out to all of the people who want a few minutes of tranquil calm in their day.

This is a special scripted crossover episode between Writing Alchemy and Kalila Stormfire’s Economical Magick Services where we return to Sylvan Community College as Kalilia gives Janus her first tarot reading, foreshadowing the events which will take place in the next Unfamiliar Heroes game.

This Bonus Cast features stand up comedy that the amazing Tobi Hill-Meyer did for Thriving While Trans. Afterwards, there are some announcements about upcoming audio and text games.

Crossroads Story Time is a new series that explores the myths and lore of the Crossroads Setting. The four short stories in this episode delve into the cosmology and magic of Crossroads through the story of its creation.

Several storybook characters have gone missing from the kingdom of Tome. Making things worse, a Storyteller has just disappeared. Frecka and Salvinia, Agents of Pandora, were assigned to the search for Loren Hope. Will the two agents be able to crack a case that all the king’s horses and all the king’s men have failed to piece together?

In this episode, Fay, Mimsy, and Rhi dive deep into how the RPG community can become a more accessible and welcoming space for disabled players, GMs, and designers. Learn about some of the excellent work that Fay and Mimsy are already doing in this space, and leave with plenty of ideas on how to play, run, and make games that are better for all players.

In this episode Fay talks about something ze thinks about a lot—creating accessible settings. This topic was started by the question, "How Can I Make My World Accommodating to Disabled People?" which Fay answered on the Mythcreants blog.

That creepy feeling is back, Willa is impressed, and a character from a beloved childhood story makes an appearance. Join us for the long-awaited conclusion to the Owlbear Reintroduction Program in the nineteenth game episode of Unfamiliar Heroes! Willa the gecko lizardperson rogue, Tarragon the orc bard, and D’Zân the weredragon druid are participating in The Owlbear Reintroduction Program, a project that is reestablishing owlbears in areas where the owlbear populations have been previously wiped out. Of course, this is not as simple as it sounds, because owlbears are large, ferocious, magical predators. Throw in a group of skilled poachers determined to steal owlbear eggs and things are bound to get interesting. This improvised, tabletop adventure was created with the Magic Goes Awry role-playing system!

In this Bonus Cast I share the stories behind three of the sound effects I used in the most recent episode of Owlbear Reintroduction Program Game. Following these stories are updates on what is going on for me, what I’ve been doing for the past two months, and what projects and podcast episodes are coming next.

I will be leading a workshop about “Making RPG Podcasts Accessible” on January 20th at PodCon2 in Seattle. For those who can’t attend this workshop in-person, it will be in the remote attendance feed for PodCon2. As an accessibility feature, I have created reference document that goes over all of the topics covered in the workshop, which you can find on the Writing Alchemy website. Workshop Description: In the US one in four adults has a disability. This means that there are a lot of disabled people in the RPG podcast community, however physical, social, and game play barriers often prevent the full inclusion of disabled participants and audience members. This workshop is about identifying common barriers and addressing them. We will discuss areas to be aware of, accessibility tools, strategies for handling pitfalls, and ways to improve representation of disabled people.

Zombies are coming toward our three heroes. Join them in the eighteenth game episode of Unfamiliar Heroes as they struggle to get to the shelter of the Inn on the Bridge! Willa the gecko lizardperson rogue, Tarragon the orc bard, and D’Zân the weredragon druid are participating in The Owlbear Reintroduction Program, a project that is reestablishing owlbears in areas where the owlbear populations have been previously wiped out. Of course, this is not as simple as it sounds, because owlbears are large, ferocious, magical predators. Throw in a group of skilled poachers determined to steal owlbear eggs and things are bound to get interesting. This improvised, tabletop adventure was created with the Magic Goes Awry role-playing system!

This Bonus Cast is about the new podcast transcripts and ways I’m trying to make them accessible.

This Bonus Cast has all the updates, including the unveiling of Writing Alchemy owlbear merchandise, updates on Magic Goes Awry, when The Owlbear Reintroduction Program is going to return, and some news about big events in Fay’s family.

This Bonus Cast delves into the nuances of language, its dynamic nature, and how that intersects with personal experience and identity through a focus on my personal relationship with the terms “neurodiverse” and “neurodivergent.”

Our three heroes begin their negotiations with the owlbears in the seventeenth game episode of Unfamiliar Heroes. Join them for the excitement of river adventures and camping with owlbears! Willa the gecko lizardperson rogue, Tarragon the orc bard, and D’Zân the weredragon druid are participating in The Owlbear Reintroduction Program, a project that is reestablishing owlbears in areas where the owlbear populations have been previously wiped out. Of course, this is not as simple as it sounds, because owlbears are large, ferocious, magical predators. Throw in a group of skilled poachers determined to steal owlbear eggs and things are bound to get interesting. This improvised, tabletop adventure was created with the Magic Goes Awry role-playing system!

This Bonus Cast starts with a behind the scenes discussion about this change in format, then jumps into the player and characters introductions for The Owlbear Reintroduction Program Game.

My first ever Bonus Cast is on the topic of my favorite LGBTQ+ role-playing game character.

Our three heroes finally reach the owlbear den in the sixteenth game episode of Unfamiliar Heroes. Join them as they have their first encounter with wild owlbears! Willa the gecko lizardperson rogue, Tarragon the orc bard, and D’Zân the weredragon druid are participating in The Owlbear Reintroduction Program, a project that is reestablishing owlbears in areas where the owlbear populations have been previously wiped out. Of course, this is not as simple as it sounds, because owlbears are large, ferocious, magical predators. Throw in a group of skilled poachers determined to steal owlbear eggs and things are bound to get interesting. This improvised, tabletop adventure was created with the Magic Goes Awry role-playing system!

In the fifteenth game episode of Unfamiliar Heroes, our three heroes arrive in Islandtown, the home of the Crossroads Wilderness Keepers. Join them as potions are brewed, paper is shuffled, and a wagon is wreathed in flames! Willa the gecko lizardperson rogue, Tarragon the orc bard, and D’Zân the weredragon druid are participating in The Owlbear Reintroduction Program, a project that is reestablishing owlbears in areas where the owlbear populations have been previously wiped out. Of course, this is not as simple as it sounds, because owlbears are large, ferocious, magical predators. Throw in a group of skilled poachers determined to steal owlbear eggs and things are bound to get interesting. This improvised, tabletop adventure was created with the Magic Goes Awry role-playing system!

In the fourteenth game episode of Unfamiliar Heroes, our three heroes get their first internship assignment from The Adventurers Academy. Join them as they start out on their journey! Willa the gecko lizardperson rogue, Tarragon the orc bard, and D’Zân the weredragon druid are participating in The Owlbear Reintroduction Program, a project that is reestablishing owlbears in areas where the owlbear populations have been previously wiped out. Of course, this is not as simple as it sounds, because owlbears are large, ferocious, magical predators. Throw in a group of skilled poachers determined to steal owlbear eggs and things are bound to get interesting. This improvised, tabletop adventure was created with the Magic Goes Awry role-playing system!

Meet D’Zân the weredragon druid in this character introduction episode of Unfamiliar Heroes. D’Zân is a student at the celebrated Adventurers Academy, and right now xe is studying creative problem-solving. Join xem for a surreal training exercise where xe swims through a sky full of sharks. This character introduction is preparation for The Owlbear Reintroduction Program, a game where the characters participate in a project that is reestablishing owlbears in wilderness areas where the owlbear populations have been previously wiped out. Of course, this is not as simple as it sounds, because owlbears are large, ferocious, magical predators. This improvised, tabletop adventure was created with the Magic Goes Awry role-playing system!

Meet Tarragon Songsteel the orc bard in this character introduction episode of Unfamiliar Heroes. Tarragon is a student at the celebrated Adventurers Academy, and right now they are studying creative problem-solving. Join them for a surreal training exercise where they attempt to retrieve an orb from a mysterious underwater maze. This character introduction is preparation for The Owlbear Reintroduction Program, a game where the characters participate in a project that is reestablishing owlbears in wilderness areas where the owlbear populations have been previously wiped out. Of course, this is not as simple as it sounds, because owlbears are large, ferocious, magical predators. This improvised, tabletop adventure was created with the Magic Goes Awry role-playing system!

Meet Willa the gecko lizardperson rogue in this character introduction episode of Unfamiliar Heroes. Willa is a student at the celebrated Adventurers Academy and right now she is studying creative problem-solving. Join her for a surreal training exercise involving four hostile robots guarding an orb, surrounded by a massive pile of rubble. This character introduction is preparation for The Owlbear Reintroduction Program, a game where the characters participate in a project that is reestablishing owlbears in wilderness areas where the owlbear populations have been previously wiped out. Of course, this is not as simple as it sounds, because owlbears are large, ferocious, magical predators. This improvised, tabletop adventure was created with the Magic Goes Awry role-playing system!

Captured by rebels, our three heroes are fighting back. Malena, Adre, and Mariah have incapacitated the rebel captain and four guards. Now they are taking the fight into the shuttle bay, where they are causing havoc. Join them in the tenth game episode of Unfamiliar Heroes as Malena, Adre, and Mariah attemp to escape the rebel ship! Malena the intellectual scientist, Adre the hot-shot engineer, and Mariah the alien doctor are all officers from the Consortium starship the Raptor. These three surprisingly senior officers were all participating in a test flight of Z-crystals, a revolutionary new type of propulsion crystal, when their shuttle was intercepted by the rebel ship Sojourner. Join them for this improvised, tabletop adventure that was created with the Lasers & Feelings role-playing system!

In the ninth game episode of Unfamiliar Heroes Malena, Adre, and Mariah have been captured by rebels. Join them as they meet the rebel captain and implement their desperate escape plan. Malena the intellectual scientist, Adre the hot-shot engineer, and Mariah the alien doctor are all officers from the Consortium starship the Raptor. These three surprisingly senior officers were all participating in a test flight of Z-crystals, a revolutionary new type of propulsion crystal, when their shuttle was intercepted by the rebel ship Sojourner. Join them for this improvised, tabletop adventure that was created with the Lasers & Feelings role-playing system!

In the eighth game episode of Unfamiliar Heroes meet the crew of the Raptor as they defend their test shuttle from the renegade starship Sojourner. Malena the intellectual scientist, Adre the hot-shot engineer, and Mariah the alien doctor are all officers from the Consortium starship the Raptor. These three surprisingly senior officers were all participating in a test flight of Z-crystals, a revolutionary new type of propulsion crystal, when their shuttle was intercepted by the rebel ship Sojourner. Join them for this improvised, tabletop adventure that was created with the Lasers & Feelings role-playing system!

In the seventh game episode of Unfamiliar Heroes the paranormal detectives of the Cat’s Paw Ghost Control agency investigate some disturbing, supernatural growls that have been plaguing a small Seattle neighborhood. Maybe it is a were-raccoon, or perhaps it is a were-cow. Listen to find out! Tabitha the space alien cat, Jake the fake TV psychic, and Lalla the plant talker botanist are the paranormal detectives of Cat’s Paw Ghost Control. Join them as they solve supernatural problems with cat-themed technology, a shady network of contacts, and plant power in a tabletop game that uses the InSpectres role-playing system!

In the sixth game episode of Unfamiliar Heroes a Seattle grocery store is plagued by mischievous spirits with a special resentment toward lederhosen. Meet the Cat’s Paw Ghost Control team as they tackle this challenge together. Tabitha the space alien cat, Jake the fake TV psychic, and Lalla the plant talker botanist are the paranormal detectives of Cat’s Paw Ghost Control. Join them as they solve supernatural problems with cat-themed technology, a shady network of contacts, and plant power in a tabletop game that uses the InSpectres role-playing system!

This second anniversary special episode includes behind the scenes updates, outtakes, and six very silly bad poems that were composed for a Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy Vogon poetry competition in which the goal was to make poems that were as terrible (and funny) as possible.

It is finally the day of the Full Moon Ritual, but as the heroes prepare, they discover that something isn’t quite right. This episode is the conclusion to the first game of Unfamiliar Heroes. Underneath the facade of ordinary reality lies a hidden world of monsters and magic. At Sylvan Community College a secret program teaches supernatural teens to deal with this dangerous world as they struggle with the mess and confusion of their own lives. Welcome to the First Responders Training Program, a tabletop game using the Monsterhearts 2 role-playing system!

In this fourth game episode of Unfamiliar Heroes the humor and drama continue as Tamara confronts Vanessa about her spying, Janus tries to figure out what the First Responders Training Program really is, and Vanessa has a vision that leads to an important revelation! Underneath the facade of ordinary reality lies a hidden world of monsters and magic. At Sylvan Community College a secret program teaches supernatural teens to deal with this dangerous world as they struggle with the mess and confusion of their own lives. Welcome to the First Responders Training Program, a tabletop game using the Monsterhearts 2 role-playing system!

In this third game episode of Unfamiliar Heroes the humor and drama continues as Shanda gives Vanessa some subtle guidance and Tamara confronts Janus with an unexpected truth! Underneath the facade of ordinary reality lies a hidden world of monsters and magic. At Sylvan Community College a secret program teaches supernatural teens to deal with this dangerous world as they struggle with the mess and confusion of their own lives. Welcome to the First Responders Training Program, a tabletop game using the Monsterhearts 2 role-playing system!

In this second game episode of Unfamiliar Heroes we learn more about Sylvan Community College, fill in a few key pieces of character background, and then jump into Vanessa and Janus’ awkward first meeting in the Pagan Student Association! Underneath the facade of ordinary reality lies a hidden world of monsters and magic. At Sylvan Community College a secret program teaches supernatural teens to deal with this dangerous world as they struggle with the mess and confusion of their own lives. Welcome to the First Responders Training Program, a tabletop game using the Monsterhearts 2 role-playing system!

In this first game episode of Unfamiliar Heroes we meet Vanessa the judgmental witch and Janus the slacker ghoul, learn about Sylvan Community College, and discover the mysterious event that connects Janus and Vanessa. Underneath the facade of ordinary reality lies a hidden world of monsters and magic. At Sylvan Community College a secret program teaches supernatural teens to deal with this dangerous world as they struggle with the mess and confusion of their own lives. Welcome to the First Responders Training Program, a tabletop game using the Monsterhearts 2 role-playing system!

In this foundational episode of Unfamiliar Heroes, which I’m calling Episode Zero, I start off with a discussion of disability representation and the reasons why I feel that this project is so needed. Next I go over the ways that participants who live at the intersections of oppression are centered in this project. Finally I discuss the eight game ground rules which are designed to keep games accessible and inclusive. Unfamiliar Heroes is a podcast series in which three disabled, neurodiverse, and/or chronically ill players and a game master play story-focused tabletop role-playing games where all of the player characters have disabilities, diverse minds, and/or chronic illnesses. In its core values, this project centers the experiences of people living at the intersections of oppression. Unfamiliar Heroes is part of the Writing Alchemy Podcast.

We continue the discussion as artist, activist, disabled survivor iconoclast billie rain shares hir Chronic Illness Bill of Rights. Then we jump into a conversation about societal response to chronic illness, myths about disability, ways of supporting people with chronic illnesses, and how we can create more inclusive communities.

In the fourth segment of The Wishing Dildo Series, the adventure continues as we find out more about the mysterious and regal Jewel. Then the six companions take a secret detour to the Kingdom of Waterfalls. This story is followed by a discussion about trauma in which I talk about myth, reality, resilience, healing, and community with artist, activist, disabled survivor iconoclast billie rain. This discussion goes deep places, but it also has a lot of laughter too. The Wishing Dildo Part 1: It is said that the Wishing Dildo can grant any wish relating to sexuality or fertility, as long as that wish is consensual. Prince Hart sure hopes that is true as he and his friend, trickster Tala, embark on a quest for it. As they travel, they soon discover that sometimes the greatest adventure is the people you meet along the way.

Today’s discussion with spiritual atheist Kathleen Lamothe is a deep and far ranging Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) inspired conversation about music, addiction, anger, health, diverse minds, psychology, and happiness.

In this third segment of The Wishing Dildo Series, the adventure continues as we get to know Anissa, and then the five companions visit the temperamental rulers of the Gilded Kingdom. The story is followed by a discussion about brain diversity, mental health, and the gifts and struggles of ADHD with spiritual atheist Kathleen Lamothe. The Wishing Dildo Part 1: It is said that the Wishing Dildo can grant any wish relating to sexuality or fertility, as long as that wish is consensual. Prince Hart sure hopes that is true as he and his friend, trickster Tala, embark on a quest for it. As they travel, they soon discover that sometimes the greatest adventure is the people you meet along the way.

Today’s discussion with activist, comedian, and sex worker Vee Chattie focuses on the lived experiences of sex workers. In this conversation we talk about the performative aspects of sex work, emotional labor, myths, stereotypes, stigma, and empowerment.

In this second podcast segment of The Wishing Dildo Series, the fairy tale continues as Prince Hart, Tala, and Tomas meet two new companions, each with a unique magical superpower. Then activist, comedian, and sex worker Vee Chattie joins Fay for the following discussion about the reality verses myth of sex work, sexual superpowers, boundaries, marginalization, and community. The Wishing Dildo Part 1: It is said that the Wishing Dildo can grant any wish relating to sexuality or fertility, as long as that wish is consensual. Prince Hart sure hopes that is true as he and his friend, trickster Tala, embark on a quest for it. As they travel, they soon discover that sometimes the greatest adventure is the people you meet along the way.

Today’s discussion with hesitant art activist Lector Josue Morales focuses on the topics of art and activism and how they intersect with disability, community, and race. In this conversation we challenge ourselves to expand our ideas about what activism is so that we can fully value the diverse kinds of activism that people are doing.

We return to intersectional fairy tales as hesitant art activist Lector Josue Morales joins Fay for the start of The Wishing Dildo Series in which Prince Hart and Tala embark on their quest for The Wishing Dildo and meet a surprising new companion. The following discussion focuses on the representation of disability in speculative fiction and the difference between using a disabled character to tell an able-bodied story and having a character that represents the experiences of disabled people. The Wishing Dildo Part 1: It is said that the Wishing Dildo can grant any wish relating to sexuality or fertility, as long as that wish is consensual. Prince Hart sure hopes that is true as he and his friend, trickster Tala, embark on a quest for it. As they travel, they soon discover that sometimes the greatest adventure is the people you meet along the way.

This interlude episode is all about intersections, with a focus on fatness, disability, gender, and queer identity. Guest Kristina Gibbs-Ruby reads a powerful spoken word piece about bullying and fatphobia while Fay reads hir popular article, “Why Having Conditional Privilege Is Not the Same as Simply Being Privileged,” which delves into the complexity of invisible identities, privilege, oppression, gatekeeping, and the struggle to be recognized as real through hir personal experiences.

In this romance-themed interlude episode, Yolanda Wallace reads from her contemporary lesbian romance 21 Questions, in which Kenya Davis meets bartender Simone Bailey for the first time. Then we delve into themes, representation, and inspiration in Yolanda’s writing. 21 Questions: Kenya Davis’s ability to find the perfect employee is unparalleled. Her ability to find the perfect mate? Not so much. After she takes a chance on speed dating, she finds herself with not one but two chances to find true love. But with her spotty romantic track record, how can she be sure which woman is Miss Right and which is only Miss Right Now? Simone Bailey works as a bartender at one of the hottest nightclubs in South Beach, has more female attention than she knows what to do with, and spends her spare time following her musical ambitions. Then she meets Kenya Davis. After her initial attempt to charm her way into Kenya's heart fails, she resolves to reach her ultimate destination one question at a time.

Monsters is the theme as sci-fi writer and monster enthusiast Bex Shea joins Fay for the conclusion of “Dangerous Company,” in which Kalla finally discovers that the dragon she has been sent to kill has been disguised as her guide the whole time. The following discussion delves into the question of what monstrousness is, the ways that depictions of monsters can be used to otherize or to empathize, fear, compassion, unknowability, the association of gendered traits with power, gender exploration, and the blurring of the lines between human and monster. Dangerous Company: The last five dragon slayers died. Kalla is good at solving problems, but her skills will be tested as she embarks on her journey with the very dragon she is expected to kill disguised as her guide. Some interesting surprises are just around the corner…