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When does refusing to repeat a lie become complicity in it?The hardest question in documentary filmmaking is not how to find the truth. It is how to handle a lie. When a false story is already loose in the world, you have two choices that look almost identical on the page: refuse to repeat it, or amplify it by debunking it. The discipline of knowing which is which can decide whether your film tells the truth or makes the lie stronger.In this Deep Dive on Documentary First Episode 279 with Brian Pocrass, host Christian Taylor digs into the question Brian asked on tape about how much oxygen you give a lie. The conversation took thirty minutes to arrive there, but the question turns out to be the spine of every documentary that touches a contested story. This episode traces that question through C.S. Lewis's The Screwtape Letters, Dietrich Bonhoeffer's life under the Nazi regime, Alexander Solzhenitsyn's 1974 essay Live Not By Lies, and a two thousand year old paradox in the book of Proverbs.The spine of the episode is Brian's question on tape: "The question is, how much oxygen do you give it?" That question runs straight into a paradox the rabbis of the Talmud spent centuries arguing over. Proverbs 26:4 says do not answer a fool according to his folly. Proverbs 26:5, the very next verse, says answer a fool according to his folly. The Talmudic resolution maps directly onto the filmmaker's dilemma: the stakes determine the answer. Christian closes the episode with her own test, drawn from her film The Girl Who Wore Freedom: the story of Michel de Vallavieille, the French farmer shot in the back by an American paratrooper on D-Day, and the famous Band of Brothers rumor she refused to put on screen.In this episode, Christian explores:Why every production company wanted Brian Pocrass to tell a different version of Heather O'Rourke's story than the one he ended up makingThe C.S. Lewis principle from The Screwtape Letters that the devil cares more about attention than beliefHow debunking a conspiracy theory can give the conspiracy a brand new piece of footage to point atDietrich Bonhoeffer's argument that silence in the face of evil is itself evilAlexander Solzhenitsyn's 1974 essay Live Not By Lies and the moral discipline of refusalThe two thousand year old paradox in Proverbs 26:4-5 and how the Talmudic rabbis resolved itWhy the Talmud's answer is sacred versus mundane stakes, and what that means for documentary filmmakersThe Michel de Vallavieille story from Christian's film The Girl Who Wore FreedomThe Band of Brothers rumor about Bill Guarnere that Christian refused to put on screenThe two questions every documentary filmmaker has to weigh before they amplify a storyChapters0:00 C.S. Lewis, the Devil, and Brian Pocrass's Question0:30 How Much Oxygen Do You Give a Lie?1:28 The Screwtape Letters and the Devil's Currency2:24 Bonhoeffer: Silence in the Face of Evil Is Evil Itself3:27 Solzhenitsyn's Live Not By Lies and Proverbs 264:59 The Girl Who Wore Freedom: Bill Guarnere and My Own Test6:14 The Question I Leave You WithFrequently Asked QuestionsWhen does debunking a lie make it stronger?Researchers at Data and Society documented this dynamic in a 2018 study called The Oxygen of Amplification. Repeating a false claim in order to refute it gives the claim attention, repeats the language, and trains the algorithm to surface it more. Britannica describes this dynamic as adding oxygen to the fire of misinformation. For documentary filmmakers, this means a debunking film about a conspiracy theory can leave viewers more familiar with the conspiracy than with the truth.What did Dietrich Bonhoeffer say about silence?Bonhoeffer's most famous line on the subject is silence in the face of evil is itself evil; not to speak is to speak; not to act is to act. Bonhoeffer was a German pastor in the 1930s who watched the German church surrender to the Nazi regime. He spent his adult life arguing against the silence of fellow pastors. The Nazis executed him in April 1945. His writings on costly discipleship remain among the most cited works of twentieth century theology.What is Alexander Solzhenitsyn's Live Not By Lies about?Live Not By Lies is the essay Solzhenitsyn released on the day the KGB arrested and deported him in 1974. He argues that while a single person cannot stop a lie from being told, every person can refuse to repeat it. The refusal itself is the action. The essay is one of the foundational moral texts of the dissident movement against Soviet totalitarianism and remains widely cited in discussions of personal moral resistance.How do the rabbis of the Talmud resolve Proverbs 26:4 and 26:5?Proverbs 26:4 says do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you will be like him yourself. Proverbs 26:5 says answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes. The Talmudic resolution is that the two verses apply to different kinds of stakes. When the fool is talking about something sacred, you answer. When the fool is talking about something mundane, you do not. The wisdom is in knowing which kind of stakes you are facing.How do documentary filmmakers handle conspiracy theories about their subjects?There is no industry standard. Each filmmaker has to weigh the specific story. Some choose to confront the conspiracy directly and risk amplifying it. Others refuse to give the conspiracy screen time and risk being accused of avoidance. The discipline is to ask what the documentary makes more solid in the world and who the actual audience is: the people who already believe the lie, or the people who deserve the truth.About the Source EpisodeDocumentary First Episode 279 with Brian Pocrass aired on June 9, 2026. Brian is an attorney based in Los Angeles and the producer of She Was Here, the 2026 documentary about the life and death of Heather O'Rourke. The film features Heather's family debunking the Poltergeist curse rumor that has surrounded her death for almost forty years.Episode link: https://pod.fo/e/427c08About The Girl Who Wore FreedomThe Girl Who Wore Freedom is Christian Taylor's documentary about the children of Sainte-Marie-du-Mont, France, and the American GIs who liberated their town on D-Day, June 6, 1944. The film centers on Danielle Patrix Van Den Heede, whose family hid GIs in the days after the invasion, and Michel de Vallavieille, the young farmer at Brecourt Manor who was shot in the back by an American paratrooper on D-Day and went on to build the Utah Beach Museum and become the mayor of Sainte-Marie-du-Mont.Website: https://thegirlwhoworefreedom.comAbout Documentary First: The Deep DiveEach week, host Christian Taylor takes an insight from a recent Documentary First filmmaker interview and explores it through literature, philosophy, theology, current culture, and the universal human experience. It is a companion show to Documentary First, built for documentary filmmakers, lovers of story, and anyone who wants to think more deeply about what we are watching. Christian Taylor is a documentary filmmaker (The Girl Who Wore Freedom, Heroes of Carentan), actor, voice actor, and podcast host based in the United States.Resources MentionedDocumentary First Episode 279 with Brian Pocrass: https://pod.fo/e/427c08She Was Here, directed by Nick Bailey, produced by Brian Pocrass (2026)The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis (1942)Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-1945), German pastor and theologianLive Not By Lies by Alexander Solzhenitsyn (1974 essay)Proverbs 26:4-5Talmud, Shabbat 30bThe Girl Who Wore Freedom, directed and produced by Christian Taylor: https://thegirlwhoworefreedom.comBand of Brothers by Stephen Ambrose (1992 book and 2001 HBO miniseries)The Oxygen of Amplification, Whitney Phillips, Data and Society Research Institute (2018)Listen and FollowListen to this episode on your preferred podcast app: https://pod.fo/e/[DD 279 CODE — TO BE ADDED ONCE EPISODE IS LIVE]Documentary First on all podcast apps: https://podfollow.com/documentary-firstYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@documentaryfirstSupport the show on Patreonhttps://www.patreon.com/c/DocumentaryFirstConnectDocumentary First on all platforms: https://linktr.ee/doc1stConnect with Christian Taylor on...
Gino Leocadi has been a legend of the Cutco business dating back to October of 1964. After becoming one of the company's top sales reps, he developed a strong relationship with the leaders and owners of Cutco, enabling him to be at the forefront of innovations that have profoundly impacted the business. Gino helped to develop things like the DD sharpener, Service Call program, white handles, and the Cutco Sales Professional position itself. He was the first sales rep to be inducted into the Cutco/Vector Hall of Fame. Gino is joined in this conversation by his wife of 62 years, Joanne. This episode is guest-hosted by fellow Cutco Hall of Famer, Jeffrey Paul Bobrick. For the complete show notes and access to all episodes, visit ChangingLivesPodcast.com
In honor of Pride Month, Binchtopia's lesbian correspondent Aliza joins Julia to open the loveline for exclusively sapphic dilemmas. Together, the girlies address lesbian horrors including falling for your D&D teammate, having a platonically shirtless sleepover with your bestie, and finding out the girl you're in love with has has a hideous back tattoo. Digressions include surviving the Subaru allegations, a new psychological diagnosis for boring people, and considering whether straight men have the capacity to yearn. This episode was produced by Julia Hava and Kylie Finnigan and edited by Livi Burdette. To support the podcast on Patreon and access 50+ bonus episodes, mediasodes, and more, visit patreon.com/binchtopia and become a patron today.
Send us Fan MailAmazon DD+7 cash flow problems can delay payouts, strain PPC budgets, and leave sellers short before credit card bills hit. This video explains the Amazon DD+7 payout policy, delivery date reserve, deferred transactions, and payday lag cycle. See how Amazon seller cash flow, PPC costs, credit card payments, and working capital gaps can stack up under DD+7.Stop guessing where your Amazon cash is going. Get a cash flow and PPC review before DD+7 turns payday into damage control: https://bit.ly/4jMZtxu#AmazonFBA #AmazonSeller #AmazonPPC #AmazonCashFlow #SellerCentralWant free resources? Dowload our Free Amazon guides here:Amazon Receiving Delay Guide: https://hubs.ly/Q04cdD4c0Amazon Catalog Spring Cleaning: https://hubs.ly/Q046BVfp0Amazon Proft Margin Defense 2026: https://hubs.ly/Q042trRH0Amazon SEO Toolkit 2026: https://bit.ly/4oC2ClTAmazon Seller Strategy Report 2026: https://bit.ly/3YN1RME2026 Ecommerce Website & SEO Readiness Checklist: https://hubs.ly/Q04btghf0Amazon 2026 PPC guide: https://bit.ly/4lF0OYXTimestamps00:00 - Why Amazon DD+7 Hurts Sellers00:32 - DD+7 Lag Cycle and Cash Flow00:47 - Amazon Payday Calendar Example01:20 - Delivery Date Plus Seven Explained02:05 - Orders Missing the Current Payday03:16 - PPC Costs Before Amazon Payouts04:29 - Why the First Lag Is Not the Only Problem05:18 - Credit Card Payments and PPC Spend06:25 - How Sellers Fall Behind on Payments07:02 - Payday 2 and the Working Capital Gap08:54 - DD+7 Can Set Cash Flow Back 14 Days09:23 - Questions About DD+7 and Amazon Cash Flow-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Follow us:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/28605816/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stevenpopemag/Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/myamazonguys/Twitter: https://twitter.com/myamazonguySubscribe to the My Amazon Guy podcast: https://podcast.myamazonguy.comApple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/my-amazon-guy/id1501974229Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4A5ASHGGfr6s4wWNQIqyVwSupport the show
Every villain thinks they're the hero of their own story. This episode proves that sometimes they're right, and that's what makes them dangerous. Joined by James D'Amato and Dillin Apelyan, we set out to discuss villain backstories and somehow end up creating a supernatural cat-themed criminal mastermind based on Tyler's cat Cora. The result is equal parts masterclass, therapy session, and cautionary tale about what happens when a cat gains both motivation and opposable thumbs. Show Notes This week we welcome James D'Amato and Dillin Apelyan from the One Shot Podcast Network to discuss the art of creating memorable tabletop RPG villains. Drawing from their new book, The Ultimate RPG Villain Backstory Guide, we explore how Game Masters can move beyond simple evil-for-the-sake-of-evil antagonists and build villains with goals, beliefs, flaws, and histories that make them feel alive. The conversation examines why great villains are often reflections of the heroes themselves. We discuss how similar experiences can lead one character toward heroism and another toward villainy, and why understanding a villain's motivations often makes them more frightening rather than more sympathetic. A villain does not need redemption to be compelling. Sometimes knowing exactly why they became terrible only makes their choices more horrifying. To demonstrate the process, the group builds a villain from scratch using exercises from the book. Starting with the simple premise of Tyler's attention-seeking cat, we gradually construct a complex antagonist with needs, ideology, grudges, and a worldview that justifies increasingly terrible behavior. The exercise highlights how quickly a few well-designed prompts can transform a joke character into someone players would genuinely remember. We also discuss villain archetypes, the value of supporting indie RPG creators, experiences within the broader tabletop community, and how character motivations can create richer stories at the table. By the end of the episode, listeners will have practical tools for creating antagonists who challenge players emotionally as well as mechanically. Key Takeaways Great villains are people first and villains second. The most memorable antagonists have understandable desires, fears, and motivations. Even when their actions are unforgivable, players should be able to understand how they arrived at those decisions. A villain does not need to be sympathetic to be interesting. Learning a villain's history is not about excusing their actions. In many cases, understanding their choices makes them even more terrifying because they knowingly embraced a destructive path. Villains become stronger when they reflect the heroes. Some of the best antagonists share experiences, values, or struggles with the protagonists. The difference is often how they responded to those challenges, creating powerful thematic contrasts. Motivation matters more than evil. Players engage more deeply with villains who are pursuing something meaningful to them rather than simply causing destruction. Goals, needs, and personal stakes create stronger stories than random cruelty. Villain archetypes are tools, not restrictions. The book's archetypes can be combined to create unique antagonists. Mixing traits from multiple archetypes allows Game Masters to build villains that feel distinct and unpredictable. Corruption is often more interesting than conquest. Some villains do not just want to win. They want to prove they are right by pulling others into their worldview, tempting heroes and bystanders to compromise their values along the way. The people around a villain matter. Followers, allies, rivals, and victims help define who a villain is. These relationships create story hooks, reveal personality traits, and show the broader impact of the villain's actions. Small details create memorable antagonists. A villain's habits, grudges, insecurities, and personal beliefs often leave a stronger impression than their grand plans. Players remember personalities more than stat blocks. Building villains can be surprisingly collaborative. The episode's running joke about Cora evolves into a fully realized antagonist because everyone contributes ideas and follows the logical consequences of those choices. Villain creation often works best as an iterative process. Every campaign can benefit from a villain who feels alive. Whether your antagonist is a dark lord, corrupt noble, cult leader, or attention-starved cat, giving them a believable history and motivation will make every encounter more meaningful. Welcome to the RPGBOT Podcast. If you love Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder, and tabletop RPGs, this is the podcast for you. Support the show for free: Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any podcast app. It helps new listeners find the best RPG podcast for D&D and Pathfinder players. Level up your experience: Join us on Patreon to unlock ad-free access to RPGBOT.net and the RPGBOT Podcast, chat with us and the community on the RPGBOT Discord, and jump into live-streamed RPG podcast recordings. Support while you shop: Use our Amazon affiliate link at https://amzn.to/3NwElxQ and help us keep building tools and guides for the RPG community. Meet the Hosts Tyler Kamstra – Master of mechanics, seeing the Pathfinder action economy like Neo in the Matrix. Randall James – Lore buff and technologist, always ready to debate which Lord of the Rings edition reigns supreme. Ash Ely – Resident cynic, chaos agent, and AI's worst nightmare, bringing pure table-flipping RPG podcast energy. Join the RPGBOT team where fantasy roleplaying meets real strategy, sarcasm, and community chaos. How to Find Us: In-depth articles, guides, handbooks, reviews, news on Tabletop Role Playing at RPGBOT.net Tyler Kamstra BlueSky: @rpgbot.net TikTok: @RPGBOTDOTNET Ash Ely Professional Game Master on StartPlaying.Games BlueSky: @GravenAshes YouTube: @ashravenmedia Randall James BlueSky: @GrimoireRPG Amateurjack.com Read Melancon: A Grimoire Tale (affiliate link) Producer Dan @Lzr_illuminati
The Artificer is the only class in D&D where a player can confidently say, I have a solution for this, then spend forty-five minutes opening character sheets, checking infusions, reorganizing inventory, building a robot dog, enchanting a teapot, and accidentally inventing OSHA violations. Meanwhile the Barbarian solved the problem by hitting it with a chair twenty minutes ago. Show Notes This week we rolled up our sleeves, emptied the tool bag onto the workbench, and dove into one of D&D's most complicated and delightfully chaotic classes. The Artificer promises magic, gadgets, inventions, and endless customization, but it also comes with enough moving parts to make some Wizards nervous. We explored what makes the class tick, where it shines, and why it rewards players who enjoy fiddling with builds as much as actually playing them. The class is built around adaptability, magical crafting, and having an answer for almost every problem if you planned ahead enough. We dug into subclass choices and the different flavors of magical engineering. Whether you want potion-fueled support, a walking tank suit, magical artillery, or a robot companion ready to throw itself into danger, there is an option that fits. The discussion highlighted how each subclass dramatically changes the feel of the character while still keeping that core identity of magical problem solver intact. Of course, being an Artificer also means embracing analysis paralysis. Spells, infusions, tools, prepared items, crafting decisions, and magic item choices all compete for your attention. If you love optimization puzzles this class is paradise. If not, you may suddenly understand why the Fighter sleeps so well at night. Key Takeaways Artificers thrive on versatility and can fill support, utility, blasting, healing, and frontline roles depending on build choices. Infusions are one of the class's defining features and effectively let characters hand out custom magic items early in a campaign. Subclass selection heavily shapes playstyle: Alchemist focuses on support and healing Armorer becomes a magical tank Artillerist leans into blasting Battle Smith gains the Steel Defender companion The class rewards players who enjoy planning, tinkering, and character optimization more than simple turn-by-turn gameplay. Tool proficiencies and crafting are central to the fantasy, even if tables vary widely in how often they matter. The Artificer's spellcasting style is unique and leans heavily into using tools and infused objects as magical focuses. Waving lockpicks around while casting spells remains objectively funny. Welcome to the RPGBOT Podcast. If you love Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder, and tabletop RPGs, this is the podcast for you. Support the show for free: Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any podcast app. It helps new listeners find the best RPG podcast for D&D and Pathfinder players. Level up your experience: Join us on Patreon to unlock ad-free access to RPGBOT.net and the RPGBOT Podcast, chat with us and the community on the RPGBOT Discord, and jump into live-streamed RPG podcast recordings. Support while you shop: Use our Amazon affiliate link at https://amzn.to/3NwElxQ and help us keep building tools and guides for the RPG community. Meet the Hosts Tyler Kamstra – Master of mechanics, seeing the Pathfinder action economy like Neo in the Matrix. Randall James – Lore buff and technologist, always ready to debate which Lord of the Rings edition reigns supreme. Ash Ely – Resident cynic, chaos agent, and AI's worst nightmare, bringing pure table-flipping RPG podcast energy. Join the RPGBOT team where fantasy roleplaying meets real strategy, sarcasm, and community chaos. How to Find Us: In-depth articles, guides, handbooks, reviews, news on Tabletop Role Playing at RPGBOT.net Tyler Kamstra BlueSky: @rpgbot.net TikTok: @RPGBOTDOTNET Ash Ely Professional Game Master on StartPlaying.Games BlueSky: @GravenAshes YouTube: @ashravenmedia Randall James BlueSky: @GrimoireRPG Amateurjack.com Read Melancon: A Grimoire Tale (affiliate link) Producer Dan @Lzr_illuminati
"At the end of the day we're all here to have fun and if someone is not having fun, that's kind of a problem." Purveyor (or pervert?) of smut, author of BDSM and spanking erotica, and creator of some kinky games, Letti Lustcraft and her partner, SirChefDaddy, joined us at GASP 2025 to talk about their Domestic Discipline relationship and all their creative endeavors. Find out how this adorable couple learned to practice Domestic Discipline safely and consensually when one of them originally wasn't even kinky! How does one come out to their partner about wanting a Domestic Discipline (DD) relationship? How do you balance a DD relationship with life and work? How is kink like a video game? (yeah, Chef went there.) And so much more! And not only do we discuss their Domestic Discipline dynamic, we get into some of their creative projects: books, stickers, coloring books, poetry, educational smut, and much more… … Kinky Cards Against Humanity, anyone? Oh yeah, it's a thing! (and, like this conversation, it's so much fun!)
Blades in the Dark is a game about daring criminals pulling off impossible heists. Our crew immediately used fire to escape the box we voluntarily hid in, assaulted two undercover cops, locked them inside our escape crate, stole accounting records, accidentally got high during evidence collection, and somehow convinced ourselves this was still a stealth mission. Honestly, I think the cult is thriving. Show Notes Part 3 finally dropped us into our first real score and the sewer cult wasted absolutely no time proving they were both competent and deeply concerning. Tasked with infiltrating an illegal leviathan blood refinery hidden beneath an apothecary, we chose the most sensible plan imaginable: smuggle ourselves inside in a supply crate. Naturally this immediately turned into an emergency fire escape situation because Talon solved confinement with alchemy and arson. Once inside, things somehow became more chaotic. We discovered the "guards" were actually Bluecoats running security for the operation, meaning our weird little cult had accidentally punched local law enforcement in the face before the score even properly started. Rather than murder them and summon ghost problems, we tied them up, stuffed them back into the crate, and continued the mission like this was all part of the plan. It absolutely was not. The score also gave us a chance to see Blades in the Dark really shine mechanically. Flashbacks let us retroactively prepare, clocks tracked rising danger, and the system constantly pushed us forward instead of letting us stall in planning mode. Every success created new problems and every problem somehow made the story better. Meanwhile Talon uncovered suspicious ledgers pointing to illicit operations while Roper discovered the drugs in the least scientific way possible by accidentally inhaling them and immediately becoming evidence. It was a perfect demonstration of why this game works so well. The mechanics encourage momentum, but the players create the disasters. By the end we had stolen evidence, infiltrated the operation, mildly traumatized two cops, and learned an important lesson. Never let the ghost guy do quality control on contraband. Key Takeaways The crew's first score involved infiltrating an illegal leviathan blood refinery hidden beneath an apothecary Smuggling themselves inside in supply crates immediately escalated into improvised arson Talon used alchemy and fire to escape confinement and start the mission The refinery operation appeared connected to illicit drug production The guards turned out to be Bluecoats acting as security for the site Killing enemies in Doskvol creates major problems because ghosts are very real Flashbacks allowed retroactive preparation without lengthy planning sessions Clocks helped track danger, progress, and rising alert levels Talon recovered ledgers that may contain coded evidence of illegal activity Roper accidentally sampled the contraband and became mildly intoxicated during evidence collection The score highlighted how Blades in the Dark rewards momentum over perfect planning The cult continues to be alarmingly effective despite having absolutely no business succeeding Welcome to the RPGBOT Podcast. If you love Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder, and tabletop RPGs, this is the podcast for you. Support the show for free: Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any podcast app. It helps new listeners find the best RPG podcast for D&D and Pathfinder players. Level up your experience: Join us on Patreon to unlock ad-free access to RPGBOT.net and the RPGBOT Podcast, chat with us and the community on the RPGBOT Discord, and jump into live-streamed RPG podcast recordings. Support while you shop: Use our Amazon affiliate link at https://amzn.to/3NwElxQ and help us keep building tools and guides for the RPG community. Meet the Hosts Tyler Kamstra – Master of mechanics, seeing the Pathfinder action economy like Neo in the Matrix. Randall James – Lore buff and technologist, always ready to debate which Lord of the Rings edition reigns supreme. Ash Ely – Resident cynic, chaos agent, and AI's worst nightmare, bringing pure table-flipping RPG podcast energy. Join the RPGBOT team where fantasy roleplaying meets real strategy, sarcasm, and community chaos. How to Find Us: In-depth articles, guides, handbooks, reviews, news on Tabletop Role Playing at RPGBOT.net Tyler Kamstra BlueSky: @rpgbot.net TikTok: @RPGBOTDOTNET Ash Ely Professional Game Master on StartPlaying.Games BlueSky: @GravenAshes YouTube: @ashravenmedia Randall James BlueSky: @GrimoireRPG Amateurjack.com Read Melancon: A Grimoire Tale (affiliate link) Producer Dan @Lzr_illuminati
Join me as I open with a Gen X monologue reflecting on latchkey childhood, real-world grit, D&D adventures and timeless lessons for building resilient younger generations in a screen-dominated world. Then, explosive news: Graham Platner smears hero Navy Seal Chris Kyle, Donald Trump racks up major wins and Jill Biden makes a startling comment revealing she thought President Biden suffered a stroke during the 2024 debate with Trump. Packed with sharp analysis, cultural insight, and unfiltered truth, Episode 103 delivers the perfect mix of nostalgia and breaking political headlines. Please take a moment to rate and review the show and then share the episode on social media. You can find me on Facebook, X, Instagram, GETTR, TRUTH Social, TikTok, YouTube and Rumble by searching for The Alan Sanders Show. And, consider becoming a sponsor of the show by visiting my Patreon page!
Dice Stage Right is back with a one-off episode performed live at the Tree Fort Music Festival. Our players return to visit an Antique Roadshow pitching and buying magic items. When an artifact of immense power brings the tradeshow to ruin!If you're interested in extra photos from the event and notifications for future ones check out https://www.patreon.com/jorphdanDice Stage Right stars Matthew Melton, Evencio Bahena, Heather Lyon, Hannah Jane Austin, and special guest Alexander Kirk! Dungeon Master Jorphdan. Our characters are Level 5, and we're playing D&D 2024!Catch it here, or on YouTube! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jorphdan.substack.com
This Week on the Brunch Breakdown Podcast: What Skills Do You Have That Are Useless in 2026? Dan Who needs a 24 Team College Football Playoff? DD thinks Drake's "Maid of Honour" is the Album of the Summer, Dan Wants Medieval Times to have better Food, Brunch Court (ft. Ketchup Slices), and MORE! See Yinz at the Table for another Delicious BRUNCH! Thank You For Listening and Reviewing! Check out the SOUNDS OF BRUNCH Playlist on Spotify! WATCH Full Episodes of the @BrunchBreakdown Podcast on YouTube, Spotify, & Facebook. LISTEN on AMAZON, Audible, Spotify, Apple, and Everywhere You Get Your Podcasts. FOLLOW us on Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, and GoodPods!
John welcomes back Phil Hay (Destroyer, The Invitation) to ask, how do you get a movie made with independent financing? They look at how indie movies get made, where you get the money, deciding when to go indie, and whether streamers complicate the picture. We also follow up on testing movies with focus groups and answer listener questions on how to navigate the editing room, daily routines, and what to do when your story has too many themes. In our bonus segment for premium members, we look back on what Phil learned about D&D from his documentary The Dungeon Masters. Links: Phil Hay Scriptnotes Episode 244, Episode 377, and Episode 505 The Dungeon Masters The Answering Machine Meltdown from Swingers John's daily to-do template Pamela Ribon's One Act documentary Petey USA's The Yips KOXY College Radio Get your copy of the Scriptnotes book! Get a Scriptnotes T-shirt! Check out the Inneresting Newsletter Become a Scriptnotes Premium member, or gift a subscription Subscribe to Scriptnotes on YouTube Follow Scriptnotes on Instagram and TikTok John August on Bluesky and Instagram Outro by Craig Good (send us yours!) Scriptnotes is produced by Drew Marquardt and edited by Matthew Chilelli. Email us at ask@johnaugust.com You can download the episode here.
The Reality Shaper is a D&D-inspired fantasy narrative podcast that compines epic adventure, a queer enemies-to-lovers arc, and over 50 original broadway-style songs. The full season begins releasing on June 9th! For full production credits, to get in touch, or for more information on live events, visit therealityshaper.com.
This episode might ruffle some feathers. Good. Because we need to talk honestly about the real cost of galas, especially for small nonprofit teams that are already stretched thin.After hearing yet another executive director say, “the gala nearly killed me,” I wanted to pull this conversation into the light. Not because I'm anti-event in every circumstance, but because too many organizations are sacrificing their people in the name of fundraising. And that should bother all of us.In this episode, I break down why sustainability matters more than profitability, why small teams are drowning trying to manage seven revenue streams at once, and why unrestricted major gifts are often the better path forward. This is about more than fundraising strategy. It's about leadership, courage, culture, and deciding what kind of organization you actually want to build.If you've ever felt trapped in the endless cycle of sponsorships, ticket sales, late nights, burnout, and recovery mode, this conversation is for you.What you'll learn in this episodeWhy many small-team galas are completely unsustainableThe hidden emotional and operational cost most organizations ignore when evaluating eventsWhy “profitable” does not automatically mean healthy or aligned with your missionHow spreading yourself across too many revenue streams leads to mediocre results everywhereWhy unrestricted major gifts can outperform gala revenue with far less staff strainThe difference between relationship-based fundraising and event-based fundraisingHow donor-hosted house parties can create momentum without crushing your teamWhy courageous conversations with boards are necessary if you want lasting changeThe leadership mindset required to move away from burnout-based fundraisingWhat “kill your gala before it kills you” actually meansAt the end of the day, the way you raise money is part of your mission. If your organization values human dignity, care, and sustainability, your fundraising culture should reflect that too. Burning out your staff to fund the mission is not the flex some organizations think it is.Want 15 leads in 5 minutes? DM me "Breakfast burrito" on LinkedIn and I'll send you a pdf and 6-minute training to help you generate 15 leads for your nonprofit in minutes. It's totally free. All you need is an email to sign up. DM me "Breakfast burrito" - I'm from Texas, what can I say? - to get your pdf and mini training.If you're an ED or DD of a $1M+ making a difference in your community and you're ready to make bigger, bolder asks, then DM me “CL” on LinkedIn and I'll share details.
This week's segments: 1. Sci-Fi in D&D 2. Homebrewing "Brawler's Creed" 3. Draft of Nintendo Characters for a D&D Party Support us on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/c/TotalPartySkill/home to get access to PDFs of our homebrew and see uncut video from the podcast! Plus, bonus content exclusive only to patrons! Subscribe for more weekly Dungeons & Dragons content! And follow us on our socials for previous draft videos and to learn more about us: Gabe -- @gabespan (TikTok, Instagram) George -- @dmgeorge_primavera (Instagram, TikTok) Dylan -- @whatcha_mccollum (Instagram) Molly -- @mj_rustle (Instagram) / @mojeami (TikTok) MERCH ALERT! Perfect gifts for TPS listeners...Delightful almond-scented soap that contains a full set of dice! You can get yours here: https://fantasy-scents.com/products/total-party-skill-dice-soap-dungeons-bubbles
I love kobold adventures because they always lie to you. They start with the same sales pitch every time. Oh, it's kobolds. Funny little lizard guys. Maybe some traps. Couple slings. Tiny crown. Cute little dungeon crawl. And then six sessions later you're dealing with ancient dwarven grudges, undead labor theology, emotional damage, cursed relics, fantasy Vecna, and one kobold who should have died three times but keeps showing up because sheer pettiness has apparently made him immortal. Kobolds are never the adventure. Kobolds are what the adventure uses to lure you into the basement. Show Notes This week we did a full postmortem on Crown of the Kobold King and dug into one of Pathfinder's earliest adventures revisited for Second Edition. What starts as a straightforward kobold dungeon crawl quickly turns into a surprisingly layered story full of ancient dwarven vaults, undead corruption, cursed relics, and one increasingly unfortunate kobold king. We broke down the setting of Darkmoon Vale and Falcon's Hollow, the lumber town run by a spectacularly terrible administrator, before diving into the dungeon itself and the history behind Droskar's Crucible. The adventure piles old Torag worshippers, fallen dwarven cultists, Tar-Baphon lore, and necromantic experiments on top of each other until the kobolds become almost incidental to the chaos. The campaign also delivered some incredible table moments. A near total party kill was saved by remembering a forgotten +1 bonus at the last possible second. Sir Thanah evolved from heal bot NPC into one of the emotional anchors of the campaign. Cap Mech somehow transformed from random kobold encounter into recurring rival, revenant menace, and eventual ally. Meanwhile Kirby continued solving problems the traditional way by casting Brick. We also spent time talking encounter design, what worked, what absolutely did not, and why some dungeon sections deserved immediate deletion. Looking at you, anti gravity hallway. By the end, the adventure became less about stopping the Kobold King and more about the people trapped inside the dungeon's history and deciding who deserved saving. Key Takeaways Crown of the Kobold King works well as an introductory Pathfinder 2 adventure and offers more narrative depth than its classic dungeon crawl structure initially suggests. Darkmoon Vale embraces classic fantasy adventure design with starting town, wilderness, and dungeon exploration. The dungeon layers multiple factions together including kobolds, fallen dwarf cultists, undead servants, and Tar-Baphon corruption. Small Pathfinder bonuses matter. A forgotten +1 attack bonus completely prevented a TPK. Sir Thanah evolved from support NPC into one of the campaign's strongest emotional story threads. Cap Mech became an accidental standout character through repeated appearances and escalating rivalry. The adventure benefits from adding consequences and time pressure rather than treating events as static. Some encounters are excellent while others feel dated and benefit from modification or removal. Commanders continue proving they are extremely effective force multipliers. Brick remains a valid tactical solution. Welcome to the RPGBOT Podcast. If you love Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder, and tabletop RPGs, this is the podcast for you. Support the show for free: Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any podcast app. It helps new listeners find the best RPG podcast for D&D and Pathfinder players. Level up your experience: Join us on Patreon to unlock ad-free access to RPGBOT.net and the RPGBOT Podcast, chat with us and the community on the RPGBOT Discord, and jump into live-streamed RPG podcast recordings. Support while you shop: Use our Amazon affiliate link at https://amzn.to/3NwElxQ and help us keep building tools and guides for the RPG community. Meet the Hosts Tyler Kamstra – Master of mechanics, seeing the Pathfinder action economy like Neo in the Matrix. Randall James – Lore buff and technologist, always ready to debate which Lord of the Rings edition reigns supreme. Ash Ely – Resident cynic, chaos agent, and AI's worst nightmare, bringing pure table-flipping RPG podcast energy. Join the RPGBOT team where fantasy roleplaying meets real strategy, sarcasm, and community chaos. How to Find Us: In-depth articles, guides, handbooks, reviews, news on Tabletop Role Playing at RPGBOT.net Tyler Kamstra BlueSky: @rpgbot.net TikTok: @RPGBOTDOTNET Ash Ely Professional Game Master on StartPlaying.Games BlueSky: @GravenAshes YouTube: @ashravenmedia Randall James BlueSky: @GrimoireRPG Amateurjack.com Read Melancon: A Grimoire Tale (affiliate link) Producer Dan @Lzr_illuminati
The fantasy world was doing just fine. Wizards were arguing about spell slots. Fighters were polishing swords. Rogues were stealing absolutely everything not nailed down. Then somebody invented firearms. Now the wizard wants an arcane revolver, the artificer is building a rifle powered by dragon crystals, and the fighter has spent twenty minutes explaining why attaching a bayonet to a musket absolutely still counts as melee combat. Progress is inevitable. Chaos is optional. Players will choose chaos every time. Show Notes This episode dives into one of the most divisive and surprisingly fun topics in tabletop RPG design: firearms. We explore what happens when black powder, pistols, muskets, revolvers, and magical weapons enter worlds traditionally ruled by swords and spellbooks. The answer is not simply bigger damage numbers. Firearms change the entire feel of a setting. We dig into how guns influence worldbuilding, tone, and gameplay. A lone flintlock in a low fantasy campaign tells a very different story than enchanted firearms in a magitech world. The conversation expands into how technology reshapes societies, military power, adventuring groups, and even the place of magic itself. The episode also looks at practical considerations for GMs and players. We discuss balancing firearms mechanically, deciding how common they should be, and avoiding the trap of letting realism overwhelm gameplay. Sometimes the important question is not whether firearms belong in fantasy. It is what kind of fantasy world they create. Whether you are building a black powder campaign, introducing fantasy gunslingers, or creating magical firearms powered by spells and crystals, this episode explores ways to make firearms feel intentional and exciting at the table. Key Takeaways Firearms affect setting design as much as combat rules. The rarity and availability of guns heavily influence world tone. Black powder weapons create a very different atmosphere than magitech firearms. Introducing firearms changes warfare, economics, and social structures. Balance should focus on gameplay experience rather than strict realism. Reload mechanics and weapon limitations help preserve design space. Magical firearms create new character options without replacing classic fantasy roles. GMs should establish expectations for firearms early in campaign planning. Different RPG systems support firearms in different ways. Every firearm added to a setting raises bigger questions about technology and progress. Welcome to the RPGBOT Podcast. If you love Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder, and tabletop RPGs, this is the podcast for you. Support the show for free: Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any podcast app. It helps new listeners find the best RPG podcast for D&D and Pathfinder players. Level up your experience: Join us on Patreon to unlock ad-free access to RPGBOT.net and the RPGBOT Podcast, chat with us and the community on the RPGBOT Discord, and jump into live-streamed RPG podcast recordings. Support while you shop: Use our Amazon affiliate link at https://amzn.to/3NwElxQ and help us keep building tools and guides for the RPG community. Meet the Hosts Tyler Kamstra – Master of mechanics, seeing the Pathfinder action economy like Neo in the Matrix. Randall James – Lore buff and technologist, always ready to debate which Lord of the Rings edition reigns supreme. Ash Ely – Resident cynic, chaos agent, and AI's worst nightmare, bringing pure table-flipping RPG podcast energy. Join the RPGBOT team where fantasy roleplaying meets real strategy, sarcasm, and community chaos. How to Find Us: In-depth articles, guides, handbooks, reviews, news on Tabletop Role Playing at RPGBOT.net Tyler Kamstra BlueSky: @rpgbot.net TikTok: @RPGBOTDOTNET Ash Ely Professional Game Master on StartPlaying.Games BlueSky: @GravenAshes YouTube: @ashravenmedia Randall James BlueSky: @GrimoireRPG Amateurjack.com Read Melancon: A Grimoire Tale (affiliate link) Producer Dan @Lzr_illuminati
Timestamp for Sport of Kings Episode 362, sponsored by AmWager. Host Christopher Larmey is joined by a special guest 2026 NHC Champ, Dylan Donnelly, for a discussion about races 6,8,9,10, which include the 15% takeout all-turf P3, 15% takeout, $3 min late P3, and the 15% takeout $5 min late DD, on Saturday, May 23rd, 2026. 2 – Introduction 5 – Derby/Preakness review discussion 16 – SA Wagering Menu (CAW challenge to players) 24 – SA Race 6 (Crystal Water S.) 42 – SA Race 8 (Snow Chief S.) 52 – SA Race 9 (Allowance) 58 – SA Race 10 (MSW) 1:06 - Betting approach 1:12- Winning the NHC
In this episode of the Tech M&A Podcast, we chat with Heriberto Garcia, founder and former CEO of Vialterna Comunicaciones, a leading modern telecommunications firm serving all of Mexico. Over 15 years, Heriberto built Vialterna into a powerhouse of connectivity before navigating a successful exit to a search fund — a buyer type he initially never expected to consider. Heriberto shares how a Corum seminar he attended three decades ago planted the seed for his eventual exit, and how that knowledge stayed with him until the timing was right. He offers candid advice on the importance of pre-deal preparation, the often-overlooked complexity of tax due diligence, and why authenticity and transparency with buyers can be your greatest asset. He also reflects on the realities of post-exit life — including the multi-year transition that follows a deal and the importance of learning to manage newfound wealth. Takeaways Plant the seed early: A seminar attended 30 years prior shaped Heriberto's entire approach to eventually selling — long-term mindset matters. Run a pre-due diligence on yourself: Conducting your own internal DD before going to market surfaces surprises early and dramatically smooths the formal process. Don't underestimate tax: Tax due diligence should be addressed from the very beginning of the process, not left to the end. Be open to unexpected buyers: A search fund — initially rejected outright — turned out to be the perfect match, proving that criteria should remain flexible. Authenticity wins deals: Transparency and openness with potential buyers builds trust and accelerates the process. Keep the sale confidential: Avoid telling staff or partners until necessary — unexpected reactions can complicate operations mid-deal. Expect a long transition: Post-exit life involves a multi-year handover, not an overnight handoff. Timestamps 00:00 – Introduction: Heriberto Garcia and Vialterna Comunicaciones 01:00 – 15 years building a telecom powerhouse across Mexico 02:00 – How a Corum seminar 30 years ago set the foundation for this exit 03:00 – The motivation to sell: retirement planning and the right timing 04:00 – Surprises in the market: rejecting investment funds — then finding the perfect search fund 05:30 – Due diligence surprises and the lesson of working capital 06:30 – External advisors: legal, financial, and tax support during the deal 07:30 – What Heriberto wishes he'd known: pre-DD, taxes, and behaving like a big company 08:30 – How the right buyer was chosen — and why transparency sealed it 09:30 – Advice for CEOs in Latin America: valuations, firm decisions, and authenticity 10:30 – Post-exit life: transitions, wealth management, and what comes next
Character creation in most games is where heroes are born. In Blades in the Dark, character creation is where we accidentally founded a sewer cult dedicated to a giant vampire bat god, befriended ghosts, picked fights with spirit traffickers, and collectively agreed that getting high on our own alchemical supply was a perfectly reasonable life choice. This was not a descent into darkness. This was an enthusiastic sprint. Show Notes Part 2 of our Blades in the Dark How to Play series was supposed to be about character creation. It technically was. We built characters, chose backgrounds, picked special abilities, and put together our crew. We just happened to do it while derailing through Texas town names, cult theology, ghost smuggling economics, and whether a sewer hideout was the most cult appropriate headquarters possible. It was. Obviously. We dug into how character creation works in Blades in the Dark and immediately found one of the system's strengths. Building a character is fast, but every choice matters. Heritage, background, actions, rivals, friends, vices, and special abilities all tie directly back into the fiction. Instead of feeling like disconnected mechanics, everything pushes the story forward. Tyler leaned hard into the supernatural with a Whisper tied to ghosts and spirit trafficking, while Ash built an alchemical menace who absolutely should not be trusted around poisons, drugs, or open flames. Together they somehow arrived at the most natural conclusion imaginable and founded a strange sewer cult devoted to Camazotz, complete with ghost contacts, cultists, and a plan that will almost certainly end badly for everyone involved. What stood out most was how collaborative crew creation feels. The hideout, reputation, deity, allies, rivals, and upgrades all turned into worldbuilding on the fly. By the end we were not just holding character sheets. We had a weird little organization with history, enemies, goals, and enough red flags to concern every authority in Doskvol. Which means we are probably doing it right. Key Takeaways Character creation in Blades in the Dark is quick but tightly connected to the game world Heritage and background choices help define roleplay hooks and advancement opportunities Action ratings shape both character strengths and resistance mechanics Special abilities immediately establish each character's role and style Friends, rivals, and vices create built in story hooks from session one Tyler created a ghost focused Whisper with spirit themed connections and supernatural abilities Ash built an alchemical Leech centered around crafting, toxins, and chaos Crew creation adds shared worldbuilding through hideouts, reputation, contacts, and upgrades The group chose a Cult crew operating from a sewer hideout beneath the city Camazotz became the cult's chosen deity because apparently subtlety was never an option The episode accidentally became a masterclass in collaborative storytelling through character creation The cult may be strange, but at least everyone agreed the sewer lair was perfect Welcome to the RPGBOT Podcast. If you love Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder, and tabletop RPGs, this is the podcast for you. Support the show for free: Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any podcast app. It helps new listeners find the best RPG podcast for D&D and Pathfinder players. Level up your experience: Join us on Patreon to unlock ad-free access to RPGBOT.net and the RPGBOT Podcast, chat with us and the community on the RPGBOT Discord, and jump into live-streamed RPG podcast recordings. Support while you shop: Use our Amazon affiliate link at https://amzn.to/3NwElxQ and help us keep building tools and guides for the RPG community. Meet the Hosts Tyler Kamstra – Master of mechanics, seeing the Pathfinder action economy like Neo in the Matrix. Randall James – Lore buff and technologist, always ready to debate which Lord of the Rings edition reigns supreme. Ash Ely – Resident cynic, chaos agent, and AI's worst nightmare, bringing pure table-flipping RPG podcast energy. Join the RPGBOT team where fantasy roleplaying meets real strategy, sarcasm, and community chaos. How to Find Us: In-depth articles, guides, handbooks, reviews, news on Tabletop Role Playing at RPGBOT.net Tyler Kamstra BlueSky: @rpgbot.net TikTok: @RPGBOTDOTNET Ash Ely Professional Game Master on StartPlaying.Games BlueSky: @GravenAshes YouTube: @ashravenmedia Randall James BlueSky: @GrimoireRPG Amateurjack.com Read Melancon: A Grimoire Tale (affiliate link) Producer Dan @Lzr_illuminati
Character creation in most games is where heroes are born. In Blades in the Dark, character creation is where we accidentally founded a sewer cult dedicated to a giant vampire bat god, befriended ghosts, picked fights with spirit traffickers, and collectively agreed that getting high on our own alchemical supply was a perfectly reasonable life choice. This was not a descent into darkness. This was an enthusiastic sprint. Show Notes Part 2 of our Blades in the Dark How to Play series was supposed to be about character creation. It technically was. We built characters, chose backgrounds, picked special abilities, and put together our crew. We just happened to do it while derailing through Texas town names, cult theology, ghost smuggling economics, and whether a sewer hideout was the most cult appropriate headquarters possible. It was. Obviously. We dug into how character creation works in Blades in the Dark and immediately found one of the system's strengths. Building a character is fast, but every choice matters. Heritage, background, actions, rivals, friends, vices, and special abilities all tie directly back into the fiction. Instead of feeling like disconnected mechanics, everything pushes the story forward. Tyler leaned hard into the supernatural with a Whisper tied to ghosts and spirit trafficking, while Ash built an alchemical menace who absolutely should not be trusted around poisons, drugs, or open flames. Together they somehow arrived at the most natural conclusion imaginable and founded a strange sewer cult devoted to Camazotz, complete with ghost contacts, cultists, and a plan that will almost certainly end badly for everyone involved. What stood out most was how collaborative crew creation feels. The hideout, reputation, deity, allies, rivals, and upgrades all turned into worldbuilding on the fly. By the end we were not just holding character sheets. We had a weird little organization with history, enemies, goals, and enough red flags to concern every authority in Doskvol. Which means we are probably doing it right. Key Takeaways Character creation in Blades in the Dark is quick but tightly connected to the game world Heritage and background choices help define roleplay hooks and advancement opportunities Action ratings shape both character strengths and resistance mechanics Special abilities immediately establish each character's role and style Friends, rivals, and vices create built in story hooks from session one Tyler created a ghost focused Whisper with spirit themed connections and supernatural abilities Ash built an alchemical Leech centered around crafting, toxins, and chaos Crew creation adds shared worldbuilding through hideouts, reputation, contacts, and upgrades The group chose a Cult crew operating from a sewer hideout beneath the city Camazotz became the cult's chosen deity because apparently subtlety was never an option The episode accidentally became a masterclass in collaborative storytelling through character creation The cult may be strange, but at least everyone agreed the sewer lair was perfect Welcome to the RPGBOT Podcast. If you love Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder, and tabletop RPGs, this is the podcast for you. Support the show for free: Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any podcast app. It helps new listeners find the best RPG podcast for D&D and Pathfinder players. Level up your experience: Join us on Patreon to unlock ad-free access to RPGBOT.net and the RPGBOT Podcast, chat with us and the community on the RPGBOT Discord, and jump into live-streamed RPG podcast recordings. Support while you shop: Use our Amazon affiliate link at https://amzn.to/3NwElxQ and help us keep building tools and guides for the RPG community. Meet the Hosts Tyler Kamstra – Master of mechanics, seeing the Pathfinder action economy like Neo in the Matrix. Randall James – Lore buff and technologist, always ready to debate which Lord of the Rings edition reigns supreme. Ash Ely – Resident cynic, chaos agent, and AI's worst nightmare, bringing pure table-flipping RPG podcast energy. Join the RPGBOT team where fantasy roleplaying meets real strategy, sarcasm, and community chaos. How to Find Us: In-depth articles, guides, handbooks, reviews, news on Tabletop Role Playing at RPGBOT.net Tyler Kamstra BlueSky: @rpgbot.net TikTok: @RPGBOTDOTNET Ash Ely Professional Game Master on StartPlaying.Games BlueSky: @GravenAshes YouTube: @ashravenmedia Randall James BlueSky: @GrimoireRPG Amateurjack.com Read Melancon: A Grimoire Tale (affiliate link) Producer Dan @Lzr_illuminati
Stop doing fundraising that nearly kills you. Seriously.In this episode, I'm walking through the profitable fundraising swaps I would make every single time after helping clients raise more than $70 million. These are the simpler, more sustainable, higher-return strategies I'd choose over the exhausting nonprofit habits that so many teams normalize.Some of the most common fundraising strategies are draining your team, eating your time, and producing way less ROI than you think.If you're an ED or fundraiser constantly exhausted by events, campaigns, and “doing all the things,” this episode is your permission slip to stop overcomplicating fundraising. There is an easier way to raise serious money without burning yourself out in the process.What you'll learn in this episodeWhy house parties build stronger donor relationships than galasThe hidden cost of fundraising events that small teams rarely account forWhy major gifts are a better long-term strategy than chasing grantsHow restricted revenue is actually dangerous to the sustainability of your organizationWhy donors don't need more control in order to trust youThe problem with relying too heavily on wealth screening toolsHow to build stronger donor relationships without expensive softwareHow to save years of loneliness and painful trial and errorThe fundraising strategy shift that creates more predictable revenueThe free, underused donor connection tool for nonprofitsFundraising should not feel like a constant recovery cycle. If your strategy leaves your team exhausted, overwhelmed, and scrambling every few months, that's a systems problem, not a work ethic problem.If working harder was the answer, you'd be raising $10M a year by now.Want 15 leads in 5 minutes? DM me "Breakfast burrito" on LinkedIn and I'll send you a pdf and 6-minute training to help you generate 15 leads for your nonprofit in minutes. It's totally free. All you need is an email to sign up. DM me "Breakfast burrito" - I'm from Texas, what can I say? - to get your pdf and mini training.If you're an ED or DD of a $1M+ making a difference in your community and you're ready to make bigger, bolder asks, then DM me “CL” on LinkedIn and I'll share details.
Funny Cold Open We start this episode debating Canadian healthcare, accidentally invent sad wrestling, and somehow end up analyzing a Barbarian whose main power is crying so hard enemies die. Honestly, that tracks for Unearthed Arcana. Show Notes We dive into the latest villain-themed Unearthed Arcana subclasses and immediately get distracted by the Path of Lament Barbarian. The idea of a rage-fueled warrior powered entirely by emotional devastation is way too funny for us not to lean into, especially once we realize the subclass is actually pretty solid at crowd control. We spend a lot of time imagining a Barbarian loudly sobbing while enemies desperately try to escape the situation. From there we move into the Warrior of Venom Monk, which gives us poison powers, battlefield control, and several opportunities to question Wizards of the Coast's relationship with poison immunity. Once we notice the subclass can swap poison damage into acid damage, things get considerably more interesting and considerably more ridiculous. Finally, we tackle the Primordial Patron Warlock, a subclass we have wanted for a long time. The elemental flavor is fantastic, but the mechanics leave us scratching our heads as we try to figure out whether the subclass wants us in melee, casting spells, or standing inside our own fireballs. By the end, we mostly agree the concept rules even if the execution still needs work. Key Takeaways Path of Lament Barbarian gives Barbarians strong crowd control and fear effects Banshee's Wail delivers reliable area damage and fits the subclass theme perfectly Warrior of Venom Monk has cool control tools but struggles with poison immunity issues Acid conversion mechanics help salvage many of the Monk's features Primordial Patron Warlock has great elemental flavor but awkward mechanics Elemental Node feels too central to the Warlock subclass without being exciting enough Elemental Transmutation looks like the standout new Eldritch Invocation The subclasses have strong themes overall, but several mechanics still need refinement Welcome to the RPGBOT Podcast. If you love Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder, and tabletop RPGs, this is the podcast for you. Support the show for free: Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any podcast app. It helps new listeners find the best RPG podcast for D&D and Pathfinder players. Level up your experience: Join us on Patreon to unlock ad-free access to RPGBOT.net and the RPGBOT Podcast, chat with us and the community on the RPGBOT Discord, and jump into live-streamed RPG podcast recordings. Support while you shop: Use our Amazon affiliate link at https://amzn.to/3NwElxQ and help us keep building tools and guides for the RPG community. Meet the Hosts Tyler Kamstra – Master of mechanics, seeing the Pathfinder action economy like Neo in the Matrix. Randall James – Lore buff and technologist, always ready to debate which Lord of the Rings edition reigns supreme. Ash Ely – Resident cynic, chaos agent, and AI's worst nightmare, bringing pure table-flipping RPG podcast energy. Join the RPGBOT team where fantasy roleplaying meets real strategy, sarcasm, and community chaos. How to Find Us: In-depth articles, guides, handbooks, reviews, news on Tabletop Role Playing at RPGBOT.net Tyler Kamstra BlueSky: @rpgbot.net TikTok: @RPGBOTDOTNET Ash Ely Professional Game Master on StartPlaying.Games BlueSky: @GravenAshes YouTube: @ashravenmedia Randall James BlueSky: @GrimoireRPG Amateurjack.com Read Melancon: A Grimoire Tale (affiliate link) Producer Dan @Lzr_illuminati
Funny Cold Open We start this episode debating Canadian healthcare, accidentally invent sad wrestling, and somehow end up analyzing a Barbarian whose main power is crying so hard enemies die. Honestly, that tracks for Unearthed Arcana. Show Notes We dive into the latest villain-themed Unearthed Arcana subclasses and immediately get distracted by the Path of Lament Barbarian. The idea of a rage-fueled warrior powered entirely by emotional devastation is way too funny for us not to lean into, especially once we realize the subclass is actually pretty solid at crowd control. We spend a lot of time imagining a Barbarian loudly sobbing while enemies desperately try to escape the situation. From there we move into the Warrior of Venom Monk, which gives us poison powers, battlefield control, and several opportunities to question Wizards of the Coast's relationship with poison immunity. Once we notice the subclass can swap poison damage into acid damage, things get considerably more interesting and considerably more ridiculous. Finally, we tackle the Primordial Patron Warlock, a subclass we have wanted for a long time. The elemental flavor is fantastic, but the mechanics leave us scratching our heads as we try to figure out whether the subclass wants us in melee, casting spells, or standing inside our own fireballs. By the end, we mostly agree the concept rules even if the execution still needs work. Key Takeaways Path of Lament Barbarian gives Barbarians strong crowd control and fear effects Banshee's Wail delivers reliable area damage and fits the subclass theme perfectly Warrior of Venom Monk has cool control tools but struggles with poison immunity issues Acid conversion mechanics help salvage many of the Monk's features Primordial Patron Warlock has great elemental flavor but awkward mechanics Elemental Node feels too central to the Warlock subclass without being exciting enough Elemental Transmutation looks like the standout new Eldritch Invocation The subclasses have strong themes overall, but several mechanics still need refinement Welcome to the RPGBOT Podcast. If you love Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder, and tabletop RPGs, this is the podcast for you. Support the show for free: Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any podcast app. It helps new listeners find the best RPG podcast for D&D and Pathfinder players. Level up your experience: Join us on Patreon to unlock ad-free access to RPGBOT.net and the RPGBOT Podcast, chat with us and the community on the RPGBOT Discord, and jump into live-streamed RPG podcast recordings. Support while you shop: Use our Amazon affiliate link at https://amzn.to/3NwElxQ and help us keep building tools and guides for the RPG community. Meet the Hosts Tyler Kamstra – Master of mechanics, seeing the Pathfinder action economy like Neo in the Matrix. Randall James – Lore buff and technologist, always ready to debate which Lord of the Rings edition reigns supreme. Ash Ely – Resident cynic, chaos agent, and AI's worst nightmare, bringing pure table-flipping RPG podcast energy. Join the RPGBOT team where fantasy roleplaying meets real strategy, sarcasm, and community chaos. How to Find Us: In-depth articles, guides, handbooks, reviews, news on Tabletop Role Playing at RPGBOT.net Tyler Kamstra BlueSky: @rpgbot.net TikTok: @RPGBOTDOTNET Ash Ely Professional Game Master on StartPlaying.Games BlueSky: @GravenAshes YouTube: @ashravenmedia Randall James BlueSky: @GrimoireRPG Amateurjack.com Read Melancon: A Grimoire Tale (affiliate link) Producer Dan @Lzr_illuminati
Thirty days into Amazon's DD+7 payment policy, and sellers are feeling the pinch. Neil Twa breaks down what this means for your cash flow and how to adapt. Whether you're a mid-level seller pulling in $30,000 a month or just starting out, understanding the mechanics of DD+7 is crucial. Neil shares real-world examples, including a home goods seller navigating this new landscape. The key takeaway? Map your actual float gap today. This episode of The High Voltage Business Builders Podcast dives into three actionable moves to keep your business thriving despite Amazon's changes. Full transparency: DD+7 isn't going anywhere, so adapting now is essential for long-term growth.
The descent into the deepest layers of the Nine Hells takes things from dangerous to existentially terrifying. This episode explores Baator's final four layers, where infernal politics, cosmic oppression, and impossible ambition reshape reality itself. The closer the journey gets to Nessus and the throne of Asmodeus, the less the planes feel like fantasy adventure settings and the more they resemble living manifestations of lawful evil. Malbolge collapses under the weight of punishment and failure, while Maladomini stretches into endless ruined cities built by eternal dissatisfaction and vanity. Cania freezes everything beneath terrifying magical power and cold intellect before the journey finally reaches Nessus, an abyssal seat of infernal authority where mystery and control dominate everything. The discussion digs into why the deeper hells work so well for high-level campaigns focused on politics, temptation, cosmic horror, and morally impossible decisions. Rather than relying on endless combat encounters, these layers thrive on manipulation, hierarchy, contracts, and the terrifying realization that Hell functions exactly as intended. For Game Masters, the episode offers plenty of inspiration for building infernal adventures that feel oppressive, alien, and unforgettable without turning the Nine Hells into a repetitive dungeon crawl. Key Takeaways The final four layers of the Nine Hells become increasingly abstract, oppressive, and philosophical. Malbolge represents failure, punishment, and collapsing ambition. Maladomini embodies vanity, corruption, and endless dissatisfaction through ruined cities and abandoned projects. Cania combines frozen isolation with immense magical power and terrifying intellect. Nessus serves as the mysterious and overwhelming domain of Asmodeus. The deeper hells work best as settings for political intrigue, temptation, and cosmic horror. Devils become more frightening when portrayed as organized manipulators instead of simple combat encounters. Infernal hierarchy and bureaucracy are central to the identity of Baator. High-level planar adventures benefit from moral complexity and long-term consequences. The Nine Hells are most effective when each layer feels philosophically distinct. Infernal campaigns thrive on impossible bargains, systemic oppression, and personal corruption. The deeper layers should feel psychologically oppressive as much as physically dangerous. Welcome to the RPGBOT Podcast. If you love Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder, and tabletop RPGs, this is the podcast for you. Support the show for free: Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any podcast app. It helps new listeners find the best RPG podcast for D&D and Pathfinder players. Level up your experience: Join us on Patreon to unlock ad-free access to RPGBOT.net and the RPGBOT Podcast, chat with us and the community on the RPGBOT Discord, and jump into live-streamed RPG podcast recordings. Support while you shop: Use our Amazon affiliate link at https://amzn.to/3NwElxQ and help us keep building tools and guides for the RPG community. Meet the Hosts Tyler Kamstra – Master of mechanics, seeing the Pathfinder action economy like Neo in the Matrix. Randall James – Lore buff and technologist, always ready to debate which Lord of the Rings edition reigns supreme. Ash Ely – Resident cynic, chaos agent, and AI's worst nightmare, bringing pure table-flipping RPG podcast energy. Join the RPGBOT team where fantasy roleplaying meets real strategy, sarcasm, and community chaos. How to Find Us: In-depth articles, guides, handbooks, reviews, news on Tabletop Role Playing at RPGBOT.net Tyler Kamstra BlueSky: @rpgbot.net TikTok: @RPGBOTDOTNET Ash Ely Professional Game Master on StartPlaying.Games BlueSky: @GravenAshes YouTube: @ashravenmedia Randall James BlueSky: @GrimoireRPG Amateurjack.com Read Melancon: A Grimoire Tale (affiliate link) Producer Dan @Lzr_illuminati
The descent into the deepest layers of the Nine Hells takes things from dangerous to existentially terrifying. This episode explores Baator's final four layers, where infernal politics, cosmic oppression, and impossible ambition reshape reality itself. The closer the journey gets to Nessus and the throne of Asmodeus, the less the planes feel like fantasy adventure settings and the more they resemble living manifestations of lawful evil. Malbolge collapses under the weight of punishment and failure, while Maladomini stretches into endless ruined cities built by eternal dissatisfaction and vanity. Cania freezes everything beneath terrifying magical power and cold intellect before the journey finally reaches Nessus, an abyssal seat of infernal authority where mystery and control dominate everything. The discussion digs into why the deeper hells work so well for high-level campaigns focused on politics, temptation, cosmic horror, and morally impossible decisions. Rather than relying on endless combat encounters, these layers thrive on manipulation, hierarchy, contracts, and the terrifying realization that Hell functions exactly as intended. For Game Masters, the episode offers plenty of inspiration for building infernal adventures that feel oppressive, alien, and unforgettable without turning the Nine Hells into a repetitive dungeon crawl. Key Takeaways The final four layers of the Nine Hells become increasingly abstract, oppressive, and philosophical. Malbolge represents failure, punishment, and collapsing ambition. Maladomini embodies vanity, corruption, and endless dissatisfaction through ruined cities and abandoned projects. Cania combines frozen isolation with immense magical power and terrifying intellect. Nessus serves as the mysterious and overwhelming domain of Asmodeus. The deeper hells work best as settings for political intrigue, temptation, and cosmic horror. Devils become more frightening when portrayed as organized manipulators instead of simple combat encounters. Infernal hierarchy and bureaucracy are central to the identity of Baator. High-level planar adventures benefit from moral complexity and long-term consequences. The Nine Hells are most effective when each layer feels philosophically distinct. Infernal campaigns thrive on impossible bargains, systemic oppression, and personal corruption. The deeper layers should feel psychologically oppressive as much as physically dangerous. Welcome to the RPGBOT Podcast. If you love Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder, and tabletop RPGs, this is the podcast for you. Support the show for free: Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any podcast app. It helps new listeners find the best RPG podcast for D&D and Pathfinder players. Level up your experience: Join us on Patreon to unlock ad-free access to RPGBOT.net and the RPGBOT Podcast, chat with us and the community on the RPGBOT Discord, and jump into live-streamed RPG podcast recordings. Support while you shop: Use our Amazon affiliate link at https://amzn.to/3NwElxQ and help us keep building tools and guides for the RPG community. Meet the Hosts Tyler Kamstra – Master of mechanics, seeing the Pathfinder action economy like Neo in the Matrix. Randall James – Lore buff and technologist, always ready to debate which Lord of the Rings edition reigns supreme. Ash Ely – Resident cynic, chaos agent, and AI's worst nightmare, bringing pure table-flipping RPG podcast energy. Join the RPGBOT team where fantasy roleplaying meets real strategy, sarcasm, and community chaos. How to Find Us: In-depth articles, guides, handbooks, reviews, news on Tabletop Role Playing at RPGBOT.net Tyler Kamstra BlueSky: @rpgbot.net TikTok: @RPGBOTDOTNET Ash Ely Professional Game Master on StartPlaying.Games BlueSky: @GravenAshes YouTube: @ashravenmedia Randall James BlueSky: @GrimoireRPG Amateurjack.com Read Melancon: A Grimoire Tale (affiliate link) Producer Dan @Lzr_illuminati
8:00 HOUR: How much blame does Cade get for last night? Dd the refs steal Game 5?
In the middle of the plains, Raef and Kray find an unlikely welcome. As Kray's identity is revealed, a mysterious Captain offers surprising support for the Thieves Guild.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-thieves-guild--6141933/support.Some secrets are worth dying for. Some are worth killing for.----CREDITS ✍️ Writer: Jake Kerr
On the 138th Episode of Dorm Damage With Tom & Zeus the guys discuss Record Store Day. Vinyl is back on top of the mountain as the the dominant physical copy of music. Record Store Day is like it's Super Bowl. Tom is a vinyl collector and Zeus not so much. He's still into his CDs. Tom breaks down record store day, what it means, how collectors treat it and more. So before you go out and buy your 14th variant copy of Love Gun on vinyl, or Bango Tango Live in Honduras or just in case you want to hear something orange tune in to DD! To Purchase Shout It Out Loudcast's KISS Book “Raise Your Glasses: A Celebration Of 50 Years of KISS Songs By Celebrities, Musicians & Fans Please Click Below: Raise Your Glasses Book For all things Shout It Out Loudcast the #1 KISS Podcast check out our amazing website by clicking below: www.ShoutItOutLoudcast.com Interested in more Shout It Out Loudcast content? Care to help us out? Come join us on Patreon by clicking below: SIOL Patreon Get all your Shout It Out Loudcast Merchandise by clicking below: Shout It Out Loudcast Merch At Printify Shop At Our Amazon Store by clicking below: Shout It Out Loudcast Amazon Store Please Email us comments or suggestions by clicking below: ShoutItOutLoudcast@Gmail.com Please subscribe to us and give us a 5 Star (Child) review on the following places below: iTunes Podchaser Stitcher iHeart Radio Spotify Please follow us and like our social media pages clicking below: Twitter Facebook Page Facebook Group Page Shout It Out Loudcasters Instagram YouTube Proud Member of the Pantheon Podcast click below to see the website: Pantheon Podcast Network Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tonight we learned three important things about crime. First, every heist starts with confidence and ends with someone on fire. Second, the moon is falling out of the sky and nobody has time to care because rent is still due. Third, if Randall says this plan only has minor consequences, we are absolutely about to get stabbed in an alley by ghost cops. Welcome to the cheerful industrial nightmare of Blades in the Dark, where the weather is bad, the economy is worse, and somehow the rats are still thriving. Show Notes We finally cracked open Blades in the Dark and immediately discovered that this game runs on stress, bad decisions, and industrialized demon blood. The crew dug into the grimy streets of Doskvol, a city powered by leviathan hunting, haunted by ghosts, and permanently stuck in the kind of rainy darkness that makes everybody look guilty. We spent a lot of time unpacking the setting because the world is tightly welded to the mechanics. You cannot separate the lore from the gameplay here, and honestly that is part of the charm. Along the way we compared the game to Dishonored, argued about whether setting guards on fire counts as a valid social skill, and accidentally pitched the greatest campaign never written about demon whale hunters sailing into the void. There was also an extended detour into whether the moon should even be visible if the sun exploded, which is exactly the kind of deeply useful conversation every RPG group eventually has. Mechanically, the game impressed us with how elegant and dangerous everything feels. Every roll is a gamble where success often comes stapled to consequences. We talked through position, effect, stress, trauma, resistance rolls, and the infamous clocks system that slowly turns every bad decision into a future catastrophe. The whole structure feels built to keep heists moving fast while constantly ratcheting up tension. What really sold us was how much the game trusts the table. Instead of stopping every five minutes to debate rules interactions, Blades in the Dark asks players to lean into the fiction, make reckless choices, and deal with the fallout later. It is a game about desperate criminals trying to survive in a collapsing world, and somehow that still sounds more stable than most adventuring parties. Materials Referenced in This Episode Blades in the Dark (affiliate link) Blades in the Dark Solo Rules (affiliate link) Evil Hat Productions https://bladesinthedark.com/downloads (Downloads Links) Key Takeaways Blades in the Dark blends haunted industrial fantasy, criminal drama, and heist storytelling into one very stylish disaster zone The setting revolves around Doskvol, a city powered by refined demon whale blood called electroplasm Ghosts are common, demons are terrifying, and almost everything in the world feels one bad day away from collapse The core mechanic uses d6 dice pools where success almost always comes with consequences Position and effect are central mechanics that determine how dangerous and impactful an action will be Stress acts as a flexible resource for pushing rolls, resisting consequences, and surviving bad situations Trauma builds up over time, forcing characters to balance risk with survival Clocks provide a simple but brilliant way to track progress, danger, faction heat, and long term problems Loadouts let players retroactively reveal useful gear instead of planning every item in advance The game strongly encourages bold choices, teamwork, flashbacks, and improvisation over careful tactical planning The crew spent an alarming amount of time discussing whether arson counts as a valid investigative technique and honestly the game supports that energy Welcome to the RPGBOT Podcast. If you love Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder, and tabletop RPGs, this is the podcast for you. Support the show for free: Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any podcast app. It helps new listeners find the best RPG podcast for D&D and Pathfinder players. Level up your experience: Join us on Patreon to unlock ad-free access to RPGBOT.net and the RPGBOT Podcast, chat with us and the community on the RPGBOT Discord, and jump into live-streamed RPG podcast recordings. Support while you shop: Use our Amazon affiliate link at https://amzn.to/3NwElxQ and help us keep building tools and guides for the RPG community. Meet the Hosts Tyler Kamstra – Master of mechanics, seeing the Pathfinder action economy like Neo in the Matrix. Randall James – Lore buff and technologist, always ready to debate which Lord of the Rings edition reigns supreme. Ash Ely – Resident cynic, chaos agent, and AI's worst nightmare, bringing pure table-flipping RPG podcast energy. Join the RPGBOT team where fantasy roleplaying meets real strategy, sarcasm, and community chaos. How to Find Us: In-depth articles, guides, handbooks, reviews, news on Tabletop Role Playing at RPGBOT.net Tyler Kamstra BlueSky: @rpgbot.net TikTok: @RPGBOTDOTNET Ash Ely Professional Game Master on StartPlaying.Games BlueSky: @GravenAshes YouTube: @ashravenmedia Randall James BlueSky: @GrimoireRPG Amateurjack.com Read Melancon: A Grimoire Tale (affiliate link) Producer Dan @Lzr_illuminati
Tonight we learned three important things about crime. First, every heist starts with confidence and ends with someone on fire. Second, the moon is falling out of the sky and nobody has time to care because rent is still due. Third, if Randall says this plan only has minor consequences, we are absolutely about to get stabbed in an alley by ghost cops. Welcome to the cheerful industrial nightmare of Blades in the Dark, where the weather is bad, the economy is worse, and somehow the rats are still thriving. Show Notes We finally cracked open Blades in the Dark and immediately discovered that this game runs on stress, bad decisions, and industrialized demon blood. The crew dug into the grimy streets of Doskvol, a city powered by leviathan hunting, haunted by ghosts, and permanently stuck in the kind of rainy darkness that makes everybody look guilty. We spent a lot of time unpacking the setting because the world is tightly welded to the mechanics. You cannot separate the lore from the gameplay here, and honestly that is part of the charm. Along the way we compared the game to Dishonored, argued about whether setting guards on fire counts as a valid social skill, and accidentally pitched the greatest campaign never written about demon whale hunters sailing into the void. There was also an extended detour into whether the moon should even be visible if the sun exploded, which is exactly the kind of deeply useful conversation every RPG group eventually has. Mechanically, the game impressed us with how elegant and dangerous everything feels. Every roll is a gamble where success often comes stapled to consequences. We talked through position, effect, stress, trauma, resistance rolls, and the infamous clocks system that slowly turns every bad decision into a future catastrophe. The whole structure feels built to keep heists moving fast while constantly ratcheting up tension. What really sold us was how much the game trusts the table. Instead of stopping every five minutes to debate rules interactions, Blades in the Dark asks players to lean into the fiction, make reckless choices, and deal with the fallout later. It is a game about desperate criminals trying to survive in a collapsing world, and somehow that still sounds more stable than most adventuring parties. Materials Referenced in This Episode Blades in the Dark (affiliate link) Blades in the Dark Solo Rules (affiliate link) Evil Hat Productions https://bladesinthedark.com/downloads (Downloads Links) Key Takeaways Blades in the Dark blends haunted industrial fantasy, criminal drama, and heist storytelling into one very stylish disaster zone The setting revolves around Doskvol, a city powered by refined demon whale blood called electroplasm Ghosts are common, demons are terrifying, and almost everything in the world feels one bad day away from collapse The core mechanic uses d6 dice pools where success almost always comes with consequences Position and effect are central mechanics that determine how dangerous and impactful an action will be Stress acts as a flexible resource for pushing rolls, resisting consequences, and surviving bad situations Trauma builds up over time, forcing characters to balance risk with survival Clocks provide a simple but brilliant way to track progress, danger, faction heat, and long term problems Loadouts let players retroactively reveal useful gear instead of planning every item in advance The game strongly encourages bold choices, teamwork, flashbacks, and improvisation over careful tactical planning The crew spent an alarming amount of time discussing whether arson counts as a valid investigative technique and honestly the game supports that energy Welcome to the RPGBOT Podcast. If you love Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder, and tabletop RPGs, this is the podcast for you. Support the show for free: Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any podcast app. It helps new listeners find the best RPG podcast for D&D and Pathfinder players. Level up your experience: Join us on Patreon to unlock ad-free access to RPGBOT.net and the RPGBOT Podcast, chat with us and the community on the RPGBOT Discord, and jump into live-streamed RPG podcast recordings. Support while you shop: Use our Amazon affiliate link at https://amzn.to/3NwElxQ and help us keep building tools and guides for the RPG community. Meet the Hosts Tyler Kamstra – Master of mechanics, seeing the Pathfinder action economy like Neo in the Matrix. Randall James – Lore buff and technologist, always ready to debate which Lord of the Rings edition reigns supreme. Ash Ely – Resident cynic, chaos agent, and AI's worst nightmare, bringing pure table-flipping RPG podcast energy. Join the RPGBOT team where fantasy roleplaying meets real strategy, sarcasm, and community chaos. How to Find Us: In-depth articles, guides, handbooks, reviews, news on Tabletop Role Playing at RPGBOT.net Tyler Kamstra BlueSky: @rpgbot.net TikTok: @RPGBOTDOTNET Ash Ely Professional Game Master on StartPlaying.Games BlueSky: @GravenAshes YouTube: @ashravenmedia Randall James BlueSky: @GrimoireRPG Amateurjack.com Read Melancon: A Grimoire Tale (affiliate link) Producer Dan @Lzr_illuminati
In this solo episode, Axel dives into one of the most misunderstood and emotionally charged moments in any real estate transaction — the re-trade. He breaks down exactly what re-trading is, when it makes sense to do it, when it doesn't, and how to actually communicate a concession request in a way that protects both the deal and your long-term reputation in the market.He also shares real examples from Aligned's own deal history — including times they deliberately chose not to re-trade in order to protect relationships that eventually produced multiple future deals.This episode is essential listening for any active buyer working through due diligence who wants a clear, practical framework for making one of the trickiest calls in real estate — and making it the right way.Join us as we dive into:A clear definition of what re-trading is and the most common triggering events: physical due diligence findings, financial due diligence discrepancies, environmental issues, and rate movement during financingWhy the decision to re-trade is always a tradeoff between the financial cost of a finding and the reputational capital you spend by making the requestHow the calculus changes when you're buying with investor capital versus your own — and why being a fiduciary shifts the decision frameworkThe decision flowchart: is the finding terminal to the deal, or does it just have a quantifiable cost?Why environmental findings and major unpermitted work are among the few things that can actually kill a deal — and why even those are sometimes better handled by walking away than re-tradingThe real cost of re-trading small items — crappy water heaters, minor CapEx — on a million-dollar deal, and why protecting the relationship is often worth more than the creditThe philosophy behind absorbing manageable risk to maintain goodwill: "just because you extracted max value on that deal, if it prevents your ability to do the second — you probably lost"How to communicate a re-trade request: lead with data not emotion, use objective third-party findings and contractor quotes, and frame it as a partnership solution not an adversarial demandWhy giving sellers multiple options — price reduction, seller credit, pre-closing work, creative solutions — goes a long way in keeping the deal collaborativeThe importance of timing: why raising concerns early in the DD process is far better than waiting until the 11th hour, and how to set soft expectations before making the formal requestAre you looking to invest in real estate, but don't want to deal with the hassle of finding great deals, signing on debt, and managing tenants? Aligned Real Estate Partners provides investment opportunities to passive investors looking for the returns, stability, and tax benefits multifamily real estate offers, but without the work - join our investor club to be notified of future investment opportunities.Connect with Axel:Follow him on InstagramConnect with him on LinkedinSubscribe to our YouTube channelLearn more about Aligned Real Estate Partners
A donor asked one of my clients, “How much do I have to give for you to stop asking?” Oof. That question hit me right in the chest. And honestly, I think a lot of fundraisers have either been asked something like this or secretly fear hearing it.In this episode, I break down exactly how I would respond and why I believe obligation has no place in major gifts fundraising. None. I'm not interested in convincing, pressuring, manipulating, or cornering someone into giving. That's not partnership. That's coercion with a tax receipt.We talk about the difference between fundraising from desperation versus fundraising from grounded leadership. Because donors can feel your energy. They can feel when you're white knuckling a goal, trying to force a gift, or needing their validation. And they can also feel when you genuinely mean it when you say: “You do not have to give.”The best donor relationships are built with people who are all in. People who want to be there. The people who don't just write checks, but become real partners in the mission. That kind of fundraising starts with you releasing pressure from yourself first.What you'll learn in this episodeHow Julie would respond when a donor says, “How much do I have to give for you to stop asking?”Why obligation-based fundraising damages donor relationshipsThe psychological reason donors are more likely to give when they feel fully free to chooseHow desperation and pressure show up in donor conversations, even when you think you're hiding itWhy emotional regulation matters in major gifts fundraisingThe difference between inviting someone into a mission versus convincing them to fund itHow to stop white knuckling individual donor relationshipsWhy real donor partnerships require alignment, not pressureWhat “walk away power” actually looks like in fundraising conversationsHow releasing donors from obligation helps attract more passionate, committed supportersAt the end of the day, major gifts fundraising is not about getting people to do things they do not want to do. It's about leading well enough, listening deeply enough, and believing strongly enough in your mission that the right people naturally lean in. The more grounded and pressure-free you become, the more authentic and sustainable your donor relationships will be.Want 15 leads in 5 minutes? DM me "Breakfast burrito" on LinkedIn and I'll send you a pdf and 6-minute training to help you generate 15 leads for your nonprofit in minutes. It's totally free. All you need is an email to sign up. DM me "Breakfast burrito" - I'm from Texas, what can I say? - to get your pdf and mini training.If you're an ED or DD of a $1M+ making a difference in your community and you're ready to make bigger, bolder asks, then DM me “CL” on LinkedIn and I'll share details.
The boys are back after a 2 week break!Stoking the FireThe guys discuss some racing and other happenings the past 2 weeks.Eagle Nationals. The challenges of sprint cars on national TV are shown.USAC Indiana Sprint Week reveals new purse $ and IMS stipulations.Steve Smith Sr. Tribute race gets a purse boost across the board. A Port Royal suspension Larry Boos is the new director at Mansfield SpeedwayIllinois Speedweek rainouts (late models)WoO sprint car rookie shakeup. A few drivers lose rides. Will at least one of them land on his feet? On deck for the week: Let's Race Two, big money in Ohio (weekly shows), High Bank Heist at Eagle, WoO late models head east. Social media of the week(s): Kyle Hammer searches for a generator. DD, Beerhill Gang, Joey Wade chime in on the Sweigart deal. Chad Kemenah does not enjoy demo derby's. Chris Wilke travels to 2005.The Draft(Ends around 35:00 minute mark)Feature FinishWoO sprint cars @ Lincoln for the Gettysburg Clash, Williams Grove for the Morgan CupHigh Limit / ASCoC co-santion the Driven2SaveLives at Kokomo SpeedwayIllinois SpeedweekUSAC Silver Crown at Salt CityNARC King of the West @ Chico for the Dave Bradway Jr. MemorialIN, OH, CA weekly showsNOW600 $uper $eries Outlaw Nationals at Macon SpeedwayASCS National sprint cars at Benton Speedway Knoxville and Huset's weeklyIndependence Motor Speedway (Ends around 44:00 minute mark)The Smoke Dishes by DaniOlive Garden Grand BuffetSmash burgersHomemade fried chicken Stolls breakfast Cinco de Mayo failBoth of the guys get behind the grill on Mother's DayQdoba burrito'sDynamite chicken at Panda Express Taco Tierra for taco Tuesday A
We tried to explain the difference between a heist and a hijacking, got a little sidetracked, then we finally got to the important question: How do you run a tabletop RPG heist without your players immediately turning it into a full-scale massacre? Show Notes This week we break down what makes a great tabletop RPG heist work and why stealing something is a lot more fun when the plan is hanging together by a thread. We start with Shadowrun, which remains one of the best examples of a game built around infiltration, corporate espionage, and deniable operations. The system works because violence has consequences, so the tension comes from planning, stealth, and improvising when things inevitably go sideways. From there we move into Dungeons & Dragons and Pathfinder 2e, looking at how dungeon fantasy games handle heists differently. Keys from the Golden Vault gets a lot of praise for capturing the feel of classic capers, while Pathfinder's infiltration subsystem adds layered mechanics for tracking suspicion, complications, and player progress during a job. We also spend time talking about tension and why a good heist needs pressure. Rival crews, ticking clocks, escalating danger, and visible consequences all help turn a simple stealth mission into something memorable. Finally, we touch on Blades in the Dark and its hugely influential progress clocks and flashback mechanics. If you have ever wanted your players to suddenly reveal they planned for a problem all along like an Ocean's Eleven montage, this is the system that perfected it. Materials Referenced in This Episode DnD 5e: Keys from the Golden Vault (affiliate link) Blades in the Dark (affiliate link) Shadowrun (affiliate link) LotR 5e (affiliate link) One Ring 2e (affiliate link) DnDBeyond: 12 Ways to Add Tension to Your D&D Heist Key Takeaways A good heist is about planning, stealth, improvisation, and tension. Shadowrun works well because violence creates serious consequences. Heists in D&D work best when combat is limited and intentional. Keys from the Golden Vault does a solid job capturing the heist fantasy. Rival crews and ticking clocks instantly raise the tension. Pathfinder 2e uses infiltration and awareness points to track progress and danger. Visible danger meters make stealth scenes feel more intense. Complications keep players adapting when plans fall apart. Blades in the Dark popularized progress clocks and flashbacks. Flashbacks let players reveal clever prep work retroactively. Hex crawls work better when exploration focuses on discovery instead of nonstop combat. Three kobolds in a trench coat is still an elite random encounter. Welcome to the RPGBOT Podcast. If you love Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder, and tabletop RPGs, this is the podcast for you. Support the show for free: Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any podcast app. It helps new listeners find the best RPG podcast for D&D and Pathfinder players. Level up your experience: Join us on Patreon to unlock ad-free access to RPGBOT.net and the RPGBOT Podcast, chat with us and the community on the RPGBOT Discord, and jump into live-streamed RPG podcast recordings. Support while you shop: Use our Amazon affiliate link at https://amzn.to/3NwElxQ and help us keep building tools and guides for the RPG community. Meet the Hosts Tyler Kamstra – Master of mechanics, seeing the Pathfinder action economy like Neo in the Matrix. Randall James – Lore buff and technologist, always ready to debate which Lord of the Rings edition reigns supreme. Ash Ely – Resident cynic, chaos agent, and AI's worst nightmare, bringing pure table-flipping RPG podcast energy. Join the RPGBOT team where fantasy roleplaying meets real strategy, sarcasm, and community chaos. How to Find Us: In-depth articles, guides, handbooks, reviews, news on Tabletop Role Playing at RPGBOT.net Tyler Kamstra BlueSky: @rpgbot.net TikTok: @RPGBOTDOTNET Ash Ely Professional Game Master on StartPlaying.Games BlueSky: @GravenAshes YouTube: @ashravenmedia Randall James BlueSky: @GrimoireRPG Amateurjack.com Read Melancon: A Grimoire Tale (affiliate link) Producer Dan @Lzr_illuminati
Daredevil: Born Again season 2 has finished and of course we're ready to talk about it! Now since the end of season 1 we knew we'd get to see DD in the striking looking black suit! It does not disappoint! Matt and Karen are underground and there's a sinister looking mask popping up on social media of someone calling out Mayor Fisk on his actions in NYC. Where's Frank? We know he's been with Spidey lately based on trailers and we also learned that Jessica Jones is BACK! Find out this and more tonight on Just Another Friday Night! And be sure to hop in the comments and let us know YOUR thoughts and insights on this latest season of DD: BA!
We begin our descent into the infernal planes with a guided tour through the first five layers of the Nine Hells, exploring where law, cruelty, and cosmic bureaucracy collide in spectacular fashion. In this episode, we dig into the lore of Baator and unpack how these iconic planes function in both Dungeons & Dragons and Pathfinder inspired campaigns. From blood-soaked battlefields to endless urban corruption, we explore how each layer reflects a different flavor of lawful evil and why devils remain some of tabletop gaming's most compelling villains. Along the way, we balance deep lore discussion with practical Game Master advice, examining how to use the Nine Hells in a campaign without turning them into a generic fire-and-brimstone dungeon crawl. We dive into infernal politics, the Blood War, devil hierarchies, contracts, temptation, and the terrifying ways mortals become trapped in infernal systems that are often worse than outright violence. The result is equal parts fantasy travel guide, horror setting primer, and GM toolkit for building unforgettable planar adventures. The first five layers each become distinct settings rather than interchangeable hellscapes. We look at Avernus as a battlefield scarred by endless war, while Dis leans into paranoia, oppression, and urban dread. Minauros sinks into corruption and decay where ambition disappears beneath the muck, Phlegethos burns with passion and manipulation, and Stygia freezes everything beneath layers of betrayal and ancient secrets. Throughout the episode, we emphasize that the Nine Hells work best when every layer feels philosophically different rather than visually repetitive. We also spend time discussing how infernal settings create opportunities for morally complicated storytelling. Devils become terrifying not simply because they are powerful, but because they are patient, organized, and willing to weaponize contracts, systems, and temptation. One of the biggest themes throughout the episode is how lawful evil differs from chaotic evil and why devil-centered adventures often evolve into political thrillers instead of straightforward monster hunts. Fans of planar lore, cosmology, fiendish campaigns, and dark fantasy worldbuilding will find plenty of inspiration for their own games, especially Game Masters looking to build memorable extraplanar adventures filled with intrigue, danger, and terrible bargains. Key Takeaways The Nine Hells are structured around rigid hierarchy, law, and infernal bureaucracy rather than random destruction. Each layer of Baator has a distinct identity, environment, and thematic style of evil. Avernus functions as the front line of the Blood War and is defined by constant warfare and devastation. Dis emphasizes surveillance, paranoia, oppressive systems, and urban horror. Minauros represents corruption, greed, decay, and the crushing weight of ambition. Phlegethos focuses on temptation, desire, manipulation, and destructive passion. Stygia combines frozen wastelands with themes of betrayal, imprisonment, and hidden knowledge. Devils are most effective as manipulators and dealmakers rather than straightforward combat encounters. Infernal contracts create excellent storytelling tools for long-term campaign consequences. Lawful evil villains can be more terrifying than chaotic villains because they operate within organized systems. The Blood War provides a massive cosmic backdrop that can influence entire campaigns. Planar adventures work best when the planes feel alien, dangerous, and philosophically unique. The episode encourages Game Masters to treat the Nine Hells as living settings full of politics and intrigue instead of simple dungeon environments. Infernal adventures often become stories about temptation, compromise, and moral erosion. The hosts discuss practical ways to adapt planar lore into both D&D and Pathfinder campaigns. Welcome to the RPGBOT Podcast. If you love Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder, and tabletop RPGs, this is the podcast for you. Support the show for free: Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any podcast app. It helps new listeners find the best RPG podcast for D&D and Pathfinder players. Level up your experience: Join us on Patreon to unlock ad-free access to RPGBOT.net and the RPGBOT Podcast, chat with us and the community on the RPGBOT Discord, and jump into live-streamed RPG podcast recordings. Support while you shop: Use our Amazon affiliate link at https://amzn.to/3NwElxQ and help us keep building tools and guides for the RPG community. Meet the Hosts Tyler Kamstra – Master of mechanics, seeing the Pathfinder action economy like Neo in the Matrix. Randall James – Lore buff and technologist, always ready to debate which Lord of the Rings edition reigns supreme. Ash Ely – Resident cynic, chaos agent, and AI's worst nightmare, bringing pure table-flipping RPG podcast energy. Join the RPGBOT team where fantasy roleplaying meets real strategy, sarcasm, and community chaos. How to Find Us: In-depth articles, guides, handbooks, reviews, news on Tabletop Role Playing at RPGBOT.net Tyler Kamstra BlueSky: @rpgbot.net TikTok: @RPGBOTDOTNET Ash Ely Professional Game Master on StartPlaying.Games BlueSky: @GravenAshes YouTube: @ashravenmedia Randall James BlueSky: @GrimoireRPG Amateurjack.com Read Melancon: A Grimoire Tale (affiliate link) Producer Dan @Lzr_illuminati
In the latest podcast, AGD Podcast Series host talks with Emma Guzman, DD, shares her personal journey from practicing dentistry in New York City to embracing a more holistic approach to health and wellness after experiencing burnout, chronic pain, and a lack of fulfillment in her career. In this conversation, she discusses how therapy, stronger boundaries, and intentional lifestyle changes transformed both her mental and physical well-being. Dr. Guzman explains the powerful connection between oral health and overall wellness, including links to inflammation, diabetes, and mental health, while offering practical insights on building healthier routines through movement, nutrition, and preparation. She also previews her upcoming AGD course – Unveiling the Untold Link: Oral Health – Total Health – which explores the growing role of holistic health in dentistry and how dental professionals can better support patients—and themselves—through a more balanced, wellness-focused approach. Dr. Guzman is a distinguished general dentist practicing in New York City. Known for her dynamic and vibrant personality, she is not only a skilled clinician but also a passionate advocate for holistic health and wellness. Her mission to promote a joyful and healthy lifestyle was inspired by her own wellness journey, where the combination of therapy, nutrition, and consistent physical activity transformed her life. Now, she is dedicated to empowering individuals to achieve optimal health, both inside and out.
The crew returns to finish building Pathfinder 2e Fighters, but first they must survive the true final boss of tabletop podcasting: technical difficulties, cursed spell names, mysterious bugs, and Tyler being physically defeated by his cat (again). Somewhere between Spider Missile, Bigby's Big Spider, and a cat-based sneak attack on the microphone cables, the episode remembers it is supposed to be about Fighters. Show Notes In this episode of the RPGBOT.Podcast, we continue building Pathfinder 2e Fighters from levels 11 through 20, and the class goes from reliable martial powerhouse to legally questionable blender with opinions. Randall keeps chasing the dream of the biggest possible hit, Tyler builds a reaction-fueled control monster with a gnome flickmace, and Ash leans into the archer fantasy with trick shots, ricochets, and enough arrows to make every hallway a liability. The discussion covers high-level Fighter class feats, armor and weapon proficiency progression, automatic bonus progression, ancestry feats, and the awkward joy of realizing halfway through a build that you should have planned for a composite longbow. Along the way, the hosts talk through why planning a Pathfinder 2e character to level 20 can save pain later, why Pathbuilder is a gift to society, and why high-level Fighters are so good at critting that some feats sound better than they actually are. Also, Quorra the cat attacks Tyler's setup, which is probably the most accurate simulation of a Pathfinder encounter in the entire episode. Key Takeaways Pathfinder 2e Fighters become legendary with their chosen weapon group at level 13, making them terrifyingly accurate compared to other martial characters. High-level Fighter feats can dramatically shape a build, from Whirlwind Strike and Overwhelming Blow to Impossible Volley and Weapon Supremacy. Automatic bonus progression helps track expected gear math, including armor bonuses, weapon damage dice, and apex attribute boosts. Planning a Pathfinder 2e build ahead matters, especially when weapon traits, feat chains, and ability boosts affect long-term effectiveness. Archery builds can work well, but they require more careful feat and equipment planning than some melee Fighter builds. Reactions become a huge part of Tyler's control build, especially with riposte options that punish enemies for missing. Weapon Supremacy is a strong capstone because being permanently quickened for extra Strikes is exactly what Fighters want. Cats remain undefeated against podcast equipment. Welcome to the RPGBOT Podcast. If you love Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder, and tabletop RPGs, this is the podcast for you. Support the show for free: Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any podcast app. It helps new listeners find the best RPG podcast for D&D and Pathfinder players. Level up your experience: Join us on Patreon to unlock ad-free access to RPGBOT.net and the RPGBOT Podcast, chat with us and the community on the RPGBOT Discord, and jump into live-streamed RPG podcast recordings. Support while you shop: Use our Amazon affiliate link at https://amzn.to/3NwElxQ and help us keep building tools and guides for the RPG community. Meet the Hosts Tyler Kamstra – Master of mechanics, seeing the Pathfinder action economy like Neo in the Matrix. Randall James – Lore buff and technologist, always ready to debate which Lord of the Rings edition reigns supreme. Ash Ely – Resident cynic, chaos agent, and AI's worst nightmare, bringing pure table-flipping RPG podcast energy. Join the RPGBOT team where fantasy roleplaying meets real strategy, sarcasm, and community chaos. How to Find Us: In-depth articles, guides, handbooks, reviews, news on Tabletop Role Playing at RPGBOT.net Tyler Kamstra BlueSky: @rpgbot.net TikTok: @RPGBOTDOTNET Ash Ely Professional Game Master on StartPlaying.Games BlueSky: @GravenAshes YouTube: @ashravenmedia Randall James BlueSky: @GrimoireRPG Amateurjack.com Read Melancon: A Grimoire Tale (affiliate link) Producer Dan @Lzr_illuminati
Talk about D&D and our story. And talk about listeners comments about the end of the podcast
Welcome Back to the Brunch Breakdown Podcast! On #TheMenu this week: We break down the Kentucky Derby, and come up with a replacement for racing horses?? DD explains why we need to relax when going to the movies; we debate if we would have a better chance blocking Myles Garrett or hitting off of Paul Skenes; and which food deserves its own holiday? PLUS the usuals- beer, music, and MUCH MORE! Check out the SOUNDS OF BRUNCH Playlist on Spotify! WATCH Full Episodes of the @BrunchBreakdown Podcast on YouTube, Spotify, & Facebook. LISTEN on AMAZON, Audible, Spotify, Apple, and Everywhere You Get Your Podcasts. FOLLOW us on Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, and GoodPods!
There are a handful of patterns I see over and over again when organizations get stuck around $300K in individual giving.Not because they don't care. Not because their mission isn't strong. But because of how they're operating day to day.In this episode, I'm breaking down the biggest mistakes that quietly cap your growth. The ones that feel normal. Even smart. But are actually keeping you from getting to $1M in major gifts.From overthinking and waiting for the perfect moment, to chasing random strategies and writing emails no one responds to. And then the deeper shift. Learning how to lead with clarity, make decisions on purpose, and have conversations that actually unlock bigger gifts.This is less about doing more. And more about tightening how you think, how you communicate, and how you show up.What you'll learn in this episodeWhy overthinking is keeping you stuck and why action is the only way to get real data on what worksThe hidden danger of relying on surprise big gifts and why it's not a strategyHow “good times” can actually slow your growth if you stop investing in fundraisingWhy making up your strategy as you go leads to mediocre results even if you're good with peopleHow to choose a clear growth strategy and stick to it instead of chasing every ideaThe real reason your emails are getting ignored and how to fix it fastWhat donors actually need to give. Trust, credibility, and a clear visionWhy hiring people who have never raised money is costing you growthHow every fundraiser hits a ceiling and why you need expert support to break through itThe biggest missed opportunity. Asking only for cash when 90% of wealth is elsewhereHow shifting to conversations about donor wealth can 4x or 10x your results with the same donorsIf you want different results, you have to stop playing small with your strategy and your thinking. Growth doesn't come from doing more random tactics. It comes from being intentional, building real skills, and asking at the level your donors actually operate.Want 15 leads in 5 minutes? DM me "Breakfast burrito" on LinkedIn and I'll send you a pdf and 6-minute training to help you generate 15 leads for your nonprofit in minutes. It's totally free. All you need is an email to sign up. DM me "Breakfast burrito" - I'm from Texas, what can I say? - to get your pdf and mini training.If you're an ED or DD of a $1M+ making a difference in your community and you're ready to make bigger, bolder asks, then DM me “CL” on LinkedIn and I'll share details.
Show Notes In this episode, we dive into building Fighters for Pathfinder 2e! It's all about navigating complexity without getting overwhelmed. The hosts acknowledge the biggest hurdle for players coming from DnD 5e: the sheer number of meaningful choices. Instead of subclasses, the Fighter hands you a toolbox of feats that effectively become your build identity. That design philosophy is both liberating and intimidating. You can build almost anything, but you can also overthink everything. The crew frames this as analysis paralysis, a recurring theme in character optimization discussions. The solution is not to avoid complexity but to approach it with intent. Pick a concept first, then let the mechanics support it. We each lean into a different archetype. We get a stealthy archer sniper build focused on positioning and debuffs, a one handed combatant built around control and flexibility, and an action economy monster designed to squeeze every possible advantage out of each turn. These contrasting builds highlight one of the core strengths of the system: the same class can feel wildly different depending on your choices. The discussion also digs into foundational mechanics like proficiency scaling, crit math, and action economy. Fighters stand out immediately because they hit more often and crit more often. That alone shifts how you think about damage optimization. Instead of chasing bigger numbers, you are chasing consistency and frequency and getting the bigger numbers for free. There is also a strong emphasis on teamwork. Conditions like off guard and frightened are not just debuffs, they are party wide force multipliers. The system rewards coordination, and the builds reflect that. Even something as simple as positioning or a well timed demoralize can swing an encounter. We also discuss archetypes and variant rules like free archetype. While not used in this build, they're a powerful way to expand character identity without breaking the system's tight math (much). Key Takeaways Pathfinder 2e fighter build strategy revolves around feats acting as your subclass, giving you flexibility but also creating analysis paralysis The ABC vs CAB character creation debate shows that starting with class often leads to more cohesive builds Fighter optimization guide highlights that higher proficiency means more hits and more crits, which directly increases damage output Action economy optimization is a core theme, with builds focusing on reactions, free actions, and efficient turn usage Conditions like off guard and frightened are essential for both personal damage and party synergy Archer build Pathfinder 2e focuses on positioning, range management, and debuffing enemies for allies Melee fighter build strategy emphasizes control tools like grappling, tripping, and forcing enemy movement Weapon choice matters beyond damage, with traits and critical specialization effects shaping playstyle Pathfinder 2e proficiency system makes training levels critical, untrained skills quickly become unusable at higher levels Free archetype variant rule Pathfinder 2e allows for deeper customization but adds complexity and time investment Fighters are consistent damage dealers due to accuracy rather than burst mechanics, making them reliable in long encounters Team synergy and tactical positioning matter more than raw damage numbers in optimized builds Welcome to the RPGBOT Podcast. If you love Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder, and tabletop RPGs, this is the podcast for you. Support the show for free: Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any podcast app. It helps new listeners find the best RPG podcast for D&D and Pathfinder players. Level up your experience: Join us on Patreon to unlock ad-free access to RPGBOT.net and the RPGBOT Podcast, chat with us and the community on the RPGBOT Discord, and jump into live-streamed RPG podcast recordings. Support while you shop: Use our Amazon affiliate link at https://amzn.to/3NwElxQ and help us keep building tools and guides for the RPG community. Meet the Hosts Tyler Kamstra – Master of mechanics, seeing the Pathfinder action economy like Neo in the Matrix. Randall James – Lore buff and technologist, always ready to debate which Lord of the Rings edition reigns supreme. Ash Ely – Resident cynic, chaos agent, and AI's worst nightmare, bringing pure table-flipping RPG podcast energy. Join the RPGBOT team where fantasy roleplaying meets real strategy, sarcasm, and community chaos. How to Find Us: In-depth articles, guides, handbooks, reviews, news on Tabletop Role Playing at RPGBOT.net Tyler Kamstra BlueSky: @rpgbot.net TikTok: @RPGBOTDOTNET Ash Ely Professional Game Master on StartPlaying.Games BlueSky: @GravenAshes YouTube: @ashravenmedia Randall James BlueSky: @GrimoireRPG Amateurjack.com Read Melancon: A Grimoire Tale (affiliate link) Producer Dan @Lzr_illuminati
Episode 288-Elections Have Consequences-Sometimes Good Ones Also Available OnSearchable Podcast Transcript Gun Lawyer — Episode Transcript Page – 1 – of 18 Gun Lawyer Transcript – Episode 288 SUMMARY KEYWORDS Gun laws, ATF, DOJ, President Trump, Second Amendment, interstate firearm transport, FOPA, administrative code, private sales, bump stocks, youth handgun safety, NFA items, Miranda rights, Fish and Game, hunting violations. SPEAKERS Teddy Nappen, Evan Nappen, Speaker 2, Louis Nappen Evan Nappen 00:18 I’m Evan Nappen. Teddy Nappen 00:20 And I’m Teddy Nappen. Evan Nappen 00:22 And also with us today is Louis Nappen. So, we have a very special show, and it’s going to be very interesting in terms of things that you need to know to protect yourself. And some very, very exciting news here out of the ATF, the DOJ, and of course, this is due to President Trump. President Trump, as you may recall, ordered a full review of gun laws. Things that could be done to improve and change the laws, and this includes what are known as final rules and proposed rules. The rules are the Administrative Code. Evan Nappen 01:10 Under federal law, you have statutes that are passed by Congress and signed into law, and then you have what is the federal code. The code is done by administration. Those are the various agencies that propose rules that can and do, in fact, have the force of law, and they are used to interpret the law. These agency rules are very important in how courts and prosecutors will be guided, and the rules are extremely, can be extremely, helpful for individuals that face legal issues in being able to defend themselves. Now, of course, the Biden administration abused these, this rulemaking authority to create anti-Second Amendment gun rights oppression. Rules that he couldn’t get passed legislatively. Well, President Trump, through the DOJ and ATF, has put an amazing package together of 34 new and proposed rules, and I want to talk about a number of them and highlight ones that are particularly important. Evan Nappen 02:43 So, President Trump, remember, signed that Executive Order. It was EO 14206, protecting Second Amendment rights. (https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/02/12/2025-02636/protecting-second-amendment-rights) Now, this review went on for a year, and now we see the fruits of this very Page – 2 – of 18 intensive review. One of the key things that is going to be of major effect to just uncountable numbers of gun owners is the easing of interstate firearm transport. There will be no more “gun free zone” nightmares. That is something he set out to do. I’ve looked at many, many sources, and many different articles, primary sources, and I just want to say that I found a great, great article here called “DOJ and ATF Release Landmark 34-Rule Package Bolstering 2A Rights” by GunStuff TV Reporter. (https://gunstuff.tv/doj-and-atf-release-landmark-34-rule-package-bolstering-2a-rights-easier-interstate-transport-ffl-sales-and-nfa-processes/) Evan Nappen 03:48 I found that this article did an excellent job. I just want to point out that, as this article states, the actual rule itself hasn’t been published, but information has gotten out. Get a load of what the new FOPA (Firearm Owners Protection Act), the new firearm interstate transport protections that are going to come. It’s going to absolutely make it explicit that FOPA, meaning the Firearm Owners Protection Act, protections for unloaded, locked firearms in vehicles, even with states with draconian assault weapon bans. Hint, hint. Like New Jersey, the DPRNJ, Democratic People’s Republic of New Jersey and other states. A new safe passage presumption for hunters, sport shooters, and travelers with valid permits from their home state. So, this is now laying groundwork here for administrative recognition of carry permits. A continuing step forward, honestly, for gaining full national reciprocity. This is a great step in that direction. Evan Nappen 05:10 Also, streamlining documentation requirements. No more notary-stamped affidavits just to prove you’re not a criminal. Again, with recognition of these documents laying more groundwork for national reciprocity. Enforcing, expanding and clarifying the FOPA for interstate transport. Let me tell you, folks. It’s something that we deal with all the time in the practice. We have folks coming through New Jersey who are getting arrested, getting charged, and we have to fight and assert Title 18-926a. With these Administrative Code changes, just on that alone, it’ll be of tremendous help. There are many other things in this bill. Let me give you some highlights. Not bill, in this Administrative Code. Here are some great highlights. They were going to remove the pistol stabilizing brace, full rescission of that so-called factoring criteria rule, where they turned millions of brace pistols into unregistered SBRs. Even though courts have already put injunctions on it, this rule will make it crystal clear as a Federal Code regulation. Teddy Nappen 06:28 Now the ATF won’t be trying to break down your door for them. Evan Nappen 06:31 Right! And then the “engaged in business” definition, this was a really evil thing that Biden and company did, where they expanded what “engaged in business” meant. So that if you just happen to sell a gun in a lawful private sale, they would claim that you are a dealer. They were trying to just destroy any private sales. Now, of course, in New Jersey, private sales are prohibited by state law, but in real America, they are not. This federal attempt to turn every private seller into a dealer is being removed and taken away so that the statutory standard returns to the standard from the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act deal. There’s also going to be, in machine guns, removal of bump stock Page – 3 – of 18 language to comply with Cargill, the Supreme Court case of Garland v. Cargill. They’re going to remove that language, get rid of it. So that it’s crystal clear about bump stocks, but New Jersey has their state ban. But still again, it’s great news. Evan Nappen 07:49 Federally, they’re ending the ridiculous Youth Handgun Safety Act notices. You don’t have to, you won’t have to have those signs everywhere and giving out pamphlets. That’s always the first thing everybody throws away, right? Just think of how many trees are going to saved by getting rid of that. So, that’s part of it. They’re modernizing paperwork, folks. It’s really amazing. They’re going to do a comprehensive overhaul of the 4473. That’s the paper that you sign federally. And they’re going to make it so that when you have a NICS check, it’s valid for even a longer period of time. They’re going to incorporate electronic forms in the way you can do NFA now electronically, and that’ll be way faster auto population. You’ll be able to go online, auto populate, have it filed, even before you go to a dealer. Evan Nappen 08:49 And even more interesting is that this is going to lay the groundwork for mail-order guns. That’s right, folks. Mail-order guns. How can that be? Well, I’ll tell you. Right now, you can, if you didn’t live in the DPRNJ, of course, you can buy a silencer, and it can be shipped directly to your door. Even when you buy, for example, from Silencer Central (https://www.silencercentral.com/), they have it all set. They have a network of dealers through the states where suppressors are legal. The paperwork is processed electronically, and the silencer gets delivered direct to your door through this network. With the changes happening here, you’ll be able to go online, find a gun that you like from who knows, one of the major distributors or companies that will be out there, online order what you want, and do your 4473 through an auto-fill interface. Making it even easier. The same way they do it now for suppressors. And that firearm will then be shipped to your door. You don’t even have to leave your home. So, that’s where this is going. Evan Nappen 10:08 It’ll expand it and make it so it takes another good slice out of interstate handgun prohibition. You’ll be able to purchase on a countrywide basis, even though there’s a local dealer network that gets incorporated. It will follow, I’m sure, the silencer model that you see operating right now. Allowing for electronic record keeping, getting rid of the infinite record retention. Remember now, they tried to make it so that every 4473, all the records, the A and D have to be kept forever. Nope. That’s going to be limited either to 20 or 30 years instead, and then they get destroyed. Setting up Easy Check, even better for FFLs, and easing same state sales so that you can get over this non over the counter sales issue that requires, again, physical presence, going to the store. All that. This system is going to revolutionize and modernize our ability on purchase of firearms. Evan Nappen 11:25 Of course, the interstate transport is major. Then, if you’re doing anything with NFA, because maybe you have dual residency or you live in a free state, as opposed to, let’s say New Jersey, and you have NFA items, well, some very interesting things here on the NFA side for the National Firearms Act. Right now, the way the law was, if you want to transport, let’s say, your full auto interstate from one gun legal state to another, you have to get permission in advance. They’re getting rid of that. As long as you’re Page – 4 – of 18 not going for more than a year, you won’t have to get advance approval for moving your NFA items. When you register to buy items through NFA, they’re going to allow joint spousal registration. So, you can just jointly own, let’s say a suppressor or full auto, or whatever you’re doing without the need to have a trust. Evan Nappen 12:28 They’re getting rid of, no more CLEO (Chief Law Enforcement Officer) notification. So, that is an important start. Way back, we had where whenever you wanted to buy anything NFA, and it’s the old days of paper, of course, with NFA, the Chief Law Enforcement Officer wherever you lived, had to approve your NFA acquisition. Whether it was a suppressor, full auto, DD, SBR, whatever it was, they had to do the CLEO sign off. And if the Chief Law Enforcement Officer just decided, hey, I don’t think anyone should have one of these, and I’m not signing it, even though there’s no reason against you personally, there was nothing you could do about it. Nothing. You were dead in the water and couldn’t make your NFA acquisition. Lo and behold, NFA trusts became the loophole. If you set up an NFA trust, they were not subjected to the CLEO notification. So that’s why most folks went with that, because you avoided it entirely. Hence, ATF ended up with 10,000 trusts that was specifically getting rid of this rule. It led to the loophole. Let’s say we’ll call it that. The loophole creating the freedom, because then ATF said, guess what? We’re not going to require the Chief Law Enforcement Officer to have to approve it anymore. Instead, we just give them notice. They just get notice. Well, now they’re not even going to get notice. They’re out of the picture. There’s no reason for it. What? The federal government can’t handle it themselves? Of course, they can. No more CLEO notification. It’ll speed things up. On the interstate transport issue, just so you know, normal travel stops are going to be specifically acknowledged for what we call in New Jersey, reasonable, reasonable deviation, and I’m sure even more expansive than that. Yeah, Teddy? Teddy Nappen 14:50 Well, one of the things that, the big freak out that people seem to be having is with like, even The Trace. They were so freaking out of the proposal. (https://www.thetrace.org/2026/04/atf-gun-rule-changes-cekada/) They put out a whole article today, sorry, April 30, talking about like the they’re removing the modern gun reforms. They always like to play off like that every time. The thing they were pointing at the most is the attack on removing the predominantly earn a profit. The requirement for firearm sellers who predominantly earn a profit to get a license, which that was just a catch all weasel clause that they were going to heavily abuse if it had stayed. So, I just thought. Evan Nappen 15:35 That’s true. Teddy Nappen 15:35 I just thought and. Evan Nappen 15:37 They did, in fact. That’s what led to that individual when they made, I don’t remember his name right off, but he ended up shot and killed. He was a decent, law-abiding guy, where they tried to claim he was Page – 5 – of 18 acting as a private deal under this definition, and he was essentially, you know, killed over that law itself. Teddy Nappen 16:02 So, they’re aim is to close that. Evan Nappen 16:04 Yeah. This is closely get rid of. Teddy Nappen 16:07 The justification they always give is to close the gun show loophole, which is still a hoax. That’s a hoax. It’s already been disproven. I think it goes back to Obama, who said, like, I think it was the Arizona Gun Show for that to get to Illinois, which, that’s total crap. But, again, they never get tired of trotting out the whole false facts. Evan Nappen 16:32 Nope, they don’t. And this is great because it was the gun rights suppressors that are funded by, you know, our billionaire Leftist groups that pushed all this. That infiltrated through the Biden administration. That got federal funding, even to those organizations who, through their think tanks, created all these new ways of oppression. Trump is surgical, not just surgically removing everything that they put in, but expanding into wins for us across the board. It’s very exciting, and it’s great to see. It’s going to help so many people, even many, many of those that have cases pending now. Evan Nappen 17:27 Hey, let me tell you about our good friends at WeShoot. WeShoot is a range in Lakewood, New Jersey. They have a phenomenal range there. It’s where Teddy and I and Lou, we all shoot there. We all got our certifications there. They have a great pro shop, a great range, and great training. You need to check out WeShoot in Lakewood. You can go to their website, which is, of course, weshootusa.com. They have just wonderful folks. We love it there. I want to mention that on May 21 they’ll be having the Diversity Shoot at WeShoot. That’s with our friend Tony Simon. He’s back at WeShoot. And this is just a great night, an unforgettable night. It’ll be Thursday, May 21 ,and it’s only $20. Seriously, just 20 bucks. And there is free pizza. I think you can probably get your 20 bucks in pizza and drinks alone. So, go there. You’ll be able to talk with Tony. Have a real conversations about your rights and all the good stuff that we all care about. You’ll have hands-on experience, and you’ll get to try some really cool gear. Check out the great handguns and rifles. You’ll be able to shoot and get some training and learning. There’s range time, targets, you name it. It’s all covered, even rental. Everything’s covered. It’s great. They have prizes. This is an awesome event. Put it on your calendar, folks, for me, May 21st at WeShoot. Just check it out right online at weshootusa.com. Evan Nappen 19:38 Let me also mention my book. I will shamelessly promote my book at all times. Go to EvanNappen.com and order your copy today. It’s over 500 pages, 120 topics, all in a question and answer format that makes it easy for you to deal with the insane matrix of gun laws that exist in the DPRNJ. Speaking of Page – 6 – of 18 which, we have here today, my brother and ace attorney of the firm, Louis, who is going to be talking to us today about the very important. Wait, wait. Before we what? What, Teddy? Teddy Nappen 20:27 I just wanted to point out something. Again, I wanted it for the article regarding the whole ATF changes. I love how The Trace try to paint this as they’re adding new rules. Part of the package would make it easier for dealers to travel across state lines and stop for hotels, gas stations or food, even in stricter gun laws states. Evan Nappen 20:53 Oh my G-d! Teddy Nappen 20:55 I know. Yeah. Evan Nappen 20:57 It’s almost like freedom or something weird like that. Teddy Nappen 21:02 And almost like there isn’t the federal protection where you’re going from one place to another place, right? Evan Nappen 21:06 Oh, my goodness, The Trace. The Trace should make their logo like somebody just clutching pearls. They’re just pearl clutching all the time. Oh, please spare me. So, normally, you know, at the end of our show, we do the GOFU. But today, with Brother Lou here, we have a very important GOFU, and we’re going to expand and learn about this very serious GOFU that affects our sportsmen, our hunters, and firsthand, I want you to get a more in depth understanding. As you know, GOFUs are Gun Owner Fuck Ups, where gun owners make mistakes. This is a mistake that we’ve seen, and I don’t want you to make. Lou. Louis Nappen 21:57 I’d like to say hello to my brother. You said, I’m your brother. You’re also my brother. Evan Nappen 22:03 No way! When did that happen? Louis Nappen 22:05 Okay. So, what this one is, actually, you could call it a GOFAG GOFU because it’s Fish And Game. It’s a Gun Owner Fish And Game GOFU. Anyway, moving on. This is about. Evan Nappen 22:21 Yes. Please, quickly. Page – 7 – of 18 Louis Nappen 22:22 Ha, ha, ha. This is this about. Teddy Nappen 22:25 We’re talking about cigarettes. Evan Nappen 22:27 Okay, that’s right, and bundles of twigs. Louis Nappen 22:32 The situation here that I actually brought to Evan’s attention, because I currently have there was a big fishing game. When I say Fish and Game, you might know it as fish and wildlife or conservation officers. There was a whole slew that we got hit with to represent on, a whole bunch this year is a nice crop. I have three in particular that I’d like to discuss, and I saw the same pattern of GOFU in three different cases. So, three different hunters did these exact same, not the exact same thing, but they screwed up the same way. And I don’t want other hunters doing this. I want them to learn from others mistakes here. So, first off, in Fish and Game, it’s not about the fines. The fines, if you get charged, some people just mail it in. You know, it’s $50 because of some minor offense. They think that’s all. That it’s like an ordinance, but it’s not. These are civil matters that cannot be expunged, and that’s important. Why is that important? Because if you get a second Fish and Game violation conviction within five years, you lose your hunting privileges in New Jersey. This is New Jersey, how New Jersey operates. Not sure about, and I don’t want to talk about other states, because I’m not an attorney in other states, other than Vermont. But they cannot be expunged. And because of that, if you get another one, there is a chance after that, within five years, you can permanently lose your hunting privileges in New Jersey. That is a serious consequence of not doing something that we should all be doing, which I’m going to get to in a second. Evan Nappen 24:18 And there’s even more consequences. Louis Nappen 24:20 Yes. Evan Nappen 24:21 And that has to do with what? Your Second Amendment rights themselves. Why don’t you tell us? Louis Nappen 24:27 Well, I’d like to, if this is what you’re getting at, the Fish and Game violations when you have that, even the accusation to a point, they can be used in permit hearings, if you apply, because those are summary hearings. Evan Nappen 24:43 That’s right! Page – 8 – of 18 Louis Nappen 24:44 And so, they can say you’re not safe with a firearm. We’re not going to let you have a firearm. Evan Nappen 24:49 Exactly! Louis Nappen 24:50 Or if you get a weapon forfeiture, say you get a restraining order. Even if the restraining order is dismissed, they can then raise anything, anything. It’s summary in nature. It’s a kangaroo court. They can say, look at these Fish and Game violations you have. You don’t get firearms because it’s the same qualifications they’re looking at. Evan Nappen 24:52 More than that. We need the listeners to know that Fish and Game charges can lead to criminal charges as well. We’ve seen that happen. Louis Nappen 25:18 Yes! Evan Nappen 25:18 Keep going. I just wanted to have that. Louis Nappen 25:20 So, keep that in mind. Now, if a fish a Conservation Officer walks up to you. I can use these terms interchangeably. It’s how we talk about them. Sometimes derogatively, they’re called Fish Cops. I’ve heard that, too. But nonetheless, if you’re stopped by one of these, you think they’ll either come out of the tree, or what have you, you do have to show your hunting qualifications, that you are hunting properly. That you have the hunting license. So, you hand them that. It’s very much like being stopped in your car, and you need to show license, registration, and insurance. But that’s basically where that should stop, on your end, of cooperation. Similarly, in a car, of course, you know you should, at least in New Jersey with DUIs, you should also do the blow because you don’t want to have an automatic refusal. So, there’s only a few things under the law where you have to really do something, and this is one of those in that sense. Louis Nappen 26:20 But once you hand them your license and they say these look in order, or something like that, you ask, or you want to, you explain you want to go back to hunting. Am I free to leave? Is the term. And this is true out in the street. If you get stopped by a police officer, am I free to leave? Because that kicks in in your head, or it should. They don’t want me to leave. They’re looking for something else. They want more from me. These often. Evan Nappen 26:50 And if you’re not free to leave, you’re in custody. Page – 9 – of 18 Louis Nappen 26:53 You’re in custody at that point because you’re not free to leave. So, the bottom line is that should click in your head. That your Fourth and Fifth and Sixth Amendment rights kick in. Evan Nappen 27:06 That’s right. When you look at the those rights in the Constitution, they don’t say, you know, the right against self-incrimination, unless it’s a fish cop talking to you. No. There is no exemption for that. Louis Nappen 27:22 Exactly. They are law enforcement officers. I have to tell you, Evan, that all three officers in these different cases, there’s more than three because many, some of them had more than one there. They are very friendly. They would be very friendly, you know. But they are not hall monitors and crossing guards. That’s not what they are. They are there to enforce the law, and they will get you to talk by being friendly and chatty. You don’t want to fall for that. If they say you are not free to leave, they’re pushing for more than that. The bottom line is that at some point it’s less of an investigate. It’s not just merely investigatory. It’s actually an interrogation designed to elicit self-incrimination out of you. And that is when your Miranda rights should kick in. When they are questioning you, to get you to admit to anything that could be used against you. Louis Nappen 28:27 Now, let’s think about that in terms of what they are. You’ve heard it on every TV show, but what are your rights? Think about what they’re telling you in your Miranda rights. Now, they’re supposed to do that. But they can get more out of you, because they can claim at some in some aspects, that it’s investigatory and it was just a friendly conversation. Some judges buy that. Remember, this is Municipal Court judges. They don’t do a lot of Fish and Game cases, and they don’t think of it in these terms. They will tell you that you have a right to remain silent. Well, if you’re being told that you have a right to remain silent, remain silent! You have that right regardless of whether they read you these Miranda rights. Teddy Nappen 29:06 Out of curiosity, though, when you’re dealing with a Fish and Game officer, is there any other disclosures that you have to make? Or is it just the same standard, like a normal cop? Louis Nappen 29:18 Okay. The same as are you free to leave. It goes with that. They will ask sometimes to please hand over your firearm so they can safely put it to the side. If they take your firearm, you know you’re not free to leave because they have your firearm. You can’t hunt at that point. Evan Nappen 29:33 Also, keep in mind, if you’re lawfully carrying, you still have the Duty to Disclose. Louis Nappen 29:40 Good point. Page – 10 – of 18 Evan Nappen 29:41 Because you’re being detained. Louis Nappen 29:44 Yeah. Although, in New Jersey, typically. Louis Nappen 29:45 You need to immediately say I am carrying. As soon as you are stopped or detained, you have that obligation to tell the officer if you’re carrying, too. Louis Nappen 30:00 So, think about this, though, the next part of that famous paragraph. Anything you say, can and will be used against you in a court of law. Does it say, anything you say will be exculpatory so we won’t convict you? Evan Nappen 30:16 No. They’re not. Louis Nappen 30:17 They’re not saying that. They’re saying it can and it will. I don’t know of anybody who’s ever talked themselves out of a ticket or out of a citation. At best, it’s neutral. But almost always it’s you’re talking. You don’t even know what you’re saying. You’re saying things that may be used because you don’t know what they’re investigating. And that will be used against you. So, keep that in mind. You don’t want to talk. The next one is you have the right to an attorney. Well, as soon as you. Evan Nappen 30:45 Wait. Let me just. I need to say one other thing on that. You have a right to say nothing except, arguably, pedigree information. You know, who you are. You know, identify yourself. Louis Nappen 30:57 Yeah, you do have to identify yourself. Evan Nappen 30:58 But, short of that, you don’t have to say anything else. You need to keep in mind that police and law enforcement have a license to lie. They’re allowed to lie. You’re not allowed to lie. They are. So, anything they say, you cannot take to the bank because they have a license to lie. And I know of an actual Fish and Game case, not handled by us, where they accused a person of shooting a deer during bow season. Yet, when he checked it in, you know, it had an arrow, but they felt that it was shot. The person who checked it in wasn’t so smart, and the officers went and took a metal detector. They claimed that the metal detector picked up traces of metal, you know, lead or the bullet, even though it would not even have done that, and they convinced the person by gaming them in this way. And that’s perfectly fine. So, you can’t believe it. Page – 11 – of 18 Louis Nappen 32:00 Yeah. You have the right to an attorney. So, one of the things you could say, in addition to, you know, may I leave? Then, of course, what some people do is stick around. No. If they say, you have a right to leave, leave! Go back to doing something. Go to your car. Get the heck out of there. Evan Nappen 32:15 Right! This is like right out of with Clint Eastwood when Tuco, the guy goes in, you know, he starts talking, and Tuco shoots him from the tub. He goes, he goes, if you’re gonna shoot, shoot, don’t talk. Well, the same idea. If you’re gonna leave, leave. Louis Nappen 32:16 Right, right. Like Ron White’s joke. I had the right to remain silent, but I didn’t have the ability. Evan Nappen 32:45 Yeah! Ha, ha. Teddy Nappen 32:48 Uncle Lou, I just had a question regarding the actual bit of when you’re in the court, what is the setting? Is it more like a hearing when you’re dealing with Fish and Game violations? Louis Nappen 32:59 I’m gonna get to that in a little bit. Let me just finish with the Miranda here. So, you have the right to an attorney. So, what you can say is, am I free to leave? If they say, no, you say that I want an attorney. Questioning should stop as soon as you say, I want my attorney. If you can’t afford an attorney, one will be provided to you. That’s a joke, because you’re going to get a public defender who handles, if lucky, one Fish and Game matter a year. They are just going to want to settle something, maybe mitigate down to one or two, you know, whatever it is. You get what you pay for. And if you get a free attorney, you’re getting what you pay for. And then they ask you, do you understand these rights I’ve read to you? With these rights in mind, do you wish to speak to me? So, they’re telling you all of this. And then I’ll tell you, show you one person and one of these three cases, they were read their rights. They make you sign a form that you understand these rights. And then they went and spoke and showed them everything that they did. Why? Teddy Nappen 33:56 Because it’s the training. It comes back to law and order. Anything you show it’s the training of like, Oh, if I’m not a bad person, I’m not gonna lie. Louis Nappen 34:05 No, no. Of course, you’re going to be honest and put yourself honestly into a plea of guilt or finding of guilt. Okay. They don’t show you in the procedurals on TV. Every time they bring the defendant in, he talks. It’s ridiculous, but that’s beside the point. So, or it is the point. They are law enforcement officers, if I’m going to cut to the chase, and you do the minimum amount of interaction with them. If they approach you, then you have to do these things. But bear in mind your rights. Don’t give them away. Page – 12 – of 18 You’re going to do yourself a favor by not giving them away, not speaking, and you’re going to do your attorney a favor by not speaking. You won’t even get charged, most likely, if you don’t speak. Evan Nappen 34:57 Think of all the great men and women who sacrificed for those rights, and you’re just going to waive them? You’re just going to give them up? We have these rights, and we treasure our Second Amendment rights. Treasure all the rights. We have a right against self-incrimination, and you have a right to counsel. You want to take advantage of those rights. Louis Nappen 35:17 That’s right. Now, when you go to court, Teddy was just sort of indicating, I just want you to know one thing. In most municipal courts, you know, it’s the prosecutor who kind of runs the show and who you deal with. But that prosecutor, over the last 20 years that I’ve been an attorney, it’s become more and more and more. What I’m about to tell you. The prosecutor will only, pretty much in New Jersey, I’ve only seen one prosecutor try to stand up to it and got shot down because he had to speak to the upper echelon of Fish and Game personnel. You know, if it’s just a town cop, the prosecutor will sometimes override the town cop and say, look, you really want to push this? They’ll try to convince them to give something different or better and so that they can negotiate. Fish and Game runs the show, even though it’s a front that the prosecutor runs the show. When it comes to what they are allowed to negotiate, they will not. I haven’t seen it at all, much at all. It’s been at least 5 or 10 years since I’ve been able to do, for instance, get an ordinance instead of a fish and game violation. Evan Nappen 36:28 And there’s a reason for that. The money on a Fish and Game violation goes to Fish and Game. So, they’re there with their hand out, and they don’t want that money going anywhere else. They need the records that show convictions to keep notches, to keep promoting their budget and funding. Look what a great job we’re doing enforcing all these minuscule and often contradictory regulations. Louis Nappen 36:59 Yeah, so it’s about the notches on the belt. Teddy Nappen 37:01 For me, personally, I always just from all the stories and horror stories that I was told. I remember, Dad, you’re famous, the famous one. What was it? It’s a moose, get over it. It had to do with the Fish and Game. Evan Nappen 37:13 Yeah. After winning at trial, the Fish and Game officer was crying, literally crying. How do you live with yourself? To me, because I won. Well, I don’t know. How do you live with yourself, enforcing this kind of insanity. Page – 13 – of 18 Teddy Nappen 37:28 It’s the level of the, it’s the guy from The Untouchables. Let’s do some good. It’s that mentality of Fish and Game. It’s still, and there’s such abuse, like, Uncle, have you experienced? What’s your experience? Evan Nappen 37:43 Unfortunately, we see these. Teddy Nappen 37:44 What is your experience, Uncle Lou? Louis Nappen 37:48 First off, I just want to say I don’t even recommend hunting in New Jersey. That’s how bad it is. Because when are you not within 450 feet of a building? I mean, it could be any building. Evan Nappen 38:09 They particularly look for the ones that you can’t see. Louis Nappen 38:13 A word to the wise. I’ve had that case. Evan Nappen 38:15 Walk into that trap. Louis Nappen 38:17 I had a guy who shot for ducks, and there was a bit of a berm, so to say. And he didn’t know that over that berm was a house. He couldn’t see it. There is none. He didn’t. It was not in his line of sight. When he shot, it was fine. It was gonna go in the dirt if he missed the bird. It doesn’t matter. He was within 450 feet, as the crow flies. So, let me just. Now I just want to quickly kind of give with these. Some of these are ongoing cases. Of course, I will not reveal names or anything, but just to show you how this played out in action regarding three individuals within the last year. Louis Nappen 38:55 One person was hunting with his father, and they’re at their truck now. They’re not even still hunting. They were away from their hunting blinds or the places where they were hunting, and a State Police officer comes up and asked, were you hunting recently from this field? Yes, I was. Did you shoot? Yes, I did. That’s like, that’s questionable. Is it investigatory, or they tried to get you to self incriminate on something? It’s hard to tell the difference, isn’t it? And then she calls, I think it was a female officer, Fish and Game. They show up in more than one, and they mirandize these people. At that point, they’re not letting you go. They are telling you your Miranda rights. So, what should you do? You shut up. You don’t tell them anything. Evan Nappen 39:53 No, no no. You shut the f up. Page – 14 – of 18 Louis Nappen 39:53 Yeah, I know. Okay. You don’t. I’m trying it and you’re trying you. Because at that point, they obviously want to get you to admit to doing some things that they already sort of got you to tell a little bit to the first cop. But now these Fish and Game officers, they did what they should. I can’t blame them. They did what they should. Mirandize these people. They didn’t. Listen to everything I just read to you. You have a right to remain silent. They’re signing off on a sheet that states every one of these rights. Evan Nappen 40:20 If you are ever read Miranda, it’s like last gas for 500 miles. Don’t ignore it. Follow what it said. Yeah. Invoke immediately. There is no exception to violating Miranda. That’s it. You’re done. You only talk to your attorney after that, and you do what your attorney says. You make no statements. Louis Nappen 40:52 That’s right. Evan Nappen 40:52 I mean, come on. Louis Nappen 40:53 And if at that point they’re going to send you a citation, they’re going to send it to you because they already have your information from your hunting licenses. So, what happens after that? They proceed to show them where they were hunting, what direction they were pointing when they hunted, all the both, where both blinds were that they were in, what kind of rounds they were using, all the all of this. Teddy Nappen 41:15 This is starting to remind me of Alice’s Restaurant, when the guy litters and they take out all this stuff and equipment. Louis Nappen 41:22 Well, they did measurements and everything else, because you showed them where you stood when you shot. If you don’t show them where you stood when you shot, where you shot, and all that, how they gonna know if they weren’t there? Evan Nappen 41:38 Right! Louis Nappen 41:38 I have nothing to show you. Because, don’t forget, communication is part of that silence. It’s not just talking. If you’re walking them to a place or doing some motion or something, showing them how you held your gun in what direction, up high or low. This is all communication that you don’t have to provide. So there’s that. Page – 15 – of 18 Evan Nappen 41:59 Always abide by the Fifth Amendment. Louis Nappen 42:00 So, there’s one example. He proceeded to show them that. Okay, example number two. These are all actual cases that I’m currently involved in. Number two, a person hunting for deer. He’s up in his stand. It’s not a firearm. It’s crossbow related. Doesn’t matter, I guess. But he comes down, and the officer shows up, He hands him his licensing and everything, all in order, perfectly in order. But that Fish and Game Cop was not there to truly investigate whether or not he’s hunting. But if he could find that he wasn’t, that would be fine. He was there about a totally different kind of situation, about raccoon trapping. He started chatting with the guy. And the person chatted, thinking it’s a friendly conversation, and found out everything about it, about anything about raccoon trapping. Well, you know this and that. There were some traps around there. Have you seen him? And the guy just talked and tried to kind of obfuscate about some things, I think. But nothing. It’s understandable about like that other people are using this property. Teddy Nappen 43:13 I imagine he had like a raccoon skin hat. Evan Nappen 43:18 He didn’t have his 1920s rah, rah, football raccoon coat on either. Louis Nappen 43:28 Yes. So, long story short, they are talking to him for an hour. Evan Nappen 43:35 An hour. Oh, my G-d. Louis Nappen 43:36 And at some point he had to get home, and he said that early on. So, in other words, he was kind of indicating he didn’t want to be sitting there chatting, but he’s being friendly. The bottom line is, he gets charged, and he does, in all everything that’s been said, more or less, it’s a confession, and they used everything against him. Teddy Nappen 43:39 Quick question, do Fish and Game use body cam as well? Louis Nappen 44:00 Yes! Oh yeah. It’s all on body cam. It’s all on body cam almost always. It’s very rare that stop. This is what’s frustrating for me right now. The stop for the first one I mentioned when the State Police, who would normally wear body cam, they’re not yet providing it. I don’t think they have that for that quick, the shorter first interrogation. But all the Fish and Game officers, as they’re getting Mirandized and everything, that is all on video of them continuing and then everywhere he showed them of shooting from where, etc. So, that’s the second one regarding it had nothing to do with him having proper Page – 16 – of 18 licensing, and it was all just a way to get him to self incriminate doing an interrogation. He didn’t realize he was being interrogated. He thought it was a friendly conversation. At what point does your Miranda kick in? Is it just investigatory, or is it that you should have been told up front? Because people forget about that they have these rights not to have to speak. He should have just said, Am I free to leave? Or go back into his hunting stand? Louis Nappen 45:00 Okay, the last one here, but you can see how each person ignored their Miranda rights here, and that’s what got him cited. The last one is. Evan Nappen 45:11 That’s the GOFU! Louis Nappen 45:12 Fish and Game. Evan Nappen 45:12 Pretty simple, yeah. Louis Nappen 45:13 Yeah, right. A Conservation Officer, Fish and Game, comes right near the edge of a field. He comes up in his vehicle and approaches. This is a woman Hunter, which is kind of nice to see that happening more and more. The Conservation Officer immediately starts questioning. Immediately starts questioning. Hi, how are you? Friendly. Were you just shooting? Yes, I was. How were you standing when you shot? What direction did you shoot in? And all this. She proceeds to show him exactly what she did. I don’t know how much more detail I want to get into. Evan Nappen 45:57 No, but because of her statements, she gets charged. Louis Nappen 45:59 All she should have said is, here’s my hunting license. Here’s my license, and just handed it to him. Evan Nappen 46:06 Here’s my license. Louis Nappen 46:08 Like you do when you get pulled over. You just hand them the licenses. Or please take it off my back. Sometimes the hunting license is stuck on. You know, they’re in the plastic thing, whatever it is. Here they are. And if they start questioning you about anything. Evan Nappen 46:10 Just say, look, am I free to go? Page – 17 – of 18 Louis Nappen 46:23 Am I free to leave? I got nothing to talk about. Evan Nappen 46:27 Yeah. Say,well, I’m here to hunt, not to talk. Louis Nappen 46:31 And many of these people had even other excuses that they could have even said to make it seem more friendly. Even I’m leaving now, because my husband’s out there, and he expects me at the car. I’m leaving or anything. You don’t have to have an excuse, but often you have one. I got to go to the bathroom. Teddy Nappen 46:50 The best example to always, and I remember you always brought this up, Dad. Anytime, what was, what did Martha Stewart go to jail for? And I always say was it insider trading? No, it was lying to the police. If she did not talk, she would not have gone to jail. Evan Nappen 47:06 You cannot lie to the police. Right! Teddy Nappen 47:07 If she didn’t say anything, she would have been fine. Evan Nappen 47:10 Yep, yeah. Louis Nappen 47:11 I want to say one thing. This particular officer, in speaking of that, when he approached her after she shot, the very first thing that he said was, I saw you in my rear view, doing what you, shooting. But then he says to her, show me what you did. To get her to admit what he saw, allegedly. Evan Nappen 47:30 If he saw it, why does she need to show him? Louis Nappen 47:32 Exactly. Then you have it. Evan Nappen 47:35 Games, games, games. Teddy Nappen 47:36 I’m gonna say that’s a certain level of entrapment, like you’re telling them to do that. Page – 18 – of 18 Evan Nappen 47:41 Not necessarily entrapment. But that’s legal for cops to interrogate and to make. Maybe he didn’t see a damn thing. He could say anything. Louis Nappen 47:51 That’s right, that’s right. I think it happened on video. Evan Nappen 47:54 When they don’t have it on video, they could say, you know, we just had a witness come out who never did. I mean, it doesn’t matter. Louis Nappen 48:01 I honestly think he heard a shot, looked in his rear view and saw her shooting. But he didn’t see the shot. That’s my thought of, actually, what, what probably occurred. And that’s right. Evan Nappen 48:13 The bottom Line to all this, Lou? Individuals have to stand on their rights. Law enforcement is law enforcement. Fish and Game is law enforcement. Your rights apply there, as well as in a traffic stop and anywhere else. Stand on your rights. Lou, thanks so much for reviewing all that in detail. This is Evan Nappen, Teddy Nappen and Louis Nappen reminding you that gun laws don’t protect honest citizens from criminals. They protect criminals from honest citizens. Speaker 2 48:52 Gun Lawyer is a CounterThink Media production. The music used in this broadcast was managed by Cosmo Music, New York, New York. Reach us by emailing Evan@gun.lawyer. The information and opinions in this broadcast do not constitute legal advice. Consult a licensed attorney in your state. Downloadable PDF TranscriptGun Lawyer S5 E288_Transcript About The HostEvan Nappen, Esq.Known as “America's Gun Lawyer,” Evan Nappen is above all a tireless defender of justice. Author of eight bestselling books and countless articles on firearms, knives, and weapons history and the law, a certified Firearms Instructor, and avid weapons collector and historian with a vast collection that spans almost five decades — it's no wonder he's become the trusted, go-to expert for local, industry and national media outlets. Regularly called on by radio, television and online news media for his commentary and expertise on breaking news Evan has appeared countless shows including Fox News – Judge Jeanine, CNN – Lou Dobbs, Court TV, Real Talk on WOR, It's Your Call with Lyn Doyle, Tom Gresham's Gun Talk, and Cam & Company/NRA News. As a creative arts consultant, he also lends his weapons law and historical expertise to an elite, discerning cadre of movie and television producers and directors, and novelists. He also provides expert testimony and consultations for defense attorneys across America. Email Evan Your Comments and Questions talkback@gun.lawyer Join Evan's InnerCircleHere's your chance to join an elite group of the Savviest gun and knife owners in America. Membership is totally FREE and Strictly CONFIDENTIAL. Just enter your email to start receiving insider news, tips, and other valuable membership benefits. Email (required) *First Name *Select list(s) to subscribe toInnerCircle Membership Yes, I would like to receive emails from Gun Lawyer Podcast. (You can unsubscribe anytime)Constant Contact Use. Please leave this field blank.var ajaxurl = "https://gun.lawyer/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php";
Show Notes The second half of the paladin journey is where the class really comes into its own. From level 5 onward, the paladin build shifts from a dependable frontline support into something that feels like a true divine powerhouse. In this episode of the RPGBOT.Podcast, the discussion walks through those mid to high level milestones and shows how a solid character can evolve into a standout presence at the table. At this stage, we start to see just how impactful Extra Attack can be, boosting damage output and making Divine Smite far more consistent. Aura of Protection quickly becomes one of the defining features of a high level paladin, turning the character into a mobile defensive anchor that rewards smart positioning. As levels climb, features like Improved Divine Smite and various cleansing abilities reinforce the idea that the paladin is both a damage dealer and a stabilizing force for the party. A big part of the conversation focuses on optimizing paladin subclasses and how each sacred oath scales into late game play. Some lean into burst damage, others into control or support, and there is a clear emphasis on aligning those strengths with overall party strategy. At this point, players are encouraged to think beyond basic paladin tactics and start considering long term character optimization, action economy, and how the build fits into the group dynamic. Spellcasting becomes more nuanced as well. There is always that tension between spending spell slots on Divine Smite for immediate damage or holding them for utility and control spells. The episode offers practical paladin spell selection advice that helps balance those decisions so the character remains effective across different encounters. Multiclassing also comes up, with a thoughtful look at when it makes sense and when it may hold a character back. While there are some powerful multiclass paladin build options, the tradeoff is often a delay in key features that define the class at higher levels. A little restraint and planning can go a long way here. By the end, the focus expands beyond mechanics. The paladin at higher levels is not just filling a role but helping define the party's identity. There is a sense that this class naturally steps into a leadership position, capable of shifting the momentum of a fight while keeping everyone else in the game. Key Takeaways Paladin level progression from 5 to 20 introduces major power spikes like Extra Attack and Improved Divine Smite Aura of Protection stands out as one of the most powerful defensive abilities in DnD 5e A strong paladin build balances offense and support rather than focusing on just one role Divine Smite remains the core damage mechanic but requires careful spell slot management Thoughtful paladin spell selection helps maintain flexibility and effectiveness across encounters Sacred oath features scale differently so subclass choice has a big impact in late game play Multiclass paladin builds can be effective but often delay essential class features Positioning and action economy are key to maximizing aura benefits in combat High level paladins offer strong survivability and reliable frontline presence The paladin often becomes a central figure in both party strategy and narrative direction Welcome to the RPGBOT Podcast. If you love Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder, and tabletop RPGs, this is the podcast for you. Support the show for free: Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any podcast app. It helps new listeners find the best RPG podcast for D&D and Pathfinder players. Level up your experience: Join us on Patreon to unlock ad-free access to RPGBOT.net and the RPGBOT Podcast, chat with us and the community on the RPGBOT Discord, and jump into live-streamed RPG podcast recordings. Support while you shop: Use our Amazon affiliate link at https://amzn.to/3NwElxQ and help us keep building tools and guides for the RPG community. Meet the Hosts Tyler Kamstra – Master of mechanics, seeing the Pathfinder action economy like Neo in the Matrix. Randall James – Lore buff and technologist, always ready to debate which Lord of the Rings edition reigns supreme. Ash Ely – Resident cynic, chaos agent, and AI's worst nightmare, bringing pure table-flipping RPG podcast energy. Join the RPGBOT team where fantasy roleplaying meets real strategy, sarcasm, and community chaos. How to Find Us: In-depth articles, guides, handbooks, reviews, news on Tabletop Role Playing at RPGBOT.net Tyler Kamstra BlueSky: @rpgbot.net TikTok: @RPGBOTDOTNET Ash Ely Professional Game Master on StartPlaying.Games BlueSky: @GravenAshes YouTube: @ashravenmedia Randall James BlueSky: @GrimoireRPG Amateurjack.com Read Melancon: A Grimoire Tale (affiliate link) Producer Dan @Lzr_illuminati
On this episode, the guys discuss DD, star spangled snacks, Gundam, and much more. Enjoy.
If your board keeps saying they'll help fundraise but nothing actually happens, this is for you.This is one of the biggest frustrations I hear from EDs and development leaders. You ask. You remind. You bring it up in meetings. And still… no real results.In this episode, I break down the three mistakes that are keeping your board stuck and what to do instead. Because your board can be one of your strongest pipelines for new donors, but only if you lead them, equip them, and stop assuming they know what they're doing.I'm also sharing real examples of what happens when this clicks, like a $5,000 gift that came in three days after a simple introduction and a $283,000 night from a board-led micro event. This is about getting actual results, not just talking about fundraising.What you'll learn in this episodeWhy following your board's ideas instead of leading them is killing your fundraising resultsHow to redirect unhelpful suggestions like galas into what you actually needWhat leadership really looks like when it comes to board fundraisingWhy your board doesn't know how to make introductions even if it seems obvious to youHow to equip board members with simple, fast talking points they can actually useThe real reason board members avoid fundraising and it's not lazinessHow your own attitude toward fundraising is shaping your board's behaviorWhy most board members are not anti fundraising, they're anti feeling awkward and salesyWhat it takes to turn board members into a consistent source of new donorsHow to use simple strategies like micro events to generate major gifts quicklyYour board is not the problem. The lack of leadership, clarity, and tools is. When you lead them, equip them, and show them a better way to fundraise, they will step up. And when they do, they can become your strongest source of new donors.Want 15 leads in 5 minutes? DM me "Breakfast burrito" on LinkedIn and I'll send you a pdf and 6-minute training to help you generate 15 leads for your nonprofit in minutes. It's totally free. All you need is an email to sign up. DM me "Breakfast burrito" - I'm from Texas, what can I say? - to get your pdf and mini training.If you're an ED or DD of a $1M+ making a difference in your community and you're ready to make bigger, bolder asks, then DM me “CL” on LinkedIn and I'll share details.
On the 138th Episode of Dorm Damage With Tom & Zeus the guys discuss Record Store Day. Vinyl is back on top of the mountain as the the dominant physical copy of music. Record Store Day is like it's Super Bowl. Tom is a vinyl collector and Zeus not so much. He's still into his CDs. Tom breaks down record store day, what it means, how collectors treat it and more. So before you go out and buy your 14th variant copy of Love Gun on vinyl, or Bango Tango Live in Honduras or just in case you want to hear something orange tune in to DD! To Purchase Shout It Out Loudcast's KISS Book “Raise Your Glasses: A Celebration Of 50 Years of KISS Songs By Celebrities, Musicians & Fans Please Click Below: Raise Your Glasses Book For all things Shout It Out Loudcast the #1 KISS Podcast check out our amazing website by clicking below: www.ShoutItOutLoudcast.com Interested in more Shout It Out Loudcast content? Care to help us out? Come join us on Patreon by clicking below: SIOL Patreon Get all your Shout It Out Loudcast Merchandise by clicking below: Shout It Out Loudcast Merch At Printify Shop At Our Amazon Store by clicking below: Shout It Out Loudcast Amazon Store Please Email us comments or suggestions by clicking below: ShoutItOutLoudcast@Gmail.com Please subscribe to us and give us a 5 Star (Child) review on the following places below: iTunes Podchaser Stitcher iHeart Radio Spotify Please follow us and like our social media pages clicking below: Twitter Facebook Page Facebook Group Page Shout It Out Loudcasters Instagram YouTube Proud Member of the Pantheon Podcast click below to see the website: Pantheon Podcast Network Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices