Podcasts about Kickstarter

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    Latest podcast episodes about Kickstarter

    Brotherly Love Podcast
    Ep 145 | Taylor Handley From Mayor Of Kingstown

    Brotherly Love Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 5, 2025 59:31


    Imagine calling up a friend you haven't seen in 25 years and it turns out you have everything in common?! That's how this Pod went down!Taylor Handley plays Kyle McKlusky in Mayor of Kingstown, and the Brothers are huge fans!Join in as they talk shop, share insider secrets, and simply bro down about the pros and cons of working in show business.Taylor's a solid candidate for the fourth Lawrence Brother, and he's welcome on Da Pod anytime!Support our pod with our official merch!https://bropodmerch.bigcartel.com

    Comic Crusaders Podcast
    Monty Nero Launches Chrome Roses: Cyberpunk Trilogy Book 2 on Kickstarter – Comic Crusaders Podcast #605

    Comic Crusaders Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 5, 2025 59:57


    Monty Nero the acclaimed creator of Death Sentence (Titan Comics) and Marvel's Hulk & X-Men is back to tear into the megacity shadows with the Kickstarter of Chrome Roses: Cyberpunk Trilogy  Book 2! We're returning to The Tract,  a rain-slicked dystopian metropolis where detective Kramm and punk vigilante Teo battle viruses, corporate corruption, and tech billionaires who literally own your emotions. Book 1 set the stage… now Book 2 cranks the stakes to a whole new level! In this interview, Monty drops: How Book 2 builds on the chaos and intrigue of Book 1 Secrets of crafting noir cyberpunk worlds that hit hard Art style evolutions and the darker tones of this chapter Kickstarter campaign exclusives for returning and new backers Hints at where the trilogy is heading

    Cryptid Creator Corner from Comic Book Yeti
    Wells Thompson Interview - SMUT

    Cryptid Creator Corner from Comic Book Yeti

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 5, 2025 47:25


    Fresh off winning a Ringo Award at Baltimore Comic-Con, former Comic Book Yeti editor Wells Thompson returns to the podcast to chat with Jimmy about SMUT, which won for best humor comic. Volume 1 of SMUT is on Kickstarter right now and you can click the link below to back it and see exactly why the series won a Ringo Award. Wells and Jimmy chat about the series, Baltimore Comic-Con, Frankenstein the Unconquered, Wells' unearned confidence, gardening, and Malört. This episode really does have it all. Back SMUT on Kickstarter Follow Wells on Bluesky Check out Wells' website Follow Comic Book Yeti

    Superwomen with Rebecca Minkoff
    Healing the Parts You Tried to Hide

    Superwomen with Rebecca Minkoff

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 4, 2025 33:00


    Women are constantly told to look a certain way. And if you don't fit the mold, you're made to feel like something's wrong with you. That's how Jaclyn Fu felt growing up. Being small-chested wasn't just a sizing issue; it became a source of deep insecurity. But after years of feeling overlooked, she'd had enough and decided to change the industry instead. This week on SUPERWOMEN, I sit down with Jaclyn, the Co-CEO of Pepper. Along with her co-founder, she built a bra brand specifically for women with smaller busts. What started as a scrappy prototype on Kickstarter turned into a body-positive movement—selling over a million bras without a single VC check. Jaclyn opens up about the insecurity that started it all, and how she's now relearning confidence and gratitude in the middle of growth. Episode Guide: (00:00) Meet Jaclyn Fu, co-founder and CEO at Pepper (04:37) The entrepreneurial itch and launching a Kickstarter (08:34) Bra fittings with total strangers(12:29) When Pepper became an eight-figure brand (13:39) How to raise capital without VC funding (18:04) Healing from insecurity and finding confidence (21:21) Growing with intention (22:42) Feeling “perfectly enough” (28:23) Why done is better than perfect Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Crowdfunding: Kickstarter, Indiegogo, and Ecommerce with CrowdCrux | Crowdfunding Demystified
    EP #540 The Kickstarter Strategy Behind a $250K Launch | SomniBuds

    Crowdfunding: Kickstarter, Indiegogo, and Ecommerce with CrowdCrux | Crowdfunding Demystified

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 4, 2025 37:05


    What if you could invent a sleep product that works all night without a battery? That's exactly what Keith Phillips and Charles did with SomniBuds, raising $251,537 from more than 800 backers on Kickstarter. In this episode of the Crowdfunding Demystified Podcast, Salvador Briggman dives into their journey: how a motorcycle communication invention evolved into battery-free sleep earbuds, the pre-launch strategies that helped them build an engaged audience, and the marketing lessons learned along the way. Keith and Charles share insights on: Turning an idea into a hardware product Engaging early backers before launch Optimizing Meta ads for crowdfunding success Handling skepticism and building trust with a novel product If you're planning your first hardware launch or just curious about crowdfunding innovation, this episode is packed with practical advice from creators who successfully turned a bold idea into a funded product. Resources and Tools Mentioned: Book a coaching call Subscribe for Weekly Crowdfunding Tips Fulfillrite: Kickstarter and crowdfunding reward fulfillment services. They come highly recommended! Download their free shipping and fulfillment checklist FREE Kickstarter Course Kickstarter Launch Formula Audiobook SomniBuds™ - Battery-Free Sleep Earbuds on Kickstarter SomniBuds Official Website

    Word Balloon Comics Podcast
    Mike Norton A Dog's Life Battlepug Krypto and More

    Word Balloon Comics Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 4, 2025 78:53 Transcription Available


    In this episode, Mike Norton returns to dig into three big projects at very different stages of his creative journey. We kick things off with Battlepug Vol. 3, fresh off his successful Kickstarter campaign. Mike talks about building the latest chapter of the saga, leveling up the world and characters, and why this volume may be his wildest yet.From there we shift to his new Krypto mini-series with Ryan North, a character Mike has loved since childhood. He breaks down the tone, the look, and the storytelling approach he and Ryan are bringing to Superman's best four-legged friend, plus a few hints at the series' emotional core.We wrap with a look back at Superman Unchained, his collaboration with Dan Slott. Mike shares production memories, creative challenges, and why this take on the Man of Steel still holds a special place for him.

    PNW Haunts & Homicides
    Creepy People Chronicles: Cryptids & Wake-Up Calls

    PNW Haunts & Homicides

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 4, 2025 41:50


    In this listener story episode, Judi sends an update from Creepy People Chronicles: Mediums & Mischievous Spirits! Featuring the Delaney House, the symbolism behind her oracle card reading, and a fateful house fire that led her entire household to become volunteer firefighters. We also hear from Clint in Canada about a possible Halloween-night cryptid sighting! Ending tonight's spooky tales with Kyle's eerie but gentle, 3AM wake-up call.If you have any true crime, paranormal, or witchy stories you'd like to share with us & possibly have them read (out loud) on an episode, email us at pnwhauntsandhomicides@gmail.com or use this link!David's hand-drawn Kickstarter tarot deck! “The Liminal Deck is a traditional 78-card tarot deck with a non-traditional construction. De-gendered and de-saturated, drawing on vaguely unsettling, yet familiar imagery to recreate quiet contradictions of the dreamscape, it's the deck unlike any other.” -Whiskey Terra Foxtrot. Previous Delaney House EpisodesDelaney-Edwards House Salem: Historical Landmark & Dark SecretsGhosts of the Delaney HouseVisit our website! Find us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Patreon, & more!There are so many ways that you can support the show: BuyMeACoffee, Spreaker, or by leaving a rating & review on Apple Podcasts.

    Monster Man
    Special Episode: Making Magic Marvellous

    Monster Man

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 4, 2025 47:26


    Today's episode comes to you from Dragonmeet 2025, where Paolo of Lost Pages and I talked about magic in games and how it sometimes doesn't feel very magical. Apologies for the sound quality; I think it's pretty good for being a whole huge room recorded on my phone, but that still isn't amazing overall.  And don't forget that the Booklet of Bounties is coming soon -- or already live! -- on Kickstarter! If you're enjoying the show, why not consider supporting it on Patreon? You'll get access to lots of new bonus content, including my other podcast, Patron Deities! Thanks to Ray Otus for our thumbnail image. The intro music is a clip from "Solve the Damn Mystery" by Jesse Spillane, used under a Creative Commons Attribution License.

    Good Work with Barrett Brooks
    Craft Over Scale: The Quiet Pursuit of Meaningful Work with Jeff Sheldon

    Good Work with Barrett Brooks

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 4, 2025 102:47


    This week, I talk with Jeff Sheldon, designer and founder of Ugmonk. Jeff's story is about more than building a successful brand—it's about choosing craft over scale and staying true to what you love. We talk about why he turned down Shark Tank at the peak of a viral Kickstarter, how his childhood love of drawing grew into a career in design, and what he's learned about perfectionism, entrepreneurship, and the emotional cost of mastery. We also explore the quieter parts of his journey: the role his marriage has played, his philosophy of work and life, and how he continues to create intentionally 16 years in. If you're trying to make meaningful things without losing yourself in the process, this conversation is for you. Let's get to it. Partner Deals Proper: Save $500 off onboarding when you mention Good Work at https://workwithproper.com. In this episode: (00:00) – Intro (01:55) – Why Jeff turned down Shark Tank (04:35) – The foresight behind saying no (06:59) – Jeff's philosophy of work and life (10:04) – First steps into design (13:08) – Nurturing creativity (19:13) – Why Jeff doesn't call himself an entrepreneur (25:49) – A relentless standard of excellence (34:46) – The emotional cost of mastery (42:48) – Doing vs. learning on the internet (46:43) – Partnership and support (54:15) – Keys to a lasting relationship (01:01:00) – Winning his first t-shirt contest (01:04:31) – From $18k goal to $430k raised (01:08:06) – Gather vs. Analog (01:16:08) – Success without wealth (01:22:30) – The tradeoffs of a bespoke business (01:25:03) – Lessons from early struggles (01:32:36) – Holding to an ethos in a bigger culture (01:35:56) – Becoming world-class (01:39:34) – Jeff's most beautiful future (01:40:35) – Who Jeff is becoming Get full show notes and links at https://GoodWorkShow.com.Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@barrettabrooks.

    Comics and Chronic
    Ep. 318 - Spider-Man: Blue

    Comics and Chronic

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 4, 2025 47:27


    In this episode we discuss Spider-Man: Blue by Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale from Marvel ComicsBut first, did Cody get a new tattoo AND hurt his ankle? Are we getting sued by Eiffel 65? Do all of the Loeb/Sale books in their Marvel Color series deal with grief? Does Peter Parker have blue balls? Are the books in the Color series good for beginners?  Does this comic have an old-school vibe? How does this feel like an Archie comic? Is this THE best Spider-Man story? Is Cody a trade-boy? Does Norman Osborne really have amnesia? Is this one of the most depressing comics you'll ever read? Are there moments from classic Spider-Man comics in this story? Did the creators take a cues from the Sam Raimi Spider-Man movies? Is the Green Goblin Spidey's main villain? Does this story have Kraven's Last Hunt vibes? What are our favorite rogues galleries in comics? Is Spider-Man lacking in iconic stories? Did the Ultimate universe go beyond edgelord? Does Jeph Loeb have some stinkers in his catalog? Is Mary Jane for the streets? Is the Andrew Garfield Amazing Spider-Man movies underrated? Is Jake our Flash Thompson? What of the Venom symbiote bonded to Osama Bin Laden? Who is our favorite Venom? Are we hype for the future of the MCU? Has Spider-Man gotten worse since being incorporated into the MCU? Should Ari Aster direct a Vision movie? How does Gwen Stacy die? What other Spider-Man episodes do we have? Is Peter Parker a boy toy?Check out the Kickstarter pre-launch page for Superguy issue #2 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/mrtonynacho/superguy-2-my-date-with-the-presidents-daughter?ref=creator_tab⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠New episodes every THURSDAYFollow us on social media! Bluesky // Instagram // Twitter // TikTok :⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@comicsnchronic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.youtube.com/channel/UC45vP6pBHZk9rZi_2X3VkzQ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠E-mail: comicsnchronicpodcast@gmail.comCodyInstagram // Bluesky:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@codycannoncomedy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter: @Cody_CannonTikTok: @codywalakacannonJakeInstagram // Bluesky:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@jakefhaha⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠AnthonyBluesky // Instagram // Threads // Twitter // TikTok:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@mrtonynacho⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    Batman the Animated Series Podcast
    Batman Superman World's Finest Review (Live Show)

    Batman the Animated Series Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 4, 2025 147:00


    Our hosts leave the podcave and jet off to Metropolis to review The Batman Superman World's Finest Movie in front of a LIVE audience! What do the world's finest podcasters think about this epic team up? Join in on the discussion to find out! Tip Jar: https://buymeacoffee.com/batmantaspod Buy Our Merch: https://www.bleakworld.store/products?utf8=%E2%9C%93&search=batman+the+animated+seriesJoin Our Discord - https://discord.com/invite/bQF76V3nUs Mobster Mash 1-2 Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/speechcomics/mobster-mash-1-2-classic-movie-monsters-as-mobsters Outbreaks Vol. 1 Kickstarter - https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/speechcomics/outbreaks-volume-1-an-ongoing-zombie-anthology-series?ref=discovery&term=outbreaks&total_hits=1475&category_id=252⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow us on TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - https://www.tiktok.com/@batmantaspod?_t=8zn1yhsgnfz&_r=1⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow us on YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - https://www.youtube.com/@batmantaspod Follow the Pod on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - https://www.instagram.com/batmantaspod/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow the Pod on Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - https://www.facebook.com/BatmanTASPod Follow the Pod on Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - https://twitter.com/batmantaspod1⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe to Will's Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - https://www.patreon.com/willrobson Speech Comics Website⁠ - https://www.speechcomics.com/ Will's WhatNot Page⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - https://www.whatnot.com/user/speechcomics

    Storied: San Francisco
    Randall Ann Homan and Al Barna of SF Neon, Part 2 (S8E7)

    Storied: San Francisco

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 4, 2025 26:51


    In Part 2, we pick up more or less where we left off in Part 1, hearing the story of how Randall and Al came to love all things neon. Their enthusiasm kicked into high gear when they started noticing neon signs coming down, and they decided to try to do something about it. That something started with documenting the signs. And with that came a bit of a learning curve, especially around photographing artificial lights at night. Over the next five years, they captured and captured and captured, getting as many extant signs as they could find. Randall had some book design experience under her belt, especially aspects like packaging and getting it to a printer. She also knew how to put a book proposal together, and so they did. But friends and people in the publishing industry warned them that it would difficult to find a publisher. Randall suggested to her partner that they publish the 200-page book themselves, and that's exactly what they did. They had the photos and the design down. All they needed was money. Kickstarter was still pretty new, and they chose that platform. Within two weeks, they had met and exceeded their goal. It was on. Donations came in from all over The City, the country, and the world. In addition to money to fund publication, Randall and Al were gifted a community of fellow neon enthusiasts. These days, many folks in that community attend symposiums that Al and Randall put on. I ask the couple to name other towns, besides San Francisco, that have what I'm calling "good neon." They rattle off a few—Denver; Portland, OR; Livingston, MT; Reno; Los Angeles. Randall plugged a site by Debra Jane Seltzer called RoadsideArchitecture.com that documents neon and other signage in all US states except Hawaii and Alaska. To help design the cover of their book, Randall and Al asked their Instagram followers. A photo of the Verdi Club and its neon won, easily. That venue quickly emerged as the obvious choice for where to host the book's launch party. Around 300 guests showed up that night in 2014. After launch, they realized they needed ideas to keep the book and The City's neon signage in people's minds. Tours were among the first of those ideas. But that started as a one-off in Chinatown. A few of the guests on that first tour were tube benders—folks who, among other things, bend the glass that goes into making a neon sign. In the end, the students taught the teachers that day. Those tube benders introduced Randall and Al to a guy in Oakland named Jim Rizzo who does neon restoration work at Neon Works. They've been working with Jim ever since. When I ask if that Chinatown tour in support of their book was what got them started doing tours in general, Randall turns back to The Society for Experiential Graphic Design (SEGD). The group was holding its convention in San Francisco and asked Randall and Al to take visitors on a tour of The City. They learned a lot from that, including how long to hold your tour before folks get tired or hungry. Fast-forward to after their book was published, when folks who bought the book reached out asking if Randall and Al could show them around San Francisco's various noteworthy neon signs. They didn't think they had it in them to do that on a regular basis. But then other San Francisco tour guides signed up wanting to be shown our city's neon. Little by little, those guides taught Randall and Al tools of the trade. In the beginning, they second-guessed themselves. "We're a photographer and a graphic designer. What are we doing giving tours?" But they soon learned the real value of neon walking tours—the chance to walk around San Francisco at twilight with people from all walks of life. The side hustle was its own reward (something very familiar to me, in my role hosting this podcast). If you'd like to take one (or all) of Randall and Al's tours, sign up on their website—SFneon.org. You'll also find other books about neon that they've published. One of those books is all about saving neon. They got in touch with folks they were meeting from all over the country who were doing that work in their own cities. The book is a good resource for anyone who, like Randall and Al in the Mission all those years ago, wants to preserve signs in their area. So, they published the book, started doing tours, launched an annual conference … but still, they wanted to do more. They talked with folks at SF Heritage, picking their brains for things like how to get grant money for neon sign preservation. They told them to talk with people at The Tenderloin Museum (TLM), and mentioned Katie Conry specifically. When Randall and Al talked with her, Katie just got it, immediately. TLM has been SF Neon's fiscal sponsor ever since. (Ed. note: This podcast was arranged with help with Katie at Tenderloin Museum. Thanks, Katie!) As you learned on this show back in April of this year, TLM is expanding. Part of that expansion will free up the museum's current space. Once they move all of their exhibits and artifacts into the new space, the current Tenderloin Museum will become a San Francisco neon gallery. Randall and Al are of course a huge part of that work. The first sign donated to the new gallery is from Tony's Cable Car, a spot near and dear to my heart and just blocks from my home. We end the podcast with Randall reminding folks that this time of year is best for the kinds of tours they do. It gets dark earlier, so there are more hours in the day to see neon signs in their glory, and the hours start around 4:30/5 p.m.

    Roast! West Coast
    Third Wave Water Company's Taylor Minor and Charles Nick Join The Coffee People Podcast.

    Roast! West Coast

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 4, 2025 60:26


    Taylor Minor and Charles Nick are the Co-Founders and faces of Third Wave Water. Third Wave's mineral supplements are added to distilled water to create a consistent, optimized base for your coffee. We chat about their experience running a successful Kickstarter funding campaign, appearing on Shark Tank, and continuing to grow the business and partnership. Head to www.coffeepeoplepodcast.com for links from the show, context to our conversation, and much more.Find Third Wave Water online at: www.thirdwavewater.com, and @ThirdWaveWater on YouTube.Head to www.coffeepeoplepodcast.com for links from the show, context to our conversation, and much more.Find Copper Moon Coffee online at: www.coppermooncoffee.com, and Manatee Coffee at www.manateecoffee.com.Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.coffeepeoplepodcast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for links from the show, context to our conversation, and much more.The link to the Simply Good Coffee Brewer can be found here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.coffeepeoplepodcast.com/simply-good-coffee-brewer-review/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Our direct affiliate link for the brewer is: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://partners.simplygoodcoffee.com/roast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Coffee People is presented by Roastar, Inc., the premier coffee packaging company utilizing digital printing. Roastar enables small-to-gigantic coffee businesses tell a big story. Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/4gIsHff⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Follow @roastar on Instagram.Coffee Smarter shares the collected wisdom of the coffee industry, and is an offshoot of the Coffee People podcast. Coffee People is one of the premier coffee and entrepreneurship podcasts, featuring interviews with professionals in the coffee industry and coffee education. Host Ryan Woldt interviews roastery founders, head roasters, coffee shop owners, scientists, artists, baristas, farmers, green coffee brokers, and more.This show is also supported by Marea Coffee , Cape Horn Green Coffee Importers, Sivitz Roasting Machines, Relative Coffee Company, Coffee Cycle Roasting, MAMU Coffee, and Hacea Coffee Source.Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.coffeepeoplepodcast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for show recaps, coffee education, guest list and coffee news.Register to become an organ donor at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://registerme.org/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.*Clicking these links to purchase will also support Roast! West Coast through their affiliate marketing programs.

    Campaign: Skyjacks
    Skyjacks: Episode 294

    Campaign: Skyjacks

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 3, 2025 61:16


    Gable, Orimar and Christopher find their way through the smoke and flames only to come to an unexpected obstacle. Lucas enjoys a light workout and snack before making a deal with a shocking figure from the crew's past. CONTENT NOTE Main Show:  Fire, People eaten by a big bird Dear Uhuru: Phonics Lessons IMPS & IMPROV @ iO December 10th 7:30 PM ⁠⁠Get tickets!⁠⁠ COSMIC CENTURY KNIGHTS ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get the game on Kickstarter!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the mailing list for James' game design projects⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ OH CAPTAIN, MY CAPTAIN ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Order now!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Leave a review!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ THE ULTIMATE RPG PODCAST ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Listen Here!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ SKYJOUST FIGHT WITH SPIRIT EXPANSION ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get it now!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ SKYJACKS: COURIER'S CALL IS BACK! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Listen on Spotify (or any other podcatcher app)!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ STARWHAL PUBLIC FEED: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Listen on Spotify (or any other podcatcher app)!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ JOIN OUR MAILING LIST ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Right Here!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    The Secret Cabal Gaming Podcast
    Episode 334: Speakeasy and a Short Topic Extravaganza

    The Secret Cabal Gaming Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 3, 2025 175:46


    Hey Now Cabalists! The 2025 Secret Cabal fundraiser is live on Kickstarter now! Jump over and snag volume 2 of the zine, some Secret Cabal swag, and support the show while you're doing it. Today the Founders get into some of the awesome games they've been playing, including Shackleton Base, Onward, Kluster, Nevada City, Clank! Legacy 2, and feature Speakeasy from Vital Lacerda and Eagle-Gryphon Games. Then after Stevie S takes over the newsman duties for Tony, the gang takes a bunch of questions from listeners. Shackleton Base: 00:13:03, Onward: 00:21:30, Kluster: 00:31:54, Nevada City: 00:39:48, Clank! Legacy 2: Acquisitions Incorporated Darkest Magic: 00:46:22, Speakeasy Review: 00:56:18, News with Stevie S: 01:34:53, Short Topic Extravaganza: 02:19:40. Check out our sponsors Restoration Games at https://restorationgames.com/ and Game Toppers at https://www.gametoppersllc.com/. Support the Cabal on Kickstarter now! https://www.thesecretcabal.com/kickstarter

    Technical Difficulties Gaming Podcast
    Reign - Nagalisitu - Agents of ALIS - Part 35

    Technical Difficulties Gaming Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 3, 2025 117:21


    As the Agents learn what has happened in Nagalisitu in the prior near-millenium, they see how society has improved, what needs changing, and, for some of them, the consequences of their actions...This campaign will touch on many themes, including genocide, slavery, racism, specism, harm to children, mental health issues, familial trauma, parental trauma, and thoughts of suicide, among others. Listener discretion is advised.Agents of ALIS is based on the campaign framework Nagalisitu by Caleb Stokes, for Reign second edition by Greg Stolze. Reign 2E has been released in pdf and is available at Atomic Overmind, while the book with the information on Nagalisitu has not been released as of posting. We are using a Kickstarter backer version of those rules.Genepals are references from Kyle Carty's Starstreamers from BPB Games.Adam - GMDan - Roscoe Holst - The human pilot of the Hypatia, and descendant of the... legendary? line of Holst, a family that always seems to be near when galactic history changes.Ethan - Silent Reading - A Murnau spy, perhaps the person most suited to the work of the Library. Whereas his twin brother Cheerful Humming is much more of an open book, Silent Reading keeps to himself, trusting few...Greg - Kyrt Howling-Echo - A gengineered half-human half-Murnau, he is the former Genepal League champion. Kyrt has "retired" into aiding the Library of Alexandria as a patron. Never without his beloved Genepal Pep Pup, or his second best friend Sol-Edge.Jared - Captain Kai Uhila - The human captain of the Hypatia. Kai is a bard as is the nature of those who helm the ships that travel the galaxy. A bit of a drunk, a bit of a lech, a bit of a loose cannon, but someone with a strong sense of justice.Laura - Tema Miles - A humanish logistics & security expert on the Hypatia. She wears her heart on her sleeve, and will rip yours out of your chest if you cross her, the ship, or her young ward Libby.

    Fortress of Comic News
    Fortress of Comic News Ep. 454 feat. Jon Westhoff

    Fortress of Comic News

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 3, 2025 61:29


    In this engaging conversation, Chris Rundt and John Westoff discuss a variety of topics related to the comic book industry, including their frustrations with sports, reading preferences, the economics of indie comics, and the challenges of crowdfunding through Kickstarter. They explore the changing landscape of comic publishing, the importance of collaborations, and the strategies for success in the direct market. The discussion also touches on the role of not safe for work content in comics and the future of Westoff's project, Drumsticks of Doom.Jon Westhoff's Socail Media: X - @PartTimeComix Instagram - @Part_Time_Comix BlueSky - @PartTimeComix.bsky.social https://parttimecomix.storenvy.com/https://globalcomix.com/a/part-time-comixGet your Fortress Comics merchandise with the link belowhttps://www.teepublic.com/user/fortress-comicsFortressofComicNews.comhttps://chriscomicscorner.substack.com/YouTube.com/FortressComicsFind Chris: https://bio.site/chrisrundtMike twitter @fortressrickerMike's Comic Bone Graft: https://globalcomix.com/c/bentbox-shorts/chapters/en/4/1Patreon.com/FortressComicshttps://www.tiktok.com/@chriscomicscornerThanks for Listening!#marvel #marvelcomics #mcu #dccomics #comicbooks #comicnews #podcast #indiecomics #batman

    Epic Adventure
    Shadowdark

    Epic Adventure

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 3, 2025 51:31


    Send us a textIn 2023 I was already neck deep into my Kickstarter obsession when I saw an advertisement for a brand new OSR style roleplaying game called Shadowdark. It was the creation of Kelsey Dionne and it looked very cool. The book was large and black with silver script and silver artwork of what I thought was a beholder.I immediately backed it. But to be fair I was immediately backing a lot of things back then. When I turned on my YouTubes I got blasted with a social media blitz unlike any I had seen before. All of the TTRPG sites that covered anything even remotely different than D&D were all over this game. The superlatives seemed to match the online excitement and soon it had garnered 1.4 million dollars on Kickstarter.I couldn't wait to get the book. But while I was reading the .pdf and waiting for the hardback to arrive I had the chance to watch Kelsey Dionne herself walk backers through her creation process of the ranger class. I also got to see a number of interviews with her regarding the product. Again, I just kept getting more and more excited.When the book finally came it sat on my bookshelf. Now don't be sad for the game, that's what tends to happen to most of the stuff I grab off of Kickstarter. But, it was on a short list of games to be played.Finally, my Masks of Nyrlethotep came to a shuddering, bumbling halt and I wanted something fast, easy, and different as a palette cleanser. Enter Shadowdark. I quickly brushed up on the rules and set the date for my group. This was about the same time that the Glass Cannon Podcast announced they were going to be using Shadowdark as the rules for their next big live play. Yep, stoked again.We dove head first into Shadowdark.And it was … Ok … I guess.Not the resounding plug you thought I was going to give.If you are fans of the game, stick around because we are diving deeper than that. There are some really good things about this game. Some really bad things about this game. And a lot of mehh things about this game. In this episode Mike, Christina, and I are going to walk you through all of that and give you our honest review of the game.

    Up Yours...With More! The UP, UP & AWAY Comic Shop Podcast
    Ep. 206 - Crazy Juicy! (2025 Black Friday Special!)

    Up Yours...With More! The UP, UP & AWAY Comic Shop Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 2, 2025 74:49


    HELLO EVERYONE!  Welcome to Up Your's With More, the only podcast stuffed with more information than you were on Thanksgiving!  MODOK and BC are back with more stuff to talk about. They've got some headlines, the top ten books from last week, and our annual Black Friday customer interviews! Tune it NOW!NewsBankruptcy Court Denies Motions to DismissDiamond Advisors Bill Another $900,000Philip Kennedy Johnson is now Going Steady with…Brian Michael Bendis and Sara Pichelli are coming together again!TMNT Last Ronin staying a Comic...for nowBatman #163 delayed till late March...#FireJimLeeSuperman #1 CGC 9.0 Sold for How Much?  Spawn1964 What Did You Do!Mister Miracle TV Show to be Written by…New Decks for Godzilla Card Game...THEY HAVE A CARD GAME!!!  AND NO ONE TOLD ME!Ghost in the Shell RPG Successful on Kickstarter...and MODOK Helped!New Games Added to Nintendo Switch Online so you can chuck a $500 Console across the roomHollywood Round UpFind Us Online at the Following Outlets Website :: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠upupandawaycomics.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ YouTube :: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠youtube.com/@upupawaycomics⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook ::  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠facebook.com/upupawa⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠y and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠facebook.com/uuablueash⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram :: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠instagram.com/upupawaycomics⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Twitter :: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠twitter.com/upupawaycomics⁠⁠

    Masters of Crowdfunding
    How Ark Smart Planter Raised $196,482 on Kickstarter Ep.53

    Masters of Crowdfunding

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 2, 2025 32:10


    In this episode, Adam Ostroff shares with us the marketing strategy behind his $195,482 Kickstarter campaign and how he utilized add ons to increase his average oder value. Links: Work with us: https://tinyurl.com/29cyvy6a Adam's Website: https://arkdesigns.io/ark-smart-planter

    Pinball News & Pinball Magazine
    Pinball Magazine & Pinball News PINcast November 2025 recap

    Pinball News & Pinball Magazine

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 2, 2025 139:38


    November was quite a month in the pinball world with new game reveals, multiple special offers and lots of news from the industry. So, Jonathan from Pinball Magazine and Martin from Pinball News are back to bring you all the details in the last Pinball Industry News PINcast of 2025.Although they were both trailed in advance, the reveal of two new games in November generated lots of talking points.Spooky Pinball were first to show their hand with their Beetlejuice game which sold out all 999 units almost immediately. A dream theme for many, could the whole Beetlejuice package live up to expectations?Ten days later, Stern Pinball brought out their second ‘Remastered' title, this time remaking The Walking Dead with Premium and Limited Edition models.Gary Stern and Jack Danger from Stern Pinball were guests at the Dutch Pinball Open Expo near Eindhoven, where they held a seminar looking at the company's past as well as revealing some future projects.There were also announcements at the show from Pinball Brothers about production of their Predator game, as well as introducing the latest member of their design team.Meanwhile, Hexa Pinball have revealed the game they produced in collaboration with the French car giant Renault to promote the new Twingo model.Wonderland Amusements have built all the Alice Goes To Wonderland games for their Kickstarter backers and are now producing unit for retail sales, where a limited offer is available with a $200 discount.There are more special discounts available on games from American Pinball and Pedretti Gaming, while there's news of giveaways of pinball merchandise and even an entire machine.Finally, Dutch Pinball Open Expo special guest, artist Tony Ramunni, joins Jonathan and Martin from his home in Italy to reveal his favourite recipe in the latest What's Cooking? with… episode.There's all this and much more in this latest packed PINcast episode covering all the excitement in the pinball world throughout November and the first day of December.So, make sure you download or stream this brand new edition of the Pinball Industry News PINcast right now from your favourite podcast supplier. You'll also find it on YouTube and YouTube Music, or you can get it direct from Spotify on the link above, and don't forget you can also subscribe to the PINcast for free to guarantee you get the latest episode delivered straight to you every month, the very moment it is released.With so much news coming out and even more new game reveals coming soon, join Jonathan and Martin each month to guarantee you don't miss any of the excitement. After all, it's the podcast the pinball industry listens to.

    Dungeons & Randomness: A Tabletop RPG Podcast
    Frostbourne: Ep. 29 – Beyond the Pale

    Dungeons & Randomness: A Tabletop RPG Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 1, 2025 105:16


    Back in Esterholt, tensions ride high as the gang regroups and searches for Chet, Ora, and the rest of the kids. // CATCH UP ON FROSTBOURNE: • Find the Frostbourne Recap: Ep. 1-20 in our feed, right there between Episodes 20 and 21. It takes over forty hours of adventure and chaos and boils it down to just one. Perfect to catch up and share with friends, family, enemies—whoever! // FROSTBOURNE CAST:  • Jason Massey – Game Master / Narrator   • Jamieson Alcorn – “Logrhyn Cragborn”   • Susan Spenader – “Nythera Rhyelith”   • Jason ‘Jasper' Permenter – “Ruby Pettigrew”   • Ian Duncan – “Chimera” // FIND US: • Support the show on Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://patreon.com/dandr⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ • Explore the world of Theria: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://dandrpodcast.com ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  ⁠⁠ • Join our Discord community: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/DandR⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ • Grab official D&R merch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://dandrpodcast.dashery.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  ⁠⁠ // PARTNERS & PLUGS: • Play the Level Up A5E ruleset: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.levelup5e.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠(use code DANDR for a 5% discount) • Get ready for LobStar, a graphic novel by our very own Jamieson Alcorn and Very Big Comics. Kickstarter goes live November 4, 2025! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/verybigcomics/lobstar-0⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    The Creative Penn Podcast For Writers
    Writing Free: Romance Author Jennifer Probst On A Long-Term Author Career

    The Creative Penn Podcast For Writers

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 1, 2025 63:14


    Why do some romance authors build decades-long careers while others vanish after one breakout book? What really separates a throwaway pen name and rapid release strategy from a legacy brand and a body of work you're proud of? How can you diversify with trad, indie, non-fiction, and Kickstarter without burning out—or selling out your creative freedom? With Jennifer Probst. In the intro, digital ebook signing [BookFunnel]; how to check terms and conditions; Business for Authors 2026 webinars; Music industry and AI music [BBC; The New Publishing Standard]; The Golden Age of Weird. This podcast is sponsored by Kobo Writing Life, which helps authors self-publish and reach readers in global markets through the Kobo eco-system. You can also subscribe to the Kobo Writing Life podcast for interviews with successful indie authors. This show is also supported by my Patrons. Join my Community at Patreon.com/thecreativepenn Jennifer Probst is a New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of over 60 books across different kinds of romance as well as non-fiction for writers. Her latest book is Write Free. You can listen above or on your favorite podcast app or read the notes and links below. Here are the highlights, and the full transcript is below. Show Notes How Jennifer started writing at age 12, fell in love with romance, and persisted through decades of rejection A breakout success — and what happened when it moved to a traditional publisher Traditional vs indie publishing, diversification, and building a long-term, legacy-focused writing career Rapid-release pen names vs slow-burn author brands, and why Jennifer chooses quality and longevity Inspirational non-fiction for writers (Write Naked, Write True, Write Free) Using Kickstarter for special editions, re-releases, courses, and what she's learned from both successes and mistakes – plus what “writing free” really means in practice How can you ‘write free'? You can find Jennifer at JenniferProbst.com. Transcript of interview with Jennifer Probst Jo: Jennifer Probst is a New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of over 60 books across different kinds of romance as well as non-fiction for writers. Her latest book is Write Free. So welcome, Jennifer. Jennifer: Thanks so much, Joanna. I am kind of fangirling. I'm really excited to be on The Creative Penn podcast. It's kind of a bucket list. Jo: Aw, that's exciting. I reached out to you after your recent Kickstarter, and we are going to come back to that in a minute. First up, take us back in time. Tell us a bit more about how you got into writing and publishing. Jennifer: This one is easy for me. I am one of those rarities. I think that I knew when I was seven that I was going to write. I just didn't know what I was going to write. At 12 years old, and now this will kind of date me in dinosaur era here, there was no internet, no information on how to be a writer, no connections out there. The only game in town was Writer's Digest. I would go to my library and pore over Writer's Digest to learn how to be a writer. At 12 years old, all I knew was, “Oh, if I want to be a famous writer, I have to write a book.” So I literally sat down at 12 and wrote my first young adult romance. Of course, I was the star, as we all are when we're young, and I have not stopped since. I always knew, since my dad came home from a library with a box of romance novels and got in trouble with my mum and said, basically, “She's reading everything anyway, just let her read these,” I was gone. From that moment on, I knew that my entire life was going to be about that. So for me, it wasn't the writing. I have written non-stop since I was 12 years old. For me, it was more about making this a career where I can make money, because I think there was a good 30 years where I wrote without a penny to my name. So it was more of a different journey for me. It was more about trying to find my way in the writing world, where everybody said it should be just a hobby, and I believed that it should be something more. Jo: I was literally just going back in my head there to the library I used to go to on my way home from school. Similar, probably early teens, maybe age 14. Going to that section and… I think it was Shirley Conran. Was that Lace? Yes, Lace books. That's literally how we all learned about sex back in the day. Jennifer: All from books. You didn't need parents, you didn't need friends. Amazing. Jo: Oh, those were the days. That must have been the eighties, right? Jennifer: It was the eighties. Yes. Seventies, eighties, but mostly right around in the eighties. Oh, it was so… Jo: I got lost about then because I was reminiscing. I was also the same one in the library, and people didn't really see what you were reading in the corner of the library. So I think that's quite funny. Tell us how you got into being an indie. Jennifer: What had happened is I had this manuscript and it had been shopped around New York for agents and for a bunch of publishers. I kept getting the same exact thing: “I love your voice.” I mean, Joanna, when you talk about papering your wall with rejections, I lived that. The only thing I can say is that when I got my first rejection, I looked at it as a rite of passage that created me as a writer, rather than taking the perspective that it meant I failed. To me, perspective is a really big thing in this career, how you look at things. So that really helped me. But after you get like 75 of them, you're like, “I don't know how much longer I can take of this.” What happened is, it was an interesting story, because I had gone to an RWA conference and I had shopped this everywhere, this book that I just kept coming back to. I kept saying, “I feel like this book could be big.” There was an indie publisher there. They had just started out, it was an indie publisher called Entangled. A lot of my friends were like, “What about Entangled? Why don't you try more digital things or more indie publishers coming up rather than the big traditional ones?” Lo and behold, I sent it out. They loved the book. They decided, in February of 2012, to launch it. It was their big debut. They were kind of competing with Harlequin, but it was going to be a new digital line. It was this new cutting-edge thing. The book went crazy. It went viral. The book was called The Marriage Bargain, and it put me on the map. All of a sudden I was inundated with agents, and the traditional publishers came knocking and they wanted to buy the series. It was everywhere. Then it hit USA Today, and then it spent 26 weeks on The New York Times. Everybody was like, “Wow, you're this overnight sensation.” And I'm like, “Not really!” That was kind of my leeway into everything. We ended up selling that series to Simon & Schuster because that was the smart move for then, because it kind of blew up and an indie publisher at that time knew it was a lot to take on. From then on, my goal was always to do both: to have a traditional contract, to work with indie publishers, and to do my own self-pub. I felt, even back then, the more diversified I am, the more control I have. If one bucket goes bad, I have two other buckets. Jo: Yes, I mean, I always say multiple streams of income. It's so surprising to me that people think that whatever it is that hits big is going to continue. So you obviously experienced there a massive high point, but it doesn't continue. You had all those weeks that were amazing, but then it drops off, right? Jennifer: Oh my goodness, yes. Great story about what happened. So 26 weeks on The New York Times, and it was selling like hotcakes. Then Simon & Schuster took it over and they bumped the price to their usual ebook price, which was, what, $12.99 or something? So it's going from $2.99. The day that they did it, I slid off all the bestseller lists. They were gone, and I lost a lot of control too. With indies, you have a little bit more control. But again, that kind of funnels me into a completely different kind of setup. Traditional is very different from indie. What you touched on, I think, is the biggest thing in the industry right now. When things are hot, it feels like forever. I learned a valuable lesson: it doesn't continue. It just doesn't. Maybe someone like Danielle Steel or some of the other big ones never had to pivot, but I feel like in romance it's very fluid. You have genres hitting big, you have niches hitting big, authors hitting big. Yes, I see some of them stay. I see Emily Henry still staying—maybe that will never pause—but I think for the majority, they find themselves saying, “Okay, that's done now. What's next?” It can either hit or not hit. Does that make sense to you? Do you feel the same? Jo: Yes, and I guess it's not just about the book. It's more about the tactic. You mentioned genres, and they do switch a lot in romance, a lot faster than other genres. In terms of how we do marketing… Now, as we record this, TikTok is still a thing, and we can see maybe generative AI search coming on the horizon and agentic buying. A decade ago it might have been different, more Facebook ads or whatever. Then before that it might have been something else. So there's always things changing along the way. Jennifer: Yes, there definitely is. It is a very oversaturated market. They talk about, I don't know, 2010 to 2016 maybe, as the gold rush, because that was where you could make a lot of money as an indie. Then we saw the total fallout of so many different things. I feel like I've gone through so many ups and downs in the industry. I do love it because the longer you're around, the more you learn how to pivot. If you want this career, you learn how to write differently or do whatever you need to do to keep going, in different aspects, with the changes. To me, that makes the industry exciting. Again, perspective is a big thing. But I have had to take a year to kind of rebuild when I was out of contract with a lot of things. I've had to say, “Okay, what do you see on the horizon now? Where is the new foundation? Where do you wanna restart?” Sometimes it takes a year or two of, “Maybe I won't be making big income and I cut back,” but then you're back in it, because it takes a while to write a few new books, or write under a pen name, or however you want to pivot your way back into the industry. Or, like you were saying, diversifying. I did a lot of non-fiction stuff because that's a big calling for me, so I put that into the primary for a while. I think it's important for authors to maybe not just have one thing. When that one thing goes away, you're scrambling. It's good to have a couple of different things like, “Well, okay, this genre is dead or this thing is dead or this isn't making money. Let me go to this for a little while until I see new things on the horizon.” Jo: Yes. There's a couple of things I want to come back to. You mentioned a pen name there, and one of the things I'm seeing a lot right now—I mean, it's always gone on, but it seems to be on overdrive—is people doing rapid-release, throwaway pen names. So there's a new sub-genre, they write the books really fast, they put them up under whatever pen name, and then when that goes away, they ditch that pen name altogether. Versus growing a name brand more slowly, like I think you and I have done. Under my J.F. Penn fiction brand, I put lots of different sub-genres. What are your thoughts on this throwaway pen name versus growing a name brand more slowly? Jennifer: Well, okay, the first thing I'm goign to say is: if that lights people up, if you love the idea of rapid release and just kind of shedding your skin and going on to the next one, I say go for it. As long as you're not pumping it out with AI so it's a complete AI book, but that's a different topic. I'm not saying using AI tools; I mean a completely AI-written book. That's the difference. If we're talking about an author going in and, every four weeks, writing a book and stuff like that, I do eventually think that anything in life that disturbs you, you're going to burn out eventually. That is a limited-time kind of thing, I believe. I don't know how long you can keep doing that and create decent enough books or make a living on it. But again, I really try not to judge, because I am very open to: if that gives you joy and that's working and it brings your family money, go for it. I have always wanted to be a writer for the long term. I want my work to be my legacy. I don't just pump out books. Every single book is my history. It's a marking of what I thought, what I put out in the world, what my beliefs are, what my story is. It marks different things, and I'm very proud of that. So I want a legacy of quality. As I got older, in my twenties and thirties, I was able to write books a lot faster. Then I had a family with two kids and I had to slow down a little bit. I also think life sometimes drives your career, and that's okay. If you're taking care of a sick parent or there's illness or whatever, maybe you need to slow down. I like the idea of a long-term backlist supporting me when I need to take a back seat and not do frontlist things. So that's how I feel. I will always say: choose a long, organic-growth type of career that will be there for you, where your backlist can support you. I also don't want to trash people who do it differently. If that is how you can do it, if you can write a book in a month and keep doing it and keep it quality, go for it. Jo: I do have the word “legacy” on my board next to me, but I also have “create a body of work I'm proud of.” I have that next to me, and I have “Have you made art today?” So I think about these things too. As you say, people feel differently about work, and I will do other work to make faster cash rather than do that with books. But as we said, that's all good. Interestingly, you mentioned non-fiction there. Write Free is your latest one, but you've got some other writing books. So maybe— Talk about the difference between non-fiction book income and marketing compared to fiction, and why you added that in. Jennifer: Yes, it's completely different. I mean, it's two new dinosaurs. I came to writing non-fiction in a very strange way. Literally, I woke up on New Year's Day and I was on a romance book deadline. I could not do it. I'll tell you, my brain was filled with passages of teaching writing, of things I wanted to share in my writing career. Because again, I've been writing since I was 12, I've been a non-stop writer for over 30 years. I got to my computer and I wrote like three chapters of Write Naked (which was the first book). It was just pouring out of me. So I contacted my agent and I said, “Look, I don't know, this is what I want to do. I want to write this non-fiction book.” She's like, “What are you talking about? You're a romance author. You're on a romance deadline. What do you want me to do with this?” She was so confused. I said, “Yes, how do you write a non-fiction book proposal?” And she was just like, “This is not good, Jen. What are you doing?” Anyway, the funny story was, she said, “Just send me chapters.” I mean, God bless her, she's this wonderful agent, but I know she didn't get it. So I sent her like four chapters of what I was writing and she called me. I'll never forget it. She called me on the phone and she goes, “This is some of the best stuff I have ever read in my life. It's raw and it's truthful, and we've got to find a publisher for this.” And I was like, “Yay.” What happened was, I believe this was one of the most beautiful full circles in my life: Writer's Digest actually made me an offer. It was not about the money. I found that non-fiction for me had a much lower advance and a different type of sales. For me, when I was a kid, that is exactly what I was reading in the library, Writer's Digest. I would save my allowance to get the magazine. I would say to myself, “One day, maybe I will have a book with Writer's Digest.” So for me, it was one of the biggest full-circle moments. I will never forget it. Being published by them was amazing. Then I thought I was one-and-done, but the book just completely touched so many writers. I have never gotten so many emails: “Thank you for saying the truth,” or “Thank you for being vulnerable.” Right before it published, I had a panic attack. I told my husband, “Now everybody's going to know that I am a mess and I'm not fabulous and the world is going to know my craziness.” By being vulnerable about the career, and also that it was specifically for romance authors, it caused a bond. I think it caused some trust. I had been writing about writing for years. After that, I thought it was one-and-done. Then two or three years later I was like, “No, I have more to say.” So I leaned into my non-fiction. It also gives my fiction brain a rest, because when you're doing non-fiction, you're using a different part of your brain. It's a way for me to cleanse my palate. I gather more experiences about what I want to share, and then that goes into the next book. Jo: Yes, I also use the phrase “palate cleanser” for non-fiction versus fiction. I feel like you write one and then you feel like, “Oh, I really need to write the other now.” Jennifer: Yes! Isn't it wonderful? I love that. I love having the two brains and just giving one a break and totally leaning into it. Again, it's another way of income. It's another way. I also believe that this industry has given me so much that it is automatic that I want to give back. I just want to give as much as possible back because I'm so passionate about writing and the industry field. Jo: Well, interestingly though, Writer's Digest—the publisher who published that magazine and other things—went bankrupt in 2019. You've been in publishing a long time. It is not uncommon for publishers to go out of business or to get bought. Things happen with publishers, right? Jennifer: Yes. Jo: So what then happened? Jennifer: So Penguin Random House bought it. All the Writer's Digest authors did not know what they were going to do. Then Penguin Random House bought it and kept Writer's Digest completely separate, as an imprint under the umbrella. So Writer's Digest really hasn't changed. They still have the magazine, they still have books. So it ended up being okay. But what I did do is—because I sold Write Naked and I have no regrets about that, it was the best thing for me to do, to go that route—the second and the third books were self-published. I decided I'm going to self-publish. That way I have the rights for audio, I have the rights for myself, I can do a whole bunch of different things. So Write True, the second one, was self-published. Writers Inspiring Writers I paired up with somebody, so we self-published that. And Write Free, my newest one, is self-published. So I've decided to go that route now with my non-fiction. Jo: Well, as I said, I noticed your Kickstarter. I don't write romance, so I'm not really in that community. I had kind of heard your name before, but then I bought the book and joined the Kickstarter. Then I discovered that you've been doing so much and I was like, “Oh, how, why haven't we connected before?” It's very cool. So tell us about the Kickstarters you've done and what you know, because you've done, I think, a fiction one as well. What are your thoughts and tips around Kickstarter? Jennifer: Yes. When I was taking that year, I found myself kind of… let's just say fired from a lot of different publishers at the time. That was okay because I had contracts that ran out, and when I looked to see, “Okay, do we want to go back?” it just wasn't looking good. I was like, “Well, I don't want to spend a year if I'm not gonna be making the money anyway.” So I looked at the landscape and I said, “It's time to really pull in and do a lot more things on my own, but I've got to build foundations.” Kickstarter was one of them. I took a course with Russell Nohelty and Monica Leonelle. They did a big course for Kickstarter, and they were really the ones going around to all the conferences and basically saying, “Hey guys, you're missing out on a lot of publishing opportunities here,” because Kickstarter publishing was getting good. I took the course because I like to dive into things, but I also want to know the foundation of it. I want to know what I'm doing. I'm not one to just wing it when it comes to tech. So what happened is, the first one, I had rights coming back from a book. After 10 years, my rights came back. It was an older book and I said, “You know what? I am going to dip my foot in and see what kind of base I can grow there. What can I do?” I was going to get a new cover, add new scenes, re-release it anyway, right? So I said, “Let's do a Kickstarter for it, because then I can get paid for all of that work.” It worked out so fantastically. It made just enough for my goal. I knew I didn't want to make a killing; I knew I wanted to make a fund. I made my $5,000, which I thought was wonderful, and I was able to re-release it with a new cover, a large print hardback, and I added some scenes. I did a 10-year anniversary re-release for my fans. So I made it very fan-friendly, grew my audience, and I was like, “This was great.” The next year, I did something completely different. I was doing Kindle Vella back in the day. That was where you dropped a chapter at a time. I said, “I want to do this completely different kind of thing.” It was very not my brand at all. It was very reality TV-ish: young college students living in the city, very sexy, very angsty, love triangles, messy—everything I was not known for. Again, I was like, “I'm not doing a pen name because this is just me,” and I funnelled my audience. I said, “What I'm going to do is I'm going to start doing a chapter a week through Kindle Vella and make money there. Then when it's done, I'm going to bundle it all up and make a book out of it.” So I did a year of Kindle Vella. It was the best decision I made because I just did two chapters a week, which I was able to do. By one year I had like 180,000 words. I had two to three books in there. I did it as a hardback deluxe—the only place you could get it in print. Then Vella closed, or at least it went way down. So I was like, “Great, I'm going to do this Kickstarter for this entire new thing.” I partnered with a company that helps with special editions, because that was a whole other… oh Joanna, that was a whole other thing you have to go into. Getting the books, getting the art, getting the swag. I felt like I needed some help for that. Again, I went in, I funded. I did not make a killing on that, but that was okay. I learned some things that I would have changed with my Kickstarter and I also built a new audience for that. I had a lot of extra books that I then sold in my store, and it was another place to make money. The third Kickstarter I used specifically because I had always wanted to do a writing course. I go all over the world, I do keynotes, I do workshops, I've done books, and I wanted to reach new writers, but I don't travel a lot anymore. So I came up with the concept that I was going to do my very first course, and it was going to be very personal, kind of like me talking to them almost like in a keynote, like you're in a room with me. I gathered a whole bunch of stuff and I used Kickstarter to help me A) fund it and B) make myself do it, because it was two years in the making and I always had, “Oh, I've got this other thing to do,” you know how we do that, right? We have big projects. So I used Kickstarter as a deadline and I decided to launch it in the summer. In addition to that, I took years of my posts from all over. I copied and pasted, did new posts, and I created Write Free, which was a very personal, essay-driven book. I took it all together. I took a couple of months to do this, filmed the course, and the Kickstarter did better than I had ever imagined. I got quadruple what I wanted, and it literally financed all the video editing, the books, everything that I needed, plus extra. I feel like I'm growing in Kickstarter. I hope I'm not ranting. I'm trying to go over things that can help people. Jo: Oh no, that is super useful. Jennifer: So you don't have to go all in and say, “If it doesn't fund it's over,” or “I need to make $20,000.” There are people making so much money, and there are people that will do a project a year or two projects a year and just get enough to fund a new thing that they want to do. So that's how I've done it. Jo: I've done quite a few now, and my non-fiction ones have been a lot bigger—I have a big audience there—and my fiction have been all over the place. What I like about Kickstarter is that you can do these different things. We can do these special editions. I've just done a sprayed-edge short story collection. Short story collections are not the biggest genre. Jennifer: Yes. I love short stories too. I've always wanted to do an anthology of all my short stories. Jo: There you go. Jennifer: Yes, I love that for your Kickstarter. Love it. Jo: When I turned 50 earlier this year, I realised the thing that isn't in print is my short stories. They are out there digitally, and that's why I wanted to do it. I feel like Kickstarter is a really good way to do these creative projects. As you say, you don't have to make a ton of money, but at the end of the day, the definition of success for us, I think for both of us, is just being able to continue doing this, right? Jennifer: Absolutely. This is funding a creative full-time career, and every single thing that you do with your content is like a funnel. The more funnels that you have, the bigger your base. Especially if you love it. It would be different if I was struggling and thinking, “Do I get an editor job?” I would hate being an editor. But if you look at something else like, “Oh yes, I could do this and that would light me up, like doing a course—wow, that sounds amazing,” then that's different. It's kind of finding your alternates that also light you up. Jo: Hmm. So were there any mistakes in your Kickstarters that you think are worth sharing? In case people are thinking about it. Jennifer: Oh my God, yes. So many. One big thing was that I felt like I was a failure if I didn't make a certain amount of money because my name is pretty well known. It's not like I'm brand new and looking. One of the big things was that I could not understand and I felt like I was banging my head against the wall about why my newsletter subscribers wouldn't support the Kickstarter. I'm like, “Why aren't you doing this? I'm supposed to have thousands of people that just back.” Your expectations can really mess with you. Then I started to learn, “Oh my God, my newsletter audience wants nothing to do with my Kickstarter.” Maybe I had a handful. So then I learned that I needed longer tails, like putting it up for pre-order way ahead of time, and also that you can't just announce it in your newsletter and feel like everybody's going to go there. You need to find your streams, your Kickstarter audience, which includes ads. I had never done ads either and I didn't know how to do that, so I did that all wrong. I joined the Facebook group for Kickstarter authors. I didn't do that for the first one and then I learned about it. You share backer updates, so every time you go into your audience with a backer update, there's this whole community where you can share with like-minded people with their projects, and you post it under your updates. It does cross-networking and sharing with a lot of authors in their newsletters. For the Write Free one, I leaned into my networking a lot, using my connections. I used other authors' newsletters and people in the industry to share my Kickstarter. That was better for me than just relying on my own fanbase. So definitely more networking, more sharing, getting it out on different platforms rather than just doing your own narrow channel. Because a lot of the time, you think your audience will follow you into certain things and they don't, and that needs to be okay. The other thing was the time and the backend. I think a lot of authors can get super excited about swag. I love that, but I learned that I could have pulled back a little bit and been smarter with my financials. I did things I was passionate about, but I probably spent much more money on swag than I needed to. So looking at different aspects to make it more efficient. I think each time you do one, you learn what works best. As usual, I try to be patient with myself. I don't get mad at myself for trying things and failing. I think failing is spectacular because I learn something. I know: do I want to do this again? Do I want to do it differently? If we weren't so afraid of failingqu “in public”, I think we would do more things. I'm not saying I never think, “Oh my God, that was so embarrassing, I barely funded and this person is getting a hundred thousand.” We're human. We compare. I have my own reset that I do, but I really try to say, “But no, for me, maybe I'll do this, and if it doesn't work, that's okay.” Jo: I really like that you shared about the email list there because I feel like too many people have spent years driving people to Kindle or KU, and they have built an email list of readers who like a particular format at a particular price. Then we are saying, “Oh, now come over here and buy a beautiful hardback that's like ten times the price.” And we're surprised when nobody does it. Is that what happened? Jennifer: Exactly. Also, that list was for a non-fiction project. So I had to funnel where my writers were in my newsletter, and I have mostly readers. So I was like, “Okay…” But I think you're exactly right. First of all, it's the platform. When you ask anybody to go off a platform, whether it's buy direct at your Shopify store or go to Kickstarter, you are going to lose the majority right there. People are like, “No, I want to click a button from your newsletter and go to a site that I know.” So you've got that, and you've got to train them. That can take some time. Then you've got this project where people are like, “I don't understand.” Even my mum was like, “I would love to support you, honey, but what the heck is this? Where's the buy button and where's my book?” My women's fiction books tend to have some older readers who are like, “Hell no, I don't know what this is.” So you have to know your audience. If it's not translating, train them. I did a couple of videos where I said, “Look, I want to show you how easy this is,” and I showed them directly how to go in and how to back. I did that with Kindle Vella too. I did a video from my newsletter and on social: “Hey, do you not know how to read this chapter? Here's how.” Sometimes there's a barrier. Like you said, Joanna, if I have a majority that just want sexy contemporary, and I'm dropping angsty, cheating, forbidden love, they're like, “Oh no, that's not for me.” So you have to know whether there's a crossover. I go into my business with that already baked into my expectations. I don't go in thinking I'm going to make a killing. Then I'm more surprised when it does well, and then I can build it. Jo: Yes, exactly. Also if you are, like both of us, writing across genres, then you are always going to split your audience. People do not necessarily buy everything because they have their preferences. So I think that's great. Now we are almost out of time, but this latest book is Write Free. I wondered if you would maybe say— What does Write Free mean to you, and what might it help the listeners with? Jennifer: Write Free is an extremely personal book for me, and the title was really important because it goes with Write Naked, Write True, and Write Free. These are the ways that I believe a writer should always show up to the page. Freedom is being able to write your truth in whatever day that is. You're going to be a different writer when you're young and maybe hormonal and passionate and having love affairs. You're going to write differently when you're a mum with kids in nappies. You're going to write differently when you are maybe in your forties and you're killing your career. Your perspective changes, your life changes. Write Free is literally a collection of essays all through my 30 years of life. It's very personal. There are essays like, “I'm writing my 53rd book right now,” and essays like, “My kids are in front of SpongeBob and I'm trying to write right now,” and “I got another rejection letter and I don't know how to survive.” It is literally an imprint of essays that you can dip in and dip out of. It's easy, short, inspirational, and it's just me showing up for my writing life. That's what I wish for everybody: that they can show up for their writing life in the best way that they can at the time, because that changes all the time. Jo: We can say “write free” because we've got a lot of experience at writing. I feel like when I started writing—I was an IT consultant—I literally couldn't write anything creative. I didn't believe I could. There'll be people listening who are just like, “Well, Jennifer, I can't write free. I'm not free. My mind is shackled by all these expectations and everything.” How can they release that and aim for more freedom? Jennifer: I love that question so much. The thing is, I've spent so many years working on that part. That doesn't come overnight. I think sometimes when you have more clarification of, “Okay, this is really limiting me,” then when you can see where something is limiting you, at least you can look for answers. My answers came in the form of meditation. Meditation is a very big thing in my life. Changing my perspective. Learning life mottos to help me deal with those kinds of limitations. Learning that when I write a sex scene, I can't care about my elderly aunt who tells my mother, “Dear God, she ruined the family name.” It is your responsibility to figure out where these limitations are, and then slowly see how you can remove them. I've been in therapy. I have read hundreds of self-help books. I take meditation courses. I take workshop courses. I've done CliftonStrengths with Becca Syme. I don't even know if that's therapy, but it feels like therapy to me as a writer. Knowing my personality traits. I've done Enneagram work with Claire Taylor, which has been huge. The more you know yourself and how your brain is showing up for yourself, the more you can grab tools to use. I wish I could say, “Yes, if everybody meditates 30 minutes a day, you're going to have all blocks removed,” but it's so personal that it's a trick question. If everybody started today and said, “Where is my biggest limitation?” and be real with yourself, there are answers out there. You just have to go slowly and find them, and then the writing more free will come. I hope that wasn't one of those woo-woo answers, but I really do believe it. Jo: I agree. It just takes time. Like our writing career, it just takes time. Keep working on it, keep writing. Jennifer: Yes. And bravery, right? A lot of bravery. Just show up for yourself however you can. If “write free” feels too big, journal for yourself and put it in a locked drawer. Any kind of writing, I think, is therapeutic too. Jo: Brilliant. So where can people find you and your books and everything you do online? Jennifer: The best place to go is my website. I treat it like my home. It's www.JenniferProbst.com. There is so much on it. Not just books, not just free content and free stories. There's an entire section just for writers. There are videos on there. There are a lot of resources. I keep it up to date and it is the place where you can find me. Of course I'm everywhere on social media as Author Jennifer Probst. You can find me anywhere. I always tell everybody: I answer my messages, I answer my emails. That is really important to me. So if you heard this podcast and you want to reach out on anything, please do. I will answer. Jo: Fantastic. Well, thanks so much for your time, Jennifer. That was great. Jennifer: Thanks for having me, Joanna.The post Writing Free: Romance Author Jennifer Probst On A Long-Term Author Career first appeared on The Creative Penn.

    Monster Man
    Episode 597: Welcome to Krynn

    Monster Man

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 1, 2025 14:25


    A new series begins as we look at some of the background of Dragonlance -- more the creative background than the setting one, in case you forgot what I tend to get fixated on. Register to be notified when the Booklet of Bounties goes live on Kickstarter! If you're enjoying the show, why not consider supporting it on Patreon? You'll get access to lots of new bonus content, including my other podcast, Patron Deities! Thanks to Ray Otus for our thumbnail image. The intro music is a clip from "Into Battle" by Maarten Schellekens, used under a Creative Commons Attribution License.

    The Startup Junkies Podcast
    434: Building a Sustainable Outdoor Brand: How LIVSN Designs Found Success

    The Startup Junkies Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 1, 2025 29:28


    SummaryIn this week's episode of Startup Junkies, hosts Daniel Koonce and Caleb Talley sat down with Andrew Gibbs-Dabney, founder of LIVSN Designs, a Bentonville-based outdoor apparel company with a mission to create high-quality, versatile clothing for outdoor enthusiasts who value experiences over possessions. Andrew's vision for LIVSN is clear: make products that last, fit into multiple situations, and help customers "own less, live more."Andrew traced the company's roots back to a personal journey focused on simplifying life, which ultimately inspired LIVSN's commitment to durability and versatility. The business was initially jump-started via Kickstarter, leveraging community support to raise production funds and validate market fit. Andrew emphasized how in-person events and local connections, like pop-ups and startup crawls, have been vital for the tactile nature of their apparel.Sustainability and community drive every aspect of LIVSN, from rigorous dedication to responsible sourcing and transparency in the supply chain, to innovative repair and resale programs. Andrew explained that true sustainability goes beyond labels; it's about continual improvement and extending product life cycles. The company's recent B Corp certification stands as a testament to its holistic approach, valuing people, planet, and profit equally.LIVSN's story is also one of community ownership, with hundreds of customers investing through campaigns like WeFunder. With intentional product expansion and ongoing partnerships, Andrew's team is proving that responsible business practices and building trust can compete head-to-head with industry giants. Tune in today!Show Notes(00:00) Introduction(02:59) LIVSN's Kickstarter Experience (07:18) Designing by a Set of Principles(12:25) Holistically Building a Business(15:05) Sustainability Through Product Longevity(16:54) Community-Owned Business Vision(21:30) Intentional Growth and Expansion(26:11) 2025 Achievements: B Corp Certification & New Store Opening(28:35) Closing ThoughtsLinksDaniel KoonceCaleb TalleyStartup JunkieStartup Junkie YouTubeAndrew Gibbs-DabneyLIVSN Designs

    Dads From the Crypt: A Tales From The Crypt Podcast
    "Deathstalker (2025)" Review!!!

    Dads From the Crypt: A Tales From The Crypt Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 1, 2025 78:08


    J.M. Brandt joins the Dads to dive into Steven Kostanski's remake of the swords-and-sorcery cult classic Deathstalker. Be sure to check out the Kickstarter for his charity horror anthology Horror Not Hate—every dollar raised goes directly to charities fighting for LGBTQIA and immigrant rights.https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/jmbrandt/horror-not-hateSong of the day by "Castle Rat"!!!Follow Dads From the Crypt! Threads: @dadsfromthecryptTikTok: Dads From The Crypt-TokInstagram: @dadsfromthecrypt Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/DadsFromTheCrypt

    The Family Gamers Podcast
    Episode 411 – PAX Unplugged 2025

    The Family Gamers Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 1, 2025 94:49


    It’s the most wonderful time of the year – PAX Unplugged is when we get to catch up with friends in the boardgame industry, see new games, and meet some of YOU! 00:00 Fact for 411 If you’re a Millenial, you know that 411 was (is) a phone number to call for general information. Did you know there are other X11 codes? https://www.networkworld.com/article/956606/beyond-911-other-n-1-1-codes-you-should-know.html Sponsor Message How do you know if you’re ready to retire? There’s the financial aspect, but don’t forget about the emotional and physical as well. If you want help reviewing the financial part of preparing for retirement, set up a time to talk to First Move for free by going to firstmovefinancial.com/familygamers today. 0:05:10 What We’ve Been Playing INK – review out today of this race to place all your ink bottles.Odin – review coming next week. Best at 3-4 players.Chit Chat – had our best game ever at 9 points! Check out the review.Stroop – still breaks our brain, but fun.Bouba/Kiki – a cooperative party game about matching shapes with nonsense words.(We talk at length about Stroop and Bouba/Kiki in episode 370.)Tropichaos – a fruit-selling push-your-luck game from Oink Games.Person Do Thing – a simple word party game. Try it yourself at PersonDoThing.comLeaders – we will talk a lot about this later. 0:18:00 The Family Gamers Community Welcome to our newest community members on Facebook! Stop in and say hello. #Backtalk We asked what your favorite thing to do at a convention – if you’ve ever been to one. A few of you answered on the #backtalk channel on the Discord and in our Facebook community. PAX Unplugged 2025 Interviews 0:25:35 SnapShips Tactics with Micah “X-wing crossed with Galaxy Trucker, and you’re trying to kill each other.” Make your ship look like you want, and make it play like you want. Starter set for two players is about $65. www.snapshipstactics.com 0:29:00 Kess with Court A game based on OnePiece! www.kessentertainment.co 0:32:30 Outset Media with David Guildlands – “if Carcassonne met Root“ Karak – a favorite for kids, with lots of upgrades over the version we reviewed years ago. And Karak II for a more challenging game! Shadow Ninjas – cats sneaking into the dojo to eat the koi, and one dog trying to eliminate them all. outsetmedia.com 0:36:10 Fight in a Box with Seppy Yoon Puppies or Poop – build a doggie land-mine field under the leaves. Try to survive without poop on your shoes! A cute and more memorable re-implementation of Squirrel or Die. Kaiser Cucumber – evil geniuses trying to out-steal each other. A sort of sequel to Mouse Cheese Cat Cucumber. www.fightinabox.com 0:40:15 SRG Universe with Steve Supershow – a wrestling card game – and Super Lucha which is a crossover with luchadors. Rummy Gummies – a set-playing card game. “Rummy with Uno-like effects” supershowthegame.com 0:45:00 Envy Born Games with Matthew Sirens – 1-2 player tiny game. Draft cards to make a song and lure sailors. Hercules and the 12 Labors – solo game. Battle your way through Hercules’s famous 12 labors and choose rewards to help you with future labors. envyborngames.com 0:48:20 Kids Table Board Gaming / Burnt Island Games with Sean River Market – now available!Sea Shells – set collection by Bruno Faiduitti, coming summer 2026Pack & Paddle – Kickstarter in 2026Treeline – recover the landscape. Also coming summer 2026. Fans of Diced Veggies and Endeavor: Deep Sea. www.kidstablebg.com and www.burntislandgames.com 0:52:50 Jason Anarchy Games Trombone Champ – yes, like the video game. Full of hotdogs, baboons, and silly fake trombone facts. 0:55:00 Wonderful World Board Games with Ariel Dragonarium – go check out the Kickstarter before December 11! Last Lantern – coop polyomino game. Silently build a path across the board. www.wonderfulworldbg.com 1:00:25 Bezier Games with Jay Zombie Princess – a sequel to Rebel Princess. “Save” the zombies by chopping off their heads. Trick-taking game that’s best with partners. Haunted Mouse – a ladder-climbing/shedding card game that lets you use your opponents’ cards. Game Makers – heavier game with a rondel. You step into the role of a game publisher – very meta. Recommendations for this holiday: Seers Catalog and Xylotar (we reviewed the expansion) beziergames.com Bonus: Jay is also @CardboardEast – he reviews games from Taiwan, Singapore, Japan, etc. Check out his Youtube channel! 1:04:50 Play to Z Games with Zev Animal Rescue Team – with Matt Leacock Twisted Trumpets – route-building, sort of. You’re building out very weird, twisty trumpet pipes. Soothsayers – engine-building card game using traditional tarot. www.playtozgames.com 1:09:55 Doomlings with Eric Mokoko Village expansion Nightflower Island Gold pack, and a 15-pack Gold Box (by popular demand!) “We wanted to trick our moms into playing Magic: The Gathering with us” TFG has really enjoyed Doomlings – easy to learn, with a lot of luck, but also some depth. Our review. www.doomlings.com 1:14:45 Capstone Games with Chris Sanctuary – an Ark Nova game, a bit lighter than Ark Nova.Up or Down?Rowdy Partners – trick taking for 1-4 players. Wrestling theme with characters, each who has their own powersWandering Towers – a TFG favorite.Forestry – harvest a forest while replanting to manage it. Heavier game.Galileo Galilei – heavier gameAquariaStick ‘Em refreshWandering Towers expansion coming soon! capstone-games.com 1:19:00 Moon Crab Games with Justin Leviathan Wilds – cooperative boss-battling game that uses a spiral-bound book for the gameboard. “Climb together. Save Leviathans.” leviathanwilds.com 1:24:30 PAX Unplugged takeaways Andrew: PAX Enforcers (volunteers) and employees do an awesome job. And it’s really cool to see the same folks year after year. Love the culture of PAX Unplugged and its family friendliness. Anitra: We waited in line as a family to get in and see Jacques Ze Whipper. Waiting in line, even for over an hour, was incredibly pleasant: mostly because the people around us were patient and friendly. We hope to see you at PAX Unplugged 2026, December 4-6! 1:30:30 New Backtalk Question We’ve been listening to records. What is your favorite thing to do with your family that is NOT playing board games? Tell us on the #backtalk channel on our Discord, or in our Facebook community. Find Us Online: Facebook: @familygamersaa and thefamilygamers.com/communityTwitter (X): @familygamersaaInstagram: @familygamersaaTikTok: @familygamersaaBluesky: @familygamersaaThreads: @familygamersaaYoutube: TheFamilyGamers or join the Family Tabletop Community on Discord! thefamilygamers.com/discord Or, for the most direct method, email us! andrew@thefamilygamers.com and anitra@thefamilygamers.com. PLEASE don’t forget to subscribe to the show, tell your friends about the show, and leave us a review at Apple Podcast or whatever your podcast subscription source is. We’re also on Amazon Music, TuneIn, and Spotify. You can also now find us on YouTube Music! So pull it up and give us a listen while you’re toiling away at work :) The Family Gamers is sponsored by First Move Financial. Go to FirstMoveFinancial.com/familygamers to learn how the team at First Move Financial can help you pile up the victory points. The post Episode 411 – PAX Unplugged 2025 appeared first on The Family Gamers.

    Topic Lords
    319. Rolling Dice Like Mozart

    Topic Lords

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 1, 2025 66:00


    Lords: * Esper * Cort Topics: * Building your identity around a thing that you're kind of not as excited about lately * Stateless procedural music * Hulu can't decide whether it has X-Files * Offering, by Ursula K Le Guin * https://fleurmach.com/2016/09/28/ursula-k-le-guin-offering-2012/ Microtopics: * Figuring out new ways to make video games more expensive. * Puzzled Pint. * Oh man, this one's a real quart! * Puzzled Pint getting you through to the next MIT Mystery Hunt. * Blippo Plus. * If you're going to watch TV, why not watch TV from another dimension? * Capturing broadcast artifacts and CRT fuzz on a 1-bit display. * An amateur DSPist. (Such as myself.) * Whether Lucas Pope took time away from his busy life as a pirate actuary to make a video about temporally-stable dithering. * Dr. Richard Garfield, who loves lasagna and hates Mondays. * Final Fantasy espers vs. Magic the Gathering espers. * All the different licenses Wizards of the Coast is using to fuck up Magic the Gathering. * How to play Magic the Gathering without getting your ass kicked by a SpongeBob deck. * Splitbeard, my nemesis. * The Kickstarter backer tier that nobody pledged to get. * Jim's beard braids, still floating around in a Ziploc bag somewhere. * Electroswing Jackson. * Trying to continue to evolve as an artist after you named yourself Chrono Trigger Remix DJ. * A sci-fi weird constructed zone. * The guy on the team who comes up with names like "banalia" * Fake scam Oxford English Dictionaries. * A Finn named Viznut. * The C program on Viznut's business card. * Recognizing the twelfth root of two in an obfuscated C program. * Bytebeat. * Generating audio in ShaderToy. * A closed form function of T that produces the Terminator theme. * Learning how to put GLSL into the GPU. * Needing the preceding 200 samples to produce the current sample so you just start at T-200 and start crunching numbers. * The oldest film on Netflix. (From 1987.) * Trying to finish X-Files before it leaves your streaming service. * Esper's power over the Futurama production schedule. * Why would you attack and dethrone God when you could summon God to help you fight a slime? * Trying to summon your god in a tough JRPG battle and she's like "not right now I'm editing a podcast." * Trying to describe a vocal sample without saying what the voice is saying. * The bitrate itself shaping new phonemes. * Wahoo vs. wahey vs. waheh. * The great darkness where sleep goes and farther death goes. * The gods choking on all the dreams you forget. * The dump trucks of tasteless gruel keep coming. * How to prevent the data miners determining exactly how far the mystery goes. * You Can't Data Mine Fallen London. * The character who doesn't exist in the game, only the game data files, because he erased himself. * Media where you can predict how much longer the story goes and media where you can't. * The forty second episode of Topic Lords. * The episode of Game Changer that had the fake "end of video" screen before the episode continues. * Hitting tab to switch to the next field. * Hitting tab to highlight the secret clickable button. * Bittorrenting all eight hours of Bandersnatch and watching every scene in random order. * How many names does a Seaman know? * Escaping the internet. * Binge watching the PiCoSteveMo development thread.

    Levack and Goz
    NFL KickStarter Jets Win and Syracuse Signs a Rapper?!

    Levack and Goz

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 1, 2025 56:14


    NFL KickStarter Jets Win and Syracuse Signs a Rapper?!

    City On A Hill Gaming
    A Scavenging We Will Go: A DarkSpace Adventure, Part 1

    City On A Hill Gaming

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 1, 2025 92:53


    This time... On City On A Hill...Welcome back, and welcome to DarkSpace! We are playing a new Sci-Fi TTRPG, courtesy of DMing the World Press, called DarkSpace. You can find their website and Kickstarter down below. Join us as we get into nonsense almost immediately!DarkSpace - https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/dmingtheworld/darkspace-sci-fi-rules-for-shadowdarkhttps://www.dmingtheworld.com/Derek - http://geekpreacher.org/https://linktr.ee/thegeekpreacherJustin - Saving the Game Discord or City On A Hill DiscordGreg - https://bsky.app/profile/taos777.bsky.socialShanna - Saving the Game Discord or City On A Hill DiscordGrant - https://linktr.ee/vaguegrantBig thanks to our supporters! Grizzly Rich, JD, Bryan, Sir Lord Epicname, Andrew, Christina, Tonyhttps://www.patreon.com/cityonahillgamingCheck us out at @cityonahillgaming.bsky.social on BlueSky or email us at cityonahillgaming@gmail.comUs on the Discord - https://discord.gg/N2Qj8fk5wELeave us a rating/review on iTunes or whatever awesome podcast app you use. And tell us where you listen to the fun!

    FOX on Tech
    Holiday Gift Guide: Ohsnap! MCON & PUK Gaming Joystick for Your Smartphone 2025

    FOX on Tech

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 1, 2025 1:45


    FOX on Games continues its holiday gift guide, focusing on the rapidly growing mobile segment. We review the innovative, Kickstarter-funded Ohsnap! MCON Controller, which uses a magnetic, foldable design for secure phone connectivity and protection. Plus, we revisit our conversation with Dylan Burgess (@PUKGaming), the creator of the PUK Gaming silicon add-on, who explains how his simple device makes touchscreen games "feel more natural" and transforms the screen into a traditional joystick plane. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    The Fantasy and Sci-fi Fanatic's Podcast
    Kickstarter-Book of Spores Anthology with Adrian M Gibson and Frasier Armitage

    The Fantasy and Sci-fi Fanatic's Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 1, 2025 63:15


    !!!Please subscribe!!! Hosted by Daniel Coolbaugh For this episode of Season 5, I had the pleasure to chat with Adrian M. Gibson and Frasier Armitage about their Kickstarter Project-Book of Spores Anthology! We had a great chat about their process in creating their anthology, what they learned from the process, and their future projects. Make sure to check out their Kickstarter at this link: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/fanfiaddict/the-book-of-spores-a-fungal-sff-anthology?ref=discovery&term=book%20of%20spores%20anthology&total_hits=1&category_id=324 Check out both FanFiAddict and SFF Addicts channels below: FanFiAddict: https://fanfiaddict.com/ SFF Addicts: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLSRMtzayhbWxPFjIxNqcE3MYzCQZsK1F3 Adrian M. Gibson: Email: adrian.marc.gibson@gmail.com Website: https://adrianmgibson.com SFF Addicts Podcast: https://linktr.ee/SFFAddicts Buy Mushroom Blues HERE: https://amzn.to/3PxREzp Frasier Armitage: https://frasierarmitage.com/ Podcast Channel Links: Patreon: patreon.com/TFSFP Website: https://thefantasyandscififanaticspod.com/ Youtube Channel Subscription: https://youtube.com/@thefantasyandsci-fifanatic2328 Rss.com: https://media.rss.com/thefantasyandsci-fifanaticspodcast/feed.xml Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2aCCUhora9GdLAduLaaqiu?si=cl-8VWgaSrOGDwJg-cKONQ Facebook Group join link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/402724958101648/?ref=share

    Toy Power Podcast
    #422: Colin; Cobra & Catalogues!!

    Toy Power Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 29, 2025 75:52


    This Week on Toy Power Podcast; we once again have Canadian local: Colin Betts present in the studio!! Leaning on Colin's expertise around all things G.I. Joe; we are having another Fun round of THE TEAM! This round specifically targeting The Enemy: Cobra! Narrowing our selection even further, Toy characters released only between the years of 1982 & 1987. Highlighting the Classic Team tributes of: Leader, Muscle, Specialist, Wheelman & of course a Vehicle too. Voting on who makes the cut once all submissions are shouted out. Then we attack our next topic; Toy Catalogues! Another one of Colin's passion projects; & Ben presents him with his own small collection of only Two Australian Catalogues; that funnily enough Colin doesn't own!! A fun discussion around Catalogues in general & what makes them so appealing!Support the show: http://patreon.com/toypowerpodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    The RPGBOT.Podcast
    MacGUFFINS Remastered - Because Sometimes the Real Treasure is the Plot Device

    The RPGBOT.Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 29, 2025 61:38


    Ever chased a glowing orb through three dungeons, only to find out it's just... a really fancy paperweight? Congratulations, you've met a MacGuffin! This week, the RPGBOT crew dissects the mysterious art of the object that drives your players forward, whether it's the One Ring, the Orb of Shiny Plot Device, or the legendary Sandwich of Ultimate Power. Grab your notes, your dice, and your vague sense of purpose, because we're going beyond the plot twist. Randall James' Melancon Before you roll for insight, roll on over to Amazon and grab Randall James' novella Melancon—a hauntingly beautiful story that pairs perfectly with a rainy game night and a cup of something strong. Support an indie author, dive into a darkly poetic world, and show Randall some love. Show Notes In this episode of the RPGBOT.Podcast, Tyler, Randall, and Ash dive deep into the narrative tool that keeps players moving: the MacGuffin. Whether it's a cursed relic, a kidnapped noble, or a mysterious prophecy, MacGuffins are storytelling fuel for Dungeon Masters and Game Masters across systems like Dungeons & Dragons and Pathfinder 2e. The hosts unpack what makes a good MacGuffin (and what makes a lazy one), explore how player agency and motivation interact with narrative devices, and share practical tips for integrating MacGuffins into campaigns without making them feel hollow or forced. Expect examples from movies, famous campaigns, and some spicy opinions on whether The Deck of Many Things is secretly the best—or worst—MacGuffin ever written. Key Takeaways A MacGuffin isn't the story—it's the spark. It gets the party moving, but your players should define what it means. Player motivation matters. Tie your MacGuffin to personal stakes or relationships to avoid "fetch quest fatigue." Use narrative misdirection wisely. A twist should feel earned, not like a reroll on your own plot. Every system benefits from good pacing. Pathfinder 2e, D&D 5e, or your favorite indie TTRPG—MacGuffins can unify a campaign arc when used thoughtfully. Don't overcomplicate it. Sometimes, the shiny rock is just a shiny rock… until the players make it legendary. Support Indie Creators This holiday season, put your gold pieces where your heart is: support independent tabletop roleplaying game creators. Buy a zine, back a small Kickstarter, gift a module, or leave a review for your favorite indie game. Every little gesture helps the storytellers who keep our tables full of wonder, chaos, and laughter. 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 Weekly Warp Pipe
    Game Boy Memories: What Games We Played Everywhere - WWP EP 174

    The Weekly Warp Pipe

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 29, 2025 129:14


    Well be going through our favorite games on the go with the GameBoy. Jay NES Addict will be joining us as well ⁨@TigerChainsawVideoGames⁩ Joins for a little bit as well to talk about his NEW Gameboy he is developing on Kickstarter.

    Brotherly Love Podcast
    Ep 144 | The Brotherly Love Pod LIVE At Foxwoods Casino!

    Brotherly Love Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 28, 2025 95:16


    We hope you're all stuffed and kicking back, because we're bringing you an extended cut of Da Pod from Foxwoods Casino last September!Join the Bros in this comfy fireside chat! We talk about quite literally everything! Great memories from growing up on the east coast, coming to Hollywood, and surviving in this crazy world!We're so happy you've been here with us on this journey. This is a time to celebrate family and give thanks to those most important to us, and that's YOU!Happy Thanksgiving everyone! We couldn't do this without you!Enjoy the show!Support our pod with our official merch!https://bropodmerch.bigcartel.com

    Comic Crusaders Podcast
    Comic Crusaders Podcast #603 – DeWayne Dority/WakeComics

    Comic Crusaders Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 28, 2025 33:11


    Comic Crusaders is thrilled to welcome back indie comics creator Dewayne Dority to the podcast! Known for building bold, imaginative stories in his Wakeverse, Dewayne returns to share updates on his creative journey and to unveil his latest Kickstarter project: LIAR. In this high-energy interview, host Al Mega dives into the inspiration behind LIAR, the challenges of running a Kickstarter, and how this new book expands on Dewayne's vision. Expect plenty of laughs, behind-the-scenes stories, and the raw truth about the indie comic grind. Whether you're a long-time supporter or new to Dewayne's work, this episode will inspire you to support indie storytelling and check out LIAR before the campaign ends!

    Gaslit Nation
    Nixon Ran so Trump Could Fly - TEASER

    Gaslit Nation

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 27, 2025 15:33


    In Part II of our conversation, Nick Schwellenbach, a Senior Investigator at the Project on Government Oversight, shares his insights from his time in the U.S. Office of Special Counsel–a government agency set up after Watergate, meant to protect us from the next Nixon. So, what happened?  In this week's bonus show, we're looking for checks-and-balances. With a grifter-in-chief enriching himself and his family, following in the footsteps of overthrown Kremlin-backed kleptocrat Viktor Yanukovych, we're especially curious about the Hatch Act–whatever happened to that? This Thanksgiving, we're grateful for our Gaslit Nation listeners with us in the fight of our lives, for a livable future for our families and the world. We wish you all a restful holiday season, as we charge up for battle in the 2026 Midterms–building another blue tsunami together. Join our community of listeners and get bonus shows, Q&A sessions, invites to exclusive events like our Monday political salons at 4pm ET over Zoom, ad free listening, group chats with other listeners, ways to shape the show, and more! Sign up at Patreon.com/Gaslit! Art is a big source of our power. We're proud to share with you a Kickstarter by longtime Gaslit Nation listener Leslie Nuss to help her release her next album, Ride at Dawn. Check out and support her work here!: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/leslienuss/ride-at-dawn-the-new-12-track-vinyl-lp-cd-by-leslie-nuss/posts   EVENTS AT GASLIT NATION: December 1st 4pm ET – Deaf Republic by Ilya Kaminsky + Total Resistance by H. Von Dach – Poetry and guerrilla strategy: tools for survival and defiance. Minnesota Signal group for Gaslit Nation listeners in the state to find each other: join on Patreon.  Vermont Signal group for Gaslit Nation listeners in the state to find each other: join on Patreon.  Arizona-based listeners launched a Signal group for others in the state to connect, join on Patreon.  Indiana-based listeners launched a Signal group for others in the state to join, join on Patreon.  Florida-based listeners are going strong meeting in person. Be sure to join their Signal group, join on Patreon.  Gaslit Nation Salons take place Mondays 4pm ET over Zoom and the first ~40 minutes are recorded and shared on Patreon.com/Gaslit for our community  

    Irish and Celtic Music Podcast
    Celtic Blessings for Thanksgiving

    Irish and Celtic Music Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 27, 2025 75:08


    Celebrate a Celtic Thanksgiving with music full of blessings, homecoming, and heartfelt gratitude. From Irish blessings to Scottish toasts, this episode is a warm table filled with the musicians who've made this community thrive. Fill your cup. Let's give thanks together on show  #736 of the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast  -  -  Subscribe now! Clanna Morna, Adam Agee & Jon Sousa, Irishtown Road, The Friel Sisters, The Fire, The Gothard Sisters, Marys Lane, Brobdingnagian Bards, Ironwood, Ogham, Charlene Adzima, Tallymoore, Heather Dale, Clare Cunningham, Wolf Loescher, Eclectic Revival, Bealtaine GET CELTIC MUSIC NEWS IN YOUR INBOX The Celtic Music Magazine is a quick and easy way to plug yourself into more great Celtic culture. Enjoy seven weekly news items with what's happening with Celtic music and culture online. Subscribe now and get 34 Celtic MP3s for Free. VOTE IN THE CELTIC TOP 20 FOR 2025 This is our way of finding the best songs and artists each year. You can vote for as many songs and tunes that inspire you in each episode. Your vote helps me create this year's Best Celtic music of 2025 episode. You have until December 4 to vote for this episode. Vote Now! You can follow our playlist on YouTube to listen to those top voted tracks as they are added every 2 - 3 weeks. THIS WEEK IN CELTIC MUSIC 7:41 - Clanna Morna "Otter's Holt / Sweeney's Buttermilk" from From The Lowlands To The High Seas 3:49 - WELCOME 5:27 - Adam Agee & Jon Sousa "Runs in the Family / Angry Birds" from Suantraí 7:41 - Irishtown Road "Irish Blessing" from On the One Road 12:38 - The Friel Sisters "Miss Johnstone's/The Ladies' Pantalettes/The Virginia/The Road to Lisdoonvarna (Hop Jig/Reels)" from Northern Sky 16:32 - The Fire "Auld Lang Syne" from The Fire's Very Scottish Christmas 20:04 - FEEDBACK 22:58 - The Gothard Sisters "Follow the Wind" from Moment in Time 26:31 - Marys Lane "Gypsys Dance / The Kesh Jig" from Wild Unknown 29:10 - Brobdingnagian Bards "Slainte Mhaith" from Another Faire to Remember 31:19 - Ironwood "Planxty Caper Set" from Gretna Green 35:14 - Ogham "Her Long Dark Hair Flowing Down her Back / The Home Ruler" from The Gold Ring 39:44 - Charlene Adzima "An Cailin Rua" from The Initiation 43:28 - THANKS 45:33 - Tallymoore "Home to Donegal" from Drive 51:58 - Heather Dale "Weaver" from The Green Knight 55:22 - Clare Cunningham "Home Again" from ON MY WAY (AR MO BHEALACH) 59:37 - Wolf Loescher "At Home with the Exiles" from Immigrant Songs 1:04:24 - Eclectic Revival "Come Back Home" from Life & Love 1:08:34 - CLOSING 1:09:47 - Bealtaine "The Parting Glass" from Factories & Mills, Shipyards & Mines 1:13:19 - CREDITS Support for this program comes from Cascadia Cross Border Law Group, Creating Transparent Borders for more than twenty five years, serving Alaska and the world. Find out more at   www.CascadiaLawAlaska.com Support for this program comes from Hank Woodward. Support for this program comes from Dr. Annie Lorkowski of Centennial Animal Hospital in Corona, California. Support for this program comes from International speaker, Joseph Dumond, teaching the ancient roots of the Gaelic people. Learn more about their origins at Sightedmoon.com The Irish & Celtic Music Podcast was produced by Marc Gunn, The Celtfather and our Patrons on Patreon. The show was edited by Mitchell Petersen with Graphics by Miranda Nelson Designs. Visit our website to follow the show. You'll find links to all of the artists played in this episode. Todd Wiley is the editor of the Celtic Music Magazine. Subscribe to get 34 Celtic MP3s for Free. Plus, you'll get 7 weekly news items about what's happening with Celtic music and culture online. Best of all, you will connect with your Celtic heritage. Please tell one friend about this podcast. Word of mouth is the absolute best way to support any creative endeavor. Finally, remember. Clean energy isn't just good for the planet, it's good for your wallet. Solar and wind are now the cheapest power sources in history. But too many politicians would rather protect billionaires than help working families save on their bills. Real change starts when we stop allowing the ultra - rich to write our energy policy and run our government. Let's choose affordable, renewable power. Clean energy means lower costs, more freedom, and a planet that can actually breathe. Promote Celtic culture through music at http://celticmusicpodcast.com/. WELCOME THE IRISH & CELTIC MUSIC PODCAST * Helping you celebrate Celtic culture through music. I am Marc Gunn. I'm a Celtic musician and also host of Pub Songs & Stories. Every song has a story, every episode is a toast to Celtic and folk songwriters. Discover the stories behind the songs from the heart of the Celtic pub scene. This podcast is for fans of all kinds of Celtic music. We are here to build a diverse Celtic community and help the incredible artists who so generously share their music with you. If you hear music you love, please email artists to let them know you heard them on the Irish and Celtic Music Podcast. Musicians depend on your generosity to release new music. So please find a way to support them. Buy a CD, Album Pin, Shirt, Digital Download, or join their community on Patreon. You can find a link to all of the artists in the shownotes, along with show times, when you visit our website at celticmusicpodcast.com. Or email follow@bestcelticmusic to learn how to subscribe to the podcast. I will send you a free music - only episode. If you're in a Celtic band, you will also learn how to get your music played on the podcast and get a free eBook called Celtic Musicians Guide to Digital Music. It's 100% free. Again email follow@bestcelticmusic Thanksgiving reminds us how good it feels to pause, breathe, and say thanks. Today, we celebrate the music and the musicians who bring joy to our lives. You'll hear jigs, reels, blessings, toasts, and songs about coming home. If you discover new music you love, support the artists. Every download, every follow, every share…those are acts of gratitude too. Thank you for being a part of our musical journey. CELTIC CHRISTMAS MUSIC PODCAST FOLLOW OUR KICKSTARTER PRE - LAUNCH PAGE I just setup a pre - launch page for our next Kickstarter in January. Once again, this will be for funding a Best of 2025 compilation album on CD or Album Pin or even as a Shirt. Follow the link in the shownotes, so you can be the first to get a copy of our next compilation. Only 100 CDs and 100 album pins will be made. Follow the Kickstarter. HAVE YOU HEARD OF ALBUM PINS? Just like this podcast, they are changing the way we hear Celtic music. There were several folks who showed at the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast booth at IrishFest Atlanta. Several people were confused about the album pins I talk about on this show. So I thought I'd share details. An album pin is a lapel pin. Each pin is themed to a particular album I've released. You get a digital download of the album. And then you can wear your help. It's fashion and music combined as one. My pins are beautifully designed and wood burned locally. This makes them better for the environment. If you want to learn more about Album Pins, you can read more about them on my celtfather.Substack.com or just buy one at magerecords.com THANK YOU PATRONS OF THE PODCAST! Your support makes the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast possible, nearly every week of the year. You're not just funding a show. You're fueling a movement that shares the magic of Celtic music with thousands around the world. Your generosity covers everything from audio engineering and artwork to the Celtic Music Magazine, show promotion, and buying music from independent Celtic artists. If you're not a patron yet? You're missing out! You get ✨ Early access to episodes

    Bulletproof Screenplay® Podcast
    BPS 447: Turning a Script into a Movie: The Indie Filmmaking Story of Jamie Buckner

    Bulletproof Screenplay® Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 27, 2025 70:52 Transcription Available


    Jamie Buckner's filmmaking journey is one built on passion, persistence, and pure creative drive. After exploring careers in music, architecture, and art, he realized filmmaking combined everything he loved into one pursuit. Starting as a production assistant, Jamie worked his way through Hollywood's ranks on major films like Seabiscuit, The Departed, and John Wick: Chapter Two. But while learning from industry giants, he continued writing his own scripts — most notably Split, a romantic comedy centered around bowling. Determined to bring his vision to life, Jamie self-financed the project, ran a successful Kickstarter campaign, and transformed a short proof-of-concept into a full feature film.His experience on Split became a masterclass in independent filmmaking — from balancing day jobs to managing budgets, post-production challenges, and distribution. The result was a feel-good movie that found audiences on multiple streaming platforms. Through his story, Jamie reminds aspiring filmmakers that creativity must be paired with discipline, resourcefulness, and an unshakable belief in your own ideas. His message is simple but powerful: if storytelling is in your blood, keep writing, keep filming, and never stop creating — because that's what makes you a true filmmaker.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/bulletproof-screenwriting-podcast--2881148/support.

    Batman the Animated Series Podcast
    Growing Pains Review (w/ the Voice of Robin - Mathew Valencia)

    Batman the Animated Series Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 27, 2025 74:11


    Our hosts return to the Podcave and are joined by returning special guest Mathew Valencia, the voice of Robin, to review his favourite episode, GROWING PAINS. Mathew shares memories of making this Emmy Award–winning episode and explains why it remains so special to him. He highlights his time working with Ron Perlman and Francesca Marie Smith, and how collaborating with them elevated his performance and pushed him to take on a more serious approach for this episode.Alex and Will also discuss the redesign of Clayface, the episode's continuity following his last appearance in MUDSLIDE, and the movie that inspired Annie's look. Also, Batman finds out who Daddy is...Thumbnail Art by George CaltsoudasTip Jar: https://buymeacoffee.com/batmantaspodOutbreaks Issue 4 Kickstarter Pre-Launch Page: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/speechcomics/outbreaks-1-4-an-ongoing-zombie-anthology-seriesMobster Mash 1-2 Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/speechcomics/mobster-mash-1-2-classic-movie-monsters-as-mobstersJoin Our Discord: https://discord.com/invite/bQF76V3nUsFollow us on TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: https://www.tiktok.com/@batmantaspod?_t=8zn1yhsgnfz&_r=1⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow us on YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: https://www.youtube.com/@batmantaspodFollow the Pod on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: https://www.instagram.com/batmantaspod/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow the Pod on Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: https://www.facebook.com/BatmanTASPod/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow the Pod on Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: https://twitter.com/batmantaspod1⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to Will's Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: https://www.patreon.com/willrobsonSpeech Comics Website⁠: https://www.speechcomics.com/Will's WhatNot Page⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: https://www.whatnot.com/user/speechcomics

    The Faqs Project
    Episode 186: Life beyond Riches w/ Ade Heru and TJ Sterling for Musa-Lion of Mali

    The Faqs Project

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 27, 2025 55:41 Transcription Available


    Today's episode journeys into the heart of 14th-century West Africa as we explore the upcoming comic Musa: Lion of Mali. Join as we talk with Adeatoyshe Heru and TJ Sterling about reimagining the rise of Mansa Musa—the richest man in history—as a sweeping heroic saga filled with intrigue, battles, loyalty, legacy, and destiny.We discuss how the comic combines historical authenticity with high-energy action, the artistic vision shaping ancient Mali through the lens of historical fantasy, and the importance of telling epic stories rooted in Black history.TJ and Ade also give us a first look at what's inside the Kickstarter, speaking on the creative team ranging from industry veterans to passionate interns who wanted to be a part of the project. If you love powerful origin stories and stunning comic artistry, step into the world of Musa: Lion of Mali.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-faqs-project-hosted-by-james-grandmaster-faqs-boyce/donations

    Playin' & Slayin'
    #97 | 2025 Reading Wrap-Up

    Playin' & Slayin'

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 27, 2025 90:33


    Send us a textIn Episode 97 of Playin' and Slayin', Ty and Troy settle in for a cozy, late-year catch-up: games played, hobby progress, Kickstarters backed, and a little Adepticon/DepthCon narrative plotting. They also expand the library segment into a mini year-end reading chat, talking Malazan, Primal Hunter, Critical Role's Mighty Nein animated series, and more of their favorite books and media from the year.There is also a video version of the podcast: https://youtu.be/A_gxT7qQejQOur theme music is by *FADEBACK*

    Three of Seven Podcast
    Ep. 473 Deliberating major Life Decisions

    Three of Seven Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 26, 2025 105:21


    Join the Three of Seven Project team as they discuss important topics.   BARBELL APPAREL Check out our favorite clothes that we wear everyday at BARBELL APPAREL WEBSITE Barbell Apparel was founded with a simple vision: clothing should be better. Founded by a team of friends and athletes, we started our story by launching our Athletic Fit Jeans on Kickstarter. That campaign grew past our wildest expectations, becoming the 2nd most funded fashion project of all time, and sparking a change across the fashion industry to bring "Athletic Fit" mainstream. https://barbellapparel.com/products/adapt-carry-short   Check out 3 of 7 Project https://www.3of7project.com Apply for Rite of Passage at: https://www.3of7project.com/train Thank you for supporting Three of Seven Podcast on Patreon at: www.patreon.com/threeofseven Three of Seven Project Store https://3of7project.myshopify.com/pages/shop Apply for The Basic Course at: https://www.3of7project.com/train Check out the Three of Seven Project Youtube channel at: Three of Seven Project Youtube  Nuff Said.

    The Secret Cabal Gaming Podcast
    Express 113: Combat Mechanisms

    The Secret Cabal Gaming Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 26, 2025 61:47


    Jamie and Don, freshly back from PAX Unplugged 2025 in Philadelphia, have been getting into some board, card, and dice rumbles lately, and they wanted to dig into the many styles of combat systems in board games. Deterministic versus random, complex versus streamlined, dice versus cards - there's a lot of ground to cover. Also, our yearly fundraiser is currently running on Kickstarter! Support us now at https://www.thesecretcabal.com/kickstarter

    PVD Horror
    Shiver: Slaying All Night interview with Brett Wagner, John Fiore, and Jeff Descoteaux

    PVD Horror

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 26, 2025 41:21


    Send us a textIt's all about indie horror on this episode as we welcome actors Brett Wagner (The Crazies) and John Fiore (Sopranos) along with producer Jeff Descoteaux to discuss the indie horror project Shiver: Slaying All Night which also stars Martin Klebba, Warrington Gillette, and Vincente DiSanti. This Christmas/winter themed horror is one that promises to bring some fun, 80's homage horror set in modern times.To get in on the action, check out the Kickstarter with tons of perks at: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/shiver/shiver-slaying-all-night?ref=discovery&term=shiver&total_hits=105&category_id=297Follow us on Social Media: @pvdhorror Instagram, X, TikTok, FacebookWatch us on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@pvdhorrorSpecial thanks to John Brennan for the intro and outro music. Be sure to find his music on social media at @badtechno or the following:https://johnbrennan.bandcamp.com

    The Rebel Author Podcast
    Lessons Learned from Ten Months of Direct Sales Book Distribution

    The Rebel Author Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 26, 2025 80:17


    The History  I started my shopify store around the 10th December 2023 after a viral video on TikTok on December 8th. So I integrated with Bookvault and stayed with POD shipping until February 2025. Since February 2025, I've been distributing and fulfilling all orders from my website in my own warehouse. These are the lessons I've learned from the last ten months of running my own website sales and distribution. And yes, I will talk numbers, but I'm making you wait till the end! Please note, I will talk about finances, systems and the occasional legal thing. Absolutely nothing I say is financial, legal or tax advice. You must seek advice from professionals in your own countries and tax territories. I recognise that this model is not for 99% of authors. It's a LOT of work. It's a lot of logistics, a lot of peopling, team building, paperwork and problem solving. This is as far removed from sitting behind a desk and writing 24/7 as you can get.  Do not listen to this with an open heart. Be skeptical, that will keep you on the right track for creating a business you love. But know that I do love this and I am framing these lessons learned from that perspective. Why Direct? I'd always had a transactional website for Sacha Black work but it barely did £20 a month. So I knew the work I was about to scramble to do for Ruby may be for nothing. But I didn't want to be beholden to TikTok the way I'd been beholdened to other sources of income and I knew if I'd gone viral once, I could do it again and that would lead to relying on TikTok. What do I mean why? Two reasons: why should you as an author have a direct store but also why should readers come to you? For you, you can earn more per sale. POD companies integrating with shopify automatically give you more as there are no hidden fees. But when you shift to print runs you more than half the cost of printing each book. Of course you also give yourself a host of other problems like fulfillment and overheads, but you gain a lot more product flexibility and potential meaning you have the opportunity to make bigger profit. BUT and this is a big but, you have to work out what you want your business to look like. That said, there are consequences. I usually write and publish 3 books a year and this year I've dropped to 2 published. Though I will have written a 3rd and a short story by the end of the year. But I wasn't able to get that third one published. Despite that, this is going to be my biggest year ever for income. It already beat last year in 7 months. Which goes to show that you don't have to be rapid releasing anymore to make good money. The fact I've not published three, is a direct consequence of the warehouse and also the increasing team size and the need to train staff. Thankfully due to the Kickstarter, some rights deals an big increase in direct sales of products and merch, I haven't seen a dip in income. Which goes to show that you don't have to be rapid releasing anymore to make good money. There are other benefits like reader loyalty because you're treating them better, you are able to provide higher quality books and with extra goodies and sign all the books for example. And that's really the heart of the mindset shift you need to have and how you should frame thinking about a direct store. Why should a reader bother coming to you when they can get next day shipping for free on Amazon? Can you answer that before you set up your store? For me this looks like three promises: Every book that leaves the warehouse is handsigned by me (I do this in batches and sign for 4-5 hours and get several thousand books signed in one go so it doesn't disturb writing time.) They get extra bonuses for ordering directly like stickers, bookmarks and character art. Last, if they preorder a book in any format I have for sale on the website, it will get shipped BEFORE the public release date. We aim for delivery a couple of weeks prior but it depends on print runs and me hitting deadlines. Things to consider before leaving POD direct and moving to self fulfillment: Where are you going to stock your books? Do you have local warehousing facilities or somewhere you own you can use? Stock requires more space than you think. Because it's not just books you need space for, it's packaging, and space for parcels before collection and space for a computer and printer etc. What is your cash flow like? Do you have the capital that you can risk losing to spend on investing in this? Thanks to great advice from one of my closest author pals, I didn't buy shipping containers for conversion to put on family land which was a circa 40k investment. Instead I rented a warehouse so that I was only risking the cost of one year's rent circa 9k and I'd also be able to up and leave and close everything down if it went wrong. What's your problem solving resiliency like? Solving problems, if it's not your bag, is relentlessly exhausting. Problems arise in all areas of this business, from shipping to label printing to packaging to import and export paperwork, to sourcing products, VAT, pricing, website, delivery issues. Etc. The list is long. Honestly? There's rarely a day without some kind of issue that needs resolving. How does that make you feel? Excited or horrified? Pay attention to those emotions. The only business you should be building is one that brings you joy. Last, is the reality that if you want to fulfill direct yourself you *will* need staff—if you want to continue to write that is. If you think about it, POD direct staff your website for you. They have teams packing the boxes, printing labels and shipping everything for you. So no matter which way you cut it, whether it's you organising staff or your printers, someone has to do the leg work. Mindset shifts eCommerce  Yes I'm an author, but running your own fulfillment from website sales means you also run an eCommerce business. And over and above that, I now run a physical product business because we have merchandise. Those combined make for a very, very different business structure and set of problems compared to the old school models of being an indie author. Traffic Direction First of all and most basic of all. I direct all traffic to my website without exception. My primary links on social media are my website. If people ask where they can buy my books, it's my website. If they say they can't then I'll direct them online to a more well known store.   Schedules are a bitch.  When you're writing in a solo business and uploading your books online, your schedule is essentially your own. When you then bring on a team, they are reliant on you delivering on time to make sure they can do their job. How does that make you feel? Knowing you *have* to deliver for someone else? For a long time I really hated being beholden to deadlines—probably a corporate spill over. But being responsible for a team and needing to deliver for them is very different. I adore my team, I love them and care about them and I *want* to deliver on time for them. This is a total re-framing for me. It's the right kind of pressure and responsibility attached to a deadline. Does that mean my creativity needs to show up on time? Sure, but I find this motivating because it's the right people around me. However, the first book post warehouse opening, we were all still learning and mistakes were made. I delivered one book late. That pushed everything and made a lot of the timelines difficult including getting the printed books delivered on time. For Architecti there were two main problems: a solid 20% of the order arrived damaged by rain. But we'd already sold almost all the initial print run so we couldn't spare 20% and thus didn't have enough stock to cover our preorders. So this caused a lot of anxiety. Under ordering stock is a terrifying prospect. As is over ordering because do you have enough space for it and what if you then don't sell it?  The second mistake was releasing a book without checking the diaries of the warehouse team who happened to be on holiday during the fulfillment process. Which in a bout of shit timing, my mum then got sick in the crucial week. Meaning I had to stop writing and fulfill 1000 preorders single handedly. It was grueling physically, mentally and emotionally doing it on my own. We're never having that cluster fuck again.  So we've produced a heat map style document with everyone's leave, delivery dates, deadlines for me, product ordering dates, prepping dates and fulfillment periods etc. This was an enormous lesson in logistics of both a warehouse and people. Exclusivity Kindle Unlimited works for a reason. It has books exclusive to Amazon, you literally cannot get them anywhere else. Meaning you're forced to get them there. If that worked for Amazon, you can bet you're arse it works for others.  So I stole the idea. I have four novellas /short stories that I publish exclusively on my website. Does that mean a huge risk for loss of visibility and potential sales? Absolutely. No rank, no visibility in the biggest algorithm machine in the world. But it is also one of the key sales tactics I've used to get readers over to me. And boy has it worked. I make sure it's content I know they'll want, I flash the extra books on my reels and videos and then the questions flood in — how do I get those books… Well I'll tell you…! Preorders Preorders are both a gift and a logistical nightmare. How to get them? We ran an enormous campaign for Architecti. Ending up with 1027 paperbacks, 323 hardbacks and 193 ebooks. For a total 1543 preorders on my website. Plus over 1000 ebooks on Amazon. So the total preorders were in excess of 2500 preorders. Firstly you have to ask why should readers preorder direct to you? As mentioned earlier we make three promises: Everything is signed They get extras and goodies including a Roe-Mantics popsocket, series sticker and bookmark and an art print. As well as a Ruby Roe reading tracking and reading order and some stickers. They get the books delivered early (ebook and physical) We promoted the shit out of these three facts and I do believe this is the reason we did so well. That, plus almost two years of pushing direct sales and building reader trust. I won't go into all the marketing we did as this is a podcast about the warehouse. But we pushed HARD. We made a couple of mistakes: We didn't order enough books. We ordered 1000 paperbacks and ended up having to do a second print run because we sold over 1000 and obviously knew we needed stock on hand for general sales — a good problem to have obviously. But if we had ordered a higher quantity from the start we would have had a better price per book and saved ourselves some money and increased profit. That's a tough lesson to learn as we're always having to balance cashflow. The second mistake was packaging. We pride ourselves on making sure the books arrive in pristine condition. The consequence of that is how long it takes to package. The primary damage a book can fall prey to is the rain, or being dropped. We were individually wrapping each book in foam or bubble wrap before putting them inside bookwraps with the goodies to ship. This took me almost two weeks to do for circa a thousand parcels. I spoke to my warehouse neighbour who is a book box subscription company and discovered that they ship 1000 parcels in a couple of days because they uses origami boxes with packing peanuts and a plastic exterior envelope bag for water protection. This results in them working at a significantly faster rate than us. And has led us to get boxes designed and we're in the process of ordering 10k boxes. Customer Communication Customer communication has been an absolute maelstrom. The more products we create, the more complex everything gets. Becca used to be primarily a scheduler for me. Now, she's moved to be a customer services manager. Major issues include: when they preorder a book and put a published book into the same order. This is a means we have to email them to let them know they have two options: either we refund and they order separately or they wait for both their books. This is a huge problem as there are a number of preorders live at any one time and thus a ton of customer communication needed. It has gotten better as we have educated our repeat customers, put messages and labels on the site. But it is an ever present problem. We have decided to commission a coder to write some code for shopify so that we can charge two lots of shipping and split ship. We've also had so many communications about the tariffs. This has been so difficult because we are not the ones charging but we are the first point of call. It is in large part due to the team being incredible that we got through this. Last, I still receive an email for every single order. So I do one additional thing. I make a point to keep an eye on when someone has ordered multiple times in short succession and then send them to the team to refund duplicate postage.  Protecting Writing Time This is so vital. And has been the hardest part of having a warehouse. I definitely feel like I lost 6 months of writing time. It's the reason I barely managed to get Architecti done, and the reason I didn't meet my primary goal of getting ahead of production this year. Staffing means interruptions. But more than that, having the discipline to put my phone on do not disturb or muting team chats while I write. Now that we're up to speed, refining processes and we have SOPs in place, I am finding it easier and easier to not go to the warehouse. We also stopped having the smaller deliveries sent to my house and instead they're going to my team's houses or direct to the warehouse. Regulations and Tariffs  With a physical product business there are so many more regulations and acronyms and pieces of law that you have to deal with. The level of bureaucracy is quite astonishing and has caused a number of headaches. These headaches are not the type of headaches that most authors would want to deal with. You have to choose the poison you want to drink and I genuinely recognise that 99% of authors would not want this headache. The other matter here is that the regulations have required a colossal amount of time spent on them. More time than we anticipated. Something new is always being thrown at us and usually things that we do not have knowledge on. So we're constantly in a state of adapting and learning. This is both wonderful and also a little gruelling.  As there's not many people doing this we don't have many options for checking we're on the right path, so having to trust ourselves that we've done the best we can with the knowledge we have. And also recognise that it's okay to not know everything. Logistics There's been a lot of logistic lessons learned too. Firstly, that shipping providers are a nightmare. They're massive organisations and that means corporate bureaucracy. Lots of being passed between departments and having to wait for responses. You're probably going to need additional app integrations some of which will cost. Just pay for the apps because it will make your life simpler. We have a DPD integration app that makes handling and managing preorders and labels considerably easier. Batch as much as you can: like signing books, preparing freebie packets, cutting foam and pre-building boxes. Batch packaging, in particular for preorders. For example, all the UK paperbacks then all the UK hardbacks etc. It's easier to do the same thing over and over and then task switch than it is to do it higgledy piggledy. Timelines  Understanding the timelines for launches has been quite the challenge. When you're a solo indie you are in charge of your own time. When you have a team, and other people do parts of the publishing process, you're no longer working on your own schedule. Combined with the fact that a huge percentage of my turnover comes from physical book sales. This means we have to do print runs. Instead of loading up to KDP or the POD services and knowing it will be live the next day or a few days later after a proof copy. Print runs take a couple of days to finalise the files (up to several months for international printers) and then 2-3 weeks to print and deliver to the warehouse for UK printers, and several weeks to months for international. We then have to unpack them and check the quality and then I have to sign them. I am pretty fast at signing now and choose to sign in long batches 4-5 hours at a time and usually manage 1-2000 books in that time. The other timelines that need to be considered are how long things take to pack. But I've already talked about that. But it is something that needs to be considered when planning preorder fulfillment. The more preorders we get, the more significant the time it takes, that or we need more people to help pack. The Money This is the bit everyone is interested. All costs are in GBP.  Set up costs for the warehouse were approximately £4-5000. This included the deposit, racking, furniture etc. In total, I've spent 100k on printing this year. However a significant portion of that was on the Kickstarter. So I don't count that in the costs for the warehouse. Those sit at £61,171. We are still holding a huge amount of stock in the warehouse so this spend should start to even out. In December 2023 I started the shop around 10th December, I made just shy of £1700 which I think was mostly due to the viral TikToks. In the month of May 2024 I broke £5000. November 2024 I broke 10k for the first time and in December 2024 I broke 15k. That was the month I knew I needed to take advantage of what I was building. I knew I wanted to do more for readers who were clearly willing to buy direct. In 2024, the website turned over £73.5k. I collected keys for the warehouse of January 31st. It took a couple of weeks to set the warehouse up and then we had print runs delivered around the 17th and started shipping on Feb 20th 2025. That was a £16k month, and the first time my Shopify sales beat my Amazon, only by a couple hundred pounds, but it still beat it. It wasn't lost on me that it was the first month I had taken control of distribution. April eclipsed Amazon at 29k and I've stayed between 15 and 29k a month since — Finally in November 2025, I surpassed 30k. As of 21st November we're standing at 222k for the year. I suspect we will end up with turnover somewhere between 230 and 250k for 2025.  Creating definitive turnover and net profit calculations are difficult. What I can tell you is that between the warehouse, staff for the warehouse, utilities and insurances I spend approximately 18-1900 a month (21-23k per year). Shipping varies between 500 and 1500 a week on average but on preorder weeks it can spike to 8k. The highest month for shipping was 11k. I suspect for the year it will be roughly 45-55k.  So for print costs, staffing, rent and shipping the total is approximately £133,971. I estimate 4-7k on other costs like packaging and freebies. So let's estimate £140k spend for £222k turnover. So I estimate approximately £82,000 in profit - to which I'll then have to pay tax. That's a 36% profit. Not as high as I'd like, but also it's year one and spend is always higher in year one because of set up. I expect that as we move into year two that will grow and my aim is to reach 45% but the ultimate goal will be 50% I'm not sure if this is possible but we will try. We have a lot of stock that we can sell without having to spend out anymore.  In terms of granular costs to give you an idea of profit on the detail level: The cost of each book is loosely £2.20 per paperback for which we charge £10.99 on average. We allow for £1 of that to cover packaging and freebies. Meaning £3.20 of costs. Though this doesn't include a % for warehouse overheads. I don't have any advertising costs. I have bought all customers in from my mailing list, TikTok and Instagram. On average my returning customer rate is 35%. However, in months where I set up a new product preorder, that rate shoots up. For November 2025 it's 56%. Similarly, my average conversion rate is 5.83% conversion rate. What's interesting is that in those early months my conversion rate was 3.18%. This month it's 8.53%. I think this increase is twofold. First, I have a high returning customer rate, this automatically increases the conversion rate as your customers want what you're providing. Second, I think my marketing has gotten better and better. We're providing more books, stories and products that my audience wants and we're also getting better at marketing to market. Cash Flow One of the best things I did was create multiple pots and accounts. For a long time I'd lived under the assumption you could only have one business bank account. That was bad advice from an accountant. I have since left them and now have an excellent accountant. I've also had lots of advice from a dear friend who knows far more about money and systems than me.  Cash flow can either sky rocket or cripple a business. And when you run a physical business the numbers you run with are so much higher that you can easily crush your company. One of my favourite tactics is to create mini pots and split money up. For every preorder we run I create a pot in my bank, like a mini bank and every week I put the amount earned for that preorder product into the pot. If the product requires a print run, I pay for it out of that pot. If we have to buy wholesale merch, I take it from that pot etc. I also set aside money for tax each month. I move both personal tax money and corporation tax money and set it aside in a high interest savings account. The biggest outflows for running a distribution warehouse are staffing, warehouse rent, shipping and print runs.  For Architecti specifically, we had to do two print runs because we under ordered books. Meaning I had to outflow huge amounts of money twice. The print runs totalled £11,630. Plus 11,000 in shipping fees for that month. If I didn't have the money set aside for this, it could easily have pushed me into debt. One of the main things I did to help prevent cashflow issues, is have dozens of pots inside my bank accounts.  Every week the team calculates the income for orders and shipping for each product we have on preorder (there are always usually 2 to 3) and then I transfer that money to individual pots. Meaning I save all the money from preorders right up until launch. I then take the money for the print runs from this pot and for the shipping. What's left is the profit which is taxable so I move the tax money into my tax pot and then keep the rest. This is the safest way I've found for managing cashflow and ensuring I don't spend money that needs to be saved for specific things. I also have an entirely separate account for my shopify. So all print runs are paid for out of the shopify account. All shipping payments go out of that account. All printing for freebies etc comes from that account. It becomes totally self managing and over time it increases. Then if I want to take out chunks of profit, I do and keep the account at 20k. This is the equivalent of the average monthly turnover for the shopify. So should cover all bills or worst case scenarios.  I also have a tax pot where I move money each month. My accountants have a report that generates each month and estimates my tax. I then place my tax in a high interest account and leave it to earn some money before I have to pay it. Next Steps Business infrastructure. I recently visited Author Nation – the Las Vegas conference that was once 20books. There are so many areas for growth and improvement and I realised that I have essentially brut forced my way to the position I'm in. Upsell app Integration with better email upsell marketing system Possibly advertising Branded packaging

    Dear FoundHer...
    Natalie Holloway: Innovating Fitness, How Bala Changed the Game

    Dear FoundHer...

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 25, 2025 38:51


    See what happens when women founders build together. RSVP and join us for the Dear FoundHer Forum Virtual Open House + Networking Session on December 9th!Natalie Holloway reveals how a simple idea sparked during a frustrating yoga class grew into a fitness brand that reshaped an entire category.Joining Lindsay Pinchuk, Natalie traces Bala's beginnings from a gut-level insight to a Kickstarter launch and then to the turning point that came with Shark Tank. She talks openly about rapid growth, the reality of running out of inventory, and the tough moment when she realized their team had grown faster than the business itself. Natalie explains how scaling back helped Bala regain clarity and why a lean structure now drives their strongest year yet. She also offers practical direction for early founders who want a business that can last. How do you know when to trust an idea that feels small? What protects a young company when momentum hits faster than expected? Natalie's answers land with experience and honesty, and this episode will leave you with a clearer sense of what sustainable growth really looks like.Episode Breakdown:00:00 Why Community And Support Matter For Women Founders Over 4005:17 Who Is Natalie Holloway And What Is Bala Fitness06:11 Leaving Advertising Burnout, Traveling Asia And Discovering The Bala Bangles Idea11:34 From Side Hustle To Kickstarter Funding Bala's First $40K Production Run14:19 Grassroots Marketing On Shopify, Social Media And In Studios To Prove Product Market Fit17:43 Shark Tank Appearance, Pandemic Fitness Boom And Bala's Explosive Growth21:47 Building Then Shrinking The Team: Lessons In Hiring Fast And Scaling Smarter26:44 Expanding Beyond Bangles: Volifying Dumbbells, Power Rings And The Fitness Category27:50 Best Year Yet: How Bala Became A Lean Profitable Business With Trusted Agency Partners30:51 Natalie's Top Three Lessons For Female Founders On Profit, Hiring And Passion35:33 Three Immediate Action Steps For New Entrepreneurs: Research, P&L And Documenting On SocialConnect with Natalie Holloway:Follow Natalie on InstagramFollow Bala on InstagramLinks:Check out our gift guide!Join us for our virtual networking and Forum Open HousePodcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Dungeons & Randomness: A Tabletop RPG Podcast
    Extended Rest: November 2025

    Dungeons & Randomness: A Tabletop RPG Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 24, 2025 84:51


    Jason and folks from the cast chat about Episodes 26-28 of Frostbourne and more! // CATCH UP ON FROSTBOURNE: • Find the Frostbourne Recap: Ep. 1-20 in our feed, right there between Episodes 20 and 21. It takes over forty hours of adventure and chaos and boils it down to just one. Perfect to catch up and share with friends, family, enemies—whoever! // FIND US: • Support the show on Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://patreon.com/dandr⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ • Explore the world of Theria: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://dandrpodcast.com ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  ⁠⁠ • Join our Discord community: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/DandR⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ • Grab official D&R merch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://dandrpodcast.dashery.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  ⁠⁠ // PARTNERS & PLUGS: • Check out LobStar, a graphic novel by our very own Jamieson Alcorn and Very Big Comics. Kickstarter ends early December 2025! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/verybigcomics/lobstar-0⁠⁠ • Play the Level Up A5E ruleset: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.levelup5e.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠(use code DANDR for a 5% discount) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices