Podcasts about The Lord of the Rings

277. Breaking Through Addiction in Marriage with Matthew and Joanna Raabsmith   *DISCLAIMER* This episode is intended for adults.   1 John 1:9 AMP "If we [freely] admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just [true to His own nature and promises], and will forgive our sins and cleanse us continually from all unrighteousness [our wrongdoing, everything not in conformity with His will and purpose].”   *Transcription Below*   Thank You to Our Sponsor: Leman Property Management Company   Matthew and Joanna Raabsmith are clinicians, speakers, and authors with over 20 years of combined experience in counseling, coaching, and guiding couples toward healing and transformation. Their mission is to help couples navigate the complexities of relational challenges, particularly in the aftermath of sexual addiction and betrayal trauma, fostering deep restoration and growth.   Matthew is a Professional Certified Coach (ICF) with a background in pastoral leadership, while Joanna is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, EMDR practitioner, and Certified Clinical Partner Specialist through APSATS. Both hold Master of Divinity degrees and have served together on multiple church leadership teams. Currently, they co-lead their private practice, The Raabsmith Team, where they specialize in helping couples rebuild connection, trust, and intimacy.   Their passion for this work stems from their own journey of restoration. After experiencing the devastating effects of sexual addiction and betrayal in their marriage, Matthew and Joanna embarked on a years-long pursuit of reconciliation. This transformative experience led to the creation of tools like The Intimacy Pyramid™, a practical model for relational restoration and growth co-created with colleague Dan Drake.    Their first book, Building True Intimacy (2023), has sold over 1,000 copies and provides practical guidance for couples to use the Intimacy Pyramid to create enduring connections. They also founded Renewing Us Recovery™, a comprehensive program designed to support couples in the later stages of relational restoration. In November 2025, they will host the inaugural Renewing Us Couples Retreat, offering workshops and connection opportunities for couples on similar paths of recovery and growth.   Matthew and Joanna live in Memphis, Tennessee with their three young children. They prioritize self-care through shared adventures, new experiences, and a weekly game of pickleball.   Free Resource Mentioned in Episode   Building True Intimacy book   Questions and Topics Discussed: What were the warning signs that you noticed when you were newlyweds that tipped you off to believing things weren't quite as they seemed? Are there any common life circumstances, whether nature or nurture, that predispose someone to be more likely to struggle with a sexual addiction? As couples seek to thrive in marriage, will you give us an overview of the intimacy pyramid you wrote a book about?   Other Episodes Mentioned During Episode: Pornography: Protecting Children, Personal Healing, Recovery, and Victory in Christ with Sam Black Pornography Addiction and Helpful Recovery with Crystal Renaud Day   Additional Related Episodes on The Savvy Sauce: Anatomy of an Affair with Dave Carder Protecting Your Marriage Against Unfaithfulness with Dave Carder Stories Series: Recovery From Sexual Sin in Marriage with Garrett and Brenna Naufel Supernatural Restoration Story with Bob and Audrey Meisner Special Patreon Re-Release Wholehearted Quiet Time with Naomi Vacaro   Gospel Scripture: (all NIV) Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”   Romans 3:24 “and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”   Romans 3:25 (a) “God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood.”   Hebrews 9:22 (b) “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.”    Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”    Romans 5:11 “Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.”   John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”   Romans 10:9 “That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”    Luke 15:10 says “In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”   Romans 8:1 “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus”   Ephesians 1:13–14 “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession- to the praise of his glory.”   Ephesians 1:15–23 “For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.”   Ephesians 2:8–10 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God‘s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.“   Ephesians 2:13 “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.“   Philippians 1:6 “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”   *Transcription*   Music: (0:00 – 0:12)   Laura Dugger: (0:13 - 1:38) Welcome to The Savvy Sauce, where we have practical chats for intentional living. I'm your host, Laura Dugger, and I'm so glad you're here.   Today's message is not intended for little ears. We'll be discussing some adult themes, and I want you to be aware before you listen to this message.   Leman Property Management Company has the apartment you will be able to call home, with over 1,700 apartment units available in Central Illinois. Visit them today at lemanproperties.com, or connect with them on Facebook.   Matthew and Joanna Raabsmith are my guests today. They are clinicians, speakers, and authors with over 20 years of combined experience in counseling, coaching, and guiding couples toward healing and transformation. Our conversation takes a few turns, from getting to hear their incredible and vulnerable story of healing and then getting tips for talking to our children about topics like sex, and also even receiving some practical wisdom and tips for enhancing our own marital enjoyment.   Here's our chat. Welcome to The Savvy Sauce, Matthew and Joanna.   Matthew Raabsmith: (1:39 - 1:40) So good to be here.   Joanna Raabsmith: (1:40 - 1:42) So glad to be here. Thanks for having us.   Laura Dugger: (1:42 - 1:51) Oh, truly my pleasure. And let's just start here. Can you share your story going back to meeting and falling in love and your first part of marriage?   Matthew Raabsmith: (1:53 - 2:17) Sure, yeah. It was a little bumpy at first, actually. So, I knew Joanna through her brother. Joanna's brother was one of my best friends, and I got to meet her whenever she would come in town and visit, and she would invade guy night. He would usually bring her along to like a Lord of the Rings movie or something, and I would be a little frustrated because I would be like, oh, you brought your sister. Great. That's wonderful.   Joanna Raabsmith: (2:18 - 2:24) A little off-putting, not super friendly. And I was like, your friend's kind of a jerk. We did not like each other at all in the beginning.   Matthew Raabsmith: (2:24 - 2:54) Not big fans. And eventually over some time, we started to realize we had a lot in common. We liked to do a lot of the same things.   And one summer that Joanna was in town, we started hanging out, started doing more and more together, and really just kind of developed a friendship, which was really fun. And at the very end of the summer, realized that there was something between us. And so, we went on one date.   Our first date, we entered a golf tournament. We won it, and that was a good sign.   Joanna Raabsmith: (2:54 - 2:55) That's a pretty good sign.   Matthew Raabsmith: (2:55 - 3:02) And we went on three more dates over the course of two months and got engaged.   Joanna Raabsmith: (3:03 - 3:07) And then two months after that, we got married.   Matthew Raabsmith: (3:07 - 3:16) Yeah. So, her brother went from like, yeah, it's cool you date my sister, to like, you're not ready to get married. But he's come around now.   Joanna Raabsmith: (3:17 - 3:19) 15 years later. Yeah.   Matthew Raabsmith: (3:19 - 3:40) And, you know, a lot of it was, I think we had a definite sense of being kind of called together, being, you know, something special about who we were as a couple. And also, a recognition that we wanted to figure out what a good marriage looked like. We were really excited about marriage, but we didn't really know what we were doing.   Joanna Raabsmith: (3:41 - 4:15) Yeah, I've had a really great model of healthy relationship. My parents have a wonderful marriage. They work really well as a team.   And so, I knew, like, I want something like that. But as soon as we got married, we realized, but how do you actually build that? There's no, like, instruction manual for, okay, here are the things to do to have a great relationship.   And so, we read books. We went to conferences. You know, we did what we could, but we still found ourselves getting stuck, not able to really create, like, that deep sense of, like, connection intimacy that we really wanted.   Matthew Raabsmith: (4:15 - 5:17) And we started kind of hunting more and more for resources. We found some incredible resources that really changed our understanding of the way relationships work, the way people work, and really, for us, shifted our entire focus of kind of what we wanted to do, even with our life. And as we started to do that, though, we still kind of found ourselves at this kind of glass wall.   We felt like no matter what we tried, there was always this kind of distance between us. And that started to grow kind of over the years that we were together. It wasn't getting better.   It was actually kind of getting worse and worse and worse. And so, Joanna had actually decided to, after we finished our first grad degree together, the idea was we were going to go be pastors. And so, we had finished our kind of theological training.   Joanna decided she wanted to get a master's in marriage and family therapy so we could do some work around marriages and ministry in that way. And her very first-class kind of just set our life in a completely different direction.   Joanna Raabsmith: (5:17 - 6:26) Yes. So, my first class in the MFT program was a two-week intensive called Shame and Guilt. So, that's a really fun two-week intensive to be a part of. And as a part of that, though, they had an anonymous pastor come and share his testimony of struggling with sex addiction, becoming sober, getting into good recovery, healing and restoration in his marriage, kind of like that whole journey. And as he was talking, something inside of me started stirring. And I knew, OK, what he's saying is resonating way too much with me right now.   I think this is the thing. This is what is keeping us stuck, not able to really create the relationship we want. And so, that day I went home and first I just kind of started talking about my class, what I learned, what this pastor had shared.   Right. And nothing. Right.   We're just kind of talking generally about it. And so, finally I couldn't do it anymore. And I just stopped and I looked him square in the eyes and I said, “Are you struggling with this in our marriage right now?”   Matthew Raabsmith: (6:26 - 8:03) Yeah. And for the first time in my life, 20 years, I had been struggling with pornography, sexual addiction, and acting out in our marriage. And for the first time in my life, I was honest.   I had lied for years, both with Joanna and everyone else. And the kind of floodgates just kind of opened up. And I finally said yes.   And it was really hearing the story, I think, is what did it for me. I think it was knowing that somebody else had made it, that their life hadn't come crashing down because that was the greatest fear for me. That the moment anyone found this out, everything in my life would be over. Everything that I loved would be gone.   And so, this kind of story of hope gave me a little bit of courage that day, to be honest. But that started a really long journey for us because there was a lot of damage that was done in both of my hiding. And now kind of this revelation, all the pain kind of came crashing down on Joanna and kind of her shoulders.   And so, we started a quite intensive recovery process. We talked about it being kind of a full-time job. I went to recovery for my addiction and for kind of my acting out behaviors. Joanna had to begin a process of healing from the trauma of this discovery. And that process took us a number of years. It really was a long kind of arduous journey, but one that we ultimately survived and now thrive in our marriage and get the incredible luxury and the kind of gift of helping other couples do that.   So, that's kind of where we find ourselves.   Laura Dugger: (8:04 - 8:30) That is incredible. I just really appreciate you sharing your story. Clearly, stories are so powerful and that's what led to some healing for you and hopefully can open the floodgates for somebody else listening.   So, if we go back in your story, then, Joanna, I'd love to start with you. What were some of those red flags in early marriage that things aren't quite as they seem?   Joanna Raabsmith: (8:31 - 10:28) Yeah, there are a few. You know, I think that, you know, one of the pieces we kind of talked about, like, OK, we knew we're still getting stuck because there's 90 percent that felt really good. But then 10 percent that was extremely chaotic, really destructive.   Right. We would get we call the pain cycles when we get emotionally dysregulated. And there would be some things that, right.   Sometimes we would get into pain cycles, get dysregulated. And I kind of understand why. Right.   Like something happened. There was the disagreement. But other times I couldn't put my finger on it.   Right. Matthew would just get really angry and really shut down. And I wouldn't be able to connect it to anything that had happened in our life.   And so, it was very confusing. It was really hard to understand what was going on. And I think kind of in the same way, when I would pull too close into that connection, that intimacy, he would pull back.   Right. And it felt like even though we both named this goal and this desire, he would never actually partner with me in it. And so, again, that was really confusing because the actions were not matching up with reality and what was happening.   And I think the other piece that was kind of true for us and true for a lot of other people is that our own sexual relationship was fraught with pain. And so, there was, again, a lot that was really good, but also a lot that was really painful and confusing. And some of the pieces just didn't connect.   Right. And I would wonder, OK, what's going on? Well, I guess this is just the reality that like this is how much we get to expect in this area of our life, right.   In our relationship. And so, it was when the pastor started describing his life and addiction and what that looked like emotionally, sexually, relationally. I was like, oh, those are all the things that I'm currently experiencing.   Here's one thing that would answer all those questions that I have. And so, I think that was part of it. He kind of told me, like, OK, this is it.   Laura Dugger: (10:28 - 11:00) That would be so eye opening. And my heart's going out to the couple who is maybe starting to identify with this. Was it and share whatever you're comfortable with from your story or the person's story who opened things up to you?   So, sexually, I'm wondering if it was for you, Joanna, if you were hoping to connect sexually and that wasn't happening and that was confusing. You didn't feel pursued. But I don't want to fill in the blanks.   So, could you elaborate?   Joanna Raabsmith: (11:00 - 12:03) Absolutely. Yeah. And we find it a lot of different ways than couples that we work with.   Right. And so, it can be sometimes on either side of the extreme. And so, for us, it was where there would be kind of times when he'd be fully present and interested and engaged. Right. And then all of a sudden, kind of like I described emotionally, he would just withdraw and not be there. And I would reach out to connect.   And that was this like non-response. And which, again, didn't match up with those other times when he was engaged and wanting to connect. And he would give some sort of excuse that didn't totally make sense.   Right. But I was kind of like, what else? What was I left with except that?   So, I would kind of believe that and go with it, even though it didn't sit right. And so, yeah, I think that was part of it. We will see on the other side for some other couples.   It's the opposite. And maybe that spouse is hypersexual in the relationship. Right.   To the point where there might be pressure, even pressure to do things sexually that people aren't comfortable with. And so, yeah, it can look a lot of different ways. But that was kind of what our disconnect looked like.   Laura Dugger: (12:04 - 12:33) That's so helpful. And there's two different directions I want to go, Matthew. So, I'll set it up.   I guess I'm thinking of the guilt and shame and how those are usually so present. So, I have two questions. Were you when Joanna came to you, were you at a point where you recognize something was off and you wanted freedom from this and or had tried freedom before?   Let's start with that and then I'll go into the other one.   Matthew Raabsmith: (12:34 - 14:40) Yeah, it really was holy timing in a lot of ways. I, you know, for a lot of years I had I hated what I did. I didn't feel like I could stop it, but didn't have a lot of interest in kind of doing anything to stop it.   I kind of just like would just say, “OK, this is going to be the last time.” And then, you know, of course it would come back. But I think at this point I had really started to see the damage that was happening to our relationship.   I could feel us growing close, growing further apart. I could see kind of Joanna and the confusion that she was having. And like she couldn't understand things.   She would ask me a lot of questions that I didn't have answers to. And so, I actually a couple of months earlier, we were at a worship service, and they had said like, “hey, if you are ready to give something up, if you feel like there's something holding you back, come forward and confess it.” And Joanna and I were sitting next to each other, and I remember feeling like the Holy Spirit just like pulling me to like get up out of my seat and I wouldn't move.   I was like, no, because she's going to ask me what I went down for. I'm going there's you know, there's a random kind of prayer partner at the front. I'm like, I'm not going and confessing this to some random person.   And so, I was ready. But I think like I said, I think there was no path forward. It was kind of confess this and everything stops and ends.   But everything like marriage ends, life ends. And so, when she when she brought this, it really did feel like God had kind of been answering a prayer that I've been praying of like, if you give me a way out, I'll take it. I'm desperate.   I want it to stop. And it felt like that. I think it was both this kind of terror and this hope that day.   And even when I said, yes, it was a little bit like, what have I done? Like, could this have been different? Should I have just gone and told someone else privately?   Right. But I think ultimately that it was out between the two of us and that we kind of knew it. We knew what we were dealing with made a huge difference.   But I mean, God had been working in my life, offering opportunities for so long. I just been saying no, no, no. And then finally, you know, I think my heart just broke and it was like, yes, OK, I'm ready for this.   Laura Dugger: (14:40 - 15:14) I love how the Holy Spirit equipped you with that humility and courage to be brave in that moment. And it's such a blessing for all of us to get to see the end or I guess not the end of the story, but you at this point in your story where you're thriving. And so, I hope that offers a lot of hope to people listening.   But let's also pause. And so, going back further in time, Matthew, this was the other part of my question. What was life and attachment and your growing up journey like?   Matthew Raabsmith: (15:15 - 18:09) Yeah, I didn't know that at the time. Right. I a lot of this I figured out in the last couple of years of recovery.   You know, if you would have asked me, you know, as I was growing up about my life, I would have told you I had the perfect family. I had the perfect life. I think I did not realize that some of the things that I was going through weren't perfect, were harder.   And part of that was because I think the way my family dynamic worked was we just swept everything under the rug. You know, whatever happened, we just kind of went, OK, and moved on from. And I learned to do that as a kid.   And that meant a lot of emotional chaos. There was a lot of physical chaos and kind of volatility in our house growing up. And even though I had parents who are still married to this day, have stayed together and have tried to create kind of a stable life.   There was a lot of emotional and kind of relational instability. We moved around a lot. And then once we started moving, I found myself more and more kind of isolated at school. I started dealing with bullying and some things that really kind of left me not knowing how to deal with the pain that I was going through. And so, my way of stuffing things under the rug was getting, you know, escaping, you know, kind of escaping into anything that I could. I watched a lot of TV.   I was a latchkey kid, so I would come home. I'd watch TV a lot in the afternoon and then TV kind of just turned to more and more. And I was exposed pretty young to pornography, actually at a church camp.   I was at a summer church camp. Someone brought a Playboy magazine, and I was exposed to pornography. And I kind of felt that high, that rush.   And that just became kind of a mode of my escape. Right. Of whatever I could do to engage sexually, whether with my mind or with others.   That's how I could get out of the pain I was in. That's how I could stop feeling kind of the chaos that I was having and not realizing that it was becoming this kind of adaptive habit, that it would just be this thing I would go back to more and more. And I grew up at a time that technology was still emerging.   So, I can remember when we got our first computer and no one was talking about safeguards or anything. And so, it was just kind of exposure. Here you go.   Here's everything you could ever want and don't need. And that really became my life. And the more and more that I did, the better and better I got at lying and hiding and even being kind of vulnerable in kind of fake ways.   I would mention things like, yeah, we all have this struggle. And even Joanna, I had told like, you know, that was a struggle of mine in the past, but I've moved on from it. Right.   I told myself and other people just kind of lie after lie after lie so that I could have really this double life. I could appear one way and then I could be acting a completely different way, kind of in the dark.   Laura Dugger: (18:10 - 20:41) Yeah. And that makes sense. I'm thinking back to two episodes.   We did one with a male, Sam Black from Covenant Eyes, and he speaks so much of the origins of pornography and that foothold that Satan gets. And so many times it is in childhood, unwittingly you're exposed and then what it can turn into. And then Crystal Renaud Day came on to share a lot of females struggle with this as well.   And so, I'll link to those if those are a help.   And now a brief message from our sponsor. 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And in Morton, they offer a variety of apartment homes with garages, a hot downtown location and now a brand-new high-end complex near Idlewood Park. If you want to become part of their team, contact them about open office positions.   They're also hiring in their maintenance department. So, we invite you to find out why so many people have chosen to make a career with them. Check them out on Facebook today or email their friendly staff at Leasing@LemanProps.com.   You can also stop by their website at lemanproperties.com. Check them out and find your place to call home today.   So, at that moment when you've confessed, Matthew, the floodgates open for you and Joanna.   What did life look like for both of you next and even individually your journeys?   Matthew Raabsmith: (20:42 - 22:30) Yeah, it was separate. We did not separate, but we were really focused on our two different journeys because they were so different. For me, I had to figure out what had really gone on in my life and what was really happening.   Because, like I said, I had become such an expert at hiding from myself and others that I didn't really know how to live any other way. And so, I, you know, Joanna kind of handed me a list of everything this pastor had done. She was like, here you go.   Right. She kind of handed me that list and was like, good luck. And so, I dove in.   I went to a men's intensive. And I think that was probably one of the key places for me to tell my story for the first time. I really took a look at my life and had some people help me take a look and recognize the trauma that I had as a kid exposure that I had experienced and what that really meant to me and helped me understand what I was doing.   But also, kind of what I was doing to myself, how I was really kind of killing myself from the inside out and preventing myself from having the kind of relationship I wanted with God and other people. And so, that discovery was in really ways kind of invigorating for me. I felt like I was living for the first time.   I think I had started to kind of get out of this kind of burden, this fear of always being caught. I told Joanna kind of the history of everything that had happened in my life and our relationship. And so, I was feeling this kind of renewed sense of like energy and excitement of like, this is good.   I want this life. I want the life there that I'm not in constant kind of fear and in constant kind of connection to this thing I hate. And so, which is really different than what Joanna was experiencing.   Joanna Raabsmith: (22:30 - 25:07) Yeah. So, for me, it was very jarring in the beginning. Everything I thought was real came crashing down around me.   And that was especially jarring because I had left kind of the direction, the path that I was on. Right. We talked about our story earlier.   It included two months of dating, two months of engagement before we got married. And that also included me dropping out of law school, getting married and moving to California to pursue a ministry degree so we could work as pastors together or do something together. And so, in that moment, all of that came crashing down.   And I kind of was very lost, not just in our relationship, but in kind of what in the world am I even doing here? What am I going to do moving forward if he doesn't choose recovery? Right.   And so, just all of those question marks, all in that one moment of him answering that question affirmative. And so, so there was like that heaviness on one side and then on the other side was this relief of finally everything I've been experiencing makes sense. Right. Finally, I feel like I actually know what's going on. And because of that, there could maybe be a path forward for us as well. So, is this very, very weird dichotomy in that moment? And so, but I think I knew right away, like, I can't be vulnerable. I can't be intimate with him anymore. Right.   I have to step back in our relationship and wait and see what he chooses to do. Is he going to choose to do the work of recovery and get healthy and start to be honest and safe or not? And so, that's so we kind of did kind of there's some space for a very long period of time while we focused on our own individual recoveries.   And that, again, was a little bumpy for me. This is over a decade ago. And so, there is very little information about what partners experience.   We call it betrayal trauma, and that just wasn't a very common word at the time. And so, some of the resources I plugged into came from a more we would call it codependent, co-addict focus, which just really didn't fit. So, I struggled to find resources that felt like they fit for my journey.   But once I did, it all again, my own healing process started to make sense. And it was so like freeing and liberating to understand. Like, oh, OK, this is what I'm going through. This is why I feel this way.   This is what it looks like to heal and move forward. And so, kind of beginning that process was so important because then when Matthew was kind of in a healthy, safe place, I was as well, and we can start to step in towards each other on that kind of more couples' journey at that point.   Laura Dugger: (25:07 - 25:17) I love how you did that wisely, though, separate first, not rushing into couples at that time. Absolutely.   Matthew Raabsmith: (25:18 - 26:33) Appreciate you calling it wise. I think we were terrified. Yeah, we'll take God's help.   I think he was like, you guys just work on your own stuff for a while. And in some ways, like I said, it was we didn't know what we were doing. But I think we knew we wanted there to be a future between the two of us.   But we knew it had to be completely different in some ways than what we had before, which was scary because we liked what we had before. Like we had a really great marriage in many ways. Right.   There was this portion of it, this hidden portion that was really infecting and killing it all. But what we did have together, we didn't want to totally lose. It just was really hard to know, especially early on, what's going to come forward.   Like, who are we still going to be as we go forward? Are we still going to be a couple who does things together? Right. Who works together? Or is that all kind of going to have to be different? Is that the only way that we have kind of moving forward?   And so, that was that was probably the hardest part was having like this sense of like not wanting to lose us. We were like, if we lost that, that was going to be miserable. And I think a lot of our work was about how do we eventually reclaim this marriage that we want, that we love?   Laura Dugger: (26:34 - 27:04) Yes, because from what I'm sensing, you're friends with each other, you're on purpose or on mission with God. He did a course correction change, putting you on this path to help couples. But your desire to work together, it's like He still honored that in the ministry of reconciliation.   And I'm assuming abundantly blessed it beyond what you could ever dreamed up what we're doing now.   Joanna Raabsmith: (27:04 - 27:42) Right. It's been amazing to see what God has done, how he's used our story, which is so fitting because it was someone sharing their story that brought our healing. And I think because of that and it wasn't right away; it took some time to get to the place where we felt open to God using our story to bring healing to others. But we found as we stepped into that, that we have received such a blessing.   Right. And just being able to sit with other couples in that journey and see them go from that place of pain and confusion to this place of restoration and thriving. Like there is no better work that we could have imagined for ourselves.   Laura Dugger: (27:42 - 28:09) Love that. And really, you did have to pioneer a path. There weren't many resources at that time.   So, that's another reason I'm grateful you can share your story, because I hope it unlocks freedom for others. So, if we're turning more outward now and you're helping as you work with couples, how do you help them identify the difference between sexual struggles and sexual addiction?   Matthew Raabsmith: (28:10 - 30:15) Yeah, that's a great question. And I think that it really kind of exists on a spectrum. And so, everything kind of exists under what we call problematic sexual behavior or unwanted sexual behavior.   Whenever someone is acting in a way sexually that doesn't align with their values. And then the question is, is how often, how compulsive, right? How habituated, right?   How really embedded is that practice? Because the more and more embedded it is and the more and more that I continue to act on that, seeing the damage that it's doing, that's really what qualifies as the addiction. The addiction is when I know that this is causing harm and I and I feel that even though I want to stop it and I've tried to stop.   Right. I can't stop the 12 steps has a great line. They say addicts, you know, addicts have no problem stopping.   It's staying stopped. That's hard for an addict. Right.   And so, that's usually a sign that there's an addiction. And really what that means is that just means that I'm going to have to be even more kind of thorough and scrupulous in my willingness to change a lot. Because if I have built an addictive lifestyle, that means everything I do kind of functions to support that lifestyle.   Right. And so, my part of that was this hiding. I lied about everything.   I would lie about anything just to make sure that I was in control of the narrative. And so, for me, it was recognizing that if I was going to move forward free of my addiction, then it had to begin with honesty, with this kind of radical honesty and transparency and growing in that consistently, because that was the way that I manifested this addiction and kind of kept it going. And so, that's really what the addiction is about, is recognizing what are the kind of pieces in my life that are supporting this addiction to continue to exist?   And how is God going to dismantle those things? Right. And how am I going to be a part of that dismantling?   Laura Dugger: (30:16 - 30:33) That's well said. And also, I'm curious, are there any common life circumstances, whether that's nature or nurture, that are more likely to predispose someone to more likely have this struggle with sexual addiction?   Matthew Raabsmith: (30:34 - 32:30) I mean, there are, I think, you know, the things that we tend to look for are trauma and trauma comes in so many different forms. So, trauma is more it's rare that it's a single event. It's often more a kind of consistent occurrences.   As I mentioned, you know, I can't speak to kind of one event in my life that I say this was the traumatic moment in which everything changed. But it was more of the chaos. And so, I grew up in a family that could be really, really, really loving and incredibly encouraging and fun and silly and in a heartbeat switch into one that was verbally and physically just chaotic and terrifying.   And it was that chaos that kept me on edge. What it did was it created in me kind of a system of always wanting to be on high alert. And that would exhaust me.   That would kind of wear me out. And I would want to kind of numb that kind of feeling away. And so, I think those traumas, I do think early exposure.   Right. I mean, I was exposed early before my brain was ready to really understand what it was dealing with. And I think the third component that we often see is a low level or a kind of really a void of sexual education.   There was I'm sure I had a small talk with my dad at some point, but we were not talking about pornography. We weren't talking about bodies. We weren't talking about sex from a kind of healthy, good way.   I grew up in the church, and it was kind of don't do this until you're married and then you'll be fine. Right. That was the sexual education message.   And so, those things, right, trauma, exposure and lack of kind of education usually forms in someone a difficulty of knowing what they're doing, knowing that it's destroying them before it's really kind of gotten a deep hole.   Joanna Raabsmith: (32:30 - 33:20) I think like the brain. The brain aspect to when we talk about addiction, there are usually chemicals involved in addiction being formed, being created. And so, I think also co-occurring disorders, right, that emotional pain, also things like anxiety, depression, ADHD, where my brain really likes the dopamine it gets from sexual acting out. Right.   And you can actually need it to feel OK. That can also be a factor in kind of especially that addictive side of these behaviors. When my brain gets really attached to that dopamine release that it's getting because maybe I have some other things going on or I just have emotional pain.   I don't know what to deal with, how to handle it, how to regulate that in a healthy way.   Laura Dugger: (33:20 - 34:30) There's so many good points there. I'll just highlight one because there's a profound piece that you were talking about with early exposure to evil and the corruption of it is extremely harmful. And yet not being exposed to God's good design for sex and hopefully being coached by our parents, that is both of those play a part in the addiction. And so, I'm thinking even as we shift to think about parents, I know I've had parents come to me and just say, I don't want to talk about this with my kids.   I don't want to rob their innocence. And my approach is if God made it, this is good. We can talk to them.   You're not robbing their innocence when you're sharing the good age-appropriate parts of sex. And it's so great to be that first one to share with them. And I think it does the opposite of what we would expect.   We're afraid that that might make them hyper sexualized. But would you speak to that? Any encouragement for parents?   Matthew Raabsmith: (34:30 - 36:37) Yeah, it's tricky. I mean, even as parents, we've got kids and its still kind of navigating it. But I do think what it does is it lets someone learn the things they need to in the timeline they need to.   I think part of one of the things is that, you know, really good sexual education starts young. I mean, they start six and seven years old or even younger, just talking about our bodies. Right.   Because I think that's part of it. Really, this is about understanding the goodness of our bodies. This body was created by God, the maker of heaven and earth, and he called it good.   And so, I think part of a good sexual education begins with that. And then, what's really nice is once you've started the conversation, that means if your children are exposed or if they're presented with things that don't line up with what they've been hearing, they now feel safe to come and talk about that. Because that's really what this was about.   I didn't feel safe to talk about what I was exposed to, what people were doing. Right. And what people were encouraging me to engage in.   And so, you know, my parents would ask me how it's going. I would not tell them anything because it wasn't a conversation that they were having with me. And so, I didn't think it was a conversation I was going to have with them.   And so, that meant that as I found myself further and further away from my values, I felt like, who am I going to share this with? And so, part of having the conversation is it normalizes with our kids that this is OK to talk about, which is actually what adults need. I mean, part of our work with couples as adults, we have to get them talking about sex and body parts.   I mean, it's amazing to have 30, 40, and 50-year-olds in our offices and in our sessions. And they're so uncomfortable. Right.   They don't want to talk about sex. They don't want to talk about their bodies. They don't want to talk about what their bodies do.   Right. And we keep being like, this is God's good stuff. Right.   There is goodness here. But you have to begin by talking about it. Right.   Having these conversations.   Joanna Raabsmith: (36:38 - 37:54) I tell all the parents I work with, your kids are going to pick up a narrative about what sex is and what sexuality is, whether you want them to or not. And so, would you rather be the first person to step in and give them a healthy view, a healthy narrative to understand? Right.   And this is beyond kind of the nuts and bolts that everything our kids are learning. They're trying to find a deeper meaning. They don't think it's unconscious when they're young. Right. But they're taking it and they're going, what meaning does this have for me? How does this inform my self-worth, my view of my own value as a human in my body?   And how does it inform my experience of the world and my safety in the world? And am I empowered to make decisions? Am I connected?   Do I belong? Right. All of those questions are asking.   And so, as they're confronted with issues of sexuality, it's going to inform those things. And the world will not give them a healthy narrative about it. Right.   And so, being able as a parent to step in and give them that healthy meaning, that narrative, that understanding of their worth and their safety as they're piecing together kind of sexuality, again, at that age-appropriate level is so important.   Laura Dugger: (37:54 - 38:30) Guess what? We are no longer an audio only podcast. We now have video included as well.   If you want to view the conversation each week, make sure you watch our videos. We're on YouTube and you can access videos or find answers to any of your other questions about the podcast when you visit thesavvysauce.com. And I love that you're talking about this with couples you work with.   So, will you give us an overview of the intimacy pyramid that you actually wrote a book about and you teach to couples?   Joanna Raabsmith: (38:30 - 38:31) Absolutely.   Matthew Raabsmith: (38:31 - 39:15) Yeah. I mean, it was born out of our journey because, as you said, we wandered for a while and we felt a little bit like Israel, just kind of, you know, knowing that the Promised Land was out there, but never really feeling like we could find it. And when we started to piece together, I think the kind of relationship that we had dreamed of reclaiming, we really ask ourselves, how can we make this a more direct, a simpler process, not just for couples who went through what we went through, but really for any couple who's hungry for this, for the couple like us when we were first starting.   It really wants an amazing marriage. And so, we really focused on a kind of simplistic idea of what are the core kind of foundational levels of building really healthy intimacy.   Joanna Raabsmith: (39:16 - 40:10) Yeah. So, the intimacy pyramid, it's actually a triangle. There's a visual that goes along with it.   So, if you imagine the different levels of the triangle, very similar to Maslow's hierarchy of needs, starting at the bottom, you have to start with honesty. And so, we definitely experienced that reality in our own relationship. Right.   This is something we learned from Couples in Betrayal, but like Matthew said, we realized this is where every couple starts. Am I willing to be fully open, fully honest and transparent in this relationship? Am I being my authentic self?   Right. And after that level of honesty, that's when we start to build safety. And that has to do with our ability to communicate in really healthy, constructive ways.   Even when it's hard, even when we're disagreeing, even when we feel like yelling at each other. Are we able to show up with that belief that we both have the same goal? We're trying to build something together.   Matthew Raabsmith: (40:10 - 41:57) And with honesty and safety, that's where we get to work on trust as a couple. That's that next level. And trust is where we start to be more partners, where we're really starting to kind of lean in, work together, kind of be courageous and saying, “Hey, this isn't just my life anymore, right?”   This is our life together. And as that trust is established, this is what allows for the incredible work of vulnerability. And there's been all these studies about vulnerability over the last few years and how important it is.   What we recognize, though, is vulnerability on top of nothing is actually really risky and kind of even dangerous. It's vulnerability that's built on healthy trust where we step in and we do share some of those deeper pains in those wounds, those fears. We start to really heal some of those kind of early traumas that we experience.   It's in that vulnerability. That's what allows a couple to be truly intimate. And it's when they've worked through each of these levels, what we find is these couples, when they reach this kind of this intimacy level, they're passionate about who they are as a couple. They love kind of their relationship itself. They have a purpose to it. They have a sense that like our marriage, our relationship exists for a reason, but they're also really playful.   They're silly. They're really kind of comfortable in their own skin. And it's those five levels really working together that allows them to experience a relationship that gives life. I think one of the things we know is that when God creates, it gives life. And so, God created marriage not to burden us, right? Not to kind of, you know, not even just to get us through, you know, kind of surviving life, but actually to bring more life.   Right. And not just life within the relationship itself, but life outside of it.   Laura Dugger: (41:58 - 42:22) Oh, I love it. And you're also working with couples. I've heard you speak before about the working on offering your spouse the gift of self-awareness. And so, what could couples expect? How do you actually work with them to grow in self-awareness and recognize things like the emotional process they go through in marriage?   Joanna Raabsmith: (42:22 - 43:48) Absolutely. So, awareness. So, in our book, we obviously detail the intimacy period much more.   And that's Building True Intimacy is the name of the book. But each of those levels we just walked through have different components that go into that. And awareness is kind of like one of the most important components of that honesty foundation.   So, we have to start with awareness and we can't really build anything if there's a lack of self-awareness. And so, when we work with couples, one of the first places we start is we kind of look at the past. Are they aware of what they've been through, what those experiences are, and how those experiences have shaped them into the person that is now in the present, showing up with their spouse.   Right. And so, once I start to have that insight from my past, from those experiences, how they shape me, I can better understand my present. What are the things that I feel and why do I feel those things in particular?   Right. And then when I feel those things in a relationship, and these are typically those kind of heavier, more challenging, more painful emotions. How do I respond?   How am I showing up? Because the reality is that all of us cope with emotional pain the same way we cope with physical pain. We go into fight or flight.   That part of our brain gets triggered and we respond with these kind of destructive relational coping behaviors that then hurt my partner.   Matthew Raabsmith: (43:48 - 46:22) Yeah. Like, for example, I told you about that chaos I experienced as a kid. And so, those would always happen around conflicts.   My parents would disagree about something. There would be some type of argument about, you know, and it could be anything where we were going for dinner or what color the curtains were. Right.   But it would create this chaotic environment. So, as I got married, the thing that I didn't like the least was any type of conflict. Joanna and I would get in when I could sense us disagreeing and we are both passionate.   We have opinions and we believe things and we get into this kind of disagreement and argument. It would freak my system out. And I didn't realize that because I didn't really know my past.   I didn't know what was going on. I would just really do anything to shut it down. I get angry and I try to get loud, or I just walk away in the middle of a conversation.   As Joanna was talking, I would just leave the room and my acting out was just a further manifestation of that kind of leaving the relationship. And so, part of my healing journey was to learn about my story and recognize, oh, OK, I can see what's happening. And what's really interesting is it still happens in our life today.   I've been in recovery for 12 years. I still feel the same things. Now it's more like when my kids are getting involved.   Right. And there's energy in the room and people are online. And then I go, oh, yeah, there it is.   There's my system again. It's starting to feel unsafe. It's starting to feel alone. And I know what it wants to do. It wants to get angry, or it wants to just shut down and walk away. And what's incredible is that we've learned the ability to see where we're at but also speak directly to that.   And so, what I get to do for myself now is I get to go, “OK, I know I'm feeling unsafe and I know I'm feeling alone. And I know I want to get angry to solve it, but it won't do it. But here's the truth. The truth is that I'm safe in God's economy. I'm empowered. I have an incredible partner in my life. I've never been alone. I've always had someone there for me. And Joanna is the perfect example of that.”   And that totally changes my sense of really kind of where I am. And it changes how I show up. I tend to be much more calm.   I ask questions rather than make demands. And it's that ability to kind of see where we're at and shift. That's just been such a game changer for our family and just for our own relationship.   We still have to work on it. You know, it doesn't always look that pretty. Right.   But when we do, it's amazing how different it goes.   Laura Dugger: (46:24 - 46:44) And then I just think of the generational impacts that has when people are willing to do the work. And so, if there's a brave couple out there who wants to seek their own help and healing, can you share where they can go for help, including the Raabsmith team and all that you have to offer?   Matthew Raabsmith: (46:46 - 47:30) Yeah, you know, we would love them to connect with us because I think one of the things we recognize was having guides along the way. I mean, we had to figure a lot out ourselves, but we also had some really incredible guides, some mentors, some coaches, some therapists. And so, we always just say, hey, connect with us.   You can find us at raabsmithteam.com. We have a heart for couples who want restoration and reconciliation because that's what we're getting to live and experience. And what's cool is our whole team, they're couples who've been through this work, but who also have been professionally trained to help other couples to just continue to guide and to grow relationships so that they're thriving and they're kind of giving that life.   Joanna Raabsmith: (47:30 - 48:10) Absolutely. We also love to give out resources. And so, we have the kind of we call it the honest connection.   And so, again, if you're starting this journey or even this is for any couple who wants deeper connection, deeper intimacy, learning how to do that on a daily basis in small ways is so important. And so, we have a worksheet that couples can take and use. We're happy to provide that for them for free and kind of try this for 30 days and notice the changes that you experience in your relationship.   And so, that's a great starting point wherever you are in relationship to begin that journey of connection.   Matthew Raabsmith: (48:10 - 48:14) And you just go to raabsmithteam.com/free and that resource is all yours.   Laura Dugger: (48:15 - 48:26) Wonderful. Add links for that in the show notes for today's episode. And is this then for any couple worldwide, nationwide?   Can you work with people?   Matthew Raabsmith: (48:27 - 48:55) We have we've got couples across the world, which is really fun. It's been really neat just to see the way that God has used our work. One of the things when we first started this journey, we started getting couples calling us saying, “Hey, I don't have anybody in my area that specializes in this, that understands this journey. Can I work with you?” And so, we kind of felt a calling to say we want to make sure that we connect with people wherever they are. And so, absolutely.   If you can hear our voice, you can work with us.   Laura Dugger: (48:55 - 49:14) I love that. And just as a little bonus practical tip, you kind of mentioned being proactive to thriving in marriage. Is there any encouragement that you could share or a specific practical tip that anybody could start to incorporate if they want to take their marriage to that thriving level?   Matthew Raabsmith: (49:15 - 50:12) Yeah, I think just the ability to slow down. We have a  nine, seven and six-year-old. We own our own business, and we like life and life can get incredibly fast.   And I think what we have found is when, as I was mentioning, when I learned the ability just to slow down, even if I don't fully just know myself slowing down and checking in, just where am I at right now? Where's my heart? Right. Where do I want to be?   I think I realize that so often my values and my actions aren't aligned when I'm moving too quickly. I'm not being the person that I want to be. And we see that in so many couples. We meet so many couples and there are two really great people who have a hard time working together. They have a hard time kind of being a team.   And it's usually because they're working so fast. They don't realize they're kind of working against each other. So, slowing down, I think, is such a big thing.   Joanna Raabsmith: (50:12 - 51:18) Another piece that's, again, really easy to start right away. A lot of couples we work with, and I think probably even us when we start a relationship, was there were two individuals in a relationship, and it was kind of either me or you. And starting to understand there's this third thing between you, the relationship. There's a third almost entity that really needs care. It needs nurture. It needs you to focus on its needs from time to time.   And so, beginning to approach the day, even approach conversations with this question of like, what does our relationship need right now? And even as you're trying to make decisions, what is the way we can decide this in a way that's good for our relationship or what decision benefits our relationship rather than does it benefit you or me? Because when you get into that struggle, it can become a competition.   It can become transactional really quickly. So, starting to ask that question, starting to talk about the needs and caring for the relationship very intentionally can be a way to shift that.   Laura Dugger: (51:20 - 51:38) Thank you for sharing that. I think that leads into my last question, because you already know we're called The Savvy Sauce because savvy is synonymous with practical knowledge. And so, as my final question for both of you, Matthew and Joanna, what is your savvy sauce?   Matthew Raabsmith: (51:39 - 52:22) I kind of mentioned this, but I think it's the willingness to be honest. I was so willing to lie to myself and kind of really hide from other people. And I didn't even know that I was doing it.   But as I have learned to be more honest in really kind of healthy ways, right. You can dump, you can whine, you can complain, you can get angry. But truly being honest meant just looking at what I was feeling and trying to kind of figure that out and name that.   As I have learned that ability to be honest with myself and with others, it has just opened up a new world of possibilities. And it has shown me how many people care for me; how much God cares for me. So, I think that honesty is something I just want to practice more and more every day.   Joanna Raabsmith: (52:22 - 53:30) I think for me, just in my own journey and working with so many partners, that importance of being able to make empowered decisions in my life. Right. That I am really intentionally choosing the direction I'm going in life.   Realizing that instead of going into this more helpless, powerless victim stance is such a difference. And really the only thing that changes a lot of times is mindset. You don't have to overhaul your entire life.   Right. You have to add in like four hours of self-care and all of these things. But starting to shift that mindset into, wait, I have power in the decisions I make.   And one of the ways that's really important to do that is growing that self-awareness. I cannot make empowered decisions if I'm not aware of where I'm at emotionally, physically, spiritually. Right.   If I'm not aware of my needs on a regular basis. And so, slowing down to check those things in, sometimes even multiple times in the day if you're not used to that. So, you're more connected to yourself, to what you need, what you want.   So, you can start making those empowered decisions.   Laura Dugger: (53:32 - 54:00) I love that. It's just so enjoyable to host a very lively couple who's humble and you've done your work. And then you're willing to share all this overflow of goodness with all of us.   So, I think my prayer is that the Lord would richly bless you for this open-handed generosity of wisdom and your story and experience that you've shared with us and modeled for us today. So, thank you to both of you for being my guest.   Joanna Raabsmith: (54:00 - 54:03) Thank you so much. It's a joy being here.   Laura Dugger: (54:05 - 57:47) One more thing before you go, have you heard the term gospel before? It simply means good news. And I want to share the best news with you, but it starts with the bad news.   Every single one of us were born sinners, but Christ desires to rescue us from our sin, which is something we cannot do for ourselves. This means there's absolutely no chance we can make it to heaven on our own. So, for you and for me, it means we deserve death, and we can never pay back the sacrifice we owe to be saved.   We need a savior, but God loved us so much. He made a way for his only son to willingly die in our place as the perfect substitute. This gives us hope of life forever in right relationship with him.   That is good news. Jesus lived the perfect life. We could never live and died in our place for our sin.   This was God's plan to make a way to reconcile with us so that God can look at us and see Jesus. We can be covered and justified through the work Jesus finished. If we choose to receive what he has done for us, Romans 10:9 says, “that if you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”   So, you pray with me now. Heavenly father, thank you for sending Jesus to take our place. I pray someone today right now is touched and chooses to turn their life over to you.   Will you clearly guide them and help them take their next step in faith to declare you as Lord of their life? We trust you to work and change lives now for eternity. In Jesus name we pray.   Amen. If you prayed that prayer, you are declaring him for me. So, me for him, you get the opportunity to live your life for him.   And at this podcast, we're called The Savvy Sauce for a reason. We want to give you practical tools to implement the knowledge you have learned. So, you're ready to get started.   First, tell someone, say it out loud, get a Bible. The first day I made this decision, my parents took me to Barnes and Noble and let me choose my own Bible. I selected the Quest NIV Bible and I love it.   You can start by reading the book of John. Also get connected locally, which just means tell someone who's a part of a church in your community that you made a decision to follow Christ. I'm assuming they will be thrilled to talk with you about further steps such as going to church and getting connected to other believers to encourage you.   We want to celebrate with you too. So, feel free to leave a comment for us here. If you did make a decision to follow Christ, we also have show notes included where you can read scripture that describes this process.   And finally, be encouraged. Luke 15:10 says, “in the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” The heavens are praising with you for your decision today.   And if you've already received this good news, I pray you have someone to share it with. You are loved and I look forward to meeting you here next time.

Somewhere in the galaxy, a radioactive dragon just wants a hug. Unfortunately, it kills everyone it touches. Welcome to Starfinder 2e, where your best friends are undead, your space pirates have tricorn hats, and your digital ghosts won't log off. The RPGBOT crew dives into Paizo's new Alien Core, exploring the weirdest monsters, creepiest factions, and why Paradox 17 knows you're listening right now. Play Paizo Games with Ash Ely Want to explore the horrors of Paradox 17 or negotiate with an Abyssium dragon who just wants a friend? Book a game with Ash Ely on StartPlaying.games and experience Starfinder 2e, Pathfinder 2e, or your favorite tabletop RPGs with a professional GM who knows every monster in the book, probably because they created a few. Show Notes In this episode of the RPGBOT.Podcast, hosts Randall James, Tyler Kamstra, and Ash Ely dive into Starfinder 2e's Alien Core, the first major bestiary of Paizo's new edition. They unpack factions, dragons, and otherworldly horrors, comparing it to Pathfinder 2e's Monster Core while exploring how easily these creatures can jump between systems. Materials References in This Episode Starfinder 2e Alien Core (affiliate link) RPGBOT.Podcast Episodes Starfinder Galaxy Guide Starfinder GM Core Starfinder Player Core Key Takeaways Alien Core is Starfinder 2e's Monster Manual, but weirder, smarter, and full of story inspiration. Factions like the Corpse Fleet and Dominion of the Black make excellent recurring villains. The new dragons embody four magical traditions and range from tragic to terrifying. Undead get a sci-fi twist—digital ghosts, irradiated zombies, and vacuum-frozen nightmares. Paradox 17 is pure cosmic horror genius, perfect for high-level campaigns. Even Pathfinder GMs should buy Alien Core—the compatibility is seamless, and the storytelling potential immense. Paizo proves again why they're the gold standard for deep, mechanically rich monster design. Read More at RPGBOT.net Want to optimize your next Starfinder or Pathfinder character? Check out RPGBOT.net for in-depth guides, optimization breakdowns, and articles on game mechanics, build theory, and storytelling tools for every TTRPG player or GM. 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

You're listening to Bardtenders! In this episode of "The Mixing Glass", Joe Nicol shares his experiences throughout his career and demonstrates the importance of what it means to be genuine with everyone you meet - you never know what new career might happen if you do! We also discuss Led Zeppelin, The Lord of the Rings, and the history of Irish Whiskey! ------------Joe Nicol is the National Educator and Senior Irish Brand Ambassador of Irish Whiskey at Pernod Ricard, where he spends his days sharing stories (and drams) of Jameson, Redbreast, Spot Whiskeys, and Midleton Very Rare. A former bartender, bar manager, distillery director, and Account Specialist for Pernod Ricard - Joe turned to advocacy and whiskey storytelling last year. Joe has taught at Trade shows, on podcasts, with private whiskey clubs and bars across the country. He's a part of the Irish whiskey society Dublin chapter and is involved in the Irish whiskey society here in the United States. He mixes deep knowledge of distillation and history with an easy, conversational style that makes whiskey approachable for everyone. When he's not working, he's hanging with his wife and Aussie Shepard or finishing his debut book on the global history of spirits— “Chasing Vapors Under A Copper Moon.” When he's on the road, he is seeking out unique watering holes, local distilleries, museums, and restaurants in whatever city he's landed in. A fellow nerd, lover of scifi, fantasy, all things Marvel, and board games - it only makes sense he wants to hang with us!----------Don't miss out on any of the action!  Head to www.bardtender.com to stay up to date with all of the Bardtender content, find resources for mental and physical well-being, get access to education materials, and check out what all of our bards are up to! Support the show

Episode 2 of our Holiday Interlude dives into the Ring Poem — one of the most spiritually revealing passages in The Lord of the Rings.Using only The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, Doug explores how the poem reveals the spiritual identity of Elves, Dwarves, and Men, and what their Rings of Power actually do in Tolkien's world.Discover how the Rings amplify spiritual nature, why some races resist corruption and others fall into it, and how Tolkien subtly shows the unseen forces at work without ever explaining them directly.This episode is a key step in recovering a supernatural imagination — both for reading Tolkien and for understanding the unseen realm in our own world.In this episode, Doug examines the famous Ring Poem:“Three Rings for the Elven-kings under the sky…”Far from being just lore, this poem functions as a map of the spiritual order of Middle-earth. By looking closely at each line, Doug highlights the unique spiritual identities of Elves, Dwarves, and Men — and shows how the Rings of Power amplify what is already true within each race.In this episode you'll learn:- Why the Elven Rings preserve, heal, and resist decay- How the Dwarven Rings amplify desire for gold and the ability to create wealth- Why the Rings given to Men lead to domination, and corruption,- How the One Ring embodies the will of the Dark LordDoug also draws on poetry from The Hobbit to show how Tolkien embeds spiritual identity in song and story.By the end of the episode, listeners will recognize the Rings of Power not as magical devices, but as spiritual amplifiers that reveal — and distort — the identity of those who use them.This is a foundational episode for learning to “see” the spiritual forces moving in Tolkien's world, and for recognizing similar patterns in our world and in Scripture.

Welcome to a special Holiday Interlude of the Seers See Podcast: Seers See the Lord of the Rings.In this mini-season, Doug explores how J.R.R. Tolkien's world can retrain us to think supernaturally—helping modern readers recover the enchanted, pre-materialistic imagination that both Tolkien and Scripture assume.Episode 1 lays out the purpose of the series:- Why Tolkien helps us reawaken a supernatural worldview- How The Lord of the Rings subtly reveals unseen spiritual forces- Why Dr. Cory Olsen (The Tolkien Professor) inspired this approach- How this mini-season bridges into Season 2: Seers of the Bible with Emily in 2026If you've ever wanted to see the spiritual dimension within Tolkien's world—and recognize similar patterns in our own—this episode is your invitation to step through the door and into the unseen realm of Middle-earth.In this opening episode of our Holiday Interlude, Doug explains why Tolkien is the perfect guide for anyone seeking to understand the supernatural world. Tolkien writes with a medieval imagination—a worldview where spiritual beings, providence, enchantment, corruption, and hidden powers operate behind the visible world.Drawing on insights from Dr. Cory Olsen, “The Tolkien Professor,” Doug shows how The Lord of the Rings trains modern readers to notice the spiritual activity Tolkien shows but never over-explains.This approach mirrors how Scripture invites us to recognize unseen forces shaping events, identity, and calling.This episode sets the stage for the mini-season, which will explore:- The Ring Poem (Episode 2)- The Prologue as ancient historiography (Episode 3)- Gandalf's spiritual authority, providence, and the Nazgûl (Episode 4)- Tom Bombadil, nature spirits, singing as spiritual warfare, Caradhras, and moreJoin us as we rediscover the supernatural imagination Tolkien intended—and learn to see the world around us with new eyes.

This was a fine crossword by constructor -- aka SETTER, depending on which side of the pond you live on -- Jacob McDermott, for whom we are thankful for this entire crossword, but especially the revelation about SETTERS.We found many noteworthy clues to sing about today. For instance, we had 44A, One-named rock idol who was born Paul David Hewson, BONO; the life-changing (trust us, it will, once you listen to him) 35A, Jazz pianist with a memorable recording of "Tea for Two", ARTTATUM; and the curiosity-piquing 4D, Genre for Toots and the Maytals, SKA. This being Friday, we of course have a Fun Fact Friday segment that will be of special interest to fans of The Flintstones, aka everybody

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

Alpha Omega is a Shadowrun-esque heartbreaker that covers a lot of territory. Its Wikipedia entry notes that its major claim to fame was the ARG/fake conspiracy theory called Ethan Haas was Right, which was briefly thought to be part of the Cloverfield viral marketing campaign. It got a lot of things right and a lot of things so very wrong. We also talk about conspiracy theorists and the Conspira-Sea Cruise, which has a lot of great guest speakers! Enjoy another classic episode of After Hours, now featuring Caleb, Ross, Tom, and Aaron, now with improved audio quality! In RPPR Patreon news, I posted the first episode of our Megadungeon Meandering series on Moria, the fabled lost dwarven city from Lord of the Rings, now available as a book for The One Ring. Check it out! I also made a survey about what content I should write for next year on the RPPR Patreon. See the scenarios I’ve made in the last year and let me know what you want to see from me.

The VOK Book Club returns to review the fantasy novel The Goblin Emperor (by Katherine Addison). Join Duncan (Valkyrist), Steven (SJLee), Zach (Alias), Adam (drownedsnow), and Alex (LuckyCharms) for an in-depth discussion on courtly intrigue, the power of kindness, and … Continue reading →

Stephen tells the story of when he first met rock star Robert Plant in this Late Show Pod Show EXCLUSIVE Rock & Roll Thanksgiving week of podding! Tune in as Hall-of-Famer Robert Plant sits down with Stephen Colbert for an EXTENDED conversation about his creative roots, and takes Stephen on a journey through the landscapes of his childhood, in the same Welsh countryside where J.R.R. Tolkien lived as a young man, and says his Led Zeppelin bandmates were unaware that he was referencing "The Lord of the Rings" in his songwriting for the band. Robert Plant's latest album, "Saving Grace," is available everywhere now. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

HAPPY THANKSGIVING! We kick off the holidays by revisiting our journey with the greatest living podcaster, co-host of The Ringer's House of R, Joanna Robinson! She joined us last year for The Lord of the RIngs: The Fellowship of the Ring and it instantly became an all time episode. Before that, Jason and I reflect on our Meetup 2025 hangover, and share turkey prep horror stories! And get ready for Jo's return next week for The Two Towers!!Chapters Introduction (00:00:00) Hatch News (00:09:44) The Running Man Roundtable (00:15:55) Your Letters (00:46:57) Notes and Links Check out Escape Hatch Merch! Our all new collection of swag is available now and every order includes a free Cameo style shoutout from Haitch or Jason. Browse our collection now. Join the Escape Hatch Discord Server! Hang out with Haitch, Jason, and other friends of the pod. Check out the invite here. Escape Hatch is a TAPEDECK Podcasts Jawn! Escape Hatch is a member of TAPEDECK Podcasts, alongside: 70mm (a podcast for film lovers), Bat & Spider (low rent horror and exploitation films), The Letterboxd Show (Official Podcast from Letterboxd), Cinenauts (exploring the Criterion Collection), Lost Light (Transformers, wrestling, and more), and Will Run For (obsessed with running). Check these pods out!. See the movies we've watched and are going to watch on Letterboxd Escape Hatch's Breaking Dune News Twitter list Rate and review the podcast to help others discover it, and let us know what you think of the show at letters@escapehatchpod.com or leave us a voicemail at +1-415-534-5211. Follow @escapehatchpod on Bluesky,Instagram, and TikTok. Music by Scott Fritz and Who'z the Boss Music. Cover art by ctcher. Edited and produced by Haitch. Escape Hatch is a production of Haitch Industries.

Tonight we will see Tolkien's story forcibly shrinking and growing again as he connects Numenor to the Lord of the Rings. https://signumuniversity.org/news/annual-fundraising-campaign-2025/ Join us on the Signum University Discord server: https://discord.com/invite/szXMFAv

Ever had a game session so draining that even your dice lose levels? In this episode, the RPGBOT crew resurrects one of D&D's most dreaded mechanics: energy drain, and the undead horrors that made it famous. From the White Box to Pathfinder 2e, Tyler, Randall, and Ash relive decades of pain, permanent debuffs, and emotional damage, all in the name of understanding why we're so glad energy drain is (mostly) dead. Grab your holy symbol, chug a potion, and prepare for a nostalgic necrotic nosedive. Join the RPGBOT Patreon If you want to keep your creative energy undrained, support the RPGBOT.Podcast on Patreon. Patrons get ad-free episodes, early access to our Masterclass recordings, and exclusive bonus content from Tyler, Randall, and Ash. Join us today at patreon.com/rpgbot — and help keep our hit points (and our humor) at full strength. Show Notes The RPGBOT crew takes a dark, funny journey through the history of energy drain — one of tabletop RPGs' most punishing and misunderstood mechanics. Starting with OD&D's dreaded Wight, they trace how "losing levels" evolved across editions — from instant death in AD&D to hit point maximum reduction in D&D 5e and drained conditions in Pathfinder 2e. Along the way, Ash shares stories from her Ravenloft campaign, Tyler explains why undead needed to be terrifying, and Randall asks the eternal question: "Did anyone actually have fun with this rule?" Covered Topics: How energy drain first appeared in the OD&D White Box The connection between Wights, vampires, and permanent level loss Why AD&D and 3.5 made energy drain one of the most hated mechanics ever Pathfinder 1e and the dawn of "negative levels" D&D 5e's kinder, gentler approach — max HP reduction instead of level loss Pathfinder 2e's drained and doomed conditions, and how they replace energy drain The evolution of innervation and life drain spells How modern systems preserve undead flavor without destroying players' progress A philosophical question: Should tabletop games hurt this much? Plus: a tangent about Dark Souls, Bloodborne, and how much punishment is too much Mentioned Creatures & Mechanics: Wight, Vampire Spawn, Shadow, Ghoul, Varghoul Innervation / Enervation spell Negative levels, Hit Point Maximum reduction, Drained condition Resurrection penalties in 3.5e and Pathfinder 1e Afflictions, Fortitude saves, and Constitution death spirals Key Takeaways Energy drain began as a brutally punishing mechanic — losing levels in OD&D and AD&D could erase hours of play progress instantly. Pathfinder 1e softened the blow with temporary negative levels, while still terrifying players with math-heavy penalties. 5e and PF2 modernized the concept into simpler, narratively cleaner effects like HP maximum reduction or the drained condition. Undead identity survived — even as the math got easier, the flavor of losing your vitality to a vampire or wight remained iconic. Players prefer tension over punishment. Modern systems preserve danger without making players rage-quit. Energy drain mechanics reflect evolving design philosophy — from simulationist suffering to storytelling sustainability. DM takeaway: Make undead scary through story and tension, not through math that kills fun. How to Play Holidays This Christmas season, while you're recovering from your own levels of exhaustion, the RPGBOT.Podcast is re-releasing our "How to Play" Series for Pathfinder 2e — perfect for new players and GMs ready to explore the system over the holiday break. And if your friends are just starting out in Dungeons & Dragons, introduce them to the Remastered Series of How to Play Dungeons & Dragons from RPGBOT.Podcast. Whether you're new to Pathfinder, new to D&D, or just want to survive another undead encounter, these episodes are your ultimate player's guide. 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

Our journey through Middle-earth continues as we begin discussing the music of The Two Towers. We discuss the structural challenges of bringing the middle portion of LOTR's giant story to the silver screen, and examine just how composer Howard Shore's thematic score assists in holding the plot together. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Send us a textHannah and Laura are wrapping up their discussion of Tana French's In the Woods by digging into the book's characters and themes. They talk about the impact of true crime, the way audiences react to portrayals of murderers, and how accurately mental illnesses were depicted in this book. Hannah and Laura also chat about Taskmaster, High Country, and musicals where the actors give it their all.*This episode contains SPOILERS for In the Woods by Tana French. Spoiler section begins at: 35 min 40 secs. ***CW for the episode: discussions of sex, murder, violence, mental illnesses, neglect, sexual assault, racism, ableism, death, neglect, parental relationships, police officers, detectives, sexism, true crime **Media Mentions:In the Woods by Tana French Taskmaster---YouTube Would I Lie to You? ---YouTube Last One Laughing UK---Prime VideoThe IT Crowd---NetflixBroadchurch---NetflixThe Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien The Penguin Project The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton High Country---Hulu Australia---Apple TVSupport the showBe sure to follow OWWR Pod!www.owwrpod.com Twitter (updates only): @OwwrPodBlueSky: @OwwrPodTikTok: @OwwrPodInstagram: @owwrpodThreads: @OwwrPodHive: @owwrpodSend us an email at: owwrpod@gmail.comCheck out OWWR Patreon: patreon.com/owwrpodOr join OWWR Discord! We'd love to chat with you!You can follow Hannah at:Instagram: @brews.and.booksThreads: @brews.and.booksTikTok: @brews.and.booksYou can follow Laura at:Instagram: @goodbooksgreatgoatsBlueSky: @myyypod

We're super thankful for all you backers out there! Enjoy this second volume of greatest hits from Circling Back and share it with a friend or cousin this holiday season! Support us on Patreon and receive weekly episodes for as low $5 per month: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.patreon.com/circlingbackpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Watch all of our full episodes on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.youtube.com/washedmedia⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Shop Washed Merch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.washedmedia.shop⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (2:52) Feeling Sendy (9:30) Roback Ad Read (12:55) Lord Of The Rings (15:43) D-Man (16:13) Cheesecake Factory (22:41) Brent Rooker Piss Jobs (24:10) Bag Of Bones with a 50 (25:45) Later (26:53) Frat King (27:52) Lawyer, Doctor, Therapist (29:27) Big Ol Hog (30:22) Chet Part 1 (32:49) Chet Part 2 (36:44) Drip (37:30) El Glizzadente / Q-Anon (44:34) Parades (47:47) Kimchi (53:11) 23 & Me (59:27) Catfish Support This Episode's Sponsors: Rhoback: https://rhoback.com/ (WASHED20 for 20% off for the Holidays!) Squarespace: Check out ⁠⁠https://squarespace.com/steam⁠⁠ for a free trial, and when you're ready to launch, use OFFER CODE: STEAM to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain. Harry's: our listeners can get the Harry's Plus Trial Set for only $10 at ⁠https://harrys.com/STEAM⁠ Aura Frames: Exclusive $45-off Carver Mat at ⁠⁠⁠https://on.auraframes.com/CIRCLING⁠⁠⁠. Promo Code CIRCLING Underdog Fantasy: Download the app today and sign up with promo code STEAM to score ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS in Bonus Funds when you play your first FIVE dollars – that's promo code STEAM Must be 18+ (19+ in Alabama & Nebraska; 19+ in Colorado for some games; 21+ in Arizona, Massachusetts & Virginia) and present in a state where Underdog Fantasy operates. Terms apply. See assets.underdogfantasy.com/web/PlayandGetTerms_DFS_.html for details. Offer not valid in Maryland, Michigan, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. Concerned with your play? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit www.ncpgambling.org. In New York, call the 24/7 HOPEline at 1-877-8-HOPENY or Text HOPENY (467369) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aunties on Air: "Leaning into Learning": Storytelling in Many FormsThe creativity and brilliance of indigenous people is seen throughout every sector of society. From art to science and everywhere in between, indigenous people are taking up and creating space to shine in ways never witnessed before. Some say it is the time to foster indigenous thinking and values, offering more healing and abundance for all of us. Today, we are going to learn about storytelling, film, and filmmaking. Mike Sockabasin, a Passamaquoddy filmmaker, will spend time in the studio sharing his journey and passion for his work. Sit back, lean in, and be ready to hear a story of commitment to culture and community!Wabanaki Words Used:Apc-oc (again in the future, parting, good-bye, farewell) https://pmportal.org/dictionary/apc-oc Topics Discussed:Mike Sockabasin - https://www.instagram.com/mikesockabasin/?hl=enHoulton Band of Maliseet Indians - https://maliseets.net/Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens - https://www.mainegardens.org/Ice Caves - https://mainebyfoot.com/ice-caves-debsconeag-lakes-wilderness-area/Thanksgiving Holiday History - https://www.smithsonianmag.com/blogs/national-museum-american-indian/2022/11/23/thanksgiving-from-an-indigenous-perspective/Motahkomikuk - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passamaquoddy_Indian_Township_ReservationDwayne Tomah - https://www.kennedy-center.org/artists/t/to-tz/dwayne-tomah/Dwayne Tomah, Wax Cylinders - https://passamaquoddypeople.com/language/passamaquoddyPBS, Wax Cylinder Project Story - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EENc_P6rHz4“Lord of the Rings” - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lord_of_the_Rings_(film_series)EMCC, CAD Program - https://www.emcc.edu/academics/programs/programs-of-study/building-construction/Lost Kitchen - https://findthelostkitchen.com/pages/watch Wabanaki Tribal Nations:Houlton Band of Maliseet  Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians | Littleton, ME (maliseets.net)Mi'kmaq Mi'kmaq Nation | Presque Isle, ME (micmac-nsn.gov)Passamaquoddy Tribe Indian Township  Passamaquoddy Tribe @ Indian Township | Peskotomuhkati MotahkomikukPassamaquoddy Tribe Sipayik  Sipayik Tribal Government – Sipayik (wabanaki.com)Penobscot Nation  Penobscot Nation | Departments & Info | Indian Island, Maine Special Thanks/Woliwon: Guests: Mike SockabasinProducer: Gavin AllenPodcast Team: Becky Soctomah Bailey, Macy Flanders

Call us Hamburger Helper because this week we're cooking with beef!Eric, Nadia, and special guest John Learned are here to discuss only the rawest slabs of DPS meat. What's appealing about the unga bunga and how does it fit into the party composition? Get ready for a list full of himbos and fur bikinis! Tune in to live recordings of the show every Saturday morning at https://www.twitch.tv/bloodgodpod, subscribe for bonus episodes and discord access at https://www.patreon.com/bloodgodpod and celebrate our 10th Anniversary with new merch at https://shop.bloodgodpod.com Also in this episode: Lord of the Rings tangents Steins;Gate Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment Demonschool Timestamps: 8:00 Main Topic - The Beefy Boys 28:36 - Surprise Eric Pit 1:17:42 - Random Encounters 1:17:20 - The Tavern - Age of Imprisonment and Demonschool 1:42:56 - Nadia's Nostalgia Nook Music Used in this Episode: Do Your Best - [Breath of Fire III] Pub - [Lunar Knights] A Curious Tale - [Secret of Mana] Road Taken - [Fire Emblem Fates] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week Peter & Mike review The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers - Trick Taking Game. In 3 weeks we will have a related design discussion about being too close to an IP. _________________________ YouTube - www.youtube.com/channel/UCrOtGhui_jdLdoQNI7PU4Pg X - @onestopcoopshop Discord - discord.gg/p4jX8AF Merch: one-stop-co-op-shop.creator-spring.com/ Donate to One Stop Co-op Shop - www.patreon.com/onestop Email - onestopcoopshop@gmail.com

This week, Wenzel, Colt, and Tanner are back in Middle-earth one last time and discussing the final film in The Lord of the Rings trilogy: Return of the King! Just like the previous two episodes this is not like a normal "review + discussion" episode as they go right into talking about Flesh God, what Muppets would be LOTR characters, and a little bit about their thoughts on the film itself! Spoilers ahead! ----------------------------------- Catch up on all of Season 9's episodes here: soundcloud.com/aychpodcast/sets/aych-season-9-2025?si=ca5cc0cefc3941699fa62b95af89752b&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing ----------------------------------- Check out the entire AYCH Podcast Network! ► The Instruction Booklet: Video Game History Podcast! Want even more AYCH shows? Check out our full catalog playlists! soundcloud.com/aychpodcast/sets ----------------------------------- Twitch/Podcast Archive YT: www.youtube.com/@AYCHPodcast If you like what we're doing here, don't forget to leave us a review! You can also follow us on all of our social media below and tell us how we're doing: -- Bluesky: @aychpodcast.bsky.social -- Instagram: @aychpodcast -- TikTok: @aychpodcast -- Twitch: AllYouCanHear Leave us some suggestions in our Suggestion Box as well! goo.gl/forms/AHetCWQ2m7tHDigg1

The second part of  2025 MacVoices Holiday Gift Guide #2 features more product picks both useful and off-beat from Jeff Gamet, ”Pilot Pete” Harmon, and Chuck Joiner. (Part 2) http://traffic.libsyn.com/maclevelten/MV23219.mp3 Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code CHUCK at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: https:/ /incogni.com/chuck Show Notes: Chapters: [0:00] Holiday Gift Guide part two intro [0:40] Book nooks and LEGO bookshelf scenes [5:11] Rechargeable magnetic hand warmers [8:53] Compact iPhone and Apple Watch travel charger [11:22] Incogni data privacy sponsor segment [13:39] Beam Paints and Martha Mae art supplies [20:03] Scosche PowerUp 2000 jump starter and power bank [24:55] Why lithium batteries stay in the cabin on flights [25:30] Adding caster wheels to wire shelving for mobile storage [29:30] Gift guide wrap-up and emptying wallets [30:11] Where to find Jeff online and on podcasts [31:01] Where to find Pete and his aviation show Links: “Pilot Pete” Harmon: Handy Heater Hand Warmers Ultra - Rechargeable & Cordless with 3 Heat Settings - Portable, Battery Powered, Lightweight - Up To 7 Hours of Run Time Per Warmer https://amzn.to/47Zq8o9 Scosche PowerUp 2000 Portable Jump Starter / charger https://amzn.to/485sFMi Jeff Gamet: Book Nook: Tonecheer https://amzn.to/4oQ2Cjp MiniCity https://amzn.to/4r9XtnH LEGO Sherlock Holmes https://www.lego.com/en-us/product sherlock-holmes-book-nook-10351 LEGO Hogwarts 99.99 https://www.lego.com/en-us/product/book-nook-hogwarts-express-76450 LEGO Lord of the Rings Balrog https://www.lego.com/en-us/product/the-lord-of-the-rings-balrog-book-nook-10367 beampaints 13.00 https://www.beampaints.com/collections/reclaimed-cedar-palettes Martha Mae Art Supplies https://marthamae.info/ Chuck Joiner Alex Tech 25ft - 1/4 inch Cord Protector Wire Loom Tubing Cable Sleeve Split Sleeving For USB Cable Power Cord Audio Video Cable https://amzn.to/4pkbEF5  TAVR Universal Table Top TV Stand Mount for 27 30 32 37 40 43 47 50 55 60 65 Inch LCD LED Flat/Curved Screen TVs, Height Adjustable TV Legs, Strong TV Base Holds up to 88 lbs, Max VESA 800x500mm  https://amzn.to/4oawWUH 3 in 1 Magnetic Wireless for iPhone Charging Station: Foldable Portable Charger for iPhone 17-12 Pro Max & Apple Watch & AirPods https://amzn.to/4reasVC Caster Wheels, 3" Locking Swivel Stem Casters Set of 4, 3/8"-16 x 1 (Screw Diameter 3/8", Length 1") Rubber Casters with 360 Degree No Noise Wheels for Furniture  https://amzn.to/4pnK5L6 Guests:   Jeff Gamet is a technology blogger, podcaster, author, and public speaker. Previously, he was The Mac Observer's Managing Editor, and the TextExpander Evangelist for Smile. He has presented at Macworld Expo, RSA Conference, several WordCamp events, along with many other conferences. You can find him on several podcasts such as The Mac Show, The Big Show, MacVoices, Mac OS Ken, This Week in iOS, and more. Jeff is easy to find on social media as @jgamet on Twitter and Instagram, jeffgamet on LinkedIn., @jgamet@mastodon.social on Mastodon, and on his YouTube Channel at YouTube.com/jgamet. “Pilot Pete” Harmon is a professional avaitor, co-host of MacGeek Gab and co-host of So There I Was. He can be reached on X as @PilotPete. Support: Become a MacVoices Patron on Patreon      http://patreon.com/macvoices      Enjoy this episode? Make a one-time donation with PayPal Connect: Web:      http://macvoices.com Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/chuckjoiner      http://www.twitter.com/macvoices Mastodon:      https://mastodon.cloud/@chuckjoiner Facebook:      http://www.facebook.com/chuck.joiner MacVoices Page on Facebook:      http://www.facebook.com/macvoices/ MacVoices Group on Facebook:      http://www.facebook.com/groups/macvoice LinkedIn:      https://www.linkedin.com/in/chuckjoiner/ Instagram:      https://www.instagram.com/chuckjoiner/ Subscribe:      Audio in iTunes      Video in iTunes      Subscribe manually via iTunes or any podcatcher: Audio: http://www.macvoices.com/rss/macvoicesrss      Video: http://www.macvoices.com/rss/macvoicesvideorss

Ever accidentally make a deal with the devil in a three-piece suit, get hit in the face with canned soup, and still manage to save an Appalachian town from a coal-eating mountain? The RPGBOT crew did, and somehow, it's not even the weirdest part of their charity stream. Grab your molasses taffy, kiss your dynamite goodbye, and prepare for the most chaotic train robbery–slash–exorcism this side of the Blue Ridge. It's the Old Gods of Appalachia finale, and nobody's walking away clean. Support MD Anderson Cancer Research This series raised funds for the MD Anderson Cancer Research Center, one of the world's leading hospitals dedicated to ending cancer through research, treatment, and education. The fight doesn't stop when the dice stop rolling. You can continue that mission right now by visiting  https://mdanderson.donordrive.com/participants/9351 to give what you can. Every contribution supports life-saving work and honors those who continue the battle against cancer every day. Because together, we can help make cancer history. In Part 1, Jessie and Isaiah arrived in Williams Holler, where labor, faith, and eldritch horror were all part of the same sermon. In Part 2, the pair unearthed cursed coal, Tommyknockers, and a very bad reason to keep digging. In Part 3, they barely escaped the mines—only to find not-deer, haunted orchards, and a preacher whose god might be listening a little too closely. Now, in Part 4, it all comes crashing down—literally. Our heroes steal a train, strike a deal with a devil in a suit, and decide the only way to save Williams Holler is to blow the mountain itself to hell. With flaming undead, eldritch roots, and GM-donated chaos (plus one extremely aggressive can of Campbell's Chunky Soup), this finale is a combustible mix of tension, sacrifice, and Appalachian legend. Highlights include: Jessie and Isaiah team up with Jam for one final run into the mines. A mysterious Railroad Man appears, offering a deal with infernal fine print. The players literally hijack a train to ram into a coal-fed, living mountain. The long-awaited Giant GM Intrusion arrives—turning the mountain into a wrestling ring for titans. The crew makes emotional sacrifices as Jam races to plant dynamite before it's too late. Reverend Timit returns—with canned soup as his chosen weapon of faith. The mountain collapses, salvation comes at a cost, and the town must decide what living free really means. The episode wraps with heartfelt thanks to donors, reflections on Cypher System mechanics, and a moving reminder of why these charity events matter. Key Takeaways Chaos is the point – Trains, devils, and GM intrusions combine into one unforgettable finale. The Cypher System encourages cinematic storytelling – Fast, flexible, and fueled by narrative moments over crunch. Community storytelling makes charity shine – Every donation shaped the game, creating real-time chaos and connection. Emotional stakes matter – Jessie, Isaiah, and Jam's story lands because it balances horror with heart. The mountain is more than a monster – It's a metaphor for endurance, corruption, and the cost of labor. Reverend Timit's soup throws deserve their own rulebook. The crew raised over $1,000 for cancer research – Proof that gaming communities can make a real-world difference. Shout Out to the Old Gods and Monte Cook Games Special thanks to Steve Shell, Cam Collins, and the DeepNerd Media team for creating Old Gods of Appalachia, and to Monte Cook Games for crafting the Old Gods of Appalachia Roleplaying Game that makes this Appalachian nightmare come alive at the table. Experience it yourself: Listen to the award-winning Old Gods of Appalachia podcast at OldGodsofAppalachia.com Buy the RPG from Monte Cook Games: montecookgames.com/old-gods-of-appalachia-rpg Play your own story of coal, faith, and fire—and see how long you can survive the holler. The mountain may have fallen, but the Old Gods are far from silent. 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 second part of  2025 MacVoices Holiday Gift Guide #2 features more product picks both useful and off-beat from Jeff Gamet, "Pilot Pete" Harmon, and Chuck Joiner. (Part 2) Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code CHUCK at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: https:/ /incogni.com/chuck Show Notes: Chapters: [0:00] Holiday Gift Guide part two intro [0:40] Book nooks and LEGO bookshelf scenes [5:11] Rechargeable magnetic hand warmers [8:53] Compact iPhone and Apple Watch travel charger [11:22] Incogni data privacy sponsor segment [13:39] Beam Paints and Martha Mae art supplies [20:03] Scosche PowerUp 2000 jump starter and power bank [24:55] Why lithium batteries stay in the cabin on flights [25:30] Adding caster wheels to wire shelving for mobile storage [29:30] Gift guide wrap-up and emptying wallets [30:11] Where to find Jeff online and on podcasts [31:01] Where to find Pete and his aviation show Links: "Pilot Pete" Harmon: Handy Heater Hand Warmers Ultra - Rechargeable & Cordless with 3 Heat Settings - Portable, Battery Powered, Lightweight - Up To 7 Hours of Run Time Per Warmer https://amzn.to/47Zq8o9 Scosche PowerUp 2000 Portable Jump Starter / charger https://amzn.to/485sFMi Jeff Gamet: Book Nook: Tonecheer https://amzn.to/4oQ2Cjp MiniCity https://amzn.to/4r9XtnH LEGO Sherlock Holmes https://www.lego.com/en-us/product sherlock-holmes-book-nook-10351 LEGO Hogwarts 99.99 https://www.lego.com/en-us/product/book-nook-hogwarts-express-76450 LEGO Lord of the Rings Balrog https://www.lego.com/en-us/product/the-lord-of-the-rings-balrog-book-nook-10367 beampaints 13.00 https://www.beampaints.com/collections/reclaimed-cedar-palettes Martha Mae Art Supplies https://marthamae.info/ Chuck Joiner Alex Tech 25ft - 1/4 inch Cord Protector Wire Loom Tubing Cable Sleeve Split Sleeving For USB Cable Power Cord Audio Video Cable https://amzn.to/4pkbEF5  TAVR Universal Table Top TV Stand Mount for 27 30 32 37 40 43 47 50 55 60 65 Inch LCD LED Flat/Curved Screen TVs, Height Adjustable TV Legs, Strong TV Base Holds up to 88 lbs, Max VESA 800x500mm  https://amzn.to/4oawWUH 3 in 1 Magnetic Wireless for iPhone Charging Station: Foldable Portable Charger for iPhone 17-12 Pro Max & Apple Watch & AirPods https://amzn.to/4reasVC Caster Wheels, 3" Locking Swivel Stem Casters Set of 4, 3/8"-16 x 1 (Screw Diameter 3/8", Length 1") Rubber Casters with 360 Degree No Noise Wheels for Furniture  https://amzn.to/4pnK5L6 Guests:   Jeff Gamet is a technology blogger, podcaster, author, and public speaker. Previously, he was The Mac Observer's Managing Editor, and the TextExpander Evangelist for Smile. He has presented at Macworld Expo, RSA Conference, several WordCamp events, along with many other conferences. You can find him on several podcasts such as The Mac Show, The Big Show, MacVoices, Mac OS Ken, This Week in iOS, and more. Jeff is easy to find on social media as @jgamet on Twitter and Instagram, jeffgamet on LinkedIn., @jgamet@mastodon.social on Mastodon, and on his YouTube Channel at YouTube.com/jgamet. "Pilot Pete" Harmon is a professional avaitor, co-host of MacGeek Gab and co-host of So There I Was. He can be reached on X as @PilotPete. Support:      Become a MacVoices Patron on Patreon      http://patreon.com/macvoices      Enjoy this episode? Make a one-time donation with PayPal Connect:      Web:      http://macvoices.com      Twitter:      http://www.twitter.com/chuckjoiner      http://www.twitter.com/macvoices      Mastodon:      https://mastodon.cloud/@chuckjoiner      Facebook:      http://www.facebook.com/chuck.joiner      MacVoices Page on Facebook:      http://www.facebook.com/macvoices/      MacVoices Group on Facebook:      http://www.facebook.com/groups/macvoice      LinkedIn:      https://www.linkedin.com/in/chuckjoiner/      Instagram:      https://www.instagram.com/chuckjoiner/ Subscribe:      Audio in iTunes      Video in iTunes      Subscribe manually via iTunes or any podcatcher:      Audio: http://www.macvoices.com/rss/macvoicesrss      Video: http://www.macvoices.com/rss/macvoicesvideorss

Recorded in October 2024 directly after the release of Series 3 on Netflix, The vassals provided their thoughts briefly on Series 2 before a more in depth discussion of Series 3. We are delighted to know Heartstopper will return for … Continue reading →

[PowerPress] It's been about a year since THE WAR OF THE ROHIRRIM was released and Ben has wanted to talk about it since then. But he also wanted to talk about it with someone who knew LOTR and who had some connection to fan communities. Fortunately, he's been in contact with Philip Dudt from The […]

In our two hundred and sixty-fifth episode, Aaron is joined by Quinten. We talk about Trickerion: Dahlgaard's Academy, Baseball Highlights 2045, and The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring - Trick-Taking Game. Then in our Digital Diversion segment we talk about Pokemon Legends: Z-A and The Rogue Prince of Persia.  Then we discuss Our Top 10 Most Influential Video Games of all time from 5 to 1 in Aaron Asks Anything. This episode is sponsored by Board Game Bliss and listeners like you on our Patreon  

0:00- Intro, Opponent Partner, and Zemeckis The Toy Man4:49- "The Rheingold" discussion39:33- "The Ring" discussion1:08:09- Chatzums Magellan's newsletterBlueskyTwitchChatzumsEmail: chatzpod@gmail.comOur main podcast feed art was done by Camilla Franklin, whose work can be found at https://camillafranklin.myportfolio.com/

The boys dive deep into some sword and sorcery including the LOTR movies. Enjoy.

Ever want to turn into a giant octopus just to ruin a pirate's day? Or turn into a squirrel just to steal your party's rations? On this week's RPGBOT.Podcast, we dive into the wild world of Wild Shape, from tactical bear hugs to flying reconnaissance pigeons. Spoilers: size matters, and no, nobody knows how many hit points a badger has without googling it. Old Gods of Appalachia RPG Stream Now on YouTube The wait is over. RPGBOT's full video stream of the Old Gods of Appalachia charity game is now rolling out on YouTube. Head over to the RPGBOT YouTube channel to relive the Appalachian horror, dice rolls, and deeply questionable character decisions in glorious widescreen format. Show Notes In this episode of the RPGBOT.Podcast, the crew unpacks the power and potential of Wild Shape in Dungeons & Dragons 5e. Whether you're playing a Circle of the Moon powerhouse or a nature-loving spellcaster who just wants to turn into a fish when things get rough, the episode explores how to choose the right form in combat, exploration, social encounters, and everything in between. You'll learn which beasts shine at different levels, how damage resistance and hit point pools can change a battle, and when it's better to be utility-focused instead of combat-ready. The discussion also highlights how Wild Shape synergizes with spellcasting, feat choices, and party composition for optimized Druid builds. MATERIALS REFERENCED IN THIS EPISODE RPGBOT.net Articles Wild Shape: A Practical Guide - DnD 5e - RPGBOT Wild Shape: A Practical Guide - PF2 Druid Handbook - Pathfinder - RPGBOT Druid Archetypes Breakdown - Pathfinder - RPGBOT Druid Handbook: PF2 Class Guide - RPGBOT Druid 5e: DnD 5th Edition Class Guide - RPGBOT RPGBOT.Podcast Episodes Familiars, or Why You Shouldn't Throw the Housecat at a Kobold Other References Fingies Key Takeaways Wild Shape isn't just about being a tanky bear. There's a form for every occasion—combat, scouting, infiltration, utility, and more. Circle of the Moon Druids dominate early-level combat, but all Druids can use Wild Shape creatively at any tier of play. Consider your party's needs before choosing your form. Sometimes turning into a giant eagle is more useful than mauling goblins as a dire wolf. Study the stat blocks. The best Wild Shape Druids know their options ahead of time and keep a "beast cheat sheet" at the ready. Spellcasting and Wild Shape can play nicely together, especially with the right feats and subclass abilities. Did you enjoy this deep dive into Druid mastery? Support more episodes like this by joining the RPGBOT Patreon. Patrons get access to ad-free episodes, live recordings, bonus content, and more. Become part of the RPGBOT community today and help us keep delivering top-tier tabletop RPG insights. 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

C.S. Lewis dedicated his book, The Screwtape Letters, to his friend J.R.R. Tolkien, and Tolkien dedicated his Lord of the Rings to the Inklings, the Oxford literary group they were both a part of. These two literary giants formed a friendship that changed the world, and each other. Ed Stetzer talks with playwright, Dean Batali, whose play, Lewis and Tolkien, explores their friendship and the eternal themes that defined their work: faith, myth, sacrifice, and the power of story on Ed Stetzer Live. Ed Stetzer Live is a listener supported program. To donate, click here. To learn more about Ed Stetzer, click here. To learn more about Ed Stetzer Live, click here.Donate to Moody Radio: http://moodyradio.org/donateto/edstetzerliveSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

C.S. Lewis dedicated his book, The Screwtape Letters, to his friend J.R.R. Tolkien, and Tolkien dedicated his Lord of the Rings to the Inklings, the Oxford literary group they were both a part of. These two literary giants formed a friendship that changed the world, and each other. Ed Stetzer talks with playwright, Dean Batali, whose play, Lewis and Tolkien, explores their friendship and the eternal themes that defined their work: faith, myth, sacrifice, and the power of story on Ed Stetzer Live. Ed Stetzer Live is a listener supported program. To donate, click here. To learn more about Ed Stetzer, click here. To learn more about Ed Stetzer Live, click here.Donate to Moody Radio: http://moodyradio.org/donateto/edstetzerliveSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Pop Culture Pastor, Dave and Cody sprint headfirst into Edgar Wright's new adaptation of The Running Man, asking the big question: is this the movie that officially crowns Glen Powell as the next great everyman action star?The guys start with a wild but oddly wholesome news item: Timothée Chalamet calling Adam Sandler “one of the best actors of all time” during their “Sandler x Chalamet” event. That launches a fun conversation about Sandler's career arc — from “guy who just makes vacation movies with his buddies” to secretly one of the most versatile actors working, thanks to turns in Punch-Drunk Love and Uncut Gems. There's also a quick detour into DC's Lanterns delay, James Gunn's DCU, and why everything around Warner Bros. feels just a little… wobbly.Then it's full-on Running Man review mode:how this version leans back into Stephen King's original dystopian nightmarewhy Glen Powell feels like the spiritual heir to Bruce Willishow Colman Domingo and Josh Brolin absolutely cook in limited screen timewhy the Hunters are a huge missed opportunity, and how Alan Ritchson could've fixed the whole problem with one menacing glareplus a Deeper Themes segment on media, virtue signaling, and why the real villain might be the human heart, not just “rich bad guys in offices.”In The Lobby, listeners ask about the many faces of Cody (Contrarian Cody, Capitalist Cody, Chaotic Cody, and more), dream podcast guests (Scorsese, Paul Walter Hauser, Weird Al, Harrison Ford), and whether a live-action Legend of Zelda movie can truly be the Lord of the Rings of video game adaptations.Oh, and yes—there's talk of Christmas playlists, Die Hard–inspired Christmas shirts, and why Michael Cera is somehow the loser of the movie simply because there wasn't enough of him.

[PowerPress] It's been about a year since THE WAR OF THE ROHIRRIM was released and Ben has wanted to talk about it since then. But he also wanted to talk about it with someone who knew LOTR and who had some connection to fan communities. Fortunately, he's been in contact with Philip Dudt from The […]

Welcome to Which Game First where we boldly explore the hilariously huge world of board games. Did we unearth any hidden treasures you've been missing out on? Let's find out! First up: We turn the pages and grow a spine in A Place for All My BooksNext: We forge a bond to destroy the One […]

While America waits for President Trump to sign the Epstein bill into law, Sen. Chuck Schumer stressed that the country wants to see ALL of the government's files. Elsewhere, federal judges blocked Texas's gerrymandered redistricting plan, and author Olivia Nuzzi revealed that RFK Jr. takes psychedelics. Stephen takes a moment to examine a viral video out of Detroit, where a local man came into contact with a very special goat. Acclaimed actor Benedict Cumberbatch shares a story about showing up at Peter Jackson's studio for motion-capture work on “The Lord of The Rings” films even though the director said it wasn't necessary to make the trip. Catch his new film, “The Thing with Feathers,” in theaters November 28th. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the second half of our conversation, newly elected SAG-AFTRA president Sean Astin opens up about lessons from the 2023 strike, the challenges of member communication and his goals for the next round of TV/Theatrical negotiations. Sean also reflects on what his most iconic roles — from Rudy to The Lord of the Rings — have taught him about leadership and fighting for what's right. *The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of their organization or SAG-AFTRA. Any mention of products or services does not imply endorsement.

Today we explore three courageous decisions that show just how unexpected Bilbo Baggins can be, as he shatters all low expectations and inspires all of us, no matter how small, to be courageous. We wander chapter 16 of JRR Tolkien's The Hobbit: “A Thief in the Night.” And as a bonus we dig into the oft-tossed around theory that the Arkenstone is a Silmaril–hint, it's—no spoilers! I'll answer that at the end.Save 15% at uncommongoods.com/lotrpodShare this episode using this link:ringspodcast.com/240Who are you?Please tell me a little about you: ringspodcast.com/surveyWander Farther: A Free Reading GuideDownload my FREE guide for reading Tolkien's Silmarillion: https://ringspodcast.kit.com/a982347493Want to sponsor the Lore of the Rings?Sponsor rates, details, and inquires hereSupport Lore of the Rings with a donationAbout the Lore of the Rings PodcastContact the show, donate, and find past episodes: ringspodcast.comEmbark on an immersive journey through the captivating realms of J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth, where the epic sagas of the Lord of the Rings, the Hobbit, the Silmarillion, and Unfinished Tales, and more come to life. Join us as we delve into the rich tapestry of Tolkien's masterful storytelling, drawing intriguing comparisons between his literary works and the cinematic adaptations crafted by Peter Jackson. Be at the forefront of the latest developments as we explore the highly anticipated Rings of Power series from Amazon. Prepare to be enthralled as we uncover hidden connections, untold tales, and delve into the depths of Middle-earth lore. Tune in now and become part of our fellowship on this extraordinary journey!This podcast is not affiliated with the Tolkien Estate.Our Sponsors:* Check out Uncommon Goods: https://uncommongoods.com/lotrpodSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/ringspodcast/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Ever looked at a monster stat block and thought, "That's cool… but what if it was full of wasp parasites, haunted by Victorian metaphors, and could bend reality like a jaded demigod?" Well buckle in, because Keith Ammann—monster maestro and author of Making Enemies—is back to teach us how to create RPG nightmares smarter than your party's wizard, sneakier than a rogue with reliable talent, and more layered than a Dark Souls boss. Buy Keith's Books Keith Ammann's books, including The Monsters Know What They're Doing, Live to Tell the Tale, How to Defend Your Lair, and now Making Enemies, are all available through your friendly local game store or online via your favorite bookseller. Find more at themonstersknow.com—and level up every system at your table. Get your own copy of Making Enemies and start building smarter monsters today! Support local shops first, but if they don't have it in stock? Use the affiliate link in our show notes and help us keep the show going too! Buy it here! (affiliate link) Show Notes The Monsters Know author Keith Ammann returns for his third masterclass to discuss his new book, Making Enemies. We explore everything from designing creatures with realistic biological traits, to metaphorical monsters rooted in culture, to how to mess with your most OP players using quirks and weaknesses. Keith breaks down monster creation for five game systems: D&D 5e, Pathfinder 2e, Cypher System, Call of Cthulhu, and Shadowdark—and why your eldritch beast might benefit from wasp logic or a cursed Victorian metaphor. Making Enemies (affiliate link) Keith Ammann TheMonstersKnow.com Keith's Existing Books The Monsters Know What You're Doing (affiliate link) Live to Tell the Tale (affiliate link) MOAR The Monsters Know What You're Doing (affiliate link) How to Defend Your Lair (affiliate link) RPGBOT.Podcast Episodes KEITH AMMANN STRIKES BACK (Remastered) How to Defend Your Lair with Keith Ammann MOAR The Monsters Know What They're Doing with Keith Ammann Key Takeaways Making Enemies works as both a practical toolkit and a design philosophy for creating smarter, more thematic monsters in tabletop RPGs—across multiple systems from D&D to Cypher. Keith talks about using real-world biology and evolution (think wasps, cephalopods, and parasitoids) to create monsters that defy typical humanoid/mammal tropes. It's unsettling... and that's the point. Monsters as metaphors: Your horrors can represent societal fears, personal anxieties, or moral dilemmas—but choose stories your table wants to confront and conquer, not retraumatize. Phased monsters (like Dark Souls bosses) add tactical and narrative depth—now adapted for multiple RPG systems and not just legendary D&D bosses. Weaknesses and Quirks: Make monsters memorable by letting players discover and exploit lore-backed vulnerabilities—not just AC and HP pools. Magic in Monster Design: Keith breaks down four ways monsters wield magic—spellcasting, innate magic, psionics, and reality-bending—each with different narrative implications. Listen Back: Previous Keith Ammann Episodes You can hear Keith talk more about monster decision-making, smart combat encounters, and defeating TPK machines like a pro in our earlier interviews: Masterclass #1 – The Monsters Know What They're Doing Masterclass #2 – How to Defend Your Lair Bonus – Combat Tactics, Intelligence Checks, and Mastering Boss Fights Catch up on all Keith episodes at RPGBOT.net/podcast or wherever you get your shows. 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

Today we explore three courageous decisions that show just how unexpected Bilbo Baggins can be, as he shatters all low expectations and inspires all of us, no matter how small, to be courageous. We wander chapter 16 of JRR Tolkien's The Hobbit: “A Thief in the Night.” And as a bonus we dig into the oft-tossed around theory that the Arkenstone is a Silmaril–hint, it's—no spoilers! I'll answer that at the end.Save 15% at uncommongoods.com/lotrpodShare this episode using this link:ringspodcast.com/240Who are you?Please tell me a little about you: ringspodcast.com/surveyWander Farther: A Free Reading GuideDownload my FREE guide for reading Tolkien's Silmarillion: https://ringspodcast.kit.com/a982347493Want to sponsor the Lore of the Rings?Sponsor rates, details, and inquires hereSupport Lore of the Rings with a donationAbout the Lore of the Rings PodcastContact the show, donate, and find past episodes: ringspodcast.comEmbark on an immersive journey through the captivating realms of J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth, where the epic sagas of the Lord of the Rings, the Hobbit, the Silmarillion, and Unfinished Tales, and more come to life. Join us as we delve into the rich tapestry of Tolkien's masterful storytelling, drawing intriguing comparisons between his literary works and the cinematic adaptations crafted by Peter Jackson. Be at the forefront of the latest developments as we explore the highly anticipated Rings of Power series from Amazon. Prepare to be enthralled as we uncover hidden connections, untold tales, and delve into the depths of Middle-earth lore. Tune in now and become part of our fellowship on this extraordinary journey!This podcast is not affiliated with the Tolkien Estate.Our Sponsors:* Check out Uncommon Goods: https://uncommongoods.com/lotrpodSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/ringspodcast/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Aaron Welty: The Heroics of WeaknessAaron Welty grew up with his eyes on the stars — not just the ones overhead, but the ones in stories. Galaxies far, far away, rings of power, and caped crusaders filled his imagination. But while most kids left those adventures behind when the movie ended, Aaron carried them with him. For him, those tales weren't just entertainment — they were roadmaps pointing the way toward courage, sacrifice, and a bigger purpose.From the very start, Aaron's life has looked a bit like a hero's journey — not with blasters or superpowers, but with quiet strength and a steady resolve shaped by life's challenges.He recently shared more about that journey on the Cedarville Stories podcast, opening up about how God has worked through his weakness to create something beautiful and unexpected.Aaron was born 10 weeks early and diagnosed with cerebral palsy not long after. That alone could have written a different kind of story. But he kept going one chapter at a time: first as a student at Cedarville University, then as a staffer on Capitol Hill, and now as a speaker and author of a nearly finished trilogy of memoirs.His interest in public service took root back in the seventh grade, when a lesson on U.S. presidents sparked something inside him. Friends told him he'd make a great president someday, and instead of brushing it off, Aaron dared to believe them. That dream found real footing at Cedarville, where he studied public administration and graduated in 2005.He packed up for Washington, D.C. soon after, spending years working behind the scenes on Capitol Hill and later with the Department of Transportation. His focus? Advocating for disability inclusion and making sure workspaces welcomed everyone.“It was about affirming the dignity of work,” Aaron said. “Even if only 1% were affected, it mattered to that 1%.”But Aaron's impact isn't just in policy papers and meetings. Over the years, he's mentored high school and college students, often connecting with them through summer leadership programs. He doesn't shy away from the hard questions — in fact, he invites them. And more often than not, he draws on the stories that shaped him growing up.From Star Wars to Lord of the Rings to Marvel's sprawling universe, Aaron sees more than special effects — he sees lessons on calling, identity, and the grit it takes to keep going.“These stories aren't just for fun,” he said. “They're invitations — to think, to wrestle, to become.”Aaron knows a thing or two about wrestling. He's lived through pain and loss and disappointment. But rather than wish those things away, he's learned to see them differently.“God didn't take the pain away,” he said. “He gave me perseverance instead.”It's something he calls the “heroics of weakness” — a way of seeing suffering not as something to escape but as the place where purpose can be born. “So often, it's the thing we wish God would take away that ends up being the thing He uses most,” he said.One of the pictures Aaron clings to is from Scripture — the idea of fragile “jars of clay” carrying something far greater inside. That's how he sees his life: breakable, yes, but brimming with meaning.“You're not just here to be entertained,” he said. “You're here to engage — to become who you were meant to be.”And that's exactly what Aaron is doing. In a world chasing fame and titles, he's living something deeper — a quiet legacy of perseverance, presence, and purpose.https://share.transistor.fm/s/03c5d342https://youtu.be/Vv_OYW-paE4

Since the last animated LOTR movie starting going down a rabbit hole of the Lord of The Rings Animated films.  Now we take a look at the first one that came out, The Hobbit.  A shorter tale, and a more complete story.   This movie takes the original Hobbit adds music and it quite close to the book.  Come hear what we thought about this 1977 Movie.  Starring Mike Albertin, Joseph Larrey, and Robbie Sherman. 

Join Sis and Big Pops for a fun, fun talk about one of the things we love most—Nerd Stuff. We discuss our fav bits of nerd news: Guillermo del Toro's movie Frankenstein, Oceans 14 being green-lit, the Dog surviving in the new horror film “Good boy, ” action figures from Masters of the Universe and Transformers, Vin Diesel The Pacifier, the last Fast and Furious movie might not happen and neither may Avatar 4, Humble Bundle of Lego games, Spiderman 4 with Tobey McGuire, and In Your Dreams Netflix kids movie trailer. For bingeing, Big Pops has been watching The Manning Cast- Monday Night Football, Mavel Zombies, LOTR, and has been listening to The Hobbit and reading Walking Dead Compendium. Sis has watched her husband play the game “Tunic,” as well as Kara and Nate, Inception, and Gravity Falls. Then, Pops shared his pull list! This week, he introduces us to Absolute Evil Issue 1 by DC (and Justice League The Omega Act Special); The Punisher Issue 1 by Marvel Red Band, and The Rocket Fellars Issue 9 by Image. His new number 1, or should we say issue 0, is the reboot of The Department of Truth by Image. His Book of the Week is Star Trek: The Last Starship Issue 1 by IDW. And last but not least, we review Over the Garden Wall.

Join Sis and Big Pops for a fun, fun talk about one of the things we love most—Nerd Stuff. We discuss our fav bits of nerd news: Dr. Who and Disney Parted ways, Agents of Sheild ROCKS, Harry Potter Audio book has a full cast that has been released, SC Comics and Boom Studios are having a cross over with Swamp Thing and Something is Killing the Children, ~and~ the studio Blumhouse is looking to make a Something is Killing the Children Movie, Fantastic Four is finally coming to Disney+, there's a Prison Break reboot on Hulu, and Crunchy Roll has been FDA approved treatment for curing lazy eye in Children. For bingeing, Big Pops has been watching LOTR and little videos, and reading comic books. Sis has watched her husband play the games “Tunic” and “Super Mario Galaxy,” as well as Speed Racer. Then, Pops shared his pull list! This week, he introduces us to Absolute Batman Issue 13 by DC; One World Under Doom Issue 8 by Marvel, and The Rocket Fellars Issue 9 by Image. His new number 1 is Skin Breaker by Image. His Book of the Week is Save Now Issue 1 by Bad Idea. And last but not least, we review the new documentary John Candy: I Like Me.

When people think of J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis, they often picture tweedy Oxford professors and beloved fantasy authors. But their writing wasn't drawn only from their bucolic days teaching at Oxford and walking in the English countryside; it had a darker, deeper backdrop: the trenches of World War I and the cataclysm of World War II. Lewis and Tolkien weren't just fantasy writers — they were war veterans, cultural critics, and men with firsthand knowledge of evil, heroism, and sacrifice.In today's episode, I'm joined by Joseph Loconte, returning to the show to discuss his latest book, The War for Middle Earth. We explore how both world wars shaped the perspectives of Tolkien and Lewis, found their way into works like The Lord of the Rings and The Chronicles of Narnia, and infused their literary masterpieces with moral weight, spiritual depth, and timeless themes of resistance, friendship, and redemption. We also talk about the legendary friendship between Tolkien and Lewis, the creation of the Inklings, and how the men demonstrated the countercultural power of imaginative storytelling.Resources Related to the PodcastRelated AoM podcasts:#178: The Inklings Mastermind Group#272: Lewis, Tolkien, and the Myth of Progress (Loconte's first appearance on the AoM podcast)#430: Why You Need to Join the Great Conversation About the Great Books#499: A Fascinating Primer on Norse Mythology #594: How Churchill (and London) Survived the Blitz of 1940#723: Men Without Chests#765: C.S. Lewis on Building Men With Chests#951: The Hobbit VirtuesRelated AoM articlesThe Power of Conversation: A Lesson from CS Lewis and JRR Tolkien Lessons in Manliness from Viking Mythology Lessons in Manliness: The HobbitMen Without Chests“Blood, Sweat, and Tears” speech by Winston Churchill4 Classic Chapter Books to Read Aloud With Your KidsRelated outside articles:Tolkien's Deadly Dragons Munich AgreementOwen BarfieldTolkien books mentioned:The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien Beowulf translated by Tolkien The Hobbit The Lord of the Rings Beren and Luthien Letters from Father Christmas Lewis books mentioned:The Letters of C.S. Lewis The Collected Poems of C.S. Lewis The Pilgrim's RegressThe Chronicles of NarniaThe Great DivorceThe Screwtape Letters The Space Trilogy The Four LovesMere Christianity The Reading Life Related books by other authors:Tolkien and the Great War by John GarthThe Somme by Martin GilbertThe Guns of August by Barbara TuchmanThe Future of an Illusion by Sigmund FreudThe Aeneid by VirgilPhantastes by George MacDonaldThe Vinland SagasThe Iliad and The Odyssey by HomerThe Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri Le Morte d'Arthur by Thomas MaloryConnect With Joseph LoconteJoseph's websiteSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In which Gandalf opines that they might get out after all, for all the Drums in the Deep. Join us on the Signum University Discord server: https://discord.com/invite/szXMFAv

This evening we will look over the Company's shoulders as the orcs catch up to them in the Second Hall, at the edge of the Bridge of Khazad-dûm. https://signumuniversity.org/news/annual-fundraising-campaign-2025/ Join us on the Signum University Discord server: https://discord.com/invite/szXMFAv

Tonight we join the Company of the Ring in peering out into the Second Hall of Old Moria to discover what, exactly, is on fire. https://signumuniversity.org/news/annual-fundraising-campaign-2025/ Join us on the Signum University Discord server: https://discord.com/invite/szXMFAv

Most adults stop playing long before they stop dreaming. Somewhere between deadlines and responsibilities, hobbies quietly disappear and with them, a big part of what makes life exciting.In this episode, I sit down with James Buckley — speaker, creator, and unapologetic Lord of the Rings super-fan — to talk about how geeking out can actually make you better at your job, happier at home, and more energized in life.We explore how Tolkien's world of courage, creativity, and curiosity fuels James's professional drive and why chasing passions outside of work might be the most productive thing you can do for your career.You'll hear us break down:Why hobbies aren't a distraction but oxygen for your purpose.How fandoms and passions create connection, creativity, and energy that spill into your work.Why adults stop doing what they love — and how to reignite it.What Lord of the Rings can teach us about leadership, purpose, and perseverance.If you've ever felt like you've lost that spark — the one that used to make you excited to wake up and chase something — this conversation will remind you what it means to live fully.Because when you give yourself permission to chase dreams and geek out again… work gets better, life gets lighter, and purpose becomes a lot clearer.Love This? Leave a ReviewHelp more pros find us and just take 10 seconds: • Apple Podcasts: [https://shorturl.at/Jhlez] • Spotify: [https://shorturl.at/8IeVM] Connect with Stephen Website: lifebuilder.co | LinkedIn: [linkedin.com/in/stephencourson] | YouTube: [youtube.com/@stephencourson] About Lifebuilder The Lifebuilder Podcast helps ambitious entrepreneurs and leaders gain clarity, eliminate distractions, and achieve their goals faster. Each episode gives practical strategies for personal growth, productivity, and building a meaningful life. If you want clear direction, better focus, and proven frameworks to win at life and work, this show gives you the tools to get unstuck and move forward.

Send us a textDr. Joseph Loconte joins Joe for a powerful exploration of faith, imagination, and courage in times of crisis—how two Oxford professors used story to resist the darkness of their age and inspire generations to come.As a historian and author of The War for Middle-earth: J. R. R. Tolkien and C. S. Lewis Confront the Gathering Storm, 1933–1945, Dr. Loconte reveals how the trauma of the First World War and the rise of totalitarianism shaped the moral imagination of both Tolkien and Lewis. While fascism, communism, and nihilism were eroding meaning across Europe, these two friends responded with mythic tales that reawakened the timeless virtues of courage, friendship, sacrifice, and faith.In this conversation, Joe and Dr. Loconte unpack what it means to lead with conviction in an age of cynicism—how to confront “the gathering storm” of fear and confusion not through force, but through imagination, integrity, and truth. They explore how literature can serve as resistance, how belief can ground moral clarity, and why cultivating the inner life is essential for any leader facing dark times.Listeners will come away with a deeper understanding of the moral lessons behind The Lord of the Rings and The Chronicles of Narnia—and how these works still speak to the leaders, soldiers, and citizens called to stand in the breach today.In this episode, Joe and Dr. Loconte also explore:How the First World War shaped Tolkien and Lewis's understanding of evil and heroismWhy the 1920s and 1930s created a “crisis of meaning” across the Western worldHow their friendship became a creative alliance and a moral counteroffensiveWhy The Hobbit and The Chronicles of Narnia are, at their core, acts of defiance against despairWhat “the cataract of nonsense” teaches us about propaganda and the need for historical literacyThe spiritual courage required to use one's gifts—even when the world seems to be falling apartHow both men modeled leadership through faith, fellowship, and imaginationWhether you're leading in the military, education, or business, this episode offers timeless lessons on how conviction, creativity, and courage can help us navigate our own modern storms—and remind us that even in the darkest times, grace and goodness still have the final word.A Special Thanks to Our Sponsors!Veteran-founded Adyton. Step into the next generation of equipment management with Log-E by Adyton. Whether you are doing monthly inventories or preparing for deployment, Log-E is your pocket property book, giving real-time visibility into equipment status and mission readiness. Learn more about how Log-E can revolutionize your property tracking process here!Meet ROGER Bank—a modern, digital bank built for military members, by military members. With early payday, no fees, high-yield accounts, and real support, it's banking that gets you. Funds are FDIC insured through Citizens Bank of Edmond, so you can bank with confidence and peace of mind.