Podcasts about The Lord of the Rings

The world seems obsessed with America right now—but Americans themselves may not be getting the memo.On this episode of The Treehouse Show, we dive into the strange contrast happening across social media. Foreign tourists are posting videos celebrating American food, road trips, sports, and culture. Japanese baseball fans are famously cleaning up stadiums after games, while back here at home, some fans celebrated the New York Knicks championship by fighting, rioting, and even shooting each other. What gives? Why do outsiders seem to appreciate America more than Americans do?We also jump into today's celebrity birthdays, which somehow leads us down a rabbit hole celebrating the greatness of Karl Urban. From The Boys to Lord of the Rings and Dredd, is Karl Urban one of the most underrated actors working today?Plus:

We continue our Lord of the Rings study with a detour to Plato and a different ring of power.Purchase the entire course, including our recorded live meetings, here:Purchase CourseWatch the video of this episode and subscribe to my YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/Z_OfCpjFgTkBecome a patron of Mythic Mind at patreon.com/mythicmindListen to all THREE Mythic Mind podcasts:Mythic MindMythic Mind GamesMythic Mind Movies & Shows(or become a patron to get all three shows in one ad-free feed)Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/mythic-mind--5808321/support.

Episode Details:In this week's episode, Grinch is joined by former guest, Wilderlandbuilds, aka Jarrett. Join us as we discuss the current state of LEGO® Lord of the Rings in 2026. How do you feel about the current pace of set releases, the price, and the size of the sets? What are its strengths and weaknesses as a theme? All of that and more will be discussed in this week's episode. Check out Jarrett's new youtube channel while you're at it: https://www.youtube.com/@wilderland.buildsInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/afols_welcome/

Nobody expected the second half of the cleric episode to begin with a discussion about wolves conducting hate crimes against coyotes, crows acting as aerial bounty hunters, and the lasting trauma of Game of Thrones season eight. Somehow this naturally transitioned into Pathfinder clerics, giant dragon towers, vampire bat transformations, and a godless revolutionary whose greatest enemy remains organized religion. In hindsight, this was probably the only possible outcome. Show Notes In the second half of our Pathfinder 2e Cleric build series, we advanced our morally questionable holy figures from level 11 all the way to 20. Before we even reached the introduction, however, we somehow found ourselves discussing wolf vendettas, crow conspiracies, Game of Thrones, British pronunciation crimes, and Pulp Fiction-inspired monologues. Naturally, this was exactly the kind of preparation required for high-level clerics. Randall returned with his godless anti-religious war priest, continuing his crusade to dismantle divine authority while simultaneously benefiting from divine magic. The contradictions only made the character stronger. Ash continued building a dragon-obsessed kobold servant of Dahak, leaning heavily into domains, summoning magic, and draconic heritage feats. Tyler doubled down on his undead survival machine, creating a cleric who would rather become increasingly horrifying than ever experience death again. As the builds progressed, the characters became increasingly absurd. Randall evolved into a social revolutionary capable of literally preaching atheism to enemies. Ash transformed into a majestic kobold empowered by dragons and armed with enough fire to solve nearly any problem. Tyler embraced his inner vampire, eventually turning into a bat, draining enemies, and becoming nearly impossible to kill. High-level spells stole much of the spotlight. Summoning dragons, collapsing enemies with Implosion, unleashing Massacre, and transforming into avatars of divine power all showcased just how spectacular Pathfinder's spellcasters become in the late game. Meanwhile, Randall's philosophy remained unchanged: peace is important, and anyone who disagrees can discuss it with the business end of a glaive. By the time we reached level 20, our collection of short kings had somehow become terrifying demigods. None of them were remotely good people, but they were certainly memorable clerics. Key Takeaways Levels 11 through 20 dramatically increase a cleric's power through doctrines, master spellcasting, and powerful class feats. High-rank divine spells provide some of the most cinematic effects in Pathfinder 2e. Harm-focused builds can become incredibly durable through self-healing and defensive feats. Domain spells continue to scale well into the highest levels of play. Heritage feats can dramatically shape a character's identity and capabilities. Avatar provides one of the most flavorful capstone spells available to divine casters. Additional 10th-rank spell slots are difficult to pass up at level 20. Warpriests gain survivability but still lag behind dedicated martial classes in weapon proficiency. Pathfinder 2e offers many ways to support unusual character concepts, including technically illegal godless clerics. Team Fun Size successfully evolved from weird clerics into full-blown nightmares for any 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

Every Warlock player starts with the same innocent thought: I just want a mysterious patron and some spooky magic. Three hours later you're reading invocation combinations like you're optimizing a tax return and trying to explain to the party why your character absolutely needed a sentient book, a telepathic connection to an ancient horror, and a cantrip that solves all of life's problems. Somehow, the answer is always Eldritch Blast. Show Notes We kick off our look at Warlocks by exploring the first four levels of one of the most customizable classes in 5e. From choosing your patron to selecting spells and invocations, we discuss how early decisions shape the entire character and why Warlocks punch far above their weight despite their limited spell slots. Along the way, we break down the strengths and weaknesses of Pact Magic, examine the importance of short rests, and discuss which options provide the biggest impact in the early game. We also talk about common traps, favorite spell choices, and how invocations turn a simple spellcaster into something uniquely weird. Whether you're building a blaster, a battlefield controller, or just someone who made a very questionable life decision with an extraplanar entity, levels 1 through 4 are where the foundation of your character really comes together. Key Takeaways Patron choice defines much of your playstyle and provides important features right from level 1. Warlocks rely on a small number of spell slots, making careful spell selection extremely important. Short rest recovery is a major source of the class's power and changes how the class feels compared to other casters. Eldritch Invocations are one of the most flexible customization systems in the game. Eldritch Blast often becomes the foundation of many builds, especially when combined with key invocations. Early-level spell choices can dramatically improve survivability, utility, and damage output. Level 2 is a major power spike thanks to invocations. Level 3 introduces Pact Boons, opening up very different character concepts and playstyles. Level 4 provides an Ability Score Improvement or feat, allowing players to further specialize their build. Warlocks reward planning and system mastery, but even simple builds can be highly effective. 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

Every Warlock player starts with the same innocent thought: I just want a mysterious patron and some spooky magic. Three hours later you're reading invocation combinations like you're optimizing a tax return and trying to explain to the party why your character absolutely needed a sentient book, a telepathic connection to an ancient horror, and a cantrip that solves all of life's problems. Somehow, the answer is always Eldritch Blast. Show Notes We kick off our look at Warlocks by exploring the first four levels of one of the most customizable classes in 5e. From choosing your patron to selecting spells and invocations, we discuss how early decisions shape the entire character and why Warlocks punch far above their weight despite their limited spell slots. Along the way, we break down the strengths and weaknesses of Pact Magic, examine the importance of short rests, and discuss which options provide the biggest impact in the early game. We also talk about common traps, favorite spell choices, and how invocations turn a simple spellcaster into something uniquely weird. Whether you're building a blaster, a battlefield controller, or just someone who made a very questionable life decision with an extraplanar entity, levels 1 through 4 are where the foundation of your character really comes together. Key Takeaways Patron choice defines much of your playstyle and provides important features right from level 1. Warlocks rely on a small number of spell slots, making careful spell selection extremely important. Short rest recovery is a major source of the class's power and changes how the class feels compared to other casters. Eldritch Invocations are one of the most flexible customization systems in the game. Eldritch Blast often becomes the foundation of many builds, especially when combined with key invocations. Early-level spell choices can dramatically improve survivability, utility, and damage output. Level 2 is a major power spike thanks to invocations. Level 3 introduces Pact Boons, opening up very different character concepts and playstyles. Level 4 provides an Ability Score Improvement or feat, allowing players to further specialize their build. Warlocks reward planning and system mastery, but even simple builds can be highly effective. 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

Tammy and Crystal watch Lord of the Rings WITHOUT DAVE?! Dave confesses a secret that affects the three of them. Guess the Celebrity and more! Tammy, Dave, and Crystal will remain friends no matter what! #ChelcieLynn #JeremiahWatkins #Podcast #LibbieHiggins CRYSTAL'S GO FUND ME: Donate at https://www.crystalscreationsllc.com GET YOUR NEW TRAILER TALES MERCH HERE!: https://thecomedyoutlet.com/collections/trailer-tales New episodes every Friday on this channel. Subscribe! New Trailer Tales merch is here!: https://thecomedyoutlet.com/collections/trailer-tales Jeremiah's Patreon is LIVE: https://www.patreon.com/jeremiahwatkins NEW MERCH IS HERE!: https://www.jeremiahwatkins.com FOLLOW us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trailertalespod See Tammy LIVE on tour: https://www.eatmytrash.com  @ChelcieLynn   @TheViralPodcast  See Jeremiah LIVE on tour: https://www.jeremiahwatkins.com  @jeremiahwatkins   @standupots  See Crystal LIVE on tour: https://www.libbiehiggins.com  @LibbieHiggins   @SlopCity  Want to send some mail into the show? P.O. BOX JEREMIAH WATKINS/TT P.O. BOX # 78375 LOS ANGELES, CA 90016 (Sending packages does not guarantee they will be opened on camera) (Some packages may end up on Ms. Crystal's eBay store) Sponsored by: Hims ED Support the show & get simple, online access to personalized, affordable care with HIMS @ http://hims.com/TRAILER Sponsored by: Cash App Download Cash App today: https://capl.onelink.me/vFut/0xf8aiko #CashAppPod. Cash App is a financial services platform, not a bank. Banking services provided by Cash App's bank partner(s). Prepaid debit cards issued by Sutton Bank, Member FDIC. Cash App Visa® Debit Flex Cards issued by Sutton Bank, Member FDIC, and The Bancorp Bank, N.A., pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. See terms and conditions for the Sutton prepaid card, Sutton debit flex card, and Bancorp debit flex card. Cash App Green features, Savings, Direct deposit, Round ups, Overdraft coverage and Discounts provided by Cash App, a Block, Inc. brand. Visit http://cash.app/legal/podcast for full disclosures.  Edited by Ryan Armendariz & Jeremiah Watkins Intro Music: Produced by https://www.instagram.com/professorcmusic Intro Vocals: Jeremiah Watkins

Welcome to the Circle of the World Podcast! Join George, and Harrison as we continue our coverage of Joe Abercrombie's First Law series! In this special episode we will be featuring our friend, DaBloodyNiner!https://www.reddit.com/r/HouseOfTheMemeMaker/comments/1txrxve/imagine_the_lord_of_the_rings_as_directed_by/Leave us a commentSupport the show

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Meagan is 44 years old! If you're reading this, you should have called in yesterday to wish her a happy birthday. She mighta been busy bc she is treating herself to a cardiac event or two at a sports game. Is it POTS …or (S)PO(R)TS?? Plus, we lament the rise and fall of blond-haired white boys. Spoiler Alerts for Alias (2001-2006) and Lost (2004-2010). But taking center stage is Judge Meags Lane! We are reviewing three issues for the day:Issue #1: Is Lindy guilty of being a big ol' b-word?-On the bench: Judge Meags Lane-Defendant: Lindy West, representing herself-Prosecution: Lindy WestThe Facts:Lindy has to interpret a TSA line in an airport. A lady in front of her forgets she has a belt on and gets booted from the line. Lindy advances within the line. A lady tries to cut in front of Lindy. Lindy has forgotten that this lady is the belt lady and says no cut-sies. Issue #2: Should we sentence Patrick Ta to 12 years of hard labor?-On the bench: Judge Meags Lane. -Defendant: Patrick Ta, represented by Meagan Hatcher-Mays-Prosecution: Meagan Hatcher-MaysThe Facts:??????Issue #3: Is Robert a lying liar?-Overseeing the case: The Textmebackoytes-Defendant: Jingleheimer Robert, representing himself-Prosecution: Lindy West and Meagan Hatcher-MaysThe Facts:Robert is charged with heresy in the first degree in suggesting that other podcasts exist. Robert admits on tape that he has listened to and written music for this supposed “other” podcast. Tune in to hear the verdicts and sentencing! And if you are in the petit jury of Textmebackolytes on Robert's case, please call in ASAP or we will send out a subpoena on your ass (703) 829-0003.NEVER LISTENED TO THE POD BEFORE? HERE IS YOUR STARTER KIT TO BEING BFFS WITH US!Meet Kevin in: Lindy and Meagan Need to Talk About KevinLearn why they keep saying BBW in Lindy and Meagan Are Officially BBWsDiscover the Kayak Dad Lore in: It's Our First Episode!WE NEED OUR ACCOLADES! It helps people find the show.⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5 stars only please) on Spotify⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5 stars only please) on Apple PodcastsGive us Rave Reviews and Accolades on Apple Podcasts! The Reason Podcasts Were InventedI have been listening to Text Me Back! since the very first episode and it has only gotten better and more hysterical as it goes along. It is a hilarious beacon of light in these dark times. Thank you Lindy and Meagan for sharing your thoughts with us. Mwah!ORYX_AND_CAKE THANK YOU FOR BEING ONE OF OUR BEST AND MOST LOYAL FRIENDS IN THESE DARK TIMES–ROBERT TAKE NOTE!!!!STUFF TO CHECK OUT:Order Lindy's book!!!! Adult BracesNEWSLETTER ME BACK (A FREE WAY TO SUPPORT THE SHOW!)Check out SWAMP PERSON Subscribe to Lindy's newsletter butt news!Check out our MERCH so we can make MORE merch!! (Patrons get a discount, so check us out at patreon.com/textmebackpod)Listen Ad-Free by joining our $12 Patreon tier Freakaconda!Subscribe to Lindy's newsletter butt news!Join our Discord! We're obsessed with these people.⋆｡°✩⋆｡°✩⋆｡°✩⋆｡°If you like this episode and want us to keep making the show forever, please subscribe to our Patreon. This podcast will always be free, but we need your help to produce it -- and if you support our Patreon, you'll get all kinds of goodies in addition to the show itself! Learn more about the different tiers and rewards here: https://www.patreon.com/TextMeBackPodAlso! Please keep in touch with us! You can text OR CALL us at the Best Friend Party Phone: (703) 829-0003.We're on Instagram at @textmebackpod!You can email us at deartextmeback@gmail.com!WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU SO BAD!⋆｡°✩⋆｡°✩⋆｡°✩⋆｡°TEXT ME BACK is a production of Lindy West and Meagan Hatcher-Mays, proud members of the BFF Network. Our senior producer is Meagan Hatcher-Mays. Our other senior producer is Lindy West. Our show is produced by Alli Slice.Our music is by Chief Ahamefule J. Oluo. Diana Bowen is our video and creative advisor. Our digital strategist is Chance Nichols.You can also follow the podcast on Instagram and TikTok @textmebackpod. And for even more bestie content, follow Lindy and Meagan on Instagram at @thelindywest and @importantmeagan!TEXT ME BACK is a comedy podcast where Lindy West and Meagan Hatcher-Mays spiral about politics, pop culture, dogs, space, friendship, anxiety, Lord of the Rings, and whatever cursed topic is haunting them that week. Along the way, they've welcomed brilliant and hilarious guests including Lizz Winstead (The Daily Show), Kelsey McKinney (Normal Gossip), Samantha Irby (We Are Never Meeting in Real Life), Guy Branum (Hacks), collaborators, comedians, political experts, writers, and internet icons for deeply unserious conversations.⋆｡°✩⋆｡°✩⋆｡°✩⋆｡°See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Special guest Peyton Jones joins Tim and Zach for a conversation about his ministry journey and how we can all be instrumental in making disciples in our everyday lives. Using wisdom and concepts that made the early church unstoppable, Peyton lays out a practical framework for how we can each make a difference right where we are. Filled with all sorts of interesting tidbits from Peyton's time in the mission field to working bi-vocationally to even some Lord of the Rings drops, this is a must-listen!Buy Peyton's new book Discipology here: https://a.co/d/006P6dBkSubscribe to get the latest videos and live worship:https://www.youtube.com/xchurch Connect with X Church Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/theXchurch.ohInstagram | https://www.instagram.com/theX_church/ Helping people get on the path to God.  This is the vision of X Church, led by Pastor Tim Moore and based in South East Columbus, OH _ Stay Connected Website: www.thex.church#theXchurch

We are continuing our Lord of the Rings study with the Book I, Chapters 6-12 (The Old Forest to Flight to the Ford).Purchase the entire course, including our recorded live meetings, here:Purchase CourseWatch the video of this episode and subscribe to my YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/WKnc1gWlbuUBecome a patron of Mythic Mind at patreon.com/mythicmindListen to all THREE Mythic Mind podcasts:Mythic MindMythic Mind GamesMythic Mind Movies & Shows(or become a patron to get all three shows in one ad-free feed)Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/mythic-mind--5808321/support.

Somewhere in Golarion, a tiny halfling cleric stands on a battlefield declaring that war is bad and violence solves nothing. Seconds later, he charges into combat with a hammer-and-sickle-decorated glaive, threatening to enforce peace by force. Meanwhile, a dragon-worshiping kobold is handing out experimental body modifications like coupons, and an undead enthusiast is one bad day away from becoming a lich because dying once was already one time too many. Somehow, this became a cleric episode. Show Notes This week we tackled Pathfinder 2e Clerics from levels 1 through 10 and quickly discovered that none of us had any intention of making wholesome heal-bots. Instead, we ended up with a collection of morally questionable short kings dedicated to violence, dragons, and undeath. Before diving into the builds, we spent some time discussing Pathfinder's deities, faiths, and philosophies. Ash walked through the Laws of Mortality philosophy, which somehow manages to oppose religion while occasionally becoming just as fanatical as the people it criticizes. Randall immediately embraced the concept and created a pacifist war priest whose solution to conflict is apparently more conflict. Ash also shared details from a new Starfinder campaign involving amnesiac characters trapped aboard a failing space station, creepy recordings, reality-bending horrors, and accusations of stealing ideas from Randall. Ash clarified that any theft was actually from Knights of the Old Republic II, which is apparently perfectly acceptable. Once the episode officially started, we built three very different clerics. Tyler embraced undeath through Urgathoa, focusing on survivability and refusing to ever experience death again. Ash created a dragon-obsessed kobold devoted to Dahak with enough fire and draconic abilities to make every problem look flammable. Randall built a tiny anti-war field medic whose philosophy boils down to peace through overwhelming force. Along the way we discussed doctrines, domains, divine fonts, Battle Harbingers, favorite weapons, and why evil gods consistently seem to have the coolest toys. By the end of the first ten levels, we had accidentally assembled Team Fun Size: three short clerics with deeply questionable life choices and entirely too much confidence. Key Takeaways Pathfinder clerics are extremely front-loaded and gain many important features at level 1. Faiths and philosophies offer interesting roleplaying options but usually provide fewer mechanical benefits than traditional deities. Warpriests gain armor and weapon advantages while Cloistered Clerics focus more heavily on spellcasting. Divine Fonts are far more flexible after the remaster because they no longer depend on Charisma. Harm-focused clerics can become surprisingly durable through self-healing and temporary hit points. Domains provide powerful focus spells and can dramatically shape a cleric's playstyle. Battle Harbinger and class archetypes show how Pathfinder 2e can radically alter classes without creating entirely new ones. Short ancestries apparently became an accidental theme, resulting in Team Fun Size. Randall's anti-war cleric demonstrated that ideals and practical solutions do not always align. Ash's Starfinder campaign premise proves that creepy space stations never go out of style. 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

Welcome to the Multiverse Report, a weekly recap of your news across all the fandoms with Mike Gibson and Steve Haller! Haven't Seen Star Wars! launched on May 4th, 2026. Follow us at    / @haventseenstarwars   or on Instagram at   / haventseenstarwars   Check us out at https://www.themultiversereport.com/ Supergirl Trailer -    • Supergirl | Official Trailer   As always, sponsored by Funky Town Comics and Vinyl, for all your comic, vinyl and fandom needs! Subscribe: Apple Podcasts, Spotify or search The Multiverse Report on your podcast app of choice!   ### #TMR, #MCU, #DCEU, #StarWars, #Fandom, #LOTR

This week, we're back in Middle Earth, trying to save the world, one trick at a time! Highlights include: - I shouldn't have been so poor last week... - Why say it's for 2 players if it doesn't really work with 2 players? - It's hard to make yourself lose... - Who is Gildor Inglorion? - Featuring non-recyclable gloss!

Somewhere in Golarion, a tiny halfling cleric stands on a battlefield declaring that war is bad and violence solves nothing. Seconds later, he charges into combat with a hammer-and-sickle-decorated glaive, threatening to enforce peace by force. Meanwhile, a dragon-worshiping kobold is handing out experimental body modifications like coupons, and an undead enthusiast is one bad day away from becoming a lich because dying once was already one time too many. Somehow, this became a cleric episode. Show Notes This week we tackled Pathfinder 2e Clerics from levels 1 through 10 and quickly discovered that none of us had any intention of making wholesome heal-bots. Instead, we ended up with a collection of morally questionable short kings dedicated to violence, dragons, and undeath. Before diving into the builds, we spent some time discussing Pathfinder's deities, faiths, and philosophies. Ash walked through the Laws of Mortality philosophy, which somehow manages to oppose religion while occasionally becoming just as fanatical as the people it criticizes. Randall immediately embraced the concept and created a pacifist war priest whose solution to conflict is apparently more conflict. Ash also shared details from a new Starfinder campaign involving amnesiac characters trapped aboard a failing space station, creepy recordings, reality-bending horrors, and accusations of stealing ideas from Randall. Ash clarified that any theft was actually from Knights of the Old Republic II, which is apparently perfectly acceptable. Once the episode officially started, we built three very different clerics. Tyler embraced undeath through Urgathoa, focusing on survivability and refusing to ever experience death again. Ash created a dragon-obsessed kobold devoted to Dahak with enough fire and draconic abilities to make every problem look flammable. Randall built a tiny anti-war field medic whose philosophy boils down to peace through overwhelming force. Along the way we discussed doctrines, domains, divine fonts, Battle Harbingers, favorite weapons, and why evil gods consistently seem to have the coolest toys. By the end of the first ten levels, we had accidentally assembled Team Fun Size: three short clerics with deeply questionable life choices and entirely too much confidence. Key Takeaways Pathfinder clerics are extremely front-loaded and gain many important features at level 1. Faiths and philosophies offer interesting roleplaying options but usually provide fewer mechanical benefits than traditional deities. Warpriests gain armor and weapon advantages while Cloistered Clerics focus more heavily on spellcasting. Divine Fonts are far more flexible after the remaster because they no longer depend on Charisma. Harm-focused clerics can become surprisingly durable through self-healing and temporary hit points. Domains provide powerful focus spells and can dramatically shape a cleric's playstyle. Battle Harbinger and class archetypes show how Pathfinder 2e can radically alter classes without creating entirely new ones. Short ancestries apparently became an accidental theme, resulting in Team Fun Size. Randall's anti-war cleric demonstrated that ideals and practical solutions do not always align. Ash's Starfinder campaign premise proves that creepy space stations never go out of style. 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

This week we're joined by special guest, Dr. Gerry Crete. Dr. Gerry talks about Parts Work and how we see it played out in Lord of the Rings. He talks about how we see the characters grow and change, and the different parts we see represented in the characters.References:Litanies of the Heart by Dr. Gerry CreteThe Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. TolkienFollow and Contact Us!Follow us on Instagram and FacebookWe're on YouTube!Join our Goodreads GroupFr. Michael's TwitterChrist the Bridegroom MonasteryOur WebsiteOur NonprofitSend us Fan MailSupport the show

In this episode of Ave Explores: Catholicism in Literature, Katie sits down with Kaitlyn Facista and Andrew Swafford to discuss the enduring legacy of two of Christianity's greatest storytellers, C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien. Facista, author of _Into the Heart of Middle-earth and founder of Tea with Tolkien, shares how Tolkien's works played a significant role in her conversion to Catholicism. Drawn into Middle-earth by its unforgettable heroes and villains, she discovered profound lessons about virtue, vice, courage, and sacrifice. In a culture hungry for authentic examples of goodness and bravery, Tolkien's stories continue to awaken the heart and point readers toward truth. Swafford reflects on encountering Tolkien later in life while reading The Lord of the Rings with his children. Those family readings sparked rich conversations, nurtured their spiritual imaginations, and created opportunities for catechesis. He also discusses introducing students at Benedictine College to Lewis's Mere Christianity, The Screwtape Letters, and The Great Divorce, marveling at Lewis's ability to reach students of every background and faith. Through imagination and story, Lewis demonstrates how art and literature can communicate truths that might otherwise remain hidden. Journey through the wardrobe and wander into the Shire for an inspiring conversation about faith, imagination, and the transformative power of great stories. We would love it if you could leave a written review on Apple and share with your friends! Editing provided by Forte Catholic (https://www.fortecatholic.com/)

Today we consider Aragorn considering Sam's scalp wound. And whortle-berries. Join us on the Signum University Discord server: https://discord.com/invite/szXMFAv Interested in discussing Dr. Corey Olsen's ExLoTR podcast? Signum University is hosting live Discussion Groups via Zoom through our Blackberry platform ( https://blackberry.signumuniversity.org/ ). Groups will meet once per month for 1 hour for live discussion via Zoom. Sessions will be recorded as well in case you are unable to attend live and are FREE for our first 3 months! Registration for sections can be found here: https://blackberry.signumuniversity.org/partners/enroll/

“Our brain really prioritizes vocal signals. They're super important to the brain because human communication is a really big priority for us as a species. It's a deep signal in our brain, right? And so, we were seeing a stronger reaction to the screams than to the music, and that sort of makes sense. There were more intricacies to that, but I can't really remember the exact brain areas and all that. But it was cool to see that. Yeah, it is sort of mimicking, but our brain really separates them. You know, it may still get sort of a response, a same kind of fearful response, but it's not going to be as powerful as the voice, um, which makes sense because music is not real, right? There's a difference between a real stimulus and this sort of artistic one. Yeah, so it was interesting.” – Caitlyn TrevorThis episode's guest is an award-winning researcher and musician with over a decade of experience studying how people perceive and respond to sound. She holds a PhD in Music Theory from Ohio State University and has published her work in top journals. She was awarded a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellowship to study music and neuroscience, and she's professionally certified in user research. As a musician, she has a Master's in Cello Performance, has composed an award-winning short film score, and has designed sound for theater and film. At SonicUXR, she leads with both credibility and creative empathy, equipping sound teams with the tools to create more intentional, impactful audio.Her name is Caitlyn Trevor, and her work is reshaping how sound is understood, valued, and designed across industries. If you've ever wondered how sound really works on us, this conversation will change the way you listen.As always, if you have questions for my guest, you're welcome to reach out through the links in the show notes. If you have questions for me, visit audiobrandingpodcast.com, where you'll find a lot of ways to get in touch. Plus, subscribing to the newsletter will let you know when the new podcasts are available, along with other interesting bits of audio-related news. And if you're getting some value from listening, the best ways to show your support are to share this podcast with a friend and leave an honest review. Both those things really help, and I'd love to feature your review on future podcasts. You can leave one either in written or in voice format from the podcast's main page. I would so appreciate that.(00:00) – Lighting a Musical FireOur conversation starts with Caitlyn's early impressions of sound, particularly the moment that sparked her love of orchestral music. “I came across on the floor like a little cassette tape and a cassette player, and I popped it in and just hit play while we were chatting, and it was the Lord of the Rings soundtrack,” she recalls. “I was a little too young when it came out, the first one, and I was just captivated by it. I mean, I was like, ‘Wow, what is this?'” We discuss the chance encounter during her musical studies that turned her focus towards music cognition and the neuroscience behind sound. “There was a lecture I went to totally by chance,” she tells us. “It was a new music theory professor, and the lecture was about music cognition, and I had never heard of it before. And I was like, ‘This is just the coolest field I've ever heard of.' And I totally was on board after that.”(15:00) – Pianto Sighs and Psycho ViolinsOur discussion turns to her research on the connection between music and the brain's primal response to voices. “In sad music,” Caitlyn explains, “there's something called the pianto topic, which is essentially just a half-step falling motion, like, which is supposed to mimic a sigh. But, you know, that's quite abstract… Whereas the psycho violin, you know, sounds very much like a scream.” She tells us about the birth of her daughter and how her career shifted from academia to the private sector. “I think a lot of academics are scared that's going to happen, that it's going to feel like, I don't know, maybe they wasted all that time,” she says. “I was prepared that I may not be able to continue doing music cognition, and I'm very happy that that hasn't been the case. That was surprising.”(21:40) – Putting Audio Theory to PracticeCaitlyn tells us more about her work on UX research, and how it quickly and unexpectedly led to her focus on phone trees and hold-time experiences. “They hadn't thought about the phone tree for that,” she recalls. “They just mentioned it, like, ‘Oh, and we're also doing the phone tree and the on-hold music.' And I was like, ‘Wait, that would be great for me to work on… somebody needs to do UX on that [because[ it's the worst.'" She talks about the advantage of being able to put her findings to use, something that hadn't been so easy at the university. “What I like about my new position,” Caitlyn explains, “as opposed to working in academia, is synthesizing it in a way that's accessible… I never really did that in academia. It was always just about supporting your hypothesis, explaining the results. But now I get to say this research shows me that we should compose it this way.”Episode SummaryCaitlin shares her journey from Lord of the Rings to the science of sound.The evolutionary origins of music and its impact on the brain.Caitlin's work in UX research and creating a better phone-hold experience.Tune in for next week's episode as we discuss the results of Caitlyn's studies into on-hold UX design and phone trees, why unpleasant sounds are sometimes the better choice in automobile UX, and what she's learned about the long-term return on investment when it comes to sonic branding.Connect with the Audio Branding Podcast:Book your project with Voice Overs and Vocals by visiting https://voiceoversandvocals.comConnect with me on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jodikrangle/Watch the Audio Branding Podcast on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/JodiKrangleVOConnect with me on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jodikrangle/Leave the Audio Branding Podcast a review at https://lovethepodcast.com/audiobranding (Thank you!)Share your passion effectively with these Tips for Sounding Your Best as a Podcast Guest!https://voiceoversandvocals.com/tips-for-sounding-your-best-as-a-podcast-guest/Get my Top Five Tips for Implementing an Intentional Audio Strategyhttps://voiceoversandvocals.com/audio-branding-strategy/Editing/Production by Humberto Franco - https://humbertofranco.com/This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

Okay, I admit: I haven't read LOTR. But there is an important part of the story that has always stayed with me that has significant implications for how we serve and lead. In fact, I think it's the most overlooked part of the entire book.. . .Coaching is one of the most significant ways to include reflection into your leadership rhythms for greater health and effectiveness. If you're interested in securing a free no-pressure exploratory coaching session, check out www.kairospartnerships.org/contact or email me at jrbriggs@kairospartnerships.orgIf you haven't signed up for my every other week FREE newsletter 5 Things in 5 Minutes (5 valuable nuggets that can be read in 5 minutes or less), check out www.kairospartnerships.org/5t5m**Resilient Leaders is produced by the incredibly gifted Joel Limbauan. Check out his great video and podcast work at On a Limb Productions: www.onalimbproductions.com

The Adventure Guide: Secrets of Enduril is a learn-as-you-play Dungeons & Dragons starter set for families and beginner players or Game Masters. Skip the thick tome of rules and simply embark on adventure! Adventurers young and wise will heed the call of Queen Tabitha III to investigate mysteries, solve ancient secrets, and meet some dangerously adorable critters along the way. The adventure combines the depth of Lord of the Rings with the playfulness of Zootopia. Find out more at https://theadventureguide.emberglowgaming.com About us: When kids are at the table, everyone wins! Playing TTRPGs levels up kids' critical thinking, creativity, communication, collaboration, & confidence. That's why we create our family-friendly D&D show, tips for playing with kids, and campaigns to bring the adventures home! More Family Adventures: ⁠⁠Our Website⁠⁠ Support Our Work: ⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠ Follow Us: ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠ A hearty huzzah for: ⁠⁠Emberglow Gaming⁠⁠ - GM Shield & Game Publisher (affiliate, 10% off: TheKidsTable) ⁠⁠Monument Studios⁠⁠ - Music (30% off: KIDSTABLE) ⁠⁠Ember Rest⁠⁠ - Filmed on Location Our Patreon Members - Thank you for your support! #dungeonsanddragons #actualplay #familyfriendly 0:00 The Kids Table Presents: The Adventure Guide, Secrets of Enduril 0:23 Meet the Cast & Players 0:54 What is The Adventure Guide? 1:37 Chapter 0: The Prologue 4:00 Character Creation 9:00 Chapter 1: The Beginning 21:35 Chapter 1: The Puzzle 28:31 Next Time on Part 2 of the Adventure

The Sidebars reunite with an old friend and attempt a very risky jailbreak.Also Granny is still a cloud sheep.** TRIGGER WARNING ** This episode contains themes of modern slavery, severe illness, and human(oid) sacrifice.Featuring:Erika Jayne as Taryn GrimSeverin Gourley as Dexter ClementineKasia Wayfinder as Granny Sabinkaand Julz Burgisser as DMVisit www.fateofisen.com to learn more.Fate of Isen is one of the Feedspot top D&D podcasts in the world! Check out Feedspot here.If you like the show, please feel free to follow us on social media (@fateofisen) or support us on Patreon! ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ Intro, outro, and recap music by freesound user, Tyops, and ambient sound by TabletopAudio.com

On this week's episode, the RCAD crew discuss travel, LEGO, and languages. On the TV front, they talk about Star City, Widow's Bay, and Chris's inspiration for watching the Movie: Greenland. Matt gives them a uniquely themed Meme Game. Can you spot the theme before the hosts? Lastly, Nick shares his epic quest to acquire LOTR signatures.Become a Patron at JayandJack.comWrite us an email at RCADCast@gmail.comFollow us on Instagram at RCADCastAnd leave us an iTunes review

Tolkien is known to despise allegory, but he is also clear that fiction, including his own, has a relationship with the primary world that can be used as a conduit for truth. In this lesson from the 2025 Lord of the Rings study, I discuss Tolkien's approach to allegory and application.Purchase the entire course, including our recorded live meetings, here:Purchase CourseWatch the video of this episode and subscribe to my YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/c9-2YjcmxnMBecome a patron of Mythic Mind at patreon.com/mythicmindListen to all THREE Mythic Mind podcasts:Mythic MindMythic Mind GamesMythic Mind Movies & Shows(or become a patron to get all three shows in one ad-free feed)Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/mythic-mind--5808321/support.

On this week's episode, the RCAD crew discuss travel, LEGO, and languages. On the TV front, they talk about Star City, Widow's Bay, and Chris's inspiration for watching the Movie: Greenland. Matt gives them a uniquely themed Meme Game. Can you spot the theme before the hosts? Lastly, Nick shares his epic quest to acquire LOTR signatures.Become a Patron at JayandJack.comWrite us an email at RCADCast@gmail.comFollow us on Instagram at RCADCastAnd leave us an iTunes review

After two actual play episodes, we finally sat down to answer the important questions. Why was there a demon in the basement? Why were people making drugs out of supernatural whale juice? Why did our cult immediately choose violence as a conflict resolution strategy? And perhaps most importantly, how many times can you accidentally make things worse before it becomes your crew's official business model? As it turns out, the answer is "a lot." And somehow that's exactly how Blades in the Dark is supposed to work. Show Notes We wrapped up our Blades in the Dark series by pulling back the curtain on everything that happened during the score. Randall finally revealed what was actually going on behind the scenes, explaining the Grey Cloaks, the corrupt Bluecoats, the illegal refinery, and the fact that our crew only uncovered about thirty percent of the mystery. Somehow, despite missing most of the conspiracy, we still managed to completely ruin everyone's plans. From there, we dug into the mechanics that make Blades in the Dark feel different from traditional fantasy RPGs. We talked about consequences, stress, trauma, healing, advancement, and how the game expects complications to drive the story rather than stop it. Coming from games like Dungeons and Dragons and Pathfinder, we spent some time discussing how strange it feels when success and consequences regularly happen at the same time. The downtime system ended up being one of the most interesting parts of the discussion. Recovering from injuries, indulging vices, reducing heat, building territory, and even potentially spending time in prison all create opportunities for new stories instead of simply resetting everything between adventures. Apparently prison gangs and ghost cults can coexist surprisingly well. By the end of the episode, we came away with a better appreciation for how tightly the mechanics and setting work together. Blades in the Dark constantly rewards messy stories, weird complications, and players who are willing to embrace disaster. Which is fortunate, because disaster seems to be our party's greatest strength. Key Takeaways The crew only uncovered a fraction of the conspiracy surrounding the illegal refinery The Grey Cloaks hired the crew to expose corruption tied to the Bluecoats The operation involved trapped spirits, electroplasm extraction, and an imprisoned demon Blades in the Dark expects consequences to create new stories instead of ending them Stress and trauma are resources that players are encouraged to spend and manage Downtime activities allow characters to heal, reduce stress, train, and pursue projects Heat and Wanted Levels create long-term consequences for reckless crews Prison and faction politics can become entire story arcs in longer campaigns Claims and territory expansion give crews long-term goals beyond individual scores Advancement is tied to roleplaying choices and embracing character flaws The setting and mechanics are deeply connected, making the world feel integral to gameplay Our cult somehow solved a major criminal conspiracy while understanding only about thirty percent of what was actually happening Releasing a demon may not have been the original mission objective, but it certainly made the score memorable 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

Week two of the Paulsploitation is here and man....we are dropped in the middle of the battle for the Hornburg! We are talking about 2025's The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim! We had Mickey from B-Action! join us to talk about all things anime and Lord of the Rings.....it was fun!

After two actual play episodes, we finally sat down to answer the important questions. Why was there a demon in the basement? Why were people making drugs out of supernatural whale juice? Why did our cult immediately choose violence as a conflict resolution strategy? And perhaps most importantly, how many times can you accidentally make things worse before it becomes your crew's official business model? As it turns out, the answer is "a lot." And somehow that's exactly how Blades in the Dark is supposed to work. Show Notes We wrapped up our Blades in the Dark series by pulling back the curtain on everything that happened during the score. Randall finally revealed what was actually going on behind the scenes, explaining the Grey Cloaks, the corrupt Bluecoats, the illegal refinery, and the fact that our crew only uncovered about thirty percent of the mystery. Somehow, despite missing most of the conspiracy, we still managed to completely ruin everyone's plans. From there, we dug into the mechanics that make Blades in the Dark feel different from traditional fantasy RPGs. We talked about consequences, stress, trauma, healing, advancement, and how the game expects complications to drive the story rather than stop it. Coming from games like Dungeons and Dragons and Pathfinder, we spent some time discussing how strange it feels when success and consequences regularly happen at the same time. The downtime system ended up being one of the most interesting parts of the discussion. Recovering from injuries, indulging vices, reducing heat, building territory, and even potentially spending time in prison all create opportunities for new stories instead of simply resetting everything between adventures. Apparently prison gangs and ghost cults can coexist surprisingly well. By the end of the episode, we came away with a better appreciation for how tightly the mechanics and setting work together. Blades in the Dark constantly rewards messy stories, weird complications, and players who are willing to embrace disaster. Which is fortunate, because disaster seems to be our party's greatest strength. Key Takeaways The crew only uncovered a fraction of the conspiracy surrounding the illegal refinery The Grey Cloaks hired the crew to expose corruption tied to the Bluecoats The operation involved trapped spirits, electroplasm extraction, and an imprisoned demon Blades in the Dark expects consequences to create new stories instead of ending them Stress and trauma are resources that players are encouraged to spend and manage Downtime activities allow characters to heal, reduce stress, train, and pursue projects Heat and Wanted Levels create long-term consequences for reckless crews Prison and faction politics can become entire story arcs in longer campaigns Claims and territory expansion give crews long-term goals beyond individual scores Advancement is tied to roleplaying choices and embracing character flaws The setting and mechanics are deeply connected, making the world feel integral to gameplay Our cult somehow solved a major criminal conspiracy while understanding only about thirty percent of what was actually happening Releasing a demon may not have been the original mission objective, but it certainly made the score memorable Welcome to the RPGBOT Podcast. If you love Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder, and tabletop RPGs, this is the podcast for you. Support the show for free: Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any podcast app. It helps new listeners find the best RPG podcast for D&D and Pathfinder players. Level up your experience: Join us on Patreon to unlock ad-free access to RPGBOT.net and the RPGBOT Podcast, chat with us and the community on the RPGBOT Discord, and jump into live-streamed RPG podcast recordings. Support while you shop: Use our Amazon affiliate link at https://amzn.to/3NwElxQ and help us keep building tools and guides for the RPG community. Meet the Hosts Tyler Kamstra – Master of mechanics, seeing the Pathfinder action economy like Neo in the Matrix. Randall James – Lore buff and technologist, always ready to debate which Lord of the Rings edition reigns supreme. Ash Ely – Resident cynic, chaos agent, and AI's worst nightmare, bringing pure table-flipping RPG podcast energy. Join the RPGBOT team where fantasy roleplaying meets real strategy, sarcasm, and community chaos. How to Find Us: In-depth articles, guides, handbooks, reviews, news on Tabletop Role Playing at RPGBOT.net Tyler Kamstra BlueSky: @rpgbot.net TikTok: @RPGBOTDOTNET Ash Ely Professional Game Master on StartPlaying.Games BlueSky: @GravenAshes YouTube: @ashravenmedia Randall James BlueSky: @GrimoireRPG Amateurjack.com Read Melancon: A Grimoire Tale (affiliate link) Producer Dan @Lzr_illuminati

Join the vassals Adam (drownedsnow) and Kevin (Nuncle Kevin) as they discuss season 2 of the HBO Max show “The Pitt”. Hosts: Adam (drownedsnow) and Kevin (Nuncle Kevin). Spoilers: Season 1 and 2 of The Pitt as well as some … Continue reading →

Every adventuring party has that one person who looks at an ancient magical artifact and immediately thinks, I can improve this. In this episode, we continue our journey through the Artificer and explore what happens when a character combines magical talent, engineering confidence, and absolutely no respect for reasonable safety standards. The result is a class that can solve problems, create new problems, and somehow convince the rest of the party that both outcomes were part of the plan. Show Notes The Artificer continues to stand apart as one of the most unique classes in modern fantasy roleplaying games. In this second installment of our Artificer deep dive, we move beyond the basics and dig into the class features, mechanics, and choices that transform a clever inventor into a walking magical toolbox. We examine how the class blends spellcasting, utility, and support capabilities while maintaining remarkable flexibility. Along the way, we discuss infusions, equipment choices, subclass considerations, and the many ways Artificers can fill gaps in a party composition. Whether you're building a heavily armored front-line inventor, a battlefield support specialist, or a gadget-obsessed problem solver, the class offers an impressive range of options. As always, we explore both the strengths and limitations of the design, highlight practical build advice, and discuss how players can get the most value out of their magical inventions without accidentally turning every session into a product demonstration. Key Takeaways Artificers thrive on versatility and can adapt to a wide variety of party roles. Infusions remain one of the class's defining features and provide significant customization opportunities. Equipment selection often has a larger impact on performance than it does for many other classes. The class rewards players who enjoy planning ahead and thinking creatively about problem solving. Artificers excel at supporting allies through magical items, utility options, and flexible spellcasting. Resource management and preparation are important for maximizing the class's effectiveness. Different subclass choices can dramatically change how the character functions at the table. The class often shines brightest when solving challenges outside of combat. Creative use of tools and class features can frequently accomplish things that other classes cannot. Understanding how your infusions, spells, and equipment interact is key to building an effective character. 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

Before any ministry can thrive, it must be built on a strong foundation—and one of the most important foundations is community. In this episode of Masculine Journey After Hours, the team explores why authentic Christian community is essential for healing, growth, discipleship, and fulfilling God's purpose in our lives. The clips are from "Alice In Wonderland," "LOTR," and "Fury."  Drawing from Scripture, personal experiences, and powerful movie clips from Alice in Wonderland, The Lord of the Rings, and Fury, the hosts discuss how God Himself models community through the Trinity and why no one is meant to walk their faith journey alone. Through stories of friendship, shared mission, struggle, restoration, and encouragement, they reveal how true community helps us discover our identity, battle life's challenges, and become who God created us to be. There's no advertising or commercials, just men of God, talking and getting to the truth of the matter. The conversation and Journey continues. Be sure to check out our other podcasts, Masculine Journey and Masculine Journey Joyride for more great content!    

Every adventuring party has that one person who looks at an ancient magical artifact and immediately thinks, I can improve this. In this episode, we continue our journey through the Artificer and explore what happens when a character combines magical talent, engineering confidence, and absolutely no respect for reasonable safety standards. The result is a class that can solve problems, create new problems, and somehow convince the rest of the party that both outcomes were part of the plan. Show Notes The Artificer continues to stand apart as one of the most unique classes in modern fantasy roleplaying games. In this second installment of our Artificer deep dive, we move beyond the basics and dig into the class features, mechanics, and choices that transform a clever inventor into a walking magical toolbox. We examine how the class blends spellcasting, utility, and support capabilities while maintaining remarkable flexibility. Along the way, we discuss infusions, equipment choices, subclass considerations, and the many ways Artificers can fill gaps in a party composition. Whether you're building a heavily armored front-line inventor, a battlefield support specialist, or a gadget-obsessed problem solver, the class offers an impressive range of options. As always, we explore both the strengths and limitations of the design, highlight practical build advice, and discuss how players can get the most value out of their magical inventions without accidentally turning every session into a product demonstration. Key Takeaways Artificers thrive on versatility and can adapt to a wide variety of party roles. Infusions remain one of the class's defining features and provide significant customization opportunities. Equipment selection often has a larger impact on performance than it does for many other classes. The class rewards players who enjoy planning ahead and thinking creatively about problem solving. Artificers excel at supporting allies through magical items, utility options, and flexible spellcasting. Resource management and preparation are important for maximizing the class's effectiveness. Different subclass choices can dramatically change how the character functions at the table. The class often shines brightest when solving challenges outside of combat. Creative use of tools and class features can frequently accomplish things that other classes cannot. Understanding how your infusions, spells, and equipment interact is key to building an effective character. 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

Hello Nerds, Thank you for joining Mike, Shaun and Adam as we look back at the changes the Nerd Nation experienced this year that we haven't covered yet. Three friends, three different takes on what's important to we nerdy story lovers.   Thanks for joining us this year, and while we take the summer off, consider looking back at our back catalogue! While you're there, you could also check out our Bookshop.org page. It's the easiest way to support financially while getting something you were going to purchase anyways. You are reading over the summer, right?! Until the fall, take care, Nerd Nation! 

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit claremontinstitute.substack.comPope Leo XIV, in his first encyclical, dropped a quote from J.R.R. Tolkien's Gandalf. Inspired, Ryan Williams and Spencer Klavan examine why, as other franchises become cringe, the Lord of the Rings books remain moving and important. Even despite some rough streaming adaptations, the stories pair sacred story with timeless moral lessons and unmatched world building. Ryan and Spencer rank the best—and worst—of the fantasy universe Tolkien helped inaugurate. 

The Storm Skiing Journal and Podcast still has a podcast. Get new episodes the moment they're live by subscribing to the email newsletter:WhoJohn Kelly, CEO of Taos Ski Valley, New MexicoRecorded onNovember 13, 2025About Taos Ski ValleyClick here for a mountain stats overviewOwned by: Louis Bacon (since December 2013)Located in: Taos Ski Valley, New MexicoYear founded: 1955Pass affiliations:* Ikon Pass – 7 days, no blackouts* Ikon Base Pass – 5 days, holiday blackouts* Ikon Session Pass – 1-4 days, holiday blackouts* Mountain Collective – 2 days, no blackouts* Ski New Mexico True Pass – 2 days, holiday blackoutsBase elevation: 9,350 feetSummit elevation: 12,450 feet lift-served, 12,481 hike-toVertical drop: 3,100 feet lift-served, 3,131 hike-to.Skiable acres: 1,294 (some hike-to)Average annual snowfall: 300 inches claimed on website; calculated 36-year average using data sourced from Taos' 2010 master development plan, Ski New Mexico tallies, and media reports is 233 inches. The 10-year average falls to 166 inches. Here's the year-by-year breakdown:Trail count: 110 (24% beginner, 25% intermediate, 51% expert)Lift count: 13 (1 pulse gondola, 2 high-speed quads, 2 fixed-grip quads, 4 triples, 1 double, 3 carpets)Why I interviewed himLet's start with a superficially troubling number: Taos' long, steady decline in average annual skier visits:That doesn't look so good, especially when laid alongside the long-term increase in national skier visits:Taos not only declined in the context of national skier visits, but also among its peers. In winter 1983-84, Taos drew more skiers (241,000) than Telluride (132,460), Big Sky (136,000), Jackson Hole (177,000), Whitefish (I'm lacking an estimate for that winter, but the ski area then known as “Big Mountain” logged 209,000 skiers in 1980-81 and 170,581 in 1985-86). Taos (dark blue line below), continued to out-duel this group through about the mid-90s before falling off a cliff:So what happened? 1995 Taos, a freeride mecca before freeride was cool, should have been perfectly suited to flourish in a cultural moment when skiers began demanding more interesting terrain than the groomed superhighways that had become the industry's default setting. Sure, Taos was remote and a bit harder to access than, say, Keystone or Park City, but so were Jackson and Whitefish and Big Sky and Telluride. A partial explanation: Taos stopped modernizing. After replacing the Lift 2 double with a fixed-grip quad in 1994, Taos didn't install another new chairlift for 19 years. The first detachable didn't arrive until 2018. The resort banned snowboards until 2008. Meanwhile, Big Sky laced a tram to the summit of Lone Peak in 1995 and started pushing detachable quads up the mountain; the first high-speed quads arrived at Telluride in 1986 and Whitefish in 1989.It's not a perfect narrative – while Jackson Hole rolled out its short Sublette detach in the mid-90s, the mountain didn't install an upper-mountain high-speed chairlift until Casper in 2012. Skier visits went up and up and up all that time, probably due in large part to aggressive improvements at the Jackson Hole airport.Maybe, though, it's as simple as this: banger snow years descended upon Taos – and New Mexico in general – from the late ‘80s through mid-‘90s. It's little surprise that attendance ups-and-downs largely mirror snowfall patterns:But, as the corresponding trendlines show, Taos' skier visits have not declined at the same rate as the mountain's average annual snowfall. And while Jackson's long-term average snowfall has remained relatively constant, attendance has crept steadily upward. Attendance spiked at both mountains when the 2018-19 season brought both plentiful snow and the introduction of the Ikon Pass:Unfortunately, Taos stopped reporting skier visits after the Covid-shortened 2019-20 season, so we have less concrete insight into whether the mountain's recent investments in a reconfigured beginner area and a second detachable on the backside have insulated it from two historically poor snow years. This is why it's nice to have basic visitation data, and why I'm pushing the ski industry to again publicize annual attendance for ski areas occupying public lands (since going live with a chart of 2,406 years of skier visit data for 97 ski areas with 10 or more years of attendance available, I'm up to 2,822 years across 108 ski areas, and I have a total of 3,802 years of data across 184 active U.S. ski areas for which I could find at least one year of attendance).We do know this: Taos doesn't want to return to the world of 300,000-plus skier visits. Somewhere between 250,000 and 275,000 is the “right number for the experience we want Taos to have,” Kelly tells us on the pod. Meaning: fewer skiers spread via a modern lift network is a better business than 364,000 skiers funneling onto double chairs. This flips the busiest-equals-best narrative that made skier-visit counts a 20th-century bragging point. I've heard the same logic articulated by the leaders of Killington, Waterville Valley, and other ski areas that have created a better business even with fewer skiers on their mountains. Jackson Hole, too, halted its relentless upward surge – that 2020-21 dip was deliberate, as the mountain exited Ikon Base and implemented a reservation system.This approach makes sense to me. With U.S. skier visits surging (until this year) and an Ikon or Epic pass in every pocket, no one wants to brag about being busy anymore. Space is the new volume. Social media can still transform one bad liftline into an eternal meme, but at least most skiers on the ground will have a better day most of the time than they probably would have 30 years ago.What doesn't make sense to me is why, in a less-is-more era, ski area operators have suddenly decided that skier visits should be guarded like Fort Knox. If fewer skiers is a good thing and a stated goal, why hide the numbers? The resorts ought to just say “Hey we've deliberately reduced our annual skier count from 300,000 to 250,000 [or whatever] to create a better mountain for you.” Instead, this secrecy around volume just looks cagey - if national skier visit numbers are up, then why should skiers just believe ski areas when they say “trust us, it's better now,” and offer no data to support it? Perception is reality, and today's skiing zeitgeist, as channeled by social media, tells us that American skiers perceive busier mountains today than they did a decade ago.But I'm getting off track. Since Louis Bacon bought Taos in 2013, he's funded an almost-complete renovation of what had become America's most decrepit destination ski resort. I don't think any mountain operating on U.S. Forest Service lands has more completely remade itself in the past decade (rapidly changing Big Sky, Deer Valley, and Powder Mountain operate on private property). Glimmering new but reset to 1970s volume, Taos is beautifully positioned to tap a skiing public that's burned-out on Colorado and Utah crowds but accustomed to modern lifts and snowmaking.What we talked aboutTaos as a family ski mountain; last winter's Chair 7 upgrade and custom terminals; owner Louis Bacon's mission to “improve everything without changing a thing”; why Taos changed from Skytrac to parent company Leitner-Poma for its newer lifts; Taos' great base-area reorganization; the story behind the Free Tacos run; a green run from the top of every lift other than the fierce Kachina triple; Taos' massive evolution since 2015; whether the mountain is committed to long-term independence; the founding Blake family's legacy and presence at Taos today; executing rapid development on Forest Service land; [VIDEO BONUS: Cat photobombing]; running Taos with the context of having worked at also-independent Telluride; becoming a skier growing up in Nashville, Tennessee; Telluride's evolution from semi-affordable to gigantic housing puzzle; employee housing at Taos; the logic behind the proposed base-to-base gondola and navigating local opposition; thoughts on the evolution of lifts 2 and 8; preserving parts of the hike-to ski experience; Taos' evolution after the Kachina Peak lift; lift 7A; the Minnesotas glades from the masterplan; avalanche mitigation; old-school boot-packing; parking lot evolutions; an ideal annual skier visit number and why that number is below historic highs; and getting to Taos.What I got wrong* When we discuss the wood-paneled terminals on Taos' new Lift 7, I ask if they're thematically related to the “wood RFID gates.” This is a reference to an earlier conversation that I cut, about Taos finally installing RFID for the 2025-26 ski season (the gates carry a wood theme). * I said that the trees skier's left of the Pioneer chair were not a named run, but they in fact are, and “Free Tacos” has a pretty awesome story behind it.* I accidentally asked Kelly to, “lay out the housing landscape for Telluride” but meant to say “Taos.” I didn't catch this in real time, but Kelly – who spent several years at Telluride before moving to Taos in 2015 – caught it and course-corrected.Questions I wished I'd askedTaos' 2010 USFS masterplan proposed a 7,045-foot-long, 2,363-vertical-foot detach quad that would have run parallel to Lift 1 to the top of Lift 2:We did, however, discuss the proposed 545-vertical-foot, 991-foot-long Ridge Lift off of Lift 8, and why Taos nixed that machine from its latest MDP:Why you should (or shouldn't) ski TaosTaos, like Jackson Hole or Snowbird or Palisades Tahoe, has a toughguy reputation. The place ripples with hike-to chutes and glades. To calm visitors shocked by the vertical bump run rocketing skyward beneath Chair 1, Taos to erected this base-area sign decades ago:The sign refers to the infamous Al's Run, which typically ripples with moguls, but was closed on my last visit, in March 2025 (Lift 1 was open):Taos certainly has plenty of nasty. The terrain ripping off the Kachina Peak triple is among the steepest inbounds terrain I'm aware of in America. But what shocked me about the place was how approachable it was for my then-8-year-old son, a solid but very intermediate skier. Every chair other than Kachina offers a top-to-bottom green – and some mostly mellow blues – making Taos one of the better family mountains in America.A lot of the solid-black terrain sits above the lifts, and requires a short, easy hike. If you've ever humped up Catherine's at Alta or Spanky's Ladder on Blackcomb, the ascent off of Lift 2 over to Highline Ridge or West Basin Ridge isn't much longer, and it flattens out considerably after the short incline. Unlike East Wall at A-Basin or Highlands Bowl at Aspen Highlands, this is hike-up terrain that's approachable for people who (like me), live at sea level and only like going up the mountain on machines. The runs are steep, and solo missions are discouraged, but the easy-in and proximity to lifts means a strong skier could reasonably expect to tuck a half-dozen hike-up laps into an afternoon. Here I am huffing and puffing right off Chair 2:Dang those trees are steep even right off the jump. Crunch crunch crunch:Go up a bit higher, and things get Lord of The Rings pretty fast:Taos' only real buyer-beware statistic is its insane base elevation of 9,350 feet, which makes everything, especially sleep, a bit more challenging. That altitude is actually a bit lower than the bases at Copper (9,712) or Breck (9,600). I start to have trouble functioning around 8,000 feet, which is the Vail (8,120), Snowmass (8,110), Snowbird (7,760), and Mammoth (7,953) range. So maybe see how you do at one of those burners before leveling up above 9,000 feet. Or at least arrive knowing that Taos will try punching you in the face. Hydrate and lay off the beer bongs for a day or two. You'll be fine.Podcast NotesOn Stadeli liftsWe've got 16 of these guys left across 10 U.S. ski areas, including Lift 7A at Taos:On the character of old chairliftsI wrote last year that U.S. ski lifts' overall design aesthetic has deteriorated with the decline in number of manufacturers and a tacit emphasis on technology over beauty.And I love old Riblets and Halls and Yans, but sentimentalism that locks skiing in a time capsule ultimately stalls long-term growth and invites disaster-by-disintegration. Rather than fight to live in a museum, I've adopted a quest mentality to ride as many of these dinosaurs as I can before they go extinct:On Taos' base-area fliparoundOn Taos' current masterplanHere's the conceptual overview of Taos' 2021 U.S. Forest Service master development plan:The major unrealized part of this is the base-to-base gondola - here's the most recent plan for that lift:On “class A avalanche mountains” with more than 200 slidepathsKelly mentioned that Taos' more than 200 slidepaths earn it the designation of a Class A avalanche mountain. I of course went looking for a list of U.S. ski areas so classified, and of course did not find one. In a rare exercise in self-restraint, however, I also did not create one. A quick Google search suggests that that such a list would include Alta, Kirkwood, and Stevens Pass alongside Taos. I would also assume that Alpine Meadows, Palisades, Mammoth, Snowbird, Big Sky, Silverton, and Crested Butte are among the most avy prone. That is not a complete list or an attempt at one so please don't write that I “forgot about” some particularly avalanche-prone mountain that I'm not trying very hard to remember.On The Storm's first Taos podcastThe Storm explores the world of lift-served skiing year-round. Join us. Get full access to The Storm Skiing Journal and Podcast at www.stormskiing.com/subscribe

Today, we discuss ending the podcast. We decide…we still like doing this shit! Turns out podcast fun? Podcast helpful? Podcast...hopeful? Even though we didn't win a Golden Globe, that DOESN'T mean we didn't deserve a Golden Globe. Maybe next year! If you want us to keep podcasting forever, please give us some yummy yummy affirmations! We live off of your written reviews, your Patreon bucks, and your general accolades. That's honestly the main reason we're still here, so THANK YOU to everyone who supports us on the regular.Since we decided to continue the podcast, we're thrilled to introduce a new segment: The

We are continuing our Lord of the Rings study with the Prologue to Book I, Chapter 5 (A Conspiracy Unmasked).Purchase the entire course, including our recorded live meetings, here:Purchase CourseWatch the video of this episode and subscribe to my YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/14C-xNNvFDMBecome a patron of Mythic Mind at patreon.com/mythicmindListen to all THREE Mythic Mind podcasts:Mythic MindMythic Mind GamesMythic Mind Movies & Shows(or become a patron to get all three shows in one ad-free feed)Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/mythic-mind--5808321/support.

Every tabletop group eventually reaches a point where someone says, We should absolutely not do that. In this episode, that point arrives roughly every thirty seconds. Faced with a secret ghost-harvesting operation, a trapped demon, corrupt Bluecoats, and enough evidence to bring down an entire criminal enterprise, our heroes make a series of carefully considered decisions such as stealing haunted jars, feeding a paralyzed rival to a demon, and debating whether releasing an eldritch horror is a reasonable business strategy. Somehow, these are not even the worst ideas discussed. Show Notes The second part of our Blades in the Dark actual play drops us back into the depths beneath a seemingly ordinary apothecary, where Roper and Talon discover that the illegal leviathan blood refinery is hiding something far worse than drug manufacturing. What begins as a simple investigation quickly spirals into ghost prisons, demonic experiments, and the sort of moral decision-making that only a cult dedicated to a vampire bat god could justify. After encountering a mysterious hospital-like corridor filled with dying victims, the crew discovers that the entire area has been sealed off from the ghost field using occult runes. The situation becomes even stranger when a dead body fails to trigger the usual supernatural alarms, leading Roper to investigate through the ghost field and uncover evidence of a much larger operation at work. Following clues deeper into the complex reveals the refinery's true purpose. Rather than merely refining leviathan blood, the operation is harvesting spirits from dying people and draining them to produce electroplasm. Rows of trapped ghosts, spirit jars, and meticulous records provide the evidence the crew needs, but things become personal when Roper discovers that an old rival named Flint is directly involved in the scheme. The score reaches peak Blades in the Dark chaos when the crew encounters a captive demon being drained for its blood. Faced with an immobilized enemy, a suffering demon, and absolutely no adult supervision, Talon and Roper decide that feeding Flint to the demon is the most efficient solution available. The plan works far better than anyone expected, which immediately makes it everyone's problem. Armed with demon blood, stolen spirit jars, incriminating documents, and several future psychological scars, the cult narrowly escapes while the facility collapses into supernatural disaster behind them. The result is a perfect demonstration of how Blades in the Dark rewards bold decisions, terrible ideas, and players who are willing to embrace the consequences of both. Key Takeaways The score showcases how investigation, stealth, and horror can blend seamlessly in Blades in the Dark. Attuning to the ghost field reveals hidden truths while often creating entirely new problems. The refinery's true purpose is harvesting spirits from dying people and converting them into electroplasm. Spirit jars, hospital records, and captured ghosts provide concrete evidence of the criminal operation. Teamwork mechanics allow players to combine actions and improve their chances of success during critical moments. Talon's alchemical abilities repeatedly save the operation, from paralysis poisons to perfectly timed smoke bombs. Roper's professional hatred of Flint becomes a surprisingly effective motivator. The crew discovers a demon being harvested for its blood, adding another layer to the facility's horrors. Sometimes the easiest way to deal with a rival is letting a demon handle the problem for you. Whether that is a good idea remains debatable. The episode highlights one of Blades in the Dark's greatest strengths: success often comes from turning disasters into opportunities rather than avoiding disasters entirely. 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

'Dustin Hoffman gives everyone their moment in the sun'Dave chats to Leo Woodall about his latest movie, 'Tuner', that's out in cinema now.

Download MP3 | Watch Video Episode Full Timestamps: https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vRRfVGTsj0bL0cIOqDKYBjaw1ss9QvfjaAKebJggp7xDA2uKbAWAcZEVXE__DFf20Eqi8T8AAzNgxLM/pub Announcement: A Tour Of The FGC Retirement Home Mina The Hollower First Impressions! The Ingrid Discourse Real Kojimologists Knew He'd Choose AI, But The Pope Has Spoken State of Play June 2026 Recap Watch full episodes: https://www.youtube.com/@CastleSuperBeastArchive Reggie In The Lab Limited-time Plushie only available this month! https://www.makeship.com/products/reggie-in-the-lab-plushie - Let Rocket Money help you reach your financial goals faster. Join at http://RocketMoney.com/SUPERBEAST - Go to http://buyraycon.com/superbeastOPEN to get 15% off - Take control of your income. Start selling for $1/month at http://shopify.com/superbeast  Docket: State of Play 2026: Wolverine Tokon Rayman Bancho the chef Kemuri - unseen ikumi nakamura Tomb raider legacy of atlantis Lost wild Phantom blade 0 Dune awakening Dynasty warriors 3 remastered No rest for the Wicked Onimusha Way of the Sword Townfall AC8 wings of theve, AC0 the belkan war Stuntman hollywood Ill (phantom pain intro kept going) Control resonant Marathon Runescape dragonwilds Gitaroo man Psyops Onimusha dod Until dawn 2 GoW laufey   Yujirio Hanma in Tekken Tekken 8 director Kohei Ikeda leaves Bandai Namco just months after Katsuhiro Harada's exit. Micheal Murray and Yasuki Yasuda remain. Harada_TEKKEN: I finally made it to WAFFLE HOUSE. ︀︀The staff are always friendly, and when I asked if they would sell me a menu, they sold me one for $5. ︀︀Next time, I'll be back at 3 a.m. for fight time. Tekken 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 all happen within one year. ︀︀There were six months between Tekken 7 and 8, and two months between 4 and 5. That leaves only four months for Tekken 6 and 7.  ︀︀Destiny 2: Every End is a New Beginning Pope calling a holy crusade on AI: "No algorithm can make war morally acceptable,"  Microsoft shuts down Xbox Copilot AI plans Microsoft reports are exposing AI's real cost problem: Using the tech is more expensive than paying human employees Ingrid released in SF6 Kojima is doing AI stuff "Your Heroes Will Always Let You Down" Yuji Naka wanted to call Billy Hatcher Big Cock  Senna Reveal for 2XKO Virtua Fighter 6 leak trailer Embracer Group will spin-off "Fellowship Entertainment" into new company. IPs under the group include Darksiders, Dead Island, Kingdom Come Deliverance, Metro, Remnant, The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, Tomb Raider, and many more. BoardGameGeek fires veteran advertising manager for rejecting campaign due to firsthand experiences of demonic possession Quantic Dream has discontinued development of Spellcasters Chronicles. Servers shut down on June 19th. Purchases during early access are eligible for full refund upon request. This was a 3v3 free-to-play game that released in Feb 2026 Your guide to the inaugural 'Steroid Olympics' Star Fox — Overview Trailer — Nintendo Switch 2  

Episode 95 celebrates all things Westmoot, the American gathering of the Tolkien Society held from May 22-24, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota! We begin with a reflection on our experience at Westmoot. Then we present our live show from Westmoot, “Disasters, Downfalls, and Dives: Athrabeth Podcast Live” with special guests Clare Moore and Tori Owens. We each chose our favorite disaster to present to the listeners: Daeron, Finrod, Saeros, and Túrin.   Citations Thank you to our guests, Clare Moore and Tori Owens!   Clare can be found on Bsky at @clarelmoore.bsky.social The Big Read dates and information can be found here:  https://erikjampa.substack.com/p/tolkien-society-seminar-and-tolkien?utm_source=publication-search (Accessed May 30, 2026) Learn more about the upcoming volume More Perilous and Fair, with Cami Agan, Clare Moore Dr. Robin A. Reid: https://dc.swosu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1081&context=mythpro (Accessed May 30, 2026)   Tori can be found on instagram @_toriello, and on Bsky @itstoriello.bsky.social   The Sillymarillion podcast can be found at: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sillymarillion/id1571617612 https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/thesillymarillion/ On Instagram at @sillymarillions On Bsky at @thesillymarillion.bsky.social   Join the Athrabeth Discord!  https://discord.gg/4rZynfWv3f

The gang is back! This week on Five's a Crowd, I am sharing the wild story of my recent anniversary cruise to Cozumel with Jess. What was supposed to be a relaxing Western Caribbean getaway turned completely chaotic when a medical emergency forced our massive ship to turn around—and exposed a blatant lie about a secret helipad. We also dive into the terrifying feeling of a mega-cruise losing power in the pitch-black ocean, the infamous 2013 "poop cruise" disaster, and the wild reality of K-Pop's global dominance.Thank you for being part of this crowd!You've got burning questions, we've got answers! Call or Text us for the worst advice imaginable, and we may feature it on an upcoming podcast! ** 801-513-3373 **00:00 - Start!01:32 - The Royal Caribbean getaway02:16 - The crazy cost of an Alaskan cruise04:22 - Carnival vs. Royal Caribbean class divide07:31 - Disconnecting from cell service at sea08:29 - Karaoke night and singing Cardi B12:50 - The power goes out in the middle of the ocean17:26 - The infamous 2013 Carnival "Poop Cruise" disaster21:24 - Costa Concordia and floating city nightmares26:02 - The massive scale and buoyancy of cruise ships28:05 - The Icon of the Seas is an absolute monster30:00 - The terrifying black abyss of the deep ocean31:33 - Snorkeling with sharks and barracudas in Cozumel39:49 - Selling the timeshare property42:12 - Petty HOA revenge tactics and fake chickens46:09 - The hypocrisy of hunter safety ethics48:46 - Exploding wild hogs with Tannerite51:17 - Salt Lake Temple renovations and earthquake proofing56:01 - The 10-year coma dream nightmare01:00:58 - The massive BTS concert experience in Vegas01:07:20 - How the K-pop Army moves global markets01:11:59 - The Brokeback Mountain and Lord of the Rings joke01:14:45 - Wrap upReddit- Our Subreddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/FivesACrowd- Our Account: https://www.reddit.com/user/FivesACrowdPodcastFollow Our Personal AccountsAustin - https://allmylinks.com/austinspomerCam - https://www.instagram.com/effinburch/Chris - https://www.instagram.com/thechrishummel/Tony - https://www.instagram.com/theonlytonyc/Zach - https://www.instagram.com/zvanbeekum/Hashtags#Podcast #CruiseDisaster #RoyalCaribbean #ComedyPodcast P.O. Box**Please no packages, letters only**Five's A Crowd Podcast1123 N Fairfield Rd #1373 Layton, UT 84041

This episode kicks off with a discussion about theatrical releases, social media, Point Break and The Fast and the Furious before your regularly scheduled programming of Movies We've Seen since last time (6:56), TV Talk (44:27), and Entertainment News/Upcoming Trailers and Stuff (1:03:56).  Then Patrick continues to share his gift by absolutely crushing this latest edition of What Year Did That Come Out Again? (1:22:56), trying his hand at stand-alone Star Wars Tomato Talk (1:25:30) and providing a Hidden Gem recommendation (1:28:31) before we lovingly sign off until next time.  Episode highlights include discussions about what we want out of a biopic, the appropriate way to watch horror if you don't like horror, Star Wars talk, the Cosm experience, our continued love for Brosnan's James Bond, the surprising amount of episodes of The Pitt, the problem with the Jack Ryan of today, how Andy Weir's thoughts about modern Star Trek mirror our own, the stupidity of circumstances surrounding the Egyptian theater in Hollywood, and our hopes for future Spielberg flicks.  All that, plus Kelly - on the record - calling Peter Jackson a bitch!  Our best wishes to Lord of the Rings super fan and talented funny-man, Stephen Colbert, and shout-out to long time listener and friend of the podcast, Chance, for his shocking television recommendation - Widow's Bay.

We begin our Lord of the Rings study with the beginning of Tolkien's world: the Ainulindalë, which tells of the making of Arda and the primordial fall of the devilish Melkor.After a presentation of the story, I briefly discuss the theology of Tolkien's world and its relationship with Tolkien's own Christianity.Watch the video of this episode and subscribe to my YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/IEIDwrI0ksoBecome a patron of Mythic Mind at patreon.com/mythicmindListen to all THREE Mythic Mind podcasts:Mythic MindMythic Mind GamesMythic Mind Movies & Shows(or become a patron to get all three shows in one ad-free feed)Become a Tier 3 patron to access the entire Lord of the Rings study immediately..Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/mythic-mind--5808321/support.

A warm welcome to another Middle Earth sleep story, where you are the main character. This track incorporates soft, soothing music, detailed sound effects and a perfect sleepy atmosphere towards the end. You start your adventure journeying back to The Shire, where upon arrival you have a dinner scheduled with old Bilbo Baggins. As you venture home, however, you notice a storm brewing, and move as quickly as you can to find shelter in The House Under The Hill, where a warm fire waits for you, where fresh hot food will be brought straight to your lap, and where a magical sleep will envelop you. *With the rise of AI generated content, I feel it appropriate to reassure you that I am a human creator, with a deep love of storytelling, meditation and sleep. I work on my own to bring you as many varied tracks as possible, and I hope you continue to enjoy my creations!* If you would like to enjoy ad-free content, exclusive sleep stories, live readings and more, then you can join our wonderful Patreon community here: https://www.patreon.com/sleepycatmeditations Writing, Voiceover & Edits property of © Sleepy Cat Meditations (est. 2020). All rights reserved. Music by Liborio Conti & Enlightened Audio (All Licenses & Permission granted)

Gov. Jared Polis has been the talk of the town since he commuted the sentence of noted 2020 election denier and former Mesa County clerk Tina Peters, and he's handling all the attention the way only he could – trolling the press, sticking to his guns, and finding some time for a very jovial bill-signing on an RTD bus. City Cast Denver's reigning Hater of the Year Adrian Felix and HD5 candidate Sterling Simms join producer Paul Karolyi to get into the weeds of that big RTD reform bill and dissect all Polis' latest antics. Plus, one of the most highly anticipated performers at Denver PrideFest is “breaking her silence” about a legal dispute with one of Denver's favorite clothing brands; Sterling addresses his opponent (aka, green chile correspondent Justine Sandoval); and all our wins and fails of the week.  That's not all! If you're a City Cast Denver Neighbor, you'll also get a bonus segment where we respond to some very fun listener comments and questions about DIA's new plan to divert waylaid travelers into its infamous underground tunnels.  Paul mentioned Pattie Gonia's online merch store, Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin's comments about sanctuary cities, and Elijah Wood's vaguely Lord of the Rings-themed DJ sets this weekend. Sterling talked about his campaign for HD5 and Colorado's latest PIRG report on clean energy. Adrian discussed a clip of his costume on our Instagram last Halloween, Denver Water's new anonymous reporting form, and the photos of State Sen. Matt Ball and Polis at the RTD bill signing.  For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter at denver.citycast.fm. Follow us on Instagram: @citycastdenver Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver Support City Cast Denver by becoming a member: membership.citycast.fm What do you think about Governor Jared Polis' latest antics? We want to hear from you! Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: 720-500-5418 Learn more about the sponsors of this May 29th episode: Denver Fringe Central City Opera Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

In this week's bonus show, Matt and Keith do a deep dive into what science fiction is. Plus, a huge disagreement and turmoil over their views on Star Wars. If you want to call in to the Bonus Show, leave a voicemail at (530) 332-8020. We'll get to your calls on next Friday's Bonus Show. Or, you can email Matthew at matthew@quoir.com. Join The Quollective today, and use Promo Code "matthew50" to save an additional 50% off a yearly subscription (which is already 10% off a monthly subscription). Pick up Keith and Matt's book, Reading Romans Right, today! Please consider signing up to financially support the Network: QuoirCast on Patreon If you want to be a guest on the show, email keith@quoir.com. LINKS QuoirCast on PatreonQuoirCast on Patheos Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Tonight we begin the Health Care for Hobbits portion of the dash from Moria to Lothlorien. Can the hands of the king cure a septic scalp wound? Join us on the Signum University Discord server: https://discord.com/invite/szXMFAv Interested in discussing Dr. Corey Olsen's ExLoTR podcast? Signum University is hosting live Discussion Groups via Zoom through our Blackberry platform ( https://blackberry.signumuniversity.org/ ). Groups will meet once per month for 1 hour for live discussion via Zoom. Sessions will be recorded as well in case you are unable to attend live and are FREE for our first 3 months!

The future of high-tech warfare has arrived. Just look to the conflicts in Ukraine and Iran to see how much drones and robots have remade the modern battlefield. Is the U.S. positioned to win wars in this new era? What are the ethical constraints of waging autonomous warfare? My guest this week is Christian Brose, the president and chief strategy officer of Anduril, a defense technology company building a slate of autonomous weapons and defense systems for the American military. 00:00 - Intro 03:18 - Drones on the Russia - Ukraine battlefield 8:17 - Iran's stalemate and American military readiness 17:11 - Anduril is more than a "Lord of the Rings" reference 25:33 - Force fields and a layered defense 31:12 - The challenges of "finicky" autonomous systems 44:44 - The ethics of automating the kill chain (A full transcript of this episode is available on the Times website.) Thoughts? Email us at interestingtimes@nytimes.com. Please subscribe to our YouTube Channel, Interesting Times with Ross Douthat. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher. For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.