Podcasts about Worldbuilding

B Marcus Walker joins me, John Richardson, to talk about building cultures and societies in fantasy without drowning the reader in lore. We dig into Brian's “less is more” approach, why outsider viewpoints can be the cleanest way to immerse an audience, and how cultural interplay can create pressure without turning every interaction into a culture-war subplot.We also unpack Brian's novel Spirit of the Plain (The Unnamed trilogy): the Forest Plain that resists settlement and armies, the Yurbo nomadic clans and their spirit talkers, a prophecy-driven attempt to “break” the Plain, and a magic system built around naming (with a surprisingly useful programming-language analogy). Plus: trade, geopolitics, gunpowder and firearms, and why the Lyken work better as displaced people than as generic monsters.LinksEpisode: https://richardsonsrubicon.com/b-marcus-walker-spirit-of-the-plain-worldbuilding-cultures-and-clans/Discussion: https://richardsonsrubicon.com/community/season-5-speculative-fiction-where-worlds-meet/creating-conflict-without-colonisation-worldbuilding-in-speculative-fiction/Book: https://www.amazon.com/Spirit-Plain-Unnamed-Book-1-ebook/dp/B0DTSQM437/Brian online: https://nairbful.com/

If you're wondering what NOT to do when adapting your novel, there are great tips in this episode. We've all experienced the feeling of walking out of a cinema and saying, the book was better. That's definitely the case for The Golden Compass. I've read the book and thoroughly enjoyed it plus the book won the Carnegie Medal which means it's excellent. So how did such a good children story go so wrong when it was adapted for film? That is the question we answer in this episode. Acquire the power to write a bestselling story at storynerd.ca/courses For access to writing templates and worksheets, and more than 70 hours of training (all for free), subscribe to Valerie's Inner Circle.To learn to read like a writer, visit Melanie's website.

Send us a textHannah and Laura are thrilled to welcome Moniquill Blackgoose, the author of the Nampeshiweisit series, to the podcast today! Moniquill shares about inspirations for her worldbuilding, developing young indigenous characters, and what readers can expect in To Rise a Riding Storm which is out now! You can follow Moniquill Blackgoose at:Website: Moniquill Blackgoose@moniquill on TumblrBe sure to pick up To Rise a Riding Storm at your local library or local indie bookstore today!!Media Mentions:To Shape a Dragon's Breath by Moniquill BlackgooseTo Rise a Riding Storm by Moniquill BlackgooseThe Dragonriders of Pern by Anne McCaffreyOctavia Butler's worksUrsula K. LeGuin's worksNaomi Novik's worksFallout---Prime VideoFallout: New Vegas the videogameSupport the showBe sure to follow OWWR Pod!www.owwrpod.com Twitter (updates only): @OwwrPodBlueSky: @OwwrPodTikTok: @OwwrPodInstagram: @owwrpodThreads: @OwwrPodHive: @owwrpodSend us an email at: owwrpod@gmail.comCheck out OWWR Patreon: patreon.com/owwrpodOr join OWWR Discord! We'd love to chat with you!You can follow Hannah at:Instagram: @brews.and.booksThreads: @brews.and.booksTikTok: @brews.and.booksYou can follow Laura at:Instagram: @goodbooksgreatgoatsBlueSky: @myyypod

Today I'll share the top 10 most-played tabletop RPGs right now. There are some surprises in this list, at least to me. I'll also begin my series of episodes exploring the new RPG, Daggerheart, by talking a bit about what I like about it and why I'm excited to run it. I'll compare and contrast DH with D&D, Pathfinder, and Numenera. Some of the aspects of Daggerheart I'll touch on in this episode include the basic mechanics, campaign frames, and how the game encourages collaborative storytelling by having the players contribute to detailing the setting, NPCs, etc. during play. I'll also talk a bit about how Darrington Press has made every effort to reduce math in the game and cognitive load on the GM and the players.Play Daggerheart with Me on Start Playing Games.Subscribe via RSS, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify.Check out my sci-fi novel, Critical Balance.Have you read Critical Balance? Please leave a review on Amazon.Follow me on Bluesky.Join my Discord server.Email me.Check out my YouTube channel.Join my Book Club, now on Discord.Check Out my OTHER PODCAST - Lex Out LoudCall the Game Master's Journey voice mail: 951-GMJ-LEX1 (951-465-5391).The Top 10 Most Played Tabletop RPGs Right Now

This extended interview explores artist and speculative evolution author C.M. Kösemen's creative worldview, influences, and life experiences. We weave together art, biology, internet culture, personal narrative, and imagination.His newly printed book All Tomorrow's chronicles the future of humanity and all the unimagined beings to come millions of years in the future. Filled with triumph, loss, pain, and love, this lavishly illustrated work of science fiction compresses time in order to see how actions today affect our tomorrows!Koseman's Website can be found here:http://www.cmkosemen.comAll Tomorrow'shttps://wiltonsquarebooks.com/products/all-tomorrowsTheme Music by the talented Steady Glowhttps://on.soundcloud.com/TGQD1LBlMG7hJnKNNX

In this episode, I speak with Jan-Willem Blom an AI filmmaker and creative director whose work sits at the intersection of classic storytelling, world-building and emerging AI tools.Jan traces his creative origin story back to a video store in the Netherlands hours spent studying VHS covers. That early obsession with imagery, myth and struggle later became the foundation for how he approaches AI filmmaking today.Jan argues that AI makes images faster, but stories still take time. We explore why struggle is the core of storytelling, how world-building is a way of seeing rather than a scale problem and why creators must intentionally preserve friction in their process.Jan also breaks down his practical frameworks for:Developing stories through “what if” questionsTesting ideas through teasers instead of full productionsBuilding visual identity through posters, symbols, and toneKey Themes We ExploreWhy “storytelling” is really struggle-tellingCharacters, world-building, and struggle as inseparable pillarsHow classic films taught us systems thinking through storyUsing AI to refine judgment, not replace itWhy speed without intention creates noiseThe importance of creative anchors and long-term obsessionsKey TakeawaysWorld-building happens at every scale, from a bus to a galaxyGreat stories require time, friction, and reflectionTools should serve story not the other way around

In this fun conversation, prolific authors Misty Evans and Michelle Miles share their writing journeys, discussing the challenges they faced, the impact of genre hopping, and the importance of creativity and mindfulness in their writing processes. They delve into the dynamics of co-writing, the intricacies of world-building, and offer valuable advice for aspiring authors, emphasizing adaptability and the long-term nature of a writing career. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 02:32 Challenges in the Writing Journey 06:01 Genre Hopping and Its Impact 10:34 The Creative Process and Mindfulness 14:59 World Building and Character Development 21:27 Co-Writing Dynamics 25:03 Advice for New Authors Author's Websites: www.mistyevansbooks.com www.michellemiles.net Author Bios: USA TODAY Bestselling Author Misty Evans marked a remarkable milestone in 2025—her 100th published novel. A versatile storyteller, she entertains readers across urban fantasy, paranormal romance, and mystery/suspense genres, while also crafting supernatural cozy mysteries under her pen name, Nyx Halliwell. MICHELLE MILES writes fantasy, paranormal, and young adult adventures filled with magic, danger, and swoon-worthy romance. Her stories feature fierce heroines, unforgettable heroes, and epic quests—whether battling demons, taming dragons, or traveling through time. When she's not weaving new worlds, she narrates audiobooks and hosts Miles Beyond the Page, a podcast for book lovers and writers. A proud Texan, she enjoys hiking, movie marathons, and a good glass of wine. Book Link: https://books2read.com/LostKingdomEvansMiles Love this episode? Rate it ⭐️ Thumbs Up

I sat down with Sarah Marshall, author of Playa Dust in My Soul, former Silicon Valley operative, and longtime Burning Man attendee, to talk about turning an uncategorisable real-world experience into a novel that feels like a fully realised world.We unpack what Burning Man actually is (Black Rock Desert, Nevada, dust storms and all), why Sarah says ten people will give ten different versions of the same event, and how the festival's principles function like world rules. Two big ones: gifting and participation.We also dig into Sarah's craft choices, including a smart structural move: seven perspectives, each arriving at different stages as the city builds from empty desert to a thriving temporary metropolis. The result is worldbuilding-by-experience, not encyclopaedia-by-info-dump.Under the spectacle, the real theme is human: belonging, identity, and what happens when a place forces you to confront the stories you tell about yourself.Discussion here: https://richardsonsrubicon.com/community/season-5-speculative-fiction-where-worlds-meet/writing-a-real-place-like-a-speculative-world-rules-constraints-and-point-of-view/Episode page: https://richardsonsrubicon.com/sarah-marshall-playa-dust-in-my-soul-worldbuilding-burning-man/Sarah's site: https://www.playadustinmysoul.com/

In this episode, Jeff sits down with science fiction author LeAnn Robinson. They talk about world building in a way that will hook readers.  For more on the craft of writing, check out https://dialoguedoctor.com/

4th Wall: Thus begins our harrowing tales of Elder Scrolls lore. Originally this was part of our exclusive episodes on the 4th Wall platform and now it's free for all.

Insightful. World-Building. Spit-take inducing.Mark Day's videos serve as a digital gateway for many thousands of Burners, capturing that blurry edge where the default world ends and the playa begins. From his early days building tripper trappers and doing stand up comedy, to his controversial tinkering with AI art (think Dalmatians made of donuts), Mark has put 10,000 hours into his “24 Hours at Burning Man” videos.Andie Grace talks with this unique content creator to explore thresholds and multitudes. They discuss how to capture the moment and also experience it. They dive head first into the touchy subjects of consent, the ethics of documentation, and how “acculturation is an everybody thing.”He shares his sociology of being a Greeter at BRC. He talks creative process. He brings Scottish wit and clever curiosity to open-ended self-expression and the freedom to be your favorite version of yourself.https://journal.burningman.org/author/mark-dayhttps://www.youtube.com/markdaycomedyhttps://www.instagram.com/burner_videos LIVE.BURNINGMAN.ORG

I sat down with Diana Colleen to talk about her award-winning novel They Could Be Saviors, a near-future speculative story with a wild premise: what if the only way to tackle the climate crisis is to kidnap the billionaires fueling it, then force them into rehabilitation?Diana is a Canadian author now living in the United States, and she shared how the book came together after a big life pivot. We get into the moral problem at the heart of the story, how she kept the tech believable without turning it into hard sci-fi, and why she calls it “sci-fi light”.A big part of the book is psychedelic-assisted therapy, and Diana's experience here is not theoretical. She talked about her own therapy journey, how it influenced the novel, and how “set and setting” complicates the idea of forced treatment. We also dug into character work, including why the billionaires aren't written as cartoon villains, and why she wanted readers arguing with each other, not being handed easy answers.If you like speculative fiction that stays close to the real world, asks uncomfortable questions, and uses worldbuilding with restraint and purpose, this one's for you.Her site: https://www.dianacolleenauthor.com/ You can find more detail at Richardson's Rubicon: https://richardsonsrubicon.com/save-the-world-break-the-rules/Discuss issues raised here: https://richardsonsrubicon.com/community/season-5-speculative-fiction-where-worlds-meet/should-speculative-fiction-push-moral-boundaries-in-worldbuilding/

In this episode of the Talk My Credo Podcast, the crew tackles a variety of topics ranging from political satire to cultural critiques, touching on the humorous mispronunciations of Ocho Cinco, the impact of the movie Sinners, and the "Christian" backlash surrounding Druski's mega church skit and their handling of the Buddhist monks' protest walk for peace. They discuss the misinterpretation of Jesus' teachings, the importance of engaging with different beliefs, and the role of accountability in faith accurately instead of performative behavior. The conversation also touches on the drama of Keith Lee's review of the trendy "tendernism" restaurant and its fallout, as well as the complexities of family relationships and narcissism. Tap in and lets get active!!*** CHAPTERS ***00:00 Introduction and Humor in Current Events02:30 Cultural Commentary on Weather and Lifestyle04:34 Discussion on Mispronunciations and Local Identity06:07 The Impact of Celebrity on Local Culture09:00 Exploring the Sequel Debate for 'Sinners'11:10 Audience Reactions and Expectations for Sequels13:36 Cultural Reflections on Historical Narratives16:02 The Role of Race in Film and Media18:46 Concluding Thoughts on Film and Cultural Identity25:12 World Building in Storytelling27:40 The Role of Humor in Church Culture29:49 Critique of Mega Church Practices33:37 The Intersection of Faith and Comedy36:46 The Importance of Community in Faith44:24 Peaceful Protests and Religious Responses51:40 Understanding Different Perspectives on Faith52:57 The Importance of Genuine Intentions in Ministry56:30 Critiquing Performative Christianity58:20 The Role of Accountability in Faith Communities01:00:12 Navigating Celebrity Influence in Social Media01:03:33 The Impact of Food Reviews on Local Businesses01:18:43 The Journey of Keith Lee01:20:38 Critique of Celebrity Culture01:22:45 Missed Opportunities in Business01:24:39 The Dynamics of Family Relationships01:27:25 Understanding Narcissism and Entitlement01:28:57 Navigating Personal Growth and Independence---------------

In this episode of The Corner of Story and Game, returning guest Brady Sadler joins us for a wide-ranging conversation about worldbuilding, creative identity, and what it looks like to grow into a maker who works across mediums. Brady has been on a prolific run with his novels, while also co-designing board games and helping launch a publishing company with his brother.Together, we explore how a story world evolves when it has to live in multiple forms, and how that process can reveal the shape of a creator's voice. If you are building a setting, a series, or a game, this episode is a grounded look at how to map the territory of “you” while still shipping work and staying excited.Quick note for context: this conversation was recorded in early December and sat on the shelf a bit due to technical issues. Since we recorded, Brady has release the book he talks about in the beginning of the interview.

The Thanes return!JOIN OUR DISCORDHelp support the show by visiting our Patreon and find even more content on our Website!Intro/Outro Music “Jotunheim (Chiptune Version)” Courtesy of Rush CoilOriginal Composition by Serpent Sound Studios

The Thanes return!JOIN OUR DISCORDHelp support the show by visiting our Patreon and find even more content on our Website!Intro/Outro Music “Jotunheim (Chiptune Version)” Courtesy of Rush CoilOriginal Composition by Serpent Sound Studios

*Enjoy a preview of our new My Heroine Journey podcast:Are you ready for big mindset shifts, but don't know how to get started, let alone make it across the finish line?It's probably because you were never taught the real rules to the inner workings of the unconscious mind. Until now.Back for Part 2 of “Worldbuilding: How Your Mind Writes Your Story,” Megan and Kate are jumping right back into the foundational understandings you need to know to start building your dream kingdom from the inside out, including:The Universal Energetic Law of Focus and how to finally use it in your favor More prime directives of the unconscious mind and how to use them to write a new story A tried and true practice for starting to build the world you want from the inside out Scotland is calling! Join our APRIL 2026 Scotland Fantasy Tour HERE Want to explore the world of SJM with us? Become a PATRON and gain access to our entire Sarah J. Maas series collection! LISTEN to our new My Heroine Journey podcast and follow us here: APPLE / SPOTIFY / WEBSITE

After nine years, five seasons, and one massive cultural footprint, Stranger Things has officially come to an end — with the final episode dropping on December 31. And on Fantasy for the Ages, we couldn't let that moment pass without a deep, honest, spoiler-filled conversation.In this episode, Jim is joined by longtime Stranger Things fans and frequent FFTA guests Eric, Karri, and Roofmistress Leigh-a for a full roundtable discussion of Stranger Things (2016–2025). We're talking the entire series — the highs, the heartbreaks, the monsters, the music, the characters we loved, and the choices that sparked debate.Most importantly, we dive deep into Season 5 and the ending:• Did the finale stick the landing?• Were the character arcs earned?• Did the Upside Down mythology hold together?• What worked brilliantly — and what didn't?• Where does Stranger Things rank among the all-time great genre shows?⚠️ This is a FULL SPOILER episode — nothing is off-limits. If you haven't finished the series yet, bookmark this and come back after the credits roll.Don't forget to Like, Subscribe, and Ring the Notification Bell! Join the discussion in the comments, tell us where Stranger Things lands for you, and come continue the conversation with us on Discord. If you want to help support the channel and keep Fantasy for the Ages going strong, check out our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/FantasyForTheAges#StrangerThings #StrangerThingsSeason5 #StrangerThingsEnding #FullSpoilers #FantasyForTheAges #NetflixSeries #GeekDiscussion #TVFinale #GenreTV #FFTAWays to Connect with Our Guests:Eric Haan's Author Site: https://www.jakethedragontalker.comKarri on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/hathor46.bsky.socialRoofmistress Leigh-a on Three-Fold Talk: https://www.youtube.com/@MalkierTalks/playlists Ways to connect with us:Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/FantasyForTheAges Follow Jim/Father on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/13848336-jim-scriven Join us on Discord: https://discord.gg/jMWyVJ6qKk Follow us on "X": @Fantasy4theAges Follow us on Blue Sky: @fantasy4theages.bsky.socialFollow us on Instagram: fantasy_for_the_ages Follow us on Mastodon: @FantasyForTheAges@nerdculture.de Email us: FantasyForTheAges@gmail.com Check out our merch: https://www.newcreationsbyjen.com/collections/fantasyfortheagesJim's Microphone: Blue Yeti https://tinyurl.com/3shpvhb4 Jim's Camera: Razer Kito Pro https://tinyurl.com/c873tc2n 0:00 - Opening1:25 - Episode Explanation5:05 - Big Picture Reflections, and THAT ENDING!21:59 - Character Arcs29:34 - Villains, Horror, and Stakes40:07 - Worldbuilding & Lore44:03 - Emotional Payoffs / Iconic Moments53:06 - Critiques59:25 - Legacy & Final Verdicts1:06:23 - Conclusion & Wrap-up————————————————————————————Music and video elements licensed under Envato Elements:https://elements.envato.com/

In this episode I sat down with Russell Van Brocklen, a New York–based, state-funded dyslexia researcher with strong opinions about writing, world-building, and why so many Hollywood films collapse under the weight of their own unfinished scripts.Russell works with highly intelligent dyslexic students who are often written off early. His methods are bluntly effective. In one year, students struggling with basic literacy were producing graduate-level analytical writing. Russell wanted to explore these two points: 1. Worldbuilding for readability — how to keep complexity while still keeping the reader with you. 2. The “logic stress-test” — a practical way to catch plot holes and broken rules before the audience does. Central to his thinking is the idea of universal themes. Not vague ones, but precise, distilled ideas uncovered by relentlessly asking “why” until the real story shows itself. It's tiring work, and that's the point.We talked through character-driven world-building, using Star Wars as a reference point, and why a world should emerge from a protagonist's needs rather than decorative lore. We also dug into antagonists, not as moustache-twirling villains, but as conceptual opposition to the hero's goal. Get that wrong and the story leaks logic everywhere.Russell also uses AI extensively. Not to write for him, but to do the heavy lifting he'd rather not. Definitions, logic checks, thematic narrowing, idea pressure-testing. He treats AI like a lab assistant, not an author. His view is simple: if you can't improve on what AI gives you, that's not an AI problem. Oops.We wrapped up talking about craft, accessibility, and why structure isn't the enemy of creativity. Russell's perspective is shaped by his own experience with dyslexia and late fluency, and it shows. This is a practical, sometimes uncomfortable conversation about writing with intent, and why most stories fail long before page one.If you care about world-building, theme, or simply finishing what you start, this one is worth your time, even if I do say so myself.Episode page: https://richardsonsrubicon.com/breaking-scripts-building-worlds/Discussion: https://richardsonsrubicon.com/community/season-5-speculative-fiction-where-worlds-meet/is-ai-a-cheat-code-for-better-worldbuilding/

In today's episode, Jim sits down with Dust Kunkel, the author of the dark fantasy debut Fly Stone, Fly, for a wide-ranging conversation about writing, influences, and the strange, brutal, deeply human story that's already turning heads.We start spoiler-free, getting to know Dust as a person and a reader—favorite books, movies, and inspirations—before diving into the origins of Fly Stone, Fly, why dark fantasy was the right home for this story, and how a debut novel ends up landing award attention right out of the gate.From there, we talk craft:

*Enjoy a preview of our new My Heroine Journey podcast:Do you find yourself ready for big change, but don't know why you still feel chained to same old habits, emotions, and beliefs? It's not your fault, you just haven't been taught the real rules to the world we live in.In this first part of their worldbuilding series, Megan and Kate lay down foundational understandings you need to know in order to conquer your world, including:The Universal Energetic Law of Free Will and why it's the key to freedomPrime directives of the unconscious mind and how they are dictating your lifeThe first step to choosing a new path and getting the rules of the world to work in your favor Stay tuned for Part 2 of the Worldbuilding Series!Support the showScotland is calling! Join the Scotland Fantasy Tour HERE Want to explore the world of SJM with us? Become a PATRON and gain access to our entire Sarah J. Maas series collection! LISTEN to our new My Heroine Journey podcast and follow us here: APPLE / SPOTIFY / WEBSITE

Let's take a quick look back at the top episodes of 2025, best reads and much gratitude for making the podcast top of the charts in many counties. A deep dive into Avatar: Fire and Ash with Production Designers Dylan Cole and Ben Procter and Set Decorator Vanessa Cole. This episode breaks down why Avatar is “live action by other means,” how practical builds and reference testing support performance capture, and how story + design influence each other throughout the process.Topics include the Ash People (volcanic wasteland inspiration, a bold black/white/red palette, and the idea of a village inside a burnt Great Tree trunk), the intricate craftsmanship of the Wind Traders (including 3,500+ feet of braided rope), and the evolving visual culture of the RDA. If you love production design, set decoration, worldbuilding, and behind-the-scenes filmmaking — this one's for you.

Spiraling Out of Control World Building Rough Draft Lost and Recovered Audio FileWelcome to the Zeppoverse A content creation Project of Many Projects. Visit the  many dimensions of the Zeppoverse at this link collection page : https://solo.to/mrzeppo

Thank you to our sponsor World Anvil! Check out World Anvil to use their Worldbuilding, Writing, and Game Master tools for free! If you like what you see, use code "RAMBLE" at checkout for 51% off a yearly subscription! https://www.worldanvil.com/?c=2ToRambleBig thanks to the trio for coming on -- check out all of their channels here:https://www.youtube.com/@Jed_Hernehttps://www.youtube.com/@_jaredhttps://www.youtube.com/@Talking_StoryJed's interview with Ruocchio:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrJFQe0JXug&t=2662sJohn & Jakob's interview with Ruocchio:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JIvnIFchyD0&t=2335s⭐️ Exclusive Book Club! Join/Support on Patreon

The Fifth Element is loud, strange, and completely confident in its own weirdness. This review looks at why the movie still works decades later: the energy, the phenomenal costumes, the sincerity underneath all the craziness. From Bruce Willis playing it as low-key as possible to Milla Jovovich turning innocence into power, it's a film that commits. Wildly imaginative and impossible to mistake for anything else, it's the kind of sci-fi that reminds you how fun big swings can be.

Crystal moderates a world-building in Horror panel at Gamehole Con 2024. Special guests include Jess Geyer, Rick Heinz, Jason Keech, and Matthew Orr, all writers in the area of horror. We talk about safety tools, how horror affects our storytelling, and how to approach horror with different types of players. 

We know we're worldbuilding masochists – But when is too much really, really too much? Some of us try to do all our worldbuilding at the start of a project -- and some of us do it as we go. However you work, where's the line between worldbuilding that's helpful to you and worldbuilding that's become a way to evade actually writing? And, does that line change depending on what your own intentions and goals are? Often, it's important to consider the difference between the worldbuilding you need as an author in order to get the full scope of a project straight inside your own head and the worldbuilding that a reader needs in order to understand the story. If worldbuilding is an iceberg, just how much do you let float up to the surface, and how do you shape the worldbuilding that you put on the page? Worldbuilding often works best when it can pull double-duty, also serving to reveal character, communicate stakes, and set the atmospheric mood. We also talk about what you can do with the worldbuilding that doesn't make it on the page! Tolkien had his appendices, but writers today have all sorts of options: You can include them as bonuses for pre-order campaigns, put them on a blog or a Patreon, or, I dunno, make a podcast about them! [Transcript for Episode 170]

Join Ben from SCOPE and Cali from The Melanin Muses Podcast as they discuss the Star Wars Original Trilogy. In this episode we start with Star Wars Episode 4 A New Hope, and more importantly why it was nearly a total disaster. They discuss film history, strange inconsistencys throughout the franchises continuity, and Marcia's Lukas the editor who largely saved the first film, on this episode of The Return of the Movie Podcast. Subscribe to the channel and hit the bell to be notified of new videos!Subscribe to our Patreon for early and ad-free content: https://www.patreon.com/ScopeProductionsTake part in the conversation on our community discord:https://discord.gg/TdxdGJ5MZMSocial media and more: https://linktr.ee/ScopeNetworksChapters:Intro 00:00Personal Introduction to Star Wars 01:33Star Wars is for Kids? 03:30Themes & World Building of a New Hope 04:23A Theory about C3P0 05:22Future Implications 07:02|Droids are People 08:44Pacing 11:14Luke's Character Arc 15:46Act 2 Pacing 18:45Han Shot First 20:13Han Solo's Neck 21:39Leia Subverts Expectations 22:13 The Death Star Chase 23:32How Marcia Lucas Saved Star Wars 25:40 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week Erin M. Evans, B. Dave Walters, and Treavor Bettis conclude their Revisit to Worldbuilding! Thank you to everyone who wrote in!Join our Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/writingaboutdragons Starring:Erin M Evans (Empire of Exiles, Brimstone Angels)https://bsky.app/profile/erinmevans.bsky.social B. Dave Walters (A Darkened Wish, Black Dice Society)https://bsky.app/profile/bdavewalters.bsky.social Treavor Bettis (Difficulty Class, Champions of Lore)https://bsky.app/profile/thetreavor.bsky.social Join the Discord!https://discord.gg/MdSVsfpTzu Buy Relics of Ruin!Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Relics-Ruin-Books-Usurper-2/dp/031644104X Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/relics-of-ruin-erin-m-evans/1143299833?ean=9780316441049 Check out B. Dave's Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/bdavewalters Enroll in B. Dave's 14 Day Writer:https://www.theundisputedacademy.com/14-day-writer-home-pagePlay in a game run by B. Dave:https://ko-fi.com/bdavewalters/shop

In this episode, host Peter Bauman (Le Random's editor in chief) speaks with transdisciplinary artist Stephanie Dinkins about AI as a container for preserving oral history, tradition, and the kinds of community knowledge that rarely make it onto the internet.Dinkins shares how a chance encounter with Bina48 in 2014 reshaped her practice. They discuss how this connects to her push for small, community-driven data that protects nuance and self-definition, especially for Black and Brown communities, against the homogenizing pull of large corporate models.They also cover Not the Only One as a “living archive” of family memory, the politics of access, privacy, and consent, and why Dinkins treats imagination (and hyperstition) as a practical method for building the AI futures we actually want.Monday's editorial (Beeple on Robot Dogs as Canvas): https://www.lerandom.art/editorial/beeple-on-robot-dogs-as-canvasChapters

Karch's empire of lies crumbles as bankruptcy threatens to expose the Merchant Tower's hollow victory. With only four days until the decisive vote at Harvest House, the Guildmaster arranges a secret escape route through the Old Quarter—but his newly empowered Captain Jasper has transformed from loyal servant into something far more dangerous. As Karch realizes he may have created a wolf he can no longer control, the desperate Guildmaster must secure his contingency plan without revealing the true depth of his tower's financial ruin.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-thieves-guild--6141933/support.Some secrets are worth dying for. Some are worth killing for.----CREDITS ✍️ Writer: Jake Kerr

Welcome to Event 2 of our Million Man March 30th Anniversary extended dialogue series: "Mentorship & World-Building."Thirty years after the Million Man March, we're asking: How do we mentor the next generation into liberation rather than conformity? How do we build radical brotherhood that includes ALL Black men across sexuality and gender expression?Hosted by Dr. David J. Johns, this conversation brings together Emmy Award winner Dyllon Burnside (Pose, P-Valley, creator of Burnside Artist Retreat), DC organizer Clarence Fluker, and artist Benji Coy.They explore what queer eldership offers ALL young people, how to mentor toward freedom instead of survival, and why Black queer men hold the keys to Black men's liberation. From refusing performative masculinity to living outside the binary, from creating brave healing spaces to "gentle parenting the adults," this conversation offers practical wisdom on building the world we need.This isn't about charity or saviorism. It's about mutual building, world-making, and teaching the babies how to be free.Resources Mentioned:Rashid Newsom - "My Government Means to Kill Me"Keith Boykin's booksBurnside Artist Retreat:  http://www.burnsideartistretreat.orgBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/teach-the-babies-w-dr-david-j-johns--6173854/support.

What if students saw themselves not just as learners, but as world builders, empowered to design, problem-solve, and imagine new possibilities through playful learning? In this episode of the Fueling Creativity in Education Podcast, hosts Dr. Cindy Burnett and Dr. Matthew Warwood dive into the dynamic potential of game-based learning and world-building with guests Stephen Slota and Trent Hergenrader. Together, they unpack how treating students as designers—rather than passive recipients of information—fosters creativity, critical thinking, and authentic engagement. Drawing from their experiences as educators and co-authors of The World Building Workshop, Stephen Slota and Trent Hergenrader share insights on leveraging narrative, choice, and playful contexts to deepen learning, regardless of technology access or subject area. The conversation explores the difference between true game-based learning and surface-level gamification, emphasizing the power of agency, narrative, and exploring “messy,” real-world problems. Listeners will gain practical insights on aligning classroom activities with learning goals, infusing creativity, and adopting a facilitator mindset. Whether you're game-curious or an experienced educator, this episode highlights how world building can transform classrooms—and help students make meaningful connections to their own lives.   Guest Bios Stephen Slota Stephen Slota is an educational technologist, learning theorist, and interactive storyteller. He has directed major projects for organizations like CVS Health, Pfizer, and Arizona State University, where he explores how game mechanics and narratives can enhance engagement, creativity, and learning. A former high school biology teacher, Stephen Slota draws on years of classroom experience and research at the University of Connecticut to promote playful learning as a transformative tool in education.   Trent Hergenrader Trent Hergenrader is an Associate Professor of English and Creative Writing, and Director of the Center for World Building and Storytelling at Rochester Institute of Technology. He's the co-editor of "Creative Writing in the Digital Age" and "Creative Writing Innovations," and author of "Collaborative World Building for Writers and Gamers." Trent Hergenrader integrates fiction writing, role-playing, and collaborative design to help students view learning as a creative, participatory process. For more resources and to connect with the guests, visit theworldbuildingworkshop.com.   Be sure to subscribe on your favorite platform and sign up for our Extra Fuel newsletter for more resources and inspiration. Visit FuelingCreativityPodcast.com for more information or email us at questions@fuelingcreativitypodcast.com.

We continue to flesh out our universe! Buy Stars Without Number here! Buy The Perilous Void here! We have a Patreon! What to support us? Click HERE! You can find us on: Instagram Bluesky Youtube You can also email us at chaosenginepod@gmail.com We have a Discord now! Feel free to stop by if that interests you! Check out our friends: Pretending to be People! Stories & Lies Sorry, Honey I have to Take This Tabletop Talk Wilderspace Gaming Doomed to Repeat The Great Old Ones Gaming Negative Modifier Chaos Springs Eternal The Black Flare Podcast 9mm Retirement Radio Suffer Not

Polo tends his rooftop garden while orchestrating a political chess game across the fractured Craft Guild. With only four captains remaining after Karch's tower invasion, he dispatches Esmer to the isolated mines to secure Captain Havor's vote for Rogers, while Quinto ventures into the sulfur-choked Craft District to personally sway Bertram at the Tower. Every captain holds a vote, every vote determines the guild's future, and both sides know that persuasion may require more than words.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-thieves-guild--6141933/support.Some secrets are worth dying for. Some are worth killing for.----CREDITS ✍️ Writer: Jake Kerr

This binge compilation contains 5 episodes.Episodes included:1. The Sword (December 01, 2025)2. The Drunk (December 02, 2025)3. The Captain of Three (December 03, 2025)4. The Betrayal (December 04, 2025)5. The Last Order (December 05, 2025)---Episode 1: The SwordWelcome to Season Five!!

Fei-Fei Li is a Stanford professor, co-director of Stanford Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence, and co-founder of World Labs. She created ImageNet, the dataset that sparked the deep learning revolution. Justin Johnson is her former PhD student, ex-professor at Michigan, ex-Meta researcher, and now co-founder of World Labs.Together, they just launched Marble—the first model that generates explorable 3D worlds from text or images.In this episode Fei-Fei and Justin explore why spatial intelligence is fundamentally different from language, what's missing from current world models (hint: physics), and the architectural insight that transformers are actually set models, not sequence models. Resources:Follow Fei-Fei on X: https://x.com/drfeifeiFollow Justin on X: https://x.com/jcjohnssFollow Shawn on X: https://x.com/swyxFollow Alessio on X: https://x.com/fanahova Stay Updated:If you enjoyed this episode, please be sure to like, subscribe, and share with your friends.Follow a16z on X: https://x.com/a16zFollow a16z on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/company/a16zFollow the a16z Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5bC65RDvs3oxnLyqqvkUYXFollow the a16z Podcast on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a16z-podcast/id842818711Please note that the content here is for informational purposes only; should NOT be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security; and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any a16z fund. a16z and its affiliates may maintain investments in the companies discussed. For more details, please see http://a16z.com/disclosures. Stay Updated:Find a16z on XFind a16z on LinkedInListen to the a16z Podcast on SpotifyListen to the a16z Podcast on Apple PodcastsFollow our host: https://twitter.com/eriktorenberg Please note that the content here is for informational purposes only; should NOT be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security; and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any a16z fund. a16z and its affiliates may maintain investments in the companies discussed. For more details please see a16z.com/disclosures. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This week Erin M. Evans, B. Dave Walters, and Treavor Bettis continue to Revisit Worldbuilding! Lots of Tangerinos wrote in with their questions and there are plenty more to answer next week!Join our Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/writingaboutdragons Starring:Erin M Evans (Empire of Exiles, Brimstone Angels)https://bsky.app/profile/erinmevans.bsky.social B. Dave Walters (A Darkened Wish, Black Dice Society)https://bsky.app/profile/bdavewalters.bsky.social Treavor Bettis (Difficulty Class, Champions of Lore)https://bsky.app/profile/thetreavor.bsky.social Join the Discord!https://discord.gg/MdSVsfpTzu Buy Relics of Ruin!Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Relics-Ruin-Books-Usurper-2/dp/031644104X Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/relics-of-ruin-erin-m-evans/1143299833?ean=9780316441049 Check out B. Dave's Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/bdavewalters Enroll in B. Dave's 14 Day Writer:https://www.theundisputedacademy.com/14-day-writer-home-pagePlay in a game run by B. Dave:https://ko-fi.com/bdavewalters/shop

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.Looking for a cozy, witchy holiday romance with world-building that feels like slipping into a warm sweater? Today I'm sitting down with debut author and longtime video-game writer Morgan Lockhart, whose background explains exactly why her book feels so immersive and magical.In this episode, we chat about her 20-year career in game writing, the pivot back to her “first love” of books, and how A Spell for Midwinter's Heart blends cozy romance, magic-light vibes, and real-world emotional stakes. If you love Hallmark holiday romances but wish they had a touch of witchy charm, this is the perfect entry point into the cozy-paranormal space. We also dig into her craft, world-building, burnout, motherhood, and the comforting wave of cozy stories readers are reaching for right now.

Screenwriter, producer, and musician Michael Box (Echo Eterna) joins Tiberius to talk indie filmmaking—from writing dystopian, neo-noir, and horror stories to producing on a budget and building creative teams. Michael shares the origin of his new project “Speak Easy” (a music-driven dystopia where self-expression is illegal), how ADHD fuels his creativity, and why leadership and collaboration matter as much as camera gear. Stick around for Math Corners (film budgeting math!) and Heart of a Lion (leadership in action).Discussion Points•    What a screenwriter vs. producer actually does on a film•    Why Michael loves dystopian, crime, and horror stories•    The concept behind “Speak Easy” and writing music for the film's band•    Making movies in Ohio and the realities of indie funding•    Crafting story: starting with concept → characters → worldbuilding•    On-set collaboration, rewrites, and checking ego at the door•    ADHD as a creative superpower (focus, hyper-fixation, and systems)•    Practical math on set: budgets, gear, and light/aperture ratios•    Leadership for filmmakers: communication, conflict resolution, and integrityBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-tiberius-show--3352195/support.

A new chapter begins as we build our world for Stars Without Number! Buy Stars Without Number here! Buy The Perilous Void here! We have a Patreon! What to support us? Click HERE! You can find us on: Instagram Bluesky Youtube You can also email us at chaosenginepod@gmail.com We have a Discord now! Feel free to stop by if that interests you! Check out our friends: Pretending to be People! Stories & Lies Sorry, Honey I have to Take This Tabletop Talk Wilderspace Gaming Doomed to Repeat The Great Old Ones Gaming Negative Modifier Chaos Springs Eternal The Black Flare Podcast 9mm Retirement Radio Suffer Not

Thank you to our sponsor World Anvil! Check out World Anvil to use their Worldbuilding, Writing, and Game Master tools for free! If you like what you see, use code "RAMBLE" at checkout for 51% off a yearly subscription! https://www.worldanvil.com/?c=2ToRambleTo get book 1 of the Sun Eater series using our affiliate link, click here: https://amzn.to/4jgkeBJBook 2: https://amzn.to/4hSbgcBBook 3: https://amzn.to/4iQ9xprBook 4: https://amzn.to/42dJemh Book 5: https://amzn.to/3Z0UtxqBook 6: https://amzn.to/45bgmwvBook 7 "Shadows Upon Time" https://amzn.to/4pxQQK8⭐️ Exclusive Book Club! Join/Support on Patreon

What if history, but dragons?

Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson Join the Tales from the Backlog Discord server- https://discord.gg/kAqSBb6jH2 Buy me a coffee on Ko-fi- https://ko-fi.com/realdavejackson Some games just stand out from the pack, and with its episodic anime structure, QTE-heavy cutscenes and South Asian religious inspirations, there is nothing quite like Asura's Wrath (CyberConnect2, Capcom, 2012). A quintessential flawed game that everyone should try, Asura's Wrath overcomes its bad combat and dated approach to player engagement by just simply being cooler and more hype than basically every other game. Listen in to find out more! Guest info: Nick (he/him) and Will (he/him) of Friday Night Gamecast * Check out Friday Night Gamecast https://fridaynightgamecast.buzzsprout.com/ * Follow on BlueSky https://bsky.app/profile/fngcpod.bsky.social * Follow on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/fridaynightgamecast/ TIMESTAMPS * 0:00 Title Card * 0:27 Introductions * 5:17 Our Histories with Asura's Wrath * 11:16 Top-Level Thoughts * 19:44 Story Setup and Worldbuilding * 28:47 Episodic Anime Structure * 37:03 Presentation and Spectacle * 43:48 More QTEs Than You Can Shake a Stick At * 51:33 Action Gameplay * 1:14:00 Closing Thoughts and Recommendations * 1:17:26 Friday Night Gamecast * 1:20:28 Spoiler Wall & Patron Thank-Yous * 1:22:32 Spoiler Section- Hype Moments, The Gohma and the Demigods * 1:46:55 Spoiler Section- Asura's Revenge & Epilogue Music used in the episode is credited to Chikayo Fukuda. Tracks used: Main Theme, Furious, Orphan Wolf Legend - Fang, One Who Spins Ideas, Option, Asura's Wrath, In Your Belief, Trembling Belief Catch Dave on Geeks & Grounds all of November and December for a deep dive into Final Fantasy X: https://www.geeksandgrounds.com/ Social Media: BlueSky- https://bsky.app/profile/tftblpod.bsky.social Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/talesfromthebacklog/ Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricatures

Malka Older makes a life at the crossroads of our existing and future worlds. Between research into the sociology of organizations, on-the-ground work in humanitarian aid and disaster risk reduction, and acclaimed writing of speculative and science fiction, Older brilliantly, beautifully, uncommonly lives the great paradox in front of us all: to hold at once the two truths of lived experience and imagined future. Origins Podcast WebsiteFlourishing Commons NewsletterShow Notes:the immigrant sensibility (05:00)belonging (07:20)exile (09:00)Danielle Allen's theory of justice (15:00)A Paradise Built in Hellby Rebecca Solnit (16:00)Malka's work in the international space (16:20)Global Voices (19:15)Where are you REALLY from? (19:40) The Institute on Statelessness and Inclusion (20:30)'Great Asking' (22:30)Positionality (23:00)Mu - unask the question (23:20)the opportunity in disaster (27:10)2004 Boxing Day Indian Ocean Tsunami (31:00)psychological distance (34:40)Malka's book ...And Other Disasters(35:30)the importance of improvisation (43:00)David Whyte - the conversational nature of reality (46:30)Malka's book Infomocracy (49:00)the adjacent possible (53:45)The Crisis of Narration by Byung-Chul Han (59:15)The Sociological Imaginationby C Wright Mills (59:30)what does it mean to flourish? (59:45)the generative narrative of our time (01:08:30)Lightning round (01:02:00)Book: The Lord of the RingsPassion: Hearing a new languageHeart sing: Global VoicesScrewed up: relationshipFind Malka online:WikipediaArizona State ProfileLinkedInLogo artwork by Cristina GonzalezMusic by swelo on all streaming platforms or @swelomusic on social media

This week Erin M. Evans, B. Dave Walters, and Treavor Bettis Revisit Worldbuilding! Lots of Tangerinos wrote in with their questions and there are plenty more to answer next week!Join our Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/writingaboutdragons Starring:Erin M Evans (Empire of Exiles, Brimstone Angels)https://bsky.app/profile/erinmevans.bsky.social B. Dave Walters (A Darkened Wish, Black Dice Society)https://bsky.app/profile/bdavewalters.bsky.social Treavor Bettis (Difficulty Class, Champions of Lore)https://bsky.app/profile/thetreavor.bsky.social Join the Discord!https://discord.gg/MdSVsfpTzu Buy Relics of Ruin!Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Relics-Ruin-Books-Usurper-2/dp/031644104X Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/relics-of-ruin-erin-m-evans/1143299833?ean=9780316441049 Check out B. Dave's Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/bdavewalters Enroll in B. Dave's 14 Day Writer:https://www.theundisputedacademy.com/14-day-writer-home-pagePlay in a game run by B. Dave:https://ko-fi.com/bdavewalters/shop

In this Mere Mortals book review, I dive into Secret Weapon, the 12th entry in the Alex Rider series, but not a traditional one. Instead of a full-scale mission, Horowitz delivers seven short, fast-paced stories set early in Alex's spy career. It's action-packed, easy to consume, and offers small bursts of worldbuilding without fundamentally shifting the universe.(00:00) - Welcome & Book Intro (01:17) - What Makes Secret Weapon Different (02:39) - Horowitz's Intentions Behind The Stories (02:53) - High-Paced Nature of the Book (05:27) - Will I Re-read It? Probably Not (05:55) - Worldbuilding at the Margins (07:16) - Overall Enjoyment & Final Take Connect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReUTwitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspodsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcast Connect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReUTwitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspodsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcastsValue 4 Value Support:Boostagram: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/supportPaypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast

It's time to talk about Cults, what they are, how they have always been part of the Warhammer World, and how to write them. This is a Purity Seal Episode, so strap in as the Under the Hive of Madness crew takes a bit of a dive into the weird world of Cult activity! Under the Hive of Madness is a Warhammer 40k Podcast diving into the Horror and Grimdark elements of the setting, so expect some adult themes, adult language, and more than a handful of Khorney Jokes!“I heard you can fly after the 5th meeting...” Email the show! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠UndertheHiveofMadness@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join us today on Discord! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Under the Hive of Madness⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MERCH!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Become a ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patron⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Find our cast through ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkTree⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Underthehiveofmadness.com⁠⁠⁠⁠

So, you've decided it's time to turn up the heat on your worldbuilding. Maybe you're writing a full-on romantasy, or maybe it's a smaller component of your overall plot, but if your characters are getting down and dirty, how do you make sure they're getting their freak on in a way that reflects the culture they exist in? Guest Nia Davenport joins us to explore all the angles -- and positions. When we're thinking about the culture of sex (and sexy cultures), there's a lot to unpack, particularly because of our own society's various hang-ups, preconceptions, and puritanical history. So how have social forces exerted pressure on ideas about the expression (and perhaps exhibition) of desire within your invented world? How can you use your characters to challenge or subvert conceptions of promiscuity, chastity, gender roles, and power dynamics? [Transcript for Episode 167] Our Guest: Nia "N.E." Davenport is an award-winning Science Fiction/Fantasy author who writes stories that blend magic, mayhem, and deadly heroines. She attended the University of Southern California and studied Biological Sciences and Theatre Arts. She also has an M.A. in Secondary Education. She teaches English and Biology to amazing students. When she isn't writing, she enjoys vacationing with her family, skiing, and being a huge foodie. She's an advocate for diverse perspectives and protagonists in literature. You can find her on Twitter @nia_davenport, or on Instagram @nia.davenport, where she talks about binge-worthy TV, killer movies, and great books. She lives in Texas with her husband and kids.