Podcasts about Worldbuilding

Installez-vous au coin du feu : dans cet épisode d'Au coin du checkpoint, on remonte aux origines du mythe du vampire pour voir comment il a mordu la culture geek, des vieilles légendes jusqu'aux jeux vidéo, aux films et aux jeux de rôle.On parle évidemment aussi de The Blood of Dawnwalker de son lore, son worldbuilding, son gameplay et de notre avis à chaud !_____Soutenez-nous sur Patreon en devenant un Compagnon du Checkpoint !Accédez à des avantages exclusifs et ludiques… et offrez-nous un bon café ou une tournée de bières!

Thomas Skelton has spent years building the mythology, music, characters, and cosmic world behind The Last Saijin.In this episode of the United States Department of Nerds Podcast, The Chairman sits down with Thomas to explore the story of Sai and Jin, two brothers connected to a much larger conflict involving gods, destiny, and the balance of the universe.Thomas explains what a Saijin is, the meaning behind the name, and how concepts including Saijin Force, karma, balance, and time became foundations of the mythology.The conversation also explores the creative influences behind The Last Saijin, including Dragon Ball, Star Wars, Invincible, Japanese manga, anime, and American comics, and how Thomas works to transform those influences into an original universe of his own.But The Last Saijin didn't begin as a comic.It began with music.Thomas takes us back to StrawberryMoon, formerly known as Auspicious, and the ambitious science-fiction concept that helped create the lore that eventually became The Last Saijin. Now that relationship has started working in reverse—the music inspired the comic, and the comic is beginning to inspire new music.We also discuss Thomas's experience as an independent musician, what those years taught him about creating and promoting independent work, and his vision for Last Leg Entertainment as a place where creators can collaborate while maintaining ownership of their work.Finally, Thomas discusses putting The Last Saijin into readers' hands, its physical and digital releases, what comes next for Sai and Jin, and the future of the universe he's building.Read & Follow The Last SaijinOfficial Site:https://www.thelastsaijinhq.com/GlobalComix:https://globalcomix.com/c/the-last-saijin-1Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/thelastsaijinhq/Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61566852425747Protect Your Collection With BCW SuppliesShop BCW Supplies:https://www.bcwsupplies.com/?acc=usdnUse code USDN for 10% off your order.Affiliate Disclosure: USDN may earn a small commission if you use our affiliate link or code. This helps support the show at no extra cost to you.Follow the USDN Podcasthttps://linktr.ee/USDN_PodcastThe USDN Podcast - Where Indie Comics Come to Life.

This compilation contains 5 chapters. Episodes included: 1. Words Over a Bar (September 21, 2026) 2. Blowing Off Steam (September 22, 2026) 3. The Host (September 23, 2026) 4. The Wine of the Plains (September 24, 2026) 5. The Jester (September 25, 2026) --- Episode 1: Words Over a Bar Rogers has vanished, and Elle has no intention of following him. But rumors of an Old Quarter where thieves offer refuge draw her into Ness's taverns. She knows how to make people talk. What she doesn't know is whose words to trust. Episode 2: Blowing Off Steam A laugh, a knife, and a stranger's impossible claim send Elle across the bridge into Ness's old quarter. Episode 3: The Host A grieving neighbor named "the host" visit's Pete's estate with an offer. Episode 4: The Wine of the Plains A party can open doors—or expose the man knocking. As Pete prepares to infiltrate Ness's upper quarter, a powerful guest, a suspicious guard, and twelve bottles of impossibly rare wine turn hospitality into a dangerous test of wealth, trust, and deception. Episode 5: The Jester Kallisto's streets are starving, lawless, and steeped in fear. As Flitt reveals the rotten truth behind the city's rulers, Ralan confronts a harsher lesson: in the Tides, words carry little weight unless steel stands behind them. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tu veux créer un univers parfaitement crédible pour ton roman. Alors tu imagines son histoire, sa géographie, ses institutions, ses coutumes, ses moindres règles… Six mois plus tard, tu as accumulé 600 pages de notes, mais tu n'as toujours écrit aucune scène.Et contrairement à ce que le terme peut laisser penser, le Worldbuilding ne concerne pas uniquement la fantasy ou la science-fiction. Toute histoire se déroule dans un univers qu'il faut rendre crédible : un hôpital, un commissariat, une ville, une époque historique, un milieu professionnel… Le piège peut donc toucher les auteurs de tous les genres.Dans cet épisode, découvre comment donner de la profondeur et de la cohérence à l'univers de ton roman sans chercher à tout prévoir avant de commencer à écrire.⭐ INSCRIPTIONS OUVERTES ⭐Devenir écrivain : Projet best-sellerSession du 5 octobre au 13 décembre 2026⁠⁠⁠https://licares.fr/formation⁠⁠⁠La fiche de personnage : ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://licares.fr/ficheperso⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Site : ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://licares.fr/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram : ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/licaresfr⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube : ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/c/licares

Recorded: 9/20/26. Cole Dill. Faith in a Confused World 1. Jeremiah 292. Daniel's Life3. Matthew 5: Salt and Light4. Living for God Today

A laugh, a knife, and a stranger's impossible claim send Elle across the bridge into Ness's old quarter.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Michael Tivey's work has helped shape the visual identity of stories across Image Comics, DC Comics, professional wrestling, music, theater, and motorsports.In this episode of The USDN Podcast, The Chairman sits down with graphic designer Michael Tivey to discuss the craft of comic-book design, his longtime creative relationship with writer Chris Condon, and a career that has taken him from the pages of Image and DC Comics to the world of professional wrestling.Michael's comics work includes That Texas Blood, The Enfield Gang Massacre, News from the Fallout, and Of the Earth for Image Comics, along with The Peril of the Brutal Dark: An Ezra Cain Mystery for DC Comics.We go beyond the credits page to explore what a graphic designer actually contributes to a comic book, how design becomes part of storytelling, and how Michael finds a unique visual identity for projects that can look and feel completely different from one another.We take a deeper look at News from the Fallout and its extraordinary world-building. Set against the backdrop of 1962, the experience extends beyond the pages through an in-universe Department of Defense portal and interactive elements designed to bring readers inside the story.Michael also discusses his longtime friendship and creative collaboration with Chris Condon, how that relationship eventually brought him into comics, and his journey from early work on That Texas Blood and The Enfield Gang Massacre to News from the Fallout and Of the Earth.Then we're leaving the comic shop and stepping into the squared circle.Michael serves as Co-Producer and Lead Designer of AEW Presents The Last Match: A Pro-Wrestling Rock Experience, helping build the visual identity of an entire fictional wrestling world, including its championship titles.With experience spanning AEW, WWE, comics, music, theater, and motorsports, Michael explains what moving between completely different creative industries has taught him about visual storytelling and how those experiences influence his work.Most importantly for the Council, we bring those lessons back to independent comics.When should an indie creator start thinking about design? What separates a comic that simply looks finished from one that feels professional? And when money is limited, where should independent creators focus their resources?Because great comic-book storytelling doesn't stop at the edge of the panel.Sometimes the work you barely notice is the work making you believe in the world.

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Star Wars Zero Company feels like the Star Wars I grew up with. Not the movies—the LucasArts games, the X-Wing novels, the trading card game. The old Expanded Universe, where stories happened inside the galaxy instead of orbiting the Skywalkers.Zero Company is a tactical, turn-based game set during the Clone Wars, but the interesting part isn't the war. It's the crew: a scoundrel with a personal moral compass, a Separatist partisan who lectures you about Republic imperialism, a discharged clone trooper carrying the weight of the war, and a rhyming toad-bulldog prizefighter who loves opera. The game never tells you which choice is right. It just asks you to pick.In this episode of One Thing Worth A Rant, I argue that the Jedi have become the most boring part of Star Wars—not because they're bad, but because Light vs Dark always drags the story back to a struggle we've exhausted. The sequels mistook the original story for what made the original world compelling. The prequels, ironically, were reaching for something more interesting: a democracy sliding into authoritarianism through ordinary choices about order, security, and obedience.Zero Company, Andor, The Bad Batch, even Galaxy's Edge work because they point the camera down—away from the mythic, toward the everyday. History viewed from eye level. Palpatine promises order; the Rebellion creates chaos. On good vs evil we know who to root for. On order vs freedom, is it so clear cut?Star Wars isn't literally better without the Jedi. It's better when it doesn't need them to carry the whole story.CHAPTERS 00:00 Star Wars and the Old Expanded Universe 01:09 Zero Company: The Crew 03:38 World Building 05:43 The Jedi Are the Boring Part 07:29 Gritty realism 09:55 Why Zero Company Works

In this episode, Prolet Miteva shares her journey from a successful career in the technology industry to achieving financial independence through real estate investing. She explains how her investment strategy evolved from owning single family homes to focusing primarily on real estate syndications and alternative investments. Prolet also breaks down the FIRE movement, portfolio diversification, and the importance of understanding your own financial independence number. She offers an inside look at her portfolio and shares lessons that can help passive investors make more informed investment decisions.Topics CoveredProlet's journey from technology to real estate investingAchieving financial independence through real estateThe FIRE movement and finding your financial independence numberThe 4% rule and planning for retirementUnderstanding real estate syndicationsLimited partners and sponsors in syndicationsMoving from single family homes to passive real estate investingAccredited investors and 506B syndicationsPortfolio allocation and diversificationBalancing stocks with alternative investmentsLessons learned throughout her investing journeyPlanning an exit from the corporate worldBuilding a passive investment strategyQuotes“Financial independence is for everyone.”“I highly, highly encourage you to always think about diversification.”

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=2ToRamble⭐️ Exclusive Book Club! Join/Support on Patreon

Wait it Gets Better is An Improvisational Storytelling Podcast.   This Week we interveiw Author Robby Dube Author of Fantasy Novel "Ursa" We Discuss Story Writing, World Building and the Publishing Process. Check Out His Book on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.   Questions? Comments? Waititgetsbettercast@gmail.com

For this episode, I'm chatting with Jane Brookwood about her new cozy mystery, “The Hanged Man” (Brookwood Publishing, September 15, 2026). Here's a look at what's in store: In small-town Pineridge Hollow, Fiona Miller runs a metaphysical gift shop where she reads tarot, sells crystals, mixes tea, and generally minds her own business alongside her cat and familiar Rosie. But when she pulls The Hanged Man tarot card moments before learning her long-lost friend's son has turned up dead, she vows to uncover the truth.  The town has already decided, but Fiona's tarot deck isn't so sure. She follows the cards into buried grudges, old money, and secrets the town spent decades hiding. On top of everything, The Hanged Man keeps making himself known. We'll be talking about the creation of Pineridge Hollow and what's in store for this small town in future books. Jane talks about the crafting of Fiona's character and how she pivots from small-town business owner to investigator. Tarot plays a strong role in the story and Jane gives us an opener into what it's all about and how it factors into the book. Be sure to get your copy of “The Hanged Man” and visit https://ravenversebooks.com/ for more!

World Labs co-founder Justin Johnson joins MTS hosts Theo Jaffee and Sofia Puccini to discuss Atlas, World Labs' latest world model, and the broader case for AI systems that understand and interact with the physical world.Justin explains how Atlas approaches three core tasks: generating new worlds, reconstructing real environments from images, and simulating how objects or robots might behave within them. Underlying it is a bigger thesis: just as language models became general-purpose engines for working with text, world models could become a horizontal layer for visual and physical intelligence across industries from entertainment and gaming to construction and robotics.They also explore how world models could change video games and creative tools, why precise spatial control matters, and the potential for “real-to-sim-to-real” robotics, where a few photos of a physical environment could eventually be enough to build a simulation and adapt a robot to that specific space.Resources:Follow Justin Johnson on X: https://x.com/jcjohnssFollow Theo Jaffee on X: https://x.com/theojaffeeFollow Sofia on X: https://x.com/schisofreniaFollow MTS on X: https://x.com/mtslive Stay Updated:Find a16z on YouTube: YouTubeFind a16z on XFind a16z on LinkedInListen to the a16z Show on SpotifyListen to the a16z Show 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.

Nikita Walia and Elliot Vredenburg of U.N.N.A.M.E.D. Studios took to the VISIONS stage at MoMA last year to enlighten a room of retail executives and brand marketers about the realities of worldbuilding. Their theory: a brand's final form is decided by the public—and the strategist's job is to navigate that story, not control it. And they use Mercator, Buckminster Fuller, Guy Debord, free public Wi-Fi, and an acne sticker to back up their claims.Mapping Meaning Isn't About Being RightKey takeaways:Branding isn't worldbuilding because worldbuilding just imposes another set of rulesA three-hundred-page brand book is obsolete the day it ships, and rebrands every five to ten years are theater for stakeholdersThe public decides a brand's final form, not the guidelines deckRegenerative brands are always rebranding[00:00:25] "Counter to what you've heard today, branding is not, in fact, worldbuilding." — Nikita Walia[00:04:34] "This is sameness being sold to us as a form of consistency." — Nikita Walia[00:15:45] "It's not about being right. It's about being useful, and useful in motion." — Elliot Vredenburg[00:17:09] "A regenerative brand doesn't need to rebrand every five to ten years because it's always rebranding." — Elliot VredenburgIn-Show Mentions:The Mercator projection (1569) and Buckminster Fuller's Dymaxion MapSuperstudio, The Continuous MonumentGuy Debord and psychogeographyLinkNYCBurberry, Daniel Lee, Demna's Balenciaga, Pierpaolo PiccioliStarfaceAssociated Links:Read Alicia Esposito's companion essay, The New Meaning of Brand Building: Cartographies of MeaningWatch the original session at VISIONS Summit: Cartographies of MeaningHear Dami Lee's VISIONS session, The Stories Behind Our SpacesListen to Building Culturally Intelligent Brands with Dr. Anastasia Kārkliņa GabrielRevisit The Anti-Blands, Existential Brands, and the New DadaismRead Surface Culture: When Brands Mistake Wallpaper for AuthenticityCheck out Future Commerce on YouTubeCheck out Future Commerce Plus for exclusive content and save on merch and printSubscribe to Insiders and The Senses to read more about what we are witnessing in the commerce worldListen to our other episodes of Future CommerceHave any questions or comments about the show? Let us know on futurecommerce.com, or reach out to us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn. We love hearing from our listeners! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Comic creator Tommy Huls joins The Chairman on the United States Department of Nerds Podcast to discuss Kingsville, World at War Comics, independent comics, creator-owned publishing, and crowdfunding.Tommy Huls has spent years interviewing comic creators through World at War Comics. Now, the interviewer becomes the interviewee as Tommy takes us inside the creation and evolution of Kingsville.Kingsville is a superhero comic built around global power, political conflict, and Sycodone, a rare resource capable of making superhuman abilities possible.As the Alliance for Global Safety grows in influence, the small nation of Kingsville controls the resource everyone wants. What begins as cooperation becomes a struggle over power, security, sovereignty, and control.Tommy takes us inside the creation and evolution of Kingsville, Rodrigo's moral conflict within AGS, lessons learned producing his own comic book, and why Kingsville Issue #1 entered a new stage with Critical Entertainment.We also turn the microphone around on one of indie comics' most prolific interviewers.Through World at War Comics, Tommy has spent hundreds of episodes speaking with independent comic creators, writers, artists, publishers, industry veterans, and some of the biggest names in comics. We discuss what those conversations taught him about building something that lasts and how becoming a comic creator changed the way he interviews other creators.The conversation also explores the realities facing independent comics, including crowdfunding, comic book distribution, reaching new readers, working with comic shops, and why great creator-owned comics can still struggle to find an audience.At the time of this interview, Kingsville Issue #1 was in the final stretch of its Kickstarter campaign. That campaign has now concluded, but the conversation provides an inside look at the artwork, covers, rewards, crowdfunding strategy, and what reader support could make possible for the future of the series.The interviewer became the creator. Now the microphone turns around.Topics Covered• The creation and evolution of Kingsville • Tommy Huls and World at War Comics • The origins of Sycodone and the Alliance for Global Safety • Rodrigo and the moral conflict inside AGS • Creating and publishing independent comics • Comic book lettering and production • Crowdfunding and Kickstarter comics • Kingsville Issue #1 and its Kickstarter campaign • Kingsville and Critical Entertainment • Lessons from hundreds of comic creator interviews • Becoming a comic creator after years as an interviewer • Building relationships in the comic book industry • Reaching readers with independent comics • Comic shops and comic book distribution • Creator-owned comics and independent publishing • The future of KingsvilleFollow World at War Comics

◇ Steffi from Scotland talks more about the gardening style of gaming, Nathan wants to know about post-game talks with APs, From the archive 2022: Whizzard asks about how much worldbuilding GMs do on their own and how much of it they do with players | Hosts: Kimi, Jason A, Pooja, & Riley ◇ 00:33◇ Welcome & Episode Summary 01:17◇ Announcements – We will be at Gateway 2026! Sept 4-7, 2026 at the Hilton LAX hotel in los angeles. We will be doing the live show on Saturday at 8pm! https://www.strategicon.net/ ◇ 02:58◇ Indie Designer of the Month: Hannah Shaffer and Evan Rowland of Turtlebun Games https://turtlebun.com/ or https://turtlebun.itch.io/ 04:24◇ Mailbag 1 – Steffi from Scotland talks more about the gardening style of gaming 53:34◇ Mailbag 2 – Nathan wants to know about post-game talks with APs 66:57◇ Mailbag 3 – From the archive 2022: Whizzard asks about how much worldbuilding GMs do on their own and how much of it they do with players 81:03◇ Episode Closing 86:32◇ Music ◇ Email happyjacksrpg@gmail.com or post in our Discord server to send in your own topic or question for the show! ◇ Find us on Youtube ◇Twitch ◇Bluesky ◇Instagram ◇Facebook ◇Discord or find all our podcast feeds on your favorite Podcast platform! happyjacksrpg.carrd.co ◇ Subscribe to our Actual Play Feed! We have a backlog of campaigns in over 20 RPG systems and new games running all the time. ◇ Become a Patreon! All the money goes into maintaining and improving the quality of our shows. patreon.com/happyjacksrpg Ⓒ2026 Happy Jacks RPG Network www.happyjacks.org

What epic high fantasy series should EVERY fantasy fan experience at least once?In this episode of Fantasy for the Ages, Jim and Zach each bring five completed epic high fantasy series to the table—creating a combined list of 10 series we believe deserve to be part of every serious fantasy reader's journey.But this isn't simply a list of our 10 favorite series.We're looking at significance. Influence. Worldbuilding. Characters. Scope. Innovation. Staying power. And, of course, whether the experience of reading these enormous stories is actually worth the hundreds—or thousands!—of pages they demand from us.And because this is Jim and Zach we're talking about, we're not just presenting our picks and politely agreeing with each other. We'll debate the merits of each other's selections, defend the choices that need defending, and each of us has brought along ONE pick we suspect might be a little...controversial.

The dead don't always stay buried.Lucky Devil Comics returns to the United States Department of Nerds Podcast as Styles and Nicky join The Chairman before the Council for the next chapter of THE PLAGUE.When Lucky Devil Comics first joined USDN, THE PLAGUE #1: ILL FATE was a make-or-break independent comic fighting for the chance to exist.Now, Ill Fate is in readers' hands, THE PLAGUE has reached a new audience through GlobalComix, Lucky Devil Comics is taking the book directly to readers at conventions, and Issue #2 is already moving through production.This time, we're looking at what happens after you make the comic.Styles and Nicky discuss the response to Ill Fate, what readers understood about Diego that surprised them, lessons learned from producing their first issue, and how that experience is shaping Issue #2.We also dig into:⚰️ What happened after THE PLAGUE #1: ILL FATE was released

Worldcon episode time: we’ve got interviews, we’ve got a coffee report, we’ve got an only-mildly chaotic group podcast attempt! Podcasts, reviews, interviews, essays, and more at the Ancillary Review of Books. Please consider supporting ARB’s Patreon! Guests & Collaborators: Thomas Ha Alex Kingsley Frauke Uhlenbruch Marshall Ryan Maresca & Cass Morris of Worldbuilding for Masochists Kevin Anderson & Lori Anderson of Hugo, Girl! John Coxon of Octothorpe Helen Montgomery Sam Kim of Kumquat Host: Jake Casella Brookins Music by Giselle Gabrielle Garcia Additional sounds & music: The Los Angeles Metro “Surf Shimmy” by Kevin Macleod “Through the Woods We Ran” by Vindsvept And the cool theremin sounds Kevin made for Hugo, Girl! Artwork by Rob Patterson Opening poem by Bhartṛhari, translated by John Brough References: Thomas Ha’s Uncertain Sons The Best of Jeffrey Ford and Pandemonium Waltz Steve Rasnic Tem & Brian Evenson Michel Siffre, French cave-and-sleep explorer J.S. Fields Zoe Franznick DePaul Pop Culture Conference Sabrina Mittermeier: The Routledge Handbook of Star Trek and Fighting For The Future Alien vs. Predator, Hellraiser, Dogma The Bible in Motion, edited by Rhonda Burnette-Bletsch Memory Alpha Michael Crichton’s Jurassic Park Chuck, Earth: Final Conflict, Scavengers Reign, Battleship The Speculative Literature Foundation and their Deep Dish reading series HWA (Horror Writers Association) Playground Chicago Strong Branch SFWA (Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers Association) Goblin Market Mary Robinette Kowal, Curtis Chen Alexy on Bluesky & Instagram Space Wizard publishing Loquat coffee Artist Devon Sinead Arboretum and Botanical Garden at Cal State Fullerton E.G. Condé Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman Uketsu’s Strange Houses, Strange Pictures,Strange Buildings, translated by Jim Rion Jo Walton Lightspeed and Reactor Alasdair Stuart & Marguerite Kenner (of projects like The Full Lid and Escape Artists) Liza Groen Trombi of Locus Magazine Cube Gene Wolfe The Prestige by Christopher Priest The Gods Themselves by Isaac Asimov Green Marsby Kim Stanley Robinson Widow’s Bay Fonda Lee, Shannon Chakraborty, Gabriella Buba SFF Addicts Robert Shearman’s Tiny Deaths, Ian Mond’s pick for a recent episode Nerds of a Feather

The universe is a dirty place, and somebody has to clean it up.Comic creator Jim Whiting joins The Chairman on the United States Department of Nerds Podcast to discuss Margo Intergalactic Trash Collector: Apocalypse in Pink, the new 112-page collected edition celebrating eleven years of Margo's independent comic-book adventures.From Margo's origins more than two decades ago to Kickstarter, the direct market, creator-owned publishing, and an all-new series planned for 2027, Jim takes us inside the evolution of Margo and the realities of building independent comics across more than four decades in the industry.

Ein echtes Highlight für alle Gacha-Fans: In dieser Special-Episode meldet sich die Podcast-Crew direkt aus den Messehallen der gamescom 2026 zurück. Robin und Dennis haben sich durch die heißesten Ankündigungen und Demos geklopft und nehmen die spannendsten Gacha-Neuerscheinungen unter die Lupe. Elementa Games: Silver Palace – Wie schlägt sich das neue Anime-RPG auf der Messe? Die beiden analysieren World-Building, Charakterdesign und das Kampfsystem. NetEase Games: Sea of Remnants – Kann das düstere Sci-Fi/Fantasy-Setting überzeugen? Wir werfen einen Blick auf Gameplay-Loops, Gacha-Raten und Visuelles. ANANTA – Das mysteriöse Projekt im Fokus: Überraschungshit oder Hype-Blase?

Jake Muir joins us this week to talk about RPG-style world building with sound, field recording, Argeïphontes Lyre, and his unique approach to source material destruction. Check out Jake's work https://www.jakemuir.org/about and his latest record 'Pareidolia' https://enmossed.bandcamp.com/album/pareidolia JOIN THE PATREON patreon.com/basecampbeta Video episode https://youtu.be/S7yTKhmDvkw

How human are you when your body can be replaced?Australian comic creator Stephen Kok of SigmaTestudio joins The USDN Podcast for an in-depth conversation about TRANSHUMAN Vol. 4: Betrayal, human augmentation, comic book lettering, crowdfunding, and the realities of creating independent comics.At the center of TRANSHUMAN is Rivka, a former soldier living in a world where technology can repair, augment, and increasingly replace the human body. But if our bodies can be replaced piece by piece, what actually makes us human?Stephen takes us inside the philosophy and science fiction behind TRANSHUMAN, Rivka's evolution across four volumes, and what Volume 4: Betrayal means for the next chapter of her story.We also go deep into Stephen's work as a professional comic book letterer. In an extended discussion on the art and psychology of lettering, Stephen breaks down how word balloons guide a reader's eye, how lettering affects pacing and storytelling, why placement matters, and how great lettering becomes an invisible part of the comic-book reading experience.Stephen also shares lessons from more than a decade of independent comics, Kickstarter fulfillment, building trust with crowdfunding backers, measuring campaign success by readers instead of dollars, and why creators need to stop waiting and start making their work.FOLLOW STEPHEN KOK / SIGMATESTUDIOWebsite: https://sigmatestudio.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sigmatestudioInstagram - @eskay8888: https://www.instagram.com/eskay8888/Kickstarter - TRANSHUMAN Vol. 1-4: Betrayal: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1917428739/transhuman-vol-1-to-4-betrayal-sci-fiPROTECT YOUR COLLECTION WITH BCW SUPPLIESLooking for comic book bags, boards, boxes, storage, and other supplies to protect your collection?USDN is a BCW Supplies Affiliate. When you shop through our affiliate link or use code USDN, your purchase helps support The United States Department of Nerds at no additional cost to you.Shop BCW Supplies: https://www.bcwsupplies.com/?acc=usdnAffiliate Code: USDNAs a BCW Supplies Affiliate, USDN may earn a commission from qualifying purchases made through our affiliate link or code.SUPPORT THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF NERDSThe USDN Podcast puts independent comic creators, writers, artists, publishers, and creator-owned comics in the spotlight.Subscribe or follow the show wherever you listen to podcasts and join the Council of Nerds.Find USDN everywhere: https://linktr.ee/usdn_podcastThe USDN Podcast - Where Indie Comics Come to Life.

Dragons? ✔️ Romance? ✔️ World-building? ✔️ Bestselling author Sarah A. Parker covers it all in our latest Literary Anything episode!

This compilation contains 4 chapters. Episodes included: 1. The Meeting With Vesper (August 24, 2026) 2. The Tarnished Prize (August 25, 2026) 3. Flitt's Tale (August 26, 2026) 4. The Troubled Knight (August 27, 2026) --- Episode 1: The Meeting With Vesper Rogers has a plan: kill the new Craft guildmaster and reclaim what was promised to him. But when he finally sits across from Vesper, dagger hidden and rage simmering, the man who stole his position does something unexpected. Episode 2: The Tarnished Prize Ralan arrives in Kallisto expecting a city—and finds a burned-out husk patched together with driftwood and desperation, cut off from Ness and slowly dying. Episode 3: Flitt's Tale A walk on the beach reveals more than sand and sun. Flitt isn't who Ralan thought—and Ralan's entire mission may have been built on a costly mistake. Episode 4: The Troubled Knight Quinto watches from the Knights Tower as new guildmasters rise—one violent, one brutal, one lost to paranoia. He commands the only force that can keep the peace, but blades in the shadows don't care about white-armored knights patrolling the streets. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week Erin M. Evans, Treavor Bettis, AND B. DAVE WALTERS! answer questions about Fantasy Terms, World Building, and Feedback! Join our Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/writingaboutdragons Join the Discord!https://discord.gg/MdSVsfpTzu 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 Pre-Order Dungeons & Dragons Fiends & Foeshttps://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dungeons-dragons-fiends-foes-erin-m-evans/1149826336?ean=9780593838877 Enroll in B. Dave's 14 Day Writer:https://www.theundisputedacademy.com/14-day-writer-home-page

Gobbo, Emmy, Chac, and Drew continue their dive into the many layers, parts, and details that go into Worldbuilding and a Worldbuiling Bible. Follow along as they talk over the genres of Speculative Fiction, some of the questions asked when you start worldbuilding, and finally, as they use Under the Hive of Madness's work document on Crafting Worlds to start down the path of forging the Carcosan Sector's newest Knight World. Under the Hive of Madness is a Warhammer Lore Podcast diving into the Horror and Grimdark elements of the settings, so expect some adult themes, adult language, and more than a handful of Khorney Jokes!"Night World? Like it's always Dark? Did someone forget to order new lightbulbs?"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

That's right! It's infrastructure week at Worldbuilding for Masochists! So we're talking about the systemic underpinnings of a nation and its economy, the fixed installations that it needs in order to function -- which, admittedly, might sound like the exact sort of overly-detailed, tedious, weighty worldbuilding that people sometimes complain about. Okay, except, so much in your plot probably depends on things like how people, goods, and information move around! This makes infrastructure perhaps the most iceberg-y of the iceberg things that your reader should only see the tip of, but that you might need to think a lot more deeply about. So -- Who builds the roads, bridges, dams, and canals in your world? Who maintains transportation hubs and communication networks? Who controls all those points of access to both utilities and information? Who benefits from these systems? Who gets screwed over by them? And, critically, what does this mean for your plot and your characters? Whether you're riding horses over vast plateaus or zipping around at lightspeed, the logistics of time and space are likely to have some kind of an impact. How easily a message can get passed along -- or delayed -- can have serious implications. (Just ask Romeo). Points of change like revolutions or technological advances can seriously upset people's daily lives and the direction of whole nations. In this episode, we explore the ways that infrastructure can give you plot hooks, character motivations, and complicating factors. [Transcript TK] Resources:  Educational Video from Dr. Esmé Louise James: Was it possible to get finger-blasted inside a Regency carriage? ORBIS: The Stanford Geospatial Network Model of the Ancient Road UNRV: How Did the Ancient Romans Send Messages? Bret Devereaux's Resources for Worldbuilders (many articles about logistics) History of the Gander International Airport Overly Sarcastic Productions: Trope Talk: Space Westerns

In this episode I go over the new ancestries, communities, and transformations for Daggerheart in the Hope & Fear expansion. There are some really fun character options here and some cool game design in the new features.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.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 Next Three Years of DaggerheartUpcoming Official Foundry Modules for DaggerheartOfficial Daggerheart Card Creator & Adversary CreatorMost Played RPGs on Start Playing GamesFree PDF on How to Build Custom AdversariesGet The Wish Thief adventure for free: US, CA, UK, EU, AUGet The Marauders of Windfall adventure for free.

Ralan arrives in Kallisto expecting a city—and finds a burned-out husk patched together with driftwood and desperation, cut off from Ness and slowly dying.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of the Official XBOX Podcast, we're sitting down with the team behind the upcoming Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy to discuss the setting, the story, the combat, and how the team was able to design a game that fits wonderfully into the Plague Tale series but is presented in a whole new way.0:00 Intro1:04 Meet Sophia2:57 Trailer Reveal Breakdown and Greek Mythology5:40 New Combat Style in the Series6:48 Combat Style Details8:56 Risk and Reward in Combat, and the New Skill Tree11:42 World Building and the Plague Tale style13:26 Title Inspiration14:40 Closing Thoughts FOLLOW XBOXFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/XBOX Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/XBOX​ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/XBOX

Christopher Reda joins the USDN Podcast to discuss the growth of Critical Entertainment, expanding into comic shops across the United States and Canada through Universal Distribution, the creation of the Indie Comic Alliance, the Zombie Zero Deluxe Hardcover campaign, Patriot Comic Books, K-Toon Studios, and the future of independent publishing.From building a catalog of original comics to creating new opportunities for independent publishers and reaching readers through retail, crowdfunding, and new publishing imprints, Christopher shares what it takes to grow an independent comic book company while maintaining its creative identity.In this episode, we explore Critical Entertainment's move into wider distribution, the mission behind the Indie Comic Alliance, bringing the complete Zombie Zero series to hardcover through Zoop, adapting films into graphic novels through Patriot Comic Books, bringing K-Comics to English-speaking audiences through K-Toon Studios, and what's next for Critical Entertainment.Topics Covered:• Christopher Reda and Critical Entertainment• Expanding into comic shops through Universal Distribution• The creation and mission of the Indie Comic Alliance• Zombie Zero Deluxe Hardcover Edition• Crowdfunding through Zoop• Taking Zombie Zero beyond comics• Patriot Comic Books• Adapting Blackout and God Is a Bullet from film to comics• K-Toon Studios and bringing K-Comics to new audiences• Building and growing an independent comic publisher• What's next for Critical EntertainmentSupport Zombie Zero - Deluxe Hardcover Edition:https://zoop.gg/c/zombiezeroVisit Critical Entertainment:https://www.criticalentertainmentla.com/Explore the Indie Comic Alliance:https://indiecomicalliance.com/Visit Patriot Comic Books:https://www.patriotcomicbooks.com/Follow Critical Entertainment:Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/criticalentertainmentFacebook:https://www.facebook.com/criticalentertainment

Rogers has a plan: kill the new Craft guildmaster and reclaim what was promised to him. But when he finally sits across from Vesper, dagger hidden and rage simmering, the man who stole his position does something unexpected.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week Erin M. Evans and Treavor Bettis are joined by Davinia Evans! Together they talk about the smaller aspects of World Building that you might not have thought about!Special Guest:Davinia Evans (The Burnished City Trilogy)https://viscerate.com/ Join our Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/writingaboutdragons Join the Discord!https://discord.gg/MdSVsfpTzu 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 Pre-Order Dungeons & Dragons Fiends & Foeshttps://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dungeons-dragons-fiends-foes-erin-m-evans/1149826336?ean=9780593838877 Enroll in B. Dave's 14 Day Writer:https://www.theundisputedacademy.com/14-day-writer-home-page

One hero was only the beginning.Lo Plater, creator, writer, and founder of Dark City Comics & Multimedia, returns to the Council of Nerds to discuss E.P.I.C. #2: ARISE ALPHAS - Part 1 and the expansion of the Dark City Universe.When Lo first joined USDN, we introduced Chris Tayborne, a young archaeology student transformed by the ancient cosmic technology known as the Alpha Bands. Since then, E.P.I.C. #1 has gone from Kickstarter campaign to fulfilled comic, giving Lo firsthand experience with the realities of producing, crowdfunding, and delivering an independent comic.Now the story is getting much bigger.The activation of the Alpha Bands has awakened the mysterious Alpha Strand, triggering the emergence of super-powered Alpha Humans around the world. Some will become heroes. Some will become villains. Others will fall somewhere in between.Lo takes us inside the mythology behind the Alpha Strand, how Chris responds to discovering that his transformation wasn't an isolated event, and why building the Dark City Universe means creating a world that extends far beyond E.P.I.C. himself.We also get into the realities of independent comic publishing: Kickstarter fulfillment, unexpected shipping costs, communicating with backers, building the right creative team, planning rewards, printing and distribution, direct-to-consumer relationships, supporting fellow indie creators, and why Lo believes creators are ambassadors for independent comics.With multiple characters and projects already being developed across the Dark City Universe, ARISE ALPHAS - Part 1 represents the next step toward the larger world Lo envisioned when he first entered the Council.E.P.I.C. #2: ARISE ALPHAS - Part 1 heads to Kickstarter in September 2026.

Send us Fan MailPsychiatrist, author, and speaker Justin C. Key stops in to discuss world building for near-future science fiction stories, as well as what the increasing use of AI means for sci-fi novelists and the rest of the world alike.▬Find more of Justin's insights on his website:https://www.justinckey.com/Grab your own copy of his latest gripping collection, The World Wasn't Ready For You:https://www.justinckey.com/my-workContinue your sci-fi deep dive on Justin's socials:https://www.tiktok.com/@justinckeyhttps://x.com/justinkey_md

This is a soft reboot of our Under the Hive of Madness series on Worldbuilding, with a bit more direction and context. Join the crew as Gobbo, Emmy, Chac, and Drew dive in with a stronger focus on the fundamental practices and tools of crafting a Worldbuilding Bible.Under the Hive of Madness is a Warhammer Lore Podcast diving into the Horror and Grimdark elements of the settings, so expect some adult themes, adult language, and more than a handful of Khorney Jokes!"Boots the Time Traveling Monkey has vetoed this action, with his newly acquired... Time Knife."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

I discuss the new Dread domain in Daggerheart.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.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 Next Three Years of DaggerheartUpcoming Official Foundry Modules for DaggerheartOfficial Daggerheart Card Creator & Adversary CreatorMost Played RPGs on Start Playing GamesFree PDF on How to Build Custom AdversariesGet The Wish Thief adventure for free: US, CA, UK, EU, AUGet The Marauders of Windfall adventure for free.

Bestselling science-fiction author Peter F. Hamilton joins me to talk about his latest novel, Exodus: The Helium Sea, the epic conclusion to the Archimedes Engine duology set within the universe of the forthcoming EXODUS video game.Peter explains how his unusual collaboration with Archetype Entertainment allowed him to help build the universe before writing his own story within it, and why seeing artists turn his written descriptions into fully realised worlds became part of the creative process itself. We also get into the nuts and bolts of writing huge speculative worlds: how Peter starts with an idea, builds the technology, economics and politics around it, and only then decides which characters should tell the story. He explains why he can spend six months making notes before beginning a major series, why continuity matters so much, and why he refuses to start a novel without knowing how it ends. Peter looks back at beginning his career with short stories and a manual typewriter, the lessons learned from early editors, and the painful writing mistake that permanently changed the way he plans his books. We also discuss how science fiction has evolved during his career, the challenge of future-proofing fictional technology and why, even after more than three decades as a published novelist, writing itself can still be a slog. Plus, Peter faces Their Darkest Hour, reveals the Book That Saved His Life, and shares the simple piece of writing advice he still believes matters most:Keep writing.Find Peter F. HamiltonPeter's author page and books: Pan Macmillan Peter on Facebook: @PeterFHamilton Exodus: The Helium Sea: Pan Macmillan / Tor Check out my latest book - Real Writers Never Quit: what hundreds of authors reveal about not giving up 

SUMMARYJacob and Evan kick off The Clone Wars Season 4 by discussing the Mon Cala arc, where political tensions between the Mon Calamari and Quarren erupt into an underwater civil war manipulated by the Separatists. While neither host ranks these among their favorite episodes, they highlight several creative elements, including the underwater civilizations, unique battle tactics, Admiral Ackbar's early appearance, and the imaginative aquatic droid designs.The discussion expands into whether Jedi should command armies at all, how underwater warfare changes military strategy, the effectiveness of the arc's villain, and whether diplomacy could have prevented the conflict. They also debate the use of Gungans as reinforcements, imagine alternative story directions, and preview some of their favorite Clone Wars arcs still to come.KEYWORDSClone Wars Season 4 Episodes 1-3Mon Cala arcMon CalamariQuarrenAdmiral AckbarKit Fistounderwater warfareStar Wars civil warJedi generalsGungansClone Wars discussionStar Wars podcastCHAPTERS00:00 - Introduction to the Mon Cala arc01:35 - First impressions and why the arc is divisive02:11 - Admiral Ackbar's early appearance03:30 - Worldbuilding and underwater civilizations04:24 - Why the Gungans hurt the arc05:02 - Quarren, Mon Calamari and other aquatic species07:20 - Fake sponsor: Gungan Goo13:01 - How underwater warfare changes combat tactics15:00 - Were the Gungans the right reinforcements?22:03 - Should Jedi become involved in civil wars?24:16 - Why Jedi struggle as military generals29:00 - Could diplomacy have prevented the conflict?31:47 - What each host would change about the arc35:10 - Favorite underwater vehicles and Separatist war machines37:00 - Preview of upcoming Clone Wars arcs

Bobby Campbell returns to the USDN Podcast to discuss Tales of the Illuminatus #3: Opus Chao and the journey of bringing the legacy of Robert Shea and Robert Anton Wilson's Illuminatus into comics.Bobby joins The Chairman to look back at how the series has evolved from Issue #1 to Issue #3, how his creative process has changed, and the challenge of honoring the original Illuminatus material while finding his own voice within its world.The conversation also dives into the realities of independent comics and crowdfunding. Bobby discusses why building a growing readership matters more to him than simply raising more money, how comic production has changed during his years in the industry, mistakes new creators make when starting out, and why creators preparing for Kickstarter should get as much of their book finished as possible before launching.We also explore Opus Chao, what makes Issue #3 different, where Tales of the Illuminatus goes next, and what Bobby hopes readers ultimately take away from the series.Support Tales of the Illuminatus #3: Opus Chao and Late Pledge on Kickstarter:https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/bobbycampbell/tales-of-illuminatus-3-opus-chaoExplore Tales of the Illuminatus:https://talesofilluminatus.com/Follow Bobby Campbell:BlueSky:https://bsky.app/profile/bobbycampbell.netInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/bobbycampbell777/

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=2ToRamble⭐️ Exclusive Book Club! Join/Support on Patreon

I return to my exploration of the new Daggerheart supplement, Hope & Fear. This week I discuss the four new classes: the assassin, brawler, warlock, and witch.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.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 Next Three Years of DaggerheartUpcoming Official Foundry Modules for DaggerheartOfficial Daggerheart Card Creator & Adversary CreatorMost Played RPGs on Start Playing GamesFree PDF on How to Build Custom AdversariesGet The Wish Thief adventure for free: US, CA, UK, EU, AUGet The Marauders of Windfall adventure for free.

In this episode, I'm delighted to be joined by author, podcaster and anthropologist Michael Kilman.Michael shares fantastic insights on what anthropology is and how it can be applied to writing fantasy books.We delve into cause-and-effect, the anthropological roots of monsters, taboos, and cross-cultural myth structures, and discuss why these are goldmines for fantasy writers.We also look at how worldbuilding through anthropology explores real-world, cross-cultural issues, and we look at a wide range of examples of approaches that humans take to structure their societies.In short, using anthropology in your world creation process can help to create more nuanced and complex characters and cultures, making tension and conflict feel more impactful, and stories more immersive.I hope you enjoy it!More About Michael KilmanMichael co-wrote Build Better Worlds: An Introduction to Anthropology for Game Designers, Fiction Writers, and Filmmakers with forensic anthropologist Kyra Wellstrom.He recently published an academic book chapter titled Worldbuilding as Pedagogy: Teaching Anthropology and Diversity in Contentious Times.He's spent 11 years teaching anthropology at university level, including a course called Anthropology Through Science Fiction, has hosted a TED Talk, and also hosts a live Ask an Anthropologist about Worldbuilding series on YouTube, which you can check out for even more on the topic.https://loridianslaboratory.com/https://www.youtube.com/c/MichaelKilmanAuthorhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBC4FaVnOAs - Michael's TED Talkhttps://www.instagram.com/loridianslab/https://loridianslab.medium.com/https://substack.com/@loridianslaboratoryMore From The Toolshed Get my handbook on writing fantasy > https://richiebilling.com/store/books/a-fantasy-writers-handbook-ebook Get courses and classes on creating fantasy stories, plus early access to episodes > https://www.patreon.com/TheFantasyWritersToolshed/ More resources and contact > https://richiebilling.com/

Magic is a lot of what makes fantasy fantasy. So, how can you do it better? What makes magic good and fun to read in the first place? Here at Worldbuilding for Masochists, we feel pretty strongly that magic systems should be more than an infographic, a D&D table, or a Sorting Hat. How, then, do we build magic into a world in a way that makes sense? And, even more importantly (because absurd and mysterious magic can certainly exist), how can we choose our magic intentionally in a way that allows us to explore something interesting both in the invented world and as commentary on our own? We interrogate how things like our world's education system and capitalism may have detrimentally influenced the current vogue for "hard magic" systems, clearly delineated and highly transactional. Magic often seems both ancient and calcified; what happens when you make it something that is still being discovered and learned about, or something in a state of change? What systems of power have been built around magic, and how can navigating those create problems for your characters? In this episode, we poke at a lot of assumptions about magic and imagine some ways to draw out engaging plot hooks and character dynamics. Also! If you'll be at LA WorldCon in two weeks, here are our schedules: Marshall | Cass | Natania [Transcript TK] Resources:  Cass's handout on Making Magic Overly Sarcastic Productions: Trope Talk: Magic

I begin the show by going over Darrington Press's three year plan for Daggerheart. I also discuss the upcoming official support for Daggerheart on Foundry VTT. Then I begin my multi-episode series exploring the first expansion for Daggerheart, Hope & Fear.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.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 Next Three Years of DaggerheartUpcoming Official Foundry Modules for DaggerheartOfficial Daggerheart Card Creator & Adversary CreatorMost Played RPGs on Start Playing GamesFree PDF on How to Build Custom Adversaries Get The Wish Thief adventure for free: US, CA, UK, EU, AUGet The Marauders of Windfall adventure for free.

I gave a lecture about "Blending the Elements of Experiential Design" on Saturday, June 6, 2026 at Seattle XR in Seattle, Washington. (PDF of Slides]. At the end, I run through some examples of the types of interdisciplinary fusion that I see within the context of immersive storytelling and immersive art. This lecture also digs into the process-relational philosophical foundations, as well as how I'm gaining additional inspiration from Empedocles, Aristotle, and the Classical Quadrivium (Four Arts) of Math, Music, Geometry, and Astronomy. For my 30+ hours of coverage of Venice Immersive, then I apply this archetypal framework to help describe the context, quality, character, and story of each of these projects. You can see an overview of how I've been using this framework in this PDF on "Venice Immersive 2025 Archetypal Categorizations" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01M5NcOYzx0 One of goals of this talk was to further define the archetypal nature of the elements, and how I'm conceiving of them as a possibility space of design tradeoffs (C.S. Peirce's "Firstness"), but also as the concrete decisions that an experiential designer makes ("Secondness"), and then finally how these decisions are experienced more from a phenomenological experience as the audience as we feel, sense, act, and make sense of these experiences, and what they might mean ("Thirdness"). I do not actually dive into Peirce's concepts of Firstness, Secondness, or Thirdness in this specific talk, but I wanted to elaborate on these concepts in this write-up as these have been crucial concepts to help translate the overall abstract Firstness quality of my talk, and ground it into the Secondness of something that is a bit more practical and pragmatic. For Peirce, his semiology is grounded into a triune theory of actualization that goes from a non-Boolean possibility space as Firstness, and then grounds into a Boolean actualization of secondness, and then an interpretant mediates from the concreteness of the Secondness object back to the Firstness of the fundamental archetypal qualities or meaning. I find speculative philosopher James Bradley's summary of the Peirce's triune semiology to be the most easy to digest in his essay titled, "Beyond Hermeneutics: Peirce's Semiology as a Trinitarian Metaphysics of Communication." I can also recommend this article on "Peirce's Theory of Signs" from the The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy for a comprehensive recap, and there's also this excellent YouTube series primer by Philosign's Markus Raninen titled The Basics of Semiotics. But here's Bradley's description of Firstness, Secondness, and Thirdness, which I find myself coming back to again and again. "Within the fundamental speculative triunity of activity, difference and order, or firstness, secondness and thirdness, semiology is an analysis of order or thirdness… Thirdness is analyzed as idea or sign, as the exchange of information between individual entities, and as interpretation; in other words, thirdness is itself a threefold of sign, object and interpretant. Here, sign occupies the position of firstness because it is the potentiality for interpretation; object occupies that of secondness because it is determinate; and the interpretant occupies that of thirdness because the interpretant has the sign-interpreting or sign-ordering role, and so has the status of a third. [24] Thus for Peirce semiology is the analysis of the triune relation of sign, object and interpretant." It's still a bit obtuse, and one way that I like to think about it is through the experience of communication. You have a possibility space of meaning you want to convey (Firstness of the sign/potential), then you choose specific words that convey that meaning (Secondness of the object), then someone listens to those words and phrases, and then connects those words back to a meaning space (Thirdness of the interpretant mediating between the two). For Peirce, each of the Firstness, Secondness, and Thirdness can also refer to themselves, like you can have a Firstness of Thirdness or Secondness of Firstness. It gets a little bit confusing, but I found the following graphic from Collected Essays in Speculative Philosophy (2021) by James Bradley and edited by Sean McGrath to be very useful. Within the context of immersive storytelling, then it's a semiotic process of communication of meaning where you're able to use all sorts of affordances from game design, literature, social dynamics and relations, music, film, lighting, architecture, dance, theme park design, sensory design, and embodiment. My Elemental Theory of Presence attempts to simplify this into the following: Fire Element of Active Presence: Interactivity, Agency, Game Design Air Element of Mental & Social Presence: Meaning, Semiotics, Language, Possibility, Form, Relationality Water Element of Emotional Presence: Experiential Processes, Story, Film, Music, Cycles, Time Earth Element of Environmental & Embodied Presence: Sensory, Immersive, Worldbuilding, Space I elaborate on the various philosophical frameworks that I'm leaning up within this talk that I gave on June 6, 2026, but since then I've been diving more into Peirce and his Triune Metaphysics and Semiology of Firstness, Secondness, and Thirdness, which has been a helpful framework as I've been applying the elements to my Venice Immersive Coverage and categorizing the elemental center of gravity for each of the nearly 40 projects that I covered. Again see this framework in this PDF on "Venice Immersive 2025 Archetypal Categorizations" to see how I have been thinking about each of these projects. I used this approach in the introductions for each of my podcast episodes from Venice (see the links down below). Firstness of Fire: Creativity, Novelty, Intention, Purpose, Goals, & Aristotle's Final Cause Secondness of Fire: Interactivity & Core Gameplay Loops Thirdness of Fire: Agency & Will For Active Presence Examples of Fire: Game Design, Locomotion Options: No Movement, Automatic movement, Teleportation, or free roaming. The LIVENESS of the Live, To what degree does the experience encourage the expression of will and agency? And to what degree does that alter how the narrative unfolds (narrative agency vs participatory interactive moments that customize and flavor the experience)? Adventure, Exploration, Creativity, Novelty, Freedom, Will, and Collective Action. System Dynamics, & iterative feedback loops Firstness of Air: Peirce's "Sign," Intended Meaning, Pattern & Form, Archetypal Possibility Spaces, Relationality, & Aristotle's Formal Cause Secondness of Air: Peirce's "Object" Within A Triadic Semiotic Process (i.e. a specific action, word, harmonic, or action that points to a larger meaning.) Thirdness of Air: Peirce's "Interpretant," Sensemaking Thoughts, Expectations, & Social Dynamics For Mental & Social Presence Examples of Air: Literature, Language, Semiotics, Communication, Symbols, Abstractions. Single Player vs Multi-Player, Suspension of Disbelief and Plausibility, Social Dynamics, Anticipation of the Future, Possibility Spaces, Types of Choices. Realms of Speculative Imagination, How is meaning communicated? Dialogue amongst characters, voice-over narration, environmental storytelling, non-verbal associative dream logic. Mental friction from puzzles. Rules & Mechanics. Use of certain types of AI and Conversational Interfaces with Virtual Beings Firstness of Water: Time, Cycles, Harmonics, Value, & Aristotle's "Material Cause" (in Whitehead's event ontology, then base reality is processes, relationships, and possibilities of value & not Substance) Secondness of Water: Experiential Processes That Provide Contrasts Thirdness of Water: Feelings for Emotional Presence Examples of Water: Cinematic Film Tradition, Music, Harmonics, Rhythm, Pacing, Editing, Contrasts, Emotion, Memory, Dreams, Images, Soul, Psyche, Symbols, Lighting, Mood, Collective Unconscious Firstness of Earth: Space, World, Context, & Aristotle's Efficient Cause Secondness of Earth: Environment & Worldbuilding With Situated Perspectives in that Context Thirdness of Earth: Sensory Perception & Sense of Place for Embodied & Environmental Presence Examples of Earth: Worldbuilding of a spatial context & culture. Architecture, Theater, Theme Park Design, Dance, Are you a ghost or an embodied character? Sensory Experience: Touch/Haptics, Hearing/Spatial Sound, Smells, Vision. Relation of Immersive Tech to Environment as either VR, MR, or AR. Virtual CGI vs Cinematic 180/360 Video, Again, check out this PDF on "Venice Immersive 2025 Archetypal Categorizations" to see how I've ranked nearly 40 projects from Venice Immersive 2025 on the relative elemental center of gravity. Some projects feel more like a cinematic immersive film, which would be a bit more biased towards the Water Element. Some projects are more focused on the experience of a world that was build, and more focused on the Earth Element. Some projects are asking you to Read a book together with other people, which is more focused on the Air Element. And then other more game-like experiences are focused on using interactions as their primary mode of engagement, and so they're more focused on the fire element. There are 64 total combinations of the elements in terms of the first, second, third, or four centers of gravity, and you can see the comprehensive visualization here: Technically, all four elements are always happening all at once all at the same time. However, in experiential design, then creators can emphasize and blend elements together. So I find that ranking the elements can be helpful in determining an overall center of gravity, and that looking at the first two centers of gravity can achieve a sufficient job of creating some ad hoc, immersive and "elemental genres....

I interviewed Tom Seed about Ghost Town on Friday, August 29, 2025 at Venice Immersive in Venice, Italy. Here is the story synopsis for Ghost Town: "Life has been going well for Edith. The paranormal detective agency she runs with her flatmate has never been busier, she's almost up-to-date with her rent and the ghosts in her bathroom mirror have been less demanding than usual. Edith's world is turned upside down when her brother goes missing and a mysterious new lead promises to reveal clues of his whereabouts. Edith's journey begins with a visit to a remote Scottish island in the hope a gifted clairvoyant can provide some much-needed answers." Here are the contextual domains that are explored: Adventure [9] into the blurring of supernatural & mundane spaces to find a lost sibling [3]. Helping liminal ghosts [12] transition into the afterlife [9]. Here is the Elemental Center of Gravity: 1st Center of Gravity: Fire Element / Active Presence: Adventure Game where you solve puzzles and liberate supernatural entities into the afterlife. A pretty set gameplay loop2nd Center of Gravity: Earth Element / Environmental Presence: Exquisite environmental design & Worldbuilding of 1980s United Kingdom.3rd Center of Gravity: Emotional Presence: Overarching Narrative with motion captured characters. Spooky supernatural scenes, but also driven by curiosity and exploration.4th Center of Gravity: Mental Presence: A variety of spatial puzzles. Cut scenes with dialogue. Archetypal Themes and Character Explored: Adventure, Solving Puzzles Artist Statement: "Development on Ghost Town — a single-player puzzle adventure VR game — began four years ago and expands upon Fireproof's experience creating the game series The Room. The scope of Ghost Town is a significant step up for Fireproof Games in every way. Building on the immersive puzzles and atmospheric set pieces of The Room, Fireproof have crafted the puzzle gameplay they are known for into a variety of expansive environments full of detailed worldbuilding with a strong narrative focus. And, a first for Fireproof, there is a variety of fully motion captured characters who breathe life into the script and add a greater sense of depth to the narrative experience." This is a listener-supported podcast through the Voices of VR Patreon. Music: Fatality

Expanding the dystopian wasteland of ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK (1981) took dirt cheap, surprisingly effective special effects and relentless location scouting. Part 2 of our deep dive details the transition from practical prison sets to the high-tech police state, including how the crew got creative to get around city liability, a young James Cameron's uncredited hand in building the skyline, and an entire prologue that never made the final cut. None of it cost much. All of it stuck — Carpenter's grimy vision of the future became the template for a decade of imitators. Want the full story without the wait? CinemaShock+ members get extended, ad-free episodes that combine every part into one seamless listen — plus bonus content you won't hear anywhere else. Join at cinemashock.net/plus. CINEMA SHOCK ASSOCIATE PRODUCERS: Andy Lancaster | asotirov | Benjamin Turpin | Benjamin Yates | Capiapoa | courtland ashley | curtcake5k | Dick Jones | Elton Novara | Interzone78 | Jackson_Baker | JoeyP | John sweet bussy Greaney | Jvance325 | KDurden | Lucy Lawson | MagicBloat | mcdudely | Nate Izod | RockGokd | Tim G | triplr1478 Theme Song: "There's Still a Little Bit of Time, If We Hurry and I Mean Hurry" by Slasher Film Festival Strategy. This episode was written, produced and edited by Gary Horne & Justin Bishop. Image: "Portrait of John Carpenter.jpg" by Kyle Cassidy, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified from original. This derivative work is also licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. For episode archives, merch, show notes, and more, visit cinemashock.net