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Welcome to Autumn-ish Book Club! In this flash analysis series, we take an academic approach to some of the most talked-about books in Romantasy and fantasy today. With over 13 years of combined academic literary training, we bring a critical lens to fandom favorites while keeping the discussion fun, thought-provoking, and accessible. In this episode, we're discussing The Jasad Heir by Sara Hashem. We explore how Hashem intertwines Egyptian-inspired mythology with epic fantasy politics to tell a story of rebellion, identity, and survival. Through Sylvia's journey as the last heir of a fallen kingdom forced into hiding, we analyze themes of legacy, vengeance, and the tension between duty and desire. We also unpack how Hashem uses slow-burn romance, political intrigue, and moral ambiguity to craft a richly layered debut that challenges traditional hero narratives within the Romantasy genre. This episode is perfect for listeners looking for a Jasad Heir book discussion or in-depth Sara Hashem analysis, as we explore how her world-building, magic system, and character dynamics position her among the next generation of standout Romantasy authors. Whether you're drawn to stories of secret royalty, forbidden love, or morally gray magic, this conversation dives deep into what makes The Jasad Heir a must-read for fantasy fans and BookTok readers alike. This season, we'll be covering:The Hunger Games by Suzanne CollinsA Cruel Thirst by Angela MontoyaWhen the Moon Hatched by Sarah A. ParkerWhere the Shadows Meet by Patrice CaldwellBlood of Hercules by Jasmin MasBlood Over Bright Haven by M.L. WangRed Queen by Victoria AveyardThe Jasad Heir by Sara Hashem And when book club wraps up, get ready—our next full literary analysis will dive into Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas. If you're new here, we also have full seasons analyzing A Court of Thorns and Roses, A Court of Mist and Fury, A Court of Wings and Ruin, A Court of Frost and Starlight, House of Earth and Blood, House of Sky and Breath, Throne of Glass, and Crown of Midnight. Go back and check those out to see how we break down metaphors, symbolism, narrative structure, and character arcs through multiple literary lenses. If you love Sarah J. Maas, Sara Hashem, and smart, accessible Romantasy analysis, you're in the right place. The Subtext Society Journal: https://thesubtextsocietyjournal.substack.com/ We're thrilled to announce our newest venture: The Subtext Society Journal—the first of its kind, dedicated to Romance, Romantasy, and fandom with an academic yet accessible voice. We're publishing original essays and thought pieces, and we encourage listeners to submit their own articles for a chance to be featured. Sponsor: Vionic Use code BOOKTALK at checkout for 15% off your entire order at www.vionicshoes.com when you log into your account. 1 time use only. Share your thoughts for a chance to be featured! Submit them at booktalkforbooktok.com for a future mini-episode or exclusive Patreon discussion. Support the Show: Patreon: patreon.com/booktalkforbooktok Merch: Etsy Store Follow Us on Social: Instagram: @BookTalkForBookTok TikTok: @BookTalkForBookTok YouTube: @BookTalkForBookTok Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
[Worldcon] was my first convention where I went to panels, gave a reading, and had a big party. It made my sweet little book feel like the huge thing it is in my heart and mind. -Tim Chawaga S21 Ep18 In this episode, we welcome Tim Chawaga, author of Salvagia, as we dive into the depths of his near-future science fiction mystery set in a flooded Florida. Tim shares the inspiration behind his book, where a freelance Salvagia diver uncovers a dead body while searching for valuable artifacts from the past. We explore the blending of genres in Salvagia, from climate fiction to humor, and discuss the delicate balance between plot and world-building in writing. Tim reflects on his debut at Worldcon, the challenges of imposter syndrome, and the importance of building connections within the writing community. (This post went live for supporters on October 16, 2025. If you want early, ad-free, and sometimes expanded episodes, support at Patreon or get my newsletter at Ghost!) Download Transcript Links Tim Chawaga Salvagia Seattle Worldcon Evergreen Links See all books from Season 21 Like the podcast? Get the book! I Should Be Writing. Socials: Bluesky, Instagram, YouTube, Focusmate Theme by John Anealio Savor I Should Be Writing tea blends Support local book stores! Station Eternity, Six Wakes, Solo: A Star Wars Story: Expanded Edition and more! OR Get signed books from my friendly local store, Flyleaf Books! — "From Idea to Ink: Tim Chawaga on Crafting Salvagia" is brought to you in large part by my supporters, the Fabulists, who received an early, expanded version of this episode. You can join our Fabulist community with a pledge on Patreon! Some of the links above may be affiliate, allowing you to support the show at no extra cost to you. Also consider leaving a review for ISBW, please! CREDITS Theme song by John Anealio, art by Numbers Ninja, and files hosted by Libsyn (affiliate link). Get archives of the show via Patreon. October 16, 2025 | Season 21 Ep 18 | murverse.com "From Idea to Ink: Tim Chawaga on Crafting Salvagia" by Mur Lafferty is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 In case it wasn't clear: Mur and this podcast are fully supportive of LGBTQ+ folks, believe that Black Lives Matter, and trans rights are human rights, despite which direction the political winds blow. If you do not agree, then there are plenty of other places to go on the Internet.
Thanks to our sponsor of the episode! Don't forget to get your copy of "A Charge to Keep" now!https://www.amazon.com/Charge-Keep-Immutable-Leadership-Lessons/dp/B0FKLRLMGCAward-winning screenwriter Leon Chills joins host Manika to discuss his new screenplay "Believe in the Boy Who Dreams" : a moving, anime-inspired story about family, love, and self-discovery. Known for his work on The Wilds (Amazon Prime) and Shadow Force, Chills dives deep into how parenthood, mental health, and representation in storytelling shape his creative process.In this episode, Manika and Leon explore how Believe in the Boy Who Dreams bridges anime influences like Paprika, Demon Slayer, and Bleach with powerful themes of family therapy, black fatherhood, and healing through imagination. Leon also opens up about leaving a corporate career to chase creativity, how storytelling became his therapy, and why animation may be the future of emotional storytelling.
In this episode I discuss running D&D and other RPGs at high level. It's often not as fun as we think it'll be, especially for the GM. A lot of the issues with high level play and advancement are baked into the games, but sometimes we as GMs make the situation even worse through our approach. I talk about some ways to handle powerful PCs as a GM—what to do and what not to do. I also share things I've learned running Blood of the Avatars and other high-level campaigns. Hopefully you can learn from some of my mistakes in your next high-level game.Check out my sci-fi novel, Critical Balance.Have you read Critical Balance? Please leave a review on Amazon.Check Out my NEW PODCAST - Lex Out LoudCall the Game Master's Journey voice mail: 951-GMJ-LEX1 (951-465-5391).If you're a new listener, and you'd like to go back to the beginning, here's a link to Episode 1.If you're interested in worldbuilding and/or my D&D campaign setting of Primordia, check out the first worldbuilding episode. You can go to this page to see all the episodes that discuss worldbuilding.Check out my latest D&D supplement, Adventurers of Primordia.
Discover what makes romance and cozy mysteries two of the most successful and reader-loved genres in publishing. In this episode of The Fantasy Writers' Toolshed, host Richie Billing sits down with bestselling authors Jami Albright and Sara Rosett to uncover what all writers can learn from these powerfully engaging genres.Jami Albright is an acclaimed romance author known for her laugh-out-loud romantic comedies and bestselling indie success stories. Sara Rosett is a prolific cozy mystery writer whose books are filled with charm, suspense, and unforgettable characters. Together, they share a wealth of knowledge on writing craft, book marketing, and building a long-term career as an independent author.We explore:How to write a book series that keeps readers coming back — from character arcs to emotional payoffs.The secrets of romance and cozy mystery writing, including reader expectations, tone, pacing, and genre tropes that build loyal audiences.Worldbuilding techniques that keep continuity consistent across multiple novels.How to plan a successful book launch and make your release stand out in a crowded market.Developing an author brand that feels authentic and memorable.Book marketing strategies that actually work — from mailing lists and newsletters to podcast appearances, social media engagement, and creative promotions.Writing productivity and mindset tips to help authors finish series and sustain momentum.This conversation goes beyond genre to deliver universal lessons for storytellers. Whether you write fantasy, science fiction, romance, or thrillers, you'll gain actionable advice on how to design stories that hook readers, market your books effectively, and build a lasting author career.Key takeaways:Learn how romance and cozy mystery writers use structure, reader satisfaction, and emotional beats to keep fans invested.Understand why character-driven plots and series planning can transform your writing into a sustainable career.Discover how to create a strong author identity that readers instantly recognise.Find out how Jami and Sara approach marketing, launches, and branding from a professional and personal perspective.If you've ever wondered how to write a romance novel, how to start a cozy mystery series, or simply how to build a loyal readership, this episode is packed with real-world experience and practical strategies.FANTASY WRITING BOOKS, CLASSES AND TOOLShttps://www.patreon.com/TheFantasyWritersToolshed JOIN OUR DISCORD COMMUNITYhttps://mailchi.mp/395aa89d6ec0/join-richie-billings-community-of-writers ABOUT JAMI ALBRIGHThttps://wishidknownforwriters.com/https://www.jamialbright.com/ABOUT SARA ROSETThttps://www.sararosett.com/GET IN TOUCHthefantasywriterstoolshed@gmail.comwww.richiebilling.com RESOURCESDiscover more writing tips and guides hereAnd learn more about writing fantasy here
Geoff Cook's career took off the night he met MoMA's CMO—and helped create the iconic MoMA QNS brand. Since then, he's shaped brands from MILK and NeueHouse to Times Talks, JFK Terminal 4, and the Prince Estate. Partner at Base, mentor at TechStars, and global culture expert, Geoff shares how bold branding can leave a lasting cultural impact. What You'll Learn in This Episode - How a single encounter can launch a career and define a creative trajectory - Why human connection is at the heart of every successful brand experience - The concept of “world-building” in branding and how it fosters community - How to balance AI as a tool without losing creative originality - Key considerations for branding early-stage companies and preserving cash Episode Chapters (00:00) Intro (00:33) Jeff Cook's career breakthrough at MoMA (02:10) Early lessons from DKNY and international branding (04:07) Culture-driven branding from Milk to global institutions (07:40) Translating cultural expertise to JFK Terminal 4 (10:09) World-building brands to foster human connection (12:19) AI in creative work: opportunities and guardrails (20:12) Mentoring early-stage companies and branding pitfalls (26:27) Brands that make Jeff smile About Geoff Cook Geoff Cook's career catapulted on the night he met MoMA's CMO at a Base party in Manhattan, where he discussed developing the institution's new branding for its temporary museum in Queens. The project, MoMA QNS, was the first in a string of iconic brands he has helped to create, including MILK, NeueHouse, JFK Terminal 4, Iconiq, The New York Times' Times Talks & Food Festival, the Prince Estate, and countless others. Geoff approaches branding with a sharp understanding of business strategy and a finger on the pulse of global culture (he speaks four languages and savors local flavor everywhere he travels). As a partner at Base, Geoff asks companies big questions and helps answer them with unexpected, visionary solutions. The result is very often a profound cultural impact. Geoff also puts his branding acumen to use as a mentor at renowned tech accelerator, TechStars, and serves as a board member at Sentral. What Brand Has Made Geoff Smile Recently? Geoff is impressed by On, a Swiss-based athletic brand. He admires how On builds a cohesive, coherent world through product design, store experiences, and creative campaigns that surprise and delight. The combination of Swiss precision and playful, culturally relevant marketing makes On a standout in his eyes. Resources & Links Connect with Geoff on LinkedIn. Check out the Base Design website and Instagram. Here's the Design Week article on AI we discussed. Listen & Support the Show Watch or listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, Amazon/Audible, TuneIn, and iHeart. Rate and review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify to help others find the show. Share this episode — email a friend or colleague this episode. Sign up for my free Story Strategies newsletter for branding and storytelling tips. On Brand is a part of the Marketing Podcast Network. Until next week, I'll see you on the Internet! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
From beer to gin, from caffeine to tobacco, from mushrooms to hallucinogenic snails, a culture's options for achieving altered states of consciousness through consumables are vast! So when the people in your culture want to get blitzed -- How do they achieve that? The choices can communicate a lot to your readers about your world's technology, climate, and topography, as well as their ideas about health. Alcohol and other intoxicants also tend to accumulate lots of social apparatus around them. Unspoken rules might dictate when it's okay to get intentionally impaired and when it's unacceptable, or what forms of booze are considered high-class or low-class; actual laws might regulate both creation and consumption. You can also explore why your people partake of such things: Just for fun? Are there religious associations, like offering libations to a god or putting a prophet into a trance state? Do they think that inhaling ash is good for them? As always, we advocate both doing the research and looking for creative choices! Can you give your culture a unique intoxicant of some kind? In this episode, we also take a moment to practice what we preach and discuss the inebriating habits of the cultures in our co-built world! [Transcript for Episode 165 TK]
In this episode of The Corner of Story and Game, returning guest Joshua Rubin, veteran narrative designer (Destiny, Assassin's Creed, The Walking Dead, Telltale), joins us to unpack the chaos, creativity, and continuity of transmedia worldbuilding.We dive into:
Send us a textJoin Drake and Marie as they explore how to write interiority using a 12 layer model. We go over everything from showing, to telling, to worldview and more! Writer's room (50% off for lifetime membership): https://writersroom.mn.co/plans/338439?bundle_token=196fd3965307a65eee0d1bf2bc6fa5a6&utm_source=manualMembership for Just In Time Worlds: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxvBH0EkwuHsQ9ryHHQNi2Q/joinGive us feedback at releasingyourinnerdragon(at)gmail(dot)comDiscord: https://discord.gg/vMrmBsF5fhMagicfall: http://magicfallnovel.com/Drake's Contact Details:Starving Writer Studio: https://www.starvingwriterstudio.com/Drake-U: https://class.drakeu.com/ - Use RYID25 for 25% off!Writer's Room: https://writersroom.mn.co/Marie's contact details:Books: https://mariemullany.com/booksJust In Time Worlds: https://www.youtube.com/c/JustInTimeWorlds?sub_confirmation=1writersofthefuture.com
On this week's episode, I'm joined by the incredible Jess Hunt, my good friend and the founder of the beauty brand REFY for the ultimate girl chat and a very exciting announcement. This conversation is for anyone who is looking for a beauty and business power talk! We share top beauty products, wellness rituals and step by step morning routines, but we also discuss the challenges. How we navigate the overwhelming moments, what it really takes to build a brand and how we show up for ourselves and each other. Jess also shares her favourite behind the scenes moments whilst building REFY, invaluable insights into the brand's growth and how she connects with her community.Also some big news! We're launching a new challenge together on 6th October on Pilates By Bryony. We're bringing you brand new classes with Jess, Jess's favourite classes, new recipes, and more. Join us for a feel good episode with beauty, wellness, and high self energy all in one place.// MORE FROM BRYONY // Use BEYOND30 to get a free 30-days on the Pilates By Bryony app here.Visit pilatesbybryony.com and shop our products here. Follow me on Instagram @bryonydeery @pilatesbybryony. Watch Beyond the Mat on YouTube. // SPONSORS // BetterHelp: Go to betterhelp.com/beyondthemat for 10% off your first month. Please note that this episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct or indirect financial interest in products or services referred to in this episode.Produced by Dear Media.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Upon arriving at Gaotteland, Kray's request for an audience is denied by the gate guards. He responds not with force, but with history, revealing his name and his role as the former tutor to the current king's father, forcing a standoff as they await the Crown's response.Some secrets are worth dying for. Some are worth killing for.---Intimidated that you're dozens of episodes behind and afraid to start listening? Don't be. Here's a handy Listener's Guide that let's you know spots where you can start listening further in the story.---If you would like to view a map of Ness, you can find it here.----Grab some Thieves Guild merch!https://store.podcastalchemy.studioBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-thieves-guild--6141933/support.Want to support The Thieves Guild and show runner Jake Kerr? Join our Supporter's Club on Spreaker. In early 2026, we'll be providing ad-free episodes and other special content. You can find out more here.---Check out all of our drama podcasts!Artifacts of the ArcaneA historical urban fantasy set at the beginning of World War Two. The world has abandoned magic, but magic hasn't abandoned the world.https://podcastalchemy.studio/arcaneThursdayA cyberpunk VR thriller.No one can be trusted when nothing is real.https://podcastalchemy.studio/thursday----Find out more about writer Jake Kerr: https://www.jakekerr.comFollow Jake on Bluesky @jakekerr.com
This week we talk Games! Veteran artist Darren Bacon talks us through his approach for world buildings having worked on such hit titles as Destiny, Halo, Star Wars and more!
With the hunters left to their fear in the darkness, the journey continues. Raef and Kray must navigate a forgotten and dangerous dwarven ford to cross the mighty Dragon's Tear river and enter the new realm of Gaotteland. They've escaped the shadows, but Kray gives a grim warning: walking in the light can be a far more dangerous path.Some secrets are worth dying for. Some are worth killing for.---Intimidated that you're dozens of episodes behind and afraid to start listening? Don't be. Here's a handy Listener's Guide that let's you know spots where you can start listening further in the story.---If you would like to view a map of Ness, you can find it here.----Grab some Thieves Guild merch!https://store.podcastalchemy.studioBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-thieves-guild--6141933/support.Want to support The Thieves Guild and show runner Jake Kerr? Join our Supporter's Club on Spreaker. In early 2026, we'll be providing ad-free episodes and other special content. You can find out more here.---Check out all of our drama podcasts!Artifacts of the ArcaneA historical urban fantasy set at the beginning of World War Two. The world has abandoned magic, but magic hasn't abandoned the world.https://podcastalchemy.studio/arcaneThursdayA cyberpunk VR thriller.No one can be trusted when nothing is real.https://podcastalchemy.studio/thursday----Find out more about writer Jake Kerr: https://www.jakekerr.comFollow Jake on Bluesky @jakekerr.com
In episode 163, I sit down with Jack Carr — veteran, bestselling author, and screenwriter — to talk about Cry Havoc, his latest addition to The Terminal List series of novels and the evolving journey from page to screen. Our conversation dives into how Jack's relentless world building isn't just about crafting thrillers; it's about intentionally seeding story elements that let him explore multiple generations and secret corners of the narratives he creates as both a novelist and as a showrunner. If you're driven to tell stories at the highest levels, every decision is an opportunity to lay groundwork for future storytelling, and no detail is too small if it sets the stage for new layers of exploration. Jack and I talk about the differences between writing for the screen and for the page and discuss how living as both a screenwriter and an author challenges and grows his craft. Collaborating with a creative team to build a TV series from a book is a radically different experience than solo writing, but mastering one makes him sharper and more flexible in the other, ultimately enriching character development, authenticity, and the stories themselves. We talk about the accountability that comes with a passionate fanbase, the reward of honoring veterans by getting the details right, and how creating in both worlds — the page and the screen — lets us explore the deepest truths in the universe we build. Episode Sponsors: VM Merch Go Pills -- use "VM15" at checkout for 15% off your order. BUBS Naturals -- use "veteranmade" at checkout for 20% off your order. True Made Foods -- use "VET" at checkout for 15% off your order. Ruck Sox -- use "VETERANMADE15" at checkout for 15% off your order. Bravo Actual -- use "Veteran Made" at checkout for 15% off your order. Intro Song composed and produced by Cleod9. SOCIALS: https://www.instagram.com/veteranmade.ck/ https://www.instagram.com/jackcarrusa/
The host of the Null comes forth!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 host of the Null comes forth!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
This week on Black Hoodie Alchemy, we're rounding home-plate and reading the second half of my friend and colleague Eric Millar's work, The Four Color Grimoire! And this has everything to do with the legendary and still somewhat-unsung legacy of Jack Kirby - the King of Comics! But overall, it has the most to do with the art of nerd-fandom world-building itself, and the catharsis that can come from both creating and enjoying these things.(For those unfamiliar, Stan Lee hardly created any of the heroes he is known for, and rode off the coat-tails of Kirby in the creation of superheroes like the Avengers, the X-Men, and most of their respective casts. And when Lee wasn't riding on Kirby's coat-tails, he hitched onto people like Steve Ditko in the creation of Spider-Man.)If you haven't listened to the last episode, I encourage you to do so, although it's not entirely necessary. In the first half of the work, we discussed the archetypal, allegorical value in modern nerd fandoms by looking at OG comic book culture and art.In this episode, we talk all that context and dive into the legacies of some of the most inventive and esoteric creators in comic books! While a solid two-thirds or so focuses on the great Jack Kirby, we also take the time to look into the titanic art and careers of both Steve Ditko and Rick Veitch. Don't sleep on these fascinating artists, or on Eric's Four Color Grimoire!RELATED CONTENT:DIVE MANUAL AUDIOBOOK (narrated by Joe Rupe)HUNT MANUALBHA LINKTREE w books, shorts, and much morepurchase Four Color GrimoireWE THE HALLOWED MEDIABHA episodes with Eric Millar:Four Color Grimoire pt 1Existential FuryGarbage WizardryOG Comics and mysticism pt 1OG Comics and mysticism pt 2 (with Martin Ferretti)This week's featured music, as always, is brought to you by some of the most titanic beatmakers and wordsmiths of the underground! Don't forget to support that black hoodie rap and all your favorite independent artists!Jeffrey Dahmer (feat. Solomon Childs) - Switch Talkin Durty to the Godz - Babylon Warchild x Tainted WisdomGorefield - Alex ArckDeserve - impaleme
Role Play Chat is BACK and I'm joined by friend of the pod Bodhi, oen of the creative minds behind Homie and the Dude, TTRPG publishing. If you'd like to learn more about Homie and the Dude you can check their website out here: https://www.homieandthedude.com/and if you'd like to back their amazing kickstarter, you can do so here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/homieandthedude/scorched-basin?ref=d8a2mk-Mat~ Affiliate Links & Support ~early episodes and other perks: https://www.patreon.com/RolePlayChat My Terrain Etsy Shop:https://dungeonterraindepot.etsy.com/DriveThruRPG: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/browse.php?affiliate_id=3513284Hero Forge: https://www.heroforge.com/tap/?ref=roleplaychat Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/role_play_chatTabletop Giant: tabletopgiant.ca/ROLE_PLAY_CHAT ————— Role Play Chat is a biweekly podcast where Mat sits down with content creators from the table top roleplaying game community to take deep dives into #ttrpg related topics (for games such as #DungeonsandDragons, Fates, Warhammer or Call of Cthulhu). These informal discussions are filled with stories, advice, insights and hopefully will serve as inspiration for fellow Game Masters and Players.————— Where to find me, Mat, on socials?Linktree: https://linktr.ee/role_play_chatBluesky: @role_play_chatInstagram & Threads: @role_play_chat Mastodon: @role_play_chat@dice.campEmail: contactroleplaychat@gmail.comPodcast: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Podbean or wherever you find your podcasts! (https://anchor.fm/roleplaychat)Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/roleplaychat -————— Music: The music from this episode was composed by Alex & Chase over at Pocket Bard, the best ttrpg sound companion app. Look it up in your app store! Thanks Pocket Bard.
Daredevil isn't just a great superhero story — it's also packed with lessons for writers. In this bonus episode, I pull together key takeaways from our Episode 288 breakdown and frame them as quick, standalone insights you can apply to your own creative work. And don't miss the free companion guide that goes along with this episode! The Spun Today Podcast is a Podcast that is anchored in Writing, but unlimited in scope. Give it a whirl. Download the FREE guide here: https://www.spuntoday.com/podcast/288bonus Twitter: https://twitter.com/spuntoday Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spuntoday/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@spuntoday Website: http://www.spuntoday.com/home Newsletter: http://www.spuntoday.com/subscribe Links referenced in this episode Get your Podcast Started Today! https://signup.libsyn.com/?promo_code=SPUN (Use Promo code SPUN and get up to 2-months of free service!) Check out all the Spun Today Merch, and other ways to help support this show! https://www.spuntoday.com/support Check out my Books Make Way for You – Tips for getting out of your own way FRACTAL – A Time Travel Tale Melted Cold – A Collection of Short Stories http://www.spuntoday.com/books/ (e-Book, Paperback & Hardcover are now available). Fill out my Spun Today Questionnaire if you're passionate about your craft. I'll share your insight and motivation on the Podcast: http://www.spuntoday.com/questionnaire/ Shop on Amazon using this link, to support the Podcast: https://amzn.to/4km592l Shop on iTunes using this link, to support the Podcast: https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewTop?genreId=38&id=27820&popId=42&uo=10 Shop at the Spun Today store for Mugs, Notebooks, T-Shirts and more: https://spuntoday-shop.fourthwall.com/ Music: https://www.purple-planet.com Outro Background Music: https://www.bensound.com Spun Today Logo by: https://www.naveendhanalak.com/ Sound effects are credited to: http://www.freesfx.co.uk Listen on: ApplePodcasts | Spotify | Pocket Casts | YouTube | Website
Reeling from Rebecca's departure, Raylan expects a final lecture from his father. Instead, he receives a piece of shockingly profound advice about love and duty, comparing Rebecca's fire to his mother's and urging him to build a fortress worth returning to.Some secrets are worth dying for. Some are worth killing for.---Intimidated that you're dozens of episodes behind and afraid to start listening? Don't be. Here's a handy Listener's Guide that let's you know spots where you can start listening further in the story.---Interested in the development of the complex story and want to know how writer Jake Kerr puts it together every week? Want an ad-free experience? Subscribe to his Patreon. Love world building? Want ongoing updates? Free members get ongoing story updates with interesting reference material about the guild hierarchy, geography, and history. Free Patreon members also receive copies of the first Thieves Guild ebook. The next book will be released in 2025 and Patreon members will also receive that book (and all subsequent books!) for free, too. Want to go directly to get your free books? Click here.---If you would like to view a map of Ness, you can find it here.----Grab some Thieves Guild merch!https://store.podcastalchemy.studioBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-thieves-guild--6141933/support.Want to support The Thieves Guild and show runner Jake Kerr? Join our Supporter's Club on Spreaker. In early 2026, we'll be providing ad-free episodes and other special content. You can find out more here.---Check out all of our drama podcasts!Artifacts of the ArcaneA historical urban fantasy set at the beginning of World War Two. The world has abandoned magic, but magic hasn't abandoned the world.https://podcastalchemy.studio/arcaneThursdayA cyberpunk VR thriller.No one can be trusted when nothing is real.https://podcastalchemy.studio/thursday----Find out more about writer Jake Kerr: https://www.jakekerr.comFollow Jake on Bluesky @jakekerr.com
What happens when K-Pop stardom meets supernatural & urban fantasy action? A spectacularly fun move that works even when it “shouldn't.” In this episode, Janeen Ippolito and special guest R.J. Metcalf unpack K-Pop Demon Hunters and what it can teach us about storytelling. From genre-bending fun to powerful character arcs, this movie is a case study in how mashups can draw in a wider audience, the potency of character arcs, and why
286 / What happens when a fantasy author brings a soundtrack to storytelling—and what can writers and readers learn from merging music, world-building, and social themes? Richie Billing shares his innovative journey blending original soundtracks with fiction, the challenges of marketing across genres, and the lessons learned from a decade of writing.✨Podcast Sponsor: Ingram Spark: https://www.ingramspark.com/learnmoreTopics discussed in interview:Writing social justice and controversial themes and underdog stories in fantasyWhen to get feedback on your draftsSubscription model using novelettes and connecting directly with readersIncorporating soundtracks into fantasy booksWhere to start with wordbuilding in fantasy
A point-of-view character's experience of the world will shape the information that the reader gets about that world. So, a lot depends on who that character -- or characters -- might be! How can you turn their knowledge -- or lack thereof -- into a plot hook? Does the audience have information before a POV character does? How does their personality affect how information gets communicated to the reader? Guest Martin Cahill joins us to discuss! We also chat about one-off POVs, the context added by interstitial material and ephemera, and whether or not it's possible to write a story from the point of view of a dress. [Transcript for Episode 164] Our Guest: Martin Cahill is an Ignyte Award-nominated science fiction and fantasy writer living in Hell's Kitchen, NY and works as the Marketing and Publicity Manager for Erewhon Books. He's a graduate of the Clarion Writers' Workshop of 2014 and a member of the NYC-based writing group, Altered Fluid. You can find his fiction work in Clarkesworld, Lightspeed Magazine, Nightmare Magazine, Shimmer Magazine, Fireside Magazine, and Beneath Ceaseless Skies. His short story, “Godmeat,” appeared in The Best American Science Fiction and Fantasy 2019 anthology. He was also one of the writers on Batman: The Blind Cut from Realm Media. Martin also writes, and has written, book reviews, articles, and essays for Tor.com, Catapult, Ghostfire Gaming, Book Riot, Strange Horizons, and the Barnes and Noble Science Fiction & Fantasy Blog. You can find him online at @mcflycahill90.
Send us a textOne of the things we are passionate about at the Epic Adventure Podcast is spontaneous story telling. I have been a low prep game master for a very long time, preferring to let my players actions push the narrative and typically filling in the gaps between the sessions to make it feel like I've pre written an epic storyline, when in reality I'm just making it up as I go along.Christina is the same way, playing in her games is a lesson in be careful what you ask for, because you will likely get it.And then we have Mike, the most regimented of the three of us. He loves to spend hours pouring over the perfect game story, layers within layers and mysteries within mysteries, only to have us, the players, show up and burn it all to the ground in minutes.Funny enough, Mike, the planner was the one to come up with the Radiance Adventure Engine.For those of you not familiar Radiance was designed to allow you to solo roleplay any roleplaying game in existence. It is a set of cards that are based on traditional story telling methods that help you create a story for your game, then you use the rule system from your favorite ttrpg to resolve the conflicts that occur. It's amazing as a solo game, but it's story engine design makes it, in my opinion, the greatest GM toolkit ever created. If you are stuck and need a quick story or idea in your adventure because the pure beings of chaos called your players did something different, just pull a Radiance card, and there you go.Instant adventure.We've used Radiance before on this podcast to create adventures on the fly, but today we are going to do something different.We are going to generate a world on the fly.That's right, a world to adventure in. More specifically a Fantasy World to adventure in.Recently we pontificated on the fact that the worlds and settings of D&D sucked. I don't have to read minds to know that the fans of D&D were shouting “Oh Yea, can you do it better?” Well let's find out.On this episode I'm going to pull some Radiance cards and surprise Mike, Christina, and myself with the prompts. From there, we are going to build a Fantasy World for you.So, You guys ready for this?
In the new novel Archive of Unknown Universes, author Ruben Reyes Jr. allows his characters to literally explore alternate versions of history: one version where the Salvadoran war ends in a peace treaty, and another where the government wins. Reyes Jr discuses the novel, his debut.
Pulled between his duty to the Guild and Rebecca's urgent mission, Ralan must make an impossible choice. His decision to stay and rebuild his city forces Rebecca to leave for Gaotteland alone, creating a chasm between them that may never be bridged.Some secrets are worth dying for. Some are worth killing for.---Intimidated that you're dozens of episodes behind and afraid to start listening? Don't be. Here's a handy Listener's Guide that let's you know spots where you can start listening further in the story.---Interested in the development of the complex story and want to know how writer Jake Kerr puts it together every week? Want an ad-free experience? Subscribe to his Patreon. Love world building? Want ongoing updates? Free members get ongoing story updates with interesting reference material about the guild hierarchy, geography, and history. Free Patreon members also receive copies of the first Thieves Guild ebook. The next book will be released in 2025 and Patreon members will also receive that book (and all subsequent books!) for free, too. Want to go directly to get your free books? Click here.---If you would like to view a map of Ness, you can find it here.----Grab some Thieves Guild merch!https://store.podcastalchemy.studioBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-thieves-guild--6141933/support.Want to support The Thieves Guild and show runner Jake Kerr? Join our Supporter's Club on Spreaker. In early 2026, we'll be providing ad-free episodes and other special content. You can find out more here.---Check out all of our drama podcasts!Artifacts of the ArcaneA historical urban fantasy set at the beginning of World War Two. The world has abandoned magic, but magic hasn't abandoned the world.https://podcastalchemy.studio/arcaneThursdayA cyberpunk VR thriller.No one can be trusted when nothing is real.https://podcastalchemy.studio/thursday----Find out more about writer Jake Kerr: https://www.jakekerr.comFollow Jake on Bluesky @jakekerr.com
What's the Opposite of a Plot Hole? Loooooong time ago, we had a whole big podcast about plot holes. Are they good? Are they bad? What is Mango's Iron Law of Worldbuilding? Well, interestingly, something we didn't consider in that conversation is the opposite of a plot hole. In other words, a plot pedestal. What is it? How does it work? Is it good or bad? The video that inspired this convo: https://youtu.be/KCztDSvyL3I?si=irj3ADJB3TQEzSAb MUGG: https://youtu.be/eVTFcm1Z1tA?si=1S5KB0g3PXU6S5eR The Pinky Guard: https://youtube.com/shorts/hFTLU6h8BL8?si=BOuuMyFtLhe3zsgw ---------------------------------------------------------------- Want to watch these episodes live? Check us out at https://www.youtube.com/@somederpsplaygames or twitch.tv/somederpsplaygames Check out the podcast on Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/somederpstalkaboutgames Want to tell us something? Email us at podcast@somederpsplaygames.com Like our Facebook page too! www.facebook.com/SomeDerpsPlayGames/ We have a Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/somederpsplaygames Rate us on iTunes! https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/some-derps-talk-about-games/id1048899720 Follow us on Twitter! SDPG: twitter.com/somederps Buddy: twitter.com/thatbuddysola Mango: twitter.com/theonetruemango Intro and Outro courtesy of twitter.com/VinceRolin
In this episode, we'll delve into the intricacies of world building, establishing clear rules and consequences, and ensuring that characters and their motivations are relatable to readers. Practical exercises are provided to help writers create immersive worlds that enhance their narratives without overwhelming them with unnecessary details.We'll also highlight common pitfalls to avoid in world building, encouraging writers to focus on realism and character-driven storytelling.
Ambushed and outnumbered on the plains, Raef and Kray face certain death. With no hope of winning a physical fight, Kray spins a terrifying tale of a newly awakened dragon, using ancient legends and sheer force of will to turn their would-be murderers into terrified allies.Some secrets are worth dying for. Some are worth killing for.---Intimidated that you're dozens of episodes behind and afraid to start listening? Don't be. Here's a handy Listener's Guide that let's you know spots where you can start listening further in the story.---Interested in the development of the complex story and want to know how writer Jake Kerr puts it together every week? Want an ad-free experience? Subscribe to his Patreon. Love world building? Want ongoing updates? Free members get ongoing story updates with interesting reference material about the guild hierarchy, geography, and history. Free Patreon members also receive copies of the first Thieves Guild ebook. The next book will be released in 2025 and Patreon members will also receive that book (and all subsequent books!) for free, too. Want to go directly to get your free books? Click here.---If you would like to view a map of Ness, you can find it here.----Grab some Thieves Guild merch!https://store.podcastalchemy.studio---Check out all of our drama podcasts!Artifacts of the ArcaneA historical urban fantasy set at the beginning of World War Two. The world has abandoned magic, but magic hasn't abandoned the world.https://podcastalchemy.studio/arcaneThursdayA cyberpunk VR thriller.No one can be trusted when nothing is real.https://podcastalchemy.studio/thursday----Find out more about writer Jake Kerr: https://www.jakekerr.comFollow Jake on Bluesky @jakekerr.com
Monster trucks, skeletons, and a CMO who doesn't think about cost analysis very often. In this in-studio conversation, Torq CMO Don Jeter breaks down how brand-led world-building beats feature dumps, why entertainment now matters more than information on the trade show floor, and how a Monster Jam partnership and an episodic LinkedIn “junior intern” series created real pipeline by earning mental real estate long before buyers are in-market. We get into the 60-day rebrand sprints, showing up at Black Hat, aligning sales and product so bold creative actually converts, measuring what matters when attribution gets fuzzy, and using AI for brainstorming without shipping “AI slop.” Stick around to the lightning round where Don reveals his $10M marketing moonshot and the sacred marketing belief he thinks won't age well. If you care about brand, demand, and breaking B2B sameness, watch through to the end and then queue it up on audio for the commute. Key Moments: 00:00: Brand > Features: Cold Open02:09: Rebrand to Stand Out (Not Blend In)03:53: Trade Show Strategy + Monster Jam Booth07:31: World-Building for B2B Brands10:02: Episodic LinkedIn: Meet “Intern Trevor”13:18: Do Bold Stunts Actually Drive Revenue?20:16: Brand x Product x Sales: Tight Alignment30:04: Polarizing on Purpose: Handling the Haters34:30: Collabs, Culture & Consistency (Beyond F1)38:52: AI for Ideas, Humans for Taste45:00: Hiring Creatives + Technical PMM Muscle48:03 Lightning Round (Super Bowl Ads, Hot Takes & More) Mission.org is a media studio producing content alongside world-class clients. Learn more at mission.org. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
We've been wanting to start a worldbuilding series for a while, so here goes nothing! Visit our website WanderfulPod.com We have merchandise, such as T-Shirts, Hoodies, and Stickers. Here you can also find all the info you may need about the show. Want to introduce someone to the show but don't know where to start. Send them this link https://www.wanderfulpod.com/where-to-start Here you'll find a curated list of episodes and descriptions that are great places to start! You can find us on Facebook and Instagram: @WanderfulPod Have an interesting, fun, or wacky idea for an item for me to sell to the characters on the show? Whether its a weapon, a piece of armor, an accessory, or whatever, email it to us at wanderfulpod@gmail.com. If you like the show, don't forget to tell your friends about us! Music by Landon Grey: Instagram: @cre8_lag. Thumbnail Art by Tyler DeSoto: Instagram: @deseauxteaux Art Instagram: @ScentOfAGoblin Cover Art by Jayla Jones: Instagram: @jaylamaejones Portfolio: jaylajones.squarespace.com
To cross the plains, one must know its language. Kray's deep understanding of the land and its hardened people navigates them past one danger, but leads them directly into another. Trapped in the twilight by five ruthless hunters with bloodstained axes, they learn that some tolls can't be paid with stones or respect.Some secrets are worth dying for. Some are worth killing for.---Intimidated that you're dozens of episodes behind and afraid to start listening? Don't be. Here's a handy Listener's Guide that let's you know spots where you can start listening further in the story.---Interested in the development of the complex story and want to know how writer Jake Kerr puts it together every week? Want an ad-free experience? Subscribe to his Patreon. Love world building? Want ongoing updates? Free members get ongoing story updates with interesting reference material about the guild hierarchy, geography, and history. Free Patreon members also receive copies of the first Thieves Guild ebook. The next book will be released in 2025 and Patreon members will also receive that book (and all subsequent books!) for free, too. Want to go directly to get your free books? Click here.---If you would like to view a map of Ness, you can find it here.----Grab some Thieves Guild merch!https://store.podcastalchemy.studio---Check out all of our drama podcasts!Artifacts of the ArcaneA historical urban fantasy set at the beginning of World War Two. The world has abandoned magic, but magic hasn't abandoned the world.https://podcastalchemy.studio/arcaneThursdayA cyberpunk VR thriller.No one can be trusted when nothing is real.https://podcastalchemy.studio/thursday----Find out more about writer Jake Kerr: https://www.jakekerr.comFollow Jake on Bluesky @jakekerr.com
We're diving into world building for Animation with Production Designer and Artist Jason Scheier.
In her quest to understand her new home, Darla leads Prosper on a tour of the Thieves Tower's hidden corners. From a life-giving cistern to a hostile armory and a forgotten gallery of tapestries depicting a magical past, she discovers the Tower's true depth, just before a frantic arrival sounds the alarm.Some secrets are worth dying for. Some are worth killing for.---Intimidated that you're dozens of episodes behind and afraid to start listening? Don't be. Here's a handy Listener's Guide that let's you know spots where you can start listening further in the story.---Interested in the development of the complex story and want to know how writer Jake Kerr puts it together every week? Want an ad-free experience? Subscribe to his Patreon. Love world building? Want ongoing updates? Free members get ongoing story updates with interesting reference material about the guild hierarchy, geography, and history. Free Patreon members also receive copies of the first Thieves Guild ebook. The next book will be released in 2025 and Patreon members will also receive that book (and all subsequent books!) for free, too. Want to go directly to get your free books? Click here.---If you would like to view a map of Ness, you can find it here.----Grab some Thieves Guild merch!https://store.podcastalchemy.studio---Check out all of our drama podcasts!Artifacts of the ArcaneA historical urban fantasy set at the beginning of World War Two. The world has abandoned magic, but magic hasn't abandoned the world.https://podcastalchemy.studio/arcaneThursdayA cyberpunk VR thriller.No one can be trusted when nothing is real.https://podcastalchemy.studio/thursday----Find out more about writer Jake Kerr: https://www.jakekerr.comFollow Jake on Bluesky @jakekerr.com
This week I have a roundtable discussion with players from my D&D campaign, Blood of the Avatars, that recently ended. Brett, Craig, and Sam join me to discuss our experiences with the end of the campaign, both as players and GM. We talk about our experience with having a character who goes evil within a good aligned party. There's a lot that can go wrong there, but Manny played Lerissa's descent very well, and all the players handled the situation perfectly. This is as much on the players as the GM, but if you want to know how it can work and come out awesome, our campaign is a great example of it done well. Finally, we talk about the end of the campaign and the final battle. The players give their perceptions on how it all turned out. We talk about what is needed to make the ending of such a long campaign truly satisfying. There are definitely things I could've done better, and we discuss that, so as I always say at the top of the show, you can learn from my mistakes, or at least things I could've done differently and/or better.Check out my sci-fi novel, Critical Balance.Have you read Critical Balance? Please leave a review on Amazon.Check Out my NEW PODCAST - Lex Out LoudCall the Game Master's Journey voice mail: 951-GMJ-LEX1 (951-465-5391).If you're a new listener, and you'd like to go back to the beginning, here's a link to Episode 1.If you're interested in worldbuilding and/or my D&D campaign setting of Primordia, check out the first worldbuilding episode. You can go to this page to see all the episodes that discuss worldbuilding.Check out my latest D&D supplement, Adventurers of Primordia.
While watching over the broken magician Prosper, Darla begins to question her own life of constant fighting. Her desire for peace and comfort forges a new, unexpected mission: she will transform the cold, efficient Thieves Tower from a fortress into a true home.Some secrets are worth dying for. Some are worth killing for.---Intimidated that you're dozens of episodes behind and afraid to start listening? Don't be. Here's a handy Listener's Guide that let's you know spots where you can start listening further in the story.---Interested in the development of the complex story and want to know how writer Jake Kerr puts it together every week? Want an ad-free experience? Subscribe to his Patreon. Love world building? Want ongoing updates? Free members get ongoing story updates with interesting reference material about the guild hierarchy, geography, and history. Free Patreon members also receive copies of the first Thieves Guild ebook. The next book will be released in 2025 and Patreon members will also receive that book (and all subsequent books!) for free, too. Want to go directly to get your free books? Click here.---If you would like to view a map of Ness, you can find it here.----Grab some Thieves Guild merch!https://store.podcastalchemy.studio---Check out all of our drama podcasts!Artifacts of the ArcaneA historical urban fantasy set at the beginning of World War Two. The world has abandoned magic, but magic hasn't abandoned the world.https://podcastalchemy.studio/arcaneThursdayA cyberpunk VR thriller.No one can be trusted when nothing is real.https://podcastalchemy.studio/thursday----Find out more about writer Jake Kerr: https://www.jakekerr.comFollow Jake on Bluesky @jakekerr.com
Worldbuilding. It's one of the most talked about aspects of running TTRPGs, as it is the sandbox into which you will throw your party to adventure in. We've talked about tips and tricks in past episodes and articles, and have come down on both sides of the debate surrounding how much to do with a focus totally on your specific table and party.However, in this episode, Tony, Chris, and Dave have decided to become a bit more involved with a new experiment that we cooked up.Something that has never been done on 3WD before – we're going to start building a new world live! In real time, we begin asking the questions that will shape our new creation. As this is a show by DMs for DMs, we're adding another aspect. YOU! We're asking you to share in the brainstorm and offer ideas. So, tune in now as 3WD starts building a whole new world!1:40 Introduction of our new experiment. Reach out to 3wisedms@gmail.com with your ideas and votes!3:40 Low Fantasy? High Fantasy? Low Magic? High Magic? What do we mean by this.7:40 Is our world completely new or a version of Earth (i.e. Middle Earth, The Dying Earth, Shannara)?9:50 DM Tony's idea of “High Magic” – a return to Greyhawk.11:50 The concept of “starting small.”13:35 What type of story does this world support? And can a world support ANY story?16:35 Building a world that was our Earth (at some point) lends a sense of familiarity when you're building your new world.18:40 Towns? Cities? States? Kingdoms? 22:53 The archetypes and Tropes of stories. We ALL steal.28:30 People will eventually congregate. The history of the world can't always be “Mad Max”.31:35 Looking to history.36:00 Final Thoughts.
Is Juan about to create the newest version of LOTR or Gorillaz?In Episode #493 of 'Musings', Juan and I discuss: the origins of various types of lore, how these worlds are constructed with varying degrees of complexity and interactivity, hard versus soft world building, a creator's control over the narrative, how modern technology and platforms like Fandom wikis allow easier access, the challenges of maintaining a coherent narrative in a world where anyone can contribute to the story and the strategy we would take to create a new universe.Huge thanks to The Late Bloomer Actor for the support, greatly appreciated!Timeline:(00:00:00) Intro(00:00:38) World Building in Fiction & Examples(00:05:36) Hard vs Soft World Building(00:17:26) Entry Points into World Building(00:24:36) Boostagram Lounge(00:30:28) Interactivity and Audience Participation(00:44:06) Challenges and Future of World Building(00:50:15) Personal Approaches to World Building(01:04:06) V4V 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
Welcome to another episode of BREAKING Protocol, our ongoing mini-series where we break down key updates and design questions straight from the development of SHADE Protocol.Today we're diving into another behind-the-scenes look at SHADE Protocol's development. This episode focuses on how the team is approaching storytelling and worldbuilding — and the philosophies guiding Emeria's evolution as a living, breathing world.https://linktr.ee/LittleLegendaryGames?utm_source=linktree_profile_shareHost: Jared Gonzalez. Executive Producer: Kendall Quiñones. Cohost: Chaz Hawkins, Mauro Piquera. Master Chief Engineer: Jared Gonzalez. Editor: Jared Gonzalez. Graphics Editor: Jared Gonzalez. Digital Media Editor: Jared Gonzalez. Producer: Jared Gonzalez. https://linktr.ee/razzledazzleshowpodcast
We are the Church, not just a building, but the people of God living with purpose. In this message, Pastor George Lockhart challenges us to live differently, pursue unity, and shine the light of Christ in our community.Topics Covered:What it means to be the Body of ChristWhy prayer, unity, and service matter todayHow to live as a follower of Jesus in a divided worldBuilding fellowship and community through the local church
Send us a textMarty speaks to Nicholas Keating Casborro about the hard-scrabble, dystopian world portrayed in his book 'Vitalerium: Descent into the Void'. This is a far future space opera where faster than light travel is made possible by the exotic substance that serves as the title of the book, where humans have spread across multiple planets, where the politics are cynical, street life is vicious, human life disposable, and corruption endemic. This episode is lighter on the science and heavier on the fiction; we discuss some of the technology essential to this world, but our focus is on the world-building, politics, religion and characters Nick has created in the Vitalerium universe.https://atmospherepress.com/books/vitalerium-descent-into-the-void-by-nicholas-keating-casbarro/Email: thescienceinthefiction@gmail.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/743522660965257/
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
Author Peter Gribble discusses his new City of Magicians series. The first three books in the series—Threat, Within, and Quickening—are available now, and Peter is hard at work on books four through six. In this fantasy series, a society built on intellect and pacifism is forced to confront a brute-force barbarian invasion. Can the society survive? Peter's stories challenge the ideas of war, power and the control of knowledge as a weapon. He was inspired by his early childhood spent in France, where he was taught to never speak about WWII. This silence about the war and the practice of ignoring history's lessons unsettled him, and he decided to finally address it decades later by writing the City of Magicians series.
The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury - Introduction w/ Jesan Sorrells---00:00 - Welcome and Introduction - The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury. 01:00 Exploring The Martian Chronicles.07:04 Ray Bradbury's Post World War 2 World Building.09:20 Martian Civilization Encounter.13:19 Bradbury's Inspiration for The Martian Chronicles.16:56 Existential Exploration in The Martian Chronicles.21:50 Colonial Destruction and Moral Escape.26:53 Screenwriting Debate: Plot vs. Realism.27:58 The Martian Chronicles: Escaping Existential Dread.33:50 Bradbury's Take on Segregation.37:25 Bradbury's Exodus to Mars.40:27 Return from Mars: A Cynical Irony.47:01 Reviving Sincerity in Leadership.49:54 The Illusion of Empathy vs. Sincerity.---Music - Overture to Tannhauser (piano version, Liszt), S. 442. ---Opening and closing themes composed by Brian Sanyshyn of Brian Sanyshyn Music.---Pick up your copy of 12 Rules for Leaders: The Foundation of Intentional Leadership NOW on AMAZON!Check out the 2022 Leadership Lessons From the Great Books podcast reading list!--- ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ Subscribe to the Leadership Lessons From The Great Books Podcast: https://bit.ly/LLFTGBSubscribeCheck out HSCT Publishing at: https://www.hsctpublishing.com/.Check out LeadingKeys at: https://www.leadingkeys.com/Check out Leadership ToolBox at: https://leadershiptoolbox.us/Contact HSCT for more information at 1-833-216-8296 to schedule a full DEMO of LeadingKeys with one of our team members.---Leadership ToolBox website: https://leadershiptoolbox.us/.Leadership ToolBox LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ldrshptlbx/.Leadership ToolBox YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@leadershiptoolbox/videosLeadership ToolBox Twitter: https://twitter.com/ldrshptlbx.Leadership ToolBox IG: https://www.instagram.com/leadershiptoolboxus/.Leadership ToolBox FB: https://www.facebook.com/
This episode pulls back the curtain on the craftsmanship that made Downton Abbey a fully realized universe. Costume designer Anna Robbins discusses the evolution of style from Edwardian formality to 1930s glamour, while Production Designer Donal Woods explains how Highclere Castle and meticulously built sets created both grandeur and intimacy. Cast members reflect on how these details deepened their performances, grounding their characters in a believable world. Together, these creative elements demonstrate why Downton's immersive atmosphere became as iconic as the Crawleys themselves.Experience Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale in theaters on September 12th.Get tickets at DowntonAbbey.com.See Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale + one more film at AMC Theatres to start earning rewards. Watch all 5 for a chance at the Ultimate Cinephile Experience—an invite to 2 Focus Features Film Premieres around the world.https://www.amctheatres.com/giveaway/Ultimate-Focus-Features-ExperienceSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
About Greg Giuliano:Dr. Greg Giuliano is an advisor and executive coach to senior leaders and teams all over the world. He is the founder of GA | Ultra Leadership, designing leadership and team development strategies that drive organizational transformation. His mission is to help leaders and teams grow their capacity to enable positive disruption for organizations, teams, and individuals. Greg is the author of three #1 Amazon Bestsellers—Coaching for (a) Change, The Next Normal, and Ultra Leadership—as well as The Hero's Journey. In this episode, Dean Newlund and Greg Giuliano discuss:The future of leadership in a digital and AI-driven worldBuilding meaningful workplace relationships and trustEngagement and intentional connection as drivers of performanceThe role of play, creativity, and psychological safety in teamsLeadership as service, coaching, and collective growth Key Takeaways:Technology can enhance productivity, but true leadership still requires emotional intelligence, clear communication, and authentic human interaction.A practical framework for leadership is the “ABCs”: Align people around mission and roles, Build bench strength through ongoing development, and Coordinate action to keep progress moving.Teams that neglect engagement suffer higher turnover and burnout, while those that intentionally invest in connection and trust see stronger ROI and sustainable results.Leaders who encourage playfulness, fellowship, and intentional culture-building create environments where innovation thrives and people genuinely want to belong. "The future is still human, that it requires human beings connecting in order to get things done together.” — Greg Giuliano Connect with Greg Giuliano: Website: https://www.ultraleadership.com/Coaching for (a) Change: https://www.amazon.com/Coaching-Change-Engage-Empower-Activate/dp/B0DMTQFTFFBooks: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Greg-Giuliano/author/B00K0Q5UY0Be a GR8 Coach Program: https://www.ultraleadership.com/be-a-gr8-coach-programYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ultraleadershipLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/greggiuliano/ See Dean's TedTalk “Why Business Needs Intuition” here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEq9IYvgV7I Connect with Dean:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgqRK8GC8jBIFYPmECUCMkwWebsite: https://www.mfileadership.com/The Mission Statement E-Newsletter: https://www.mfileadership.com/blog/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deannewlund/X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/deannewlundFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/MissionFacilitators/Email: dean.newlund@mfileadership.comPhone: 1-800-926-7370 Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.
Welcome to the second episode of series 87, everyone! In this series, we are covering Cosmic Century Knights, a retro anime and JRPG inspired fantasy TTRPG about wielding one of 100 unique swords to save the world, with designer and returning guest, James D'Amato! In today's episode, we start creating our characters and get into defining a few of our character aspects! Character Creation Cast Patreon https://patreon.com/charactercreationcast Announcements: Our latest stream: https://www.twitch.tv/videos/2553205626?t=00h11m23s One Shot Network Twitch: https://twitch.tv/oneshotrpg Join our Discord! https://discord.charactercreationcast.com Check out other great shows on the network: https://oneshotpodcast.com Leave us reviews in any, or all, of these places: Character Creation Cast on Apple Podcasts (The best place to leave reviews for us) https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/character-creation-cast/id1363822066?mt=2&ls=1 Character Creation Cast on Podchaser https://podchaser.com/CharacterCreationCast Guests James D'Amato: BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/oneshotrpg.bsky.social Website: https://oneshotpodcast.com One Shot Network Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/oneshotnetwork.bsky.social Campaign Skyjacks: https://oneshotpodcast.com/actual-play/campaign/skyjacks/ Starwhal: https://oneshotpodcast.com/starwhal/ The Ultimate RPG Podcast: https://oneshotpodcast.com/interview-discussion/the-ultimate-rpg-podcast/ Games/Tools discussed this episode: Cosmic Century Knights Crowdfunding Campaign: Website: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/crum/cckhcc Timestamps: (00:00:00) - Announcements (00:01:35) - Let's make some people! World Building (00:16:22) - Rolling for our results (00:18:21) - The Aspects of our Character (00:22:25) - Birth of the Weilder (00:30:37) - Desire of the Knight and Blade (00:35:25) - Style of the Blade (00:40:53) - Background of the Knight (00:44:28) - Call to Action (00:53:42) - Credits Music: Opening: Meditation Impromptu 03 (https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Kevin_MacLeod/Calming/Meditation_Impromptu_03) by Kevin MacLeod Clip 1: Back to the End by Strength To LastOn Soundstripe: https://app.soundstripe.com/songs/15269 Clip 2: Chaos Knight by AllexOn Soundstripe: https://app.soundstripe.com/songs/16443 Main Theme: Hero (Remix) (https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Steve_Combs/Principal_Photography_1493/11_Hero_Remix) by Steve Combs Our Podcast: Character Creation Cast: Website: https://www.charactercreationcast.com Contact Us: https://contact.charactercreationcast.com BlueSky: @CreationCast.net (https://bsky.app/profile/creationcast.net) Discord: https://discord.charactercreationcast.com/ TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@charactercreationcast Amelia Antrim: BlueSky: @gingerreckoning.bsky.social (https://bsky.app/profile/gingerreckoning.bsky.social) Ryan Boelter: BlueSky: @lordneptune.com (https://bsky.app/profile/lordneptune.com) Our Network: https://oneshotpodcast.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This week I have a roundtable discussion with players from my D&D campaign, Blood of the Avatars, that recently ended. Brett, Craig, and Sam join me to discuss our experiences with D&D at high level, both as players and GM. If there's a sweet spot for D&D level-wise, what is it? We also talk a bit about what we'd really like to see from game companies INSTEAD of big hardback adventures/campaigns that go on for 10+ levels. Finally, we talk about the end of the campaign and the final battle. The players give their perceptions on how it all turned out. There are definitely things I could've done better, and we discuss that, so as I always say at the top of the show, you can learn from my mistakes, or at least things I could've done differently and/or better.Check out my sci-fi novel, Critical Balance.Have you read Critical Balance? Please leave a review on Amazon.Check Out my NEW PODCAST - Lex Out LoudCall the Game Master's Journey voice mail: 951-GMJ-LEX1 (951-465-5391).If you're a new listener, and you'd like to go back to the beginning, here's a link to Episode 1.If you're interested in worldbuilding and/or my D&D campaign setting of Primordia, check out the first worldbuilding episode. You can go to this page to see all the episodes that discuss worldbuilding.Check out my latest D&D supplement, Adventurers of Primordia.
Paul has thoughts about the new series Alien: Earth. Would the series work if it weren't part of the Alien franchise universe? The DRS Crew discusses world-building and the necessary ingredients of a cyberpunk future. Our links: Paul's store: https://payhip.com/paulecooley Paul's site: https://shadowpublications.com Terry's site: https://www.terrymixon.com/ Veronica: http://www.voicesbyveronica.com/ DRS Discord: https://discord.gg/pgmQxaVbGP Enjoy the show? Consider becoming a Patreon or Buy Me A Coffee supporter and for as little as $1 a month, you can help keep the podcast free and receive exclusive content. More information at https://patreon.com/drspodcast and https://buymeacoffee.com/drspodcast. #writing #fiction #podcast #chat #live #novel #story #narrative #publishing #author #writer #discussion #podcast #talkshow
Things heat up in this thirty-ninth installment of fictional horror written and narrated by Dan Cummins. Lizzie travels to Alabama to learn more about the origins of Samael Orcas. And what she finds out is anything but comforting. Meanwhile, Sam seems to be losing his cool in Portland. Finally, for Dark World fans, more Myrkeer Haymur lore is revealed here than in any other previous episode. Enjoy! For Merch and everything else Bad Magic related, head to: https://www.badmagicproductions.com Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of Scared to Death ad-free and a whole week early. Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus.