Podcasts about Worldbuilding

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.

Wir sind wieder da aus der Sommerpause! Und wir starten direkt mit einem Werk, bei dem wir ordentlich Gesprächsbedarf haben. In Die Kristallkrone von Tessa Gratton erleben Jecki und Yord aus The Acolyte ein Abenteuer, welches vor der Serie spielt (logischerweise, bedenkt man ihr Schicksal). Doch die Story nimmt nie wirklich Fahrt auf und wirkt fast wie eine Parodie ihrer offiziellen Inspiration. Denn als The Hunger Games im Star Wars-Universum wird das Ganze im Klappentext angepriesen. Stattdessen: Gähnende Langeweile und am Ende kaum nachvollziehbare Intrigen. Genug Anlass, dass sich Ines und Tobias auf das Werk stürzen wie ein Lylek auf eine privilegierte Jugendgruppe auf einem entspannten Camping-Trip. Wir sprechen darüber, warum wir so enttäuscht waren. Wieso allein schon der Ablauf der Spiele unlogisch erscheint und warum wir uns nicht erklären können, wieso Tessa Gratton das Werk so in den Sand gesetzt hat. Es geht um die Frage, warum weder Handlung noch Charakterentwicklung stattfinden und die wenige, die wir bekommen, oft zu konsequenzlos bleibt. Und um die Überlegung, ob die besondere Eigenschaft einer Figur nicht das Gegenteil dessen bewirken könnte, was sie eigentlich intendiert. Zeitmarken spoilerfreier Teil 00:00:00 - Begrüßung 00:02:47 - Erwartungen an das Werk 00:04:05 - Das Kapitol spielt Hunger Games 00:08:00 - die größte Schwäche 00:12:06 - The Acolyte – Enttäuschung auch in Romanform? Spoilerteil 00:14:00 - Glamping (Die Handlung) 00:19:02 - Worldbuilding 00:30:05 - Die „Wir-haben-nicht-so-wirklich-Hunger“-Spiele 00:44:45 - 80 Prozent Langeweile 00:48:28 - Rich-Kids on the Rise 01:04:44 - Graf oder Greylark, das ist hier die Frage! 01:13:38 - Verwirrung am Ende 01:22:51 - Ein Stück High Republic 01:25:48 - Fazit (und ein vergiftetes Lob an Glass Abyss) Blick in die Datenbank Zur Werksübersicht von Die Kristallkrone (The Crystal Crown), geschrieben von Tessa Gratton Der YA-Roman erschien am 29. Juli 2025 auf Englisch bei Disney Lucasfilm Press Am 23. September 2025 erscheint die deutsche Version bei Panini Ein englischsprachiges Hörbuch, gesprochen von Kristen DiMercurio, erscheint am 28. Oktober 2025 Die Rezension Ines hat das Werk nach Release für euch rezensiert. Nach ihrer anfänglichen Faszination und hohen Erwartung aufgrund ihrer Liebe für The Hunger Games, kam die Ernüchterung dann umso härter. Sie reümiert daher: "Ich bin mit positiven Erwartungen an The Crystal Crown herangegangen, doch nach einigem interessanten Worldbuilding und Build-up kam dann nichts mehr. Ich bin wirklich ziemlich enttäuscht, wie man aus dem eigentlich immer packenden Battle-Royale-Prinzip so wenig Spannung herausholen kann. Ein absurdes Finale setzt dem Ganzen die Kristallkrone auf, sodass ich leider nur zwei von fünf Holocrons vergeben kann." Den JediCast abonnieren Wir sind auf allen gängigen Podcast-Plattformen vertreten! Abonniert uns also gerne auf Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts (etc.), oder fügt bequem unsere Feeds in euren präferierten Podcast-Player ein. Alle Links dazu findet ihr oben unter dem Player verlinkt sowie auch jederzeit unter dem Audioplayer in der rechten Sidebar. Wir freuen uns auch immer über Bewertungen auf den jeweiligen Podcast-Seiten. Falls ihr umfangreichere Anmerkungen habt, schreibt auch gerne eine Mail an podcast@jedi-bibliothek.de! Eure Meinung Wie blickt ihr auf das Hunger Games-Setting und die damit zusammenhängende Erwartung an den Roman? Wie erklärt ihr es euch, dass Gratton jegliche Spannung aus diesen Spielen herausgenommen hat? Oder war das genau das tolle für euch: Abenteuer erleben, ohne gleich in die Dystopie abzurutschen? Schreibt es uns gerne hier in die Kommentare! Unsere Arbeit und den JediCast unterstützen Seit einigen Monaten haben wir nun auch einen Buymeacoffee-Link. Darüber könnt ihr uns einmalig einen gewünschten Geldbetrag zukommen lassen. Damit setzen wir dann Gewinnspiele, Convention-Auftritte oder technische Ausstattung für unser Projekt um.

Patreon:   Subscribe to gaming podcast:   Episode of The Week: Dr.Stone, Sword of the Demon Hunter   The Art of World Building   Get to Know MCWW: Favorite anime with a strong Woman Lead?   To Be Hero X Ep.22 - CrunchyRoll   Dr.Stone Season 4, Cour 2, Ep. 8 - CrunchyRoll   Lord of Mysteries Ep. 6 Dub - CrunchyRoll  

For this special episode on World Building we have none other than industry veteran Feng Zhu joining us to talk about his decades of experience as Artist, Art Director, Entrepreneur and Educator.

The quest for Pietro's memories begins not with a journey, but with a series of debates. Kray must first convince his own skeptical lieutenants of the mission's true, world-altering importance, and then decide on a dangerous strategy: to travel not as warriors, but as harmless scholars.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

A quiet meal turns into a history-altering moment. When Raef casually mentions a detail from Ralan's imprisonment, the dwarven Loremaster Kray realizes the impossible: Pietro's lost memories may not be lost after all, but written down in a secret library in Gaotteland.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

Velkommen inn i et nytt kammer av Mar Valo sin indre verden. Her blir dere introdusert for et dilemma hen har, knyttet til hvorvidt hen skal være synlig (ikke-binær, trans, skeiv osv.) eller ikke i en verden hvor fascismen gjør et høyest uønsket comeback. Språklig historiefortelling og formidling møter minimalistisk musikkproduksjon i denne installasjonen av spalten «Agendaen poeserer». Enjoy!

The group puts a plan together to find a lost royal.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 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. We also talk about what it was like to bring a new player into a campaign toward the end, when the PCs are all high level. Finally, I talk a bit about my thoughts and strategies going into the final leg of the campaign, and how I prepared and planned for it. 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.

The group puts a plan together to find a lost royal.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

Prosper is a puzzle. He remembers facts but not feelings, and the name of his lost love means nothing. But when asked about the "Tower of the Wizards," a new, ancient personality emerges with a chilling secret before vanishing again, leaving Darla with more questions than answers..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

Fantasy religions often feel like reskins either of ancient Greek or Norse pantheons or of the medieval Catholic church. But what more interesting choices can we make when we're building faith within an invented world? Deva Fagan joins us to explore some of the options! How your people envision deities, the afterlife, and the very bones of the universe can illuminate a lot about their overall values and how they self-mythologize their place in the world. It's not all just cosmology, either: religion can touch so many other parts of a world, from government and power structures to idiomatic language and metaphors. Religions are also things that live and change: How can cults, schisms, and syncretism not only help you create a world that feels more diverse and lived-in, but also maybe give you some plot and character hooks? [Transcript for Episode 162 -- Thank you, scribes!] Our Guest: Deva Fagan writes fantasy and science fiction for all ages. When she's not writing, she spends her time reading, doing geometry, playing video games, hiking, and drinking copious amounts of tea. She is the author of several books, including Rival Magic, Nightingale, The Mirrorwood, A Game of Noctis, and The Delta Codex. She lives in Maine with her husband and their dog. You can find her online at DevaFagan.com. Deva's List of Cool Fantasy Religions! Dragon Age Watership Down by Richard Adams Hannah Kaner: Godkiller Lois McMaster Bujold, Curse of Chalion N. K. Jemisin: The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms (And Dreamblood duology) Robert Jackson Bennet: City of Stairs Little Thieves (YA) Margaret Owen A Psalm for the Wild-Built  Becky Chambers Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler (Earthseed, god is change) The Burning Kingdoms by Tasha Suri  The Locked Tomb series by Tamsyn Muir Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse

Don Carson started as an illustrator, but soon his work expanded beyond the sketchbook to focus on the design of physical and virtual spaces. He worked as a Senior Show Designer, as an Imagineer, he designed entire lands for the Disney Parks and he is now Sr. Art Director at Mighty Coconut, the team behind Walkabout Minigolf, one of the most popular and loved apps on the Meta Quest. In this conversation we look at:How the team has embraced the low-poly graphics to create worlds people loveSome of the major challenges when it comes to building worlds and telling storiesHis secret for engaging and keeping players hookedDon offers me a guided tour of Raptor's Cliff to experience firsthand some of the storytelling techniques that make Walkabout's worlds so popular and of course, I get the chance to showcase my terrible golfing skillsSubscribe to XR AI Spotlight weekly newsletter

Rogers, the pragmatic new leader of the Thieves Guild, finally meets the travelers from the mountain. He seeks actionable intelligence but receives an unbelievable tale of magic and memory loss. When Prosper calls the Thieves Tower the home of the wizards, Rogers dismisses the pair as mad, unable to see the truth.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

Info-dumps don't kill stories. Bad info-dumps do.In this conversation, Janeen Ippolito discusses the concept of info dumping in writing, particularly in the genres of science fiction and fantasy. She emphasizes the importance of world building and how to effectively incorporate large chunks of information into a narrative without losing reader engagement. Ippolito provides practical tips for authors on how to earn their readers' attention and interest through thoughtful exposition and character perspective.Mentioned in Episode:Writing Mistakes Writers Make Info-Dumping: https://www.writersdigest.com/write-better-fiction/writing-mistakes-writers-make-info-dumpingPrefer to read? Click the transcript button on the Substack page - you can read straight through or use the transcript to skip around on the video.Author Culture is a reader-supported podcast that I create to help scifi and fantasy authors just like you. Consider becoming a free or paid subscriber and get sneak peeks on my latest books and toolkits for authors. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit authorculture.substack.com/subscribe

Tolkien doesn't write chapters; he builds civilisations. The Fellowship of the Ring is a slow, deliberate march through languages, histories and the lived feel of time, a marathon of meaning more than a sprint of action. I respect the scope, loved the journey, but prefer punchier reads.(00:00) “You shall not pass.”(00:09) Welcome & why review Fellowship now(01:14) Trilogy intent & page heft (535pp!)(01:34) Comparing to The Hobbit — brisk romp vs dense saga(02:15) Tolkien the philologist: languages → world → story(03:46) Book vs films; songs, lore, and density(04:50) When detail drags — what I skimmed & why(06:25) Feeling the journey: Tolkien makes time pass on the page(07:52) “Feels familiar” because it birthed the genre(08:31) Fellowship in a nutshell (plot sketch)(09:44) What I loved vs what I didn't (I like punch)(10:51) Verdict, who should read it, and why — 7/10(11:31) Sign-off & CTAsConnect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReUTwitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspodsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcast Connect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReUTwitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspodsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcastsValue 4 Value Support:Boostagram: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/supportPaypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast

This week, I sat down with Elsie for her third appearance on the pod—one of my favorite recurring guests and one of the most thoughtful voices in music journalism. We dive deep into the state of hip-hop right now, breaking down albums from JID, Freddie Gibbs, Clipse, and Tyler, the Creator. We talk about what makes a live performance unforgettable, how rollouts have evolved in the streaming era, and the difference between artists who rap and artists who build worlds. Toward the end, we share our Mount Rushmore of songs we wish we could've been in the studio for while they were being made. If you're a rap nerd like us, this one's for you.   Twitter: https://twitter.com/soundcentricmus Instagram:https://https://www.instagram.com/soundcentricmusic/ Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@soundcentricmusic Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SoundCentricmusic Website: https://soundcentricmusic.com Podcast: https://www.soundcentricmusic.com   00:00:00 - Intro  00:01:20 – Planning Interviews: Editing, Deadlines & Team Dynamics 00:03:50 – AI in the Creative Process: Elsie & Adam's Honest Take 00:05:20 – Why This Might Be a Legendary Year for Hip-Hop 00:06:50 – JID's $1 Show & Elsie's Behind-the-Scenes Experience 00:09:35 – What Makes JID One of the Best Live Performers 00:11:20 – The Strategy Behind Dreamville's Fan-First Shows 00:13:00 – JID's Tracklist Roulette: Fans Pick the Setlist 00:14:25 – Alfredo 2 vs. Alfredo 1: Expectations vs. Reality 00:16:40 – Breaking Down Tyler's Surprise Drop 00:19:20 – Is Tyler Singing Too Much? The Kanye Comparison 00:21:50 – The Case for Chromakopia: Elsie's Favorite Tyler Moments 00:24:20 – Clipse Are Back! New Album Breakdown 00:26:40 – Minimalist Beats, Maximal Bars: Pharrell's Production Choices 00:28:20 – Why Clipse Should Win Rap Album of the Year 00:30:20 – Rollouts That Work: Short and Loud vs. Long and Layered 00:34:05 – The Problem with Album Teases in 2025 00:35:50 – Where Are the New Stars? Why the New Guard Isn't Breaking Through 00:37:20 – Building Stars: Performance, Worldbuilding, & Visuals 00:39:20 – Hooks Matter: The Secret to Mainstream Success 00:41:20 – The Power of Great Choruses in Hip-Hop 00:43:35 – Rising Artists to Watch: Q, Suave, Marco Plus & More 00:46:20 – Female Artists Leading the Charge: Sailorrr, Samara, Doechii 00:48:20 – Jordan Ward's Breakout Potential 00:50:05 – Mount Rushmore of Studio Sessions We Wish We Saw 00:53:05 – Mac Miller, Kendrick, Anderson .Paak & Frank Ocean Moments 00:57:20 – Final Reflections: The Magic of Rap Nerds in the Studio 00:58:35 – Elsie's Outro & What's Next for Her

Shane and Seth get into the details of Seth's take over in Episode 117, discuss more general DMing concepts, and review a horror story.Support the showVenture Forth is a Dungeons and Dragons podcast. We play 5th edition (5e) Dungeons and Dragons in a home-brew D&D actual play setting. Our campaign takes place in the high fantasy realm of Elbor. A world of monsters, heroes and epic tales to be told. D&D is a TTRPG, a tabletop roleplaying game, also known as an RPG. Our gameplay is perfect for beginners to Dungeons and Dragons from episode 1. Olma Marsk is played by Rebecca Hausman, Flynn Felloweave is played by Russ Bartek, March is played by Bridget Black, Ceallach is played by Shane O'Loughlin, Seeker is played by Rodney Campbell, and the DM is played by Ethan Ralphs and Seth Fowler.https://www.ventureforthdnd.com/https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNl1hOaZiXruwLE8Ct1NNNA

”The message of the story is the thing that they need to learn, which means that they have opposite beliefs that are preventing them, you know, flawed beliefs that are preventing them from learning the story message.” - Emily GoldenIn this special episode of How To Write the Future, host Beth Barany chats with Emily Golden and Rachel May about story theme, world building, and conflict. They share their collaboration journey and touch on diving into character arcs and the messages that drive stories. Plus, they explore why asking "why" is so crucial to helping writers develop their unique character arcs for their stories.ABOUT EMILY GOLDEN AND RACHEL MAY, BOOK COACHESEmily Golden and Rachel May are the founders of Golden May. Their joint love of amazing stories and mutual fascination with writing craft evolved into a book coaching business devoted to helping tenacious writers develop the unique writing craft, process, and mindset that works for them—because every writer is different. If you're ready to stop fighting what your writing life ‘should' look like and start dreaming about what's possible for you, they're the coaches for you!Get the goodie: THE MAGIC OF CHARACTER ARCS: A free email course to craft the backbone of your story. https://goldenmayediting.com/arcsmagicSite: https://goldenmayediting.comCommunity program: https://www.tenaciouswriting.com/INSTAGRAM:https://www.instagram.com/ebgoldenbookshttps://instagram.com/bookcoachrachelhttps://instagram.com/tenaciouswritingSUBSTACK:https://ebgolden.substack.com/ABOUT BETH BARANYBeth Barany, an award-winning fantasy and science fiction novelist, teaches novelists how to write, edit, and publish their books as a coach, teacher, consultant, and developmental editor.RESOURCESFOR CREATIVE WRITING PROFESSIONALS - BUILD YOUR BUSINESS SERVING WRITERSSign up to be notified when our training opens and get a short Creative Business Style Quiz to help you create success.https://bethbarany.com/apprenticeship/Support our work for creatives!Buy me a coffee: https://ko-fi.com/bethbaranyGET HELP WITH YOUR WORLD BUILDING - START HEREFree World Building Workbook for Fiction Writers: https://writersfunzone.com/blog/world-building-resources/SHOW PRODUCTION BY Beth BaranySHOW CO-PRODUCTION + NOTES by Kerry-Ann McDadeEDITORIAL SUPPORT by Iman Llompartc. 2025 BETH BARANYhttQuestions? Comments? Send us a text!--CONNECTContact Beth: https://writersfunzone.com/blog/podcast/#tve-jump-185b4422580Email: beth@bethbarany.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bethbarany/CREDITSEDITED WITH DESCRIPT: https://get.descript.com/0clwwvlf6e3jMUSIC: Uppbeat.ioDISTRIBUTED BY BUZZSPROUT: https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1994465

In a secret library deep within the mountains, Raef finds more than just books; he finds the mentor he's been searching for his entire life. He asks the dwarven Loremaster and Master of Arms to teach him, but is given a stark warning: knowledge carries its own burdens.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 our other 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---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

Genie 3 can generate fully interactive, persistent worlds from just text, in real time.In this episode, Google DeepMind's Jack Parker-Holder (Research Scientist) and Shlomi Fruchter (Research Director) join Anjney Midha, Marco Mascorro, and Justine Moore of a16z, with host Erik Torenberg, to discuss how they built it, the breakthrough “special memory” feature, and the future of AI-powered gaming, robotics, and world models.They share:How Genie 3 generates interactive environments in real timeWhy its “special memory” feature is such a breakthroughThe evolution of generative models and emergent behaviorsInstruction following, text adherence, and model comparisonsPotential applications in gaming, robotics, simulation, and moreWhat's next: Genie 4, Genie 5, and the future of world models This conversation offers a first-hand look at one of the most advanced world models ever created. Timecodes: 0:00 Introduction & The Magic of Genie 30:41 Real-Time World Generation Breakthroughs1:22 The Team's Journey: From Genie 1 to Genie 35:03 Interactive Applications & Use Cases8:03 Special Memory and World Consistency12:29 Emergent Behaviors and Model Surprises18:37 Instruction Following and Text Adherence19:53 Comparing Genie 3 and Other Models21:25 The Future of World Models & Modality Convergence27:35 Downstream Applications and Open Questions31:42 Robotics, Simulation, and Real-World Impact39:33 Closing Thoughts & Philosophical Reflections Resources:Find Shlomi on X: https://x.com/shlomifruchterFind Jack on X: https://x.com/jparkerholderFind Anjney on X: https://x.com/anjneymidhaFind Justine on X: https://x.com/venturetwinsFind Marco on X: https://x.com/Mascobot Stay Updated: Let us know what you think: https://ratethispodcast.com/a16zFind a16z on Twitter: https://twitter.com/a16zFind a16z on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a16zSubscribe on your favorite podcast app: https://a16z.simplecast.com/Follow our host: https://x.com/eriktorenbergPlease 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.

AI is reshaping gaming in ways we couldn't have imagined a few years ago—smart NPCs that remember you, worlds that evolve in real time, and stories that adapt to your playstyle. But is this the future we want… or a shortcut that kills creativity? This week, the Amerime Junkies crew digs into the hype, the risks, and the games already experimenting with AI. From The Sims to Cyberpunk, from small studios to big publishers, we're talking the next era of gaming.

Raef's quest leads him to an ancient dwarven Loremaster who holds the keys to Ness's past. He learns the "Great Forgetting" wasn't a tragedy but a punishment, inflicted on the city after its leaders broke a magical treaty and unleashed a dragon upon the world.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 our other 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---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

Join hosts J.D. Barker, Christine Daigle, Jena Brown, and Kevin Tumlinson as they discuss the week's entertainment news, including stories about Bookshop.org, Read Dating, and Stephen King. Then, stick around for a chat with Karin Slaughter!Karin Slaughter is one of the world's most popular and acclaimed storytellers. She is the author of more than twenty instant New York Times bestselling novels, including the Edgar–nominated Cop Town and standalone novels Pretty Girls, The Good Daughter, and Pieces of Her. She is published in 120 countries with more than 40 million copies sold across the globe. Pieces of Her is a #1 Netflix original series starring Toni Collette, and WILL TRENT, based on her Will Trent series, is on ABC (and streaming on Hulu in the U.S. and Disney+ internationally). False Witness and The Good Daughter are in development for television. Slaughter is the founder of the Save the Libraries project—a nonprofit organization established to support libraries and library programming. A native of Georgia, she lives in Atlanta.

In this episode of The Corner of Story and Game, acclaimed author and narrative designer Graham McNeill takes us inside the creative process of working within some of the most iconic IPs in games and fiction.From Warhammer 40K and StarCraft to Warhammer: Age of Sigmar and beyond, Graham shares how limitations from established worlds can spark unexpected creativity, and why “staying true” doesn't mean “staying safe.”We explore:

On this week's Doombots Marvel Podcast, we're leaving the Marvel Universe and taking a trip to Night City! Cyberpunk 2077 is the culmination of decades of world-building that took place acorss many TTRPG games, and now has become the most complex, immersive, and mind-blowing fictional worlds of all time!

Send us a text“Is your fantasy world leading readers closer to God, or just into the woods?” Christian fantasy authors often wrestle with a big question: Can I use magic in my stories without compromising biblical truth? In this episode, we break down how to create magic systems that are imaginative, compelling, and Christ-honoring.

Temptation comes calling.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

Temptation comes calling.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

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

What happens when you have to build an entire world on the spot? In this episode of The Corner of Story and Game, we sit down with Jesse Theiler, the creator behind The Dungeon Cocktail Experience, to explore the art of worldbuilding in real time.Jesse shares how his background in improv and D&D has shaped his approach to storytelling, including how he engages players in collaborative narrative design and the tools he uses to maintain consistency in worlds that are being built on the fly.Whether you're a game designer, GM, or writer, you'll walk away with actionable insights into:

GSD Presents: Top Global Startups with Ramya Venkataraman Teaching the World: Building a Global Community with Purpose and Impact July 15th, Tuesday

Chac and Gobbo talk over Gods and Pantheons in Part 2 of our most recent World-Building roundtable. They examine Pantheons, Domains, Culture, and Religions, delving into history and anthropological aspects, all to provide more context for building gods in Fantasy and Space Fantasy settings. Under the Hive of Madness is a Warhammer 40k Podcast diving into the Horror and Grimdark elements of the setting, so expect some adult themes, adult language, and more than a handful of Khorney Jokes!Sump-Fisherman Joe: "FOUR ARMER EMPEROR!"Arbites: "What did you say?"Joe:" ...for...the... emperor?"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

What makes a story -- and a world -- "cozy"? What are the conflicts, challenges, and obstacles like when, instead of taking the Ring to Mordor, you heroes are trying to keep a coffee shop afloat or open a pet shop? Sarah Beth Durst joins us to discuss not just what cozy fantasy is, but how its radical joy can be a powerful act of subversion when the real world tells us to be cynical or defeatist. We also explore how cozy fantasy expands what the fantasy genre gets to be when it refocuses the lens on different kinds of protagonists and places. Often, it centers and lifts up different kinds of protagonists, ordinary people rather than Chosen Ones. The world itself might be one where things are relatively calm -- or there could be a full-on Battle for the Powers of Good happening somewhere, just not in the story's imminent proximity. A smaller story can still be important, complex, and deeply satisfying. [Transcript for Episode 160] Our Guest: Sarah Beth Durst is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over twenty-five books for adults, teens, and kids, including cozy fantasy The Spellshop. She's been awarded the American Library Association's Alex Award, the Libby Book Award for Best Fantasy, and the Mythopoeic Fantasy Award. Several of her books have been optioned for film/television, including Drink Slay Love, which was made into a TV movie and was a question on Jeopardy! She lives in Stony Brook, New York, with her husband, her children, and her ill-mannered cat. Visit her at sarahbethdurst.com.

The final session of our D&D campaign, Blood of the Avatars. The final battle at the World Axis continues. Aided by the many allies they've made throughout their adventures, the PCs fight for the survival of Primordia itself. Together they will make a decision that changes Primordia forever.Check out my sci-fi novel, Critical Balance.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.

The final session of our D&D campaign, Blood of the Avatars. The final battle at the World Axis continues. Aided by the many allies they've made throughout their adventures, the PCs fight for the survival of Primordia itself. Together they will make a decision that changes Primordia forever. This is part 2 of the session.Check out my sci-fi novel, Critical Balance.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.

Send us a textJoin us for an insightful episode of Living the Dream with Curveball as we welcome the talented author J.F. Monroe, creator of the captivating Legacy of the Four trilogy. J.F. shares her journey from aspiring writer to published author, emphasizing the importance of building relatable characters amidst fantastical settings. Discover her unique approach to blending romance with high-stakes fantasy, and how her characters' emotional struggles resonate with readers on a profound level. J.F. also reveals her cinematic vision for her work and the pivotal lessons she has learned throughout her writing process. With her upcoming book release just around the corner, this episode is filled with inspiration and motivation for anyone pursuing their dreams.

Gobbo, Emmy, and Drew sit down to talk about designing and writing Gods and Pantheons. In Part 1, they discuss some of the finer points of genre blending, as well as what makes a god, by exploring the works of Lovecraft, Martin, and Gaiman, while also examining works such as The Magnus Archives, Dragon Age, and Guild Wars. Under the Hive of Madness is a Warhammer 40k Podcast diving into the Horror and Grimdark elements of the setting, so expect some adult themes, adult language, and more than a handful of Khorney Jokes!"They stalk cloaked in shadows, these killer-tyrants made of blood..."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

Brooke and Tyler invite Lydia Suen, Lead Writer of the Cosmere RPG, and Lyla McBeath Fujiwara, Stonewalkers Adventure Book Lead, to discuss the digital release of the Cosmere RPG and the Stonewalkers campaign. We disucss Lydia and Lyla's path to becoming worldbuilders, the mechanics of the Cosmere RPG's Plotweaver System, and how the Stonewalkers campaign went from idea to full campaign. This episode does not include major spoilers for the Stonewalkers campaign and can be listened to by gamers and non-gamers alike. #AlmostAllSpoilers Follow Brotherwise on Socials to get more news about the launch and all their exciting projects. Instagram: @brotherwisegames (https://www.instagram.com/brotherwisegames) @cosmererpg (https://www.instagram.com/cosmererpg) Bluesky: @brotherwisegames.bsky.social‬ (https://bsky.app/profile/brotherwisegames.bsky.social) TikTok: @brotherwisegames (https://www.tiktok.com/@brotherwisegames) YouTube: @brotherwisegames (https://www.youtube.com/@BrotherwiseGames) Threads: @brotherwisegames (https://www.threads.com/@brotherwisegames) Brotherwise Games Discord Launch Party. Friday, July 25. 11am PT/2pm ET (https://discord.gg/nVAEA9cYE3?event=1387862029888520242) Worldhopper Ball Reunion Live Stream. Saturday, July 26. 1pm PT/3pm ET (https://www.youtube.com/@CosmereConvo) Shard of Opportunity. A Cosmere RPG Web Series. (https://www.youtube.com/@ShardofOpportunity) An actual play of the Cosmere RPG split into two different groups. One following the canon stories (Tyler is here!) produced by Brotherwise and one homebrewing their own tales. Support this podcast by becoming a Patron on Patreon (https://www.patreon.com/CosmereConversations) Original music by David Gruwier (https://twitter.com/DGruwier). "Radiant" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5CFAZUv4C0) by David Gruwier.

Alex and Brian dive into the power of building brand universes, using Late Checkout as a standout example of a brand doing it right. They break down how to use movies as a tool, create better on-ramps, and build worlds people want to be part of. Plus, how to avoid outdated tactics and keep your brand from being stuck in 2017.As always, appreciate you all listening, and don't forget to leave us a review and submit your questions for Alex and Brian at the email address below. See you next week.--------------------WANT FREE GAME? Or just have a question for Brian & Alex?Submit your questions here: www.marketingexamined.com/podcastOR email us at podcast@marketingexamined.com--------------------WATCH THE PODCAST ON YOUTUBE:For full video versions, and short highlights of every episode, head tohttps://www.youtube.com/@marketingexamined?sub_confirmation=1NEWSLETTER:For growth playbooks, deep dives, and marketing case studies, get subscribed atwww.marketingexamined.com--------------------Follow Alex & Brian on Twitter and IGwww.twitter.com/@alexgarcia_atxwww.twitter.com/@brian_blum1

In this episode, Allan McKay sits down with Alex Wang, the Visual Effects Supervisor for the acclaimed HBO series The Last of Us, to break down the monumental VFX work behind the show's highly anticipated second season. Alex pulls back the curtain on the incredible challenges and creative triumphs of bringing the post-apocalyptic world to life, from the massive scale of the infected horde to the intricate details of hero creatures like the Bloater. He discusses the crucial balance between practical and digital effects, the importance of building trust with showrunners Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann, and the seamless collaboration with world-class VFX houses like Weta, DNEG, and ILP. This conversation delves deep into the specific hurdles of Season 2, including a massive battle sequence Alex likens to "Helm's Deep," the complexities of a dramatic stormy water episode, and the creative pipeline from concept art to final shot. Alex shares how the team learned from Season 1 to push the boundaries of world-building and create environments that are both epic in scope and grounded in reality. This is a must-listen for any fan of The Last of Us and for visual effects artists and supervisors interested in the high-level strategy and creative problem-solving required to execute VFX on one of television's biggest shows. Topics Covered: The VFX of The Last of Us Season 2 Alex Wang's Role as VFX Supervisor Creating the Infected Horde and the Challenges of Crowd Simulation A Deep Dive into Season 2's Massive Battle Sequence Asset Creation for the Bloater and Other Infected Balancing Practical Effects with Digital Enhancements (Pyro, Weather, etc.) World-Building and Large-Scale Environment Extensions The Complexities of Creating the Stormy Water Sequence Collaboration with Showrunners Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann Managing Multiple VFX Vendors (Weta, DNEG, ILP, Rise) The Creative Process from Concept Art to Final Shot Quotes: On the massive battle sequence: "I thought to myself, 'Craig, this is your Helm's Deep.'" On designing the infected horde: "These are civilians that became infected... their own story. So repetition is not something that we want." Resources: The Last of Us on HBO Weta FX DNEG Rise VFX Important Looking Pirates (ILP) Naughty Dog

The journey into the past comes to a head!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

I talk with pop culture scholar Shawn Taylor about fandom at the Immersive Design Summit 2019, and be sure to check out his post "We the Fans: How Our Powers Can Change the World" for more on his thoughts on fandom. We also talk about Edward T. Hall's concept of Monochronic vs Polychronic time. See more context in the rough transcript below. This is a listener-supported podcast through the Voices of VR Patreon. Music: Fatality

I spoke with Michèle Stephenson, Joe Brewster, & idris brewster about There Goes Nikki at Tribeca Immersive 2025. See more context in the rough transcript below. (Photo by Mikhail Mishin courtesy of Onassis ONX) Tribeca Immersive 2025 Selection #1567: Tribeca Immersive Curators on the 2025 Selection of Impact Projects Curated by Onassis ONX, Agog, & Tribeca #1569: Family of Storytellers Creates an AR Memorial of Black Poet Nikki Giovanni with Epic Organic Garden Installation #1570: "The Founders Pillars and The Power Loom" Uses AR to Recontextualize Wall Street History Through African Textiles and Myths #1571: "Uncharted VR" Explores the Spatialization of African Languages and Knowledge through Immersive Architecture and Adowa Dance #1572: "The Innocence of Unknowing" Uses Socratic Dialogue with AI & Video Essay to Deconstruct Root Cases of Gun Violence #1573: Muslim Futurist "New Maqam City" Invites Users to Play with Mystic Sufi Beats to Imagine States of Flourishing #1574: Part 1: Co-Creation with XR for Building Community with "A Father's Lullaby" (2023) #1575: Part 2: Co-Creation with XR for Building Community with "A Father's Lullaby" (2025) Boreal Dreams Scent Onassis ONX Summer Showcase & Other Interviews #1579: The Backstory of ONX Studios and the Onassis Foundation's Support for XR Art & Innovation #1580: "Neuro-Cinema: From Synapse to Montage" Explores Bioethics Moral Dilemmas & BCI-Controlled Editing & Robotics #1581: The Story Behind "The Orixa Project" Series of XR Experiences #1582: Shawn Taylor on Fandom for Social Change, Polychronic Time, Worldbuilding & Future Dreaming #1583: From XR Storytelling to Museum to Ice Cream to AI: Michaela Ternasky-Holland's Entry into Immersive #1584: White Paper on XR for Impact Campaign Activation for "On the Morning You Wake to the End of the World" #1585: Debating AI Project and a Curating Taiwanese LBE VR Exhibition at Museum of Moving Image #1586: Academic Research on Immersive Storytelling with Philippe Bedard, co-editor of "States of Immersion Across Media: Bodies, Techniques, Practices" book #1587: "Space-Time Adventure Tour" AR Guided Tour to NYC Central Park Monuments #1588: Excurio on Bringing their High-Throughput, XR LBE Theaters to North America #1589: Using VR to Paint Dreams for Active Imagination, Collaborative Dreamwork, and Symbolic Contemplation This is a listener-supported podcast through the Voices of VR Patreon. Music: Fatality