Jim – Yes, THAT Jim

Sara and I talk about the value of taking Session Zero (a meeting that a tabletop gaming group holds prior to starting a new campaign) and splitting it into two separate sessions. There are a number of benefits to it! Especially for folks who record actual plays. — (I’m sorry to say Sara passed away […]

A little while ago I got a hankering to record some discussions of geek and gaming-related things, and my friend Sara agreed to come along for the ride. In this episode we talk about puzzles, riddles and mazes in tabletop RPGs and how a GM might approach them in a way that’s fun for everyone. […]

In today’s podcast I talk about my recent leap into the media phenomenon that is Twitch streaming. I discuss some of the things I find interesting about the platform and how it’s affected my gaming habits. … … Here, have some links: My Twitch Channel Monte Cook Games’ Channel Off the Table The Greyhawk Channel […]

Believe it or not, I’m finally wrapping up my series on canon! In this last entry, I talk about my favorite author, Douglas Adams and discuss the continuity between various versions of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. I also discuss the Dirk Gently series, the computer games Adams worked on and his nonfiction work. […]

I have returned to continue rambling about canon! In this episode I talk about the Cthulhu Mythos and stumle over several nigh-unpronounceable names for entities whose merest concepts could drive an ordinary human mad. I also discuss how the nature of the Mythos makes it extremely difficult – perhaps even impossible – to nail down […]

James D’Amato, creator of the One Shot group of tabletop gaming podcasts, stopped by to talk about his newest project, Dungeon Dome! Dungeon Dome will be presented to audiences as a series of matches between larger-than-life characters played out on the tabletop. It’s a delicious mashup of D&D and professional wrestling. If you haven’t heard […]

I ramble for way longer than I’d planned about the various versions of White Wolf‘s World of Darkness tabletop RPG titles. For the last quarter of a century, four (soon to be five) editions of WoD games have been released, along with two editions of games set in the alternate reality of the Chronicles of […]

The delightful writer and podcaster KT Bryski and I chatted about her recent release, Six Stories, Told at Night. The audio drama folds traditional French-Canadian folktales into a series of stories about the relationship between two young friends. Those stories are in turn folded into a third overall narrative. It’s excellent stuff and you can […]

Here we have the third part of my ridiculously long ramble about canon in popular media, this time focusing on the Marvel Cinematic Universe. I chat at length about some of the differences between the movies and the TV shows, the comics and all manner of other things as we continue to explore the question […]

Here’s the second part of my epically long pseudo-rant about continuity and canon in popular media. I love Star Wars, but in this episode I talk about why I think it’s best to err on the side of caution when chatting about its canon with fellow fans. For many folks, Star Wars is a build-your-own-canon […]

A few days ago I did a quick interview with Charles White about his crowdfunding project for Olympus, Inc. It’s the first foray into a full-blown RPG setting for his company, Fabled Environments, and it presents a very interesting take on Greek mythology – as seen through the lens of the modern world. The Indiegogo […]

Once again a lot of craziness has been going on so I haven’t had time to put together a proper episode. So here’s another monologue! (Which, as it happens, appears in my book Abduction Etiquette!) 😉 DOWNLOAD

I go on a reflective kickabout and talk about the increasing pressure to do fewer social activities in favor of getting creative work done. This is something that’s been bothering me a lot lately and I decided to talk about it in the hope of relieving a little bit of the pressure. As a result, […]

I like puzzles. I also like tabletop role-playing games. But for the life of me I have yet to figure out a decent way to combine the two. I love the idea of throwing puzzles at a group of players when I’m running a game, but actually doing it has proven very challenging. Do players […]

I talk for a while about my recent trip to ConCarolinas and how it smashed my brain about with its many wonders and diversions. Silent movies, alcohol and writing panels galore! (Recorded earlier this week when I was still a bit punchy.) DOWNLOAD Music by Kevin MacLeod

I once again find myself trying to ski ahead of a deadline avalanche, so I didn’t have time to do a regular topic this week. So instead, here’s more audio from the vault! This is a faux commercial I came up with in broadcasting school to advertise a faux car. I hope it is to […]

So, it seems I managed to utterly fail to prepare a topic this week, so here’s something from my audio archives: a monologue in which I try to sell you a DNA-altering protein drink. I hope it is to your liking! (DISCLAIMER: No basilisks, legendary or otherwise, were harmed in the making of this recording!) DOWNLOAD

I have a bit of a rant about the use of passwords in the modern age. Perhaps I’m too set in my ways or perhaps I’m just weary of all the wonderful hoops the information age requires us to jump through. Thankfully, this episode is NOT password protected. Yet. DOWNLOAD

Ever get that feeling like the clock in your head is speeding up and the seconds are ticking away faster and faster because you’re not working on something RIGHT NOW? I certainly do. Incidentally, if you’re curious about the awesome and entertaining Geologic Podcast, which I mention early on, it can be found at http://www.geologicpodcast.com/. DOWNLOAD

I’m fascinated with the way our brains fill in the gaps about people and things when we use social media. So I’ve decided to ramble about it for a bit. 🙂 DOWNLOAD