Backstory

Podcaster and Unofficial Larpwright of the Olive Garden chain of restaurants Jeff Stormer joins us for a nice chat about professional wrestling, karaoke, and other roleplaying games. Jeff's Website, When You're Here You're Family, Alex's Guest Spot on the Party of One Podcast, Big Bad Con 2018

Gamer, editor, and improv performer Karen Twelves joins us for a talk about performance, play, and the importance of trust. Karen's Website, Karen on Twitter, Improv for Gamers will be out this November!, Improv for Gamers on Twitter, Syntax & Semicolons: An Interview With Karen Twelves, Karen also copyedited Star Crossed: The Two Player Game of Forbidden Love, which you can pre-order until October 1st!

Games scholar Jose Zagal starts a new semester of Backstory, with discussions of Role-Playing Games Studies, the intricate web of influence among different game media, and identifying the ethical frameworks in Animal Crossing. If Emmanuel Kant made a videogame, what would it be like? Jose at The University of Utah, Jose on Twitter, DiGRA, Foundations of Digital Games Conference, Role-Playing Games Studies: Transmedia Foundations (Use code FLR40 for a 20% discount!), Videogames and the Ethics of Care (with John Murphy), The Videogame Ethics Reader, Ludoliteracy, Examining 'RPG Elements': Systems of Character Progression (with Roger Altizer), Pre-Order Star Crossed!

Co-organizer of the long-running campaign Shadowmoor, Casey Hardy tells us about sustainability, growth, and change in a larp community. Shadowmoor, SOLAR, NERO

Game designer, streamer, RPG theorist and you new favourite podcast host DC joins us to talk about twitter threads and forging in the dark. Mutants in the Night, DC on Twitter, DC on Twitch, DC on Patreon, Ropecon 2018, [ONE SHOT Network on Patreon6

Magdalene Loh is making live-action career design games in Singapore! And stay tuned for some special announcements. Magdalene Loh on LinkedIn, What Color is Your Parachute?, Howard Gardner's Multiple Intelligences, How Children Succeed: Grit, Curiosity, and the Hidden Power of Character, Ropecon 2018, [Star Crossed: Now on Pre-Order

Larpwright and organizer Betty Bong on translating play across cultures. Cozy Larp LA, B Studio, Empresses in the Palace, Snow White, by J Li, Drink Me, by Betsy Isaacson, Inheritance, by Luke Crane, Star Crossed 14 Days, by Hannah Shaffer and Evan Rowland, Ghost Court: The Improvised Musical, Bully Pulpit Games at Origins, Big Bad Con 2018 Kickstarter

Game designer, crafter, and powerful scrum master Stephanie Bryant brings us a kinder, gentler post-apocalypse. Threadbare, Stephanie's Blog, Best Friends, Radio Free Kaiju

Children's author and game designer Terri Cohlene shares her insight on designing for kids, introducing roleplaying, and working in co-creation. Terri's Website, BFF is now on Kickstarter!

Star Crossed Story Time comes to a close with Sean Nittner and Kira Magrann re-telling a tale as old as time: a barely-contained love ensnared between warring clans of werewolves and vampires. Star Crossed is on Kickstarter until May 10th! Thanks to all our backers for making this mini-series possible <3

The penultimate Star Crossed Story Time features Sarah Lynne-Bowman and Jessica Schoolman reminiscing about a truly bad romance - bad for their stuffy business careers, to say the least. Star Crossed is on Kickstarter until May 10th! Thanks to all our backers for making this mini-series possible <3

Star Crossed Story Time is back! Erika Chappell and Lexi Tripp are gushing about their baroque romance between the daughters of two rival noble houses. Remember Rose of Versailles? Yeah. Star Crossed is on Kickstarter until May 10th! Thanks to all our backers for making this mini-series possible <3

In our first Star Crossed Story Time, Morgan Ellis and Andy Munich tell the story of their wuxia-inspired romance between members of the Xiaolin and Wudang schools.

Dungeon World co-designer and game streamer Adam Koebel shares insight on the relationship between design and play, and the future of streaming and game publishing. Adam's Website, Adam on Twitter, Adam on Twitch, Dungeon World

Game designer and graphic artist John Harper shares his journey with Blades in the Dark, and with designing and iterating over a long and storied career in independent publishing. (You know, long in RPG years.) John's Website, John Harper on Twitter, Blades in the Dark,

Liz Chaipraditkul, independent publisher and designer of WITCH: Fated Souls, gives us the low down on working freelance, working for yourself, and navigating this wacky thing we call the tabletop RPG industry. (Remember: hire a proofreader!) Familiars of Terra is now on Kickstarter!, Angry Hamster Publishing, Liz's Website, [Liz on Twitter] 4

Game designer and interactive media writer Clio Yun-su Davis talks podcasting, immersive theatre, and the beauty of K-Pop.  Clio's Website, The Golden Cobra Challenge, Living Games Conference,

Larpwright, librarian, and community organizer Kate Hill on welcoming newbies, character theme songs, and making sure that people are more important than the game. Kate on Twitter, Kate on Instagram, The #Resistance Anthology, WINTERHORN, The Golden Cobra Anthologies, Living Games Conference Leaving Mundania's Larp Resources, Measured in Cups,

Game designer Julia Ellingboe shares her thoughts on designing from the margins, expanding inclusion, and role-playing via playlists and packages. Julia on Twitter, Steal Away Jordan, via Indie Press Revolution, Full Frame Initative, Living Games Conference

Game designer, project manager, community manager and all around interesting guy Nathan Black talks codes of conduct, selling a punch, and larping the everyday. Living Games Conference, Burning Wheel, Big Bad Con