Best James Splendore Podcasts (2024)

1
RPG Designer Merle M. Rasmussen - Episode 278 - 8/14/2024 1:47:24

5h ago1:47:24

1:47:24

Merle M. Rasmussen, the man in the tux himself, joins to talk about the Top Secret RPG and his game design career. What was his first (mistaken) understanding of what D&D was? Memories of working at TSR. A no-nonsense discussion about the financials of his agreement with TSR for Top Secret. Financial lessons he has learned in his career. The perils…

1
Zombie Movies with Chris Holmes and Mike Stewart - Episode 277 - 7/22/2024 2:27:22

1M ago2:27:22

2:27:22

Shane, Chris Holmes, and Mike Stewart aka DM Mike (Save for Half podcast, Found in the Ruins podcast) shamble relentlessly through over 40 zombie and zombie-ish flicks in their inhuman hunger for horror. Plus a brief detour into the best on-screen Joker and multiple bad zombie jokes. True or false: Marcel Marceau starred in a zombie flick. What is …

1
Comics & Comicsgate With Preston Poulter - Episode 276 - 4/29/2024 1:35:04

4M ago1:35:04

1:35:04

Preston Poulter of Pocket Jacks Comics joins to talk comic books, the current status of his Comicsgate trademark lawsuit, and his reasons for pursuing it. Plus the economics and challenges of self-publishing comics, some tabletop RPG chat and we learn what a pocket jack is. Shane gets upstaged during the bad joke of the week. Shane Plays Geek Talk …

1
MASSIVE GEEKOUT With David Finn Of Signal Of Doom - Episode 275 - 3/29/2024 2:32:52

5M ago2:32:52

2:32:52

Wide-ranging geekout with David Finn of Signal of Doom!! Lots of comic book and MCU chat (like, a lot). Pi Day. Doctor Who, old and new. Google Gemini vs. ChatGPT. Judge Dredd satirizes fascism but can tell multi-layered stories. Godzilla finally wins an Oscar. Godzilla as a metaphor. The essence of the Punisher. It’s been a while, but Shane rants …

1
Greyhawk With Allan "grodog" Grohe - Episode 274 - 2/29/2024 2:02:08

6M ago2:02:08

2:02:08

Despite what you might think from its famous box art, Greyhawk (the first D&D setting published by TSR) isn’t just knights and chivalry… so what is it then? Major Greyhawk fan Allan T. Grohe Jr. aka “grodog” joins to fill us in on all the setting’s fantastic details! Also: Greyhawk is a setting with plenty of room to homebrew within the established…

1
Strat-O-Matic Baseball with Champion Bill Meinhardt - Episode 273 - 1/31/2024 1:07:56

7M ago1:07:56

1:07:56

Strat-O-Matic Baseball might be one of the biggest games you’ve never heard of, and three-time champion William “Bill” Meinhardt joins to share his passion for playing it. How long has the game been around, and how many people play it? What’s the one mechanic Bill wishes was in this beloved game? Is there a link between Strat-O-Matic Baseball and F…

1
Star Fleet Battles With Bill Barsh - Episode 272 - 12/29/2023 1:18:07

8M ago1:18:07

1:18:07

Star Fleet Battles is the Star Trek-based wargame that’s been in constant publication since 1979, leading to an expanded range of games and lore known as the Star Fleet Universe. SFB fan, expert, and contributor Bill Barsh of Pacesetter Games and Simulations joins to talk all about it and take us into the final frontier of wargames! Is SFB for warg…

1
Stan Lee With Comics Creator Tom Scioli - Episode 271 - 11/20/2023 1:54:45

9M ago1:54:45

1:54:45

Discover the real Stan Lee (not the public PR persona) and his story in Tom Scioli’s amazing I Am Stan biographical graphic novel. Plus: Simple comic book character design versus convoluted and complicated design. Working for the big comics companies versus being an independent creator. The one time Tom got a taste of the editorial dark side of com…

1
Zombie Bytes with James T. Wilson - Episode 270 - 10/23/2023 1:05:19

10M ago1:05:19

1:05:19

All-around groovy geek and author Tracy Wilson (aka James T. Wilson) on his indie horror novel Zombie Bytes, also chatting about cool things like his involvement with the Star Wars costuming association the 501st Legion. The pain and timeline of writing a novel. What is “success”? What’s the real threat of a zombie apocalypse? Thoughts on when it w…

1
Incredible Cosplay With Simple Tricks & Nonsense - Episode 269 - 7/16/2023 1:26:08

1y ago1:26:08

1:26:08

Johnny Havoc (John McDonald) and Newt (Rebekah McDonald) of Simple Tricks & Nonsense join to discuss their incredible cosplay. What does cosplay mean to them? The economics of cosplay, including material and labor. Cosplay includes the challenge of taking something two-dimensional and making it work practically in three dimensions. For people who c…

1
The Legend of Drizzt with Mike Witwer – Episode 268 – 5/30/2023 1:36:54

1y ago1:36:54

1:36:54

Author and D&D historian Mike Witwer shares the details on his newest book The Legend of Drizzt Visual Dictionary, which is not only chock full of goodness on everyone’s favorite drow but the Forgotten Realms in general (as Mike puts it, "the Drizzt books are the greatest tour of the Forgotten Realms that the setting has ever gotten"). Mike has sev…

1
Holmes Basic D&D, John Eric Holmes & Edgar Rice Burroughs with Chris Holmes - Episode 267 - 5/12/2023 1:24:11

1+ y ago1:24:11

1:24:11

Chris Holmes has a unique historical perspective on fiction writer John Eric Holmes and Holmes Basic D&D, given that he’s JEH’s son. Chris is doing cool stuff in his own right, including his fantasy art and a day job where he gets to introduce kids to D&D. Chris’s posthumous RPG project with his father called Things Better Left Alone. How much did …

1
Betrayal at Krondor 30th Anniversary & Fan Film Challenge with Neal Hallford - Episode 266 - 3/14/2023 2:26:50

1+ y ago2:26:50

2:26:50

Hey there, friend! If you're into classic games and fascinating stories, you'll love our latest podcast episode featuring the multi-talented Neal Hallford. Join us as he shares insider details on the renowned Betrayal at Krondor CRPG, and get excited about the game's 30th-anniversary celebrations! This innovative game was truly ahead of its time, a…

1
They Came for the OGL: 3rd Party RPG Publishers Share Their Experience - Episode 265 - 2/9/2023 2:25:06

1+ y ago2:25:06

2:25:06

Zach Glazar (Frog God Games), Bill Barsh (Pacesetter Games) and Levi Combs (Planet X Games) share the personal impact (here’s a hint: "existential threat") and professional impact that Wizards of the Coast’s recent OGL announcements had on them, and where they’re going from here. "Unprofessional" and "ham-fisted" is mentioned a lot by our guests. T…

1
OSRIC & The OSR with Allan T. Grohe Jr. - Episode 264- 11/30/2022 2:04:41

1+ y ago2:04:41

2:04:41

RPG developer and publisher Allan T. Grohe Jr. (aka "grodog") joins to talk AD&D retroclone OSRIC, the OSR, Black Blade Publishing, John Eric Holmes, and RPG goodness in general. Allan LOVES him some Greyhawk. The skills he learned tracking down early information on Greyhawk helped lead to his main non-RPG career. How active is the current AD&D 1E …

1
The Valley Out Of Time & Skeeter Green Productions - Episode 263 - 10/19/2022 1:26:04

2y ago1:26:04

1:26:04

Skeeter Green joins to talk RPGs, Skeeter Green Productions, the Independent Publishers Union of small RPG publishers, and his new Kickstarter. The Valley Out of Time is a series of 'zine-sized RPG adventures borrowing heavily from classic dinosaur art, books, and movies (think Frazetta and Harryhausen). Tips and advice for small RPG publishers fro…

1
Reaper's Dungeon Dwellers RPG with Joseph Wolf - Episode 262 - 9/24/2022 1:13:04

2y ago1:13:04

1:13:04

Joseph Wolf of Reaper Miniatures talks Dungeon Dwellers, Reaper’s old-school style RPG using modern design. Also: some ReaperCon chat. Joseph has some interesting RPG design highlights, including Forgotten Realms, Deadlands, and Blood of Heroes. Love it or hate it, 5E is very successful at what it does. Which Dungeon Dwellers came first, the minis …

1
Champions RPG with George MacDonald - Episode 261 - 9/9/2022 2:05:24

2y ago2:05:24

2:05:24

Champions superhero RPG co-creator (and HERO Games co-founder) George MacDonald with guest co-host Michael Stewart (Victorious RPG creator; Save For Half and The Crusader podcasts co-host). The origins of Champions from the why, to the playtesting to the launch and beyond. Was the initial reception to Champions disappointing or encouraging? George …

1
Terrain-Tronics: DIY Gaming Terrain Electronics - Episode 260 - 8/15/2022 1:05:47

2y ago1:05:47

1:05:47

Dafydd Roche of Terrain-Tronics doesn’t just want to make cool terrain, he's helping DMs and GMs bring delight to their players with easy DIY gaming terrain electronics for D&D and other RPGs. Game terrain as part of the storytelling. Theatrical D&D. The no-solder wire wrapping technique is good enough for NASA! Pretty soldering jobs versus ugly so…

1
Grindhouse Cinema With Levi Combs of Planet X Games - Episode 259 - 7/18/2022 1:18:07

2y ago1:18:07

1:18:07

Grindhouse cinema with RPG publisher and cinephile Levi Combs. What is Grindhouse, and why is it called that? The market forces that led to the rise of Grindhouse theaters. Gritty movies, violent movies, Foreign movies, exploitation movies, Kung fu movies, BRUCEsploitation movies, more! New York City as a character in movies. Sho'nuff, The Shogun o…

1
Episode 123 - Nathans Famous Hot Dog Contest 2022 Roundtable 1:24:54

2y ago1:24:54

1:24:54

Tommy returns to the podcast for a roundtable discussion going into this year's July 4th! New eaters, returning veterans, and all the pageantry in between.

1
Mongoose and Meerkat with Author Jim Breyfogle - Episode 258 - 6/17/2022 1:12:11

2y ago1:12:11

1:12:11

Thrilling fantasy stories of the swashbuckling duo Mongoose and Meerkat with author Jim Breyfogle. Adventure fiction as opposed to “pulp” fiction (and what exactly does “pulp” mean, anyway). Who is Jim’s number one favorite writer from the past? Shane’s dirty little secret when it comes to Robert E. Howard’s fiction. Robert A. Heinlein was both ama…

1
Episode 122- You Are The Weakest Fink, Goodbye 58:44

2y ago58:44

58:44

A long overdue episode recorded weeks back. Life happened - Mike had another baby - James bet on horses - WE WERE BUSY OKAY!? Anyway... we're back... at least for now to talk contests and gameshows

1
JAQ: Journey Adventure Quest - Episode 257 - 5/27/2022 1:25:18

2y ago1:25:18

1:25:18

JAQ: Journey Adventure Quest is the new drafting board game with resource management, cool mechanics, challenging monsters, fun lore, and multiple paths to victory. Jesse Stacy, Tommy Noel and Brandon Beam from Triceratops Games join Shane to talk all about it (and demonstrate some actual play)! Also: Why the name Triceratops, wait until you hear a…

1
Comics Artist Brian Shearer - Episode 256 - 5/12/2022 1:39:40

2+ y ago1:39:40

1:39:40

Comics artist (and self-described art hobo) Brian Shearer has worked on such high-profile properties as Transformers, G.I. Joe, and Doctor Who as well as his own creations Gunship Thunderpunch and William the Last. How did Brian become a professional artist? Tips for creators to build an audience online. What’s the line you have to cross on a late …

1
RPG Designer Bruce Nesmith - Episode 255 - 4/15/2022 1:48:45

2+ y ago1:48:45

1:48:45

RPG designer Bruce Nesmith discusses his career as a TSR veteran (Ravenloft 2E, Gamma World 4E, Dragonlance), Elder Scrolls Skyrim lead designer, and now novelist. Bruce’s first day at TSR was an experience, to say the least. What does he consider his biggest achievement while at TSR? Bruce’s opinion of TSR under Gary Gygax versus Lorraine Williams…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

James Splendore Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

1
Shane Plays Geek Talk

Shane Stacks

1
Fink Beats The Stomach

James Splendore & Mike Sullivan

1
RPG Designer Merle M. Rasmussen - Episode 278 - 8/14/2024 1:47:24

1
Zombie Movies with Chris Holmes and Mike Stewart - Episode 277 - 7/22/2024 2:27:22

1
Comics & Comicsgate With Preston Poulter - Episode 276 - 4/29/2024 1:35:04

1
MASSIVE GEEKOUT With David Finn Of Signal Of Doom - Episode 275 - 3/29/2024 2:32:52

1
Greyhawk With Allan "grodog" Grohe - Episode 274 - 2/29/2024 2:02:08

1
Strat-O-Matic Baseball with Champion Bill Meinhardt - Episode 273 - 1/31/2024 1:07:56

1
Star Fleet Battles With Bill Barsh - Episode 272 - 12/29/2023 1:18:07

1
Stan Lee With Comics Creator Tom Scioli - Episode 271 - 11/20/2023 1:54:45

1
Zombie Bytes with James T. Wilson - Episode 270 - 10/23/2023 1:05:19

1
Incredible Cosplay With Simple Tricks & Nonsense - Episode 269 - 7/16/2023 1:26:08

1
The Legend of Drizzt with Mike Witwer – Episode 268 – 5/30/2023 1:36:54

1
Holmes Basic D&D, John Eric Holmes & Edgar Rice Burroughs with Chris Holmes - Episode 267 - 5/12/2023 1:24:11

1
Betrayal at Krondor 30th Anniversary & Fan Film Challenge with Neal Hallford - Episode 266 - 3/14/2023 2:26:50

1
They Came for the OGL: 3rd Party RPG Publishers Share Their Experience - Episode 265 - 2/9/2023 2:25:06

1
OSRIC & The OSR with Allan T. Grohe Jr. - Episode 264- 11/30/2022 2:04:41

1
The Valley Out Of Time & Skeeter Green Productions - Episode 263 - 10/19/2022 1:26:04

1
Reaper's Dungeon Dwellers RPG with Joseph Wolf - Episode 262 - 9/24/2022 1:13:04

1
Champions RPG with George MacDonald - Episode 261 - 9/9/2022 2:05:24

1
Terrain-Tronics: DIY Gaming Terrain Electronics - Episode 260 - 8/15/2022 1:05:47

1
Grindhouse Cinema With Levi Combs of Planet X Games - Episode 259 - 7/18/2022 1:18:07

1
Episode 123 - Nathans Famous Hot Dog Contest 2022 Roundtable 1:24:54

1
Mongoose and Meerkat with Author Jim Breyfogle - Episode 258 - 6/17/2022 1:12:11

1
Episode 122- You Are The Weakest Fink, Goodbye 58:44

1
JAQ: Journey Adventure Quest - Episode 257 - 5/27/2022 1:25:18

1
Comics Artist Brian Shearer - Episode 256 - 5/12/2022 1:39:40

1
RPG Designer Bruce Nesmith - Episode 255 - 4/15/2022 1:48:45

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