Best Ottley Podcasts (2024)

201
Matt Ottley on Neurodiversity and Creativity 1:08:40

6d ago1:08:40

1:08:40

How does neurodiversity impact creativity? On this episode, I explore the challenges of mental health and how it can be both a driver of astonishing creativity and the cause of significant pain. I believe that having conversations about mental health is crucial if we want to create an inclusive society and get the best out of everyone. To discuss t…

1
104: Matt Ottley (The Tree Of Ecstasy And Unbearable Sadness) 1:15:34

18d ago1:15:34

1:15:34

Charlie and Matt Ottley (The Tree Of Ecstasy And Unbearable Sadness) discuss Matt's type I bipolar disorder and how it has influenced this, his latest book, and his life in general. As Matt is also a composer and illustrator and the book involves both, we also discuss in detail the creation of the music and artwork. Please note that there are menti…

1
Morgan Hamel on Moral Polarization 1:08:28

33m ago1:08:28

1:08:28

How does moral polarization challenge even the most well-intentioned leaders? In this episode, I speak with Morgan Hamel, who talks frankly about her journey from working in business ethics to launching her own ethical fashion business. In our conversation, Morgan reflects on the complex dynamics of running a business that sought to balance purpose…

1
The Skills of the Dungeon Master 30:43

43m ago30:43

30:43

Welcome back to the show! Today we talk about what skills you need to develop as a DM. Mechanics Understanding the basic gameplay of the game Being able to make twists on the rules or invent new ones to suit your game Player Management Scheduling Management Relationship Management Story Writing Being able to create beautiful settings Being able to …

1
RAW: Voice Acting Tips from a Non-Voice Actor 22:14

2d ago22:14

22:14

Welcome back to today's RAW podcast episode. This is a special episode where it is shorter and less edited and more real. On today's show we talk about 8 voice acting tips from a non-voice actor. They are: Tip #1: Commit Tip #2: Faster or Slower Tip #3: Eye Contact Tip #4: Loud or Quiet Tip #5: Pauses or Breaks Tip #6: Your Breath Tip #7: Inflectio…

1
Chloé Valdary, Morgan Hamel & Peter Stein on De-Polarized Diversity, Equity & Inclusion 55:14

1d ago55:14

55:14

What do you think of when you hear the words Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I)? If it's something negative, then this is the episode for you; because I'm exploring how we can transform DE&I from something theoretical but impractical to something that can really work and have a positive impact for everyone. In other words, how we can de-polarize …

1
Episode 21 - Just Your Average Church-goers || The Pact & Boon 1:25:36

1h ago1:25:36

1:25:36

The Pact & Boon is an actual play D&D 5e show set in the home-brew world of Calignos! In a world plagued by a mysterious lethargy, humanoids and beasts twist into monstrous forms across the continent of Rel. Amidst this chaos, an unlikely band of adventurers unite in the fiery depths of the 9 hells, fighting for survival against unfathomable odds. …

1
Focusing on Your Strengths: What Makes You a Great DM? 16:28

19h ago16:28

16:28

Sometimes, it feels like all of your efforts are focused on the things you DON'T feel good at as a DM: maybe you don't feel like you do voices well. Or you don't feel great at drawing maps. Or maybe you feel like combats drag a bit. Whatever it is, you definitely have spent too much time focusing on your weaknesses. Stop it! This episode is all abo…

1
RAW: How to Move DND Along 17:51

8d ago17:51

17:51

Welcome back to this RAW episode of How to Be a Better DM. This is from an Instagram Live I did about how to move DnD along when it gets slow and boring. Here are 8 tips to help you move things along in your DnD games: When the party has been planning too long introduce a complication. Describe something trivial in suspiciously extreme detail. Make…

1
Learning to Write Anywhere - Jamie West - JU225 44:33

4d ago44:33

44:33

It's episode 225, which has a lovely interview with Jamie West, author of the theatre themed Bertie Carroll Mysteries. We got to chat about the similarities between the life of an actor and a writer, which means dealing with lots of rejection and striving for that lucky break Jamie is the West End's resident murder mystery author. He has worked bac…

1
105: Natalie Jenner (Every Time We Say Goodbye) 1:12:54

11d ago1:12:54

1:12:54

Charlie and Natalie Jenner (Every Time We Say Goodbye) discuss the war years and 1950s Italian film industry and the Vatican's authority over it, changing working practices after being accused of discrimination, and including still-living celebrities in your book. A transcript is available on my site General references: I talked to Natalie about he…

1
Episode 20 - Hot Tubs & Hard Truths || The Pact & Boon 1:40:40

7d ago1:40:40

1:40:40

The Pact & Boon is an actual play D&D 5e show set in the home-brew world of Calignos! In a world plagued by a mysterious lethargy, humanoids and beasts twist into monstrous forms across the continent of Rel. Amidst this chaos, an unlikely band of adventurers unite in the fiery depths of the 9 hells, fighting for survival against unfathomable odds. …

1
Dan Wells: What are You Good at As a GM? 51:46

8d ago51:46

51:46

Welcome back to How to Be a Better DM! Today is a special episode with our guest, author, and professional Dungeon Master Dan Wells! Check out information about Dan Wells here: https://www.thedanwells.com/ Dan is partnered with Dungeon Master Direct which has some great events coming up: https://dungeonmasterdirect.com/ On today's show, we talk abo…

1
Name Change: I Want Your Opinions! 0:57

9d ago0:57

0:57

The poll is here Or, if your app does not show links: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/8TGVG9F

1
How to Give Just a Little More to Your Roleplaying as a Dungeon Master 20:09

17d ago20:09

20:09

You’ve probably wondered if you could do or give more. Specifically with your roleplaying, you may have finished a session and thought that you could do better. I’ve been there too. I’ve had many sessions where I’ve wished that I was a much better roleplayer. Luckily today, we’re going to share 7 tips to help you give more to your roleplaying. Welc…

1
Sharon O'Dea on Navigating the Digital Workspace 1:02:13

14d ago1:02:13

1:02:13

What makes a digital workplace truly effective? In this episode, I talk to Sharon O'Dea, co-founder of Lithos Partners, about the intricacies of navigating the digital workplace. Sharon brings her wealth of experience in digital communications and workplace strategies to the table, sharing insights on how organizations can leverage technology to en…

1
Episode 19 - Very, VERY Old Friends || The Pact & Boon 1:27:30

14d ago1:27:30

1:27:30

The Pact & Boon is an actual play D&D 5e show set in the home-brew world of Calignos! In a world plagued by a mysterious lethargy, humanoids and beasts twist into monstrous forms across the continent of Rel. Amidst this chaos, an unlikely band of adventurers unite in the fiery depths of the 9 hells, fighting for survival against unfathomable odds. …

1
How do Bounce Back after a Bad Session | Dungeon Master Coaching with Al 50:07

15d ago50:07

50:07

Welcome back to How to Be a Better DM. Today we talk about how to bounce back after a bad session. Today is also a very special episode as it is our first published Dungeon Master Coaching episode. If you want to sign up for some dungeon master coaching, go to https://session0studios.com/coaching/ If you let us record the first session, the first s…

1
Announcing the Decision-Making Studio Podcast 5:49

17d ago5:49

5:49

Introducing the Decision-Making Studio Podcast If you’re a regular listener to the show, you’ll know that it’s all about the risks of human decision-making. I try to bring you guests who can help us to better understand them and what we can do to mitigate them. One of those guests is Ben Cattaneo, the host of his own podcast, which was one of the i…

1
Angela C Nurse - Validation is for Parking! - JU224 1:04:49

20d ago1:04:49

1:04:49

SUBSCRIBE NOW WHEREVER YOU LISTEN TO YOUR PODCASTS Grab a free Audible 30 Day Trial and listen to SAFE HANDS for FREE! It’s episode 224 where I’m chatting to crime writer, Angela C Nurse, talking about her gritty Scottish private detective series, her thoughts on the publishing industry in general and why she thinks Crime Fiction is such a powerful…

1
Summer '24 Convention Updates! 1:05:55

20d ago1:05:55

1:05:55

The guys are back to talk all about the latest Invincible updates surrounding SDCC and GenCon!Timecodes:0:00 Intro2:40 Pre-SDCC8:00 SDCC42:25 GenCon48:50 Post-GenCon54:35: Issue Spotlight1:03:30 OutroTheInvinciblePodcast.comEmail: TheInvinciblePodcast@Gmail.comTwitter: twitter.com/InvincibleCastTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theinvinciblepodcast?i…

1
Danielle Letayf on building a community 1:05:32

20d ago1:05:32

1:05:32

How can passion and irritation lead to innovation and community building? In this episode, my guest is Danielle Letayf, the founder of Badassery, a dynamic community designed for unconventional thought leaders dedicated to igniting change. In our discussion, we delve into the essence of community building, exploring how cognitive diversity and shar…

1
Episode 18 - Tickle Fight || The Pact & Boon 1:25:24

26d ago1:25:24

1:25:24

The Pact & Boon is an actual play D&D 5e show set in the home-brew world of Calignos! In a world plagued by a mysterious lethargy, humanoids and beasts twist into monstrous forms across the continent of Rel. Amidst this chaos, an unlikely band of adventurers unite in the fiery depths of the 9 hells, fighting for survival against unfathomable odds. …

1
Linguistic Tactics for More Realistic Characters with Ethan Myers from Lyres for Hire 33:49

22d ago33:49

33:49

Welcome back to How to Be a Better DM. Today, we talk with Ethan Myers from Lyres for Hire. you can check him out at https://www.instagram.com/lyresforhire/?hl=en We talk about some linguistic tactics to use to make characters sound more real. The 3 recommended in today's show are: Phonotactics: keeping the general rules for sounds and sound pairs …

1
Professor Shannon Vallor on the AI Mirror 1:10:44

29d ago1:10:44

1:10:44

What if we saw Artificial Intelligence as a mirror rather than as a form of intelligence? That’s the subject of a fabulous new book by Professor Shannon Vallor, who is my guest on this episode. In our discussion, we explore how artificial intelligence reflects not only our technological prowess but also our ethical choices, biases, and the collecti…

1
Episode 17 - Lessons In Parenting || The Pact & Boon 1:20:00

1M ago1:20:00

1:20:00

Welcome back! After a month long break, Episode 17 sends our heroes to yet another city in Tirash in search of answers surrounding the mysterious lethargy. The Pact & Boon is an actual play D&D 5e show set in the home-brew world of Calignos! In a world plagued by a mysterious lethargy, humanoids and beasts twist into monstrous forms across the cont…

1
How to upgrade your games with Monument Studios 53:22

1M ago53:22

53:22

On today's episode, we have Tyler & Noah, the musical masterminds behind Monument Studios. As some of you know, Monument Studios has been a sponsor of How To Be a Better DM, and our Live-play D&D show The Pact & Boon for the better part of the past year. Their app Fantasy + is a must have for any dungeon master! Tune in to hear about their upcoming…

1
In the Footsteps of Giants: Part 1 32:41

1M ago32:41

32:41

Welcome to How to Be a Better DM. Today is a special episode. In it, you'll hear the first 30 minutes of one of our professional dungeon mastering sessions. Some of the players are new to D&D and have very little experience. If you're interested in this episode, and want to hear the rest of the session, reach out to us on our Discord. If enough peo…

1
Milly Johnson - Just Write The Book! - JU223 1:00:27

1M ago1:00:27

1:00:27

INTERESTED IN SELF-PUBLISHING? CHECK OUT THIS ONE DAY COURSE SIGN UP TO MY FREE WORKSHOPS NEWSLETTER SUBSCRIBE NOW WHEREVER YOU LISTEN TO YOUR PODCASTS Grab a free Audible 30 Day Trial and listen to SAFE HANDS for FREE! It’s episode 223 with the funny and inspiring Milly Johnson talking about her long writing journey, including writing greetings ca…

1
103: Kate Weston (You May Now Kill The Bride) 30:10

1M ago30:10

30:10

Charlie and Kate Weston (You May Now Kill The Bride) discuss her hilarious comedy thriller wherein a group of friends go on a hen do, one of them is murdered, but they don't stop going to hen dos... Please note there is some swearing in this episode. A transcript is available on my site General references: Below Deck Books mentioned by name or exte…

1
Kirby Ferguson on Why Everything Is A Remix 1:12:36

1M ago1:12:36

1:12:36

Is there such a thing as an original idea? What if everything were actually a remix? Episode Summary In this episode, I'm exploring the fascinating concept of creativity with filmmaker, educator, and speaker Kirby Ferguson. Kirby is best known for his groundbreaking video series “Everything Is A Remix,” which delves into the idea that creativity is…

1
3 Questions To Determine a Combat Encounter’s Length 24:32

1M ago24:32

24:32

When you are planning a combat encounter, do you know how to get it into the "Goldilocks" zone in terms of length? You don't want it so short that no one got anything out of it, but you also don't want it so long that all the players are secretly praying that it will be over after the next turn. To help you plan the length of your encounter, whethe…

1
Navigating Data-Driven Dreams with Soo Tang Yuk 🇻🇮🇹🇹🇦🇼🇨🇳 40:37

1M ago40:37

40:37

Soo Tang Yuk (she/her) is an entrepreneur, co-founder of a global tech consultancy, and Women in Tech evangelist. With a background in IT and a passion for mentoring, community building, and also as a podcast producer, she drives innovation and leads strategic initiatives. In this episode, Soo Tang Yuk shared more about her Caribbean identity, care…

1
Milestone 05: Liz Fenwick, Emma Cowell, Ronali Collings, Tammye Huf 50:45

1M ago50:45

50:45

Celebrating 100 episodes of this podcast, Charlie is Joined by Liz Fenwick, Emma Cowell, Ronali Collings, and Tammye Huf, for a general bookish chat. We start off with an excellent conversation on the industry's use of 'women's fiction' when the genderless 'commerical fiction' would do very well. Please note there is one use of 'damn' in this episo…

1
Simon Parker on Cycling 4000 Miles Across America 58:23

1M ago58:23

58:23

What would motivate someone to cycle 4,000 miles across America, and what stories might they uncover along the way? Episode Summary On this episode, I speak with travel writer Simon Parker, who recently cycled 4,000 miles across America. Simon's journey, from Seattle to Key West, was a mission — ahead of the US election in November — to understand …

1
11 More Things Every Dungeon Master Should Remember Part 2 18:22

2M ago18:22

18:22

Things Every Dungeon Master Should Remember As a Dungeon Master you have so much to remember, it’s a wonder you can even remember your own name. Yet, what if, by remembering a few more things, you were able to not only make your game better, but feel better yourself, and make everything you do as a Dungeon Master better? I know what it’s like to de…

1
11 More Things Every Dungeon Master Should Remember Part 1 32:03

2M ago32:03

32:03

Things Every Dungeon Master Should Remember As a Dungeon Master you have so much to remember, it’s a wonder you can even remember your own name. Yet, what if, by remembering a few more things, you were able to not only make your game better, but feel better yourself, and make everything you do as a Dungeon Master better? I know what it’s like to de…

1
Recap of Episodes 1-5 (Written by Joland Grei) 27:36

2M ago27:36

27:36

**Special Episode** Don't want to start listening to The Pact & Boon from the beginning? Start here! Gain insight into the mind of the character Joland Grei as he writes a recap of the first 5 episodes in his journal. The Pact & Boon is an actual play D&D 5e show set in the home-brew world of Calignos - A world plagued by a mysterious lethargy, hum…

1
Milestone 04: Phillip Lewis, Melissa Fu, Amanda Geard 43:38

2M ago43:38

43:38

Celebrating 100 episodes of this podcast, Charlie is joined by Phillip Lewis, Melissa Fu, and Amanda Geard for a general bookish chat. This is a slightly quieter episode with some incredibly poignant and compelling stories. A transcript is available on my site General references: Seamus Heany's Limbo Phillip quotes from Dorothy L Sayers' Unnatural …

1
Victoria Sena on Saving The Surprise 52:46

2M ago52:46

52:46

How do you get 𝟲𝟮,𝟬𝟬𝟬 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 to keep a 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝗿𝗲𝘁? By not calling it a secret. With the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympics later today, on this episode, I'm looking back 12 years to the London 2012 Olympics. In this episode, we dive into the behind-the-scenes secrets of the London 2012 Olympic Opening and Closing Ceremonies with Victoria Sena,…

1
How to Start Terrainscaping for your D&D Games with Jay's Tabletop Terrain 35:06

2M ago35:06

35:06

Have you ever seen amazing terrainscapes worthy of legend and have looked on with envy? Do you want to learn how to start getting into terrainscaping so you can have amazing battlemaps like all of the famous actual play shows? Well, this is the episode for you. Welcome back to How to Be a Better DM. Today Justin and Tanner are joined by Jay from Ja…

1
102: Manda Scott (Any Human Power) 58:05

2M ago58:05

58:05

Charlie and Manda Scott (Any Human Power) discuss her book in terms of its Shamanist contexts, her informed ideas for how we can change and thus improve the UK political system, and playing Dungeons And Dragons with Terry Pratchett and Fay Weldon. We also discuss Mass Multiplayer Online gaming in the context of both Manda's book and, briefly, ourse…

1
Shabnaz Habib on Airplane Mode 1:08:45

2M ago1:08:45

1:08:45

Why do we travel? Obviously, sometimes we do it to go to work or visit family. But lots of us also do it for fun, becuase we can. And we naturally presume that’ it’s an unalloyed good. But is it? My guest, whose new book ‘Airplane Mode’ explores some of the complexities and contradictions of travel and tourism, is Shahnaz Habib. She’s a writer and …

1
Ranking Our Favorite Episodes of Invincible! 1:36:18

2M ago1:36:18

1:36:18

We each ranked our favorite episodes of the Invincible animated series (so far...), then assigned them points based on their position, and then turned that into our official list of Top Episodes! This definitely won't get heated...right? We also cover the latest in Invincible news, read listener emails, and dive into another issue of Invincible wit…

1
Lessons Learned My First Year DM'ing 12:01

2M ago12:01

12:01

Welcome to How To Be a Better DM. In today's episode I (Cayden) go over 3 of the biggest lessons I've learned over this past year as I've started running D&D games for my friends & family. Hopefully something in this episode inspires those of you who have yet to give DM'ing a shot, to try it out. Mentioned in this episode: Play D&D with Us Did you …

1
Liz Fenwick - Sometimes, not writing is still writing! 59:52

2M ago59:52

59:52

SIGN UP TO MY FREE WORKSHOPS NEWSLETTER SUBSCRIBE NOW WHEREVER YOU LISTEN TO YOUR PODCASTS Grab a free Audible 30 Day Trial and listen to SAFE HANDS for FREE! It’s episode 222 with inspirational commercial fiction writer, Liz Fenwick talking about her Cornish novels, methods of research, her writing process and her advice for those of us struggling…

1
Milestone 03: Elissa Soave, Jenni Keer, Chloe Timms 47:43

2M ago47:43

47:43

Celebrating 100 episodes of this podcast, Charlie is joined by Elissa Soave, Jenni Keer, and Chloe Timms for a general bookish chat. This one is big on writing, branding, and marketing, and, if Charlie dares says herself, is one of the most fun episodes of this entire show. Please note there is a mild swear word in this episode. A transcript is ava…

1
Fergus Flanagan and Neb Maciver on Talking Magic 1:17:23

2M ago1:17:23

1:17:23

What can we learn from magic? On this episode, I’m joined by two magicians, Fergus Flanagan and Neb Maciver, founders of Talk Magic and both accomplished magicians in their own right, who join me to share their unique journeys, from Fergus's early days working on Children's BBC to Neb’s transition from band life to full-time magician. Through their…

1
Episode 16 - We're Gonna Be Stars! || The Pact & Boon 1:00:25

2M ago1:00:25

1:00:25

The Pact & Boon is an actual play D&D 5e show set in the home-brew world of Calignos! In a world plagued by a mysterious lethargy, humanoids and beasts twist into monstrous forms across the continent of Rel. Amidst this chaos, an unlikely band of adventurers unite in the fiery depths of the 9 hells, fighting for survival against unfathomable odds. …

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