Best Worldbuild With Us Podcasts (2024)

1
Episode 252: Enlightenment Under the Throbbing Tree (Giant of a Thousand Dutchies Part 2) 54:10

5h ago54:10

54:10

Grab your flying parakeet and ready yourself for some enlightenment under the shade of an oddly throbbing tree on this week's episode! We're finishing out a prompt from long term Patron DiploRaptor where we introduce Monster Hunters, Elden Ring inspired "good guys" and some good old fashioned Luddites to the continent of the giant's corpse. And: do…

1
🍄 MUSHROOM BLUES SPOILERCAST 🍄 with Fiction Fans Podcast & Krystle Matar 1:34:31

17m ago1:34:31

1:34:31

WARNING: This episode contains major spoilers for Adrian M. Gibson's Mushroom Blues. Join Adrian M. Gibson, Krystle Matar and Sara & Lilly from Fiction Fans Podcast for a spoiler-filled discussion of Adrian's debut novel Mushroom Blues. This originally aired in audio on the Fiction Fans Podcast feed. ABOUT THE BOOK: Mushroom Blues is book one in Th…

1
Episode 54, part 2: Worldbuilding Urban Legends & Folklore with Gregg Hale 30:47

1h ago30:47

30:47

The Blair Witch Project created a whole new film genre - and co-producer Gregg Hale is with guest host Kat to talk about worldbuilding urban legends and folk horror (and dark fairytales, like his new multimedia project, Black Velvet Fairies). Take a walk on the darker side of folklore as we explore how to make a creepy setting that uses the familia…

1
Episode 54, part 1: Worldbuilding Urban Legends & Folklore with Gregg Hale 30:18

2h ago30:18

30:18

The Blair Witch Project created a whole new film genre - and co-producer Gregg Hale is with guest host Kat to talk about worldbuilding urban legends and folk horror (and dark fairytales, like his new multimedia project, Black Velvet Fairies). Take a walk on the darker side of folklore as we explore how to make a creepy setting that uses the familia…

1
Ep. 115: Julia Vee & Ken Bebelle talk Blood Jade, Co-Writing, Sequels & More 1:07:30

1h ago1:07:30

1:07:30

Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson and M.J. Kuhn as they chat with authors Julia Vee & Ken Bebelle about their new novel Blood Jade, how they met in middle school, co-writing vs. solo writing, going from self-publishing to traditional, worldbuilding and mythology in The Phoenix Hoard, setting stories in San Francisco and Tokyo, creating characters that…

1
Ep 170 - When the Ship Comes In 53:36

2h ago53:36

53:36

Ep 170: The party settles into camp life, with the Reaver and his army only a few miles away. Things are heating up, and many things are converging in this remote place. What will happen next? Listen now to find out! ----- Our spot for Battlebards uses music from Battlebards! We hope you like our use of: Capital City - Middlegate - Score Music by S…

1
TBRCon2024 Highlight: Success & Satisfaction as an Author (with Christian "Miles" Cameron, Claire North, Andrea Stewart & More) 1:30:27

20m ago1:30:27

1:30:27

Every Friday, we're highlighting a panel from the TBRCon2024 all-virtual SF/F/H convention, looking back on the incredible variety of discussions that we had the honor of hosting. This week, join moderator/author Christian "Miles" Cameron and authors Claire North, Andrea Stewart, R.R. Virdi, J E Hannaford and Joshua Walker for a TBRCon2024 panel on…

1
Unto Desolation - Episode 145 1:15:27

7d ago1:15:27

1:15:27

This week, we begin our transition away from Fallout and back into our biomes series by talking about wastelands. Join us as we discuss types of wastelands, examples of wastelands from both media and the real world, and some ideas on how to implement different types of wastelands into your games. Near the end of the episode, I mentioned a product (…

1
Episode 53, part 2: Two Player and Couples RPGs with Alex Roberts 32:27

2h ago32:27

32:27

Join Janet as we sit down with talented game designer (and counselor!) Alex Roberts, creator of Star Crossed, For the Queen and Our Time on Earth to explore the world of two-player and couples tabletop roleplaying games. Discover the magic of creating shared stories with just one other player and explore the ways RPGs can build connections and stre…

1
Episode 53, part 1: Two Player and Couples RPGs with Alex Roberts 29:12

2h ago29:12

29:12

Join Janet as we sit down with talented game designer (and counselor!) Alex Roberts, creator of Star Crossed, For the Queen and Our Time on Earth to explore the world of two-player and couples tabletop roleplaying games. Discover the magic of creating shared stories with just one other player and explore the ways RPGs can build connections and stre…

1
Ep. 114: Deep Worldbuilding with Paolo Bacigalupi (Mini-Masterclass) 52:50

9d ago52:50

52:50

Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson and M.J. Kuhn as they delve into a mini-masterclass on Deep Worldbuilding with award-winning author Paolo Bacigalupi. During the episode, Paolo delves deep into worldbuilding, laying out how to create immersive worlds, his worldbuilding process, deep vs. broad worldbuilding, keeping track of details, lived-in worlds, …

1
Creation Corner - Worldbuilders with Pat 48:23

7h ago48:23

48:23

Creation Corner: It's said that a picture is worth a thousand words. Maps are a cornerstone of fantasy settings, and they can be useful tools for building worlds. In this episode, we talk with Pat (@mountain_foot on Twitter, @pate on Discord), a Stacker and dungeon cartographer who creates and uses maps extensively in his own gaming work. Join us f…

1
TBRCon2024 Highlight: The Rise of Novellas (with Martha Wells, Veronica Roth, P. Djèlí Clark & More) 1:29:47

19m ago1:29:47

1:29:47

Every Friday, we're highlighting a panel from the TBRCon2024 all-virtual SF/F/H convention, looking back on the incredible variety of discussions that we had the honor of hosting. This week, join moderator/author Moses Ose Utomi and panelists Martha Wells, Veronica Roth, P. Djèlí Clark, Malka Older and Beth Tabler for a TBRCon2024 panel on "The Ris…

1
Episode 52, part 2: Titling Your Novel or Short Story w/Trip Galey & Chris McCartney 36:20

2h ago36:20

36:20

What's in a name? Maybe everything! Janet is joined by authors Trip Galey, Chris McCartney, and Kat Bradbury to discuss pro tips (and what to avoid) when it comes to naming your novels, titling your stories, and deciding what to call That Crazy Thing You Created.

1
Episode 52, part 1: Titling Your Novel or Short Story w/Trip Galey & Chris McCartney 32:32

2h ago32:32

32:32

What's in a name? Maybe everything! Janet is joined by authors Trip Galey, Chris McCartney, and Kat Bradbury to discuss pro tips (and what to avoid) when it comes to naming your novels, titling your stories, and deciding what to call That Crazy Thing You Created.

1
Ep. 113: Paolo Bacigalupi talks Navola, The Windup Girl, Burnout & More 1:05:24

9d ago1:05:24

1:05:24

Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson and M.J. Kuhn as they chat with award-winning author Paolo Bacigalupi about his new novel Navola, his breakout hit The Windup Girl, Renaissance Italy, languages and cultural immersion, reading resonance and education, near-future settings and climate fiction, research and lived experience, transitioning into fantasy, …

1
Ep 169 - Boot Camp 59:16

3h ago59:16

59:16

Ep 169: Having overcome the initial shock and suspicion of an unexpected arrival, the party now has the opportunity to explore the Alliance camp as they prepare for battle against the Reaver. What will the members do to get ready? You'll have to listen now to find out. ----- Our spot for Battlebards uses music from Battlebards! We hope you like our…

1
TBRCon2024 Highlight: Developing Alien Races (with Christopher Paolini, Adrian Tchaikovsky, J.S. Dewes & More) 1:29:17

1d ago1:29:17

1:29:17

Every Friday, we're highlighting a panel from the TBRCon2024 all-virtual SF/F/H convention, looking back on the incredible variety of discussions that we had the honor of hosting. This week, join moderator/author Frasier Armitage and panelists Christopher Paolini, Adrian Tchaikovsky, J.S. Dewes, Ada Hoffmann and K.B. Wagers for a TBRCon2024 panel o…

1
Episode 251: When Giants Fall Nations Shall Rise (Giant of a Thousand Duchies Part 1) 52:58

2d ago52:58

52:58

Break out the spreadsheets for some spread cheeks in this week's episode as we explore the giant anatomy of a continent sized giant. Things devolve quickly but we ultimately pull out an extremely fun and hair raising setting from Patron Diplo Raptor's prompt as Jonnie Law joins us this week as special guest host. And: do you have opinions about Wor…

1
Wild Wasteland - Episode 144 44:42

3d ago44:42

44:42

This week, we wrap up our conversation about the Fallout TTRPG by Modiphius. Join us as we discuss the creatures and characters of the Fallout RPG, how to modify them, and how we would build some of the creatures from Fallout lore that didn't make it into the book. As mentioned previously, Modiphius has a free quickstart guide for the Fallout RPG a…

1
Episode 51, part 2: Gaslamp Fantasy Worldbuilding with Laura Ann Gilman 33:39

3d ago33:39

33:39

Join Janet and award-winning and best-selling author Laura Anne Gilman for a conversation about the historical fantasy world she’s built in the Huntsmen series. What is "gaslamp fantasy"? And how can you create an immersive fantastical world grounded in real world history?

1
Episode 51, part 1: Gaslamp Fantasy Worldbuilding with Laura Ann Gilman 26:27

3d ago26:27

26:27

Join Janet and award-winning and best-selling author Laura Anne Gilman for a conversation about the historical fantasy world she’s built in the Huntsmen series. What is "gaslamp fantasy"? And how can you create an immersive fantastical world grounded in real world history?

1
Ep. 112: Writing the Opposite Gender with Stephen Aryan (Mini-Masterclass) 1:01:50

4d ago1:01:50

1:01:50

Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson and M.J. Kuhn as they delve into a mini-masterclass on Writing the Opposite Gender with author Stephen Aryan. During the episode, Stephen bridges the gap between genders, exploring the importance of writing outside your own gender, stereotypes and how men often write women badly, how to enjoy writing the opposite gend…

1
Ep 168 - Surprise, Surprise 48:40

24d ago48:40

48:40

The final portal beckons as the party stands at the brink of the last stage of its epic quest. What awaits them on the other side? Listen now to find out! ----- Our spot for Battlebards uses music from Battlebards! We hope you like our use of: Capital City - Middlegate - Score Music by Shams Ahsan We're glad you're sharing our story; we really appr…

1
TBRCon2024 Highlight: Reading Habits: TBR vs. Mood Reader (with Mike's Book Reviews, M. J. Kuhn, Philip Chase & More) 1:26:29

8d ago1:26:29

1:26:29

Every Friday, we're highlighting a panel from the TBRCon2024 all-virtual SF/F/H convention, looking back on the incredible variety of discussions that we had the honor of hosting. This week, join moderator/blogger Neil Williams and panelists Mike's Book Reviews, M. J. Kuhn, Philip Chase, Mihir Wanchoo and Zoranne Host for a TBRCon2024 panel on "Rea…

1
Episode 50, part 2: Setting Sustainable Creative Goals with Peter Chiykowski 38:46

10d ago38:46

38:46

Storytellers obsess over our goals - long and short term. In this episode, Janet is chatting with Peter Chiykowski, creator of the Story Engine Deck, about doing it in a balanced, responsible way to avoid burnout and overwhelm. Grab a cozy beverage, your favorite planners and pens, and let's prepare for an amazing year of worldbuilding!…

1
Episode 50, part 1: Setting Sustainable Creative Goals with Peter Chiykowski 33:01

10d ago33:01

33:01

Storytellers obsess over our goals - long and short term. In this episode, Janet is chatting with Peter Chiykowski, creator of the Story Engine Deck, about doing it in a balanced, responsible way to avoid burnout and overwhelm. Grab a cozy beverage, your favorite planners and pens, and let's prepare for an amazing year of worldbuilding!…

1
Ep. 111: Stephen Aryan talks The Blood Dimmed Tide, Persia, Worldbuilding & More 1:03:06

11d ago1:03:06

1:03:06

Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson and M.J. Kuhn as they chat with author Stephen Aryan about his new novel The Blood Dimmed Tide, the world of The Coward, ideas and distraction, heroes and PTSD, Persian and Mongol history, research and accuracy, magic systems and weird shit, the publishing landscape, working a day-job and much more. NOTE: This is part…

1
Special - Convergence 12:23

14d ago12:23

12:23

While the chieftains of Rindis make their way toward the looming battle, other events are coming together in the southern parts of Moriga. Find out what's shaping up as we move to another part of the troubled world of Vardalon--listen now! ----- Our spot for Battlebards uses music from Battlebards! We hope you like our use of: Capital City - Middle…

1
TBRCon2024 Highlight: Psychological vs. Gory Horror (with Sadie Hartmann, Delilah S. Dawson & More) 1:16:45

1M ago1:16:45

1:16:45

IMPORTANT NOTE: We do not condone the inappropriate behavior of author Zach Rosenberg, but out of respect for the voices/experiences of the other panelists, we have chosen to make this panel available to listeners. Every Friday, we're highlighting a panel from the TBRCon2024 all-virtual SF/F/H convention, looking back on the incredible variety of d…

1
Episode 250: It's Time to Meet the Anime Club (School of a Thousand Day Dreams Part 2) 57:32

16d ago57:32

57:32

This week we discover just how much Daniel hates contemporary art as we continue our prompt from long-time patron Gluax. Cute animals, librarians, pro-wrestling, and yes, even the anime club, are all hot topics for this week's discussion. And: do you have opinions about Worldbuild With Us? We'd love to hear them in our listener survey: https://form…

1
The Pendulum Worldbuilding Tool - Episode 143 53:10

17d ago53:10

53:10

This week, we welcome back returning guest Jon, host of the Tale of the Manticore podcast. We discuss the show, his worldbuilding process, his game One Shot in the Dark, and his worldbuilding aide Pendulum. You can find Jon's show on taleofthemanticore.podbean.com, on YouTube @taleofthemanticore, or on your podcatcher of choice. You can also find t…

1
Episode 49, part 2: Mixing Mystery & SciFi with Mur Lafferty 32:38

17d ago32:38

32:38

We've got a killer interview today! Join Janet and Mur Lafferty, Hugo Award winning podcaster and author of Solo: A Star Wars Story and the Midsolar Murders series. We'll discuss blending genres - specifically sci-fi and murder mysteries. You won't want to miss it!

1
Episode 49, part 1: Mixing Mystery & SciFi with Mur Lafferty 29:39

17d ago29:39

29:39

We've got a killer interview today! Join Janet and Mur Lafferty, Hugo Award winning podcaster and author of Solo: A Star Wars Story and the Midsolar Murders series. We'll discuss blending genres - specifically sci-fi and murder mysteries. You won't want to miss it!

1
Ep. 110: Making Old Monsters New Again with Christopher Buehlman (Mini-Masterclass) 1:00:22

18d ago1:00:22

1:00:22

Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson and M.J. Kuhn as they delve into a mini-masterclass on Making Old Monsters New Again with author Christopher Buehlman. During the episode, Christopher uncovers the mysteries of old monsters, exploring examples of classic monsters, human psychology and allegory, advantages of using classic monsters, monster films and w…

1
Special - Reunion 13:08

1M ago13:08

13:08

Continue with Hild as she seeks her father and the other chieftains of the Spine of Rindis as they march steadily toward battle. The world continues to grow and change, and we hope you enjoy this sneak peek into concurrent events. ----- Our spot for Battlebards uses music from Battlebards! We hope you like our use of: Capital City - Middlegate - Sc…

1
TBRCon2024 Highlight: The Popularity of Special Editions (with K.C. Smith, Ryan Cahill, The Broken Binding & More) 1:31:55

1M ago1:31:55

1:31:55

Every Friday, we're highlighting a panel from the TBRCon2024 all-virtual SF/F/H convention, looking back on the incredible variety of discussions that we had the honor of hosting. This week, join moderator/author K.C. Smith and panelists Ryan Cahill, Matt (The Broken Binding), Ben Galley and Zack Argyle for a TBRCon2024 panel on "The Popularity of …

1
Episode 48, part 2: Solo Journaling RPGs with Anna Blackwell 32:18

28d ago32:18

32:18

The biggest villain in tabletop RPGs is ... scheduling. But what if you could play a satisfying roleplaying game all on your own? Solo Journaling RPGs have taken off in recent years, and today Janet has acclaimed game designer Anna Blackwell, creator of Apothecaria, DELVE, and the upcoming For Small Creatures Such As We to talk about what makes the…

1
Episode 48, part 1: Solo Journaling RPGs with Anna Blackwell 31:15

24d ago31:15

31:15

The biggest villain in tabletop RPGs is ... scheduling. But what if you could play a satisfying roleplaying game all on your own? Solo Journaling RPGs have taken off in recent years, and today Janet has acclaimed game designer Anna Blackwell, creator of Apothecaria, DELVE, and the upcoming For Small Creatures Such As We to talk about what makes the…

1
Ep. 109: Christopher Buehlman talks The Daughters' War, Atmosphere, Voice & More 1:02:16

25d ago1:02:16

1:02:16

Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson and M.J. Kuhn as they chat with author Christopher Buehlman about his new novel The Daughters' War, The Blacktongue Thief, renaissance fairs, "Christoph the Insulter," comedy and empathy, creating an engrossing atmosphere, writing a range of voices and tones, invention vs. research, trusting your characters and much m…

1
#80 - Fan Prompts! Crab Villains & Good Zombies, Actually 47:28

2M ago47:28

47:28

Welcome to the season finale! We celebrate the close to season 7 (finally) with four fan prompts submitted by you! Join us as we improvise the lives of failed underwater scientists, magic hat dimensions, space refugees and the perks of zombification. All this and more, tune in!

1
Special - Long Road Home 13:46

2M ago13:46

13:46

Follow a companion of the heroes of Arden as the party moves on to the next leg of its adventure. The world continues to grow and change, and we hope you enjoy this sneak peek into concurrent events. ----- Our spot for Battlebards uses music from Battlebards! We hope you like our use of: Capital City - Middlegate - Score Music by Shams Ahsan We're …

1
TBRCon2024 Highlight: Cozy Fantasy's Rise - Grimdark's Demise? (with Anna Smith Spark, Casey Blair, Dyrk Ashton & More) 1:40:43

29d ago1:40:43

1:40:43

Every Friday, we're highlighting a panel from the TBRCon2024 all-virtual SF/F/H convention, looking back on the incredible variety of discussions that we had the honor of hosting. This week, join moderator/blogger Mihir Wanchoo and authors Anna Smith Spark, Casey Blair, Dyrk Ashton, Olivia Atwater and Kian N. Ardalan for a TBRCon2024 panel on "Cozy…

1
Episode 249: Practical Advice About Grad School (School of a Thousand Day Dreams Part 1) 51:16

30d ago51:16

51:16

Get ready for a raucous discussion about pretentious art in this week's episode! Inspired by our beloved long-time patron Gluax, we delve into a school full of magical art, dreams, and maybe a bit of romance too. Listen to hear about our collective experiences with grad school and learn if your degree was worth it! And: do you have opinions about W…

1
Ep 167 - To Say Goodbye 51:15

1M ago51:15

51:15

The guardian has fallen, and now the party must figure out what to do as the world begins to come apart around them. It's a race to make sure everyone is safe--and you can find out what happens by listening now. ----- Our spot for Battlebards uses music from Battlebards! We hope you like our use of: Capital City - Middlegate - Score Music by Shams …

1
Wasteland Factions - Episode 142 1:02:57

2M ago1:02:57

1:02:57

This week, we're returning to Fallout to talk about some of the established factions found within the universe. Join us as we discuss Vault-Tec, the Enclave, the Brotherhood of Steel, the NCR, and raiders, as well as ways to implement them on the table when running the Fallout RPG. As mentioned last week, Modiphius has a free quickstart guide for t…

1
Episode 47, part 2: Pulp Fiction Genre 34:24

1M ago34:24

34:24

What IS Pulp Fiction? In this episode Janet talks with authors Trip Galey and Chris McCartney of Bona Books about unpacking this action-packed genre! What are the common tropes that make pulp AWESOME?! And how do we reinvent Pulp without the Problems?

1
Episode 47, part 1: Pulp Fiction Genre 29:51

2M ago29:51

29:51

What IS Pulp Fiction? In this episode Janet talks with authors Trip Galey and Chris McCartney of Bona Books about unpacking this action-packed genre! What are the common tropes that make pulp AWESOME?! And how do we reinvent Pulp without the Problems?

1
Ep. 108: Creating Fictional Cultures with Rebecca Roanhorse (Mini-Masterclass) 49:47

1M ago49:47

49:47

Join host Adrian M. Gibson as he delves into a mini-masterclass on Creating Fictional Cultures with bestselling, award-winning author Rebecca Roanhorse. During the episode, Rebecca weaves a cultural tapestry, exploring why “culture” is important to human beings, approaches for creating a fictional culture, research and lived experience, details and…

1
#79 - Big World, Small Heroes! Improvised Worldbuilding Challenge 42:47

2M ago42:47

42:47

We're back with a big story! The whole episode is a prompt, with the goal to build a world for heroes to explore. We choose the tiniest of adventurers to make our world seem ever larger, and we improv a scene with what we've built! Join us on a haphazard adventure on this episode of Your Rivers Are Wrong.…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Worldbuild With Us Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Quick Reference Guide