Backstory

Hosted by Alex Roberts, Backstory is an ongoing series of interviews with game designers, organizers, scholars, and other members of the role-playing community. This show is all about the person behind the work. What draws them to gaming? In what context do they work and play? What are they most excited about for the future? Alex loves getting to know people, and you’ll love coming along for the ride.

Alex Roberts is a giggling cutie who wants role-playing to be safe, healthy, and fun. She play tests, runs, and promotes live-action and tabletop games from her impenetrable ice spire in the frozen wastelands of Canada.

In a previous life she made and wrote about video games. At the moment, she is probably reading a very cute comic book.

49. Fatima Abdul Karim

Bait Byout co-founder Fatima Abdul Karim on the birth of larp in the Arab world.

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48. Aleksandra Sontowska

Award-winning RPG designer Aleksandra Sontowska on sex, horror, and unsettling self-knowledge in games.

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47. Tania Carriere

It’s an episode of unabashed sincerity with artist and coach Tania Carriere of Advivum Journeys.

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46. Darcy Ross

Writer, designer, and noted gastropod enthusiast Darcy Ross talks evolution, community, and shining a spotlight on the things you love.

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45. Epidiah Ravachol

Game designer and publisher Epidiah Ravachol talks playstorming, the games you love to teach, and the unheralded joy of double-entry bookkeeping.

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44. Jenn Martin

Designer Jenn Martin on witches at work, manic pixie dreamgirling, and larp impostor syndrome.

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43. Alex Rowland

Larpwright Alex Rowland on designing opportunities for care, queering boffer, and the time for subtlety.

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42. Jessica Hammer

Game designer and Assistant Professor at Carnegie Mellon University Jessica Hammer explores how we can take a more precise approach to transformative play through research and iteration.

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41. Banana Chan

Video artist and freeform designer Banana Chan talks haunted dolls, designing for anxiety, and new models for publishing larp. (Also! See you at Gen Con, nerds!)

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40. Jay Treat

Designer and long-time small-time con organizer Jay Treat joins us to talk cards, larps, and the careful calibration of tone.

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Alex Roberts

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