33. Caitlynn Belle
Designer Caitlynn Belle joins Alex to talk about creating, refining, mentoring and problem solving. But more importantly: dying in space and bug sex.
Tabletop
32. Emily Care Boss
Designer and theorist Emily Care Boss joins us this episode to talk Living Games, loving games, and being vulnerable in play. Can role-playing be therapeutic? How do we unite disparate gaming communities? What larp-adjacent practices can we learn from? What’s physi-ing??? You’ll have to tune in to find out! WISCON Site EMILY CARE BOSS The … Read more
31. Josh Jordan
Gather ’round as designer and educator Josh Jordan tells us about about the unstoppable force of creativity, candy as cultural exchange, and collaboration as the cure for impostor syndrome. Should larpwrights be keeping an eye on reality TV? Well, probably not, I guess…
28. Rachel Kahn
Artist and GM Rachel Khan joins us to talk about running an RPG campaign based on Persian mythology at the Aga Khan museum in Toronto. Isn’t that the coolest thing ever? We also discuss illustrating for games and the magic of dice bowls. Warning: major spoilers for a thousand-year-old poem!
27. D. Vincent and Meguey Baker
To celebrate one year of Backstory, Alex brings on indie legends and Apocalypse World co-creators Meguey and D. Vincent Baker. Topics range from sex education to censorship to masonic initiation ceremonies and quilt preservation – and yes, it’s all related to game design.
23. Whitney Beltràn
Game designer, writer, and consultant Whitney “Strix” Beltràn talks designing with fairy tales, role-playing with archetypes, and keeping mythologies alive.
21. Hakan Seyalioglu
What happens when you publish your own game from scratch? How do we welcome new players to the table? Game designer Hakan Seyalioglu on game publishing, community building, and the beautiful collision of the obvious and the unexpected.
18. Ross Cowman
How do you teach analog game design? What makes a game “for kids?” How does the context in which we encounter games influence how we play? Designer and community organizer Ross Cowman talks design, play, music, and more.
16. Jacqueline Bryk
Is Pokemon Go a larp? What’s the difference between torturing your characters and torturing your players? Can game design help you conquer your fears – or just spread them around a little? Larpwright Jacqueline Bryk is here to pose all these questions and many more. We may answer a few of them, too.
13. Evan Torner
What do game design and education design have to say to each other? How about larp and VR? Larpwright and academic Evan Torner joins us to talk uncertainty, ideology, transparency, and other fun things hiding in your games.