On the final episode of Backstory, designer and publisher Cat Tobin talks pushing things forward, leaving things behind, and publishing original Irish language RPGs!Talk to you later, heroes.Cat's TwitterPelgrane Press#FeminismThe Erotic Art

88. Lucian Kahn

Jul 23rd, 2019 59m

Game designer Lucian Kahn talks magic, humor, and some exciting game anthologies. Would you rather be a Visigoth or a Mall Goth?Lucian's TwitterLucian's GamesYou & I The Erotic Art Games Anthology

87. Diana J Leonard

Jul 12th, 2019 59m 53s

Psychologist Diana J Leonard shares her work on the life cycle of play communities.Diana's Website,Diana on Twitter, The Dynamic Life Cycle of Live Action Role-Play Communities, Conflict and Change: Testing a Life-Cycle-Derived Model of Larp G

86. Ben Chong

Jul 11th, 2019 1h 3m

Ben Chong, aka swordsnflowers, joins us to talk about his experience teaching analog game design, developing the TTRPG scene in Malaysia, and his Sword Dream.Ben on TwitterBen's games on itch.ioAlex on Patreon

85. Sangjun Park

Jun 14th, 2019 54m 54s

Game designer and translator Sangjun Park talks about Moonflower, game translation, and his hopes for the future of the Korean TTRPG scene.Sanjun's TwitterAlex on Patreon!

84. Jon Cole

May 30th, 2019 1h 1m

Larpwright and sex educator Jon Cole on teaching with larp, designing in collaboration, and creating space for Real Talk.Jon's Games, Jon's Newsletter, Still Life, Alex on Patreon!

83. Catherine Ramen

May 20th, 2019 59m 25s

Historical game developer Catherine Ramen talks the New York crossdressing scene in the '90s, a nineteenth century Socialist commune in Paris, and more - as if we needed more when those first two things are so very very good???The Aviatrix Gam

82. Jenn Sandercock

May 2nd, 2019 1h 2m

Game developer Jenn Sandercock talks experimentation, balance, collaboration, and edible games.Jenn’s Website,Jenn on Twitter, The Edible Games Cookbook, Making Games That Give Me Hugs,Alex on Patreon!

81. James D'Amato

Apr 18th, 2019 1h 20m

A very enthusiastic chat with ONE SHOT Network co-founder, podcaster, improviser, game designer, and professional goof boy James D'Amato. Plus a special announcement: our host is now on Patreon!The Ultimate RPG Character Backstory Guide,James

80. Camdon Wright

Mar 29th, 2019 49m 33s

Game designer Camdon Wright joins us for a chat about designing for emotion, GMing outside your comfort zone, and being a fan of stuff, not people.Camdon's website,Camdon on Twitter, Dialect, Star Crossed,For the Queen

79. Whitney Delaglio

Mar 18th, 2019 52m 50s

Game designer and illustrator Whitney Delaglio on intimacy and problem-solving in games. Also: consensual storytelling is a sandwich; pass it on.Whitney's website,Whitney on Twitter, Prism the RPG, Whitney has a stretch goal coming up in the K

78. Lauren McManamon

Mar 4th, 2019 59m 26s

Game designer and wandering Kiwi Lauren McManamon talks about applying discursive analysis to the gaming table, roleplaying desire, and the strange birds that help us get through it all. We also discuss Lauren's academic work on the treatment o

77. Becky Annison

Feb 16th, 2019 1h

Writer and designer Becky Annison joins us to talk gaming in the UK, werewolf romance, and an essential source of game design inspiration: reality television.Bite Me! on Kickstarter,Becky Annison on Twitter, Black Armada (Becky's publishing co

76. Kai Poh

Jan 17th, 2019 1h

Games journalist and co-runner of the Role Over Play Dead blog, Kai chats with Alex about tabletop and live-action gaming in Malaysia.Role Over Play Dead, Kai on Twitter, Kai on Instagram, D&D and the Tabletop Gaming Industry in Malaysia.

75. Alex Roberts

Jan 3rd, 2019 1h 5m

In honour of the show's third anniversary, producer Alex Sisk interviews the creator and host of Backstory. Learn about the process behind the show, how she prepares for and conducts interviews, and her plans for the future - in podcasting and

74. James Mendez Hodes

Dec 20th, 2018 1h 24m

James Mendez Hodes is a Filipino-American writer, game designer, cultural consultant, and martial artist who knows which kind of sword Alex should use. If you're curious about Heian or Sengoku period Japan, or about playing other cultures or hi

73. Albert Kong

Dec 6th, 2018 1h 1m

Game designer and artist Albert Kong joins us for a talk about parkour, the art of gathering, and other ways to open the potential for play in the world around you.Albert's website, Albert on Twitter, Albert's Inbox Zine, Mt. Caz, The We-Ness,

72. Senda Linaugh

Nov 22nd, 2018 58m 58s

Game designer and co-creator of She's a Super Geek, Senda Linaugh, talks gaming, creativity, and community connection. Content note for discussion of abusive relationships.Senda on Twitter, She's a Super Geek, Pandas Talking Games, Love & Just

71. Jeff Dieterle

Nov 8th, 2018 49m 35s

Award-winning larp designer Jeff Dieterle joins us for a talk about music, magic, stupid games, and kiss jail.Jeff on Twitter, My Jam is now on Kickstarter!, Wigilia, Long Time Listener, Last Time Caller, A Hundred Years Adoring You, Meet My F

70. Andrea Morales Coto

Oct 25th, 2018 1h 2m

Design strategist Andrea Morales Coto is bringing the magic of live-action game design to new avenues, from distribution methods to cryptoeconomic systems and beyond. Learn along with Alex!Andrea's Website, Andrea on Twitter, "I Owe Us" crypto

69. Jeff Stormer

Oct 11th, 2018 58m 30s

Podcaster and Unofficial Larpwright of the Olive Garden chain of restaurants Jeff Stormer joins us for a nice chat about professional wrestling, karaoke, and other roleplaying games.Jeff's Website, When You're Here You're Family, Alex's Guest

68. Karen Twelves

Sep 27th, 2018 1h 1m

Gamer, editor, and improv performer Karen Twelves joins us for a talk about performance, play, and the importance of trust.Karen's Website, Karen on Twitter,Improv for Gamers will be out this November!,Improv for Gamers on Twitter,Syntax & Sem

67. Jose Zagal

Sep 13th, 2018 1h 1m

Games scholar Jose Zagal starts a new semester of Backstory, with discussions of Role-Playing Games Studies, the intricate web of influence among different game media, and identifying the ethical frameworks in Animal Crossing. If Emmanuel Kant

66. Casey Hardy

Jul 19th, 2018 58m 37s

Co-organizer of the long-running campaign Shadowmoor, Casey Hardy tells us about sustainability, growth, and change in a larp community.Shadowmoor, SOLAR,NERO

65. DC

Jul 6th, 2018 59m 18s

Game designer, streamer, RPG theorist and you new favourite podcast host DC joins us to talk about twitter threads and forging in the dark.Mutants in the Night, DC on Twitter, DC on Twitch, DC on Patreon, Ropecon 2018, [ONE SHOT Network on Pa