The Insecure DM Trope (And How Not to Become It) episode artwork

EPISODE · Aug 13, 2026 · 13 MIN

The Insecure DM Trope (And How Not to Become It)

from How to Be a Better DM: Dungeon Master Tips for the DM Newbie, the Hobbyist and the Forever DM · host Justin Lewis

You know the trope: the DM who builds an unwinnable encounter, or a puzzle so clever it’s basically unsolvable — not because the story needed it, but because somewhere underneath, they needed to feel untouchable.In this episode, Justin unpacks the inner work behind that trope: a concept he calls “okness,” the diamond-level self-security that keeps insecurity, jealousy, and thin skin from leaking into your games. You’ll get four practical exercises — the Negative Feedback Loop, the Gratitude Journal, the Worst Case Scenario, and Subtraction — to build the kind of okness that lets you take criticism, welcome chaos at the table, and run better games because of it, not in spite of it.Thanks for listening to today’s show. If you like our stuff and want to support us, here are some sponsor links and links to our other stuff:Worldsmith: http://session0studios.com/worldsmithHire a Professional Dungeon Master: https://session0studios.com/dungeon-master-for-hire/Discord: http://session0studios.com/discordPatreon:https://session0studios.com/patreonDungeon Master Level Up Guide: https://session0studios.com/newsletter

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Aug 13, 2026

Embed this episode

Ready to play

The Insecure DM Trope (And How Not to Become It)

0:00 13:13

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

No similar episodes found.

No similar podcasts found.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of How to Be a Better DM: Dungeon Master Tips for the DM Newbie, the Hobbyist and the Forever DM?

This episode is 13 minutes long.

When was this How to Be a Better DM: Dungeon Master Tips for the DM Newbie, the Hobbyist and the Forever DM episode published?

This episode was published on August 13, 2026.

Can I download this How to Be a Better DM: Dungeon Master Tips for the DM Newbie, the Hobbyist and the Forever DM episode?

Yes. Use the download control on the episode player to save the publisher-provided media file.
URL copied to clipboard!