PODCAST · leisure
BACKSTORY
by Alex Roberts
BACKSTORY is an ongoing series of interviews with game designers and other notable members of the role-playing community, hosted by Alex Roberts. This show is all about the person behind the work: how did they get into gaming? Why did they start designing? What are they most excited about for the future? Alex loves getting to know people, and you'll love coming along for the ride.
Episodes
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89. Cat Tobin
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 Twitter Pelgrane Press #Feminism The Erotic Art Games Anthology Alex's Patreon
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88. Lucian Kahn
Game designer Lucian Kahn talks magic, humor, and some exciting game anthologies. Would you rather be a Visigoth or a Mall Goth? Lucian's Twitter Lucian's Games You & I The Erotic Art Games Anthology
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87. Diana J Leonard
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 Group Dynamics, Living Games Conference Keynote:...
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86. Ben Chong
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 Twitter Ben's games on itch.io Alex on Patreon
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85. Sangjun Park
Game designer and translator Sangjun Park talks about Moonflower, game translation, and his hopes for the future of the Korean TTRPG scene. Sanjun's Twitter Alex on Patreon!
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84. Jon Cole
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!
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83. Catherine Ramen
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 Games website, Cat on Twitter, Alex and Cat on She's a...
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82. Jenn Sandercock
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!
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81. James D'Amato
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 on Twitter, ONE SHOT, CAMPAIGN, Alex on...
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80. Camdon Wright
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
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79. Whitney Delaglio
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 Kickstarter for Bite Me!
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78. Lauren McManamon
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 of sexual assault complainants in the legal system, so...
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77. Becky Annison
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 company, co-owed with Josh Fox), Black Armada on...
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76. Kai Poh
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.
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75. Alex Roberts
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 beyond. Thanks for sticking with us, friends. It's…
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74. James Mendez Hodes
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 historical periods in general, listen in! Consider this…
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73. Albert Kong
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, A Pattern Language, Tom Sachs, The Dispossessed
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72. Senda Linaugh
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 & Justice, We Can Once More Ascend, Senda on Gnome Stew
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71. Jeff Dieterle
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 Friends the Friends, Best Show with Tom Scharpling…
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70. Andrea Morales Coto
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" cryptoeconomic prototype, "Following the Green Light:...
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69. Jeff Stormer
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 Spot on the Party of One Podcast, Big Bad Con 2018
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68. Karen Twelves
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 & Semicolons: An Interview With Karen Twelves, Karen…
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67. Jose Zagal
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 made a videogame, what would it be like? Jose at The...
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66. Casey Hardy
Co-organizer of the long-running campaign Shadowmoor, Casey Hardy tells us about sustainability, growth, and change in a larp community. Shadowmoor, SOLAR, NERO
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65. DC
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 Patreon6
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64. Magdalene Loh
Magdalene Loh is making live-action career design games in Singapore! And stay tuned for some special announcements. Magdalene Loh on LinkedIn, What Color is Your Parachute?, Howard Gardner's Multiple Intelligences, How Children Succeed: Grit, Curiosity, and the Hidden Power of Character, Ropecon...
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63. Betty Bong
Larpwright and organizer Betty Bong on translating play across cultures. Cozy Larp LA, B Studio, Empresses in the Palace, Snow White, by J Li, Drink Me, by Betsy Isaacson, Inheritance, by Luke Crane, Star Crossed 14 Days, by Hannah Shaffer and Evan Rowland, Ghost Court: The Improvised Musical,...
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62. Stephanie Bryant
Game designer, crafter, and powerful scrum master Stephanie Bryant brings us a kinder, gentler post-apocalypse. Threadbare, Stephanie's Blog, Best Friends, Radio Free Kaiju
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61. Terri Cohlene
Children's author and game designer Terri Cohlene shares her insight on designing for kids, introducing roleplaying, and working in co-creation. Terri's Website, BFF is now on Kickstarter!
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Star Crossed Story Time - Sean and Kira
Star Crossed Story Time comes to a close with Sean Nittner and Kira Magrann re-telling a tale as old as time: a barely-contained love ensnared between warring clans of werewolves and vampires. Star Crossed is on Kickstarter until May 10th! Thanks to all our backers for making this mini-series...
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Star Crossed Story Time - Sarah and Jessica
The penultimate Star Crossed Story Time features Sarah Lynne-Bowman and Jessica Schoolman reminiscing about a truly bad romance - bad for their stuffy business careers, to say the least. Star Crossed is on Kickstarter until May 10th! Thanks to all our backers for making this mini-series possible <3
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Star Crossed Story Time - Alexia and Erika
Star Crossed Story Time is back! Erika Chappell and Lexi Tripp are gushing about their baroque romance between the daughters of two rival noble houses. Remember Rose of Versailles? Yeah. Star Crossed is on Kickstarter until May 10th! Thanks to all our backers for making this mini-series possible <3
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Star Crossed Story Time - Morgan and Andy
In our first Star Crossed Story Time, Morgan Ellis and Andy Munich tell the story of their wuxia-inspired romance between members of the Xiaolin and Wudang schools.
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60. Adam Koebel
Dungeon World co-designer and game streamer Adam Koebel shares insight on the relationship between design and play, and the future of streaming and game publishing. Adam's Website, Adam on Twitter, Adam on Twitch, Dungeon World
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59. John Harper
Game designer and graphic artist John Harper shares his journey with Blades in the Dark, and with designing and iterating over a long and storied career in independent publishing. (You know, long in RPG years.) John's Website, John Harper on Twitter, Blades in the Dark,
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58. Liz Chaipraditkul
Liz Chaipraditkul, independent publisher and designer of WITCH: Fated Souls, gives us the low down on working freelance, working for yourself, and navigating this wacky thing we call the tabletop RPG industry. (Remember: hire a proofreader!) Familiars of Terra is now on Kickstarter!, Angry…
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57. Clio Yun-su Davis
Game designer and interactive media writer Clio Yun-su Davis talks podcasting, immersive theatre, and the beauty of K-Pop. Clio's Website, The Golden Cobra Challenge, Living Games Conference,
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56. Kate Hill
Larpwright, librarian, and community organizer Kate Hill on welcoming newbies, character theme songs, and making sure that people are more important than the game. Kate on Twitter, Kate on Instagram, The #Resistance Anthology, WINTERHORN, The Golden Cobra Anthologies, Living Games Conference...
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55. Julia Ellingboe
Game designer Julia Ellingboe shares her thoughts on designing from the margins, expanding inclusion, and role-playing via playlists and packages. Julia on Twitter, Steal Away Jordan, via Indie Press Revolution, Full Frame Initative, Living Games Conference
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54. Nathan Black
Game designer, project manager, community manager and all around interesting guy Nathan Black talks codes of conduct, selling a punch, and larping the everyday. Living Games Conference, Burning Wheel, Big Bad Con
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53. Jonaya Kemper
Game designer, writer, and researcher Jonaya Kemper leads us down the winding path of larp ethnography and emancipatory bleed. Jonaya's Website, The Battle of Primrose Park: Playing for Emancipatory Bleed in Fortune & Felicity, Announcement: Jonaya to Keynote at Living Games 2018!
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52. Jeeyon Shim
Larp educator Jeeyon Shim on survival skills, planning scenes, and the secret life of trees. Jeeyon's Website, Jeeyon on Twitter, Trackers Bay
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51. Jackson Tegu
Join award-winning game designer Jackson Tegu on a meandering chat through envelopes, CDs, and posters on telephone poles. Jackson's website, Jackson on Patreon, Jackson on Twitter,
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50. Daniel Kwan
Archaeologist and professional GM Daniel Kwan talks holiday games, Dramatic Managers, and building social skills through role-play. Daniel's Website, Curiosity in Focus, Level Up Gaming, Dundas West Games
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49. Fatima Abdul Karim
Bait Byout co-founder Fatima Abdul Karim on the birth of larp in the Arab world. Bait Byout, Bait Byout on Facebook, Book: 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. Aleksandra's Blog Aleksandra on G+ The Beast
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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. Dig 1000 Holes Epidiah on Twitter Worlds Without Master Dread Sagas of Sundry Project Alpha RPG Solitaire Challenge Across the Table Podcast 3:16…
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44. Jenn Martin
Designer Jenn Martin on witches at work, manic pixie dreamgirling, and larp impostor syndrome. Jenn Martin on twitter Jank Cast Fall of Magic Definition: Manic Pixie Dream Girl #Feminism: A Nano-Game Anthology Limbo, in Larps From The Factory Let's be Dinosaurs Glass Ceiling The Sword, the Crown,...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
BACKSTORY is an ongoing series of interviews with game designers and other notable members of the role-playing community, hosted by Alex Roberts. This show is all about the person behind the work: how did they get into gaming? Why did they start designing? What are they most excited about for the future? Alex loves getting to know people, and you'll love coming along for the ride.
HOSTED BY
Alex Roberts
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does BACKSTORY have?
BACKSTORY currently has 93 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is BACKSTORY about?
BACKSTORY is an ongoing series of interviews with game designers and other notable members of the role-playing community, hosted by Alex Roberts. This show is all about the person behind the work: how did they get into gaming? Why did they start designing? What are they most excited about for the...
How often does BACKSTORY release new episodes?
BACKSTORY has 93 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to BACKSTORY?
You can listen to BACKSTORY on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts BACKSTORY?
BACKSTORY is created and hosted by Alex Roberts.
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