PODCAST · leisure
Brain Trust
by Adam Vass & Will Jobst
Indie tabletop RPG designers Adam Vass and Will Jobst make roleplaying games, chat theory, and be friends online.
Episodes
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Signal, Noise, and Quantum Mysteries
Season 2, Episode 10. On this season finale, Adam and Will talk about Brindlewood Bay and the concept of the quantum mystery. We get into stoner mysteries, the LA of it all, and what to do about ipods. Visit https://ko-fi.com/thebraintrust and throw us a few bucks a month to hear seasonal bonus...
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Q&A: Epiphanies, Magic Systems, and Scrapping It
Season 2, Episode 9. On this episode, Adam and Will talk about their perfect creative conditions, how long we’ll be making games, magic systems, epiphanies, changes in approaches over time, and more. Visit https://ko-fi.com/thebraintrust and throw us a few bucks a month to hear seasonal bonus...
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The Pros of Con
On this episode, Adam and Will talk about cons: working them, playing games at them, and running games at them, and all the feelings wrapped up therein. Visit https://ko-fi.com/thebraintrust and throw us a few bucks a month to hear seasonal bonus episodes, get access to merch sales, and more!…
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Vestments and VHSs
On this episode, Adam and Will talk about finishing projects, Mortal Kombat, and Adam’s white whale project. Visit https://ko-fi.com/thebraintrust and throw us a few bucks a month to hear seasonal bonus episodes, get access to merch sales, and more! Find us at https://braintrust.rocks/.
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The New End of the World
On this episode, Adam and Will recap and discuss this year’s ZineQuest, and explore a spiritual successor to a game they both love. Visit https://ko-fi.com/thebraintrust and throw us a few bucks a month to hear seasonal bonus episodes, get access to merch sales, and more! Find us at...
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Brain Trust Babies
Season 2, Episode 5: Brain Trust Babies On this episode, Will regales Adam with an anecdote about a recent game. Find Adam Vass’s Midnight Marathon here: https://www.backerkit.com/call_to_action/7608ff96-13c1-4dd9-aa9b-c7a50f762b1e/landing?ref=bk-discover-user-profile Find Seb Pines’ Underneath...
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Bullet Points Rock My World
On this episode, we chat about what happens when we send games to print, and the eternal struggle of supporting systems with adventure releases. How do you build a play culture? Check out this link for a list of zine quest projects:...
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Incredible Chair Experience
Season 2, Episode 3 Part 3 of 3 on crowdfunding. In this episode, we talk about the existential aspects of crowdfunding, and answering questions from the Brain Trust Discord and Bluesky: How do you decide if a project is right for the green realm (or equivalent) as opposed to just doing a release...
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Crowdfunding is a Pencil Dive into a Pond
Season 2, Episode 2: Crowdfunding is a Pencil Dive into a Pond. Part 2 of 3 on crowdfunding. In this episode, we focus on the mental aspect of crowdfunding, and answer questions from our Discord and Bluesky: How do you crowdfund a second game? How to balance sustainability and environmental...
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For Those About to Crowdfund, We Salute You
Season 2, Episode 1: For Those About to Crowdfund, We Salute You Part 1 of 3 on crowdfunding. In this episode, we break down first principles of a crowdfunding campaign. What is it, why do we do it, and how do we stay sane while doing it. Find Adam Vass’s Midnight Marathon here. Find Seb Pines’...
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Competitive TTRPGs and Bingo
Season 1, Episode 11: In this episode, we tackle a question from Ethan Yen about creating competitive TTRPGs. Visit https://ko-fi.com/thebraintrust and throw us a few bucks a month to hear seasonal bonus episodes, get access to merch sales, and more! Find us at https://braintrust.rocks/.
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Q&A: Monsters, Art, and Quiet Innovation
Season 1, Episode 10: In this episode, we answer listener questions, specifically about monster design, art, and “quiet innovation”. Appendix N: https://www.gamedeveloper.com/design/rock-paper-scissors---a-method-for-competitive-game-play-design Made Out Of Meat: Health Systems In Video Games…
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Approachability and Free Radicals
Season 1, Episode 9: In this episode, we talk about how we communicate what our games even are, and how we can meld minds with people who run games via the page. Visit https://ko-fi.com/thebraintrust and throw us a few bucks a month to hear seasonal bonus episodes, get access to merch sales, and...
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Gen Con Recap and Cryptids
Season 1, Episode 8: We were both… ACTUALLY… at Gen Con. Here’s our report! Visit https://ko-fi.com/thebraintrust and throw us a few bucks a month to hear seasonal bonus episodes, get access to merch sales, and more! Find us at https://braintrust.rocks/.
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Kickstarter and Disgusting Butterflies
Season 1, Episode 7: In this episode we join our hosts mere minutes after the end of a successful Kickstarter. Visit https://ko-fi.com/thebraintrust and throw us a few bucks a month to hear seasonal bonus episodes, get access to merch sales, and more! Find us at https://braintrust.rocks/.
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Plasmodics and the Human Inside the Game
Season 1, Episode 6: In this episode, we talk everything Plasmodics, a big update on our lives and project, and how we highlight the usness of our games. Find Plasmodics: mutant freaks in the weird future here. Visit https://ko-fi.com/thebraintrust and throw us a few bucks a month to hear…
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Graphic Design and Born to Die
Season 1, Episode 5: In this episode, we talk about shock jocks, graphic design, and studying adventures, and in the middle we design the Born to Die TTRPG! Listen to part two of this episode only on Ko-Fi, on 2/6. Find the Born to Die RPG at https://worldchampgameco.itch.io/. Visit...
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Save Points and Research
Season 1, Episode 4: In this episode, we chat about IKEA, save points in TTRPGs, and how we research games, and who our “game parents” are. Visit https://ko-fi.com/thebraintrust and throw us a few bucks a month to hear seasonal bonus episodes, get access to merch sales, and more! Find us at...
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Companions and Mr. Lindor
Season 1, Episode 3: In this episode, we talk about companions and how we love to use them. Visit https://ko-fi.com/thebraintrust and throw us a few bucks a month to hear seasonal bonus episodes, get access to merch sales, and more! Find us at https://braintrust.rocks/. Appendix N: Baldur’s Gate…
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BONUS UNLOCKED: Dungeon Lords
Season 1, Episode 2b Bonus: In this episode, we enter the Therapy-G zone to talk about how to run dungeons while playing digitally! Visit https://ko-fi.com/thebraintrust and throw us a few bucks a month to hear seasonal bonus episodes, get access to merch sales, and more! Find us at...
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Roles and Oubliette Strategies
Season 1, Episode 2: In this episode, we talk about the meta roles at the RPG table, asymmetrical stats, and a playstorm where we go goblin mode. Visit https://ko-fi.com/thebraintrust and throw us a few bucks a month to hear seasonal bonus episodes, get access to merch sales, and more! Find us at...
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New Starts and Firestarters
Season 1, Episode 1: In this episode we talk about the structure of the show, how we plan to make it, and what kind of things we’ll talk about. We introduce the Techlab with our first topic: what makes a good first sentence or intro paragraph of an RPG? Visit https://ko-fi.com/thebraintrust and...
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Season Preview
Season 1, Episode 0 Adam Vass and Will Jobst are back with another season of the Brain Trust podcast, starting this Thursday! In this preview episode, get to know our new format, release schedule, and how to support us. Visit https://ko-fi.com/thebraintrust and throw us a few bucks a month to…
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Live Outside Gen Con (Gen Con 2023)
We have an exciting new opportunity for you, and some tickets to sell. We chat about mentorship and how to knowledge share with others, and preview some upcoming games! ____ Find Adam on Twitter at @wcgameco and Will at @will_jobst Music by Will Jobst, available at…
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Live at a Conference (Gen Con 2023)
We’re over in sunny Fort Wayne for the latest and greatest Gen Con. We pick our BarbieHiemer games and talk about Dr. Adam Divorce. ____ Find Adam on Twitter at @wcgameco and Will at @will_jobst Music by Will Jobst, available at https://soundcloud.com/willjobst. Also, there’s a discord! We’d love...
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Three More Questions
We answer questions about reengaging with WIPS, designing the roleplaying out of rpgs, and the three new questions of design. ____ Find Adam on Twitter at @wcgameco and Will at @will_jobst Music by Will Jobst, available at https://soundcloud.com/willjobst. Also, there’s a discord! We’d love for…
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Don't Scam Yourself
We’re chatting about collaboration, Guns n’ Roses, and how we like to work with each other! 1978: The Night THEY Came Home. Go to 1978.games and reserve your copy today! ____ Find Adam on Twitter at @wcgameco and Will at @will_jobst Music by Will Jobst, available at...
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Triangulating
Today, we debut Adam’s newest RPG and crowdfunding campaign: 1978: The Night THEY Came Home. Go to 1978.games and reserve your copy today! We chat about all things 1978, the shared nightmare of being in school again, triangulating where a game fits in the world, and updates on our projects and...
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How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Zine
We’re back! Talking about shirts, mousetrap, making zines, and Adam’s game Sweet Revenge. Find Adam on Twitter at @wcgameco and Will at @will_jobst Music by Will Jobst, available at https://soundcloud.com/willjobst. Also, there’s a discord! We’d love for you to join! Find the link here:...
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Zines and Mushrooms
While you’re here, contribute to AAPI support networks (https://anti-asianviolenceresources.carrd.co/) and Black Lives Matter (https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/). Today we’re talking about zines, available across the internet for Zine Month 2023! The Lovers Plasmodics Sweet Revenge Horse Girl...
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D&D 5th Sedition
While you’re here, contribute to AAPI support networks (https://anti-asianviolenceresources.carrd.co/) and Black Lives Matter (https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/). On this episode, we talk about our 2023 goals, what vape carts go with what RPGs, the Jobst Style Guide, Adam’s consulting, giving...
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Best of 2022
While you’re here, contribute to AAPI support networks (https://anti-asianviolenceresources.carrd.co/) and Black Lives Matter (https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/). On this episode, we rank the best stuff of 2022! For spoilers and links to our favorites, check them out below: . . . . Most useful...
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Storage Locker Graveyard
While you’re here, contribute to AAPI support networks (https://anti-asianviolenceresources.carrd.co/) and Black Lives Matter (https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/). On this episode, we talk about the new Pokemon, the differences between storage lockers and graveyards, and make a game after our...
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One is the Dungeonest Dragon
While you’re here, contribute to AAPI support networks (https://anti-asianviolenceresources.carrd.co/) and Black Lives Matter (https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/). On this episode, we review a leaked copy of One D&D, that we absolutely acquired. It devolves into Adam and Will playing “keep one…
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Wonder Cabinet with Aaron King
While you’re here, contribute to AAPI support networks (https://anti-asianviolenceresources.carrd.co/) and Black Lives Matter (https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/). On this episode, we talk to game designer, podcaster, and collage EXPERT Aaron King about Patchwork World, wonder cabinets, loud...
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Spirit Halloween
While you’re here, contribute to AAPI support networks (https://anti-asianviolenceresources.carrd.co/) and Black Lives Matter (https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/). On this episode, we talk about Halloween and make a game about the seasonal Halloween megastore: Spirit Halloween! We chat about...
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Photoshop Crash Report (haptic feedback)
While you’re here, contribute to AAPI support networks (https://anti-asianviolenceresources.carrd.co/) and Black Lives Matter (https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/). On this episode we talk about peripherals, solo games, what we love about them, what we personally find friction with. We make one,...
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CYBERMETAL 2012
While you’re here, contribute to AAPI support networks (https://anti-asianviolenceresources.carrd.co/) and Black Lives Matter (https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/). On this episode, we talk about CYBERMETAL 2012, available now at https://www.worldchamp.io/store/cybermetal-2012. We make characters...
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Live at G.A.Z. (Gen Con 2022)
While you’re here, contribute to AAPI support networks (https://anti-asianviolenceresources.carrd.co/) and Black Lives Matter (https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/). We’re still somewhere in Indy, plotting an anti-con. We talk about Action 5 News and make a game inspired by it! Find Adam on…
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Live at the Tailgate (Gen Con 2022)
Vote for BABES IN THE WOOD for Best Family Game in this year’s ENnies: https://vote.ennie-awards.com/vote/2022/ballot.php?category_id=9 While you’re here, contribute to AAPI support networks (https://anti-asianviolenceresources.carrd.co/) and Black Lives Matter...
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Disaster Bingo
While you’re here, contribute to AAPI support networks (https://anti-asianviolenceresources.carrd.co/) and Black Lives Matter (https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/). Today we’re talking about support for jams, as we’re in the Summer-long TORQ-toyathon! Sign up for the jam for TORQ today:...
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Alternate Universe Brain Trust
While you’re here, contribute to AAPI support networks (https://anti-asianviolenceresources.carrd.co/) and Black Lives Matter (https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/). What would all our projects look like under a different lens? We look at A Guide to Casting Phantoms in the Revolution, This Discord...
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Obtuse Lifestyle
While you’re here, contribute to AAPI support networks (https://anti-asianviolenceresources.carrd.co/) and Black Lives Matter (https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/). We’re back, talking about monsters we could take on, Cybermetal, TORQ release, and an obtuse lifestyle. Find Adam on Twitter at...
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Game(s) Jam
While you’re here, contribute to AAPI support networks (https://anti-asianviolenceresources.carrd.co/) and Black Lives Matter (https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/). We supercollide games together for the Game(s) Jam, running now! Find it here: https://itch.io/jam/games-jam-2022. Find Adam on...
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Hellacious
While you’re here, contribute to AAPI support networks (https://anti-asianviolenceresources.carrd.co/) and Black Lives Matter (https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/). BACK CYBERMETAL TODAY: https://gamefound.com/projects/draft/iu788d7wrgt8w71nb52tbyfwxfp#/. We talk 2022 trends, guns (or the lack...
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Room In This Scene for the Both of Us
While you’re here, contribute to AAPI support networks (https://anti-asianviolenceresources.carrd.co/) and Black Lives Matter (https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/). BACK CYBERMETAL 2012 TODAY: https://gamefound.com/projects/draft/iu788d7wrgt8w71nb52tbyfwxfp#/. We talk CYBERMETAL, emo cowboys…
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Memory Booster Packs
While you’re here, contribute to AAPI support networks (https://anti-asianviolenceresources.carrd.co/) and Black Lives Matter (https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/). We talk about tabling zine fairs, Kickstarter, blockchain, memory rewrites, BEANS, and more! Get CAMPFIRE at...
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Corn Maze
While you’re here, contribute to AAPI support networks (https://anti-asianviolenceresources.carrd.co/) and Black Lives Matter (https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/). Lifepaths, maze paths, unboxing, and bank robberies. Get CAMPFIRE at...
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BOSTON RPG
While you’re here, contribute to AAPI support networks (https://anti-asianviolenceresources.carrd.co/) and Black Lives Matter (https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/). The Boston RPG takes shape, in this morphisode. We morph from Boston, to video games, to our ADND game, and keeping the writing…
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Year-Round Football
While you’re here, contribute to AAPI support networks (https://anti-asianviolenceresources.carrd.co/) and Black Lives Matter (https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/). What If The Joker Could Beatbox, other Halloween costumes, reclaiming hobbies from our work, and more! The Good Luck Press Halloween...
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Brain Trust have?
Brain Trust currently has 132 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Brain Trust about?
Indie tabletop RPG designers Adam Vass and Will Jobst make roleplaying games, chat theory, and be friends online.
How often does Brain Trust release new episodes?
Brain Trust publishes regularly with 132 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to Brain Trust?
You can listen to Brain Trust 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 Brain Trust?
Brain Trust is created and hosted by Adam Vass & Will Jobst.
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