Proud to Gayme

Danielle Reynolds chats with Seven Dane Asman (they/them), AKA the "Publishing Goblin," a queer author, publisher, artist, and game designer. Seven opens up about their multi-faceted queer journey and the evolution of their gender identity, as well as how they found a sense of gender-neutral anonymity within Denver’s pup and kink communities. They also chat about Seven’s professional journey, from self-publishing poetry to their massive success with crowdfunding tarot decks and other divination projects – including The Alleyman’s Tarot, which remains the most funded tarot project to date. You can learn more about Seven and their array of creative projects at publishinggoblin.com.  In the bonus segment, Clara Mount interviews award-winning miniature painter Jamie Daggers (she/her) about the vivid mechs she painted for the Seasons of Pride calendar, the importance of being visible as a queer woman in the wargaming community, and her latest project, Lyctor: a necromantic skirmish game with combat powered by a standard deck of playing cards. Check out Jamie and her projects at daggers.tv or on socials as @jamiedaggers. 

Danielle Reynolds chats with Alex Condie (he/they), a fiction writer, video editor, and content creator. They discuss the “second puberty” Alex experienced in his 20s as he started to explore his queer identity, and bond over fictional crushes. Alex shares stories about the transition from writing books into writing LitRPGs and what it’s like to pitch novels to publishing houses. He also talks about starting a YouTube channel because he wanted to post a video about an obscure fictional game from the show Recess. They wrap up by talking about the power of having a community around writing, Alex’s recommendations for getting into LitRPGs, and his latest book: Reborn as a Tamer’s Monster.  In the Seasons of Pride bonus segment, Clara Mount chats with Haley Boros (she/they) about her artistic influences, the inspiration behind the art she created for April, and details that would be easy to miss. Check out her other work at haleyboros.com or @tripawdpress on Instagram and Bluesky.

Danielle Reynolds chats with Marceline Leiman (she/her), a game designer, developer, and educator who received the Diana Jones Emerging Designer award in 2025. Marceline shares her queer journey from labeling herself as an ally to coming out as trans femme, and they discuss the nuance among queer identities and experiences. They also talk about Marceline’s career, including how she broke into game design through a Twitter post that went "viral" and how she's used game design contests to motivate and challenge herself.  Stay tuned for the Seasons of Pride bonus segment, where Clara Mount talks about the way LGBTQIA+ artist Nolan Nasser (he/him) brings his passion for gaming to life through his work. See what Nolan's up to on n3-studios.com, @n3_nolan on Instagram, and nolann3 on Bluesky. 

Danielle Reynolds interviews Jaysen Headley (he/him, AKA @ezeekat), a content creator who focuses mainly on books and board games. They discuss Jaysen’s queer journey from being heavily closeted as a kid to coming out as first bi and then gay, and how he got into content creation then made it his full-time career. Jaysen shares some of the challenges that come with being a queer content creator as well as the positives of the community he found through it. His latest project is Ezeekat Press, a publishing imprint Jaysen started last year to help bring new stories about found family into the world. Check it out at ezeekat.binderybooks.com!  Stay tuned for the bonus segment, where Clara Mount discusses LGBTQIA+ artist Chad Rowe (he/him; @chadrowetattoos on Instagram or chadrowetattoos.com) and the tattoo- and tarot-inspired art he contributed to the Seasons of Pride calendar. 

Danielle Reynolds chats with Gillian Foxglove (she/they) about their origins as a professional cosplayer, streamer, and TTRPG extraordinaire. From growing up in a nerdy household to discovering her bisexuality at theater camp and eventually marrying a bisexual man, Gillian describes the importance of experimenting with self-expression and being honest about who you are. She discusses her relationship with her own gender expression and pronouns as well as how she embraces her neurodivergent identity in her work. Find Gillian on Twitch and social media as @gillianfoxglove, or check out her website: www.gillianfoxglove.com.   In two bonus segments, Clara Mount interviews LGBTQIA+ artists who contributed to the Seasons of Pride calendar. Tune in to hear how travel inspired the January piece by Sidharta Muskat (they/them, @sidharta.muskat on Instagram), and about the hidden details in the cover art by Alfredo Roagui (he/him, @roagui on Instagram or www.roagui.com).  

Danielle Reynolds talks to Clara Mount (she/her), Head of Community at Goblins and host of the Re:Play podcast, about the importance of promoting queer visibility. Clara shares her story of growing up in a conservative community, joining a queer tabletop gaming group in college, and using games as a safe way to explore her sexuality. She also discusses the inspiration behind her podcast and her work at Goblins, a new social platform where you can meet new friends (or go on dates) in your favorite video games.  Find Clara on Facebook and Bluesky as @bubblegumtitan, Instagram as @bubblegum_titan, and LinkedIn as herself. 

Danielle Reynolds chats with Jack Rosetree (they/them), a game designer and freelancer who has worked in nearly every aspect of the tabletop industry. From growing up in a conservative household to having the world’s most supportive wife, Jack opens up about their queer journey and the overlap between queer and neurodivergent identities. They also dig in on why they design games (spite is a powerful motivator, but that’s only half the story) and how their queer identity has impacted their experiences in the industry.  Find Jack on Facebook, Bluesky, and Discord as @jackrosetree, or check out their games at screentop.gg/@JackRosetree.

In this episode of Proud to Gayme, Danielle Reynolds sits down with Yass Crit, featuring Bill Skaggs, Mark Cashwell, Ilana a la Mode, and AfroDytee, to explore the fabulous collision of drag and tabletop role-playing. They reflect on early sparks of queer identity through comic book heroes and Wonder Woman spins, before diving into their Gen Con show where the cast was "Jumanjied" into worlds like Candyland, Caution Signs, and Monopoly. The group shares how improv and performance blend with dice rolls, creating both chaotic fun and deep attachment to their characters. They talk about the inspirations behind their names, the surprises of stepping into TTRPGs, and the unique challenge of weaving music, dance, and drag artistry into a live role-playing campaign. At its heart, Dragons, Dice, and Divas shows how storytelling, queerness, and performance come together to create unforgettable community magic.

In this episode, Danielle sits down with Ray Billings to chat about her journey through queerness, creativity, and content creation in the tabletop industry. From discovering that board games could actually be a career, to carving out space online for fans who couldn’t make it to in-person events, Ray shares how she found her footing and her voice in the gaming world. They talk about breaking into the industry with Resonym Games, building community through streaming and media at CEG, and now crafting short-form content and fan engagement as the Digital Content Specialist at The Op. Along the way, they reflect on how content creation is evolving and how platforms shape the communities that grow around them.

Danielle talks with Irene Zielinski of Steve Jackson Games about her identity and writing TTRPGs. They talk about starting queer fashion Facebook groups, learning that lesbian labels are location-dependent, and how not knowing pop culture references can hurt your chances at getting a date. Plus, they talk about indie TTRPGs, Irene being an unofficial 3rd panelist at a convention leading to a job at Steve Jackson Games where she paints miniatures, makes short form videos, and writes/edits for Dahlia's Diversions for Peculiar Parties, among other projects. Irene speaks about how her game, Scurvy Buggers, was all about a found family, which felt so reminiscent of her life. The TTRPG embodies how your connections can change over time.

Danielle interviews 9th Level Games’ Adriel Wilson and Bug Boll about their upcoming Queer Coven TTRPG created in partnership with Tabletop Gaymers. Using the Polymorph system, they have taken the new pin collection designed by Danielle and made a thoughtful, cozy game of building community and coming into your magic with your friends to celebrate Tabletop Gaymers 10-Year Gayaversary! The parallels between coming into your queer identity and magic are strong with cute touches like grabbing your 3 favorite beverages. This TTRPG was written by the queers for the LGBTQIA+ community built on the respect for the individual's gender identity, sexual orientation, romantic orientation, and body autonomy. They talk about building character sheets and the trolls in our everyday lives that inspired the antagonist, which can be used in your campaigns. We end the episode mentioning other future Queer Coven collaborations people can look forward to starting at GenCon and beyond! 

On this episode of the Proud to Gayme podcast we talk with Robert Freeman Smith & Josh Kemper of PopHaus Collective. They discuss Queer journeys and marriage traditions, as well as the journey behind PopHaus Collective. Formed in the early days of the pandemic, PopHaus Collective is the team behind the party game 'It's Kind of a Fun Story'. A party game about telling stories and getting to know each other, 'It's Kind of a Fun Story' now has a number of expansion sets, including a Pride Deck. They also give us a special sneak preview of a new game in development, 'Bacon Lettuce Throwdown'.

We kick off the second season of Proud to Gayme with Arwen Kathke, the host of the Cardboard Time, a youtube channel turned podcast. She talks about her gender transition and no longer feeling comfortable making video reviews. Months later after ending the youtube series, still seeking a creative outlet to talk about games, she released the first episode of the Cardboard Time podcast on November 3, 2020 and has been releasing biweekly episodes since. She reviews games as well as interviews guests hoping to bring a bit of visibility to the human side of the industry with interviews and discussions with the publishers, artists, and designers of the games we play.

Rina Amaranthine, a TTRPG designer, writer, and trans rights advocate, joins us for this episode of Proud to Gayme. Rina is one of the lead organizers behind the TTRPGs for Trans Rights bundles, which have raised thousands for trans mutual aid. She talks with Danielle about the power of games to uplift marginalized voices, the challenges and joys of building a massive community bundle, and why inclusive, safety-first storytelling is central to the future of tabletop roleplaying. Together, they explore how games can be both a refuge and a form of resistance—offering trans folks not just survival, but belonging, celebration, and joy.

Adrian Collier a game designer, publisher and community builder, joins us on this episode of the Proud to Gayme podcast. Originally motivated by needing playtesters and a space to play games Adrian founded Amsterdam’s biggest LGBTQIA+ Board Gayming community. This community holds 4+ events a month and has become a welcoming space to queer gaymers in the area. His love of games and wanting to explore adult queer themes lead him to design "Gay Sauna" and other designs. He and Danielle talk about the reactions his games have inspired both positive and negative. But how the negatives have only fueled his creative endeavors to continue to explore other outside of the box themes.    

Kassidy Norman a lesbian gamer and former live-play RPG cast member for Ink-U-Bus, joins us on this episode of the Proud to Gayme podcast. Kassidy discusses how the show began and being the only non-tattoo artist cast member. She and Danielle talk about tattoos, lesbian stereotypes and how Kassidy is revamping the Ink-U-Bus brand. They will become a traveling tattoo service that will go to gaming conventions starting in 2025. Their hope is to do flash sales that will partner with non-profits like Tabletop Gaymers at Conventions! So if you're looking to get a tattoo in between gaming visit Kassidy's former co-stars!

Amanda McKnight, a content creator, cosplayer, and all-around nerd, joins us on this episode of the Proud to Gayme podcast. We discuss her queer and nerd journeys. From making a living doing nerd content from comic book reviews to being on a weekly RPG stream she spends all her time engaging with various fandoms. On the "Lies You'll Enjoy" RPG stream the group has focused on promoting indie one-shots that are typically queer themed. They like promoting stories the average person may not find as easily when moving away from Dungeons & Dragons. Her and Danielle discuss how making queer media more mainstream may have helped people get the space to explore it as an identity for themselves. Also, how labels are meant for yourself. Definitions can be interchangeable and it's better to ask a person what their interpretation is rather than making assumptions.

On this episode of the Proud to Gayme podcast, we talk with Grace Kendall, a board game bed-and-breakfast owner and game designer. Grace shares their journey as a creator and the unique space they have built for gamers to connect. They dives into their experiences designing games, fostering inclusive communities, and balancing their passions. This episode highlights the importance of safe spaces and celebrates the creativity of queer individuals in tabletop gaming. Don’t miss this inspiring conversation!

On this episode of the Proud to Gayme podcast we talk with Maxwell Freud the podcast host of Hatched This Way, a limited queer audio series. Maxwell shares the podcast's origin story and resulting feeling of wanting to create a safe space. He talks about different interviews he's had with other queers in gaming as well as what it means to be an Ally. His goal with the audio series is to educate both queer and non-queer listeners and hopefully inspire more media created by LGBTQIA+ folks!

On this episode of the Proud to Gayme podcast we talk with Jamie Daggers, a game designer, mini painter and full-time content creator. Jamie shares her journey as a sapphic queer as well as her involvement in the gaming community. From starting as a game store owner to growing a Twitch following, she's become a master at engaging with her audience while learning/teaching how to paint minis. Outside of gaming she and Danielle discuss mental health and healthy forms of self analyzing. Both learning and growing through the people they've met and the stories they've shared.

On this episode of Proud to Gayme podcast we discuss the experiences of queer gamers and the sense of community they’ve built in Syracuse, New York. This month's guests share personal stories about their journeys with identity and how gaming has played a crucial role in creating a safe and inclusive space. They also touch on their involvement in designing escape rooms and board games, emphasizing how these activities foster creativity and connection within the queer community.

In this episode, Danielle talks to Kari Jo "Kage" Freudigmann, a best-selling TTRPG writer and community leader. They discuss Kage’s journey in the gaming industry, her experiences as a queer woman, and how her work with Rage Kage Games and streaming fosters inclusive spaces within the tabletop and gaming communities. Tune in to hear insightful conversations about identity, representation, and the power of gaming to build diverse, welcoming communities.

In this episode, Danielle talks with Isaac Vega, one of the founders of the Rose Gauntlet Foundation. They discuss his experiences working for the Bernie Sanders campaign, the origins of Rose Gauntlet, bringing people together through gaming, and experiences being gay in 'the industry'. There are some interesting anecdotes for Gen Con fans, as they discuss the Big Gay Dinner and Rose Gauntlet's BIPOC Lounge.

In this episode, Danielle talks with Taryn Conley, the president of Pride Gamers of Columbus, about the group’s mission and activities they host in Columbus, OH. Teryn discusses their group’s plans for Origins, including murder mysteries, a gaming room, and a pin contest! So, if you’re going to be at Origins, be sure to listen in! On a lighter note, they also discuss cats, rock climbing, and other positive queer stereotypes. 

In the first-ever episode of 'Proud to Gayme', Danielle talks to Jeff Sorensen to get the inside scoop on the podcast's sponsoring organization, Tabletop Gaymers. One of the founders and the former president of Tabletop Gaymers, Jeff, talks about the group's origins and evolution from a loose idea about badge ribbons at GenCon to a nationwide nonprofit. We also discuss queerness in gaming more generally and dive into Jeff's own journey in both areas.