PODCAST · arts
Richardson's Rubicon
by John Richardson
Richardson’s Rubicon is a speculative fiction podcast. Each episode dives into worldbuilding, strange ideas, creative failures, surprising successes, and the deeper questions behind imagined worlds. Writers, worldbuilders, and curious listeners will find honest conversation, dark humour, and thoughtful insight into how stories take shape. Season Five focuses on the art of speculative storytelling and the minds that create it.
Episodes
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Worldbuilding a Privatised America | Matt Witten, 51%
Matt Witten joins me to talk about 51%, his speculative thriller set in a near-future America where corporations own everything, including people. We dig into one of the book’s strongest ideas: a privatised justice system where detectives have to crowdfund murder investigations. That opens up a...
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Worldbuilding a Human Among Vampires | Sara A. Freites, Rise of Midnight
My first vampire-themed author conversation on the show. In this episode, I speak with Sara A. Freites, author of the Rise of Midnight series, a YA fantasy that puts a human girl inside a hidden vampire society with its own rules, pressures, and dangers. We talk about Autumn Hayes, past-life…
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Worldbuilding Meteor Impacts and an Invasive Lifeform | Ryan McGinnis, Terrestrial
Meteor impacts slam into North America and the crisis doesn’t stay on the ground. In this episode I’m joined by sci-fi author Ryan McGinnis to talk about Terrestrial, a dual-thread disaster story split between scientists investigating strange growth at the impact sites and a stranded crew on the...
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No Oil Worldbuilding: Biofuel and the Cost of Movement | Nathan Ogloff, Sapien Empire
In this episode I’m joined by author Nathan Ogloff to talk about a deceptively powerful worldbuilding constraint: what happens when there’s no oil. (Or coffee, as it happens). Nathan’s Sapien Empire is set after the worst of the collapse, when settlements are trying to rebuild into something like...
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Worldbuilding Secrecy and Survival | Melinda Kucsera, Curse Breaker Enchanted
What happens when magic is illegal, but survival depends on it? 🎙️ I’m joined by Melinda Kucsera to talk about Curse Breaker Enchanted, a fantasy world where magic is punishable by death, an enchanted forest has rules of its own, and the people most at risk may also be the people others quietly...
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Worldbuilding: Burn the House or Keep the Secret? | Jack Callaghan, Wyrd Water
In folk horror, you know it’s getting serious when the locals would rather see a house burn than let an outsider move in. 🔥 I’m chatting with Jack Callaghan about Wyrd Water, set in the Lake District in 1979. We dig into how you build fear with rules rather than jump scares: what a community…
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Worldbuilding Non-FTL Realities | Bob Freeman, H2 Lift Ships
Bob Freeman joins me to talk about the H2 Lift Ships series, a comic science-fiction setting built around solar-sail cargo ships, hydrogen lift, semi-sentient bioGels, and a trading civilisation that has to manage without faster-than-light travel. We get into the practical side of the world,...
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Worldbuilding Distant Prisons and Brutality | Travis Kuffel, Unleashed
In a world where mercy comes with a bill, things get interesting fast. 🎙️ This time I’m joined by Travis Kuffel, author of Unleashed and the Tales of Ganden setting. We talk about why Baksa Ranger Cadel risks his standing by sparing a thief, and how justice changes when the nearest proper prison...
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How Belief Becomes Power in Fantasy | Mave Hathaway, The Breaking
Trying to build an epic world or magic system without it collapsing into waffle? In this episode I talk to Mave Hathaway about The Breaking, book one of the Dodsfell Chapter. We get into belief, power, social control, magical limits, and what happens when a world teaches people to fear the very...
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Victorian Information State Worldbuilding | Tim Standish, The Sterling Directive
What if Charles Babbage’s mechanical computers had actually worked, and by 1896 London was already stumbling into an early information age? I’m joined by Tim Standish, author of The Sterling Directive. His version of late-Victorian London has engines, telegraph networks, and a state security...
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First Contact Without Songs or Stories | Macaulay Christian, Apocalis Universe
What would it take to build a society that looks calm on the surface, but stays that way by controlling what people are allowed to imagine? In this episode I’m joined by sci-fi author Macaulay Christian, creator of the Apocalis series. We talk about Holindrian and The Human Revolution, a prequel...
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Fantasy Trials, Curses, and Consequences | Evan Kidwell
In this episode of Richardson’s Rubicon, I’m joined by Evan Kidwell, author of Timeaous Spark and the Luck Curse. Evan’s world is built around a brutal sorting system: students are put through the Trials to force powers to surface early, so society can classify them, place them, and keep control....
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Why Magic Needs Limits | Aurora Winter, Magic, Mystery and the Multiverse
What makes a 16-year-old aspiring actress the right protagonist for a multiverse story? Because performance, mimicry, and knowing when to lie or tell the truth become survival skills when your world treats speech as dangerous. This week on Richardson’s Rubicon, I’m joined by Aurora Winter,...
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Talisman Rules, Trust, and Moral Pressure | Mike Oppenheim
This week on Richardson’s Rubicon, I’m joined by author Mike Oppenheim to talk worldbuilding through pressure and consequence, using his novel The Curse of Cortez as the case study. We dig into a deceptively simple engine: a cursed talisman with strict rules, awkward limitations, and social...
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What Audiobook Narrators Need from Worldbuilders | Liza Jacob
Ever wondered what an audiobook narrator hears in your worldbuilding? In this episode of Richardson’s Rubicon, I’m joined by Liza Jacob, a voice actor and award-winning audiobook narrator (with a career path that started in children’s book illustration). We talk about what it takes to turn a...
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Dystopian Compliance, Choice, and Control | Dr. Larry Smith
This week’s episode of Richardson’s Rubicon is one you won’t want to miss. I’m joined by Dr. Larry Smith, author of 2084: The Neuroxone Conspiracy, a dystopian medical thriller set in a near-future where addiction has been “solved” by mandate. The catch: recovery becomes compliance, and choice...
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Behaviour-First Worldbuilding | Momoko Uno, Hello Humans
What happens when the universe sends… cats… to nudge humanity in a better direction, one “paw biscuit” at a time? 🐾 In this episode I’m joined by Momoko Uno, author of the sci-fi comedy Hello Humans, where an Intergalactic Committee debates whether Earth deserves an invitation to the cosmic...
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When Magic Costs Lives | J.F. Monroe, The Legendary Guardians
✨ Four Horsemen. Romance. A peace treaty between humans, angels, and demons. It works better than it has any right to. In this episode of Richardson’s Rubicon, I’m joined by J.F. Monroe, author of The Legendary Guardians trilogy. We talk about flipping the Four Horsemen from the apocalypse omens...
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Worldbuilding Reader Trust and Payoff | Richard Sparks
What happens when a retired schoolteacher finds himself transformed into his game avatar, chased by wolves, and trapped in a fantasy world? Well, that’s just the beginning of the adventure with New Rock series author Richard Sparks! 🎮📚 As the third book is now out, New Rock New Rules, we...
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Cultures, Clans, and Fantasy Worldbuilding | B Marcus Walker
B Marcus Walker joins me, John Richardson, to talk about building cultures and societies in fantasy without drowning the reader in lore. We dig into Brian’s “less is more” approach, why outsider viewpoints can be the cleanest way to immerse an audience, and how cultural interplay can create...
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Burning Man as Worldbuilding | Sarah Marshall, Playa Dust in My Soul
I sat down with Sarah Marshall, author of Playa Dust in My Soul, former Silicon Valley operative, and longtime Burning Man attendee, to talk about turning an uncategorisable real-world experience into a novel that feels like a fully realised world. We unpack what Burning Man actually is (Black…
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Sci-Fi Worldbuilding and Moral Pressure | Diana Colleen
I sat down with Diana Colleen to talk about her award-winning novel They Could Be Saviors, a near-future speculative story with a wild premise: what if the only way to tackle the climate crisis is to kidnap the billionaires fueling it, then force them into rehabilitation? Diana is a Canadian…
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Dyslexia, Story Structure, and Writing That Works | Russell Van Brocklen
In this episode I sat down with Russell Van Brocklen, a New York–based, state-funded dyslexia researcher with strong opinions about writing, world-building, and why so many Hollywood films collapse under the weight of their own unfinished scripts. Russell works with highly intelligent dyslexic...
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Big Adventure, Real Feelings, and Lasting Hope | Christian Hurst
Christian Hurst joins Richardson’s Rubicon to talk about the Lily Starling space opera series, starting with Lily Starling and the Voyage of the Salamander. We dig into a familiar sci-fi opener, waking up with amnesia, and why it works when the reader discovers the world at the same pace as the...
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Historical Fantasy and Undead Chaos | Richard H. Moon, To Conquer Death
Dead Kings, Living Stories: Richard H Moon on To Conquer Death Welcome back to Richardson's Rubicon! In this episode, I have the pleasure of sitting down with Richard H. Moon, screenwriter, producer, and now, fascinating author of the historical fantasy novel To Conquer Death. Richard takes us...
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Episode 1: The Reset
In this season opener, John strips the podcast back to its core purpose. The show drops the scattered topics and shifts hard toward speculative fiction, worldbuilding, and the craft behind imagined futures. John explains why the old format was unfocused, why this reset is necessary, and why…
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Tears, Bikes & Trauma Goo
In this episode of Richardson’s Rubicon, I had a fascinating and often funny conversation with Bill Pautler, author of the book Awakening to Ourselves, The Practical Art of Building A Spiritually Aware Life. Bill’s had quite an adventurous life, he’s done everything from hot-air ballooning and...
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When Porn Gives You A Plot Twist
In this week’s Richardson’s Rubicon, I sat down with Hannah Ashwell mental health whizz, PTSD specialist, and all-round change-maker to tackle two of the sneakiest modern addictions: porn and gambling. Trust me, these things fly under the radar far more than booze or smack, and Hannah’s got the...
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Freeports: They're Not Free, and They're Not Ports!
Welcome to this episode of Richardson's Rubicon, where I dive into a topic that might not be on your radar, but will certainly grab your attention. Today, we're welcoming John Forbes from the Freeport Campaign Group, which is part of Salvo. John joins us for an eye-opening discussion about...
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The Path to Independence
In this episode of Richardson’s Rubicon, John Richardson talks with Colette Walker, leader of the Independence for Scotland Party, about the launch of Liberate Scotland and how it all links in with the UN decolonisation case. Colette shares how she has always felt Scottish rather than British and...
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Still Better Than Question Time 🤡
In this solo episode of Richardson’s Rubicon, I navigate a chaotic evening after my guest cancels last minute. Probably not my best episode, sorry! I reflect on the previous week's well-received interview with Alex Thorburn of Liberation Scotland and Salvo and share listener feedback. I go into...
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Claim of Right, Act of Wrong: Is the Union a Fiction?
This week, we're discussing Scottish independence with researcher Alex Thorburn from Salvo and Liberation Scotland, two civic movements developing their own strategy without waiting for approval from Westminster. We explore Scotland's claim to nationhood through the Claim of Right, the Treaty of...
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Rugby Goals and Political Holes
Welcome to another episode of Richardson's Rubicon, where we dive into the absurd, tackle the unpredictable, and poke fun at the political circus! This time around, I'm kicking off with the sport you never knew existed - underwater rugby. Flippers and salty balls! But that's not all! We'll swim…
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Can We Fix Britain by Taxing Billionaires?
In this episode of Richardson’s Rubicon, we dive head-first into the idea of a UK wealth tax on the super rich. Inspired by campaigners like Gary Stevenson and supported by groups like Tax Justice UK, we explore why this idea is gaining momentum – and why some people still think it won’t work....
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British Fish? Let's look at the truth of this UK-EU deal
In this episode, I talk about Keir Starmer’s new deal with the EU and what it really means for the UK, especially for fishing, food exports, and everyday workers. I start with fishing. For years, we were told that leaving the EU would give us back full control of our waters. But the truth is, a…
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Richardson's Rubicon Talk Show: Riffin' the Rubicon. ITIL, Visitor Levy, AppSumo, and cyber attacks!
This is the first real episode of the new call-in format. I go through all the emails sent to the show, where clearly my back catalogue is being fully explored! ITIL, Bees, AppSumo and the recent cyber attacks on Harrods, M&S, and the Co-op are explored. Remember, kids, use an authentication app...
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VE Day, Germans, and don't mention the war!
Hey there, and welcome to the very first episode of Riffin' the Rubicon! I'm John Richardson, and I'm diving headfirst into this new live show adventure. Funny enough, it was VE Day when I did the recording. We'll talk about how folks sometimes overlook the true meaning of the day, all while I…
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Will a 5% Visitor Levy Hurt Scotland's Tourist Economy? An Analysis
Welcome to a new episode of Richardson's Rubicon hosted by me, John Richardson. In this episode, I dive into the economic principle of price elasticity of demand (PED) and its potential implications for the tourist sector, focusing especially on the controversial topic of visitor levies, or…
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Misunderstanding or misinformation?
Welcome back to Richardson's Rubicon! In today's episode, I delve into the heated topic of the visitor levy, often misconceived as a mere tourist tax. PLUS!!!! NEWSFLASH AT THE BEGINNING! Join me, John Richardson, as I navigate through bizarre social media reactions and comments on this…
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The Ugly Truth about the Visitor Levy in Scotland
Right, let’s cut to the chase. On the latest Richardson’s Rubicon, I tore into this new Visitor Levy Scotland’s rolled out. Frankly, it’s infuriating, and I won’t sugarcoat it. First things first: don’t let them spin this as a “tourist tax.” It’s a charge on everyone staying in accommodation—yes,...
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Debunking the Myth of Scotland's Visitor Levy
In this episode of Richardson's Rubicon podcast, host John Richardson dives into the hot topic of Scotland's new Visitor Levy, often mislabeled as a 'tourist tax.' John clarifies that the levy is an accommodation tax, impacting both locals and visitors, and outlines its implications on small...
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Ensuring Bee Colony Survival: Tips for Winter Beekeeping
Hello there, I'm John Richardson, your host on the Richardson's Rubicon Podcast. In this episode, we'll explore the tasks beekeepers should focus on in November and December, especially for those in the Northern Hemisphere, like in Scotland. We'll discuss the importance of providing sugar syrup…
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Insights into the New Verification Process on Bluesky
Welcome to a new, quick episode of Richardson's Rubicon podcast titled "Bluesky Verification." I'm your host, John Richardson. In this episode, we explore security protocols, identity verification, and user experience on social platforms. We kick off with an analysis of different social media...
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How ITIL Could Improve Assurant's Customer Service
Welcome back to Richardson's Rubicon, I'm your host, John Richardson, and today we're delving into something a little different. It's going to relate to my IT expertise, but resonates in everyday life, specifically dealing with service desks. What's making today's episode worth your listen is an...
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Unpacking Lifetime Deals: The Sessions Scenario
🎙️Unravelling the investing mysteries of Lifetime Deals! Join host John Richardson in the next episode of Richardson's Rubicon! Discover the risky yet rewarding world of LTDs through real examples like 'Sessions'. ✔️ Gain insights on the advantages, pitfalls, and Kickstarter-like surprises of...
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Escape to EverQuest: Camaraderie and Imposter Syndrome
In S2E18 of Richardson's Rubicon, hosts John Richardson and Nate Stinehour delve into the thrilling and enriching intricacies of the gaming community within the context of EverQuest, an iconic MMORPG that's been captivating players for over 25 years. Underscoring the sense of companionship and...
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Escape to EverQuest: The Good, the Bad, and the Goofy
Hey fellow Norrathians! Your wait is over! We've just rolled out our latest episode, The Good, the Bad, and the Goofy, where we deep dive into everything EverQuest. This is one of a series of episodes where we invite you along to Ask The Panel your questions. You can even take part in the episode...
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Escape to Everquest: Ask the Panel - May
Where do I start with this? It was an amazingly fun episode! We put out a call to all of the EQ communities asking for your questions and the end result was this episode! Join us as Nate, Tom, Joe, Jordan and John field your questions and discuss the many and varied intricacies of EverQuest. Get...
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Escape to Everquest: It's about the journey!
An insightful dive into the world of EverQuest: Comparing Classic and Modern versions, the struggles with in-game experiences, and the effects on the gaming community. Introduction As the world of gaming continues to evolve, so do the demands and expectations of the players. In the most recent...
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Escape to EverQuest: The Greenmist Crusader Tests 4-6
In episode 14 of Richardson's Rubicon, we ( John Richardson and Jordan Doll) take you on an exciting journey through the iconic game of EverQuest. P99 Classic. The discussion mainly centres around the game's quests involving the Iksar Shadowknight Khukris and is the second part of our series on...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Richardson’s Rubicon is a speculative fiction podcast. Each episode dives into worldbuilding, strange ideas, creative failures, surprising successes, and the deeper questions behind imagined worlds. Writers, worldbuilders, and curious listeners will find honest conversation, dark humour, and thoughtful insight into how stories take shape. Season Five focuses on the art of speculative storytelling and the minds that create it.
HOSTED BY
John Richardson
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Richardson's Rubicon have?
Richardson's Rubicon currently has 61 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Richardson's Rubicon about?
Richardson’s Rubicon is a speculative fiction podcast. Each episode dives into worldbuilding, strange ideas, creative failures, surprising successes, and the deeper questions behind imagined worlds. Writers, worldbuilders, and curious listeners will find honest conversation, dark humour, and...
How often does Richardson's Rubicon release new episodes?
Richardson's Rubicon has 61 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Richardson's Rubicon?
You can listen to Richardson's Rubicon 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 Richardson's Rubicon?
Richardson's Rubicon is created and hosted by John Richardson.
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