Re:Play

Gaming has brought generations of people together around ideas, experiences, and – of course – play. Hosted by Clara Mount, Re:Play is building a more inclusive community by creating a space for underrepresented gamers and their allies to share their voice. We’ll tell stories about our experiences and provide new perspectives that challenge our community to think differently about who we are and what we do. If you’re excited about games and the gaming community – join us at the game table!

Shanna Germain Invites Consent Into Our Tabletop Games

Shanna Germain (she/her) is one of the co-founders of Monte Cook Games (MCG). As a veteran tabletop game designer and an award-winning erotica author, she has forgotten more about building and using safety tools than many of us will ever learn. Join us as Shanna reveals how discussions about consent and boundaries at our tables lead to healthier tabletop gaming experiences!

00:01:20 – Who Is Shanna Germain?
00:08:48 – No Thank You Evil (aka How Yoshi Made Shanna Happy Cry)
00:14:13 – The Importance of Pre-Negotiation | TTRPG = BDSM
00:20:08 – Why Consent Needs to Be Invited To Our Games
00:26:30 – A Quick and Dirty Guide to Shanna’s Consent in Gaming Checklist
00:29:15 – Establishing Boundaries & Improving Communication at the Table
00:39:33 – How Better Communication Increases a Game’s Accessibility
00:45:17 – Safety Tools As Building Blocks For Self-Advocacy
00:52:34 – Tools and Tips For Empowering Your Table
01:00:01 – Closing Remarks

Resources
The Poison Eater – https://www.montecookgames.com/store/product/the-poison-eater/
Consent in Gaming Checklist – https://www.montecookgames.com/consent-in-gaming/
Cypher System – https://www.montecookgames.com/store/product/cypher-system-rulebook-2/
As Kinky as You Wanna Be – https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/As-Kinky-as-You-Wanna-Be/Shanna-Germain/9781627780629
No Thank You Evil – https://www.montecookgames.com/store/product/no-thank-you-evil/
We Are All Mad Here – https://www.montecookgames.com/store/product/we-are-all-mad-here/

Support my show! www.bubblegumbitchcraft.etsy.com

Credits
Guest – Shanna Germain, https://www.shannagermain.com/
Production by Victor Media Group, Inc. – https://victormediagroup.co/
Original Music by Byson – https://spoti.fi/3eoC47l
Creator / Host – Clara Mount (@bubblegum_titan on Twitter)
Executive Producers– J.B. Adams and Gerard Mitchell
Sound Editor – Anna Hughes
Production Assistant – Bishop Clarke

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Sereia Spinner Explains Why Your LARP Definitely Needs a Sensitivity Consultant

Sereia Spinner (they/them) is a sensitivity consultant, burlesque performer, avid LARPer, a historian. In all that they do, Sereia specializes in bringing important truths to the spotlight while motivating others to do the same. In this episode, Sereia speaks on the need for sensitivity consultants in creative projects, why LARPs should care about making their communities inclusive, and how to make your LARP more accessible to people of color.

00:00 – Intro
02:02 – Play & Games As Survival Skills
04:40 – Sereia’s First Forays Into Gaming
04:50 – “What is D&D but text based rp spoken out loud with dice?”
06:28 – How Sereia Found LARPing
12:30 – A Sensitivity Consultant Is Born
18:10 – Why Games Need Sensitivity Consultants
27:54 – LARPing in Color
31:46 – Consulting as an Act of Care
36:34 – Getting More POC in LARPs
42:46 – The Necessity of Intentionality & Accessibility in LARP
50:54 – Final Thoughts

Resources
LARPing in Color: Consultant List — https://larpingincolor.com/consultants

Support my show! www.bubblegumbitchcraft.etsy.com

Credits
Guest — Sereia Spinner, sereia.mcdaniel@gmail.com
Production by Victor Media Group, Inc. — https://victormediagroup.co/
Original Music by Byson — https://spoti.fi/3eoC47l
Creator / Host — Clara Mount (@bubblegum_titan on Twitter)
Executive Producers — J.B. Adams and Gerard Mitchell
Sound Editing — Anna Hughes
Production Assistance — Bishop Clarke

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Shannon McDowell Investigates Cultural Bias in Escape Rooms

Shannon McDowell (she/her) is a board game inventor and puzzle designer who was hired to research and mitigate cultural bias in the puzzles for the 2019 Red Bull Escape Room World Championships. Shannon walks us through how she became a professional puzzle designer, how cultural biases manifest in escape rooms & puzzle design, and how to design puzzles that are challenging while remaining inclusive.

00:02:07 – How We Connect Through Games
00:04:28 – Meet Shannon
00:10:21 – “We Haven’t Seen Everything That’s Possible”
00:17:36 – Cultural Bias in Escape Rooms
00:20:26 – Five Categories of Cultural Bias in Puzzles
00:24:55 – How to Make a Bad Escape Room

00:38:18 – How Hints Can Make or Break A Puzzle
00:50:55 – On Physical Accessibility in Escape Rooms
01:01:00 – The Value of Inclusivity in Gaming

Resources
Shannon’s publications – https://www.shannonmcdowell.ca/publications-media
Shannon’s free puzzles – https://www.shannonmcdowell.ca/puzzles
SCRAP Entertainment Inc – https://realescapegame.com/about/
2019 Red Bull Escape Room World Championship – https://www.redbull.com/gb-en/events/red-bull-escape-room-world-championships-final
Cryptex Hunt – https://cryptexhunt.com/2022/

Support my show! www.bubblegumbitchcraft.etsy.com

Credits
Guest – Shannon McDowell, https://www.shannonmcdowell.ca/
Production by Victor Media Group, Inc. – https://victormediagroup.co/
Original Music by Byson – https://spoti.fi/3eoC47l
Creator / Host – Clara Mount (@bubblegum_titan on Twitter)
Executive Producers– J.B. Adams and Gerard Mitchell
Sound Editing – Anna Hughes

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Raquel Skellington is the World’s First Professional LARPer

TW: sexual assault and abuse, grooming, bullying, threats, talk of suicide, racism.
Raquel Skellington (she/her), the world’s first full-time professional LARPer, tells the story of how she built her career, survived a traumatic public character assassination during the peak of cancel culture, and now represents some of the biggest companies in the LARP sphere. She also shares her thoughts about being the first pro LARPer as a woman of color, and what that means for her.

00:02:06 — Meet Raquel!
00:13:02 — “LARP fundamentally changed me”
00:22:49 — Becoming a professional LARPer
00:39:38 — When modeling and LARPing converge
00:47:59 — Surviving a racially fueled public attack
01:06:51 — Recovery and growth
01:21:21 — What keeps Raquel going

Games
Sims series — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sims
House of the Dead 2 — https://bit.ly/39cqL25
Civilization series — https://bit.ly/3zpXWK9
Paladins — https://www.paladins.com/
Dystopia Rising — http://www.dystopiarisinglarp.com/
Dammerung — https://www.larpcoop.com/dammerung

Other Resources
Calimacil — https://calimacil.com/?aff=117
Ateliers Nemesis — https://ateliers-nemesis.com/en/
Drachenfest US — https://www.drachenfest.us/

Support my show! www.bubblegumbitchcraft.etsy.com

Credits
Guest — Raquel Skellington, https://raquel-skellington.carrd.co/
Production by Victor Media Group, Inc. — https://victormediagroup.co/
Original Music by Byson — https://spoti.fi/3eoC47l
Creator / Host — Clara Mount (@bubblegum_titan on Twitter)
Executive Producers — J.B. Adams and Gerard Mitchell
Sound Editing — Anna Hughes

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Elaine Gómez is Leaving a Legacy of Accessibility

Elaine Gómez (she/her), Puerto Rican game designer at Brass Lion Entertainment, shares how game design can be a tool for exploring and celebrating culture, and how she’s leaving a legacy of accessibility through her work in the video game industry.

00:01:19 — Meet Elaine!
00:15:11 — A beautiful storybook
00:20:40 — Game design philosophy
00:29:20 — Leaving your mark as a designer
00:39:36 — Representing cultures with sensitivity
00:51:22 — The importance of accessibility design
01:03:21 — The industry needs to learn to share
01:15:15 — Getting started with accessible design

Games
Child of Light — https://bit.ly/3wqQwUR
Assassin’s Creed 3 — https://bit.ly/3815A2g
Assassin’s Creed Odyssey — https://bit.ly/3FYHbH8
Mulaka — https://www.lienzo.mx/mulaka/
The Last of Us — https://bit.ly/3G6gnVy

Other Resources
Brass Lion Entertainment Careers — https://brasslionentertainment.com/careers/
AbleGamers — https://ablegamers.org/
Accessible Player Experiences (APX) — https://accessible.games/accessible-player-experiences/

Support my show! www.bubblegumbitchcraft.etsy.com

Credits
Guest — Elaine Gómez (she/her), @chulatastic or http://www.elaine-gomez.com/
Production by Victor Media Group, Inc. — https://victormediagroup.co/
Original Music by Byson — https://spoti.fi/3eoC47l
Creator / Host — Clara Mount (@bubblegum_titan on Twitter)
Executive Producers — J.B. Adams and Gerard Mitchell
Sound Editing — Anna Hughes

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Chel Wong is a Freelancer with the Power of Friendship

“If you like video games and music so much, why don’t you write music for video games?” Today’s guest said “BET!” Tune in for a behind the scenes look at game audio and insights on networking in the game industry, featuring Chel Wong (she/they), award-winning game music composer and sound designer with credits on games such as Kine, OnlyCans, and Whisker Squadron.

01:06 — Meet Chel!
08:27 — A life shaped by games
14:00 — The secret life of game audio
28:47 — “I failed teaching”
32:21 — Advice on getting into audio
38:11 — Networking for gamers
50:30 — Curated spaces

Games
Kine — https://www.kinegame.com/kine-home
OnlyCans — https://oxyoxspring.itch.io/onlycans
Whisker Squadron — https://bit.ly/3MKO0yf
She Dreams Elsewhere — https://www.studiozevere.com/
Death’s Door — https://playdeathsdoor.com/
Sable — https://www.shed-works.co.uk/sable
Guilty Gear Strive — https://www.guiltygear.com/ggst/en/
Outer Wilds — https://www.mobiusdigitalgames.com/outer-wilds.html
NieR Gestalt – https://bit.ly/3sbp6zP
Trails in the Sky — https://bit.ly/3ycgUDs
Pokemon Diamond — https://diamondpearl.pokemon.com/en-us/
RedOut — https://redout.games/
F-Zero — https://bit.ly/3w3xRNG
Kirby Air Ride — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kirby_Air_Ride
Ghost Trick — https://bit.ly/3KC76oF
Team Fortress 2 — https://www.teamfortress.com/
Undertale — https://undertale.com/
A Hat in Time — https://www.gearsforbreakfast.com/games/a-hat-in-time/
Heroes of the Storm — https://heroesofthestorm.com/en-us/
Warframe — https://www.warframe.com/landing
Hyper Light Drifter — https://www.heartmachine.com/hyper-light-drifter

Other Resources
Charity EP Jam — https://charityepjam.bandcamp.com/music
AbleGamers — https://ablegamers.org/
Andrew Prahlow (composer for Outer Wilds) — http://www.andrewprahlow.com/
Akash Thakkar (music for Hyper Light Drifter) — https://www.akashthakkar.com/

Support my show! www.bubblegumbitchcraft.etsy.com

Credits
Guest — Chel Wong (she/they), @chelwongaudio on Twitter/IG or https://linktr.ee/chelwongaudio
Production by Victor Media Group, Inc. — https://victormediagroup.co/
Original Music by Byson — https://spoti.fi/3eoC47l
Creator / Host — Clara Mount (@bubblegum_titan on Twitter)
Executive Producers — J.B. Adams and Gerard Mitchell
Sound Editing — Anna Hughes

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LARPing in Color is Helping You Build a Better World

The season 3 premiere features Lawrence Moore (he/him), Founder and CEO of LARPing in Color (LINC), and Dr. Rachael Cofield (they/them), Director of Programs and Operations at LINC. Tune in to hear the full story of the first time Lawrence cried at LARP, the origins of LINC, and the importance of normalizing inclusive behaviors to make LARP better for future players. And don’t forget to apply for free sensitivity consulting through the Normalize Paid Emotional Labor (NPEL) program!

00:01:23 — Meet Lawrence and Rachael!
00:17:56 — Lawrence gets scared and cries at a LARP
00:25:06 — LARPing for emotional impact
00:30:56 — LARPing in Color origin story
00:42:24 — Document your values, or Rachael’s PHD in “go the f*** home”
00:53:20 — Free (and paid) diversity resources
01:05:15 — Building a community based on values

Games
Garden of Destinies (LARP) — https://gardenofdestinieslarp.com/
Pantheon LARP — https://www.clockworkmonsterproductions.com/pantheon

Other Resources
LARPing in Color — https://larpingincolor.com/
NPEL Program — https://larpingincolor.com/npel

Support my show! >> www.bubblegumbitchcraft.etsy.com

Credits
Guests — Lawrence Moore and Dr. Rachael Cofield (@rachaeldoesgeography on Twitter)
Production by Victor Media Group, Inc. — https://victormediagroup.co/
Original Music by Byson — https://spoti.fi/3eoC47l
Creator / Host — Clara Mount (@bubblegum_titan on Twitter)
Executive Producers — J.B. Adams and Gerard Mitchell
Sound Editing — Anna Hughes

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Michelle Flamm is Probably an Impostor (and That’s Okay)

Unpopular opinion: impostor syndrome isn’t a bad thing, and if you’re lucky, it never goes away. Tune in to hear Michelle Flamm, Senior Systems Designer at WB Games San Francisco, talk about why impostor syndrome makes you a great designer, what the Blizzard lawsuit represents to her as a woman in the industry, and how game studios can provide ongoing support for marginalized employees.

01:07 — Meet Michelle!
13:10 — Supporting diversity in games
19:55 — Blizzard lawsuits
28:09 — Impostor syndrome hot take
31:40 — HR, get out the way
41:53 — Mentorship 101

Games
Animal Crossing — https://animal-crossing.com/
Destiny franchise — https://www.bungie.net/
World of Warcraft — https://worldofwarcraft.com/en-us/
Final Fantasy XIV — https://www.finalfantasyxiv.com/
Sniper Elite — https://sniperelitegames.com/en
Boyfriend Dungeon — https://www.boyfrienddungeon.com/
Final Fantasy 11 — http://www.playonline.com/ff11us/index.shtml

Other Resources
Timeline of the Blizzard controversy — https://bit.ly/3HLocjC
Women directors leaving Blizzard — https://bit.ly/3CFmyML

Don’t forget to check out our friends at the Quit The Build podcast! https://www.quitthebuild.com/

Credits
Guest — Michelle Flamm, @mmogirlkai on IG or https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelleflamm/
Production by Victor Media Group, Inc. — https://victormediagroup.co/
Original Music by Byson — https://spoti.fi/3eoC47l
Creator / Host — Clara Mount
Executive Producers — J.B. Adams and Gerard Mitchell
Sound Editing — Aaron Trnka

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Jarory de Jesus Wants to Get You in the Door

When you were a kid, did you ever think that making video games could be a career? Turns out, a lot of us didn’t… but some of us found our way to it anyway. Tune in to hear Jarory de Jesus, Technical Designer at Elodie Games, talk about his nontraditional path to the industry, the challenges that are unique to aspiring game devs of color, and how game studios can evolve to be more inclusive.

01:20 — Meet Jarory!
13:28 — A nontraditional way in
21:43 — Barriers to entry
36:30 — Advice for aspiring game devs
41:00 — Advancing devs of color
54:54 — How can we be better?

Games
Rust — https://rust.facepunch.com/
Duck Hunt (NES) — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duck_Hunt
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order — https://www.ea.com/games/starwars/jedi-fallen-order
Persona 5 — https://atlus.com/p5r/
Elder Scrolls Online (ESO) — https://www.elderscrollsonline.com/en-us/home
Madden NFL — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madden_NFL

Other Resources
Unity (game engine) — https://unity.com/
Extra Credits — https://www.youtube.com/user/ExtraCreditz
Game Maker’s Toolkit — https://www.youtube.com/user/McBacon1337
Blacks in Gaming (Facebook) — https://bit.ly/3oG25nJ
Blacks in Gaming (Discord) — https://discord.com/invite/eSrZ476ecj
Latinx in Gaming — https://www.latinxingaming.com/
Games Industry Gathering — https://games.industrygathering.com/home.html
International Game Developers Association (IGDA) — https://igda.org/

Don’t forget to check out our friends at the Quit The Build podcast! https://www.quitthebuild.com/

Credits
Guest — Jarory de Jesus, https://www.linkedin.com/in/jarory-de-jesus/
Production by Victor Media Group, Inc. — https://victormediagroup.co/
Original Music by Byson — https://spoti.fi/3eoC47l
Creator / Host — Clara Mount
Executive Producers — J.B. Adams and Gerard Mitchell
Sound Editing — Aaron Trnka

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DeAngelo Murillo is Creating the Future He Wants to See

How can diversity across the gaming industry enrich gaming experiences for all of us? And how do we make sure we’re leaving the world a better place for those who come after us? Join us as we talk with DeAngelo Murillo, creator of geek media site TheGeekLyfe.com, about Latinx experiences in the gaming community, the importance of normalizing mental health through the games we play, and the inspiration behind his brand-new inclusive TTRPG, Emerald Templars.

01:18 — Meet DeAngelo!
14:10 — Questionable Latinx representation
23:08 — The community bands together
30:05 — A grimdark inclusive TTRPG
38:40 — Normalizing mental health through play
50:35 — Advice for creatives

Games
Apex Legends — https://www.ea.com/games/apex-legends
World of Warcraft — https://worldofwarcraft.com/en-us/
Coyote & Crow — https://coyoteandcrow.net/
Into the Mother Lands — https://motherlandsrpg.com/
Emerald Templars — https://thegeeklyfe.com/emeraldtemplars/
Cortex RPG — https://www.cortexrpg.com/

Other Resources
The Geek Lyfe — https://thegeeklyfe.com/
DeAngelo’s Twitch Channel — https://www.twitch.tv/that_deangelo
DeAngelo’s Discord community — https://discord.com/invite/pFcsdwR

Don’t forget to check out our friends at the Quit The Build podcast! https://www.quitthebuild.com/

Credits
Guest — DeAngelo Murillo, https://linktr.ee/deangelomurillo
Production by Victor Media Group, Inc. — https://victormediagroup.co/
Original Music by Byson — https://spoti.fi/3eoC47l
Creator / Host — Clara Mount
Executive Producers — J.B. Adams and Gerard Mitchell
Sound Editing — Aaron Trnka

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Nerissa Hart is Creating a Chaotic Wholesome Community

What do you think is the hardest part about being a femme content creator? Today’s guest, Nerissa Hart aka RUBIEHART (they/she), is an actor, multidisciplinary theatre artist, streamer, and professional speedrunner. Tune in to hear Nerissa talk about what makes the speedrunning community unique, describe how they respond to discrimination, and remind us that we all have a place in the gaming community.

01:10 — Meet Nerissa!
11:25 — Theatre + gaming = LARP
18:36 — Crash course on speedrunning
21:50 — Nerissa’s origin story
33:10 — Speedrunning for charity
39:05 — Gender disparities in gaming
49:50 — Dealing with discrimination

Games
Shadow of the Colossus — https://rb.gy/x0uka5
Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons — https://rb.gy/feesqk
Velvet Noir (LARP) — https://www.entropicendeavors.com/velvetnoir
Super Mario 64 — https://rb.gy/izrv3e

Other Resources
RUBIEHART Twitch Channel — http://twitch.tv/rubiehart
Team ICO — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Team_Ico
LiveArtDC — https://liveartdc.com/
Speedrun stats and info — https://www.speedrun.com/
Games Done Quick — https://gamesdonequick.com/

Don’t forget to check out our friends at the Quit The Build podcast! https://www.quitthebuild.com/

Credits
Guest — Nerissa Hart, https://linktr.ee/rubiehart
Production by Victor Media Group, Inc. — https://victormediagroup.co/
Original Music by Byson — https://spoti.fi/3eoC47l
Creator / Host — Clara Mount
Executive Producers — J.B. Adams and Gerard Mitchell
Sound Editing — Anna Hughes

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Nate Yelle Isn’t the Only Asian American in the Studio Anymore

Why is it important to have more Asian Americans working in the video game industry? How do we get there? And what do video games have to do with tabletop RPGs? Tune in to hear Nate Yelle, game designer at Iron Galaxy Studios, share his insights from nearly a decade in the industry as he talks about Pokemon nostalgia, trends in Asian American representation, and why every game developer should play tabletop RPGs.

00:01:07 — Meet Nate!
00:14:50 — The most compelling narrative game ever
00:19:00 — Asian American identities
00:27:15 — Diversity & representation at video game studios
00:41:21 — Getting more Asian Americans in the industry
00:46:06 — Why every game dev should play TTRPGs
01:03:06 — The Nice Dad GM

As an affiliate, Victor Media Group may earn from qualifying purchases.
Games
Shadowrun — https://rb.gy/hsfwyz
Animal Crossing: New Horizons — https://www.animal-crossing.com/new-horizons/
Florence — https://annapurnainteractive.com/games/florence
Toejam and Earl 2 — https://rb.gy/osknzz
Overwatch — https://playoverwatch.com/en-us/
Apex Legends — https://www.ea.com/games/apex-legends
Ghost of Tsushima — https://www.playstation.com/en-us/games/ghost-of-tsushima/
Street Fighter II — https://rb.gy/tlax3n
NBA Live — https://www.ea.com/games/nba-live/nba-live-19
Blades in the Dark (free download TTRPG) — https://www.evilhat.com/home/blades-in-the-dark/

Other Resources
Unreal Engine — https://www.unrealengine.com/en-US/
“Asian American Game Developers Are Dreaming of Their Own Minari Moment” (IGN) — https://rb.gy/arxa4t
Hideo Kojima — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hideo_Kojima
Chummer (for Shadowrun 5th edition) — https://github.com/chummer5a/chummer5a

Don’t forget to check out our friends at the Quit The Build podcast!

Credits
Guest — Nate Yelle, Game Designer at Iron Galaxy Studios
Production by Victor Media Group, Inc. — https://victormediagroup.co/
Original Music by Byson — https://spoti.fi/3eoC47l
Creator / Host — Clara Mount
Executive Producers — J.B. Adams and Gerard Mitchell
Sound Editing — Aaron Trnka

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Laura Tutu Wants You to Find Your People

What happens when you take a theatrical performer, introduce them to D&D, and then quarantine strikes? Naturally, they get on Twitch. Laura Tutu (she/her or they/them) is a Black streamer and podcaster with a background in theatre and burlesque. Tune in to hear about the performance side of tabletop RPGs, Laura’s character creation methods, why barbarians are Laura’s favorite class, and how you can find your people.

01:06 — Meet Laura!
09:30 — Dramatic escapism
17:45 — Characters are everything
22:46 — The role of improv in D&D
24:50 — Why player comfort is #1
32:03 — Character creation and D&D shenanigans
40:30 — Barbarians 4ever
51:00 — Find your people

As an affiliate, Victor Media Group may earn from qualifying purchases.
Games
Dungeons and Dragons, 5th Edition — https://amzn.to/32sfVhh
Shadowrun — https://rb.gy/hsfwyz

Other Resources
TheWorldsGuild (live play campaigns) — https://www.twitch.tv/theworldsguild
Brunches and Dragons (live podcast) — https://www.twitch.tv/starkravingmab
Critical Role — https://critrole.com/
Consent in Gaming (with a consent checklist!) — https://rb.gy/ztx4l8

Credits
Guest — Laura Tutu, https://beacons.page/lauratutu
Production by Victor Media Group, Inc. — https://victormediagroup.co/
Original Music by Byson — https://spoti.fi/3eoC47l
Creator / Host — Clara Mount
Executive Producers — J.B. Adams and Gerard Mitchell
Sound Editing — Aaron Trnka

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Trey Joiner Envisions a Black Future in TTRPGs

There are a lot of ways to protest. If marching isn’t for you, have you ever thought about making a game? Trey Joiner is the writer/creator of an afrofuturist supplement to the Lancer RPG, entitled The Field Guide to Mfecane. Join us as he tells us about a Star Wars RPG cry session, how he aims to honor South African culture through his writing, and why we need more afrofuturist stories.

01:09 — Meet Trey!
10:40 — Star Wars cry session
14:00 — Games as protest
19:30 — Origins of the Field Guide
30:10 — What Civ 6 left out
39:00 — The problem with white liberalism
50:18 — Creating more Afro futures

As an affiliate, Victor Media Group may earn from qualifying purchases.
Games
Lancer RPG — https://massif-press.itch.io/
The Field Guide to Mfecane — https://nhp-shaka.itch.io/mfecane-field-guide
Dungeons and Dragons, 5th Edition — https://amzn.to/32sfVhh
Genesys RPG — https://amzn.to/2Tvc0zh
Apex Legends — https://amzn.to/3zuskjk
Star Wars: Edge of the Empire — https://amzn.to/2RhvRRD
Star Wars: Force and Destiny — https://amzn.to/3rx3U63
Swordsfall — https://www.swordsfall.com/
Civilization VI — https://amzn.to/2WgODKX

Shaka & Mfecane Resources
The Myth of the Mfecane — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8rSx98w5fH0
Zulu Rise and Mfecane (BBC) — https://rb.gy/xlqkmn
A history of Shaka Zulu — https://rb.gy/n7vkaf

Other Resources
Black Table Arts — https://www.blacktablearts.com/
Lovecraft Country — https://www.hbo.com/lovecraft-country
Pilot Net (Discord for Lancer RPG) — https://discord.gg/CXMuMkFCwS

Credits
Guest — Trey Joiner (@StationUkuwa on Twitter)
Production by Victor Media Group, Inc. — https://victormediagroup.co/
Original Music by Byson — https://spoti.fi/3eoC47l
Creator / Host — Clara Mount
Executive Producers — J.B. Adams and Gerard Mitchell
Sound Editing — Aaron Trnka

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Clara Mount Casts Raise Dead on Interview Outtakes

Like any good necromancer, host Clara Mount is here to bring a season’s worth of interview outtakes back to life. Revisit our guests and hear brand new perspectives from inside the industry, including: a behind the scenes on making video games, strategies for building diverse gaming communities, the three kinds of “fun,” a perspective on trans narratives, one thing you can learn by GMing, and some benefits of TTRPGs for neurodivergent gamers.

01:14 — Episode overview
02:15 — Anna Stavroupolos, video game ambassador
08:50 — Whitney Risner builds diverse communities
16:27 — Vivien Grimm and the 3 types of fun
30:28 — Oliver on breaking out of the box
35:27 — Missa Dawson learns flexibility
41:20 — Jazmine Betz and neurodivergent gamers

As an affiliate, Victor Media Group may earn from qualifying purchases.
Games
Madden NFL Mobile — https://www.ea.com/games/madden-nfl/madden-nfl-mobile
Destiny 2 — https://www.bungie.net/
Dungeons and Dragons, 5th Edition — https://amzn.to/32sfVhh
Apocalypse World (2nd Ed) — https://rb.gy/40ojbe
Fate (RPG) — https://amzn.to/2SEckLm
Thirsty Sword Lesbians — https://amzn.to/2R6zn0V
Wanderhome — https://possumcreekgames.itch.io/wanderhome
Urban Shadows 2 — https://rb.gy/d7cakz

More Resources
Super Heroines, Etc. — https://superheroinesetc.org/
Kickstarter (Games page) — https://rb.gy/qvd94k
Indie Press — https://www.indiepressrevolution.com/xcart/
Drive Thru RPG — https://www.drivethrurpg.com/
Be-Con — https://2019.beconlarp.com/

Intercon — https://u.interconlarp.org/
Make A Scene — https://makeascenemn.org/en/
The Gaming Goat – Mason, OH — https://www.facebook.com/TGGMasonOH/

Credits
Guests — Anna Stavroupolos, Whitney Risner, Vivien Grimm, Oliver, Missa Dawson, Jazmine Betz
Production by Victor Media Group, Inc. — https://victormediagroup.co/
Original Music by Byson — https://spoti.fi/3eoC47l
Creator / Host — Clara Mount
Executive Producers — J.B. Adams and Gerard Mitchell
Sound Editing — Gerardo Abril

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Jazmine Betz Wants You to Talk About Your Feelings

Identities are complex and multi-layered, and these layered identities contribute to gaming experiences in ways you may not even realize. Today we talk to Jazmine Betz, Associate Manager of Consumer and Market Insights at Wizards of the Coast, about intersectional identities, her experiences as a woman of color in predominantly white gaming communities, and how tabletop RPGs can offer a safe space for people of color.
To enter the merch giveaway, head over to @victormediagrp on Instagram! Enter by May 27. Winner will be announced on the air on June 1.

01:05 — Meet Jazmine!
06:10 — “The boobs are fascinating”
11:00 — What is intersectionality?
21:35 — Welcoming diverse identities
30:30 — Raising baby gamers
41:20 — D&D diversity rewrites

As an affiliate, Victor Media Group may earn from qualifying purchases.
Games
Mario Kart 64 — https://amzn.to/3eSRArO
Pokemon Stadium (N64) — https://amzn.to/3bwRdBc
Wandersong — https://amzn.to/3tUxVfz
Spiritfarer — https://amzn.to/2T1UUIZ
Animal Crossing — https://amzn.to/3fs9y3G
Champions of Norrath (PS2) — https://amzn.to/3oo9GFg
Super Smash Bros — https://amzn.to/3fn7cTK
Dungeons and Dragons, 5th Edition — https://amzn.to/32sfVhh
Edge of the Empire (Star Wars RPG) — https://amzn.to/2RhvRRD

More Resources
Wizards of the Coast — https://company.wizards.com/en
Xbox Game Pass — https://www.xbox.com/en-US/xbox-game-pass
Steam — https://store.steampowered.com/
D&D diversity rewrites — https://www.wired.com/story/dungeons-dragons-diversity/

Credits
Guest — Jazmine Betz
Production by Victor Media Group, Inc. — https://victormediagroup.co/
Original Music by Byson — https://spoti.fi/3eoC47l
Creator / Host — Clara Mount
Executive Producers — J.B. Adams and Gerard Mitchell
Sound Editing — Aaron Trnka

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Missa Dawson is a Mental Health Champion

Gaming–and the communities we meet through gaming–can have a profound impact on mental health and social development. Some can even say that gaming literally saved their lives. Tune in to hear Missa Dawson, manager of the retail store The Gaming Goat in Mason, Ohio, share stories about how gaming has given her the courage to seek the help she needs, how RPGs helped her cope with social anxiety, and how Critical Role saved her life.
CW: talk of suicide and suicidal ideation.

01:14 — Meet Missa!
06:45 — Gaming is life
14:00 — First experience with true acceptance
24:43 — Coping with mental health challenges
29:32: — How Critical Role saved Missa’s life
42:39 — Fostering positive communities

As an affiliate, Victor Media Group may earn from qualifying purchases.
Games
Magic: The Gathering — https://magic.wizards.com/
Dungeons and Dragons, 5th Edition — https://amzn.to/32sfVhh

More Resources
Critical Role — https://critrole.com/
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline — 800-273-8255 (available 24/7)
**Reach out to clara@victormediagroup.co if you want help finding additional mental health resources. I am here to support you however I can.

Credits
Guest — Missa Dawson
Production by Victor Media Group, Inc. — https://victormediagroup.co/
Original Music by Byson — https://spoti.fi/3eoC47l
Creator / Host — Clara Mount
Executive Producers — J.B. Adams and Gerard Mitchell
Sound Editing — Aaron Trnka

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Oliver Opens the Door to Gender Exploration

Tabletop RPGs offer a unique and often underappreciated opportunity to explore elements of your identity in a safe space. Tune in to hear Oliver, our favorite Canadian forever GM, talk about his early gaming experiences including “Denny’s and Dragons,” how gaming impacted his trans journey, and how we can be better allies to trans gamers.

01:15 — Meet Oliver!
09:35 — Experimental role playing
15:10 — Gaming and gender identity
29:25 — Advice for GMs
33:05 — Advice for allies in the gaming community
44:00 — Influencing the industry

As an affiliate, Victor Media Group may earn from qualifying purchases.
Games
Dungeons and Dragons, 5th Edition — https://amzn.to/32sfVhh
Dark Heresy RPG — https://amzn.to/3xamAef
Ragnarok Online — http://iro.ragnarokonline.com/
Celeste — https://amzn.to/3an990F
2064: Read Only Memories — https://store.steampowered.com/app/330820/2064_Read_Only_Memories/

More Resources
Roll20 — https://roll20.net/
Discord — https://discord.com/
One Punch Man — https://amzn.to/3gsa43F

Credits
Guest — Oliver
Production by Victor Media Group, Inc. — https://victormediagroup.co/
Original Music by Byson — https://spoti.fi/3eoC47l
Creator / Host — Clara Mount
Executive Producers — J.B. Adams and Gerard Mitchell
Sound Editing — Aaron Trnka

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Vivien Grimm is Gay for LARPing

How can playing games help us better understand the people we interact with every day? Tune in to hear Vivien Grimm, an avid LARPer, cosplayer, and model, give us the rundown on LARP basics, provide tips for how we can best enjoy this unique type of play, and describe why play is an essential part of being human.

01:20 — Meet Vivien!
06:40 — The power of unconditional acceptance
13:50 — What is LARP?
23:20 — The LARP renaissance
33:50 — Vivien’s LARP journey
44:30 — What LARP teaches you about empathy

Games
Detroit: Become Human — https://amzn.to/3fipfvC
The Witcher 3 — https://amzn.to/3rlSvnT
New World Magischola — https://magischola.com/
Vampire: The Masquerade — https://www.oneworldofdarkness.com/explore-vampire-the-masquerade
Dystopia Rising — http://www.dystopiarisinglarp.com/

More Resources
Be-Con — https://2019.beconlarp.com/
Intercon — https://u.interconlarp.org/
Make A Scene — https://makeascenemn.org/en/
Gen Con — https://www.gencon.com/

Credits
Guest — Vivien Grimm, https://linktr.ee/Vivienxgrimm
Production by Victor Media Group, Inc. — https://victormediagroup.co/
Original Music by Byson — https://spoti.fi/3eoC47l
Creator / Host — Clara Mount
Executive Producer — J.B. Adams
Sound Editing — Aaron Trnka

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Whitney Risner Uses the Power of Gaming For Good

What do you do when a game that is core to your life is unexpectedly ripped away from you? Today’s guest chose to fight the forces that took it from her. By day, Whitney Risner works in tech. By night, she serves as Board President of Super Heroines, Etc., a nonprofit that’s using the power of fandom to fight for equality and representation. Tune in to hear how Whitney is using games to create social change and transform her community.

01:15 — Meet Whitney!
06:00 — The Magic marriage
12:15 — Why we need gaming safe spaces
21:19 — How to transform your community
28:28 — Gaming for social change
33:55 — The community levels up
39:36 — Find others like you

Games
Mortal Kombat — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mortal_Kombat
Shaq Fu — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shaq_Fu
Magic the Gathering — https://magic.wizards.com/en

More Resources
Super Heroines, Etc. — https://superheroinesetc.org/
Friday Night Magic — https://rb.gy/csvmso

Credits
Guest — Whitney Risner, whitney@superheroinesetc.org
Production by Victor Media Group, Inc. — https://victormediagroup.co/
Original Music by Byson — https://spoti.fi/3eoC47l
Creator / Host — Clara Mount
Executive Producer — J.B. Adams
Sound Editing — Aaron Trnka

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Anna Stavropoulos Validates your Hobby

From illicitly trading Pokemon cards on the school playground, to a winning streak in Mortal Kombat chess, to working as Art Lead for EA’s Madden Mobile — Anna Stavropoulos has some stories to tell. Hear Anna’s thoughts on why RPGs are actually the best games, why representation matters, and where the videogame industry is going from here.

01:15 — Meet Anna!
07:15 — Why your Mortal Kombat skills are valuable
13:10 — Welcome to your new favorite genre of games
20:00 — Playing guilt-free and why representation matters
26:57 — Prioritizing representation
31:45 — Making moves — your niche audience is out there

As an affiliate, Victor Media Group may earn from qualifying purchases.
Games
Mortal Kombat: Deception — https://amzn.to/2OtvuBy
The Witcher 3 — https://amzn.to/3sXDE4e
Horizon: Zero Dawn — https://amzn.to/3rD9FOR
Dragon Age: Inquisition — https://amzn.to/3sPSwS6
Mass Effect series — https://amzn.to/3bn7poU
Fallout series — https://bit.ly/3qr4EHq
Demon’s Souls — https://amzn.to/3qlrakZ
Undertale — https://amzn.to/2PKpODV
2064: Read Only Memories — https://bit.ly/3t2VNO5
Resources
Unity Free Download — https://store.unity.com/#plans-individual
Steam — https://store.steampowered.com/

Credits
Guest — Anna Stavropoulos
Production by Victor Media Group, Inc. — https://victormediagroup.co/
Original Music by Byson — https://spoti.fi/3eoC47l
Creator / Host — Clara Mount
Executive Producer — J.B. Adams
Sound Editing — Aaron Trnka

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