In this episode, we're talking about how horror and romance can go together (and whether cozy horror is a thing) in Someone You Can Build a Nest In by John Wiswell. Proprietor's Pick: Voyage of the Damned by Frances White Intro and outro music: "The Tavern" by Michael Ghelfi Visit the Tavern: Website | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Discord⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Access bonus content and support us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ...

In this episode, we're talking about deconstructing tropes, dark fairy tales, costs of magic, monsters, and more in the dark fantasy TV show The Witcher. Proprietor's Pick: Foul Days by Genoveva Dimova Intro and outro music: "The Tavern" by Michael Ghelfi Visit the Tavern: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Discord⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Access bonus content and support us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Support Haneen's family in Gaza

In this episode, we're talking about the novella All Systems Red (The Murderbot Diaries #1) by Martha Wells. Proprietor's Pick: The Mercy of Gods by James S.A. Corey Intro and outro music: "The Tavern" by Michael Ghelfi Visit the Tavern: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Discord⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Access bonus content and support us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Support Haneen's family in Gaza

In this episode, we're talking about how science and magic intertwine in the Netflix show Arcane. Proprietor's Pick: The Gods Below by Andrea Stewart Intro and outro music: "The Tavern" by Michael Ghelfi Visit the Tavern: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Discord⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Access bonus content and support us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Support Haneen's family in Gaza

This season, we're introducing a new type of bonus episodes for our patrons: worldbuilding workshops! In these episodes, the hosts pick an element of a world and build it together. You can use whatever we build for your own stories, or take the questions we ask and build your own. These monthly bonus episodes are exclusive to our Patreon, but the first is free for everyone to listen to! Intro and outro music: "The Tavern" by Michael Ghelfi Visit the...

In this episode, we're talking about superpowers, secret identities, and characterization in the Netflix show The Umbrella Academy. Proprietor's Pick: Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman⁠ Intro and outro music: "The Tavern" by Michael Ghelfi Visit the Tavern: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Discord⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Access bonus content and support us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Support Haneen's family in Gaza

Season 3 is coming! We've added a couple new segments and will be talking about worldbuilding through the lens of genre. Intro and outro music: "The Tavern" by Michael Ghelfi Visit the Tavern: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Discord⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Access bonus content and support us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠

In this episode, we're talking about humour, character arcs, prologues, pirate mythology, and more in the movie Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl. Proprietor's Pick: The Wicked Bargain by Gabe Cole Novoa Intro and outro music: "The Tavern" by Michael Ghelfi Visit the Tavern: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Discord⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Access bonus content and support us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠ ...

In this episode, we're talking about mechs, feminism, disability representation, and more in the novel Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao. Proprietor's Pick: A Song to Drown Rivers by Ann Liang Intro and outro music: "The Tavern" by Michael Ghelfi Visit the Tavern: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Discord⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Access bonus content and support us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠ Support Haneen's family in Gaza

In this episode, we're talking about nanofibers, science as a weapon, and supercomputers in the TV show 3 Body Problem. Proprietor's Pick: Jumpnauts by Hao Jingfang Intro and outro music: "The Tavern" by Michael Ghelfi Visit the Tavern: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Discord⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Access bonus content and support us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠

In this episode, we're talking about science gone haywire, confusing vs. interesting worldbuilding, and tension in the TV show 3 Body Problem. Proprietor's Pick: Exordia by Seth Dickinson⁠ Intro and outro music: "The Tavern" by Michael Ghelfi Visit the Tavern: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Discord⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Access bonus content and support us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠

In this episode, we're talking about sense of place, metaphor, mythology, and symbolism in the movie Song of the Sea. Proprietor's Pick: The Selkie's Daughter by Linda Crotta Brennan Intro and outro music: "The Tavern" by Michael Ghelfi Visit the Tavern: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Discord⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Access bonus content and support us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠

In this episode, we're talking about writing a story based on a theme, age categories, oppressive systems, and utopian societies in the novella Pet by Akwaeke Emezi. Proprietor's Pick: Hell Followed With Us by Andrew Joseph White Intro and outro music: "The Tavern" by Michael Ghelfi Visit the Tavern: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Discord⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Access bonus content and support us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠

In this episode, we're talking about factions, over-the-top worldbuilding, and retro-futurism in the TV show (based on the video game) Fallout. Proprietor's Pick: Service Model by Adrian Tchaikovsky Intro and outro music: "The Tavern" by Michael Ghelfi Visit the Tavern: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Discord⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Access bonus content and support us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠

In this episode, we're talking about humour, morality, and the afterlife in the TV show The Good Place. Proprietor's Pick: How to Become the Dark Lord and Die Trying by Django Wexler Intro and outro music: "The Tavern" by Michael Ghelfi Visit the Tavern: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Discord⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Access bonus content and support us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠

In this episode, we're chatting with author Trudie Skies about deities, races, domains, magic, and expansive worldbuilding in The Thirteenth Hour, a gaslamp adult fantasy and the first in The Cruel Gods series. Intro and outro music: "The Tavern" by Michael Ghelfi Visit the Tavern: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Discord⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Access bonus content and support us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠ Find Trudie Skies trudieskies.com

In this episode, we're chatting about historical worldbuilding, weirdness, anti-capitalism, and ecological themes in the Studio Ghibli movie Princess Mononoke. Proprietor's Pick: Godkiller by Hannah Kaner Intro and outro music: "The Tavern" by Michael Ghelfi Visit the Tavern: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Discord⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Access bonus content and support us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠

In this episode, we're chatting about situational humour, aliens, montages, and time loops in the movie Edge of Tomorrow. Proprietor's Pick: The Misfit Soldier by Michael Mammay Intro and outro music: "The Tavern" by Michael Ghelfi Visit the Tavern: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Discord⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Access bonus content and support us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠

In this episode, we're chatting with author Kristen Ciccarelli about blood magic, witches, and witch hunters in Heartless Hunter, the YA fantasy romance inspired by the The Scarlet Pimpernel. Intro and outro music: "The Tavern" by Michael Ghelfi Visit the Tavern: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Discord⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Access bonus content and support us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠ Find Kristen Ciccarelli at kristenciccarelli.com The Universal Fantasy Workbook by T. Taylor The Psychology...

In this episode, we're chatting about worldbuilding in the shadows, how actions matter, and adaptable storytelling in the video game Baldur's Gate 3. Proprietor's Pick: The West Passage by Jared Pechaček Intro and outro music: "The Tavern" by Michael Ghelfi Visit the Tavern: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Discord⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Access bonus content and support us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠

In this episode, we're chatting with author Margaret Rogerson about religion, spirits, and dark magic in the YA fantasy novel Vespertine. Intro and outro music: "The Tavern" by Michael Ghelfi Visit the Tavern: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠Discord⁠⁠⁠⁠ Access bonus content and support us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠ Find Margaret Rogerson at margaretrogerson.com

In this episode, we're chatting about the worldbuilding in the movie 9. Proprietor's Pick: The Last Human by Lee Bacon Intro and outro music: "The Tavern" by Michael Ghelfi Visit the Tavern: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠Discord⁠⁠⁠⁠ Access bonus content and support us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠

Listen in as we chat about superpowers and superhero society, having a large cast, and female characters in the anime My Hero Academia. Proprietor's Pick: Saving Fable by Scott Reintgen Intro and outro music: "The Tavern" by Michael Ghelfi Visit the Tavern: ⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠Discord⁠⁠⁠ Access bonus content and support us on ⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠

We've got fantasy author Sunyi Dean with us on this week's episode of the podcast! Listen in as we chat about her 2022 debut novel, The Book Eaters, how to decide what worldbuilding details to include and what to cut, oppressive societies, the goal of your story, and the power of books. Intro and outro music: "The Tavern" by Michael Ghelfi Visit the Tavern: ⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠Discord⁠⁠⁠ Access bonus content and support us on ⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠ Find Sunyi Dean at sunyidean.com ...