Heroes & Thieves
73 episodes - English - Latest episode: 8 months ago - ★★★★★ - 13 ratingsA creative world building exercise led by brothers Michael and Greg Starks, in which they attempt to build fantasy and sci-fi worlds every week using only three words as the basis. Good, bad, and ugly ideas are all welcome here.
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Episodes
Talkin' About 'Baldur's Gate 3'
August 21, 2023 23:00 - 52 minutes - 36.1 MBHere we take another new season where we get more casual, and a little more exposition-y. It's time to talk about Baldur's Gate 3, and the house that D&D built. How can this great new game improve your worldbuilding? Listen and find out. Support the show Thank you for listening. Find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or anywhere else you get your podcasts. Remember to leave a good rating and a review if you liked the episode! Instagram TikTok
The Toilet Bowl Taketh
July 07, 2023 20:00 - 59 minutes - 40.6 MBIf you think a twelve hour plane ride is long, this episode will make your skin crawl. This world is has barbarism, cannibalism, and an extremely well-to-do pilot. It's the perfect storm for some 'turbulent' worldbuilding. Support the show Thank you for listening. Find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or anywhere else you get your podcasts. Remember to leave a good rating and a review if you liked the episode! Instagram TikTok
Mega Millions Sauna Club
June 15, 2023 22:00 - 59 minutes - 40.7 MBThis place is not fun for most, awful for many, but where many of the best deals in the universe happen. Check out how we build mega million money getaways! Support the show Thank you for listening. Find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or anywhere else you get your podcasts. Remember to leave a good rating and a review if you liked the episode! Instagram TikTok
Waves Of Creation
May 21, 2023 02:00 - 1 hour - 42.7 MBToday's episode waxes a little more poetic than normal, as we attempt to make a world that is farther out of the bounds of reality than usual. How did we do? Other topics: Parenting, giving children headphones, allocate, pirates, Cthulhu ASMR. Support the show Thank you for listening. Find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or anywhere else you get your podcasts. Remember to leave a good rating and a review if you liked the episode! Instagram TikTok
Twisted Trials of the Fallen
May 06, 2023 19:00 - 55 minutes - 37.9 MBThere's so many ways worldbuilding could go, but this one gets devilish. Worry not, mom and dad, we don't worship any underground deities... yet. Dante's Inferno and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn come together in a beautiful union to make this week's world! Support the show Thank you for listening. Find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or anywhere else you get your podcasts. Remember to leave a good rating and a review if you liked the episode! Instagram TikTok
Worlds Will Collide ft. Garrett K. Jones
April 28, 2023 17:00 - 59 minutes - 40.6 MBIn today's episode we are joined by Garrett K. Jones, author of a series called The Archives of Icínq-Régn, podcast host, and YouTube creator! We build an alternate Earth, learning a bit about history along the way. Who knew history could be so fun? You can find Garrett below: Twitter Instagram Website YouTube Support the show Thank you for listening. Find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or anywhere else you get your podcasts. Remember to leave a good rating and a review if you liked the epi...
They Will Dig Our Graves ft. Kerry E.B. Black
April 15, 2023 20:00 - 59 minutes - 41.2 MBAre you a horror loving type? How about a good thriller? In this episode we attempt our best horror style world with the help of author Kerry E.B. Black! Are werewolves lame or cool? What about fairies? Find out with us in this episode! Kerry E.B. Black is the author of many novels, including the Seasons of Growing series, the most recent being Spring of Spirits. You can find her books on Amazon, so if thrillers are up your alley, she is a must read. Amazon: https://a.co/d/ikAcZMg Facebook...
The Great Triangle Wars ft. Adam J. Scholte
April 01, 2023 17:00 - 53 minutes - 36.9 MBA frozen landscape, warring tribal factions, and some documents! Things get hot real fast on this icy world. And, we are joined by a guest author! Adam J. Scholte is the author of The Ramulas Chronicles, a series of fantasy novels starting with The Beginning Of The End. Books one and two are out now, with book three aiming to be released by the end of 2023. You can find links to buy the books on his website below! https://www.adamjscholte.com/ Support the show Thank you for listening. Find...
Sticks and Stones
March 09, 2023 23:00 - 56 minutes - 38.5 MBWhich one hurts more: sticks or stones? If only there was some sort of mantra to answer that for us... I guess we will never know! Welcome to a world of rings and rivers! Support the show Thank you for listening. Find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or anywhere else you get your podcasts. Remember to leave a good rating and a review if you liked the episode! Instagram TikTok
The All Consuming
February 28, 2023 02:00 - 56 minutes - 38.9 MBWe're at it again with a fun blend of scifi and fantasy, and a few grievances to lay out. Listen as we create worlds, magically, out of nothing but some sub-par words. Support the show Thank you for listening. Find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or anywhere else you get your podcasts. Remember to leave a good rating and a review if you liked the episode! Instagram TikTok
Our Gloves Unite Us
February 07, 2023 20:00 - 58 minutes - 40.2 MBPower Gloves? Golden Gloves? Fingerless leather gloves? I can't imagine why we are so obsessed with these hand coverings, but that is the basis of this week's world. They are like socks for our hands! Support the show Thank you for listening. Find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or anywhere else you get your podcasts. Remember to leave a good rating and a review if you liked the episode! Instagram TikTok
Justice Is Blind
January 22, 2023 03:00 - 50 minutes - 34.8 MBNew year, new us! Kick off 2023 with a sci-fi world full of justice and... whittling? We also have a special guest... our brother Randy! Listen in as he tries his hand at impromptu worldbuilding - it's not as easy as it looks. Support the show Thank you for listening. Find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or anywhere else you get your podcasts. Remember to leave a good rating and a review if you liked the episode! Instagram TikTok
Games of the Gods
November 10, 2022 20:00 - 1 hour - 41.8 MBDo the gods really love us or are we just pawns in their eternal game? This biblically-inspired world will most definitely surprise you, because we were also confused. Support the show Thank you for listening. Find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or anywhere else you get your podcasts. Remember to leave a good rating and a review if you liked the episode! Instagram TikTok
Philosophical Paper People
November 03, 2022 17:00 - 58 minutes - 40.5 MBArmchair philosophy reigns supreme this time around. Do you have what it takes to match the big brains on display here? Give it a listen and find out! Support the show Thank you for listening. Find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or anywhere else you get your podcasts. Remember to leave a good rating and a review if you liked the episode! Instagram TikTok
The Future Is Not Good
October 26, 2022 20:00 - 52 minutes - 35.9 MBJoin us as we slowly realize that the world we are building is coming to pass before our very eyes. Influencers, Hollywood stars, and CEO's. All to be found here! Support the show Thank you for listening. Find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or anywhere else you get your podcasts. Remember to leave a good rating and a review if you liked the episode! Instagram TikTok
Fight or Blight
October 11, 2022 16:00 - 1 hour - 42.6 MBWelcome to the first episode of Season 3! Back to the origins of building fresh worlds and inserting some real premium armchair philosophy. Sit back, relax, and enjoy a hot, delicious cup of jasmine green tea while we whisk away your worries! Support the show Thank you for listening. Find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or anywhere else you get your podcasts. Remember to leave a good rating and a review if you liked the episode! Instagram TikTok
Artia Is Complete
September 26, 2022 16:00 - 58 minutes - 40.4 MBThis marks our last foray into the world of Artia! Join us as we reminisce on the process and the ideas that came out of this fantastic fantasy world. Needless to say, there were a lot of lessons learned! Support the show Thank you for listening. Find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or anywhere else you get your podcasts. Remember to leave a good rating and a review if you liked the episode! Instagram TikTok
The Polish of Steelglaive
September 17, 2022 19:00 - 1 hour - 45.2 MBAs the sun begins to set on the worldbuilding of Artia, we take a few moments to reflect on all the good work that was done here. And question the creators of gargoyles. Whoever thought they'd be a good addition to classic churches was either a genius or a crazy person. Support the show Thank you for listening. Find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or anywhere else you get your podcasts. Remember to leave a good rating and a review if you liked the episode! Instagram TikTok
The Rainfall
September 09, 2022 18:00 - 58 minutes - 39.9 MBWhat do you do when it rains? Get sad, of course. We discuss the finer points of sadness as it relates to humanity and happiness. Equal and opposite reactions or something like that. In loving memory of Kuang-Hao Chang. Support the show Thank you for listening. Find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or anywhere else you get your podcasts. Remember to leave a good rating and a review if you liked the episode! Instagram TikTok
The Rotating City of Steel
August 27, 2022 18:00 - 1 hour - 44.3 MBWas Friends even a good show? Do pivoting cities excite you? Well they should! This week we dive into Steelglaive and create more workings of the city. Support the show Thank you for listening. Find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or anywhere else you get your podcasts. Remember to leave a good rating and a review if you liked the episode! Instagram TikTok
Antihero Life Lessons
August 19, 2022 17:00 - 1 hour - 43.3 MBWhat makes a hero? What makes a villain? Answers to these and many more hard-hitting questions lie inside this episode. Also included: a crash course in some real world governing principles. Support the show Thank you for listening. Find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or anywhere else you get your podcasts. Remember to leave a good rating and a review if you liked the episode! Instagram TikTok
Wirey Boys
August 09, 2022 23:00 - 58 minutes - 40.5 MBWhat's in a name? Why were we both given names that can be shortened? Is there a name that can't be shortened? Also discussed is the importance of hugs to the family unit. All important pieces to the world of Artia! Support the show Thank you for listening. Find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or anywhere else you get your podcasts. Remember to leave a good rating and a review if you liked the episode! Instagram TikTok
I Am The One Who Shuts
August 01, 2022 20:00 - 1 hour - 43.8 MBYou know that phenomenon when you say a word so many times that it starts to lose meaning? That happened to us while recording this episode. Happened to Greg twice. Listen in to discover a new character stalking the streets of Meragora! Support the show Thank you for listening. Find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or anywhere else you get your podcasts. Remember to leave a good rating and a review if you liked the episode! Instagram TikTok
Retcon and Crypto
July 21, 2022 17:00 - 1 hour - 42.5 MBPrepare yourselves for another fantastic adventure into Artia, where NFT's make sense and the world is in balance. Also, we may need to rework some of our original lore. Things have gotten out of hand. Support the show Thank you for listening. Find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or anywhere else you get your podcasts. Remember to leave a good rating and a review if you liked the episode! Instagram TikTok
Secret of Evermore
July 13, 2022 01:00 - 56 minutes - 38.5 MBIn the first episode of our sidebar series called 'Just Talkin' About it', we would like to introduce you to the world of Evermore! Support the show Thank you for listening. Find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or anywhere else you get your podcasts. Remember to leave a good rating and a review if you liked the episode! Instagram TikTok
Tall Grass And Snake Oil
July 07, 2022 17:00 - 56 minutes - 38.7 MBThere's a time and a place for door-to-door salesmen, and we decided Artia was the place, and this episode was the time. This is peak fantasy worldbuilding. Support the show Thank you for listening. Find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or anywhere else you get your podcasts. Remember to leave a good rating and a review if you liked the episode! Instagram TikTok
The Maze Blunderer
June 30, 2022 19:00 - 55 minutes - 37.9 MBThe gang builds a maze, and then it gets dark. For all of you connoisseurs of the fine art of maze-ing, you're going to want to listen to the arguments put forth here - they may change the game forever. Support the show Thank you for listening. Find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or anywhere else you get your podcasts. Remember to leave a good rating and a review if you liked the episode! Instagram TikTok
Trade School Giants
June 01, 2022 17:00 - 55 minutes - 38.4 MBIn this episode we talk trade schools, giants, and pinching. Spoiler, if you are a pincher you rank very very low on our list of likable people! But listen in to find out our take on the American school system and how cool giants are! Support the show Thank you for listening. Find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or anywhere else you get your podcasts. Remember to leave a good rating and a review if you liked the episode! Instagram TikTok
Vampires, There Are Vampires
May 19, 2022 20:00 - 51 minutes - 35.3 MBThe title really explains it all here. If you like vampires, you're going to love Artia. Join us as Michael battles a flu in real-time while we discuss some of the finer points of worldbuilding. Support the show Thank you for listening. Find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or anywhere else you get your podcasts. Remember to leave a good rating and a review if you liked the episode! Instagram TikTok
Are We Gaming Now?
May 05, 2022 17:00 - 55 minutes - 38.5 MBAs we delve deeper into the never ending black hole of worldbuilding, discussions rage about the four horseman and more bad guys. Also, how do you all define savage? We struggle on that one. Support the show Thank you for listening. Find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or anywhere else you get your podcasts. Remember to leave a good rating and a review if you liked the episode! Instagram TikTok
Radio Creepin
April 27, 2022 23:00 - 1 hour - 43.8 MBThis week's words are brought to you by... songs I heard on my drive home from work. Smash hits - every single one. Listen to the very end to hear some deep thoughts about friendship, even though it makes no impact on Artia whatsoever! Support the show Thank you for listening. Find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or anywhere else you get your podcasts. Remember to leave a good rating and a review if you liked the episode! Instagram TikTok
The Skate Shooting Festival
April 20, 2022 21:00 - 57 minutes - 39.8 MBWelcome, again, to the great city of Umbra! Where elves are archery purists and conspiracy theorists have plenty to talk about! Come on in, put on the tinfoil hat, and join the action. Support the show Thank you for listening. Find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or anywhere else you get your podcasts. Remember to leave a good rating and a review if you liked the episode! Instagram TikTok
A Little Touch of Magic
April 14, 2022 21:00 - 1 hour - 43 MBWould your D&D character be eligible to be a part of a Hall of Legends? Maybe! If you've done some mighty deeds, they may consider it. We also finally get into some detail with races and who inhabits this world. Take a listen! Support the show Thank you for listening. Find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or anywhere else you get your podcasts. Remember to leave a good rating and a review if you liked the episode! Instagram TikTok
The Weight of the Gods
April 06, 2022 00:00 - 1 hour - 41.5 MBWe managed to lose an episode, but we make up for it in this one! Are kids capable of making good decisions? Are gods always supposed to answer their children? Find out in this episdoe when we break it all down! Support the show Thank you for listening. Find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or anywhere else you get your podcasts. Remember to leave a good rating and a review if you liked the episode! Instagram TikTok
The Pale City Recap
March 27, 2022 19:00 - 1 hour - 50.7 MBJoin us in our wrap-up episode for The Pale City and introduce our special guest and resident Dungeon Master, Matt! Does everything get retconned? Or did we get everything right the first time? In any case, our one-shot of The Pale City is shaping up to be a good one! qOFo4RwXIhkmUdFmsGko Support the show Thank you for listening. Find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or anywhere else you get your podcasts. Remember to leave a good rating and a review if you liked the episode! Instagram TikTok
Artia Takes Form
March 24, 2022 21:00 - 59 minutes - 41.1 MBI think we still have some work to do on our epic announcer voices, but you have to start somewhere. Just like this world is starting to really come alive! Check out how soft worldbuilding is really done. Support the show Thank you for listening. Find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or anywhere else you get your podcasts. Remember to leave a good rating and a review if you liked the episode! Instagram TikTok
Hearing Silence
March 20, 2022 21:00 - 1 hour - 41.8 MBSilence is golden... or is it? In our case, it is. In other news, our headmistress gets some extra attention and the world is FINALLY given a name. Welcome to Artia! Support the show Thank you for listening. Find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or anywhere else you get your podcasts. Remember to leave a good rating and a review if you liked the episode! Instagram TikTok
Chain of Command
March 16, 2022 20:00 - 57 minutes - 39.7 MBA new headmistress makes her way into The Pale City today, **insert name here**! And another thing - how many red herrings can we put into one city? Is there such a thing as too many? Support the show Thank you for listening. Find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or anywhere else you get your podcasts. Remember to leave a good rating and a review if you liked the episode! Instagram TikTok
No Pain No Gain
March 11, 2022 21:00 - 57 minutes - 39.6 MBToday we enter into arena combat at the whim of a noble who gets a little too excited about seeing blood. Also, the philosophy of The Office fans everywhere: "Trust me, it gets really good in the later seasons, keep watching..." Support the show Thank you for listening. Find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or anywhere else you get your podcasts. Remember to leave a good rating and a review if you liked the episode! Instagram TikTok
Man of the Cloth
March 06, 2022 00:00 - 1 hour - 42.1 MBAs we make our way through the major campaign questline, The Pale City gets detailed! Factions, noble houses, and handsome liches are the norm in this rainy nation. A real one-shot session is slowly coming together! Support the show Thank you for listening. Find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or anywhere else you get your podcasts. Remember to leave a good rating and a review if you liked the episode! Instagram TikTok
The Paladin Executioner
March 01, 2022 17:00 - 59 minutes - 40.8 MBDo you enjoy a good Rubik's Cube? Well, today we make it into a Dungeons & Dragons legendary item. Do you enjoy a good cowardly paladin? Well, today we make one. Enjoy your stay in The Pale City! Support the show Thank you for listening. Find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or anywhere else you get your podcasts. Remember to leave a good rating and a review if you liked the episode! Instagram TikTok
Faith Healer
February 23, 2022 17:00 - 1 hour - 41.6 MBDo you like snake oil, pyramid schemes, used cars that might be lemons, or YouTube tutorials on how to get rich quick if you just buy their $1,000 course? Boy, do we have the fantasy-equivalent character for you! Listen to this episode and you will definitely buy into this worldbuilding action. Support the show Thank you for listening. Find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or anywhere else you get your podcasts. Remember to leave a good rating and a review if you liked the episode! Instagram ...
The Pallid King
February 20, 2022 21:00 - 1 hour - 42.5 MBWe begin our multi-episode deep dive into the nation of The Pale City. What are it's origins? Who are it's people? Who is The Pallid King? Let's shed some light on this foggy and damp nation! Support the show Thank you for listening. Find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or anywhere else you get your podcasts. Remember to leave a good rating and a review if you liked the episode! Instagram TikTok
The Hunters
February 17, 2022 02:00 - 59 minutes - 40.8 MBHave we found a new totally non embarrassing way to create new characters in our world?! Yep! We also added some lore and life to the Kingdom of Steelglaive. What would your embarrassing story be if you had to choose one? Let us know! Support the show Thank you for listening. Find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or anywhere else you get your podcasts. Remember to leave a good rating and a review if you liked the episode! Instagram TikTok
Axe Of The Executioner
February 13, 2022 22:00 - 1 hour - 41.9 MBThings get a little bit more dragon-y in our Dungeons & Dragons world. Other mentioned topics: Randy Orton, Jimmer Fredette, and a classic opening quest for a campaign. There is also a loud cry for help when it comes to naming things. Support the show Thank you for listening. Find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or anywhere else you get your podcasts. Remember to leave a good rating and a review if you liked the episode! Instagram TikTok
Day And Night
February 09, 2022 21:00 - 57 minutes - 39.3 MBWe're adding technology and some interesting cycles for our world! Do we know how these things technically work? No. Do we brute force them into the world anyway? Yep! We also bring two more NPC's into the world that really liven up the world! Support the show Thank you for listening. Find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or anywhere else you get your podcasts. Remember to leave a good rating and a review if you liked the episode! Instagram TikTok
Cloak And Dagger
February 06, 2022 19:00 - 58 minutes - 40 MBToday we come up with our first legendary item and, most impressively, it even gets a name! The world gets a littler grittier and a whole lot bigger this time around. Mulan also makes an appearance. Support the show Thank you for listening. Find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or anywhere else you get your podcasts. Remember to leave a good rating and a review if you liked the episode! Instagram TikTok
On A Pale Horse
February 03, 2022 19:00 - 1 hour - 44.1 MBThis time around we dive into the intricacies of our world, adding some depth to the coastal nation of Umbra and a new locale - The Pale City! Necromancers, magic missiles, dice! How much more D&D can this get?! Support the show Thank you for listening. Find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or anywhere else you get your podcasts. Remember to leave a good rating and a review if you liked the episode! Instagram TikTok
The Wavecrashers
January 26, 2022 18:00 - 1 hour - 41.7 MBWe did it! We finally created a city - an actual place on the map. This episode we create a port city by the sea that has the best night life in all of... [World Name Here]! Support the show Thank you for listening. Find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or anywhere else you get your podcasts. Remember to leave a good rating and a review if you liked the episode! Instagram TikTok
The Sons of Fire
January 21, 2022 21:00 - 1 hour - 43.2 MBDo you love ancient civilizations? Do you love real-world history? If the answer to either question is yes, then you need to listen to this one! If the answer is no, you should tune in anyway because things are about to get wild. Support the show Thank you for listening. Find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or anywhere else you get your podcasts. Remember to leave a good rating and a review if you liked the episode! Instagram TikTok