Hidden GMs Podcast
30 episodes - English - Latest episode: over 2 years ago - ★★★★★ - 8 ratingsInterviews with tabletop campaign creators!
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Episodes
Session 27: Endgame
October 08, 2021 17:00 - 52 minutes - 36.4 MBSeason 1 finale, wooohooo! In this session I speak with guest DM Ben! He was a big part of the inspiration for this show and was chronologically the very first person I interviewed. I actually recorded with Ben twice because I messed up our first interview. Luckily, he was cool enough to give it another try! This episode is more of a retelling of his campaign than a traditional interview. It is ripe with inspiration and cool ideas to borrow. I hope you enjoy hearing Ben's story as much as ...
Session 26: The Doppelganger's Daughter
September 28, 2021 18:00 - 37 minutes - 26 MBIn this session I speak with GM Meagan! She is the DM of a homebrewed one-shot that became the basis for her current epic campaign. She is also a cast member of the Multiclass Act podcasting team; an actual play group helmed by Dan the DM who you may remember from Session 4 of Hidden GMs. Join us as we discuss the exciting new Starfinder project as well as the mysterious, monster-filled labyrinth that Meagan has trapped her players within. Enjoy! Links: website: https://multiclassact.com/...
Session 25: Wake Up!
September 22, 2021 05:00 - 55 minutes - 38.3 MBIn this session I speak with guest GM Fiona, a skilled voiceover artist, multi-system GM and improv actor. Fiona has played dozens of different role-playing systems and documented those adventures on her actual play podcast, What Am I Rolling? Join us for a fun discussion on a variety of topics from quidditch to solo RPGs. As a bonus, you will benefit from Fiona's broad RPG experience to get some excellent TTRPG system recommendations! Enjoy! Fiona's Links: Twitter: @WAIR_podcast Website: ...
Session 24: Sourdough Hero
September 14, 2021 07:00 - 55 minutes - 38.3 MBIn this session I speak with Joe-Joe Louis! Joe-Joe is not only a skilled DM, but also a very funny comedian, a "let's play" youtuber and a prolific podcaster. He's also the helmsperson of Mom Hat Studios, a comedy team of content creators! Join us as we discuss his actual play D&D podcast, The Rolls We Made, and learn how the students of Springwillow Academy came to be an intrepid adventuring party! Other topics include everything from Joe-Joe's RPG awakening via a Dragon Strike VHS tape...
Session 23: Tall for an Elf
August 31, 2021 07:00 - 45 minutes - 31.1 MBIn this session I speak with Mark Garkusha of The Cast Die Podcast. We discuss his journey both in the hobby of role-playing and in the field of acting. Join me as I learn more about his epic campaign & actual play show, Against the Demon Lords. Mark brings his NPCs to life by leveraging both his 30 years of TTRPG experience as well as his skills honed during his acting career. Mark has some great insight into the craft of DMing that you won't want to miss. Enjoy! Mark's links: https://lin...
Session 22: The Wrestler
August 25, 2021 03:00 - 46 minutes - 32.3 MBIn this session I speak with pro wrestler Michael Drake. He shares powerful narrative moments, compelling NPCs with deep connections to the players and more. Need to be convinced that you can give your party a dragon (or even a few dragons) and still have an awesome game? How about we settle the debate on potions as a bonus action? We cover all of that and more... Enjoy! ***Content Warning: Death of a young character, suicide, sex & sexual relationships. These topics are discussed in the c...
Session 21: Party City
August 17, 2021 07:00 - 44 minutes - 30.6 MBIn this session I speak with guest GM Claffy. We discuss his history with the game including a brand new concept to me: the sacrificial campaign. We also discuss killing characters, DMing in suboptimal conditions, and some interesting techniques such as using, "yes, and..." as a recruitment tool. Enjoy!
Session 20: Versus
August 10, 2021 07:00 - 53 minutes - 37.1 MBThis week I am joined by guest GM Jonah Klever to discuss his epic ten-year indie project: Versus, the Roleplaying Game. Many of us game masters will homebrew an item here, a monster there, perhaps even a homebrew world. Jonah took that many steps further and made his own TTRPG! Don't miss this episode if you have a burning ember of creativity just waiting to ignite. Prepare to be inspired to take on that monstrous creative work you've been putting off! Note: This episode is NOT sponsored b...
Session 19: Climb
August 03, 2021 07:00 - 54 minutes - 37.8 MBIn this session I talk with DM Nick. During our chat we hit upon a range of topics including common new DM mistakes, how group size can affect table chemistry, handling the fear of killing off beloved PCs and much more. Featured in this episode is his Tower of God homebrew 5e campaign. He has crafted a uniquely bleak campaign setting that is awe-inspiring and surreal. Don't miss Nick's clever DMing techniques that you may be tempted to borrow for your own game, such as his homebrew mechani...
Session 18: Outlaws
July 28, 2021 03:00 - 56 minutes - 38.7 MBIn this session I am joined by guest GM Moses. We discuss his epic homebrew campaign, The Outlaws of Giddah. Moses runs this game for a tight-knit group of friends; many of whom have known each other since kindergarten. We discuss table dynamics, unexpected choices from players, and more. Oh, and as a bonus segment I asked Moses some questions pulled from my favorite subreddit. Links from our guest... Paul's Twitch: https://m.twitch.tv/captainpsalty Ilcarus's soundcloud: soundcloud.com/i...
Session 17: Gray of Beard
July 07, 2021 00:00 - 48 minutes - 33.2 MBIn this session I speak with Shane! He's a great DM with a passion for adding cool homebrew systems to D&D5e. Notably, he has an awesome technique for introducing new players to the hobby in minutes. Join us for the tragic tale of his first character, some really cool 5e rules variations, and a glimpse of his homebrew campaign. Oh, and did I mention that Shane is a DM-for-hire? Shane's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TrunnellsTavern Shane's Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TrunnellsTavern
Session 16: Above the Chaos
June 29, 2021 07:00 - 48 minutes - 33.2 MBThis session we meet Katie. She's a skilled DM with roots in the 4e red box. We talk about her epic max level campaign that takes place in a pantheon-focused, floating island setting. We discuss getting players engaged with role-playing, balancing encounters, and the nuts and bolts behind running a high-tier campaign. Also, good liches and kindly gods of undeath! Whaa-? Good necromancers? Enjoy! Katie's Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/cutacutaa
Session 15: Skinny Dipping
June 22, 2021 15:00 - 55 minutes - 37.9 MBIn this session we meet Billy Sefton, a talented DM for hire who managed to run 77 sessions for his epic campaign in a single year. Learn how to replicate this success as Billy explains The Adventure Club, an episodic-style campaign where players can freely drop in and out of the story. We also talk about make believing on the playground, flying PCs at level one, Covid vaccines, and escape rooms! Don't miss our improvised anime battle, rose & thorn, and much more! Billy's Patreon: https:...
Session 14: Avocadog
June 15, 2021 07:00 - 47 minutes - 32.4 MBIn this session I am joined by Chris Wardlaw of Meridian Radio Network! We discuss the wild setting behind his epic Sci-Fan campaign actual play show! Mysteries of technological wonders abound in this very cool approach to the fantasy genre. Oh, and we trade homebrew magic items! Check out Chris' stuff: Twitter: @Meridian_Radio Meridian Radio Network Website: https://www.meridianradionetwork.com/ NerdFit Website: https://www.meridianradionetwork.com/nerd-fit
Double Feature 1-2: Dog Quest
June 08, 2021 07:00 - 50 minutes - 35 MBIn part two of this special double feature session we continue the convo with Juaquine and Tom! Each of these talented GMs have been players in one another's campaigns. You won't want to miss the tale of Dog Quest, our discussion of burnout, and of course the new experimental segment: The hot seat! Note: You should watch part 1 first if you missed it last week.
Double Feature 1-1: Larry, Avatar of Ruin
June 01, 2021 07:00 - 41 minutes - 28.9 MBIn this special double feature session I speak with both Juaquine and Tom! Each of these talented GMs have been players in one another's campaigns. Don't miss out on the interesting insights that this new perspective provides! Tom tells a story that gives me goosebumps twice and Juaquine outsources his darker deeds to the mysterious villain, Larry! Note: This is part one of a two-part episode. Check back next week for the conclusion!
Session 13: T-Rex vs Mech
May 26, 2021 06:00 - 47 minutes - 33 MBJoin me as I speak with Glenn! He's a GM with over 15 years of experience in the tabletop realm. We talk about the current TTRPG landscape, the dominance of D&D, the Exalted game system and much more! Don't miss his epically scaled Exalted campaign!
Session 12: Groundhog Day
May 18, 2021 07:00 - 42 minutes - 29.4 MBIn this session I speak with Ian, a DM with a decade in the DM chair. We talk about the wild adventures he undertook as a player in a campaign that embraced the absurdist fantasy style. Ian also shares the secret of running a proper time loop campaign. Enjoy! Ian's actual play show can be found here: https://www.patreon.com/toushirokuro
Session 11: Labyrinth Serenade
May 11, 2021 07:00 - 37 minutes - 25.5 MBIn this session I speak with Patrick, a skilled DM who specializes in modifying published adventures. We go on his journey in the role-playing hobby that molded him into the DM he is today as well as learn about his epic take on a popular WotC module. If you want to avoid the classic pitfall of having your party decimated by Rock and Roll Hall of Famer David Bowie then you don't want to miss this session. Spoiler Warning: Storm King's Thunder, Tomb of Annihilation, Princes of the Apocalyps...
Session 10: Diamond Underwear
May 04, 2021 08:00 - 46 minutes - 32.3 MBIn this session I speak with Chambers, a seasoned DM who started playing in 1987. We talk about how the hobby has changed over the years. We also discuss the epic campaign he ran for a creative player party known as "The Fool's Fortune". Get ready for tales of political weretiger matchmaking, weaponized sinkholes, and more!
Session 9: Robin Hood
April 27, 2021 07:00 - 48 minutes - 33.5 MBIn this session you will meet Adam, a man whose whole life has prepared him for the GM chair, or perhaps even to be a D&D character in real life. He is an archer, bowyer, flint knapper, furrier and much more. These fascinating historical hobbies are the bedrock on which his uniquely authentic D&D setting, The Age of Bronze, was developed. Oh, and should you want to play D&D at his table, he is a DM for hire! Adam's podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/7aLaYnKtPzQUP8EMBaru6w Play D&D with...
Session 8: Watermelon Giants
April 20, 2021 07:00 - 45 minutes - 31 MBIn this session we meet with Ashara, a DM with a background in improv acting. We discuss heartfelt moments from his epic campaign, but manage to keep the mood light with an interesting improv exercise and some "no-prep" roleplay. Enjoy! Please check out Ashara's buddy's blog: https://stepintorpgs.wordpress.com/
Session 7: The Magical DMV
April 13, 2021 07:00 - 32 minutes - 22.6 MBIn this session we meet with Corrinne, the DM of an epic homebrew campaign. Come learn about her interesting homebrew elements including a legal combat system and a method for allowing players to craft spells. Also, accidental self-immolation features prominently in this session, so please climb into the nearest birdbath in the event of a fire. Also, please check out Corrinne's art on her Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSF8bYJYIfDzgf-w7pea8Vg
Session 6: Hospitality
April 06, 2021 07:00 - 50 minutes - 35 MBIn this session we chat with Tom! We explore two of his epic campaigns run in very different roleplaying systems. I learn about the joys of permanent injury tables and revel in some unceremonious (yet hilarious) character deaths. Hear the tale of the hot peasant, the bat family, and many more in this session!
Session 5: Whale Fall
March 30, 2021 07:00 - 41 minutes - 28.3 MBIn this session we chat with John Paul! He's a narrative-focused DM who has built an epic world from an unexpected source of inspiration. We explore his unique setting, discuss the benefit of running one-on-one session zeros for each player, and much more! Spoiler warning for players of John Paul's Dragon Falls campaign.
Session 4: Schrödinger's Goblin
March 23, 2021 07:00 - 48 minutes - 33.4 MBIn this session we chat with Dan! He's a professional DM with over 20 years of tabletop RPG experience. Get ready to learn about GMing for bachelor and bachelorette parties, the art of running four-player groups in the same world simultaneously, and much more! Dan's AMA: https://www.reddit.com/r/DnDBehindTheScreen/comments/docaqt/bts_i_have_been_dming_for_20_years_and_doing_so/ Be sure to check out Dan's upcoming Starfinder project, MultiClass Act! It's coming summer 2021 to Youtube, Twitc...
Session 3: The Forgotten Giants
March 16, 2021 15:00 - 57 minutes - 39.8 MBIn this session we chat with Shreyo, a creative DM who adapted the Storm King's Thunder module for his D&D campaign. We talk about Shreyo's module-based campaign that has taken a big detour, Groundhog Day murder dungeons, and much more! Big shout out to the players of the Storm King's Blunder campaign!
Session 2: The Perennial Agents
March 09, 2021 05:00 - 55 minutes - 38.5 MBIn this second session we chat with Sergio. He's a GM or "Handler" who hosts an actual play podcast featuring the Delta Green game system: Doomed to Repeat. You'll love the story of how his highly skilled podcast team, Mayday Roleplay, came together! If you want to learn more about Sergio's exciting projects, please check out the links below... Mayday Roleplay's website: https://www.maydayroleplay.com/ Mayday Roleplay's Twitter: @Maydayroleplay Mayday Roleplay's Youtube: https://www.youtub...
Session 1: The Unicorn Tamer
March 02, 2021 19:00 - 55 minutes - 38 MBIn this first session we chat with Naveen, a skilled DM who completed a level 1-20 D&D 5th edition campaign. You'll want to hear his technique for recruiting players! Link to Naveen's handy Reddit post: https://www.reddit.com/r/DMAcademy/comments/i6l4w3/running_a_level_120_sixplayer_campaign_weekly_for/ Naveen invites you to reply on this thread or DM him on Reddit if you have questions!
Session 0: The Announcening
February 05, 2021 01:00 - 1 minute - 1.12 MBGreetings listener! This is a special session 0 announcement episode for my upcoming interview show: The Hidden GMs podcast. It's the podcast where we sit down with real GMs from the tabletop RPG community and talk about their epic and memorable campaigns. So, pull up a barstool at the tavern and listen as these masters of the game share their stories and wisdom with us!