Speculate
385 episodes - English - Latest episode: 3 months ago - ★★★★★ - 17 ratingsSpeculate is an award-winning actual play TTRPG show starring science fiction & fantasy authors, editors, and more.
Hosted by authors Gregory A. Wilson, Brandon O’Brien, and Michael R. Underwood, the show explores the overlap between different forms of storytelling from prose to games and beyond. They’ve played Blades in the Dark, Girl by Moonlight, Lasers & Feelings, D&D, and more.
In addition to the podcast episodes, you can find video-only shows at speculatesf.com/shows
NOTE: In 2018, Speculate transitioned from its original literary criticism format to the current actual play show. All of the old episdoes are still available.
Speculate is supported by listeners like you at patreon.com/speculate
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Episodes
Episode 34 of Speculate! – Carol Berg Author Interview
January 18, 2012 17:00 - 47 minutes - 43.4 MBWelcome back for Episode 34 of Speculate! The Podcast for Writers, Readers and Fans. We’re beginning our second year with a bang: in this episode we interview Carol Berg, veteran author of many fantasy novels and winner of the Mythopoeic Fantasy Award, about her inspirations in writing, the development of her career and her love […]
Episode 33 of Speculate! – 2011 Year in Review Show
January 04, 2012 17:00 - 58 minutes - 53.4 MBWelcome back for Episode 33 of Speculate! The Podcast for Writers, Readers and Fans. In this episode we’re proud to present our first annual Year in Review show, in which (after wishing ourselves a very happy birthday) we discuss how the show has progressed over the past year and touch on the various episodes we […]
Episode 32 of Speculate! – Courtney Schafer Author Interview
December 21, 2011 17:00 - 46 minutes - 42.2 MBWelcome back for Episode 32 of Speculate! The Podcast for Writers, Readers and Fans. In this episode we interview mountain climber, figure skater and (of course) fantasy author Courtney Schafer, who somehow finds time between climbing sheer rock faces, landing triple jumps, working a day job in electrical engineering and raising a son to write […]
Episode 31 of Speculate! – Mark Winters Artist Interview
December 07, 2011 17:00 - 39 minutes - 36.6 MBWelcome back for Episode 31 of Speculate! The Podcast for Writers, Readers and Fans. In this episode we interview artist Mark Winters, who like our previously interviewed artist Adam Paquette has a broad range of interests in the field of speculative art and beyond, having worked in several different mediums and (in addition to his […]
Episode 30 of Speculate! – Maurice Broaddus Author Interview
November 23, 2011 17:00 - 44 minutes - 40.3 MBWelcome back for Episode 30 of Speculate! The Podcast for Writers, Readers and Fans. In this episode we interview the multitalented Maurice Broaddus, who in between writing, editing, performing the duties of a small publishing company vice-president and running a convention somehow finds the time to talk to us! This was an enjoyable and thoughtful […]
Episode 29 of Speculate! – The Book of Cthulhu Writing Discussion
November 09, 2011 17:00 - 42 minutes - 38.6 MBWelcome back for Episode 29 of Speculate! The Podcast for Writers, Readers and Fans. This week we conclude our series of shows on Night Shade Books‘ anthology The Book of Cthulhu with a discussion about some of the writing techniques used in the stories we focused on during this sequence. We enjoyed reading this anthology […]
Episode 28 of Speculate! – Laird Barron and John Hornor Jacobs Author Interview
October 26, 2011 17:00 - 51 minutes - 46.8 MBWelcome back for Episode 28 of Speculate! The Podcast for Writers, Readers and Fans. In this episode we continue our sequence of shows on Night Shade Books‘ anthology The Book of Cthulhu with an interview of two contributors to the volume, Laird Barron and John Hornor Jacobs. Like our interview with editor Ross Lockhart, this […]
Episode 27 of Speculate! – Ross Lockhart Editor Interview
October 12, 2011 17:00 - 39 minutes - 36.5 MBWelcome back for Episode 27 of Speculate! The Podcast for Writers, Readers and Fans. In this episode we continue our sequence of shows on Night Shade Books‘ new anthology, The Book of Cthulhu, with a discussion with its editor Ross Lockhart. But as Ross proves in this wide-ranging interview, he knows a lot more about […]
Episode 26 of Speculate! – The Book of Cthulhu Anthology Review
October 05, 2011 17:00 - 37 minutes - 34.3 MBWelcome back for Episode 26 of Speculate! The Podcast for Writers, Readers and Fans. In this episode we start a new sequence of shows on the new anthology from publisher Night Shade Books and editor Ross Lockhart, The Book of Cthulhu, investigating (gulp!) the Elder Gods with our reaction to stories by Laird Barron, Elizabeth […]
Episode 25 of Speculate! – Podcasts, Professions and Shameless Promotion Talk
September 19, 2011 17:00 - 1 hour - 57.2 MBWelcome to Episode 25 of Speculate! The Podcast for Writers, Readers and Fans. We’re just about ready to start posting our next sequence of shows on The Book of Cthulhu, but we didn’t want to leave our loyal listeners content free for another week–so this week we’re happy to present a talk Greg did at […]
Episode 24 of Speculate! – Patrick Rothfuss Author Interview Video
September 06, 2011 17:00 - 116 MB VideoWelcome to Episode 24 of Speculate! The Podcast for Writers, Readers and Fans. In this episode we present our second interview with bestselling author Patrick Rothfuss, this one conducted at the just concluded Worldcon in Reno. As usual, Pat’s answers are thoughtful and wide-ranging, from a frank discussion about the difficulties of writing “the middle […]
Episode 23.5 of Speculate! – Ed Greenwood Author Interview Video
September 03, 2011 03:24 - 60.5 MB VideoHello all, On Tuesday we’ll be posting Episode 24 of Speculate!, a special video interview with bestselling author and friend of the show Patrick Rothfuss. To get ready for the event, we thought we’d get you warmed up with this video version of the interview we recently did with author Ed Greenwood. If you like […]
Episode 23 of Speculate! – Gen Con 2011 Author Interviews
August 29, 2011 17:00 - 47 minutes - 43.9 MBWelcome to Episode 23 of Speculate! The Podcast for Writers, Readers and Fans. In this episode we bring you a series of interviews done with authors attending Gen Con, one of the largest fantasy / science fiction / gaming conventions in the world. Robert Farnsworth, Don Bingle, Jerry Gordon, Paul Genesse, Maurice Broaddus, Elizabeth Vaughan […]
Episode 22 of Speculate! – Hugo Nominees Discussion
August 15, 2011 17:00 - 40 minutes - 37.4 MBWelcome to Episode 22 of Speculate! The Podcast for Writers, Readers and Fans. In this episode we talk about some of the nominees for the Hugo, to be awarded this coming weekend at Worldcon in Reno, focusing in particular on short stories and graphic novels. We hardly have a crystal ball, but (as usual) we […]
Episode 21 of Speculate! – Wellspring Workshop 2011 Video
August 08, 2011 17:00 - 104 MB VideoWelcome to a special episode of Speculate! The Podcast for Writers, Readers and Fans. This week we’re proud to present our first video, an hour long compilation of interviews, critique sessions and readings that made up part of the Wellspring Workshop held this past June in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. We hope you enjoy the video, […]
Episode 20 of Speculate! – Aliette de Bodard Writing Discussion
August 01, 2011 17:00 - 33 minutes - 30.7 MBWelcome to Episode 20 of Speculate! The Podcast for Writers, Readers and Fans. In this episode we wrap up our series of shows on Aliette de Bodard’s Harbinger of the Storm with a discussion of some of the writing techniques she utilizes in the book…and some suggestions about how aspiring writers can put similar techniques […]
Episode 19 of Speculate! – Aliette de Bodard Author Interview
July 25, 2011 17:00 - 24 minutes - 22.8 MBHello again, and welcome to Episode 19 of Speculate! The Podcast for Writers, Readers and Fans. In this episode we continue our series of shows on the work of Aliette de Bodard by interviewing the author herself about Harbinger of the Storm, covering topics from Aztec culture to the ways mysteries and thrillers can enhance […]
Episode 18 of Speculate! – Aliette de Bodard Novel Review (Harbinger of the Storm)
July 18, 2011 17:00 - 26 minutes - 24.5 MBWelcome back for Episode 18 of Speculate! The Podcast for Writers, Readers and Fans. Recently back from Wellspring Workshop, in this episode we begin a series of shows on the work of Nebula, Hugo and Campbell nominee Aliette de Bodard, focusing in particular on her book Harbinger of the Storm. If you like what you […]
Episode 17 of Speculate! – Wellspring Workshop Discussion
June 27, 2011 15:00 - 40 minutes - 37.2 MBWelcome to Episode 17 of Speculate! The Podcast for Writers, Readers and Fans. In this episode we talk about Wellspring, an invite only novel writing workshop being held in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin and involving eleven speculative fiction authors (including your humble hosts Greg and Brad!), along with a more extended conversation about workshop models, MFA […]
Episode 16 of Speculate! – Kevin J. Anderson Author Interview
June 13, 2011 17:00 - 48 minutes - 44.3 MBAfter a brief hiatus, we’re back with Episode 16 of Speculate! The Podcast for Writers, Readers and Fans. In this episode we talk to New York Times bestselling author Kevin J. Anderson about the conclusion of his epic fantasy trilogy Terra Incognita, his tie-in work in universes from Star Wars to Star Trek to Dune, […]
Episode 15 of Speculate! – Eclipse Four Writing Discussion
May 16, 2011 17:00 - 51 minutes - 46.7 MBWelcome to Episode 15 of Speculate! The Podcast for Writers, Readers and Fans. In this episode we wrap up our look at Eclipse Four, Night Shade Books’ newest anthology, with a discussion of some of the writing techniques demonstrated in some representative stories by Michael Swanwick, James Patrick Kelly and Andy Duncan. If you enjoy […]
Episode 14 of Speculate! – James Patrick Kelly and Michael Swanwick Author Interview
May 02, 2011 17:00 - 46 minutes - 42.9 MBWelcome to Episode 14 of Speculate! The Podcast for Writers, Readers and Fans. In this episode we talk to two luminaries of speculative fiction, James Patrick Kelly and Michael Swanwick, about their stories for Night Shade Books‘ new anthology Eclipse Four, their careers in science fiction and fantasy and what they’re working on for the […]
Episode 13 of Speculate! – Jonathan Strahan Editor Interview
April 25, 2011 17:00 - 47 minutes - 43.1 MBWelcome back for Episode 13 of Speculate! The Podcast for Writers, Readers and Fans. In this episode we interview editor extraordinaire Jonathan Strahan on his editing career, his philosophy on constructing an anthology and his work with Night Shade Books‘ newest story collection, Eclipse Four. We even get a chance to talk to him about […]
Episode 12 of Speculate! – Eclipse Four Anthology Review
April 18, 2011 17:00 - 29 minutes - 27.2 MBHi all, Welcome back for Episode 12 of Speculate! The Podcast for Writers, Readers and Fans. In this episode we start a new sequence of discussion/interview/discussion shows on the new anthology from publisher Night Shade Books and editor Jonathan Strahan, Eclipse Four, concentrating in particular on stories by Michael Swanwick, James Patrick Kelly, Andy Duncan […]
Episode 11 of Speculate! – Patrick Rothfuss Author Interview
April 11, 2011 17:00 - 55 minutes - 50.9 MBWelcome to Episode 11 of Speculate! The Podcast for Writers, Readers and Fans. In this episode we talk about the life of a bestselling fantasy author with, well, a bestselling fantasy author! Pat Rothfuss, whose sequel to his acclaimed debut novel The Name of the Wind, The Wise Man’s Fear, has hit #1 on the […]
Episode 10 of Speculate! – N.K. Jemisin Writing Discussion
March 28, 2011 17:00 - 32 minutes - 29.5 MBWelcome to Episode 10 of Speculate! The Podcast for Writers, Readers and Fans. In this episode we look at some of the writing techniques in N.K. Jemisin‘s Nebula-nominated novel The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms…and how aspiring writers can learn from those techniques to improve their own work. If you like what you hear, please check back […]
Episode 9 of Speculate! – N.K. Jemisin Author Interview
March 21, 2011 17:00 - 35 minutes - 32.6 MBWelcome to Episode 9 of Speculate! The Podcast for Writers, Readers and Fans. In this episode, the second of our sequence on The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms, we interview the book’s author N.K. Jemisin about both process and product. We cover a good deal of ground during the interview, talking about psychology, politics and magic within […]
Episode 8 of Speculate! – N.K. Jemisin Novel Review (The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms)
March 14, 2011 17:00 - 25 minutes - 23.7 MBHi all, Welcome back for Episode 8 of Speculate! The Podcast for Writers, Readers and Fans. In this episode we begin a sequence of shows on the work of N.K. Jemisin, focusing specifically on her Nebula-nominated book The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms. If you like what you hear, don’t miss next week’s show where we talk […]
Episode 7 of Speculate! – Adam Paquette Artist Interview
February 28, 2011 17:00 - 37 minutes - 34.7 MBWelcome to Episode 7 of Speculate! The Podcast for Writers, Readers and Fans. In this episode we interview artist Adam Paquette, whose work in the speculative fiction, gaming and other fields is both broad and deep. Adam discusses the creative process generally and specifically in his own work, focusing for a good part of the […]
Episode 6 of Speculate! – Kij Johnson Writing Discussion
February 21, 2011 17:00 - 38 minutes - 35.3 MBWelcome to Episode 6 of Speculate! The Podcast for Writers, Readers and Fans. In this episode we examine some of the specific writing techniques in Kij Johnson‘s short fiction, focusing on the three stories discussed in the previous two shows. If you enjoy the episode, please let us know by leaving feedback or getting in […]
Episode 5 of Speculate!
February 14, 2011 17:00 - 29 minutes - 26.9 MBHi again, Welcome to Episode 5 of Speculate! The Podcast for Writers, Readers and Fans. In this episode we continue our exploration of Kij Johnson‘s short fiction with an interview of the author, discussing art, craft, and the intersection between the two in her work. If you enjoy the discussion, please remember to come back […]
Episode 4 of Speculate!
February 07, 2011 17:00 - 31 minutes - 28.9 MBHey everyone, Welcome back for Episode 4 of Speculate! The Podcast for Writers, Readers and Fans. In this episode we start a new sequence of discussion/interview/discussion shows concerning the work of Nebula and World Fantasy Award winning author Kij Johnson, in particular focusing on three stories: 26 monkeys, also the abyss, Ponies, and Spar. If […]
Episode 3 of Speculate!
January 24, 2011 17:00 - 25 minutes - 23.1 MBHi everyone, Welcome to Episode 3 of Speculate! The Podcast for Writers, Readers and Fans. In this episode we talk about some specific writing techniques used in the Apex stories discussed in the last two shows, both how they function within their respective stories and how proper use of them can help authors in their […]
Episode 2 of Speculate!
January 17, 2011 17:00 - 49 minutes - 44.9 MBHello again, Welcome to the second episode of Speculate! The Podcast for Writers, Readers and Fans. In this episode we talk to two of the authors from the Apex issue discussed in Episode 1, Amal El-Mohtar and Saladin Ahmed, and find out more about their writing process, the link between the personal and the political, […]
Episode 1 of Speculate!
January 10, 2011 17:00 - 30 minutes - 28.3 MBHi all, Welcome to the first episode of Speculate! The Podcast for Writers, Readers and Fans. In our inaugural episode, Brad and I look at Issue #18 of Apex Magazine, an issue dedicated to Arabic and/or Islamic-themed fiction and poetry, and discuss three stories in particular: “The Green Book” by Amal El-Mohtar, “50 Fatwas for […]