Send us a text

Welcome back to the table! Malcolm sits down with Rachel Vosgrove and Wesley Magee-Saxton, the founders of Forge Ahead: A Party to Access, to discuss their mission to make gaming more inclusive and accessible for people with disabilities.

Rachel and Wesley share how their organization works to remove barriers—both physical and social—that can make it difficult for people with disabilities to fully participate in tabletop gaming. From ensuring that gaming spaces, tables, and tools are physically accessible to encouraging authentic representation in game worlds and materials, Forge Ahead is leading the charge toward a more inclusive community.

The conversation explores the importance of visibility, accurate representation, and allyship within the gaming community. As more players see the benefits that people with disabilities bring to the table, it opens minds, strengthens communities, and creates richer storytelling experiences for everyone.

Malcolm, Rachel, and Wesley also discuss how allies can help support and include friends with disabilities in meaningful, positive ways both at and away from the gaming table.

Our Sources:
Forge Ahead: A Party to Access Website

https://licensebuttons.net/l/by-nc/4.0/88x31.png

Rise (Epic, Inspirational, Cinematic) by Artur Aravidi is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

Support the show

Contact Us on Our Socials:

• Facebook
• Instagram

A production of WordLeaf Media

Send us a text

Supporting Veterans, One Game at a Time

Welcome back to the table! Malcolm and Tori sit down with Jason Cottom, founder of Dungeons & Dogtags, to talk about the power of tabletop role-playing games to bring people together and support those who’ve served.

Jason shares the inspiration behind his organization and how it creates safe, welcoming spaces for veterans and active-duty personnel to connect, heal, and grow through storytelling and community. Their conversation explores the therapeutic benefits of gaming, the unique challenges veterans face, and the lasting impact of having a seat at the table.

Jason also discusses how others can get involved—whether by volunteering, supporting the mission, or simply helping spread the word.

Our Sources:

• Dungeons & Dogtags Website
• Dungeons & Dogtags Facebook

Music Credit:

Rise (Epic, Inspirational, Cinematic) by Artur Aravidi is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

https://licensebuttons.net/l/by-nc/4.0/88x31.png

Support the show

Contact Us on Our Socials:

• Facebook
• Instagram

A production of WordLeaf Media

Send us a text

Radiance and Random Inspiration: Building Atoria With Oddfish Games

Welcome back to the table! In this episode, the FA gang dives into Oddfish Games’ Adventure Engine to help flesh out a mysterious corner of Atoria. This was our first time using the system, and honestly? We had a blast.

We put the Radiance deck through its paces to give some backstory to a blank spot on our homebrew map—and ended up with way more ideas than we expected. These cards are an awesome way to spark creativity and throw in twists you might never have come up with on your own. Whether you’re building out a campaign world or just looking to add some flavor to your next session, Radiance is a great tool for storytellers and GMs alike.

The best part? You can even use it for solo RPG play, which opens up a whole new way to tell stories. Along the way, Arcadia and Jess have a full-on anime nerd moment (no regrets), and the crew talks about how randomness can turn into real magic when it comes to storytelling.

Massive shoutout to our friends at Oddfish Games and The Epic Adventure Podcast—you continue to be an inspiration and a delight.

Links:

• Oddfish Games
• The Epic Adventure Podcast
• Radiance by Oddfish Games

Music Credit:
Rise (Epic, Inspirational, Cinematic) by Artur Aravidi — licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0

https://licensebuttons.net/l/by-nc/4.0/88x31.png

Support the show

Contact Us on Our Socials:

• Facebook
• Instagram

A production of WordLeaf Media

Send us a text

Another Epic Interview With OddFish Games

This week, we had the pleasure of interviewing Christina Stiso, one of the hosts of The Epic Adventure Podcast!

Christina is a game designer, GM, gamer, PhD student, and Creative Designer at Oddfish Games. She’s also a passionate advocate for inclusivity in gaming and serves as the Outreach Director for Tabletop Gaymers — the folks who hand out those iconic ribbons at conventions, helping create safe and welcoming spaces for everyone in the LGBTQIA+ community.

Beyond the table, Christina explores how TTRPGs can be used as powerful educational tools. As a teacher herself, she brings games into the classroom to inspire creativity and engagement — even using Radiance to spark short stories and fuel her students’ imaginations.

We’re so grateful to Christina for joining us and sharing her insights. We can’t wait to see what she creates next!

Music Credit:
Rise (Epic, Inspirational, Cinematic) by Artur Aravidi — licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0

https://licensebuttons.net/l/by-nc/4.0/88x31.png

Support the show

Contact Us on Our Socials:

• Facebook
• Instagram

A production of WordLeaf Media

Send us a text

Are You Ready for an Epic Interview?
After months of emails and coordination, we’re thrilled to feature our very first interview: Steve Kellams, host of The Epic Adventure Podcast. Together, we dive into our shared passions for TTRPGs and the power of podcasting as a medium.

Steve shares how his background in law enforcement and early strategy war games led him to the table. Combining a love of games and storytelling, he has been informing and entertaining listeners alongside Mike and Christina on Epic Adventure for three seasons. As a game runner, player, and designer, Steve keeps his finger on the pulse of the hobby, describing this era as nothing short of its Golden Age.

We love highlighting members of our community who uplift, support, and encourage rather than gatekeep, and Steve embodies that spirit.

While he’s keeping his cards close to the chest about what we might see from Oddfish Games at Gen Con 2026, we’re deeply grateful to him for making the time to join us. We can’t recommend Epic Adventure Podcast or Oddfish’s game products highly enough!

Music Credit:
Rise (Epic, Inspirational, Cinematic) by Artur Aravidi — licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0

https://licensebuttons.net/l/by-nc/4.0/88x31.png

Support the show

Contact Us on Our Socials:

• Facebook
• Instagram

A production of WordLeaf Media

Send us a text

The 8 Types of TTRPG Players (And Their Strengths and Pitfalls)

Welcome back to the table—this week, the whole party’s here! Tori took us down a delightful rabbit hole into the world of player archetypes that pop up at so many TTRPG tables.

Which one sounds like you (or your friends)?

• Storytellers
• Explorers
• Tacticians
• Actors
• Slayers
• Jokers
• Guardians
• Collectors

Most players lean into one archetype but dip into others over the course of a campaign. Each type comes with its own strengths and its own pitfalls—for both the players and the GM. And when your table has a mix of them all, keeping everyone feeling relevant can be its own challenge.

So take a moment to appreciate your GMs—they juggle a lot, and they deserve every bit of love.

Extra thanks to our friends over at Epic Adventure Podcast for their support!

Music Credit:
Rise (Epic, Inspirational, Cinematic) by Artur Aravidi — licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0

https://licensebuttons.net/l/by-nc/4.0/88x31.png

Support the show

Contact Us on Our Socials:

• Facebook
• Instagram

A production of WordLeaf Media

Send us a text

Community News, London Pub Scenes, and Player Archetypes Unpacked

Welcome back to the table! Malcolm kicks things off with some stories circulating in the TTRPG community. Tori, Jess, and Arcadia dive into topics making the news, including recent moves from Paizo and Glass Cannon Unplugged. The group also takes a closer look at London’s TTRPG pub scene—how it fills a niche for both gamers and pub owners alike.

After the break, Tori digs into different playstyles at the table. We explore how players approach games based on their builds, experiences, and preferences. Blended styles (and some truly terrible acronyms) get their moment, too, as we talk through the games and GM approaches that represent distinct styles of play.

Music Credit:
Rise (Epic, Inspirational, Cinematic) by Artur Aravidi — licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0

https://licensebuttons.net/l/by-nc/4.0/88x31.png

Support the show

Contact Us on Our Socials:

• Facebook
• Instagram

A production of WordLeaf Media

Send us a text

Exploring Love, Fandom, and TTRPGs

Welcome back to the table! Finding Atoria Studios is packed today for a lively discussion on the rise of Romantasy TTRPGs and their growing presence in the gaming market. Have these elements always been hidden in the gems of our roleplaying games—or is there something different about the current moment?

We dive into the stats and mechanics that help romance flourish in games and settings, while also exploring the origins of this wave of RPG-curious readers and the literary inspirations behind it. With blockbuster titles like Fourth Wing drawing attention, many creators are seizing the opportunity to build at the intersection of fandoms.

The community, too, is carving out space for more adult, niche, and experimental settings, with tables embracing narrative-driven gameplay in record numbers. Join Tori, Jess, Malcolm, and Arcadia as we unpack how Romantasy is reshaping both systems and stories in the TTRPG world.

Music Credit:
Rise (Epic, Inspirational, Cinematic) by Artur Aravidi — licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0

https://licensebuttons.net/l/by-nc/4.0/88x31.png

Support the show

Contact Us on Our Socials:

• Facebook
• Instagram

A production of WordLeaf Media