Epic Realms Podcast

For our milestone 100th episode, Epic Realms welcomes back our very first guest: award-winning game designer, puzzle mastermind, and president of Lone Shark Games, Mike Selinker. Mike and Nick dive into how the tabletop world has shifted since the pandemic — from game store survival to unexpected hits and long-delayed projects now seeing the light of day.  We check in on Lone Shark Games, Monster...

In this episode of Epic Realms, host Nick sits down with poet and editor Hailey Spencer to explore her journey through storytelling, healing, and self-discovery. Hailey shares how her childhood shaped her creative path and how she came to embrace poetry as her chosen medium. Together, they dive deep into the meaning of fairy tales, folklore, myths, and legends, unpacking their differences and emot...

Join us on this episode of Epic Realms as we welcome author and storyteller Nathan Crowder! Creator of the superhero universe Cobalt City, Nathan blends comic book flair with literary grit. We talk about writing, world-building, tabletop RPG's, Influences, and how a childhood shaped by books, and RPGs led to an award-winning career in speculative fiction. https://nathan-crowder.com/

This week on Epic Realms, Nick welcomes author Paul G. Vecchiet, writer of the thought-provoking novel The Disclosure Paradox. In this episode, we dive into the real-life experiences that inspired Paul’s speculative fiction, including his time as a U.S. Air Force Civil Engineer and the discovery of cryogenics in unexpected military blueprints. We explore themes of meditation, spiritual awakening,...

In this episode of Epic Realms, Nick is joined by author and writer Kelli Fitzpatrick. Kelli is a science fiction writer, game writer, and teacher. She is the author of Captain Marvel: Carol Danvers Declassified (BenBella Books, 2025) and a contributing writer for the Star Trek Adventures roleplaying game from Modiphius. Her story “The Sunwalkers” won the 2016 Strange New Worlds contest from Simon...

This special charity livestream for AIM Youth Mental Health featured bestselling author Michael Witwer as we explored the rich history of Dungeons & Dragons. From the game's origins with Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson to its lasting impact on pop culture, we covered the creators' influences, original monsters, and behind-the-scenes stories. We also took audience questions live during the show for...

In this episode of Epic Realms, we sit down with legendary author and game designer Bruce Nesmith to explore his incredible career spanning decades of storytelling. From his early days at TSR, crafting unforgettable adventures for Dungeons & Dragons in settings like Ravenloft and Spelljammer, to his influential work as a freelancer across the tabletop RPG industry, Bruce has helped shape the w...

Jim Zub is a powerhouse in the world of comics and storytelling. Known for his work on Dungeons & Dragons, Avengers, Conan the Barbarian, and creator-owned series like Skullkickers and Wayward, Jim blends action, humor, and heart in everything he writes. Join us as we dive into his creative career, his love for RPGs, and the stories behind some of your favorite characters and comics! https://w...

James L. Sutter is a co-creator of the Pathfinder and Starfinder RPGs. During his time at Paizo (2004–2017), he helped shape Pathfinder, launched Starfinder as Creative Director, and oversaw the Pathfinder Tales novel line. He’s the author of the queer YA romances Darkhearts and The Ghost of Us, as well as the award-winning fantasy novels Death’s Heretic and The Redemption Engine. His work has app...

Today's guest is an award-nominated game designer and writer with an impressive portfolio. They’ve worked with industry giants like Paizo and Green Ronin and contributed to renowned franchises such as Cyberpunk, Fallout, Star Trek, Dishonored, and more! In this episode, we dive into their journey into the gaming world, how they broke into the industry, and their experiences crafting adventures. We...

New York Times bestselling author Kevin Hearne returns to Epic Realms to share updates on his latest projects, creative insights, and journey as a writer. We dive into his expansion across multiple genres, his experiences in publishing, and his independent imprint, Horned Lark Press. Kevin also discusses Coyote Run, his upcoming collaboration with Lilith Saintcrow, and provides exciting updates on...

Carlos Cabrera is an ENNIE-winning game designer, writer, and voice actor with a passion for storytelling and world-building. As the founder of Something Clever Games, he has contributed to Pathfinder RPG, Dungeons & Dragons 5E, and numerous other TTRPG projects. He is the lead designer for the upcoming Welcome to Night Vale Roleplaying Game, bringing the surreal world of the beloved podcast t...

B. Dave Walters is a celebrated storyteller, writer, and TTRPG personality, renowned for his work as a Dungeon Master on The Black Dice Society and his appearances in numerous other tabletop gaming shows. He is a writer for Dungeons & Dragons comics and worked on the Marvel’s Multiverse RPG, as well as a key creator behind the Kickstarter-backed Into The Motherlands RPG. A passionate advocate...

Join us for an exciting episode of Epic Realms as we welcome back the talented Matt Forbeck, the mastermind behind the Marvel RPG! In this episode, host Nick dives deep into Matt's journey from the playtest phase to the successful launch of the Marvel multiverse game. Discover how Matt and his team transformed the game based on player feedback, streamlined the mechanics, and created a system that...

For our New Years episode we have a special event that was Live at Twin Cities Con 2024 with John Jackson Miller and Timothy Zahn. The interview host is author Jeri Shepherd. We want to thank Twin Cities Con for having us. Be sure to check out Twin Cities Con and join them for their 2025 event at TwinCitiesCon. Com

Scott Rogers is a legendary game designer and author of over 50 AAA titles, including God of War and Pac-Man World, with sales topping 50 million copies. A former Disney Imagineer, he created innovative park experiences and authored the bestselling Level Up! and Your Turn! He has also been nominated for many of his tabletop board games, and he shares his expertise through teaching at USC and the M...

Join us in this exciting episode of Epic Realms as we welcome award-winning author Jennifer Brozek! Known for her incredible work in tie-in fiction for popular franchises like Arkham Horror, Battletech, and Shadowrun, Jennifer shares her journey from gamer to writer and editor. In this episode, we dive into her experiences in the world of tabletop role-playing games, her unique approach to storyte...

In this episode we are joined by Pathfinder Author Liane Merciel. Leanne discusses her background, writing career, and work on various fantasy franchises including Pathfinder and Dragon Age. She talks about growing up in a military family and how those experiences influenced her writing. Leanne describes her process for writing tie-in fiction and working within established game worlds. She discuss...

Join us in this exciting episode of Epic Realms as we welcome the legendary Mark Mir, renowned actor, voice actor, and writer, best known for his iconic role as Commander Shepard in the Mass Effect series! In this episode, Mark shares his experiences from PAX Australia, including a memorable Mass Effect cosplay meetup and his love for the Call of Cthulhu RPG. We dive into the nuances of acting and...

In this episode of the Epic Realms Podcast, we are joined by award-winning author and game designer Jedediah Berry! A lifelong enthusiast of roleplaying games, board games, and storytelling. Berry shares insights into his creative journey. We discuss his life, his novels, his game design projects, and his innovative approach to storytelling. His latest book, The Naming Song, brings a fresh twist t...

We are joined in this Episode by NYT Bestselling Author John Jackson Miller. He tells us about his upbringing, college, and love for pop culture movies, comics and more! We also talk Star Wars, Star Trek, telling a narrative, and of course his new book Batman: Resurrection. We also both spend some time geeking out with our love for the Batman Burtonverse.

In this episode we are joined by NYT Bestselling author Olivie Blake! She is also known as Alexene Farol Follmuth. Her love for writing and literature shows in this enthusiastic episode. We find out many of her inspirations old and new. As well as get a look inside how she builds her stories and worlds. We go on a journey of her life from writing fan fiction all the way to publishing multiple nove...

We did a special episode of Off The Pod that was a charity for the GLSEN Organization. Where our team raised over $4000. This episode was a 2 hour livestream event with Author Michelle Franklin.  We talked about Cryptids and Aliens and fantastical creatures of all sorts! If you want to participate or help with the charity or just look them up here is their link https://www.glsen.org/

Renee Gittins is former Executive Director of the International Game Developers Association, and now runs her own company Stumbling Cat Games. Her new game "Potions: a Curious Tale" is now available. In this episode we talk about her life and growing up as a gamer. We also talk about her evolution in the gaming industry, her work at the IGDA. As well as dealing with toxicity in the gaming world. I...

In this episode Dave Schrader returns to Epic Realms. He has a bunch of new projects including a new book with more to come called Theater Of The Mind. We talk about charities, helping the community, Paranormal events and all the new things in his life. It's a great show. Please enjoy the episode. Dave Schrader is a radio and podcast host, paranormal investigator, you have seen him on the Holzer F...