In Other Worlds - A LitRPG, GameLit, and Fantasy Podcast

The most dangerous person in an isekai world might not be the hero, it might be the friend who knows every trope and can see the disaster coming. We’re joined by Tommy Kerper, also known as Sour Patch Hero, to talk about I’m Not the Hero and why making the “background character” the lead opens up fresher stakes, sharper humor, and more real friendship tension than the usual power fantasy setup.  W...

This week we’re joined by Bosloe, author of The Ametherean Tales, to talk about One Flew Over the Dragon’s Nest.  We dig into SJ’s background as a forensic accountant who actually reads the terms and conditions (when the typical person wouldn't) and accidentally breaks the system by not signing them. That choice creates ripple effects across the series, including a reincarnation option that s...

A LitRPG tutorial with a 5% survival rate is brutal. We sit down with CJ to talk about The Celestial Twins, starting with the tower-clearing Weave system, then digging into why this story hits harder than a typical system apocalypse power trip. We get into why CJ chose twin main characters instead of a single overpowered lone wolf. He breaks down why sibling bonds and found family can create deepe...

A single system message can turn the modern world into a death trap, and Ryan Maxwell doesn’t flinch from what that would actually look like. We talk through the core idea behind Grand System Vending: Earth gets a mana core after joining an intergalactic federation, monsters start spawning with zero warning, and vending machines become the new lifeline. Survival gear, food, and tools come from unm...

A universal library is the only thing standing between reality and a hungry kind of chaos magic that creates worlds, then devours them to start over. Insert Library System Reset, a series where a human from Earth gets pulled into a failing cosmic system, finds the sabotage, and has to reopen the library branch by branch before the whole structure collapses. KT walks us through the craft choices th...

Anthony wakes up as a giant ant and somehow that’s the start of one of the funniest monster-led LitRPGs around. We sit down with RinoZ to get specific about why Chrysalis works: the decision to keep Anthony fully monstrous, the joy of a globe-spanning dungeon that gets wilder the deeper you go, and the progression-fantasy promise that every evolution actually changes what the character can do. We...

A brewer dies, wakes up as a dwarf, and finds out the most famous beer culture in the world is stuck drinking terrible “sacred” ale. He then decides to begin his quest to bring the dwarves better beer. The challenge ahead is that the dwarves that brew the "sacred" ale consider it sacrilege and will do whatever they can to stop him. We talk about what makes a cozy LitRPG work when your he...

The fastest way to understand Jay Krauss’s books is to hear how he thinks: character first, world second, and a writing process that feels closer to tabletop roleplay than careful outlining. We talk about Will of the Immortals, his cultivation LitRPG progression fantasy series where Leon Jeager, a 16th-century German knight, gets isekai’d into a world of gods, monsters, quests, and hard-earned pow...

A quarter life crisis turns into a dungeon crawl, and somehow the most confident member of the party is a banana slug. We sit down with Reck Well to talk about Stumbling Up: A Loser’s Guide to Progression, a LitRPG progression fantasy that leans into messy friendships, bad decisions, and the slow, awkward reality of leveling up when you’re wildly unqualified for the job. We get into the story’s ho...

We kick off with The Four Treasures, a high fantasy LitRPG trilogy shaped by real Irish, Welsh, and Scottish lore. Then we downshift into Get Trucked, where the Bureau of Afterlife Dispatch are responsible for the people driving the trucks that isekai people into other worlds. To make the story more immersive, there’s a reader-facing app that mirrors the book’s systems. Finally, we unveil Anunnaki...

What does it take to turn real pain into a world worth exploring? We welcome author Lance Krautlarger to talk Arcane Tides: A Journey Within, a character-driven fantasy that treats mental health with honesty and heart. Eldrin’s path mirrors Lance’s own time leaving the service, navigating PTSD and anxiety, and relearning how to belong—first to himself, then to others. We trace the book’s DNA from...

What if a portal fantasy didn’t whisk one hero away, but dropped an entire magical realm onto our world? That’s the theme behind Paragon Exordium, and today I sit down with author Mikel “Mick” Melwasul to discuss how a college town in Georgia becomes the frontline of a sprawling, character‑driven. We explore the series central mystery, the Therin Selu, a cataclysmic spell meant to dodge a mythic f...

I sit down with Edie Skye to explore how playful tones and decisive heroes (and monster girls) make harem fiction such a great genre. From Cat Girls From Outer Space to Titan Mage’s dragon-laced lore, we trace craft choices, collaboration, and why men’s romance is more wholesome than you think. • Pen names and genre lanes across HP Hollow, Edie Skye, and Arcadia Sky • Cat Girls From Outer Space as...

We talk with Aaron Michael Ritchey about Shadowcroft Academy for Dungeons and its spin-off Dungeon Accountant, exploring why dungeons are the good guys, how silverware jokes became lore, and why an audit team can save worlds with data and heart. Along the way, we dig into writing speed, co-authoring, and the craft choices that keep high-concept ideas grounded and fun. • Shadowcroft’s isekai hook a...

An arcade robbery, a fatal shot, and a sudden awakening inside a favorite game... only not as the hero. Rachel Ni Chuirc joins me to unpack Knights of Eternity, a LitRPG trilogy that flips the script by dropping its protagonist into the villain’s body with Zara the Fury still in her head. What starts as a classic “save the princess” dungeon crawl unravels into a layered story about identity, agenc...

I sat down to talk with debut LitRPG author Joedan Worley about Wayspring Wanderer, a desert survival story where a wounded Marine becomes a druid whose greatest power is finding water. Craft, worldbuilding, grief, and a pangolin named Penny collide in a conversation about purpose, progression, and hope without shortcuts. • Oscar’s transformation, loss, and search for his brother • A druid in a dy...

A Marine reborn as a Witcher-style hunter. A hedge mage who becomes a dungeon troll and teaches NPCs to wake up. A virtual reality MMO where there are real stakes and consequences once the real world ends. A hungover everyman who turns the Backrooms into a lifeline with a map, a store, and a mimic dog made of blue croc material. James Hunter joins us to unpack how systems, stakes, and humor drive...

Ever wondered what happens when you blend dungeon cores, tennis matches, wild west gunslingers, and competitive Magic: The Gathering into one creative mind? Journey with us as we sit down with Ryn, writing as Jonathan Smidt, the versatile author behind multiple LitRPG series including Elemental Dungeon, Dungeon Corps Online, Aced, Resonance, and Flamespitter. Smidt's creative journey began un...

Timothy McGowen doesn't just write books – he crafts entire universes. Dragonstone Academy represents McGowan's unique approach to worldbuilding through its innovative card-based magic system. Rather than conveniently giving his protagonist the perfect ability for each situation, McGowan created actual physical card decks, shuffled them, and let random draws determine the character'...

Step into the magical worlds of SL Rowland as we explore the heartwarming charm of cozy fantasy and the exciting realms of LitRPG. From halfling vineyards to blood mages struggling with chronic pain, Rowland crafts stories that feel like coming home—even when dragons and adventure lurk around the corner. Our conversation begins with "Halfling's Harvest," the third book in Rowland&ap...

Step into a world where power comes at the ultimate price with Alex Knight, author of "Servant of Rage" and the upcoming goblin comedy "Wriggly Little Hands."  Alex brings us a mesmerizing fantasy world inspired by Mongolian horse nomads, featuring a magic system where killing transfers power from victim to victor.  The author shares fascinating insights about character develop...

On this premiere episode of In Other Worlds podcast, TJ takes us through his creative journey from concept to publication. Blending the nostalgic warmth of Pokemon with the mech battles of Pacific Rim and Gundam, Golem Master represents something unique in his catalog. Unlike his darker Dying Breed and Scalpel Chronicles series, this young adult adventure aims for accessibility without sacrificing...

Podcast trailer for In Other Worlds: A LitRPG, Gamelit, and Fantasy podcast. Every other week, your host Jess will be sitting down with the authors and audiobook narrators that bring these epic tales to life.  Support the show You can connect with me here: Website Tiktok Youtube Facebook You can also subscribe to my newsletter on my website to get episode reminders, access to unedited episodes, a...