Speculative Sandbox

Author J. Dianne Dotson joins the podcast to talk about food in fiction. We’ll start off with an appetizer of rapid-fire questions, followed by a starter salad of literary devices, then the main course meal of food across different genres. Then, for a little dessert, we tease a future of lab-printed food.

Matthew C. Brown returns to the podcast to talk about Magic Systems! We discuss the fundamentals of magic in fantasy, whether or not science fiction and technology are magical, and how we can challenge the traditional light versus dark in binary magic systems. Stick around until the end, where we debate the classic question: if magic users existed in our modern society, should they be forced to re...

U.S.S. Enterprise. Millennium Falcon. Battlestar Galactica. Author and aerospace engineer S.J. Schauer takes our listeners to school with a discussion on spaceships. How can writers apply real-world concepts to their spacecrafts? Is light-speed travel really possible? And what is the most impractical spacecraft seen in fiction? 

Author Salem Miles joins the podcast to talk about Meet Cutes! What happens when two potentially-romantic characters cross paths? From character dynamics to real-world experiences, this is an episode you won't want to miss this Valentine's week. 

Award-winning Author Nicholas Eames kicks off the spring 2023 season with a deep dive into the ensemble cast in his novel "Kings of the Wyld." 

Author Marsheila Rockwell takes over the podcast this week to talk about tie-in fiction.  Speculative Sandbox will return to our regular interview format in February. Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and Tik Tok for information on episodes and soundbites.

Author Andrew Dart takes over the podcast this week to talk about plotting and pantsing a novel.   Speculative Sandbox will return to our regular interview format in February. Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and Tik Tok for information on episodes and soundbites.

Author and Podcaster Jacob Devlin takes over the podcast this week to talk about tricksters in speculative fiction.  Speculative Sandbox will return to our regular interview format in February. Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and Tik Tok for information on episodes and soundbites.

Author Lucy A. McLaren takes over the podcast this week to talk about how she uses counseling strategies to develop her characters.  Speculative Sandbox will return to our regular interview format in February. Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and Tik Tok for information on episodes and soundbites. 

Author Matthew C. Brown takes over the podcast this week to take you back to the beginning...of your story. When is a prologue helpful or hurtful? And how can writers improve their beginnings to hook their readers?  Speculative Sandbox will return to our regular interview format in February. Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and Tik Tok for information on episodes and soundbites.

Happy New Year! Learn what's planned for next year and hear a roundup of our 2022 episodes. 

Hint: This trope has mystical origins. We’re taking a break from our normal programming to enjoy the holidays. In the meantime, Speculative Sandbox presents the Twelve Days of Tropes, a limited series of micro-episodes that briefly touch on some well-known - and not so-well-known - tropes. Each episode is a secret until you open it, just like a present. And who knows, maybe you’ll see one of these...

Hint: This trope has extreme disparities. We’re taking a break from our normal programming to enjoy the holidays. In the meantime, Speculative Sandbox presents the Twelve Days of Tropes, a limited series of micro-episodes that briefly touch on some well-known - and not so-well-known - tropes. Each episode is a secret until you open it, just like a present. And who knows, maybe you’ll see one of th...

This trope is not what it seems. We’re taking a break from our normal programming to enjoy the holidays. In the meantime, Speculative Sandbox presents the Twelve Days of Tropes, a limited series of micro-episodes that briefly touch on some well-known - and not so-well-known - tropes. Each episode is a secret until you open it, just like a present. And who knows, maybe you’ll see one of these trope...

Hint: This trope may come back again. We’re taking a break from our normal programming to enjoy the holidays. In the meantime, Speculative Sandbox presents the Twelve Days of Tropes, a limited series of micro-episodes that briefly touch on some well-known - and not-so-well-known - tropes. Each episode is a secret until you open it, just like a present. And who knows, maybe you’ll see one of these...

This trope might leave you feeling reflective.  We’re taking a break from our normal programming to enjoy the holidays. In the meantime, Speculative Sandbox presents the Twelve Days of Tropes, a limited series of micro-episodes that briefly touch on some well-known - and not so-well-known - tropes. Each episode is a secret until you open it, just like a present. And who knows, maybe you’ll se...

Hint: This trope goes up and down. We’re taking a break from our normal programming to enjoy the holidays. In the meantime, Speculative Sandbox presents the Twelve Days of Tropes, a limited series of micro-episodes that briefly touch on some well-known - and not so-well-known - tropes. Each episode is a secret until you open it, just like a present. And who knows, maybe you’ll see one of these tro...

Hint: This trope may give you a sinking feeling. We’re taking a break from our normal programming to enjoy the holidays. In the meantime, Speculative Sandbox presents the Twelve Days of Tropes, a limited series of micro-episodes that briefly touch on some well-known - and not so-well-known - tropes. Each episode is a secret until you open it, just like a present. And who knows, maybe you’ll see on...

Hint: This trope is unsettlingly shaped. We’re taking a break from our normal programming to enjoy the holidays. In the meantime, Speculative Sandbox presents the Twelve Days of Tropes, a limited series of micro-episodes that briefly touch on some well-known - and not so-well-known - tropes. Each episode is a secret until you open it, just like a present. And who knows, maybe you’ll see one of the...

Hint: This trope might be shaped like a candlestick. We’re taking a break from our normal programming to enjoy the holidays. In the meantime, Speculative Sandbox presents the Twelve Days of Tropes, a limited series of micro-episodes that briefly touch on some well-known - and not so-well-known - tropes. Each episode is a secret until you open it, just like a present. And who knows, maybe you’...

Hint: This trope may keep you up at night. We’re taking a break from our normal programming to enjoy the holidays. In the meantime, Speculative Sandbox presents the Twelve Days of Tropes, a limited series of micro-episodes that briefly touch on some well-known - and not so-well-known - tropes. Each episode is a secret until you open it, just like a present. And who knows, maybe you’ll see one of t...

Hint: This trope has been handed down for generations.  We’re taking a break from our normal programming to enjoy the holidays. In the meantime, Speculative Sandbox presents the Twelve Days of Tropes, a limited series of micro-episodes that briefly touch on some well-known - and not so-well-known - tropes. Each episode is a secret until you open it, just like a present. And who knows, maybe y...

Hint: This trope comes from a place of authority. We’re taking a break from our normal programming to enjoy the holidays. In the meantime, Speculative Sandbox presents the Twelve Days of Tropes, a limited series of micro-episodes that briefly touch on some well-known - and not so-well-known - tropes. Each episode is a secret until you open it, just like a present. And who knows, maybe you’ll see o...

Jason Pargin, New York Times Bestselling Author of the John Dies at the End and Zoe Ashe books series, joins the podcast to talk about the end of the world. What is it about this trope that has a hold on society? And is our worldwide demise enough stakes to get the audience truly invested? You won't want to miss this one. Your survival depends on it. 

Drink up, me hearties! Writer Brad Allis returns to the podcast to discuss the role of taverns in speculative fiction. Why are they such useful locations for story telling? We talk about our favorite fictional taverns and some of our own original cocktails.