logo
episode-header-image
Sep 30
53m 49s

Season: RPG - Conversing with MJ Newman ...

DIRK KNEMEYER & DAVID V. HERON
About this episode

In this episode of RPG, hosts Dirk Knemeyer and David Heron sit down with writer and designer MJ Newman to dive into the many sides of RPG writing. Known for her work across different properties, MJ shares her experiences navigating the unique challenges of creating for both big corporations and small publishers. The conversation covers everything from the business of selling RPGs in a niche market, to adapting mechanics that capture the right atmosphere, to what makes horror RPGs stand out. Whether you’re curious about writing for games or just love learning how stories and systems come together, this episode offers insights, behind-the-scenes details, and advice for aspiring creators.

Up next
Oct 7
BtC - Ross Connell on art and marketing for games
In this episode of Behind the Cardboard, host Ellie Dix is joined by Ross Connell, curator and advocate for beautiful board games. Together, they dive into the vital role of art and marketing in game design—from how visuals shape a game’s identity to what publishers expect when r ... Show More
42m 44s
Sep 23
BtC - Bez Shahriari on Your Brand as a Designer
In this episode of Behind the Cardboard, host Ellie Dix speaks with designer Bez Shahriari about the importance of building and embracing your brand as a game designer. Bez shares how their brand identity shapes not only their games but also the events, connections, and communiti ... Show More
44m 14s
Sep 16
Season: RPG - Cthulhu fhtagn! with Mike Mason
In this episode of the RPG series, hosts Dirk Knemeyer and David Heron are joined by Mike Mason, creative director of Call of Cthulhu at Chaosium. Together, they explore what makes Call of Cthulhu such a lasting and unique RPG experience, how it has remained relevant for decades, ... Show More
53m 51s
Recommended Episodes
Aug 2023
M. A. Carrick, "Labyrinth's Heart" (Orbit, 2023)
M. A. Carrick’s newest novel Labyrinth’s Heart (Orbit, 2023) is the culmination of their Rook and Rose trilogy, which chronicles the life of the thief Arenza Lenskaya after she returns home to the city of Nadežra to con her way into one of the city’s noble families.The co-writers ... Show More
52m 51s
Oct 2024
The Art and Strategy of Anthology Creation
What happens when life throws you more curveballs than you can catch? After a year filled with personal challenges like a house flood, a fire, and a painful arm injury, I'm back to share my journey and triumphs. Despite these setbacks, I've successfully launched a new c ... Show More
28m 18s
Dec 2024
#209 Charlie Hoehn: Write Something People Want to Read
In this episode, Charlie Hoehn explains the secrets behind why some books are unforgettable, and others no one seems to remember. He shares his journey of helping authors transform their ideas into best-selling books and provides actionable advice on structuring, writing, and mar ... Show More
1h 46m
Oct 2023
18.42: Creating Magic Outside of a System
How do you write about magic? How do you build a world with magic and spells and potions? We dive into the rules and laws behind magical worlds. We often think of magic as being with a system, but what if it's not? What opportunities and challenges do intrusive magic/emergent ... Show More
27m 55s
Oct 2024
Episode 240: Create Book Titles, Topics, and Brainstorm for Your Market
Jim Edwards and Stew Smith discuss one of Jim's latest software Genies, which allows the user to create the perfect topic for a book (or long article) for their specific market. This genie also allows the user to brainstorm chapters and sections of the book. Check it out and save ... Show More
58m 16s
May 2025
154. The Spark: Sam Gilbey on Pop Culture, Practice & Meeting Tony Hart
In this bonus episode, The Spark, we welcome back Sam Gilbey, the pop culture illustrator whose work brings our favourite films to life, for a lighter, more personal chat. After Monday's nostalgic deep dive into his creative journey, Sam returns to answer some of our signature qu ... Show More
26m 1s
Nov 2020
The Five Games of... Mikael Kasurinen
The Five Games Of is a special series of The GamesIndustry.biz Podcast which explores the evolution of the video games business through the career of prominent developers, executives and more. This time, we explore five games from Mikael Kasurinen of Remedy Entertainment, who mos ... Show More
1h 41m
Mar 2024
G&G 31: Race to Space (w/ Steph & Phil)
Steph of TTRPG Kids and Phil of Kid Stories Podcast adventure in Dogopolis as DAK the delivery robot and Tillo the armadillo dust wizard. Sniff the Cat leads them to outer space and a final encounter with Dogzilla!Lessons include: Being friendly is often worthwhile; we all need h ... Show More
24m 53s
Nov 2024
The Power Broker #11: Brennan Lee Mulligan
This is the eleventh official episode, breaking down the 1974 Pulitzer Prize winning book, The Power Broker by our hero Robert Caro. This week, Roman Mars and Elliott Kalan sit down with Brennan Lee Mulligan, a comedian and host with Dropout TV, where he’s the creator of Dimensio ... Show More
2h 49m
Apr 2023
Episode 12! "Protect the Dream"
Save Data Team has their own Actual Play DnD show, Saving Throw! Join our 5 adventurers as they seek to prove their status in the world in our actual play dungeons and dragons series. Zak, Prij, Jason, Elise, and David play an interesting cast of characters while Chris DM's! ... Show More
1h 6m