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Talk of the Table

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Rating
★★★★★
5
from
13 reviews
Categories
Country
United States
This podcast has
77 episodes
Language
English
Explicit
Yes
Date created
2023/08/13
Latest episode
2026/02/02
Average duration
59 min.
Release period
13 days

Description

Talk of the Table is a TTRPG talk show where hosts Elliot Davis and Brian Flaherty talk with game designers, actual play producers, journalists, academics, artists, and performers about all the coolest things happening in the TTRPG community in an effort to understand what’s on the mind of the tabletop industry.

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Check latest episodes from Talk of the Table podcast


Be Wizards, Have Sex, F*ck Fascism (Zine Month #1)
2026/02/02
In our first Zine Month 2026 special episode, Brian and Elliot are joined by Robin Ekberg and Dillin Apelyan, the designers behind Rise, Wizards! and All’s Fair respectively. We discuss their two-game project collaboration with Elliot/moreblueberries, the unique dice-stacking and worldbuilding mechanics of Rise, Wizards!, and why All’s Fair is simultaneously important, challenging, and joyful to bring into the world right now. Talk of the Table is hosted by Elliot Davis and Brian Flaherty. Links: BACK Rise, Wizards! & All's Fair Dillin on BlueSky, TikTok Robin on BlueSky, TikTok Dorkspawn Dorkspawn: Kings of Mahatt Dillin Recommends: Backing Lie to Him Robin Recommends: Backing The Endtimes Trilogy Our Links: Support TotT on Patreon Many Sided Newsletter Many Sided Media Discord Credits: Zine Moth Art by Robyn Victa Edited by Elliot Davis Produced by Many Sided Media Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Building the Eternal Ruins w/ Sam Carr
2026/01/26
Brian and Elliot are joined by Sam Carr, the creator and illustrator of The Eternal Ruins to discuss his approach to world building and how an art project became the latest TTRPG from Mythworks. Talk of the Table is hosted by Elliot Davis and Brian Flaherty. Links: Follow Sam Learn About The Eternal Ruins Back The Eternal Ruins on Kickstarter Download The Eternal Ruins Quickstart Sam Recommends: Mouse Guard Our Links: Support TotT on Patreon Many Sided Newsletter Many Sided Media Discord Credits: Edited by Elliot Davis Produced by Many Sided Media Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Designing for GMless Play w/ Nat Mesnard
2026/01/22
Brian and Elliot are joined by Nat Mesnard, a game designer, professor, and co-founder of Scryptid Games and Unquiet Games. We discuss their latest game Assemblage and how they approach GM-less game design. Talk of the Table is hosted by Elliot Davis and Brian Flaherty. Links: Follow Nat Buy Assemblage Learn about Nat's Games Nat Recommends: Scryptid Games Our Links: Support TotT on Patreon Many Sided Newsletter Many Sided Media Discord Credits: Edited by Elliot Davis Produced by Many Sided Media Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Building a TTRPG Business (w/ Andy Boyd)
2026/01/05
Brian and Elliot are joined by Andy Boyd, owner of Pandion Games and game designer behind such beloved titles as Badger & Coyote, Substratum Protocol, and his latest Midnight Muscadines. We dig into how Andy built Pandion with 12 page zines, what makes a game a “Pandion game”, and how to level up your TTRPG business slowly and smartly. Talk of the Table is hosted by Elliot Davis and Brian Flaherty. Links: Follow Andy Pandion Games Pandion on itch Andy Recommends: Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End Deep Regrets Our Links: Support TotT on Patreon Many Sided Newsletter Many Sided Media Discord Credits: Edited by Elliot Davis Produced by Many Sided Media Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
250 Shows and Counting (w/ Jasmin Malave)
2025/12/22
Brian and Elliot are joined by Jasmin Malave, cast member of the touring live show The Twenty Sided Tavern. We dig into what Jasmin has learned over 250+ performances, how the show has changed over the years, and where this live experience sits on the spectrum of actual play. Talk of the Table is hosted by Elliot Davis and Brian Flaherty. Links: Jasmin on Instagram, TikTok The Twenty Sided Tavern Jasmin Recommends: “Confidence is an illusion, just do it, I believe in you!” Our Links: Support TotT on Patreon Many Sided Newsletter Many Sided Media Discord Credits: Edited by Elliot Davis Produced by Many Sided Media Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
A Shared World Through Play (w/ Kendrick Smith)
2025/12/08
Elliot and Brian are joined by Kendrick Smith, creator of the award-winning actual play Tales Yet Told. We dig into how Kendo has used multiple seasons and TTRPG systems to create “The Sublime”, a shared universe that is built and refined through play. Along the way, we talk about intentional storytelling through actual play, the motivations behind why we make art, and what is next for the Sublime on Tales Yet Told and beyond. Talk of the Table is hosted by Elliot Davis and Brian Flaherty. Links: Listen to Tales Yet Told Merch Yet Sold Kendo on Bluesky Tales Yet Told on Bluesky Kendo Recommends BOWLING Legend in the Mist Our Links: Support TotT on Patreon Many Sided Newsletter Many Sided Media Discord Credits: Edited by Elliot Davis Produced by Many Sided Media Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Over $50 million for GMs (w/ Devon Chulick)
2025/11/26
Elliot and Brian are joined by Devon Chulick, founder and CEO of StartPlaying, the largest online platform for players to find TTRPGs and Professional GMs. We discuss how the platform is allowing GMs to make a living in tabletop roleplaying games, how StartPlaying can help expand the hobby and introduce new games, and the power of community created through play. Talk of the Table is hosted by Elliot Davis and Brian Flaherty. Links: StartPlaying.com Startplaying Devon  Devon Recommends: Shadowdark Dispatch Our Links: Support TotT on Patreon Many Sided Newsletter Many Sided Media Discord Credits: Edited by Elliot Davis Produced by Many Sided Media Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Dramaturgy in Actual Play (w/ Connie Chang & Sea Thomas)
2025/11/10
Elliot and Brian are joined by Connie Chang and Sea Thomas, the creative duo behind the award winning actual play Transplanar RPG. We dive deep on the use of dramaturgy in actual play: how it weaves the wants and needs of players and GM, how it informs safe artistic storytelling in a noncolonial anti-orientalist multiverse, and how it supports long-term actual play in Transplanar’s The Chaos Protocol. Talk of the Table is hosted by Elliot Davis and Brian Flaherty. Links: Check out The Chaos Protocol Arc 4 Transplanar RPG Connie Chang Sea Thomas Sea Recommends Godkiller: QISMAT Riding a horse Connie Recommends: Playing in the Dark by Toni Morrison Ways of Seeing by John Berger Our Links: Support TotT on Patreon Many Sided Newsletter Many Sided Media Discord Credits: Edited by Elliot Davis Produced by Many Sided Media Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Roundtable: Teaching Games Through Actual Play
2025/10/20
In this Talk of the Table Roundtable special, Brian & Elliot sit down with Dr. Emily Friedman, Quintin Smith aka ‘Quinns’, and Brennan Lee Mulligan for a discussion on pedagogic actual play. We dig into whether or not actual play is the best tool for teaching games, how we understand skill and learning in TTRPGs and beyond, and who our imagined student is when thinking of actual play as a teaching tool. Talk of the Table is hosted by Elliot Davis and Brian Flaherty.  Hear the rest of this Episode: Talk of the Table on Patreon Links: Dr. Friedman Quinns Brennan Dungeons & Drag Queens Play to Find Out Dr. Friedman's Patreon Recommendations: Dr. Friedman’s Event Series The Novels of Sally Rooney Bad Company by Megan Greenwell Art After Money, Money After Art by Max Haiven Many Sided Media Discord  Many Sided Newsletter Credits: Edited by Elliot Davis Produced by Many Sided Media Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
From Magic Ponies to Biblical Apocalypses (w/ Jack Caesar)
2025/10/13
Elliot and Brian are joined by Jack Caesar of Caesar Ink, the team behind TTRPG adaptations of beloved IPs like My Little Pony, Discworld, and Labyrinth. We dig into how to approach IP-based games, how to treat adapted properties with respect even if you’re not a typical fan, and how working on licensed games informs Caesar Ink’s work on the original world of Doomsong. Talk of the Table is hosted by Elliot Davis and Brian Flaherty. Links: DOOMSONG: Thou Shalt Not Suffer The Wycce Caesar Ink Website Caesar Ink on Bluesky Join the Caesar Ink Discord Jack Recommends: Salvage Union Our Links: Support TotT on Patreon Many Sided Newsletter Many Sided Media Discord Credits: Edited by Elliot Davis Produced by Many Sided Media Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Unboxing Lovecraftesque 2e (w/ Josh Fox)
2025/09/29
Elliot and Brian are joined by Josh Fox who is one half of Black Armada, the duo behind Lovecraftesque. We get into the exciting new features of the boxed second edition of this emergent mystery game, why safety tools should be a tailored part of game design, and Black Armada’s latest project Ex Tenebris. Talk of the Table is hosted by Elliot Davis and Brian Flaherty. Links: Back Ex Tenebris  Buy Lovecraftesque 2e Black Armada Follow Josh on Bluesky Hear Lovecraftesque, Ex Tenebris, and Apocalypse Keys on Black Armada Tales Josh Recommends: Apocalypse Keys Our Links: Support TotT on Patreon Many Sided Newsletter Many Sided Media Discord Credits: Edited by Elliot Davis Produced by Many Sided Media Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Coyote & Crow 4 Years Later (w/ Kenna Alexander)
2025/09/15
Elliot and Brian are joined by Kenna Alexander, designer of Coyote & Crow and owner of Coyote and Crow games, to discuss the lessons she’s learned in the 4 years since the hit science fantasy roleplaying game released. We get into the impact the game has had for native players and beyond, the new horror setting Ahu Tiiko, and what she has planned next for Coyote & Crow. Talk of the Table is hosted by Elliot Davis and Brian Flaherty. Links: Back Coyote & Crow: Digital Pre-Order Ahu Tiiko Coyote & Crow Games ahutiiko.com Kenna Recommends: As Many Ships As Stars by Weyodi Oldbear Creature Comforts from Kids Table Board Games Our Links: Support TotT on Patreon Many Sided Newsletter Many Sided Media Discord Credits: Edited by Elliot Davis Produced by Many Sided Media Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Learning, Growing, and Building Sustainability (w/ Taylor Moore)
2025/09/01
Elliot and Brian are joined once again by Taylor Moore, creative director and composer of Worlds Beyond Number, to discuss the completion of Book 1 of The Wizard, the Witch, and the Wild One. We dig in on sustainable working practices, narrative payoff in composition, and how he’s applying the lessons of campaign 1 to the next major campaign of Worlds Beyond Number. Talk of the Table is hosted by Elliot Davis and Brian Flaherty. Links: Listen to Worlds Beyond Number Taylor on Bluesky Taylor recommends: Connecting with other people in real life Our Links: Support TotT on Patreon Many Sided Newsletter Many Sided Media Discord Credits: Edited by Elliot Davis Produced by Many Sided Media Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Making Mechs Mythic (w/ Nevyn Holmes and Quinn Morris)
2025/08/18
Elliot and Brian are joined by Nevyn Holmes and Quinn Morris to talk about their mythopoetic mech TTRPG, Dragon Reactor. We discuss the importance of language in building a mythic story and Brian explains why this game’s Countdown mechanic restored his faith in downtime mechanics.  Talk of the Table is hosted by Elliot Davis and Brian Flaherty. Links: Back Dragon Reactor Dinoberry Press Nova Recommends: I am Your Beast Metallic Rouge Quinn Recommends: Cheekface The Gooms Our Links: Support TotT on Patreon Many Sided Newsletter Many Sided Media Discord Credits: Edited by Brian Flaherty Produced by Many Sided Media Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
A Legacy of Learning Through Design (w/ Avery Alder)
2025/08/11
Elliot and Brian sit down with Avery Alder, designer of beloved games like The Quiet Year and Monsterhearts, to discuss the many full circle moments of her career, why trigger warnings are actually for the sickos, and how she continues to learn from her designs even after putting them down for over a decade. Talk of the Table is hosted by Elliot Davis and Brian Flaherty. Links: Buy Going for Broke Buried Without Ceremony Avery on Bluesky Avery Recommends: Engines of Desire  Red Carnations on a Black Grave Sitting in the forest Our Links: Support TotT on Patreon Many Sided Newsletter Many Sided Media Discord Credits: Edited by Elliot Davis Produced by Many Sided Media Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

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5 out of 5
13 reviews
★★★★★
Michael R. Underwood 2024/06/03
Invaluable & Thought-Provoking Conversations
Every episode of Talk of the Table, I learn something about the craft of TTRPGs and/or actual play. The hosts are excellent interviewers and bring bot...
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