How to Be a Better DM: Dungeon Master Tips for the DM Newbie, the Hobbyist and the Forever DM
Justin Lewis
Learn how to be a better DM (Dungeon Master) so you can tell better stories for yourself and your friends.
Learn things like how to start a campaign, how to create realistic NPCs, how to move the plot along, and how and why to use session 0's for your party.
Join hosts Justin Lewis, Cayden Ottley and Tanner Weyland as they distill all the DM tips, tools and resources for the beginner DM, for the DM with a few years of experience and for the Forever DM who's been playing for 20 years.
If you're sick of searching for things like, "How to create a homebrew DND campaign?", click the play button and listen to become the best dungeon master you ever could be!
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/betterdungeonmaster
Discord Server: https://discord.gg/g77qt8quM2
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/howtobeabetterdmpodcast/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@session0studios
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@session0studios
Professional Dungeon Master Services: https://session0studios.com/dungeon-master-for-hire/
DM Coaching: https://session0studios.com/coaching/
Learn things like how to start a campaign, how to create realistic NPCs, how to move the plot along, and how and why to use session 0's for your party.
Join hosts Justin Lewis, Cayden Ottley and Tanner Weyland as they distill all the DM tips, tools and resources for the beginner DM, for the DM with a few years of experience and for the Forever DM who's been playing for 20 years.
If you're sick of searching for things like, "How to create a homebrew DND campaign?", click the play button and listen to become the best dungeon master you ever could be!
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/betterdungeonmaster
Discord Server: https://discord.gg/g77qt8quM2
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/howtobeabetterdmpodcast/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@session0studios
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@session0studios
Professional Dungeon Master Services: https://session0studios.com/dungeon-master-for-hire/
DM Coaching: https://session0studios.com/coaching/
Episodes
Mentioned books
Dec 25, 2025 • 14min
Session Prep with No Time: 5 Tips to Maximize Your Time
Welcome back to How to Be a Better DM.Today we talk about 5 tips for session prep with no time.Adjust your expectationsGet inside your players’ mindsWorldSmithGet a repository of MapsGet Transposable MaterialThanks for listening to today’s show.Merry ChristmasThanks for listening to today’s show. If you like our stuff and want to support us, here are some sponsor links and links to our other stuff:Worldsmith: http://session0studios.com/worldsmithRoll and Play Press:http://session0studios.com/rollandplayPhantasm Studios: https://session0studios.com/fantasmsMonument Studios: session0studios.com/monumentstudiosDiscord: http://session0studios.com/discordPatreon:https://session0studios.com/patreonDungeon Master Level Up Guide: https://session0studios.com/newsletter
Dec 18, 2025 • 13min
Cliffhangers: 3 DM Tips for using them like a—
It almost feels like cliffhangers are a requirement for some DMs, or at least the professional ones! But are cliffhangers always necessary? And how can you use them more effectively as storytelling devices? Tanner discusses 3 tips for maximizing their effectiveness while avoiding cliffhanger-burnout.
Dec 11, 2025 • 13min
Tips for Improv: Reacting and Responding to Players’ Unexpected Choices Part 3
Welcome back to How to Be a Better DM.Today we continue talking about improv. We finish our tips for responding to player choices and actions.Here are the tips:The Rule of IntentYes ANDSpark or PromptsTake Pauses and BreathesTake Advantage of Cool MomentsOutsource to the PlayersMaintain the tone or Subvert it Thanks for listening to today’s show. If you like our stuff and want to support us, here are some sponsor links and links to our other stuff:Worldsmith: http://session0studios.com/worldsmithRoll and Play Press:http://session0studios.com/rollandplayPhantasm Studios: https://session0studios.com/fantasmsMonument Studios: session0studios.com/monumentstudiosDiscord: http://session0studios.com/discordPatreon:https://session0studios.com/patreonDungeon Master Level Up Guide: https://session0studios.com/newsletter
Dec 4, 2025 • 20min
Lessons in Collaborative Storytelling
Do you give your players much of a chance to collaborate on the storytelling? No? Well, you wouldn't be alone! In this episode, Tanner discusses some ideas for introducing collaboration into your D&D party so you can ramp up the storytelling AND player engagement!
Nov 20, 2025 • 22min
5 D&D Game Mechanics to Get Excited About
Today's episode is all about taking a normal or underutilized D&D game mechanic and using it to its fullest to add some real excitement to your D&D games! And if anyone deserves more excitement for playing, it's the DM. Tanner shares 5 specific mechanics to check out. Are there any others you can think of?
Nov 13, 2025 • 13min
Tips for Better DM Improv Part 2
Welcome back to How to Be a Better DMtoday we continue talking about better Improv Tips for DMsHere’s what we cover:The Rule of IntentYes ANDSparks or Prompt ListsTaking Pauses or BreathesThanks for listening to today’s show. If you like our stuff and want to support us, here are some sponsor links and links to our other stuff:Worldsmith: http://session0studios.com/worldsmithRoll and Play Press:http://session0studios.com/rollandplayPhantasm Studios: https://session0studios.com/fantasmsMonument Studios: session0studios.com/monumentstudiosDiscord: http://session0studios.com/discordPatreon:https://session0studios.com/patreonDungeon Master Level Up Guide: https://session0studios.com/newsletter
Nov 6, 2025 • 20min
What to do with an NPC Companion...
The problem of the NPC companion... the poor shmuck that your party drags along with them that YOU suddenly have to play as if you were both a player and a DM. They are just trouble, right? NO! If you learn how to pick your battles when using them in combat, roleplay situations, and other situations, you'll see that they can add to important moments without being a drag in the meantime.
Oct 30, 2025 • 13min
Better Improv For Dungeon Masters: The Rule of Intent and Yes AND
Welcome to How to Be a Better DMToday we talk about improving improvisation when your players do something out of the blue.Tip #1: The Rule of Intent - think about the intent of the player as you improvise and try to meet and fulfill that intent.Tip #2: Yes AND - in your yes anding the AND should be capitalized because that’s the most important part.Thanks for listening to today’s show. If you like our stuff and want to support us, here are some sponsor links and links to our other stuff:Worldsmith: http://session0studios.com/worldsmithRoll and Play Press:http://session0studios.com/rollandplayPhantasm Studios: https://session0studios.com/fantasmsMonument Studios: session0studios.com/monumentstudiosDiscord: http://session0studios.com/discordPatreon:https://session0studios.com/patreonDungeon Master Level Up Guide: https://session0studios.com/newsletter
Oct 23, 2025 • 14min
Embracing External Inspiration in D&D Without Shame
Oh, so you'd like to create EVERY story arc, enemy, NPC, and element of your D&D adventure out of thin air, without resorting to using characters who are blatant knockoffs of well-known actors or movie characters? And let me guess: you'd also like every adventure arc be an entirely new story that's never been seen (or at least is heavily disguised). Well, this is the wrong episode for you, because Tanner discusses why copying or embracing external story and character inspiration isn't cheap, negative, or even lazy: it's actually a great tool for DMs!
Oct 16, 2025 • 17min
The Secret Inner Work of Exceptional Dungeon Masters
Thanks for listening. Today we talk about the secret inner work required to be a great dungeon master. Here are some notes:People Management of yourself as the DMSelf ValidationJealousyCuriositySelf RegulationSix Pillars of Self EsteemDon’t take things personally The 4 AgreementsAssertivenessPersonal ClarityJournalingSelf-DisciplineRoutinesRelationship BuilderThe Like SwitchGrattitudeGrattitude JournalThanks for listening to today’s show. If you like our stuff and want to support us, here are some sponsor links and links to our other stuff:Worldsmith: http://session0studios.com/worldsmithRoll and Play Press:http://session0studios.com/rollandplayPhantasm Studios: https://session0studios.com/fantasmsMonument Studios: session0studios.com/monumentstudiosDiscord: http://session0studios.com/discordPatreon:https://session0studios.com/patreonDungeon Master Level Up Guide: https://session0studios.com/newsletter
