

The Worldbuilder’s Tavern
Emma Maione, Allison Alexander, and Christiana Jones
Welcome to The Worldbuilder’s Tavern — where great books meet creative minds.
Twice a month, we explore the worlds inside your favourite sci-fi and fantasy novels and build our own right alongside them. Whether you're constructing your next novel, TTRPG setting, or just love speculative fiction, pull up a chair at the Tavern!
Twice a month, we explore the worlds inside your favourite sci-fi and fantasy novels and build our own right alongside them. Whether you're constructing your next novel, TTRPG setting, or just love speculative fiction, pull up a chair at the Tavern!
Episodes
Mentioned books

May 1, 2024 • 36min
2.16 Retro-Futurism in Fallout
In this episode, we're talking about factions, over-the-top worldbuilding, and retro-futurism in the TV show (based on the video game) Fallout.
Proprietor's Pick: Service Model by Adrian Tchaikovsky
Intro and outro music: "The Tavern" by Michael Ghelfi
Visit the Tavern: Twitter | TikTok | Discord
Access bonus content and support us on Patreon

Apr 17, 2024 • 43min
2.15 The Afterlife in The Good Place
In this episode, we're talking about humour, morality, and the afterlife in the TV show The Good Place.
Proprietor's Pick: How to Become the Dark Lord and Die Trying by Django Wexler
Intro and outro music: "The Tavern" by Michael Ghelfi
Visit the Tavern: Twitter | TikTok | Discord
Access bonus content and support us on Patreon

Apr 3, 2024 • 46min
2.14 Gods, Realms, and Portals with Trudie Skies
In this episode, we're chatting with author Trudie Skies about deities, races, domains, magic, and expansive worldbuilding in The Thirteenth Hour, a gaslamp adult fantasy and the first in The Cruel Gods series.
Intro and outro music: "The Tavern" by Michael Ghelfi
Visit the Tavern: Twitter | TikTok | Discord
Access bonus content and support us on Patreon
Find Trudie Skies trudieskies.com

Mar 20, 2024 • 34min
2.13 Environment in Princess Mononoke
In this episode, we're chatting about historical worldbuilding, weirdness, anti-capitalism, and ecological themes in the Studio Ghibli movie Princess Mononoke.
Proprietor's Pick: Godkiller by Hannah Kaner
Intro and outro music: "The Tavern" by Michael Ghelfi
Visit the Tavern: Twitter | TikTok | Discord
Access bonus content and support us on Patreon

Mar 6, 2024 • 38min
2.12 Time Loops in Edge of Tomorrow
In this episode, we're chatting about situational humour, aliens, montages, and time loops in the movie Edge of Tomorrow.
Proprietor's Pick: The Misfit Soldier by Michael Mammay
Intro and outro music: "The Tavern" by Michael Ghelfi
Visit the Tavern: Twitter | TikTok | Discord
Access bonus content and support us on Patreon

Feb 21, 2024 • 47min
2.11 Blood Magic in Heartless Hunter (with Kristen Ciccarelli)
In this episode, we're chatting with author Kristen Ciccarelli about blood magic, witches, and witch hunters in Heartless Hunter, the YA fantasy romance inspired by the The Scarlet Pimpernel.
Intro and outro music: "The Tavern" by Michael Ghelfi
Visit the Tavern: Twitter | TikTok | Discord
Access bonus content and support us on Patreon
Find Kristen Ciccarelli at kristenciccarelli.com
The Universal Fantasy Workbook by T. Taylor
The Psychology of Fiction with Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Feb 7, 2024 • 40min
2.10 Adaptable Storytelling in Baldur’s Gate 3
In this episode, we're chatting about worldbuilding in the shadows, how actions matter, and adaptable storytelling in the video game Baldur's Gate 3.
Proprietor's Pick: The West Passage by Jared Pechaček
Intro and outro music: "The Tavern" by Michael Ghelfi
Visit the Tavern: Twitter | TikTok | Discord
Access bonus content and support us on Patreon

Jan 24, 2024 • 52min
2.9 Religion, spirits, and dark magic in Vespertine (with Margaret Rogerson)
In this episode, we're chatting with author Margaret Rogerson about religion, spirits, and dark magic in the YA fantasy novel Vespertine.
Intro and outro music: "The Tavern" by Michael Ghelfi
Visit the Tavern: Twitter | TikTok | Discord
Access bonus content and support us on Patreon
Find Margaret Rogerson at margaretrogerson.com

Jan 11, 2024 • 38min
2.8 Stitchpunk, Giant Worlds, and Gender Dimorphism in 9
In this episode, we're chatting about the worldbuilding in the movie 9.
Proprietor's Pick: The Last Human by Lee Bacon
Intro and outro music: "The Tavern" by Michael Ghelfi
Visit the Tavern: Twitter | TikTok | Discord
Access bonus content and support us on Patreon

Dec 27, 2023 • 42min
2.7 Superpowers and Society in My Hero Academia
Listen in as we chat about superpowers and superhero society, having a large cast, and female characters in the anime My Hero Academia.
Proprietor's Pick: Saving Fable by Scott Reintgen
Intro and outro music: "The Tavern" by Michael Ghelfi
Visit the Tavern: Twitter | TikTok | Discord
Access bonus content and support us on Patreon