The Worldbuilder's Tavern
At The Worldbuilder's Tavern podcast, we like to kick back with a drink and chat about the storytelling in science fiction and fantasy books, movies, and TV shows. Your hosts are three nerds—writer Emma Maione, editor Allison Alexander, and academic Christiana Jones—who love breaking down tropes, examining plot, and questioning the status quo. If you write novels or just enjoy discussions about worldbuilding, you're in the right place.
Latest episodes
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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Dec 13, 2023 • 48min
2.6 Worldbuilding in The Book Eaters (with Sunyi Dean)
We've got fantasy author Sunyi Dean with us on this week's episode of the podcast! Listen in as we chat about her 2022 debut novel, The Book Eaters, how to decide what worldbuilding details to include and what to cut, oppressive societies, the goal of your story, and the power of books.
Intro and outro music: "The Tavern" by Michael Ghelfi
Visit the Tavern: Twitter | TikTok | Discord
Access bonus content and support us on Patreon
Find Sunyi Dean at sunyidean.com
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