Roll Play Grow: A TTRPG Business Podcast
Courtney Stover / Lightheart Adventures LLC
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Roll Play Grow is a TTRPG interview podcast for entrepreneurs, creators, and fans within the tabletop roleplay gaming space. Every episode, we interview the faces behind the TTRPG brands in the community to learn how they turned their passion for the ttrpg industry into a career.
Available episodes
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Sep 18, 2023
081: A Deep Dive into the World of Sensitivity Consulting with Noordin Ali Kadir
Are you aware of the power of words and how they can subtly infiltrate a game? Noordin Ali Kadir unearths this concealed beast in today's episode, throwing light on how bias can have a profound impact on players. You'll discover how sensitivity consulting can prevent unintended consequences, ensuring a balanced and fair game design. We discuss his consulting experience and how he combats racial and cultural stereotypes in all of his projects.
Additionally, we dive into the importance of collaboration in editing and how consulting can save game developers time and prevent errors. Noordin stresses the need to choose the right words to fit the narrative, instead of merely filling up the page. Wouldn't it be fantastic to prevent potential headaches down the line? Noordin insists on the significance of consulting from the start of a project, which not only brings to life a better product but also saves time, money, and heartache. Tune in, as Noordin Ali Kadir takes us on an exciting journey through the world of tabletop gaming, consulting, and career success.
Burnaway Kickstarter page
*Find Noordin at:*
* Website
* TwitterSupport the show
*Find Roll Play Grow:*
* Show Page
* Patreon
* Discord
* Lightheart Adventures Website
* Lightheart Twitter
* Lightheart Instagram
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Sep 12, 2023
080: Maximizing Your TTRPG Creation Efforts through Effective Project Management
Ready to up your game in the TTRPG space? Ever wondered how project management skills could change your trajectory as a creator? We dive into the nitty-gritty of project management, starting with the basics - what a project is, who a project manager is, and the phases within a project. We've got your back on each step of this journey, demystifying processes and sharing relatable examples to bring clarity. And we're not stopping at the theory, our next episode promises to unlock the world of project management tools for you.
But that's not all. A project isn't just about the process; it's about people too. We unpack the art of managing your team and resources, from project initiation to dealing with setbacks. We delve into the significance of project planning and risk management, guiding you to set up budgets and team agreements effectively. We also talk about working with artists, creating an environment that respects their creativity and time. As we explore the role of a project manager, we emphasize the importance of monitoring progress and ensuring the quality of life for your team. So, whether you're a solo creator or part of a team, these insights are here to make your TTRPG journey smoother.Support the show
*Find Roll Play Grow:*
* Show Page
* Patreon
* Discord
* Lightheart Adventures Website
* Lightheart Twitter
* Lightheart Instagram
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Sep 5, 2023
079: Designing Vagrantsong & two expansions with Kyle Rowan of Wyrd Games
Today, we take an exclusive tour of board game development behind the scenes with the imaginative Kyle Rowan, Design Lead at Wyrd Games. Kyle delves into his personal trajectory from gamer to game designer, detailing the evolution of his role at Wyrd Games and the life of the board game Vagrantsong.
Kyle reflects on the spark that ignited Vagrantsong and the journey of developing the game and its expansions. He provides deeper insights into the mechanics and philosophy behind each expansion. We also touch upon the local legend of Slagpile Annie, a friendly Pittsburgh ghost, making her spectral debut in the game.
We also delve into the anticipation surrounding the upcoming Kickstarter and the reception of the game since its release. Kyle gives us an honest glimpse into the rollercoaster ride of the game industry, the highs, the lows and everything in between. He offers pearls of wisdom for those aspiring to make their mark in the gaming world. So, buckle up and enjoy this enlightening conversation with a true gaming wizard.
*Find Kyle & Vagrantsong at:*
* Vagrantsong
* Vagrantsong Encore
* Vagrantsong Encore Kickstarter
* TwitterSupport the show
*Find Roll Play Grow:*
* Show Page
* Patreon
* Discord
* Lightheart Adventures Website
* Lightheart Twitter
* Lightheart Instagram
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Aug 29, 2023
078: Building an Online Community part 3: Strategies, Pitfalls, and Successes
Ready to build a thriving community in the tabletop role-play gaming space? Then you're in for a treat. Today, we're delving into the nitty-gritty of how to make your community members feel seen, heard, and appreciated. We're talking about highlighting community members, featuring their posts, and applauding their contributions. But more than that, we're exploring the importance of nurturing relationships within your community - because, at the end of the day, it's those relationships that keep people coming back for more.
We've also got some wisdom to share on common pitfalls when growing your social media community – and how to avoid them. Whether it's setting clear goals, staying consistent, taking feedback, or setting realistic expectations, we've got you covered. And we'll show you how to leverage your community for business success. We'll share our thoughts on gathering product feedback, encouraging user-generated content, harnessing the power of word-of-mouth marketing, and increasing brand loyalty. So tune in, take notes, and let's build a community that's meaningful, vibrant, and thriving.
*Find DungeonGlitch:*
* Gemmed Firefly
* RPG for Free
* MattJoro.com
* TwitterSupport the show
*Find Roll Play Grow:*
* Show Page
* Patreon
* Discord
* Lightheart Adventures Website
* Lightheart Twitter
* Lightheart Instagram
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Aug 22, 2023
077: Challenging Stereotypes in Fantasy Game Design with Ella Watts
Ever wonder what goes into designing a Tabletop Role-Playing Game (TTRPG)? In our latest chat with Ella Watts, an accomplished director, writer, and producer, we get to unravel the process behind the creation of her TTRPG, Upriver, Downriver. From her first game session, to her daunting journey of game design, Ella's story is as captivating as her game.
Ella doesn't shy away from the gritty side of game development. She takes us through the challenges she faced as a disabled and chronically ill person, shedding light on the real struggles behind the scenes. The conversation takes a deeper turn as we tackle the controversial decision to eliminate dwarves from the game—a decision rooted in the problematic representation of dwarfism in fantasy literature and games. Ella's perspective challenges us to rethink our assumptions and consider the real-life impact of our creative choices.
The conversation doesn't stop there. She shares the emotional roller coaster of her crowdfunding journey and the joy of finally seeing players enjoy her game. If you've ever wondered how to navigate the challenges of game design or grappled with the responsibility of representation in your work, this chat with Ella Watts offers a wealth of lessons learned.
*Find Ella at:*
* Buy Upriver, Downriver
* Upriver, Downriver Soundtrack
* Upriver, Downriver actual play by Girls Run These Worlds
* Camlan Twitter
* Ella Twitter
Find Dr. Erin Pritchard*
*
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Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.
Support the show
*Find Roll Play Grow:*
* Show Page
* Patreon
* Discord
* Lightheart Adventures Website
* Lightheart Twitter
* Lightheart Instagram
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Aug 15, 2023
076: Building an Online Community part 2: Strategically building engagement
Ready to transform your social media presence and build a thriving online community? Our latest episode is your ultimate guide to this dynamic digital landscape. We're here to help you carve out your unique space and captivate your audience by consistently delivering content that resonates.
Harness the power of community engagement with practical strategies shared in this episode. Recognize your audience, build genuine relationships, and show them they are valued. We'll explore interactive sessions like games, Q&As, AMAs, and live chats to educate and build rapport with your audience. We'll also talk about the power of collaboration, reaching out to influencers to enhance exposure, and the vitality of seeking feedback, suggestions, and mutual growth.
We also delve into the art of standing out in a crowded market. Learn how to use hashtags, groups, and polls to pique interest and encourage interaction, making your content shine. We'll discuss the significance of analyzing engagement metrics, maintaining consistency via scheduling tools, and the art of pitching yourself. Plus, we'll highlight the importance of promoting podcast subscriptions and engagements, appreciating your audience, and the magic of collaborations. Join us and watch your social media community grow and thrive!
*Find DungeonGlitch:*
* Gemmed Firefly
* RPG for Free
* MattJoro.com
* TwitterSupport the show
*Find Roll Play Grow:*
* Show Page
* Patreon
* Discord
* Lightheart Adventures Website
* Lightheart Twitter
* Lightheart Instagram
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Aug 8, 2023
075: From Herbalist's Primer to Geologist's Primer with Anna of Geologist's Primer
Join me as we step into the fascinating world of Double Proficiency, guided by none other than its co-founder, Anna. Prepare to be enthralled as we journey from the humble beginnings of her first book, Herbalist Primer, through its successful Kickstarter campaign, to its current status as a beloved gem in the TTRPG community. Anna candidly shares her experiences, from triumphs to struggles, while also giving us a glimpse into her work with the sequel, Geoglist's Primer.
Get ready to understand the grind of research, balancing work with life, and the critical role of a science editor in her work. A sneak peek into her organized approach and personal growth will surely leave you inspired.
We wrap up our chat by digging into the collaborations and adventures of Double Proficiency. Anna gives us a taste of Jakub's upcoming adventure and their decision to switch gears with a new publisher, Hunter's Entertainment. With the promise of an exciting announcement and talks of future projects, this episode is just the right blend of intrigue, inspiration, and excitement. So, let's celebrate the victories, learn from the challenges, and peek into what lies ahead for Double Proficiency.
*Find Anna & Double Proficiency at:*
* Website
* TwitterSupport the show
*Find Roll Play Grow:*
* Show Page
* Patreon
* Discord
* Lightheart Adventures Website
* Lightheart Twitter
* Lightheart Instagram
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Aug 1, 2023
074: Introducing a new co-host! & How to Build an Online Community Part 1
Ready to stop aimlessly scrolling through social media and start building a thriving online community? This episode is for you! I am joined by my engaging new co-host, Matt Joro, and we're ready to tackle the dynamic world of social media. We'll share insights on the unpredictable algorithms, increasing ad costs, and if those age-old Twitter tactics are worth a second look. As we navigate the challenging digital terrain, we'll discuss the importance of staying ahead of the curve and predicting the next big platform.
What if you could tap into the secret of creating magnetic content that turns casual followers into engaged community members? We'll break down how to identify your audience, understand their interests and behaviors, and locate their digital hangouts. From determining the right type of content to the perfect posting frequency, we'll guide you on enticing user-generated content and striking a balance between educational, inspirational, and entertaining content.
This episode is about more than just gaining followers; it's about building a community. Join us on this exciting journey!
*Find DungeonGlitch:*
* Gemmed Firefly
* RPG for Free
* MattJoro.com
* TwitterSupport the show
*Find Roll Play Grow:*
* Show Page
* Patreon
* Discord
* Lightheart Adventures Website
* Lightheart Twitter
* Lightheart Instagram
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Jul 25, 2023
073: Leading a touring Actual Play with Russell E Welch III of D20 Tales
You won't want to miss this jam-packed episode as we're rolling the dice again with Russell E Welch III, the mastermind DM and CEO behind D20 Tales. Russell returns to chat about how D20 Tales has grown and changed over the last year, including the added complexities of going on tour.
As we pull back the curtain on the world of live touring, we candidly discuss the unique challenges it entails. But it's not all chaos and stress - the excitement of audience interaction is certainly worth it. We also dive into the complexities of casting, tackling budget constraints, and maintaining quality despite these hurdles. The passion and dedication of the D20 Tales cast and crew is nothing short of inspiring, making this discussion a must-listen for every D&D enthusiast out there. So grab your favorite snack, sit back, and enjoy this epic journey into the world of D20 Tales!
*Find Russell and D20Tales at:*
* Twitter
* D20Tales Twitter
* D20Tales WebsiteDice Envy
Dice Envy creates beautiful dice in a variety of materials. Use lightheartadv for 10% off your order
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.
Support the show
*Find Roll Play Grow:*
* Show Page
* Patreon
* Discord
* Lightheart Adventures Website
* Lightheart Twitter
* Lightheart Instagram
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May 2, 2023
072: Running a game store with Andrew of Lost Star Gaming Outfitters
How many of you have thought about starting a friendly local gaming store? Well, I have a special treat for you today, because I got to chat with Andrew Youngchild, the co-founder of Lost Star Tabletop Gaming Outfitter in Gig Harbor, Washington. He and his sister, Charlie, opened up this very cool store in the heart of Gig Harbor’s shopping district, a year into Covid. We dig into how the store came to be, how things have changed over the years, and Andrew’s hopes for the future. Andrew really dives into a lot of the decisions they had to make, and I really appreciated this genuine look at opening and running a gaming store.
Before we dive in, I’d like to welcome anyone who is new to the show. This podcast is a part of Lightheart Adventures, which is a small company I co-founded with my husband. We also do blogs, one-shots, and maps that you’ll find over on our website, lightheartadventures.com. This show allows me to chat with so many amazing folks about business, marketing, hardships, lessons learned and how to guides across a wide spectrum of industries within the TTRPG scene. If that sounds like a show for you, then be sure to subscribe to Roll Play Grow on your favorite podcast player.
*Find Lost Star*
* Website
* Instagram
* Facebook
*Find Roll Play Grow:*
* Show Page
* Patreon
* Lightheart Adventures Website
* Lightheart Twitter
* Lightheart InstagramFriday Afternoon Tea
Grab a cup of tea with blends based on your favorite nerdy series. Use lightheartadv for 10% off
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.
Support the show
*Find Roll Play Grow:*
* Show Page
* Patreon
* Discord
* Lightheart Adventures Website
* Lightheart Twitter
* Lightheart Instagram
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Apr 19, 2023
071: Jay & Grub talk Yazeba's B&B and growing Possum Creek Games
Jay & Grub from Possum Creek Games are back! I’m super stoked to have my first repeat guests on the show from all the way back in episode 13. If you are not familiar with Possum Creek Games, then you might have heard of a little game called Wanderhome that Kickstarted during the height of Covid. I interviewed Jay & Grub both on my blog and on this show about Wanderhome, and now, today, we are talking about their latest game, Yazeba’s Bed & Breakfast. Yazaeba’s just came out on pdf and with their super cool virtual tabletop, One More Multiverse, so it was pretty fitting to bring them back on to talk about how the last two years have gone. If you’ve been with the show for a while, you know that I love these two so much and have had a lot of guests from Possum Creek over the last two years.
This episode was edited by Sam Atkinson.
*Find Possum Creek Games at:*
* Website
* Yazeba's Online
* Wanderhome
* Possum Creek Twitter
* Jay Twitter
* Ruby Twitter
* Possum Creek Patreon
*Find Roll Play Grow:*
* Show Page
* Patreon
* Lightheart Adventures Website
* Lightheart Twitter
* Lightheart InstagramSupport the show
*Find Roll Play Grow:*
* Show Page
* Patreon
* Discord
* Lightheart Adventures Website
* Lightheart Twitter
* Lightheart Instagram
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Apr 4, 2023
070 - Writing a book about Proactive Roleplaying with The Quest Brothers
Jonah and Tristan Fishel are two brothers writing a book together. Tristan started publishing on DM’s Guild and as a freelancer about a year ago, and they decided to write a book about proactive roleplaying. The book is called The Game Master’s Handbook of Proactive Roleplaying, and we talk about what proactive roleplaying means, their journey of writing this book and finding a publisher, and what it’s like to work on a project like this together.
*Find The Quest Brothers*
* Website
* Preorder their book
* Twitter
*Find Roll Play Grow:*
* Show Page
* Patreon
* Discord
* Lightheart Adventures Website
* Lightheart Twitter
* Lightheart InstagramFriday Afternoon Tea
Grab a cup of tea with blends based on your favorite nerdy series. Use lightheartadv for 10% off
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.
Support the show
*Find Roll Play Grow:*
* Show Page
* Patreon
* Discor…
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Mar 21, 2023
069: DungeonGlitch makes music, talks D&D, designs merch & more
Matt Joro, also known as DungeonGlitch is one of those cool creators who does so many things. Matt is a DnD Influencer, Professional DM, Artist, Author, and Composer, and I wish I’d had several more hours to talk to him. We dive into how Matt has grown in the ttrpg space over the last 3 years, how he became connected with Wizards of the Coast, marketing tips, getting into Lo-Fi music composition, and DM’s Guild. Like I said–Matt does a lot, and I hope you enjoy getting to hear from him!
If this is your first time tuning into Roll Play Grow, I want to give you a special welcome! This podcast is a part of Lightheart Adventures, which is a small company I co-founded with my husband. We also do blogs, one-shots, and maps that you’ll find over on our website, lightheartadventures.com. This show allows me to chat with so many amazing folks about business, marketing, hardships, lessons learned and how to guides across a wide spectrum of industries within the TTRPG scene. If that soun…
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Mar 7, 2023
068: BeththeBard is writing spooky stories & launching businesses
Beth the Bard is a writer, designer, streamer, and professional dungeon master. I first learned about Beth when she published She is the Ancient, an amazing genderbent version of Curse of Strahd, and it’s been a joy to follow her work ever since. Beth currently has a Kickstarter going for Daughters of Frankenstein, a super spooky 5e supplement that is inspired by all your favorite classic horror stories. I’m pretty excited for it, and it was a pleasure to get to chat with Beth about both this supplement, her journey, and the plans to launch a publishing company.
This episode was edited by Sam Atkinson.
*Find Burnaway*
* Kickstarter
* Website
*Find Beth/Daughter of Frankenstein:*
* Website
* Daughter of Frankenstein
* She is the Ancient
*Find Roll Play Grow:*
* Show Page
* Patreon
* Discord
* Lightheart Adventures Website
* Lightheart Twitter
* Lightheart InstagramFriday Afternoon Tea
Grab a cup of tea with blends based on your favorite nerdy series. Use…
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Feb 14, 2023
067: Designing unique TTRPGs with Cassi Mothwin
Cassi Mothwin shot into the ttrpg scene a couple years ago when she created her first project, What Crooked Roots, a D&D 5e folk horror supplement. Since then, she’s created two very unique games and is currently crowdfunding for a 3rd game, Tangled Blessings. Cassi didn’t plan to get into game design–it just kind of happened because of her Curse of Strahd campaign. Cassi’s had a really interesting journey and we spend this conversation really digging into it.
This episode was edited by Sam Atkinson.
*Find Burnaway*
* Kickstarter
* Website
*Find Cassi/Tangled Blessings:*
* Tangled Blessings Crowdfundr
* Website
*Find Roll Play Grow:*
* Show Page
* Patreon
* Discord
* Lightheart Adventures Website
* Lightheart Twitter
* Lightheart InstagramDice Envy
Dice Envy creates beautiful dice in a variety of materials. Use lightheartadv for 10% off your order
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no…
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Feb 7, 2023
066: Designing Burnaway and Preparing for Kickstarter with Nagi
Today is the day my friends! It is the Kickstarter launch day for the game that I have been project managing for a year now: Burnaway. I will spare you the explanation of the game right now because you are going to hear all about in this episode.We are talking with Geordie Morse aka Nagi, the game designer behind it all. Make sure you go to Kickstarter and look for Burnaway, all one word, or check out the show notes for a direct link.
You know, today’s episode was really fun, and I know I say that every time, but this one was unique. Usually when I interview folks, I’m familiar with their work, but as a complete outsider. But today got to be more of a conversation than usual, as it was a time for Nagi and me to look back over the last year together and talk about not only how he got into game design and what spurred the decision to launch a Kickstarter, but how we two newbs to the Kickstarter scene have stumbled our way through getting ready for a launch. And while I obviously hop…
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Jan 31, 2023
065: How to become a freelance social media manager with Sol
Today’s episode is the second in our short series of interviews with my project team members on the upcoming indie ttrpg called Burnaway. The game is launching on Kickstarter on February 7th, and I wanted to introduce you all to some of the awesome people behind the scenes! Be sure to check out the show notes for a link to the pre-launch page on Kickstarter, and the Arnamantle website, where you can grab an interactive story primer to get an idea of the game’s setting.
Sol is the social media manager for Burnaway, so we definitely do talk about the game and the art a bit, but we also chat about their journey diving into the world of ttrpg socials as a freelancer over the past two and a half years. Sol tweets an average of 1000 tweets a week across all his clients, and seriously, if you are struggling with your posts, grab a notebook. Especially when he starts listing his pet peeves, I literally want to print out that list and frame it. Sol is awesome to work with, and has so much…
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Jan 24, 2023
064: Designing TTRPG layouts with Chris Hopper
Chris Hopper is the layout and graphic designer for Burnaway, as well as for several other ttrpgs in the indie scene. We talk about working as a freelance layout designer, working within this community, tips for working with your designers, and making your games and layouts more accessible. I learned so much from Chris, and I know y’all will too!
This episode is actually going to be the first in a short series in which I chat with some of my own project team members. What does that mean? Well, some of you may remember that last year, I mentioned I am the project manager for a new indie ttrpg called Burnaway. The game is launching on Kickstarter on February 7th, and I wanted to introduce you all to some of the awesome people behind the scenes! Be sure to check out the show notes for a link to the pre-launch page on Kickstarter, and the Arnamantle website, where you can grab an interactive story primer to get an idea of the game’s setting.
*Find Burnaway*
* Kickstarter
* Websi…
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Oct 19, 2022
063: Writing Welcome to Dragon Talk with Greg Tito & Shelly Mazzanoble
If you hang around the D&D scene, you likely have heard of Dragon Talk, the D&D podcast hosted by Greg Tito and Shelly Mazzanoble. Greg is the Senior Communications Manager of Dungeons & Dragons, and Shelly is the Senior Brand Manager of Dungeons & Dragons. We talk about what they’re up to in D&D. We talk about their show, and we talk about their upcoming book, Welcome to Dragon Talk. So yes, this is a podcast episode where we talk to two podcasters about their book about their podcast. Welcome to Dragon Talk is published by the University of Iowa press and is releasing December 5th. You can preorder it from your favorite bookstore and I think even your friendly local game store? If you do preorder it, you might receive it a little bit early. It truly was a honor to talk to these legends of the D&D podcasting realm, and I know y’all are going to have fun listening to this.
For a last bit of business before we jump into the interview: I have a new Patreon gift for my amazing Patron…
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Aug 12, 2022
062 - Creating in-depth Actual Play Characters with Joshua Simons
Joshua Simons is our guest today! Josh is a streamer, game designer, and the Community and Content Manager at Demiplane RPG. We dive into the intricacies of networking and how Josh was able to land a fulltime job in the industry. We also get a peek at his process for creating characters. Josh has appeared on so many actual play shows and always has some really in-depth characters. I gotta say that this conversation is super juicy for those of you who are wanting to make more in-depth characters and who are looking for advice on breaking into the actual play scene.
I do have an update for those of you who keep up with this show on a regular basis. After today’s episode, I am actually going on a short hiatus! I’ve had a lot of things coming up both personally and professionally, and I needed to stop booking interviews for a little while. Don’t worry, the show will be back! It’s just been a tumultuous year, and I need to give myself a little breathing room. I’m also considering…
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Jul 29, 2022
061: Managing OneBookShelf's Marketing with Lysa Penrose
Lysa is the Marketing Manager at OneBookShelf, which is the company behind sites like DM’s Guild and DriveThruRPG. And we definitely talk about what that means, what faer journey has been like throughout multiple roles in the TTRPG space. We also talk about Design Dash, a Twitch show that Lysa co-hosts and Lysa’s love for crafty endeavors and bees! Lysa is just an incredibly kind and supportive person, and I had such a wonderful time recording this episode.
*Find Lysa:*
* Lysa's Website
* Lysa's Twitter
* DriveThruRPG
* DMsGuild
* Extinction at Camp Summersaurus
*Find Roll Play Grow:*
* Show Page
* Patreon
* Discord
* Lightheart Adventures Website
* Lightheart Twitter
* Lightheart InstagramSupport the show
*Find Roll Play Grow:*
* Show Page
* Patreon
* Discord
* Lightheart Adventures Website
* Lightheart Twitter
* Lightheart Instagram
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Jul 22, 2022
060 - How Donathin Frye became a fulltime professional Dungeon Master
How would you like to be a full-time, professional game master? It sounds like a dream a lot of us have in this industry, and so I am thrilled to introduce you to Donathin Frye who does just that. Donathin supports himself as a full-time Dungeon master with some additional freelance game design work, through Patreon subscriptions. He tends to run 6-8 full-length campaigns at any given time, and truly does spend 40 hours a week working on those campaigns. It was absolutely fascinating to learn about how Don does this and what a typical week looks like for a full-time GM. There’s a lot of good advice, even if you’re just looking to improve your DMing skills for your home games!
*Find Don:*
* Patreon
* Twitter
* Portfolio
*Find Roll Play Grow:*
* Show Page
* Patreon
* Discord
* Lightheart Adventures Website
* Lightheart Twitter
* Lightheart InstagramSupport the show
*Find Roll Play Grow:*
* Show Page
* Patreon
* Discord
* Lightheart Adventures Website…
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Jul 15, 2022
059: Balancing Disability & Entrepreneurship with Sara Thompson, creator of the Combat Wheelchair
Today, I have the absolute pleasure to introduce you to Sara Thompson. Sara is most widely known for the Combat Wheelchair they created for D&D, but she is also a freelance game designer working with companies like Paizo and R Talsorian Games. We definitely talk about Sara’s game design processes, but this episode is extra special to me because we spend time talking about disability and working as a freelancer with your disabilities. Those of you who’ve listened to episodes of this show in past will know that I’m disabled and went through a lot of unpleasant things last year while trying to figure out entrepreneurship, so it was really meaningful to chat with Sara and learn how she manages her day to day schedule and how they balance varying energy levels and flare-ups with deadlines as a freelancer. I really hope you enjoy this very special conversation.
*Find Sara: *
* LinkTree
* Twitter
*Find Roll Play Grow:*
* Show Page
* Patreon
* Discord
* Lightheart Adventu…
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Jul 8, 2022
058: Game Design & Incorporating Safety Tools in your TTRPGs with Kienna Shaw
Kienna Shaw is our guest today. Kienna is known for doing more things than we were able to discuss in an hour, like the TTRPG Safety Toolkit, safety consulting, game design for a bunch of games on Itch.io, DM’s Guild, and a Candlekeep Mysteries adventures, and a whole lot of actual play streaming. We focus mostly on game design and safety tools in this conversation, but I could have spent hours chatting with them about all the amazingly cool things she does. I know y’all are going to love this episode!
*Find Kienna: *
* Twitter
* Itch.io
* Carrd.co
* Salty Sweet Games' Twitch
* Arcon
*Find Roll Play Grow:*
* Show Page
* Patreon
* Discord
* Lightheart Adventures Website
* Lightheart Twitter
* Lightheart InstagramSupport the show
*Find Roll Play Grow:*
* Show Page
* Patreon
* Discord
* Lightheart Adventures Website
* Lightheart Twitter
* Lightheart Instagram
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Jun 24, 2022
057 - Audio & editing tips for your actual play podcast with David of Reckless Attack
Our guest today is David, the player behind Kascorin and one of the podcast editors of Reckless Attack. If you are not familiar with Reckless Attack, it is one of my absolute favorite D&D Actual Play podcasts, and you should definitely go check it out. They are a really good and funny group, and their episodes are typically about an hour long. David is the one who dedicated a lot of time to figuring out the audio setup, and he also dedicated an entire room of his and Sophie’s house to being their recording studio. We get real nerdy in this episode talking about audio setup and editing techniques, so this one is definitely for my fellow podcasters out there and for fans of Reckless Attack, because we get a pretty cool behind-the-scenes look at their production process.
*Find David & Reckless Attack: *
* Reckless Attack Website
* RA Twitter
* RA Instagram
*Find Roll Play Grow:*
* Show Page
* Patreon
* Discord
* Lightheart Adventures Website
* Lightheart Twitter
*…
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Jun 17, 2022
056: Editing TTRPGs and developing your content strategy with Amber TheSpaceJamber
Today’s guest is Amber TheSpaceJamber, a TTRPG editor and streamer. Amber tells us what your editor is actually thinking and looking for in your writing. We also go into depth on content strategies while building your online presence, and all about streaming. Amber has some great advice, and I know you’ll enjoy the episode as much as I did!
*Find Amber: *
* Website
* Twitch
* Twitter
*Find Roll Play Grow:*
* Show Page
* Patreon
* Discord
* Lightheart Adventures Website
* Lightheart Twitter
* Lightheart InstagramBuzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched!
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Jun 10, 2022
055: Bringing TTRPGs & dice to India with Indrani of Desis & Dragons
Today features Indrani, an absolutely amazing and kind creator from India. She is the co-founder of Desis & Dragons, India’s largest TTRPG community. Indrani is also the creator behind Nonagon Dice, which they started because handmade dice weren’t easily accessible in India. Indrani has been doing some truly incredible work over the last year, and it was a privilege to get to speak to them.
*Find Indrani at Nonagon Dice:*
* Website
* Twitter
* Instagram
*Find Desis & Dragons:*
* Discord
* Twitch
* Twitter
* Instagram
*Find Roll Play Grow:*
* Show Page
* Patreon
* Discord
* Lightheart Adventures Website
* Lightheart Twitter
* Lightheart InstagramFriday Afternoon Tea
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May 27, 2022
054 - Growing your TTRPG Interview podcast with Derrick of How Not to DM
What happens when you interview an interviewer? You tend to compare notes. And that is what we do today. Our guest is Derrick, the host of the How Not to DM Podcast. If you aren’t familiar with his show, I highly recommend you go check it out. If you like my show, you’ll like his too. Derrick also interviews folks in the TTRPG space. His focus tends to be on DMing, and he always makes a point to ask about mistakes his guests have made as a DM so that we can learn from them. Of course, they talk about the good things too and there are always some pretty entertaining stories. He’s in his second season now, and added a super fun game element that’s tailored to the guest. Definitely go look up his show if you haven’t already!
*Find Derrick and How Not to DM at:*
* Listen to the podcast
* LinkTree
*Find Roll Play Grow:*
* Show Page
* Patreon
* Discord
* Lightheart Adventures Website
* Lightheart Twitter
* Lightheart InstagramFloDesk
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May 20, 2022
053: Starting a TTRPG production company with Russell E Welch III of D20Tales
Today’s guest is Russell E Welch the III, the DM and CEO of D20Tales, a company putting on some very high quality D&D Actual Plays. They were formerly known as Spawn of Chaos and just rebranded very recently. Russell and I get really into the weeds on casting the shows, their production process, the impact of acting philosophies, rebranding, and a whole lot more. Rossell has some great stories, and it was a very enjoyable interview.
*Find Russell and D20Tales at:*
* Twitter
* D20Tales Twitter
* D20Tales Website
*Find Roll Play Grow:*
* Show Page
* Patreon
* Discord
* Lightheart Adventures Website
* Lightheart Twitter
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May 13, 2022
052 - Becoming a freelance TTRPG composer with Devin Nelson
Today’s guest is Devin Nelson, a very talented composer, musician, and game designer. We talk about how Devin quit their full-time job to pursue a career in music, composing podcasts for Actual Plays and other podcasts, game design, and about Devin’s band, Gloomy June which just went on tour. Devin is super cool, so I know y’all will love this episode.
*Find Devin at:*
* Twitter
* Portfolio
* Music for purchase
* Flight of Magic podcast
*Find Roll Play Grow:*
* Show Page
* Patreon
* Discord
* Lightheart Adventures Website
* Lightheart Twitter
* Lightheart InstagramFriday Afternoon Tea
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*Find Roll Play Grow:*
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May 6, 2022
051: Orion D. Black is having a blast with Dimension 20
Our guest today is Orion D. Black, the Creative Director for Dimension 20 and a game designer with publications on itch.io. Orion has had a huge impact on the TTRPG scene, and it was an absolute honor to have them on the show. We talked about how Orion went from playing D&D to designing their own indie games, to working with the incredible crew of Dimension 20.
*Find Orion D. Black at:*
* Twitter
* Itch.io
* Dimension 20
*Find Roll Play Grow:*
* Show Page
* Patreon
* Discord
* Lightheart Adventures Website
* Lightheart Twitter
* Lightheart InstagramFriday Afternoon Tea
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Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.
Support the show
*Find Roll Play Grow:*
* Show Page
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* Lightheart Adventures Website
* Lightheart Twitter
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Apr 29, 2022
050: 50th episode celebration! Aka how to start an interview podcast
It’s episode 50! It took a long time to get here, longer than it technically should for a weekly show, but we’re here. We made it, and it’s amazing. I am in a little shock about what this signifies. I’ve talked to so many amazing people in this space, and I am just so grateful to everyone who’s been a guest and to all of you for listening, tuning in every week, giving me feedback, and leaving those super encouraging reviews. To celebrate making it to 50 episodes over the past 15 months, this episode is one where I am the guest. Brenton joined me again, but this time, he asked me the questions. So if you’ve ever wondered about how I got started with this super awesome interview podcast and wanted to know about my processes, we get really into it. Brenton also asked me about that ever elusive pet merch shop, so we dig into some of the struggles I’ve run into while crawling towards a launch. Hopefully you both enjoy and find value in hearing about all this.
*Find Roll Play…
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Apr 22, 2022
049 - How to start a TTRPG discussion podcast with Emil of the DoubleDM podcast
Today we get the pleasure of hearing from Emil, one of the hosts of the DoubleDM podcast, which is a discussion show between two Dungeon Masters and the occasional guest. This show has been around for just over a year now; about the same amount of time as mine, and it was pretty cool getting to chat with another podcaster about how their show has grown and their processes have evolved over the course of the past year. We talk about the importance of just starting and not waiting for it to be perfect and that it’s okay to ask for help. Emil was a wonderful guest, and he has some great nuggets of wisdom to share.
*Find Emil & DoubleDM at:*
* LinkTree
* Twitter
* Instagram
*Find Roll Play Grow:*
* Show Page
* Patreon
* Discord
* Lightheart Adventures Website
* Lightheart Twitter
* Lightheart InstagramFloDesk
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Apr 14, 2022
048 - Baking Pathfinder cookies with Karee of Critical Hit Cookies
Today’s guest is Karee, the owner of Critical Hit Cookies and a cast member of the Starfinder actual Play podcast: Horizons Unknown. We talk about how Karee fell into playing Pathfinder and joining this cast, and then we move into how her cookie shop came to be. Critical Hit Cookies makes and ships some absolutely delicious cookies with a Pathfinder theme, and y’all are going to be drooling by the end of this episode.
*Find Karee & Critical Hit Cookies at:*
* Website
* Twitter
* Horizons Unknown podcast on Twitch
*Find Roll Play Grow:*
* Show Page
* Patreon
* Lightheart Adventures Website
* Lightheart Twitter
* Lightheart InstagramDice Envy
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Apr 8, 2022
047 - Setting up your small business & painting miniatures with Andrea of Wolfwood Gaming
Today’s guest is Andrea Canerossi, the Managing Partner and Mini Painter for Wolfwood Gaming. She co-owns the company with her business partner, Deacon Wolfwood, who is their woodworker and resin artist. Wolfwood Gaming is still a pretty new company, but it was really interesting to hear about the their journey. Andrea and I talk about playing D&D with their kids and the foster community, painting minis, and so many business logistics. We talked about setting up a LLC, what happens when you don’t pay your taxes on a monthly basis as a small business, what she would’ve done differently if she were setting everything up again, and more. If you are in the beginning stages of setting up a small, product-based business, this episode is for you.
*Find Andrea & Wolfwood Gaming at:*
* Website
* LinkTree
*Find Roll Play Grow:*
* Show Page
* Patreon
* Lightheart Adventures Website
* Lightheart Twitter
* Lightheart InstagramDice Envy
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Apr 1, 2022
046 - Painting Dice Boxes, Designing Merch & Managing Online Stores with Jay of 88Riddles
Today we get the pleasure of hearing from Jay, the owner and designer behind 88Riddles. You may have seen Jay for his painted dice boxes, as part of an add-on to several Kickstarters, or maybe for his t-shirt and hoodie designs. Jay is a super talented artist who has a lot of great wisdom to share on running a plethora of online shops.
If this is your first time tuning in to Roll Play Grow, hello! This podcast is a part of Lightheart Adventures, which is a small company I co-founded with my husband. We also do blogs, one-shots, and maps that you’ll find over on our website, lightheartadventures.com.
*Find Jay & 88Riddles at:*
* LinkTree
* Etsy
*Find Roll Play Grow:*
* Show Page
* Patreon
* Lightheart Adventures Website
* Lightheart Twitter
* Lightheart InstagramFloDesk
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*Find Roll Pla…
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Mar 25, 2022
045 - Blogging, Streaming & Game Design: Making Inclusive & Diverse Content with DeAngelo Murillo
Our guest today is DeAngelo Murillo, a writer, streamer, game designer, and activist. He founded a really cool blog and website that puts a spotlight on cosplayers and other creators called The Geek Lyfe and has continued that theme in his streamed games on Twitch. We talk about the site, his journey into content creation, his Actual Play and Charity streams, and then we pivot to talking about his game that is about to launch on Kickstarter, Emerald Templars. There are so many good nuggets in this episode, and I know you’ll learn a lot!
In case you’ve missed this announcement from the last few episodes, I now have my own Patreon for Roll Play Grow! So if you want to help support the show, you can go to patreon.com/rollplaygrow and you’ll find a tier as low as $3 a month. Perks include having early access to the guest list, being able to add your questions to upcoming interviews, behind-the-scenes content, and shout-outs on my website and the show. I would love if you’d go chec…
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Mar 18, 2022
044 - From Comics to TTRPGs: Co-writing Yazeba's Bed & Breakfast with Lillie J. Harris & Mercedes Acosta
*Spoiler Warning: *I forgot to say this in the intro, but there are some mild spoilers about Yazeba's backstory, starting at about the 25-minute mark until the 34-minute mark.*
*I am very happy to bring you Lillie J. Harris and Mercedes Acosta, two of the writers from the upcoming, so close to launch, game Yazeba’s Bed & Breakfast. I am VERY excited about this game, and it was an absolute delight to chat with Lillie and Mercedes about their involvement with its development. They both come from a comics background, so it was really cool to hear about how they brought those skills into this very unique ttrpg. Also, they’re pretty badass in general, so just know that you are about to hear from some delightful people. The game launches in a few days, on March 22nd, on Indiegogo.
If this is your first time tuning in to Roll Play Grow, hello! This podcast is a part of Lightheart Adventures, which is a small company I co-founded with my husband. We also do blogs, one-shots, and maps th…
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Mar 11, 2022
043 - Telling the story that matters to you & authentically advertising your product with Nathan of Reckless Attack
Today we get the pleasure of hearing from the Dungeon Master of a still new yet increasingly popular D&D Actual Play podcast, Reckless Attack. Nathan Lurz joins me today to chat about this podcast, which was years in the making and then we pivot to chatting about social media marketing. This episode is longer than usual, but to be honest that’s partly because Nathan and I are friends in real life and this is just what happens when you’re friends, but also because he’s full of some amazing advice.
I’ll try and keep this intro short, but in case you missed the last episode, I’ve got a couple of business updates for you. The first is to announce that after some feedback about our Lightheart Adventures Patreon being a bit confusing, I decided to split Roll Play Grow off into its own separate Patreon, and I just launched it this week! This will allow posts to be more streamlined and less confusing. So if you want to support the show, you can go to patreon.com/rollplaygrow and you…
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Mar 4, 2022
042 - Designing Niche Indie TTRPGs with Imani of Margaret Catter Dev
Today’s guest is Imani, the founder of Margaret Catter Development. Imani is an indie game developer making some truly fun and pretty niche games. I really loved diving into the stories behind a lot of these games, learning about her processes and some upcoming projects they are working on this year. Imani is a lot of fun, so I hope you enjoy listening to them!
I’ve got a couple of business updates for you all today. The first is to announce that after some feedback about our Lightheart Adventures Patreon being a bit confusing, I decided to split Roll Play Grow off into its own separate Patreon, and I just launched it this week! This will allow posts to be more streamlined and less confusing. So if you want to support the show, you can go to patreon.com/rollplaygrow and you’ll find a tier as low as $3 a month. Perks include having early access to the guest list, being able to add your questions to upcoming interviews, behind-the-scenes content, and shout-outs on my website and t…
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Feb 25, 2022
041 - How to market your Kickstarter campaign with Daniel Nimitz
If you are planning a crowd-funding campaign, thinking of planning a crowd-funding campaign, or just in search of some amazing advice about marketing your products, then you NEED to listen to this episode. Daniel Nimitz is an absolute wizard at helping Kickstarter campaigns get funded. Some examples of previous projects they were the marketing manager of are Fuel Priest, Magic School Mystery, and Heroes of Tara. Dan shares some incredible tips about preparing for your campaign, the budget you set aside for marketing, crowd surveys to see what graphics and images are going to help you achieve your funding goals, building an email list, and so much more. To be totally honest, I kind of kept forgetting that I hadn’t shared it yet and would mention some of the stats she told me to Brenton, and he would get confused and be like Courtney, I haven’t heard that episode yet. Well now you’ll finally know what I’m talking about, Brenton!
If this is your first time tuning in to Roll Play…
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Feb 18, 2022
040 - Making Edible Dice with Hannah of Cacao CH3
Hello & Welcome to Episode 40 of Roll Play Grow, the podcast for tabletop entrepreneurs, creators, and fans. I am Courtney Stover of Lightheart Adventures, and in this podcast, we talk to the creators behind the brands in the tabletop roleplay gaming space about who they are and how they are turning their passion for gaming into a career.
Today’s guest is probably going to make you crave sweets like nothing else. I had the honor of speaking with Hannah Smith, the owner of Cacao CH3, a chocolate shop that sells delicious confections, including chocolate dice. I can confirm that they are very realistic looking and quite delicious. I gave everyone in my D&D party a tin of chocolate dice for Christmas, and they legitimately thought they were dice, and were really confused when I ate one in front of them. It was pretty great. In this interview, I learned just how ignorant I am about the food business, and Hannah went into great detail about all of the steps she had to take just to be abl…
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Dec 17, 2021
039 - Animating Video Games & Drawing All the Things with Aster
Today’s guest is Aster, an incredibly talented game and comic artist from Mexico City. I found Aster by looking for an artist to draw my dog, Bowser as a Ranger in a few pieces. As you may or may not know, I am working towards opening an Etsy shop soon for D&D-themed pet merch like bandanas, bowties, and collars. I decided I wanted Bowser to be my mascot, and I needed someone who could draw him as a D&D character. Ruby from Possum Creek Games recommended Aster to me, and I fell in love with his art style. Three AMAZINGLY adorable pieces later, I am a fan of Aster for life.
Aster tells the wild journey he’s gone through: everything from an abusive boss at 17 to working on Cartoon Network game animation to comics and commission work. Aster is one of the artists working with Possum Creek Games, and you can see his work in the upcoming Yazeba’s Bed & Breakfast, which we heard about in last week’s episode. We discuss balancing full-time work with freelance commissions, finding clie…
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Dec 10, 2021
038 - Designing Indie Games & Publishing Wickedness with M Veselak
Today’s guest is M Veselak, a ttrpg designer and the author of Wickedness, published by Possum Creek Games. We talk about how she became a gamer at the age of 5, writing games for a LARP summer camp, how she creates zer games, what it’s like to work with Jay and Ruby at Possum Creek Games, and we get a pretty cool preview of the behind the scenes of the upcoming game Yazeba’s Bed and Breakfast. M is a lot of fun, and I really enjoyed getting to know zer more.
If this is your first time tuning in to Roll Play Grow, welcome. This podcast is a part of Lightheart Adventures, which is a small company I co-founded with my husband. If you are also a Possum Creek Games fan and want to check out a few other interviews I’ve done with the team, then I’ve got two more for you. Episode 13 is with the stars themselves, Jay and Ruby. I also had the privilege of speaking with Jamila R Nedjadi in episode 35 about a lot of his games, though we spent a lot of time on Our Haunt, which is anothe…
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Dec 3, 2021
037 - Transforming your D&D Campaign into Novels with Scott of Tal and Ru Travels
For today’s guest: have you ever considered writing a series of novels about your D&D campaign? Because that is exactly what the lovely couple over at Tal and Ru Travels are doing. Scott Roepel shares the inspiring story of how he and Ashley are turning their D&D campaign into an 8 book series, and it’s based entirely on how things go in their campaign. We talk about the logistics of an ever-changing story, how they share the story and their whole production process, and we even talk about how they bought a camper van to explore nature to influence their ideas. They have a pretty fascinating story, and I can’t wait for you to hear it! So thank you as always for checking out Roll Play Grow, and I hope you enjoy this conversation with Scott.
*Find Scott, Tal and Ru & the Thread of Souls series at:*
* Website
* Thread of Souls series
* Ko-fi
* Twitter
*Find Roll Play Grow:*
* Show Page
* Courtney's recovery fund
* Patreon
* Lightheart Adventures Website
* Light…
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Nov 19, 2021
036 - Disability Mechanics & Hand-making Dice with Anna of D&D Disability & Three Fates Dice
Anna Holden is the founder of D&D Disability, a company she began to help bring disability awareness to D&D. She works with a team of consultants to create supplements to allow players to bring disabilities into the world of D&D. I actually had the privilege of working with her on a supplement for POTS, which stands for Postural Orthostatic Tacychardia Syndrome, and it was honestly a really cool experience to think of my own chronic illness in a fun way and translate it to D&D mechanics. We dive into Anna’s processes for writing and creating these supplements, as well as the journey D&D Disability has taken over the last year. Anna is also a talented dice maker and is able to use these dice to support herself full time. We also get to have a fun discussion about how she’s been able to grow this dice business in conjunction with D&D Disability and while managing her own disabilities, which really is a full-time job in itself. Anna is making some extraordinary strides in bringing mor…
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Nov 12, 2021
035 - DMing & Producing a Visual Novel Style Actual Play with Cassi of Chosen Ones
Today’s guest is Cassi, the dungeon master for the visual novel style D&D podcast, Chosen Ones. They are also a very talented artist and animator. We chat about what it’s like to DM an actual play podcast, how they unintentionally wound up with a year’s worth of recordings due to Covid, how they add the visual elements for YouTube onto the show, and all about their art journey that led them to this point. This was another great conversation, and I hope you enjoy this look behind the scenes of this great show!
If this is your first time tuning in to Roll Play Grow, welcome. This podcast is a part of Lightheart Adventures, which is a small company I co-founded with my husband. We offer a weekly blog on our website where you’ll find tips for running games, free monthly one-shot adventures, product reviews, and more. You’ll find that blog at lightheartadventures.com. Brenton also creates beautiful dungeon maps, both on DM’s Guild and on a commission basis He is currently worki…
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Nov 5, 2021
034 - Spell Trackers, Potions Bottles, and Rocking Kickstarter with Katlyn of Arcane Spectacles
It’s been a while since we had a maker on the show, and I’m very excited about today’s guest, Katlyn Sol, ½ of the Arcane Spectacles team. If you aren’t familiar with Arcane Spectacles, they make spell trackers, potion bottles that include d4s, dice vaults, and more cool D&D and Pathfinder accessories. I actually have a spell tracker and potion bottle myself, and I love them both. That potion bottle is really fun to pass around to my players and is definitely seeing a lot of usage these days as I lead them through Curse of Strahd. If you aren’t sure what a spell tracker is, it’s a great way to both organize your dice and give you a visual and tactile way to keep track of your character’s spell slots at every level. It’s definitely going to come in handy when my players finally decide to take down Strahd. Or try anyway.
Katlyn tells the amazing journey she and her partner have taken to bring Arcane Spectacles to where it is today, including how they started out, going…
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Oct 29, 2021
033 - Honing your design process & whipping out publications with Chris Valentine
Chris Valentine is a best-selling TTRPG author who published on both DM’s Guild and DriveThruRPG. One of the things I find most impressive about Chris is the wildly efficient process he’s developed for producing new supplements and adventures on a super-fast timeline: we’re talking a new publication every week and a half, while he also works full time and has a newborn baby. Now, I will absolutely say that I do not want to in any way encourage something that could cause burn-out for you personally, and I certainly don’t want any of you to hear that and feel as though you aren’t doing enough. You absolutely are. Instead, what I hope you’re able to gather from this discussion is ideas on how to make your own development processes more efficient, so that they are serving you well. Chris has great advice on how having lists of every step can help you when you’re feeling stuck so you know what else you can focus on that will still help you reach your goals. Again, I found this…
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Oct 22, 2021
032 - Designing Maps & Marketing Tips with Christian of CZRPG
Christian Zeuch is a Brazilian cartographer and author who has published a large number of supplements, adventures, and map packs on both DM’s Guild and DriveThruRPG. He has some absolutely amazing advice that he shares as he describes his journey to becoming a best-selling cartographer involving marketing strategies, strategies for planning future publications, collaborations, and more. He also has a Kickstarter launching very soon that we discuss towards the end of the interview that sounds like it will be very cool. We did record this episode early, so he doesn’t go into too much detail, but that Kickstarter will be launching on October 26th, and I’ll include a link in the show notes. Christian is a fount of knowledge and recommends some pretty amazing resources throughout the show. If you’re interested in learning more about publishing on these platforms, then I know you’ll love this episode.
If this is your first time tuning in to the show, welcome. This podcast is a pa…
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Oct 15, 2021
031 - Redesigning Our Haunt & Publishing Indie ttrpgs with Jamila R. Nedjadi
Our guest today is a very talented indie ttrpg designer with over 40 titles on itch.io: Jamila R. Nedjadi. He also has a Kickstarter for the second edition of Our Haunt that just launched a few days ago through a partnership they have with Possum Creek Games. Our conversation covered everything from all of the lessons they’ve learned and how they’ve refined processes over the last few years, to digging into how he’s updating Our Haunt to a new version for this Kickstarter. Jammi is incredibly talented and has a lot of wisdom to offer about game design. We’ll have a few more interviews in the coming months with folks who’ve been working with Possum Creek Games, and I know you’ll enjoy all of them. If you aren’t familiar with this company, you might recognize game titles such as Wanderhome or Sleepaway. I interviewed Jay Dragon and Ruby Lavin about founding Possum Creek back in episode 13, so if you’re interested in learning more, I’d recommend checking out that episode…
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Oct 8, 2021
030 - Designing TTRPGs and leading game jams with Marigold
Today’s guest is Marigold: an indie game designer and artist. They have games available on itch.io such as Wagon Wheel, Feather Down, and Habits of the Common House Ghost and an Etsy shop where they sell washi tape, game accessories, and artwork. This conversation was a really special one, as not only did we dive into the unique processes of developing games during Game Jams and the other interesting ways her games have come about, but we also delve into a discussion about the opportunities ttrpgs give us to explore ourselves and our own interests. This conversation is sure to give you a lot to think about!
*Find Marigold at:*
* Itch.io
* Etsy
* Linktree
*Find Roll Play Grow:*
* Show Page
* Patreon
* Lightheart Adventures Website
* Lightheart Twitter
* Lightheart InstagramDice Envy
Dice Envy creates beautiful dice in a variety of materials. Use lightheartadv for 10% off your order
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may recei…
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Oct 1, 2021
029 - Creating a New Universe & Project Management Tips with T. Julian Bell of Dark Veil Studio
T. Julian Bell is the Creative Director and Owner of Dark Veil Studio which currently has a Kickstarter running for the Dark Veil TTRPG. I’ll be honest, y’all. I really want this game, and I think you should absolutely go check out their Kickstarter, which is running until October 15th. I’m not being paid to say this; I just think the lore and universe-building potentials sound really cool, and I’m also pretty fascinated by the mechanics that Julian describes in this interview. He has a pretty amazing story about how this game came to be, and they have some big plans for the Dark Veil universe. Beyond just wanting to promote this game because I want it, I also really enjoyed talking to Julian, as he has a wealth of knowledge about project managing a new TTRPG system and goes into pretty elaborate detail on a lot of their processes, including how they decided on their game mechanics and the vital role of playtesting.
*Find Julian and Dark Veil Studio at:*
* Dark Veil Rolepla…
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Sep 28, 2021
028 - Bringing D&D to breweries with Brandon of Goblins and Growlers
*Content Warning: *Suicidal Attempt (Timestamp 39:20 - 40:30 )* *
Brandon Dingess is the co-founder and content manager of Goblins and Growlers, a Richmond, Virginia-based TTRPG events and content company. He also plays a triple-multiclassed over-the-hill pro wrestler in the actual-play podcast "Quid Pro Roll" and co-hosts "The Goblins and Growlers Podcast," a bi-weekly show that muses on various gaming and TTRPG interests. So what does a TTRPG events company look like? Think about trivia night at your local brewery, and replace the Trivia with D&D. Much better, right? Maybe I’m biased because I’m terrible at trivia. Goblins and Growlers has a pretty cool origin story, and I think you’ll enjoy learning all about it, how they’ve pivoted during the Quarantimes, and about Brandon’s other podcasts.
As usual, I’ve got a few items of business to go over before we jump into the interview. If you’ve been hanging around before, you know that I sometimes mention some of the other…
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Sep 24, 2021
027 - Merging Grimms Fairy Tales and D&D with Krista of Cat Tale Press
How many fans of Grimms' Fairy Tales are listening to this right now? Krista Martocci is an author and game designer publishing D&D adventures set in her own homebrew, Grimm-themed world. She currently has two adventures based on Snow White and Bremen Town-Musicians, as well as several sub-class supplements out on DriveThruRPG and available in a couple of local bookstores. We talk about how she went from creating a one-shot for her friends to redesigning it and getting it ready for publication, selling her adventures in a physical bookstore, and how she taught herself all of the skills needed to get an adventure ready for publication all by yourself.
Before we dive into the interview, if this is your first time tuning in to the show, welcome. This podcast is a part of Lightheart Adventures, which is a small company I co-founded with my husband. We offer a weekly blog on our website where you’ll find tips for running games, free monthly one-shot adventures, product reviews, and more.…
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Sep 17, 2021
026 - Writing & Illustrating a new Guide to Ravnica with Sean & Brianna Atherton
A few weeks ago, I put out a call on Twitter asking for artists, makers, and cartographers to reach out if they’d be interested in coming on the podcast, and whew. The response was honestly overwhelming. I’m really excited about it, because before this, I really only ever had 2-3 interviews scheduled at a time, so it was a constant juggling act of essentially cold calling people within the industry, wondering if they ever saw my messages or if it’d gone to spam, and being excited when someone responded. But now I have enough interviews scheduled to get us into January. This is also incredibly helpful because on a more personal note, I’ll actually be undergoing a pretty intense surgery at the end of October, so now I get to have a whole bunch of episodes ready in the pipeline so y’all won’t even notice my absence for a while. Aw yeah, planning! So there’s a fun little glimpse of the logistics involved in hosting an interview podcast. The hardest part is booking guests, ser…
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Sep 10, 2021
025 - Woodworking & Constructing Dice Boxes with Tim of Staff and Branch
If you’ve spent any amount of time on ttrpg Twitter, you’ve probably seen the gorgeous round dice boxes with colorful and magical epoxy patterns created by Staff and Branch. I am delighted to introduce you to today’s guest, Tim Carlson, the owner of Staff & Branch and maker of these dice boxes. Snagging a box for yourself is an elusive goal, as he’s usually sold out within minutes of his bi-weekly restocks. Tim never intended this to be a full-time business, but we dive into how he got started with Staff and Branch and how it’s grown into a successful business in less than two years. You’ll get insight into the construction of these boxes, his thoughts on Etsy, and more.
Before we get into the interview today, I wanted to share this really sweet review I just got on Apple Podcasts! Reviews are one of the best ways to support a show, as they tell the algorithm gods that a show is worth promoting, and more people can find it. This review is from LuLuinWA, and they say:
“*E…
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Sep 3, 2021
024 - Diving into entrepreneurship full time & Making Random Generators with Adam of Sword & Source
Adam Waselnuk is the founder of Sword & Source and co-founder of Legendkeeper. Sword & Source is a collection of random generators, most notably, Here be Taverns, which was just nominated for an Ennie award. Adam was actually one of my first listeners of this podcast and reached out to me to say hello a while back, so it’s been super cool watching him grow over the last several months. Brenton actually is a contributing writer for some of his generators, so I’ve also gotten a glimpse of some of the behind-the-scenes work that goes into these creations. Adam tells us all about these generators today, but we also discuss the strategy he used to grow a following before he even had a website, the importance of email marketing, and dig into all sorts of analysis and processes. This conversation definitely made my little project manager heart happy, so I know those of you who are more analytical will definitely enjoy this episode.
As usual, I’ve got a few items of business to go over…
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Aug 27, 2021
023 - Creating the Herbalist's Primer with Anna of Double Proficiency
We are talking about plants today! Anna is a graphic designer and the co-founder of Double Profiecieny, a company publishing tabletop rpg supplements and games. They have just launched the Herbalist’s Primer on Kickstarter, which is a supplement you can use to add real life plants into your games with magical properties, the know-how for potion creating, and more. Anna tells us all about this project, and I am so excited to get this book. We also dive into how she started Double Proficiency with her partner and the types of projects they like to work on. She is an absolute delight, and I hope you enjoy learning from her today!
Before we dive into the interview, if this is your first time tuning in to the show, welcome. This podcast is a part of Lightheart Adventures, which is a small company I co-founded with my husband. We offer a weekly blog on our website where you’ll find tips for running games, free monthly one-shot adventures, product reviews, and more. You’ll find that bl…
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Aug 20, 2021
022 - Running a D&D Bed & Breakfast with Wayne of Adventure Away
Hello & Welcome to Episode 22 of Roll Play Grow, the podcast for tabletop entrepreneurs, creators, and fans. I am Courtney Stover of Lightheart Adventures, and in this podcast, we talk to the creators behind the brands in the tabletop roleplay gaming space about who they are and how they are turning their passion for gaming into a career.
How does a weekend getaway at a castle bed & breakfast where you play D&D all weekend long sound to you? Like the best weekend ever, right? Well today, you will get to learn all about Wayne and Apple, who offer that exact experience to small groups in Maryland. Wayne is the Head Dungeon Master and Co-founder of Adventure Away, a D&D B&B. Guests check in on Friday, enjoy some local cuisine while playing a session zero, and then spend all day Saturday playing an ultra-long one-shot before wrapping up their stay Sunday night. We talked about taking this business from concept to needing to hire additional DMS, all of the logistics that go into running ea…
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Aug 13, 2021
021 - Shaping Ceramics & Selling at Markets with Avé of Avé Rivera Studio
Hello & Welcome to Episode 21 of Roll Play Grow, the podcast for tabletop entrepreneurs, creators, and fans. I am Courtney Stover of Lightheart Adventures, and in this podcast, we talk to the creators behind the brands in the tabletop roleplay gaming space about who they are and how they are turning their passion for gaming into a career.
Avé is the talented creator behind Avé Rivera Studio where she makes gorgeous and nerdy pottery. She makes D&D themed mugs, fun jewelry and trinket trays, cute stickers and apparel, and more. You’ll have to make sure you’re following her on Instagram, YouTube, and/or Twitter, because her mug restocks tend to go super fast. Ave’s been running her business for six years, and it was really interesting to learn about the lessons she’s learned in that time, including working at markets, vendoring at the Renaissance Faire, balancing Etsy, a separate web store, blogging, YouTubing, and dealing with burnout. I really enjoyed chatting with Ave, and…
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Jul 2, 2021
020 - Creating Beautiful Art with Jess & Tony of Works of Whimsy Studios
Hello & Welcome to Episode 20 of Roll Play Grow, the podcast for tabletop entrepreneurs, creators, and fans. I am Courtney Stover of Lightheart Adventures, and in this podcast, we talk to the creators behind the brands in the tabletop roleplay gaming space about who they are and how they are turning their passion for gaming into a career.
Today, we get to hear from the lovely Jess and Tony, the creators behind Works of Whimsy Studios. I discovered Jess a few months ago on Twitter, like you do these days when she shared a gorgeous piece of art featuring a rainbow splash with a d20 on top. It was pretty, so I started to follow them and check out their stuff. They have an Etsy shop full of some really gorgeous creations--paintings, pot holders, keychains, dice vaults--you name it. In our conversation, Tony & Jess talk about their journey to this point of working in their basement and how Jess is able to be a full-time creator, working with your family, the ins and outs of Etsy, and how w…
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Jun 18, 2021
019 - Creating Podcast & Gaming Music with Brandon, the Ghost of Red Mountain
Hello & Welcome to Episode 19 of Roll Play Grow, the podcast for tabletop entrepreneurs, creators, and fans. I am Courtney Stover of Lightheart Adventures, and in this podcast, we talk to the creators behind the brands in the tabletop roleplay gaming space about who they are and how they are turning their passion for gaming into a career.
We are on our third episode of the sound series, chatting with Brandon Calhoun, the composer of Ghost of Red Mountain. Brandon travels back and forth between Korea and Alaska for work but manages to create some beautiful music pieces wherever he goes. We chat about his processes for working on collaborations, considerations for composing for podcasts and streams, creating the compositions, and some future goals. I’ve linked to a couple of the pieces he mentions in the show notes, and I highly recommend you go check them out to get a feel of his creations.
Real quick, I’ve got a few items of business to go over before we jump into the interview.…
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Jun 11, 2021
018 - Creating a Sound Effects App for Tabletop Gaming with Christian of My Sound Delve
Hello & Welcome to Episode 18 of Roll Play Grow, the podcast for tabletop entrepreneurs, creators, and fans. I am Courtney Stover of Lightheart Adventures, and in this podcast, we talk to the creators behind the brands in the tabletop role play gaming space about who they are and how they are turning their passion for gaming into a career.
We’re continuing our sound series today with an interview with Christian Borchert, the founder of My Sound Delve, which is an app of compiled sound effects you can play during your game. The coolest feature is the ability to make scenarios, complete with the ability to roll your dice on the app and have it immediately go into a pass or fail sound effect depending on the roll. Christian tells us all about the app, working with an app development company, and plays plenty of example sound effects to give a good demonstration of how broad the options are. Seriously--you’ll get to hear a LOT of effects, and there’s one he plays that gives me the h…
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May 28, 2021
017 - Composing TTRPG Music with Sean of McRoMusic
We’re going to be starting a bit of a sound series for our next few guests, which is a sub-genre we haven’t really explored on this show yet, so I’m looking forward to being able to dive into the world of how music and sound can amplify your games. First up, today’s guest is Sean McRoberts, the creator and composer behind McRoMusic. He started creating music for the tabletop gaming scene last year, and as a fun bonus, y’all will get to hear some clips from some of his compositions in this episode. We actually did a collaboration with Sean a little while back. We offer free monthly one-shots on our blog, but our Patrons on the Adventurer track get to download a pdf version of each of our side quest. Sean composed a music track for one of those quests a few months ago, and we’re actually collaborating with him again for our June Patrons! I enjoyed getting to know more about Sean, how he uses music in his own games, and how he’s breaking into this industry of creating music…
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May 21, 2021
016 - Producing an All-Trans, Non-colonial Livestream Game with Connie of Transplanar RPG
Our next guest is Connie Chang, the Game Master and Executive Producer of Transplanar RPG. If you aren’t familiar with Transplanar RPG, it is a weekly actual play that is streamed on Twitch. They are an all Trans, POC led campaign in a non-colonial and anti-orientalist world. Their debut stream was last June, and they’ve completed two arcs and recently started their third arc. Connie’s journey to getting the stream started was pretty strategic and very cool, and I enjoyed getting to learn about the show’s origin story, Connie’s campaign development process, and about the work that goes on behind the screen to make an actual play production occur. We also chatted about Connie’s upcoming game, Godkiller RPG, and learned a bit about their development process.
As always, I’ve got a few items of business to go over before we jump into the interview. I mentioned this in the past couple of episodes, but we have a whole bunch of map packs over on DM’s Guild. Our most recent pu…
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May 14, 2021
015 - Developing a Campaign Management & Worldbuilding tool with Kathleen of Worlds Unending
In this episode, I chat with Kathleen of Worlds Unending, an upcoming app for campaign management and worldbuilding. We connected with Worlds Unending a few months ago when Brenton did a guest post on their blog, and I’ve been watching their progress and announcements ever since. I try to bring you all a variety of guests from not just different crafts or industries within tabletop gaming and geekdom, but also people from different periods of their business. We’ve chatted with folks that are super established and popular, people in the middle of kickstarters, store front owners, but today, we’re learning from someone who is right in the thick of development. I think that Worlds Unending is going to be an incredibly useful tool for helping folks develop their own worlds and unvierses, and it’s really cool hearing about the process of developing something this complex with a group of friends. I think y’all will really enjoy hearing from Kathleen.
Before we jump into today’s…
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May 7, 2021
014 - Bringing Sign Language to Tabletop Gaming with Rich of Hatchlings Games
Today’s guest is the creator behind the game of Inspirisles and Hatchings Games, Rich Oxenham. He is creating games to promote deaf awareness and help you learn sign language: both BSL and ASL. In our conversation, we went over how the game is going to work and how it will teach you sign language. We also chatted about the Kickstarter process, like how they began the campaign with a budget of only 1000 pounds but ended up raising a whole lot more and the impact that had on the development of the game. We spoke about working in a community center with teenagers, the effect of playtesting during lockdowns, and we learned about what’s next for Hatchings Games. I’m pretty excited to snag a copy of this game once it’s available, which sounds like it should be in June. I think y’all will really enjoy learning about Rich and his projects.
Before we jump into today’s episode, it’s business time. First up, we just released a new map pack on DM’s Guild for Candlekeep Mysteries.…
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Apr 23, 2021
013 - Managing the Wanderhome Kickstarter & Figuring out LLCs with Jay & Ruby of Possum Creek Games
Hello & welcome to Episode 13 of Roll Play Grow, the podcast for tabletop entrepreneurs, creators, and fans. I am Courtney Stover of Lightheart Adventures, and in this podcast, we talk to the creators behind the brands in the tabletop role play gaming space about who they are and how they are turning their passion for gaming into a career.
I have been looking forward to today’s interview for SO long. Last fall, we funded a Kickstarter that was WILDLY successful for a little game called Wanderhome, and I actually did a blog interview with the two people spearheading the project. I’ll link that blog post in the show notes, and if you want to learn more about Wanderhome, I highly recommend you go check that post out.
Check out the blog interview here!
But today, I got to talk to those same two wonder people, Jay Dragon and Ruby Lavin about so many things. We talked about all the logistics of running a successful Kickstarter, everything they’ve been doing since the campaign ended…
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Apr 16, 2021
012 Droppin' Best Sellers on DM's Guild with JB aka DropTheDie
Welcome to Episode 12 of Roll Play Grow, the podcast for tabletop entrepreneurs, creators, and fans. I am Courtney Stover of Lightheart Adventures, and in this podcast, we talk to the creators behind the brands in the tabletop role play gaming space about who they are and how they are turning their passion for gaming into a career.
Today’s guest is JB Little, also known as the bestselling ttrpg author, reviewer, and game designer, DropTheDie. With bestsellers like Taverns, Inns, and Taprooms, his compact 4x6 character sheets, and more, he has a wealth of knowledge to share about publishing on DM’s Guild. We definitely dive into that but you’ll also learn about how he became a professional product reviewer as well. JB is a delight, and I know all of your writers out there will be able to learn a lot about finding success on DM’s Guild.
We’ll get to the interview in just a bit, but first, I promised a few episodes back that I would occasionally drop in some updates on the Lig…
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Apr 9, 2021
011 - Tabletop RPG Photography with Charles of NPC Creations
Welcome to Episode 11 of Roll Play Grow, the podcast for tabletop entrepreneurs, creators, and fans. I am Courtney Stover of Lightheart Adventures, and in this podcast, we talk to the creators behind the brands in the tabletop role play gaming space about who they are and how they are turning their passion for gaming into a career.
Our next guest is Charles Barger of NPC Creations. He creates intricate scenes with tabletop terrain and miniatures and then takes gorgeous photos. We’re talking battle scenes, campfires, towns, hellscapes, underwater terrain--he has an eye for design and his images are captivating. He now works with companies to do product photos and still enjoys sharing his own creations. Charles’ story is really cool and an example of someone who’s really stumbled into this industry just doing something he loved.
Before we jump into today’s episode, it’s business time. First up, we do have a Patreon for Lightheart Adventures and Roll Play Grow. It’s a pretty…
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Apr 2, 2021
010 - Sewing Dice Bags with Dani of Hoop and Loom
*We've got a giveaway on Twitter to celebrate ten episodes! Keep reading for more details. *
Hello! It’s episode TEN of Roll Play Grow, the podcast for tabletop entrepreneurs, creators, and fans.
Y’all--we’re at ten episodes. I know that doesn’t seem like a huge number, but when you start an endeavor like this as a newcomer to the space, there’s always that hesitation of--will anyone say yes and let me interview them? And this episode marks the tenth person who said yes! To celebrate, we’re doing a giveaway over on Twitter to also support some of the folks who were so kind to come on the show. Make sure you’re following @LightheartADV on Twitter. Starting the morning of the day this episode drops, so April 2nd, we’ll post a tweet about the giveaway. You’ll want to follow the instructions on that tweet to enter. A week later, on April 9th, I’ll draw a winner for a d20 shaped candle from The Fabled Flame. BUT, the more retweets we get, the more prizes we’ll have.…
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Mar 19, 2021
009 - Starting a Screen Printing Shop & Fighting for your Passions with Ressie of Inkling
Welcome to Episode 9 of Roll Play Grow, the podcast for tabletop entrepreneurs, creators, and fans.
*CW: Suicidal Ideation at 20:50
*
Our ninth guest is Ressie of Inkling. She is a very talented artist and the co-owner of the screen printing shop that is taking the tabletop twitter by storm. She and her husband make gorgeous designs and screen print them on t-shirts and blank fabric to make dice bags and masks. We get a little deep in this episode, and we talk about leaving a toxic work situation to pursue your passion full time, working with your spouse, and learn some of the ins and outs of balancing local print commissions with creating for an industry you’re passionate about. I do need to give a couple content warnings this time. First: there’s definitely language in this episode, and secondly, there is a brief discussion of suicidal ideation about a third of the way into the episode. Like I said, we got really deep, and Ressie has some really valuable things to say.
Before…
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Mar 5, 2021
008 - Publishing Novels & Writing Unique Campaigns with Beth of D&D Duet
Okay I have a fun story about how I discovered today’s guest. Back before we set up a Patreon for Lightheart Adventures, I was doing some research on what kinds of D&D and RPG Patreons were out there to get an idea of what we could possibly offer as our tiers. I was using all kinds of search terms to see what was out there and popular, so of course one of the terms was just D&D. One of my results was D&D Duet, and I opened up their page, read about what they did, watched their intro video and went THIS IS SO COOL. They create one shots for one DM and one Player. I found their blog, their Instagram, their Twitter, and promptly followed all of them and started bugging them on all the platforms. Because that’s how you make friends on the internet, right? Eventually I asked them if they’d like to be featured on a blog interview, and they said yes. I’ll include a link to that post in the show notes, but I am really happy to introduce you to Beth Ball, fantasy author, game designer,…
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Feb 19, 2021
007 - Diving into Cosplay and Keeping it Affordable with Sarahndipity
Welcome to Episode 7 of Roll Play Grow, the podcast for tabletop entrepreneurs, creators, and fans. I am Courtney Stover of Lightheart Adventures, and in this podcast, we talk to the creators behind the brands in the tabletop role play gaming space about who they are and how they are turning their passion for gaming into a career.
Today’s guest is a very talented cosplayer and writer, Sarahndipity. She discovered the cosplay scene back in 2017 and has been growing in her skill and following ever since. We talk about closet cosplay and keeping it affordable, growing an audience, tips for keeping up with motivation and dealing with trolls, and how she’s breaking into the writing industry as well. I really enjoyed chatting with Sarah, and if you’re thinking of getting into cosplay, then you should definitely keep listening!
Before we jump into today’s episode, there’s a few items of business to discuss. The first is a reminder that we do have a Patreon for Lightheart Adventure…
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Feb 5, 2021
006 - Blending the Perfect Tea Shop with Friday of Friday Afternoon Tea
It is Episode 6 of Roll Play Grow, the podcast for tabletop role play gaming entrepreneurs, creators, and fans.
Today’s guest is the amazing Friday Elliot of Friday Afternoon Tea. Friday has been blending teas and selling them online for over 10 years, and she recently opened a brick and mortar location. Her blends are truly unique and special, because of a superpower she tells us about at the beginning of the episode. Friday creates blends that are based off a huge swath of nerd culture, including Critical Role characters, tv show characters, books, music, and more. Honestly, y’all, there is SO MUCH good content packed in today’s episode, and Friday is a truly delightful person. She talks about everything from running an online storefront to failing at kickstarter and then adapting to succeed on the next attempt, hiring staff, building community, and a whole lot more. I know I shouldn’t pick favorites, but this is honestly one of my favorite episodes, and I know you’re goin…
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Jan 29, 2021
005 - Drawing Maps & Starting a Blog with Brenton of Lightheart Adventures
This is Episode 5 of Roll Play Grow, the podcast for tabletop rpg entrepreneurs, creators, and fans. I am Courtney of Lightheart Adventures, and in this podcast, we talk to the creators behind the brands in the tabletop role play gaming space about who they are and how they are turning their passion for gaming into a career.
Today’s episode looks a little different. I mentioned back in Episode Zero that I’d be bringing Brenton on to chat with me about Lightheart Adventures, and today we’re going to take a look at a lot of the lessons we’ve learned over the last year. Interviewing your spouse and business partner is a bit of an amusing time when you know most of the answers, so it definitely turned into a bit more of a discussion as we went on. Some of the topics we go into are why our first DM’s Guild publications completely bombed and what we’re doing differently now, tactics Brenton’s using to get past his dislike of social media, the value of growing your email list,…
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Jan 22, 2021
004 - Creating Candles with Kendra of The Fabled Flame
Welcome back to Roll Play Grow, the podcast for tabletop entrepreneurs, creators, and fans. I am Courtney Stover of Lightheart Adventures, and in this podcast, we talk to the creators behind the brands in the tabletop role play gaming space about who they are and how they are turning their passion for gaming into a career.
Today’s guest is Kendra, the owner and creator of The Fabled Flame, which is an Etsy store where she creates and sells d20 shaped candles. They are GORGEOUS, with really unique scents and they could even have a d20 hidden inside. We talk about all sorts of fun things like the logistics of creating candles in batches, fulfillment techniques, marketing and organizational struggles, and a whole lot more.
In the intro, I mentioned our new DM's Guild publication. You can find that here!
Rime of the Frostmaiden: Ythryn Map Pack #affiliate link :) *
Find The Fabled Flame at:*
* Etsy
* Twitter
* Instagram
*Find Roll Play Grow:*
* Show Page
* Patreon
* Lig…
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Jan 15, 2021
003 - Starting a YouTube Channel with Luboffin
Welcome to Episode 3 of Roll Play Grow, the podcast for tabletop entrepreneurs, creators, and fans. I am Courtney Stover of Lightheart Adventures, and in this podcast, we talk to the creators behind the brands in the tabletop role play gaming space about who they are and how they are turning their passion for gaming into a career.
Today we are speaking with Luna, a YouTuber and Twitch Streamer from Australia who goes by the name Luboffin. Her YouTube videos have mostly been centered on DMing tips and player tips for Dungeons & Dragons, though she talks about how they’re going to pivot this year. Luna is newer to the YouTube and Twitch scenes, so we spend a lot of time chatting about what it’s like to start a YouTube channel and get some really good perspective on how to navigate your first few months. We chat about things like how basic your equipment can be, finding your editing and graphic style, balancing time with a baby and a full time job, and ensuring that you enjoy the jou…
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Jan 8, 2021
002 - Etching Glass and Connecting to your Community with Nix of MC Etching
It's Episode 2 of Roll Play Grow, the podcast for tabletop entrepreneurs, creators, and fans. I am Courtney Stover of Lightheart Adventures, and in this podcast, we talk to the creators behind the brands in the tabletop role playing gaming space about who they are and how they are turning their passion for gaming into a career.
In today’s interview, I have the privilege of chatting with Nix of MC Etching. Nix creates gorgeous etchings on glass and many other materials that pay tribute to some of our favorite games. A personal favorite of mine are his class specific glasses, like Bard, Druid, and Paladin. But one of the things I really appreciate about Nix is his extremely positive attitude and his passion for the rpg community. If you follow him on Twitter, you’ll know that he is your favorite Punkle, and always a shining beacon in your feed. Right off the bat in this episode, he offers some really wise words about how important it is to connect with the community you’re trying…
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Jan 1, 2021
001 - Crafting Dice with David of Dice Envy
David Derus is the owner of one of my favorite dice companies, Dice Envy. They create, source, and sell a broad variety of dice in different materials, shapes, and sizes. In today's episode, we talk about how David broke into the dice industry in 2017, how subscription boxes got them through the worst of 2020, and some hard lessons he had to learn in his first year of business.
*Find David and Dice Envy at:*
* DiceEnvy.com - Use code Lightheartadv at checkout for 10% off your order!
* Twitter
* Twitch
* Instagram
*Find Roll Play Grow:*
* Show Page
* Patreon
* Lightheart Adventures Website
* Lightheart Twitter
* Lightheart Instagram
* Courtney's TwitterDice Envy
Dice Envy creates beautiful dice in a variety of materials. Use lightheartadv for 10% off your order
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.
Support the show
*Find Roll Play Grow:*
* Show Page
* Patreon
* Discord…
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Dec 7, 2020
Episode 0 - The Introduction
Welcome to Roll Play Grow!
This mini preview episode is here to give you a taste of what this show will be about. In this interview podcast, we'll be chatting with entrepreneurs and creators in the tabletop roleplay gaming space to dig into the business side of working within the industry.
Give it a listen for a preview, and follow us at the links below!
* Website
* Lightheart Twitter
* Courtney's Twitter
* Lightheart Instagram
* PatreonSupport the show
*Find Roll Play Grow:*
* Show Page
* Patreon
* Discord
* Lightheart Adventures Website
* Lightheart Twitter
* Lightheart Instagram
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