Elliot and Brian sit down with Asher McClennahan, the new Head of Games at Kickstarter, to discuss new features built on community feedback, how TTRPG creators can most effectively use Kickstarter, and how he hopes to regain the trust of creators who have left the platform in recent years due to concerns over AI and more. Talk of the Table is hosted by Elliot Davis and Brian Flaherty . Links: [email protected] Kickstarter Learning Lab Autonomica Campaign Page Asher Recommends: Pandora’s Lega...
Jun 23, 2025•57 min
In this Talk of the Table Roundtable special, Brian & Elliot sit down with Ray Chou of Mythworks and Fred Hicks of Evil Hat for a frank discussion on the state of TTRPG publishing amidst uncertainty caused by tariffs and more. Talk of the Table is hosted by Elliot Davis and Brian Flaherty . Hear the rest of this Episode: Talk of the Table on Patreon Links: Mythworks Evil Hat Many Sided Media Discord Many Sided Newsletter Credits: Edited by Elliot Davis Produced by Many Sided Media Advertisin...
Jun 13, 2025•33 min
Elliot and Brian sit down with Jess Levine, designer of games like Planet FIST , I Have the High Ground , and Going Rogue —one half of the forthcoming two-game book with Riley Rethal’s Galactic. We discuss bringing this massive collaboration to life, the choice of working in GMless or GMed design, and why the best adaptational media is made with love and hate. Talk of the Table is hosted by Elliot Davis and Brian Flaherty . Links: Back Galactic & Going Rogue Follow Jess Follow Jumpgate Games...
Jun 10, 2025•1 hr 8 min
The Many Sided Network is EXPANDING! And as a part of that expansion we are adding FIVE new affiliate shows to our network. In this episode you'll be getting a proper introduction to each of these phenomenal new shows from the creators themselves. The Many Sided Network is dedicated to TTRPG and nerdy podcasts telling great stories in new and innovative ways and this first class of affiliate podcasts are doing just that. Dice Exploder Maia’s Game Room Tales Yet Told Dorkspawn Mage Hand High Five...
Jun 02, 2025•47 min
Elliot and Brian sit down with Daniel Kwan, designer of Wandering Blades to discuss the balance of OSR and storygame design sensibilities behind this new game, how he found inspiration in the beautiful violence of wuxia media, and what designers can learn by playing TCGs. Talk of the Table is hosted by Elliot Davis and Brian Flaherty . Links: Back Wandering Blades Follow Daniel Daniel’s wuxia & wuxia-esque Recommendations: Come Drink With Me Dragon Inn New Dragon Gate Inn Twilight of the War...
May 26, 2025•55 min
Elliot and Brian sit down with Zach Cox, founder and creative lead of SoulMuppet Publishing to discuss growing a business while hating capitalism, being a sicko about book production, and creating games that demand play. Talk of the Table is hosted by Elliot Davis and Brian Flaherty . Links: Back Mad As Hell on Kickstarter Mad As Hell Quickstart Mad As Hell - Radical’s Handbook SoulMuppet Publishing Zach on Bluesky Zach Recommends: Necropolis Our Links: Support TotT on Patreon Many Sided Newslet...
May 12, 2025•1 hr 6 min
Elliot and Brian sit down with Andre Novoa of Games Omnivorous to discuss his latest game The Job and how it uses simple mechanics to elegantly recreate a heist movie for your gaming table. We also discuss what makes Games Omnivorous unique and touch on the TTRPG scene in Portugal. Talk of the Table is hosted by Elliot Davis and Brian Flaherty . Links: The Job on Backerkit Games Omnivorous Follow Games Omnivorous on Bluesky Our Links: Support TotT on Patreon Many Sided Newsletter Many Sided Medi...
May 05, 2025•50 min
Elliot and Brian are joined by Realis writer Austin Walker and Possible Worlds founder Tyler Crumrine for a discussion about their collaboration on this exciting new game. We dive into the sentence-based mechanics, how players might imagine their own version of Realis , and where this project fits into the large slate of upcoming Possible Worlds releases. Talk of the Table is hosted by Elliot Davis and Brian Flaherty . Links: Realis Ashcan Follow Austin Walker Friends at the Table Shelved by Gen...
Apr 28, 2025•1 hr 25 min
Elliot and Brian are joined by Ben Costa and James Parks, co-designers of Land of Eem . We discuss their lifelong collaboration and how it led to the creation of this world that has spawned graphic novels, middle-grade fiction, and now a TTRPG that facilitates how Ben and James love to play games. Talk of the Table is hosted by Elliot Davis and Brian Flaherty . Links: Land of Eem Exalted Funeral James Recommends: Usagi Yojimbo Ben Recommends: Star Wars Unlimited Our Links: Support TotT on Patreo...
Apr 15, 2025•53 min
Elliot and Brian are joined by Jason Morningstar, co-owner of Bully Pulpit games and designer of titles like Fiasco , Night Witches , and the upcoming Zhenya’s Wonder Tales . We discuss how to listen to a game when designing, the power of being curious, and why sometimes the best business is built on friendship. Talk of the Table is hosted by Elliot Davis and Brian Flaherty . Links: Support Zhenya’s Wonder Tales Bully Pulpit Games Follow Jason Jason Recommends: SUPER BANDIT Our Links: Support To...
Mar 31, 2025•52 min
BACK A LAND ONCE MAGIC Elliot and Brian are joined by Viditya Voleti, award winning designer of Bloodbeam Badlands , Space Between Stars , and the currently crowdfunding A Land Once Magic (published by our own moreblueberries!). We discuss keeping a sketchbook of games, the love of worldbuilding, and why it’s never too late to bring one of your games to print. Talk of the Table is hosted by Elliot Davis and Brian Flaherty . Links: Support A Land Once Magic Follow Viditya Viditya Recommends: The ...
Mar 17, 2025•1 hr 7 min
Elliot and Brian are joined by Brian Saliba, lead designer of Monty Python’s Cocurricular Mediaeval Reenactment Programme . Brian, Brian, and Elliot dive deep on writing a licensed TTRPG, the important distinction between a “Python” game and a comedy game, and why rolling a nat 20 means you’re taking everything way too seriously. Talk of the Table is hosted by Elliot Davis and Brian Flaherty . Links: Pre-Order Monty Python’s Cocurricular Mediaeval Reenactment Programme Crowbar Creative - Brian’s...
Mar 03, 2025•1 hr
In the final Talk of the Table Zine Month Special Episode, Elliot and Brian are joined by two designers who are bringing their games to second editions. Adam Bell takes us through the royal court drama game Uneasy Lies the Head . Then, Aaron Lim tells us all about his TWO games Ithaca in the Cards & What Should We Have Tomorrow?. Talk of the Table is hosted by Elliot Davis and Brian Flaherty Adam’s Links: Support Uneasy Lies the Head Follow Adam Support A Perfect Rock Aaron’s Links: Support ...
Feb 25, 2025•59 min
In the 3rd Talk of the Table Zine Month Special Episode, Elliot and Brian are joined by two designers who are getting meta with their projects. Graham Gentz tells us all about the “Hallmark-meets- Cabin-in-the-Woods ” game Love for the Love Gods . Then, Jordan Dube takes us through his interdimensional podcast game Warped FM. Talk of the Table is hosted by Elliot Davis and Brian Flaherty Graham’s Links: Support Love for the Love Gods Follow Graham Support Mum Chums , Out of Orbit , & Against...
Feb 18, 2025•1 hr
In the second Talk of the Table Zine Month Special Episode, Elliot and Brian are joined by two designers creating games perfect for before your next fantasy campaign. Ethan Yen tells us about his tactical storytelling game of heroic sacrifice Prequel . Then, Meghan Cross takes us through her game that reimagines the warlock-patron relationship O Patron Mine. Talk of the Table is hosted by Elliot Davis and Brian Flaherty Ethan’s Links: Support Prequel Follow Ethan Check out Lyla’s Newsletter Supp...
Feb 11, 2025•1 hr 8 min
In the first Talk of the Table Zine Month Special Episode, Elliot and Brian are joined by two designers creating comedy-forward TTRPGs. Tom Lavery takes us through his two-people-in-a-horse costume game Horse Majeure . Then, Stephen Hans shares his three-raccoons-in-a-trenchcoat spy comedy Mission: ImPAWsible. Talk of the Table is hosted by Elliot Davis and Brian Flaherty Tom’s Links: Support Horse Majeure Follow Tom on Bluesky tomlavery.com - Grab Horse Majeure for Free! Support Caught in the R...
Feb 04, 2025•1 hr 4 min
Elliot and Brian are joined by Tony Vasinda, Chief Alchemist of PlusOneEXP and one of the organizers of Zine Month, for a practical deep dive on marketing, team formation, and fulfillment for designers this Zine Month. Talk of the Table is hosted by Elliot Davis and Brian Flaherty . Links: PlusOneEXP Find Tony on Bluesky Zine Club - Get Zines Every Month! Marketing: TONY’S PRESS KIT VIDEO Rascal Announcement Section Communities: RPGZines FB Group ZiMo Discord PlusOne Discord Fulfillment Partners...
Jan 27, 2025•58 min
In the first Talk of the Table Roundtable special, Brian & Elliot sit down with repeat guests Dr. Emily Friedman and Taylor Moore to break down the state of actual play, the big changes of the past year, and the challenges that we still have to overcome. Talk of the Table is hosted by Elliot Davis and Brian Flaherty . Hear the rest of this Episode: Talk of the Table on Patreon Links: Dr. Emily Friedman Taylor Moore Many Sided Media Discord Twenty Sided Newsletter Credits: Edited by Elliot Da...
Jan 13, 2025•30 min
In this special episode, Brian & Elliot sit down to discuss one full year of Talk of the Table. We take a look at what we’ve learned, how the show has changed, and how the tabletop industry has changed alongside it. Talk of the Table is hosted by Elliot Davis and Brian Flaherty . Support the Show: Talk of the Table on Patreon Leave a 5-star Review! Tell a friend! Many Sided Media Discord Twenty Sided Newsletter Credits: Edited by Elliot Davis Produced by Many Sided Media Advertising Inquirie...
Dec 30, 2024•44 min
Elliot and Brian are joined by Christopher Hastings, the DM of Rude Tales of Magic: NETHERMURK, to discuss his transition into the DM seat for a new campaign of a long running show, why splitting the party is actually good, and the tricky balance of parasociality in actual play. Talk of the Table is hosted by Elliot Davis and Brian Flaherty . Links: Listen to Rude Tales of Magic: NETHERMURK Find Chris online Chris recommends: The Sweatbox Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind Many Sided Media Discord Twenty...
Dec 16, 2024•51 min
We're adding Talk of the Table bonus content to the Many Sided Media Patreon! Go to patreon.com/manysidedmedia to learn more! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Dec 02, 2024•10 min
Elliot and Brian are joined by John Harper, designer of such games as Lasers & Feelings , Agon , and Blades in the Dark , to discuss his career in game design, the new Blades supplement Deep Cuts , and the important distinction between creative and business sustainability over a long artistic career. Talk of the Table is hosted by Elliot Davis and Brian Flaherty . Links: Find John on Twitter & Bluesky John’s Games Evil Hat Blades in the Dark: Deep Cuts John recommends: Dropout.tv Improv ...
Nov 25, 2024•1 hr 1 min
Elliot and Brian are joined by Kayla Dice, designer of Transgender Deathmatch Legend II , to discuss how she brought her wrestling history into this TTRPG, why trick taking is the perfect mechanic to represent hand-to-hand combat, and the power of specificity in the game’s themes and design. Talk of the Table is hosted by Elliot Davis and Brian Flaherty . Links: Back Transgender Deathmatch Legend II Find Kayla on social media Kayla recommends: The work of Laurie O’Connel Finding her and Laurie a...
Nov 11, 2024•51 min
In this special episode, Brian sits down with co-host Elliot Davis to discuss his latest game, The Time We Have. We talk about the journey to this tragic zombie duet TTRPG, why it is the culmination of lessons from previous games, and the best part of making bigger games with bigger teams. Talk of the Table is hosted by Elliot Davis and Brian Flaherty . Links: Back The Time We Have Listen to My First Dungeon’s The Time We Have Episode Elliot recommends: Backing A Fool's Errand Many Sided Media D...
Nov 01, 2024•54 min
Elliot and Brian are joined by the co-GMs of Planet Arcana and co-designers of upcoming science-fantasy TTRPG A Fool’s Errand , J Strautman and B Marsollier, to discuss the journey from actual play to actual game, break down the tarot-powered mechanics and themes of this new game, and why you should get excited about making your own "Big Oops". Talk of the Table is hosted by Elliot Davis and Brian Flaherty . Links: Back A Fool’s Errand Listen to Planet Arcana Find J on Twitter Find B on Twitter ...
Oct 28, 2024•48 min
Elliot and Brian are joined by novelist, game designer, and youtuber Aaron Voigt, aka A. A. Voigt, to discuss his latest project that is both game and novel: Détente for the Ravenous. Along the way we learn about how he is applying the video essay format to TTRPGs, why the best writing lessons aren’t sexy, and what spicy ice cream can teach us about meaningful art. Talk of the Table is hosted by Elliot Davis and Brian Flaherty . Links: Buy Détente for the Ravenous Find Aaron: YouTube , Twitter ,...
Oct 14, 2024•48 min
Elliot and Brian are joined by Johan Nohr, the illustrator and graphic designer who has created iconic visual identities for games like MÖRK BORG , Into the Odd , and the upcoming Paint the Town Red. We discuss creating strong visual identities, what game designers can learn from traditions of graphic design, and why you should avoid perfection. Talk of the Table is hosted by Elliot Davis and Brian Flaherty . Links: MÖRK BORG Art by Nohr Johan’s Website Johan recommends: True Grit Texture Supply...
Sep 30, 2024•46 min
Elliot and Brian are joined by the mind behind beloved TTRPGs For The Queen and Star Crossed, Alex Roberts, to discuss how to design for out-of-box play, what we can learn from LARPs and classic card games, and what it means to see two of her games given new life. Talk of the Table is hosted by Elliot Davis and Brian Flaherty . Links: For The Queen 2E Star Crossed: Love Letters Support Alex on Patreon Alex’s Links Alex recommends: The work of Julia Bond Ellingboe Steal Away Jordan Tales of the F...
Sep 09, 2024•58 min
Elliot and Brian are joined by game designer, publisher, and prolific TTRPG editor Will Jobst to discuss good collaboration, the balance of style and efficiency, and how to avoid burnout. Talk of the Table is hosted by Elliot Davis and Brian Flaherty . Links: Support Plasmodics - Kickstarting Now Will on Twitter Good Luck Press Will recommends: The Design Games Podcast Finding a non-games hobby Many Sided Media Discord Twenty Sided Newsletter Credits: Edited by Elliot Davis Produced by Many Side...
Aug 26, 2024•1 hr 9 min
Cameron “Danger” Strittmatter ( The Panic Table ) interviews Elliot, Brian, Shenuque, and Abby from Many Sided Media about how to bring humor and horror to your games. Links: WATCH THIS INTERVIEW (See our beautiful faces!) BACK VOIDSTREAM Talk of the Table is hosted by Elliot Davis and Brian Flaherty . Many Sided Media Discord Twenty Sided Newsletter Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands...
Aug 08, 2024•1 hr 6 min
