In this episode of Epic Realms Podcast, I sit down with Toni Winslow-Brill, an accomplished RPG writer, editor, and project manager whose work spans multiple tabletop roleplaying game companies, including Dungeons and Dragons and the Adventurers League.

Toni shares her origin story, from discovering a Monster Manual at a garage sale at age nine to attending her first Gen Con just a year later. She reflects on growing up during the Satanic Panic and how that era shaped her relationship with tabletop gaming and creativity. We also explore how her passion for writing influenced her educational path and early career choices.

Our conversation dives into Toni’s professional journey, including her work outside the gaming industry and how reputation, networking, and consistent delivery opened doors to new opportunities. She offers a candid look at how connections and trust fuel long term success in the RPG space.

We spend time unpacking the often unseen side of RPG production. Toni breaks down the full lifecycle of creating a tabletop book, from writing and editing to layout, art coordination, and managing timelines across large creative teams. She gives insight into the realities of project management and what it takes to keep complex projects on track.

We also discuss storytelling in adventure design, along with Toni’s personal strengths and challenges as both a writer and designer. This episode is a thoughtful and behind the scenes look at the craft, discipline, and passion that drive the tabletop RPG industry. https://www.toniwinslowbrill.com/ Use Our DM's Guild Link - https://www.dmsguild.com/en/?affiliate_id=1089765 Use our Drive thru RPG Link - https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/?affiliate_id=1089765

Also Check out our Youtube https://www.youtube.com/@epic_realms

In this episode of the Epic Realms Podcast, we sit down with author Justin Rose to talk about the journey of becoming a writer.

Justin shares what it was like growing up homeschooled and how that experience compares with traditional public school education. He explains how those early experiences shaped his creativity and influenced his path toward writing.

The conversation also explores lessons from college and the advice he received during that time that helped guide his early writing career. Justin reflects on the evolution of his storytelling, including the challenges he faced and the lessons he learned along the way.

A major theme in the discussion is the role emotion plays in his stories. Justin talks about how emotional authenticity drives his characters and why fantasy and science fiction allow him to explore those themes in powerful ways.

We also discuss the authors who inspired him, including legendary science fiction writer Ray Bradbury, and how those influences helped shape his creative voice.

If you enjoy conversations about writing, storytelling, and the creative process, this episode offers insight and inspiration for readers and aspiring writers alike. Kickstarter Link - https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/justinrose/magic-and-majesty-a-midwest-fantasy-sampler Justin Rose Amazon Page - https://amzn.to/4s9h47D

In this episode, we sit down with Duncan Rhodes, the main voice behind the D&D blog Hipsters & Dragons, to explore the journey that led to his latest book, The Creative Game Master's Guide to Extraordinary Locations, also known as Extraordinary Locations.

Duncan shares how his real world travel experiences and detailed travel guides have shaped the immersive settings he creates for tabletop roleplaying games. We discuss his decision to step away from Dungeons & Dragons during college and how returning to it later reignited his creativity and inspired this new project. He also explains how his original creations on the Dungeon Masters Guild helped lay the foundation for the book, combining practical design tools with imaginative storytelling.

It is a conversation about creativity, rediscovery, and transforming real life adventure into unforgettable locations at the game table. Check out the new book - Here - Or Visit. https://www.hipstersanddragons.com/

This week on Epic Realms, Nick sits down with independent horror and sci fi author Joe Prosit for a deep dive into creativity, conventions, and carving your own path in publishing.

From growing up on GI Joe comics to serving in the Army and eventually launching a full time writing career, Joe shares his unconventional journey into indie publishing. He opens up about rejection letters, discovering the power of self publishing, and why conventions account for 90 percent of his sales.

The conversation explores genre blending, fast paced storytelling, outlining versus discovery writing, and how horror, sci fi, and what Joe calls psycho fiction all intersect in his work. They also discuss his latest novel, Reality Reaction Team, a mind bending sci fi thriller about secret agents who determine whether reality itself is real, and They Come From Below, a Lovecraft inspired horror set in small town Minnesota. Not to mention prepping to release his first Fantasy series, of which he has 5 books done and will be publishing the first one soon!

Plus, Joe reveals exciting news about The Black Heart Unbroken, a short film adaptation of his work premiering at the North Star Film Festival.

If you are an aspiring writer, horror fan, convention regular, or creative entrepreneur, this episode is packed with insight, honesty, and inspiration.

Follow Joe at www.joeprosit.com and catch him at conventions across the U.S.

Author Hunter Blain and award-winning narrator Luke Daniels return to Epic Realms for an in-depth and often hilarious conversation about the creative partnership behind The Preternatural Chronicles, Chronos Paradox, and more.

They discuss how R.C. Bray helped connect them, how their dynamic has evolved over multiple books, and why comedic timing and trust are essential in the author-narrator relationship. The conversation explores Hunter’s approach to time travel and scientific realism, Luke’s perspective on narrating litRPG and progression fantasy, and the challenges of balancing humor, heart, and high-concept storytelling.

They also break down their upcoming litRPG detective crossover project, talk about the exploding litRPG genre, and share the story behind the Audiobook Olympics on TikTok.

If you’re a fan of urban fantasy, sci-fi, audiobooks, or behind-the-scenes creative process discussions, this episode delivers insight, authenticity, and plenty of laughs.

In this episode of Epic Realms, host Nick welcomes legendary actor and award winning audiobook narrator Gerard Doyle for a wide ranging and deeply personal conversation about storytelling, performance, and a life spent bringing characters to life.

Gerard shares his unconventional path into acting, from amateur theatre and late drama school training to performing in the West End, touring Shakespeare internationally, appearing on television, and ultimately becoming one of the most respected voices in audiobooks. Listeners will hear behind the scenes stories from his work narrating major series including Christopher Paolini’s Inheritance Cycle, Mick Herron’s Slow Horses, Adrian McKinty’s novels, and Deborah Crombie’s mysteries.

The discussion explores the craft of audiobook narration, working directly with authors, handling complex worlds and invented languages, and the pressures and joys of long running series. Gerard also reflects on early struggles, family expectations, finding comfort on stage, and how a lifelong love of reading and storytelling shaped his career.

This is a thoughtful and candid conversation about art, perseverance, happy accidents, and the power of voice in modern storytelling. You can find Gerard Doyle at www.GerardDoyleVoice.com

If you want to try Audibles 30 day trial follow our link. - https://amzn.to/49cBZQ0

In this episode of Epic Realms, host Nick sits down with bestselling author and cartoonist Aaron Reynolds, the creator of the wildly popular Effin Birds. From Canadian comedy roots to Comic Con chaos, this wide ranging conversation dives deep into how humor, spite, and creativity built one of the internet’s most enduring web comics.

Aaron shares the true origin story of Effin Birds, including the infamous rejection that turned out to be the best thing that ever happened to him. He opens up about growing up on CBC sketch comedy, his love of absurd humor, and how early pranks, school newspapers, and baseball fandom shaped his creative voice.

Listeners will hear behind the scenes stories from Comic Cons, including shadow puppets, deli stickers, cosplay adventures, and why San Diego Comic Con is both a nightmare and a financial necessity. Aaron also talks candidly about publishing struggles, algorithm burnout, crowdfunding books, and how he keeps a daily comic fresh nearly ten years in.

Episode Highlights

• How Effin Birds went from rejected pitch to global phenomenon

• Growing up on Canadian comedy like Wayne and Shuster, Kids in the Hall, and Red Green

• Comic Con antics, shadow puppet zones, and why being weird works

• The realities of making a living as a web cartoonist in the algorithm era

• Crowdfunding books, publisher collapses, and taking control of your work

• Upcoming Effin Birds projects including sticker books, affirmation decks, and an oracle deck

If you love comics, comedy, creative careers, or stories about turning rejection into momentum, this episode is for you. Effin' Birds 2026 Calendar - https://amzn.to/4jnm19a Effin' Birds 2026 Day to Day Calendar - https://amzn.to/4jnm19a Effin' Birds Website - https://effinbirds.com/

In this episode of Epic Realms, we sit down with game designer Rodney Thompson for an in depth conversation about his journey through tabletop roleplaying games, board games, and video game design. Rodney shares how his early love of Dungeons and Dragons and the West End Games Star Wars RPG shaped his creative path, from college gaming marathons to building homebrew content that eventually opened the door to professional game design.

We explore Rodney’s time at Wizards of the Coast, including his work on the Star Wars Saga Edition RPG and how lessons from D20 Modern and early fourth edition ideas influenced its structure. Rodney reflects on what worked, what he would change today, and why supporting game masters with strong tools is critical to a game’s longevity.

The conversation also dives into Rodney’s role as a sandbox designer in video games, including his work at Bungie on Destiny. He explains what sandbox design means in both tabletop and video games, how player experience and emotional fantasy drive design decisions, and why iteration and playtesting matter so much across mediums.

We also discuss the transition from roleplaying games to board games with Lords of Waterdeep, the lessons learned from physical components and resource management, and how those ideas feed back into RPG design. Finally, Rodney talks about Scratchpad Publishing and his latest tabletop RPG, Neon City Outlaws, a cyberpunk heist and rebellion game that lets players build their city as they play, complete with faction politics, revolution mechanics, and body swapping technology.

This episode is a thoughtful look at storytelling through games, creative evolution, and what it means to design experiences that bring people together at the table. Check out Scratchpad Publishing here - https://scratchpadpublishing.com