Podcast Spotlight: Dumbgeons & Dragons
Last updated on August 3rd, 2020
Is playing Dungeons and Dragons just not enough these days? Now, you can listen to four goofballs play the fifth edition of Dungeons and Dragons together, led by Dungeon Master Russ. This is an actual play podcast, so the four of them come prepared with their character sheets, equipment and more each episode. They focus on storytelling, creating a wonderful world for others to discover. From their silliness and comfortable conversation, listeners can tell Carla, Amy, Tom, and Russ are friends beyond the game.
This is a serialized podcast, so listeners should start from the beginning of season one. Don’t worry, the production gets better! With over 80 episodes in the first season alone, you’ll have plenty of content to catch up on. There are even recap episodes, which are a lifesaver when you’re binging so much you can’t remember where you stop and where Dumbgeons and Dragons begins. This podcast is accessible to everyone, from established Dungeons and Dragons players to those who are totally new to the game – you may even find yourself wishing you were a player at their table!
We were fortunate to talk with Russ More about the podcast, how they differentiate from other podcasts, and their future plans in podcasting. See below for our full Q&A.
Listen: Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Spotify | Podchaser
DISCOVER PODS: How’d you get into podcasting?
MORE: Our journey into podcasting was one to keep my hand in audio production while living abroad. I have a background in commercial audio production for radio broadcasting and in 2016 my wife, Amy and I decided to move our family to South Korea to follow a teaching opportunity for Amy. I left my position in Canada, and was a stay-at-home dad for a year. Before we left we had established a regular game of Dungeons & Dragons with 2 friends, Tom and Carla, and wanted to continue that while overseas. So, this presented 2 interesting challenges. First, how do we keep hanging out with our friends in a digital environment, and second how do I keep a hand in the audio production world.
We had joked about starting a podcast around the table because we thought our brand of humour was hilarious, but now that we were all playing from behind a screen, we decided to hit record and give it a go. We officially launched Dumbgeons & Dragons in January 2017 and from there it was the constant journey of putting our heart and creativity into the worlds and characters we were creating for our listeners.
DISCOVER PODS: In your own words, why should listeners tune into Dumbgeons & Dragons?
MORE: Dumbgeons & Dragons is the group of best friends you look forward to hanging out with every week. You’re sitting around being silly with those friends while coming up with funny, imaginative and engaging fantasy stories and characters. We try to make each listener feel like they are sitting around the table with us, sharing in the wins and losses of the characters we embody each week. If you’re looking to be a part of a community of supportive and understanding people, then Dumbgeons & Dragons has you covered.
We’re long-form improv, game play and just good friends getting together to have fun.
DISCOVER PODS: What kind of feedback have you heard from your listeners?
MORE: Our listeners have told us that they love our humour, values and storytelling. They look forward to each and every Wednesday, because it not only reminds them of what day it is, but that it lifts their spirits on weeks that have become difficult and brings a smile (if not an outright laugh out loud work day) each and every time they listen.
Our listeners often praise and quote our characters, and our ability to commit to those characters and stay in the moment even when the situation has become completely outrageous. They love our chemistry. We’ve been friends for a long time and we are always thrilled when that friendship is quickly pointed out by a new or longtime listener, in that we care for each other above all else and want each other to succeed in each and every scene.
DISCOVER PODS: Describe your recording set up? What equipment are you using?
MORE: We record our show remotely across Canada. Amy and I record out of my home studio/office while on a video call (currently using ZOOM) with Tom and Carla who are each in their own homes recording locally.
For my home set up, I use 2 – Samson R21 Dynamic Microphones into Behringer U-Phoria UMC404HD Audio Interface using Adobe Audition CC 2020 to record.
Tom uses a Marantz USB Pod Pack 1 microphone straight into his computer using Audacity to record.
Carla uses an Audio-Technica AT4040 Condenser Microphone into a DBX 286s preamp, Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 Interface recording using Logic Pro X.
Everyone records local to their computer and sends it to me for editing. I edit the podcast using Adobe Audition CC 2020, and have a whole string of Waves based plugins used for post-production.
DISCOVER PODS: What’s the biggest challenge you face as an indie podcaster?
MORE: The biggest challenge is awareness of the show. Being available in the places where current and prospective listeners are and having them take the chance on you. Sometimes you make a good stride and a bunch of folks find a stick with you. Other times, as social media can sometimes be, it’s like yelling into the void.
DISCOVER PODS: Where do you want to take your podcast?
MORE: Truthfully, we’d like to take our podcast wherever our listeners are. We love the limited live show experience we’ve had so far, and look forward to a day when conventions open back up and are able to get back on the stage in front of fans and new listeners alike.
As for the content of the show, we are currently in the middle of 2 major story arcs which will take some time to wrap up, but beyond that we’re in initial talks and planning stages of building our own world to create, share and explore.
DISCOVER PODS: What other podcasts are you listening to now?
MORE: Oh boy! Let me pull up the app here… In no particular order my podcast app looks like this;
Dungeons and Daddies
VAST Horizon
BomBARDed
My Brother, My Brother and Me
Harlem Queen
The Carlotta Beautox Chronicles
We Fix Space Junk
Civilized
The End of Time and Other Bothers
Moonbase Theta, Out
Facing Fate
The White Vault
North by North Quest
The Broadswords
The Adventure Zone
Venture Maidens
The Critshow
Dark Dice
Seren
The Dungeoncast
Greetings, Adventurers!
There’s a lot of actual play in there and even more of a percentage that are audio fiction heavily based on well told stories with wonderful production.
DISCOVER PODS: Anything else you’d like to add?
MORE: I’d really like to drive home that if you’re looking to listen to a group of friends who pour their heart into their story and characters, and then join them in a community that is caring, inclusive and there to take care of each other, then you can’t find a better home that Dumbgeons & Dragons. As we say after the majority of our episodes and hang outs, we hope you have a great week! We’ll talk to you soon.
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