Rephonic
Artwork for Around the Hearth
Tabletop Roleplaying Games
Tabletop Role-Playing Games
TTRPG
Ttrpgs
Open Hearth Gaming
Player Agency
Gamma World
Twilight 2000
Apocalypse Keys
Hearts Of Wulin
Dungeons & Dragons
Open Hearth Gaming Community
Character Creation
Roleplaying Games
Champions
Game Mechanics
Bleed
Rotted Capes
Npcs
Dungeons and Dragons

Around the Hearth features discussion on a wide range of topics relevant to tabletop roleplaying games (TTRPGs) featuring members of the Open Hearth Gaming Community. We talk games, gameplay, design, and the games being played at the Open Hearth Gaming Calendar. Our online games are free and open to all! If you'd like to join the fun, visit openhearthgaming.com for more information.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes81Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
GamesLeisure

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Artwork for Around the Hearth

Latest Episodes

In this episode, Gwen talks with community member & layout/designer David MK and game designer Will Munn about Arium the Worldbuilding RPG. They cover the game's core concepts, adaptability, and new elements added by Arium: Evolve.  The Kickstarter f... more

YouTube

In this episode of the Open Hearth Podcast, host Tea talks with a couple of community members about their gaming. This time Moria and Shane discuss things they recently played, cover three RPGs in more depth (Basic Fantasy RPG, Fearful Symmetries, an... more

YouTube

...to the last, I prattle with thee; from a studio apartment, I yap at thee; for the game's sake I pod my last cast at thee!!

In the first-ever live studio recording of the show, José & Ian spend a (very warm) summer evening bouncing off of each oth... more

YouTube

In this episode of the Open Hearth Podcast, host Gwen talks with a couple of community members about their gaming. This time Jex (Bump in the Dark) and Mads discuss things they recently played, cover three RPGs in more depth (Blades '68, Firebrands a... more

YouTube

Key Facts

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Number of Listeners
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Recent Guests

Jax Mads
Designer of a game called Bump in the Dark
Independent game designer
Episode: Open Hearth Podcast Ep 21: Blades '68, Firebrands System, Dungeon World 2
Jim Crocker
GM who has run Band of Blades extensively and discusses running the game
Open Hearth Gaming Community
Episode: Known Territory: Ep 1 Band of Blades
Jay Brown
Game designer and author of Play.Fearless, discussed as a guest in the episode
Independent game design and publishing
Episode: Roll for Origin: Supers TTRPG History: Ep. 10 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles & Other Strangeness
Rich Rogers
Co-host of Plus One Forward; PBTA designer and commentator
Plus One Forward
Episode: Talking PbtA
Dominick Heaham
Community member invited to discuss games
Open Hearth Gaming Community
Episode: Open Hearth Podcast Ep 18: Paint the Town Red, The Last Caravan, & Midnight of the Century
Tyler Lombenack
Community member and game presenter
Open Hearth Gaming Community
Episode: Open Hearth Podcast Ep 16: Ars Magica, Long Campaigns & Modern Supers
David MK
Designer with Metatopia experience
Open Hearth Community, Evil Hat (mentioned)
Episode: Talking Playtesting
Rae Nedjadi
Prolific Designer
Open Hearth Community, Evil Hat (mentioned)
Episode: Talking Playtesting
Alan Rees
Author and game designer
Episode: Talking Adapting Modules

Hosts

Ian
Host of the show, co-host with José
José
Host of the show, co-host with Ian
Lowell Keehem
Host of various Open Hearth and related shows (multiple roles across communities)

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 10 ratings
  • Great RPG Discussions

    Just a fantastic show. Great discussions about RPGs by many people who are not designers, but just folks who like to play games.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Shakespeare Potato
    United States4 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Great RPG discussions that feel inclusive and practical, not just theory.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#40
Finland/Leisure/Games
Apple Podcasts
#175
Poland/Leisure/Games
Apple Podcasts
#214
Finland/Leisure
Apple Podcasts
#244
Austria/Leisure/Games

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Known Territory: Ep 1 Band of Blades
Q: What games would you recommend people play before they come into Band of Blades?
He suggests titles with a prescribed campaign arc and both tactical and strategic elements, mentioning The Watch and Night Witches as good precedents, and notes Slug Blaster as another Forged in the Dark-inspired option.
Known Territory: Ep 1 Band of Blades
Q: Can you talk a little bit about that?
Jim explains the two-layer structure, how missions drive the tactical play, and how the camp layer handles leadership roles, resources, and downtime storytelling, which together create a cohesive, repeatable cycle.
Open Hearth Podcast Ep 20: Planet Raygun, Embers of the Void, A Land Once Magic
Q: Cale, what are you going to tell us about?
Amanda explains Embers of the Void and Planet Raygun, highlighting their core mechanics, multi-table play concepts, and the unique flavors of the games, including how Bondi and watch mechanics influence gameplay.
Open Hearth Podcast Ep 19: Raccoon Sky Pirates, Capers, Traveller
Q: What made you decide to go with a component-heavy version for Raccoon Sky Pirates, and how does that affect gameplay?
Chrys explains a love for components, aiming to give players everything they need to play, and how the new edition expands the experience with multiple material types and raccoon-inspired props, while smoothing the gameplay loop.
Open Hearth Podcast Ep 19: Raccoon Sky Pirates, Capers, Traveller
Q: Chris, how has your recent gaming been? What have you played, enjoyed, looked at?
Chris shares a mix of personal projects and plays, including Defy the Gods, Raccoon Sky Pirates, and Scum, with ongoing feedback to creators and plans for future games.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Around the Hearth

What is Around the Hearth about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show centers on tabletop RPG discussion, design, play, and community dynamics, with a focus on Open Hearth Gaming Community activities and PBTA-inspired systems. Episodes frequently explore practical GMing tips, onboarding new players, narrative structure, safety tooling, and collaborative storytelling, often through roundtable conversations with community members and guest designers. A notable strength is the mix of hands-on play experiences, system design critique, and real-world event context, which makes it useful for listeners who want actionable ideas for running or playing in indie and traditional TTRPGs. The format often emphasizes inclusive play, practical tooling, and community-driven projects, making it appealing to both asp... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Around the Hearth?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Around the Hearth:

1. TABLETOP TALK - Third Floor Wars
2. Unwritten Earths Symposium
3. Rascal News
4. The Darkened Threshold
5. Panda's Talking Games

How many episodes of Around the Hearth are there?

Around the Hearth launched 2 years ago and published 81 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Around the Hearth?

Recent guests on Around the Hearth include:

1. Jax Mads
2. Jim Crocker
3. Jay Brown
4. Rich Rogers
5. Dominick Heaham
6. Tyler Lombenack
7. David MK
8. Rae Nedjadi

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