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
Character Creation
Roleplaying Games
Champions
Open Hearth Gaming Community
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.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes70Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
LeisureGames

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Artwork for Around the Hearth

Latest Episodes

Powered by the Apocalypse games still remain a strong force in the indie TTRPG space and heavily represented here on the Open Hearth. For this talk we're going to consider where PbtA has been, where it is now, and where it could go. We'll talk broadl... more

YouTube

In this episode of the Open Hearth Podcast, Lowell (edige23) talks with a couple of community members about their gaming. This time Dominik and Donogh discuss things they recently played, cover three RPGs in more depth (Paint the Town Red, The Last C... more

YouTube

Roll for Origin: Supers TTRPG History looks at Aberrant, part of a trilogy of games which defined a major pivot point in the history of White Wolf Publishing. We talk about the game's pitch, how it's predecessor Trinity "isn't" a supers game, and the... more

YouTube

In our sixth episode of Roll for Mutation, we talk about one of the greatest modern post-apocalyptic games: Mutant: Year Zero (and the rest of the Mutant line). We talk about mechanics, important since this engine ends up powered a ton of Free League... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

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
Karen Twelves
An editor and improviser with over 15 years of experience, author of the book Improv for Gamers.
Evil Hat Productions
Episode: A Different Kind of Hex Ep. 6 - The Gift of Offers
Kieron Gillen
Writer for comics and RPGs, known for works like 'Die' and 'The Wicked + The Divine'
Independent
Episode: Open Hearth Podcast Ep 15: Mythic Bastionland, Villa Encantata, Rapscallion
Cat Rambo
Author of the Beasts of Tabac Quartet and two-time president of the Science Fiction Writers of America
Independent
Episode: Open Hearth Podcast Ep 15: Mythic Bastionland, Villa Encantata, Rapscallion
Ray Nedjadi
Creator of multiple games including Harvest with folk horror themes
Episode: Open Hearth Games of the Year 2025

Host

Lowell Francis
Open Hearth Gaming Community host with multiple episode appearances; co-creator and facilitator across Roll for Origin, Around the Hearth, and related shows.

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 11 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 Statesa month ago

Listeners Say

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

Great variety in topics and guests, focused on real-world play.
Engaging, hands-on RPG discussions with practical takeaways.
Strong sense of community and inclusive play.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#69
Poland/Leisure/Games
Apple Podcasts
#153
Finland/Leisure/Games
Apple Podcasts
#240
Netherlands/Leisure/Games
Apple Podcasts
#244
Poland/Leisure

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

A Different Kind of Hex Ep. 8 - Your Home Table
Q: What is, to borrow a phrase, giving you life right now?
Danny talks about systems in motion and how the interaction of rules and play styles fuels engagement and creativity at the table.
A Different Kind of Hex Ep. 7 - Showing & Telling
Q: What do you think it means to show, and how is it different from tell?
Show is about vivid, sensory detail and subtext that lets players infer meaning, while tell is more expository and directly states what happens; together they balance texture and clarity at the table.
Open Hearth Podcast Ep 15: Mythic Bastionland, Villa Encantata, Rapscallion
Q: Could you share your experiences with the recent games you've played?
Kieron discussed his journey with games in 2023, including his struggles and triumphs in the context of his busy life.
Talking Space Opera
Q: How do different games handle space combat?
Many games struggle with making space combat feel tense and significant; collaborative roles are essential to ensure everyone stays engaged.
Talking Space Opera
Q: How do we make characters matter in such a vast universe?
By having them involved in important events and by ensuring their decisions have lasting consequences within the game world.

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?

The show centers on tabletop role-playing discussions, design insights, and community experiences from Open Hearth Gaming Community members. Episodes frequently cover game systems (from PBTA to Forged in the Dark and OSR-adjacent titles), campaign design and long-running play, safety tools, and practical tips for running sessions, onboarding new players, and adapting adventures across systems. A recurring strength is deep, experience-rich conversations that blend theory with practical play notes, often featuring designers, community organizers, and long-time players as guests. The format and guest roster suggest a warm, collaborative vibe that appeals to hobbyists seeking hands-on guidance, system breakdowns, and real-world playstories.

Not... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Around the Hearth?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Around the Hearth:

1. Yes Indie'd Pod
2. Dice Exploder
3. Rascal News
4. TABLETOP TALK - Third Floor Wars
5. Ludonarrative Dissidents

How many episodes of Around the Hearth are there?

Around the Hearth launched 2 years ago and published 70 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Around the Hearth?

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What guests have appeared on Around the Hearth?

Recent guests on Around the Hearth include:

1. Dominick Heaham
2. Tyler Lombenack
3. David MK
4. Rae Nedjadi
5. Alan Rees
6. Karen Twelves
7. Kieron Gillen
8. Cat Rambo

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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