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Artwork for Happy Jacks RPG Podcast: GM & Player TTRPG Advice

Happy Jacks RPG Podcast: GM & Player TTRPG Advice

Happy Jacks RPG Network
Tabletop Rpgs
Safety Tools
Dungeons & Dragons
Tabletop Role-Playing Games
Tabletop RPG
Dungeons and Dragons
Player Engagement
Game Mastering
Indie Games
Game Design
Role-Playing Games
Indie Game Design
Game Preparation
Actual Plays
Player Feedback
Happy Jacks RPG
Player Dynamics
Rpgs
Conventions
Character Development

A weekly tabletop RPG advice show that combines friendship, humor, and unbridled enthusiasm to bring you a show that is inclusive, informative, and funny. If you’re looking for an RPG podcast with diverse opinions and a friends-hanging-out vibe, look no further — you’re home.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes590Founded17 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
GamesHobbiesLeisure

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Happy Jacks RPG Podcast: GM & Player TTRPG Advice

Latest Episodes

◇ Live from Gateway 2026 at the Hilton LAX in Los Angeles! A great panel show with members of our audience and stories from lots of different con games. Since it is a live event, the audio quality is not the same as our normal episodes recorded in ou... more

◇ Steffi from Scotland talks more about the gardening style of gaming, Nathan wants to know about post-game talks with APs, From the archive 2022: Whizzard asks about how much worldbuilding GMs do on their own and how much of it they do with players ... more

◇ Ed from MN, now inf FL asks about prepping NPCs, Eric from New Jersey asks how characters have changed us, From the archive 2022: Zed From Norfolk asks how to handle it when your players commit crimes in your gameworld! | Hosts: Kimi, Jason A, Pooj... more

◇ Wes in Indianapolis is frustrated with his game, Gurg Murg shares a success story, From the archive 20218: Weaselcreature wants to get gaming again! | Hosts: Jason, Sam, & Vixie ◇

00:33◇ Welcome & Episode Summary

01:19◇ Announcements – Game Daz... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Kurt H.
Kurt H. of Clan Hannah, contributor discussing limitations as opportunities
Clan Hannah
Episode: S37E17 | Limitations as Opportunities, Our Theme Song, Disliking a Group’s System Choice
Eric from New Jersey
Eric from New Jersey, contributor with Star Trek Adventures question
Episode: S37E17 | Limitations as Opportunities, Our Theme Song, Disliking a Group’s System Choice
Kaylee C
DM Kaylee C; guest host for Saturday discussions
Professional dungeon master
Episode: S37E09 | Live from GamEx 2026!
Lily Anasantos
Character name referenced; narrator notes familiarity
Episode: S37E09 | Live from GamEx 2026!
Mike Ferdinando
Listener sharing feedback from archive mailbag segment
Ithaca, New York, United States
Episode: S37E08 | TTRPGS without Dice, Gaming Success Story, and Powers that cause Problems
Gregory from Wisconsin
Listener who wrote in about pets in campaigns
Episode: S37E06 | Pets in Campaigns, Pax East, Electronics at the Table
Matty All Night
Creator/runner who shared Pax East con stories
Matty All Night
Episode: S37E06 | Pets in Campaigns, Pax East, Electronics at the Table
Weasel Creature
Archive 2022 contributor who asks about electronics at the gaming table
Episode: S37E06 | Pets in Campaigns, Pax East, Electronics at the Table
Christopher in Carolina
Contributor discussing Fate vs other systems
Episode: S37E05 | PBTA Prep, FATE, & A Gaming Story

Hosts

Jason
Host who contributes with guests and system discussions
Kimi
Co-host and segment introducer; frequent presence across episodes
Pooja
Co-host; engages with guests and drives discussion
Sam
Host contributing to live mailbags and discussion

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 464 ratings
  • One of the best gaming podcasts

    Been listening for over ten years. Just an outstanding podcast. They discuss a variety of tabletop games, and provide entertaining advice and discussion.

    I enjoy the current version as much as I miss the old format.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Lieuallen
    United States4 months ago
  • The friendliest TTRPG podcast. Hosted by the creator of Decuma and Starscape (among other things). Cozy, inclusive discussion and banter about RPGs. Not D&D centric. Lots of indie perspective. I love it!

    Podcast Addict
    5
    HorrifiedRancor
    8 months ago
  • One of the best gaming podcasts

    Been listening for over ten four years. Just an outstanding podcast. They discuss a variety of tabletop games, and provide entertaining advice and discussion.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Lieuallen
    United States8 months ago
  • As a new DM this podcast has helped reframe my responsibility with empathy as priority. It's a great podcast. Everyone works so hard. And the community is great.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    Defaultradio
    2 years ago
  • I've been listening to this podcast for years and it always has good advice on how to run games, and not tips that are game specific but can help you no matter what you play.

    The podcast is almost entirely driven by viewer emails which is a great way to make sure they are staying relevant for what their viewers want to know.

    I also really like how the cast is varied and diverse so we can get opinions from a vast majority of voices even when the same questions are asked multiple times.

    Podcast Addict
    Arrya
    3 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Some listeners note long episode length can be a time commitment.
Engaging GM tips and lively host banter.
Consistently strong audio quality and hosting chemistry.
Audience questions drive the actionable content.
Great at moderating diverse guest perspectives.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#147
Brazil/Leisure/Games
Apple Podcasts
#248
Norway/Leisure/Games

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

S37E07 | Stolen Moments, Success Story, and Surprise PC Roleplaying
Q: What are your sessions like in terms of length and pacing, and how do you keep a large table engaged without burning people out?
Balance is key: vary scene lengths, use modular moments, employ safety checks, and allow room for collaborative storytelling so everyone can contribute without everyone needing to be involved in every single moment.
S37E07 | Stolen Moments, Success Story, and Surprise PC Roleplaying
Q: My question is, how would you handle a situation like this? Do you have stories similar to this?
Discuss the incident openly with the group, acknowledge the emotional impact, consider a measured adjustment to the encounter or narrative, and prioritize restoring player agency and enjoyment while maintaining narrative integrity.
S37E04 | FATE vs Player Agency, GM Horror Stories, & Initiative Thoughts
Q: Second question: in a game where one character slaps another, would you add fate mechanics or keep it as a narrative moment using Fate Accelerated Edition?
Respondents suggest treating it as a narrative moment and, if desired, using a light fate-based adjudication to determine tone and outcome, rather than a full blown combat mechanic; if escalation occurs, you can shift to a more explicit mechanical approach only as warranted by the narrative stakes.
S37E04 | FATE vs Player Agency, GM Horror Stories, & Initiative Thoughts
Q: I've recently taken up GMing Fate, specifically Fate Accelerated Edition. The first question is about compels: if a player is out of fate points and gets compelled, isn't that taking away their agency?
The panel suggests upfront transparency: you should explain that compels can push a player to act in ways that serve the story, and you can mitigate concerns by ensuring compels tie to the character's aspects and by using them to enhance the story rather than punish players.
S37E03 | Adam from Gnome Made Games, Being a Good Player, Tropes with New Players
Q: How did you jump from playing to designing?
Adam explains starting with a great game group, building simple aids for new players, and gradually publishing those aids on the Dungeon Masters Guild, which led to a design career and eventually full games like Luncheons and Dragonflies and Plane God.

Audience Metrics

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show centers on practical GMing and player guidance for tabletop RPGs, blending humor with thoughtful advice. Regular hosts and guests explore session design, safety tools, pacing, and how to balance player agency with structure across a wide range of systems. Notable throughlines include handling open-world vs. railroading, running conventions or large tables, and fostering inclusive play communities. A standout quality is the lively, collaborative vibe and willingness to discuss both technical mechanics and real-world dynamics at the table, making it helpful for both new GMs and veteran players. Potential listeners can expect accessible tips, strong community engagement, and a breadth of perspectives from indie designers, convention ... more

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Which podcasts are similar to this podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with this podcast:

1. The Secret Cabal Gaming Podcast
2. My Brother, My Brother And Me
3. Dungeons and Daddies
4. Ludonarrative Dissidents
5. The Poorhammer Podcast

How many episodes of this podcast are there?

this podcast launched 17 years ago and published 590 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 this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Kurt H.
2. Eric from New Jersey
3. Kaylee C
4. Lily Anasantos
5. Mike Ferdinando
6. Gregory from Wisconsin
7. Matty All Night
8. Weasel Creature

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