Rephonic
Artwork for How to Be a Better DM: Dungeon Master Tips for the DM Newbie, the Hobbyist and the Forever DM

How to Be a Better DM: Dungeon Master Tips for the DM Newbie, the Hobbyist and the Forever DM

Justin Lewis
Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons and Dragons
Dungeon Mastering
Player Engagement
Storytelling
Combat Encounters
Dungeon Master
Character Development
Role-Playing Games
Game Mechanics
Improvisation
Role Playing Games
Character Creation
Tabletop Role-Playing Games
World Building
Tabletop Gaming
Combat Mechanics
Player Agency
Campaign Planning
Game Design

Learn how to be a better DM (Dungeon Master) so you can tell better stories for yourself and your friends. Learn things like how to start a campaign, how to create realistic NPCs, how to move the plot along, and how and why to use session 0's for your party. Join hosts Justin Lewis, Cayden Ottley and Tanner Weyland as they distill all the DM tips, tools and resources for the beginner DM, for the D... more

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes269Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
HobbiesLeisure

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for How to Be a Better DM: Dungeon Master Tips for the DM Newbie, the Hobbyist and the Forever DM

Latest Episodes

In this episode of How to Be a Better DM, we sit down with special guest Esteban Senzig to explore creativity, collaboration, and what it actually takes to turn big ideas into something real.

We kick things off with our signature segment, Make Your ... more

Are you a perfectionist when it comes to D&D props, and you spend all your time wishing that your DM table looked just as fabulous as the tabletops you see in all the professional D&D streams and setups? Does this unrealistic expectation even keep yo... more

What goodbye advice would you give to your loved ones if you were Gandalf?

In the last Creative Contraband episode, I give you mine.

Thanks for listening to today’s show. If you like our stuff and want to support us, here are some sponsor links and... more

In this episode, we break down one of the most important—and most overlooked—skills in Dungeon Mastering: performance.

But instead of keeping it vague, we make it practical.

I introduce a simple framework built around the five senses to help you un... more

YouTube

Key Facts

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

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Behind the Bastards
Behind the BastardsCool Zone Media and iHeartPodcasts
Myths and Legends
Myths and LegendsJason Weiser, Carissa Weiser, Nextpod
If Books Could Kill
If Books Could KillMichael Hobbes & Peter Shamshiri
Dungeons and Daddies
Dungeons and DaddiesDungeons and Daddies

Recent Guests

Kyle Shire
Senior producer for Critical Role, writer, and comedian
Critical Role
Episode: DM Lessons Learned from Standup Comedy with Kyle Shire
London Carlisle
Dungeon Master and NPC design expert
Session 0 Studios
Episode: No More Boring NPCS - Design a Better NPC with London Carlisle
DM Shea
Dungeon Master and co-host of Dungeon Master Talk
Dungeon Master Talk
Episode: How to make Lifelike NPCs with DMs Shea and Kyle from Dungeon Master Talk
DM Kyle
Dungeon Master and co-host of Dungeon Master Talk
Dungeon Master Talk
Episode: How to make Lifelike NPCs with DMs Shea and Kyle from Dungeon Master Talk
Ashley May King
A talented writer for horror and mystery games, specializing in 'Call of Cthulhu'.
Episode: The Lost Episode? Lessons from Ashley May King on Mastering the Art of DMing in Horror and Mystery
Samantha Fortune
Dungeon Master with experience in running multiple campaigns
Episode: DM Coaching: Timelines and Weather with Samantha Fortune
Jay Foster
Guest from Swole Initiative and game master
Swole Initiative
Episode: Swole Initiative: Player Check-ins and Campaign Themes with Jay Foster
Dan Wells
Best-selling author and co-host of Writing Excuses podcast
Writing Excuses, Dungeon Master Direct
Episode: Dan Wells: What are You Good at As a GM?
Ethan Myers
A Chicago-based D&D expert, professional Dungeon Master, and linguist pursuing a PhD.
Lyres for Hire
Episode: Linguistic Tactics for More Realistic Characters with Ethan Myers from Lyres for Hire

Hosts

Tanner Weyland
Host of How to Be a Better DM, focuses on practical DM tips and table dynamics
Justin Lewis
Host with a focus on campaign planning, pacing, and practical DM advice
Daniel Hoff
Host/participant known for Creative Contraband and session prep insights

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 250 ratings
  • Very good

    It’s a good useful podcast. Its definitely levelled up my DMing

    Question: I once made a character with expertise in intimidation and andvantage on it. So what I could do is on my turn just intimidate the entire battle field. How should my DMs deal with character like this? (such as bards)

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    _kholin_
    Australiaa month ago
  • This is great

    This podcast really helped me improve my DMing skills

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    I don’t want to nickname 😭
    Canadaa month ago
  • Very good

    It’s a good useful podcast. Its definitely levelled up my DMing

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    _kholin_
    Australia2 months ago
  • Great show

    This is a great podcast. It has helped me grow into a good DM.

    P.S. when will there be more pact and boon episodes?

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    DungeonMaster567
    United Statesa year ago
  • Amazing

    Just good it helped me start dming

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Cubes of the world
    United Kingdom2 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Ads noted as intrusive by some, but content quality remains high for many
Positive reception for practical DM tips and energy, especially for new DMs
Appreciation for concise, actionable advice with room for growth
Listeners note improved confidence in pacing and NPC design

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#166
United States/Leisure/Hobbies
Apple Podcasts
#9
Canada/Leisure/Hobbies
Apple Podcasts
#84
United Kingdom/Leisure/Hobbies
Apple Podcasts
#101
Canada/Leisure
Apple Podcasts
#39
Denmark/Leisure/Hobbies
Apple Podcasts
#62
South Africa/Leisure/Hobbies

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Plot Armor: What Michael Scott and GoT Can Teach Us About Stakes in DMing
Q: How can you explain then that Matt Mercer, being one of the best in the world, gives the player that moment by asking how do you want to do this?
The host explains that while Matt Mercer often defers to player-led moments, he still narrates the scene in detail after the players describe their actions to maintain cinematic clarity and build the moment, showing a balance between player agency and DM narration.
Pauses and Silences: What we say by not saying
Q: Do you think it is possible to use these rituals to make new roleplayers feel comfortable in a table with more experienced players?
Yes, using rituals can help create a comfortable environment and facilitate engagement for new players.
Rituals in Art - Infinite solutions in a simple concept
Q: How do I keep players engaged with elements I've introduced in previous sessions?
It's essential to bring up elements earlier in the session instead of when you need them. Use recaps or hints to remind players about these elements.
Character, Role and Archetype: The layers of a good NPC
Q: Shouldn't rituals be more used in other arts?
Rituals are widely used in not only art but in many other contexts, and they often develop organically over time.
DM Lessons Learned from Standup Comedy with Kyle Shire
Q: What lessons would you recommend or give to a GM that apply this sort of conducting principle?
Kyle emphasizes the importance of 'yes, anding' as a technique to enhance the storytelling experience and encourage player engagement.

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 This Podcast

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

A practical, craft-focused show for Dungeon Masters who want to run better games and keep players engaged. Episodes center on pacing, NPC design, storytelling techniques, session prep, and inclusive table dynamics, with a strong emphasis on actionable tips that balance brevity, immersion, and structure. Across recent episodes, listeners get a mix of theory (CASE framework, diegesis, Brechtian approaches) and hands-on tactics (tempo mastery, fear of silence, goal-setting, creative contraband, and streamlined prep). A few standout angles include treating NPCs with extreme, memorable personalities, using pauses effectively to heighten tension, and integrating cross-genre ideas into campaigns. The format tends to blend personal anecdotes with p... more

Where can I find podcast stats for this podcast?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to this podcast and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does this podcast get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for this podcast, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for this podcast?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for this podcast, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does this podcast have?

To see how many followers or subscribers this podcast has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to this podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with this podcast:

1. Behind the Bastards
2. Myths and Legends
3. Not Another D&D Podcast
4. If Books Could Kill
5. Dungeons and Daddies

How many episodes of this podcast are there?

this podcast launched 5 years ago and published 269 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 this podcast?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for this podcast?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for this podcast from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for this podcast?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of this podcast. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Kyle Shire
2. London Carlisle
3. DM Shea
4. DM Kyle
5. Ashley May King
6. Samantha Fortune
7. Jay Foster
8. Dan Wells

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.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days