How to Be a Better DM: Dungeon Master Tips for the DM Newbie, the Hobbyist and the Forever DM
Justin LewisLearn 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
| Publishes | Twice weekly | Episodes | 287 | Founded | 5 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | HobbiesLeisure | |||
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Latest Episodes
Railroading has a bad reputation in the TTRPG world — but is it actually the villain DMs think it is? In this live panel from FanX 2025, Justin Lewis, Tanner Weyland, and Cayden Ottley dig into what railroading really means, why every DM does it whet... more
Welcome once again, dear Dungeon Masters and Game Masters! Today we talk about suspense and surprise from Alfred Hitchcock's movies and Game of Thrones.
In this episode you will learn how to make the most impact by managing the knowledge your player... more
Players (and DMs) have many unchecked assumptions for what they want out of a D&D adventure: they want "powerful loot," easy NPC interactions, and a cinematic, epic story for them to experience... right? Or is that just the surface level? Do they act... more
In our second interview episode, we sit down with Sacred, and talk about Solo TTRPGs, intention, immersion and getting to know yourself.
Sit back and enjoy this light-hearted talk about all things tabletop!
Creative Contraband is a segment designed... more
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Reviews
- Really good and helpfull
The information in this pod has been very useful as a dm but the amount of adds and when they are is really annoying
Apple Podcasts4Fffghetvxf
United Statesa month ago - 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 Podcasts5_kholin_
Australia4 months ago - This is great
This podcast really helped me improve my DMing skills
Apple Podcasts5I don’t want to nickname 😭
Canada4 months ago - Very good
It’s a good useful podcast. Its definitely levelled up my DMing
Apple Podcasts5_kholin_Australia5 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 Podcasts5DungeonMaster567United Statesa year ago
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Apple Podcasts | #184 | United States/Leisure/Hobbies |
Apple Podcasts | #96 | Canada/Leisure/Hobbies |
Apple Podcasts | #11 |  Chile/Leisure/Hobbies |
Apple Podcasts | #23 |  Poland/Leisure/Hobbies |
Apple Podcasts | #86 |  Belgium/Leisure/Hobbies |
Apple Podcasts | #125 | Chile/Leisure |
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Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast
What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?
A practical, tips-driven show for Dungeon Masters at every level, with a focus on improving storytelling, session zero prep, NPC realism, and pacing. Episodes cover a mix of actionable techniques—from running engaging encounters and managing chaos at the table to scheduling, props, and immersive senses—often illustrated with concrete examples and host-led guidance. A notable strength is the hosts' emphasis on collaboration, iterative improvement, and community, plus frequent references to tools, guest insights, and real-world play experiences. The show appears approachable for newer DMs while still offering useful frameworks and pacing strategies that veteran DMs can adopt, making it a solid resource for ongoing DM development and hobbyist ... more
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Which podcasts are similar to this podcast?
These podcasts share a similar audience with this podcast:
1. So You Wanna Be a Dungeon Master
2. Critical Role
3. Not Another D&D Podcast
4. Dungeon Master’s Block
5. Last Podcast On The Left
How many episodes of this podcast are there?
this podcast launched 5 years ago and published 287 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. Dr. Ben
2. Esteban Senzig
3. Kyle Shire
4. London Carlisle
5. DM Shea
6. DM Kyle
7. Jay Foster
8. Ashley May King
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