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Reading D&D Aloud

Ben Riggs
Dungeons & Dragons
Tabletop Role-Playing Games
Wizards Of the Coast
Role-Playing Games
Shadowdark
Game Design
4th Edition
Gary Gygax
Wish Spell
TSR
Ravenloft
Kickstarter
Tabletop Rpgs
Vampire the Masquerade
13th Age
Curse Of Strahd
Old School Renaissance
3rd Edition
Orcs
Advanced Dungeons & Dragons

It's like Bible study for D&D fanatics! Slaying the Dragon author and historian Ben Riggs & TRPG scholar Dr. Scott M. Bruner read and analyze the most sacred texts of Dungeons & Dragons (from original edition rules to modern adventures)! They are often joined by special guests, including current and former Wizards employees, contemporary academics, and modern designers, to meditate on the inspirat... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes95Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
LeisureGames

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Latest Episodes

This week we talk to two cartoonists who are making a name for themselves in the TTRPG space, Jason Lutes and JP Coovert! Jason Lutes is the designer of The Perilous Void, which Ben "Questing Beast" Milton named one of his best products of 2025. The ... more

Today, we pick the brain of the creator of the Forgotten Realms, Ed Greenwood!

Ed is a man who needs no introduction, but who will be subjected to one anyway, a man who's bibliography is longer than his already lengthy beard. Ed is the original cre... more

Today, we have two remarkable designers here to share with us their insights and thoughts. Alex Roberts is the winner of the Diana Jones Award, and the designer of STAR CROSSED and FOR THE QUEEN. Joining her is Graham Walmsley, creator of CTHULHU DAR... more

Tonight's first guest is a hunter of hunters, a designer who seized upon the monster-of-the-week TV formula and used it as the bones of a horrifying gaming monstrosity of freakish limbs, a brutish head, a harsh brow, a criminal brain, and yes, it's a... more

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Recent Guests

Jon Hage
Designer behind Sleeping Giant Gaming, creator of the Woven Worlds of Allera
Sleeping Giant Gaming
Episode: Into Faerun- A conversation with Ed Greenwood & Jon Hage: Ep. 94
Ed Greenwood
Original creator of the Forgotten Realms
Self ( Forgotten Realms creator )
Episode: Into Faerun- A conversation with Ed Greenwood & Jon Hage: Ep. 94
Graham Walmsley
Diana Jones Award winner, author of Stealing Cthulhu and Cthulhu Dark
Self-employed / Designer
Episode: What is the purpose of horror? A conversation with Graham Walmsley & Alex Roberts- Ep 93
Alex Roberts
Designer of STAR CROSSed and FOR THE QUEEN
Studio Robber
Episode: What is the purpose of horror? A conversation with Graham Walmsley & Alex Roberts- Ep 93
Michael Sands
Designer of Monster of the Week
Monster of the Week / Evil Hat Productions (distribution partnership)
Episode: Monsters & Blades & Kiwis Oh My! A conversation with Michael Sands & Tim Denee: Ep. 92
Tim Denee
Designer behind Deathmatch Island and Blades 68, with interest in mid-century sci‑fi concepts
Old Blue Sky / Olddog Games
Episode: Monsters & Blades & Kiwis Oh My! A conversation with Michael Sands & Tim Denee: Ep. 92
Quinn Murphy
Creator of Community Radio, founder of Thoughtcrime Games
Thoughtcrime Games; Community Radio
Episode: Jenga as Game Design: A conversation with Epidiah Ravachol & Quinn Murphy: Ep 91
Epidiah Ravachol
Creator of Dread; game designer
Dread; Swords Without Master
Episode: Jenga as Game Design: A conversation with Epidiah Ravachol & Quinn Murphy: Ep 91
Emily Allen
Designer, writer, cider enthusiast, and creator of The Gardens of Ynn.
Episode: In Which We Discuss Snake Genitalia: A conversation with Josh McCrowell & Emily Allen: Ep 88

Host

Ben Riggs
D&D historian and author; host of multiple shows in the network; often leads discussions with designers and historians.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 36 ratings
  • Classic Tactic

    Like a street corner pharmacist , they get you hooked with the free taste of Reading the DMG then moved it to Patreon. The other content is pretty ok, but it’s not quite the same as that first hit of the DMG.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    VaTechNut
    United States10 months ago
  • Pros and cons

    If you are looking for amazing luminaries in the field talking about what it was like to create the systems and work at TSR, you will find it approximately every 4 episodes. If you are looking for discussions of the minutia of the 1st edition DMG, take what is already there, because it disappeared behind a paywall. Be prepared for regular laughter at and personal attacks on “Uncle” Gary Gygax, even when those luminaries attempt to stop or defend him. There are amazing discussions that happen, bu... more

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Wisearse1
    United Statesa year ago
  • THE BIBLE STUDY FOR D&D FANATICS

    If you like Slaying the Dragon, Playing at the World, or Dangerous Games you’ll love this podcast.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    JohnIsCoolAndHasFriends
    United States2 years ago
  • Is this parody?

    I had to listen just to find out if this show was like the onion or Babylon Bee. These people manage to find racism behind every door and use weasel words like “problematic” to paint a much loved fantasy game into some silly, white supremacy simulation.

    The game is none of those things. You can’t draw comparisons between fantasy races and real world ethnicities without being racist yourself. You intellectual midgets are drawing comparisons between goblins and African Americans with a straight ... more

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Bukakke Brian
    United States2 years ago
  • RD&DA makes my week better

    There’s nothing better than grabbing a cup of coffee and meditating on D&D and the nature of tabletops in general. As someone who is here for the digressions I love RPGs as a jumping off point to talk about history, business, human nature, and sometimes bbq.

    It really does have the feel of a D&D session in that we get together for the game, but there’s so much more to talk about.

    They do read from the text sometimes and I can’t wait for them to get through the guides so that I can start playi... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    dragonslayerlars
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

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

The show blends scholarly analysis with entertaining anecdotes about publishing and conventions.
Guests bring deep knowledge; the host keeps the conversations accessible and engaging.
Some episodes lean into controversy and culture wars in RPGs, but remain centered on RPG craft and history.
Lively discussions that mix history with design insights makes for thoughtful listening.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#226
Australia/Leisure/Games
Apple Podcasts
#79
Finland/Leisure/Games
Apple Podcasts
#91
New Zealand/Leisure/Games
Apple Podcasts
#159
Japan/Leisure/Games
Apple Podcasts
#200
Norway/Leisure/Games
Apple Podcasts
#232
Poland/Leisure/Games

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Monsters & Blades & Kiwis Oh My! A conversation with Michael Sands & Tim Denee: Ep. 92
Q: What would a jointly designed game look like, given your respective backgrounds?
They suggest a concept that fuses Monster of the Week's pulse with a mid-20th-century aesthetic and a flexible system (PBTA or Forge in the Dark) to support fast, high-energy play and investigative storytelling.
Monsters & Blades & Kiwis Oh My! A conversation with Michael Sands & Tim Denee: Ep. 92
Q: What does tabletop role-playing do better than any other art form, and what would you two design if you designed a game together?
They agree that the collaborative, live at-the-table creation process is unique and powerful; they'd likely design a game blending the mid-century vibe with a Forge in the Dark or PBTA approach, drawing on their shared influences and love of high-energy, improvisational play.
In Which We Discuss Snake Genitalia: A conversation with Josh McCrowell & Emily Allen: Ep 88
Q: Why is game design so culturally exciting in the 21st century?
Game design is culturally exciting due to its low barrier of entry, accessibility through online platforms, and the collaborative nature of RPGs where everyone at the table has the opportunity to participate in creation.
This is an RPG historian you have to hear from- A conversation with Shannon Appelcline Episode 78
Q: What are you offering on BackerKit right now?
Right now I have on BackerKit Designers & Dragons Origins, which is my newest set of four books because I apparently produce books in four book sets.
RPGs don't make stories. They make experiences: A conversation with Jay Dragon & Watt EP 75
Q: Is the medium of the story passé, and is the medium of the role-playing game going to replace it?
Jay argues that stories are retrospective and that RPGs are experiences, emphasizing that RPGs do not produce stories but allow for narrative structures to emerge after play.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
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Frequently Asked Questions About Reading D&D Aloud

What is Reading D&D Aloud about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Reading D&D Aloud offers thoughtful, historically informed discussions around early edition rules, classic adventures, and the broader evolution of tabletop RPGs. Episodes frequently feature designers, historians, and publishers who unpack design philosophies, publishing challenges, and the cultural context shaping D&D through the decades. The show stands out for its emphasis on reading and analyzing texts aloud, blending scholarly insight with accessible, conversational storytelling, and it often features guests who are notable in indie and mainstream RPG circles.

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Which podcasts are similar to Reading D&D Aloud?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Reading D&D Aloud:

1. Between Two Cairns
2. The Vintage RPG Podcast
3. Ship of the Dead Podcast
4. Mastering Dungeons
5. Wandering DMs

How many episodes of Reading D&D Aloud are there?

Reading D&D Aloud launched 2 years ago and published 95 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 Reading D&D Aloud?

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What guests have appeared on Reading D&D Aloud?

Recent guests on Reading D&D Aloud include:

1. Jon Hage
2. Ed Greenwood
3. Graham Walmsley
4. Alex Roberts
5. Michael Sands
6. Tim Denee
7. Quinn Murphy
8. Epidiah Ravachol

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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