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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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes98Founded2 years ago
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Latest Episodes

Today we are diving deep on the demonic, and imagine what if, instead of running away from demons and devils in Dungeons & Dragons, creators and companies ran towards it?

Recently, we had Gavin Norman of Old School Essentials fame to talk about the... more

We're trying something different this week.

I spend a lot of time talking to game designers and, of course, I'm a historian and history teacher watching the news every day. A thing I have personally become convinced of is that the United States is ... more

Two games enter! One game leaves! And the YouTube algorithm dances in the blood!

But seriously, this is a great conversation with Gavin Norman of Old School Essentials and Mike Mearls of 5E D&D. Gavin is the mind behind Old-School Essentials and Do... more

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

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Recent Guests

Nicholas Montegriffo
Author and game designer known for Hellblaster Against The Cyberfiends
Episode: A Luciferean Library of Hellish Hardbacks, Satanic Scrolls, & Possessed Pamphlets! A conversation with Nicholas Montegriffo & Allen Hall Ep. 98
Allen Hall
Luciferian Luminary, author of UHF Contact and Liminal Horror contributor
Liminal Horror / Old School Essentials
Episode: A Luciferean Library of Hellish Hardbacks, Satanic Scrolls, & Possessed Pamphlets! A conversation with Nicholas Montegriffo & Allen Hall Ep. 98
Christopher Robichaud
Professor at Harvard Kennedy School
Harvard Kennedy School
Episode: What if a D&D designer designed the next American government? Mike Mearls & Christopher Robichaud: Ep 97
Gavin Norman
Impresario behind Old School Essentials
Old School Essentials / OSR
Episode: Bloodmatch Obliteration! D&D 5e vs. Old School Essentials: Mike Mearls & Gavin Norman conversation! Ep. 96
Mike Mearls
Co-lead on D&D 5th Edition, architect of 5E
Wizards of the Coast / D&D 5E
Episode: Bloodmatch Obliteration! D&D 5e vs. Old School Essentials: Mike Mearls & Gavin Norman conversation! Ep. 96
Jason Lutes
Cartoonist and game designer, known for Perilous Void and Stonetop projects
Independent game design / Lamp Black and Brimstone (publisher)
Episode: Is this map of medieval Hungary a good adventure seed? A conversation with Jason Lutes and JP Coovert- Ep 95
JP Coovert
Cartoonist and game designer, co-creator of Starborg
Starborg project, Kyle Latino
Episode: Is this map of medieval Hungary a good adventure seed? A conversation with Jason Lutes and JP Coovert- Ep 95
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

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 39 ratings
  • Some great insights on the hobby from many of its brightest designers.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    spezbaby
    18 days ago
  • 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 Statesa year 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

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
#148
Germany/Leisure/Games
Apple Podcasts
#24
Belgium/Leisure/Games
Apple Podcasts
#67
Ireland/Leisure/Games
Apple Podcasts
#76
Finland/Leisure/Games
Apple Podcasts
#115
Norway/Leisure/Games
Apple Podcasts
#118
Israel/Leisure/Games

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

A Luciferean Library of Hellish Hardbacks, Satanic Scrolls, & Possessed Pamphlets! A conversation with Nicholas Montegriffo & Allen Hall Ep. 98
Q: Allen, could you tell me about Liminal Horror?
Liminal Horror is a rules-light descendant of Into the Odd, with a focus on modern horror and a streamlined system—three stats, one primary save, and a mechanic where exposure to horrors damages your control, potentially leading to fallouts that stay in your inventory.
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.

Audience Metrics

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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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Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Reading D&D Aloud. 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 Reading D&D Aloud and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Reading D&D Aloud get?

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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. Ship of the Dead Podcast
3. The Vintage RPG Podcast
4. Wandering DMs
5. Mastering Dungeons

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

Reading D&D Aloud launched 2 years ago and published 98 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?

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.

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What guests have appeared on Reading D&D Aloud?

Recent guests on Reading D&D Aloud include:

1. Nicholas Montegriffo
2. Allen Hall
3. Christopher Robichaud
4. Gavin Norman
5. Mike Mearls
6. Jason Lutes
7. JP Coovert
8. Jon Hage

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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