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Artwork for The Lazy RPG Podcast

The Lazy RPG Podcast - D&D and RPG News and GM Prep from Sly Flourish

mike@slyflourish.com
Dragon Empire
Tales Of the Valiant
Dungeons & Dragons
Sly Flourish
Midgard
Dungeons and Dragons
Dragonbane
Wizards Of the Coast
Daggerheart
Shadowdark
Role-Playing Games
Tabletop Role-Playing Games
Kobold Press
Scourge Of the Dragon Empire
Patreon
D&D 2024
Kukatarma
Gamehole Con
Tabletop Role Playing Games
City Of Arches

The Lazy RPG Talk Show and the Lazy GM Prep show. D&D news, commentary, spotlights, Q&A, and lazy GM prep with Mike Shea of Sly Flourish.

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes736Founded10 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
GamesLeisure

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Artwork for The Lazy RPG Podcast

Latest Episodes

Mike prepares the next session of his Dolmenwood campaign.

• Visit the Sly Flourish Blog

• Subscribe to the Sly Flourish Newsletter

• Subscribe to the Sly Flourish Podcast

• Support Sly Flourish on Patreon

• Buy Sly Flourish Books

• Obsidian fo... more

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Mike describes the finale of his two-year Dragon Empire campaign!

• Visit the Sly Flourish Blogs

• Subscribe to the Sly Flourish Newsletter

• Support Sly Flourish on Patreon

• Buy Sly Flourish Books

• Midgard Worldbook

• Tales of the Valiant

•... more

YouTube

D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of slyflourish.com

Contents

• 00:00:00 Show Start

• 00:01:04 Sly Flourish News: Write Down Your Encounter Benchmark

• 00:02:27 Sly Flourish News: Write For Yourself

• 00:03:52 Sly Flourish New... more

Mike prepares the next session of his Tales of the Valiant Dragon Empire campaign.

• Visit the Sly Flourish Blogs

• Subscribe to the Sly Flourish Newsletter

• Support Sly Flourish on Patreon

• Buy Sly Flourish Books

• Midgard Worldbook

• Tales ... more

YouTube

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Ronin Wong
Actor, game writer, and host of the panel
Episode: Gamehole Con 2026: GM Tips Improv
Thurston Hillman
Associate publisher at Paizo and game master for Narrative Declaration
Paizo
Episode: Gamehole Con 2026: GM Tips Improv
Shanna Germain
Co-owner of Monte Cook Games and writer
Monte Cook Games
Episode: Gamehole Con 2026: GM Tips Improv
Tommy Gofton
Professional dungeon master, game designer, and producer
Episode: Gamehole Con 2026: GM Tips Improv
Mike Mearls
Creative strategy director at Edge Studio and architect of fifth edition Dungeons & Dragons
Edge Studio
Episode: Gamehole Con 2026: GM Tips Pacing
Ed Stark
Game designer and former creative director for third edition Dungeons & Dragons
Episode: Gamehole Con 2026: GM Tips Pacing
Keith Ammann
Author of The Monsters Know What They're Doing and Making Enemies
The Monsters Know What They're Doing
Episode: Gamehole Con 2026: GM Tips Challenge
Greg Marks
Freelance game designer, Legends of Greyhawk creative lead, and D&D Adventurers League content manager
D&D Adventurers League
Episode: Gamehole Con 2026: GM Tips Challenge
Teos Abadia
Game designer who worked on Acquisitions Incorporated and led writing and design for Crack the Sun Frame
Episode: Gamehole Con 2026: GM Tips Challenge

Host

Mike Shea
Game master, author, and creator of Sly Flourish

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 658 ratings
  • Great content and great sound quality. I look forward to every episode.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    Zoinks
    a month ago
  • Great podcast and Patreon for GMs

    One of the best Podcasts for GMs to improve there skills and reduce the workload at the same time. Also the patreon is really good value for money with tools, adventures etc!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    _Hello world
    United Kingdom6 months ago
  • I wish more people streamed their RPG game prep

    One of my favourite D&D related listens each week

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Mikestrike82
    United Kingdom7 months ago
  • Really good podcast for RPG GMs/DMs. Especially if you are new to it.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    Melanie
    a year ago
  • Best RPG Podcast

    Mike Shea offers a variety of amazing content - his published works on DMing, his excellent articles, his terrific YouTube channel, and his podcast series on prepping for games. He is positive, constructive, and mostly objective when reporting on news and other RPG subject matter. I highly recommend consuming all of his products and offerings, including his Patreon. Great value.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    LyonPryde13
    United States3 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Some listeners find the speaking pace fast, and one review notes that audio can sometimes be quiet.
Listeners appreciate Mike Shea's thoughtful, welcoming delivery and the perspectives brought by knowledgeable guests.
The open, detailed campaign-prep format gives GMs a useful view of how sessions and adventures take shape.
Listeners value the practical GM advice and report using ideas directly in their campaigns.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#64
United States/Leisure/Games
Apple Podcasts
#36
United Kingdom/Leisure/Games
Apple Podcasts
#41
Canada/Leisure/Games
Apple Podcasts
#205
Canada/Leisure
Apple Podcasts
#240
United Kingdom/Leisure
Apple Podcasts
#8
Italy/Leisure/Games

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Sandboxes and Railroads — Lazy RPG Talk Show
Q: Do you find there any need to update the Lazy Encounter benchmark for Forge of Foes math for 2024 characters? Does it help to apply any damage boost to 2014 monsters?
Shea says Forge of Foes math remains useful. He suggests using about seven damage per challenge rating as a baseline, or ten per rating above CR 20, and adjusting hit points when needed.
Sandboxes and Railroads — Lazy RPG Talk Show
Q: Do you have any advice for a novice GM taking on I6 Ravenloft in Shadowdark?
Read the module and study its maps and room descriptions, then get players into the castle quickly. Shea says characters do not need to find all three items, since exploring the castle can take the whole session.
Gamehole Con 2026: GM Tips Challenge
Q: When you want to throw a real difficult challenge your players way, there's always the possibility of a TPK. And I want to know what your ways are to manage and plan ahead for that.
The panel suggests preparing possible outcomes in advance, turning defeat into a new story direction, using capture or a later rescue when it fits the fiction, and avoiding forced outcomes that make player choices feel meaningless.
Gamehole Con 2026: GM Tips Challenge
Q: What advice do you have when you're navigating encounters or challenges where the mechanics affect the player agency?
The panel recommends adjusting agency-restricting effects, offering ways to escape them at a cost, using lighter conditions, and telegraphing dangerous abilities so players can prepare.
Gamehole Con 2026: GM Tips Pacing
Q: Do you have any tips about how to overcome that?
Asked how to help players who freeze after options are presented, Mike Shea describes using ranked-choice voting so everyone selects preferred options. Ed Stark recommends checking whether the choices are engaging and whether the players have enough information.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Lazy RPG Podcast

What is The Lazy RPG Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Practical guidance for tabletop role-playing game masters sits alongside RPG news, commentary, and detailed looks at Mike Shea's campaign preparation. The format alternates between solo talk-show episodes, step-by-step prep for a long-running fantasy campaign, listener Q&A, and convention panels with experienced game designers and game masters. Recurring topics include flexible encounter design, pacing, player agency, improvisation, and ways to prepare efficiently without sacrificing memorable play.

The appeal is its unusually open view of the work behind running a game: Shea shares campaign notes, design decisions, and adjustments he makes as a session takes shape. News and product discussions provide context for the wider RPG hobby, whil... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The Lazy RPG Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Lazy RPG Podcast:

1. Mastering Dungeons
2. The Eldritch Lorecast
3. Morrus’ Unofficial Tabletop RPG Talk
4. Dungeon Master of None
5. Dungeon Master Diaries

How many episodes of The Lazy RPG Podcast are there?

The Lazy RPG Podcast launched 10 years ago and published 736 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 The Lazy RPG Podcast?

Recent guests on The Lazy RPG Podcast include:

1. Ronin Wong
2. Thurston Hillman
3. Shanna Germain
4. Tommy Gofton
5. Mike Mearls
6. Ed Stark
7. Keith Ammann
8. Greg Marks

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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