Happy Jacks RPG Podcast: GM & Player TTRPG Advice

Latest Episodes:

S37E24 | Fundraising with Games, Game Session Music, & Players Intimidated by Roleplaying Oct 11, 2026

Show notes

◇ Eric from New Jersey wants our help, Toby gives a take on music and gaming, From the archive 2013: CaptainKiwi asks how to keep players from being intimidated by roleplaying | Hosts: Kimi, Jason, & Sam ◇

00:33◇ Welcome & Episode Summary

01:50◇ Announcements – Our next Game Daze is Oct 24th! It’s safe, fun, and free on our discord! ◇

03:02 Indie Designer of the Month: Carlos Makes Games (they/them) https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/carlosmakesgames/puppet-run

05:22◇ Mailbag 1 – Eric from New Jersey wants our help

Fundraising Links: https://secure.givelively.org/donate/cscglv/beards-for-breasts-2026/eric-pierson-3 and https://movember.com/m/ericpierson

30:08◇ Mailbag 2 – Toby gives a take on music and gaming

43:13◇ Mailbag 3 – From the archive 2013: CaptainKiwi asks how to keep players from being intimidated by roleplaying

60:02◇ Episode Closing

67:40◇ Music

◇ Email happyjacksrpg@gmail.com or post in our Discord server to send in your own topic or question for the show!

◇ Find us on Youtube ◇Twitch ◇Bluesky ◇Instagram ◇Facebook ◇Discord or find all our podcast feeds on your favorite Podcast platform! happyjacksrpg.carrd.co

◇ Subscribe to our Actual Play Feed! We have a backlog of campaigns in over 20 RPG systems and new games running all the time.

◇ Become a Patreon! All the money goes into maintaining and improving the quality of our shows. patreon.com/happyjacksrpg

S37E23 | PC Drama Becoming Real Drama, A Gaming Story, & Theatre of the Mind Oct 01, 2026

Show notes

◇ Anon in Gameland wants advice on character drama bleeding into real life, Ken from Canada shares a story, From the archive 2021: Nikolas from Stockholm talks about types of players and theatre of the mind | Hosts: Kimi, Jason, & Sam ◇

00:33◇ Welcome & Episode Summary

02:04◇ Announcements – Our next Game Daze is Oct 24th! It’s safe, fun, and free on our discord! ◇

3:36◇ Mailbag 1 – Anon in Gameland wants advice on character drama bleeding into real life

20:14◇ Mailbag 2 – Ken from Canada shares a story

33:51◇ Mailbag 3 – From the archive 2021: Nikolas from Stockholm talks about types of players and theatre of the mind

48:38◇ Episode Closing

53:15◇ Music

◇ Email happyjacksrpg@gmail.com or post in our Discord server to send in your own topic or question for the show!

◇ Find us on Youtube ◇Twitch ◇Bluesky ◇Instagram ◇Facebook ◇Discord or find all our podcast feeds on your favorite Podcast platform! happyjacksrpg.carrd.co

◇ Subscribe to our Actual Play Feed! We have a backlog of campaigns in over 20 RPG systems and new games running all the time.

◇ Become a Patreon! All the money goes into maintaining and improving the quality of our shows. patreon.com/happyjacksrpg

S37E22 | Teaching D&D, TTRPG Instructions in Books, & Note Taking for Games Oct 01, 2026

Show notes

◇ Captain Curt in Alaska asks for D&D Lesson Plans, Jay the Historian wants to discuss TTRPG instructions, From the archive 2022: Nikolas from Sweden talks note taking | Hosts: Kimi, Vixie, & Riley ◇

00:33◇ Welcome & Episode Summary

01:22◇ Announcements – Our next Game Daze is Oct 24th! It’s safe, fun, and free on our discord! ◇

2:34◇ Mailbag 1 – Captain Curt in Alaska asks for D&D Lesson Plans

31:50◇ Mailbag 2 – Jay the Historian wants to discuss TTRPG instructions

74:52◇ Mailbag 3 – From the archive 2022: Nikolas from Sweden talks note taking

91:28◇ Episode Closing

98:17◇ Music

◇ Email happyjacksrpg@gmail.com or post in our Discord server to send in your own topic or question for the show!

◇ Find us on Youtube ◇Twitch ◇Bluesky ◇Instagram ◇Facebook ◇Discord or find all our podcast feeds on your favorite Podcast platform! happyjacksrpg.carrd.co

◇ Subscribe to our Actual Play Feed! We have a backlog of campaigns in over 20 RPG systems and new games running all the time.

◇ Become a Patreon! All the money goes into maintaining and improving the quality of our shows. patreon.com/happyjacksrpg

S37E21 | Live from Gateway 2026! Sep 07, 2026

Show notes

◇ Live from Gateway 2026 at the Hilton LAX in Los Angeles! A great panel show with members of our audience and stories from lots of different con games. Since it is a live event, the audio quality is not the same as our normal episodes recorded in our studio. **I say in the audio that it is season 37, episode 20, but that was a mistake!**◇

◇ Find us on Youtube ◇Twitch ◇Bluesky ◇Instagram ◇Facebook ◇Discord or find all our podcast feeds on your favorite Podcast platform! happyjacksrpg.carrd.co

◇ Subscribe to our Actual Play Feed! We have a backlog of campaigns in over 20 RPG systems and new games running all the time.

◇ Become a Patreon! All the money goes into maintaining and improving the quality of our shows. patreon.com/happyjacksrpg

S37E20 | Gardening Gamers, Post-Game Talks, & How Much Worldbuilding with Players? Sep 07, 2026

Show notes

◇ Steffi from Scotland talks more about the gardening style of gaming, Nathan wants to know about post-game talks with APs, From the archive 2022: Whizzard asks about how much worldbuilding GMs do on their own and how much of it they do with players | Hosts: Kimi, Kodi, & Jason ◇

00:33◇ Welcome & Episode Summary

01:17◇ Announcements – We will be at Gateway 2026! Sept 4-7, 2026 at the Hilton LAX hotel in los angeles. We will be doing the live show on Saturday at 8pm! https://www.strategicon.net/ ◇

02:58◇ Indie Designer of the Month: Hannah Shaffer and Evan Rowland of Turtlebun Games https://turtlebun.com/ or https://turtlebun.itch.io/

04:24◇ Mailbag 1 – Steffi from Scotland talks more about the gardening style of gaming

53:34◇ Mailbag 2 – Nathan wants to know about post-game talks with APs

66:57◇ Mailbag 3 – From the archive 2022: Whizzard asks about how much worldbuilding GMs do on their own and how much of it they do with players

81:03◇ Episode Closing

86:32◇ Music

◇ Email happyjacksrpg@gmail.com or post in our Discord server to send in your own topic or question for the show!

◇ Find us on Youtube ◇Twitch ◇Bluesky ◇Instagram ◇Facebook ◇Discord or find all our podcast feeds on your favorite Podcast platform! happyjacksrpg.carrd.co

◇ Subscribe to our Actual Play Feed! We have a backlog of campaigns in over 20 RPG systems and new games running all the time.

◇ Become a Patreon! All the money goes into maintaining and improving the quality of our shows. patreon.com/happyjacksrpg

S37E19 | Prepping NPCs, PCs that Change You, PCs Committing Crimes Sep 07, 2026

Show notes

◇ Ed from MN, now inf FL asks about prepping NPCs, Eric from New Jersey asks how characters have changed us, From the archive 2022: Zed From Norfolk asks how to handle it when your players commit crimes in your gameworld! | Hosts: Kimi, Jason A, Pooja, & Riley ◇

00:33◇ Welcome & Episode Summary

01:17◇ Announcements – We will be at Gateway 2026! Sept 4-7, 2026 at the Hilton LAX hotel in los angeles. We will be doing the live show on Saturday at 8pm! https://www.strategicon.net/ ◇

02:59◇ Indie Designer of the Month: Hannah Shaffer and Evan Rowland of Turtlebun Games https://turtlebun.com/ or https://turtlebun.itch.io/

05:18◇ Mailbag 1 – Ed from MN, now inf FL asks about prepping NPCs

29:52◇ Mailbag 2 – Eric from New Jersey asks how characters have changed us

45:13◇ Mailbag 3 – From the archive 2022: Zed From Norfolk asks how to handle it when your players commit crimes in your gameworld

63:25◇ Episode Closing

68:24◇ Music

◇ Email happyjacksrpg@gmail.com or post in our Discord server to send in your own topic or question for the show!

◇ Find us on Youtube ◇Twitch ◇Bluesky ◇Instagram ◇Facebook ◇Discord or find all our podcast feeds on your favorite Podcast platform! happyjacksrpg.carrd.co

◇ Subscribe to our Actual Play Feed! We have a backlog of campaigns in over 20 RPG systems and new games running all the time.

◇ Become a Patreon! All the money goes into maintaining and improving the quality of our shows. patreon.com/happyjacksrpg

S37E18 | Game Frustrations, A Success Story, Wanting to Game Again Aug 23, 2026

Show notes

◇ Wes in Indianapolis is frustrated with his game, Gurg Murg shares a success story, From the archive 20218: Weaselcreature wants to get gaming again! | Hosts: Jason, Sam, & Vixie ◇

00:33◇ Welcome & Episode Summary

01:19◇ Announcements – Game Daze will be happening August 08! Sign up to run or play games for this free, fun, safe online game event at happyjacks.org/discord ◇ We will be at LFG Con! August 13–16, 2026 in Burbank California! lfg-con.com ◇

03:45◇ Indie Designer of the Month: Hannah Shaffer and Evan Rowland of Turtlebun Games https://turtlebun.com/ or https://turtlebun.itch.io/

06:10◇ Mailbag 1 – Wes in Indianapolis is frustrated with his game

20:55◇ Mailbag 2 – Gurg Murg shares a success story

32:38◇ Mailbag 3 – From the archive 20218: Weaselcreature wants to get gaming again!

42:14◇ Episode Closing

46:29◇ Music

◇ Email happyjacksrpg@gmail.com or post in our Discord server to send in your own topic or question for the show!

◇ Find us on Youtube ◇Twitch ◇Bluesky ◇Instagram ◇Facebook ◇Discord or find all our podcast feeds on your favorite Podcast platform! happyjacksrpg.carrd.co

◇ Subscribe to our Actual Play Feed! We have a backlog of campaigns in over 20 RPG systems and new games running all the time.

◇ Become a Patreon! All the money goes into maintaining and improving the quality of our shows. patreon.com/happyjacksrpg

S37E17 | Limitations as Opportunities, Our Theme Song, Disliking a Group’s System Choice Aug 16, 2026

Show notes

◇ Kurt H asks how limitations can become opportunities, Nathan asks about our theme song, From the archive 2022: Eric from New Jersey doesn’t like his groups game system | Hosts: Jason, Kodi, Jay & Riley ◇

00:33◇ Welcome & Episode Summary

01:30◇ Announcements – Game Daze will be happening August 08! Sign up to run or play games for this free, fun, safe online game event at happyjacks.org/discord ◇ We will be at LFG Con! August 13–16, 2026 in Burbank California! lfg-con.com ◇

03:16◇ Indie Designer of the Month: Hannah Shaffer and Evan Rowland of Turtlebun Games https://turtlebun.com/ or https://turtlebun.itch.io/

05:59◇ Mailbag 1 – Kurt H asks how limitations can become opportunities

29:08◇ Mailbag 2 – Nathan asks about our theme song

44:48◇ Mailbag 3 – From the archive 2022: Eric from New Jersey doesn’t like his groups game system

66:23◇ Episode Closing

76:10◇ Music

◇ Email happyjacksrpg@gmail.com or post in our Discord server to send in your own topic or question for the show!

◇ Find us on Youtube ◇Twitch ◇Bluesky ◇Instagram ◇Facebook ◇Discord or find all our podcast feeds on your favorite Podcast platform! happyjacksrpg.carrd.co

◇ Subscribe to our Actual Play Feed! We have a backlog of campaigns in over 20 RPG systems and new games running all the time.

◇ Become a Patreon! All the money goes into maintaining and improving the quality of our shows. patreon.com/happyjacksrpg

S37E16 | NPCs, Bad Game Sessions, Crafting in RPGs Aug 16, 2026

Show notes

◇ Gregory from Wisconsin wants to talk about NPCs, Davi wants to know what makes a bad game session, From the archive 2022: Actual Jesse asks about crafting in TTRPGs | Hosts: Kimi, Sam, Pooja, Dion ◇

00:33◇ Welcome & Episode Summary

01:09◇ Announcements – Game Daze will be happening August 08! Sign up to run or play games for this free, fun, safe online game event at happyjacks.org/discord ◇ We will be at LFG Con! August 13–16, 2026 in Burbank California! lfg-con.com ◇

03:28◇ Indie Designer of the Month: Hannah Shaffer and Evan Rowland of Turtlebun Games https://turtlebun.com/ or https://turtlebun.itch.io/

05:41◇ Mailbag 1 – Gregory from Wisconsin wants to talk about NPCs

41:54◇ Mailbag 2 – Davi wants to know what makes a bad game session

54:42◇ Mailbag 3 – From the archive 2022: Actual Jesse asks about crafting in TTRPGs

77:40◇ Episode Closing

81:37◇ Music

◇ Email happyjacksrpg@gmail.com or post in our Discord server to send in your own topic or question for the show!

◇ Find us on Youtube ◇Twitch ◇Bluesky ◇Instagram ◇Facebook ◇Discord or find all our podcast feeds on your favorite Podcast platform! happyjacksrpg.carrd.co

◇ Subscribe to our Actual Play Feed! We have a backlog of campaigns in over 20 RPG systems and new games running all the time.

◇ Become a Patreon! All the money goes into maintaining and improving the quality of our shows. patreon.com/happyjacksrpg

S37E15 | “Cinematic” Things, Alcohol at the Table, and Compels in FATE Aug 02, 2026

Show notes

◇ Wes in Indianapolis asks about things being “cinematic”, Eric from New Jersey talks alcohol at the game table, and from the archive 2021: Scott asks about compels in FATE | Hosts: Jason, Kodi, Jay & Riley ◇

00:33◇ Welcome & Episode Summary

02:17◇ Announcements – Game Daze will be happening August 08! Sign up to run or play games for this free, fun, safe online game event at happyjacks.org/discord ◇ We will be at LFG Con! August 13–16, 2026 in Burbank California! lfg-con.com ◇

04:00◇ Indie Designer of the Month: Matthew Nevers (he/him) of Coffee All Night Games at https://coffeeallnight.itch.io/ or https://coffeeallnight.com

04:51◇ Mailbag 1 – Wes in Indianapolis asks about things being “cinematic”

38:12◇ Mailbag 2 – Eric from New Jersey talks alcohol at the game table

52:31◇ Mailbag 3 – From the archive 2021: Scott asks about compels in FATE

71:04◇ Episode Closing

77:45◇ Music

◇ Email happyjacksrpg@gmail.com or post in our Discord server to send in your own topic or question for the show!

◇ Find us on Youtube ◇Twitch ◇Bluesky ◇Instagram ◇Facebook ◇Discord or find all our podcast feeds on your favorite Podcast platform! happyjacksrpg.carrd.co

◇ Subscribe to our Actual Play Feed! We have a backlog of campaigns in over 20 RPG systems and new games running all the time.

◇ Become a Patreon! All the money goes into maintaining and improving the quality of our shows. patreon.com/happyjacksrpg

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