Show notes
You’ve probably heard of Dungeons & Dragons, right? You know… the popular tabletop role-playing game (TTRPG) where players create characters, build stories, and work together to navigate a fantasy world.
Well, in this episode, the Port of Entry team ventures into the world of tabletop role-playing games on a quest to find out why people love these games so much.
KPBS web producer Leslie Gonzalez prepares the team by introducing them to the basics of D&D through a short campaign before sending them off.
But their quest goes beyond dragons and sorcerers: How did these games make their way into the Spanish-speaking world? And what happens when players reshape fantasy worlds to reflect their own?
The team meets Nahual creator Miguel Espinoza, game writers and editors Mike Balles and Claudia Sánchez, and Dungeon Masters Amaury de Leon and Doriam Couto.
They learn about efforts to create more space for different voices and how players have adapted TTRPGs to reflect their own stories and experiences.
Mentioned in this episode:
Critical Role
Maztica
Edgar Clément - “Operación Bolívar”
Guillermo del Toro - Guillermo del Toro Praises Edgar Clement
Tweet of Clement requesting Guillermo del Toro to reshare
(Producers note: We couldn't find the actual tweet of Guillermo del Toro sharing Nahual Kickstarter)
Special Thanks to Jorge and Danielle Campos for opening their doors and sharing their story, we couldn't feature them in this episode. Hopefully we can share the incredible story of Inkara in another episode.
About Season 6
Port of Entry has a fresh new season for you, with richer stories of our border region.
This season spotlights shapers and visionaries of the borderlands — people impacting the region, and in some cases the world, with their work and research.
From urbanism and architecture to education, and politics, to art and robotics, these stories explore the region’s most innovative voices.
Listen in and join us!
Social media and contact
From KPBS, Port of Entry tells cross-border stories that connect us. More stories at www.portofentrypod.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/portofentrypodcast
Instagram: www.instagram.com/portofentrypod
Support our show at www.kpbs.org/donate. Search “Port of Entry” in the gifts section to get our sling bag as a thank-you gift.
If your business or nonprofit wants to sponsor our show, email corporatesupport@kpbs.org.
Text or call the Port of Entry team at 619-500-3197 anytime with questions or comments about the show, or email us at podcasts@kpbs.org.
Credits
Hosts: Alan Lilienthal and Natalie González
Writer/Producer: Natalie González
Technical Producer/Sound Designer: Adrian Villalobos
Editor: Chrissy Nguyen and Julio C. Ortiz-Franco
Episodes translated by: Natalie González and Julio C. Ortíz Franco
Our TOPPODCAST Picks 
Stay Connected
