Episode 139 – Building Bridges Instead of Battering Rams

In this episode – we wade through a wall of awful to get a shortened solo episode.

We talk Jeff’s stream with the Ladies of the Round Table, a new stream of Storm King’s Thunder on our Facebook page, Extra Life, and the life and death of Jack Chick in relation to the need to speak from a place of humble connection instead of ignorant correction.

Episode 138 – We Stand With Wundergeek

In a stunning turn of events, we actually have all three of your hosts on for this episode of the podcast. There was neither technical nor biological hazard getting in the way as we talk about various fantasy sportsball games (Blood Bowl and Guild Ball), talk about an interesting experiment in doing church differently, and then have some things to say about an issue that came across our twitter feeds that made us get eighteen kinds of furious.

It’s one thing to push a boundary and encouraging people to ‘get over themselves’ – but when there are people being actively harassed and pushed out of the gaming community just for saying that their representation in the hobby is pigeonholed and even slightly sexist, there’s something horribly wrong with that. You may have seen your hosts put it out on twitter already, but in case you didn’t – GSP stands with Wundergeek and everyone out there trying to make our games better and more available to everybody.

Your link round up for this episode:
Where There’s a Whip There’s a Way song from The Hobbit.
-8-bit Theater doing The Dead Alewives’ infamous D&D skit
-Be sure to watch the Ladies of the Round Table Twitch channel this Friday to see Jeff play a special Halloween episode of D&D with them.
-Be sure to join/support the InnRoads Regulars Extra Life team as we play for the kids on Nov. 5th. This year’s team goal is $2000, so stop by the team page and help us reach that goal!

Episode 137 – Comfort Zones

So I think it’s rather fitting that an episode I missed out on due to health issues, leaving Jeff and Daniel to fend for themselves, is an episode of stepping outside of what’s comfortable … because we open with over the top radio announcer voices and fried food recipes.

Here’s your link round up of all the stuff that’s fit to click:
If you’re in the Harrisburg, PA area this upcoming weekend, check out Save Against Fear!
If in South Jersey – visit Shawn at the InnRoads table at SJ Geekfest later this month.
We’re playing in Extra Life again this year to support Children’s Specialized Hospital. You can either join the team or support our players on our team page!

Episode 136 – The Dignity of Listening to Their Stories

10931314_10153107041949610_3507401325325210031_nThis episode almost didn’t happen. A technical issue totally friend the audio for one of your hosts, causing the entirety of the initial recording we did for this episode to go into the trash. What was the worst part was that this wasn’t discovered until right before editing and posting the podcast on schedule. In spite of all this, we were able to get something recorded and present a special guest appearance on the podcast.

We asked Jeffrey Allers about the ministry he has in Berlin, Germany, where, among other things, he is ministering to the Syrian refugees in his city. After a brief update on games I’ve been playing and what’s going on in the news, this episode is focused on hearing how games provide dignity and minister to those who are refugees.

Link round up:
The BGG thread that first connected us to Jeffrey
The InnRoads Regulars Extra Life team page
Onitama in the Lobby

Episode 135 – Better is the Wrong Question

We are sans Romo for episode 135, but Daniel and I sort through a bit of an InnRoads news business before we spend a good chunk of time tackling a question that we got from one of the Regulars in the Tavern.

When it comes to using games for outreach or inward growth – which is ‘better’ is the wrong question.

Web site round up for episode 135:
The InnRoads Regulars Extra Life 2016 team page
The bonus content episode where Katie visited Children’s Specialized Hospital.
The InnRoads Support Shirt Store (15 days left in the campaign at time of posting)

Episode 134 – Family First

In this episode of GSP, Daniel talk about finally getting Scythe to the table, we talk about an anonymous donation and how the ministry is developing, Jeff gives us an update on the Summer of One Shots, and we talk about the need to put family before gaming and even before ministry.

We want to congratulate Daniel and his wife on the announcement that they are expecting a new little gamer in the house. can’t wait to meet them!

If you are interested in the video that I mentioned about me talking through why D&D is important to me, you can see it here.

Episode 133 – Scythe, Shots, Shut Downs, Sun, STEAM, and Serve

It’s post Gen Con life for many of us, so this episode’s title explains it all. I get jealous that Daniel brought home a copy of Scythe, we talk about Gen Can’t gaming and the Summer of One Shots, mourn the upcoming loss of weekly Gamerstable, postulate about the Invisible Sun RPG kickstarting the same day you may be listening to the episode, InnRoads showing up on Ladies of the Round Table to talk about games and STEM, and the importance of serving first – doing everything else second.

The kickstarter for Invisible Sun is but hours away, so to whet your whistle, I’ll point you to the mirror on the wall that wasn’t there a minute ago.

If you’re looking to see me on LORT, you can find me in their archive here.

 

Episode 132 – Gen Con 2016 Preview

Whether you’re like Daniel and gearing up to leave for Indianapolis in a couple days to enjoy Gen Con’s wonders, or you’re like Jeff and myself planning to stay in our pajamas flashing GenCan’t badges, you’ve probably been watching news and reviews of the releases going on at the event.

Enjoy our blitz preview as we run through the games that have caught our eye, the games you should check out if you’re going to be there, and be ready to mock us if you listen to this podcast later and find out the hype was way off of the titles we’re loving.

Link round up:
Jeff’s Dungeon World intro/wrap up
Mike’s Initial Gen Con Game write-up
The BGG Geeklist of Gen Con Releases

Episode 131 – Fifth Year Anniversary LIVE SHOW!

We bantered and tackled audience questions from those in attendance for our live broadcast via our youtube channel. If you wanted to be there but couldn’t make it happen, we now present the audio portion for your listening pleasure. To give you the closest thing to the live experience, there has only been slight editing to make it a little easier to listen to, but otherwise I left it all in. Enjoy, and thanks for listening and keeping us coming back to the mics for the past five years!

Episode 130 – You Are Not Alone

As usual, we start off talking about games we’ve played over the past couple weeks and about some brief updates, but this episode has us revealing some stuff about ourselves on the mics.

Inspired by folks at Saving the Game and Fear the Boot getting episodes out there that talk about long-standing emotional wounds and mental health, as well as spending some time hanging out with the folks from the Bodhana Group, we got together to talk about some of the ways gaming has helped us work through our own personal struggles as well as those endured by people we love.

If you find yourself in a place where you feel alone, hurt, and that no one cares about you – be sure to talk to somebody about it. We’re not professional counselors in any way, but we’ve all served in ministry and have either directly or indirectly been in the place you are. Know that you are seen, you are known, and you are loved – by the guys on these mics and especially by God. We will get through this together.

Link round up:
You can find my write up about the Button Shy Board Game of the Month club HERE
You can find the episode of Saving the Game I mention HERE
And you can find the 2 part episode of Fear the Boot discussing mental health and gaming at the following: Part 1 , Part 2