Shows
DnD VersusDnD Shelf Life - Chris Andersen and Arak: Son of ThunderA special for the main feed this week: the first episode of what's going to be a monthly Patreon bonus series, DnD Shelf Life.Balloo sits down with fellow Dungeon Master, Chris Andersen of Your Favorite Bad Movie Podcast and talks about how classic swords n sorcery comic, Arak: Son of Thunder, influences Chris' campaign and lore, world building, and gasp sex in Dungeons and Dragons.Follow Chris on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/christhefriend.bsky.social& check out Chris' show, Your Favorite Bad Movie Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/5r0xHZStTWmwFfGbQ8...2025-06-1956 min
DnD VersusBachelor PartySilvo sets out from Sanctuary with Miss Cleo, Groucho, and Captain Ludlow. Can he find his way through the caverns back to safety? This episode features Trevor Hegstrom as Silvo and introduces Cody Miller as Norm Alguy. 2025-06-1255 min
Can I Have a Word?HomeWhat does it mean to build a relationship with a place you’ve never lived—but that somehow still lives in you?With a nod to exploring the roots of our identity, we examine the notion of "home" through the lens of memory, migration, and meaning. For many first-generation Americans, and particularly for Black Americans navigating the legacy of forced displacement, home is not always a fixed location. It can be a country your parents left behind, a village you’ve only seen in photos, or a continent you feel connected to in spirit but not necess...2025-06-0213 min
DnD VersusFamily MattersSilvo (Trevor Hegstrom) is brought to the Sanctuary of the Predators in the depths of the Underdark and they need his help contacting their absentee deity- "Mother" but he may not like who ends up answering the call...DND Versus contains fantasy violence and horror, and it not affiliated with Wizards of the Coast.Support our podcast and get access to after show interviews with our Dungeon Master and Players on our patreon: https://patreon.com/DnDVersus2025-05-2949 minCan I Have a Word?AmbitionWhat does it really take to chase our dreams? In this episode, we unpack ambition— not just as a goal or drive, but as a mirror. To move forward, we must first get honest about what's holding us back. Join us for a raw, reflective (and at times humorous) conversation on how our mental and emotional health directly shape our ability to pursue our highest goals. Because ambition isn't just about striving — it's about healing, too.Production Team Host/Creator - Carl James Lead Engineer - Josh Wilcox Mix Engineer/Technic...2025-05-1945 min
DnD VersusInto DarknessThe city of Panda and Captain Ludlow have been swallowed into the underdark after a catastrophic series of explosions. Smashin Pam stands on the precipice of destruction looking for brunch at the Richie Estate, but who will she find in the darkness below. Featuring Stefa Nunes as Smashin Pam and Trevor Hegstrom as Silvo. This episode contains scenes of mass destruction and fantasy violence.Get access to additional content by supporting our Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/c/DnDVersus2025-05-151h 02Can I Have a Word?(Confirmation) BiasWhat do you do when the story you’ve always told yourself…isn’t true anymore? What if that familiar, comforting narrative needs to be refined to reflect your age, growth, or maturity? How do we begin to let go of the assumptions that once shaped and protected us to reflect the person we are today? In this episode, we examine the origin and power of the biases rooted in our past and how they might be holding us back in our present.Production Team Host/Creator - Carl James Lead E...2025-05-0510 min
DnD VersusSmashin' Good TimeSmashin' Pam, played by Stefa Nunes, parties with the NePos but while the rager rages on, there are strange things afoot in the woods and city of Panda.This episode contains drinking and fantasy violence.DND Versus is not affiliated with WotCSupport our podcast and get access to bonus content on our Patreon:2025-05-0150 minCan I Have a Word?AnxietyAnxiety is one of the most common - and most hidden - experiences in our world today. Unfortunately it often exists behind polished exteriors and unexplored stereotypes. This episode explores what it means to live with anxiety and still show up fully in life, work, and relationships. There is power in giving language to our internal struggles IF we're willing to sit with vulnerability. Whether you've experienced anxiety yourself or want to better support someone who has, this conversation offers space, insight, and solidarity.Production Team Host/Creator - Carl James Lead En...2025-04-2131 min
DnD VersusHigh Fives 'n' Water SlidesJT Embley as Stephen Hark ventures into the darkness, we bear witness to a murder most fowl (yuk yuk), and we meet Smashin' Pam played by Stefa Nunes who helps wend our way deeper into the caves.Content warning: this episode contains fantasy violence and death.Support DND Versus on Patreon for behind the scenes episodes, chances to name an NPC, and more: https://patreon.com/DnDVersus2025-04-171h 20Can I Have a Word?Forgiveness"Forgiveness" isn't just a feel-good buzzword—it's a deeply personal and sometimes painful journey. With that in mind, we’re diving into the complicated and often contradictory world of forgiveness. It’s a word we throw around easily, but the process? Not so much. In this episode, we explore what it really means to forgive, how accountability plays a key role in healing, and why it’s so much harder to forgive when the hurt doesn’t stop.Production Team Host/Creator - Carl James Lead Engineer - Josh Wilcox Mix Engine...2025-04-0709 min
DnD VersusWake Up, Get Up, Get Out ThereStephen Hark, played by JT Embley, begins our adventure with a rude awakening in a coffin- not entirely surprising considering that his last memory before the coffin was of dying in a pit while exploring a dungeon. What does surprise him is the world he emerges into- an island of refugees with grafted animal heads that are the victims of experimentation by a criminal known as Dr. Frankenfurter.It's a family affair because among the items Stephen has been buried with he has a letter addressed to him by the good Doctor's son, the Marvelous Professor Frankenfurter...2025-04-031h 20
DnD VersusDnD Versus TrailerDnD Versus is an actual play adventure where one DM takes one player at a time on an adventure of death and rebirth.Our adventure begins with a character finding themselves born again after death in a strange and dangerous world they've never seen. Death may be everywhere but for this body, death just means someone else (and another player) from another world taking a turn.DnD Versus is a biweekly adventure releasing every other Thursday, first episode premieres April 3.2025-03-2501 minCan I Have a Word?QuietIn this episode, we delve into the quiet power of introversion. While the world often celebrates loud voices and fast decisions, introverts bring a unique perspective to the forefront shaped by internal focus, deep analysis, and a calm presence. Join us as we examine how a “quiet” lens can illuminate innovative ideas, why stillness is a strength, and how introverted minds quietly shape the world around us.Production Team Host/Creator - Carl James Lead Engineer - Josh Wilcox Mix Engineer/Technical Producer - Adam Goins Logo D...2025-03-2437 minCan I Have a Word?CommitmentThe desire for a loving, committed relationship is something many if not most of us have been taught to aspire to and work toward. But to what end and at what cost? How do you maintain the balance between aspirational hopes for companionship and navigating your own self-discovery and personal evolution? In this episode, we examine the expectations we place on relationships and how the weight of those expectations may cause us to lose sight of what matters most of all. Ultimately, it’s not about choosing love or self-growth – it’s recognizing that the strongest relationships are built on a s...2025-03-1018 minCan I Have a Word?VisibilityAmerica's history has been shaped by countless movements that have attempted to guarantee full inclusion for all Americans regardless of race, gender, or sexual orientation. The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT+) community was born out of a necessity to ensure their own survival and defend their right to live with the dignity and rights afforded to others. And yet, despite decades of marginalization, subjugation, and threats of erasure (which continue even today), the LGBT+ community has always managed to survive and grow stronger. Our guest this week is someone who knows first-hand how real these threats of erasure...2025-02-2446 minCan I Have a Word?SmileWe all have insecurities but some of us may not be aware of them or how deep they actually run. And while it’s important to acknowledge our insecurities, we should work to overcome them in a way that doesn’t unfairly impact other people. So, what do you do if you are made to feel less than simply because of something you can’t consciously control? In this short episode, we explore the importance of calling out behavior that is rooted in insecurity and fear while standing up for our right to exist without judgment.2025-02-1006 minCan I Have a Word?SuccessMany of us have a conceptual idea of how "success" can be defined - financial independence, wealth, starting a family, career achievements, even having millions of fans on social media. Any of these markers can be indicative of success but should the criterion for success change as we age, learn more, and yes, achieve more? How does our framework of success evolve as we get older and what other attributes should we think about beyond the traditional elements that we already know of and aspire to? On this episode, we chat with career attorney and community advocate Peter Koffler...2025-01-2741 minCan I Have a Word?Carl is ArticulateIn this inaugural episode of “Can I Have a Word?”, we explore how this podcast came to be and why the intersection of language and identity should matter to all of us. We also get to learn a bit more about our host, Carl James, and examine why compliments aren’t always as complimentary as they might seem. Production TeamHost/Creator - Carl James Lead Engineer - Josh Wilcox Technical Producer - Adam Goins Logo Design - Stephanie Cardenas Music - Yennaedo Balloo2025-01-1325 min