I sat down with Sarah Marshall, author of Playa Dust in My Soul, former Silicon Valley operative, and longtime Burning Man attendee, to talk about turning an uncategorisable real-world experience into a novel that feels like a fully realised world.

We unpack what Burning Man actually is (Black Rock Desert, Nevada, dust storms and all), why Sarah says ten people will give ten different versions of the same event, and how the festival’s principles function like world rules. Two big ones: gifting and participation.

We also dig into Sarah’s craft choices, including a smart structural move: seven perspectives, each arriving at different stages as the city builds from empty desert to a thriving temporary metropolis. The result is worldbuilding-by-experience, not encyclopaedia-by-info-dump.

Under the spectacle, the real theme is human: belonging, identity, and what happens when a place forces you to confront the stories you tell about yourself.

Discussion here: https://richardsonsrubicon.com/community/season-5-speculative-fiction-where-worlds-meet/writing-a-real-place-like-a-speculative-world-rules-constraints-and-point-of-view/

Episode page: https://richardsonsrubicon.com/sarah-marshall-playa-dust-in-my-soul-worldbuilding-burning-man/

Sarah's site: https://www.playadustinmysoul.com/

I sat down with Diana Colleen to talk about her award-winning novel They Could Be Saviors, a near-future speculative story with a wild premise: what if the only way to tackle the climate crisis is to kidnap the billionaires fueling it, then force them into rehabilitation?

Diana is a Canadian author now living in the United States, and she shared how the book came together after a big life pivot. We get into the moral problem at the heart of the story, how she kept the tech believable without turning it into hard sci-fi, and why she calls it “sci-fi light”.

A big part of the book is psychedelic-assisted therapy, and Diana’s experience here is not theoretical. She talked about her own therapy journey, how it influenced the novel, and how “set and setting” complicates the idea of forced treatment. We also dug into character work, including why the billionaires aren’t written as cartoon villains, and why she wanted readers arguing with each other, not being handed easy answers.

If you like speculative fiction that stays close to the real world, asks uncomfortable questions, and uses worldbuilding with restraint and purpose, this one’s for you.

Her site: https://www.dianacolleenauthor.com/

You can find more detail at Richardson's Rubicon: https://richardsonsrubicon.com/save-the-world-break-the-rules/

Discuss issues raised here: https://richardsonsrubicon.com/community/season-5-speculative-fiction-where-worlds-meet/should-speculative-fiction-push-moral-boundaries-in-worldbuilding/

In this episode I sat down with Russell Van Brocklen, a New York–based, state-funded dyslexia researcher with strong opinions about writing, world-building, and why so many Hollywood films collapse under the weight of their own unfinished scripts.

Russell works with highly intelligent dyslexic students who are often written off early. His methods are bluntly effective. In one year, students struggling with basic literacy were producing graduate-level analytical writing.

Russell wanted to explore these two points:

1. Worldbuilding for readability — how to keep complexity while still keeping the reader with you. 2. The “logic stress-test” — a practical way to catch plot holes and broken rules before the audience does.

Central to his thinking is the idea of universal themes. Not vague ones, but precise, distilled ideas uncovered by relentlessly asking “why” until the real story shows itself. It’s tiring work, and that’s the point.

We talked through character-driven world-building, using Star Wars as a reference point, and why a world should emerge from a protagonist’s needs rather than decorative lore. We also dug into antagonists, not as moustache-twirling villains, but as conceptual opposition to the hero’s goal. Get that wrong and the story leaks logic everywhere.

Russell also uses AI extensively. Not to write for him, but to do the heavy lifting he’d rather not. Definitions, logic checks, thematic narrowing, idea pressure-testing. He treats AI like a lab assistant, not an author. His view is simple: if you can’t improve on what AI gives you, that’s not an AI problem. Oops.

We wrapped up talking about craft, accessibility, and why structure isn’t the enemy of creativity. Russell’s perspective is shaped by his own experience with dyslexia and late fluency, and it shows. This is a practical, sometimes uncomfortable conversation about writing with intent, and why most stories fail long before page one.

If you care about world-building, theme, or simply finishing what you start, this one is worth your time, even if I do say so myself.

Episode page: https://richardsonsrubicon.com/breaking-scripts-building-worlds/

Discussion: https://richardsonsrubicon.com/community/season-5-speculative-fiction-where-worlds-meet/is-ai-a-cheat-code-for-better-worldbuilding/

Christian Hurst joins Richardson’s Rubicon to talk about the Lily Starling space opera series, starting with Lily Starling and the Voyage of the Salamander. We dig into a familiar sci-fi opener, waking up with amnesia, and why it works when the reader discovers the world at the same pace as the protagonist.

Christian explains how he builds stories from character and theme first, then lets worldbuilding arrive when it is needed, rather than dumping lore on page one. We also explore tone: why so much modern sci-fi feels either relentlessly grim or aggressively camp, and how he aims for a more human mix of seriousness, humour, and hope.

The conversation moves into belief systems, ritual, and symbolism as part of lived-in worlds, plus the role of identity, loneliness, and connection in Lily’s arc across the series. Christian shares how his background in art, communication, and marketing shaped a more emotional approach to storytelling, and why he cares about how a reader feels, not just how neatly a plot clicks into place.

If you like character-driven space opera with heart and a little mischief, this one is for you.

Christian's Website: https://www.churstpublishing.com/

Find more on my site: https://richardsonsrubicon.com/rug-pulls-not-plot-holes/

Dead Kings, Living Stories: Richard H Moon on To Conquer Death

Welcome back to Richardson's Rubicon! In this episode, I have the pleasure of sitting down with Richard H. Moon, screenwriter, producer, and now, fascinating author of the historical fantasy novel To Conquer Death. Richard takes us behind the scenes of his creative journey, from navigating the trenches of indie film production to the challenges of transitioning from writing screenplays to crafting novels.

We dive deep into his world-building process, where he blends meticulous historical research with creative fantasy to bring to life the mysterious and turbulent era of the Bronze Age collapse. We’ll explore how he tackled the unique challenges of crafting authentic yet accessible language, developed rich cultural and religious backdrops, and even incorporated a chilling take on zombies inspired by ancient myths.

Whether you’re an aspiring writer, a fan of historical fantasy, or just curious about the creative process behind an ambitious project like this, there’s something here for you. So sit back, relax, and get ready for an inspiring and eye-opening conversation with Richard H. Moon! Jump in now.

Richard H Moon's website can be found here: https://richardmoonbooks.com/

Episode page here: https://rubipod.link/deadkings

In this season opener, John strips the podcast back to its core purpose. The show drops the scattered topics and shifts hard toward speculative fiction, worldbuilding, and the craft behind imagined futures.

John explains why the old format was unfocused, why this reset is necessary, and why writers must confront their own blind spots if they want their stories to work. He outlines the new plan for the season, including interviews with speculative fiction writers, honest discussions about his own writing process, and live call in sessions for anyone building worlds or wrestling with ideas.

This episode sets the tone for a sharper, more deliberate, and far more demanding season.

In this episode of Richardson’s Rubicon, I had a fascinating and often funny conversation with Bill Pautler, author of the book Awakening to Ourselves, The Practical Art of Building A Spiritually Aware Life.

Bill’s had quite an adventurous life, he’s done everything from hot-air ballooning and motorcycling to scuba diving, along with raising a family (twice!). But what stood out most was his unexpected spiritual journey, especially a quirky experience he shared: Liberally cussing and then spending two full days in uncontrollable tears. Turns out this reaction is considered a "gift of tears," something Bill now fully embraces, even if it means crying at awkward times.

We spoke at length about spirituality, as we are both at opposite ends of the spectrum it was an interesting, respectful, and at times a hilarious discussion!

We also dipped into a bit of quantum physics banter, discussing the gap between real quantum computers (cold, precise lab devices) and more speculative theories suggesting the brain itself might have quantum properties. We joked (or did we?) about whether quantum computing could someday give rise to true machine consciousness. We've all seen the films, dude!

Ultimately, Bill’s key message resonated clearly: beneath our fears and conditioned habits, we're all incredibly powerful beings. By letting go of trauma and showing compassion through simple actions, we can uncover joy, creativity, and community strength. I think listeners will find his unique stories both entertaining and deeply thought-provoking.

Visit Bill Pautler's site to learn about his book: Awakening to Ourselves, The Practical Art of Building A Spiritually Aware Life

Visit Richardson's Rubicon to see how you can subscribe, listen, watch and even take part!

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p.s. My video feed was awful, sorry!

In this week’s Richardson’s Rubicon, I sat down with Hannah Ashwell mental health whizz, PTSD specialist, and all-round change-maker to tackle two of the sneakiest modern addictions: porn and gambling. Trust me, these things fly under the radar far more than booze or smack, and Hannah’s got the stats to prove it.

We kicked off by digging into her story. She’s not just another talking head, she’s a counsellor, psychologist and entrepreneur who helps people flip their lives around. But the real eye-opener was when she told me more folks in the UK wrestle with porn and gambling habits than with alcohol and drugs. Mind-blowing, right?

Then we got into what over-consuming porn really does. It’s not just a cheeky pastime, Hannah showed me how it can wreck your wallet, your headspace, your relationships, even your plumbing downstairs (hello, porn-induced ED). And the kicker? Viagra is Pornhub’s biggest client. Industry solves the problem it creates, classic.

Next up: smartphones. We’re glued to these damn things, yet somehow we're lonelier than ever. Bullying, FOMO, shallow chatter, our pockets have become playgrounds for misery. My daughter’s brush with online nastiness only underlined how toxic it can get. Hannah’s fix? Apps like OurPact for the kids, plus clever habit-pairing, boil the kettle, do your physio; open the back door, take your meds. Small tweaks, big wins.

Of course, the conversation got darker when we talked human trafficking and illegal content, Hannah dropped some sobering stats about child-abuse material being the fastest-growing crime here. Grim stuff, but if we don’t talk it through, how will anything change?

Thankfully, she shared glimmers of hope, stories of folks who’ve clawed their way back, and how confession (think Sex Addicts Anonymous) can be the first leap toward recovery. We wrapped up by ripping into social media fakery, Hannah’s sworn off it for now, and I don’t blame her, and lamenting how stretched our mental-health services are.

Bottom line: if you want to laugh, cry, and learn how to wrestle your own demons, and maybe even ditch your phone for a night, this one’s for you.

Quit Porn - Hannah Ashwell

https://quit-porn.com

The Balance Phone

https://www.thebalancephone.com/

Our Pact

https://www.ourpact.com/

Buy John a Ko-Fi

https://ko-fi.com/richardsonsrubicon

Visit the show!

https://richardsonsrubicon.com/

Welcome to this episode of Richardson's Rubicon, where I dive into a topic that might not be on your radar, but will certainly grab your attention. Today, we're welcoming John Forbes from the Freeport Campaign Group, which is part of Salvo. John joins us for an eye-opening discussion about Freeports and Special Economic Zones (SEZs) in Scotland. Despite their promising names, these zones come with complexities and concerns that many are unaware of, including secretive dealings, potential for deregulation, and impacts on local communities and economies. We explore these facets, shedding light on the roles that both the UK and Scottish governments play in these zones, as well as the influence of private companies. Join us as we dissect the potential risks and realities of Freeports and SEZs, and learn about what can be done to raise awareness and provoke action. Stay tuned, as this conversation could change the way you view economic development and regional planning.

Facebook.

/www.facebook.com/share/g/1EnH1ihusL/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Instagram.

https://www.instagram.com/freeport_sez_community_group?igsh=b2F3MXM4ZGtic2Jt&utm_source=qr

Bluesky.

https://bsky.app/profile/freeports.bsky.social

X.

@SalvoFreeports

Email address

[email protected]

In this episode of Richardson’s Rubicon, John Richardson talks with Colette Walker, leader of the Independence for Scotland Party, about the launch of Liberate Scotland and how it all links in with the UN decolonisation case.

Colette shares how she has always felt Scottish rather than British and how class divisions in period dramas first sparked her distaste for the Union. She explains the founding of ISP in 2020 as a way to capture regional list seats under the D’Hondt system and boost pro-independence representation in Holyrood.

Visit https://richardsonsrubicon.com/the-path-to-independence/ for more info!

They explore how the strategy of contesting both constituency and list seats backfired in 2021. Colette describes how unionist parties gained extra seats on list votes because pro-independence voters split their support. ISP’s plan is to stand under the Liberate Scotland banner on the list and in constituencies stand as ISP, ensuring a clear “indy party one” and “indy party two” ballot. This approach aims to build a super-majority of cross-party MSPs ready to claim a democratic mandate for independence.

John raises concerns about candidates who arrive in Parliament with only one issue, independence. Colette defends the approach with a tease that more details will come. Pointing to policies in their manifesto like universal basic income, she insists these are somel examples of what a sovereign Scotland could do. Real decision making would follow a Swiss-style model of direct democracy. Citizens would propose and veto laws via binding referenda, with MSPs serving as accountable representatives rather than distant rulers with a take it or leave it attitude.

They also discuss local government. Colette highlights how freeport schemes in England and privatisation of services shrink public spending and reduce Scotland’s block grant. She notes that seventy per cent of Edinburgh lies within a freeport zone and that council investments there have already jumped five-fold. Both agree that smaller, more transparent local bodies and local referenda could rein in unresponsive authorities.

On identity, Colette sides with Nicola Sturgeon’s civic definition: anyone who lives in Scotland and contributes is Scottish. No ethnic or birth criteria apply. She wants a broad inclusive nation built on shared values. John is relieved!

Looking ahead to Holyrood 2026, Colette promises a big launch of Liberate Scotland once logistics, crowdfunding, candidate selection and other details are set. She urges listeners to get involved with door-knocking, stalls and social media. Her call to action is clear: seize the moment to declare independence, or risk losing Scotland’s resources and services for good.