Vickie Lan and Author Bibiana Krall talk about ghost stories and real-life hauntings! Why do ghosts come back? How can writers capture a chilling encounter in an authentic way? And why should you ignore the shadow in the corner? Learn all this and more in this deliciously spooky episode. 

Conspiracy theories seek answers for the patterns we see in everyday life. They can be fun, they could be important, and they can also be dangerous. Aspiring writer Mike Crawford joins the podcast to discuss Q-anon, Flat Earth, the Dead Internet theory, and more. 

Middle Earth, the Wizarding World, and the Marvel Cinematic Universe are just a few examples of shared universes where independent stories exist with interconnecting characters, locations, and events. Matthew C. Brown returns to the podcast to discuss the joys and challenges of writing a shared universe.

It's hard to look anywhere without seeing comic book superheroes. From Marvel's MCU domination to DC's attempt to reboot their characters again...and again...and again...maybe it's time to give superheroes an upgrade. Author Brad Allis revisits Speculative Sandbox to talk about the evolution of superheroes in pop culture and what superheroes would be like today if they took on modern problems with modern solutions. 

It's not easy being a hero. It's even worse being the mentor. Why do most mentors die a gruesome death right before the hero wins the day? Writer Jonathan Carlson and Vickie Lan unpack this trope, looking at popular examples from books and movies, and discuss ways to make this plot device feel fresh again.