Author Neal Holtschulte returns to the podcast to discuss the latest developments in artificial intelligence, including ChatGPT and its impact on writers and industry professionals, how A.I. is portrayed in speculative fiction compared to real life, and whether or not A.I. has actual feelings.

Speculative Sandbox is for entertainment purposes only. This is a volunteer-run program. Opinions expressed by individuals on the podcast are their own.

Main cover art illustrated by Sofia Hansson

Individual episode covers feature royalty-free photography from Pexels.com or Canva. 

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The butler did it! Or...did they? Author Gabrielle Chmilar joins the podcast to investigate the usual suspects in a "whodunit" mystery, as well as the plot structure that allows authors to truly surprise their readers in the second-half of the story.

Speculative Sandbox is for entertainment purposes only. This is a volunteer-run program. Opinions expressed by individuals on the podcast are their own.

Main cover art illustrated by Sofia Hansson

Individual episode covers feature royalty-free photography from Pexels.com or Canva. 

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Whether you're writing about paranormal investigations or are simply curious, author and paranormal investigator Daniel Bautz joins the podcast with a wealth of information that will inspire even the non-believer. We'll walk you through the investigative process, including what to expect when you're on a haunted site, the best tools to use, and the types of encounters. Daniel even assesses a ghostly encounter that Vickie Lan had in her childhood home, with chilling results.

Speculative Sandbox is for entertainment purposes only. This is a volunteer-run program. Opinions expressed by individuals on the podcast are their own.

Main cover art illustrated by Sofia Hansson

Individual episode covers feature royalty-free photography from Pexels.com or Canva. 

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Fantasy Author and Podcaster Richie Billing joins Speculative Sandbox to talk about music and storytelling, where we cover musical history, character leitmotifs, genre sound coding, and the psychological benefits of music.

MUSIC NOTE: It wouldn't be an episode about music without music! As much as we would love to feature the actual music mentioned in this podcast, we simply don't have the licensing :) Thank goodness for stock music. Music credits: Soundstripe, Motion Array.

Speculative Sandbox is for entertainment purposes only. This is a volunteer-run program. Opinions expressed by individuals on the podcast are their own.

Main cover art illustrated by Sofia Hansson

Individual episode covers feature royalty-free photography from Pexels.com or Canva. 

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[Originally published March 30, 2022] Ghostwriter and editor Leslie Hinson joins Speculative Sandbox on the search for immortality. Like Dorian Gray and his aging portrait, how do different characters avoid death? How does legacy building ensure our future? And what happens when someone else takes control?

Speculative Sandbox is for entertainment purposes only. This is a volunteer-run program. Opinions expressed by individuals on the podcast are their own.

Main cover art illustrated by Sofia Hansson

Individual episode covers feature royalty-free photography from Pexels.com or Canva. 

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[Originally published April 20, 2022] Greek mythology set the standard for many story tropes and character archetypes seen in today’s fiction. From tragedies to triumphant battles, petty arguments to unrequited love, the Greek Gods continue to leave a lasting impression because they are undeniably relatable. USA Today Bestselling Romance Author Carly Spade joins Speculative Sandbox to talk about the allure of the greek gods, their shadier pasts, and her approach for retelling their stories to a modern audience.

Speculative Sandbox is for entertainment purposes only. This is a volunteer-run program. Opinions expressed by individuals on the podcast are their own.

Main cover art illustrated by Sofia Hansson

Individual episode covers feature royalty-free photography from Pexels.com or Canva. 

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[Originally published September 13, 2022] Author Rob Hart explores the horrors of working in an Amazon-esque corporation in his dystopian thriller “The Warehouse”. Learn about the real-world conditions and events that influenced this book, Rob’s world-building strategies, and how to create a complex billionaire villain. How far away are we from a corporatocracy? And...how can we prevent one? 

Speculative Sandbox is for entertainment purposes only. This is a volunteer-run program. Opinions expressed by individuals on the podcast are their own.

Main cover art illustrated by Sofia Hansson

Individual episode covers feature royalty-free photography from Pexels.com or Canva. 

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Author John James Minster takes over the podcast this week to examine Edgar Allan Poe. 

Speculative Sandbox is for entertainment purposes only. This is a volunteer-run program. Opinions expressed by individuals on the podcast are their own.

Main cover art illustrated by Sofia Hansson

Individual episode covers feature royalty-free photography from Pexels.com or Canva. 

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Take a sneak peak.

[Originally published April 6, 2022.] Thomas More coined the term "Utopia" in his 1516 book of the same name, but is it really the ideal place to live? Author Jacob Devlin joins Vickie Lan in a discussion about fictional utopian societies, what makes them wonderful at first glance, and what makes them terrifying once you read between the lines. 

Speculative Sandbox is for entertainment purposes only. This is a volunteer-run program. Opinions expressed by individuals on the podcast are their own.

Main cover art illustrated by Sofia Hansson

Individual episode covers feature royalty-free photography from Pexels.com or Canva. 

Links:

⁠Guest form⁠

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⁠Curated episode playlists on Spotify⁠

Social media:

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