The Monster's Playbook

It's a return to THERE. But this time, they have a couple of advantages. First, they already have a guide. But more than that, with Mark's history returned, he can fully navigate the mysterious Kingdom of the Sky. That advantage will only take them so far, because Kira Ashwood is in the Sea Kingdom. And you know what they say about the Sea

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If you liked this episode, please leave a rating and review to help us spread the word and don't forget to share with your friends. We love friends!

Subscribe to our Patreon: Head to our Patreon for bonus content you won’t want to miss out on. 

Support the Show: Follow us on social media, buy some merch, support us on Ko-fi, and check out our Wiki by heading to our DirectMe Profile. 

Join us on Discord! Come hang out with the cast on The Monster's Playbook Discord server where we can discuss the latest episodes, trade theories, answer questions, and get to know you, our listeners, a little better. 

This week we're also featuring a promo for another actual-play podcast, Cybertopia. Be sure to check them out on their Itchio website, and be sure to listen to them wherever you listen to podcasts. 

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Cast:

Jonny Grubb as the Keeper

John Wander as Mark Clayton (The Divine)

Lauren Johnson as Kira Ashwood (The Initiate) and Anna Ashwood (The Apprentice)

Miah Detjen as Theo Nessos (The Hex)

This episode was edited by Miah Detjen and Lauren Johnson.

Theme song by Jonny Grubb.

Cover art by Gabe Schmidt.

Incidental music from Epidemic Sound.

Kira Ashwood is missing. Her hunt for The Tower sent her somewhere Anna, Theo and Mark cannot follow. The good news is, they have an ally who will know how to track her down. The bad news is, they might not like what they find.

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If you liked this episode, please leave a rating and review to help us spread the word and don't forget to share with your friends. We love friends!

Subscribe to our Patreon: Head to our Patreon for bonus content you won’t want to miss out on. 

Support the Show: Follow us on social media, buy some merch, support us on Ko-fi, and check out our Wiki by heading to our DirectMe Profile. 

Join us on Discord! Come hang out with the cast on The Monster's Playbook Discord server where we can discuss the latest episodes, trade theories, answer questions, and get to know you, our listeners, a little better. 

This week we're also featuring a promo for another actual-play podcast, Raven's Realm. Check out this Dungeons and Dragons 5e pod on their LinkTree and be sure to listen to them wherever you listen to podcasts. 

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Cast:

Jonny Grubb as the Keeper

John Wander as Mark Clayton (The Divine)

Lauren Johnson as Kira Ashwood (The Initiate) and Anna Ashwood (The Apprentice)

Miah Detjen as Theo Nessos (The Hex)

This episode was edited by Miah Detjen and Lauren Johnson.

Theme song by Jonny Grubb.

Cover art by Gabe Schmidt.

Incidental music from Epidemic Sound.

The true culprit has been sussed out, but what is she up to? Kira, Anna, Mark and Theo track down the villainous Tower, and do what they can to get to the bottom of her sinister plans. What they find will take them deeper than they may want to go…

Content warning: Substance abuse

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If you liked this episode, please leave a rating and review to help us spread the word and don't forget to share with your friends. We love friends!

Subscribe to our Patreon: Head to our Patreon for bonus content you won’t want to miss out on. 

Support the Show: Follow us on social media, buy some merch, support us on Ko-fi, and check out our Wiki by heading to our DirectMe Profile. 

Join us on Discord! Come hang out with the cast on The Monster's Playbook Discord server where we can discuss the latest episodes, trade theories, answer questions, and get to know you, our listeners, a little better. 

This week's promo is for the actual-play podcast, A Fools Quest. Be sure to check them out on their website, and wherever you listen to podcasts. 

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Cast:

Jonny Grubb as the Keeper

John Wander as Mark Clayton (The Divine)

Lauren Johnson as Kira Ashwood (The Initiate) and Anna Ashwood (The Protector)

Miah Detjen as Theo Nessos (The Hex)

This episode was edited by Miah Detjen and Lauren Johnson.

Theme song by Jonny Grubb.

Cover art by Gabe Schmidt.

Incidental music from Epidemic Sound.

Content Warning: Self-harm

"I'm Quatraile!" Mark, Theo, Kira, and Anna meet a mysterious captive with more secrets than she knows what to do with. But getting her free isn't going to be easy. And not just because of the horde of monsters descending on the team. There's something odd going on with the girl. Something… not quite alive. 

In Memory of Betsy: This episode is dedicated to our dear friend Betsy, who recently passed away from Stage 4 Cholangiocarcinoma. Betsy was a badass, a talented writer, and a wonderful human being who we miss greatly. If you're able, please join us in donating to Betsy's ⁠⁠Go Fund Me⁠⁠ or to the ⁠⁠Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation⁠⁠. Thank you for being our friend, Betsy. -------

If you liked this episode, please leave a rating and review to help us spread the word and don't forget to share with your friends. We love friends!

Subscribe to our Patreon: Head to our Patreon for bonus content you won’t want to miss out on.

Support the Show: Follow us on social media, buy some merch, support us on Ko-fi, and check out our Wiki by heading to our DirectMe Profile.

Join us on Discord! Come hang out with the cast on The Monster's Playbook Discord server where we can discuss the latest episodes, trade theories, answer questions, and get to know you, our listeners, a little better.

This week we're also featuring a promo for another actual-play podcast, The Dice Collectors. Be sure to check them out wherever you listen to podcasts.

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Cast:

Jonny Grubb as the Keeper

John Wander as Mark Clayton (The Divine)

Lauren Johnson as Kira Ashwood (The Initiate) and Anna Ashwood (The Protector)

Miah Detjen as Theo Nessos (The Hex)

This episode was edited by Miah Detjen and Lauren Johnson.

Theme song by Jonny Grubb.

Cover art by Gabe Schmidt.

Incidental music from Epidemic Sound.

Welcome back to BOOK CLUB! The fictional worlds we build in TTRPGs can get pretty dangerous, but the people at the table should always feel safe. Jonny talks with Natalie, Keeper of the Storyteller Squad and Zoe, GM of The Writer’s Room to talk about what makes roleplaying a uniquely vulnerable experience for players and GMs alike, how to make your table welcoming to all, and how working with your players to build and maintain a safe space to game can make your stories so much better

In Memory of Betsy: This episode is dedicated to our dear friend Betsy, who recently passed away from Stage 4 Cholangiocarcinoma. Betsy was a badass, a talented writer, and a wonderful human being who we miss greatly. If you're able, please join us in donating to Betsy's ⁠Go Fund Me⁠ or to the ⁠Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation⁠. Thank you for being our friend, Betsy.

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Safety Tools Resources:

• X-Card by John Stavropoulos
• The Digital RPG Consent Checklist
• Toolkit: The OK Check-In
• TTRPG Safety Toolkit by Kienna Shaw and Lauren Bryant-Monk

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If you liked this episode, please leave a rating and review to help us spread the word and don't forget to share with your friends. We love friends!

Support the Show: Follow us on social media, subscribe to our Patreon, and check out our Wiki by heading to our DirectMe Profile.

Join us on Discord! Come hang out with the cast on The Monster's Playbook Discord server where we can discuss the latest episodes, trade theories, answer questions, and get to know you, our listeners, a little better.

Special thanks to our guests Natalie and Zoe for joining us. Be sure to check out The Storyteller Squad and The Writer's Room wherever you get your podcasts. 

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Cast:

Jonny Grubb as the Keeper 

Natalie: Keeper, The Storyteller Squad

Zoe: Narrator, The Writer's Room

This episode was edited by Miah Detjen and Lauren Johnson.

Theme song by Jonny Grubb.

Cover art by Gabe Schmidt.

SEASON THREE PREMIERE!! Life has gone back to what passes for normal for Mark, Theo, Kira and Anna. But a new mystery comes knocking—literally. Mark is summoned to take on an investigation for a familiar client: Rex Crook. But what does it mean to go into business with the city's pre-eminent supernatural crime lord? And what could he possibly need help with?

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If you liked this episode, please leave a rating and review to help us spread the word and don't forget to share with your friends. We love friends!

Subscribe to our Patreon: Head to our Patreon for bonus content you won’t want to miss out on.

Support the Show: Follow us on social media, buy some merch, support us on Ko-fi, and check out our Wiki by heading to our DirectMe Profile.

Join us on Discord! Come hang out with the cast on The Monster's Playbook Discord server where we can discuss the latest episodes, trade theories, answer questions, and get to know you, our listeners, a little better.

This week we're also featuring a promo for another actual-play podcast, Dice Populi. Be sure to check them out on their website, and wherever you listen to podcasts.

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Cast:

Jonny Grubb as the Keeper

John Wander as Mark Clayton (The Divine)

Lauren Johnson as Kira Ashwood (The Initiate) and Anna Ashwood (The Protector)

Miah Detjen as Theo Nessos (The Hex)

This episode was edited by Miah Detjen and Lauren Johnson.

Theme song by Jonny Grubb.

Cover art by Gabe Schmidt.

Incidental music from Epidemic Sound.

That was nuts, right!? In this edition of BOOK CLUB we'll answer Jonny's favorite question: "What was everybody's least favorite part?" We'll look back on not just the last, biggest mystery of the year, but at the entire second season. We'll look at how far our characters have come, and talk about how some of them will be moving forward, even as others are moving on.

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If you liked this episode, please leave a rating and review to help us spread the word and don't forget to share with your friends. We love friends!

Support the Show: Follow us on social media, buy some merch, support us on Ko-fi, and check out our Wiki by heading to our DirectMe Profile.

Join us on Discord! Come hang out with the cast on The Monster's Playbook Discord server where we can discuss the latest episodes, trade theories, answer questions, and get to know you, our listeners, a little better.

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Cast:

Jonny Grubb as the Keeper

John Wander as Mark Clayton (The Divine)

Lauren Johnson as Kira Ashwood (The Initiate) and Anna Ashwood (The Protector)

Miah Detjen as Casey Davis (The Freelancer) and Theo Nessos (The Hex)

Sarah Baker as Tiff Torres (The Hex)

This episode was edited by Miah Detjen and Lauren Johnson.

Theme song by Jonny Grubb.

Cover art by Gabe Schmidt.

Incidental music from Epidemic Sound.

It's over. It's finally over. But then… nothing is really over. The threat is ended, but the damage is done. As Mark, Kira, Anna and Theo reflect on the havoc The Drum has wrought on the world and on their lives, Casey looks forward to the future. As they know better than anyone: No matter what happens, the most important thing is what you do next. 

Content Warning: This episode contains mentions of child abuse and dissociative disorders. To learn more about Dissociative Identity Disorder visit the National Alliance on Mental Illness.

Submit your questions for our Season 2 Q&A by midnight February 21st by DMing us on social media, emailing us at [email protected], or in our Discord Server. 

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If you liked this episode, please leave a rating and review to help us spread the word and don't forget to share with your friends. We love friends!

Support the Show: Follow us on social media, buy some merch or support us on Ko-fi, and check out our Wiki by heading to our DirectMe Profile.

Join us on Discord! Come hang out with the cast on The Monster's Playbook Discord server where we can discuss the latest episodes, trade theories, answer questions, and get to know you, our listeners, a little better.

This week we're also featuring a promo for another actual-play podcast, Goblets and Gays. Check out this queer, Pathfinder 2e podcast on their website, and be sure to listen to them wherever you listen to podcasts.

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Cast:

Jonny Grubb as the Keeper

John Wander as Mark Clayton (The Divine)

Lauren Johnson as Kira Ashwood (The Initiate) and Anna Ashwood (The Protector)

Miah Detjen as Casey Davis (The Freelancer) and Theo Nessos (The Hex)

This episode was edited by Miah Detjen and Lauren Johnson.

Theme song by Jonny Grubb.

Cover art by Gabe Schmidt.

Incidental music from Epidemic Sound.

THE BATTLE OF THE BARN. The Drum descends upon the Dress Barn. Will Casey, Mark, Theo, Kira and Anna be able to stand against the combined might of the Director and his minions? Maybe, if Captain Torres, Donovan, Dockers, The Sparks Brothers, Mark's Mom and all of Dawnbreak have anything to say about it!  

Content Warning: This episode contains mentions of child abuse and dissociative disorders. To learn more about Dissociative Identity Disorder visit the National Alliance on Mental Illness.

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If you liked this episode, please leave a rating and review to help us spread the word and don't forget to share with your friends. We love friends!

Support the Show: Follow us on social media, buy some merch or support us on Ko-fi, and check out our Wiki by heading to our DirectMe Profile.

Join us on Discord! Come hang out with the cast on The Monster's Playbook Discord server where we can discuss the latest episodes, trade theories, answer questions, and get to know you, our listeners, a little better.

This week we're also featuring a promo for another actual-play podcast, Power Word Fail. Be sure to check them out on their website, and wherever you listen to podcasts.

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Cast:

Jonny Grubb as the Keeper

John Wander as Mark Clayton (The Divine)

Lauren Johnson as Kira Ashwood (The Initiate) and Anna Ashwood (The Protector)

Miah Detjen as Casey Davis (The Freelancer) and Theo Nessos (The Hex)

Sarah Baker as Tiff Torres (The Hex)

This episode was edited by Miah Detjen and Lauren Johnson.

Theme song by Jonny Grubb.

Cover art by Gabe Schmidt.

Incidental music from Epidemic Sound.

Book Club editor edition! Wondering how The Monster's Playbook sounds so good? Or who's the music magician behind some of your favorite podcasts? Miah geeked out with fellow podcast editors Ian from Shrimp and Crits and Matt from Debate This! learning about how they fell into the seat of podcast editor, what are their computer setups and what grinds their audio gears. Take a peak behind the curtain into the world of poor posture, low lighting, 12-button computer mice, and big headphones of our beloved audio engineers. 

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If you liked this episode, please leave a rating and review to help us spread the word and don't forget to share with your friends. We love friends!

Support the Show: Follow us on social media, buy some merch or support us on Ko-fi, and check out our Wiki by heading to our DirectMe Profile.

Join us on Discord! Come hang out with the cast on The Monster's Playbook Discord server where we can discuss the latest episodes, trade theories, answer questions, and get to know you, our listeners, a little better. And check out Shrimp and Crits and Storyteller Squad on the Podcast Nexus server (formerly CastJunkie). 

Thank you to Ian and Matt for joining us for this installment of Book Club! Be sure to check out their shows wherever you get your podcasts. You can find Ian on Shrimp and Crits, and Matt on Debate This! 

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Cast:

Miah Detjen (Editor, The Monster's Playbook)

Ian Mauldin (Editor, Shrimp and Crits and Monster Hour)

Matt Cole (Editor, Debate This! and Storyteller Squad)

This episode was edited by Miah Detjen

Theme song by Jonny Grubb.

Cover art by Gabe Schmidt.

Incidental music from Epidemic Sound.