What's Kraken with Jo Szewczyk

Jo chats with Matt Henderson of Loke Battle Mats about building portable, erasable battle-map books, why modular tools beat bulky map tubes, and turning “players derailed my prep” into a feature. Matt also teases Loke’s party-at-the-table card decks—Deck of Many Insults and Dumb Dares & Silly Sidequests—plus the new Dungeon Designer toolkit for instant encounters and solo play. He shares his one-line advice to younger him: bet on yourself—be your own boss and set your destiny.
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• From wargame mats to erasable RPG map books you can throw in a bag.
• Why modular, two-book spreads beat single giant maps for fast session pivots.
• Built-in QR codes for matching digital maps (VTT/online play).
• Deck of Many Insults and Dumb Dares & Silly Sidequests: party energy inside the RPG.
• Dungeon Designer: scenery + encounter cards + mini guide = instant dungeons & solo-ready play.
• Design ethos: make tools they want as players/DMs; ship quickly, iterate.
• Advice to younger self: start your own thing—“put your money on you.”

In this episode of What’s Kraken, Jo sits down with Derek Chung from Nomnivore Games to talk accessibility, inclusivity, and why fun should always come first in game design. From the origins of the “Nomnivore” name to building games that double as therapeutic tools, Derek shares how titles like Emberwind, Snack Attack, and Nomaventure are breaking barriers and bringing players of all ages and abilities to the table.

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• Origin story – How late-night MMO raids (and snacks) inspired Nomnivore.
• Design philosophy – Accessibility isn’t an afterthought; it’s the foundation.
• Games as therapy – Why Derek says “therapeutic,” not “therapy.”
• Catalog highlights – From Snack Attack to Emberwind, modular games for every player.
• Advice to his younger self – “Get more sleep now — you won’t later.”
• Why it matters – Games as community builders: no kid eats lunch alone.

Jo sits down with Michael from Weathered Dragon, a true craftsman who turned a personal Dungeons & Dragons passion project into some of the most stunning custom gaming tables on the market. From his Gen Con beginnings to barstool-height builds that actually save your back, Michael shares the journey of bringing artistry, woodworking, and community into every design.

🎲 Check out Weathered Dragon at theweathereddragon.com or on Instagram @weathereddragon.

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• Opening spark – Jo recalls spotting Weathered Dragon’s booth at Gen Con and instantly knowing it was “a table made for people like me.”
• From hobby to business – Michael explains how his Harbinger game table, built just for his family, launched a full-time craft.
• Gen Con lessons – From bad booth locations to building crowd energy, Michael breaks down the chaos of con life.
• Craft vs. commerce – Why Weathered Dragon tables blow away overpriced competitors, and what makes Michael’s barstool-height model unique.
• Passion for the build – Michael talks woodworking roots, dry-brush weathering, and why each table is one-of-a-kind.
• Community over sales – Customers become friends, even flying him out to California to play on their inaugural table.
• Advice to younger self – “Keep pushing through setbacks. Take the punches, then come back swinging harder.”

In this episode of What’s Kraken, Jo sits down with Kyona Jiles, award-winning romance and fantasy author of First Death and Second Chance. They dive into her creative escape into writing, her early struggles with vanity publishing, and the resilience it took to turn setbacks into award-winning success. From dark humor in grief to building entire worlds filled with vampires, shapeshifters, and sexy FBI agents, Kyona brings honesty, laughter, and wisdom to the mic.

Check out Kyona's books here: https://amzn.to/46lvBDq

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• Opening riff – Jo pokes fun at mispronunciations before introducing Kyona.
• Origin story – Kyona shares how childhood contests and imagination led her to write.
• Family roots in fantasy – Dragons, unicorns, and a Wrinkle in Time set her path.
• Vanity publishing nightmare – How she got burned and the hard lessons learned.
• Award-winning redemption – From setbacks to winning both 1st and 2nd place in RWA’s Prism Awards.
• Teacher life vs. author life – Balancing the classroom with writing romance, suspense, and fantasy.
• Dark humor in grief – Her new project My Dead Sister transforms loss into a cathartic, witty narrative.
• Advice to younger self – Don’t try to fit in. Be yourself.

Jo welcomes Medium Jenny Lea, a psychic medium and empath whose journey from a childhood filled with ghost stories to professional readings is anything but ordinary. Jenny shares how a chance TV moment sparked her realization that she was a medium, the difference between empaths and mediums, and how she learned to protect and ground herself while working with spirit energy.

They dive deep into:

• What it’s like to sense and communicate with spirits
• How empaths can navigate overwhelming emotional input
• Higher self readings and their surprising insights
• Encounters with deceptive or negative entities — and how to shut them down
• The science-meets-spiritual connection through quantum concepts
• Streaming live readings on Twitch and joining paranormal investigations

From her “two old Muppet men” spirit guides to her role in The Witching Hours Podcast, Jenny offers humor, honesty, and real-world advice for anyone curious about mediumship.

🔗 Visit: MediumJennyLea.com for readings, classes, and streaming links.
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Key Moments:

• Opening – Jo meets Jenny Lea and unpacks what “medium” really means
• Family of believers – Growing up with openness to ghosts, aliens, and past lives
• The 2018 lightning bolt moment – Realizing she was a medium while folding laundry
• Empath vs. medium – Understanding the overlap and key differences
• Childhood challenges – Anxiety and overwhelm from absorbing others’ emotions
• From classroom to spirit room – Using empathy to support students as a teacher
• Bridging to mediumship – Ghost hunting, mentors, and professional training
• Protections and rituals – Candles, sage, palo santo, grounding, and energy bubbles
• Negative encounters – Spotting deceptive entities and using the “teacher voice”
• Higher self readings – What they are, how they work, and cryptic vs. clear messages
• Quantum connections – Time, space, and the spirit world
• Group investigations – Mediums working side-by-side in haunted locations
• Things that won’t click – Why automatic writing isn’t for everyone
• Advice to her younger self – “It’s okay to talk to people”
• Where to find Jenny – Twitch, podcasting, and her website

Jo welcomes Christopher and Lawrence Connolly, the powerhouse creative duo behind the upcoming novel Minutemen: Execute and Run (out October 14). Born from Christopher’s vivid character sketches and Lawrence’s storytelling, this action-driven tale follows a team of wounded warriors who gain incredible powers that last only 60 seconds — and then leave them completely vulnerable.

The brothers share the story’s journey from art table to screenplay pitches in Hollywood, the pandemic delays that deepened the project, and their hopes for a full multimedia franchise — including a film, graphic novel, young reader adaptation, and even a game. Along the way, they open up about collaboration, values in storytelling, and why found-family dynamics are at the heart of Minutemen.

🔗 Visit: MinutemenNovel.com for the trailer, pre-order links, and newsletter.
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Key Moments:

• Opening volley – Jo meets the Connolly brothers and their military-inspired superhero premise
• Origins in art – Christopher’s sketches spark a screenplay, then a novel
• Hollywood pitch to pandemic pause – From promising meetings to years of delays
• Teamwork is everything – The “60 seconds of power” concept and its human cost
• Franchise vision – Books, film, graphic novel, young reader edition, gaming potential
• Creative brotherhood – Trusting each other’s skills while protecting the core vision
• Values without preaching – Building unity and humanity into the story naturally
• Advice to their younger selves – Patience, persistence, and believing in the timing

Jo sits down with Colin Krawchuk, director of Jester 2—the best horror movie of the year (Jo's words, not just hype). From its humble beginnings as a Halloween short film to a full-blown feature with indie grit and real emotional pull, Colin breaks down how Jester 2 became a must-see slasher with a soul.

🎟️ Catch Jester 2 in theaters nationwide September 15 & 16 —https://hubs.la/Q03xX7Wj0

Since these are all from the transcript, feel free to timestamp later:

• Jo's intro love-fest – Jo declares Jester 2 the best horror film he’s seen all year (and he means it)
• Short film to feature leap – Colin shares how a Halloween side project exploded into a feature backed by Epic
• Casting Max – Why the lead role made or broke the film, and how Kaitlyn Trentham nailed it beyond belief
• The Jester’s moral code – Colin breaks down how the villain isn't just scary—he's got layers and logic
• Max & Jester’s relationship – Inspired by Collateral, the push-pull dynamic gives the movie real emotional weight
• Advice to younger self – Never stop growing, never get complacent—Colin on constant learning and backyard filmmaking

What if the future of AI wasn’t built on silicon — but on living neurons? 🧠💻
Jo sits down with Dr. Ewelina Kurtys from Final Spark, a Swiss startup pioneering the world’s first biohybrid computers. They dive into how neurons are sourced from human skin cells, why these living computers could be a million times more energy-efficient than current AI, and how philosophy is being brought in early to tackle ethical questions. From replacing faulty “neuro-parts” to the 10-year vision for bioservers, this is cutting-edge tech you’ve never heard of.

Follow Final Spark at FinalSpark.com and check their active Discord community for real-time updates.

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Key Moments:

• Opening riff — Jo’s excitement meeting Dr. Kurtys
• What exactly is a living neuron computer?
• Sourcing neurons ethically from human skin cells
• How neurons “learn” and interact with hardware
• The 10-year vision for large-scale bioservers
• Bringing philosophers in early to address consciousness and ethics
• Replacing faulty neuron clusters — no “neuro dementia” risk
• Why biohybrid computing could solve AI’s massive energy problem

Jo sits down with longtime friend and creative powerhouse Paula Hightower, the mind behind InstantRealityShift.com. Paula shares her journey from music and web design to creating powerful Afformations — not just statements, but questions that spark your brain into making change possible.

They dive deep into battling imposter syndrome, rebuilding self-confidence, and why these targeted mindset tools can transform your life. Paula also reveals how she blends cutting-edge tech with heartfelt creativity to make custom audios for health, success, love, and more.

With decades of friendship fueling this conversation, you’ll hear candid moments, mutual admiration, and even Jo getting an on-air mindset upgrade.

🔗 Check out Paula’s work: InstantRealityShift.com
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We are Amazon Affiliates. If you click an Amazon link and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Key Moments:

• Opening laughs – Jo & Paula joke about being friends since “the 1900s”
• From music to mindset – Paula’s path from performing to creating Instant Reality Shift
• The power of a question – Why affirmations work better when they’re questions
• Imposter syndrome, be gone – Paula’s personal transformation and self-confidence boost
• Tech meets soul – How she uses modern tools to help others heal and grow
• Creative roots – Music, art, and web design feeding into Paula’s process
• Life advice – What Paula would tell her younger self about self-love and confidence

In this enlightening episode of What’s Kraken, Jo sits down with Mary Van Doorn of SugarMamaStrong.com. A warrior on a 12‑year wellness journey, Mary shares how motherhood and a diabetes diagnosis sparked a complete life transformation. From triathlons at 215 lbs to founding a thriving women’s support group, she speaks frankly about emotional eating, mental health work, and community building. Learn how she launched Sugar Mama Strong, empowers thousands of women across Facebook and wellness groups, and launched the podcast Sick of Pricks and her upcoming book This Wasn’t in the Pamphlet. This episode brims with compassion, real talk, and movement forward—but especially heart. 🌟

Link ➡️ https://linktr.ee/Emptyhell

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• Opening riff – Jo introduces Mary’s journey, setting the tone with energy and emotional honesty.
• Mary’s big insight – Realizing she couldn’t keep up with her kids as the catalyst for real change.
• Behind-the-scenes moment – Mary’s candid take on Weight Watchers: joining 15 times, reliance on exercise points, and sticky moment donuts.
• Personal story – Heartfelt reflections on diabetes diagnosis at 21, how it shaped her self-worth and mission.
• Why it matters – Mary’s creation of Sugar Mama Strong as a judgment-free community where people feel seen and empowered.