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Dungeons + Drama Nerds is a podcast produced by Todd Brian Backus, Percy Hornak, and Nicholas Orvis, three dramaturgs interested in the intersection of theatre and tabletop role-playing games (TTRPGS). Episodes release weekly alternating between Actual Play and Commentary episodes investigating a certain TTRPG system. Season 2 will feature: Blades in the Dark, Bluebeard's Bride, Kids on Bikes, Oh Dang! Bigfoot Stole My Car With My Best Friend's Birthday Present Inside!, and Lancer. Season 1 featured: Dungeons & Dragons (Eps 1-13), Apocalypse World (Eps 14-33), and Paranoia (Eps 34-46).
Episodes

Wednesday Mar 29, 2023
Everything is Data: Magic Circles in Play and Performance
Wednesday Mar 29, 2023
Wednesday Mar 29, 2023
Percy, Nick, and ensemble member Jon Jon talk about the concept of the magic circle and how we can use it as a tool in TTRPGs and in performance, touching on the exploratory power of play, consent and intimacy choreography, and the question of who defines the magic circle in the first place.
- Consalvo - “There Is No Magic Circle”
- Vossen - “The Magic Circle and Consent in Gaming Practices”
- Villareal - “Unscripted Intimacies: Negotiating Consent in Gamified Performance”
Dungeons and Drama Nerds is produced by Todd Brian Backus, Percival Hornak, and Nicholas Orvis, and is mixed and edited by Anthony Sertel Dean. Season Three features contributions from Christopher Diercksen, Ben Ferber, Kory Flores, Tess Huth, Romana Isabella, Leo Mock, Jon Jon Johnson, and Dex Phan.

Wednesday Apr 05, 2023
Bowled Over by Death: Part 1
Wednesday Apr 05, 2023
Wednesday Apr 05, 2023
Having received an invitation to the re-opening of Beauregard's Bar, the Mavens prepare to face off against the Midwives of the Fragrant Void and unravel the conspiracy once and for all.
Dungeons + Drama Nerds is produced by Todd Brian Backus, Percival Hornak, and Nicholas Orvis, and is mixed and edited by Anthony Sertel Dean. Season Three features contributions from Christopher Diercksen, Ben Ferber, Kory Flores, Tess Huth, Romana Isabella, Leo Mock, Jon Jon Johnson, and Dex Phan.
Our Brindlewood Bay campaign features Christopher Diercksen as Eddi-Rue Dubois, Ben Ferber as Lane Walther, Kory Flores as Bebe Garcia, Shannon Wade as Doris Mackowiak, and our Keeper, C. Meaker.

Thursday Apr 27, 2023
Bowled Over By Death: Part 2
Thursday Apr 27, 2023
Thursday Apr 27, 2023
In a thrilling finale, our Mavens confront the Midwives of the Fragrant Void and solve the final mystery as they attempt to stop the imminent ritual.
Dungeons + Drama Nerds is produced by Todd Brian Backus, Percival Hornak, and Nicholas Orvis, and is mixed and edited by Anthony Sertel Dean. Season Three features contributions from Christopher Diercksen, Ben Ferber, Kory Flores, Tess Huth, Romana Isabella, Leo Mock, Jon Jon Johnson, and Dex Phan.
Our Brindlewood Bay campaign features Christopher Diercksen as Eddi-Rue Dubois, Ben Ferber as Lane Walther, Kory Flores as Bebe Garcia, Shannon Wade as Doris Mackowiak, and our Keeper, C. Meaker.

Wednesday May 03, 2023
All-Female Hamlet: A Brindlewood Bay Debrief
Wednesday May 03, 2023
Wednesday May 03, 2023
Nick sits down with the cast and Keeper of our Brindlewood Bay campaign to talk about their experience playing this system, reflect on the campaign, and hypothesize about all the possible deleted scenes they could have played out.
Dungeons and Drama Nerds is produced by Todd Brian Backus, Percival Hornak, and Nicholas Orvis, and is mixed and edited by Anthony Sertel Dean. Season Three features contributions from Christopher Diercksen, Ben Ferber, Kory Flores, Tess Huth, Romana Isabella, Leo Mock, Jon Jon Johnson, and Dex Phan.

Wednesday Dec 20, 2023
Doom Approaches
Wednesday Dec 20, 2023
Wednesday Dec 20, 2023
We kick off our campaign of momatoes' ARC with Chris, Percy, Todd, and Nick as they sit down to go over how to play the game and what they're most excited about in this TTRPG system. Tune in next week for the kickoff to our campaign, and head over to our Patreon for early episode releases and to hear our Session 0 for the game!
Dungeons and Drama Nerds is produced by Todd Brian Backus, Percival Hornak, and Nicholas Orvis, and this episode was mixed and edited by Percival Hornak. Our theme music is by Anthony Sertel Dean, and our logo art is by Todd Brian Backus. Season Three features contributions from Christopher Diercksen, Ben Ferber, Kory Flores, Tess Huth, Romana Isabella, Leo Mock, Jon Jon Johnson, and Dex Phan.
Our ARC campaign features Jovane Camaaño as Silt, Anthony Sertel Dean as Deniz, Romana Isabella as Gorm, Nick Orvis as Twili, Dex Phan as Lemon Sprinkle, and Todd Brian Backus as The Guide.

Wednesday Dec 27, 2023
The Seaward Star
Wednesday Dec 27, 2023
Wednesday Dec 27, 2023
Meet the heroes of our ARC campaign as they prepare for the upcoming martial arts tournament and investigate the disappearance of one of its potential champions!
Dungeons and Drama Nerds is produced by Todd Brian Backus, Percival Hornak, and Nicholas Orvis, and this episode was mixed and edited by Todd Brian Backus. Our theme music is by Anthony Sertel Dean, and our logo art is by Todd Brian Backus. Season Three features contributions from Christopher Diercksen, Ben Ferber, Kory Flores, Tess Huth, Romana Isabella, Leo Mock, Jon Jon Johnson, and Dex Phan.
Our ARC campaign features Jovane Camaaño as Silt, Anthony Sertel Dean as Deniz, Romana Isabella as Gorm, Nick Orvis as Twili, Dex Phan as Lemon Sprinkle, and Todd Brian Backus as The Guide.
If you’d like to help us continue exploring the intersection of theatre and tabletop roleplaying games, consider leaving us a review on your podcast app of choice or supporting us - and getting access to our patron-only bonus content - at patreon.com/dungeonsanddramanerds. You can find our social media and website links, including our cast bios, at our linktree. Be sure to tune in next week for another episode of Dungeons and Drama Nerds!

Wednesday Jan 03, 2024
Aura of Awkwardness
Wednesday Jan 03, 2024
Wednesday Jan 03, 2024
After Silt's vision of the approaching Doom, a creature of legend called Yok Edije, spurs the crew to action, Gorm, Deniz, Twili, Silt, and Lemon Sprinkle continue their investigation of the ongoing turtle-fication of Startide Hollow at City Hall.
Dungeons and Drama Nerds is produced by Todd Brian Backus, Percival Hornak, and Nicholas Orvis, and this episode was mixed and edited by Percival Hornak. Our theme music is by Anthony Sertel Dean, and our logo art is by Todd Brian Backus. Season Three features contributions from Christopher Diercksen, Ben Ferber, Kory Flores, Tess Huth, Romana Isabella, Leo Mock, Jon Jon Johnson, and Dex Phan.
Our ARC campaign features Jovane Camaaño as Silt, Anthony Sertel Dean as Deniz, Romana Isabella as Gorm, Nick Orvis as Twili, Dex Phan as Lemon Sprinkle, and Todd Brian Backus as The Guide.
If you’d like to help us continue exploring the intersection of theatre and tabletop roleplaying games, consider leaving us a review on your podcast app of choice or supporting us - and getting access to our patron-only bonus content - at patreon.com/dungeonsanddramanerds. You can find our social media and website links, including our cast bios, at our linktree. Be sure to tune in next week for another episode of Dungeons and Drama Nerds!

Wednesday Jan 10, 2024
Finesse in the Chaos: an Interview with the New York Neo-Futurists
Wednesday Jan 10, 2024
Wednesday Jan 10, 2024
Todd and Chris sit down with our beloved contributor Anthony Sertel Dean as well as Rob Neill, Co-Artistic Director of the New York Neo-Futurists, to talk about their show The Infinite Wrench, a theatrical race against the clock akin to the mechanics of ARC.
Check out the New York Neo-Futurists:
https://www.nyneofuturists.org/
https://www.nyneofuturists.org/hit-play
And be sure to catch them in their new venue at 154 Christopher St in New York City!
Dungeons and Drama Nerds is produced by Todd Brian Backus, Percival Hornak, and Nicholas Orvis, and this episode was mixed and edited by Percival Hornak. Our theme music is by Anthony Sertel Dean, and our logo art is by Todd Brian Backus. Season Three features contributions from Christopher Diercksen, Ben Ferber, Kory Flores, Tess Huth, Romana Isabella, Leo Mock, Jon Jon Johnson, and Dex Phan.
Our ARC campaign features Jovane Camaaño as Silt, Anthony Sertel Dean as Deniz, Romana Isabella as Gorm, Nick Orvis as Twili, Dex Phan as Lemon Sprinkle, and Todd Brian Backus as The Guide.
If you’d like to help us continue exploring the intersection of theatre and tabletop roleplaying games, consider leaving us a review on your podcast app of choice or supporting us - and getting access to our patron-only bonus content - at patreon.com/dungeonsanddramanerds. You can find our social media and website links, including our cast bios, at our linktree. Be sure to tune in next week for another episode of Dungeons and Drama Nerds!

Wednesday Jan 17, 2024
Turtling is a Very Specific Process
Wednesday Jan 17, 2024
Wednesday Jan 17, 2024
Hot on Kuzbahn’s trail, our heroes learn of a sinister plot afoot and race to the edge of Startide Hollow in an attempt to avert disaster.
Dungeons and Drama Nerds is produced by Todd Brian Backus, Percival Hornak, and Nicholas Orvis, and this episode was mixed and edited by Percival Hornak. Our theme music is by Anthony Sertel Dean, and our logo art is by Todd Brian Backus. Season Three features contributions from Christopher Diercksen, Ben Ferber, Kory Flores, Tess Huth, Romana Isabella, Leo Mock, Jon Jon Johnson, and Dex Phan.
Our ARC campaign features Jovane Camaaño as Silt, Anthony Sertel Dean as Deniz, Romana Isabella as Gorm, Nick Orvis as Twili, Dex Phan as Lemon Sprinkle, and Todd Brian Backus as The Guide.
If you’d like to help us continue exploring the intersection of theatre and tabletop roleplaying games, consider leaving us a review on your podcast app of choice or supporting us - and getting access to our patron-only bonus content - at patreon.com/dungeonsanddramanerds. You can find our social media and website links, including our cast bios, at our linktree. Be sure to tune in next week for another episode of Dungeons and Drama Nerds!

Wednesday Jan 24, 2024
Is Poison Wet?
Wednesday Jan 24, 2024
Wednesday Jan 24, 2024
With a dark ritual complete, our heroes fight on against Kuzbahn’s minions on the City Council - and against the poison they’ve been dosed with!
Dungeons and Drama Nerds is produced by Todd Brian Backus, Percival Hornak, and Nicholas Orvis, and this episode was mixed and edited by Percival Hornak. Our theme music is by Anthony Sertel Dean, and our logo art is by Todd Brian Backus. Season Three features contributions from Christopher Diercksen, Ben Ferber, Kory Flores, Tess Huth, Romana Isabella, Leo Mock, Jon Jon Johnson, and Dex Phan.
Our ARC campaign features Jovane Camaaño as Silt, Anthony Sertel Dean as Deniz, Romana Isabella as Gorm, Nick Orvis as Twili, Dex Phan as Lemon Sprinkle, and Todd Brian Backus as The Guide.
If you’d like to help us continue exploring the intersection of theatre and tabletop roleplaying games, consider leaving us a review on your podcast app of choice or supporting us - and getting access to our patron-only bonus content - at patreon.com/dungeonsanddramanerds. You can find our social media and website links, including our cast bios, at our linktree. Be sure to tune in next week for another episode of Dungeons and Drama Nerds!
