Welcome to How to Be a Better DM
Today we talk about 7 mistakes I still make:
Thanks for listening to today’s show. If you like our stuff and want to support us, here are some sponsor links and links to our other stuff:
Worldsmith: http://session0studios.com/worldsmith
Roll and Play Press:http://session0studios.com/rollandplay
Phantasm Studios: https://session0studios.com/fantasms
Discord: http://session0studios.com/discord
Patreon:https://session0studios.com/patreon
Dungeon Master Level Up Guide: https://session0studios.com/newsletter
Tanner shares a minor update about the podcast from his perspective, and talks about how to prioritize fun when starting a campaign. Hint: it's not with a lot of roleplaying like he did with his recent campaign...
Here are today's sponsors:
Worldsmith - Easy D&D Prep - Start a Free 7 Day Trial: https://session0studios.com/worldsmith-podcast
Roll and Play Press - Easier D&D: https://session0studios.com/rollandplay
Studio Fantasms: https://session0studios.com/fantasms
Our Patreon: https://session0studios.com/patreon
Why your combat Slogs
Special thanks to:
Benj Weyland for Graphic Design (https://www.instagram.com/benjweydesign/)
TJ Max, Juka, and TechSenpai for being amazing moderators
Kyle Wilson, Nick Ammann and Professor Nobody for being our patrons.
Mentioned in this episode:
Save time with Roll and Play Press
Save yourself some precious time with Roll and Play Press. Go to https://session0studios.com/rollandplay and use code BETTERDM10 at checkout.
Brought to you by Session 0 Studios
Visit session0studios.com for more information.
Here are today's sponsors:
Worldsmith - Easy D&D Prep - Start a Free 7 Day Trial: https://session0studios.com/worldsmith-podcast
Roll and Play Press - Easier D&D: https://session0studios.com/rollandplay
Studio Fantasms: https://session0studios.com/fantasms
Our Patreon: https://session0studios.com/patreon
Today we are announcing that going forward, we are cutting back on everything except just doing the podcast and only doing 10 minute un-edited episodes. This is a short term change that will allow us to focus on other priorities. Thanks so much for your support.
Special thanks to:
Benj Weyland for Graphic Design (https://www.instagram.com/benjweydesign/)
TJ Max, Juka, and TechSenpai for being amazing moderators
Kyle Wilson, Nick Ammann and Professor Nobody for being our patrons.
Mentioned in this episode:
Brought to you by Session 0 Studios
Visit session0studios.com for more information.
I Made a CR 100 Monster
I made a Monster with a Challenge Rating of 100 Why? Because I could—and it only took me 5 minutes using Worldsmith. And the best part? You can do this and much more. Get a free 7-day trial at session0studios.com/worldsmith and unlock their full suite of TTRPG generators from monsters to mythic magic items and everything in between. Yep, that’s a full 7-day trial—completely free. That’s a whole week of monsters, magic items, and more—whatever you need, zero burnout. Try it now at session0studios.com/worldsmith. Save time and make unlimited creations with Worldsmith.
Here are today's sponsors:
Worldsmith - Easy D&D Prep - Start a Free 7 Day Trial: https://session0studios.com/worldsmith-podcast
Roll and Play Press - Easier D&D: https://session0studios.com/rollandplay
Studio Fantasms: https://session0studios.com/fantasms
Our Patreon: https://session0studios.com/patreon
While our guest, Kyle Shire, has many talents and credits to his name, major ones including his senior producer role at Critical Role as well as being the creator of the Queen By Midnight boardgame. However, his time as a standup comedian brings some unique lessons for DMs that we have yet to explore on our podcast!
Follow Kyle Shire for more inspirational projects he is working on!
Special thanks to:
Benj Weyland for Graphic Design (https://www.instagram.com/benjweydesign/)
TJ Max, Juka, and TechSenpai for being amazing moderators
Kyle Wilson, Nick Ammann and Professor Nobody for being our patrons.
Mentioned in this episode:
Brought to you by Session 0 Studios
Visit session0studios.com for more information.
I Made a CR 100 Monster
I made a Monster with a Challenge Rating of 100 Why? Because I could—and it only took me 5 minutes using Worldsmith. And the best part? You can do this and much more. Get a free 7-day trial at session0studios.com/worldsmith and unlock their full suite of TTRPG generators from monsters to mythic magic items and everything in between. Yep, that’s a full 7-day trial—completely free. That’s a whole week of monsters, magic items, and more—whatever you need, zero burnout. Try it now at session0studios.com/worldsmith. Save time and make unlimited creations with Worldsmith.
Join Our Discord
So a little bit of a spoiler alert. We’re building an army. That’s right, we’re building an army of amazing dungeon masters who want to make the world of D&D a better place. If you want to join our army and fight by our side against the evil forces of boredom and bad dming, join our Discord and lend your voice to the cause. Go to Session0studios.com/discord and join for free today.
Give Us a Rating and Review
You obviously have really good taste, you’re listening to How to Be a Better DM after all. We thank you for your support. If you’ve ever gotten anything useful from our show, take a minute to give us a rating and a review. It goes a very long way to making it so How to Be a Better DM can help many more dungeon masters just like you. If you love our content, help others become better dungeon masters too.
Here are today's sponsors:
Worldsmith - Easy D&D Prep - Start a Free 7 Day Trial: https://session0studios.com/worldsmith-podcast
Roll and Play Press - Easier D&D: https://session0studios.com/rollandplay
Studio Fantasms: https://session0studios.com/fantasms
Our Patreon: https://session0studios.com/patreon
We share a brief announcement in this episode... also, to clarify, I realized on relistening that I made it sound like Justin was the one having the baby, when we all know that his wife was the one doing all the work, haha. After that, we jump into a discussion of restarting D&D campaigns, which often feels even harder than starting a whole new campaign! How do you get the gang back together, and how would you pick up the pieces of the old campaign? Listen in to get some tips.
Special thanks to:
Benj Weyland for Graphic Design (https://www.instagram.com/benjweydesign/)
TJ Max, Juka, and TechSenpai for being amazing moderators
Kyle Wilson, Nick Ammann and Professor Nobody for being our patrons.
Mentioned in this episode:
Give Us a Rating and Review
You obviously have really good taste, you’re listening to How to Be a Better DM after all. We thank you for your support. If you’ve ever gotten anything useful from our show, take a minute to give us a rating and a review. It goes a very long way to making it so How to Be a Better DM can help many more dungeon masters just like you. If you love our content, help others become better dungeon masters too.
Join Our Discord
So a little bit of a spoiler alert. We’re building an army. That’s right, we’re building an army of amazing dungeon masters who want to make the world of D&D a better place. If you want to join our army and fight by our side against the evil forces of boredom and bad dming, join our Discord and lend your voice to the cause. Go to Session0studios.com/discord and join for free today.
Brought to you by Session 0 Studios
Visit session0studios.com for more information.
I Made a CR 100 Monster
I made a Monster with a Challenge Rating of 100 Why? Because I could—and it only took me 5 minutes using Worldsmith. And the best part? You can do this and much more. Get a free 7-day trial at session0studios.com/worldsmith and unlock their full suite of TTRPG generators from monsters to mythic magic items and everything in between. Yep, that’s a full 7-day trial—completely free. That’s a whole week of monsters, magic items, and more—whatever you need, zero burnout. Try it now at session0studios.com/worldsmith. Save time and make unlimited creations with Worldsmith.
TL;DR:
If your sessions start strong but crash halfway through, it’s not your story, your prep, or even your players—it’s your energy management. In this episode, Justin breaks down the hidden reason your games lose momentum mid-session and teaches you how to fix it permanently.
Here are today's sponsors:
Worldsmith - Easy D&D Prep - Start a Free 7 Day Trial: https://session0studios.com/worldsmith-podcast
Roll and Play Press - Easier D&D: https://session0studios.com/rollandplay
Studio Fantasms: https://session0studios.com/fantasms
Our Patreon: https://session0studios.com/patreon
-The Real DM Killer: It’s not scheduling, it’s session fatigue—and most DMs don’t even realize it’s happening.
-Mental vs. Physical Energy: Why you’re probably managing the wrong one (and what to do about it).
-The “Secret Breaks” Technique: How doing less mid-session can actually supercharge your impact.
-Hydration Science for DMs: Why sipping water wrong is draining your stamina (and how to fix it).
- Find Your Energy Style: Why trying to copy Mercer or Mulligan might be sabotaging your flow—and how to unlock your personal DM tempo.
After this episode, you’ll know how to control your energy like a resource, just like mana or spell slots. No more sluggish sessions. No more zoning out. Just peak performance when it counts.
You’ll walk away with:
Ready to stop running out of gas halfway through your game?
Hit play and let’s supercharge your DM style.
Want this kind of energy in your own campaign? Book a pro DM session at Session0Studios.com
Special thanks to:
Benj Weyland for Graphic Design (https://www.instagram.com/benjweydesign/)
TJ Max, Juka, and TechSenpai for being amazing moderators
Kyle Wilson, Nick Ammann and Professor Nobody for being our patrons.
Mentioned in this episode:
Join Our Discord
So a little bit of a spoiler alert. We’re building an army. That’s right, we’re building an army of amazing dungeon masters who want to make the world of D&D a better place. If you want to join our army and fight by our side against the evil forces of boredom and bad dming, join our Discord and lend your voice to the cause. Go to Session0studios.com/discord and join for free today.
Give Us a Rating and Review
You obviously have really good taste, you’re listening to How to Be a Better DM after all. We thank you for your support. If you’ve ever gotten anything useful from our show, take a minute to give us a rating and a review. It goes a very long way to making it so How to Be a Better DM can help many more dungeon masters just like you. If you love our content, help others become better dungeon masters too.
I Made a CR 100 Monster
I made a Monster with a Challenge Rating of 100 Why? Because I could—and it only took me 5 minutes using Worldsmith. And the best part? You can do this and much more. Get a free 7-day trial at session0studios.com/worldsmith and unlock their full suite of TTRPG generators from monsters to mythic magic items and everything in between. Yep, that’s a full 7-day trial—completely free. That’s a whole week of monsters, magic items, and more—whatever you need, zero burnout. Try it now at session0studios.com/worldsmith. Save time and make unlimited creations with Worldsmith.
Brought to you by Session 0 Studios
Visit session0studios.com for more information.
Welcome back to the 6th installment of our short series on writing a Homebrew one-shot.
In this episode, we're joined by our friend Rob Van Auken and we continue work on The Chimefall Ceremony: For Whom the Bell TolIs.
This miniseries is designed to help give you an idea of how to collaborate on a project like this and how to write and publish a one-shot.
Also, a little bit of Rob's audio is lost at the end due to a poor connection... sorry!
Mentioned in this episode:
Brought to you by Session 0 Studios
Visit session0studios.com for more information.
Here are today's sponsors:
Worldsmith - Easy D&D Prep - Start a Free 7 Day Trial: https://session0studios.com/worldsmith-podcast
Roll and Play Press - Easier D&D: https://session0studios.com/rollandplay
Studio Fantasms: https://session0studios.com/fantasms
Our Patreon: https://session0studios.com/patreon
Justin and Tanner are joined for this episode by an amazing DM, London Carlisle! While he's known for being an impressive DM at events such as "D&D In A Castle", his acting experience becomes especially useful for our discussion on NPCs. We discuss where to pull inspiration from for creating characters and voices, how to create depth in NPCs without overriding your players, and many more ideas to drill further into NPC creation!
Follow London on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/londoncarlisle
And learn more about his role at "D&D In A Castle" here: https://www.dndinacastle.com/dungeon-masters/london-carlisle
Special thanks to:
Benj Weyland for Graphic Design (https://www.instagram.com/benjweydesign/)
TJ Max, Juka, and TechSenpai for being amazing moderators
Kyle Wilson, Nick Ammann and Professor Nobody for being our patrons.
Mentioned in this episode:
Do You Want to Earn some Money?
🎲 Want to Earn Some Extra Gold? We’re offering a referral incentive for our professional Dungeon Mastering services! Here’s how it works: 1️⃣ Refer someone to session0studios.com/prodm 2️⃣ They sign up for a free consultation. 3️⃣ They mention they were referred by a podcast listener. 4️⃣ We DM an unforgettable session for them. 5️⃣ They get 10% off their booking. 6️⃣ You get 10% of what they paid—straight into your coin purse. 7️⃣ We celebrate with a virtual high-five. 🙌 We run games for private groups and corporate teams—whether it’s a one-shot or a long-term campaign. 💰 Want to earn some gold and help someone level up their game night? Send them to session0studios.com/prodm and start earning today!
I Made a CR 100 Monster
I made a Monster with a Challenge Rating of 100 Why? Because I could—and it only took me 5 minutes using Worldsmith. And the best part? You can do this and much more. Get a free 7-day trial at session0studios.com/worldsmith and unlock their full suite of TTRPG generators from monsters to mythic magic items and everything in between. Yep, that’s a full 7-day trial—completely free. That’s a whole week of monsters, magic items, and more—whatever you need, zero burnout. Try it now at session0studios.com/worldsmith. Save time and make unlimited creations with Worldsmith.
Give Us a Rating and Review
You obviously have really good taste, you’re listening to How to Be a Better DM after all. We thank you for your support. If you’ve ever gotten anything useful from our show, take a minute to give us a rating and a review. It goes a very long way to making it so How to Be a Better DM can help many more dungeon masters just like you. If you love our content, help others become better dungeon masters too.
Brought to you by Session 0 Studios
Visit session0studios.com for more information.
Here are today's sponsors:
Worldsmith - Easy D&D Prep - Start a Free 7 Day Trial: https://session0studios.com/worldsmith-podcast
Roll and Play Press - Easier D&D: https://session0studios.com/rollandplay
Studio Fantasms: https://session0studios.com/fantasms
Our Patreon: https://session0studios.com/patreon
Feeling stuck or burned out as a Dungeon Master? You’re not alone—and you’re not out of options. In this episode, Justin and Tanner break down the Four Core Skills that every great DM needs to master:
1️⃣ People Management
2️⃣ Showmanship & Performance
3️⃣ Game Design
4️⃣ Storytelling
And yes... there's a secret fifth pillar 👀
We discuss how to use these pillars as a personal skill assessment framework so you can stop overthinking your sessions and start building campaigns that actually improve week to week. Whether you're overwhelmed with prep, worried you're not "immersive enough," or comparing yourself to pro DMs, this episode will reframe your mindset and re-energize your games.
🔑 What you’ll learn:
Special thanks to:
Benj Weyland for Graphic Design (https://www.instagram.com/benjweydesign/)
TJ Max, Juka, and TechSenpai for being amazing moderators
Kyle Wilson, Nick Ammann and Professor Nobody for being our patrons.
Mentioned in this episode:
Brought to you by Session 0 Studios
Visit session0studios.com for more information.
Do You Want to Earn some Money?
🎲 Want to Earn Some Extra Gold? We’re offering a referral incentive for our professional Dungeon Mastering services! Here’s how it works: 1️⃣ Refer someone to session0studios.com/prodm 2️⃣ They sign up for a free consultation. 3️⃣ They mention they were referred by a podcast listener. 4️⃣ We DM an unforgettable session for them. 5️⃣ They get 10% off their booking. 6️⃣ You get 10% of what they paid—straight into your coin purse. 7️⃣ We celebrate with a virtual high-five. 🙌 We run games for private groups and corporate teams—whether it’s a one-shot or a long-term campaign. 💰 Want to earn some gold and help someone level up their game night? Send them to session0studios.com/prodm and start earning today!
Add the Magic of Sound to Your Gameplay
When you set the scene you need to tap into the five senses. When it comes to sound one of the best ways to do that is with music, sound effects, and ambience. That’s why we’ve teamed up with Monument Studios. Monument Studios provides an easy-to-use Soundboard perfect for Dungeon Mastering. If you want to see this in action, go to fantasy-plus.com and get 10% off of your first month of their Fantasy+ App by using the code BETTERDM at check out. Again that is fantasy-plus.com and BETTERDM at checkout.
Give Us a Rating and Review
You obviously have really good taste, you’re listening to How to Be a Better DM after all. We thank you for your support. If you’ve ever gotten anything useful from our show, take a minute to give us a rating and a review. It goes a very long way to making it so How to Be a Better DM can help many more dungeon masters just like you. If you love our content, help others become better dungeon masters too.
Here are today's sponsors:
Worldsmith - Easy D&D Prep - Start a Free 7 Day Trial: https://session0studios.com/worldsmith-podcast
Roll and Play Press - Easier D&D: https://session0studios.com/rollandplay
Studio Fantasms: https://session0studios.com/fantasms
Our Patreon: https://session0studios.com/patreon
Whether your new player is a wide-eyed first-timer or cautiously dipping a toe into the hobby, Tanner shares key strategies for making their early sessions fun, engaging, and not overwhelming. From simplifying character creation and gently easing players into combat, to modeling role-playing behavior and encouraging character development, this episode is full of practical advice for DMs who want to be thoughtful guides on a new player's journey.
Check out our sponsor, Monument Studios! Their music always brings our games to the next level, and they can do it for you, too. Use cod BETTERDM10 for a discount and to support our show: https://rollandplaypress.com
Also, learn more about our Pro DM services here to have a great DM run your game: https://session0studios.com/dungeon-master-for-hire/
Special thanks to:
Benj Weyland for Graphic Design (https://www.instagram.com/benjweydesign/)
TJ Max, Juka, and TechSenpai for being amazing moderators
Kyle Wilson, Nick Ammann and Professor Nobody for being our patrons.
Mentioned in this episode:
Brought to you by Session 0 Studios
Visit session0studios.com for more information.
Add the Magic of Sound to Your Gameplay
When you set the scene you need to tap into the five senses. When it comes to sound one of the best ways to do that is with music, sound effects, and ambience. That’s why we’ve teamed up with Monument Studios. Monument Studios provides an easy-to-use Soundboard perfect for Dungeon Mastering. If you want to see this in action, go to fantasy-plus.com and get 10% off of your first month of their Fantasy+ App by using the code BETTERDM at check out. Again that is fantasy-plus.com and BETTERDM at checkout.
Do You Want to Earn some Money?
🎲 Want to Earn Some Extra Gold? We’re offering a referral incentive for our professional Dungeon Mastering services! Here’s how it works: 1️⃣ Refer someone to session0studios.com/prodm 2️⃣ They sign up for a free consultation. 3️⃣ They mention they were referred by a podcast listener. 4️⃣ We DM an unforgettable session for them. 5️⃣ They get 10% off their booking. 6️⃣ You get 10% of what they paid—straight into your coin purse. 7️⃣ We celebrate with a virtual high-five. 🙌 We run games for private groups and corporate teams—whether it’s a one-shot or a long-term campaign. 💰 Want to earn some gold and help someone level up their game night? Send them to session0studios.com/prodm and start earning today!
Give Us a Rating and Review
You obviously have really good taste, you’re listening to How to Be a Better DM after all. We thank you for your support. If you’ve ever gotten anything useful from our show, take a minute to give us a rating and a review. It goes a very long way to making it so How to Be a Better DM can help many more dungeon masters just like you. If you love our content, help others become better dungeon masters too.
Here are today's sponsors:
Worldsmith - Easy D&D Prep - Start a Free 7 Day Trial: https://session0studios.com/worldsmith-podcast
Roll and Play Press - Easier D&D: https://session0studios.com/rollandplay
Studio Fantasms: https://session0studios.com/fantasms
Our Patreon: https://session0studios.com/patreon
Your world deserves to feel alive. In this episode of How to Be a Better DM, Justin dives deep into the art of “show, don’t tell” — not for your villains this time, but for your cities and settlements. Discover how to make your game world feel like a living, breathing place through cultural cues, architecture, layout, and behavior. You’ll learn actionable techniques to bring immersive environments to life and create settlements that feel like characters in your campaign. Plus, a secret about “show, don’t tell” that no one talks about!
Special thanks to:
Benj Weyland for Graphic Design (https://www.instagram.com/benjweydesign/)
TJ Max, Juka, and TechSenpai for being amazing moderators
Kyle Wilson, Nick Ammann and Professor Nobody for being our patrons.
Mentioned in this episode:
Add the Magic of Sound to Your Gameplay
When you set the scene you need to tap into the five senses. When it comes to sound one of the best ways to do that is with music, sound effects, and ambience. That’s why we’ve teamed up with Monument Studios. Monument Studios provides an easy-to-use Soundboard perfect for Dungeon Mastering. If you want to see this in action, go to fantasy-plus.com and get 10% off of your first month of their Fantasy+ App by using the code BETTERDM at check out. Again that is fantasy-plus.com and BETTERDM at checkout.
Brought to you by Session 0 Studios
Visit session0studios.com for more information.
Start Leveling Up As a DM
Wouldn’t it be nice to gamify your dungeon master abilities? In D&D, characters can reach level 20, so why can’t dungeon masters? We’re happy to tell you that now, you can. We created the Dungeon Master Level-Up Guide. It’s a simple tool to gamify your progression to higher and higher levels of dungeon mastering. It includes Dungeon Master Levels 1 to 20 with associated XP requirements as well as a long list of Dungeon Master activities that will give you XP. Each activity has a Challenge Rating and an XP amount. In order to level up, all you need to do is find out how much XP you have, find out how much you need and pick activities to try. You can get the Dungeon Master Level-Up guide for free by going to session0studios.com/newsletter/, sign up for our newsletter and we’ll email you the Level-Up Guide. Finally, leveling up as a DM can be as fun as leveling up a character.
Give Us a Rating and Review
You obviously have really good taste, you’re listening to How to Be a Better DM after all. We thank you for your support. If you’ve ever gotten anything useful from our show, take a minute to give us a rating and a review. It goes a very long way to making it so How to Be a Better DM can help many more dungeon masters just like you. If you love our content, help others become better dungeon masters too.
Here are today's sponsors:
Worldsmith - Easy D&D Prep - Start a Free 7 Day Trial: https://session0studios.com/worldsmith-podcast
Roll and Play Press - Easier D&D: https://session0studios.com/rollandplay
Studio Fantasms: https://session0studios.com/fantasms
Our Patreon: https://session0studios.com/patreon
We've all been there: the endless turns, actions, and HP ticking down as you slog through another combat that you don't know how to end fast enough. Why did your combat become like this? And how can you make it enjoyable and fun again?! Let's talk about it.
Also, want ad-free podcasts with additional content while also supporting us? Check out our Patreon: patreon.com/betterdungeonmaster
Special thanks to:
Benj Weyland for Graphic Design (https://www.instagram.com/benjweydesign/)
TJ Max, Juka, and TechSenpai for being amazing moderators
Kyle Wilson, Nick Ammann and Professor Nobody for being our patrons.
Mentioned in this episode:
Brought to you by Session 0 Studios
Visit session0studios.com for more information.
Start Leveling Up As a DM
Wouldn’t it be nice to gamify your dungeon master abilities? In D&D, characters can reach level 20, so why can’t dungeon masters? We’re happy to tell you that now, you can. We created the Dungeon Master Level-Up Guide. It’s a simple tool to gamify your progression to higher and higher levels of dungeon mastering. It includes Dungeon Master Levels 1 to 20 with associated XP requirements as well as a long list of Dungeon Master activities that will give you XP. Each activity has a Challenge Rating and an XP amount. In order to level up, all you need to do is find out how much XP you have, find out how much you need and pick activities to try. You can get the Dungeon Master Level-Up guide for free by going to session0studios.com/newsletter/, sign up for our newsletter and we’ll email you the Level-Up Guide. Finally, leveling up as a DM can be as fun as leveling up a character.
Give Us a Rating and Review
You obviously have really good taste, you’re listening to How to Be a Better DM after all. We thank you for your support. If you’ve ever gotten anything useful from our show, take a minute to give us a rating and a review. It goes a very long way to making it so How to Be a Better DM can help many more dungeon masters just like you. If you love our content, help others become better dungeon masters too.
Add the Magic of Sound to Your Gameplay
When you set the scene you need to tap into the five senses. When it comes to sound one of the best ways to do that is with music, sound effects, and ambience. That’s why we’ve teamed up with Monument Studios. Monument Studios provides an easy-to-use Soundboard perfect for Dungeon Mastering. If you want to see this in action, go to fantasy-plus.com and get 10% off of your first month of their Fantasy+ App by using the code BETTERDM at check out. Again that is fantasy-plus.com and BETTERDM at checkout.
Here are today's sponsors:
Worldsmith - Easy D&D Prep - Start a Free 7 Day Trial: https://session0studios.com/worldsmith-podcast
Roll and Play Press - Easier D&D: https://session0studios.com/rollandplay
Studio Fantasms: https://session0studios.com/fantasms
Our Patreon: https://session0studios.com/patreon
AI is here—and it’s not going anywhere. But what does it mean for Dungeon Masters?
In this episode, Justin and Tanner dive deep into how artificial intelligence is already impacting the tabletop RPG space—from ethical dilemmas to practical time-saving hacks. Is it a crutch or a creativity booster? Are you giving away core skills without realizing it? And how can you use it intentionally to become a better DM?
We’ll also share:
If you're curious, concerned, or just cautiously optimistic about the AI takeover—this episode is for you.
Special thanks to:
Benj Weyland for Graphic Design (https://www.instagram.com/benjweydesign/)
TJ Max, Juka, and TechSenpai for being amazing moderators
Kyle Wilson, Nick Ammann and Professor Nobody for being our patrons.
Mentioned in this episode:
Give Us a Rating and Review
You obviously have really good taste, you’re listening to How to Be a Better DM after all. We thank you for your support. If you’ve ever gotten anything useful from our show, take a minute to give us a rating and a review. It goes a very long way to making it so How to Be a Better DM can help many more dungeon masters just like you. If you love our content, help others become better dungeon masters too.
Brought to you by Session 0 Studios
Visit session0studios.com for more information.
Try Worldsmith Today!
Give yourself access to infinite possibilities with Worldsmith! It's the ultimate tool for Dungeon Masters to spark creativity or just save your bacon when you're in a bind. You can generate infinite stories, traps or treasures. Sign up at https://session0studios.com/worldsmith-podcast
Get The Swampberry Moonshine Jamboree For Free
Take a trip down to the bayou in The Swampberry Moonshine Jamboree. We teamed up with Studio Fantasms to bring you a raucous one-shot adventure full of gatorfolk, catfishing, and a whole lotta moonshine. We wrote the adventure, they designed the minis—it’s a sweet little bundle, and it’s totally free for the month of May. Just head to https://session0studios.com/fantasms and sign up to grab it. Don’t wait—May’s free, and once it’s gone, it’s gone.
Here are today's sponsors:
Worldsmith - Easy D&D Prep - Start a Free 7 Day Trial: https://session0studios.com/worldsmith-podcast
Roll and Play Press - Easier D&D: https://session0studios.com/rollandplay
Studio Fantasms: https://session0studios.com/fantasms
Our Patreon: https://session0studios.com/patreon
Is it important for you NPCs to "feel" a certain way when players interact with them? And more importantly, does making a fleshed out, goal-driven NPC add to the story or just add to your stress levels when prepping for your next session? Tanner discusses with DM Shea and DM Kyle from the Dungeon Master Talk podcast!
Also, check out their podcast at https://dungeonmastertalk.buzzsprout.com/ for some more sage advice from these awesome DMs!
Special thanks to:
Benj Weyland for Graphic Design (https://www.instagram.com/benjweydesign/)
TJ Max, Juka, and TechSenpai for being amazing moderators
Kyle Wilson, Nick Ammann and Professor Nobody for being our patrons.
Mentioned in this episode:
Get The Swampberry Moonshine Jamboree For Free
Take a trip down to the bayou in The Swampberry Moonshine Jamboree. We teamed up with Studio Fantasms to bring you a raucous one-shot adventure full of gatorfolk, catfishing, and a whole lotta moonshine. We wrote the adventure, they designed the minis—it’s a sweet little bundle, and it’s totally free for the month of May. Just head to https://session0studios.com/fantasms and sign up to grab it. Don’t wait—May’s free, and once it’s gone, it’s gone.
Give Us a Rating and Review
You obviously have really good taste, you’re listening to How to Be a Better DM after all. We thank you for your support. If you’ve ever gotten anything useful from our show, take a minute to give us a rating and a review. It goes a very long way to making it so How to Be a Better DM can help many more dungeon masters just like you. If you love our content, help others become better dungeon masters too.
Brought to you by Session 0 Studios
Visit session0studios.com for more information.
Why Listen to Ads?
Ugh, another ad break. Let’s be real—ads are the worst. If you’re anything like my wife, you’d rather quit a show entirely than sit through another ad. So why suffer? Just skip them. Join our Patreon at patreon.com/betterdungeonmaster and enjoy ad-free episodes with exclusive patron-only content—all for just $5 a month. Look at you, all fancy with your uninterrupted listening experience. So stop wasting time on ads (like this one). Go to patreon.com/betterdungeonmaster and upgrade your listening today!
Most villains fail not because they're weak—but because your players aren’t emotionally invested. In this episode, we kick off a powerful new storytelling series with a focus on “Show, Don’t Tell”—starting with the most misunderstood piece of storytelling in D&D: the villain.
You’ll learn:
Ready to turn your villains from forgettable into unforgettable? Let’s roll.
👉 Want even more insights? Patrons get bonus content featuring improv warm-ups, DM scene setting, and personal geeking out sessions. Join at https://session0studios.com/patreon
Special thanks to:
Benj Weyland for our Graphic Design
Techsenpai, Juka and TJ Max for being great moderators!
Foxy Beard for being a patron.
Mentioned in this episode:
Get The Swampberry Moonshine Jamboree For Free
Take a trip down to the bayou in The Swampberry Moonshine Jamboree. We teamed up with Studio Fantasms to bring you a raucous one-shot adventure full of gatorfolk, catfishing, and a whole lotta moonshine. We wrote the adventure, they designed the minis—it’s a sweet little bundle, and it’s totally free for the month of May. Just head to https://session0studios.com/fantasms and sign up to grab it. Don’t wait—May’s free, and once it’s gone, it’s gone.
Why Listen to Ads?
Ugh, another ad break. Let’s be real—ads are the worst. If you’re anything like my wife, you’d rather quit a show entirely than sit through another ad. So why suffer? Just skip them. Join our Patreon at patreon.com/betterdungeonmaster and enjoy ad-free episodes with exclusive patron-only content—all for just $5 a month. Look at you, all fancy with your uninterrupted listening experience. So stop wasting time on ads (like this one). Go to patreon.com/betterdungeonmaster and upgrade your listening today!
Brought to you by Session 0 Studios
Visit session0studios.com for more information.
Give Us a Rating and Review
You obviously have really good taste, you’re listening to How to Be a Better DM after all. We thank you for your support. If you’ve ever gotten anything useful from our show, take a minute to give us a rating and a review. It goes a very long way to making it so How to Be a Better DM can help many more dungeon masters just like you. If you love our content, help others become better dungeon masters too.
What does it really mean to be a strong Dungeon Master? Is it about rules mastery, epic voices, or maybe... sonic attacks and diamond scales?
In this episode of How to Be a Better DM, returning guest Jay Foster from Swole Initiative joins Justin Lewis for a monster of a conversation—literally. First, Jay becomes the first victim of our brand-new segment, “What’s Your Monster?” powered by our friends at WorldSmith. (Spoiler: It’s epic.)
Then we dig deep into the power of theme in D&D campaigns—what it is, how to discover it, and how to use it to elevate your game. Jay breaks down how theme connects your villains and player characters and why letting go of rigid story control actually leads to better storytelling.
If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed trying to wrangle plotlines, player choices, and big ideas, this episode is your antidote.
🔥 Topics Covered:
🎲 Plus: Jay shares improv tips, pacing tricks, and how to get players out of a “tavern loop.”
Whether you're a brand-new DM or an old-school storyteller, this episode will sharpen your storytelling tools—and maybe inspire your next legendary monster.
🧰 Sponsored by WorldSmith – Try their encounter generators and prep tools at https://session0studios.com/worldsmith-podcast!
🎧 Subscribe, leave a review, and share the show if you love what you hear!
Mentioned in this episode:
Brought to you by Session 0 Studios
Visit session0studios.com for more information.
Why Listen to Ads?
Ugh, another ad break. Let’s be real—ads are the worst. If you’re anything like my wife, you’d rather quit a show entirely than sit through another ad. So why suffer? Just skip them. Join our Patreon at patreon.com/betterdungeonmaster and enjoy ad-free episodes with exclusive patron-only content—all for just $5 a month. Look at you, all fancy with your uninterrupted listening experience. So stop wasting time on ads (like this one). Go to patreon.com/betterdungeonmaster and upgrade your listening today!
Give Us a Rating and Review
You obviously have really good taste, you’re listening to How to Be a Better DM after all. We thank you for your support. If you’ve ever gotten anything useful from our show, take a minute to give us a rating and a review. It goes a very long way to making it so How to Be a Better DM can help many more dungeon masters just like you. If you love our content, help others become better dungeon masters too.
Get The Swampberry Moonshine Jamboree For Free
Take a trip down to the bayou in The Swampberry Moonshine Jamboree. We teamed up with Studio Fantasms to bring you a raucous one-shot adventure full of gatorfolk, catfishing, and a whole lotta moonshine. We wrote the adventure, they designed the minis—it’s a sweet little bundle, and it’s totally free for the month of May. Just head to https://session0studios.com/fantasms and sign up to grab it. Don’t wait—May’s free, and once it’s gone, it’s gone.
In this special episode of How to Be a Better DM, Justin Lewis shares key takeaways from the GMing 101 panel at Dragon Steel Nexus 2024. Learn how to manage player expectations, improve group communication, and create more engaging game sessions. Whether you're a new DM or a seasoned pro, these tips will help you level up your game!
Special thanks to :
Benj Weyland for our Graphic Design
TJ Max, TechSenpai and Juka for being our Discord Moderators
Foxy Beard for being a Patron.
Mentioned in this episode:
Give Us a Rating and Review
You obviously have really good taste, you’re listening to How to Be a Better DM after all. We thank you for your support. If you’ve ever gotten anything useful from our show, take a minute to give us a rating and a review. It goes a very long way to making it so How to Be a Better DM can help many more dungeon masters just like you. If you love our content, help others become better dungeon masters too.
Join Our Discord
So a little bit of a spoiler alert. We’re building an army. That’s right, we’re building an army of amazing dungeon masters who want to make the world of D&D a better place. If you want to join our army and fight by our side against the evil forces of boredom and bad dming, join our Discord and lend your voice to the cause. Go to Session0studios.com/discord and join for free today.
Brought to you by Session 0 Studios
Visit session0studios.com for more information.
Why Listen to Ads?
Ugh, another ad break. Let’s be real—ads are the worst. If you’re anything like my wife, you’d rather quit a show entirely than sit through another ad. So why suffer? Just skip them. Join our Patreon at patreon.com/betterdungeonmaster and enjoy ad-free episodes with exclusive patron-only content—all for just $5 a month. Look at you, all fancy with your uninterrupted listening experience. So stop wasting time on ads (like this one). Go to patreon.com/betterdungeonmaster and upgrade your listening today!
DMs, today we are talking about fitting in—specifically helping players fit into your D&D group and party. Whether it's a player who doesn't know how to cross that metaphorical gap, or the party doesn't know how to welcome someone new fully, today Tanner is giving some tips to help you pull them in and welcome them!
Mentioned in this episode:
Why Listen to Ads?
Ugh, another ad break. Let’s be real—ads are the worst. If you’re anything like my wife, you’d rather quit a show entirely than sit through another ad. So why suffer? Just skip them. Join our Patreon at patreon.com/betterdungeonmaster and enjoy ad-free episodes with exclusive patron-only content—all for just $5 a month. Look at you, all fancy with your uninterrupted listening experience. So stop wasting time on ads (like this one). Go to patreon.com/betterdungeonmaster and upgrade your listening today!
Brought to you by Session 0 Studios
Visit session0studios.com for more information.
Join Our Discord
So a little bit of a spoiler alert. We’re building an army. That’s right, we’re building an army of amazing dungeon masters who want to make the world of D&D a better place. If you want to join our army and fight by our side against the evil forces of boredom and bad dming, join our Discord and lend your voice to the cause. Go to Session0studios.com/discord and join for free today.
Brought to you by Session 0 Studios
Visit session0studios.com for more information.
Give Us a Rating and Review
You obviously have really good taste, you’re listening to How to Be a Better DM after all. We thank you for your support. If you’ve ever gotten anything useful from our show, take a minute to give us a rating and a review. It goes a very long way to making it so How to Be a Better DM can help many more dungeon masters just like you. If you love our content, help others become better dungeon masters too.
Your party has already split 30 minutes into session one—again. The rogue sneaks off, the barbarian wrestles in the local church, and the bard… well, who even knows? If you’re tired of struggling to keep your party together, this episode is for you. Discover the Coalescence Event, a powerful DM tool that ensures your players stay united through meaningful storytelling, emotional stakes, and shared goals. Learn the 9 essential methods to organically bond your party—from shipwrecks to common enemies—and create a campaign that feels natural, immersive, and unforgettable.
Mentioned in this episode:
Why Listen to Ads?
Ugh, another ad break. Let’s be real—ads are the worst. If you’re anything like my wife, you’d rather quit a show entirely than sit through another ad. So why suffer? Just skip them. Join our Patreon at patreon.com/betterdungeonmaster and enjoy ad-free episodes with exclusive patron-only content—all for just $5 a month. Look at you, all fancy with your uninterrupted listening experience. So stop wasting time on ads (like this one). Go to patreon.com/betterdungeonmaster and upgrade your listening today!
Give Us a Rating and Review
You obviously have really good taste, you’re listening to How to Be a Better DM after all. We thank you for your support. If you’ve ever gotten anything useful from our show, take a minute to give us a rating and a review. It goes a very long way to making it so How to Be a Better DM can help many more dungeon masters just like you. If you love our content, help others become better dungeon masters too.
Brought to you by Session 0 Studios
Visit session0studios.com for more information.
Join Our Discord
So a little bit of a spoiler alert. We’re building an army. That’s right, we’re building an army of amazing dungeon masters who want to make the world of D&D a better place. If you want to join our army and fight by our side against the evil forces of boredom and bad dming, join our Discord and lend your voice to the cause. Go to Session0studios.com/discord and join for free today.
