Worldbuilding for Masochists
@worldbuildcast.bsky.social
5x Hugo Award Finalist podcast about fantasy worldbuilding, hosted by nerds who love to overcomplicate things: Marshall Ryan Maresca, Cass Morris, and Natania Barron
worldbuildingformasochists.podbean.com
worldbuildingformasochists.podbean.com
We use history a lot in our worldbuilding, whether as a direct re-interpretation or as inspiration for a secondary world. So… why? And what choices do we need to examine as we do so? @alixeharrow.bsky.social joins us to discuss weaving history into fiction.
Link: bit.ly/WFMPOD166
Link: bit.ly/WFMPOD166
October 24, 2025 at 2:03 AM
We use history a lot in our worldbuilding, whether as a direct re-interpretation or as inspiration for a secondary world. So… why? And what choices do we need to examine as we do so? @alixeharrow.bsky.social joins us to discuss weaving history into fiction.
Link: bit.ly/WFMPOD166
Link: bit.ly/WFMPOD166
If you're a fan of mythical beasties, we've got the episode for you. Biology, ecology, and some plain good fun.
#worldbuilding
bit.ly/WFMPOD1163
#worldbuilding
bit.ly/WFMPOD1163
September 14, 2025 at 4:00 PM
If you're a fan of mythical beasties, we've got the episode for you. Biology, ecology, and some plain good fun.
#worldbuilding
bit.ly/WFMPOD1163
#worldbuilding
bit.ly/WFMPOD1163
Fantasy religions often feel like reskins either of ancient Greek or Norse pantheons or of the medieval Catholic church. But what more interesting choices can we make when building faith within an invented world?
@devafagan.bsky.social joins us to explore some of the options!
bit.ly/WFMPOD162
@devafagan.bsky.social joins us to explore some of the options!
bit.ly/WFMPOD162
August 28, 2025 at 4:58 PM
Fantasy religions often feel like reskins either of ancient Greek or Norse pantheons or of the medieval Catholic church. But what more interesting choices can we make when building faith within an invented world?
@devafagan.bsky.social joins us to explore some of the options!
bit.ly/WFMPOD162
@devafagan.bsky.social joins us to explore some of the options!
bit.ly/WFMPOD162
Okay, so when you're #worldbuilding, how do you set the scene? How do you get your readers to anchor themselves without infodumping and overwhelming them?
In our most recent episode, 161, we discuss just that!
link: bit.ly/WFMPOD161
In our most recent episode, 161, we discuss just that!
link: bit.ly/WFMPOD161
August 21, 2025 at 3:44 PM
Okay, so when you're #worldbuilding, how do you set the scene? How do you get your readers to anchor themselves without infodumping and overwhelming them?
In our most recent episode, 161, we discuss just that!
link: bit.ly/WFMPOD161
In our most recent episode, 161, we discuss just that!
link: bit.ly/WFMPOD161
What makes a story -- and a world -- "cozy"? What are the conflicts, challenges, and obstacles like when, instead of taking the Ring to Mordor, you heroes are trying to keep a coffee shop afloat or open a pet shop? @sarahbethdurst.bsky.social joins us! #worldbuilding
August 2, 2025 at 9:36 PM
What makes a story -- and a world -- "cozy"? What are the conflicts, challenges, and obstacles like when, instead of taking the Ring to Mordor, you heroes are trying to keep a coffee shop afloat or open a pet shop? @sarahbethdurst.bsky.social joins us! #worldbuilding
Join us as we talk heroes with the always delightful @wiswell.bsky.social!
Is heroism about physical strength? Strength of faith? Strength of heart? Or is it about cunning and cleverness? Let's discuss!
Direct link: bit.ly/WFMPOD159
Is heroism about physical strength? Strength of faith? Strength of heart? Or is it about cunning and cleverness? Let's discuss!
Direct link: bit.ly/WFMPOD159
July 18, 2025 at 5:37 PM
Join us as we talk heroes with the always delightful @wiswell.bsky.social!
Is heroism about physical strength? Strength of faith? Strength of heart? Or is it about cunning and cleverness? Let's discuss!
Direct link: bit.ly/WFMPOD159
Is heroism about physical strength? Strength of faith? Strength of heart? Or is it about cunning and cleverness? Let's discuss!
Direct link: bit.ly/WFMPOD159
Have you voted for the Hugos yet?
Have you considered Worldbuilding for Masochist for Best Fancast?
Have you considered Worldbuilding for Masochist for Best Fancast?
July 18, 2025 at 4:18 AM
Have you voted for the Hugos yet?
Have you considered Worldbuilding for Masochist for Best Fancast?
Have you considered Worldbuilding for Masochist for Best Fancast?
New episode is LIVE!
Our special guest is the amazing @matociquala.bsky.social, and our topic is economies!
How can we make interesting worldbuilding choices when it comes to money, debt, gain, and other aspects of economy? Tune in to find out.
Direct link: bit.ly/WFMPOD158
Our special guest is the amazing @matociquala.bsky.social, and our topic is economies!
How can we make interesting worldbuilding choices when it comes to money, debt, gain, and other aspects of economy? Tune in to find out.
Direct link: bit.ly/WFMPOD158
July 3, 2025 at 1:43 PM
New episode is LIVE!
Our special guest is the amazing @matociquala.bsky.social, and our topic is economies!
How can we make interesting worldbuilding choices when it comes to money, debt, gain, and other aspects of economy? Tune in to find out.
Direct link: bit.ly/WFMPOD158
Our special guest is the amazing @matociquala.bsky.social, and our topic is economies!
How can we make interesting worldbuilding choices when it comes to money, debt, gain, and other aspects of economy? Tune in to find out.
Direct link: bit.ly/WFMPOD158
It's the start of SEASON SEVEN! And original co-host Rowenna Miller is back to join us in a reflection of how multiple years of doing this podcast has affected how each of us thinks about #worldbuilding.
(Also again: HOLY COW SEASON SEVEN.)
Linkaroo: bit.ly/WFMPOD157
(Also again: HOLY COW SEASON SEVEN.)
Linkaroo: bit.ly/WFMPOD157
June 20, 2025 at 2:09 PM
It's the start of SEASON SEVEN! And original co-host Rowenna Miller is back to join us in a reflection of how multiple years of doing this podcast has affected how each of us thinks about #worldbuilding.
(Also again: HOLY COW SEASON SEVEN.)
Linkaroo: bit.ly/WFMPOD157
(Also again: HOLY COW SEASON SEVEN.)
Linkaroo: bit.ly/WFMPOD157
It's one of the first choices you'll make when writing a story, consciously or not: what point of view are you writing from? First person singular? Third person limited? Omniscient? Something else? @kateelliottsff.bsky.social joins us!
bit.ly/WFMPOD156
bit.ly/WFMPOD156
June 6, 2025 at 12:23 AM
It's one of the first choices you'll make when writing a story, consciously or not: what point of view are you writing from? First person singular? Third person limited? Omniscient? Something else? @kateelliottsff.bsky.social joins us!
bit.ly/WFMPOD156
bit.ly/WFMPOD156
What happens when your worldbuilding principle is “What would be awesome?" Jim C. Hines, who embraced this principle for a forthcoming book, joins us to explore the possibilities! #Worldbuilding
May 21, 2025 at 8:00 PM
What happens when your worldbuilding principle is “What would be awesome?" Jim C. Hines, who embraced this principle for a forthcoming book, joins us to explore the possibilities! #Worldbuilding
It's *NEW EPISODE DAY*! And we're talking all things miniscule. Or, rather, the details. The small bits. The parts that add up to making your world feel lived-in. Turns out, there's a lot to be found in the day-to-day.
#worldbuilding
bit.ly/WFMPOD154
#worldbuilding
bit.ly/WFMPOD154
May 7, 2025 at 9:54 PM
It's *NEW EPISODE DAY*! And we're talking all things miniscule. Or, rather, the details. The small bits. The parts that add up to making your world feel lived-in. Turns out, there's a lot to be found in the day-to-day.
#worldbuilding
bit.ly/WFMPOD154
#worldbuilding
bit.ly/WFMPOD154
Hark! 'Tis the Bard's birthday! So naturally, we discuss language.
There are so many ways that words can create the vibes for your world. So many decisions, so many considerations.
Naturally, we try to consider them all, being the word nerds we are. #podcast
Direct: bit.ly/WFMPOD153
There are so many ways that words can create the vibes for your world. So many decisions, so many considerations.
Naturally, we try to consider them all, being the word nerds we are. #podcast
Direct: bit.ly/WFMPOD153
April 24, 2025 at 1:58 AM
Hark! 'Tis the Bard's birthday! So naturally, we discuss language.
There are so many ways that words can create the vibes for your world. So many decisions, so many considerations.
Naturally, we try to consider them all, being the word nerds we are. #podcast
Direct: bit.ly/WFMPOD153
There are so many ways that words can create the vibes for your world. So many decisions, so many considerations.
Naturally, we try to consider them all, being the word nerds we are. #podcast
Direct: bit.ly/WFMPOD153
Sometimes, people will say of a book that "the setting is another character".
But what does that really mean, and how can a writer craft it? @aijiang.bsky.social joins us to discuss creating worlds and settings that have their own personalities! #worldbuilding #podcastsky
But what does that really mean, and how can a writer craft it? @aijiang.bsky.social joins us to discuss creating worlds and settings that have their own personalities! #worldbuilding #podcastsky
April 9, 2025 at 7:13 PM
Sometimes, people will say of a book that "the setting is another character".
But what does that really mean, and how can a writer craft it? @aijiang.bsky.social joins us to discuss creating worlds and settings that have their own personalities! #worldbuilding #podcastsky
But what does that really mean, and how can a writer craft it? @aijiang.bsky.social joins us to discuss creating worlds and settings that have their own personalities! #worldbuilding #podcastsky
SO THIS HAPPENED!
We are so stoked to be a finalist for the Hugo Award for Best Fancast once again! That's 5x!
We couldn't do this without our amazing guests, our awesome listeners, and everyone who makes this community of worldbuilders possible!
Winners will be announced in August at WorldCon.
We are so stoked to be a finalist for the Hugo Award for Best Fancast once again! That's 5x!
We couldn't do this without our amazing guests, our awesome listeners, and everyone who makes this community of worldbuilders possible!
Winners will be announced in August at WorldCon.
April 6, 2025 at 7:06 PM
SO THIS HAPPENED!
We are so stoked to be a finalist for the Hugo Award for Best Fancast once again! That's 5x!
We couldn't do this without our amazing guests, our awesome listeners, and everyone who makes this community of worldbuilders possible!
Winners will be announced in August at WorldCon.
We are so stoked to be a finalist for the Hugo Award for Best Fancast once again! That's 5x!
We couldn't do this without our amazing guests, our awesome listeners, and everyone who makes this community of worldbuilders possible!
Winners will be announced in August at WorldCon.
In amazing fantasy and science fiction worlds -- Who's doing the work? Where does the food come from? The clothes? Who does the caregiving? Guest august clarke joins us to discuss the hands and bodies that create a society.
#worldbuilding #podcast #podcasting
Link: bit.ly/WFMPOD151
#worldbuilding #podcast #podcasting
Link: bit.ly/WFMPOD151
March 27, 2025 at 4:44 PM
In amazing fantasy and science fiction worlds -- Who's doing the work? Where does the food come from? The clothes? Who does the caregiving? Guest august clarke joins us to discuss the hands and bodies that create a society.
#worldbuilding #podcast #podcasting
Link: bit.ly/WFMPOD151
#worldbuilding #podcast #podcasting
Link: bit.ly/WFMPOD151
We knew we had to do something particularly spectacular for our sesquicentennial episode (that's our 150th). And we couldn't be more thrilled to have the trio of Third Person joining us, the masterminds behind @midstpodcast.bsky.social and Blueberries Hill!
LINK: bit.ly/WFMPOD150
LINK: bit.ly/WFMPOD150
March 12, 2025 at 7:52 PM
We knew we had to do something particularly spectacular for our sesquicentennial episode (that's our 150th). And we couldn't be more thrilled to have the trio of Third Person joining us, the masterminds behind @midstpodcast.bsky.social and Blueberries Hill!
LINK: bit.ly/WFMPOD150
LINK: bit.ly/WFMPOD150
If you're nominating for the Hugos, might we humbly suggest considering our podcast for Best Fancast?
(Autocorrect tried to change Fancast to FANCIEST, and well, we have that, too. I mean, have you seen
@mrmaresca.com's vests?)
(Autocorrect tried to change Fancast to FANCIEST, and well, we have that, too. I mean, have you seen
@mrmaresca.com's vests?)
February 27, 2025 at 7:20 PM
If you're nominating for the Hugos, might we humbly suggest considering our podcast for Best Fancast?
(Autocorrect tried to change Fancast to FANCIEST, and well, we have that, too. I mean, have you seen
@mrmaresca.com's vests?)
(Autocorrect tried to change Fancast to FANCIEST, and well, we have that, too. I mean, have you seen
@mrmaresca.com's vests?)
What happens when the world your characters -- or your readers -- first find themselves in turns out to be not quite what it appears? @marinalostetter.bsky.social joins us to explore the different ways that a writer can play with an unreliable world. #worldbuilding
Direct link: bit.ly/WFMPOD149
Direct link: bit.ly/WFMPOD149
February 26, 2025 at 11:32 PM
What happens when the world your characters -- or your readers -- first find themselves in turns out to be not quite what it appears? @marinalostetter.bsky.social joins us to explore the different ways that a writer can play with an unreliable world. #worldbuilding
Direct link: bit.ly/WFMPOD149
Direct link: bit.ly/WFMPOD149
Well, it's almost Valentine's Day, and your hosts got up to all sorts of spicy adventures.
I mean, it *is* a part of worldbuilding, y'know? And there is a lot to talk about.
So, venture forth, but be warned: it's an extra-long episode. #podcast
I mean, it *is* a part of worldbuilding, y'know? And there is a lot to talk about.
So, venture forth, but be warned: it's an extra-long episode. #podcast
February 12, 2025 at 5:13 PM
Well, it's almost Valentine's Day, and your hosts got up to all sorts of spicy adventures.
I mean, it *is* a part of worldbuilding, y'know? And there is a lot to talk about.
So, venture forth, but be warned: it's an extra-long episode. #podcast
I mean, it *is* a part of worldbuilding, y'know? And there is a lot to talk about.
So, venture forth, but be warned: it's an extra-long episode. #podcast
Yes, we know the title is amazing.
Mythological retellings have been having A Moment in fiction for a few years now. So, why do we do that? @kritikahrao.bsky.social joins us to explore the power and agency inherent in recontextualizing mythology for a modern readership! #podcast
bit.ly/WFMPOD147
Mythological retellings have been having A Moment in fiction for a few years now. So, why do we do that? @kritikahrao.bsky.social joins us to explore the power and agency inherent in recontextualizing mythology for a modern readership! #podcast
bit.ly/WFMPOD147
January 29, 2025 at 9:02 PM
Yes, we know the title is amazing.
Mythological retellings have been having A Moment in fiction for a few years now. So, why do we do that? @kritikahrao.bsky.social joins us to explore the power and agency inherent in recontextualizing mythology for a modern readership! #podcast
bit.ly/WFMPOD147
Mythological retellings have been having A Moment in fiction for a few years now. So, why do we do that? @kritikahrao.bsky.social joins us to explore the power and agency inherent in recontextualizing mythology for a modern readership! #podcast
bit.ly/WFMPOD147
NEW EPISODE!
The world a character exists in shapes their identity on many axes of power and privilege. So how do those scales affect the emotional stakes of the story they find themselves in?
@sophieburnham.bsky.social joins us to talk about it.
#worldbuilding #worldbuildingformasochists
The world a character exists in shapes their identity on many axes of power and privilege. So how do those scales affect the emotional stakes of the story they find themselves in?
@sophieburnham.bsky.social joins us to talk about it.
#worldbuilding #worldbuildingformasochists
January 16, 2025 at 4:36 PM
NEW EPISODE!
The world a character exists in shapes their identity on many axes of power and privilege. So how do those scales affect the emotional stakes of the story they find themselves in?
@sophieburnham.bsky.social joins us to talk about it.
#worldbuilding #worldbuildingformasochists
The world a character exists in shapes their identity on many axes of power and privilege. So how do those scales affect the emotional stakes of the story they find themselves in?
@sophieburnham.bsky.social joins us to talk about it.
#worldbuilding #worldbuildingformasochists
And obviously the answer is yes! But in this episode, we answer your questions! We talk about the "rules" and common advice of #worldbuilding -- and the ways in which we merrily ignore, redefine, or defy them.
Plus! Some year in review fun.
link: bit.ly/WFMPOD145
Plus! Some year in review fun.
link: bit.ly/WFMPOD145
January 2, 2025 at 8:22 PM
And obviously the answer is yes! But in this episode, we answer your questions! We talk about the "rules" and common advice of #worldbuilding -- and the ways in which we merrily ignore, redefine, or defy them.
Plus! Some year in review fun.
link: bit.ly/WFMPOD145
Plus! Some year in review fun.
link: bit.ly/WFMPOD145
How do the people in your world learn things? Lessons learned might come from formalized institutions, but knowledge might also get passed down through families, through guilds and trade organizations, or through the wisdom whispered in a character's ear by the trees.
bit.ly/WFMPOD144
bit.ly/WFMPOD144
December 18, 2024 at 7:48 PM
How do the people in your world learn things? Lessons learned might come from formalized institutions, but knowledge might also get passed down through families, through guilds and trade organizations, or through the wisdom whispered in a character's ear by the trees.
bit.ly/WFMPOD144
bit.ly/WFMPOD144
New episode day! We're talking about a revolution. You know. Fictional ones. Not at all in real life. That would be silly.
Fiction isn't political, right?
>> bit.ly/WFMPOD143
Fiction isn't political, right?
>> bit.ly/WFMPOD143
December 4, 2024 at 3:53 PM
New episode day! We're talking about a revolution. You know. Fictional ones. Not at all in real life. That would be silly.
Fiction isn't political, right?
>> bit.ly/WFMPOD143
Fiction isn't political, right?
>> bit.ly/WFMPOD143