Best Ben Riggs Podcasts (2026)

Tonight on D&D Outloud, I'm joined by Joseph Laycock, a scholar of religion who explores what happens when belief, culture, and controversy collide. Joe is an associate professor of Religious Studies at Texas State University, and he's written some incredibly relevant work for anyone who remembers when D&D was treated like a portal to perdition, in…

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Shared RPG Worlds, Shared RPG History: A conversation with Jim Lowder & Pat Kilbane Ep 82 59:58

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8d ago59:58

59:58

Jim Lowder is a writer, an editor, a lore architect, and if we're being honest, a kind of Indiana Jones of shared worlds. From Ravenloft to Forgotten Realms to the trenches of TSR itself, Jim has chronicled the industry, shaped it, and occasionally had to wrestle it into coherence with nothing but a red pen and stubborn Massachusetts resolve. He br…

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Tim Shand - Voyager Estate (Margaret River) 27:03

10d ago27:03

27:03

Tim and Simon chat about how Vintage 26 is progressing and how the year finished up and what is in store for 2026. Shandy is always an entertaining guest. @thewineshowaustralia @voyagerestate

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Stephanie Helm - The Vintners Daughter (Canberra District) 29:51

11d ago29:51

29:51

Steph Helm chats with Simon Nash about her winery and the Murrumbateman region more broadly. Steph is the daughter of Ken Helm and has been winning awards for winemaking from an early age. @thewineshowaustralia @thevintnersdaughter

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Brian Croser AO - Tapanappa 25:09

24d ago25:09

25:09

Simon and Jill have a great chat with Brian about Sparkling styles with food matches and what will be on his table this year amongst other topics. @thewineshowaustralia @tapanappa

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Jane Faulkner - Wine Communicator & Judge 27:33

24d ago27:33

27:33

Simon and Jill are joined by Jane for the Christmas show, they have a really fun chat about the highlights of the year and what's inshore for 2026. @thewineshowaustralia @winematters

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Angus Hewson - The Wine Ark 19:59

24d ago19:59

19:59

Angus joins Simon and Jill to chat about the year and what a stunning success The Ark is and how he and Andrew Caillard MW have produced a wine resource that will be a worldwide reference tool forever. @thewineshowaustralia @captainwinepilot

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Peter Macauley - House of Arras 24:53

24d ago24:53

24:53

Jill and Simon chat with Peter about Sparkling for the Christmas and Summer Season. Winemaking at House of Arras gives him some credit in this area we feel. @thewineshowaustralia @petermacauley @houseofarras

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Joe Caruso - SOMM Wine Store 24:54

1M ago24:54

24:54

Joe Caruso has a great wine store serving the Gold Coast, it was a great chat with Jill Upton and Simon Nash. @thewineshowaustralia @sommwinestore

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Will Derham-Banks Road (Bellarine Peninsula) 35:29

1M ago35:29

35:29

Will Derham is a regular contributor to the show and has some great insights. He joins Simon Nash and Jill Upton for another great chat. @thewineshowaustralia @banksroadvineyard

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Nic Bowen - Howard Park Wines (Margaret River) 21:09

1M ago21:09

21:09

Jill Upton and Simon Nash chat with Nic Bowen about the successful year that Howard Park has had in 2025. @thewineshowaustralia @howardparkwines

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Hamish Thomson-Best's Wines Great Western 24:04

1M ago24:04

24:04

Hamish joins Jill Upton and Simon Nash to chat about the Australian Christmas icon wine, the Sparkling Shiraz. @thewineshowaustralia @bestswines

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Andrew Calabria - Calabria Family Wines 23:08

1M ago23:08

23:08

Simon Nash and Jill Upton chat with Andrew Calabria about the family winery that turns 80 this year, plenty of history and success. @thewineshowaustralia @calabriafamilywines

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"I am the experimental weapons division." A conversation with Mark Diaz Truman and Jay Dragon Ep. 81 1:08:54

1M ago1:08:54

1:08:54

Today, we converse with two firehoses of the human imagination: Mark Diaz Truman and Jay Dragon! Some people play games. Some people publish games. And then there are the people who change how the whole industry works. Mark Diaz Truman is one of the architects of the modern tabletop renaissance; designer, publisher, organizer, and strategic masterm…

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Brett Butcher - Soumah Wines (Yarra Valley) 32:23

1M ago32:23

32:23

Brett Butcher chats with Simon Nash about his winery Soumah in Gruyere in the Yarra Valley. @thewineshowaustralia @soumahwines

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Shawn Kalleske - Laughing Jack Wines (Barossa) 31:08

1M ago31:08

31:08

Simon Nash is joined by Shawn Kalleske and we hear about the history and direction of this winery. @thewineshowaustralia @laughingjackwines

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Nat Pizzini - Pizzini Wines (King Valley) 19:00

1M ago19:00

19:00

A favourite of the show Nat Pizzini joins Simon Nash to announce some new initiatives from her family winery in the King Valley. @thewineshowaustralia @pizziniwines

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Bruce Tyrrell - Tyrrell's (Hunter Valley) 23:58

2M ago23:58

23:58

Jill Upton and Simon Nash chat with an industry legend, Bruce Tyrrell. @thewineshowaustralia @tyrrellswines

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Kate Lawton - Zero Hour Prosecco (Joval Wines) 18:39

2M ago18:39

18:39

Kate chats with Simon Nash and Jill Upton about a new offering in the Zero wine category called Zero Hour. This is a really good expression of no alcohol wine. The chat about the low-no alc category was really interesting. @thewineshowaustralia

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Nick Ryan - Wine Writer (Top 100 wines) 10:07

2M ago10:07

10:07

Nick joins Simon Nash and Jill Upton for a chat about the recently released Top100 Wines in the Australian newspaper and website. A great resource for us all to get across. @thewineshowaustralia @nickryanwine

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Joanne Heggie & Gerardo Di Iorio - DiVino 25:58

2M ago25:58

25:58

Joanne and Gerardo have a business that provides a region in a box to immerse ourselves in the wine, the food and the music. An event program around Australia and their small tour wine region trips take groups on some amazing local experiences in Italy and France. @thewineshowaustralia @divinocomau

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Writing Geeky Nonfiction: A Seminar from Gamehole Con 2025- with Keith Amman & Ben Riggs- Ep 80 59:59

2M ago59:59

59:59

Happy Thanksgiving Americans! Here's a seminar from Gamehole Con 2025 about why YOU should be writing geeky nonfiction.By Brutal Segue Productions

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Paul Gordon - Leconfield Wines (Coonawarra, SA) 23:26

2M ago23:26

23:26

A well-known name in the industry, Paul has been with Leconfield for many years and is famous for making outstanding Merlot and Cabs from the region, including a sensational Cab Franc. His Bordeaux blend with a touch of Riesling is his avant-garde wine that is also a must try. @thewineshowaustralia @leconfieldwines…

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Richard Bate - Karatta Wines (Robe, SA) 24:12

2M ago24:12

24:12

Jill Upton gets Richard back on the show to talk about his label, Karatta Wines. With a focus on this tiny region as a wonderful weekend destination, Robe is a must visit for all wine (and seafood!) lovers. Stock up on his sparkling Shiraz for Christmas morning :) @thewineshowaustralia @karattawines

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Jane Richards - Eight at the Gate (Wrattonbully, SA) 25:12

2M ago25:12

25:12

Jill Upton talks to Jane Richards about the story behind Eight at the Gate wines in Wrattonbully and the sensational wines they are producing. We also catch a glimpse of what Christmas Day looks like in the family. Definitely a table you would want to join! @thewineshowaustralia @eightatthegate

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David MacDougal - Lambs Valley Wines (Hunter Valley, NSW) 22:51

2M ago22:51

22:51

Situated in the northern part of the Hunter Valley is Lambs Valley. David is making beautiful wines at his winery. His Amber Gris is an absolute must for any wine lover. His Sparkling, Chardonnay and Shiraz are definitely worth a taste as well! @thewineshowaustralia @lambsvalleywines

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3 Poets Turn to RPG Design- A conversation with Adam Good, Jamie Perez, & Justin Sirois Episode 79 55:45

2M ago55:45

55:45

My favorite RPG book of the year is a book of spaceship p*rn designed by two poets! INFINITY OF SHIPS is random tables for spaceship creation along with stunning artwork and essays that are as fun as they are engaging. The book was brought to us by Adam Good & Jamie Perez, and the pair have another book Kickstarting right now: https://www.kickstart…

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Peter Fraser - Yangarra Estate (McLaren Vale) 34:05

2M ago34:05

34:05

Peter joins Jill Upton and Simon Nash for a great hat about Grenache and how we are embracing the modern style with both hands and how special some of the sites are. @thewineshowaustralia @yangarraestate

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Alexey Dumbuaya - Yalumba (Barossa) 17:16

2M ago17:16

17:16

Alexey and Yalumba have accepted the Trophy for Best Grenache in the 2025 Royal Queensland Awards for the Yalumba Vat-11 Grenache 2024, announced at an awards ceremony held on 10 July for the second year in a row. Hear the story as he talks with Jill Upton and Simon Nash. @thewineshowaustralia @yalumbawine…

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Elenor McIndoe - WSET educator/wine professional 28:34

2M ago28:34

28:34

Elenor McIndoe brings a UK perspective to the wine discussion with Simon Nash and Jill Upton. Already a well acclaimed wine professional Elenor's star is on the rise. @thewineshowaustralia

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This is an RPG historian you have to hear from- A conversation with Shannon Appelcline Episode 78 1:00:30

2M ago1:00:30

1:00:30

This is an RPG historian you have to hear from. Shannon Appelcline. He's the mind behind Designers & Dragons, which chronicles our hobby's wild past, from basement print runs to global pop culture phenomenon. Shannon has done the research, interviewed the legends, and connected the dots between decades of dice-rolling history. So grab your characte…

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Alex Deane - Meadowbank (Tasmania) 32:03

2M ago32:03

32:03

Alex Deane speaks to Simon Nash about winning the 2025 Jimmy Watson trophy and what it was like bringing it back to Tasmania and Meadowbank. The 2024 Pinot Noir was the winning wine and only the 4th Pinot Noir to win the Trophy. Credit must be given to Peter Dredge @pjdrege who made the wine from grapes coming off this trailblazing vineyard Meadowb…

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Alex Beckett - Marnong Estate (Subury) 28:56

2M ago28:56

28:56

Simon Nash chats with Alex about this hidden gem winery on the North West of Melbourne. The property is impressive and the wines are seeing some serious acclaim to match it. @thewineshowaustralia @marnongestate

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Sez Robinson - Sommelier - Cumulus Inc. 28:04

2M ago28:04

28:04

Sez Robinson and Simon Nash chat about her wine journey and what goes in to curating a restaurant wine list amongst other things. @thewineshowaustralia

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Madison James - Nanny Goat Vineyard, Central Otago 25:31

2M ago25:31

25:31

Nanny Goat Vineyard was once a name and a vision. Today they have a great following in Australia and New Zealand for their beautiful wines, vineyards and outstanding cellar door. Madison has been there every step of the way and truly understands our affinity to the humble goat.

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Fraser McKinley - Sami Odi, Barossa Valley 28:30

2M ago28:30

28:30

Sam Isherwood was in awe of Fraser McKinley and the story that led him to the Barossa Valley and his ability to keep things simple and real at the same time. He is a man of the people, and his community and family mean everything to this vigneron. Not to forget about his outstanding and very hard to find wines. A true artist in every sense of the w…

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Leigh Woodrow - Langmeil Wines, Barossa Valley 26:12

2M ago26:12

26:12

Leigh worked a vintage with Langmeil Wines many years ago and loved it so much he decided to move his family and his life to Adelaide. That's dedication and a true love for the worlds oldest Shiraz vineyard! Sam isherwood loved hearing Leigh share his knowledge and passion for these old vine vineyards.…

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"Games Will Prevail": A conversation with Meguey Baker, Vincent Baker & John Harper- Ep 77 1:02:18

2M ago1:02:18

1:02:18

What do Cormac McCarthy, Charles Dickens, & Scheherazade say to each other on the podcast? Today, we find out! First up, we have Meguey Baker: game designer, textile historian, and one of the most revolutionary voices in the history of tabletop gaming. You might know her from 1001 Nights, Psi-Run, or her work on Apocalypse World, a game that cracke…

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Shelley Bickerstaff - Frogmore Creek & Legulch Bicheno, Tasmania 25:57

2M ago25:57

25:57

Shelley is not one to stand still and whilst she has worked with Frogmore Creek in the Coal River for many years, her love of art and creating new businesses are equally as important. Shelley and Sam, talk about the wines of Frogmore Creek, her new wine bar Legulch Bicheno and the story of how she now spends half of her life in Hobart and half on t…

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30 Minutes Into This Interview with Fred Hicks & Cam Banks, I Share Leaked D&D Sales Data Ep-76 55:25

3M ago55:25

55:25

Shamelessly, 30 minutes into this interview with Cam Banks & Fred Hicks, I share leaked D&D sales data. He's the Kiwi conjurer who helped create the Cortex System, which has been used on everything from Firefly to Marvel. He's made the rules that make the stories sing, and he's living proof that spreadsheets and sorcery can coexist. Please welcome …

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Jeff Byrne - Byrne Farm (Orange) 25:45

3M ago25:45

25:45

Jeff Byrne is the owner of Byrne Farm in Orange he chats to Jill Upton and Simon Nash. His “Glenidle Vineyard” Pinot Noir was awarded the Best Pinot Noir in NSW at the Australian Pinot Noir Challenge! @thewineshowaustralia @byrnefarmwines

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Katharina Cser-Mostyn - Wine Not the Brand 23:46

3M ago23:46

23:46

Jill Upton and Simon Nash chat with Kata about her growing business that was featured on Shark Tank and is going from strength to strength. @thewineshowaustralia @wine.pouched @katacser

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Peter Gago - Penfolds 41:27

3M ago41:27

41:27

Peter joined Simon Nash in studio and it was a great chat and lots of stories. @thewineshowaustralia @penfolds

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Ollie Rapson - Macedon Ranges Budburst Festival 10:07

3M ago10:07

10:07

Ollie speaks with Simon Nash and Jill Upton about the upcoming Macedon Budburst Festival on 15-16th Nov. macedonrangeswineandfoodfest.com.au @thewineshowaustralia @macedonrangeswine

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RPGs don't make stories. They make experiences: A conversation with Jay Dragon & Watt EP 75 59:24

3M ago59:24

59:24

This conversation is absolutely brilliant. I talk to a lot of game designers, but this episode is easily a favorite. Today, we discuss with two engines of creativity: Jay Dragon of Wanderhome & Watt of Cloud Empress! Watt is a designer, artist, and architect of the beautifully bizarre. Watt's games feel like dreams with teeth, lush, lyrical, and a …

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Andrew Dawson - Yeah Wine 27:08

3M ago27:08

27:08

Andrew chats with Simon Nash about Yeah Wines and the regions he sources fruit from to make wine that heroes the region and varietal authentically. @thewineshowaustralia @yeah_wine

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Rupert Baxter - Winemaker 25:48

3M ago25:48

25:48

Rupert Baxter chats with Simon Nash about his winemaking journey, for a young winemaker he has an impressive resume. @thewineshowaustralia

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Matilda Innes - Ottelia (Coonawarra) 21:20

3M ago21:20

21:20

Simon Nash was joined by Matilda Innes from Ottelia and we hear about a fun event in Coonawarra that looks set to be an annual feature on the calendar. @thewineshowaustralia @coonawarrawinerieswalkingtrail @coonawarra_wine

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Sam Brand - Brand & Sons (Coonawarra) 19:02

3M ago19:02

19:02

Sam Brand is from a multi-generational winemaking family and has a great story to tell. @thewineshowaustralia @brandandsons_wines