Best What About Worldbuilding Podcasts (2025)

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SWRT 325 | Is Art Enough? with Stephanie Elizondo Griest 1:28:11

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11h ago1:28:11

1:28:11

In this episode of the Story Works Round Table, Alida and Kathryn talk with Stephanie Elizondo Griest, author of Art Above Everything. In this perspective changing conversation, we talk all about centering your life on art. We talk about the sometimes painful journey of being an art monk, and what it means to dedicate yourself to art creation. Join…

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185: From Idea to Book: The Role of a Book Coach 27:11

3d ago27:11

27:11

If you've ever been curious what a book coach does, this episode goes into the role of a book coach, common misconceptions about book coaches, and more. ------ - Click here for ways to work with me + a free character profile template: www.thekatiewolf.com/info - The last Tuesday of the month is a Q&A episode! Submit your questions for me HERE and I…

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Indus vs Nile vs Yellow River vs Amazon River Basin Explained! 36:03

3d ago36:03

36:03

Send us a text Lets talk about river basins and the civilizations they create and how you can use them in your fantasy world! Signup for the newsletter! https://www.mariemullany.com/newsletter Support the Channel: Buy my books: https://www.mariemullany.com/books Join the Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxvBH0EkwuHsQ9ryHHQNi2Q/join Engage …

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We have some news... 1:14

4d ago1:14

1:14

VOTE FOR US HERE: http://khguides.com/million-dreams Shedding Starlight YouTube: https://youtube.com/@SheddingStarlight Hannah's Twitter: https://twitter.com/hanmckinley Mel's Twitter: https://twitter.com/KHNyctophiliac The Secret Reports Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TheSecretReports Hannah's YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/@hanmckinley…

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S17:E15: How to Write Different Character Arcs for the Same Character (Part 2 of 2) 16:27

3d ago16:27

16:27

Discover how to honor your character's history while crafting different character arcs for the same character in new stories.By K.M. Weiland

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Nobel Laureate David Baker on Using AI for Science to Solve Humanity's Biggest Problems [TEASER] 4:52

4d ago4:52

4:52

This is a teaser episode of the Existential Hope Podcast with Nobel Laureate David Baker. David reveals how scientists are now inventing entirely new proteins—life's fundamental building blocks—to tackle some of the world's most pressing challenges. David shares his journey and his vision for a future where custom-built "molecular machines," an ide…

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Episode 141: Pacific Drive 41:44

6d ago41:44

41:44

Sucked into a walled off government site, we quickly find ourselves dealing with the weird and abnormal. What happened here? Join us as we Lore Together! Contact us: Instagram: https://instagram.com/loretogether BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/loretogether.bsky.social Mastodon: https://universeodon.com/@LoreTogether Reddit: https://www.reddit.com…

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Welcome to Foresight Institute Radio 0:43

9d ago0:43

0:43

This feed is now Foresight Institute Radio—your place for standout talks on frontier technology: from AI and neurotech to nanotech, longevity, and space. You’ll hear highlights from Foresight’s global conferences and seminars featuring top scientists and builders. For long-form interviews, follow our sister show: The Existential Hope Podcast, with …

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Jonathan Anomaly | Embryo selection for health, longevity and intelligence 11:04

9d ago11:04

11:04

What happens when parents can choose their children's genetic traits, and which selections benefit society versus harm it? In this talk, Jonathan Anomaly explores the emerging field of embryo selection for intelligence, disease prevention, and longevity. He covers how polygenic risk scores work to predict complex traits and why most diseases involv…

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Mary Lou Jepsen | The handheld hospital 10:13

9d ago10:13

10:13

What if you could diagnose stroke, treat cancer, and cure depression with a smartphone-sized device that costs $1,000 instead of millions? In this talk, Mary Lou Jepsen demonstrates her revolutionary handheld medical devices that use ultrasound and infrared light to selectively target diseased cells while leaving healthy tissue unharmed. She covers…

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Jean Hebert | ARPA-H: Accelerate better health outcomes for everyone 8:53

9d ago8:53

8:53

What if a government agency could fund transformative health research with $200 million budgets and no bureaucratic committees? In this talk, Jean Hebert explores ARPA-H's – a research funding agency – unique mission to accelerate health breakthroughs, from 3D-printed organs to functional eye transplants. He covers how ARPA-H operates differently f…

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Irina Rish | AI & Scale 12:18

9d ago12:18

12:18

How has the history of AI been shaped by the "bitter lesson" that simple scaling beats complex algorithms, and what comes next? In this talk, Irina Rish traces AI's evolution from rule-based systems to today's foundation models, exploring how scaling laws predicted performance improvements and recent shifts toward more efficient approaches. She cov…

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It's all about technique! or is it? 42:16

9d ago42:16

42:16

Improving technique is a great endeavour but it's not everything (or for everyone).

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184: Writing Advice for My Past Self 21:57

10d ago21:57

21:57

In this episode, I share what advice I wish I could pass on to my younger self about writing. Learn the lessons I'd share for any new writer. ------ - Click here for ways to work with me + a free character profile template: www.thekatiewolf.com/info - The last Tuesday of the month is a Q&A episode! Submit your questions for me HERE and I'll answer …

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Myth Creation Explained Simply! 33:45

10d ago33:45

33:45

Send us a text Lets talk about Jungian Archetypes, the 6 layers of mythic storytelling and how to make myths that resonate with the cultures you create! Signup for the newsletter! https://www.mariemullany.com/newsletter Support the Channel: Buy my books: https://www.mariemullany.com/books Join the Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxvBH0Ekw…

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S17:E14: How to Write Different Character Arcs for the Same Character (Part 1 of 2) 17:11

11d ago17:11

17:11

Discover systems that can help you write different character arcs for the same character in your series. Keep stories interesting and unique!By K.M. Weiland

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Episode 271: What If Your Camp Counselor Was Also a Mecha Pilot? (Land of a Thousand Finales Part 6) 57:00

12d ago57:00

57:00

Hey. You should watch Iron Blooded Orphans. Just sayin. And if you're feeling particularly generous, you can support us on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/worldbuildwithus Chat with us on our Discord server: https://discord.gg/SRFhWV3 Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@worldbuildwithus Email us your suggestions: WorldbuildW…

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SWRT 324 | The Healing Power of Nature and Memoir with Jon Lurie 1:17:43

15d ago1:17:43

1:17:43

In this episode, Alida engages in a profound conversation with Jon Lurie as we explore the healing power of nature and the intricate journey of memoir writing. Jon shares insights from his two memoirs, including his epic canoe trip along the Red River with a young man named Jose, highlighting themes of personal growth, cultural identity, and the tr…

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Why do cities in certain locations thrive? 19:43

16d ago19:43

19:43

Send us a text Let's talk fantasy maps and where it makes sense for you to put your cities! My thanks to @iammrbeat for a very good video on why USA cities started. Signup for the newsletter! https://www.mariemullany.com/newsletter Support the Channel: Buy my books: https://www.mariemullany.com/books Join the Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channe…

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183: Editing My Book: What I Learned 22:37

17d ago22:37

22:37

------ - Click here for ways to work with me + a free character profile template: www.thekatiewolf.com/info - The last Tuesday of the month is a Q&A episode! Submit your questions for me HERE and I'll answer them on the podcast. - TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@katiewolfwrites - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katiewolfwrites…

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Episode 140: Dave The Diver 1:05:26

20d ago1:05:26

1:05:26

It's so much more than a diving simulator. Join us as we Lore Together! Contact us: Instagram: https://instagram.com/loretogether BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/loretogether.bsky.social Mastodon: https://universeodon.com/@LoreTogether Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/user/LoreTogetherPod Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@LoreTogether Steam: https:…

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What history can teach us about doing better science – Eric Gilliam 1:06:39

21d ago1:06:39

1:06:39

Eric Gilliam studies how organizations like Bell Labs, early MIT, and the Rockefeller Foundation helped drive scientific progress — and what made them unusually effective. In this conversation, we explore how those models worked, why many of them disappeared, and what it would take to bring them back. Eric explains why fast-moving, engineering-driv…

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5 Ways to Create Fantasy Religions using Real World Mythos 33:08

23d ago33:08

33:08

Send us a text Learn how to create fantasy religions using real world mythos with these 5 techniques. Perfect for writers inspired by authors like Katherine Kerr, Tad Williams, George RR Martin, and Tolkien. Start world building now! Featured art by @poppiiseedss And you can find her on TikTok :) (https://www.tiktok.com/@poppiiseedss ) Signup for t…

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This is how you grow 32:37

23d ago32:37

32:37

Going out of your comfort zone and embrace change and growth is the topic for this weeks episode.

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182: May 2025 Q&A 31:00

24d ago31:00

31:00

Welcome to the May Q&A episode! Topics discussed include: suggestions for improving romantic tension 1:44 how to handle your book being on submission 4:20 interpreting responses/rejections from publishers 6:28 what I've noticed about the current state of trad pub 9:30 advice for approaching a revise and resubmit request from a publisher 16:20 how I…

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S17:E13: Crafting Archetypal Arcs With Enneagram Insights 34:09

25d ago34:09

34:09

Discover the connection between archetypal arcs and Enneagram insights for transformative storytelling and character growth.By K.M. Weiland

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Episode 270: Stained Glass, Stained Souls (Land of a Thousand Finales Part 5) 53:56

26d ago53:56

53:56

In this episode we take a closer look at the fantasy side of our dual-world with help directly from our listeners! A big thanks to all of you who've contributed so far and make sure you go to our Discord if you want your tenet on our finale series! And if you're feeling particularly generous, you can support us on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/w…

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Existential Hope Podcast: Glen Weyl | Can we use AI to build a fairer society? 26:27

28d ago26:27

26:27

Most AI discussions focus on its risks to democracy – disinformation, surveillance, centralization of power. But what if AI could make governance better? Glen Weyl, political economist at Microsoft Research and founder of RadicalxChange, argues that AI could be used to create more participatory, decentralized, and democratic systems, if we design i…

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SWRT 323 | What Makes Writing Objectively Good? 1:14:28

29d ago1:14:28

1:14:28

In this episode of the Story Works Round Table, we gather a diverse panel of writers to tackle the complex question: what makes writing objectively good? Join Alida Winternheimer, Kathryn Arnold, Mark Liebenow, Daniel Kleifgen, Liz Bird, Miriam Levi, and Monic Ductan as they explore the subjective nature of writing, the challenges of judgment, and …

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Worldbuilding 101 44:17

1M ago44:17

44:17

We share some of our thoughts and approaches to world building alongside some of our favorite examples in media.

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181: What You Need To Consider about AI + Writing 23:48

1M ago23:48

23:48

AI is a big topic in the writing world. In this episode, I share my thoughts as an editor, reader, and writer on using generative AI in the writing process--whether that's brainstorming, character development, getting feedback, or having AI actually write for you. If you plan to query or submit your work anywhere, if you want to work with an editor…

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I wrote 500K words. Here's what I learned about storytelling. 25:21

1M ago25:21

25:21

Send us a text I wrote and published half a million words! In this video, I take you for a walk in the Finnish forest and share the lessons I wish I'd known when I started writing. Signup for the newsletter! https://www.mariemullany.com/newsletter Support the Channel: Buy my books: https://www.mariemullany.com/books Join the Channel: https://www.yo…

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S17:E12: Using the Enneagram for Character Development: Avoiding Repetition for Lies Each Type Might Believe 23:59

1M ago23:59

23:59

Discover the unique lies each Enneagram subtype believes and how these shape their fears, desires, and character development in storytelling.By K.M. Weiland

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Episode 139: Orwell - Keeping An Eye On You 42:01

1M ago42:01

42:01

We have a new job with the government, snooping on people through their digital lives. Join us as we Lore Together! Contact us: Instagram: https://instagram.com/loretogether BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/loretogether.bsky.social Mastodon: https://universeodon.com/@LoreTogether Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/user/LoreTogetherPod Youtube: https:/…

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Existential Hope Podcast: Ada Palmer | The storytelling tools you need for worldbuilding 43:13

1M ago43:13

43:13

How can storytelling shape our visions of the future? Ada Palmer—historian, science fiction writer, and futurist—brings a unique perspective on how worldbuilding can be a powerful tool for exploring complex ideas. In this conversation with Beatrice Erkers, she shares her perspective on worldbuilding and storytelling, and her recommendations for how…

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5 Secrets to Make a Fantasy Town Unique! 21:08

1M ago21:08

21:08

Send us a text It's all to easy for a fantasy town to simply feel like any other fantasy town. Don't fall into that trap. Join me on a walk in the Finnish forest and let's talk about how to add some flourishes to your towns to make them distinct! Signup for the newsletter! https://www.mariemullany.com/newsletter Support the Channel: Buy my books: h…

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Can Criticism Make You a Better Artist? 20:20

1M ago20:20

20:20

It's sometimes difficult to deal with criticism and feedback in a high-stress work environment.

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180: The Tough Love Episode - Querying 23:48

1M ago23:48

23:48

Sometimes you just need a kick in the pants when it comes to querying. If that's what you need, this episode is for you! ------ - Click here for ways to work with me + a free character profile template: www.thekatiewolf.com/info - The last Tuesday of the month is a Q&A episode! Submit your questions for me HERE and I'll answer them on the podcast. …

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Episode 269: Seasons of Seasonal Depression (Land of a Thousand Finales Part 4) 54:20

1M ago54:20

54:20

On this week's episode things go a little off the rails but honestly it's for the best. Also, please go to our discord and directly contribute to our final world! And if you're feeling particularly generous, you can support us on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/worldbuildwithus Chat with us on our Discord server: https://discord.gg/SRFhWV3 Subscri…

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Existential Hope Podcast: Anthony Aguirre | Will AI replace us or help us thrive? 26:35

1M ago26:35

26:35

How we develop AI will shape the future of society. In this interview, Anthony Aguirre explores the distinction between Tool AI and Replacement AI, and how this framing can inform AI policy, governance, and strategy. He shares insights on the risks and thresholds of AGI, the role of capability, agency, and autonomy in AI development, and what it me…

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SWRT 322 | A Writer's Responsibility to Ghosts of the Past: Historical Fiction with J.E. Weiner 1:05:47

1M ago1:05:47

1:05:47

In this episode of the Story Works Round Table, Alida Winternheimer and Kathryn Arnold sit down with J.E. Weiner, the author of the captivating novel The Wretched and Undone. This Southern Gothic tale, set in the Texas Hill Country, intertwines history and supernatural elements as it explores the immigrant experience during the American Civil War. …

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From Tectonics to Tolkien: Write Better Mountains 31:28

1M ago31:28

31:28

Send us a text Mountains are an amazing story device. They create towering world building blocks, they can be magic, they can even be alive. Let's check out how they're formed and how you can use them! Signup for the newsletter! https://www.mariemullany.com/newsletter Support the Channel: Buy my books: https://www.mariemullany.com/books Join the Ch…

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What is the best way to learn (for you)? 27:58

1M ago27:58

27:58

We talk about different approaches to learn and improve. Not only with art ...

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179: 6 Ways You're Sabotaging Your Creativity 28:25

1M ago28:25

28:25

In this episode, learn the sneaky (or not so sneaky!) ways you might be sabotaging your creativity. ------ - Click here for ways to work with me + a free character profile template: www.thekatiewolf.com/info - The last Tuesday of the month is a Q&A episode! Submit your questions for me HERE and I'll answer them on the podcast. - TikTok: https://www…

2M ago25:10

25:10

Welcome to the April Q&A episode! Topics discussed include: if indie authors need to hire an editor 2:18 authors using AI art 6:41 page count vs. word count of your book 13:58 what it means when a book dies on submission 15:51 ------ - Click here for ways to work with me + a free character profile template: www.thekatiewolf.com/info - The last Tues…