The Worldbuilding Workshop: Companion Podcast

The official companion podcast for The Worldbuilding Workshop: Teaching Critical Thinking and Empathy Through World Modeling, Simulation, and Play , hosted by co-authors Trent Hergenrader and Stephen Slota. The duo conducts a chapter-by-chapter breakdown of the book; outlines their thinking about each chapter's contents; describes ideas that were left on the cutting room floor; and explores how the worldbuilding framework can fit all kinds of teaching and learning environments.

The Worldbuilding Workshop: Companion Podcast is a education podcast hosted by Unknown Host, with 45 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Unknown Host hosts The Worldbuilding Workshop: Companion Podcast, a education show with 45 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

• 

  Episode #43

  EPISODE 43: A LAND ONCE MAGIC WITH ELLIOT DAVIS AND VIDITYA VOLETI

  Sep 14, 20261h 16mS1

  Episode References: Voleti, V. (2026). A land once magic [Tabletop game]. moreblueberries. https://vidityavoleti.itch.io/a-land-once-magic Luketic, R. (Director). (2001). Legally blonde [Film]. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. del Toro, G. (Director). (2004). Hellboy [Film]. Columbia Pictures; Revolution Studios. Voleti, V. (2019). Space between stars [Tabletop game]. itch.io. https://vidityavoleti.itch.io/space-between-stars Wizards of the Coast. (2014). Dungeons & dragons player’s handbook (5th ed.) [Tabletop game]. Wizards of the Coast. Davis, E. (2022). Abominations [Tabletop game]. moreblueberries. https://moreblueberries.itch.io/abominations Garfield, R. (2005). Magic: The Gathering – Ravnica: City of Guilds [Card game]. Wizards of the Coast. Alder, A. (2013). The quiet year [Tabletop game]. Buried Without Ceremony. Nerurkar, M., Dimopoulos, K., & Sharkbomb Studios. (2020). Ex Novo [Tabletop game]. Sharkbomb Studios. https://sharkbombs.itch.io/ex-novo Robbins, B. (2011). Microscope: A fractal role-playing game of epic histories [Tabletop game]. Lame Mage Productions. Asercion, C. (2019). i'm sorry did you say street magic [Tabletop game]. Heart of the Deernicorn. Gilroy, T. (Executive Producer). (2022–2025). Andor [TV series]. Lucasfilm. Lucas, G. (Director). (1977). Star wars episode IV: A new hope [Film]. Lucasfilm; 20th Century Fox. Tolkien, J. R. R. (1937). The hobbit, or, there and back again . George Allen & Unwin. Howitt, G. & Taylor, C. (2020). Heart: The city beneath [Tabletop game]. Rowan, Rook & Decard. Ward, P. (Executive Producer). (2010–2018). Adventure time [TV series]. Cartoon Network Studios; Frederator Studios. Red Hook Studios. (2016). Darkest dungeon [Video game]. Red Hook Studios. Martin, G. R. R. (1996–2011). A Song of Ice and Fire (Vols. 1–5). HarperVoyager. Sapkowski, A. (1990). Wiedźmin ( The witcher ). Reporter. Robbins, B. (2023). In this world [Tabletop game]. Lame Mage Productions. Robbins, B. (2013). Kingdom: A role-playing game about communities [Tabletop game]. Lame Mage Productions. Ansell, B., Halliwell, R., & Priestley, R. (1983). Warhammer: The mass combat fantasy role-playing game [Tabletop game]. Games Workshop. Milius, J. (Director). (1982). Conan the barbarian [Film]. Universal Pictures. D’Amato, J. & Apelyan, D. (Eds.). (2013–present). One shot [Audio podcast]. The One Shot Podcast Network. https://oneshotpodcast.com/actual-play/one-shot/ Crumrine, T. (2021). Grandpa’s farm [Tabletop game]. Possible Worlds Games. https://possible-worlds-games.itch.io/grandpas-farm Härenstam, T. (2020). Vaesen: Nordic horror roleplaying [Tabletop game]. Free League Publishing. Toffler, A. (1980). The third wave . Bantam Books. Slota, S. T. (2014). Project TECHNOLOGIA: A game-based approach to understanding situated intentionality . Doctoral Dissertations. 638. https://digitalcommons.lib.uconn.edu/dissertations/638 Berman, R. H. & Piller, M. (Executive Producers). (1993–1999). Star trek: Deep space nine [TV series]. Paramount Domestic Television. Moore, A. (1987). Watchmen (D. Gibbons, Illus.). DC Comics. Nguyen, C. T. (2026). The score: How to stop playing somebody else’s game . Penguin Press. Young, M. F., Slota, S. T., & Lai, B. (2012). Comments on “Reflections on ‘A Review of Trends in Serious Gaming’”. Review of Educational Research , 82(3), 296–299. Rockstar North. (2013). Grand theft auto V [Video game]. Rockstar Games. Rockstar North. (2013). Grand theft auto online [Video game]. Rockstar Games. McCoy, S. (2024). Mothership: Sci-fi horror RPG (1st ed.) [Tabletop game]. Tuesday Knight Games. Bulmahn, J. (2009). Pathfinder roleplaying game: Core rulebook [Tabletop game]. Paizo Publishing. Harper, J. (2017). Blades in the dark [Tabletop game]. Evil Hat Productions. Dippold, K., Murai, H., Karaszewski, C., Shin, C., & Rhys, M. (Executive Producers). (2026). Widow’s Bay [TV series]. Chum Films; Spooky Tree Productions; Apple Studios. Voleti, V. (2021). Space goblins! [Tabletop game]. itch.io. https://vidityavoleti.itch.io/space-goblins Voleti, V. (2023). Bloodbeam badlands [Tabletop game]. itch.io. https://vidityavoleti.itch.io/bloodbeam-badlands

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Episode #42

  EPISODE 42: DECONSTRUCTING MEDICAL SOCIOLOGY WITH ANDREA KELLEY

  Sep 7, 20261h 18mS1

  Episode References: Jenkins, T. M. (2020). Doctors’ orders: The making of status hierarchies in an elite profession . Columbia University Press. Collins, S. (2014). The hunger games trilogy . Scholastic. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. (2022). Measuring sex, gender identity, and sexual orientation . The National Academies Press. Peterson, C. L. & Walker, C. (2023). The role of social sciences in epilepsy. In P. Liamputtong (Ed.), Handbook of social sciences and global public health (pp. 1391–1410). Springer Nature Switzerland AG. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-25110-8_96 American Psychiatric Association. (2022). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed., text rev.). https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.books.9780890425787 Jones, J. T., Black, W. R., Moser, C. N., Rush, E. T., & Malloy Walton, L. (2022). Gender dysphoria in adolescents with Ehlers–Danlos syndrome. SAGE Open Medicine , 10. Laster Pirtle, W. N. (2020). Racial capitalism: A fundamental cause of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic inequities in the United States. Health Education & Behavior , 47(4), 504–508. Zachary, D. A., Palmer, A. M., Beckham, S. W., & Surkan, P. J. (2013). A framework for understanding grocery purchasing in a low-income urban environment. Qualitative Health Research , 23(5), 665–678. https://doi.org/10.1177/1049732313479451 Berg, L. (Director). (2009). Orgasm Inc . [Film]. CineMeant Films. Swartzwelder, J. (Writer), & Kirkland, W. (Director). (1990, April 15). The crepes of wrath (Season 1, Episode 11) [TV series episode]. In J. L. Brooks, M. Groening, & S. Simon (Executive Producers), The Simpsons . Gracie Films; Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. Tafel, A. (2019, October 25). Feel-good story (Season 6, Episode 3) [TV series episode]. In R. Bob-Waksberg (Executive Producer), BoJack Horseman . Tornante Company; ShadowMachine; Netflix. Herman, E. S. & Chomsky, N. (2002). Manufacturing consent: The political economy of the mass media . Pantheon Books. Kaba, M. (2021). We do this 'til we free us: Abolitionist organizing and transforming justice (T. K. Nopper, Ed.; N. Murakawa, Fwd.). Haymarket Books. Nelson, A. (2011). Body and soul: The Black Panther Party and the fight against medical discrimination . University of Minnesota Press. Spade, D. (2019, July 9). Shit's totally FUCKED! What Can We Do?: A Mutual Aid Explainer [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/PopmGAvsggg?si=RISnQZTgtj4O5BZM Lowry, L. (1993). The Giver . Houghton Mifflin. Reich, J. A. (2016). Calling the shots: Why parents reject vaccines . NYU Press. Inman, M. (2017, May 2). You’re not going to believe what I’m about to tell you [Comic strip]. The Oatmeal. https://theoatmeal.com/comics/believe Kelley, A. D. (2024). Medical schools as cisgendered organizations. Social Science & Medicine , 350, Article 116913.

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Episode #41

  EPISODE 41: (RE)DESIGNING ONLINE EDUCATION WITH MICHAEL YOUNG

  Aug 31, 20261h 21mS1

  Episode References: Tolkien, J. R. R. (1977). The Silmarillion (C. Tolkien, Ed.). Houghton Mifflin. Tolkien, J. R. R. (1954–1955). The lord of the rings . George Allen & Unwin. Miller, T. (Host). (2026, August 20). David Wallace-Wells: The Politics of AI are shifting in real time [Audio podcast episode]. The Bulwark Daily . The Bulwark. Wallace-Wells, D. (2026, August 13). The only way to keep the world safe from A.I. The New York Times . https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/13/opinion/ai-safety-regulation-robert-wright.html Bransford, J. D. (1979). Human cognition: Learning, understanding, and remembering . Belmont, CA: Wadsworth. Bransford, J. D., Brown, A. L., & Cocking, R. R. (Eds.). (2000). How people learn: Brain, mind, experience, and school: Expanded edition . National Academies Press. https://www.nationalacademies.org/read/9853 Schwartz, D. L. & Bransford, J. D. (1998). A time for telling. Cognition and Instruction , 16(4), 475–522. https://doi.org/10.1207/s1532690xci1604_4 Barron, B. J., Schwartz, D. L., Vye, N. J., Moore, A., Petrosino, A., Zech, L., & Bransford, J. D. (1998). Doing with understanding: Lessons from research on problem-and project-based learning. Journal of the Learning Sciences , 7(3–4), 271–311. https://doi.org/10.1080/10508406.1998.9672056 Burns, E. & Zorzi, W. F. (Writers), & Hemingway, A. (Director). (2006, October 29). Unto Others (Season 4, Episode 7) [TV series episode]. In D. Simon (Executive Producer), The Wire . HBO. Spielberg, S. (Director). (1981). Raiders of the lost ark [Film]. Paramount Pictures; Lucasfilm. Cognition and Technology Group at Vanderbilt (CTGV). (1992). The adventures of Jasper Woodbury: Journey to Cedar Creek [Videodisc]. Optical Data Corporation. Cognition and Technology Group at Vanderbilt (CTGV). (1997). The Jasper Project: Lessons in curriculum, instruction, assessment, and professional development . Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates. Bransford, J. D. & Stein, B. S. (1984). The ideal problem solver: A guide for improving thinking, learning, and creativity . W. H. Freeman and Company. Kolodner, J. L. (1997). Educational implications of analogy: A view from case-based reasoning. American Psychologist , 52(1), 57–66. Gick, M. L. & Holyoak, K. J. (1980). Analogical problem solving. ⁠ Cognitive Psychology , 12(3), 306–355. https://doi.org/10.1016/0010-0285(80)90013-4 Detterman, D. K. & Sternberg, R. J. (Eds.). (1993). Transfer on trial: Intelligence, cognition, and instruction . Ablex Publishing. Bransford, J. D. & Schwartz, D. L. (1999). Rethinking transfer: A simple proposal with multiple implications. Review of Research in Education , 24, 61–100. https://doi.org/10.2307/1167267 The IRIS Center. (2026). IRIS & Adult Learning Theory . Vanderbilt University, Peabody College. Retrieved from: https://iris.peabody.vanderbilt.edu/_archive/iris-and-adult-learning-theory/ The IRIS Center. (2026). What is the STAR Legacy Cycle ? Vanderbilt University, Peabody College. Retrieved from: https://iris.peabody.vanderbilt.edu/module/hpl/cresource/q2/p07/ Martin, T., Rivale, S. D., & Diller, K. R. (2007). Comparison of student learning in challenge-based and traditional instruction in biomedical engineering. Annals of Biomedical Engineering , 35(8), 1312–1323. Bruner, J. S. (1960). The process of education . Harvard University Press. Bruner, J. S. (1961). The act of discovery. Harvard Educational Review . 31(1): 21–32. Bruner, J. S. (1986). Actual minds, possible worlds . Harvard University Press. Harris, S. (1977) Then a miracle occurs [Comic]. American Scientist , Nov–Dec 1977.

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Episode #40

  EPISODE 40: INDIGENOUS FUTURISM WITH WENDI SIERRA

  Aug 24, 20261h 27mS1

  Episode References: Sierra, W. (2020). A strong fire . [Video game]. Second Avenue Learning. Wolf, M. J. P. (2012). Building imaginary worlds: The theory and history of subcreation . Routledge. Hergenrader, T. (2018). Collaborative worldbuilding for writers and gamers . Bloomsbury Academic. Sierra, W. (2020). Todd Howard: Worldbuilding in Tamriel and beyond (Influential video game designers) . Bloomsbury Academic. Tolkien, J. R. R. (1954-1955). The Lord of the Rings . Allen & Unwin. Rowling, J. K. (1997). Harry Potter and the philosopher’s stone . Bloomsbury. Goddard, G. (Director). (1987). Masters of the universe [Film]. Cannon Films; Edward R. Pressman Film Group. Knight, T. (Director). (2026). Masters of the universe [Film]. Amazon MGM Studios; Mattel Films; Escape Artists. Grubb, J. & Winter, S. (1984). Marvel super heroes role-playing game [Box set]. TSR, Inc. Wise, D. & Howeth, P. (Writers), & Wolf, F. (Director). (1987–1996). Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles [TV series]. Murakami-Wolf-Swenson; Fred Wolf Films. Chalopin, J., & Heyward, A. (Executive Producers). (1983–1985). Inspector gadget [TV series]. DIC Audiovisuel; Lexington Broadcast Services Company; Nelvana. Cooney, J. G. (Executive Producer). (1969–present). Sesame Street [TV series]. Children's Television Workshop; Sesame Workshop. Lucas, G. (Director). (1977). Star Wars Episode IV: A new hope [Film]. Lucasfilm; 20th Century Fox. Homer. (1990). The Iliad (R. Fagles, Trans.). Penguin Books. (Original work published ca. 8th century B.C.E.). Homer. (1996). The odyssey (R. Fagles, Trans.). Penguin Books. (Original work published ca. 8th century B.C.E.). Bethesda Game Studios. (2011). The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim [Video game]. Bethesda Softworks. Bethesda Game Studios. (2008). Fallout 3 [Video game]. Bethesda Softworks. Bethesda Game Studios. (2015). Fallout 4 [Video game]. Bethesda Softworks. Edwards, G. (Director). (2016). Rogue One: A Star Wars Story [Film]. Lucasfilm; Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. Upper One Games. (2014). Never alone ( Kisima Inŋitchuŋa ) [Video game]. E-Line Media. Coogler, R. (Director). (2018). Black Panther [Film]. Marvel Studios; Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. Goldberg, H. (2018, October 14). The making of Rockstar Games’ Red Dead Redemption 2. Vulture . https://www.vulture.com/2018/10/the-making-of-rockstar-games-red-dead-redemption-2.html Extra Credits. (2012, May 11). Tangential learning — how games can teach us while we play [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlQrTHrwyxQ Ubisoft Montreal. (2012). Assassin's Creed III [Video game]. Ubisoft. NeoBards Entertainment. (2025). Silent Hill f [Video game]. Konami. Cretton, D. D. (Director). (2026). Spider-Man: Brand New Day [Film]. Columbia Pictures; Marvel Studios. Sabaton. (2007). Metalizer [Album]. Black Lodge Records. Wargaming. (2011). World of tanks [Video game]. Wargaming.net. Harjo, S., Waititi, T., & Basch, G. (Executive Producers). (2021–2023). Reservation dogs [TV series]. FX Productions; Sterlin Harjo Productions Alexander, C. (2022). Coyote & crow: The role-playing game [Tabletop role-playing game]. Coyote & Crow Games. Konieczka, C. (2011). Mansions of madness [Board game]. Fantasy Flight Games. Lang, E. M. (2015). XCOM: The board game [Board game]. Fantasy Flight Games. Grann, D. (2017). Killers of the flower moon: The Osage murders and the birth of the FBI . Doubleday. Feige, K., Broussard, S., D’Esposito, L., Winderbaum, B., Alonso, V., Palmer, R., Gavin, J., Dayre, M., & Freeland, S. (Executive Producers). (2024). Echo [TV series]. Marvel Studios. Barnaby, J. (Director). (2019). Blood quantum [Film]. Prospector Films. A Tribe Called Red. (2016). We Are the Halluci Nation [Album]. Radicalized Records. Snotty Nose Rez Kids. (2019). Boujee natives [Song]. On Trapline . RPM Records. Achimostawinan Games. (2023). Hill Agency: PURITYdecay [Video game]. Achimostawinan Games. Jones, S. G. (2020). The only good Indians . Saga Press. Wilbur, M. & Keene, A. (Hosts). (2019–present). All My Relations [Audio podcast]. All My Relations. Iguana Entertainment. (1997). Turok: Dinosaur hunter [Video game]. Acclaim Entertainment. Sierra, W. (2025). Gaming for the seventh generation: Indigenous Futurisms in games. Journal of Gaming & Virtual Worlds , 17(2), 179–192. https://doi.org/10.1386/jgvw_00127_1 Dillon, G. L. (Ed.). (2012). Walking the clouds: An anthology of Indigenous science fiction . University of Arizona Press. Dillon, G. L. & Muzyka, K. (2019). From growing medicine to space rockets: What is Indigenous futurism? Indigenous Nations Studies Faculty Publications and Presentations . 21. https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/38952 Data East. (1990). Werewolf: The last warrior [Video game]. Data East. Guerrilla Games. (2017). Horizon zero dawn [Video game]. Sony Interactive Entertainment. Ruff, M. (2016). Lovecraft Country . Harper. Bobin, J. (Director). (2011). The Muppets [Film]. Walt Disney Pictures; Mandeville Films. Ornelas, S. T., Schur, M., Helms, E., Miner, D., Falbo, M., & Sackett, M. (Executive Producers). (2021–2022). Rutherford Falls [TV series]. 3 Arts Entertainment; Fremulon; Pacific Electric Picture Company; Universal Television. https://youtu.be/fyCUYCGQ83M?is=zpy5vB2K-xBOhsF8

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Episode #39

  EPISODE 39: MATERIALITY MATTERS

  Aug 17, 20261h 13mS1

  Episode References: Melville, H. (1851). Moby Dick . Harper & Brothers. (Original work published as The Whale via Richard Bentley, 1851) Miyamoto, S. (1985). Super Mario Bros. [Video game]. Nintendo. McLuhan, M. (1964). Understanding media: The extensions of man . McGraw-Hill. Landymore, F. (2026, July 25). AI companies are buying antique books, ingesting their contents to train models, and then destroying them at incredible scale, even if almost no copies remain. Futurism . https://futurism.com/artificial-intelligence/ai-companies-destroying-rare-books Maiberg, E. (2026, July 21). AI companies are buying tons of old books because they're free of AI slop. 404 Media . https://www.404media.co/ai-companies-are-buying-tons-of-old-books-because-theyre-free-of-ai-slop/ Edwards, B. (2025, June 25). Anthropic destroyed millions of print books to build its AI models. Ars Technica . https://arstechnica.com/ai/2025/06/anthropic-destroyed-millions-of-print-books-to-build-its-ai-models/ Bartz v. Anthropic PBC, No. 3:24-cv-05417-AMO (N.D. Cal. Aug. 19, 2024). https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/25982181/authors-v-anthropic-ruling.pdf Maiberg, E. (2026, August 17). We tracked a shipment of rare books. It ended at an Amazon AI training facility. 404 Media . https://www.404media.co/we-tracked-a-shipment-of-rare-books-it-ended-at-an-amazon-ai-training-facility Oliver, J. (Host). (2022, October 2). Museums (Season 9, Episode 24) [TV series episode]. In J. Oliver, T. Carvell, & H. Perez (Executive Producers), Last Week Tonight with John Oliver . HBO. Greenhouse Studios. (2020). Courtroom 600: A virtual reality encounter with evidence of the Holocaust [Virtual reality game]. University of Connecticut. Moulthrop, S. (1991). Victory garden [Hypertext fiction]. Eastgate Systems. Torgovnick May, K. (2013, January 14). Remembering internet activist Aaron Swartz. TED Blog . https://blog.ted.com/remembering-internet-activist-aaron-swartz/ Dylan, B. (1975). Tangled up in blue [Song]. Blood on the tracks [Album]. Columbia Records. Shiban, J. & Schnauz, T. (Writers), & MacLaren, M. (Director). (2010, May 30). ABQ (Season 3, Episode 11) [TV series episode]. In V. Gilligan (Executive Producer), Breaking Bad . High Bridge Productions; Sony Pictures Television. Doctorow, C. (2026). The reverse centaur’s guide to life after AI: How to think about artificial intelligence before it’s too late . MCD. Phillips, T. (1973). A humument: A treated Victorian novel . Tetrad Press. Postman, N. (1985). Amusing ourselves to death: Public discourse in the age of show business . Viking.

  ListenShow Notes

Recent guests on The Worldbuilding Workshop: Companion Podcast. Study who booked and why before you pitch.

Based on semantic analysis of episode topics and host coverage, this show is a strong guest fit for executives in:

Industry fit is computed by PitchCentric using vector embeddings of the show's episode catalog.