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PODCAST

How to Be a Better DM: Dungeon Master Tips for the DM Newbie, the Hobbyist and the Forever DM

Learn how to be a better DM (Dungeon Master) so you can tell better stories for yourself and your friends. Learn things like how to start a campaign, how to create realistic NPCs, how to move the plot along, and how and why to use session 0"s for your party. Join hosts Justin Lewis, Cayden Ottley and Tanner Weyland as they distill all the DM tips, tools and resources for the beginner DM, for the DM with a few years of experience and for the Forever DM who"s been playing for 20 years. If you"re sick

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All Episodes

00:15:05

The Prop Pipeline: Journey Before Destination

How to Be a Better DM: Dungeon Master Tips for the DM... ·

2026/04/09

Are you a perfectionist when it comes to D&D props, and you spend all your time wishing that your DM table looked just as fabulous as the tabletops you see in all the professional D&D streams and setups? Does this unrealistic expectation even keep you from TRYING to create your own special experience and props? If you are in that boat, you aren't alone! You'll never be free from those unmet setup wishes until you learn to embrace the prop pipeline and journey: one badly painted mini

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00:16:57

So Long and Goodnight. (Veteran Advice)

How to Be a Better DM: Dungeon Master Tips for the DM... ·

2026/04/06

What goodbye advice would you give to your loved ones if you were Gandalf?In the last Creative Contraband episode, I give you mine.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/worldsmith⁠⁠Roll and Play Press: ⁠⁠http://session0studios.com/rollandplay⁠⁠Phantasm Studios: ⁠⁠https://session0studios.com/fantasms⁠⁠Monument Studios:

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00:18:57

The 5 Senses of DMing (Part 1): Feel, Smell, and Taste

How to Be a Better DM: Dungeon Master Tips for the DM... ·

2026/04/02

In this episode, we break down one of the most important—and most overlooked—skills in Dungeon Mastering: performance.But instead of keeping it vague, we make it practical.I introduce a simple framework built around the five senses to help you understand how to improve your performance at the table—and just as importantly, figure out what you’re naturally good at and what you actually enjoy.In Part 1, we focus on three often-ignored tools: • Feel – how physicality, texture, and tension can shape a

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00:15:38

The Art of Climaxes: What Do Pop Songs and Videogame...

How to Be a Better DM: Dungeon Master Tips for the DM... ·

2026/03/31

Welcome to the ninth episode of Creative Contraband! Danny Barrett dives into very popular TV shows to enlighten us about the art of “eliminating” characters (or not).Today you’ll learn valuable lessons about resurrection, character arcs, keeping stakes high, and much more.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/worldsmith⁠Roll and Play Press:

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00:20:59

4 Combat Expectations That Work for Both High- AND...

How to Be a Better DM: Dungeon Master Tips for the DM... ·

2026/03/26

Have you ever sat around your table while you and your party are in a combat encounter and thought, "This should be going more smoothly..." Well, you aren't alone! Fixing the stutters, the pauses, the minutes and hours spent on someone figuring out what they want to do often comes down to one word: expectations. So Tanner shares a few combat expectations that can really smooth out the wrinkles in your next combat encounter!

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00:15:22

What Solo TTRPGs Teach Us About DMing

How to Be a Better DM: Dungeon Master Tips for the DM... ·

2026/03/23

In today's episode, we explore the potential teachings of Solo Roleplaying, guided by our usual host, Danny Barrett.Learn how to identify your strengths as a Dungeon Master with minimal effort, and while having fun. 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/worldsmithRoll and Play Press: http://session0studios.com/rollandplayPhantasm Studios:

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00:22:32

The Rules of Great Encounter Design (and How to Prep...

How to Be a Better DM: Dungeon Master Tips for the DM... ·

2026/03/19

What actually makes a great D&D encounter?In this episode, we break down 7 essential rules for encounter design that will instantly level up your sessions—whether you’re running combat, exploration, or social scenes.You’ll learn how to design encounters that fit your story (not derail it), why your players need to want what’s on the other side, and how to create moments that feel real—even when they aren’t.We also dive into: • The CASE framework (and why most DMs ignore it) • How to keep your

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00:13:44

Plot Armor: What Michael Scott and GoT Can Teach Us...

How to Be a Better DM: Dungeon Master Tips for the DM... ·

2026/03/16

Welcome to the ninth episode of Creative Contraband! Danny Barrett dives into very popular TV shows to enlighten us about the art of “eliminating” characters (or not).Today you’ll learn valuable lessons about resurrection, character arcs, keeping stakes high, and much more.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/worldsmith⁠Roll and Play Press:

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00:23:02

5 Underutilized Skill Checks and How To Use Them

How to Be a Better DM: Dungeon Master Tips for the DM... ·

2026/03/12

Doesn't it always feel like more than half of your skill checks are perception or insight checks? Which is an absolute shame since there are so many other skills to use! In this episode, Tanner shares 5 skills and skill pairings that could be used in more creative ways than the pigeon-holed way we have used them in the past.

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00:26:44

From Chess to Rats: How to Make a Great First...

How to Be a Better DM: Dungeon Master Tips for the DM... ·

2026/03/09

In today's episode, we feature the first of many videopodcasts to come! Our usual host, Danny Barrett (and his support dog), unveils the secrets to nailing the first minutes of a campaign and of every session.You'll also learn how to build modular encounters that can adapt to any scenario your players might throw at you.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:

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00:16:18

The Rules of Great Encounter Design (Most DMs Miss...

How to Be a Better DM: Dungeon Master Tips for the DM... ·

2026/03/05

Great D&D encounters don’t happen by accident—they’re designed.In this episode of How to Be a Better DM, we break down the first three core rules of encounter design that help Dungeon Masters create encounters that feel meaningful, engaging, and worth the players’ time.First, we talk about why simplicity is one of the most powerful tools in encounter design. Overcomplicating encounters often slows the game down, while simple encounters can create fast, exciting, and memorable moments at the

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00:20:50

Dentists and Comets: The Importance of the Final Scene

How to Be a Better DM: Dungeon Master Tips for the DM... ·

2026/03/02

In today’s episode, we’ll take magic concepts to the doctor’s office and will mix it all together to learn how to make our players remember us as genius DMs after the session is over.If you want to make a lasting impression on your players, then this episode is for you. 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/worldsmithRoll and Play Press:

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00:13:20

Going Big: Making Memorable NPC Conversations

How to Be a Better DM: Dungeon Master Tips for the DM... ·

2026/02/26

Listen... if an NPC or a roleplayed conversation is unmemorable, why is it in your campaign? More importantly, is it possible to make each conversation a memorable experience? Well, if you GO BIG with your show, your tell, your personalities, and your NPC alignments, that'll certainly help! Tanner shares examples and reasons to go big or go home with your NPC roleplays—you'll thank us later!

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00:17:56

The unexpected upside of the CASE framework: Diegesis...

How to Be a Better DM: Dungeon Master Tips for the DM... ·

2026/02/23

Today we’ll dissect the ins and outs of immersion, guided by our usual host, Danny Barrett. In this sixth episode, we will go over the CASE framework and squeeze it for all it’s worth, going through concepts like Fourth wall, diegesis, and Verfremdungseffekt.This episode will help you prep more intentionally and better understand the limits of fiction in this hybrid medium. 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

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00:21:46

Fixing Tempo: Athletic Conditioning for the Heartbeat...

How to Be a Better DM: Dungeon Master Tips for the DM... ·

2026/02/19

Welcome back to today’s show.Today we talk about tempo, using 2 analogies.D&D is like music.D&D is like a heart.If you understand those two facts, you’ll naturally improve your tempo.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/worldsmithRoll and Play Press:http://session0studios.com/rollandplayPhantasm Studios: https://session0studios.com/fantasmsMonument Studios:

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00:13:49

Pauses and Silences: What we say by not saying

How to Be a Better DM: Dungeon Master Tips for the DM... ·

2026/02/16

DISCLAIMER:The musical composition is called 4’33”, by John Cage. (Forgot to say the name). It can be found here: https://youtu.be/TrlKxV5KWJo?list=RDTrlKxV5KWJo Welcome to the fifth Creative Contraband episode! After some minor technical inconveniences, we explore the delicate art of empty spaces guided by the usual host Danny Barrett.Drawing from neuroscience, music, and other arts, you’ll learn about building suspense, tension release, cognitive processing limits, and more. Thanks for listening

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00:19:26

Brevity: Say Less To Do More

How to Be a Better DM: Dungeon Master Tips for the DM... ·

2026/02/12

Doesn't it always feel like you have to fill the silence? Or explain better—explain more, even? As a DM, do we say too much when saying a little would go a lot further? Kind of a weird principle, but one that an over-explainer like Tanner is willing to tackle in today's episode!

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00:16:00

3 Things Your Table Will Thank You For

How to Be a Better DM: Dungeon Master Tips for the DM... ·

2026/02/09

In this special episode of Creative Contraband, our host shares some hard-earned life advice for DMs.Today, Danny’s yapping serves up valuable lessons in sustainability, improv, and experimentation.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/worldsmithRoll and Play Press:http://session0studios.com/rollandplayPhantasm Studios:

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00:25:47

Tips for Campaign Planning: A Secret of Successful...

How to Be a Better DM: Dungeon Master Tips for the DM... ·

2026/02/05

Welcome to How to Be a Better DM.Today, we continue our talk about campaign prep.In addition to the episode 2 weeks ago, we add the following tips:Ask what is the game we are trying to playWhen stuck, Break the C.A.S.E.Write up long term charactersThanks 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/worldsmithRoll and Play

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00:16:56

Character, Role and Archetype: The layers of a good NPC

How to Be a Better DM: Dungeon Master Tips for the DM... ·

2026/02/02

Welcome to the third episode of Creative Contraband! This time host Danny Barrett dives into the ins and outs of PCs and NPCs through theater theory. Why do all TTRPGs tend to have similar races and classes?Today we’ll unravel the core concepts that make complete and unique characters. In this episode, you’ll learn how to create, evaluate, and play characters with more personality, consistency and ease.Thanks for listening to today’s show. If you like our stuff and want to support us, here are some

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