Fascinating Gadgets, Gizmos, and Gear Based Technologies

49:02

Ep. 225 Gnomish Technology (that looks like magic)

Fascinating Gadgets, Gizmos, and Gear Based Technologies ·

2026/08/19

What if the greatest magic in the D&D world was actually technology? In this season 10 finale of FGGGbT we celebrate the gnomes: D&D’s most exuberant, most creative, and most explosion-prone technological pioneers.They dig into gnomish clockwork constructs, airships, and the philosophical question at the heart of every gnomish invention: is it poorly executed, or is it just missing safety features? Daniel J. Glenn argues mediocre execution. Dr. Michael Dennin and Ben Siepser argue

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49:53

Ep. 224 Psionic Creatures

Fascinating Gadgets, Gizmos, and Gear Based Technologies ·

2026/08/12

What do a brain-eating squid creature, a giant praying mantis, and a snake person have in common? They’re all psionic — and that’s about where the similarities end. In this episode of FGGGbT, we tackle the most challenging taxonomy of the season: psionic creatures. Unlike the undead or the Fey, this group has almost nothing in common except one thing — the power of the mind.They kick things off with the most iconic psionic creature in D&D: the mind flayer — part Cthulhu, part Billy

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51:13

Ep. 223 Creatures of the Forest

Fascinating Gadgets, Gizmos, and Gear Based Technologies ·

2026/08/05

What separates a pixie from a sprite, a brownie from a hag, and a nymph from a siren — and why does any of it matter? In this episode of FGGGbT, we tackle one of the most ambitious taxonomy projects of the season: building a complete classification system for the Fey. Unlike the undead, who are defined by their deadness, the Fey are defined by their otherness — their deep, fundamental connection to nature and the feywild. Using six core classification categories — former mortality, degree of

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49:31

Ep. 222 Taxonomy of the Undead

Fascinating Gadgets, Gizmos, and Gear Based Technologies ·

2026/07/29

What separates a skeleton from a lich — and does immortality inevitably make you evil? In this episode of FGGGbT, the Brain Trust — Daniel J. Glenn, Dr. Michael Dennin, and Ben Siepser — tackle one of the most ambitious projects of the season: building a complete taxonomic classification system for the undead. Using six core categories — physical presence, soul spectrum, voluntary vs. involuntary transformation, dead-then-reanimated vs. transformed-while-living, life force alteration, and

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45:23

Ep. 221 Psionic Magical Items

Fascinating Gadgets, Gizmos, and Gear Based Technologies ·

2026/07/22

What if crystals could store your personality — and eventually become sentient? In this episode of FGGGbT, the Brain Trust — Daniel J. Glenn, Dr. Michael Dennin, and Ben Sieper — dive into the fascinating world of psionic magical items, exploring the real science of crystals, information theory, and the question that haunts AI researchers and D&D players alike: when does something stop being a tool and start being alive?We break down two categories of psionic items — crystals and tattoos —

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49:50

Ep. 220 Magical Item Combinations

Fascinating Gadgets, Gizmos, and Gear Based Technologies ·

2026/07/15

What happens when you put a Sphere of Annihilation inside a Bag of Holding? In this episode of FGGGbT, the Brain Trust — Daniel J. Glenn, Dr. Michael Dennin, and Ben Sieper — go deep on magical item combos, the science of extradimensional space, the world's most powerful glue, potion mixology, and the surprisingly complex question of when a sword becomes a person. We kick things off with the Bag of Holding — how its constant weight hints at real theories of gravity and extra dimensions — before

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46:02

Ep. 219 Mastering Magic Items

Fascinating Gadgets, Gizmos, and Gear Based Technologies ·

2026/07/08

What makes a magical item truly magical — and how many is too many? In this episode of FGGGbT, the Brain Trust — Daniel J. Glenn, Dr. Michael Dennin, and Ben Sieper — dive deep into the science, physics, and storytelling behind D&D magical items, and things get wonderfully chaotic. We explore how magical items are created through the fantasy equivalent of metal alloying and materials science — from Damascus steel to samurai folding techniques — and how the concept of magical attunement maps

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46:22

Ep. 218 Schools of Magic

Fascinating Gadgets, Gizmos, and Gear Based Technologies ·

2026/07/01

What if the eight schools of D&D magic were actually eight fundamental forces of the universe? In this episode of FGGGbT, the Brain Trust — Daniel J. Glenn, Dr. Michael Dennin, and Ben Sieper — break down all eight schools of magic through the lens of real science, from particle physics and chemistry to neuroscience and quantum mechanics. We explore how the eightfold way in particle physics maps perfectly onto the eight schools of magic, and introduce the theoretical “magon” — the

en-US

42:27

Ep. 217 How Spells Work

Fascinating Gadgets, Gizmos, and Gear Based Technologies ·

2026/06/24

How do spells actually work — and why do some only affect certain creatures? In this episode of FGGGbT, the Brain Trust — Daniel J. Glenn, Dr. Michael Dennin, and Ben Sieper — break down the mechanics, physics, and philosophy behind spellcasting in D&D and beyond. We explore the power of true names and pronunciation (Cthulhu, anyone?), the science behind spell foci like wands — including a deep dive into electrostatics and why wood might not be a coincidence. We dig into why Charm Person

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38:39

Ep. 216 Psionics: Mental Magic

Fascinating Gadgets, Gizmos, and Gear Based Technologies ·

2026/06/16

Could humans actually develop psychic powers? The science says… maybe. In this episode of FT GBT, the Brain Trust — Daniel J. Glenn, Dr. Michael Dennin, and Ben Sieper — dive into the often-overlooked world of psionics, exploring the real neuroscience and physics behind mind powers in D&D, Stranger Things, X-Men, Star Wars, and Warhammer 40K.We break down why psychic energy works as a continuum (unlike the discrete “chunks” of arcane spell slots), and how that maps onto pop

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47:47

Ep. 215 Divine Magic

Fascinating Gadgets, Gizmos, and Gear Based Technologies ·

2026/06/10

Show Notes Can science explain how divine magic actually works? In this episode the FGGGbT Brain Trust tackles the rules, biology, and ethics behind divine magic in Dungeons & Dragons. From the life-force mechanics powering clerics and druids to the darkest corners of necromancy — we break it all down. We explore how death functions as a control valve for life energy, why souls are the currency of divine magic, and what separates a good necromancer from an evil one. Plus, we debate the ethics of

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44:57

Ep. 214 Arcane Magic Users

Fascinating Gadgets, Gizmos, and Gear Based Technologies ·

2026/06/03

Show NotesCan neuroscience and physics explain how D&D spell slots actually work? In this episode of FGGGbT (Fascinating Gadgets, Gizmos & Gear-Based Technologies), the Brain Trust — Daniel J. Glenn, Dr. Michael Dennin, and Ben Sieper — crack open the skulls of arcane magic users to figure out what’s really going on inside. We break down Vancian magic and why wizards forget spells after casting them (spoiler: it’s RAM, neural pathways, and sleep science). We explore spell slots

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40:32

Ep. 213 What is Magic?

Fascinating Gadgets, Gizmos, and Gear Based Technologies ·

2026/05/27

Show Notes What is magic, really? In this episode, The Brain Trust dig into one of fantasy’s most fundamental questions — not just what magic does, but what it is. They explore why every great fantasy setting gives magic its own internal rules (and why breaking those rules breaks the world), how magic functions less like a supernatural miracle and more like a natural force nobody fully understands yet — a fifth fundamental force, sitting alongside gravity and electromagnetism. From there the

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32:56

Ep. 212 Vampires

Fascinating Gadgets, Gizmos, and Gear Based Technologies ·

2025/11/12

Vampires are the one monster that seems to have been around forever (I mean they are immortal), and they never seem to go away. Their popularity may wax and wane, but these predators are always present, ready to suck away our life force in order to preserve theirs. Even when it seems like we have […]

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37:13

Ep. 211 Snake Folk

Fascinating Gadgets, Gizmos, and Gear Based Technologies ·

2025/11/05

Everyone remembers the famous line in “Raiders of the Lost Ark” where Indy says “Why did it have to be snakes?” Well our Daring Druid (and resident ophiophilist) Ben Siepser often wonders “Why isn’t it ALWAYS snakes”? So this week we take a look at a few of our favorite snake-based humanoids including the naga, […]

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37:33

Ep. 210 Basilisk

Fascinating Gadgets, Gizmos, and Gear Based Technologies ·

2025/10/30

Are you ready for MORE petrification! This week we discuss the basilisk, a creature that can turn you to stone just by looking at you. Well it has to meet your gaze, but we get into the specifics so you won’t get fooled. It is also gigantic, which is something to consider. Listen as we […]

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30:27

Ep. 209 Cockatrice

Fascinating Gadgets, Gizmos, and Gear Based Technologies ·

2025/10/23

There are certain creatures in myth and legend who have been said to have the ability to turn those they encounter into stone. This week we profile one of those creatures, the cockatrice. With the head of a rooster, the body of a lizard, and the wings of a bat, this tiny creature can petrify […]

en-US

36:53

Ep. 208 Horse-based Creatures

Fascinating Gadgets, Gizmos, and Gear Based Technologies ·

2025/10/16

There is a reason every little girl wants a pony: Because horses are really cool. They are so great that the world of D&D is filled with horse-based creatures including the unicorn, pegasus, nightmare, and even the centaur. Why this form? What tactile advantages does it provide? How can a horse fly but a pig […]

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36:18

Ep. 207 Man-Eating Plants

Fascinating Gadgets, Gizmos, and Gear Based Technologies ·

2025/10/08

As human beings, we are lucky enough to be at the top of the food chain. Being at the top means there is nothing above us. No predators to watch out for, nothing evolving to eat is specifically. We never have to check our rear view. Or do we? In this episode we discuss what […]

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34:02

Ep 206: Dryads

Fascinating Gadgets, Gizmos, and Gear Based Technologies ·

2025/10/02

The forest is filled with all kinds of creatures great and small. It is also home to one of the most mischievous and dangerous creatures: The Dryad. The woodland spirits are tied to a singular oak tree. They are so tied in fact, that they cannot stray more than 1000 feet from their home. This […]

en-US

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