Burning Man as Worldbuilding | Sarah Marshall, Playa Dust in My Soul
Author Sarah Marshall shares insights on crafting her book “Playa Dust in My Soul,” exploring Burning Man’s deep sense of belonging and unique community.
Read MoreWorldbuilding
Sci-Fi Worldbuilding and Moral Pressure | Diana Colleen
I sat down with Diana Colleen for a proper deep dive into her award-winning novel They Could Be Saviors, a near-future speculative story that does not play it safe. The premise is as simple as it is provocative: what if the only way to address the climate crisis is to kidnap the billionaires helping to…
Read More
Dyslexia, Story Structure, and Writing That Works | Russell Van Brocklen
Learn strategies for world building, character development, and overcoming dyslexia’s challenges in writing, featuring insights from Russell Van Brocklen.
Read More
Big Adventure, Real Feelings, and Lasting Hope | Christian Hurst
Christian Hurst’s Lily Starling books sit in a sweet spot that a lot of science fiction has forgotten how to hit: big adventure, real feelings, and a thread of hope that does not feel childish or naïve. In this episode of Richardson’s Rubicon, Christian joins me to talk about Lily Starling and the Voyage of…
Read More
Historical Fantasy and Undead Chaos | Richard H. Moon, To Conquer Death
In this episode, I chat with Richard H. Moon about his book To Conquer Death, blending historical fantasy with undead chaos, world-building challenges, and writing tips.
Read More
Episode 1: The Reset
In this season opener, John strips the podcast back to its core purpose. The show drops the scattered topics and shifts hard toward speculative fiction, worldbuilding, and the craft behind imagined futures. John explains why the old format was unfocused, why this reset is necessary, and why writers must confront their own blind spots if…
Read More