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John Richardson
About the podcast
Richardson’s Rubicon is a practical, good-humoured podcast for people who love speculative fiction and want it to work properly. Expect clear, usable insights on worldbuilding, reader trust, story logic, reveals and payoffs, plus thoughtful interviews with authors who actually explain how they made their books function.
If you’re a listener, you’ll get sharper stories, fewer “wait, what?” moments, and more confidence spotting what’s working (and what’s quietly breaking) in the worlds you read and watch.
If you’re a writer or author, use it as a craft toolkit: diagnose weak points, stress-test your setting’s rules, tighten your plot’s cause-and-effect, and leave with concrete fixes you can apply to your next chapter or revision. I’d be delighted to welcome writers and authors who have something to say about their own worldbuilding as this gives real value to listeners.
About me You deserve to know who you’re talking to. I spent years in Information Security and IT Governance before shifting into small business life, raising two neurodivergent adults with my husband, supporting Scottish independence, and keeping bees to stay sane. Podcasting is the passion that survived all that. Am I an author? No. Am I a writer? Yes, but I’m not published. I’m an experienced Podcast Host however, and that’s why I run this show. If you want the short version on me as a host, including my current guest rating, you can see my PodMatch podcast profile here:
I’ve hosted MMO and sci-fi shows under StarfleetComms (now gone) and Dataslate, reviewed books and films, and wandered into political chat under the name Jack Blast with Rewind For More Info podcast and of course Richardson’s Rubicon.
This podcast, Richardson’s Rubicon, has taken a few turns over the years, but Season Five finally lands where it probably should be: speculative fiction. The worlds we build, the ideas behind them, and the creative chaos that gets us there.
The live show, Riffin’ the Rubicon, will return when momentum is right. For now, Fireside Chats / recorded interviews are where the real conversations happen.
Want to take part or say hi?
john@richardsonsrubicon.com
PGP available here if you need it.
Book via this site: https://richardsonsrubicon.com/be-on-the-show/
Or book via PodMatch: https://www.joinpodmatch.com/richardsonsrubicon
And here is where you can follow on various flavours of social media, no X:
Bluesky – https://bsky.app/profile/richardsonsrubicon.com
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/RichardsonsRubicon
Threads – https://www.threads.com/@richardsonsrubicon
Mastodon – https://social.vivaldi.net/@RichardsonsRubicon
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/richardsonsrubicon/
Helpful links.
These are tools I actually use to make the show. The links are affiliate links, which means I might earn a small commission if you use them. You pay the same price. Nobody adds 50p to your bill. At most, you’re buying me a coffee (or half of one, because inflation is having a laugh).
Some people go out of their way to find a “clean” link so the recommender gets nothing. That’s a heroic amount of effort for zero benefit. If you use these tools anyway, using the links costs you nothing and sometimes even gets you a discount. Either way, no pressure.
Tools:
Castmagic AI (content heavy lifting): https://rubipod.link/castmagic
PodMatch (guest matching): https://rubipod.link/podmatch
Content Studio (social creation + scheduling): https://rubipod.link/contentstudio
Replug.io (link shortener): https://rubipod.link/replug
Auphonic (audio processing, not affiliate but you can donate credit to my account “maxtorps”): https://rubipod.link/auphonic
If you’d rather just fuel the caffeine habit: https://rubipod.link/ko-fi
Thank you!
Maybe you can take part, too?
Even if you can only do one or even a few episodes a year, that’s totally cool. I’m open to having lot’s of different people on the show as often as they want.
Now, let’s talk about the perks. Drumroll, please…there’s no money involved! But the sense of accomplishment and fulfilment you’ll get from being part of something special? Priceless.
So, if you’re ready to join me on this exciting podcasting adventure, let’s make some magic together!
Don’t miss out on this opportunity to connect, inspire, and have some serious fun!
If you want to know more or have a chat then feel free to contact me. john@richardsonsrubicon.com – Or… if you feel ready…
Do you want to be on the podcast?
Arrange a convenient video chat: Email me to arrange a pop-in. john@richardsonsrubicon.com
EverQuest - Season Two guests
Tom Teomus
Tom had a little bit of a late start in EverQuest. Childhood friends played it and Tom eventually got his own copy of the Trilogy edition (original, kunark and velious) for Christmas to begin his adventure on the Povar server as a Troll Shaman (Still level 53 in Kunark/Velious tradable gear!).
Over the years, Tom has played continually on Povar, Firiona Vie, TLPs including Agnarr and Mangler, but calls his home server P99 Blue. Packing well rounded knowledge of all things Everquest through the Omens expansion and particular expertise in Cleric and Ranger play, Tom has always found enjoyment through his years of playing.
Do you want to be on the podcast?
Arrange a convenient video chat: Email me to arrange a pop-in. john@richardsonsrubicon.com
Joe Ned
Joe Ned is an experienced gamer with a particular affinity for the MMORPG EverQuest. He has played many multiplayer online games, but considers EverQuest his all-time favorite, noting the strong emotional attachment players have to their achievements within the game.
A departure from his former hardcore gaming past, he takes a pragmatic view towards gaming nowadays; understanding time constraints and the lure of servers that cater to players with limited availability, such as time-locked progression (TLP) servers.
He was best known in EQ as gnecro by the name of Wawkin Disaster, who reached level 65 – raiding experience capped at intermediate Planes of Power (no PoT). Despite his preference for the strong utility Necromancer class brings to the table, he enjoyed the mage class and preferred to twink small class warriors as a side gig (e.g. – Nimbol, the Gnome Warrior in full Cobalt). Joe jokingly reminisces about his time as a guild and raid leader, acknowledging the difficulties and sometimes chaotic experiences involved. Having primarily played between 2000-2008, he’s knowledgeable about many items, quests and raid strategies.
Other games Joe played extensively, if not competitively include (but are not limited to): CS GO, Starcraft, Warcraft III, MTG, Shadowbane, EQ2, Lineage II, DAoC and DOTA.
Do you want to be on the podcast?
Arrange a convenient video chat: Email me to arrange a pop-in. john@richardsonsrubicon.com
Nate Stinehour
Nate became involved with EQ at a young age when his father showed him the amazing world of Norrath. Now, far removed from the days of falling off Kelethin platforms (well, mostly…), Nate brings with him a wealth of knowledge and expertise on classes, mechanics and raids. He is passionate about sharing his knowledge and growing the EverQuest community as a whole.
Do you want to be on the podcast?
Arrange a convenient video chat: Email me to arrange a pop-in. john@richardsonsrubicon.com
Jordan Doll
Jordan Doll is a passionate and seasoned player of EverQuest, a fantasy-themed massively multiplayer online role-playing game. Enjoying Scottish heritage and residing in New York, Jordan has been an enthusiastic member of the game’s community since the year 2000, marking over two decades of investment in the evolving virtual lands of Norrath.
Starting his adventure during the launch of the Kunark expansion, Jordan was captivated by the lizard people in the game, a fascination that has persisted through his extensive gameplay. Over the years, he has expressed excitement in experiencing further expansions such as Legacy of Ykesha and Shadows of Luclin, particularly appreciating the graphical updates that came with them, despite the challenges posed by his computer’s graphic capabilities at the time.
Jordan Doll’s dedication to gaming is evident not only through his long-term engagement with EverQuest but also in his in-depth knowledge of the game’s lore and community. Through his experiences in-game—like his search for the legendary ‘greenmist’ weapon and engagement with the Iksar race lore as a shadowknight—Jordan has both contributed to and drawn from the tapestry of narratives and social interactions that define the spirit of EverQuest.
Jordan is Razorlou in game on P99 Green. He’s probably got other identities too.
Do you want to be on the podcast?
Arrange a convenient video chat: Email me to arrange a pop-in. john@richardsonsrubicon.com
Rob Hal
Rob Hal, an avid EverQuest player, has extensive experience across various servers, including the original EverQuest up to Planes of Power, P99 green server, and the Yelinak server up to the Depths of Darkhollow.
Renowned for his raiding prowess and passionate about finding the right guild and forging new connections, he finds joy in the camaraderie of online gaming communities. While waiting for the next TLP server, he has now started a new guild called Ye Olde Hearth on Oakwynd so if anyone wants to join, look for Skarfester!
Delving into discussions about the evolving landscape of EverQuest, Rob reflects on the transformative impact of in-game maps, instant porting, and other game changes. His insights extend to topics such as the introduction of totally new features and changes from private servers to TLP servers.
Rob is Skarfester in the game, on Oakwynd, amongst other names.
Do you want to be on the podcast?
Arrange a convenient video chat: Email me to arrange a pop-in. john@richardsonsrubicon.com
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