That would be great! I’d love to pick your brain about setup and logistics.

Thanks. The plan was audio only, just character names.

My oldest has been wanting to try her hand with my recording equipment for ages and this felt like a natural first step; even if we just keep it for ourselves.

@dcbradshaw.com has anyone done an actual play with kids yet? I was thinking about running a game for my kids and recording it.

Screenshot of Blades in Paradise episode 31 Chapter list from Spotify.

I kind of love Spotify’s new chapter feature, if only for how utterly insane the summary descriptions of @bladesinparadise.bsky.social episodes are.

C1E31: Dances with Dinosaurs Podcast Episode · Blades in Paradise · 11/06/2025 · 50m

Daring Dino Deeds - it’s @bladesinparadise.bsky.social!

Winston has a cow; Max has an out of body experience; Sterling walks the dinosaur and Lizzie says goodbye.

This one is bittersweet, as it’s the last arc with our dear friend Queen. We’ll miss you Queenie.

podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/b...

I would like to listen to and review a new #ttrpg #actualplay every week in 2026. Send me your show! Send me your favorite show I haven’t heard of!

#52in26

I’m actively looking to normalize a good old fashioned #APSwap. I’d love to find some new, off the beaten path favorites who deserve a signal boost and give a detailed review!

Send me your #ttrpg #actualplay shows!

I loved @thebadspot.bsky.social’s Ironforge: Sundered Isles. What’s next?

I want to learn new games, meet new content creators and share stories I tell with my friends at @bardrockcafe.com and @bladesinparadise.bsky.social

Give me a listen, I’ll leave a detailed review.

Who wants to #APSwap?

It’s deserved. The work and effort you put in is evident. It’s made me want to start doing some short form video content myself.

One thing I forgot to mention. It’s refreshing to see you featuring and uplifting additional content creators in each episode.

This was fun! Usually suspicious of non -Duskvol games of Blades, but your enthusiasm won me over.

Rated and reviewed.

Thanks guys!

#APSWAP

TL; DR:
Would I recommend The Bad Spot? Earnestly and encouragingly.
Biggest Strength: Matt himself. His talent is the reason to listen and engage.
Am I going to finish? Yes. I’m speeding through the episodes like reading a book on the beach in summer.

#APSwap

I do question, however, if background music would be additive or distractive and whether the increased amount of editing and effort would provide equivalent results.

with excellent lighting and use of visual aids to track progress and educate your viewer as to the mechanics of the game.

Secondly, I found myself wanting some background music to heighten the tension or strengthen the mood during your narration.

My only critiques are minimal. I dislike YouTube as a platform, if only for the intrusive commercials and the Verizon network’s inability to maintain a signal throughout my commute. You however make excellent use of the platform’s strengths,

This is the best compliment I can give to Gideon, to Matt and to the Bad Spot. I feel like, in beginning Gideon’s story, I found a brilliant piece of forgotten genre fiction, a missing Alexander Dumas, nestled amongst the romance novels, Stephen Kings and Dan Browns.

I would gravitate toward the mass market paperback section of the local grocery store, desperate for a narrative, story or tale that could occupy me for a day, a week or longer.

It felt like a masterclass for free. I feel like I learned more of my craft from engaging with your content.

We often forget in this time of excess, that content used to be so difficult to obtain. When I was a kid in the 1990’s, with only a meager parochial school library to go to for new books -

In fact, some of my favorite parts of the three episodes I’ve listened to so far (spoiler alert, I plan to finish the series) was your discussion of mechanics, story structure, and how mechanics serve your story; and how if they don’t serve the story… they don’t matter.

I find myself envious of how easily and effortlessly you weave the game into your narrative as a scalpel not a cudgel. In your deft hands, Ironsworn suits and augments your narrative rather than interrupting and detracting.

You unconsciously place details and resources for Gideon that pay off brilliantly later in your scenes. You jokingly referred to “Chekhov’s Book,” on the manor’s rooftop, but there are easily a half dozen details in establishing these scenes that have eventual short and long term story implications

Would it feel too intimate, being alone with a sole storyteller for a dozen plus hours?

Matt - I can say enthusiastically and without hesitation you are a brilliant and talented storyteller. You’ve studied story structure, tropes and techniques and know them inside and out.

Warning: thread incoming. #APSwap In full disclosure: despite having listened to hundreds of hours of AP content spanning dozens of AP shows; before The Bad Spot I’ve never listened to a solo player AP show.

I’ve always wondered how it would work without the interplay and dialogue between a group.

Following @thebadspot.bsky.social’s lead. I’ll do an #APSwap with anyone who wants an honest review of their show.

I’m proud of the work we do on @bladesinparadise.bsky.social and @bardrockcafe.com and want to share it with more people!

Send me your actual plays! Let me hear what you’re proud of!

Moment of Balance:

podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/m...

Blades in Paradise:
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/b...

C1E1: The Crackshot, the Old-timer, the Muscle, and the Conman

Here are two from our network: Blades in Paradise centers on a crew of couriers in the post apocalyptic north west run in Blades in the Dark.

Moment of Balance is set in Republic City one year after the events of the Legend of Korra.

spotify.link/1gwXt52rOXb

spotify.link/iByKlVUrOXb

In Episode 30 of @bladesinparadise.bsky.social - our heroes strive to survive the spirit realm!

Stirling goes primal; Winston does the dance of joy; Lizzie deflects and Max still hates pickles.

Featuring a spirited discussion of deathclaw anatomy! @jonahlobe.bsky.social

#ttrpg #actualplay #bitd

Absurdia: The (Meta)Physical Edition An absurdist tabletop roleplaying game about the inane hilarity and mundane horror of everyday life, inspired by Welcome to Night Vale, Alice in Wonderland, and Gravity Falls.

Nice!

Proud to be the 469th backer 😎 on @BackerKit Crowdfunding for Absurdia: The (Meta)Physical Edition! www.backerkit.com/c/projects/q...

C1E29: Blazing Wreckage

We’re back with the third episode at Famous Films!

Max and Sterling take on the challenges of the Secret Sanctuary; Lizzie races to save her family at Pepperidge Farm; and Winston looks for the Perfect Draw to defeat Famous Nathan.

open.spotify.com/episode/0N3b...

@bladesinparadise.bsky.social

I RAN OUT OF SPACE, DAMNIT.

GAME ON! Trapped at Famous Films; the crew fights for freedom. Winston plays Combat Critters (#PerfectDraw) by
@continuityand.bsky.social; Max answers Ancient Riddles; Lizzie shoots to kill and Stirling rides the Pain Train to Battleball Town!
@bardrockcafe.com

open.spotify.com/episode/4i1X...