The Modern Mythology podcast includes one or more of the following:
Discussion
We start with a theme and follow where it leads: player-facing design, setting and system, card- and symbol-driven play, and similar questions about how RPGs work at the table. Unlike our articles, these conversations are unscripted and exploratory.
Interviews
Interviews take much the same approach, but with a guest: game designers, RPG-adjacent artists, and GMs whose perspective we want to hear. We talk process, system, influence, and practice with people whose work opens useful angles on play.
Actual Play
In our actual-play episodes, we keep system in the foreground alongside story. Play is driven by mechanics, but also interpretation of those rules, player habits, setting, genre expectations, and table culture. We are interested in where those forces meet, including the rough edges where rules, rulings, and gaps in understanding may slow play down or push it in unexpected directions.
That friction is part of the point. We hope the result is as interesting to designers, GMs, and players as it has been to us.
about us
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![James]()
James
CREATIVE DIRECTOR / CO-HOST
James’ credits span a range of media—art, music, journalism, books, essays, comics, RPGs and podcasts. Co-founder of various media startups, projects, and collectives since 2001. Probably tired.
Reports that he is a raccoon living in a treehouse made of books and production equipment remain unconfirmed.
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![Scott Eco]()
Scott
DEVELOPMENT / CO-HOST
Scott has been gaming since 1978, GMing games throughout much of that time. He is a writer, a father, a researcher, and philospher.
He has worn a lot of hats in his years with jobs in law, formal wear, non-profits, cafes, and as a federal policy researcher.
He's an avid game collector, player, reader, and game designer. He once owned thousands of RPGs and read every one. Played most of them.
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![Sean]()
Sean
CO-HOST
Sean is life-long Dungeon Master for Dungeons & Dragons campaigns since elementary school. His role-playing experience was almost exclusively D&D until this show when his friends convinced him to leave the zone.
Sean is a registered nurse who is an expert in clinical technology, having taught classes, consulted, and spoken on the topics of informatics and the future of critical care technology.
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![Mark]()
Mark
CO-HOST
Mark brings a tactical edge to the show, contributing to the discussion about the interplay between narrative flow and system design. Beyond the mic, he thrives on exploring new game systems, often acting as a player to immerse himself in unfamiliar rules sets and then breaking them down for listeners.
Project History
Originally a popular fringe / counter-culture web-zine in the 2000s, Modern Mythology gradually contracted throughout the 2010s, eventually returning to its roots as a glorified personal blog with occasional guest contributors. It featured a mix of fiction, essays, interviews, and reviews during these earlier iterations. You can read selections from the archive on Medium.com.
For 2025, we have revitalized Modern Mythology, shifting its focus to Roleplaying Games (RPGs) as a medium for exploring “mythology" in the broad and evolving sense that has defined the project over time. Over the years, a diverse array of contributors and collaborators have shaped this project.
Contact us.
info@modernmythology.net