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A LitRPG doesn’t have to be a power fantasy to hit hard. Live from the chaos and magic of JordanCon, we sit down with author Reckwell, the voice behind Stumbling Up: The Loser’s Guide to Progression, a LitRPG comedy that swaps flawless heroes for lovable strugglers who keep moving anyway.

We talk about why Cole and his friends feel so recognizable: the self doubt, the constant comparison, the sense that everyone else got the instruction manual. Reck Well shares how personal career pivots and real loss shaped the core message, that progress is often messy and nonlinear, and that “loser” is usually just a temporary story you tell yourself. If you’ve ever wrestled with imposter syndrome, this conversation makes the case that progression fantasy can be more than escapism, it can be a mirror.

Then we get nerdy about craft. Why give the party an animal companion who’s intentionally useless, sarcastic, and somehow unforgettable? Enter Richard, the fanged banana slug. Reck Well breaks down the audiobook choices with narrators Jeremy Fraser and Jessica Threet, the decision to stay in first person, and the “creamy not crunchy” approach to LitRPG mechanics, with just enough levels and loot to satisfy without burying the story in math. We also unpack grind, pacing, and how a system that rewards what you practice can turn self criticism into an actual in-world skill.

If you love character-driven LitRPG, progression fantasy with heart, and stories that earn their wins, you’ll want this one in your queue. Subscribe, share the episode with a LitRPG friend, and leave a review, then tell us what you prefer: light systems or crunchy spreadsheets?

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Cozy fantasy looks gentle from the outside, but the best of it cuts straight to the hard stuff: grief, identity, belonging, and the quiet fear of being remembered for the wrong thing. We’re live at JordanCon 2026 talking with author S.L. Rowland, creator of the Tales of Aedrea, about how he writes stories that feel like a warm room while still demanding real change from the characters inside it.

We dig into Rowland’s path from LitRPG to cozy fantasy, why Legends and Lattes helped unlock the “retired hero” idea for him, and how writing nine LitRPG books sharpened the deep worldbuilding that makes Adria feel lived-in. He breaks down what cozy fantasy means in plain terms, why personal stakes can be higher than any “save the world” plot, and how standalones in a shared universe let him chase fresh emotional angles book to book.

Then we stir the pot with his next swing: cozy horror. Think spooky, nostalgic vibes rather than gore, and a premise built around a retired adventurer, necromantic texts, and an aging dog he can’t bear to lose. We also talk arthritis awareness and his work with the Arthritis Foundation, plus a wild industry story about how he accidentally became “Author Steve Rowland” in Dungeon Crawler Carl. If you love character-driven fantasy, small business fantasy, and stories about legacy, this one’s for you.

Subscribe, share the episode with a cozy fantasy friend, and leave us a review. What’s the coziest book that still broke your heart?

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We’re recording from the middle of JordanCon, where the background noise is real and the best conversations are the ones you can’t script. Author Ben Wolf joins us alongside Sound Booth Theater narrators Ryan H. Reid and Gary Furlong to talk about what happens when a story moves from page to performance and how LitRPG is changing what listeners expect from audiobooks.

Ben breaks down Rickshaw Riot, his debut LitRPG series co-written with Luke Messa. The hook is pure gamer wish fulfillment with a sharp twist: a billionaire builds a massive video game world that mashes up beloved game styles across history, then gets trapped inside it with 1.3 billion players and no “good” class left. He’s stuck pulling a rickshaw like Crazy Taxi, grinding for survival while a Scrooge-like character arc pushes him from cynical profiteer toward something better. We also get practical craft talk on navigating LitRPG tropes, keeping stats readable instead of crunchy, and why planning an ending (six books, not endless sprawl) can make a series hit harder.

Ryan and Gary take us inside the booth, where “just reading” isn’t enough anymore. We dig into immersive audiobook narration, live duet chemistry, casting choices, and the little production decisions that make audio feel three-dimensional. If you care about LitRPG, audiobook performance, progression fantasy, or how fandom communities like Dungeon Crawler Carl’s ecosystem influence new work, this one is for you.

Subscribe for more creator conversations, share this with your favorite audiobook friend, and leave a review if you want more live convention chaos. What’s the one audiobook that made you forget you were “listening” and made it feel like you were there?

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