In this episode of Type Speaks, Rae sits down with tabletop game designer, publisher, and textile conservation specialist Meguey Baker for a thoughtful conversation about community gaming in times of turmoil, and why play is never “extra,” but a vital part of staying human. From the deep history of games as tools for resilience to the modern realities of chronic stress, Meguey and Rae explore how role-playing spaces can foster empathy, connection, and care, even when the world feels like it’s on fire. They dig into how games let us “try on” different ways of being, why compassion is foundational to survival, and how community play can function like mutual aid: a place to come back to, warm up, laugh, and feel ready to face the week again. Along the way, they touch on the shifting shape of online play, the appeal of low-pressure multiplayer games like Lethal Company and Repo, and what it means to design frameworks that support both joy and meaning.

Video available on Youtube.

In this episode of Type Speaks, Rae sits down with writer, YouTuber, and longtime games critic Quintin Smith (Quinns) for a wide-ranging conversation about play, culture, criticism, and the wonderfully weird worlds we build through games. From the shifting norms of reviewing video games, board games, and TTRPGs to the evolution of horror games, game-lore obsession, and the influence of streaming culture, Rae and Quinns explore how players engage with design, and how critics navigate communities that are passionate, protective, and sometimes a little spicy. They dig into why role-playing games feel so personal, how “made-for-Twitch” jump-scare horror shapes the market, the strange state of children’s games and platforms like Roblox, and why educational design deserves as much aesthetic care as any entertainment medium. They even manage to discuss Auburn’s beloved Aubie, TikTok algorithms, Jim Henson, and which mermaid powers best reflect one’s creative soul.

In this episode of Type Speaks, Rae sits down with designer, educator, and creative entrepreneur Diane Gibbs to explore how curiosity, play, and lifelong learning shape a sustainable creative practice. From rediscovering illustration through cut-paper experiments to navigating the worlds of surface design, teaching, and independent business, Rae and Diane unpack how designers grow, adapt, and keep creating with joy, even when the rules need to be broken. They also dig into Diane’s journey through Auburn, her work on the children’s book Victor and the Vroom, and why embracing process over perfection unlocks unexpected possibilities.

Diane Gibbs is a designer, illustrator, and professor at the University of South Alabama, where she has taught for over twenty years. She is the founder of Creatives Ignite (formerly Design Recharge), a long-running interview series for creative professionals, and operates her own design studio specializing in branding, web design, and illustration. Her work spans client collaborations, surface pattern design, coaching, and community-building within the creative industry.