The Podcast Zone: Everything You Need to Know About DND Podcasts

Long day of cleaning ahead? Dog itching for an epic walk? The inevitable bore of a long road trip looming into your future? Fear not—an epic lineup of fun, engaging, and intriguing Dungeons and Dragons podcasts are here!

D&D podcasts (and podcasts in general) have seen a major renaissance since the pandemic, and there’s an endless backlog of worlds and settings when it comes to choosing your next adventure. Well-produced, theatrical D&D podcasts can be a great way to pass the time as an individual or as a family, and they can also be an engaging, practical way to familiarize yourself with the rules and mechanics of the game. So whether you’re an iTunes or Spotify fanatic, it’s time to find your next epic quest!

But before you go comparing Dungeons and Daddies to your last tabletop sesh, please keep in mind…

D&D Podcasts Are a Production (So Don’t Compare Them to Your Game)

A beautifully crafted, absolutely pro DIMENSION 20 set. This is literally what College Humor does now.

And for some of the big ones, the production value is high!

For major names like Dimension 20 and Critical Role, these stories are more than just a game—they’re the players’ livelihoods! Famous dungeon masters like Matt Mercer and Brennan Lee Mulligan are professional voice actors and comedians (respectively), as are the cast of players in the party. Of course, their voices are hilarious, their sets are epically intricate, and they expertly incorporate their own foley work—these people are pros!

This isn’t to intimidate or discourage anyone. It’s not a standard to be upheld, but a fun, creative way for players to interact with the game in new and fun ways. (One of my personal favorites is Tales from the Stinky Dragon’s incredible use of puppetry.)

Podcasts also have the luxury of not being bound to real-time results. Players can meet and consult about the overarching story arc, and scenes can have more than one take if things don’t turn out to precise narrative satisfaction. Of course, when we’re listening to these epic stories, we absolutely suspend our disbelief as if the game were happening in real-time, but that’s not to say that tweaking doesn’t happen. These platforms also have the power of post-production edits—adding content, snipping mistakes, and even the ability to cherry-pick the best parts.

Now, before you accuse me of being a cynic, I’m not saying that everything is edited and/or scripted. The humble, bardic point I’m simply trying to make is not to compare apples to oranges—or, in this case, a Saturday night one shot to a paid, professionally-produced cinematic production.

D&D Podcasts Are a Great Way to Learn the Game…But Check the Content First

THE ADVENTURE ZONE! Colorful! Fun! Annnd… full of mature content.

My first foray into the magical land of Dungeons and Dragons was, like many, listening to The Adventure Zone. I immediately fell in love with the three McElroy brothers teaching their dad the ropes, and it helped me gain the know-how I needed to approach my first in-person game with confidence. Play podcasts (where the players are actually playing through a game instead of merely discussing topics or mechanics) do an excellent job of illustrating the flow of the game—roleplay, combat, etc.—as well as the potential for fun, creativity, and camaraderie at the table.

That being said…

Be sure to check the content of your chosen D&D podcast before you give it a listen!

When I set about writing this blog, Katie asked me for recommendations for some of my favorite, family-friendly podcasts. My mind started whirling, but then I remembered…Holy guacamole—I’ve never listened to any of these with young ears present! Critical Role, Dimension 20… Even one of my all-time favorite D&D casts, The Adventure Zone, features its fair share of swearing, adult jokes, and suggestive content. (I’ll never forget the angry Amazon review of the graphic novel adaptation from a woman who’d bought the books for her grandchild without knowing what she was in for.) Yes, the content is fun, playful, and accessible for a wide age range, but whether or not it’s appropriate for your kid totally depends on their maturity level and other types of content they consume.

We’re working on our own list of recommended podcasts for tweens and teens—in the meantime, check out this list of family-friendly D&D and gaming podcasts from our friends at TTRPGKids. Even though they’re “family friendly”, this list may not be purely PG. Which is why, in my humble bardic opinion…

Do Your Own Research—Listen With Your Kid!

Heed this sage advice, and listen to your D&D pod of choice alongside your kid.

Yes, it’s work. But the type and subject matter of content out there is so vast, there’s really no other way to do it. Every kid is different, and the threshold for violence, innuendos, cursing, and potentially triggering content is going to be different in every household.

So before pressing play on the ride home from school, take a few minutes to check out the podcast and its following. Are there any explicit content warnings on iTunes or Spotify? What sort of age group seems to be following and commenting within the fandom? Do you know of any other D&D parents who have given it a listen?

Even after all that, you still may want to try the first episode for yourself before blasting it in the Honda Odyssey after soccer practice. The worst-case scenario still involves being informed about what your kids are listening to. And the best case? You might actually enjoy the story yourself.

D&D Podcasts: In Conclusion

A great podcast is an awesome go-to for dog walking, mundane chores, or an obligatory, eight-hour road trip to a random uncle’s house over the holidays. Podcasts can be a great way to share the magic of D&D with the whole car, and when it comes to learning the rules, figuring out the mechanics, and observing the flow of the game, nothing beats an engaging, cinematic story arc.

But that’s just the thing—these podcasts are also cinematic. As rollicking and rip-roaring as they may be, we also have to remember that very few (if any) real-time games run as smoothly as these heavily edited story arcs. Most DMs and players on these large productions are seasoned professionals (Dream job—am I right?), and they’ve got multiple takes, edits, and post-production pick-and-play tricks to make sure their story comes off exactly as they want it to.

So if your game isn’t as polished or perfect as Fantasy High or Tales from the Stinky Dragon, don’t sweat it! Different mediums, different rules.

It’s also important to remember that D&D has a wide audience, so just because your kids are into a plotline doesn’t mean the content of every podcast is going to be appropriate and safe for everyone in the minivan. My advice is to do your research, check the posted content warnings, and even give a few episodes a listen before you start blasting anything over communal speakers.

Ready to Embark On Your Own Adventure?

Join us to start your own online D&D adventure!

As always, the best way to get involved is to dive right in. Young Dragonslayers specializes in running online D&D games for kids ages 12-16, featuring the content you’d expect to find in a PG or PG-13 movie. Our inclusive, supportive games are facilitated by professional adult DMs to keep things safe and fun for all involved.

Aspiring young Dungeon Masters should keep their eyes peeled for our upcoming Learn to DM course, which will be released later this summer! The course covers everything you’ll need to create and run an original one-shot game for your friends—while picking up some valuable leadership skills along the way.