Best ORBIS Podcasts (2026)

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Episode #23: Cyd Harrell on “Tlön, Uqbar, Orbis Tertius” by Jorge Luis Borges 1:27:03

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7d ago1:27:03

1:27:03

Cyd Harrell, devout civic technologist, joins us to discuss Jorge Luis Borges's "Tlön, Uqbar, Orbis Tertius." We talk about tungsten cubes, techno cults, and our guesses about the "horrifying or banal" truth revealed by the story. Show notes: Buy Cyd's book! A Civic Technologist's Practice Guide (Bookshop.org, Amazon) "Tlön, Uqbar, Orbis Tertius" o…

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Enduring Value: Lessons from the Allan Gray and Orbis Partnership 21:41

15d ago21:41

21:41

In this final episode of our collaboration with Allan Gray Funds, Amanda sits down with LJ Collyer to reflect on a deep dive into investment philosophy and market resilience. As market cycles come and go, LJ explains why the core of successful investing isn't just about numbers—it's about mastering human behavior. From the pitfalls of chasing AI fa…

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72 - Calico and Psychomortis (Part 1) 2:37:14

6d ago2:37:14

2:37:14

CalicoVisions tells us about his game system and setting Psychomortis. The game is constructed to challenge players and characters to look inside themselves to find what's really important to them. In the far future the Earth has suffered from the arrival of the Iris which caused vast changes across the world. PCs are trapped beneath the Earth in a…

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Steady by Design: Inside the Allan Gray Australia Stable Fund 37:32

19d ago37:32

37:32

In this episode of Financial Secrets Revealed, Amanda welcomes back Simon Mawhinney from Allan Gray to explore the intricacies of the Allan Gray Stable Fund. Often perceived as a "boring" or cash-heavy option, Simon reveals the sophisticated, contrarian strategy behind the fund that prioritizes capital preservation and low volatility while seeking …

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Financial Secrets Revealed with Allan Gray Australia Portfolio Manager, Dr. Suhas Nayak 28:42

18d ago28:42

28:42

Welcome to the Financial Secrets Revealed podcast, continuing our collaborative series with Allan Gray Australia! In this episode, Amanda sits down with Dr. Suhas Nayak, a seasoned Portfolio Manager at Allan Gray Australia. Dr. Nayak, who manages approximately 35% of the Allan Grey Australia Equity Fund, provides an insightful exploration into the …

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The Art of Balance: Managing Risk and Reward Through Market Cycles 37:37

19d ago37:37

37:37

Welcome back to the Financial Secrets Revealed podcast! In this special collaborative episode with Allan Gray Funds, Amanda speaks with Simon Mawhinney, the Managing Director and Chief Investment Officer (CIO) of Allan Gray Australia. Simon, who is responsible for overseeing the firm's investment strategy and fund performance, provides a deep dive …

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71 - Aaron Ryan and Dissonance/The End 2:02:26

20d ago2:02:26

2:02:26

I talked with Aaron Ryan about two of his book series, Dissonance and The End. Dissonance is a near future world where aliens have attacked, killing most humans and animals on Earth and driving humans into hiding underground. Humans finally develop technology to fight back and the war enters a new stage while the characters also struggle to determi…

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The Allan Gray Story: From South Africa to the World of Value Investing 16:22

20d ago16:22

16:22

Join Amanda Cassar and LJ Collyer as they explore Allan Gray’s remarkable journey — from its founding in South Africa in 1973 to its expansion into Australia and global partnership with Orbis. Discover the enduring investment philosophy that underpins their funds: long-term thinking, contrarian insights, and a deep commitment to investor outcomes. …

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70 - Sensei Suplex and Project Aurora 1:45:01

1M ago1:45:01

1:45:01

Sensei Suplex joins us to talk about his campaign, Project Aurora. Suplex started Project Aurora in college with some friends. They agreed to have a few different campaigns done by different DMs to all exist within the same shared world. Suplex transitioned to paid DMing and the world expanded beyond that into a huge RPG experience with dozens of D…

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2025 Wrap Up 1:53:59

1M ago1:53:59

1:53:59

Mac, Pringle, and Broken catch up for (maybe) the last time in 2025 to wrap up the year and future plans for 2026.By MacSplicer

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Episode #22: Marta Regn on “Anxiety Is the Dizziness of Freedom” by Ted Chiang 1:23:33

1M ago1:23:33

1:23:33

"Anxiety Is the Dizziness of Freedom" on Wikipedia - note the fan art book cover Read "Anxiety Is the Dizziness of Freedom" on Medium Or buy Exhalation: Stories, the collection containing this story The Weathering Podcast – More discussions of Earth systems, chaos, and the meaning of life from Marta, Marshall, and Alden Kierkegaard's The Concept of…

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69 - Siix and Godstorm 56:09

2M ago56:09

56:09

There were some audio issues in this episode that we did our best to correct. Hopefully you can understand everything or close to everything! If you can't, you can always drop into the Discord to ask additional questions. The story of Godstorm starts 70 years ago when a fisher from the city of Gulia went deep into the ocean. He came back many days …

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68 - John and Tahlvaen 1:47:42

2M ago1:47:42

1:47:42

John tells us about his campaign setting, Tahlvaen. The world was something he dreamt up in childhood that he's now turning into a campaign setting for D&D. Tahlvaen is threatened by eldritch entities known as the Outer Five. These nasty beings were cast out beyond the Veil that separates them from the Tahlvaen. The eight Veilborn gods protect the …

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Episode #21: George Dyson on The Black Cloud by Fred Hoyle 53:59

2M ago53:59

53:59

George Dyson – historian, boat maker, and volunteer Staff Historian at Radiant Earth – returns to discuss Fred Hoyle's The Black Cloud. We discuss the cultural conflicts that arise between scientists and politicians, the limits of human language, human-incomprehensible modes of communication, the inevitable benefits of creating new observing instru…

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67 - John and Blittle League Blaseball 1:48:04

3M ago1:48:04

1:48:04

John tells us about his actual play show, Blittle League Blaseball! The show is based on the now passed internet phenomenon, Blaseball. In Blaseball, baseball teams play against each other while using magical and technological powers. Their furious battles satisfy the Elder Ones and prolong the time before the Antediluvians rise and consume the wor…

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66 - KC and Liara 1:54:14

3M ago1:54:14

1:54:14

KC Broadhead is a certified life coach who uses D&D and other TTRPGs as a motivational force for his clients, mostly young men and boys. He meets with each person weekly to check on their goals for self improvement. Based on their progress each client is rewarded some building points that can be spent on their character in their weekly session. Peo…

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Episode #20: Mark Chambers on Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton 1:36:52

3M ago1:36:52

1:36:52

Mark Chambers – my friend from high school (and former Chief Sustainability Officer of DC and NYC among other things) – joins us to discuss Michael Crichton's Jurassic Park. We talk about the collision between money and science, the illusion of control, dignity, public service, how many humans there should be, why it may or may not be ok to grill, …

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65 - Al and The Backrooms 1:25:57

4M ago1:25:57

1:25:57

Al from the Point of Insanity Game Studio and Podcast is here to talk about a couple of different things! We started off by discussing the Dark Sun campaign setting, which was a post-apocalyptic campaign setting released for D&D in 1991. Next was the changes in D&D over the editions/years. After that was Al's Point of Insanity Network podcast, a va…

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64 - Kevin and Orbis 1:44:31

4M ago1:44:31

1:44:31

Kevin tells us about his setting and TTRPG, Orbis. It's a crunchy mech combat game! Central to Orbis is the Ion Tempest storm. It started long ago and afflicts the world with electrical storms, cold snaps, heat waves, and odd magnetic and gravitational fields. History of the world before the arrival of the Ion Tempest is lost. Some sort of apocalyp…

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Episode #19: Matt Price on Piranesi by Susanna Clarke 1:32:37

4M ago1:32:37

1:32:37

Matt Price – technology historian and dedicated educator – joins us to discuss Susanna Clarke's Piranesi. We talk about egos, ego death, cults, academia, Christianity, Buddhism, and psychedelics. No insights, only more questions. Show notes: Susanna Clarke's official website Piranesi on Goodreads Very Bad Wizards on Piranesi Giovanni Battista Piran…

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63 - John and Dalteria 1:08:59

4M ago1:08:59

1:08:59

John tells us about his setting and TTRPG system he's developing, Dalteria. Dalteria the world was originally lifeless. Long ago on Earth, magic existed. When God flooded Earth, the wizards took all the magic with them. Noah built his ark while the wizards left Earth to settle and terraform Dalteria with their magic. Millenia later the people of Ea…

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62 - Deor and Black Noon 1:03:55

5M ago1:03:55

1:03:55

Deor tells us about his game system and setting, Black Noon. Interesting fact about Deor is that he has never GMed a game of his own. Black Noon should end up very player-facing in how its written and how it plays. The Black Noon system is a 2d6 system. Rolls are modified by adding more dice or with bigger modifiers. When adding more dice you alway…

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61 - Helix and RPG Major 3:00:14

5M ago3:00:14

3:00:14

Today's guest is Helix, the GM of the actual play podcast, RPG Major. RPG Major is a detective show in a fantasy version of modern Seattle. The show is half RPG/half musical improv, setting it apart from many other actual plays. The game is run using the Genesys system. Every few minutes a song drops in to cover the group's activities and emotions.…

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Episode #18: Noah Iliinsky on China Mountain Zhang by Maureen F. McHugh 1:13:06

6M ago1:13:06

1:13:06

Noah Iliinsky – most-esteemed information visualization expert, speaker and author – joins us to discuss Maureen F. McHugh's China Mountain Zhang. We talk about what matters, heavy furniture, sensible defaults, the burdens created by unnecessarily "innovative" design, pace layering, humans as instruments, and the double diamond bike. Show notes: Bu…

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60 - Todd and Skjaald Sagas 2:33:43

6M ago2:33:43

2:33:43

Todd tells us about his world, Skjaald, and his fantasy TTRPG system he's designing for it called Skjaald Sagas. The main continent for Skjaald is Driktsuung, a place with varied biomes similar to North America. The people of Driktsuung are divided into the Six Realms with different governmental structures for each Realm. All the typical fantasy ra…

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59 - Ryan and Ethereal 1:52:37

6M ago1:52:37

1:52:37

Ryan is designing a TTRPG system and setting called Ethereal. In the setting all cryptids like Sasquatch, the Loch Ness Monster, and Mothman are real. An international government organization known as the Beacon exists to control these cryptids and keep them away from humanity. The players act as agents of the Beacon, solving different cryptid cris…

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Episode #17: Daniel X. O'Neil on The Waste Land by T.S. Eliot 1:14:15

7M ago1:14:15

1:14:15

Daniel X. O'Neil, the worldwide entertainment juggernaut of the 21st century, joins us to discuss T.S. Eliot's The Waste Land. You will learn almost nothing about The Waste Land from this discussion, but you will learn about poetry, modernism, truth, hypermedia, (the "end" of) America, and enjambment. Show notes: [T.S. Eliot reads *The Waste Land* …

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The Fighting Game Community 1:59:38

7M ago1:59:38

1:59:38

Mac, Pringle, Broken, and Zio talk about their experience with the fighting game community, everything from the good, bad, and the very ugly. RIP Hax$By MacSplicer

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58 - Luca and Codex Inversus 1:12:37

7M ago1:12:37

1:12:37

Luca presents his world, dubbed Codex Inversus. Luca is from Italy and has used Italian Renaissance art as the inspiration for his campaign setting. Whenever he writes a new piece of lore its accompanied by a photoshopped piece of Renaissance style art. To see all the amazing art you can check out Luca's links below. Codex Inversus is a world that …

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Artificial Intelligence ft. Altilla 1:11:32

7M ago1:11:32

1:11:32

Alt joins Mac on the airship to talk all about AI, his personal project—Arden, and the advantages/consequences of AI possibly becoming sentient in the future.By MacSplicer

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57 - Daniel and Mists of Eldoria 1:04:57

7M ago1:04:57

1:04:57

Daniel tells us about his community published campaign, Mists of Eldoria! Mists of Eldoria is available for anyone to download and run for themselves via Daniel's Patreon page. Of the nine parts of the campaign four are finished so far. You can follow along with the adventure as Daniel and his own group explore Eldoria and get closer to defeating t…

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Big in Japan 1:18:03

7M ago1:18:03

1:18:03

Mac went to Japan, Broken is a Florida man, and Pringle is eating 3,000 calories a day.By MacSplicer

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Episode #16: Alex Merose on Convenience Store Woman 1:07:45

7M ago1:07:45

1:07:45

Alex Merose extols the virtues of lazy action and calls on us to embrace Duchamp into our hearts through discussion of Sayaka Murata's Convenience Store Woman and Maurizio Lazzarato's essay "Marcel Duchamp and the Refusal of Work." We explore themes of conformity, work, resistance, lazy action, and whether or not Duchamp was right that "language wa…

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56 - Austin and Beam Saber 2:06:35

8M ago2:06:35

2:06:35

Austin is here to talk about her Forged in the Dark game, Beam Saber, and one of the setting's she's released for it, Rush Wars. Beam Saber is designed for mech battles but with the numerous supplements it can be adapted for any sort of vehicle conception. Gundams, planes, robot dinosaurs, fast cars, or even the vertical maneuvering equipment in At…

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55 - Ben and Midgard 2:18:55

8M ago2:18:55

2:18:55

Ben tells us about Kobold Press's fantasy setting, Midgard. Midgard started off as an open design campaign setting in which the main author, Wolfgang Baur, allowed fans to vote on options for what would be included. That project expanded into the Kobold Press company which now has their own TTRPG, Tales of the Valiant. Ben is a contributing author …

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Episode #15: Johnny Rodgers on A Pattern Language 1:25:09

8M ago1:25:09

1:25:09

Johnny Rodgers, my friend from Tumblr (among other things), joins us to discuss Christopher Alexander's A Pattern Language. We explore how Alexander's design philosophy has endured and influenced not just physical infrastructure, but also the software and algorithms that increasingly encroach on our built environment. Show notes: A Pattern Language…

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54 - Dylan and the Faerun Crystal War 1:35:53

9M ago1:35:53

1:35:53

Dylan tells us about his campaign, set in the official Forgotten Realms setting! At long last Setting the Stage is covering the big D&D setting. Set sometime in the future of Faerun, Dylan's campaign focuses on a sentient and malevolent crystal that wants to mind control everyone in the world. This crystal is a representation of the forces of Lawfu…

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53 - Maia and Pinehurst Academy 1:15:29

9M ago1:15:29

1:15:29

Maia is our guest today presenting her actual play campaign, Pinehurst Academy. Maia used the City of Mist system for her game. From the City of Mist website, "In City of Mist you play ordinary individuals with powers that emanate from myths and legends investigating supernatural crimes and mysteries in a noir City where the truth is always hidden …

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Episode #14: George Dyson on Childhood's End 1:25:30

9M ago1:25:30

1:25:30

I had the pleasure of recording this on-site with George in his Bellingham workshop (a former tavern). I experimented with having Claude write shownotes for this episode, and it proposed this as a "key theme" of our discussion: "The parallels between Clarke's Overlords and modern artificial intelligence as agents of human transformation." This is a…

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52 - Arin & Caleb and Black Flare 1:22:32

10M ago1:22:32

1:22:32

This week's stars are Arin and Caleb from the Black Flare podcast. Arin is the GM for the podcast using the Delta Green rules system and Caleb is the podcast's producer and editor. They work together to create a phenomenal, slow-building horror story. Delta Green is an RPG for telling Cthulian Lovecraft stories in a more modern setting typically in…

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51 - Amanda and The Delicious Homebrew 2:00:00

10M ago2:00:00

2:00:00

This week's guest is Amanda, another member of the Quelmar organization. Quelmar was featured previously in episode 32 with James, the original creator of Quelmar. Amanda is a Quelmar DM and is currently DMing a Quelmarized version of Hitpoint Press's Heckna!. Her interview focused on her homebrew campaign without a "proper" name dubbed the Delicio…

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Kobe! 1:20:45

10M ago1:20:45

1:20:45

Shoutouts to the mamba.By MacSplicer

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Episode #13: Keith Garrett on The Truth of Fact, The Truth of Feeling 1:25:29

10M ago1:25:29

1:25:29

Keith Garrett, coy technologist, father, and former marine, comes on to discuss Ted Chiang's masterful "The Truth of Fact, the Truth of Feeling." We talk about the benefits of forgetfulness, the limits of attention, the difficulty of assessing the benfits of cognitively affecting technologies, biases, colonialism, religion, and traffic. Show notes:…

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50 - Emma & Maia and Yeld 2:23:34

11M ago2:23:34

2:23:34

Somewhere there is a door. Today's guests are Emma and Maia, the creators of the Yeldplay actual play podcast which was nominated for a 2024 CRIT award. Yeldplay is the official podcast of the Yeld RPG to showcase the system's unique mechanics and style of play. The Yeld RPG lets your roleplay as children that find a door to the Magical Land of Yel…

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49 - Josh and Last Fleet 1:25:46

11M ago1:25:46

1:25:46

This episode features one of the other CRIT award nominees from 2024, Josh, who tells us about his game Last Fleet. Josh and his partner, Becky, are the main drivers at Black Armada Games which makes TTRPGs (among other games). Last Fleet is a Powered by the Apocalypse game that simulates a situation similar to that of the Battlestar Galactica show…

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Cat Parkour 1:24:01

11M ago1:24:01

1:24:01

5 months in between episodes seems good. It's good right? Anyway, back in April.By MacSplicer

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48 - Udy and Pendragon 2:27:32

11M ago2:27:32

2:27:32

Udy tells us about his experiences with the Seventh Sea TTRPG system, the Scion system, and the focus for this episode, Pendragon! Pendragon is a generational RPG where you play a small noble house in England during the time of Arthurian legends. You play a knight or lady with responsibilities to your subjects, your lord, and the king. As play proc…

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Episode #12: Gina Trapani on Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow 1:21:10

12M ago1:21:10

1:21:10

Gina Trapani, exemplary human and champion of good things on the web, comes on to talk about Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin. We talk about creating universes, friendship, parenthood, all kidns of relationships, play, vulnerability, loving the web, the beauty of being bad at doing things, blank white boards, and learning a l…

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47 - Malcolm and Our Town 1:54:08

12M ago1:54:08

1:54:08

Malcolm, a member of the Advanced Age Roleplaying Gamers (AARPG) podcast, joins us to talk about one of his campaigns named Our Town. The concept for Our Town came about accidentally where rather than going on an adventure, the players all stayed in town and wanted to kick out any outsiders that wanted to change their little village. A rival baron …

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46 - Ben and Cybertopia 1:26:37

1y ago1:26:37

1:26:37

Ben tells us about his setting and independently designed TTRPG system, Cybertopia. Cybertopia is a fiction first system set in the near future. Amazing Corp saved the world from climate and energy catastrophes with a magical clean energy machine. As the world moves into a post-scarcity economy, Amazing Corp has risen in power and influence beyond …