Best Difficulty Class Podcasts (2025)

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Ep. 166: Are My Heroes Villains? 1:05:45

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3h ago1:05:45

1:05:45

This week Erin M. Evans, B. Dave Walters, and Treavor Bettis answer questions about Heroes Being Villains, POV Mechanics, MORE Burnout, and Querying. Join our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/writingaboutdragons Starring: Erin M Evans (Empire of Exiles, Brimstone Angels) https://bsky.app/profile/erinmevans.bsky.social B. Dave Walters (A Darkened Wi…

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Restless Exhaustion: What to Do When You Just Can't Turn Off 37:46

24h ago37:46

37:46

It's the end of the day and you're finally ready to shut down, unplug from work, relax, or go to sleep—except your mind won't stop racing. You're wiped, but your brain and body are still vibrating. Maybe this doesn't just happen at the end of the day, but during breaks throughout it, or maybe you notice it when you've finally gotten to the weekend …

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Ep. 165: Writing Failure 58:43

5d ago58:43

58:43

This week Erin M. Evans, B. Dave Walters, and Treavor Bettis talk about Writing Failure, Writing Bios, Freewriting, and Who Gets POV Chapters. Join our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/writingaboutdragons Starring: Erin M Evans (Empire of Exiles, Brimstone Angels) https://bsky.app/profile/erinmevans.bsky.social B. Dave Walters (A Darkened Wish, Bla…

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Tools for Navigating Discomfort and Difficulty 43:14

8d ago43:14

43:14

At some point, we will all face discomfort, be it psychological or physical, at work or in a workout. But we do often get to choose how to handle that difficulty: Can we work through it? And if so, how? Or is it a case where fighting it actually makes it worse? If we can’t work through it, can we continue to perform at a high level despite the disc…

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Ep. 164: An Amish Paradise 1:05:36

14d ago1:05:36

1:05:36

This week Erin M. Evans, B. Dave Walters, and Treavor Bettis talk about Amish Romance for a surprising amount of time and then answer questions about Getting Characters to Kiss and Tension in Genres. Join our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/writingaboutdragons Starring: Erin M Evans (Empire of Exiles, Brimstone Angels) https://bsky.app/profile/eri…

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How to Avoid the Achievement Trap and Find Lasting Fulfillment 38:20

15d ago38:20

38:20

Just about everyone has been caught thinking that some big achievement would fulfill them—only to get there and realize it didn't. This is the Achievement Trap, and it's so sticky that even those who are well-versed in its trickery still find themselves following into its clutches. But there's another way, one that was exemplified by golf's #1 rank…

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Ep. 163: Does an MFA Help? 1:03:18

21d ago1:03:18

1:03:18

This week Erin M. Evans, B. Dave Walters, and Treavor Bettis answer questions about MFAs, Difference Between Drafts, and Genre Conventions. Join our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/writingaboutdragons Starring: Erin M Evans (Empire of Exiles, Brimstone Angels) https://bsky.app/profile/erinmevans.bsky.social B. Dave Walters (A Darkened Wish, Black …

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The Art of Doing Hard Things: Meaningful Challenge vs. Useless Suffering 32:42

23d ago32:42

32:42

We believe it's important to do hard things. In fact, as your may know, Steve wrote a book with that very title. But there's a difference between taking on challenges that lead to meaningful growth, and meaningless suffering for likes and validation. That difference is often lost in the performative world of social media. Today's episode is about g…

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Ep. 162: What We Love About Writing 1:01:04

28d ago1:01:04

1:01:04

This week Erin M. Evans and Treavor Bettis answer questions about What We Love About Writing, Reader Expectations, and Bettering Prose! Join our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/writingaboutdragons Starring: Erin M Evans (Empire of Exiles, Brimstone Angels) https://bsky.app/profile/erinmevans.bsky.social B. Dave Walters (A Darkened Wish, Black Dice…

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Balance is a Myth: How to Build Healthy Obsession 43:58

30d ago43:58

43:58

Today, we're taking exception with a couple ideas you often see passed around in the health and wellness space: that balance is achievable (or even desirable), and that obsession is unhealthy. To be truly excellent in a pursuit, it's going to require a level of hyper fixation or single-mindedness that is often maligned, and that will draw energy fr…

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Ep. 161: Sometimes It’s Just Spartacus 1:02:59

1M ago1:02:59

1:02:59

This week Erin M. Evans and Treavor Bettis answer questions about Querying, Pet Companions, and Chapter Titles. Join our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/writingaboutdragons Starring: Erin M Evans (Empire of Exiles, Brimstone Angels) https://bsky.app/profile/erinmevans.bsky.social B. Dave Walters (A Darkened Wish, Black Dice Society) https://bsky.a…

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How to Build a Meaningful Identity in a Status-Driven World 40:51

1M ago40:51

40:51

Here's a phrase we often come across: “Comparison is the thief of joy.” This is absolutely true! Unfortunately, we’re biologically wired to seek status and recognition, and with that evolutionary need comes comparison. It’s inevitable. So today, instead of telling you not to compare, we’re giving you the practical tools that will allow you to do it…

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What’s Up With Your Output? 38:52

1M ago38:52

38:52

This week a different sort of episode. During the last Tangents episode B. Dave wanted to check-in with Treavor about his writing and we wanted you to hear it.

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How to Be Excellent, Actually 47:35

1M ago47:35

47:35

On the inaugural episode of our rebranded podcast "excellence, actually," Steve Magness, Brad Stulberg, and Clay Skipper discuss the rebrand of the show (previously FAREWELL), define what they mean by excellence, and show how it's available to all of us—starting with three counter-intuitive but significant mindset shifts that will help you in the p…

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Ep. 160: Burnout with Dr. Ben J. Searle 1:12:25

2M ago1:12:25

1:12:25

This week Erin M. Evans B. Dave Walters and Treavor Bettis are joined by Dr. Ben J. Searle! Together they talk about Burnout - what it is and what it does to us - as well as Dr. Searle’s book about the subject! Join our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/writingaboutdragons Special Guest: Dr. Ben J. Searle (https://mindonthejob.com/) Experiences of B…

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How to Take Better Breaks: Mastering Rest & Recovery 47:59

2M ago47:59

47:59

We all know we need to take breaks to allow ourselves to rest and recover, both physically and cognitively. But it can be especially hard to do when we feel like we need to keep pushing. So today, we're tackling that problem: What would it look like to design our days around sustainable rhythms rather than maximum output—and how do we do this while…

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How to Know When to Grit vs. When to Quit 48:41

2M ago48:41

48:41

How do you know when to persevere through a rough patch—and when to give up entirely? And if you do decide to push through, what are the most effective tools to bolster your resilience and get you through to the other side? That's what we're breaking down on today's episode. We'll help you recognize when to continue striving despite setbacks and wh…

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Ep. 159: Unlikable Characters & Foreshadowing Timing 1:07:17

2M ago1:07:17

1:07:17

This week Erin M. Evans B. Dave Walters and Treavor Bettis talk about Unlikable Characters and Foreshadowing Timing! Join our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/writingaboutdragons Starring: Erin M Evans (Empire of Exiles, Brimstone Angels) https://bsky.app/profile/erinmevans.bsky.social B. Dave Walters (A Darkened Wish, Black Dice Society) https://b…

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9 Important Life Lessons We've Learned from Exercise 40:55

2M ago40:55

40:55

Exercise isn't just a way to better yourself physically. In fact, through our years of running, competing, and working out, we've found some of exercise's greatest gifts to be the lessons it teaches us about ourselves and about life. Here we are sharing nine of our favorites that you'll find useful whether you exercise or not: how to stay patient, …

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Ep. 158: Spilling the Tea with Ben Riggs 1:02:59

2M ago1:02:59

1:02:59

This week Erin M. Evans B. Dave Walters and Treavor Bettis are joined by Ben Riggs and they spill some very interesting tea! Special Guest: Ben Riggs: https://www.writerbenriggs.com/ Slay the Dragon: https://read.macmillan.com/lp/slaying-the-dragon/ Reading D&D Aloud!: https://open.spotify.com/show/0GtE2uO2hymGV0ySDMKT4d Join our Patreon: https://w…

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120 - A 66-Year-Old Powerlifter with 71 World Records on the Secrets to Long-Term Success (with David Ricks) 36:50

2M ago36:50

36:50

David Ricks first competed in a powerlifting competition in 1981, when he was 21 years old. At 66, he is still competing. Along the way, he's won 13 world championships, 32 national championships, and 71 world records. You might say he knows a thing or two about mastery, excellence, and sustaining both over a long period of time. Today, he shares h…

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Ep. 157: Tie-in with Delilah S. Dawson 1:02:08

3M ago1:02:08

1:02:08

This week Erin M. Evans B. Dave Walters and Treavor Bettis are joined by Delilah S. Dawson! Together writing tie-in fiction! Special Guest: Delilah S. Dawson: https://bsky.app/profile/delilahsdawson.bsky.social Join our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/writingaboutdragons Starring: Erin M Evans (Empire of Exiles, Brimstone Angels) https://bsky.app/…

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119 - How to Turn Your Inner Critic Into a Coach 44:54

3M ago44:54

44:54

By some estimates, the voice in your head can spew up to 4000 words per minute, making it all the more important that we learn how to live with it. This can be especially hard when it's loud and critical, which (maybe you've noticed) it has a tendency to be at some of the most inopportune times: right before an important event. Today we discuss str…

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Ep. 156: Literary Agents with Bridget Smith 1:11:18

3M ago1:11:18

1:11:18

This week Erin M. Evans B. Dave Walters and Treavor Bettis are joined by Erin’s agent - Bridget Smith! Together they talk about the Publishing Industry and Query Letters. Special Guest: Bridget Smith: https://awfulagent.com/agents/bridget-smith/ Join our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/writingaboutdragons Starring: Erin M Evans (Empire of Exiles, …

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118 - How to Build Discipline 43:18

3M ago43:18

43:18

Why are some people disciplined and others aren’t? It’s not because of an innate character trait, but because disciplined people have simply trained the skill of being disciplined. Today we break down how to do that by discussing how motivation and inspiration can (and often do) get in the way of discipline, the power of routines and constraints, s…

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Ep. 155: Trusting Yourself with Coral Moore 1:11:22

3M ago1:11:22

1:11:22

This week Erin M. Evans B. Dave Walters and Treavor Bettis are joined by Coral Alejandra Moore! Together they talk about Trusting Yourself as a Writer and a totally don’t tangent left and right the whole time. Special Guest: Coral Alejandra Moore: https://www.coralmoore.com/ Get her next book here! https://www.coralmoore.com/collections/books/produ…

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117 - The Masculinity Crisis, and Why It Matters for All of Us (Part 2) 56:08

3M ago56:08

56:08

This is the second of two episodes we're devoting to the topic of masculinity. Last week, in part one, we spoke with Richard Reeves about how changing ideas of what it means to be a man have left many men feeling adrift. Today, Brad, Steve, and Clay discuss that episode, reflect on some clips from a few other voices who've thought deeply about this…

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Ep. 154: The Toe Ring of Finger Growing 1:07:22

3M ago1:07:22

1:07:22

This week Erin M. Evans B. Dave Walters and Treavor Bettis answer questions about Making Tough Decisions, Getting Started, and Alternate Endings. Join our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/writingaboutdragons Starring: Erin M Evans (Empire of Exiles, Brimstone Angels) https://bsky.app/profile/erinmevans.bsky.social B. Dave Walters (A Darkened Wish, …

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116 - The Masculinity Crisis, and Why It Matters for All of Us (Part 1) 54:56

3M ago54:56

54:56

Over the next two weeks, we're going to be exploring the topic of masculinity—more specifically, how changing ideas of what it means to be a man have left many men feeling adrift, and what a path to a more positive masculinity might look like, particularly amid a backdrop of hyper-productivity, optimization, and toxic influences like Andrew Tate. T…

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Ep. 153: Genre Promises 54:03

4M ago54:03

54:03

This week Erin M. Evans B. Dave Walters and Treavor Bettis answer questions about What to do With 200,000 Words, Genre Promises, and Making Names. Join our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/writingaboutdragons Starring: Erin M Evans (Empire of Exiles, Brimstone Angels) https://bsky.app/profile/erinmevans.bsky.social B. Dave Walters (A Darkened Wish,…

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115 - Mailbag: Daily Health Checklist, Rut vs. Burnout, & Taking Good Breaks 32:30

4M ago32:30

32:30

You've got questions, we've got answers. Today, we dive into listener emails and voicemails to answer some of your questions. 1) Can you give me a minimalist daily health checklist? 2) How do I tell the difference between a rut and burnout? 3) What do "good" breaks actually look like? 4) How do I stay committed to long-term goals when short-term st…

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Ep. 152: Assemble the Team 1:06:56

4M ago1:06:56

1:06:56

This week Erin M. Evans B. Dave Walters and Treavor Bettis answer questions about Assembling the Team, Copyrights, and Sequel Problems! Join our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/writingaboutdragons Starring: Erin M Evans (Empire of Exiles, Brimstone Angels) https://bsky.app/profile/erinmevans.bsky.social B. Dave Walters (A Darkened Wish, Black Dice…

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114 - Choke, Recover, Repeat: Mastering the Art of Resilience 47:44

4M ago47:44

47:44

In the world of sport and performance, a lot is made of executing under pressure. "Don't choke," we often say. However, what is perhaps more impressive (not to mention realistic) is being able to bounce back from choking. (In some ways, this is what Rory McIlroy displayed in his Masters victory this past weekend, winning in a one-hole playoff after…