The Good Friends of Jackson Elias
The Good Friends of Jackson Elias is a regular podcast devoted to the Call of Cthulhu roleplaying game, horror movies, weird fiction and horror gaming in general. It is hosted by Paul Fricker, Matthew Sanderson and Scott Dorward, three writers who have worked on the new edition of Call of Cthulhu and other tabletop roleplaying games. Each episode focuses on a different topic, always related to our love of all things dark and horrifying.
info_outline
345: Alien, with Holly from RPG Reanimators
08/10/2026
345: Alien, with Holly from RPG Reanimators
Main Topic: Alien Since its release in 1979, Alien has become a fan favourite, spawning any number of spin-offs across every medium. But what is the secret of its enduring appeal? How well does it stand up after almost five decades of imitators and pastiches? And what can we take from its strange DNA for our own games? Our Guest Host We are delighted to welcome Holly back to the Good Friends! Holly co-hosts , a podcast focusing on providing resources for GMs and players of horror RPGs. She’s also a regular on , an actual play YouTube channel. In addition to RPGs, she’s an avid board gamer, space nerd, and all-around trivia enthusiast. You can find Holly over on the . Holly has previously joined us to discuss: Links Things we mention in this episode include: (1987) (1963) (1984) (1984) (1974) (1985) (1991) by HP Lovecraft by Joy Division Tarantula hawk wasp paralysing its prey (c)Marc Shandro [mshandro@yahoo.com] by Peter Watts (1982) (1986) — possible urban myth (1974) “The Derelict” from (2005) (2015) (2011) on RPG Reanimators News Patreon Changes has announced that they are discontinuing the option for creators to charge (per episode, in our case). This is the model we have always used, as it was the only option available when we started. Instead, we now have switch to a monthly subscription. We are also taking this opportunity to change from US dollars to British Pounds, as, again, this wasn’t an option when we started. From September 2026, will be £3, £6 and £10 per month, replacing the old $1, $3 and $5 per-episode tiers. Higher tiers will simply be double the current cost, but in Pounds. This works out as roughly the same cost. The rewards for each tier will also stay the same. This change additionally allows us to enable annual subscriptions, although we are still looking into these. If this sounds like something you would be interested in, please let us know. Thank You to ENnie Voters While we didn’t end up winning an ENnie award this year, we would still like to thank everyone who voted for us. Just being nominated was amazing, and we were moved by all the support from listeners. It’s all been rather wonderful.
/episode/index/show/goodfriendsofjacksonelias/id/42373030
info_outline
344: Why You Shouldn't Learn to Roleplay From Actual Plays, with Zach Reeves
07/27/2026
344: Why You Shouldn't Learn to Roleplay From Actual Plays, with Zach Reeves
Main Topic: Why You Shouldn’t Learn to Roleplay From Actual Plays Actual play podcasts and streams have grown in popularity massively over the past 20 years, redefining and dominating the hobby. They play a huge role in bringing people into roleplaying games, and possibly an even larger one in teaching new players how they work. But is this always a good thing? What are the advantages and possible pitfalls of learning from APs? And what other approaches might we recommend? This episode was recorded live at A Weekend With Good Friends 2026. While it mostly follows the usual format, we do spend a bit of time towards the end answering questions from people who were watching live. You can see the video for this and all the other seminars on the . Our Guest Host We are delighted to welcome Zach Reeves back to The Good Friends of Jackson Elias! Zach is the game master, producer, and editor of , a horror/comedy actual play podcast. Zach enjoys karaoke with his wife, dancing with friends, and creating elaborate scavenger hunts. He is afraid of losing his mind and Styrofoam. Pretending to be People will be appearing live at Gen Con 2026, at 4 PM on Friday the 31st. There will also be meetups throughout the con, so keep an eye out for those. Zach has previously joined us to discuss: Links Things we mention in this episode include: by John Braine by George Orwell by JRR Tolkien on Push the Roll With Ross Bryant on How We Roll on Into the Darkness “The Burning Stars” from on How We Roll Critical Role “Hell is Other People” from (1966) on Ain’t Slayed Nobody ” shotgun scenario with Jared Logan on Pretending to be People The Glass Cannon Network, with at least three Good Friends co-hosts News 2HS on HWR After 9 1/2 years, How We Roll have recorded the final episodes of . This has been an epic journey, and Scott would like to thank everyone who took part, specifically Joe, Dave, Kuran, Camille, Liisa, Aron, Eoghan, and Mav. Oh, and Greg, of course. These last episodes will come out over the course of the next few months. Expect death, destruction, and sheer bloody chaos. Now for a short rest before the inevitable sequel.
/episode/index/show/goodfriendsofjacksonelias/id/42232995
info_outline
343: Reactive GMing, with Ross Bryant
07/13/2026
343: Reactive GMing, with Ross Bryant
Main Topic: Reactive GMing No game ever goes to plan. Whether you have prepared for every eventuality or are running off the cuff, players will always do the unexpected. Improvisation is a key skill for GMs, from spinning narrative on the fly to incorporating whatever chaos the players come up with. But what are some of the key techniques in making this work? How do you learn to let go as a GM? And are there ever times when you might want to keep a grip on the reins? We have discussed similar topics in earlier episodes on and . This episode was recorded live at A Weekend With Good Friends 2026. While it mostly follows the usual format, we do spend a bit of time towards the end answering questions from people who were watching live. You can see the video for this and all the other seminars on the . Our Guest Host We are delighted to welcome back as our guest host for this episode. You may know Ross from , , , or the many Call of Cthulhu games he and Scott have played together on . Most recently, Ross has launched his own podcast, called , where he runs fully improvised games of Call of Cthulhu, based on listener suggestions, for various friends from the worlds of comedy, improv, and tabletop gaming. You can find it wherever you get your podcasts. Ross is currently in residence with The Improvised Shakespeare Company at the until the 27th of July. Ross has previously joined us to discuss: Links Things we mention in this episode include: (2010) “The Burning Stars” from “Crimson Letters” from the (1980) (2007) — film noir scenario on Push the Roll News ENnie Nomination We were delighted to hear that The Good Friends of Jackson Elias has been nominated for an ENnie Award in the . This is exciting and entirely unexpected. The Good Friends has been running for over 13 years now and we’re just happy that people are still listening! The awards themselves are decided through . If you are a fan of the podcast and you’d like to vote for us (and earn our undying gratitude), you can find . Voting runs between the 10th and 19th of July 2026.
/episode/index/show/goodfriendsofjacksonelias/id/42057755
info_outline
342a: ENnies Nomination Special
07/10/2026
342a: ENnies Nomination Special
We were delighted to hear that The Good Friends of Jackson Elias has been nominated for an ENnie Award in the Best Streaming Content category. This is both exciting and unexpected. The Good Friends has been running for over 13 years now and we’re just happy that people are still listening! The awards themselves are decided through . If you are a fan of the podcast and you’d like to vote for us (and earn our undying gratitude), you can find . Voting runs between the 10th and 19th of July 2026. If you are voting, you might also consider casting votes for Jayson Green’s “The Bride of Pendle” in the Best Community Content and Best Adventure – Short Form categories, and for The Spark Devil from our good friends over at the HP Lovecraft Historical Society, in the Best Adventure – Long Form, Best Production Values, and Product of the Year categories. Podcasters entering the ENnies create a short reel of highlights to whet the judges’ appetites. We thought we’d share the reel we submitted this year, featuring Ross Bryant, Holly from RPG Reanimators, Eleanor Hingley, Jared Logan, Ericka Skirpan, Zach Reeves, and Bridgett Jeffries alongside Matt and Scott. Happy listening!
/episode/index/show/goodfriendsofjacksonelias/id/42036820
info_outline
342: The Stuff, with cuppycup
06/29/2026
342: The Stuff, with cuppycup
Main Topic: The Stuff Following on from our discussion of last episode, we’re taking a look at Larry Cohen’s 1985 film The Stuff. Cohen blended horror, social satire, and absurd comedy to create one of the stranger mainstream releases of the decade, lampooning America’s growing obsession with guilt-free snack foods and the intrusive ways in which they were marketed. As well as discussing the film itself, and how it might inspire our games, we’ll talk a little about Larry Cohen himself and what made him such a unique filmmaker. Our Guest Host We are delighted to welcome Cuppycup back to the Good Friends! Cuppycup is the creator and producer of Ain’t Slayed Nobody and Push the Roll with Ross Bryant, both part of the umbrella. His work in actual play has earned an ENnie Gold Award, Golden Lobe, AudioVerse Awards, and a place in the EN World Actual Play Hall of Fame. Across his shows, Cup blends horror, comedy, and sound-rich production, with a special love for Call of Cthulhu and stories where bad decisions only make things better. He can be heard as a player on . Find him on or via or . Links Things we mention in this episode include: (1942) (2017) by Larry Cohen (1972) (1973) (1973) (2003) (1982) (1976) (1990) (1974) (1982) (1973) (1987) (1990) (1982) (1988) on Ain’t Slayed Nobody (1984) (2021) by Jacqueline Bryk (1958) (1951) by HP Lovecraft (1986)
/episode/index/show/goodfriendsofjacksonelias/id/41862300
info_outline
341: Food and Horror, with Cuppycup
06/06/2026
341: Food and Horror, with Cuppycup
Main Topic: Food and Horror To live is to require sustenance. Food is not only nutrition but usually a source of pleasure. But our relationship with food is complicated and filled with potential horror. Can we trust that what we eat is not tainted? What happens when our relationship with food becomes dysfunctional? Should we blind ourselves to the horrors of how our food is manufactured? And how do we react when humans find themselves on the menu? We touched on some of these issues in episode 182, on . Content Warnings After our episode on gore, we had some requests for content warnings when we discuss extreme or potentially upsetting subject matter. In this episode, we discuss contaminated food, coprophagy, factory farming, disordered eating, body dysmorphia, bullying, cannibalism, brain diseases, and parasites. Our Guest Host We are delighted to welcome Cuppycup back to the Good Friends! Cuppycup is the creator and producer of Ain’t Slayed Nobody and Push the Roll with Ross Bryant, both part of the Push the Roll umbrella. His work in actual play has earned an ENnie Gold Award, Golden Lobe, AudioVerse Awards, and a place in the EN World Actual Play Hall of Fame. Across his shows, Cup blends horror, comedy, and sound-rich production, with a special love for Call of Cthulhu and stories where bad decisions only make things better. He can be heard as a player on . Find him on pushtheroll.com or via or . Links Things we mention in this episode include: (1985) (2019) (1987) by William Hjortsberg (1989) (1968) (1984) (2006) (2001) by CS Lewis by Roald Dahl (1995) (2004) by Stephen King (1993) (2019) (1999) for Unknown Armies (2007) from by Upton Sinclair by Clive Barker by HP Lovecraft by Agustina Bazterrica from World War Cthulhu: London “Blackwater Creek” from the on Ain’t Slayed Nobody “Saturnine Chalice” from (2019) by Sayaka Murata by Grady Hendrix (2025) “La Cena” from Kult: Screams and Whispers (2022) by Christina Rossetti Arthur Rackham’s illustration of Christina Rossetti’s “Goblin Market” by Monika Kim by Bram Stoker from Star Trek: The Next Generation from The Simpsons by Graeme Patrick (2016) “Transistor” from by Attila Veres (2019) for Unknown Armies (1982) News Thanks for A Weekend With Good Friends As we wrap up another , we would like to thank all the lovely people who made it happen. The convention organisers and staff did a staggering amount of work behind the scenes to ensure everything went smoothly. PT, Sue and Mike handled the organisational and technical work that underpins the entire convention, creating and maintaining code that handles everything from game signups with localised times to the lottery system that assigns places in games. Without their efforts, the convention simply would not have happened. Miranda and Nate organised and ran the panels, sorting out guests, handling the technology on the day, and ensuring it all went after the event. This year, these panels included two live episodes of the Good Friends, which will go out in edited form on the podcast feed in July, and we couldn’t have done them without Miranda’s help and expertise. Our wonderful volunteers and moderators helped tirelessly throughout the weekend, ensuring people got into games and that vacancies were filled quickly. Thank you to Dave, Wishmoon, AnalogFrog, Martin, Mav, Chris, and anyone I may have missed for answering tickets, offering advice, and generally providing moral support. And I would also like to thank all of you who joined us this weekend, whether as a GM, a player, a panellist, or if you read a story on the bar stage. A convention is only as good as the people who attend it, and this was as wonderful a collection of attendees as we could have wished for. Tools of the Trade The book that cost Matt many sleepless nights and at least 1D20 points of Sanity has been announced! Tools of the Trade will be out later this year, containing the fruits of countless hours spent picking through old catalogues from the classic Call of Cthulhu era and converting the entries into gameable items. For Whom the Taco Bell Tolls Scott recently did a reading for our good friends at the , relating Scott Joest’s sanity-blasting burrito experiences at Chaosium Con 2026. Check it out below or on .
/episode/index/show/goodfriendsofjacksonelias/id/41559030
info_outline
340: Environmental Storytelling, with Alex Sun
05/25/2026
340: Environmental Storytelling, with Alex Sun
Main Topic: Environmental Storytelling Every location bears scars. These might have been left by human occupation, entropy, natural disasters, or something altogether more eldritch. Whatever the cause, places have their own stories to tell. But just how does environmental storytelling work in fiction and gaming? What turns seemingly random items into a non-linear narrative? And how might we use these techniques in our own games? We touched on related matters when we discussed with Heather Miller in episode 304. Our Guest Host This episode we’re delighted to welcome Alex Sun back to the Good Friends! Alex is a scenario author and co-host for , a podcast that first dissects scenarios into their base components and then reanimates them with new ideas. The podcast also offers tips and resources for GMs and players alike. You can also find him on actual plays as both a player and gamemaster on the channel and the . Links Things we mention in this episode include: by Don Carson , with Heather Miller by Jules Verne by Stephen Covey from Star Trek: The Next Generation by Noah Chidoub (1985) by HP Lovecraft “The Red Tower” from by Thomas Ligotti by Adam Nevill “UNLAND” from (1998) News A Weekend With Good Friends returns! Player signups for are currently open, but you need to act soon if you want to register for any games. A Weekend With Good Friends is, of course, the online gaming convention organised by our lovely listeners, hosted on . We shall be recording live episodes of the Good Friends during the convention, with Ross Bryant on the 12th of June and Zach Reeves on the 13th. See for more details. Key dates for the convention are: GM signups: 29th April – 13th May 2026 — GM signups Player signups: 21st May – 4th June 2026 A Weekend With Good Friends: Friday 12th June – Sunday 14th June 2026
/episode/index/show/goodfriendsofjacksonelias/id/41410270
info_outline
339: Liminal Spaces, with Alex Sun
05/18/2026
339: Liminal Spaces, with Alex Sun
Main Topic: Liminal Spaces Liminal spaces have been a source of fascination on the internet for several years now. Like much of the analogue horror movement, they are defined more by an aesthetic than any specific subject matter or tropes. But for all their vagueness, they have found their way into fanfic, short films, video games, and now, with the forthcoming Backrooms movie, onto the big screen. So what makes a space liminal? Why are they so uncanny? What are some of the best uses we’ve seen in media? And how might we use them in our own games? We touched upon this topic when we discussed with Holly from RPG Reanimators in episode 314. Our Guest Host This episode we’re delighted to welcome Alex Sun to the Good Friends! Alex is a scenario author and co-host for , a podcast that first dissects scenarios into their base components and then reanimates them with new ideas. The podcast also offers tips and resources for GMs and players alike. You can also find him on actual plays as both a player and gamemaster on the channel and the . Links Things we mention in this episode include: on Into the Darkness (2026) by Mark Z Danielewski by HP Lovecraft from Doctor Who (2012) by The Caretaker “Educement” from (2022) (2020) (1980) (1997) by Samuel Beckett (2004) (2014) (1972) (2019) (2006) (2017) by Grady Hendrix by QNTM by Basil Copper from Impossible Landscapes by Colin Richards by Arkady Strugatsky and Boris Strugatsky by Alex Sun “Penetralia” from Mansions of Madness volume 2 by HP Lovecraft by HP Lovecraft by HP Lovecraft by Frank Belknap Long News A Weekend With Good Friends returns! GM signups for have now closed, but player signups will open very soon. A Weekend With Good Friends is, of course, the online gaming convention organised by our lovely listeners, hosted on . We shall be recording live episodes of the Good Friends during the convention, with Ross Bryant on the 12th of June and Zach Reeves on the 13th. See for more details. Key dates for the convention are: GM signups: 29th April – 13th May 2026 — GM signups Player signups: 21st May – 4th June 2026 A Weekend With Good Friends: Friday 12th June – Sunday 14th June 2026 Matt at Chaosium Con and UK Games Expo If you catch sight of a loud Hawaiian shirt at either or over the next month, there is a good chance it may be wrapped around Matt. Please say hi to him or the shirt if you do.
/episode/index/show/goodfriendsofjacksonelias/id/41326830
info_outline
338: New Takes on Classic Monsters, with Sasha Sienna
05/04/2026
338: New Takes on Classic Monsters, with Sasha Sienna
Main Topic: New Takes on Classic Monsters It’s probably safe to say that every horror fan loves monsters. While we regularly see new creations breaking free from the laboratory, so many monsters in media are old favourites. Whether they’re vampires, werewolves, or Deep Ones, there are certain archetypes we’re drawn to over and over. But what are some ways of making them feel fresh? How have we seen others do so in films, stories, or other media? And how might we come up with some new takes on old favourites in our own games? Our Guest Host This episode we’re welcoming Sasha Sienna back to the Good Friends! Sasha is an award-winning writer, voice actor, and tabletop game designer with a love of genre fiction, unexpected worldbuilding, and horrible monsters in spaceships. They’re best known for their work on , and . Along with Jonathan Sims, they make smart TTRPGs for cool weirdos as . Sasha can also be heard in our recent episode about . Links Things we mention in this episode include: (1922) by Bram Stoker by J Sheridan Le Fanu by Joe Hill (1975) by Herman Melville (1954) (2017) (1967) (1984) by Stephanie Meyers (1951) (2014) by R Chetwynd-Hayes (1981) (1968) from Doctor Who by Jeff VanderMeer (2015) by Richard Matheson (2007) (1964) by Sarah Gailey by Carissa Orlando (1988) by Stephen Graham Jones by Jonathan Sims by Jonathan Sims by TM Wright by TM Wright by TM Wright by James Herbert by Clive Barker by Tim Powers by The Merry Mushmen by Keary Birch “The Wild Hunt” from “Blackshade” from issue 11 by MR James by HP Lovecraft by Ray Bradbury by Mary Shelley News A Weekend With Good Friends returns! are now open for ! This, of course, is the online gaming convention organised by our lovely listeners, hosted on . We shall be recording live episodes of the Good Friends during the convention, with Ross Bryant on the 12th and Zach Reeves on the 13th. See for more details. Key dates for the convention are: GM signups: 29th April – 13th May 2026 — GM signups Player signups: 21st May – 4th June 2026 A Weekend With Good Friends: Friday 12th June – Sunday 14th June 2026
/episode/index/show/goodfriendsofjacksonelias/id/41135680
info_outline
337: Gateway Horror, with Sasha Sienna
04/17/2026
337: Gateway Horror, with Sasha Sienna
Main Topic: Gateway Horror Every horror fan started out somewhere. The works that draw us into the genre are often gentler ones, created to appeal to those put off by terror or gore. These are often aimed at children or teens, although there are plenty of entry points for adults as well. What are some of our favourite examples of gateway horror? What makes them more accessible to someone who isn’t already a horror fan? And how can we use this approach in our games? We’ve touched on similar topics in , with Baz Stephens, and , with Josephine McAdam. Our Guest Host Sasha Sienna is an award-winning writer, voice actor, and tabletop game designer with a love of genre fiction, unexpected worldbuilding, and horrible monsters in spaceships. They’re best known for their work on , and . Along with Jonathan Sims, they make smart TTRPGs for cool weirdos as . Links Things we mention in this episode include: (1987) by Philip José Farmer by Alvin Schwartz (2019) (1984) by Roald Dahl by Roald Dahl by Roald Dahl (1979) (1982) by Bram Stoker by J Sheridan Le Fanu (1931) (1931) by Clive Barker (1973) (1973) (1995) by Stephen King by Michael Slade by Robert Bloch (2007) (1978) (2026) by Manley Wade Wellman (1984) (1984) (1988) (1990) (1987) (1985) (1995) News A Weekend With Good Friends returns! is approaching fast! This, of course, is the online gaming convention organised by our lovely listeners, hosted on . The convention will take place between the 12th-14th of June this year, but GM signups will begin soon. We shall also be recording live episodes of the Good Friends during the convention, with Ross Bryant on the 12th and Zach Reeves on the 13th. More details shortly! Key dates for the convention are: GM signups: 29th April – 13th May 2026 — GM signups Player signups: 21st May – 4th June 2026 A Weekend With Good Friends: Friday 12th June – Sunday 14th June 2026
/episode/index/show/goodfriendsofjacksonelias/id/40916270
info_outline
336: Using Inspiration Creatively, with Seth Skorkowsky
04/06/2026
336: Using Inspiration Creatively, with Seth Skorkowsky
Main Topic: Using Inspiration Creatively Scenario writers and GMs take inspiration from everything we can. Often, this means borrowing ideas from books, films, or other forms of media. But how do we do this without simply plagiarising? What kinds of ideas do we seize on? And how can we transform them into something new? We took a more specific look at inspiration in episode 124, talking about the roots of a few of our own scenarios. Our Guest Host We are delighted to have YouTuber, podcaster and author Seth Skorkowsky join us for this episode. Most of our listeners will know Seth from his ENnie-Award winning , as well as the , which he hosts with Jon Hook. Seth is also the author of , spanning fantasy, sword and sorcery, and horror. Most pertinently to this discussion, he has written a number of books that drawn upon urban fantasy, including the series and . You can hear Seth’s previous appearances with the Good Friends here: Links Things we mention in this episode include: by Seth Skorkowsky by Seth Skorkowsky by Thomas Harris by Seth Skorkowsky by William Gibson by Dennis Potter by Stephen King “Getting the Band Back Together” from issue 14 (2020) by Thomas Harris “A Message of Art” from (1967) (1981) (1952) (1954) (1960) by Edward de Bono (1979) (1986) (1977) by Matt Wagner by Matt Wagner (1979) by James SA Corey by Chris Wraight (1974) by Dashiell Hammett (1965) (1971) (1972) “Waiting For the Hurricane” from by Chris de Burgh “Intersections” from by Joseph Kanon on Ain’t Slayed Nobody “Multiplied by Zero” by Attila Veres, from by Nathan Ballingrud by The Auteurs (1982) by William S Burroughs by Alan E Nourse by KW Jeter “Blackwater Creek” from the by Doug Peters “Behind the Neon Glare” from issue 14 by Genesis by James Patterson by James Patterson by The Mountain Goats “Night Bus” from by Seth Skorkowsky “Number 22” from “Baby” from from The Scarlet Bride News A Weekend With Good Friends returns! will be returning this summer! This, of course, is the online convention organised by our lovely listeners, hosted on . The convention will take place between the 12th-14th of June this year, so keep your calendars clear. Key dates for the convention are: 29th of April – 13th of May 2026 — GM signups 21st of May – 4th of June 2026 — Player signups Friday 12th June – Sunday 14th June 2026 — A Weekend With Good Friends! We shall share more details as they become available. Getting the Band Back Together Review From Seth Skorkowsky Seth recently posted of Scott’s scenario “Getting the Band Back Together”, which he played with at Gen Con 2024. As ever, Seth offers some great insights into changes GMs may wish to make to the scenario. You can find “Getting the Band Back Together” in issue 14 of . Anyone at any level will be able to download a PDF of this and all previous issues of the Tome.
/episode/index/show/goodfriendsofjacksonelias/id/40740640
info_outline
335: Urban Fantasy and Call of Cthulhu, with Seth Skorkowsky
03/23/2026
335: Urban Fantasy and Call of Cthulhu, with Seth Skorkowsky
Main Topic: Urban Fantasy and Call of Cthulhu Since the early nineties, urban fantasy has blended elements of horror and crime fiction with the fantastic to create something new. But how exactly does the genre work? What are some of our favourite examples of it? And how might all this shape our games of Call of Cthulhu? Our Guest Host We are delighted to have YouTuber, podcaster and author Seth Skorkowsky join us for this episode. Most of our listeners will know Seth from his ENnie-Award winning , as well as the , which he hosts with Jon Hook. Seth is also the author of , spanning urban fantasy, sword and sorcery, and horror. His main focus right now is his ongoing for the campaign, . You can hear Seth’s previous appearances with the Good Friends here: Links Things we mention in this episode include: by Seth Skorkowsky series by Seth Skorkowsky by Seth Skorkowsky by Neil Gaiman series by Charlaine Harris (2017) by Mike Mignola by Jim Butcher by Laurel K Hamilton by MR Carey (1998) by Anne Rice by HP Lovecraft by Anne Rice on How We Roll by Ruthana Emrys by Elizabeth Bear by Harry Connolly by Mike Carey (1992) by Charles Stross by Charles Stross by Charles Stross by Charles Stross by Ben Aaronovitch by Richard Kadrey (2005) (1994) by James O’Barr by John Scalzi by John Connolly trilogy by Tim Powers by Robert W Chambers by HP Lovecraft by Stephen King (1981) by William Gibson “The Meat Trade” from by Fritz Leiber by HP Lovecraft “Crimson Letters” from the by Clive Barker News A Weekend With Good Friends returns! will be returning this summer! This, of course, is the online convention organised by our lovely listeners, hosted on . The convention will take place between the 12th-14th of June this year, so keep your calendars clear. We will share more details as they become available. New War Story Video From Seth Skorkowsky With perfect timing, Seth has just released a new RPG War Stories video covering an incident from a game he and Scott played together, GMed by our good friend, the late Bud Baird. This incident may be a mess, but Scott maintains that it made sense at the time. And we might have handled things more efficiently, but would it have been as much fun? The journey more enjoyable than the destination, even when that journey is in a flaming clown car, screaming at 100 MPH the wrong way down the motorway. Audio Player
/episode/index/show/goodfriendsofjacksonelias/id/40582980
info_outline
334: When Games Go Wrong, with Bridgett Jeffries
03/07/2026
334: When Games Go Wrong, with Bridgett Jeffries
Main Topic: When Games Go Wrong While ours always run perfectly, we have heard that games can sometimes go wrong. What are some of the problems that can bring a game to a crashing halt? What can we do, as Keepers or players, when that happens? And how can we tell when a game is beyond repair? Bridgett suggested we title this episode “Unfuck Your Game”. We really should have listened to her. Our Guest Host We are delighted to welcome Bridgett Jeffries back to The Good Friends of Jackson Elias! Bridgett is an 2x ENNIE Award winner, 2x ENNIE Award ceremony host, and Origins Award-winning content creator, community cultivator, storyteller, writer, podcaster, streamer, publisher, LARPer, host, and professional hugger. Bridgett owns , a company dedicated to horror roleplaying games. She also hosts the and works at as their Community Coordinator. Find Bridgett online at or via , or . Links Things we mention in this episode include: “Captive Audience” from “Bleak Prospect” from on Pretending to be People “Hell in Texas” from 5th edition Broken Reflections for News A Weekend With Good Friends returns! We are delighted to announce that will be returning this summer! This, of course, is the online convention organised by our lovely listeners, hosted on . The convention will take place between the 12th-14th of June this year, so keep your calendars clear. We will share more details as they become available.
/episode/index/show/goodfriendsofjacksonelias/id/40352750
info_outline
333: The Miskatonic Repository, with Bridgett Jeffries
02/23/2026
333: The Miskatonic Repository, with Bridgett Jeffries
Main Topic: The Miskatonic Repository has allowed both new and established authors to self-publish material for Call of Cthulhu under licence from Chaosium. It has proved immensely popular, and there are now more scenarios published there than any mortal could hope to play in their puny human lifespan. We share our experiences of playing some of these titles and offer our recommendations. Our Guest Host We are delighted to welcome Bridgett Jeffries to The Good Friends of Jackson Elias! Bridgett is an 2x ENNIE Award winner, 2x ENNIE Award ceremony host, and Origins Award-winning content creator, community cultivator, storyteller, writer, podcaster, streamer, publisher, LARPer, host, and professional hugger. Bridgett owns , a company dedicated to horror roleplaying games. She also hosts the and works at as their Community Coordinator. Find Bridgett online at or via , or . Links Things we mention in this episode include: by Evan Perlman by Sandy Petersen by Jon Hook by John Hedge by John Hedg by John Hedg by Stephen Wall by Maverick Haenze by Maverick Haenze by Maverick Haenze by Maverick Haenze by Matt “Doc” Tracy (1990) by Philip G Orth by Philip G Orth by Fábio Silva by Fábio Silva by Fábio Silva by Fábio Silva by Fábio Silva by Bud Baird and Alex Guillotte by Keeper Doc and Alex Guillotte (1972) on RPG Reanimators by David Kirkby by David Kirkby by Heinrich Moore by Allan Carey by Allan Carey by Allan Carey (1981) by Graham Walmsley by Graeme Patrick by Graeme Patrick by Evan Perlman by Christian Grundel by Michael Reed by Bridgett Jeffries News The Blasphemous Tome 14 now shipping Issue 14 of is now arriving in mailboxes across this world and many others. If you have at the $5 level or higher and haven’t received your copy yet, please let us know. at the $3 level or higher should also have received their voucher for a discounted print-on-demand copy, and all backers can now download the PDF via . Thank you again to all our for making this possible! A Weekend With Good Friends returns! We are delighted to announce that will be returning this summer! This, of course, is the online convention organised by our lovely listeners, hosted on . The convention will take place between the 12th-14th of June this year, so keep your calendars clear. We will share more details as they become available. Recent MU Podcast episode Our good friends at the recently released an episode titled . This caught Scott very much by surprise and he is still recovering. Thank you very much to Bridgett and Evan for all their kind words!
/episode/index/show/goodfriendsofjacksonelias/id/40194930
info_outline
332: Religious Horror, with Zach Reeves
02/06/2026
332: Religious Horror, with Zach Reeves
We’re back and we’re trying to muster up some faith. Sure, we understand that the Mythos is utterly indifferent to crucifixes and holy water, but maybe we can still find some comfort in religion. But we’re also worried that the wrong kind of belief could end up doing more harm than good, especially if it all turns a bit fanatical. Maybe religious horror is more complicated than just muttering a few prayers and hoping for the best. We haven’t got a prayer, have we? Main Topic: Religious Horror From vampire hunters wielding crucifixes to Taoist priests battling jiangshi with talismans, horror media is filled with religious protagonists who use their faith to fight evil. But the expression of religion in horror media often goes beyond mere window dressing and becomes a serious vehicle for examining or criticising religious belief. But how does all this connect to Call of Cthulhu? What books or films can we draw upon for inspiration? And how can we incorporate religious horror into our games? We have discussed related topics in and . Our Guest Host We are delighted to welcome Zach Reeves back to The Good Friends of Jackson Elias! Zach is the game master, producer, and editor of , a horror/comedy actual play podcast. Zach enjoys karaoke with his wife, dancing with friends, and creating elaborate scavenger hunts. He is afraid of losing his mind and Styrofoam. Links Things we mention in this episode include: by Paul Tremblay from Doctor Who by Stephen King (1985) (1972) (1976) (1968) (2013) (2001) (2011) (2019) by Stephen King (1980) (2022) (2018) (2019) (1968) by Dennis Wheatley (2016) (1973) (2024) (2008) (1976) (2008) (1978) (2020) “Hell in Texas” from Audio Player
/episode/index/show/goodfriendsofjacksonelias/id/40021765
info_outline
331: Connecting Call of Cthulhu Scenarios, with Zach Reeves
01/26/2026
331: Connecting Call of Cthulhu Scenarios, with Zach Reeves
We’re back and we’re stringy Main Topic: Connecting Scenarios in Call of Cthulhu Call of Cthulhu is famous for its epic published campaigns. We’ve all played elaborate treks around the world, punching eldritch evil in the face. But what about the less formal approach where we string together often unconnected adventures into an ad hoc campaign? How do we adapt scenarios to this approach? What are some of the possible pitfalls? And are there any specific tips we’ve picked up over the years? Our Guest Host We are delighted to welcome Zach Reeves to The Good Friends of Jackson Elias! Zach is the game master, producer, and editor of , a horror/comedy actual play podcast. Zach enjoys karaoke with his wife, dancing with friends, and creating elaborate scavenger hunts. He is afraid of losing his mind and Styrofoam. Links Things we mention in this episode include: “Blackwater Creek” and “Missed Dues” from the “The Haunting” from the “Saturnine Chalice” from “Paper Chase” from the “The Mauritania” from “The Asylum” from “Dead Light” from “Edge of Darkness” from the by Aaron Sinner, Todd Walden, and Christopher Olson by Evan Perlman by Jon Hook from Terrors From Beyond News Just One More Thing For a little over a year, Matt and Scott have been putting out a bonus episode for of the Good Friends every four weeks. Called Just One More Thing, this is an opportunity for us to revisit recent episodes and offer some second thoughts and pieces of research we couldn’t fit into the main discussion, along with some responses to our listeners’ thoughts on the episodes. We put out a sample episode on our main feed earlier this month, with additional insights into our two recent discussions with Ross Bryant. If you enjoyed this and want to hear more, you can gain immediate access to the full back catalogue by at any level. Matt on Acquisition Disorder In what surprisingly turned out not to be an intervention, Matt recently recorded an episode of Acquisition Disorder with Nathan from , discussing all the money he has spent on Warhammer 40,000 RPGs. You can find this on the podcast feed in the near future. Another Bloody Game Following our recent with Paula Deming, Scott has been joining Paula, cuppycup, and a variety of guests on a new livestream called Another Bloody Game. This is a spin-off from , using their and . Recent games have included and .
/episode/index/show/goodfriendsofjacksonelias/id/39873280
info_outline
330: Cryptids and Call of Cthulhu, with Paula Deming
01/12/2026
330: Cryptids and Call of Cthulhu, with Paula Deming
We’re back and we’re blurry. Sure, your camera phone might have all the pixels, but we remain resolutely out of focus. You don’t get to maintain your status as a cryptid by being discernible. Mothman would never speak to us again. And before you complain, do you really want a clear picture of the Michigan Dogman’s notorious genitals? Actually, on second thoughts, don’t answer that one. Main Topic: Cryptids and Call of Cthulhu Call of Cthulhu is full of strange creatures that live in the dark corners of the world, only occasionally encountered by unlucky humans. But how does this relate to the cultural phenomenon of cryptozoology? Are there any specific cryptids we find fascinating? And how might they inspire our games? Our Guest Host We are delighted to welcome Paula Deming to The Good Friends of Jackson Elias! Paula is an actress and YouTuber making entertainment-focused videos about board games on her channel , and talking about board games on the comedy panel show . She plays tabletop RPGs with the and , and you can find her as a regular cast member on . Importantly for this episode, Paula was also the co-host of a podcast about cryptids, called . Most recently, Paula has run for Gaming. Links Things we mention in this episode include: by Richard Freeman (1997) (2025) Thylacines Bunyip by Steve Cook by HP Lovecraft Megalodon by Steve Alten by John Keel (2002) Mothman statue (arse not pictured) by Arthur Conan Doyle (2010) (1990) by Frank Herbert Mongolian death worm from The X-Files Jenny Haniver News Matt at ConTingency Matt will be heading to the in Hunstanton very soon. Please say hi if you spot him lurking, and you may even be able to find space in one of the many games he is offering. Monsterhearts on Ain’t Slayed Nobody Scott recently ran a campaign of Monsterhearts for , with Mary Lou, Kat, Chuck, and cup as players. It is a backer-only release for now, and you can find the first episode on the now.
/episode/index/show/goodfriendsofjacksonelias/id/39693890
info_outline
329a: Just One More Thing - sample episode
01/05/2026
329a: Just One More Thing - sample episode
/episode/index/show/goodfriendsofjacksonelias/id/39616995
info_outline
329: Cthulhu and Board Games, with Paula Deming
12/28/2025
329: Cthulhu and Board Games, with Paula Deming
We’re back and we’re wiping ichor off our meeples. Cthulhu and board games can be a messy combination, but also a popular one. Cynics may tell you that this is because Cthulhu is in the public domain, so anyone can slap his tentacles on a game for a bit of brand recognition. We prefer to think the truth is more insidious than that, however. Every die roll, every card played, every token moved towards its inevitable doom is done in Cthulhu’s most terrible name, the terrible luck of the players and the curses they utter when they lose sustaining him deep beneath the waves. Plus, they’re a fun way to pass the time until the stars come right. Main Topic: Cthulhu and Board Games Cthulhu’s tentacles have wriggled their way into every aspect of popular culture, and board games are no exception. Lovecraftian horror has been part of board games for as long as Call of Cthulhu has been around, and it’s only grown in popularity. But what are some of the main Cthulhu-tainted board games people should look out for? And what are our own experiences of playing them? Our Guest Host We are delighted to welcome Paula Deming to The Good Friends of Jackson Elias! Paula is an actress and YouTuber making entertainment-focused videos about board games on her channel , and talking about board games on the comedy panel show . She plays tabletop RPGs with the and , and you can find her as a regular cast member on . Links Things we mention in this episode include: by Robert Shea and Robert Anton Wilson by HP Lovecraft (1987) (2005) expansion for Arkham Horror expansion for Arkham Horror expansion for Arkham Horror expansion for Arkham Horror for Arkham Horror board game expansion for Eldritch Horror expansion for Eldritch Horror by HP Lovecraft by HP Lovecraft (1999) by Mary Shelley by Bram Stoker News The Great God Pan You may have noticed in your podcast feed this month. These were the festive ghost story readings of Arthur Machen’s classic weird tale , directed by our good friend Mike Perceval-Maxwell of . These readings took place on , where you can find story readings throughout the year offered by our wonderful listeners. We would like to thank Mike for all his hard work in making this happen, and to thank all the readers who brought it to life: Andy Goodman, Anthony Lee-Dudley, Brian Murphy, Graham Walmsley, Jen Fridy, Sarah Dovey, and Sue Savage. You can also find our previous Christmas ghost stories below. by Charles Dickens by Oscar Wilde by Nikolai Gogol by Jerome K Jerome and by William Hope Hodgson Matt on the Innsmouth Book Club Matt recently joined our good friends Rob Poyton and Tim Mendees over on the podcast, discussing Call of Cthulhu and his own contributions to the game. He also did a reading from Clark Ashton Smith’s for their sister podcast . Blasphemous Tome Issue 14 Issue 14 of will be going out in early January of 2026. This bumper issue includes two new scenarios by Matt and Scott, presenting loose conceptual sequels to “A Social Responsibility” and “Blackwater Creek”. Anyone at the $5 level or higher at the end of December will receive a print copy of the Tome, signed by our own gnarled hands. at the $3 level will receive a voucher for a heavily discounted print-on-demand copy, and every will receive the PDF.
/episode/index/show/goodfriendsofjacksonelias/id/39547780
info_outline
328d: The Great God Pan 4
12/19/2025
328d: The Great God Pan 4
We are wrapping up our festive ghost story reading of “The Great God Pan” by Arthur Machen. This reading has been organised by good friend of the Good Friends, Mike Perceval-Maxwell (host of ), taking place on . Mike is joined by guest readers , , , , and , and . You can find the first three parts in your podcast feed, or right here on this very server. So invoke the name of Nodens, practice your knots, and dive into Queer Street with us. , arranged by Jon Fylling, is licenced under the . If you would like to read along at home, you can find Arthur Machen’s on Project Gutenberg. And if all this has put you in the mood for Christmas ghost stories, please check out our previous readings: by Charles Dickens by Oscar Wilde by Nikolai Gogol by Jerome K Jerome by William Hope Hodgson by William Hope Hodgson
/episode/index/show/goodfriendsofjacksonelias/id/39464020
info_outline
328c: The Great God Pan 3
12/18/2025
328c: The Great God Pan 3
We are continuing our festive ghost story reading of “The Great God Pan” by Arthur Machen. This reading has been organised by good friend of the Good Friends, Mike Perceval-Maxwell (host of ), taking place on . Mike is joined by guest readers , , , and , and . If you’re reading this shortly after release, you have time to join us for the conclusion at 22:30 GMT on Thursday the 18th of December. So shake the cobwebs loose with a bracing night-time walk, brush up on your Latin, and do try not to dwell on those unsettling illustrations. , arranged by Jon Fylling, is licenced under the . If you would like to read along at home, you can find Arthur Machen’s on Project Gutenberg. And if all this has put you in the mood for Christmas ghost stories, please check out our previous readings: by Charles Dickens by Oscar Wilde by Nikolai Gogol by Jerome K Jerome by William Hope Hodgson by William Hope Hodgson
/episode/index/show/goodfriendsofjacksonelias/id/39449385
info_outline
328b: The Great God Pan 2
12/17/2025
328b: The Great God Pan 2
We are continuing our festive ghost story reading of “The Great God Pan” by Arthur Machen. This reading has been organised by good friend of the Good Friends, Mike Perceval-Maxwell (host of ), taking place on . Mike is joined by guest readers , Brian Murphy, , , , and . If you’re reading this shortly after release, you have time to join us for part 3 at 22:30 GMT on Wednesday the 15th of December. We shall be continuing at the same time on Thursday the 18th. So put down those Chinese boxes, open up a good bottle of chianti, and listen to our tale of the City of Resurrections. , arranged by Jon Fylling, is licenced under the . If you would like to read along at home, you can find Arthur Machen’s on Project Gutenberg. And if all this has put you in the mood for Christmas ghost stories, please check out our previous readings: by Charles Dickens by Oscar Wilde by Nikolai Gogol by Jerome K Jerome by William Hope Hodgson by William Hope Hodgson
/episode/index/show/goodfriendsofjacksonelias/id/39434825
info_outline
328a: The Great God Pan 1
12/16/2025
328a: The Great God Pan 1
It is time once again for us to all gather around the virtual hearth for another festive ghost story reading. This year, we present “The Great God Pan” by Arthur Machen, a weird tale of mad science, supernatural horror, and very human revenge. This reading has been organised by good friend of the Good Friends, Mike Perceval-Maxwell (host of ), taking place on . Mike is joined by guest readers , , , , , and . If you’re reading this shortly after release, you just have time to join us for part 2 at 22:30 GMT on Tuesday the 16th of December. We shall be continuing after that at the same time on Wednesday the 17th and Thursday the 18th. So settle back in a comfortable chair, open your mind, and prepare to experience the Great God Pan. , arranged by Jon Fylling, is licenced under the . If you would like to read along at home, you can find Arthur Machen’s on Project Gutenberg. And if all this has put you in the mood for Christmas ghost stories, please check out our previous readings: by Charles Dickens by Oscar Wilde by Nikolai Gogol by Jerome K Jerome by William Hope Hodgson by William Hope Hodgson
/episode/index/show/goodfriendsofjacksonelias/id/39419820
info_outline
328: The Birds, with Ross Bryant
12/14/2025
328: The Birds, with Ross Bryant
We’re back and we’re watching the skies. You never know when some gannet might decide to kamikaze its way into your skull, or a mob of hawks take exception to your woodwork and peck it to splinters. We’ve decided to turn to two experts for advice, but their approaches don’t really mesh. Daphne du Maurier would have us hunker down and wait for the inevitable, while Alfred Hitchcock favours stalking your love interest, barely even addressing the avian threat. We’re beginning to think these so-called experts are for the birds. Main Topic: The Birds The Birds is one of Alfred Hitchcock’s best-loved films, and one of his few forays into outright horror. It was also one of three features that he directed based on stories by Daphne du Maurier. But just how much does the film resemble du Maurier’s story? And which version provides better inspiration for Call of Cthulhu? Our Guest Host We are delighted to welcome back as our guest host for this episode. You may know Ross from , , , or the many Call of Cthulhu games he and Scott have played together on . Most recently, Ross has launched his own podcast, called , where he runs fully improvised games of Call of Cthulhu, based on listener suggestions, for various friends from the worlds of comedy, improv, and tabletop gaming. You can find it wherever you get your podcasts Links Things we mention in this episode include: by Daphne du Maurier (1940) by Daphne du Maurier (1939) by Daphne du Maurier by Daphne du Maurier (1973) by Ryu Murakami (1999) Daphne du Maurier (1960) by Robert Bloch by Frank Baker by Arthur Machen by Rachel Carson (2008) by John Christopher by James Herbert by Shaun Hutson Crabs series by (1978) (1974) (2008) (2013) by Raymond Briggs (1977) from The Simpsons by Richard Laymon (2001) News Christmas Ghost Story Reading Our good friend Mike Perceval-Maxwell of is once again organising our annual Christmas ghost story reading. This year, we are presenting by Arthur Machen, with an exciting cast of guest readers. The readings will take place on over four nights, between the 15th and 18th of December inclusive. Each reading will start at 22:30 GMT and last for 30-40 minutes. As per previous years, we are recording these readings and releasing them on the Good Friends’ podcast feed. The first part will be going out just after this episode. You can find our previous Christmas ghost stories below. by Charles Dickens by Oscar Wilde by Nikolai Gogol by Jerome K Jerome and by William Hope Hodgson Blasphemous Tome Issue 14 Issue 14 of will be going out in early January of 2026. This bumper issue includes two new scenarios by Matt and Scott, presenting loose conceptual sequels to “A Social Responsibility” and “Blackwater Creek”. Anyone at the $5 level or higher at the end of December will receive a print copy of the Tome, signed by our own gnarled hands. at the $3 level will receive a voucher for a heavily discounted print-on-demand copy, and every will receive the PDF.
/episode/index/show/goodfriendsofjacksonelias/id/39404245
info_outline
327: Narration in Call of Cthulhu, with Ross Bryant
12/01/2025
327: Narration in Call of Cthulhu, with Ross Bryant
We’re back and we’re talking to ourselves. Not everyone has an interior monologue, but apparently exterior ones are ever rarer. Describing your life in real time like the voiceover from some hard-boiled detective movie may raise some eyebrows, but it is damn good practice for narration in Call of Cthulhu. It’s also a good way of drowning out your interior voice. No one wants to listen to that. If they did, podcasts wouldn’t be anywhere near as popular. Main Topic: Narration in Call of Cthulhu Narration lies at the heart of tabletop roleplaying. The worlds we play in are all shared spaces we create in our heads. In traditional RPGs, such as Call of Cthulhu, most of this worldbuilding and description is in the hands of the GM. So how can we, as Keepers, bring the world to life at the gaming table? What are some techniques we’ve picked up over the years? And what approaches have we learned to avoid? Our Guest Host We are delighted to welcome back as our guest host for this episode. You may know Ross from , , , or the many improvised Call of Cthulhu games he and Scott have played together on . Most recently, he has launched his own podcast, called , where he runs fully improvised games of Call of Cthulhu, based on listener suggestions, for various friends from the worlds of comedy, improv, and tabletop gaming. You can listen to it it wherever you find your podcasts Links Things we mention in this episode include: Blade Runner RPG “Intersections” from World War Cthulhu: Cold War Pulp Cthulhu “Dead Boarder” from Gateways to Darkness Unknown Armies on by HP Lovecraft Blades in the Dark on “The Burning Stars” from Terrors From Beyond (1999) on The Two-Headed Serpent by Robert Ludlum by Desmond Bagley by HG Wells by Edgar Allan Poe by Edgar Allan Poe “Signal to Noise” by Colin Richards Regency Cthulhu News Christmas Ghost Story Reading Our good friend Mike Perceval-Maxwell of is once again organising our annual Christmas ghost story reading. This year, we will be presenting by Arthur Machen, with an exciting cast of guest readers. The readings will take place on over four nights, between the 15th and 18th of December inclusive. Each reading will start at 22:30 GMT and last for 30-40 minutes. As per previous years, we plan to record these readings and release them on the Good Friends’ podcast feed. You can find our previous Christmas ghost stories below. by Charles Dickens by Oscar Wilde by Nikolai Gogol by Jerome K Jerome and by William Hope Hodgson Matt and Scott at Illusion Con Matt and Scott will be on various panels at this year’s over the weekend of the 5th-7th of December. We are still finalising details, but you should be able to find them at . Blasphemous Tome Issue 14 Issue 14 of will be going out in early January of 2026. This bumper issue includes two new scenarios by Matt and Scott, presenting loose conceptual sequels to “A Social Responsibility” and “Blackwater Creek”. Anyone at the $5 level or higher at the end of December will receive a print copy of the Tome, signed by our own gnarled hands. at the $3 level will receive a voucher for a heavily discounted print-on-demand copy, and every will receive the PDF.
/episode/index/show/goodfriendsofjacksonelias/id/39220455
info_outline
326: We Are the Horror, with Ericka Skirpan
11/17/2025
326: We Are the Horror, with Ericka Skirpan
We’re back and we’re scaring ourselves. Main Topic: We Are the Horror Most tabletop horror games revolve around the struggle between the player characters and one or more external antagonists. The concept of a “Big Bad Evil Guy” is at the heart of most of our gaming experiences. But what happens when we take all that away? How might games work when the horror comes from the interactions between the PCs? And what are some of the possible pitfalls of this approach? Our Guest Host We are delighted to welcome Ericka Skirpan back as our guest host for this episode! Ericka is a LARP creator, consultant, and facilitator. She writes extensively about LARPs at . Currently, Ericka is working with on LARPs such as and . You can find Ericka’s article in Scientific American. She has also written for , , and . Links Things we mention in this episode include: (2005) (1979) (1960) by Atropos Games by Ira Levin (2011) “Ten” – Japanese Call of Cthulhu scenario (2004) (2022) by Arthur Machen by Mooney Bin Entertainment by Chaos League by Participation Design Agency by Shirley Jackson (2019) (2006) (1962) (1991) by Thomas Harris by Sinking Ship Creations by Stan Stanley In This Place by Kent Blue “Educement” in News Matt at Dragonmeet 29th of November Christmas Story Reading The Great God Pan 15th-18th, 22:30 GMT Podcast release Matt and Scott at Illusion Con Panels Blasphemous Tome Issue 14 The recent livestream Scott did with Bridget Jeffries and Graham Walmsley on was also recorded and can be found below. This was a completely improvised freeform game based on audience suggestions, and it was very strange indeed.
/episode/index/show/goodfriendsofjacksonelias/id/39055260
info_outline
325: Using LARP Techniques at the Table, with Ericka Skirpan
11/03/2025
325: Using LARP Techniques at the Table, with Ericka Skirpan
We’re back and we’re acting out. Main Topic: Using LARP Techniques at the Table Live action and tabletop roleplaying share common roots and many similarities, but they are also quite separate hobbies. Each has evolved in its own ways, developing a unique variety of forms and tools. So what can the world of tabletop roleplaying, particularly Call of Cthulhu, learn from LARP? What are some of the different types of LARP? Which LARP techniques lend themselves best to tabletop play, and how can they be adapted? Our Guest Host We are delighted to welcome Ericka Skirpan as our guest host for this episode! Ericka is a LARP creator, consultant, and facilitator. She writes extensively about LARPs at . Currently, Ericka is working with , consulting on their LARPs and . You can find Ericka’s article in Scientific American. She has also written for 7th Sea, Vampire: The Requiem, and Changeling: The Dreaming. Links Things we mention in this episode include: by Lizzie Stark by Atropos by Atropos by Chaos League (1994) by Jacqueline Bryk by Agustina Bazterrica “La Cena” from “Jailbreak” from (1976) by Thorny Games by Thorny Games by Witchstitches News October Horror Movie Challenge Scott wrapped up his annual for 2025. He spent the month posting daily reviews of horror films on this very site, and he has written a of the best, worst, and weirdest films. You can find the main discussion about this on the or over on . Scott on Pretending to be People Scott recently recorded another batch of episodes with our good friends at . Once again, he is voicing Beck Wilder’s mother Kim in the main arc, as season 2 builds to a very weird conclusion. Matt and Scott at the Miskatonic Repository Convention Both Matt and Scott appeared on panels at the recent . Since we recorded the news segment, we’ve found that the videos are now available on YouTube but have been removed from Twitch. You can watch them both below. Scott on Symphony Entertainment The recent livestream Scott did with Bridget Jeffries and Graham Walmsley on was also recorded and can be found below. This was a completely improvised freeform game based on audience suggestions, and it was very strange indeed.
/episode/index/show/goodfriendsofjacksonelias/id/38887050
info_outline
324: The White People, with Jared Logan
10/20/2025
324: The White People, with Jared Logan
We’re back and we’re enjoying a night out under the hill. While the rest of you are clubbing, we’re trying a different kind of dancing. There’s even a singalong, plus some arts and crafts. Sure, some people might say this is all witchcraft, but we promise you it’s no more sinister than a children’s game. The white people have tried to offer their opinion, but our Aklo is a bit rusty. Maybe the nymphs can help translate, assuming we ever figure out what they actually are. Meanwhile, we’ll just enjoy another goblet of what may be the best wine we’ll ever taste. Main Topic: The White People This episode is an in-depth look at Arthur Machen’s weird tale . While it’s not a Cthulhu Mythos story, both Machen and this tale were big influences on Lovecraft. You will find elements of it, such as the Aklo language and the Voorish sign, dotted throughout Lovecraft’s work. But just what is it that makes “The White People” such an enduring favourite? It’s a much more complex tale than it first appears to be, and not one that lends itself to easy analysis. We dig into its symbolism and hidden meanings, looking for both a better understanding of the story and inspiration for our games of Call of Cthulhu. Our Guest Host We are delighted to welcome Jared Logan back to the Good Friends! Jared is a stand-up comedian and writer who has been involved with a number of major actual play streams and podcasts, including , , and . You can find Jared on tour right now, supporting Kumail Nanjiani. Links Things we mention in this episode include: by Arthur Machen by Arthur Machen by Arthur Machen by Arthur Machen by HP Lovecraft by Arthur Machen by HP Lovecraft by HP Lovecraft by TED Klein by T Kingfisher by T Kingfisher by Algernon Blackwood by T Kingfisher by Edgar Allan Poe (2006) by Frank Herbert (2016) by James George Frazer by HP Lovecraft by Stephen King by Frank Belknap Long by John Milton by Stephen King by Jennifer Lynch by Chuck Palahniuk News October Horror Movie Challenge Scott is closing in on the end of his annual , posting daily reviews of horror films on this very site. If you’re of a mind to join in, we would love to chat with you about it. You can find the main discussion on the or over on . Scott on Tear Them Apart If you’d rather see Scott talk about horror films than reading reviews, he will be appearing on the , along with our good friends Paul Yellovich and Evan Dorkin. This has become something of an annual tradition where we talk about our month’s viewing and answer questions from the audience. will start at 8 PM EST on the 30th of October, which translates to midnight on the 31st for those of us in the UK, and will go on until we all turn into pumpkins. Scott on Symphony Entertainment And in another annual Halloween tradition, Scott will also be joining Bridget Jeffries and Graham Walmsley for a livestreamed game on . The game will be completely improvised, drawing on viewer suggestions. Going by previous years, it will probably also include seasonal themes and be soul-crushingly dark. will take place on Thursday the 23rd of October, beginning at at 2PM EST/7 PM BST, and run for around an hour.
/episode/index/show/goodfriendsofjacksonelias/id/38639685
info_outline
323: The Joy of Gore, with Jared Logan
10/05/2025
323: The Joy of Gore, with Jared Logan
We’re back and we’re bloody. Honestly, that’s the least of it. Most of this gore is blood, but we’re sure there are strips of skin, shards of bone, and maybe the occasional kidney mixed in with all this mess. The plastic ponchos were supposed to help, but at this stage they’re more like stencils than protective clothing. No one ever warned us that podcasting could be this wet and sticky. Maybe we should just focus on getting some of these teeth out of our hair for now. Main Topic: The Joy of Gore While not all horror involves gore, it is an essential part of the genre. Whether it’s a genteel smear of blood at the corner of the Count’s mouth or bodies being torn apart like wet piñatas, most horror media involves at least a drop or two of the red stuff. But what is the appeal of something that should, by rights, repel us? Why does it make us laugh even as we gasp in horror? And how can we make use of it in our games without it becoming desensitising? Our Guest Host We are delighted to welcome Jared Logan to the Good Friends! Jared is a stand-up comedian and writer who has been involved with a number of major actual play streams and podcasts, including , , and . You can find Jared on tour right now, supporting Kumail Nanjiani. Links Things we mention in this episode include: by Denis Gifford (2023) (2022) (2024) (2008) (1988) (2014) (1992) (2016) (2021) (2000) (1963) (1985) (1978) by John McCarty (1974) (1972) (1988) (1979) (1987) (1933) (1993) (1981) (1979) (1987) (2015) (1981) (1986) (1964) (1970) (1972) (1986) (2011) by Laird Barron on Ain’t Slayed Nobody and How We Roll (2025) (2025) (2022) (2025) by Richard Laymon by James Herbert by James Herbert by Clive Barker by Jay Ramsey/Ramsey Campbell (1975) News October Horror Movie Challenge Scott is in the midst of his annual , posting reviews of horror films on this very site. The first few reviews are out now, with a new one appearing every day. If you’re of a mind to join us, we would love to chat with you about it. You can find the discussion on the or over on .
/episode/index/show/goodfriendsofjacksonelias/id/38470700
info_outline
322: 28 Days Later, with Maverick Hanze
09/21/2025
322: 28 Days Later, with Maverick Hanze
We’re back and we’re raging. While this virus plays a part, we’re more angry about the sequels to 28 Days Later. The first follow-up, in particular, is enough to make you chew someone’s face off. Happily, the original film still has as much bite as ever. Now if only we could convince it to let go of our leg. Main Topic: 28 Days Later Following last episode’s look at , we’re delving into a classic of the genre. Sure, the folks behind 28 Days Later have said that it’s not a zombie film, but we’re ignoring that. This has all the hallmarks of a zombie apocalypse, and the various films that have borrowed from it over the years since release haven’t been shy about using the ‘z’ word. But what is it that made 28 Days Later such a strong entry in the zombie canon? How well has it stood up in the not-quite 28 years since its release? And, most importantly, what can we steal for our games? Our Guest Host We are delighted to welcome Maverick Haenze back to The Good Friends of Jackson Elias! Mav is a prolific actual play performer and scenario author. You can find them as the Head of Mythos Horror on , as a regular cast member on Ain’t Slayed Nobody’s , and in many guest spots on other podcasts, including . Under the name Rina Haenze, they wrote the Mythos slasher romp , the historical LGBTQ+ scenario , and many others on the Miskatonic Repository. They also edited the fairy tale-inspired collection , which is now available on DriveThruRPG. Links Things we mention in this episode include: (2007) (2025) (1996) (2001) from Black Mirror from The Twilight Zone (1984) by James Herbert by Clay McLeod Chapman by Stephen King by Robert McCammon (1985) (1968) (1973) (1977) by James Herbert by James Herbert by Robert W Chambers (2022) “The Murder Shack” from News Matt at the Innsmouth Literary Festival Matt will be attending the in Bedford on the 27th of September. If you do find him there, please respect our catch-and-release policy after getting him to sign your books. The Blasphemous Tome issue 14 Unfortunately, ill health and other life pressures are still getting in the way of completing issue 14 of . Rather than keeping on pushing it back, we’re going to release a bumper issue of the Tome this December with two full Call of Cthulhu scenarios. One is a new modern scenario from Matt, and the other is Scott’s loose sequel to . We will be honouring our pledge to send out print copies to everyone who was at the $5 level or higher end of June, so don’t worry if you’ve dropped yours since then.
/episode/index/show/goodfriendsofjacksonelias/id/38299030