When we started Playing Games with Strangers in 2020, we really were strangers. Now, over 200 episodes and countless hours later, we’re all friends. That means that we make this announcement with much sadness.
As of 2/28/25, we will no longer be recording anymore episodes. This podcast started in the midst of a pandemic, where staying connected to people was hard to do and entirely necessary. Years later, we still love being connected to one another and to our fans, but life has put us all in different places than we were when we started. We need to give more attention to other aspects of our life, which we can’t do while focusing as much as we have been on telling this story and producing the podcast.
This is not a definitive goodbye, but for now, it is goodbye. We are allowing ourselves the time to do what we need to so we can be healthy: mentally, emotionally, and physically.
Our free content on Patreon, community Discord, and main feed will stay live and won’t be affected by our stepping away.
We love you all dearly and thank you for listening to a bunch of strangers become friends throughout all the shenanigans.
There’s a whole lot of sheet involved here, and very little is understood. But that’s the feywild for you. Between a cat, a crabbit, and a big beetle, we might be able to get to the bottom of it… but probably not.
Featuring the vocal talents of: Amanda Clements, Ben Avery, Celeste Mora, Dave Clements, John Harju, John-Michel Bilezikian, Josiah Crandall, and Katherine Bilezikian
Theme song by: AC the Bard, Amanda Clements, and Haryu-Shi
Editors note: this episode unfortunately lacks the bells and whistles of sfx & mixing, but the cleaned up and edited audio is here for you.
Please be sure to listen to the beginning of this episode for an important announcement. You can find more information on our Patreon.
Can you feel it? The feywild remains as mysterious as ever, but there’s nothing that a snack and a cup of tea can’t fix! Unless the problem is a friend missing their skin and other members of your party wandering off alone. In that case, the party isn’t sure of the cure.
Featuring the vocal talents of: Amanda Clements, Ben Avery, Celeste Mora, Dave Clements, John Harju, John-Michel Bilezikian, Josiah Crandall, and Katherine Bilezikian
Theme song by: AC the Bard, Amanda Clements, and Haryu-Shi
The ground is purple, time is distance, and things might be getting back into order. At least for an inch (minute?). Until we learn about even bigger problems that are coming after the party and show no signs of stopping.
Featuring the vocal talents of: Amanda Clements, Ben Avery, Celeste Mora, Dave Clements, John Harju, John-Michel Bilezikian, Josiah Crandall, and Katherine Bilezikian
Theme song by: AC the Bard, Amanda Clements, and Haryu-Shi
And we’re off on an adventure! After successfully making it into the Feywild, the party encounters some unique situations as they continue on their quest to find poor Skellene’s skin. Maybe the local town will hold the answers they seek.
Featuring the vocal talents of: Amanda Clements, Ben Avery, Celeste Mora, Dave Clements, John Harju, John-Michel Bilezikian, Josiah Crandall, and Katherine Bilezikian
Theme song by: AC the Bard, Amanda Clements, and Haryu-Shi
Nothing like a trip to the necromancer to really lighten the mood and lift the spirits… literally! Things don’t exactly go as planned when returning to Nick, but the party takes it all in stride.
Featuring the vocal talents of: Amanda Clements, Ben Avery, Celeste Mora, Dave Clements, John Harju, John-Michel Bilezikian, Josiah Crandall, and Katherine Bilezikian
Theme song by: AC the Bard, Amanda Clements, and Haryu-Shi
The party chases after Zellene, who wakes from a deep sleep convinced that she has to return home. Reality, time, and everyone’s understanding of the arcane might be challenged by the time it’s all over.
Featuring the vocal talents of: Amanda Clements, Ben Avery, Celeste Mora, Dave Clements, John Harju, John-Michel Bilezikian, Josiah Crandall, and Katherine Bilezikian
Theme song by: AC the Bard, Amanda Clements, and Haryu-Shi
The party can’t help but pick up new strays where ever they go, and lose money at the same time it seems. With time to kill before returning to Dr. Nick, there’s no telling how much trouble they can get into.
Featuring the vocal talents of: Amanda Clements, Ben Avery, Celeste Mora, Dave Clements, John Harju, John-Michel Bilezikian, Josiah Crandall, and Katherine Bilezikian
Theme song by: AC the Bard, Amanda Clements, and Haryu-Shi
Seven friends and too many pieces of recovered rat head off to see Dr. Nick in hopes of finding a fix for Zellene’s new cosmetic problem. Results may vary.
Featuring the vocal talents of: Amanda Clements, Ben Avery, Celeste Mora, Dave Clements, John Harju, John-Michel Bilezikian, Josiah Crandall, and Katherine Bilezikian
Theme song by: AC the Bard, Amanda Clements, and Haryu-Shi
Bringing new meaning to ‘Don’t lose your head!’, Zellene’s gone and lost her skin instead. While Fenwyck and Ebb take an interesting approach to solving the problem, the crew decides to seek outside help.
Featuring the vocal talents of: Amanda Clements, Ben Avery, Celeste Mora, Dave Clements, John Harju, John-Michel Bilezikian, Josiah Crandall, and Katherine Bilezikian
Theme song by: AC the Bard, Amanda Clements, and Haryu-Shi
The time has finally arrived… the first release of Playing Games with Strangers second campaign, Nightmares & Dreamscapes!
001 – The Story Begins
Unpleasant nightmares, chance encounters, and perhaps some proof that mice really are smarter than all of us. Meet some of the newest adventurers in Fandiria as they make their way to the festival in Para’Va. Unfortunately, enjoying the party may have to wait until more pressing matters get handled.
Featuring the vocal talents of:Amanda Clements, Ben Avery, Celeste Mora, Dave Clements, John Harju, John-Michel Bilezikian, Josiah Crandall, and Katherine Bilezikian
Theme song by: AC the Bard, Amanda Clements, and Haryu-Shi
Join an excited cast that’s sure to have nothing but a happy time in this Call of Cthulhu one-shot. Answer questions with the cast such as: does anyone eat sardines? Does CoC ever go well? Will Josiah always choose beans if given the option?
Everything will go swimmingly! … said no one ever.
It’s the third part of The Pine Springs Chronicles!
This will be an ongoing Sidequest that Squid is running using the Monster of the Week RPG system. The first few episodes will be released here and on our Patreon, as this Sidequest will become a Patreon exclusive.
We hope you enjoy the prelude episodes and head over to our Patreon page to continue listening and find some other exclusive content you might enjoy.
It’s the second preview episode of The Pine Springs Chronicles!
This will be an ongoing Sidequest that Squid is running using the Monster of the Week RPG system. The first few episodes will be released here and on our Patreon, as this Sidequest will become a Patreon exclusive.
We hope you enjoy the prelude episodes and head over to our Patreon page to continue listening and find some other exclusive content you might enjoy.
Join us for the premiere of The Pine Springs Chronicles! Our Monster of the Week Sidequest kicks off as old friends reunite in a small Colorado town. Don’t miss the prelude episodes here, and continue the adventure on our Patreon for exclusive content!
Playing Games with Strangers has become known over the last four years for our cast of voice actors and the colorful characters they portray. As we came closer to the end of the first campaign, it became apparent to our Game Master, John Harju, that the table felt incomplete with the voices of Eric Compogno, Steve MacDonald, and JS Earls moving on to take care of other needs and projects. In early 2023, Amanda Clements joined the cast as the mysterious rogue assassin, Meira, and was shortly thereafter welcomed into the fold quietly.
Today, we are incredibly pleased to announce the addition of two new voices coming to Playing Games with Strangers this spring as we begin our second campaign, which will consist of a new band of adventurers and take place in the land of Fandïria.
Please join us in welcoming Ben Avery and John-Michel “JM” Bilezikian in their to-be-announced roles! (We have to keep some kind of suspense!)
You may already recognize Ben for his guest spots on one-shot episodes like “Liberation Day” and “The Pungeon” as well as other podcasts like Strangers & Aliens and Supersonic PodComics, which was the birthplace of Playing Games with Strangers.
JM, however, is an absolute newcomer and has not appeared on the podcast yet, but you will hear him as Weston in the upcoming PGwS Sidequest, “The Pine Springs Chronicles”, a mini-campaign utilizing the Monster of the Week roleplaying system.
About JM
If it wasn’t for the fact that we’ve actually played multiple sessions with him for the upcoming Pine Springs Chronicles Sidequest, it would be easy to think he was just a figment of Squid’s imagination!
In all reality, JM is bringing his knowledge of TTRPG mechanics and very thoughtful roleplaying skills to the PGwS table. As previously mentioned, you’ll hear him very soon as “Weston” when we release our supporter-exclusive campaign utilizing the Monster of the Week system. He’ll also be a regular with the premiere of Campaign Two this spring.
About Ben
Ben Avery is a multi-talented storyteller experienced in comic books, novels, puppetry, and animation, initially gaining recognition for adapting George R.R. Martin’s Hedge Knight novellas into graphic novels. He has worked with major publishers like Image, Marvel, and Zondervan, contributing to series like Timeflyz and ArmorQuest, appealing to a wide age range. Recently, he’s been adapting Bible stories into comics and launched a sci-fi novel, Ghosts of the Future. Beyond his work, Avery is a children’s pastor in northern Indiana, living in a converted church with his wife and five children, integrating storytelling into every aspect of his life.
Ben has been a guest of PGwS in the past, but he will be a regular with the debut of Campaign Two.
The end draws near as the party assembles an army against Kerrek. Callum casts Sanctuary and it seems all Hell has broken loose in the penultimate episode of Campaign One.
Episode Engineer: Dave “Uuuuugh” Clements
Music by Epidemic Sound
Playing Games with Strangers Theme (Club Remix) by Steven Arthur & JS Earls
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