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Continuing Conversations: Sci-Fi Storytelling & Star Trek Adventures

Studio Tembo

Where does the game end and the story begin? Continuing Conversations is your weekly deep dive into the art of Science Fiction storytelling, narrative design, and the creative process—hosted by Michael Dismuke and Jim Johnson.

While our roots are firmly planted in the Star Trek Adventures RPG, our mission has expanded. We are exploring how Sci-Fi worlds are built, how characters are forged, and how stories are told across every medium. Whether you are a Gamemaster crafting a campaign, an aspiring novelist, or a fan of deep lore, we bring you the insights you need to fuel your imagination.

Produced by Studio Tembo, this show is dedicated to "Infinite Stories in Infinite Combinations." Whether you're rolling dice or writing chapters, let's continue the conversation.

https://linktr.ee/studiotembo

Science Fiction Writing, Narrative Design, Star Trek Adventures, Creative Writing, RPG Design, World Building, Sci-Fi Authors, Jim Johnson, Michael Dismuke, Studio Tembo, Speculative Fiction, Tabletop RPGs, Game Writing, Storytelling.

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28 episodes
Avg 54 min
English

Episodes 28

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Counted on this page — what you have heard stays on this device, so it is not something the list can be paged by.

#242
Friday · 53 min
Writer and producer Jake Black
Writer and producer Jake Black joins Jim and Michael for his first appearance on Continuing Conversations! From head-writing The Ready Room with Wil Wheaton to crafting Star Trek stories, trading cards, and Starfleet Logbook, Jake has explored the final frontier across a remarkable range of formats. Get to know the creative mind behind the work—and a career built on writing, learning, and saying yes to new adventures.
#241
October 9 · 1 hr 11 min
Creating Truly Unique Spaceships
Adam Good and Jamie Perez, creators of the amazing Infinity of Ships!! Learn about their journey from poetry to unlimited possibilities. An Infinity of Ships is an expansive toolkit for creating truly unique spaceships for your sci-fi tabletop roleplaying games. Featuring evocative ship illustrations by Rob Turpin (aka thisnorthernboy) and over 150 pages of tables, generators, and adventures, An Infinity of Ships is the perfect resource for spacefaring GMs and players alike. With a wide, inclusive range of styles and tones, An Infinity of Ships lets you create spaceships that fit any sci-fi galaxy and any type of table. https://linktr.ee/studiotembo
#240
October 2 · 49 min
With Diana Keng
Get ready for a fantastic conversation with Diana Keng, whose sharp insights and deep love of genre storytelling make them a perfect guest for Continuing Conversations. We’ll be talking about the current season of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, Diana’s work with TV Fanatic and The Televixen, and more. Tune in for a thoughtful, inspiring, and wonderfully Trek-filled episode. https://linktr.ee/studiotembo
#239
September 25 · 57 min
IDW’s Star Trek #1
This week on Continuing Conversations, Michael and Jim welcome writer Christopher Cantwell to talk about IDW’s upcoming Star Trek #1 and the bold new era it launches for Captain Seven and the Enterprise. The conversation digs into Seven’s evolving voice, the challenge of moving Star Trek “forward, forward, forward” while honoring everything that came before, and what it means to explore not just strange new worlds, but the inner lives, histories, and contradictions of the characters who carry the franchise into the future. https://linktr.ee/studiotembo
#238
September 11 · 41 min
Lessons Learned in RPGs and Writing
Jim and Michael get back on the soapbox to talk about lessons learned over the last 5+ years in the RPG and writing game. From where we are to where we have been, and how to shut down negativity and uplift others...we chat about it all and hope it inspires you to KEEP WRITING and DREAMING! https://linktr.ee/studiotembo
#237
September 10 · 43 min
Riffing Random Tables
Unleash the power of probability matrices in this "Riffing Random Tables" session with Al Spader, Jim Johnson, and Michael Dismuke. Random tables are more than rolling and accepting the prompt. It takes creativity, imagination, and some flexibility to make each roll--and each gaming session--a once-in-a-lifetime experience. You're sure to be excited and educated by watching this show! https://linktr.ee/studiotembo
#236
August 28 · 51 min
How to Market Your RPG
Al Spader guest stars to talk about how to market your RPG and your personal brand. I would like to call this a master class, but honestly, it is a tricky game where some strategies win and others lose. Tune in. Maybe you will find the perfect strategy that takes your game from bust to boom. https://linktr.ee/studiotembo
#235
August 21 · 1 hr 7 min
Dynamic writing duo Jackson Lanzing and Collin Kelly (the Hive Mind)
In this episode of Continuing Conversations, hosts Michael Dismuke and Jim Johnson welcome back the dynamic writing duo Jackson Lanzing and Collin Kelly (the Hive Mind), fresh off San Diego Comic-Con 2026. The creators share their 20-year journey as collaborative partners, offering invaluable business advice for aspiring writers, including establishing an S-Corp, hiring legal/accounting professionals, and their financial blueprint under Ego Death Inc. They also preview their highly anticipated projects, including taking over Dark Horse’s Dungeons & Dragons comics (pitched as the 'Avengers of D&D'), their original horror miniseries You'll Never Leave This Place Alive, and their upcoming indie film Synthetic. Learn more about the duo's creative synergy here: https://magmacomix.com/blogs/creators/hive-mind-jackson-lanzing-collin-kelly https://linktr.ee/studiotembo
#234
August 17 · 55 min
LIVE from ST:LV 2026
Jim and Michael at STLV and the Star Trek Timelines panel!!! https://linktr.ee/studiotembo
#233
August 7 · 1 hr 7 min
The World of Sequential Art
We are diving deep into the world of sequential art to profile a creator who completely redefines what a comic book page can look like: the incredible J.K. Woodward. If you’ve ever flipped through the dark, atmospheric pages of Peter David’s Fallen Angel, or marveled at the hyper-realistic, stunningly painted characters in IDW’s Star Trek universe, then you already know his work. Woodward bridges the gap between traditional fine art and modern comic storytelling. By choosing gouache on hot-press cotton paper over standard digital inks, he brings a textured, expressionistic depth to mainstream Marvel, DC, and indie titles. He belongs to that elite class of mixed-media visionaries, proving with every single panel that comic book art belongs in a fine art gallery. https://linktr.ee/studiotembo
#232
August 6 · 39 min
STA Weapons and Gear
Jim and Michael break down Star Trek Adventures RPG Core Rulebook chapter 8, Weapons and Gear! Are you optimizing the use of gear and Weapons in your game? Tune in for some serious riffing to inspire amazing ways to use equipment traits, insane weapons, and outlandish inventions. https://linktr.ee/studiotembo
#231
July 24 · 1 hr 14 min
Where does a great RPG design begin?
What does it really take to turn an RPG idea into a finished game? In this episode of Continuing Conversations, Michael Dismuke and Jim Johnson sit down with veteran game designers Meric Moir, and Al Spader for an engaging discussion about the realities of RPG development. From the spark of an initial idea to the challenges of playtesting, refinement, and publication, the panel explores what happens behind the curtain of game design. Together, they tackle big questions: Does a great RPG begin with mechanics, setting, theme, or emotion? How do designers know when to stop worldbuilding and start building a playable game? What lessons emerge when players interact with a game in ways its creators never anticipated? And perhaps most importantly, what separates the RPGs that make it to publication from the countless brilliant ideas that remain trapped in notebooks and hard drives? Whether you're an aspiring designer, a veteran gamemaster, or simply curious about how your favorite RPGs come to life, this conversation offers practical insights, hard-earned lessons, and plenty of stories from the creative trenches. https://linktr.ee/studiotembo
#230
July 21 · 54 min
Allies and Adversaries Sourcebook
Jim and Michael invite 2D20 System Designer Nathan Dowdell onto Continuing Conversations to chat about the NEW Star Trek Adventures Allies and Adversaries Sourcebook. Learn about new encounters, optional rule sets, and a menagerie of NPCS to throw into your games for unlimited fun!
#229
July 14 · 36 min
LIVE at Shore Leave 46
Sorry for the late episode, folks. But we wanted to do something special. We were in Lancaster, Pennsylvania for Shore Leave 46 and in fabulous hands with many of Star Trek adventure’s most prolific writers. We will take you on the tour of Vendor Hall, meet some familiar faces, and talk about convention etiquette. Let us know what you think of this episode. It’s different than what we usually do. https://linktr.ee/studiotembo
#228
July 9 · 1 hr 3 min
Star Trek Book Club
Adam Selvidge, founder of Star Trek Book Club, joins Jim and Michael to talk about the vast universe of stories contained within Star Trek novels and comics. Hear about our favorite books in addition to how to choose where to start if you want to get into the novels and comics. It is a big galaxy of stories. This episode will give you some good options for starting points. https://linktr.ee/studiotembo
#227
July 8 · 53 min
Building an Episodic Campaign
Star Trek Adventures writer Stephen Near joins Jim and Michael to riff about building an episodic campaign to tantalize your players. How to do it? What are some cool ways to keep players invested in the episodes and character development? What tools are available (FOR FREE) to help build a great episodic gamer? Tune in to help plan your next great adventure. https://linktr.ee/studiotembo
#226
June 19 · 48 min
Can the captain be an NPC?
Star Trek Adventures writer Stephen Near joins Jim and Michael to tackle the controversial question, "Can the captain be an NPC in your Star Trek Adventures game? What are the pros and cons? Opportunities and threats?" Get ready for some distinct opinions and new ideas to get your tribbles chirping. https://linktr.ee/studiotembo
#225
June 18 · 1 hr 9 min
Star Trek Author Dayton Ward
Join us on Continuing Conversations as we sit down with legendary Star Trek author Dayton Ward to discuss his thrilling new novel set after Season 3 of Star Trek: Picard. We dive into temporal mysteries, Wesley Crusher’s return, Romulans, what’s at stake when history itself begins to unravel, and how Star Trek Adventures seeps into the novel. Along the way, we also celebrate 60 years of Star Trek history and explore Dayton’s incredible career writing across one of science fiction’s most beloved franchises. If you love Trek lore, storytelling, and behind-the-scenes insights, this is an episode you won’t want to miss. https://linktr.ee/studiotembo
#224
June 5 · 42 min
Roleplaying Unlocks Creativity
What happens when tabletop roleplaying moves beyond entertainment and becomes a tool for transformation? On this episode of Continuing Conversations, Jim and Michael sit down with storyteller, educator, and game designer Marcy Brown to explore how roleplaying games can unlock creativity, build empathy, and create deeper learning experiences for young people. As Lead Storyteller with the Mycelium Youth Network, Marcy helps shape spaces where storytelling, community, and youth empowerment intersect—using game-based learning to help students find their voice, build confidence, and imagine new possibilities. If you’ve ever wondered how RPGs can become powerful tools in the classroom, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss. https://linktr.ee/studiotembo
#223
May 29 · 34 min
Running a one-shot Star Trek Adventures RPG
Al Spader and Alex Boer join Jim and Michael to dish out some good advice about running a one-shot Star Trek Adventures RPG. Whether your friends are short on time, you are introducing the game to newbies, or you are taking up the GM mantle at a convention or online, these tips will ensure everyone has an incredible time in 2-3 hours (or even less sometimes). https://linktr.ee/studiotembo

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