The 15 Best Dnd Podcasts (2026)

Mike Shea has been one of the most trusted voices in the D&D game master community for over a decade, and The Lazy RPG Podcast is basically his workshop laid bare. If you've read his books — The Lazy Dungeon Master or Return of the Lazy Dungeon Master — you already know his philosophy: prep smarter, not harder. The podcast puts that into practice with a mix of RPG industry news, DM tips, Kickstarter spotlights, and Patreon Q&A segments that feel like sitting in on a conversation with a friend who just happens to have run thousands of sessions.

With over 800 episodes under its belt, the show splits into two main formats. The Lazy RPG Talk Show covers weekly D&D and tabletop RPG news with commentary that is refreshingly opinionated without being combative. Then there's the Lazy GM Prep episodes, which walk you through actual session preparation in real time — monster selection, encounter design, pacing tricks, the works. Mike doesn't just tell you what to do; he shows you his thought process and explains why certain shortcuts actually produce better games.

The production is clean and no-nonsense. No elaborate sound effects or dramatic intro sequences. Just Mike talking through ideas clearly and efficiently, usually in episodes that run between 20 and 40 minutes. That approachable length makes it easy to squeeze in during a commute or while prepping minis. For DMs who feel overwhelmed by the amount of prep modern campaigns seem to demand, this podcast is basically a pressure valve. It consistently reinforces the idea that a great session doesn't require a novel's worth of notes.

Will Stark and Brian McDonald have been nerding out about D&D 5th Edition lore since 2016, and honestly, their enthusiasm hasn't dimmed one bit over 400-plus episodes. The Dungeoncast is a show built on genuine curiosity about the world-building baked into Dungeons & Dragons — the monsters, the planes, the gods, the magic systems, all of it.

Each Monday, Will and Brian pick a topic from the D&D universe and spend about an hour breaking it down. One week it might be the ecology and tactics of beholders. The next, they could be comparing different cleric subclasses or tracing the history of a specific plane of existence. They pull from official sourcebooks but aren't afraid to inject their own homebrew ideas or table experiences, which keeps things from feeling like a textbook reading. The banter between them is loose and funny — they clearly enjoy each other's company, and that makes even the most obscure lore topics entertaining.

What sets The Dungeoncast apart from other lore-focused shows is the accessibility. You don't need to have memorized the Monster Manual to follow along. Will and Brian explain concepts as they go, making it just as useful for someone rolling their first character as it is for a veteran DM looking for fresh inspiration. The casual, inclusive vibe means you can drop into almost any episode without needing to have heard what came before. It's the kind of show that makes you want to crack open a sourcebook afterward and start building something new.

Teos Abadia and Shawn Merwin bring something to the table that most D&D podcast hosts simply can't: professional game design credits. Both have written for Wizards of the Coast, Ghostfire Gaming, MCDM, and other major publishers, and that insider perspective makes Mastering Dungeons feel like getting industry analysis from people who actually shape the product.

The show covers D&D from multiple angles — news reporting, product reviews, business analysis, and design philosophy. A typical episode might open with a news segment about upcoming releases or community developments, then shift into a deep discussion about encounter design or campaign structure. Teos and Shawn aren't shy about their opinions, and they back them up with specific examples from their own published work and playtesting experience. They also regularly cover systems beyond D&D, which gives the show a broader tabletop RPG perspective that pure D&D shows sometimes lack.

One thing that really stands out is how they connect the dots between what Wizards of the Coast announces and what it actually means for people running games at home. When a new rulebook drops, they don't just summarize the content — they talk about how it fits into the design trajectory of the game and what DMs should actually do with it. Episodes run at a comfortable pace and come out regularly, making it easy to stay current. If you want to understand not just how to play D&D but how the game is made and where it's headed, Mastering Dungeons is one of the sharpest shows out there.

If you want a weekly roundup of what's happening across the entire tabletop RPG world — not just D&D — Morrus' Unofficial Tabletop RPG Talk has been delivering exactly that since 2018. The show bills itself as the biggest tabletop RPG weekly news show, and that's not empty marketing. Morrus, who founded EN World (one of the longest-running D&D community sites) and created the ENnies Awards, has been embedded in this industry for decades.

Every Friday, Morrus is joined by co-hosts Peter Coffey and Jessica Hancock for a live recording on YouTube. The format is a news-and-discussion show that covers D&D releases, Pathfinder updates, indie game launches, Kickstarter campaigns, and industry drama with equal attention. They move through topics quickly but give each one enough room to breathe, and the live format means they sometimes riff on chat questions in real time.

What makes this show particularly valuable is the breadth. A lot of D&D podcasts operate in a bubble, but Morrus and crew keep tabs on the full spectrum of tabletop gaming. You'll hear about the latest One D&D playtest alongside coverage of a small-press Mothership supplement or a new Dragonbane adventure. The hosts have strong opinions grounded in genuine industry knowledge — Morrus runs EN Publishing and Jessica handles the business side — so the commentary has real weight behind it. If you only have time for one TTRPG news podcast each week, this one covers the most ground.

Rob Guthrie and Matt Drwenski have been putting out weekly episodes since 2018, and with over 460 episodes logged, Dungeon Master of None has become one of the most reliable general-interest D&D podcasts around. The show covers a wide range of RPG topics — game mastering advice, book reviews, guest interviews, and listener questions — all filtered through the friendship and contrasting perspectives of its two hosts.

One of the show's best recurring segments is "Unwanted Advice," where Rob and Matt field listener questions about running games, handling problem players, building encounters, and all the messy realities of being a DM. Matt also brings a unique angle as an educator, frequently drawing connections between classroom techniques and tabletop facilitation that actually make practical sense. It's not theoretical hand-waving — he shares specific strategies he's tested in both settings.

The interview episodes deserve special mention too. When they bring on other dungeon masters, the conversations tend to focus on the craft of running games rather than self-promotion. They dig into what inspires their guests, how they handle different play styles, and the state of actual play as a format. Rob and Matt have an easygoing chemistry that keeps the tone light even when tackling serious topics like inclusivity at the table or burnout. The show also branches out into Pathfinder adventure path reviews, which gives it a nice range beyond strictly D&D content. If you want a podcast that treats game mastering as both an art and a practical skill, this one delivers consistently.

Dave, Tony, and Chris are three dungeon masters who took the simple idea of "DMs helping DMs" and turned it into a genuinely useful podcast. 3 Wise DMs brands itself as a gaming philosophy show, and that label fits better than you might expect. Rather than just rattling off tips and tricks, the hosts dig into the reasoning behind different approaches to running tabletop RPGs.

The show covers everything a game master might wrestle with — terrain and maps, music and atmosphere, running published campaigns versus homebrew, handling player dynamics, and adapting when things go sideways at the table. Their episode on running Dragonlance: Shadow of the Dragon Queen, for instance, wasn't just a review. All three hosts shared their actual experience running or playing through the campaign, comparing what worked and what fell flat in practice. That hands-on perspective makes their advice feel grounded rather than hypothetical.

What keeps the show engaging is the three-way dynamic. Having three hosts with different DMing styles means most topics get examined from multiple angles. One might favor heavy prep while another wings it, and the resulting discussion gives listeners a more complete picture than a single-perspective show could. They also cover other systems beyond D&D, including episodes on running Call of Cthulhu one-shots for new players. Episodes come in at a manageable length, and the hosts keep the energy up without talking over each other. For DMs who want to think more deeply about why they run games the way they do, 3 Wise DMs offers a thoughtful conversation worth joining.

Justin Lewis, Cayden Ottley, and Tanner Weyland put out new episodes every Thursday with a straightforward goal: help dungeon masters get better at running games. The title is honest, and so is the format. How to Be a Better DM covers the full spectrum of DM experience levels, from someone running their very first session to the forever DM who's been at it for twenty years and still wants to sharpen their craft.

The topics are practical and specific. Instead of vague advice like "be creative," you get episodes about how to build realistic NPCs that players actually care about, how to structure a session zero so everyone leaves on the same page, how to keep energy levels consistent throughout a four-hour session, and how to use improv techniques without derailing your plot. One episode breaks down the Rule of Intent, Yes AND principles, spark lists, and the value of deliberate pauses — all from a DM's perspective rather than an acting coach's.

The three-host setup creates a nice back-and-forth where different experience levels and play styles get represented. Justin tends to anchor the discussions while Cayden and Tanner jump in with counterpoints or examples from their own tables. Episodes drop weekly and usually stick to a focused topic, which makes them easy to pick through when you need help with something specific. The show doesn't try to be everything — it's not a news show or an actual play or a lore deep-dive. It's DM advice, done well, released consistently. Sometimes that's exactly what you need.

Total Party Kill has been running since 2013, which makes it one of the longest-standing actual play D&D podcasts out there. Part of The Incomparable podcast network, it features a rotating cast of friends who genuinely enjoy playing tabletop RPGs together — and that authentic fun comes through in every episode.

The format is what really sets TPK apart from the crowded actual play field. Instead of one sprawling campaign that spans hundreds of episodes, the show runs in compact 4-5 episode story arcs. Each arc brings a fresh adventure, sometimes a new system, and often different players to the table. Over 511 episodes and 37 seasons, they've built an impressive roster of mini-campaigns with names like Eglath's Angels, Dragonforge & Associates, and Dog & Pony Show. Season 1 started with 4th Edition D&D before the group switched to 5th Edition, and they've experimented with Gamma World and other systems along the way.

This bite-sized structure is a massive advantage for new listeners. You don't need to commit to a 300-episode backlog to understand what's happening. Just pick an arc that sounds interesting and jump in. The players lean into comedy and improv, so expect unexpected character choices, terrible puns, and plans that go spectacularly wrong. The tone is light and fun without being slapstick — these are competent players who happen to prioritize entertainment over tactical optimization. If you want actual play D&D that respects your time and consistently delivers laughs, Total Party Kill has a decade-plus track record to prove it can.

Knocked Prone is a family-friendly actual play D&D podcast with a twist — the cast is made up of talented voice actors led by Dungeon Master Kade Backus. That voice acting background makes a real difference. Characters feel distinct and alive in a way that goes beyond just putting on funny accents, and the storytelling has a theatrical quality without losing the spontaneous feel of a genuine tabletop session.

The show runs weekly episodes of about an hour each and features multiple campaigns. Campaign 1, "Great Grumbopolis," follows four teenagers ripped from their homes and dropped into a dark mystery involving their city and a strange purple goop — a premise that's weird enough to be genuinely intriguing. Campaign 2, "Champions of Greyhaven," ups the stakes with gods and giant corporations competing for worship, which is a fun modern twist on classic D&D themes. The cast includes Brookelin Backus, Danny Denison, Kaden Roholt, Jameson Ames, and Mason Syddall, each bringing strong character work to the table.

The "clean" label isn't just marketing — this is genuinely a podcast you could listen to with younger family members without worrying about content. That said, it doesn't feel watered down or childish. The stories have real tension, the character development is solid, and the creative choices are inventive. Having earned a spot in the top 20 D&D podcasts by listener vote, Knocked Prone proves that family-friendly and compelling are not mutually exclusive. Six years and 168 episodes in, the show keeps finding new ways to surprise its audience.

Mastering the Dungeon takes a refreshingly different approach to DM education. Instead of reading rules straight out of the Player's Handbook or Dungeon Master's Guide, the hosts mix personal storytelling and table anecdotes into their lessons. The result feels more like learning from experienced friends than sitting through a lecture, and that makes the information actually stick.

The podcast is designed to make learning how to DM as fun as playing the game itself. Episodes cover foundational topics — what D&D is, how to run a session zero, character creation from scratch, the role of a DM versus a player — but they do it with personality. The hosts share their own mistakes and breakthroughs, which gives new DMs permission to stumble without feeling like failures. It's the kind of encouragement that the hobby genuinely needs more of, since the biggest barrier to getting new DMs isn't complexity — it's intimidation.

New episodes come out on a biweekly schedule, and each one tends to focus on a single topic rather than trying to cover everything at once. That focused approach means you can browse the episode list and pick exactly what you need help with. Starting your first campaign? There's an episode for that. Struggling with character backstories? Covered. Not sure what supplies you actually need to play? They've got you. The show sits squarely in the education category for good reason, but it never feels academic. If you're thinking about picking up the DM screen for the first time, this podcast makes the whole prospect feel a lot less daunting.

All Things DnD built a massive following on social media by collecting and sharing D&D stories from the community — those wild, hilarious, and sometimes surprisingly emotional tales that come out of actual game sessions. The Story Dungeon podcast is the audio version of that concept, and it works remarkably well.

New stories drop every three days, which is an aggressive schedule that keeps the feed constantly active. With over 250 episodes since March 2020, there's a deep catalog to explore. The format is storytelling-focused: each episode presents D&D tales submitted by players and DMs from around the world. You'll hear about the bard who talked their way out of an impossible situation, the TPK that nobody saw coming, the NPC that accidentally became the most beloved character in a years-long campaign, and plenty of moments where the dice did something nobody could have planned for.

What makes this show different from a standard actual play is the variety. Instead of following one group through one story, every episode brings fresh voices and fresh scenarios. Some stories are laugh-out-loud funny, others are surprisingly touching, and a few are cautionary tales about what happens when things go wrong at the table. The production leans into the drama and fiction tags — these aren't dry recountings but narrated stories with pacing and energy. It's the D&D equivalent of a good campfire story collection. Perfect for when you want to hear about other people's games without the 90-episode commitment of an actual play series.

Aaron and Josh put out a new episode every Wednesday, and after 200-plus episodes, they've covered an impressive range of GM and player topics. Level Up Your Gaming is a tabletop RPG improvement podcast that manages to be both practical and creative in equal measure — a balance that a lot of similar shows struggle to hit.

The discussion episodes tackle the kind of questions that keep GMs up at night. How do you adjust encounter difficulty on the fly when your party is either steamrolling or getting crushed? How do you build homebrew items and monsters that feel balanced but still exciting? Aaron and Josh talk through these problems with specific advice and real examples from their own games, not vague platitudes. They clearly play a lot, and that table experience shows in the specificity of their recommendations.

The standout recurring feature is their "Let's Make A One Shot" series, where they build complete one-shot adventures from scratch based on listener prompts. They walk through every detail — the hook, the NPCs, the encounters, the twists — giving you enough material to actually run the adventure yourself. It's essentially free content creation for DMs who are short on prep time. The two-host dynamic keeps things conversational and moving quickly, and the Wednesday release schedule makes it a reliable midweek listen. Listeners can email in questions and episode suggestions, which means the show actively evolves based on what the community needs. A solid, consistent resource for anyone looking to run better games.

The tabletop RPG community has a running joke about the eternal DM shortage — everyone wants to play, nobody wants to run the game. Dice Legenz launched Dungeon Mastering is Easy specifically to attack that problem. The core message is right there in the title: being a DM is not as hard as people make it out to be, and this podcast exists to prove it.

Each episode runs a tight 20 to 30 minutes and features an interview with a well-known figure from the international D&D community. The inaugural episode brought on AJ Pickett, a YouTube creator famous for his deep knowledge of D&D lore, to talk through designing a one-shot adventure. He broke the process down into a simple four-scene structure that even a first-time DM could follow — preparing players, structuring scenes, and building a narrative arc that actually holds together. Other episodes cover topics like making encounters feel genuinely frightening, balancing combat, and engaging all five senses at the table.

The interview format is the show's biggest strength. Instead of one perspective on every topic, you get a different expert voice each time, which means the advice stays fresh and varied. The short runtime is smart too — it respects the listener's time and makes each episode feel focused rather than padded. This is a newer podcast compared to some of the veterans in the D&D space, but it's filling a real gap. For anyone who's been told they should try DMing but feels paralyzed by the idea, Dungeon Mastering is Easy makes a convincing case that the barrier is lower than they think.

Radio Free Borderlands takes a long view of Dungeons & Dragons that most podcasts skip entirely. While plenty of shows focus on the current edition and the latest releases, host Dan and frequent co-host Al approach D&D as a game with a rich, decades-spanning history worth understanding. If you've ever been curious about what D&D was like before 5th Edition took over, this is one of the few podcasts that regularly goes there.

The show covers past, present, and future of the game through product reviews, retro reviews, gaming advice, and broader discussions about gamer culture. A typical retro review might examine Unearthed Arcana from 1985, not just as a historical curiosity but as a window into how game design philosophy has evolved. Current edition content gets equal attention, but it's enriched by that historical context in a way that gives listeners a more complete understanding of why D&D looks the way it does today.

Dan's commentary style is conversational and informed. He answers listener questions, shares his thoughts on new D&D books, and occasionally puts together playlist episodes featuring music selections — a quirky touch that gives the show personality. When Al joins, the discussions open up into genuine back-and-forth debates about gaming topics. The show has been running since 2014, which gives it a substantial back catalog for anyone who wants to explore the full arc of D&D's evolution. For veteran players who remember earlier editions fondly, or newer players who want to understand the game's roots, Radio Free Borderlands offers a perspective you won't find in many other places.

DnD Tonight is something you don't see enough of in the actual play space: a family playing D&D together, recorded for the world to hear. Derek Matteson serves as Dungeon Master, running 5th Edition games for his family members in weekly sessions that are genuinely kid-friendly without ever feeling like they're holding back.

The main campaign follows characters named Asharis, Ghost Slinger, and Merlin as they navigate the kingdom of Angland — a fantasy setting with enough danger to keep things interesting and enough warmth to feel inviting. Episodes typically run about an hour, which is a comfortable length that doesn't overstay its welcome. The storytelling unfolds naturally, driven by character decisions and Derek's world-building, with the kind of organic moments that only happen when players know and trust each other at a personal level.

With 78 episodes in the catalog, the show isn't enormous, but the family dynamic gives it a unique charm. There are special episodes too, like the one where Derek put together a D&D birthday game for his niece when she turned 15 — a small detail that says a lot about how this family treats the hobby. The production is straightforward and unpretentious. No elaborate sound design or professional voice actors, just a family sitting around a table rolling dice and telling stories together. For parents looking for an actual play they can share with their kids, or for anyone who misses the low-key magic of a home game, DnD Tonight captures that feeling honestly.