Session Zero

Porter Green and Steve Discont
  • 5.0 (19)
  • LEISURE
Session Zero

Session Zero is a discussion podcast that seeks to explore the psychology of roleplaying. Each episode will feature a new aspect of the experience of roleplaying, viewed through the lens of psychology by clinical psychologist Porter Green and industrial-organizational psychologist Steve Discont, They're doing the thinking, and you get to do the listening.

  1. 03/31/2020

    Gaming with Kids

    Steve Discont can be found on twitter at @bearlynormal, and Porter Green at @DagmarRugosa. Shareef Jackson, his writing, and his social media can be found at his website, and can be found on the Dungeon & Dragons Actual Play show Rivals of Waterdeep. You can go to the following URLs or research articles to learn about some of the topics discussed in this episode: Rosselet, J. G., & Stauffer, S. D. (2013). Using group role-playing games with gifted children and adolescents: A psychosocial intervention model. International Journal of Play Therapy, 22(4), 173–192. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0034557 Salonius, Pasternak, D. E. & Gelfond, H. S. (2005). The Next Level of Research on Electronic Play: Potential Benefits and Contextual Influences for Children and Adolescents. Human Technology, Volume 1 (1), pp. 5-22. URN:NBN:fi:jyu-2005123. Retrieved from http://www.humantechnology.jyu.fi “Top of the Table - Introducing Kids to RPGs” by Matt Miller Mermaid Adventures, an RPG by Third Eye Games Fate Accelerated, an RPG by Evil Hat Productions No Thank You Evil, an RPG by Monte Cook Games The Dungeons & Dragons Starter Set Epyllion, an RPG by Magpie Games Autonomic, a YA RPG actual play podcast Skyjacks: Courier’s Call, a YA RPG actual play podcast

    35 min

  2. 03/17/2020

    Gaming at a Social Distance

    Steve Discont can be found on twitter at @bearlynormal, and Porter Green at @DagmarRugosa. You can go to the following URLs or research articles to learn about some of the topics discussed in this episode: “Why outbreaks like coronavirus spread exponentially, and how to “flatten the curve”,” by Harry Stevens at The Washington Post. Holt-Lunstad, J., Smith, T. B., Baker, M., Harris, T., & Stephenson, D. (2015). Loneliness and Social Isolation as Risk Factors for Mortality: A Meta-Analytic Review. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 10(2), 227–237. https://doi.org/10.1177/1745691614568352 Umberson, D., & Karas Montez, J. (2010). Social Relationships and Health: A Flashpoint for Health Policy. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 51(1_suppl), S54–S66. https://doi.org/10.1177/0022146510383501 Wilkinson, A., Bowen, L., Gustavsson, E., Håkansson, S., Littleton, N., McCormick, J., Thompson, M., & Mulligan, H. (2019). Maintenance and Development of Social Connection by People with Long-term Conditions: A Qualitative Study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 16(11), 1875. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16111875 Virtual Tabletops: Roll20, Fantasy Grounds, Astral TableTop, Playcards.io Viewscream, a LARP created for online play. Discord RPG Jam, a collection of games created to be best played on Discord, organized by Lucian Kahn Storium, an online play-by-text/creative writing RPG platform

    30 min

  3. 03/03/2020

    GMing with Anxiety

    Steve Discont can be found on twitter at @bearlynormal, and Porter Green at @DagmarRugosa. You can go to the following URLs or research articles to learn about some of the topics discussed in this episode: “Tabletop Roleplaying for the Shy and Cerebral” on The Mary Sue by Becky Chambers. Blackmon, W. D. (1994). Dungeons and Dragons: The use of a fantasy game in the psychotherapeutic treatment of a young adult. American Journal of Psychotherapy, 48(4), 624-632. Scudder, S. (2019). Reflections: the Positive Effect of Cooperative Roleplaying Games on Anxiety Disorders. *Here is the Reflections of Fate campaign book if you want to try running Sacha’s module specifically designed to target anxiety through RP.  Some great workbooks  to help learn skills for managing social anxiety and shyness: The Mindfulness and Acceptance Workbook for Social Anxiety and Shyness by Jan E. Fleming, Nancy L. Kocovski, and  Zindel V. Segal  In This Moment: Five Steps to Transcending Stress Using Mindfulness and Neuroscience by Kirk D. Strosahl, and Patricia J. Robinson  Get Out of Your Mind and Into Your Life: The New Acceptance and Commitment Therapy by Steven C. Hayes

    34 min

  4. 02/19/2020

    Therapy with Characters: Hee-nod of the Carral Clan

    CW: Discussion of human predation by a fantasy species Steve Discont can be found on twitter at @bearlynormal, and Porter Green at @DagmarRugosa. Hee-nod was portrayed by Shelby Green (Porter’s wife)! Shelby can be found on twitter at @kamber. Want to hear another pretend therapy session, this time with a vlogger who needs help because he’s way in over his head? Become a $5 or more backer with the ONE SHOT Network Patreon, and you can get access to the Network’s SECRET ARCHIVE where this therapy session can be found. There’s a chance it may not be up just yet, but it will be very soon!

    15 min

  5. 02/04/2020

    Anxiety & Shyness at the Table

    Steve Discont can found on twitter at @bearlynormal, and Porter Green at @DagmarRugosa. You can go to the following URLs or research articles to learn about some of the topics discussed in this episode: “Tabletop Roleplaying for the Shy and Cerebral” on The Mary Sue by Becky Chambers. Blackmon, W. D. (1994). Dungeons and Dragons: The use of a fantasy game in the psychotherapeutic treatment of a young adult. American Journal of Psychotherapy, 48(4), 624-632. Scudder, S. (2019). Reflections: the Positive Effect of Cooperative Roleplaying Games on Anxiety Disorders. *Here is the Reflections of Fate campaign book if you want to try running Sacha’s module specifically designed to target anxiety through RP. Some great workbooks to help learn skills for managing social anxiety and shyness: The Mindfulness and Acceptance Workbook for Social Anxiety and Shyness by Jan E. Fleming, Nancy L. Kocovski, and Zindel V. Segal In This Moment: Five Steps to Transcending Stress Using Mindfulness and Neuroscience by Kirk D. Strosahl, and Patricia J. Robinson Get Out of Your Mind and Into Your Life: The New Acceptance and Commitment Therapy by Steven C. Hayes

    33 min

  6. 09/24/2019

    Research on Roleplaying

    Steve Discont can found on twitter at @bearlynormal, and Porter Green at @DagmarRugosa. Our guest Ben Aldred can be found at @sleepingscholar. You can find a blog of Ben’s thoughts on gaming here. You can go to the following URLs or research articles to learn about some of the topics discussed in this episode: Ben Aldred’s graduate thesis on the folkloric study of roleplaying Ben Aldred’s study of the use of humor at the gaming table “Tuskegee Experiment: The Infamous Syphilis Study” by Elizabeth Nix at History.com The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services’ Office for Human Research Protections “Peer Review” by the American Psychological Association

    29 min

  7. 09/10/2019

    Therapy with Characters: Spit, from the Uhuru

    CW: Discussion of sexual interests, brief discussions of murder Steve Discont can found on twitter at @bearlynormal, and Porter Green at @DagmarRugosa. Our guest James D’Amato’s work can be found at his podcasts One Shot & Campaign. James can be found at his twitter at @oneshotrpg. His book, The Ultimate RPG Game Play Guide, can be found here. Want to hear our consultation session between Steve and The Broker from Campaign: Sky Jacks? Become a $5 or more backer with the ONE SHOT Network Patreon, and you can get access to the Network’s SECRET ARCHIVE where this consultation session can be found.

    26 min

  8. 08/27/2019

    Running Games with ADHD

    Steve Discont can found on twitter at @bearlynormal, and Porter Green at @DagmarRugosa. Our guest James D’Amato’s work can be found at his podcasts One Shot & Campaign. James can be found at his twitter at @oneshotrpg. His book, The Ultimate RPG Game Play Guide, can be found here. A quick note: Steve on the podcast referred to a mobile app called 30/30. At the time of this episode airing, it seems this app is longer available online. Sorry! A pomodoro alternative for beginners: Forest (https://www.forestapp.cc/) A lovely app for beginners that is cross platform and plants a little tree in your digital forest for each session of work you do. You can go to the following URLs or research articles to learn about some of the topics discussed in this episode: “Anxiety in Adults with ADHD” by Keath Low “Hyperfocus: The Other Side of Adult ADHD” by Jenara Nerenberg at CNN Health “Fidget Toys Aren’t Just Hype” by Katherine Isbister at Scientific American Levy, F., & Swanson, J. M. (2001). Timing, space, and ADHD: The dopamine theory revisited. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 35(4), 504-511. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1440-1614.2001.00923.x Meaux, J. B., & Chelonis, J. J. (2003). Time perception differences in children with and without ADHD. Journal of Pediatric Health Care, 17(2), 64–71. doi:10.1067/mph.2003.2 Quinn, P. O., & Madhoo, M. (2014). A review of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in women and girls: uncovering this hidden diagnosis. The primary care companion for CNS disorders, 16(3), PCC.13r01596. doi:10.4088/PCC.13r01596 “Productivity 101: An Introduction to the Pomodoro Technique” by Alan Henry at Lifehacker

    30 min
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Trailer

5
out of 5
19 Ratings

About

Session Zero is a discussion podcast that seeks to explore the psychology of roleplaying. Each episode will feature a new aspect of the experience of roleplaying, viewed through the lens of psychology by clinical psychologist Porter Green and industrial-organizational psychologist Steve Discont, They're doing the thinking, and you get to do the listening.

Information

  • Creator
    Porter Green and Steve Discont
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2020
  • Episodes
    27
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2018 Session Zero
  • Show Website
    Session Zero

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