
Session Prep with No Time: 5 Tips to Maximize Your Time
2025-12-25 | 14 mins.
Welcome back to How to Be a Better DM.Today we talk about 5 tips for session prep with no time.Adjust your expectationsGet inside your players’ mindsWorldSmithGet a repository of MapsGet Transposable MaterialThanks for listening to today’s show.Merry ChristmasThanks for listening to today’s show. If you like our stuff and want to support us, here are some sponsor links and links to our other stuff:Worldsmith: http://session0studios.com/worldsmithRoll and Play Press:http://session0studios.com/rollandplayPhantasm Studios: https://session0studios.com/fantasmsMonument Studios: session0studios.com/monumentstudiosDiscord: http://session0studios.com/discordPatreon:https://session0studios.com/patreonDungeon Master Level Up Guide: https://session0studios.com/newsletter

Cliffhangers: 3 DM Tips for using them like a—
2025-12-18 | 13 mins.
It almost feels like cliffhangers are a requirement for some DMs, or at least the professional ones! But are cliffhangers always necessary? And how can you use them more effectively as storytelling devices? Tanner discusses 3 tips for maximizing their effectiveness while avoiding cliffhanger-burnout.

Tips for Improv: Reacting and Responding to Players’ Unexpected Choices Part 3
2025-12-11 | 13 mins.
Welcome back to How to Be a Better DM.Today we continue talking about improv. We finish our tips for responding to player choices and actions.Here are the tips:The Rule of IntentYes ANDSpark or PromptsTake Pauses and BreathesTake Advantage of Cool MomentsOutsource to the PlayersMaintain the tone or Subvert it Thanks for listening to today’s show. If you like our stuff and want to support us, here are some sponsor links and links to our other stuff:Worldsmith: http://session0studios.com/worldsmithRoll and Play Press:http://session0studios.com/rollandplayPhantasm Studios: https://session0studios.com/fantasmsMonument Studios: session0studios.com/monumentstudiosDiscord: http://session0studios.com/discordPatreon:https://session0studios.com/patreonDungeon Master Level Up Guide: https://session0studios.com/newsletter

Lessons in Collaborative Storytelling
2025-12-04 | 19 mins.
Do you give your players much of a chance to collaborate on the storytelling? No? Well, you wouldn't be alone! In this episode, Tanner discusses some ideas for introducing collaboration into your D&D party so you can ramp up the storytelling AND player engagement!

5 D&D Game Mechanics to Get Excited About
2025-11-20 | 21 mins.
Today's episode is all about taking a normal or underutilized D&D game mechanic and using it to its fullest to add some real excitement to your D&D games! And if anyone deserves more excitement for playing, it's the DM. Tanner shares 5 specific mechanics to check out. Are there any others you can think of?



How to Be a Better DM: Dungeon Master Tips for the DM Newbie, the Hobbyist and the Forever DM