ABOUT THE PODCAST

The universes of pop culture are in peril, and an extradimensional stone head has roped three D&D dopes into saving the day. Join us as we shuffle from one weird pop culture setting to the next in an actual-play RPG podcast like no other!

You can listen to Shuffle Quest directly from our Libsyn page, via our RSS feed, or by subscribing on iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, iHeartRadio, Tunein, or basically any other place that has podcasts.

WHAT IS SHUFFLE QUEST?

Shuffle Quest is a comedy actual-play RPG podcast set in a variety of pop culture worlds. Olmec, an extradimensional stone head, has discovered the multiverse of fiction is collapsing, and recruits three fantasy adventurers from the world of Dungeons & Dragons to act as his agents and save reality. Each arc focuses on the cast’s adventures in a single pop culture universe, as they grapple with danger, mystery, and a hilarious dose of culture shock. The players use the RPG system most closely representative of the world they’re in (we always try to use officially licensed games if possible)! Currently, our heroes have rescued the universes of Men in Black, Dragon Ball Z, Sonic the Hedgehog, and Mad Max from certain doom.

Shuffle Quest arcs are six episodes long and are separated by single episodes focused on the cast recovering in Olmec’s head (in addition to being their quest-giver, he also acts as their means of transportation between universes). Episodes range from 50-90 minutes.

Our show is professionally recorded and mixed, and thoroughly edited to trim digressions and rules logistics. Shuffle Quest is ad-free and is funded by listeners like you through Patreon.

WHO IS SHUFFLE QUEST?

Tom Harrison is co-creator of Shuffle Quest and acts as the host and gamemaster, setting the scenes and playing all characters other than the main three heroes. Tom is a writer, podcaster and performer who is also co-creator and host of The Skewer, a live monthly satirical news show in Chicago. You can find out more about Tom at tawmharrison.com and follow him on Twitter at @TomHarrison19.

Codex Melcher plays knowledge paladin Terok Nor. Codex is the producer and host of the critically-acclaimed podcast Tomefoolery. They have performed at SF Sketchfest, The Comedy Exposition, Arch City Comedy Festival, PrideFest Milwaukee, and more. They have participated in panels and events at comics/fandom conventions C2E2, Space City Comic Con, and HavenCon and was a Finalist in The Advocate’s National Queer Comedy Search and the 2016 Laughing Devil Comedy Festival. After their move away from Chicago, Codex had to step away from the show after the Mad Max arc, but their memory will live on forever.

Representing the new-to-RPGs listeners is the delightful Gwynn Fulcher, who plays the roguish but pure-hearted Omie Heck. Gwynn is a bi writer/performer, who is a staff writer for the award-winning serial fiction podcast PleasureTown and all-star of the Chicago live lit scene, having featured in more than 40 shows. Her character is loosely based on her own experiences growing up in the Mormon faith, at turns hilarious and sweet.

Joe Anderson plays human fighter Ruddy Dayton. During the week, Joe drives to a big building where he tells people he’ll touch base with them so he can get health insurance. On the weekends, he plays games, reads, writes, and mentally prepares for the coming economic collapse. He lives in Buena Park with his gaming PC.

Allie Reid played guest NPC Peepers the Owl in the third arc Mobius Striptease, and was such a great fit with the cast that when we needed a new full-time player, the choice was clear. As a writer and improviser, Allie is hilarious and sharp, bring her character Phia to life and fitting in beautifully with the existing cast.

WILL I LIKE SHUFFLE QUEST?

Shuffle Quest’s tone is goofy, sharp, irreverent, and flamboyant. Gamemaster Tom Harrison exploits the peculiarities of well known fictional worlds to highlight how bizarre and silly they are, and the players relish the opportunity to poke holes in our favorite pop cultural artifacts. While the characters, settings, and situations are inherently comedic, the cast and its characters take the show’s plot seriously. While the characters in the show realize how goofy their situation is, they also understand that it has real stakes, real danger, and affects real people.

If you like whip-smart comedy, giving your favorite pop cultural artifacts a good-natured ribbing, exploring the weirder side of tabletop gaming, and comedic actual-play podcasts like The Adventure Zone, Shuffle Quest is for you!

IS SHUFFLE QUEST FOR KIDS?

No. As the show is semi-improvised, we often use bad language that is inappropriate for kids. There are also regular scenes of violent combat and references to drug and alcohol use. While nothing is overtly dark, offensive, or inappropriate, we do not recommend children under 13 listen to this show. For children over 13, we recommend a parent or guardian listens to a few episodes and judges themselves.

CONTENT WARNINGS

Shuffle Quest includes disturbing images and depictions of violence, blood, and death. The third arc, set in the world of Sonic the Hedgehog, has frequent reference to sexual activity—all of which is consensual.

RELEASE SCHEDULE

Episodes of Shuffle Quest release every two weeks on Wednesdays at 9 a.m. Central Standard Time.

DOWNLOAD AND SUBSCRIBE

You can listen to Shuffle Quest directly from our Libsyn page, via our RSS feed, or by subscribing on iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, iHeartRadio, Tunein, and more.

ONLINE AND SOCIAL

LAUNCH AND FUTURE

Shuffle Quest launched the first three episodes of the debut arc Sittin’ on Chrome to immediate acclaim on July 12th, 2017. Since then a new episode has released biweekly. There are no plans to change this release schedule or to take any hiatuses. There are many more arcs to come!

LISTENERS AND STATS

As of October 2018, Shuffle Quest has

  • Over 13,000 unique downloads from via RSS
  • 50 five-star iTunes ratings
  • Monthly patronage from 28 donors

REVIEWS AND TESTIMONIALS

“The only show I've found that scratches the same itch as The Adventure Zone (which is meant as the highest of praise)”

- Amy Dotta

“Shuffle Quest hits the perfect spot for me of a comedic actual play podcast with constant world-building as they move from setting to setting. The addition of a different guest each world gives each arc a unique dynamic as they learn each other's quirks, both in and out of character."

- @DaMoonRulz

“Detailed world building, strong characterization, and excellent comedic chemistry make this a standout among RPG podcasts.”

- @CoryWhatsizname

“If you're looking for an AP podcast that covers multiple systems, still has an overarching plot, and is irreverent as heck, this is right up all of your alleys.”

- iTunes user Rgolddddd

“When I was younger, I played a variety of RPGs with some great friends and we often went off the rails. This podcast takes the best energy of those incredibly silly, fun times and brings it back with an awesome premise, great talent, and a pitch-perfect blend of self-awareness and honest glee. Check this out!”

- iTunes user Randall in Motion

“Clever and imaginative. Great characters and performers. Looking forward to more episodes.”

- iTunes user bookbag333

“This is certainly a new concept for a podcast that I'd never imagined until now. It all makes sense though since I've been doing this with my friends since I was like 5! Why not take all that imagination and put it to good use right? These guys have done it. Well done”

- iTunes user Unframe of Mind

“This is easily the most approachable Actual Play podcast I've heard, and I listen to quite a few of them. GM Tom Harrison has created a lofty-but-also-hilarious concept for his game, one that transcends the usual level of expansive world-building expected of a game master. The players travel from episode to episode throughout numerous pop-culture worlds, with an ever-expanding cast of non-player characters, new settings, and challenges to match. GMing is a daunting task in even a standard D&D game, but Harrison rises to meet the elevated challenge he had set for himself. The players are whip-smart, sensibly silly Chicago-area writers, performers, and comedians, and they respond to each situation with creativity, humor, and great in-character voice acting. Check this out and get caught up!”

-iTunes user Eprice3

“For fans for actual play podcasts like the Adventure Zone, you'll love this. It features a cast of characters whose comic timing could not be more spot on, playing around in some of my favorite pop culture universes. They're still just two arcs in now, and I cannot wait to see the next place they'll go.”

- iTunes user GMProblems

“I listen to this on long drives and it makes the trip go by so much faster. I find myself cackling alone in the car like a mad woman, hopefully the people driving past don't look in my window. If you need a good laugh this is the podcast for you! 12.5/10 would recommend.”

- iTunes user MollyPinky