Join us for the apotheosis of our Hero’s Journey on episode 2 of the ‘Roll for Joycast’, where we quest in order to play our way to a world of holy wholeness.

In this episode we welcome special guest Pastor Alex Smith as we talk about character creation and role play in tabletop roleplaying games and navigating the boxes of identity, like gender, sexuality, story, all that good stuff. Then we dismantle these boxes as we dive into the depths of the spiritual journey and talk about how play can get us to live outside the box.

Hosts:
Trin Peterson (seekhealgrow.com)
Rory Philstrom (roll4joy.org)

Resources:
Game to Grow
Therapeutically Applied Role-Playing Games
The Genderbread Person

Summary

Pastor Alex Smith helps us delve into the world of tabletop role-playing games, focusing on character creation and the exploration of identity, including gender and sexuality. They discuss the societal boxes that people are often placed in and how these can limit personal expression. Our conversation also touches on the evolution of role-playing games, particularly Dungeons and Dragons, and how inclusivity has changed over time. The importance of creating safe spaces in gaming communities is emphasized, along with the need for awareness and respect among players. In this conversation, we delve into the complexities of identity, gender, and spirituality, exploring how these themes intersect within the context of role-playing games. We discuss the importance of creating safe spaces for self-exploration and the healing power of gameplay as a means to navigate personal and societal binaries. The dialogue also touches on the hero’s journey, non-duality, and the representation of diverse identities in religious texts, emphasizing the need for acceptance and understanding in both faith and community.