About us…
The Pod Has Been Cast is a collaborative and creative ttrpg actual play podcast dedicated to making earnest, engaging, and intriguing stories where queerness is central and community is cultivated. Agile, inventive, and always down to have a good time, our team knows firsthand the joy and catharsis of connecting with characters—and the power that connection provides us, around the table or around the world. We invite you to join us as we continue to build our warm and welcoming corner of the universe—and we hope our stories inspire you to call up some friends and start making your own.
joolz / VoidMaster
They/Them
Ah, stranger, quick, come in from the cold… have you met joolz? joolz makes art. joolz plays games. Sometimes joolz makes other things. Strange, terrible, unspeakable things. joolz is thrilled to join the Pod has been Cast to DM for this crew absolute fiends. You may have seen them on stage with Chicago Immersive, Strawdog Theater Company, Midsommer Flight, or even more recently: screaming silently in your own nightmares. When they aren’t polymorphing into other creatures/things, you may find them doodling monsters, writing stories, or making games.
If you’re feeling brave, follow them on Instagram @itsjoolz
Photo by Nico Fernandez @fernandezfoto
Bianca
They/Them
Bianca Phipps is a queer writer, actor, and TTRPG enthusiast located in Chicago, IL. They enjoy tarot readings, dramatic tension, and sparkling water. You canBianca Phipps (they/them) is a queer writer and performer currently based in Chicago, IL. When they’re not inflicting deep emotional wounds onto their TTRPG characters, they can be found reading tarot cards, writing poetry, or sitting with their cat, Catelyn. They stand at a reasonable 5’2” (and growing). You can find them on Instagram @biancaphipps.
Photo by Nico Fernandez @fernandezfoto
Carlos
He/Him
Carlos Olmedo (he/him) is an actor and nerd in Chicago, IL. You may have seen him in an episode of Chicago Fire with a dart in his forehead. His favorite class is paladin, his dog is named after Alphonse Elric and he is a cringey Sora main in Smash. My friends are my power!
Photo by Nico Fernandez @fernandezfoto
Robert
He/Him
Robert Leahy is an improvisor from Chicago, and at the table often toes the line between rules lawyer and dungeon master's pet. He fully believes that monk is the best class on paper, but is excited to play a ranger for the first time in The Pod Has Been Cast. In addition to dnd, his fandoms include Pokemon, Zelda, and LotR.
Photo by Nico Fernandez @fernandezfoto
Alina
They/Alina
Alina Burgos is firstly, a human, and secondarily, a vibe. They’re an artist with a proclivity for dramatic narrative and other people’s OC’s. Alina recently moved from LA to Chicago to pursue Intimacy Direction, Acting, and Making More Friends. Bakes a mean peach cobbler. 5’ 6” if that even matters. They have a great love of animation and graphic novels. Catch them at your local cafe writing fanfiction or reading tarot. Creating stories in community that beget more stories and more community is what drives them in all mediums. You can find them on instagram @alinaburgos.
Photo by Nico Fernandez @fernandezfoto
David
Bio coming soon. The anticipation must be unbearable.
Photo by Nico Fernandez @fernandezfoto
James
They/He
James Whitson was an actor in Chicago for a little while before getting distracted, and nowadays prefers the pace of RPGs and video games. They picked up their first d20 in the summer of 2019. Since then, RPGs have accidentally taken over their life, somehow worming into their free time, movies, podcasts, and video games. They're 5'9" which is a perfectly acceptable height, make glasses for a living, and can occasionally be seen roaming Chicago for new burger joints.
Photo by Nico Fernandez @fernandezfoto