This is Your Lifepath

Laurie O'Connel Vol.2 (Full Send)

Thu, 11 Sep 2025 13:39:51 -0000

Laurie O'Connel of 12 Pins Press returns to the show to discuss his new tarot-powered mountaineering game Full Send, which you can find currently on Kickstarter right here. Kayla and Laurie discuss the appeal and depth of tarot, podcast meetcutes, competitive co-operation, short sharp scrambles and more.

The films Laurie mentioned were Free Solo, Touching the Void and Torn. If you'd like to purchase any of the previous 12 Pins Press Games Laurie mentioned you can find his webstore here.

Mechritter will be crowdfunding this November, see more here.

If you'd like to support the show, you can subscribe to Kayla's Patreon here.

Where You Can Find Kayla

socials.ratwave.uk (where you can find links to all her active social media)
ratwavegamehouse.itch.io
ratwave.uk
ratwave.square.site (webstore for physical copies)

Leo Hunt (Vaults of Vaarn) - Live from Norwich Games Con

Wed, 04 Sep 2024 10:46:47 -0000

This episode was recorded as a live show at Norwich Games Con. Kayla sits down with Leo Hunt, the creator of Vaults of Vaarn, and they talk about approaching a living project, finding the things you're most excited about in your own ideas and the specific grandiose voice that Vaarn has, amongst other topics.

Find out more about Vaarn by visiting VAULTS OF VAARN – fragments of a blue ruin

If you'd like to support the show you can make a donation at https://ko-fi.com/ratwave

Where You Can Find Kayla

socials.ratwave.uk (where you can find links to all her active social media)
ratwavegamehouse.itch.io
ratwave.uk
ratwave.square.site (webstore for physical copies)

Interested in guesting on a future season?

Go to lifepathguest.ratwave.uk to fill out a google form for consideration.

[S2E10] Biscuit Fund Games (Tournament Arc, Goblin Country, The Levante Papers)

Wed, 07 Aug 2024 08:00:00 -0000

In this season finale Kayla sits down with Chloe Montgomery and Alyssa Ridley who make up Biscuit Fund Games, the creators of games like Goblin Country, Tournament Arc, the upcoming Mousequest, and more. They discuss how they collaborate, their individual experiences with self-discovery, the importance of persevering and making games as approachable as possible.

(Note: there are some slight audio issues in this episode, they've been minimised to the best of my ability and hopefully shouldn't impact your enjoyment of this episode.)

You can listen to Game Soup, the design podcast co-hosted by Kayla and Chloe at Game Soup (pinecast.co)

Check out the Biscuit's work at itch.io and find their socials at Biscuit Fund Games

The artists Chloe and Alyssa mentioned in the episode where:

If you'd like to support the show you can make a donation at https://ko-fi.com/ratwave

Where You Can Find Kayla

socials.ratwave.uk (where you can find links to all her active social media)
ratwavegamehouse.itch.io
ratwave.uk
ratwave.square.site (webstore for physical copies)

Interested in guesting on a future season?

Go to lifepathguest.ratwave.uk to fill out a google form for consideration.

[S2E9] Yanahn (Stories to Astonish the World, and more)

Wed, 31 Jul 2024 08:00:00 -0000

This week Kayla sits down with Yanahn, creator of Stories to Astonish the World, The Night Market, Unhaunt This House and more (including the upcoming Whalefall zine). They discuss where inspiration is found, figuring out who you're aiming your work as, the figure of the traveller in TTRPGs, urban legends and more.

You can find Yanahn's work at yanahn - itch.io.

If you'd like to support the show you can make a donation at https://ko-fi.com/ratwave

JSYK: Kayla is taking Transgender Deathmatch Legend II to BackerKit. A sequel to the original card-based beat-em-up, the book offers six new hyperviolent hexcrawls, dangerous fighting styles to customise your fighter and new modes of play. Visit to stay notified.

Where You Can Find Kayla

socials.ratwave.uk (where you can find links to all her active social media)
ratwavegamehouse.itch.io
ratwave.uk
ratwave.square.site (webstore for physical copies)

Interested in guesting on a future season?

Go to lifepathguest.ratwave.uk to fill out a google form for consideration.

[S2E8] Nick Spence (Gangs of Titan City)

Wed, 24 Jul 2024 15:24:19 -0000

This week Kayla sits down the creator of Gangs of Titan City and A Heist Game: Nick Spence. They discuss archaeology, urban environments, the nature of the criminal protagonist and finding a new area of play through writing.

Find Gangs of Titan City via SoulMuppet Publishing.

JSYK: Kayla will be taking Transgender Deathmatch Legend II to backerkit. A sequel to the original card-based beat-em-up the book offers six new hyperviolent hexcrawls, dangerous fighting styles to be customise your fighter and new modes of play. Visit deathmatch.ratwave.uk to stay notified.

If you'd like to support the show you can make a donation at https://ko-fi.com/ratwave

Where You Can Find Kayla

socials.ratwave.uk (where you can find links to all her active social media)
ratwavegamehouse.itch.io
ratwave.uk
ratwave.square.site (webstore for physical copies)

Interested in guesting on a future season?

Go to lifepathguest.ratwave.uk to fill out a google form for consideration.

[S2E7] Julien Legault (The Things We Become)

Wed, 17 Jul 2024 09:22:41 -0000

Content Warning: This episodes involves discussions of a relative's diagnosis with cancer.

This week Kayla sits down with Julien Legault and they discuss practicing multiple disciplines, different views of the post-apocalypse, and the relationship between community and self-discovery.

Support Julien's work by finding them at https://www.gamesandstuffbyjulien.com/

If you'd like to support the show you can make a donation at https://ko-fi.com/ratwave

Where You Can Find Kayla

socials.ratwave.uk (where you can find links to all her active social media)
ratwavegamehouse.itch.io
ratwave.uk
ratwave.square.site (webstore for physical copies)

Interested in guesting on a future season?

Go to lifepathguest.ratwave.uk to fill out a google form for consideration.

[S2E6] Jo Winter (Fall of Home, Last Order, Your Care Is...)

Wed, 10 Jul 2024 08:15:40 -0000

This week Kayla sits down with Jo Winter to talk about music, getting political and coming back to your hometown.

Find Jo's work on Itch and follow her on social media as "winterymute" on most platforms.

If you'd like to support the show you can make a donation at https://ko-fi.com/ratwa

Where You Can Find Kayla

socials.ratwave.uk (where you can find links to all her active social media)
ratwavegamehouse.itch.io
ratwave.uk
ratwave.square.site (webstore for physical copies)

Interested in guesting on a future season?

Go to lifepathguest.ratwave.uk to fill out a google form for consideration.

[S2E5] Aaron Lim (Spectres of Brocken, An Altogether Different River)

Wed, 03 Jul 2024 08:00:00 -0000

This week Kayla returns to sit down with Aaron Lim, creator of Spectres of Brocken, An Altogether Different River, Homebound and more. They discuss representing yourself in your work, relationships to home and places, and all the things mecha can represent.

You can find Aaron's game over at ehronlime.itch.io

If you'd like to support the show you can make a donation at https://ko-fi.com/ratwave

Where You Can Find Kayla

socials.ratwave.uk (where you can find links to all her active social media)
ratwavegamehouse.itch.io
ratwave.uk
ratwave.square.site (webstore for physical copies)

(Apologies for the unplanned hiatus; between stress of running a Kickstarter, an editing snafu with a different episode and some personal issues the month of June ended up slipping away from the podcast)

Interested in guesting on a future season?

Go to lifepathguest.ratwave.uk to fill out a google form for consideration.

[S2E4] Colin Le Sueur (Runecairn, We Deal in Lead)

Wed, 22 May 2024 07:00:30 -0000

This week Kayla sits down Colin Le Sueur (By Odin's Beard RPGs) the creator of Runecairn and We Deal in Lead. They talk about the genre spaces of Norse fantasy and the weird west, influences from comic books, prose, and cinema, and much more.

If you'd like to support the show you can make a donation at https://ko-fi.com/ratwave

JSYK: Kayla has an new Kickstarter out now. PSYCHODUNGEON is a fantasy workplace action drama, played with no dice and no masters. Your support of the game could be vital. Follow it at psychodungeon.ratwave.uk

Where You Can Find Kayla

socials.ratwave.uk (where you can find links to all her active social media)
ratwavegamehouse.itch.io
ratwave.uk
ratwave.square.site (webstore for physical copies)

Interested in guesting on a future season?

Go to lifepathguest.ratwave.uk to fill out a google form for consideration.

[S2E3] Lin Codega (Rascal News)

Wed, 15 May 2024 07:00:30 -0000

This week Kayla sits down with Lin Codega, the ENnie-winning journalist behind reporting on the OGL situation last year and one of the co-founder of Rascal News. They talk about informed perspective, approaches to reviews, the state of journalism today and getting Rascal started along with much more.

Find Lin's work at rascal.news and follow Rascal in most places with the username "rascal_news".

If you'd like to support the show you can make a donation at https://ko-fi.com/ratwave

JSYK: Kayla has an upcoming Kickstarter. PSYCHODUNGEON is a fantasy workplace action drama, played with no dice and no masters. Your support of the game could be vital. Follow it at psychodungeon.ratwave.uk

Where You Can Find Kayla

socials.ratwave.uk (where you can find links to all her active social media)
ratwavegamehouse.itch.io
ratwave.uk
ratwave.square.site (webstore for physical copies)

Interested in guesting on a future season?

Go to lifepathguest.ratwave.uk to fill out a google form for consideration.

[S2E2] Nevyn Holmes (Little Wolves, GUN&SLINGER, Justicar)

Wed, 08 May 2024 07:00:30 -0000

This week Kayla sits down with Nevyn Holmes of Dinoberry Press, the creator of GUN&SLINGER, Justicar, You're in Space and Everything's Fucked and much more. Dinoberry Press are launching Little Wolves on the 14th and May and you should definitely check that out. Kayla and Nevyn talk about the close relationship between absurdism, comedy and horror, being loud and unsubtle, engaging with genre and more.

You can find Nevyn's and Jam's work at Dinoberry Press and you can follow Little Wolves at Little Wolves: A Realm of Folk and Fae (backerkit.com)

If you'd like to support the show you can make a donation at https://ko-fi.com/ratwave

Where You Can Find Kayla

socials.ratwave.uk (where you can find links to all her active social media)
ratwavegamehouse.itch.io
ratwave.uk
ratwave.square.site (webstore for physical copies)

Interested in guesting on a future season?

Go to lifepathguest.ratwave.uk to fill out a google form for consideration.

[S2E1] Gormengeist (GREED, Bubblegum Wizards/Vampires, Nuclear Knights)

Wed, 01 May 2024 08:00:00 -0000

This is Your Lifepath returns. In the season premier Kayla sits down with Gormengeist, creator of GREED, Bubblegum Wizards and more. She talks about the Frankenstein process of creating GREED, grappling with language and finding the voice for a given game, noir and the detective story (discussing her upcoming game All the Aces), the GREED Lesbian and much more.

You can find Gormengeist at gormengeist.itch.io and https://www.tumblr.com/blog/gormengeist

If you'd like to support the show you can make a donation at https://ko-fi.com/ratwave

Where You Can Find Kayla

socials.ratwave.uk (where you can find links to all her active social media)
ratwavegamehouse.itch.io
ratwave.uk
ratwave.square.site (webstore for physical copies)

Interested in guesting on a future season?

Go to lifepathguest.ratwave.uk to fill out a google form for consideration.

This is Your Lifepath Returns May 1st

Thu, 25 Apr 2024 08:45:12 -0000

Episode Notes

That;s right! This is Your Lifepath will return for a 12-episode season starting on May 1st and running until the end of July.

If you'd like to support the show you can make a donation at https://ko-fi.com/ratwave

Where You Can Find Kayla

socials.ratwave.uk (where you can find links to all her active social media)
ratwavegamehouse.itch.io
ratwave.uk
ratwave.square.site (webstore for physical copies)

Interested in guesting on a future season?

Go to lifepathguest.ratwave.uk to fill out a google form for consideration.

Michael Duxbury (Me, the Singularity)

Sun, 18 Feb 2024 10:00:00 -0000

In this Zine Month special edition Kayla sits down with Michael Duxbary, the creator of the currently Kickstarting Me, the Singularity, a haunted-house-in-space game and an adaptation of the visual novel of the same now. We discuss the game, the form of the one-shot game, the borrowed language of cinema and much more.

You can find Me, the Singularity at kickstarter.com/projects/michaelduxbury/me-the-singularity-a-zinequest-ttrpg and more of Michael's work at Seal of Sabbad

Kayla is also running a crowdfunding campaign for the rest of this month. Ritual Magic for Besties is a GMless, tarot-based game about spellcasting with your mates. Back the campaign at Ritual Magic for Besties by Rat Wave Game House (crowdfundr.com)

The guest submission form for Season 2 is available at bit.ly/LifepathGuest

Subscribe to the Rat Wave Newsletter and check out the rest of Kayla's goings on at ratwave.uk

[S1E7] Tanya Floaker (Part 2)

Tue, 09 May 2023 06:34:00 -0000

In the second half of my interview with Tanya Floaker we discuss the influences behind The Connection Machine, Be Seeing You and Lo! Thy Dread Empire in more detail. We discuss grimdark sensibilities, mental health and gross government issued leaflets amongst other topics.

You can find Tanya on Twitter (@timeoftribes) and at timeoftribes.itch.io

You can find all my links at socials.ratwave.uk and my itch is ratwavegamehouse.itch.io

Just a note that when we talk about wargaming the conversation drifts to talking about the far-right, specifically the British far-right.

[S1E6] Tanya Floaker (Part 1)

Mon, 01 May 2023 16:30:16 -0000

This episode is the first half of a conversation with Tanya Floaker, creator of Lo! Thy Dread Empire, Be Seeing You and The Connection Machine. This was a very interesting and long conversation so this episode has been split in two part. In the first episode we talk about growing up in places you hate, struggles with being managed, forging fufilling collaborations and much more.

In the second part of this interview we go over Tanya's games in more depth so look out for that episode next week.

Content Warnings: In the start of the episode we talk a lot about quuerphobia a lot and there is a reference to a murder of a gay man and an implicit reference about a vigil for Brianna Ghey. This discussion is contained to the first ten minutes.

You can find Tanya on Twitter (@timeoftribes) and at timeoftribes.itch.io

You can find all my links at socials.ratwave.uk and my itch is ratwavegamehouse.itch.io

[S1E5] Marx Shepherd (ghostbox, A Loud Noise in a Quiet Place)

Wed, 19 Apr 2023 11:43:30 -0000

This week I sit down with Marx Shepherd, creator of ghostbox and A Loud Noise in a Quiet Place, amongst other person project they also write, edit and direct projects for the Far Horrizons Co Op.

We discuss nature, community and putting yourself into writing.

You can find Marx at marx-shepherd.carrd.co

Find all my social media at socials.ratwave.uk and check out my website ratwave.uk

[S1E4] Laurie O'Connel

Wed, 08 Mar 2023 08:00:00 -0000

This week I set down with Laurie O'Connel (Twelve Pins Press) the creator of Lichcraft, Heironymous, Sleeping Above a Stolen Crown and many other brilliant games including the just-released To Honour and Obey. We talk about Arthuriana, political cartoons, a sense of place and much else.

You can find Laurie on Twitter @laurie_eee
Get his games digitally at https://laurieoconnel.itch.io/
Check out https://twelvepinspress.com/ for physical books and to sign up to the 12 Pins Press newsletter

The article we talk about in relation to Hieronymous is readable here: https://www.marxist.com/bosch-art-of-death-agony-of-feudalism.htm
The books we discussed are Tell Me I’m Worthless by Allison Rumfitt, Babel, or the Necessity of Violence by R.F Kuang, and Deep Wheel Orcadia by Harry Josephine Giles.

Find all my social media at socials.ratwave.uk
My website is ratwave.uk
And check out my own new ballad inspired adventure and other things like Transgender Deathmatch Legend at https://ratwavegamehouse.itch.io/

[S1E3] Zach Cox (Inevitable, Orbital Blues, Best Left Buried)

Wed, 01 Mar 2023 14:28:39 -0000

This week I sit down with Zach Cox from SoulMuppet and Rowan, Rook and Decard. We talk about the inspirations and influences behind Best Left Buried, Orbital Blues, and the upcoming doomed Arthurian western Inevitable. We discuss Disco Elysium, Stephen King and dying into a saxophone.

Zach on twitter @jellymuppet
https://twitter.com/soulmuppetRPG
https://www.facebook.com/SoulMuppet
https://www.instagram.com/soulmuppet/
Discord: https://discord.gg/M8EcEnt

The video Zach mentions is Colin Stetson YouTube, Among the Sef and In Mirrors (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ra-EsJpkG9o)

Find all my social media at socials.ratwave.uk
My website is ratwave.uk
And check out The Man We Knew and other oddities at https://ratwavegamehouse.itch.io/

[S1E2] Chloe Mashiter

Sat, 25 Feb 2023 10:00:00 -0000

I site down with Chloe Mashiter (roll/flip/draw) and we discuss the intersection of performance and games, authorial voice and self branding, and philosophy amongst other topics.

Chloe Mashiter is a game-designer and theatre-maker with a background in immersive, interactive and game-based performance. They publish a range of games as roll / flip / draw.

Chloe's Links
https://explorealongame.wordpress.com
https://chloemashitermakesthings.wordpress.com/
https://rollflipdraw.co.uk/
@ChloeMashiter on Twitter

My Links:
Website: https://ratwavegh.wordpress.com/
Itch: https://ratwavegamehouse.itch.io/
Social Media Links: https://ratwavegh.wordpress.com/social-media-and-contact/

[S1E1] Pilot Episode - Matt Sanders

Sat, 18 Feb 2023 13:23:22 -0000

I sit down with Matt Sanders (Sealed Library) and we talk about memory, communication, heirachy and Sealed Library's ongoing Kickstarter for Daggers and Ditches and Dangerous Things.

Sealed Library Website: https://sealedlibrary.com/
3D Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/iammattsanders/daggers-and-ditches-and-dangerous-things

Rat Wave Game House website: https://ratwavegh.wordpress.com/
Rat Wave Game House on Itch: https://ratwavegamehouse.itch.io/