[Podcast] Ep. 38: Interview with DAN MACHUCA, a.k.a. Dan The Game Master.
Congratulations to Dan Machuca for being our very first video/podcast interview guest within the realm of all things tabletop, hobbies, gaming and mental health!
Dan and I met through the medium of tabletop roleplaying games, like the big nerds are are, a few years back.
From there, we've been professionally networked as part of the Game Therapy Network movement, spearheaded by Game Therapist Michael Thorburn (also a fellow nerd - Hi Michael!).
Dan brings plenty of insight, thought and fun to the discussion, which ranges everywhere from his teaching work with migrant youth where English is a second language, through to a weekly tabletop gaming therapeutic group for neurodivergent children/adolescents in Footscray and even his own published title, T.O.T.S. available on itch.io. Accessibility and modifying tabletop RPG systems to reduce cognitive, language and other barriers is an ongoing part of Dan's work, as is promoting mental health and wellbeing.
We discuss this with respect to the psychosocial benefits seen (and measured) in his own group, plus also discuss initiatives for men's mental health via his direct experience with the Men's Table social-support initiative. We also have a chat about Dan's favourite systems, of which Savage Worlds is a big'un, GMing with ADHD ourselves, and lots more! Stay tuned for the blog post which will have additional show notes, links and more.
VIDEO VERSION (VIA YOUTUBE):
PODCAST VERSION (AUDIO-ONLY):
Men’s Table:
The Men’s Table (LINK HERE) is an Australian initiative aimed at providing socially isolated men in our community a welcoming, judgement-free, expectation-free space.
It’s a grassroots initiative aimed at simply being a place where men in the Australian community can meet regularly to chat in a relaxed atmosphere, free of any attached expectations often seen in other community/therapeutic group dynamics.
ABC Feature on Men’s Table - 2024:
Dan’s Guest Feature on D&D&TV Podcast:
Guest Panel Discussion: ‘Orden del Icosaedro Fulgurante | The Game Therapy Network’, for the Amperzand Studio podcast:
FEATURED ARTIST:
Artist: Vermilion Sun
Track: Dragon Lady
Link to Music Video for Featured Track:
If you’d like your tracks featured in a future episode of ISC Podcast, feel free to get in touch via our email: innerstrengthcheckmedia@gmail.com!
Check our our back catalog of interviews, which range from a number of musician/music industry representatives, as well as folks just keen as a bean to speak their mind on subjects they’re passionate about!
If you’d like to talk shop with myself about just about anything related to arts, music, hobbies, gaming, lifestyle or mental health, feel free to be in touch via the above email and/or our socials (link below).
Peace, Love and Gaming Goodness With A Bit Of Heavy Music Too - Brady.