Teachers in the Dungeon: An Episode Guide

Hello fellow adventurers and welcome to the Episode Guide to the Teachers in the Dungeon podcast.  

The show is a little over two months old and it has grown in ways we didn't see when we recorded our first episode over the summer.  Our goal is to discuss and analyze the games we play, and we plan to discuss other Dungeons and Dragons topics.  We also look to build a positive Dungeons and Dragons community where we celebrate content creators, game builders, Dungeon Masters and players.  Here is a quick breakdown to the different types of episodes you will find on Teachers in the Dungeon.  

Campaign Episodes: 

These episodes are the heart and soul of Teachers in the Dungeon.  We are currently breaking down the adventures of Zedi, Rix, Siv, Borem, Caersws, and Dirichlet.  They are better known as The Tiefling's Jacks.  Tom Gross and Dan Reem recap the adventure, talk about some inspiration for the setting, analyze decisions, mistakes, and successes by characters, players, and the Dungeon Master, discuss the origins of names and more.  These episodes last anywhere from 20 to 30 minutes in time.  The goal here is to make it the length of a short commute.  The Teachers in the Dungeon pack a lot into a little time.  

Random Encounter Episodes: 

Like a random encounter in Dungeons and Dragons, a Random Encounter episode could be about anything Dungeons and Dragons related.  In some upcoming episodes, Tom and Dan discuss their top three non-Wizards of the Coast resources.  You might find some interviews with players in the Random Encounters as well as a peek to the past by discussing Dungeons and Dragons rulebooks from first, second and third editions.  A random encounter is like opening up a chest in the dungeon; you never know what you will find.  

Bonus Action episodes: 

A Bonus Action is a quick and timely move, when you have one you use it!  Similarly, a Bonus Action Episode is a quick and timely topical episode.  Bonus Actions may be a timely interview from a local comic shop anniversary.  It might be a timely book or Dungeons and Dragons resource release that we discuss.  While they may be timely, they are worth a listen anytime.  

 If you love Dungeons and Dragons or just like some fun game conversation, give Teachers in the Dungeon a listen.  We also love feedback!  Leave a comment below or drop us an email teachersinthedungeon@gmail.com

Follow us: 

Twitter: @dungeonteachers

Instagram: Teachers in the Dungeon

Friday Favorites: Top 5 Frozen Pizza

 In last month's Friday Favorites post, Top 5 Breakfast Cereals, I noted how my daughter, when seeing the question online of what food reminds you of your father, said that cereal and pizza are the foods she thinks of when she thinks of me. I gave you my top cereal, so here are my Top 4 Frozen Pizzas. 

Before giving my top 4 though, I did want to establish some expertise.  Not only do I eat an unusually high amount of frozen pizza now, I always have.  In high school and college, my pre-dinner was a pizza, not some pizza an entire frozen pizza.  In college, being budget conscious, I always bought the cheapest or best sale pizza I could find.  I mention that to establish that I have tried dozens of different kinds of frozen pizzas.  I will acknowledge that when it comes to the regional pizzas, I will be limited except for the region in which I live.

I have so many stories to share about frozen pizza, but I will leave you with this one that pretty much summarizes my experience with frozen pizza and how I consume it.  In high school, I was spending the night with a friend, and late at night, we cooked a frozen pizza.  My friend, who was getting the pizza out of the oven, asked me if I wanted to just split the pizza.  I said sure, that's what I was thinking.  I heard him cut the pizza and come into the living room where we were watching Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back.  He walked over to me and literally handed me half of the pizza.  This was a new one for me, but there we were, each holding half a pizza, and eating it like watermelon.  It was great!  

Another reason why I claim expertise with this topic is that years ago I worked in the field.  I sold and drove a truck for Tony's Pizza Service.  As part of my training, we discussed what makes a good frozen pizza and I sat with my colleagues and taste-tested our pizza with national competitor pizzas.  We discussed many things from toppings to sauces and crust.    

With all that, here are my Top 4 Frozen Pizzas: 

Red Baron Four Meat:  The rest of the frozen pizzas on this list I would consider "craft" pizzas.  Red Baron is the best of the "mass-produced" pizzas.  There is no question it is a frozen pizza when cooked in the kitchen, but it is a good frozen pizza.  I like the healthy dose of meat on the "Four Meat" version of this Red Baron brand.  

Calipower Uncured Pepperoni:  This is the one pizza that I can actually eat, and I mean that in a couple different ways.  First, it is gluten-free and I don't have to worry about how it might impact me. Second, I have tried a whole bunch of gluten-free pizzas and this cauliflower crust is the most un-cauliflower and crunchy crust of them all.  It is more than just tolerable, it is tasty.  I highly recommend this pizza for anyone who is gluten intolerant or like me, just needs to limit gluten.  

Brew Pub Lotzza Motzza Breakfast Pizza:  My wife came home and thought she had purchased a sausage pizza for dinner.  When we realized our error, there was some disappointment for that dinner, but when we popped this pie in the oven the next morning, we were blown away!  This is an awesome breakfast pizza!  It has a crispy crust and generous toppings for a frozen pizza.  This is a special breakfast treat around our house.  

Home Run Inn Sausage: Hands down, this is the best frozen pizza on the market.  It has a yeasty "bar-like" crust that is filled thick with cheese and the best pizza sausage out there.  It is light on sauce, so if you like a lot of sauce, this won't be for you.  I like it because all parts of the pie are filled with flavor.  If you have this frozen pizza in the market in which you live, it is definitely worth cooking in your kitchen.  

2021 Personal Stats - Update October

Three quarters of the year down!  It is hard to believe that October is here which means it is time for the second to last Personal Stats update for 2021.  Here is where I am on October 12: 

Movies watched: 25
Rewatch: 12
First time: 13

TV series (streamed):
Episodes: 69
Rewatch: 28
First time: 41

Books read: 17
Graphic Novels: 3
Fiction: 11
Nonfiction: 3
Pages read: 3412

Books abandoned:
Graphic Novels:
Fiction:
Nonfiction:
Pages read:

Short Stories: 8
Pages read: 244

Comic books read: 131
Digital: 56
Print: 75

It is probably noted that I added a category titled "Books Abandoned."  I haven't done that yet, but I sense it coming soon.  I always tell the students at my school that if they are reading a book they aren't enjoying, they should stop reading it.  I may be reading a couple books that fit that criterion.  

Now that the school year is back in full swing, the stats have slowed in growth, but I did recently continue my MCU timeline rewatch by viewing Captain America: Civil War which has so much more context after watching The Falcon and  Winter Soldier this last year.  I also recently watched Raya and the Last Dragon with my family.  This was a fun, enjoyable film to watch with the family.  

I have been disappointed with the new update of Marvel Unlimited.  They removed the library, so when I want to read a quick comic when I have a few minutes, I have to hunt down something I haven't read.  In the past, I would just go to my unread library and choose something I had preselected.  I hope they bring this back in some updates.  

Anyway, one more quarter to create the baseline I need to measure my consumption of things I love.  

Here is where I was at the last check-in in July.  

Here is the link to the original Personal Stats post.  

Top 5 Breakfast Cereals

Recently, my oldest daughter saw a post online that asked what food reminds her of her dad.  Her reply was pizza and cereal.  It is true, I am not handy when it comes to the kitchen.  I like to keep it simple, but it is also no secret that my favorite meal of the day is breakfast.  Let's face it, it is the meal of the day where basically cake is acceptable: Donuts, pastry rolls, pancakes and syrup, French Toast, and the list goes on.  It is also the meal that often features bacon.  

My most common breakfast food though is cereal.  It is easy.  It can be eaten with milk or just throw it in a ziplock back and it is on the go.  Breakfast cereal is also good at any time of the day.  My favorite time of day for cereal besides breakfast is as the midnight snack.  

I feel that a list like this is best written by an adult because as a child, part of the breakfast fun is trying the 1000's of different kinds of cereals.  These are the sugary, colorful, fun shape cereals and the trial and error as a kid is endless.  It isn't until adulthood that you really start to shape a serious opinion, but hey if a kid wants to share her top cereals, don't let me stop her!!  It would be fun to see. 

Anyway, here are my Top 5 favorite breakfast kinds cereals: 

5. Frosted Mini-Wheats - I just love filling these little pillows of cereal with almond milk and eating them.  They fill my stomach, they are sweet, and satisfying to eat!  

4. Frosted Flakes - When I need a dose of childhood, Tony the Tiger and Frosted Flakes are there for me.  As an adult who doesn't eat the flakes often, they do tear up the roof of my mouth a bit, but it is totally worth it as they taste so good. In fact, they're Grrreat!!!  

3. Chocolate Chex  It is gluten-free and satisfies a chocolate craving.   

2. Honey Bunches of Oats with Strawberries - I like the variety of texture in a bowl of Honey Bunches of Oats with the clusters, flakes, and strawberries.  The flavor is also sweet but not overwhelmingly so.  

1. Honeynut Cheerios - This is the champion of cereals for me.  First, it is delicious any time.  I enjoy it with some almond milk, but when I am rushing out the door for work, I throw some in a bag and enjoy later.  On top of all that, it is a gluten-free option that takes care of any sweets cravings.