<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0" xmlns:itunes="http://www.itunes.com/dtds/podcast-1.0.dtd" xmlns:psc="http://podlove.org/simple-chapters" xmlns:podcast="https://podcastindex.org/namespace/1.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[The Narrative Checkpoint: Beyond the Table]]></title><description><![CDATA[<p>Welcome to The Narrative Checkpoint: Beyond the Table, a show about the intersection of games, therapy, and human stories. It is a creative space to share expertise and passions, while listeners get inspired by how play can shape real-world change. This show is for anyone who believes that games and storytelling can be more than just fun - they can be transformative.</p>]]></description><link>https://substack.com/@gametherapyla</link><generator>Riverside.fm (https://riverside.com)</generator><lastBuildDate>Thu, 28 May 2026 11:57:59 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://api.riverside.com/hosting/5iXuKfi5.rss" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><author><![CDATA[Leticia Vasquez]]></author><pubDate>Tue, 30 Sep 2025 03:34:26 GMT</pubDate><copyright><![CDATA[2025 Leticia Vasquez]]></copyright><language><![CDATA[en]]></language><ttl>60</ttl><category><![CDATA[Mental Health]]></category><category><![CDATA[Games]]></category><itunes:author>Leticia Vasquez</itunes:author><itunes:summary>&lt;p&gt;Welcome to The Narrative Checkpoint: Beyond the Table, a show about the intersection of games, therapy, and human stories. It is a creative space to share expertise and passions, while listeners get inspired by how play can shape real-world change. This show is for anyone who believes that games and storytelling can be more than just fun - they can be transformative.&lt;/p&gt;</itunes:summary><itunes:type>episodic</itunes:type><itunes:owner><itunes:name>Leticia Vasquez</itunes:name><itunes:email>ariaphaeai@gmail.com</itunes:email></itunes:owner><itunes:explicit>no</itunes:explicit><itunes:category text="Health &amp; Fitness"><itunes:category text="Mental Health"/></itunes:category><itunes:category text="Leisure"><itunes:category text="Games"/></itunes:category><itunes:image href="https://hosting-media.riverside.com/media/podcasts/951f4d14-f00a-4d25-bda2-b0a402971078/logos/9a7e43fd-a260-45d0-89e8-0dbc0d7a7337.png"/><item><title><![CDATA[The Grimoire Ledger: A Journey into Self-Discovery]]></title><description><![CDATA[<p>Welcome to The Narrative Checkpoint: Beyond the Table, a show about the intersection of games, therapy, and human stories. It is a creative space to share expertise and passions, while listeners get inspired by how play can shape real-world change. This show is for anyone who believes that games and storytelling can be more than just fun - they can be transformative.</p><p></p><p>Host: Leticia Vasquez</p><p>Licensed Clinical Social Worker at Game Therapy LA | Los Angeles</p><p>Website: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://spaces.napsterai.com/gametherapyla" target="_blank">https://gametherapyla.com/</a> </p><p>Substack: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://substack.com/@gametherapyla" target="_blank">https://substack.com/@gametherapyla</a> </p><p>Instagram: /gametherapyla</p><p></p><p>Summary:</p><p>In this engaging session at the Starlight Sovereign Academy, Archmage Aurora Brillo De So(u)l introduces the concept of emotional literacy and psychoeducation through the innovative Grimoire Ledger. The discussion explores the importance of interoception and exteroception in understanding one's emotional state, the significance of emotional granularity for self-regulation, and the role of AI in enhancing creative expression. The session culminates in a reflection on dreams as a source of insight and the importance of capturing moments across multiple dimensions of experience.</p><p></p><p>Keywords:</p><p>#StarlightSovereignAcademy #emotional literacy #psychoeducation #Grimoire Ledger #interoception #exteroception #cognition #dreams #AI #creative expression</p><p></p><p>Takeaways:</p><ul><li>Emotional literacy is essential for understanding oneself.</li><li>The Grimoire Ledger helps capture emotional and sensory experiences.</li><li>Interoception allows us to tune into our bodily signals.</li><li>Exteroception connects us with our external environment.</li><li>Emotional granularity enhances self-regulation and decision-making.</li><li>AI can be a powerful tool for creative expression.</li><li>Dreams can provide valuable insights into our subconscious.</li><li>Capturing moments in time can reveal patterns in our emotions.</li><li>The Grimoire Ledger is a map of our being at a specific time.</li><li>Engaging with our emotions fosters deeper connections with ourselves and others.</li></ul><p></p><p>Chapters:</p><p>00:00 Introduction to Starlight Sovereign Academy</p><p>01:11 Understanding Psychoeducation and Emotional Literacy</p><p>03:49 The Grimoire Ledger: A Somatic Snapshot</p><p>07:43 Emotional Granularity: The Mage's Edge</p><p>11:05 Navigating the Fog of Emotions</p><p>12:12 The Role of AI in Creative Expression</p><p>17:55 Filling Out the Grimoire Ledger</p><p>21:39 Interoception: Listening to Your Body</p><p>26:30 The Feelings Wheel: Identifying Emotions</p><p>28:42 Understanding Emotions: A Personal Journey</p><p>32:59 The Power of Exteroception in Emotional Regulation</p><p>39:46 Cognition and Emotional Literacy: The Mind's Layers</p><p>45:54 Dreams as Reflections of Our Inner World</p><p>57:17 Creating a Somatic Temporal Snapshot: Mapping Your Emotions</p><p></p><p>Disclaimer:</p><p>The Narrative Checkpoint (a production of Game Therapy LA) is an online resource and community platform - it does not provide medical services or professional counseling; please do not substitute the video and its contents for professional medical care. If you or a loved one are experiencing an emergency, please call your nation's emergency telephone number.</p><p>All guests of The Narrative Checkpoint are informed of the public, non-medical nature of the content and have expressly agreed to share their story. For clinical or crisis support resources in your area, check out: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.gametherapyla.com/resources" target="_blank">https://www.gametherapyla.com/resources</a></p>]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">c065601a-4401-4aa5-b601-ade9a568366f</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Leticia Vasquez]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 17 Feb 2026 18:45:24 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.riverside.com/hosting-analytics/media/866506776e8b912631ce55d11bc9af459deff890c6ae563762961379f4df0e7e/eyJlcGlzb2RlSWQiOiJjMDY1NjAxYS00NDAxLTRhYTUtYjYwMS1hZGU5YTU2ODM2NmYiLCJwb2RjYXN0SWQiOiI5NTFmNGQxNC1mMDBhLTRkMjUtYmRhMi1iMGE0MDI5NzEwNzgiLCJhY2NvdW50SWQiOiI2OGRhY2U1ZGI4MzcyNTcyMGViNjEwYzMiLCJwYXRoIjoibWVkaWEvY2xpcHMvNjk5NGFlODljODYwZTU0MTdmYTZhNDMyL2xldGljaWEtdmFzcXVlenMtc3R1ZGlvLWNvbXBvc2VyLTIwMjYtMi0xN19fMTktOC05Lm1wMyJ9.mp3" length="87949000" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:summary>&lt;p&gt;Welcome to The Narrative Checkpoint: Beyond the Table, a show about the intersection of games, therapy, and human stories. It is a creative space to share expertise and passions, while listeners get inspired by how play can shape real-world change. This show is for anyone who believes that games and storytelling can be more than just fun - they can be transformative.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Host: Leticia Vasquez&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Licensed Clinical Social Worker at Game Therapy LA | Los Angeles&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Website: &lt;a rel=&quot;noopener noreferrer nofollow&quot; href=&quot;https://spaces.napsterai.com/gametherapyla&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;https://gametherapyla.com/&lt;/a&gt; &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Substack: &lt;a rel=&quot;noopener noreferrer nofollow&quot; href=&quot;https://substack.com/@gametherapyla&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;https://substack.com/@gametherapyla&lt;/a&gt; &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Instagram: /gametherapyla&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Summary:&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;In this engaging session at the Starlight Sovereign Academy, Archmage Aurora Brillo De So(u)l introduces the concept of emotional literacy and psychoeducation through the innovative Grimoire Ledger. The discussion explores the importance of interoception and exteroception in understanding one&apos;s emotional state, the significance of emotional granularity for self-regulation, and the role of AI in enhancing creative expression. The session culminates in a reflection on dreams as a source of insight and the importance of capturing moments across multiple dimensions of experience.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Keywords:&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;#StarlightSovereignAcademy #emotional literacy #psychoeducation #Grimoire Ledger #interoception #exteroception #cognition #dreams #AI #creative expression&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Takeaways:&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;Emotional literacy is essential for understanding oneself.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;The Grimoire Ledger helps capture emotional and sensory experiences.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Interoception allows us to tune into our bodily signals.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Exteroception connects us with our external environment.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Emotional granularity enhances self-regulation and decision-making.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;AI can be a powerful tool for creative expression.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Dreams can provide valuable insights into our subconscious.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Capturing moments in time can reveal patterns in our emotions.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;The Grimoire Ledger is a map of our being at a specific time.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Engaging with our emotions fosters deeper connections with ourselves and others.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Chapters:&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;00:00 Introduction to Starlight Sovereign Academy&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;01:11 Understanding Psychoeducation and Emotional Literacy&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;03:49 The Grimoire Ledger: A Somatic Snapshot&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;07:43 Emotional Granularity: The Mage&apos;s Edge&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;11:05 Navigating the Fog of Emotions&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;12:12 The Role of AI in Creative Expression&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;17:55 Filling Out the Grimoire Ledger&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;21:39 Interoception: Listening to Your Body&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;26:30 The Feelings Wheel: Identifying Emotions&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;28:42 Understanding Emotions: A Personal Journey&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;32:59 The Power of Exteroception in Emotional Regulation&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;39:46 Cognition and Emotional Literacy: The Mind&apos;s Layers&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;45:54 Dreams as Reflections of Our Inner World&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;57:17 Creating a Somatic Temporal Snapshot: Mapping Your Emotions&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Disclaimer:&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The Narrative Checkpoint (a production of Game Therapy LA) is an online resource and community platform - it does not provide medical services or professional counseling; please do not substitute the video and its contents for professional medical care. If you or a loved one are experiencing an emergency, please call your nation&apos;s emergency telephone number.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;All guests of The Narrative Checkpoint are informed of the public, non-medical nature of the content and have expressly agreed to share their story. For clinical or crisis support resources in your area, check out: &lt;a rel=&quot;noopener noreferrer nofollow&quot; href=&quot;https://www.gametherapyla.com/resources&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;https://www.gametherapyla.com/resources&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>no</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>01:01:04</itunes:duration><itunes:image href="https://hosting-media.riverside.com/media/podcasts/951f4d14-f00a-4d25-bda2-b0a402971078/logos/9a7e43fd-a260-45d0-89e8-0dbc0d7a7337.png"/><itunes:title>The Grimoire Ledger: A Journey into Self-Discovery</itunes:title><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Therapeutic Power of Role-Playing Games]]></title><description><![CDATA[<p>Welcome to <b>The Narrative Checkpoint: Beyond the Table</b>, a show about the intersection of games, therapy, and human stories. I interview therapists, educators, designers, storytellers, and innovators who use games - from tabletop to video games to AI - as tools for connection, learning, and growth. It is a creative space where guests share their expertise and passions, while listeners get inspired by how play can shape real-world change. This show is for clinicians, teachers, game designers, and curious players who believe that games can be more than just fun - they can be transformative.</p><p></p><p><b>Host:</b> Leticia Vasquez</p><p>Licensed Clinical Social Worker at Game Therapy LA | Los Angeles</p><p>Website: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://spaces.napsterai.com/gametherapyla" target="_blank">https://spaces.napsterai.com/gametherapyla</a> </p><p>Substack: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://substack.com/@gametherapyla" target="_blank">https://substack.com/@gametherapyla</a> </p><p>Instagram: /gametherapyla</p><p></p><p><b>Guest:</b> Jon Horry</p><p>Master of Science in Applied Social Psychology + expected to complete LPC-A by summer 2026</p><p>CEO of Paradice Therapeutics</p><ul><li>Developer of Pathways to Adventure, a TTRPG designed to be usable in group therapeutic contexts</li></ul><p>YouTube: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.youtube.com/@pathwaystoadventure" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/@pathwaystoadventure</a> </p><p></p><p><b>Summary:</b></p><p>This conversation explores the transformative impact of role-playing games on individuals, particularly those on the autism spectrum. Jon Horry discusses how these games empower players, enhance social skills, and foster collaboration. The dialogue also delves into the intricacies of character creation and the unique dynamics of gameplay that encourage assertiveness and teamwork.</p><p></p><p><b>Keywords:</b></p><p>#autism #roleplayinggames #empowerment #charactercreation #collaborativegameplay</p><p></p><p><b>Takeaways:</b></p><ul><li>Role-playing games can significantly improve social skills.</li><li>Players often become more assertive in expressing their needs.</li><li>Character creation allows for unique personal expression.</li><li>Collaborative gameplay fosters teamwork and communication.</li><li>Games can serve as therapeutic tools for mental wellness.</li><li>Simultaneous player rounds enhance engagement and participation.</li><li>Players can explore different aspects of their personality through characters.</li><li>The process of character creation is exciting and empowering.</li><li>Role-playing games can help individuals overcome shyness.</li><li>Therapeutic advice can be integrated into gameplay.</li></ul><p></p><p><b>Chapters:</b></p><p>Introduction to John Horry and Paradice Therapeutics</p><p>Unique Features of Pathways to Adventure</p><p>Exploring Character Backgrounds and Classes</p><p></p><p><b>Disclaimer:</b></p><p>The Narrative Checkpoint (a production of Game Therapy LA) is an online resource and community platform - it does not provide medical services or professional counseling; please do not substitute the video and its contents for professional medical care. If you or a loved one are experiencing an emergency, please call your nation's emergency telephone number.</p><p>All guests of The Narrative Checkpoint are informed of the public, non-medical nature of the content and have expressly agreed to share their story. For clinical or crisis support resources in your area, check out: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.gametherapyla.com/resources" target="_blank">https://www.gametherapyla.com/resources</a></p>]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">dd80d2a9-17ab-49cc-85cd-eadb98de5ed0</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Leticia Vasquez]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 10 Nov 2025 22:11:26 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.riverside.com/hosting-analytics/media/38b10ab45d1d33fed7c44a0e504b265993000fa7a54b4757fccbe7e88d3bc276/eyJlcGlzb2RlSWQiOiJkZDgwZDJhOS0xN2FiLTQ5Y2MtODVjZC1lYWRiOThkZTVlZDAiLCJwb2RjYXN0SWQiOiI5NTFmNGQxNC1mMDBhLTRkMjUtYmRhMi1iMGE0MDI5NzEwNzgiLCJhY2NvdW50SWQiOiI2OGRhY2U1ZGI4MzcyNTcyMGViNjEwYzMiLCJwYXRoIjoibWVkaWEvY2xpcHMvNjkxMjE2MzRhYzBkNjRjNjFhZjA0YWIzL2xldGljaWEtdmFzcXVlenMtc3R1ZGlvLWNvbXBvc2VyLTIwMjUtMTEtMTBfXzE3LTQzLTMyLm1wMyJ9.mp3" length="43455863" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:summary>&lt;p&gt;Welcome to &lt;b&gt;The Narrative Checkpoint: Beyond the Table&lt;/b&gt;, a show about the intersection of games, therapy, and human stories. I interview therapists, educators, designers, storytellers, and innovators who use games - from tabletop to video games to AI - as tools for connection, learning, and growth. It is a creative space where guests share their expertise and passions, while listeners get inspired by how play can shape real-world change. This show is for clinicians, teachers, game designers, and curious players who believe that games can be more than just fun - they can be transformative.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Host:&lt;/b&gt; Leticia Vasquez&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Licensed Clinical Social Worker at Game Therapy LA | Los Angeles&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Website: &lt;a rel=&quot;noopener noreferrer nofollow&quot; href=&quot;https://spaces.napsterai.com/gametherapyla&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;https://spaces.napsterai.com/gametherapyla&lt;/a&gt; &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Substack: &lt;a rel=&quot;noopener noreferrer nofollow&quot; href=&quot;https://substack.com/@gametherapyla&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;https://substack.com/@gametherapyla&lt;/a&gt; &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Instagram: /gametherapyla&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Guest:&lt;/b&gt; Jon Horry&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Master of Science in Applied Social Psychology + expected to complete LPC-A by summer 2026&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;CEO of Paradice Therapeutics&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;Developer of Pathways to Adventure, a TTRPG designed to be usable in group therapeutic contexts&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;YouTube: &lt;a rel=&quot;noopener noreferrer nofollow&quot; href=&quot;https://www.youtube.com/@pathwaystoadventure&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;https://www.youtube.com/@pathwaystoadventure&lt;/a&gt; &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Summary:&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;This conversation explores the transformative impact of role-playing games on individuals, particularly those on the autism spectrum. Jon Horry discusses how these games empower players, enhance social skills, and foster collaboration. The dialogue also delves into the intricacies of character creation and the unique dynamics of gameplay that encourage assertiveness and teamwork.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Keywords:&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;#autism #roleplayinggames #empowerment #charactercreation #collaborativegameplay&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Takeaways:&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;Role-playing games can significantly improve social skills.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Players often become more assertive in expressing their needs.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Character creation allows for unique personal expression.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Collaborative gameplay fosters teamwork and communication.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Games can serve as therapeutic tools for mental wellness.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Simultaneous player rounds enhance engagement and participation.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Players can explore different aspects of their personality through characters.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;The process of character creation is exciting and empowering.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Role-playing games can help individuals overcome shyness.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Therapeutic advice can be integrated into gameplay.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Chapters:&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Introduction to John Horry and Paradice Therapeutics&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Unique Features of Pathways to Adventure&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Exploring Character Backgrounds and Classes&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Disclaimer:&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The Narrative Checkpoint (a production of Game Therapy LA) is an online resource and community platform - it does not provide medical services or professional counseling; please do not substitute the video and its contents for professional medical care. If you or a loved one are experiencing an emergency, please call your nation&apos;s emergency telephone number.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;All guests of The Narrative Checkpoint are informed of the public, non-medical nature of the content and have expressly agreed to share their story. For clinical or crisis support resources in your area, check out: &lt;a rel=&quot;noopener noreferrer nofollow&quot; href=&quot;https://www.gametherapyla.com/resources&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;https://www.gametherapyla.com/resources&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>no</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>00:58:46</itunes:duration><itunes:image href="https://hosting-media.riverside.com/media/podcasts/951f4d14-f00a-4d25-bda2-b0a402971078/logos/9a7e43fd-a260-45d0-89e8-0dbc0d7a7337.png"/><itunes:episode>1</itunes:episode><itunes:title>The Therapeutic Power of Role-Playing Games</itunes:title><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item></channel></rss>