Who is Dusfire?
Justin Nitta (He/Him)
He's been playing tabletop role-playing games (TTRPGs) for 12 years. It all started with a D&D 1e game he played in college. Armed with the Pathfinder Beginner Box, Justin soon assumed the role of Game Master (GM) and led his friends, including Danny Wickman, on various quests. His favorite things about TTRPGs are cracking jokes with friends and making players work hard for their well-earned victory.
Why Actual Play podcasts? After binge-listening to popular shows like Critical Role, Glass Cannon, and The Adventure Zone, he thought, "Hey, I can spin yarns just as well!" Spoiler alert: he totally can.
When he’s not playing TTRPGs, Justin is also not engaging in extreme sports or underwater tea ceremonies.
Oh, and according to Google, Justin's favorite movie franchise is The Lord of the Rings.
Steve Durgin (He/Him)
Steve is a seasoned veteran of the gaming table. He has played TTRPGs since around age 12, starting with a casual invitation to join his older brother's D&D sessions.
Steve's fascination with crafting stories alongside friends led him to embrace the world of Actual Play, where he gets to blend creativity and community. Now, as a Game Master (GM), Steve revels in the challenge of constructing immersive worlds for his players.
By day, Steve is a User Experience Researcher and runs his own agency. He’s started at least four business ventures, depending on how you count them. In an alternate universe, Steve might be guiding others as a psychotherapist, but for now, he channels his curiosity about human beings into the study of languages, cultures, and customer behavior.
In rare moments of free time, Steve indulges in creative writing, from novels to reflective pieces. He's also passionate about personal development blogging, yoga and meditation, and eating stuff (mostly food).
It’s tough for Steve to narrow down his favorites, but he’s captivated by the intricate worlds of The Witcher and Game of Thrones and the mind-bending journey of Cloud Atlas. As for video games, classics like Final Fantasy X and Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater hold a special place in Steve's heart.
Johnny Button discovered TTRPGs during his freshman year of college. He’s always loved the sense of adventure that comes with being able to play anyone, doing almost anything, in fantastic situations.
When he first heard of Actual Plays, he fell in love with the concept of sharing a story with the world.
Outside of tabletop gaming, Johnny enjoys reading, writing, and playing Magic: the Gathering and League of Legends: Wild Rift. He is currently working on a fantasy novel, which he looks forward to sharing with his fans.
Fun fact: Johnny has survived being hit by almost 20 cars!
His favorite movie franchise is the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, a series he considers perfect both in film and literature.
Johnny Button (He/him)
nicholas kopplin (he/him)
Nick's journey into the world of tabletop role-playing games spans a decade. It was sparked by his long-time fascination with D&D novels and his experience with Magic: the Gathering. What he loves most about TTRPGs is sinking into the narrative alongside friends, where the story flows organically through each participant.
Joining an Actual Play was a leap for Nick, spurred on by Danny's invitation and a desire to confront his stage fright. Now, he relishes the opportunity to create alongside his friends, making cool stuff with cool people.
Some fun facts about Nick: He's the only one in his family born on the mainland despite their Hawaiian roots, he's been a professional Software Developer for as long as he's been playing TTRPGs, and before joining the Dustfire Cast, he’d only played D&D and D&D offshoots.
Outside of TTRPGs, Nick enjoys restoring and repairing old game consoles—a hobby that's both rewarding and fun.
As for his favorite movie, it’s an easy answer: Everything, Everywhere, All at Once.
Danny Wickman (He/him)
Danny started playing tabletop role-playing games about eight years ago, starting with the first edition of Pathfinder. For him, TTRPGs offer a much-needed escape from the stress of everyday life and they allow him to express himself and inhabit characters he's grown to love.
Becoming part of an Actual Play podcast fulfilled a long-standing dream he shared with Justin. Through ventures like The Flying Bison Podcast and now Dustfire Media, Danny finds joy in bonding with a close-knit group of friends, sharing stories and experiences.
Three fun facts about Danny: His Tourette's is his superpower, he's survived an encounter with a jellyfish the size of your head, and he's unabashedly in love with himself.
Outside of TTRPGs, Danny's interests include singing and writing music, cooking (which he does professionally), and playing video games.
Will jinkies (They/them/she/her)
Will has been diving into the world of tabletop role-playing games (TTRPGs) for three years now, sparked by the need to connect with friends during the Covid era and to keep their storytelling skills sharp as a playwright. For Will, TTRPGs offer a unique platform to unleash their inner voice actor and writer, while also fostering communal creativity akin to devised theater.
Joining an Actual Play was a spontaneous decision for Will, prompted by seeing an opportunity with Dustfire online. It's been an absolute blast to connect with a new community and expand the scope of their content creation.
Three fun facts about Will? They can walk with their feet backward, they’ve never eaten a pickle, and they harbor a deep love for reality TV.
When not immersed in TTRPGs, Will loves puzzles of all kinds, from crosswords to strategy games, and finds amusement in applying for jobs they’re unqualified for.
As a streamer, playwright, and self-proclaimed nuisance, Will invites you to check out their content on Twitch and TikTok @WillJinkies and on Twitter @MxJinkies (after a personal ban by Elon Musk).
And if you're wondering about their favorite movie, it’s 13 Going on 30. “There is no other answer!”
niki bond (she/her)
Though she was introduced to TTRPGs a long time ago, she has only been playing for about 2 years in total, and much of that with the Dustfire crew!
When cast member Monroe Hayden recommended Niki join our band of storytellers, she was hesitant at first since she hadn’t played TTRPGs in so long. But as a writer, she quickly grew to love how the unpredictable nature of dice rolls adds a mysterious and improvisational element to storytelling.
Outside of TTRPGs, Niki enjoys drawing, photography, and writing original Young Adult Fantasy/Sci-Fi and fanfics, particularly in the fandom of The World Ends With You (TWEWY).
Fun facts: Niki has four cats named Beat, Rhyme, Ollie, and Emil, identifies as asexual and demi-romantic, and is studying Japanese.
Her favorite movie is "Coco," though she has a broad love for Pixar films. Check out her ongoing Halloween-themed Alternate Universe for "The World Ends With You" here.
Gus (He/Him)
Gus.
Monroe hayden (sHe/HEr)
Monroe Hayden has been immersed in the world of tabletop role-playing games (TTRPGs) for the past two years. Introduced to the Flying Bison Podcast by Steve Durgin, Monroe quickly fell in love with the sense of community and the collaborative effort of working towards a common goal. She finds joy in exploring new ways to narrate and share adventures.
In addition to gaming, Monroe is an actress, film director, producer, and writer. In her early days, she played both Belle and Pinocchio at Disneyland. Now she is best known for her roles in shows like Fox (2016 - 2019) and 365 (2017), and continues her creative pursuits through SkySoft Entertainment.
When it comes to favorite movies, Beauty and the Beast is Monroe’s “all-time favorite!”