Make-Believe Heroes is an actual-play Dungeons and Dragons show set in the homebrew world of Manumi, hosted by Paul Shirley. It has 282 episodes released roughly every four weeks, usually around 75 minutes, with a Monday release pattern noted in its description. Estimated downloads are 2,000 to 8,000 per episode, implying an estimated rate of $40 to $200 per episode.
A long-running D&D actual play with a loyal, highly rated fantasy audience
- 282 episodes across nine years show sustained commitment from the show and its listeners.
- Apple Podcasts shows 407 ratings with a 4.9 average, a strong signal of listener satisfaction.
- Weekly-to-monthly releases of around 75 minutes give a sponsor a predictable mid-roll slot.
Brand fit report
Content
- Formats
- actual play, narrative, bonus recap
- Tone
- playful, serialized
- Language
- English
- Production
- Clean, edited audio
- Typical length
- 60 to 90 minutes
Audience
Commercial
- Brands seen
- Dungeons and Dragons
- Categories promoted
- None yet
- Affiliate links
- Yes
A Patreon funding page is linked from the website and feed links, and the Apple publisher is listed as Dungeons and Dragons, but no sponsor mentions appear in the last 20 episode titles.
Suitability GARM Brand Safety Floor + Suitability
Family friendly
Episode titles such as 'The Empress of the Black Flame' and 'The End, Part Four' suggest fantasy combat and dark themes, but no explicit flag is present in the feed.
We classify content, never people. No age, gender, ethnicity, religion or political views are inferred about the creator. Audience figures are estimates unless marked verified. Creators can correct anything on their profile.
Where to listen
| Platform | Link |
|---|---|
| Website | www.patreon.com/makebelieveheroes |
| Apple Podcasts | podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1329425337 |
| RSS feed | feeds.megaphone.fm/mbh |
Benchmark score: 23 / 100
Public rule, same for everyone. How it works.
Recent episodes
| Episode | Date | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Special Presentation: "The 4-O'Clock Shadows" by the Fireside Fables P | 2026-08-30 | 2 h 52 min |
| Christmas Special! - The CandleBells Clash | 2025-12-24 | 1 h 35 min |
| Halloween Special: “Welcome to the Hotel Rose-I-Warn-Ya, Part Two” | 2025-10-31 | 1 h 23 min |
| Halloween Special: “Welcome to the Hotel Rose-I-Warn-Ya, Part One” | 2025-10-24 | 1 h 13 min |
| "Spooky Stories from Manumi" (Halloween Special!) | 2025-10-15 | 53 min |
| Announcements and Outtakes | 2025-05-09 | 27 min |
Last six episodes from the show's feed, latest 50 days ago, a new one about every 29 days.
Welcome to Make-Believe Heroes: an actual-play, 5th Edition Dungeon and Dragons Adventure! Join our players every Monday as they set out for adventure in the homebrew world of Manumi.
About Make-Believe Heroes
Make-Believe Heroes is an actual-play Dungeons and Dragons podcast set in the homebrew world of Manumi, hosted by Paul Shirley. The show follows a group of players through a serialized 5th Edition campaign, with full episodes, Halloween and Christmas specials, and recap bonuses. Source: the show feed and its listing.
The feed lists 282 episodes since December 2017, with full episodes released about every four weeks and a median running time of roughly 75 minutes. The Apple Podcasts listing shows 407 ratings with an average of 4.9 out of 5. Source: Apple Podcasts. Audience size is not published; based on ratings and cadence, downloads are estimated at 2,000 to 8,000 per episode, and listeners are estimated to be mostly adults in the United States who enjoy tabletop gaming.
No sponsors were seen in the recent feed, and the show links to a Patreon page for support. Based on the estimated audience, a host-read mid-roll would sit around $40 to $200 per episode. The show suits tabletop gaming, fantasy hobby, and game accessory brands. Source: the feed and Apple Podcasts.
Written from the show's public RSS feed, its Podcast Index listing and episode titles. Numbers updated 2026-10-19. Make-Believe Heroes can edit or remove this page at any time.
Questions about Make-Believe Heroes
How much does Make-Believe Heroes charge for a podcast sponsorship?
Based on an estimated 2,000 to 8,000 downloads per episode, a host-read mid-roll would fall in the range of $40 to $200 per episode. Exact rates are set by the show and should be confirmed directly.
What is Make-Believe Heroes about?
Make-Believe Heroes is an actual-play Dungeons and Dragons podcast set in the homebrew world of Manumi. It follows a serialized 5th Edition campaign with full episodes and special episodes.
How do I contact Make-Believe Heroes about sponsoring an episode?
The show's contact email unlocks on Starbooked for $0.80. Boosted shows can also be booked through Starbooked.
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