Safety in Game Design & Personal Journey with Beau Jágr Sheldon

A must-listen for anyone passionate about creating safer, more inclusive spaces—whether in games, leadership, or everyday life—and for those seeking inspiration from a personal story of resilience and advocacy.

More info, resources & ways to connect - https://www.tacosfallapart.com/podcast-live-show/podcast-guests/beau-jagr-sheldon

In this episode of Even Tacos Fall Apart, I sat down with Beau Jágr Sheldon to discuss their unique journey through game design, leadership, education, and navigating mental health. Beau, a non-binary, queer, and polyamorous game designer, shared how their personal experiences and passion for storytelling have shaped their work and their advocacy for representation and safety in gaming.

Beau’s career is rooted in a love for games, but it didn’t start smoothly. Early on, they encountered toxic environments and boundaries being crossed at game tables. These experiences led Beau to develop Script Change, a safety tool for tabletop games that promotes consent and empowers players to address discomfort in real time. For Beau, safety isn’t about guaranteeing perfection—it’s about creating spaces where people feel supported and heard.

Their game, Turn, holds a special place in their heart. It’s a narrative tabletop RPG about shapeshifters living in rural small towns. Inspired by their life growing up in Pennsylvania, Beau crafted Turn to explore themes of marginalization, identity, and community in a safe and meaningful way. The game uses mechanics that lean into storytelling and emotional exploration while sidestepping violence—a stark contrast to traditional games. Beau explained how they worked with sensitivity readers and experts to ensure the game’s settings and stories reflected diverse experiences authentically.

On representation, Beau didn’t mince words: it matters. They pointed out the issues of performative inclusivity in mainstream gaming, emphasizing the need for marginalized creators to be genuinely supported, both financially and through meaningful collaboration. Beau also highlighted the power of indie games to break barriers and foster real connection, encouraging everyone to create games that reflect their unique perspectives.

In addition to designing games, Beau is a writer of horror erotica, a genre they’ve embraced as a way to explore and process complex emotions tied to mental illness. They shared how writing has been a therapeutic outlet, helping them express thoughts and feelings that are often stigmatized.

Beau’s journey has been shaped by living with bipolar disorder, PTSD, ADHD, and anxiety. They were candid about the challenges of managing their mental health, from navigating medication and therapy to balancing relationships and professional work. Beau described how open communication with partners and friends has been crucial, as has creating spaces for self-care, like their dedicated meditation room.

Ultimately, this conversation was about pushing boundaries—whether in game design, representation, or mental health. Beau’s work and story reflect resilience, creativity, and a commitment to making the gaming world and society at large more inclusive and compassionate.