It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Terry Robinson, co-host of Mage: The Podcast and an irreplaceable member of our community. Terry passed away on Friday, December 27, 2024.
Known for his wit, insight, and passion for storytelling, Terry enriched the lives of countless listeners, sharing his love for Mage: The Ascension and its exploration of the arcane. Beyond the podcast, Terry dedicated himself to causes close to his heart: mentoring youth in Boy Scouts of America, participating in community opera, crafting beautiful bookbindings (often of World of Darkness supplements), and advocating for drug harm reduction in his neighborhood.
Terry was not just a brilliant creator but also a wonderful human being—kind, thoughtful, funny, and endlessly charming. His absence leaves a profound void in our community.
As we grieve his loss, we invite you to share your memories of Terry on our social media platforms or via email. We also encourage you to consider supporting causes he cared about, such as Boy Scouts of America, drug harm reduction initiatives, or community arts programs.
Thank you, Terry, for the magic you brought into our lives. May your journey to the next realm be as extraordinary as the life you shared with us.
In remembrance,
The Mage: The Podcast Team
I had the pleasure of meeting Terry Robinson in person and playing his foil at his first-ever LARP.
It wasn’t my first time hearing his name—but it was one of the handful of times in my life that I’ve gotten to not only meet someone whose work I’m a huge fan of but actually play in a game set in the world we both love together.
I remember meeting him and Shea Anderson for lunch ahead of the game. We were all supposed to be tightly connected in character, and we wanted to make Terry’s first LARP experience a good one. I remember how nervous but excited I was on the Uber ride to the cafe because I was going to get to meet someone whose work I’d followed for quite some time at that point.
I remember how sweet and humble he was when I asked if he’d indulge me in a moment of being a fanboy over getting to meet one of the folks behind one of my favorite podcasts.
I remember how kind and caring he was in asking me about how my husband, Adrian, was doing since Mage Noir took place literally days after his liver transplant. I was only there because Adrian had insisted that I go. Terry had paid attention to what was going on in my life, and even though it was his first LARP and he was a bit nervous, he wanted to know what he could do for me to make sure I had a good time.
I remember that Terry asked me if I was a hugger, and when I said yes, he gave me a big hug that made me feel like I’d known him forever.
We had such a wonderful time talking, planning, and connecting on a personal level that I ended up being on crunch time getting into costume and makeup for the LARP. We maintained that friendship afterward, and I always loved seeing his posts and hearing his voice on his podcast, knowing that the man behind it was a sweet, kind, humble, and just…amazing human being.
I don’t fully have words for how much of a shock the news of his passing is. I heard about it last night from Matthew Webb, and I had to lie down because I couldn’t really process it as true at first.
I feel like not only our community but the world in general has lost a little bit more of its light. Terry was a good man who wanted to share his passion and joy with the world, and I think that's important—that being able to share your joy and, in turn, uplift the spirits and voices of others is true magic.
I’ve included some photos from Terry’s first LARP to this email. I hope they can be a little bit of comfort and warmth in this difficult time.
To everyone behind Mage: The Podcast and everyone in Terry’s family, please be gentle to yourselves in the days and weeks to come. Let yourselves process and experience your emotions no matter how up and down they seem. Holding them back or trying to be stoic and composed isn’t the way to process this. It's okay to cry, it’s okay to be angry, and for a bit, it’s okay if just getting out of bed is the greatest challenge you overcome that day.
The community’s love is with you all. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us for support. We’ll be here.
— Johnathan Fii
Founder and Creative Partner, Cerberus Interactive Media
Community Manager, Jackalope Live Action Studio
The Mage podcast has a special place in my heart, I remember listening to the first episode after searching for Mage-related content on Google podcasts. English is not my first language, and in Brasil, we do not have direct access to MTA media; your podcast made me feel again that purple-deep Magic that I felt when I first read an old Second edition PDF in my high school days. The feeling of “Hey, somebody else also is nerding out about this”. I am forever thankful for this connection. Terry will be deeply missed; my sentiments and condolences to his family and friends.
— Leonardo Rezeda
Hi,
Just wanted to offer my sympathies for the loss of Terry.
I feel getting the illusion that you “know” someone from online content is very common, but Terry’s voice is one that I always look forward to revisiting and I looked forward to each new podcast which featured him. Everything I know of Terry, albeit entirely “second hand”, indicates he was a fantastic person and a very accomplished human being.
I’m grateful for to have had the opportunity to hear his thoughts and listen in on some of his conversations.
I hope this isn’t the end of Mage: The Podcast, as it’s one of my favourites and the quality is so high.
Best wishes for the future,
MJ
I was was so sorry to hear of Terry’s passing. From the things he said in the mage podcast I’m sure he was a great man.
My condolences…
Panos Skordas
I only learned about this podcast a few months ago. Thank you, Terry 🙂
This hit me like a ton of bricks, I’ve known him since 2014; all around wonderful guy that everyone liked. We volunteered in boy scouts together, went to New York maker faire together twice, laughed together. He’d recently returned from a honeymoon in Europe; so hearing the news today is a complete shock to me. Terry could light up a room with his wit, banter, wonderful sarcasm, and the world is a more gloomy place with his loss.
I knew Terry from scouting. He was an irreplaceable piece of Klondike Derby. Still can picture him wearing shorts in the middle of winter while everyone else was freezing bundled in parkas, mittens, and heavy headgear.
We will miss you Terry but your fond memories will live on and on.
I had the pleasure of working with Terry in Philly (2016-2019). He was a wonderfully joyous soul with a brilliant, authentic wit. A trusty ally in the fight against Class A pencil necks.
Terry was awesome – never met him but listened to all his podcasts. I think a big reason why mage is still around is his work. Thank you Terry
I knew Terry from his days in Scouting, and specifically his days in the Order of the Arrow. Terry was one of the most intelligent, articulate, witty, funny as hell people I knew. His service to youth was unmatched. He was also one of the greatest Scout auctioneer’s I ever saw, he could make people bid on anything to raise money for Scouting. Although I have moved on from my long term involvement with Scouting, I count Terry as a true Brother and friend. He will be missed.
WWW
Terry was a presence . Enthusiasm, wit, kindness, extraordinary intellect, warmth and caring made him one of a kind. He will be missed by many.
Will be Sad not to see him at work nor get to taste his wonderful baking.
Rest in peace Terry,
Hi, here in Brazil we don’t have actual good content about mage and that made me know your podcast. I’ve been listening tons of episodes in the past few months and Terry has been like a mentor Storyteller to me.
He will be missed and never forgotten. With your project, you guys have touched people all around the world, and that’s huge.
I send my condonlences to you, Adam, and Terry’s family. Know that someone in other country that don’t even know Terry will miss him a lot. Thank you, Terry
Damn, I’m incredibly saddened by the news, this is hitting me way harder than I thought was possible. I never cried for the passing of a “stranger” before, but today I had to explain to my wife why I was crying in from of the computer, hahaha.
I will remember fondly Terry’s voice and passion for the years to come. He definitely touched my life in a positive way.
I first encountered Terry on the Systematic Understanding of Everything podcast.
So enamored with his infectious podcasting style was I that I have now listened to countless hours of Mage: The Podcast despite me never actually having played the game.
I am still reeling from the news of his passing.
Mage: the Podcast has helped get me through some extremely trying times in my life. It was a beacon of light and entertainment at a time where it was difficult to find such things. Terry’s work is and was appreciated and he will be missed. Rest easy, man.
It was a shock to hear this.
I only knew of Terry from the podcasts he was on: I never had the opportunity to meet him in any capacity. I first heard him on the Exalted podcast; it quickly became clear that he was the warm, intelligent, and funny man so many others have remarked upon. I’m not a Mage player — yet — but his enthusiasm and strong TTRPG opinions lured me over to Mage: the Podcast in time.
It’s clear that he was one of a kind. He’ll be missed.