Being revamped
Half-Cocked Tales
Entertainment for the science and evidence-based reasoning inclined: history, current events, snake oil, fact-checking, and something good.
Independent creative studio
Half-Cocked Tales
Original podcasts, books, performance, and games.
A single professional home for Service Unscripted, Chessferatu, the Half-Cocked Tales podcast, Photon Ghosts, and selected stage work.
Created by Dan Leeson
Choose a project
Pick your way in.
Podcasts
Half-Cocked Tales & Photon Ghosts
Science, evidence, philosophy, physics, and ideas that refuse to sit still.
Explore podcasts Book & speakingService Unscripted
Improv Rules for Real-World Customer Service.
See the book GameChessferatu
Learn chess openings by playing, not by studying.
Enter Chessferatu PerformanceStage work
Selected theater credits and performance booking information.
View creditsPodcasts
Questions worth following.
One show is being rebuilt. One is coming soon.
“You’re not real, and you can’t prove you are.”
Coming soon
Photon Ghosts
A philosophical physics exploration of the illusion of self and the physics of the soul.
Book & speaking
Service Unscripted
Improv Rules for Real-World Customer Service
Built from experience in hospitality, management, and live performance, Service Unscripted applies the principles of improvisation to the moments where service actually happens: in real time, with real people, when the script stops being useful.
The book is written for hotels, restaurants, retail teams, managers, trainers, and anyone responsible for creating a better guest experience.
Half-Cocked Studios
Chessferatu
Learn chess openings by playing, not by studying.
An original chess training game that turns opening practice into gothic battle. Available for Android, Apple devices, and Steam.
Performance
Selected stage work.
Theater credits connected to the work behind Half-Cocked Tales.
2024–2025
The Mad Hatter
Teatime in Wonderland
2026
Dean Vale
Majestic Theater’s Prom 99
Behind the work
Dan Leeson
Author, performer, podcast host, speaker, and independent game creator.
Half-Cocked Tales is the umbrella for Dan’s podcasting, writing, performance, speaking, and game-development projects. This site is the central place to find that work and reach the right contact for bookings, media, or support.
Contact
Book, interview, or collaborate.
For podcast appearances, media, speaking, or performance inquiries, contact Alex.