Beyond Solitaire

Episode 250 - Ed Beach on Designing Historical Series

This week on the pod, Ed Beach drops by to talk about designing historical board games such as Here I Stand and Virgin Queen, about being both a contributor to and an ori

Episode 249 - Sabrina Culyba on Transformational Gaming

This week on the pod, Sabrina Culyba of Ludoliminal drops by to discuss both her current company and her past as a designer of transformational video games--games designe

Episode 248 - Isaac Vega on Rose Gauntlet Entertainment

This week on the pod, veteran game designer Isaac Vega discusses Rose Gauntlet Entertainment, which he co-founded with Lindsey Rode, and its associated charitable foundat

Episode 247 - Alita Robertson on Kart

This week on the pod, Alita Robertson, Developer and Producer at Leder Games, drops by to discuss Kart--our upcoming game about kids having a downhill kart race through t

Episode 246 - Mark Diaz Truman on RPG vs. Board Game Design

This week on the pod, Mark Diaz Truman of Magpie Games drops by to discuss the Root RPG, RPGs in general, and his recent adventures in board game design. https://magpiega

Episode 245 - C. Thi Nguyen on Playing for the Right Reasons

This week on the pod, Professor C. Thi Nguyen (@add-hawk.bsky.social) pops by to discuss his work on games, why we play them, and how dangerous it is to wind up playing b

Episode 244 - Alice and Jessica Hong on FamBam Games

This week on the pod, sisters Alice and Jessica Hong drop by to discuss FamBam Games, the company they started together, and the process of making games that delight both

Episode 243 - Morten Monrad Pedersen on Solo Design

This week on the pod, Morten Monrad Pedersen, head of the Automa Factory and designer of Skoventyr and Shajarat, discusses his takes on solo game design and what solo gam

Episode 242 - Megan Rhodes Victor on Archaeogaming as Scholarly Play

This week on the pod, Prof. Megan Rhodes Victor (@archaeovictor.bsky.social) discusses her new edited volume, Archaeogaming as Scholarly Play, and her work as an archaeol

Episode 241 - Aaron Trammell on How D&D Changed the Way We Play

For the Season 13 opener, Aaron Trammell drops by to discuss his new book, How Dungeons & Dragons Changed the Way We Play. It's a fascinating look into the issues th

Episode 240 - Shelly Jones on Board Game Cozy Mysteries

This week on the pod, Dr. Shelly Jones drops by to discuss their work as a scholar who incorporates games and RPGs into their work--and their career as an author who has

Episode 239 - Denver Walker on Flying Pig Games

This week on the pod, Denver Walker comes by to discuss her life as a co-owner and CEO of a wargame company, as well as her own game designs. https://flyingpiggames.com/

Episode 238 - Amabel Holland on Swords Against - Beginner's Box

This week on the pod, Amabel Holland comes by to discuss her upcoming game--if it can be so called--and the mysteries that it holds. I am very excited to play it. https:/

Episode 237 - David Thompson on Managing Multiple Designs

This week on the pod, David Thompson drops in for our seasonal check-in! We discuss the progress of our games together, check in on David's work with several other c

Episode 236 - Tilak Vyas on Line by Line

This week on the pod, Tilak Vyas drops by to talk about his poetry game, Line by Line, that is forthcoming from Central Michigan University's Center for Learning Thr

Episode 235 - Ari Shapiro and Alyssa Stevenski on Library Gaming

This week on the pod, I chat with Alyssa and Ari, who coordinate gaming programs for teens in my local county library system. Some of them even include me!  Check out Th

Episode 234 - Paul and Liz on the Evolution of Foxes & Lions

This week on the pod, Paul Wright and I discuss Foxes & Lions, how it has developed over the past year or so, and what we're excited about next. Also, it's on P

Episode 233 - Waleed Ma'arouf on Design at Asmodee

This week on the pod, Waleed Ma'arouf, a designer at Studio Big, discusses their work in education, how they joined the Arkham Horror LCG design team, and their curr

Episode 232 - Esther Wright on Rockstar Games and American History

This week on the pod, Dr. Esther Wright (@enwright.bsky.social), a lecturer at the University of Cardiff, speaks about her work on Rockstar Games, the way they represent

Episode 231 - Brooks Barber on Hawk & Dove

This week on the pod, Brooks Barber (rollplusfun@bsky.social) drops by to discuss his new venture, Hawk & Dove. He's starting a new historical games publishing busin