Overview
1355 Episodes
This episode is part two of a five-part series. In it, I go through every single Mood Swings card, in collectible number order, and talk about how they were designed, including many of the changes they went through and some strategic tips on how to play them. Note: This is a bonus episode for this week.
Transcribed - Published: 29 May 2026
In this episode, I talk about the history of one of Magic's greatest mechanics, landfall.
Transcribed - Published: 29 May 2026
In this episode, I talk about the pros and cons of the depth of Magic's gameplay.
Transcribed - Published: 29 May 2026
This episode is part one of a five-part series. In it, I go through every single Mood Swings card, in collectible number order, and talk about how they were designed, including many of the changes they went through and some strategic tips on how to play them. Note: This is a bonus episode for this week.
Transcribed - Published: 22 May 2026
What is "the rule"? Why does Magic have it? (It didn't always.)
Transcribed - Published: 22 May 2026
In this episode, I talk about putting together the larger story arc of the Phyrexian War storyline from Throne of Eldraine through March of the Machine.
Transcribed - Published: 22 May 2026
How did I make Mood Swings into a simple, fast-paced trading card game? This episode talks about my 28 years of iteration and, for those of you interested in how a person designs a game from scratch, walks through how I created the game.
Transcribed - Published: 15 May 2026
This episode is another in my series to talk about every Magic set release. Today, I discuss the third set in the original Theros block, Journey Into Nyx.
Transcribed - Published: 15 May 2026
In 1998, I came up with the idea of a more accessible trading card game. That game is called Mood Swings and goes on sale starting June 1 on MagicSecretLair.com. This podcast talks about my 28-year journey to get it made.
Transcribed - Published: 8 May 2026
In this episode, I talk about all about my adventures at MagicCon: Las Vegas 2026.
Transcribed - Published: 8 May 2026
Who is Goat Guy? Why is he important? There's only one way to find out.
Transcribed - Published: 1 May 2026
This is another in my quest to do an episode on every Magic set release. This one is about the design of Born of the Gods, the second set in the Theros block.
Transcribed - Published: 1 May 2026
In this episode, I talk about the role games can play in a person's identity and how that affects our approach to designing Magic.
Transcribed - Published: 24 April 2026
In this episode, I sit down with Creative Lead Lauren Bond to talk about the worldbuilding of Secrets of Strixhaven.
Transcribed - Published: 24 April 2026
For eight years, I was in charge of overseeing final-day video production for the Pro Tour. In this podcast, I talk all about it.
Transcribed - Published: 17 April 2026
In this podcast, I sit down with Reggie Valk, set design lead for Secrets of Strixhaven, to talk about the set's design.
Transcribed - Published: 17 April 2026
This podcast talks about the history of Charms in Magic.
Transcribed - Published: 10 April 2026
In this podcast, I talk about the design of Secrets of Strixhaven.
Transcribed - Published: 10 April 2026
This podcast is all about how Magic design interacts with nostalgia.
Transcribed - Published: 3 April 2026
It's been over a decade since I did a podcast about Blogatog, my blog where I answer questions daily, so I felt it was time for a second podcast on it.
Transcribed - Published: 3 April 2026
Last year, I celebrated my 30th anniversary of working at Wizards of the Coast and on Magic. In this episode, I look back and explore how I've changed as a designer over the last three decades.
Transcribed - Published: 27 March 2026
In this episode, I sit down with Senior Director Lindsey Bartell to talk about Secret Lair.
Transcribed - Published: 27 March 2026
This podcast is another in my ongoing quest to talk about every Magic expansion. In it, I talk about the third set in the Scars of Mirrodin block, New Phyrexia.
Transcribed - Published: 20 March 2026
Do I have 30 minutes of content about collector numbers? It turns out I do.
Transcribed - Published: 20 March 2026
In this podcast, I respond to a post that proposed Magic should "stick to its fantasy roots." As a Magic historian, I make the case that Magic has been stretching the boundaries of what fantasy is since Limited Edition (Alpha). For those who like deep dives into Magic history, this episode is for you.
Transcribed - Published: 13 March 2026
For this week's podcast, I sit down with Magic: The GatheringĀ® | Teenage Mutant Ninja TurtlesĀ Lead Designer Eric Engelhard to talk about the set's design.
Transcribed - Published: 13 March 2026
One of our latest design processes involves a slideshow where we show off every card in an upcoming set and make final comments before everything is locked down. In this podcast, I talk all about the evolution of the slideshow.
Transcribed - Published: 6 March 2026
This podcast is all about the journey of the energy mechanic, from its original inception duringĀ Mirrodin design all the way to its first appearance inĀ Kaladesh and beyond.
Transcribed - Published: 6 March 2026
This podcast is a companion to this year's "Nuts & Bolts" column. I talk all about how to slowly add mechanics to your set.
Transcribed - Published: 27 February 2026
The Magic Dojo was the very first major online gathering spot for the Magic community. In this podcast, I speak with its creator, Frank Kusumoto, to talk all about it.
Transcribed - Published: 27 February 2026
This podcast is another in my quest to record a podcast about every Magic expansion. This time, I talk about Mirrodin Besieged, the second set in the Scars of Mirrodin block and a set with one of the most unique Prereleases of all time.
Transcribed - Published: 20 February 2026
In this podcast, I talk about a core element of every design: making sure your creatures can get through and help the game end.
Transcribed - Published: 20 February 2026
Every year, my oldest daughter Rachel and I attend BroadwayCon, a convention dedicated to Broadway, and each year I make a podcast about it, taking all the things I learned and comparing them to Magic design. This podcast is about this year's trip.
Transcribed - Published: 13 February 2026
In this podcast, I sit down with Jadine Klomparens, the play design lead for Lorwyn Eclipsed, to talk about how the set was structured and balanced.
Transcribed - Published: 13 February 2026
I spent eight years working on the Pro Tour overseeing the feature matches and final-day video coverage. Those eight years just happened to overlap with the greatest run in professional Magic where Pro Tour legend Kai Budde won seven Pro Tours in five years. This podcast honors Kai, who sadly passed away last week, talking all about that epic run.
Transcribed - Published: 6 February 2026
In this podcast, I sit down with Neale LaPlante Johnson, the creative lead of Lorwyn Eclipsed, to talk all about the worldbuilding for the set.
Transcribed - Published: 6 February 2026
In this podcast, I talk about a big theme from Lorwyn Eclipsed called "color matters."
Transcribed - Published: 30 January 2026
In this podcast, I talk about a very narrow type of design: Magic cards that interrupt the game and initiate a subgame.
Transcribed - Published: 30 January 2026
In this podcast, I talk all about the vision design for Lorwyn Eclipsed.
Transcribed - Published: 23 January 2026
A common topic on my blog is why some players want to return to blocks. I spend this podcast talking through the various reasons this is unlikely to happen.
Transcribed - Published: 23 January 2026
Part of a designer's job involves figuring out what to include and what not to include. In this podcast, I talk about subjectivity in Magic design.
Transcribed - Published: 16 January 2026
In this podcast, I talk about the third set of the Shards of Alara block.
Transcribed - Published: 16 January 2026
In this podcast, I call the upkeep step the appendix of Magic. Why? Listen in as I talk all about the origin and history of upkeep.
Transcribed - Published: 9 January 2026
In this podcast, I talk about the second set of the Shards of Alara block,Ā Conflux.
Transcribed - Published: 9 January 2026
This is my fourth and final episode talking about 30 big design evolutions since I started working at Wizards of the Coast in October 1995. This is based on a three-part series I did in my Making MagicĀ column.
Transcribed - Published: 12 December 2025
There are a lot of costs you can pay other than mana. In this episode, I talk about different types of resources in Magic.
Transcribed - Published: 12 December 2025
This is part three of a four-part series talking about 30 big design evolutions since I started working at Wizards of the Coast in October 1995. This is based on a three-part series I did in my Making MagicĀ column.
Transcribed - Published: 5 December 2025
In this episode, I talk about how the color pie has evolved over the last three decades.
Transcribed - Published: 5 December 2025
This podcast is part two of a four-part series talking about 30 big design evolutions since I started working at Wizards of the Coast in October 1995. This is based on a three-part series I did in my Making MagicĀ column.
Transcribed - Published: 28 November 2025
In this podcast, I sit down with Melissa DeTora, the leader of the Casual Play Design team, to talk about Commander design.
Transcribed - Published: 28 November 2025
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