Podcast · Leisure & Travel

Board Game Radio

by with Doug and Michael · English · Leisure & Travel

Board Game Radio with Doug & Michael is a weekly tabletop gaming variety show. Join us as we explore what makes board games fun, memorable, and truly worth gathering around the table for — through casual conversation, stories, and a shared love of the hobby.

New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 1 hr 23 min
Latest: 9 Oct 2026
Language: English

Latest episode

9 Oct 2026 · 1 hr 14 min

Episode 285 - Chocolate, Space, and the New World Order

This week on Board Game Radio, Doug and Michael tackle a question every campaign gamer eventually faces: What do you do with a campaign game after you’ve finished it? Keep it on the shelf as a trophy? Pass it along? And should our answer change if the campaign can actually be played again? In This Week in Gaming, we’re looking ahead to Game Store Day on November 7 and celebrating the local game stores that help keep the tabletop community rolling. Then Troll er No? returns! We’ve collected some wonderfully brutal negative BoardGameGeek reviews—but some of them are completely made up. Can we…

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Earlier episodes 29 most recent

S2 · E284 · 2 Oct 2026 · 1 hr 30 min
Episode 284 - Games We've Cooled On
This week on Board Game Radio, Doug and Michael dig into the art—and occasional pain—of teaching board games. What parts of teaching trip us up the most, and which games have proven especially difficult to get to the table? In This Week in Gaming, we talk about CMON’s $19 million capital raise and Chip Theory Games working with Jennifer Graham-Macht to bring Neon Knight to a wider audience. Then it’s time for The Great Game Guessing Game! We’ve each dug up an obscure game from before 1995, and the other host has to figure out what the game is about based on the title alone. What could…
S2 · E283 · 25 Sep 2026 · 1 hr 36 min
Episode 283 - Tend, Rebel Princess, Machi Koro: Life, and Brave & Bold
This week on Board Game Radio, Doug and Michael celebrate one of the best parts of tabletop gaming: introducing the hobby to new players and seeing that moment when a game unexpectedly clicks. Then, are you playing the wrong game with the wrong people? We talk about how the group around the table can completely change the experience. We also debut a brand-new segment: Geek Sequence! Can we correctly rank a lineup of games based on a single BoardGameGeek metric? This week, we put our knowledge of game complexity to the test. Finally, it’s our Monthly Game Roundup, featuring four games that…
S2 · E282 · 18 Sep 2026 · 1 hr 3 min
Episode 282 - CrowdFunding Debates, Board Game Bling, & Phil Walker-Harding
We’ve got a great show this week! We’ll be sharing what’s awesome this week in tabletop gaming, including some new crowdfunding campaigns. We'll discuss gaming cynicism and table real estate. We debate some game night hypotheticals about consistent game nights and expansions versus bling! We finish the episode by drafting Phil Walker-Harding Games! 00:20 Introduction to Board Game Radio 07:21 This Week In Gaming 07:56 Upcoming Crowdfunding 11:34 Bestselling Games 14:24 What's On Your Mind? 14:49 Veteran Gamer Cynicism 28:02 Table Real Estate and Game Acquisition 36:36 Game Night…
S2 · E281 · 11 Sep 2026 · 1 hr 11 min
Episode 281 - Family Games & Gen Con Hotness Through The Years
We’ve got a great show this week! We’ll be sharing what’s awesome this week in tabletop gaming, discussing family games on BoardGameGeek, and revisiting GenCon Hotness! 00:00:20 Introduction & Follow-up 00:03:32 This Week In Gaming & Awesomeness 00:04:50 Exploring Personal Gaming Backlogs 00:09:23 Exciting News in Tabletop Gaming 00:14:01 Does BoardGameGeek Have a Family Games Problem? 00:34:42 Exploring Gen Con's Hotness Over the Years 00:37:13 2023 Gen Con Preview 00:45:59 2024 Gen Con Preview 00:51:51 2025 Gen Con Preview 00:58:27 2026 Gen Con Preview 01:00:42 Reflections on Game Quality…
S2 · E280 · 4 Sep 2026 · 1 hr 42 min
Episode 280 - Teachers, Awesomeness, and Dave Beck
We’ve got a great show this week! We’ll be sharing what’s awesome this week in tabletop gaming, discussing our thoughts on the hobby, visiting the Shelf of Shame Support Group, and chatting with Dave Beck of Paverson Games! 00:00:00 Introduction to Board Game Radio 00:03:28 Drillers Game Sales 00:08:18 Accountability Test #1 00:14:48 This Week In Gaming: Teacher Fund 00:17:36 Chess Joker: Review 00:31:03 What's On Your Mind? What would you miss? 00:41:06 The Shelf of Shame: Confessions and Reflections 00:46:55 Understanding Why Games Go Unplayed 00:55:46 Rethinking the Shelf of Shame…
S2 · E279 · 28 Aug 2026 · 1 hr 29 min
Episode 279 - Magic, Hotels, and Monthly Games
In this episode, Michael and Doug share what’s awesome this week in tabletop gaming, including winning contests and new game releases. They also discuss expanding into other parts of the hobby, playing Stupid Money/Smart Money Gencon Edition, and closing out with a Monthly Game Roundup featuring Hell of a Deal, Circadia, Wild Magic, and Guillotine! 00:00:00 - Introduction to Board Game Radio 00:03:01 - Follow-Up and Community Engagement 00:06:22 - What's Awesome in Tabletop Gaming 00:09:05 - New Game Releases and Themes 00:12:07 - Experiences with Local Game Stores 00:16:24 - What's On Your…
S2 · E278 · 21 Aug 2026 · 1 hr 12 min
Episode 278 - GenCon 2026 Recap Show
In this episode, Doug and Michael do a thorough follow-up of GenCon. They dive into the show's headlines, along with their surprises, misses, and overall impressions. 00:00:20 - Welcome Back to the Studio 00:01:27 - Reflecting on Gen Con Experience 00:06:26 - Crowd Management and Venue Expansion 00:08:06 - FOMO and News Coverage at Gen Con 00:11:41 - Weather Challenges at Gen Con 00:12:34 - Game Announcements and Highlights 00:18:21 - All Play's New Game Lines 00:26:10 - Restoration Games and Unmatched Updates 00:32:46 - Final Thoughts and Reflections 00:35:27 - Excitement Over New Games…
S2 · E277 · 14 Aug 2026 · 43 min
Episode 277 - GenCon Day 2
In this episode, Doug and Michael discuss their Day 2 at GenCon! They discuss experiences in the exhibit hall, the Allplay new game announcements, AEG Big Game Night, and more!
S2 · E276 · 7 Aug 2026 · 53 min
Episode 276 - GenCon Day 1
In this episode, Doug and Michael discuss their Day 1 at GenCon! They discuss experiences in the exhibit hall, the hottest games, and instant reactions to a great first day at the convention!
S2 · E275 · 31 Jul 2026 · 1 hr 31 min
Episode 275 - Harrison Dunn, Gencon, and Blind Rank
In this week's episode, Doug and Michael share Michael's 2026 purchasing plan, talk solo games, discuss convention tips, preview Gencon with guest Harrison Dunn, and play a game of Blind Rank! 00:00:20 - Introduction & Follow-up 00:03:28 - Michael's Board Game Buying Challenge 00:11:15 - What's Awesome This Week in Gaming 00:22:37 - What's on Your Mind? - Convention Tips and Tricks 00:31:13 - Gencon Preview with Harrison Dunn 01:19:40 - Blind Rank
S2 · E274 · 24 Jul 2026 · 1 hr 11 min
Episode 274 - Phill Klamm, Lorcana, and Troll Er No
In this episode we’ll be sharing what’s awesome this week in tabletop gaming, discuss reprinting games and going on game buying sabbatical. Lastly we chat with guest Phill Klamm about all things Disney Lorcana and play a game of Troll er No with him! 00:00:20 - Introduction and Follow-Up 00:02:45 - This Week in Gaming 00:08:19 - What's On Your Mind? 00:08:50 - Reprints of Older Games: A Trend Analysis 00:16:48 - Not Buying Games 00:25:38 - Introduction to Phill Klamm and Lorcana 00:28:41 - Overview of Lorcana: The Trading Card Game 00:31:42 - Phil's Journey into Competitive Play 00:34:39 -…
S2 · E273 · 17 Jul 2026 · 1 hr 24 min
Episode 273 - Paul Salomon, The Spiel Des Jahres, and Giant Thumbs
This week we’ll be sharing what’s awesome this week in tabletop gaming, discuss industry awards and balancing fun with winning, chat with designer and developer Paul Salomon from GameHead Games, and play a game of The Great Game Guessing Game. 00:00:20 - Introduction and Follow-Up on Expansion Extravaganza 00:02:20 - This Week In Gaming: Spiel de Jahres Winners 00:10:00 - Industry Awards: Value and Insights 00:18:07 - Discussion on Playing for Fun vs. Winning 00:25:30 - Special Guest: Paul Solomon 00:26:54 - Journey into Board Games 00:28:29 - Role of Creative Director at Game Head 00:30:34…
S2 · E272 · 10 Jul 2026 · 1 hr 17 min
Episode 272 - Expansion Extravaganza #1
This week Doug & Michael discuss upcoming releases from Stonemaier Games, Horrible Guild, and Pandasaurus Games, express gratitude to a local game store, ponder the best way to introduce new games, and the plethora of small box games available. The finish the episode by reviewing expansions for Faraway, Castle Combo, Honey Buzz, and Return to Dark Tower. 00:00:20 - Introduction to Board Game Radio 00:00:59 - Follow-Up on Previous Games 00:02:19 - This Week In Gaming 00:13:47 - Celebrating Local Game Stores 00:20:07 - What's On Your Mind? 00:20:21 - Choosing Games for New Players 00:33:31 -…
S2 · E271 · 3 Jul 2026 · 1 hr 22 min
Episode 271 - Great Games, America, and Complainers
In this week's episode Doug and Michael discuss the latest news and headlines including a new edition of Parks and data from Origins Game Fair. In addition, they also speculate on complainers in the hobby, reveal their high-five American themed games, and conclude last week's monthly game roundup with Frosted Blooms, Fox Grove, and Spooktacular. 00:00:20 - Introduction to Board Game Radio 00:20:42 - What's On Your Mind? - The State of Online Discourse in Gaming 00:39:00 - List Time - High-Five American Themed Games 00:56:52 - Monthly Game Roundup 00:57:34 - Spooktacular 01:03:36 - Frosted…
S2 · E270 · 26 Jun 2026 · 1 hr 25 min
Episode 270 - Origins, Reviews, and Complexity
In this week's show we'll be discussing some of the latest headlines like the Origins Game Fair, share what's on our minds including game complexity and the difficulty of reviewing games. We're gonna compete to guess games in redacted reviews, and we'll finish off the episode with a roundup of some of the games we've played recently, such as Root, First Class Letters, and Paper World! 00:00:20 - Introduction to Board Game Radio 00:01:30 - Follow-Up on Schaudenfreude Game 00:09:31 - Podcast Growth and YouTube Appeal 00:11:02 - This Week in Gaming: Origins Game Fair Highlights 00:11:43 -…
S2 · E269 · 19 Jun 2026 · 1 hr 11 min
Episode 269 - Collection Selection Draft & Stupid Money in Crowdfunding
In this Episode Doug & Michael discuss some of the latest headlines like the Catan Championships and the latest Dominion expansion, share what’s on our minds about Bog Box Games and crowdfunding, ask stupid money/smart money questions about Deluxe Editions and Convention expenses, and we’ll finish off the episode with new segment called Collection Selection in which we draft deck-building games like Clank! and Lost Ruins of Arnak! 00:00 Introduction to Board Game Radio 06:29 This Week in Gaming: New Releases and Trends 12:19 Catan National Championship and Community Engagement 18:17 Exciting…
S2 · E268 · 12 Jun 2026 · 1 hr 35 min
Episode 268: Great Moments In Gameschooling, TCGs, and 2021
In this episode Doug & Michael talk about the latest news including Amigo reprints and Asmodee. They also debate who spends more money, Trading Card Game Players or Board Gamers, followed by there takes on dice or cards as randomizers. A new segment, Great Moments in Gameschooling, highlights a father son design project. Lastly, they reveal their favorite games from 2021. 00:00 - Introduction to Board Game Radio 03:14 - Reflections on Recent Conventions 06:04 - Industry Trends and Revenue Insights 08:16 - New Game Releases and Updates 11:16 - Amigo Games Finding Homes 13:58 - Asmodee…
S2 · E267 · 5 Jun 2026 · 1 hr 28 min
Episode 267: ACD Expo 2026 Recap
This week, Doug and Michael recap their experiences at ACD Expo 2026, one of the tabletop gaming industry’s premier retailer trade shows held in Madison, Wisconsin. The hosts discuss the biggest trends from the show floor, including the growing popularity of trading card games and trick-taking games, along with standout titles from publishers across the industry. Highlights include upcoming releases such as Fox Grove, Frosted Blooms, For All Mankind, One Round?, Thunder Road: Ignition, Trickarus, and many more. Join us as we share our favorite discoveries, discuss emerging trends, and take a…
S2 · E266 · 29 May 2026 · 1 hr 25 min
Episode 266 - Weird Games, Ties, and Bluey
In this episode Doug and Michael follow-up on some Spiel des Jahres News and Speculate on Bluey Catan. They also discuss games ending in ties and the allure of weird games. Then, they play a game of Troll er No about Return to Dark Tower and Marvel United. Lastly, the finish with a monthly game roundup including titles such as Lost Cities, Cozy Stickerville, Lone Wolves, Catan: On the Road, and Cloudspire. 00:00:00 - Introduction and Follow-Up 00:10:13 - This Week In Gaming 00:22:45 - What's On Your Mind: Ties in Gaming 00:29:03 - The Allure of Weird Games 00:35:43 - Troll or No: A Game of…
S2 · E265 · 22 May 2026 · 1 hr 23 min
Episode 265 - Nominees, Box Sizes, and Old Games
In this episode Doug and Michael discuss the latest news in gaming, including the Spiel Des Jahres nominees. We also discuss gamer's and their obsession with box sizes. We play a round of game night hypotheticals that delves into collection size, game costs, and personal or family gaming. We finish the episode some older titles we've played recently including New York 1901, Steam Time, and Legendary: James Bond. 00:00:00 - Introduction and Follow-Up Discussions 00:05:52 - This Week In Gaming 00:31:36 - What's On Your Mind? 00:42:50 - Game Night Hypotheticals 01:01:28 - Retro Retread: New…
S2 · E264 · 15 May 2026 · 1 hr 36 min
Episode 264: Awards, Flea Markets, Campaign Games and Pandemic Legacy
Join Doug and Michael as they explore the latest in board gaming, including the Board Game Geek Awards. Doug discusses a recent flea market experience. Michael features campaign games in Play or Pass, such as ISS Vanguard, Cloudspire, Kinfire Chronicles, and Arydia: The Paths We Dare Tread. We finish off the episode with Campaign Chronicles as we dive into a spoiler-filled breakdown of Pandemic: Season 1! 00:00 - Introduction and Overview 01:04 - This Week In Gaming: Board Game Geek Awards 30:06 - What's On Your Mind? Flea Market Experience 42:00 - Play or Pass: Campaign Games 59:15 -…
S2 · E263 · 8 May 2026 · 1 hr 24 min
Episode 263 - Hey Pa, There's a Goat on the Roof!
This week we'll be discussing some of the latest headlines including a slew of game announcements. We'll chat about what’s on our mind like solo games and deck-building. We play the Great Game Guessing Game and try to figure out what the game Ulcer is about! Lastly we finish up by analyzing whether games such as Kingsburg, Sushi Go Party!, and Great Western Trail are underrated, overrated or perfectly rated! 00:00 - Introduction to Board Game Radio 01:26 - This Week In Gaming 21:57 - What's On Your Mind? 33:38 - The Great Game Guessing Game Begins 56:13 - Goldilocks: Game Ratings Discussion
S2 · E262 · 1 May 2026 · 1 hr 31 min
Episode 262 - Reprints, Mensa, Lifestyle Games, and a Monthly Game Roundup
In this episode, we explore the latest in board gaming, including reprints of Guillotine and The Voyages of Marco Polo and Mensa Select Winners. We explore the concept of lifestyle games, their impact on the hobby, and share insights on promoting the hobby. We play a game of Redacted Reviews. To close the show we talk about what we've been playing including Citizens of the Spark, Luthier, Magical Athlete, and Emberheart. 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:03:07 - This Week In Gaming 00:20:08 - What's On Your Mind? 00:35:37 - Redacted Reviews: The Game Guessing Game 00:52:13 - Monthly Game Roundup:…
S2 · E261 · 24 Apr 2026 · 1 hr 17 min
Episode 261 - Unplayed Games, CCGs, and Hobbit Cards
Join us as we explore the latest in board gaming, share insights on unplayed gems, and discuss the evolving landscape of collectible card games. We also Blind Rank some games! Chapters 00:00:00 - Introductions 00:01:12 - This Week In Gaming 00:24:51 - What's on Our Mind? 00:39:42 - Blind Ranking Board Games 00:53:53 - Shelf of Shame Support Group
S2 · E260 · 17 Apr 2026 · 1 hr 30 min
Episode 260 - Major Reprint, Crowdfunding, Stupid Money, and the Top Games From 2016
This week, Doug and Michail discuss some of the latest headlines, like the reprinting of Mechs vs. Minions. They also talk about large publishers crowdfunding and content creator objectivity. Then we debate smart money and stupid money in the hobby and finish by revisiting our top games from 2016! 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:02:17 - This Week In Gaming 00:21:43 - What's On Your Mind? 00:37:08 - Stupid Money, Smart Money 01:00:03 - Top 10 Games of 2016 board games, crowdfunding, game industry, game reprints, hobby trends, game design, industry challenges, content creation board games, 2016 top…
S2 · E259 · 10 Apr 2026 · 1 hr 13 min
Episode 259 - Playing Games with GOATs, The Op, and Troll er No
Join us as we explore upcoming releases from The OP, discuss the balance between old and new games, and play a fun game of Troll or No with Andrew from The OP. We even chat about what games we'd play with the most unlikely of table guests! 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:03:45 - Publisher Spotlight 00:29:13 - Troll er No? 00:41:03 - What's On Your Mind? 01:01:52 - Who's At the Table?
S2 · E258 · 3 Apr 2026 · 1 hr 17 min
Episode 258 - The King's Gambit, Disliking Games, and Monthly Roundup
Join Doug and Michael as they explore the latest in board gaming, including new game announcements, discuss whether being terrible at a game influences our opinion of that games, and share the games we've been playing in the Monthly Game Roundup. 00:00 - Introduction to Board Game Radio 04:01 - Ad: Gaming Snack Mittens 07:20 - This Week In Gaming 21:22 - What's On Your Mind? 35:52 - Monthly Game Roundup
S2 · E257 · 27 Mar 2026 · 1 hr 9 min
Episode 257 - Solo Games, Food, & Hypotheticals
Join Doug and Michael as they explore the latest in board gaming, share humorous airport gaming stories, discuss upcoming game releases, and dive into thought-provoking hypothetical scenarios about game night dilemmas and game design. This episode offers insights into solo gaming, the impact of paid previews, and creative ideas for themed games like grilling and TSA security. 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:07:28 - Ad - Shelf of Shame Storage Cloth 00:09:36 - This Week In Gaming 00:23:48 - What's On Your Mind 00:36:26 - Game Night Hypotheticals 00:56:37 - Make It A Game
S2 · E256 · 20 Mar 2026 · 1 hr 15 min
Episode 256 - This Insert Is Overflowing
Join us as we explore the intricacies of board game design, publishing challenges, and our personal shelves of shame. We delve into topics like game insert frustrations, industry insights, and upcoming game releases, all sprinkled with humor and industry anecdotes. 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:05:16 - Sponsor Spotlight: Super Deluxe Monopoly 00:09:18 - Latest Board Game News and Updates 00:22:00 - What's On Your Mind - Inserts 00:32:08 - Understanding the Challenges of Board Game Publishing 00:41:52 - Board Game Blitz 00:54:51 - Shelf of Shame: Confessions of Unplayed Games

About Board Game Radio

Board Game Radio is a English leisure & travel podcast from with Doug and Michael. Melo plays each episode straight from the publisher's own feed — no ads added, no account needed — and remembers where you stopped, in this browser only.

Publisher: with Doug and Michael
Language: English
Category: Leisure & Travel
New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 1 hr 23 min
Latest episode: 9 Oct 2026
Feed: RSS — paste into any podcast app
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1547080476
Rights: with Doug and Michael

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