The Giant Brain

Brainwaves - Board Game and Tabletop News Show

Leisure EN ↓ 204 episodes

Iain, Jamie and Oliver from The Giant Brain bring you the latest in Boardgame and Tabletop Gaming News

Author

The Giant Brain

Category

Leisure

Podcast website

giantbrain.co.uk

Latest episode

Feb 2, 2026

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Episodes

Brainwaves Special Edition - All Good Things 02.02.2026

All good things come to an end, and so it is with Brainwaves. In this last special episode Richard from ‘We’re Not Wizards’ runs the show as we bring together all the hosts from the years of Brainwaves. Iain McAllister, Jamie Adams, Iain Chantler, Oliver Kinne, and Sam Maggs reminisce about the formation of the show, how it has changed over the years, why I brought it to an end and the future of g...

Brainwaves Episode 172 - Thank You! 15.12.2025

It is the very last episode of Brainwaves. Iain, Jamie, and Oliver venture once more into the news wilds to bring you only the latest and best news. For our last show Mythic finally admit they are no more, the Diamond case starts to actually look like there may be a conclusion in sight, Ryan Dancey puts his backing behind AI, and the usual news on movements, promotions, hirings and more.    Headli...

Brainwaves Episode 171 - Final Countdown 24.11.2025

Iain and Oliver are in the studio to bring you the latest tabletop news from around the globe. From crowdfunding messes and AI promotion to Upper Deck getting counter-claimed by Ravensburger, we have all the important information you need. Also this episode we have a special announcement at the end of the cast.    Headlines   Altering the Deal https://gamefound.com/en/projects/altered/seeds-of-uni...

Brainwaves Episode 170 - Precious Musk 03.11.2025

The whole team is back in the studio to bring you the latest news from across the tabletop gaming globe. From acquisitions, financial reports, record breaking conventions, and card game companies taking on Musk.  Headlines Spiel Essen 25 Breaks Attendance Record https://www.spiel-essen.de/en/press?view=article&id=304&catid=12   Deutscher Spiele Preis 2025 Winners https://www.spiel-essen.de...

Brainwaves Episode 169 - Kaiju HQ 13.10.2025

Jamie and Iain bring you the choicest cuts from the worldwide tabletop news beast. Seasoned with the usual amount of controversy, nonsense, and awards. Dig in on episode 169 of Brainwaves.  Headlines   Kickstarter workers go on strike  https://boardgamewire.com/index.php/2025/10/01/kickstarter-workers-set-to-strike-tomorrow-over-minimum-salary-proposals-four-day-work-week-protection/   GAMA rebran...

Brainwaves Episode 168 - Hel Bound 22.09.2025

The team are back in full force to bring you the latest news from across the tabletop gaming world. From CMON escaping Hel, to the gender split in designers, and an interview with two of the team behind Tabletop Scotland, we work hard to bring you the news that really matters.  Headlines Cmon escapes Hel https://boardgamewire.com/index.php/2025/09/10/cmon-continues-battle-against-heavy-losses-by-s...

Brainwaves Episode 167 - Shrinking Minis 25.08.2025

Iain and Oliver bring you a bumper packed episode of Brainwaves with all the latest news, controversies, and occurrences from across the tabletop gaming world in episode 167 of Brainwaves.    Headlines   Devir… damn guys that’s racist as hell https://boardgamegeek.com/thread/3555308/just-some-ole-racist-history-crap/page/1   https://boardgamegeek.com/thread/3555308/article/46440167#46440167   http...

Brainwaves Episode 166 - Itchy Conjurations 04.08.2025

Jamie and Oliver bring you the latest news from around the tabletop gaming world. From CGE failing to conjure a decent response, to Gamefound acquiring a rival they cover the stories that really matter in episode 166 of Brainwaves.    Headlines Czech Games Edition announces new Harry Potter Codenames https://bsky.app/profile/codenamesgame.bsky.social/post/3lul7oqmuws25 https://boardgamewire.com/in...

Brainwaves Episode 165 - Diamond Heist 21.07.2025

Jamie’s off boating around, no really, so it’s just Oliver and Iain in the studio this week. On episode 165 of Brainwaves they cover Diamond Heists, Spiel Des Jahres, more trouble for CMON and D&D moving to a franchise model, whatever that means.    Headlines   Diamond Distribution go on a heist https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-green-ronin-in-critical-legal-defense?attribution_id=sl:0591297a...

Brainwaves Episode 164 - Zombie Dragons 30.06.2025

It’s the latest episode of Brainwaves! Join Iain and Jamie as they dive into the world of tabletop industry news to bring you the glistening pearls and dank seaweed from across the globe.    Headlines   Hasbro cuts 3% of workforce  https://www.reuters.com/business/retail-consumer/hasbro-cuts-3-its-total-workforce-wsj-reports-2025-06-17/   Dungeons and Dragons designers end up at critical role http...

Brainwaves Episode 163 - IP Busters 09.06.2025

The team of three are back to bring you the latest tabletop news. This episode we have fresh stats from UK Games Expo, companies setting fire to their IPs, ebay busting unions, and the Spiel des Jahres nominations.    Headlines   UK Games Expo figures https://bsky.app/profile/ukge.bsky.social/post/3lqkkfgaem22y   https://boardgamewire.com/index.php/2025/06/03/uk-games-expo-now-fully-on-the-world-s...

Brainwaves Episode 162 - Hammer Down 19.05.2025

Oliver and Iain are the dynamic duo this week as we bring you a packed show full of the usual controversy, the bizarre, and worthwhile celebrations.  Headlines   Games Workshop on Rampage https://spikeybits.com/warhammer-40k/games-workshop-freezes-assets-amid-world-wide-seller-takedown/   World Warhammer Championship boycotted by some players https://www.rascal.news/players-boycott-the-world-champ...

Brainwaves Episode 161 - Suit up 05.05.2025

It’s just the Scottish team behind the mics this week as we bring you updates on tariffs and Diamond looking particular rough alongside all the latest industry news in Brainwaves Episode 161.  Headlines Stonemaier Games sues the president Stonemaier Games blog post: https://stonemaiergames.com/we-are-suing-the-president/   Lawsuit press release from Pacific Legal: https://pacificlegal.org/press-re...

Brainwaves Episode 160 - Trump Tariffs 14.04.2025

It’s been a little longer between episodes but the whole team are back to tackle the only news that matters on the latest episode of Brainwaves.    Headlines Trump tariffs turn tabletop topsy turvy https://us8.campaign-archive.com/?u=036529e593805041d1127c76d&id=c7c5d971eb   https://rowanrookanddecard.com/what-the-new-usa-tariffs-mean-for-us/?v=7885444af42e   https://boardgamewire.com/index.ph...

Brainwaves Episode 159 - CMON now 24.03.2025

It’s been a while but we are back with all the latest tabletop news. From profit warnings to big projects being cancelled, tune in to the only tabletop podcast that brings you the stories that really matter.  Headlines CMON Issues Profit Warning https://boardgamewire.com/index.php/2025/03/13/board-game-crowdfunding-major-cmon-issues-profit-warning-says-losses-could-exceed-2m-for-2024/   https://ww...

Brainwaves Episode 158 - Possible Possums 24.02.2025

The team are back to scour the corners of the world for the best in Tabletop Gaming News. This episode we cover mergers, departures, destruction, and we have an interview with those Rascals.    Headlines   Steve Jackson merges with Possum Games https://www.rascal.news/possum-creek-games-wanders-to-a-new-home-with-steve-jackson-games/ https://www.sjgames.com/ill/archive/2025-02-11?ref=rascal.news  ...

Brainwaves Episode 157 - Diamond Dogs 03.02.2025

It’s another bumper episode of Brainwaves as we bring you news from across the Tabletop globe. Diamond is in the rough, Asmodee avoids a hug, lawsuits get settled, and Iain gets to go off on one about ethics. All this, and more, on episode 157 of Brainwaves.    Headlines   Diamond files for bankruptcy https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/58618/diamond-files-reorganization-under-chapter-11-bankruptc...

Brainwaves Episode 156 - New Trousers 13.01.2025

The whole team is back for the first Brainwaves of the year. Join us as we dive into the latest tabletop gaming news from Hasbro rolling the dice on gambling to chess clashing with the wrong trousers! All this and more on episode 156 of Brainwaves.    Headlines   Hasbro rolls the dice https://igamingbusiness.com/company-news/games-global-unveils-exciting-partnership-with-hasbro/   It’s the wrong t...

Brainwaves Special Edition - Dragonmeet 2024 06.01.2025

This podcast contains all the interviews that I conducted during Dragonmeet 2024. Thanks so much to everyone that took the time to talk to me.   The interviewees are:   Jason, Always Checkers Publishing Chris, Beyond Cataclysm Mike, Planet Smasher Games Shaan, RPG Taverns Finbar and Gary, Game Therapy UK   Our Links   Thanks very much for listening. If you like what you’ve listened to then the bes...

Brainwaves Episode 155 - Christmas Joyride 16.12.2024

It’s the last cast of the year and we have a full team in the studio to bring you the latest tabletop gaming news. From people taking off their masks, to copyright disputes, and awards news. Listen to the only cast to bring you the really important industry news.  Headlines Has Powerboats been taken for a Joyride? Joyride vs Powerboats thread https://boardgamegeek.com/thread/3412685/powerboatspowe...

Brainwaves Episode 154 - Taxing Times 25.11.2024

It’s a cast of finances, awards, lawsuits,  and political games as Oliver and Iain cross the world in the episode 154 of Brainwave to bring you the best in Tabletop Gaming News.    Headlines   Tariffs and Trade Rules Tax Tabletop Publishers  https://www.sjgames.com/ill/archive/2024-11-10   https://www.compliancegate.com/general-product-safety-regulation/   https://bsky.app/profile/badsquiddogames....

Brainwaves Episode 153 - World Worries 11.11.2024

It’s been a mix of huge stories and not much else in the last few weeks. Iain and Jamie bring you the lowdown on what is going on at World of Game Design, who is bagging awards, hasbro’s financials, and what size of country the population of D&D Beyond could establish. All this, and more, on episode 153 of Brainwaves   Headlines   WOGD investigation by Rascal https://www.rascal.news/former-wor...

Brainwaves Special Edition - Tabletop Scotland 2024 Interviews 28.10.2024

In this special edition of Brainwaves we present the interviews that we carried out at Tabletop Scotland 2024. Thanks so much to everyone who spoke to us.    People and Organisations   Tanya Floaker Edinburgh Indie Gamers Hive Mind Games Village on Stilts   Hall or Nothing Kayla Dice - Rat Wave Game House Laurie O’Connell Phil Harris   Games mentioned   DrievthruRPG links are affiliate links   Dea...

Brainwaves Episode 152 - Mythic Shrinking 21.10.2024

Iain is taking this cast off so Jamie and Oliver are at the helm. This episode they cover further troubles at Mythic, companies being saved and consolidating their lines, controversial giveaways and more on episode 152 of Brainwaves.    Headlines   Mythic Games France liquidates  https://boardgamewire.com/index.php/2024/10/17/no-mythic-games-hasnt-gone-into-liquidation-but-its-fate-should-be-decid...

Brainwaves Special Edition - Gothcon Interviews 14.10.2024

This special episode of Brainwaves is all the interviews I conducted at Gothcon earlier in the year. Gothcon is Sweden’s premier convention with games across all genres of the hobby and it was my privilege to be invited across. You can read all about my time there in the posts below and listen to the wonderful RPG community I had the pleasure of being involved with    https://giantbrain.co.uk/2024...

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