The GamerDad Podcast

This week we're joined by Josh — better known as JMarGameDesign — the creator behind Spellify Solves and one of the sharpest pattern-recognition minds in Magic today. If you’ve ever watched him identify a card from nothing but templating, spacing, or punctuation, you’ve seen the precision of his process. We dig into how Spellify became a daily discipline, how templating reveals the “language”...

What do game reviews even mean anymore when you’re 30+, a parent, and lucky to get ninety minutes of playtime a night? That’s the question Bob and Jesse tackle in this episode — a frank look at how modern reviews fail the people who actually buy the games. We break down the real problems behind today’s review culture: controlled preview events, pre-release PC builds that don’t match console realit...

This week, Bob and Jesse welcome Jane Judge — aka Jane Plays Magic , the Grixis witch behind the Hex Girls pods and one of the most creative voices in the Commander scene. Jane shares how Lord of the Rings pulled her into Magic, why she builds for the drama (not just the win), and how she’s using performance, cosplay, and community building to make the game more inclusive. From secret partner mini...

Last year, “Everybody Panic” captured the chaos around the Commander bans, resignations, and Jeweled Lotus drama that had the Magic community on fire. One year later, Bob and Jesse sit back down to ask the question—what actually changed? Spoiler: not much. In this follow-up, the guys break down how the bans ended up having zero impact on their local pod, why bracket systems are still a work in pro...

Every great game needs a great villain. From the immortal bad guys who just won’t stay dead, to the tragic one-and-dones, to the forces of nature and comic relief goofs — villains shape the stories we never forget. This week, Bob and Jesse dig into the enemies that haunted us, made us laugh, or left a lasting mark. We talk: Dr. Wily, Ganondorf, and Bowser — the villains who keep coming back. Kefka...

In this episode of The GamerDad Podcast , Bob and Jesse tackle “The Quiet Elephant in the Room” — one of their most ambitious and risky conversations yet. What begins with card sleeves and the recent Ultimate Guard AI controversy expands into a wider look at Dragon Shield’s Harry Potter products , JK Rowling’s legacy, and the challenge of making ethical consumer choices in today’s MTG community. A...

In this episode Bob and Jesse talk about what makes for a good video game story, what sets the hook, what keeps you playing games AND liking them to boot. They also discuss how game studios are losing us over time--even our favorite studios aren't safe!

In this episode Bob and Jesse discuss some classic MTG mechanics that are well loved and quite hated. Some objectively deservingly so. You can't change our minds. We also took to some crowdsourcing for some other loved and hated ones. Did yours make the list? Let us know if we missed anything in the comments!

In this episode of the Gamer Dad Podcast, hosts GamerDadBob and JesseHogie dive into the long-standing debate of PC versus console gaming. They share nostalgic memories of their early gaming experiences, discuss the evolution of gaming culture with the rise of the internet, and explore the impact of mods and online communities. The conversation also touches on the future of gaming, including trend...

Hosts Jessehogie and GamerDadBob are joined by Ryan Inzana and Gabesaurus Rex to talk about the genesis of WUBRGSky Commander night, inclusivity, content, Canada, and more!

This month in gaming, Jesse and Bob talk about the best and most influential gaming consoles they've owned. They talk about what made these consoles so great from graphics, to bringing people together, to game catalogs and development. Take a trip back with them as they take a deep dive.

We've solved it! Bracket 3 needs fixing, and Jessehogie and I have all the answers. Ok maybe not. But we do have a lot to talk about including constructive feedback on mana bases, game changers, infinite combos and more. If you like this and want to support us, check out our Patreon where you can get access to exclusive content like our video recordings of our podcasts. Find that here: https://www...

In this episode, hosts Bob and Jesse talk about what it was like gaming when they were their own kids ages. They cover topics like old consoles, how hard games were, how they learned about new games, how we solved puzzles, and more!

In this episode of the Gamer Dad Podcast, hosts GamerDadBob and Jessehogie engage with guests Steel City MTG. We take a deep dive into who they are, what's with the presentation style slides, which musical do you sing in the car to stay awake, and what's the legend behind the pink hoodie?

In this episode of the Gamer Dad Podcast, the hosts delve into the Pendragon format of Magic the Gathering, discussing its budget-friendly nature, community support, and accessibility for new players. We're joined by Grubble and Draco as we take a deep dive into all your burning questions. If you like what you hear, join their Discord community! Let's make this format "official" https://discord.co...

In this episode of the Gamer Dad Podcast, hosts Gamer Dad Bob and Jessehogie delve into the topic of proxying cards in Magic the Gathering, particularly in the context of Casual Commander games. They discuss their personal experiences with proxying, the ethical considerations, and the importance of communication (Rule Zero) when playing with proxies. The conversation also touches on the impact of...

In this episode of the Gamer Dad podcast, the hosts delve into the nuances of casual play in Magic the Gathering's Commander format. They discuss the importance of defining what makes a game fun, the impact of fast mana and tutors, and the challenges posed by oppressive strategies like Pillow Fort and Stax. They discuss the challenges of infinite combos, the importance of threat assessment, and th...

In this episode of the Gamer Dad Podcast, hosts GamerDadBob and Jessehogie discuss the current state of Magic the Gathering, focusing on the impact of the Universes Beyond initiative and the shift in storytelling and world-building within the game. They express concerns about the lack of depth in recent sets and the overwhelming number of products being released. The conversation also touches on t...

In this episode of the we delve into the current state of the Standard metagame in Magic the Gathering. We discuss the implications of the recent Leyline ban, the health of the Standard format, and the challenges posed by card diversity and design. We also highlight the need for a balanced metagame in particular in MTGA.

We were so fired up by all the changes to commander over the last week, we had to get our 2 cents in. This is an off-schedule podcast! This week we talk about the bans, the bullying, and the future of the format. We're joined by our commander pod regular Matt.

This month's podcast live features none other than @mtgmalone. We get to interview The Master of Mono Black on things like breaking onto the scene, what it was like starting out and being one of the "New Guys." We talk about starting out, getting sponsors, pitfalls, music, and more.

In this month's episode the pod discusses the hows and whys of what we do. From how we started playing Magic the Gathering to deck selections, to why is WOTC doing what they're doing with the latest sets. Oh, and Matt finally joins us to chat.

This month we talk about the impact Magic the Gathering's Universes Beyond product has on Magic. We talk about the breakneck speed these sets are being released, the dilution of Magic as a whole, and the general direction we're going with new sets.

This month we talk about EDHREC and make some controversial and yet logical claims on why you should seek alternative methods for building out your commander decks.

Our very first podcast! You may be familiar with our content on Twitch. If not, come join us Weds nights 8:30 EST for some casual commander fun. Wanna know more. Listen in monthly to our podcast. Click here for more info: gamerdadbob | Instagram, Twitch | Linktree Follow JesseHogie on Twitter @jessehogie