The Howling Salt Mine

Welcome to Episode 81 and Happy New Year! The Salt Boys kick off this episode with some podcast resolutions for the new year. Thank you to everyone who helped us grow in 2023. We have big plans for 2024! In today's episode, we talk about a salty scooper who leaves in a hurry, a double deal with a double cross, and a 5 player game that ended in a drawn out value grind.  Mike also tells us why Phyre...

Welcome to Episode 80! Callahan and Ian of The Mind Sculptors are with us today! (More like the Mine Sculptors amiright?) Welcome back to the mine, Ian! In today's episode, we talk about a player that scooped from their LGS by crewing Mom's Minivan, a salty confessional between friends with a dash of slivers, and whether humor really does help with salt or not. Callahan also treats us to some Flas...

Welcome to Episode 79! Who is that on the rooftop??? It's Santa! Well not really... but the holidays have the Gremlin Boys in high spirits as Mike tries to rein us in.  In today's episode, we talk about a player who decided to go for value over the win and cascaded into salt, a friend group torn asunder like so many scattered electronics, and a playgroup with tunnel-vision and a penchant for not o...

Welcome to Episode 78! In today's episode, we read a saga of cEDH salt from a salty city, talk about mana bases and hypergeometric distribution calculators, and discuss a story where a dad couldn't get away from a salt lord that cried Real Tears (tm). Sam even tells a saga of his own about replacing his tub faucet. Also you should just mulligan. You're not going to draw that one land you need. Sta...

Welcome to Episode 77! Today we are joined by our friend Dan, aka Moderately Anonymous MTG!  In today's episode, we talk about encounters with a salty Un-card, a potentially spiteful Pact of Negation in a cEDH game, and playing against a tired Nekusar player that has run out of patience.  We also talk about being a stickler for the rules and why Shivan Gorge is actually really good and cool. Long...

Welcome to Episode 76! Today we are joined by the Nitpicking Nerds, Mia and Beezy!  Tony couldn't make this one, but the mine cart is nice and full today. In today's episode, we talk about someone who insists that group hug is "casual" while playing a deck that is anything but, a player dealing with some frustrating playgroup dynamics and poorly timed spells, and a spelltable deck stacker who scoo...

Welcome to Episode 75! It's the MTG Summit Recap Special! Our episode today strays from our typical format as the Salty Boys recap their experience at the MTG Summit convention in Salt Lake City. We talk about the games we played, the salt we experienced, and all the awesome people that we met! We also recount Mike and Sam's harrowing trip to Salt Lake City, all of us drafting the Mental Misplay C...

Welcome to Episode 74! This episode was recorded live at MTG Summit, and we have our buddy Nick along for the ride with us today. In today's episode, we talk about a problem player named Kyle, when twiddling your basalt monolith goes wrong, and gloating hard in front of your friends. We also chat a bit about the Summit convention, but we are saving most of that for the upcoming Summit recap episod...

Welcome to Episode 73! It is time for the GREMLIN BOYS as Mike is away and Sam and Tony are left unsupervised.  In today's episode, we talk about an irritating situation at an LGS, getting stomped on your lunch break, and a sudden betrayal with a big Yargle and a couple squirrels. We also talk about food delivery services and why we love and hate them.  Stay Salty! ____ Find HSM merch on our websi...

Welcome to Episode 72! Our buddy Alan from Mental Misplay is in the mine cart with us today! Also Tony missed this week because we are absolutely pros at scheduling (not really we are trash). In today's episode, we talk about a friend who can't put down the COD, a spell table player who's cousin is a judge, and a player who went salt for salt all day with their games. Also all the homies love the...

Welcome to Episode 71! In today's episode, we talk about the tantrums of a local salt lord, the ups and downs of making friends salty, and a week by week escalation of salt between two friends.  Mike also treats us to a salty cEDH tale where the vibes were off, and we struggle to pronounce Boggart.  Stay Salty! ____ Find HSM merch on our website and our Bonfire site ! Email your salty stories to t...

Welcome to Episode 69! NICE! Tony is BACK and here we are with episode 69! It's like a regular episode except with slightly more raunchy jokes and slightly more exasperated groans from Mike.  In today's episode, we talk about the salt of having bad booster pack luck, some blazing hot takes with a Dash of salt, and a player that got bamboozled about commander damage.  We also talk about wearing rin...

What's this? Stray Grains on the main feed?? Yes, that is right! We are expanding our Patreon with new tiers, and what better way to spread the good word than by sharing some of our favorite Stray Grains episodes! Tune in to hear about our new Patreon tiers and benefits, AND listen to these wonderful Stray Grain episodes: Stray Grains: Tony Vs The Power Company Stray Grains: Blooming Onions and Sh...

Welcome to Episode...70? No, this isn't a mistake. Tony insisted he be a part of Episode 69, and he is still on his honeymoon right now so here is Episode 70! TIME TRAVEL! With Tony away, we welcome our honored guest host, Pat! In today's episode, we talk about an Urabrask deck that storms off only to leave two players heavily salted, what happens when a new deck gets wrecked by the perfect silver...

Welcome to Episode 68! Today we have the Scrybabies in the mine cart! Tori of the Vast and Lua Stardust join us for a day of salty stories. Welcome back to Lua, our first returning guest! In today's episode, we talk about infinite combos that don't quite fit in casual or cEDH, a salty confessional about a deck that is anything but group hug, and getting salty when your board gets wiped. We also he...

Welcome to Episode 67! It's the Commander Sealed Recap Special! Our episode today strays from our typical format as Mike and Sam recap their experience at the Commander Sealed convention in Rochester, New York. Oh and Tony is on his honeymoon! Congrats Tony! We talk about our experience building a sealed commander deck and playing in the main event. We also recap all the games and fun moments we h...

Welcome to Episode 66! Author, actor, cEDH brewer, and all around lovely human Ken Baumann joins us in the mine today!  In today's episode, we talk the etiquette of an early Strip Mine, a sulky prerelease mirror match, and the highs and lows of the perfect top deck. We also talk about Krark Sakashima and the state of stax in cEDH. Are you a Sonic or a Knuckles? Check out more of Ken's work and be...

Welcome to Episode 65! In today's episode, we roast Sam about his recent salt (or rather he roasts himself). We follow up with a Feldon player with perfect graveyard etiquette. We also hear a story about a Jodah player scooping early, and the younger generation discovers stax.  Did you know that Deathrite Shaman has 2 toughness? Also, Plankton .  Stay Salty! ____ Find HSM merch on our website and...

Welcome to Episode 64! Our friend Mark aka MookDubsMTG is in the cart with us today! In today's episode, we talk about a new player dealing with some salt at their LGS, the curiosity of lying Niv Mizzet players, and a deal that falls apart after some monkeying around. We also talk about that kind of Yuriko deck (you know the kind) and the coolest Gluntch around. Check out more of Mark's content an...

Welcome to Episode 63! In today's episode, we talk getting your Fleet randomly Swallowed, a player that chose to flip a coin when there was a clear target, and getting frustrated when the high power is too high. We also talk about cinematic masterpiece The Room, playing ping-pong, and we #respectthefeud. It matters a great deal! Stay Salty! ____ Find HSM merch on our website and our Bonfire site !...

Welcome to Episode 62! Tyler from Play to Win is joining us today as we delve into the cEDH side of the salt mine! In today's episode, we talk about the ins and outs of Chain of Vapor bullying, a Rograhk Tevesh player that browbeat their way out of a counter spell, and a local spike who crushed a local tourney and feels a bit conflicted. Also Tony is a whale and Sam is a horse. Find more of that s...

Welcome to Episode 61! In today's episode, we talk about a dishonest Feldon player that spreads salt with Burning Inquiry, what happens when a new Guy doesn't know the rules, and how to balance deck power levels with a new player in your group. We also talk about Mike's recent deal breaking, and we have one of our most chaotic openings yet! Does Sam get really grumpy at the start of this episode?...

Welcome to Episode 60! Mike is out this week, and honored guest Nick is on the mic! In today's episode, we cover the salty conclusion to a three-player game after giving a player one more turn, if it is okay to harvest your opponent's salt, and the hatred of Marchesa, the Black Rose.   We also talk about Sam's Zetalpa art that went viral.   Stay Salty! PS: This is that D&D artist that Sam talk...

Welcome to Episode 59! In today's episode, we talk about a new player at an LGS who was subject to an employee's two-headed salting, a sore scooper sours on Sorin, and a "judge" bringing their "expertise" into a game.    Tony also vents about the wedding planning process, and we chat about suits.    Stay Salty! ____ Email us at howlingsaltmine@gmail.com Buy some HSM Swag at our Bonfire Store ! Che...

Welcome to Episode 58! Now it's Tony's turn for a schedule mix up as Mike and Sam team up for a duo episode! In today's episode, we talk about a player who has oversalted their playgroup and their LGS, two players locked in a stubborn battle of attrition, and a player that wrote a check that their deck couldn't cash.   We also congratulate Mike on getting engaged. Congrats Mike!   Stay Salty! ____...