The Mahjcast

It’s our 10th episode , and we’re celebrating with a major mahj- lebrity: Lance Karp of Maj With Lance — teacher, collector, mahjong storyteller, and one of the most influential voices helping grow the game right now. Jason and Ira talk with Lance about how mahjong became his passion, why the game is having such a powerful cultural moment, and how the table can reconnect people in a world that fee...

This week on The Mahjcast , Jason and Ira celebrate a major milestone: we’re now on Amazon Music — because Jeff Bezos begged and we finally gave in. Then we dive into the 2026 section of the new NMJL card : the hands, the traps, the soaps, the sixes, the pivots, and Jason’s deeply vulnerable confession that he has basically avoided this section entirely. Ira also announces his wildly ambitious new...

This week on The Mahjcast, Jason and Ira dive headfirst into one of the most debated moves in the game— stopping the Charleston . Is it strategy, sabotage, or a straight-up declaration of war? We break down the etiquette, psychology, and table drama behind the move that can flip an entire game on its head. Plus, we’re unpacking the Winds & Dragons section of the 2026 card—why it’s more powerfu...

Fresh off a legendary night at Wölffer Estate (six Mahjongs… yeah, that's right), Jason and Ira are fired up and diving deep into the Quints—arguably among the most valuable, most aggressive section on the 2026 card. We’re talking pivots, pressure plays, and why committing early might just win you the game. Plus: Listener shoutouts and mailbag madness The Mahjong handles we’re loving right now...

We’re coming off one of those nights—the kind that reminds you why you love this game. A perfect NYC evening with friends, great food, great vibes, and some seriously good Mahjong. This week, we’re diving into the 2-4-6-8 section on the new 2026 card —clean, structured hands that might look simple, but bring major strategy (and serious pressure on those sixes). We break down pivots, where people g...

Welcome back to The Mahjcast — Ira’s back in the cockpit and we’re diving straight into the 3-6-9. This week, the Mahj Bros break down one of the most flexible (and quietly powerful) sections on the 2026 card — the 3, 6, 9 hands. We’re talking pivots, why you need to hold onto your sixes, and how one tile can unlock half the card if you play it right. We also get into table culture — what makes a...

This week on The Mahjcast , it’s a true full-circle moment. Jason brings two absolute legends to the table—his mom and Jackie—the women who taught him the game, the strategy, the etiquette… and let’s be honest: the attitude, too. We go way back—like 1950s smoke-filled living rooms back—into Mom's mahj origin story, how the game was played then vs now, and why it’s having such a massive cultura...

We’re back—and things are heating up at the table. Coming off a big night in the Hamptons (yes, with branded wet naps… we’ve made it), Jason and Ira dive into one of the most underrated sections of the new card: 1-3-5-7-9 . Confusing? Maybe. Quietly powerful? Definitely. We break down our favorite hands, smart pivots, and why this section might deserve more love in your game. In this episode: Stra...

Welcome back to The Mahjcast with Jason and Ira, the Mahj Bros. In this episode, we’re talking all about the new card, the thrill of a first six-flower hand, and what it really takes to go for singles and pairs without losing your mind. But we also get into one of the most important parts of the game that nobody talks about enough: table etiquette . We’re calling it like it is on food at the table...

The first tile is down. In the debut episode of The Mahjcast , Jason and Ira dive straight into the most exciting moment of the year—the release of the new National Mahjong League card. From first reactions and favorite hands to confusion over scoring (and a little healthy debate), they break down what’s new, what’s wild, and what players should be thinking heading into a new season. But this epis...