It’s another episode where we can’t shut up! Joel and Chris talk theme parks and tv before we jump into a new segment with Board Games 101, where Joel convinces Chris it’s okay to talk about hard things. Then Chris gets his revenge with a game of Pass the Test (spoiler alert: Joel can not) before we hit some exciting and disappointing things on the board game horizon as we take another look at the Highlight Reel. Stick with us to the end for a moment of zen when one of us writes two haiku to pay homage to the winner of our Golden Geek competition. We’re high brow now!

Segments:

• 00:00:00—Intro
• 00:00:49—What We’ve Been Up To
• 00:10:56—What We’ve Been Reading & Watching
• 00:28:51—What We’ve Been Playing
• 01:00:14—Board Games 101: Euro vs. Ameritrash
• 01:39:27—Can Joel Pass the Test?
• 01:59:08—Highlight Reel
• 02:14:43—Golden Geek Winners
• 02:23:06—Closing and Sign Off

Tune in for an epic episode where Joel and Chris are joined by Mat Cousineau of the Dice, Camera, Action podcast to talk all things Star Wars. After learning about three games that define Mat as a gamer, Joel will put Mat and Chris head-to-head in a brand new game called Settling Scores. Then we’ll talk about some of our favorite Star Wars media in a segment called 3-2-1 Star Wars. And finally we’ll share listener feedback and our own picks for Star Wars games or rethemes we wish existed. All that plus a secret segment from Chris! The Force will need to be with you to get through this extra long episode, but maybe, just maybe we’ll answer the biggest Star Wars question of all: just how did Palpatine return? (Spoiler alert: we won’t.)

Segments:

• 00:00:00—Intro

• 00:00:54—Meet our Guest: Mat Cousineau

• 00:05:23—What We’ve Been Watching

• 00:22:46—What We’ve Been Playing

• 00:40:52—Mad Lib: Word Choices

• 00:47:00—Mat’s 3 Games that Define Him as a Gamer

• 01:11:43—Settling Scores: Star Wars Edition

• 01:36:49—3-2-1 Star Wars!

• 02:41:11—QOTE: What Star Wars Game is Missing?

• 03:07:39—Mad Lib: Star Wars

• 03:11:36—Closing and Sign Off

In this bonus episode Joel and Chris look at the nominees for BGG’s 2025 Golden Geek awards by choosing what they would like to see win and comparing it to what they think will actually win. They ask where Toy Battle fits in the gaming scheme, contemplate how many times Galactic Cruise and Fate of the Fellowship can be nominated for awards, and try to determine what weight of games they play the most of (answer: lighter than 25 lbs). It’s a very special short episode, where short means under 90 minutes!

Segments:

• 00:00:00—Welcome and Introduction
• 00:00:33—What we've been up to
• 00:10:18—Golden Geek Awards Overview
• 00:11:45—2p Game
• 00:21:39—Artwork & Presentation
• 00:29:32—Cooperative Game
• 00:34:06—Expansion
• 00:41:10—Innovative
• 00:46:29—Party Game
• 00:49:55—Solo Game
• 00:53:13—Wargame
• 00:56:13—Best Board Game Podcast
• 00:59:57—Best Board Game App
• 01:01:35—Thematic Game
• 01:05:36—Heavy Game of the Year
• 01:10:45—Light Game of the Year
• 01:13:53—Medium Game of the Year
• 01:19:21—Closing & Sign Off