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Artwork for Beyond Solitaire

Beyond Solitaire

Liz Davidson
Board Games
Game Design
Wargaming
Video Games
GMT Games
Education
Educational Games
Tabletop Games
World War II
War Gaming
Keep the Faith
Historical Gaming
University Of Chicago
World War I
Mr. President
Tabletop Gaming
Solo Gaming
Catan
American History
Colonialism

A podcast all about going not just Beyond Solitaire, but beyond the board! Join your host, Liz Davidson, for interviews that touch on gaming history, historical games, and the cultural significance of the games we play.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes252Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
GamesLeisure

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Artwork for Beyond Solitaire

Latest Episodes

This week on the pod, Jeremiah McCall returns to update us on the publication of his new book, Designing Historical Games for Classrooms, and how he uses historical problem spaces to inspire and inform game design for himself and for his students. 

more

This week on the pod, Gene Koo, designer of The Bonsai Diary and co-designer of Color Jam, drops by to discuss his paper-heavy game designs and an upcoming PAXU event devoted to unpublishable games. Check out Color Jam on KS: www.kickstarter.... more

This week on the pod, Ed Beach drops by to talk about designing historical board games such as Here I Stand and Virgin Queen, about being both a contributor to and an originator of a game series, and a bit about his work on Civilization. 

Preorder T... more

This week on the pod, Sabrina Culyba of Ludoliminal drops by to discuss both her current company and her past as a designer of transformational video games--games designed to impact the players in life, and not just within the game. ludolimin... more

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Recent Guests

Gene Koo
Game designer known for The Bonsai Diary
The Bonsai Diary
Episode: Episode 251 - Gene Koo on Ephemerality in Games
Ed Beach
Board game designer known for Here I Stand, Virgin Queen, Border Reivers; creative director for the Civ series at Firaxis Games
Firaxis Games / Civilization series
Episode: Episode 250 - Ed Beach on Designing Historical Series
Sabrina Solba
Founder of Ludoliminal; game designer; transformational games expert
Ludoliminal
Episode: Episode 249 - Sabrina Culyba on Transformational Gaming
Isaac Vega
Game designer and CEO of Rose Gauntlet Entertainment
Rose Gauntlet Entertainment / Rose Gauntlet Foundation
Episode: Episode 248 - Isaac Vega on Rose Gauntlet Entertainment
Alita Robertson
Designer and producer at Leder Games
Leder Games
Episode: Episode 247 - Alita Robertson on Kart
Mark Diaz Truman
Co-owner of Magpie Games and RPG/board game designer
Magpie Games
Episode: Episode 246 - Mark Diaz Truman on RPG vs. Board Game Design
C. Thi Nguyen
Associate Professor of Philosophy at the University of Utah
University of Utah
Episode: Episode 245 - C. Thi Nguyen on Playing for the Right Reasons
Alice Hong
Co-founder of FamBam Games
FamBam Games
Episode: Episode 244 - Alice and Jessica Hong on FamBam Games
Jessica Hong
Co-founder of FamBam Games
FamBam Games
Episode: Episode 244 - Alice and Jessica Hong on FamBam Games

Host

Liz Davidson
Host of Beyond Solitaire; focuses on gaming history, historical games, and cultural significance of games.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 116 ratings
  • Inside the Actor’s Studio for board games

    Refreshingly elevated conversations around the history, design, production, and impact of board games. Liz does an incredible job spotlighting her guests and allowing us to join her in learning from a procession of unique perspectives.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Ostropol
    United States10 months ago
  • A Must-Listen for Fans of Historical and Thoughtful Gaming

    Beyond Solitaire is an insightful podcast that goes far beyond your average board game discussion. Liz Davidson brings an intelligent and engaging perspective to the world of historical games, exploring not just how we play, but why we play. Her interviews are consistently thought-provoking, offering deep dives into gaming history and the cultural impact of games across time. Whether you're a solo gamer or simply passionate about the stories behind the strategy, this podcast is highly recommende... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Fireheart90
    United Statesa year ago
  • Wonderful!!!

    Liz is such a great guide through this wonderful hobby and is a passionate solo board gamer. Liz offers intelligent insights and speaks to quality guest contributors. Liz never dominates the conversation the way some podcasters can and listens with warmth and interviews with skill. Recommended!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    maffattack
    United Kingdom3 years ago
  • Well beyond “what have you been playing”

    If you enjoy discussion about things going in the board game world and want to hear more about what games people have played, the Beyond Solitaire is for you. Liz is an academic and that shines through in her topics and guests.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    NJ-JohnnyRico
    United States3 years ago
  • A Real Gem!

    Liz’s podcast is a deep dive into historical and cultural aspects of the board game hobby. She always has fascinating discussions with a wide swath of folks in the universe of board games — from designers to educators to historians. Amazing stuff!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    SlushyZohan
    United States3 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Host guides deep, insightful interviews without dominating the dialogue.
A must-listen for fans of historical and thoughtful gaming.
Thoughtful, research-informed conversations with diverse guests.
High-quality discussions that connect history to game design and culture.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#188
United States/Leisure/Games
Apple Podcasts
#237
Canada/Leisure/Games
Apple Podcasts
#57
Germany/Leisure/Games
Apple Podcasts
#31
Denmark/Leisure/Games
Apple Podcasts
#33
Poland/Leisure/Games
Apple Podcasts
#63
South Korea/Leisure/Games

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Episode 249 - Sabrina Culyba on Transformational Gaming
Q: What exactly is a transformational game, and how does it differ from serious or educational games?
A transformational game aims to change the player beyond the entertainment value, affecting behavior, empathy, or self-understanding, and it often involves careful pre-production and assessment just like traditional games, but with a focus on impact rather than only skill-building.
Episode 252 - Jeremiah McCall on Historical Problem Spaces
Q: What are the biggest obstacles for teachers starting with game-based learning, and how can they be overcome?
The biggest obstacles are time and logistics, plus a need for effective debriefing and assessment. The advice is to stage learning across multiple class periods, use debriefs to connect actions to historical evidence, and provide structured guidance like annotations and a rule book to keep students aligned with historical inquiry.
Episode 243 - Morten Monrad Pedersen on Solo Design
Q: So for people who don't know somehow, non-solo gamers, what the Automa Factory is, could you, I guess, describe your entry into solo design?
Pedersen explains that Automa Factory designs solo modes by replacing one or more human players with an Automa, while keeping the multiplayer experience as intact as possible, and emphasizes designing around interaction and consistent win-lose tension.
Episode 248 - Isaac Vega on Rose Gauntlet Entertainment
Q: What is a game that you've played recently that brought you joy?
A dexterity game, Die Polter, stood out for its clever use of bells and trinkets; it was enjoyable at Gen Con and left a memorable impression for its puzzle and interaction.
Episode 239 - Denver Walker on Flying Pig Games
Q: How do you divide up responsibilities between you and your dad, and how did you reach ownership?
We divide by game and project groups, discuss decisions together, and rely on trust and open communication; ownership grew from a combination of taking on grunt work and a partnership with my father that evolved over time.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Beyond Solitaire

What is Beyond Solitaire about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show centers on board games with a strong emphasis on history, culture, and education. Episodes frequently feature designers, publishers, librarians, and academics who discuss game design, research methods, and the ways games illuminate historical narratives and cultural topics. Listeners can expect deep-dive conversations that blend pedagogy, publishing, and creative storytelling, often tied to niche history gaming, archival research, and the social impact of games. A notable strength is the thoughtful, research-informed approach and willingness to explore difficult topics, making it appealing to listeners who crave meaningful context behind gameplay and design.

A standout aspect is the blend of scholarly perspective with practical i... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Beyond Solitaire?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Beyond Solitaire:

1. So Very Wrong About Games
2. Board Game Hot Takes
3. Board Game Barrage
4. Space-Biff! Space-Cast!
5. The Secret Cabal Gaming Podcast

How many episodes of Beyond Solitaire are there?

Beyond Solitaire launched 6 years ago and published 252 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Beyond Solitaire?

Recent guests on Beyond Solitaire include:

1. Gene Koo
2. Ed Beach
3. Sabrina Solba
4. Isaac Vega
5. Alita Robertson
6. Mark Diaz Truman
7. C. Thi Nguyen
8. Alice Hong

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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