Rephonic
Artwork for Beyond Solitaire

Beyond Solitaire

Liz Davidson
Board Games
Game Design
Wargaming
GMT Games
Education
Educational Games
Video 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.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes246Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
GamesLeisure

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Artwork for Beyond Solitaire

Latest Episodes

This week on the pod, Mark Diaz Truman of Magpie Games drops by to discuss the Root RPG, RPGs in general, and his recent adventures in board game design. magpiegames.com/

Preorder The Blue Way on Backerkit: blue-way.backerkit.com/hos... more

This week on the pod, Professor C. Thi Nguyen (@add-hawk.bsky.social) pops by to discuss his work on games, why we play them, and how dangerous it is to wind up playing by someone else's rules. Check out his books, Games: Agency as Art and The Score ... more

This week on the pod, sisters Alice and Jessica Hong drop by to discuss FamBam Games, the company they started together, and the process of making games that delight both their own large family and families around the world. fambam.games/

Pr... more

This week on the pod, Morten Monrad Pedersen, head of the Automa Factory and designer of Skoventyr and Shajarat, discusses his takes on solo game design and what solo gaming means to him. automafactory.com/

Check out The Blue Way: ww... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Shelly Jones
Professor of English at SUNY Del High; game studies researcher and author
SUNY Del High
Episode: Episode 240 - Shelly Jones on Board Game Cozy Mysteries
Denver Walker
Co-owner and CEO of Flying Pig Games
Flying Pig Games
Episode: Episode 239 - Denver Walker on Flying Pig Games
Tilak Vyas
Designer of Line by Line, sponsor-relation via CMU CLGS
Central Michigan University's Center for Learning Through Games and Simulations
Episode: Episode 236 - Tilak Vyas on Line by Line
Paul Wright
Game designer; co-creator of Foxes & Lions
GMT Games / Foxes & Lions project
Episode: Episode 234 - Paul and Liz on the Evolution of Foxes & Lions
Waleed Ma'arouf
Game designer at Studio Big, Asmodee
Asmodee / Studio Big
Episode: Episode 233 - Waleed Ma'arouf on Design at Asmodee
Esther Wright
Senior lecturer in digital history at the University of Cardiff
University of Cardiff
Episode: Episode 232 - Esther Wright on Rockstar Games and American History
Danielle Reynolds
Lead designer at Relatable, former project director at Wise Wizard Games
Relatable / Wise Wizard Games
Episode: Episode 230 - Danielle Reynolds on Mass Market Design
Taylor Shuss
Game designer
Fowler's Games
Episode: Episode 229 - Taylor Shuss on Walkable City
Joe Dewhurst
Game designer and developer focusing on coin-series games; discussed The Pure Land
GMT Games (developer)
Episode: Episode 228 - Joe Dewhurst on The Pure Land

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 115 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 States8 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
#244
United States/Leisure/Games
Apple Podcasts
#75
Canada/Leisure/Games
Apple Podcasts
#202
Canada/Leisure
Apple Podcasts
#243
United Kingdom/Leisure/Games
Apple Podcasts
#96
Australia/Leisure/Games
Apple Podcasts
#212
Italy/Leisure/Games

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

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.
Episode 240 - Shelly Jones on Board Game Cozy Mysteries
Q: When you have students playing games in class, how do you assess what they're getting out of it and connect it to learning outcomes?
You tie the game activities to specific learning objectives, differentiate between deductive and abductive reasoning in puzzles like Clue, assess soft skills like collaboration, and measure whether students demonstrate critical thinking and literary terminology in the context of the mystery genre.
Episode 240 - Shelly Jones on Board Game Cozy Mysteries
Q: But first, what are Stars and Wishes?
Stars and Wishes is a safety tool used at the end of a session to capture what worked well and what could be improved, providing immediate feedback on classroom dynamics and student engagement.
Episode 238 - Amabel Holland on Swords Against - Beginner's Box
Q: So what is Swords Against, Beginner's Box?
It's a replica of a nearly complete but historically incomplete RPG from a forgotten copy, packaged with the adventure book and ephemera to recreate a sense of discovery and the experience of piecing together a narrative rather than providing a full, polished game. The puzzle structure is intentionally layered and the box invites interpretation and archival exploration.
Episode 232 - Esther Wright on Rockstar Games and American History
Q: What is your overview of Rockstar Games and American history, and what are the core arguments in your work?
The project examines how Rockstar mediates American history through promotional materials and game design, arguing that branding and marketing narratives shape players' perceptions of historical authenticity more than the games' explicit content alone.

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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How many listeners does Beyond Solitaire get?

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To see how many followers or subscribers Beyond Solitaire has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

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 Barrage
3. Board Game Hot Takes
4. Shut Up & Sit Down
5. The Secret Cabal Gaming Podcast

How many episodes of Beyond Solitaire are there?

Beyond Solitaire launched 6 years ago and published 246 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Beyond Solitaire?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Beyond Solitaire?

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What guests have appeared on Beyond Solitaire?

Recent guests on Beyond Solitaire include:

1. Shelly Jones
2. Denver Walker
3. Tilak Vyas
4. Paul Wright
5. Waleed Ma'arouf
6. Esther Wright
7. Danielle Reynolds
8. Taylor Shuss

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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