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Artwork for Board Games Insider

Board Games Insider

Board Games Insider
Portal Games
Board Game Geek
Kickstarter
Tariffs
Gen Con
Essen
Asmodee
Diamond Comics
Board Games
World Series Of Board Gaming
Dungeons & Dragons
Wizards Of the Coast
Gencon
Hasbro
Spiel
Bggcon
Age Of Galaxy
Animal Rescue Team
Bohemians
Gamma Expo

Board Games Insider: Where We Make You The Insider!

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes64Founded11 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
LeisureGames

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Board Games Insider

Latest Episodes

BGI 422 The One About Unobtanium

Board Games Insider – Join our Guild on Board Game Geek Guild | Like us on FB

Social media:

Ignacy Trzewiczek / Portal Games: website | FB | Twitter | Youtube

Corey Thompson / Above Board TV:  website | Youtub... more

BGI 421 The One About Small Publishers Getting Tolkien Licenses

Board Games Insider – Join our Guild on Board Game Geek Guild | Like us on FB

Social media:

Ignacy Trzewiczek / Portal Games: website | FB | Twitter | Youtube

Corey Thompson / Ab... more

YouTube

BGI 420 The One About Time Being Up

Board Games Insider – Join our Guild on Board Game Geek Guild | Like us on FB

Social media:

Ignacy Trzewiczek / Portal Games: website | FB | Twitter | Youtube

Corey Thompson / Above Board TV:  website | You... more

BGI 419 The One About The Best Pizza

Board Games Insider – Join our Guild on Board Game Geek Guild | Like us on FB

Social media:

Ignacy Trzewiczek / Portal Games: website | FB | Twitter | Youtube

Corey Thompson / Above Board TV:  website | Yo... more

YouTube

Key Facts

Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Chris Dupree
Contributor at C Dupree
C Dupree
Episode: BGI 420 The One About Time Being Up
Daryl Andrews
Frequent collaborator and game enthusiast
Episode: BGI 402 The One about 2026
Frank Kulkman
Blogger and game reviewer
Board Game DE
Episode: BGI 392 The One After Essen
Amelie LaRoche
Talented animator and game designer
Independent
Episode: BGI 359 The One About More Tariffs
Elise Hardman
Episode: BGI 359 The One About More Tariffs
Natalie Podd
Episode: BGI 359 The One About More Tariffs
Alex Schmidt
Friend of the podcast and COO of Stonemaier Games
Stonemaier Games
Episode: BGI 305 “The One About News from Nuremberg… and Japan”
Lincoln Damerst
Noted personality in board gaming and frequent video contributor.
Board Game Geek
Episode: BGI 300 – The LIVE One and with HUGE NEWS!
Ray Greenlee
Voiceover artist and contributor to the podcast's audio elements.
Ray Greenlee Voice Over
Episode: BGI 300 – The LIVE One and with HUGE NEWS!

Hosts

Corey Thompson
Host of Board Games Insider; involved in Above Board TV and related projects
Ignacy Trzewiczek
President of Portal Games; industry veteran and co-host known as a leading insider
Stephen Buonocore
Co-host; CEO of Stronghold Games; long-time industry veteran

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 199 ratings
  • Middling Board Games News Show

    First off, the host Stephen is obnoxious and self-righteous. Daddy clearly didn’t stroke his ego enough as a child as he’s always listing the events where he’ll be the honored speaker, he rests on the laurels of his accomplishments at Stronghold, and makes sure to remind you of all of his travels (I guess so we know he has some money?). He loves talking about his Corvette here and there whilst speaking out about the false narrative of climate change. He just can’t even cope with tariffs because... more

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Jsiers
    United Statesa year ago
  • Superb

    Really insightful podcast about the Board Game industry that covers a lot of subjects that others don’t

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    BoardGameAddictUK
    United Kingdoma year ago
  • Not nearly as good as it used to be

    The only real insider (Ignacy) is rarely there now, and it’s just the other two guys with board game connections calling themselves “insiders.” It mostly is self promotion of their two reputations, and you can get just as much information subscribing to board game article newsfeeds.

    I listened for years and enjoyed the conversations, but now it’s two guys taking about their travels and board games they played, their social media names (which is 10% of the runtime), plus additional self promoti... more

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Tivo166
    United States2 years ago
  • Final crossed over and sold out

    They sold out to BGG. Buyer beware here! And the last year the quality has really taper off and unfortunetly downward. It was one of my favorite podcasts but the new format is so disjointed and choppy. End of an era sadly.

    It was a good run.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Coryak
    United States2 years ago
  • Have a conversation with these board game insiders

    I started listening in 2023 and while other board game related podcasts have come and gone from my playlist, this one is a keeper. This show features discussions of board game business news, and discussions of relevant questions to and from the BGG guild for the show. Thanks to the vast industry experience of Stephen, Ignacy, and Corey, they all have excellent insight and information on the board game industry. Each show feels “conversational” and after listening to each, I feel like I was part ... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    TheDustyShadow
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners praise deep industry insights and practical business takeaways.
Many appreciate the insider perspective from two long-standing publishers.
Overall, the show is seen as essential listening for board game industry professionals and enthusiasts.
Critiques often focus on perceived self-promotion and pacing during episodes.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#125
United States/Leisure/Games
Apple Podcasts
#144
Canada/Leisure/Games
Apple Podcasts
#222
United Kingdom/Leisure/Games
Apple Podcasts
#144
Australia/Leisure/Games
Apple Podcasts
#4
Russia/Leisure/Games
Apple Podcasts
#20
Russia/Leisure

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

BGI 420 The One About Time Being Up
Q: What games did you pass on and regret not signing or publishing?
The hosts discuss the regret of missed opportunities as part of the normal publishing cycle, acknowledging that mega hits like Essin can sideline other strong candidates, and that timing, fit with their portfolio, and quicker responses by others often determine which games get published.
BGI 416 The One About 3 Degrees from Kevin Bacon in Board Games
Q: What is the perfect number of people for a board game weekend, and does it change with the types of games you plan to play?
The participants give a wide range of numbers from 4 to 16, with explanations: smaller gatherings for deeper, longer games and larger ones for more variety and social interaction; many respondents emphasize flexibility based on plans and participant preferences.
BGI 414 The One About A 12,000 Year Old Game
Q: What city has the strongest board game community according to listeners?
Listeners provided several city suggestions; responses highlighted Seattle, Vienna, Reykjavik, and Minneapolis as strong communities, with Seattle noted for a dense ecosystem of stores and industry nearby, while Vienna and Reykjavik were praised for tight, active gaming scenes. The hosts encouraged listeners to share a favorite non-native city via a BGG thread to continue the discussion next week.
BGI 412 The One About Crowdfunding Campaign Analysis
Q: In cooperative games, what should the win rate be and how should difficulty scale?
Several guests argued for a balanced approach where victory rates hover around 40-60 percent on standard difficulty, with higher success in campaign/scenario-driven modes, and a strong emphasis on meaningful, edge-of-the-seat moments to maintain engagement rather than chasing a fixed win percentage.
BGI 412 The One About Crowdfunding Campaign Analysis
Q: What is the largest number of people you have ever played a single game with?
Responses ranged widely, from large social gatherings at weddings to camping trip circles, with a prevailing expectation that cooperative and social games should scale to be inclusive yet remain challenging, and some answers advocating very large groups (20-75 people) depending on the game and setup.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Board Games Insider

What is Board Games Insider about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A sharp, industry-focused discussion that centers on the business side of hobby board games. Across episodes, listeners get insider perspectives on publishing decisions, distribution shifts, crowdfunding trends, convention strategies, and leadership changes within major game companies, all mixed with travel anecdotes and practical playtesting tips. The format leans into candid analyses, behind-the-scenes dynamics, and real-world experiences from publishers and designers, making it informative for anyone curious about how the board game world actually operates and markets new releases. Noteworthy is the recurring emphasis on cross-continental perspectives (US and European markets) and the balance between news, strategy, and community Q&A tha... more

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How many listeners does Board Games Insider get?

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How many subscribers and views does Board Games Insider have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Board Games Insider 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 Board Games Insider?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Board Games Insider:

1. The Dice Tower
2. The Secret Cabal Gaming Podcast
3. Board Game Hot Takes
4. So Very Wrong About Games
5. Board Game Barrage

How many episodes of Board Games Insider are there?

Board Games Insider launched 11 years ago and published 64 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 Board Games Insider?

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What guests have appeared on Board Games Insider?

Recent guests on Board Games Insider include:

1. Chris Dupree
2. Daryl Andrews
3. Frank Kulkman
4. Amelie LaRoche
5. Elise Hardman
6. Natalie Podd
7. Alex Schmidt
8. Lincoln Damerst

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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