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Artwork for Magic: The Gathering Drive to Work Podcast

Magic: The Gathering Drive to Work Podcast

Mark Rosewater
Magic: the Gathering
Wizards Of the Coast
Game Design
Commander
Color Pie
Card Design
Game Mechanics
Alpha
Ravnica
Innistrad
Creature Types
Arabian Nights
Exploratory Design
Spider-Man
Bloomburrow
Richard Garfield
Phyrexians
Kaladesh
Playtesting
Artifacts

Join Magic: The Gathering Head Designer Mark Rosewater as he shares stories, insights, and more while driving to work. Listen and learn more about how Magic is made!

PublishesDailyEpisodes1352Founded14 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
LeisureGames

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Magic: The Gathering Drive to Work Podcast

Latest Episodes

This episode is part four of a five-part series. In it, I go through every single Mood Swings card, in collectible number order, and talk about how they were designed, including many of the changes they went through and some strategic tips on how to ... more

I just returned from a trip to Los Angeles, California, where I went to a red carpet event celebrating Magic: The Gathering® | Marvel Super Heroes. I then spent three days doing interviews about the set at Summer Game Fest. This podcast talks all abo... more

In this episode, I talk about designing Magic: The Gathering® | Marvel Super Heroes.

This episode is part three of a five-part series. In it, I go through every single Mood Swings card, in collectible number order, and talk about how they were designed, including many of the changes they went through and some strategic tips on how to... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Reggie Valk
Set design lead for Secrets of Strixhaven
Wizards of the Coast
Episode: #1331: Secrets of Strixhaven Set Design with Reggie Valk
Lindsey Bartell
In charge of Secret Lair
Wizards of the Coast / Magic: The Gathering
Episode: #1325: Secret Lair with Lindsey Bartell
Eric Engelhard
Lead designer, lead set designer of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Wizards of the Coast
Episode: #1321: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles with Eric Engelhard
Frank Kusumoto
Creator of The Dojo, early Magic online community leader
The Dojo/Magic Dojo
Episode: #1317: The Magic Dojo with Frank Kusumoto
Melissa DeTora
Head of the Casual Play Team
Magic: The Gathering
Episode: #1297: Commander Design with Melissa DeTora
Chris Mooney
Lead Designer for the Avatar: The Last Airbender set
Wizards of the Coast
Episode: #1293: Avatar: The Last Airbender with Chris Mooney
Jesse Falcon
A representative from Marvel who engaged in interviews at the event
Marvel
Episode: #1264: San Diego Comic-Con 2025
Lauren Bond
Creative lead for Tarkir Dragonstorm.
Magic: The Gathering
Episode: #1231: Tarkir: Dragonstorm Creative with Lauren Bond
Adam Prosak
Lead Set Designer for Tarkir Dragonstorm
Wizards of the Coast
Episode: #1229: Tarkir: Dragonstorm Set Design with Adam Prosak

Host

Mark Rosewater
Host of the drive-to-work podcast; head designer and long-time leader of MTG development.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 1.6k ratings
  • Amazing insights on the behind-the-scenes of a game I've played on and off since the fall of 1995.

    Podchaser
    4
    Waddler
    6 months ago
  • Best way to catch up on what’s happened in Magic

    I played shortly after the game first came out, and then stepped away for 30 years. I’ve been listening to this podcast constantly for about a year now and I’ve learned so much about the game, where it came from, what they’ve been doing over the years, and where it’s going. This podcast is an invaluable resource.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    sumorai
    United States10 months ago
  • Amazing

    I’ve been listening to this podcast for a while,and it’s just so awesome. A friend introduced me to magic and I’ve loved it ever since. I have Arena. I recently got my first commander deck, and I’m eagerly awaiting the Edge of Eternities drop. Thank you Mark Rosewater for this amazing podcast.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    /53)/5!
    United Statesa year ago
  • Perfect timing

    Episode released for another Drive to FNM. 😁

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    DR_AVCM
    United Kingdoma year ago
  • Great show, longtime listener

    Love Mark’s podcast. Only minor criticism is that his microphone seems to be popping and crackling lately, so he might have to get a new one soon. Keep up the good work!

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Mr. Fletcherr
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Listener enthusiasm for behind-the-scenes design stories and long-running insights.
Audio quality can be inconsistent but content depth remains strong.
Long tenure and expertise make this a must-listen for serious MTG practitioners.
Show delivers insider MTG design insight and history, great for fans and pros alike.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#11
United States/Leisure/Games
Apple Podcasts
#59
United States/Leisure
Apple Podcasts
#16
Canada/Leisure/Games
Apple Podcasts
#42
United Kingdom/Leisure/Games
Apple Podcasts
#87
Canada/Leisure
Apple Podcasts
#33
Australia/Leisure/Games

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

#1325: Secret Lair with Lindsey Bartell
Q: Explain to the audience how the Secret Lair queue works and why it was designed this way.
The queue enforces fairness by lining up customers in the order they arrive and provides stability for the website and payment processor, preventing chaos during high-traffic drops. Early access through a pre-queue during the hour before go-time assigns a random position, and people must stay near their computers for the first five minutes after launch to monitor fluctuations in wait times and adjust as throughput scales.
#1317: The Magic Dojo with Frank Kusumoto
Q: How did the dojo come to be?
Frank explains that in 1996 he started compiling Usenet posts and other early Magic content into a centralized site, driven by the lack of a single place for players to discuss Magic. Over time, it evolved into a hub for tournament reports, deck lists, and theory, attracting top players who wanted a shared metagame and a platform to publish their insights.
#1226: Replies with Rachel and Sarah
Q: What's your favorite story of your dad's health?
Rachel struggles to pinpoint a specific story, mentioning Mark's tendency to share many anecdotes from his childhood and college days. She recalls how he often tells funny stories.
#1213: Aetherdrift Set Design with Yoni Skolnik
Q: How did you ensure that vehicles remain a fun and diverse part of the game?
By ensuring each vehicle has alternate purposes and not solely relying on them for deck success.
#1170: Duskmourn Vision Design with Annie Sardelis
Q: What is your favorite part of the set?
We got a set that embodies the fun of horror while navigating the challenges of game design.

Audience Metrics

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A deep, design-centered show where the host, the lead designer of a globally popular trading card game, shares behind-the-scenes stories, design rationales, and industry context. Episodes commonly explore card mechanics, color identity, and the evolution of game systems, often weaving in anecdotes from playtesting, development cycles, and the broader business and cultural landscape of the franchise. Listeners benefit from insider perspectives on balancing depth with accessibility, the iterative design process, and how standout ideas are shepherded from concept to release. The series is notable for its longevity, principled focus on design philosophy, and rich history of the game's development across decades, making it a compelling listen fo... more

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Which podcasts are similar to this podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with this podcast:

1. MTGGoldfish Podcast
2. Limited Resources
3. The Command Zone
4. MTGGoldfish Commander Clash Podcast
5. EDHRECast

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this podcast launched 14 years ago and published 1352 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 this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Reggie Valk
2. Lindsey Bartell
3. Eric Engelhard
4. Frank Kusumoto
5. Melissa DeTora
6. Chris Mooney
7. Jesse Falcon
8. Lauren Bond

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