Rephonic
Artwork for The Shift Gear Podcast

The Shift Gear Podcast

Ciaran Farah & Aneil Saini
Pokémon TCG
Gardevoir
Dragapult
Pokémon Trading Card Game
Pokemon TCG
Charizard
World Championships
Lugia
Raging Bolt
Pokémon
Grimmsnarl
Deck Building
Twilight Masquerade
NAIC
EUIC
Lost Box
North American International Championship
Roaring Moon
Charizard EX
Regidrago

Here you'll find two long term Pokemon TCG players who want to share our thoughts on the meta, decks, and all things Pokemon TCG with our listeners. With a specific focus on providing high level content, we also like to take the time to bring on Canadian guests who are under-represented on the global stage and give them an opportunity to share their thoughts and shine! New episodes release weekly ... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes139Founded3 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
GamesLeisureVideo Games

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for The Shift Gear Podcast

Latest Episodes

Konichiwagwanalaykum generals. In this episode we “interview” Louisville finalist Austin Charles, which ends up just being a yap fest (as expected). How do you feel about Blaziken’s place in this metagame and its pros/cons versus the other Pult varia... more

YouTube

Wagwan generals! Welcome back to another video. In this one, the fellas break down the couple regionals that happened this past weekend. We're seeing a drop in Dragapult play rates, why do you think that is? Let us know down below :

Find us:

Anei... more

Wagwan generals! An exciting one for y'all today as we have on friend of the show and Baltimore Regional finalist Ben Dobberstein on the show. In this episode, Ben talks through his entire thought process behind Hydrapple, his decision to play it, hi... more

Wagwan generals welcome back. Thank you for sticking with us in this busy time! This week we're back talking about the plays for the first regional of the season. Bored of this format like us? Let us know down below -

Scoop some EndGames using the ... more

Key Facts

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

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Recent Guests

Austin Charles
Louisville Regional finalist and competitive Pokémon TCG player
Episode: Blaziken’s Moment - Interviewing Louisville Finalist, Austin Charles
Ben Dobberstein
Regional finalist and Hydrapple specialist
Independent competitor
Episode: From the Orchard to the Finals... Talking Everything Hydrapple ex with Ben Dobberstein!
Henry Chow
Pokémon TCG player known for Gardevoir decks, Toronto regionals finalist
Independent/Competitive Pokémon TCG community
Episode: The 2025/2026 Pokèmon TCG Awards Show - 3rd Annual Shifties
Jake Dadton
Shift Gear Raptors correspondent
Shift Gear
Episode: NBA x Pokèmon roundup - Kawhi Leonard is a Toronto Raptor (Again)
James Kowalski
All Out Blitz, former Shift Gear guest
All Out Blitz
Episode: NAIC 2026 Was a Doozy (RIP Bourbon Street)
Ethan Wilde
Festival Lead expert and top contestant
Independent competitive Pokemon player
Episode: A Sevillian Festival! How to Play Festival Lead, with 2026 Seville SPE Finalist Ethan Wilde
Kamil Colatosti
A Pokémon TCG player and expert guest.
Episode: Answering All the BIG Questions for Each Deck Ahead of EUIC (and Aneil's Amsterdam Adventure)
Christian Fontenot
Denmark's finest Pokémon TCG player
None
Episode: Breaking Down Stuttgart Regionals - is Charizard BDIF?
Henry Chao
First two-time guest on The Shift Gear Podcast and Monterrey Regional Finalist
Episode: The Gardevoir Master Strikes Again! Interviewing Henry Chao - Monterrey Regional Finalist

Hosts

Aneil
Host of The Shift Gear Podcast; active in meta discussions and community context.
Ciaran Farah
Co-host and NBA/Sports analyst; contributes strategic insight and community perspectives.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 93 ratings
  • Aneil, you alright bro?

    It saddens me to write this, as Ciaran is phenomenal and I couldn’t be rooting harder for him in all that he’s doing. Alas, the most recent podcast was a bit hard to get through. Aneil’s incessantly negative commentary on the TCG and his apathetic vibe made it feel like he couldn’t care less that the podcast is about nerding out over a game the rest of us love. Don’t get me wrong, we all dump on the state of things from time to time, but if all you’re bringing to the table is negativity and TO s... more

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    JP881
    Canada2 months ago
  • Really good

    Very much enjoying their episodes so far

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    I’m just a cool guy
    United Kingdoma year ago
  • Great TCG podcast

    Love this pod, great guests and great banter! Ciaran was routing for you to win Toronto, it is going to happen tho I’m sure! If Aneil wasn’t a Leafs fan this would be the perfect podcast.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    BindingMochi
    United States2 years ago
  • Audio issues were an issue in the past.

    One of the best pokemon podcasts that there is. Only thing keeping it from a 5 is the hosts audio is often so quiet that my volume has to be turned all the way up. This becomes an issue when guests are much louder than the hosts. You are stuck with one voice too loud or two voices too quiet.

    Edit: Seems like the issue has been fixed

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Loganlenny
    United States2 years ago
  • Drug Content

    I have been listening to the most recent episodes from Shifting Gears and I have not been happy to hear about the drug references within the show mentioning “blunts” and other marijuana references. It really turns me off to the show, and I am not happy to hear it.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    morrislevy
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners praise in-depth meta analysis and constructive deck discussions.
Some listeners note past audio quality issues but acknowledge improvements.
Fans enjoy the Canadian focus and personality-driven banter.
A few express concern about occasional off-topic tangents but still find value in insights.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#110
New Zealand/Leisure/Games
Apple Podcasts
#227
Hong Kong/Leisure/Games

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Blaziken’s Moment - Interviewing Louisville Finalist, Austin Charles
Q: How much would you say you really just autopilot this deck because of how many games you have under your belt?
Austin said the many games he had played gave him muscle memory for opening turns and matchup-specific priorities. He had seen a wide range of opening hands and sequences, while still needing to focus on decisions later in games.
Blaziken’s Moment - Interviewing Louisville Finalist, Austin Charles
Q: Why are you so in love with the chicken version of Dragon Pult? Give me the case for it over the other Dragon Pult.
Austin said he had extensive experience with the Blaziken build and valued its consistency, flexibility, and improved chances against some difficult matchups. He considered Dragapult-Hammers stronger on paper overall, but preferred a deck he knew deeply that could handle a wide range of opponents.
From the Orchard to the Finals... Talking Everything Hydrapple ex with Ben Dobberstein!
Q: Could you explain why you chose to skip Noctowl in Hydrapple and stick with a more straight-through Hydrapple build?
Noctowl can help with consistency, but it also introduces a vulnerability: its low HP one-pricer can become a liability versus Dragapult, and it forces you to cut other cards (like Ultra Balls) for extra disruption cards. I prefer the flexibility of a lean build with Meowth and Cypher to keep pressure, while relying on Briar and other lines to close out games.
Big Performances For the Boys at EUIC with Grimmsnarl ex! EUIC Meta Breakdown
Q: What did you think about the structure of the tournament?
The hosts discussed that they felt there should be more rounds added back into the tournament to accommodate the large number of players and suggest a need for a ninth round.
The Gardevoir Master Strikes Again! Interviewing Henry Chao - Monterrey Regional Finalist
Q: What do you think about Gardevoir going into Pittsburgh?
I think it's positioned well, but potentially hard to counter.

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 The Shift Gear Podcast

What is The Shift Gear Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Two long-time Pokémon TCG players share high-level analysis of the meta, decks, and competitive scene, with a distinct focus on Canadian perspectives and under-represented voices. Episodes swing between rigorous deck discussions (notably Dragapult variants and counter-strategies), event roundups from regionals and NAIC, and lightweight banter that spans sports, pop culture, and local scenes. The show often threads in practical logistics for travelers, judges' perspectives, and community-driven content like annual award-style discussions, making it a practical listen for players aiming to optimize deck choices and tournament planning while enjoying a casual, humor-filled vibe. A notable strength is the consistent emphasis on diverse Canadian... more

Where can I find podcast stats for The Shift Gear Podcast?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for The Shift Gear Podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to The Shift Gear Podcast and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does The Shift Gear Podcast get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for four million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for The Shift Gear Podcast, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for The Shift Gear Podcast?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for The Shift Gear Podcast, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does The Shift Gear Podcast have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Shift Gear Podcast 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 The Shift Gear Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Shift Gear Podcast:

1. Tag Team Pokemon TCG Podcast
2. Uncommon Energy | A Pokémon TCG Podcast
3. PCS - A Pokémon TCG Podcast
4. Meta Pod: A Pokemon TCG Podcast
5. Pallet Town Tales: A Pokémon TCG Podcast

How many episodes of The Shift Gear Podcast are there?

The Shift Gear Podcast launched 3 years ago and published 139 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 The Shift Gear Podcast?

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 The Shift Gear Podcast?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The Shift Gear Podcast from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for The Shift Gear Podcast?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of The Shift Gear Podcast. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on The Shift Gear Podcast?

Recent guests on The Shift Gear Podcast include:

1. Austin Charles
2. Ben Dobberstein
3. Henry Chow
4. Jake Dadton
5. James Kowalski
6. Ethan Wilde
7. Kamil Colatosti
8. Christian Fontenot

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.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days