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Spiel 2024

A show about games and the people who love them

PublishesMonthlyEpisodes753Founded20 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
LeisureGames

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for The Spiel

Latest Episodes

This episode features a treasured collector's item and a game/science discussion that includes monkeys with machetes, impervious turtles, and sex starved moths.

Raise a glass and join the fun. This episode features segments with playful folks from Saskatchewan and Sydney: Scotch Council and My Favorite Game.

Doug Richardson makes a triumphant return as co-host for Season 21, PLUS three new segments: Game Lab with Lucio Rodriguez, Spiel-lunking the Game Cave with Brynn Symington, and The Playground with James Englehardt.

In our season finale, two award winning games earn our Meeple Crown for 2025. These games embody the essence of Major Fun and The Spiel of Approval. Congratulations to Fromage and Hot Streak!

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
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

Bryn Simington
Owner of the Game Cave, featured for the first Spielunking in the Game Cave
Game Cave
Episode: Episode #468 - Precious Ludolution
Lucio Rodriguez
Participant in The Game Lab segment, discussing evolution and science of games
The Spiel Foundation / Game Lab
Episode: Episode #468 - Precious Ludolution
Sarda Nana
Guest from Australia, discussing her game and her work on consent education for kids
Her Favorite Game
Episode: Episode #467 - Nectarous Consent
Brynn Symington
Long-time Spieler and friend of the show
The Spiel
Episode: Episode #466 - A Lab, A Cave, and a Playground
James Englehardt
Professor and educator joining as a new Spiel player
The Spiel
Episode: Episode #466 - A Lab, A Cave, and a Playground
Chelsea Steenbock
Director of Indigenous Relations at the City of Regina
City of Regina
Episode: Episode #463 - Every Second Counts
Mike McMahon
A game tester and contributor to The Spiel
Episode: Episode #461 - Origins, Closet, and a Home
Casey Ogwagu
A passionate game designer from Nigeria, who runs a game cafe and organizes gaming conventions.
Episode: Episode #460 - Sold My Car
Bruce Voge
Gaming expert and regular guest on The Spiel
Episode: Episode #459 - Iced Tea, Dog Rating, and Smooth Jazz

Host

Stephen Conway
Host of The Spiel

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 92 ratings
  • Spiel On!

    A podcast with a great history of quality content surrounding board games. One of the first to offer timely Spiel (Essen) content and they continue to do outstanding convention coverage. Nice transition to a new host recently. Keep

    Up the good work.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Cristobal McG
    United States8 years ago
  • The Spiel

    Comprehensive podcast about board games and card games. Their coverage of the main annual events in the USA and Germany, together with their ‘Spiel Des Jahres’ coverage is simply second to none. Essential listening for all board game enthusiasts.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Slogger007
    United Kingdom11 years ago
  • Great fun!

    The Spiel has been around for years and has been a staple of my podcast listening from the beginning. Highly recommended. Nice work guys!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    BGSpielguy
    United States11 years ago
  • Informative yes, but ridiculously wordy

    I’ve been listening to The Spiel for about a year now. As far as in-depth analysis of games, it’s top notch. These guys know their stuff, are moderately excited about board games, and even the audio quality is excellent. Really, I haven’t listened to any podcast that goes as far into actually teaching the game as The Spiel does.

    But man, is it long. SO LONG.

    The problem isn’t just the 2+ hour runtime. It’s how unnecessarily wordy both of these (very friendly and intelligent) guys are. They can... more

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    mrdehate
    United States11 years ago
  • best gaming podcast so far

    Well written and researched, providing a timely information on the boardgame hobbie.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    evidence based
    United States12 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Fans value regular coverage of conventions and the humor/chemistry between hosts.
Some listeners find certain episodes overly long but still consider it a top-tier board game podcast.
Listeners praise the show's depth and enthusiasm, noting its strong production quality and thorough game explanations.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#18
South Korea/Leisure/Games
Apple Podcasts
#135
Poland/Leisure/Games

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Episode #460 - Sold My Car
Q: What's a game that's a favorite of yours, and why do you love it?
My favorite game is Stone Age, and I love it because of its worker placement and resource management mechanics that allow for a rich experience.
Episode #437 - The Finest Fish
Q: What is your favorite game right now?
My favorite game right now is Flamrouge, which captures the essence of cycling races with its engaging gameplay mechanics and the community surrounding it.
Episode #443 - Fit To Print
Q: Why is 'Advanced Civilization' your favorite game?
Its procedural gameplay allows for long sessions with a lot of depth, despite not being overly complex.

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 Spiel

What is The Spiel about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show offers in-depth conversations centered on board games, conventions, and the broader gaming community, with a strong focus on game design, history, and community initiatives. Episodes frequently cover industry trends, event coverage (like GenCon and Essen), charitable efforts, and personal stories from designers, marketers, and enthusiasts. A standout trait is its clear emphasis on community impact and the philanthropic work of a dedicated foundation, alongside long-running segment variety and enthusiastic hosting. Potential listeners should enjoy thoughtful game analysis, history, and behind-the-scenes looks at the hobby, as well as coverage of global gaming events and charitable efforts tied to play.

Noteworthy is the ongoing int... more

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How many listeners does The Spiel get?

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What are the audience demographics for The Spiel?

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How many subscribers and views does The Spiel have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Spiel 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 Spiel?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Spiel:

1. On Board Games
2. Boardgames To Go
3. Board Games Insider
4. Board Game Radio
5. The Dice Tower

How many episodes of The Spiel are there?

The Spiel launched 20 years ago and published 753 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 Spiel?

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.

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What guests have appeared on The Spiel?

Recent guests on The Spiel include:

1. Bryn Simington
2. Lucio Rodriguez
3. Sarda Nana
4. Brynn Symington
5. James Englehardt
6. Chelsea Steenbock
7. Mike McMahon
8. Casey Ogwagu

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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