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Artwork for The Thomas Brush Show

The Thomas Brush Show

Thomas Brush
Indie Game Development
Game Development
Game Design
STEAM
Indie Games
Unity
Kickstarter
Youtube
Twisted Tower
AI In Gaming
Cultic
Game Engines
Farewell North
Publishers
Burnout
Game Marketing
Blooded Mead
Cult Of the Lamb
Lost Relic Games
Pony Island

Welcome to The Thomas Brush Show, where we talk to indie game developers who make a living creating indie games, full time! I will also sometimes talk to other creatives, like film-makers, YouTubers, and artists.

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes67Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Technology

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for The Thomas Brush Show

Latest Episodes

I chat with Sebastian Drew about how went from knowing nothing to selling 67,000 copies of his game.► Play Constance: store.steampowered.com/app/2313700/Constance/► Join my game dev program for 50% off for the Spring Sale: fulltimegam... more

YouTube

I chat for the second time with the one and only Xalavier Nelson Jr. about making games in 2026...

► Wanna make a game in 2026? Join my game dev program for 50% off for the Spring Sale.

► Play Baby Trading Sim

► Learn how to make a game studio fr... more

YouTube

I chat with the legendary Thomas Mahler about one of the crazier weeks of his game dev career...

► Play No Rest For The Wicked

► Learn how to make a game studio from your bedroom, free

► Enroll in my 3D workshop, free!

YouTube

I chat with the legendary Jonathan Blow about how indies can make games in 2026.

► Wishlist Order of the Sinking Star

► Get 50% off Full Time Game Dev

► Watch the reveal trailer

YouTube

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Sebastian Drews
Indie game developer who created Constance (Metroidvania)
Constance team / studio
Episode: He Knew Nothing About Making Games... Then Sold 67,000 Copies (w/ Sebastian Drews) — Ep 64
Xalavier Nelson Jr.
Indie game developer behind Space Warlord organizing titles
Strange Scaffold / Space Warlord series
Episode: If You Want To Make Games, Listen To THIS First (Xalavier Nelson Jr.) — Ep. 64
Thomas Mahler
Mind behind Ori and No Rest for the Wicked
Moon Studios
Episode: How He Sold 1.6 Million Copies Of His New Game (w/ Thomas Mahler) — Ep 62
Jonathan Blow
Renowned indie game developer, creator of Braid and The Witness
Episode: How To Make Indie Games In 2026 w/ Jonathan Blow — Full Time Game Dev Podcast Ep. 061
Adam Younis
Indie game developer, creator of Insignia
Episode: Should You Make A BIG Game or Small Game, Arguing About Friend Slop (Adam Younis)
Jason Smith
Developer and creator of the indie game Cultic
Episode: Jason Smith: How He Sold 100,000 Copies Of His Game (w/ Overwhelmingly Positive Reviews) | Ep. #056
William Dubé
Creator of Jotun, Sundered, Spiritfarer, and At Fate's End
Thunder Lotus Games
Episode: Will Dubé: How He Sold A Million Copies Of His Games, Indie Survival & Indie Secrets | Ep. #055
Kyle Balda
Director of animated films including Minions and Despicable Me 3, currently exploring game development
Illumination Entertainment
Episode: Kyle Balda: Why This Hollywood Director Is Now Making Games, Why Game Dev Is So Hard | Ep. #053
Jake Birkett
Indie game developer and owner of a custom engine for game development
Independent
Episode: Jake Birkett: Making Indie Games For 20 Years, Unity vs Custom Engine, Indie Survival | Ep. #051

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 185 ratings
  • Very good

    This has been so good to listen to! I have a second job working in a warehouse in the evenings and obviously the dream is to become a full time game designer and listening to the podcast has been helping me get through my shift. Thank you Thomas!

    Audible
    5
    James Knudsen
    United States7 months ago
  • This has been so good to listen to! I have a second job working in a warehouse in the evenings and obviously the dream is to become a full time game designer and listening to the podcast has been helping me get through my shift. Thank you Thomas!

    Audible
    5
    James Knudsen
    United States7 months ago
  • Too much advertising

    I’ve got mixed feelings about it. The topics are very interesting but to me Thomas is very distracting with his: »And by the way«-advertising style.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    martinhirsch
    Germany9 months ago
  • Thank you

    Thank you for making this show. It is invaluable to indie game devs.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Chang0520
    United Statesa year ago
  • Love it

    U gonna keep it going for more of 2025?

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Beano’ijnijnijnnj
    Australiaa year ago

Listeners Say

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

Positive feedback highlights engaging conversations with a mix of developers and creatives, making it valuable for entrepreneurs in the space.
The show is praised for inspiring new developers while often exploring burnout and the realities of long-term game development.
Guests consistently bring strong perspective from successful indie projects, which helps with practical takeaways.
Listeners appreciate the actionable indie dev insights and candid storytelling, though some wish for fewer ad breaks.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#64
Mexico/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#209
India/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#239
Sweden/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#239
Poland/Technology

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

He Knew Nothing About Making Games... Then Sold 67,000 Copies (w/ Sebastian Drews) — Ep 64
Q: What was the biggest QA/production lesson learned for future projects?
Plan QA earlier with higher quantity and broader opinion input, and avoid pushing QA to the last minute; the team realized more time and broader testing would likely have helped push the final product to a higher initial rating.
He Knew Nothing About Making Games... Then Sold 67,000 Copies (w/ Sebastian Drews) — Ep 64
Q: Did the demo launch correlate with the 1.0 launch in terms of reception?
Yes, the demo provided early signals and helped validate the approach, but the published 1.0 had its own dynamics; post-demo feedback guided pacing and content decisions for the final release.
He Knew Nothing About Making Games... Then Sold 67,000 Copies (w/ Sebastian Drews) — Ep 64
Q: What was the metric that mattered at launch?
A blended view was used, including review scores, wishlist/conversion, and player numbers; while a perfect 95% positive score would have helped, the team focused on a combination of sentiment, engagement, and sales momentum rather than a single metric.
How To Make Indie Games In 2026 w/ Jonathan Blow — Full Time Game Dev Podcast Ep. 061
Q: Can I ask you what is the pitch for this game?
The game focuses on optimizing the blend of game elements, where different mechanics combine to create delight and fun in gameplay.
How To Make Indie Games In 2026 w/ Jonathan Blow — Full Time Game Dev Podcast Ep. 061
Q: So am I correct in saying that your focus for Order of the Sinking Star is Steam? Would that be your priority in this era of game dev?
Steam is still the most accessible place to reach the largest audience, making it a priority for indie developers.

Audience Metrics

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Thomas Brush Show

What is The Thomas Brush Show about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show centers on indie game developers building full-time careers, often exploring the craft, business, and marketing of independent games. Episodes frequently cover topics like game design, development pipelines, funding, publishing, and the intersection of games with film and other media, with guests ranging from veteran creators to rising indie studios. A notable angle is the blend of artistic integrity with commercial considerations, plus candid discussions about burnout, crunch, and the realities of bringing indie projects to market. The format tends to attract listeners who want actionable insights, pragmatic advice, and inspiration from creators shaping the indie scene.

A standout trait is the guest diversity: successful develop... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The Thomas Brush Show?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Thomas Brush Show:

1. Game Dev Field Guide
2. Triple Click
3. Retronauts
4. Game Dev Podcast | Coffee with Butterscotch
5. The Geekenders

How many episodes of The Thomas Brush Show are there?

The Thomas Brush Show launched 2 years ago and published 67 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 The Thomas Brush Show?

Recent guests on The Thomas Brush Show include:

1. Sebastian Drews
2. Xalavier Nelson Jr.
3. Thomas Mahler
4. Jonathan Blow
5. Adam Younis
6. Jason Smith
7. William Dubé
8. Kyle Balda

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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