Across The Table

My first returning guest, John Penick, recently finished 2nd at Grand Prix Oklahoma City. What’s more amazing is the amount of Magic he didn’t play before. But did it change how much he played after? We spoke after his mind-frying GRE about that finish, its effects, depression, steak knives, and flourishing. As always, send feedback to me on Twitter @mattmendoza or via email acrossthetablecast@gmail.com. Also, please leave the podcast a review on iTunes, it helps get it out there. Follow the cast @acrossthecast for updates and new episodes.  And don't forget to leave me a comment on ManaDeprived.com or KCCompetition.com. Thanks for listening!

Adam Styborski works harder than you. Between his marketing gig at Geico, traveling to tournaments for Wizards, managing GatheringMagic.com, being a dad and a husband, and the laundry, he’s a busy guy. We meant to meet up to cast from DC, but I was thwarted by a faulty piece of equipment. Instead, we spoke over Skype about being an asshole, our “guys,” and what you actually do with a math degree. As always, send feedback to me on Twitter @mattmendoza or via email acrossthetablecast@gmail.com. Also, please leave the podcast a review on iTunes, it helps get it out there. Follow the cast @acrossthecast for updates and new episodes.  And don't forget to leave me a comment on ManaDeprived.com! Thanks for listening!

You've probably never heard of him, but writer Titus Chalk is about to publish one of the most important pieces of Magic writing in the history of the game. A journalist by trade, Titus's book, "So Do You Wear a Cape?" will chronicle twenty years of Magic history and culture from an accessible, anthropological, and often personal perspective. I discovered him and the project through a great feature piece he wrote that ties Magic's history with that of his own called "20 Years of Magic: the Gathering, a Game that Changed the World." In our interview, he talked about growing up the son of a well-known Games Workshop miniature-painter, moving to different continents, and how Magic helped him through some troubling times. Follow him on Twitter @tituschalk and keep up with his book, due out soon, on Facebook, "So Do You Wear a Cape?" As always, you can find me on ManaDeprived.com, KCCompetition.com and iTunes. Send any feedback to me on Twitter @mattmendoza or via email at acrossthetablepod@gmail.com. You can also

Armed with a silky voice, sharp business sense, and rough past, Marcel White has made a name for himself in the community as a financial podcaster, above-average player, and media wiz. Marcel and company's podcast, Brainstorm Brewery, is frequently cited as the best in business for financial advice. Hailing from Oakland, California (by way of SanFran), we talked about growing up white, being a nerd, weed, and, because Marcel turned the tables, myself. As always, you can find me on ManaDeprived.com, KCCompetition.com and iTunes. Send any feedback to me on Twitter @mattmendoza or via email at acrossthetablepod@gmail.com. You can also follow the cast on Twitter @acrossthecast or on Facebook to keep up to date on the latest haps and episodes. Thank you for listening!

For my 25th episode, I look back at some of my first ten, warts and all. In order of appearance: grinders Chi Hoi Yim, Gerald “Jim Bob” Sixkiller, John Penick, Cody Jennings, and Adam Boyd.  As always, send feedback to me on Twitter @mattmendoza or via email acrossthetablecast@gmail.com. Also, please leave the podcast a review on iTunes, it helps get it out there. Follow the cast @acrossthecast for updates and new episodes.  And don't forget to leave me a comment on ManaDeprived.com! Thanks for listening!

Matthew “Ogre” Stevens has made quite the reputation for himself buying, selling, and trading Magic cards in North America. After a wicked bender at GenCon which saw $80,000 in sales, we talked at the shop in which I now work, Ogre’s Games in St Louis. Bonus: his daughter Daisy accompanies us for the interview! As always, send feedback to me on Twitter @mattmendoza or via email acrossthetablecast@gmail.com. Also, please leave the podcast a review on iTunes, it helps get it out there. Follow the cast @acrossthecast for updates and new episodes.  And don't forget to leave me a comment on ManaDeprived.com! Thanks for listening!

Michael Arrowsmith was a bouncer, Naval officer, and semi-professional football player in a former life. Now, he’s one of, if not the only, Level 1 Judge making a living judging and traveling exclusively. I first knew him as the guy I never wanted to meet in a fight. So, I sat down with him at GenCon where we talked about intimidation, being a foodie, and growing out of a non-traditional childhood. As always, send feedback to me on Twitter @mattmendoza or via email acrossthetablecast@gmail.com. Also, please leave the podcast a review on iTunes, it helps get it out there. Follow the cast @acrossthecast for updates and new episodes.  And don't forget to leave me a comment on ManaDeprived.com! Thanks for listening!

On a shoestring budget and hard work, Legion Events, Supplies, and Games owner Steve Port started his empire. But he’s not only one of the nicest guys around, he’s one of the hardest working. Live from GenCon, we talked about failed marriages, community involvement, starting a new family twenty years later, and much more. As always, send feedback to me on Twitter @mattmendoza or via email acrossthetablecast@gmail.com. Also, please leave the podcast a review on iTunes, it helps get it out there. Follow the cast @acrossthecast for updates and new episodes.  And don't forget to leave me a comment on ManaDeprived.com! Thanks for listening!

“Some things do make me angry. When people, you got this whole life, it seems like it lasts forever, and you just tow the line. You don’t ever step out of the line, you don’t ever ask the questions, you don’t ever challenge authority; you just do what you’re supposed to do...What kind of legacy is that? You just lived and then you died.” Writer and Magic player John F Rizzo was loved, and hated, for his articles back in the “old day.” With self-deprecating wit and self-indulgent stylings, he made a name for himself by being one of the most entertaining losers around. On a nice afternoon, we chatted about life, bad jobs, changing interests, and a whole lot more. As always, send feedback to me on Twitter @mattmendoza or via email acrossthetablecast@gmail.com. Also, please leave the podcast a review on iTunes, it helps get it out there. Follow the cast @acrossthecast for updates and new episodes.  And don't forget to leave me a comment on ManaDeprived.com! Thanks for listening!

“I don’t dance, but I love the music.” Artist John Matson has worked on Magic and other collectable card games for the better part of two decades and has become an expert in appreciation of all things both organic and mechanical. What do I mean exactly? Listen and find out as we delve deep into art, God, inspiring, and much more. As always, send feedback to me on Twitter @mattmendoza or via email acrossthetablecast@gmail.com. Also, please leave the podcast a review on iTunes, it helps get it out there. Follow the cast @acrossthecast for updates and new episodes.  And don't forget to leave me a comment on ManaDeprived.com! Thanks for listening!

“I mean, worst case scenario, you make mistakes, it’s a good story, you learn from it and you move on. That’s kind of the philosophy of ‘The Bridge,’ I guess, is publicizing our mistakes because they’re hilarious.” Almost 20 years ago, Executive Producer John Douglass started playing Magic in Louisville, Kentucky. Almost two years ago, he started a “hang-out” style podcast called “The Bridge” with some friends. Now, he’s become the new Content Manager for LegitMTG.com. We talked all about his journey from player to community pillar, his big family, the all boys Catholic school he attended, his relationships with former castmembers, and much more. As always, send feedback to me on Twitter @mattmendoza or via email acrossthetablecast@gmail.com. Also, please leave the podcast a review on iTunes, it helps get it out there. Follow the cast @acrossthecast for updates and new episodes.  And don't forget to leave me a comment on ManaDeprived.com! Thanks for listening!

"You are worth it, you are awesome, no one is doing anything wrong if they want to be with you." Before his transformation, musician Bill Boulden aka Spruke, was a wunderkind of sorts. An expert programmer and a budding musician, he was hampered by low self-esteem and self-hatred, the kind experienced by many of the last generation to feel nerd shame. Then, he became this wicked, confident, music-making, podcast host who is simultaneously crushing two very different careers? We talked at length about how music is science, programming is art, school is easy, and much, much more. His newest album Lies Synthpop Told Me is available on iTunes or wherever digital music is sold. And his electro-house podcast Bump in the Night hits MTGCast.com every Monday. As always, send feedback to me on Twitter @mattmendoza or via email acrossthetablecast@gmail.com. Also, please leave the podcast a review on iTunes, it helps get it out there. Follow the cast @acrossthecast for updates and new episodes.  And don't forget to leave

"Anything you can do in Magic, I've probably done it." GGsLive's Rashad Miller isn't joking when he says this. Credits to his name include: Level 3 Judge, Pro Tour competitor, and now, "contractor for Hasbro." What he means, of course, is that he's a lifelong gamer who turned this love into a successful video company that covers Grand Prix across North America. We spoke before his trip to Worlds in Amsterdam where he would be in front of the camera, rather than behind. And, to address a certain part of the conversation, I used Worlds as an opportunity to dive head-first into watching coverage; you'll know when you get there. As always, send feedback to me on twitter @mattmendoza or via email acrossthetablecast@gmail.com. Also, please leave the podcast a review on iTunes, it really helps get it out there. Follow the cast @acrossthecast for updates and new episodes.  A special thanks to KYT and Mana Deprived for sharing the podcast. Thanks for listening!

"To suddenly go from eating Top Ramen to getting these four and five digit quarterly royalty checks was stunning." Twenty years ago, artist Julie Baroh was a troublemaking college student; if it wasn't for wasn't for a spiteful dean, she would have been kicked out. Then, she bought into this little company with big dreams and suddenly she was a rich and famous brat. In this week's episode, we talked on the phone about the Alpha days, her conflict with Wizards, the studio named Krab Jab, and the time when she quit art all together to become something very different.  As always, send feedback to me on twitter @mattmendoza or via email acrossthetablecast@gmail.com. Also, please leave the podcast a review on iTunes, it really helps get it out there. Follow the cast @acrossthecast for updates and new episodes.  A special thanks to KYT and Mana Deprived for my new home.  Thanks for listening!

Ponder me this. That was too easy. In my final interview from the trenches of Grand Prix Kansas City, artist Dan Scott and I talk about his roots (spoiler: they're planted very close), his undefined style, and his unappreciated Ogre. It's a shorty, but a goodie. As always, send feedback to me on twitter @mattmendoza or via email at acrossthetablepod@gmail.com. Follow the cast @acrossthecast for updates and new episodes, every Thursday! Thanks for listening!

Artist Liz Nugent has had a bad day, but she put aside her apartment-flooding woes to chat for a bit. We talk about her influences, graphic memoirs, her transformational art school experience, women in Magic art, her time at Star City Games and much, much more. Her playmats et al are part of the Creature Collection which can be found at StarCityGames.com. You can find her work and contact information at liznugentdraws.com. And the video I edited, "Liz Nugent: Creature Collector" can be found here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pmaf7uMhB_s As always, send feedback to me on twitter @mattmendoza or via email at acrossthetablepod@gmail.com. Follow the cast @acrossthecast for updates and new episodes, every Thursday! Thanks for listening!

A couple months ago, Marshall made the leap and quit his day job to become a professional poker player and Magic content producer. In this episode, recorded at Grand Prix KC, we chat about how that's going for him, how he got started, and what it's like "living the dream" (spoiler: not as glamorous as you might think).  About 18 minutes in, there's a short break in our conversation where we recorded one part, took a break so he could work, then recorded the second part, just so you're aware of the jump. Feedback? Contact me on twitter @mattmendoza or via email at acrossthetablepod@gmail.com Follow the cast on Twitter for updates and new episodes, every Thursday! @acrossthecast Thanks for listening!

My friend Joe Hemmann will not, sadly, be known as the player who won a Grand Prix with the oft-marginalized Living End deck. He will, however, go down in history as a guy who made a big, big mistake. We all make mistakes. We're all thrown off by the occasional curveball. So, we talked about it, himself, his deck, what that kind of success means, and how he was able to laugh off such a beautiful punt. Feedback? Contact me on twitter @mattmendoza or via email at acrossthetablepod@gmail.com Follow the cast on Twitter for updates and new episodes! @acrossthecast Thanks for listening!

Equipped with +2/+1 Sword of Beard and Northern Accent, Rob McKenzie achieved his Level 3 status at our hometown Grand Prix in Kansas City. A fixture in the midwestern judge community, he helps with everything from local events to Grand Prix to SCG Opens and more. To boot, he organizes a slew of events for local and regional judges including an upcoming conference that he announces in this episode! For his effort, he's been deemed a Captain by his Regional Coordinator and is a crucial key to shrinking the vast expanse that is his region. He's an all-around stand-up guy and I'm excited to have talked with him. He can be contacted via email at robbit@gmail.com. Feedback? Connect with me on Twitter @mattmendoza or via email at acrossthetablepod@gmail.com. Keep up to date with the show on Twitter @acrossthecast for new episodes, guest information, updates, and more! Also, don't forget to visit KCCompetition.com for news about local to KC events, strategy, and much more. Thanks for listening!

Part of the team behind the playmat that just might change it all, Alan Hubbard sits down to talk about his project, the egMat. We also touch upon his history with the game and some very prominent players. You can find Alan and the mat at egMats.com. Feedback? Hit me up on Twitter @mattmendoza or follow @acrossthecast for the latest updates! You can also like the cast on Facebook, Across the Table. Thanks for listening!