The BoardGameGeek Podcast

Episode 103: Curt Covert (Smirk and Dagger) - Exhibiting at Conventions- Games we’ve been playing lately (not from Smirk and Dagger) 
Join me as we get to know Curt Covert, the owner of Smirk and Dagger games. We discuss what goes into exhibiting at conventions. While we go through a lot of information, it’s definitely not everything. But it might help someone starting out or might be an interesting peek behind the curtain. Then, we talk about 5 games we’ve been playing lately. And of course, ending with something positive happening in our lives. Don’t be afraid to go up or reach out to Curt if you have questions about the board game industry. He’s truly a fountain of knowledge.

00:00:00 Intro
00:00:16 Get to know Curt Covert
00:01:27 Smirk and Laughter
00:04:34 Trickarus
00:12:11 Main Topic: Exhibiting at Conventions
00:12:33 Curt's overall philosophy
00:16:14 Choosing the Right Conventions for Exhibiting
00:19:01 First Steps to getting a booth
00:24:19 Navigating Convention Spaces and Traffic Flow
00:33:03 Line Management at Conventions
00:37:54 Efficient Booth Breakdown Strategies
00:42:59 Planning for Conventions - when to start
00:43:56 Engaging Booth Promotions
00:49:37 5 games (not from Smirk and Dagger) that we've been enjoying
00:49:55 Wondrous Creatures
00:53:32 Dino Racer
00:57:42 Fliptoons
Fliptoons Season 2
01:02:01 Clank! Catacombs
Underworld Expansion
01:05:20 Drillers
01:09:06 Things in Rings
Things on Strings
01:12:56 Rascally Rabbits
01:15:34 Ito
One Round?
01:21:08 Codenames: Critical Role Adventures
01:24:13 The Gang
The Gang: Deluxe Edition
01:30:38 Moment of Positivity
01:39:33 Where can you find Curt?
Smirk and Dagger Website
Facebook
Instagram
01:40:36 Outro

(Please note that these time stamps might not be accurate due to the use of dynamic ads.)
We hope you will come join us for fun games with all the fun people at BGG.CON 2026. https://boardgamegeek.com/bggcon or https://tabletop.events/conventions/bgg.con-2026
Web: https://boardgamegeek.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@boardgamegeek
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BoardGameGeek
Email: podcast@boardgamegeek.com

Episode 102: Peter Vaughan - Crowdfunding Tips and Tricks - Top 5 Bag and Deck Building Games - Con Memories

Peter, one of the owners of Cardboard Alchemy, takes time away from his big Kickstarter for Whisperwood, to talk about what he has learned about crowdfunding, his favorite bag and deck builder, ending with some good memories from conventions.

00:00:00 Intro
00:00:37 Who is Peter Vaughan?
Cardboard Alchemy
What the Food
Flamecraft
Andromeda's Edge
00:03:14 Whisperwood on KS
00:04:35 Main Topic: Kickstarting Board Games
00:04:55 Why Kickstarter?
00:06:10 How Kickstarter has changed for Board Games
00:07:57 Trends and Changes in Crowdfunding
00:13:26 Tips for those starting out in crowdfunding
00:17:08 Whisperwood: Cozy, Crunchy, Combo-filled Bag Builder
00:23:24 Preparing for a Crowdfunding Launch
00:26:08 Kickstarter is live, Now what?
00:27:50 Marketing Strategies Post-Kickstarter
00:31:27 Top 5 Bag & Deck Building Games
00:32:49 Orleans
00:37:03 Altiplano
00:39:49 Cubitos
00:41:42 Concordia
00:43:57 Mystic Lands
Ruins
00:46:28 Lost Ruins of Arnak
00:49:40 Tea Garden
00:53:07 Fliptoons
Fliptoons: Season 2
00:56:26 Fishing
01:00:05 Moon colony Bloodbath
01:04:00 Honorable Mentions
Wonderland’s War
Quacks
Clank!: A Deck-Building Adventure
Drillers
01:08:46 Moments of Positivity
LFG Con
01:15:40 Where can you find Peter Vaughn on the Internet?
Cardboard Alchemy’s:
Website
Facebook
Instagram
Discord
Youtube
01:20:16 Outro

(Please note that these time stamps might not be accurate due to the use of dynamic ads.)

We hope you will come join us for fun games with all the fun people at BGG.CON 2026. https://boardgamegeek.com/bggcon or https://tabletop.events/conventions/bgg.con-2026
Web: https://boardgamegeek.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@boardgamegeek
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BoardGameGeek
Email: podcast@boardgamegeek.com

Episode 101: Ilka Luza - How to Behave at the Table. - Top 5 Games We Like to Play on Repeat - A Surprise Gift and White Water Rafting.

Grab a drink and maybe some snacks because this is a longer episode. My super talented friend, Ilka Luza, joins me to discuss an important topic that’s not necessarily said out loud, some of our favorite comfort games, something that made us smile lately, and lots and lots of stories.

00:00:00 Intro
00:00:40 Who is Ilka Luza
00:08:11 Prevention Theater
Ep. 82 - Dave Luza
Ep. 83: AnnaMaria Jackson-Phelps
00:10:22 How to behave at a table
00:21:04 Respect each other
00:28:59 Ending a game early
00:39:20 Phones at the table
00:46:10 Top 5 Games we like to play on repeat
00:47:07 Patchwork Doodle
00:49:06 Three Sisters: Harvest Edition
00:52:17 Azul
00:55:54 Lords of Waterdeep
01:02:06 Sanctuary
01:08:04 Takenoko
01:11:55 Wingspan
01:17:12 Mahjong
01:27:14 Cascadia
01:32:25 Akropolis
01:36:35 Honorable Mentions
01:36:45 Nokosu Dice
01:39:40 Fliptoons
01:49:11 Moment of Positivity
Chris Long Prints
02:00:43 Where to Find Ilka?
Ilka’s Website 
Luzapalooza on Instagram, Twitch, and Youtube
This Game is Broken podcast
02:03:25 Outro

(Please note that these time stamps might not be accurate due to the use of dynamic ads.)
Web: https://boardgamegeek.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@boardgamegeek
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BoardGameGeek
Email: podcast@boardgamegeek.com

Episode 100: Lainie - Convention Planning Insights and Tips - 5 Games from BGG's top 100 that we love - Board Game Con Friends
Happy 100th Episode to the BGG Podcast! Let’s peek behind the scenes of Board Game Geek events and conventions with someone who helps run them, Lainie! Then we look at BGG’s top 100 games via user ratings to talk about 5 we love. And share some joy in finding friends through conventions.
00:00:00 Intro
00:00:18 Get to know Lainey
00:05:12 Convention Planning Insights and Tips
00:09:57 Managing Volunteers Effectively
00:21:40 What are the different BGG Events?
00:24:46 5 Games from BGG's top 100 that we love
00:26:37 Race for the Galaxy
00:28:40 Orleans
00:30:17 Power Grid
00:31:55 Grand Austria Hotel
00:34:04 Clank Legacy: Acquisitions Incorporated
00:37:10 Spirit Island
00:39:12 Castles of Burgundy
00:43:17 Obsession
00:46:25 Terraforming Mars
00:49:09 Darwin's Journey
00:52:15 Honorable Mention
00:53:33 Moment of Positivity
Omaha Gaming Convention
Board Game Wagon 
OFPG
Spielbound Board Game Cafe
01:02:41 Where to find Lainie
BGG Con 2026
Gen Con Hot Games Room
Hot Games Room Email
Lainie’s Email
01:03:40 Outro
(Please note that these time stamps might not be accurate due to the use of dynamic ads.)
We hope you will come join us for fun games with all the fun people at BGG.CON 2026. https://boardgamegeek.com/bggcon or https://tabletop.events/conventions/bgg.con-2026
Web: https://boardgamegeek.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@boardgamegeek
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BoardGameGeek
Email: podcast@boardgamegeek.com

Episode 99: Dutch Yoda - Gen Con vs Spiel - Top 5 BGG Gen Con Preview List 2026 - World Cup and the Beach Boys

My friend, Dutch Yoda, joins us all the way from around the globe to talk about the differences and similarities between the 2 biggest board game conventions in the world, Gen Con and Spiel. Then we had a hard time picking our Top 5 games from the BGG Gen Con Preview list for 2026. We then talked about how the World Cup and the Beach Boys brought a little joy in our lives. I hope you can stop by one of his streams and chat with him directly especially about coffee and crowdfunding.

00:00 Intro
00:51 Get to know Dutch Yoda
02:24 How you became Dutch Yoda
03:17 Start in the hobby
05:43 Exploring Gen Con vs. Spiel
14:54 Food Culture at Conventions
18:02 Media Events: A Contrast Between Gen Con and Spiel
26:01 Flea Markets: A Unique Experience
28:16 Travel Logistics and Airport Experiences
31:09 Availability of Games Post-Conventions
42:57 Community and Connections at Conventions
47:01 Top Five Games from BGG Gen Con 2026 Preview List
47:54 Horrified: Dungeons & Dragons - Ravenloft
49:48 Entropy
55:45 Sniper Elite: Expansions (Escalation & Operation Kraken)
57:46 Wondrous Creatures: Winterfall Expansion
Omaha Gaming Convention
01:00:55 Frosted Blooms (A Dutch Connection)
01:04:51 Fliptoons Season 2
01:09:34 Wingspan Pocket
01:12:03 Three Sisters: Harvest Edition
01:16:35 Endangered: Australia (Expansion)
Endangered: Giant Panda scenario
01:22:33 Mountain Goats: Legacy
Legacy of Yu
Tiny Mountain Goats
01:26:51 Honorable Mentions
01:27:35 Rascally Rabbits
01:30:17 Jason and the Argonauts
Hercules and the 12 Labors
01:32:33 Whisperwood
01:36:15 Perennial
01:38:09 Electrify
01:42:09 Moments of Positivity
01:49:38 Please follow Dutch Yoda  on the web!
Twitch @DutchYoda
Youtube, Instagram, and Bluesky @DutchYodaPlays 
01:51:58 Outro

Please note: this episode was pre-recorded so that it could be edited on time. Therefore, there might be a few games that were posted on the BGG Preview list after this episode was recorded.

(Please note that these time stamps might not be accurate due to the use of dynamic ads.)
We hope you will come join us for fun games with all the fun people at BGG.CON 2026. https://boardgamegeek.com/bggcon or https://tabletop.events/conventions/bgg.con-2026
Web: https://boardgamegeek.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@boardgamegeek
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BoardGameGeek
Email: podcast@boardgamegeek.com