Brainwaves - Board Game and Tabletop News Show

About Brainwaves - Board Game and Tabletop News Show

Iain & Jamie from The Giant Brain, and Oliver from Tabletop Games Blog bring you a fortnightly show featuring the best in Tabletop Gaming News

Publisher

The Giant Brain

Category

leisure

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

1 Apr 2018

Latest episode

2 Feb 2026

Latest episodes

3 of 204 episodes have a transcript.

1. 

   2 Feb 2026

   Brainwaves Special Edition - All Good Things

   All good things come to an end, and so it is with Brainwaves. In this last special episode Richard from ‘We’re Not Wizards’ runs the show as we bring together all the hosts from the years of Brainwaves. Iain McAllister, Jamie Adams, Iain Chantler, Oliver Kinne, and Sam Maggs reminisce about the formation of the show, how it has changed over the years, why I brought it to an end and the future of games journalism. Show Notes Meeple People Podcast No Pun Included Dized Episode Simon Lavender Jason Perez on board game journalism https://soundcloud.com/onestopcoopshop/397-board-game-media-a-critical-assessment-with-jason-luke-plunkett-and-keith-law Indie Game Reading Club Aftermath Rascal Boardgamewire Mothership Patreon Shoutouts Kevin Bertram https://www.fortcircle.com/ James Naylor https://naylorgames.com/ Shaun Newangame-a-lot.fun/enfacebook.com/gamealotboardgames Our Patreon https://www.patreon.com/thegiantbrain Support Us https://giantbrain.co.uk/support-us-new/ Fanroll https://fanrolldice.com/ref/2783/ Our Links Thanks very much for listening. If you like what you’ve listened to then the best way to help us out is to share the podcast and drop us a review and rating on itunes.  You can also follow us on Oliver: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/ Discord: https://discord.gg/3bMx2HK75r Blusky Iain https://bsky.app/profile/giantbrain.co.uk Oliver https://bsky.app/profile/tabletopgamesblog.com Jamie https://bsky.app/profile/jamsandwich.bsky.social Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/giantbrainuk/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thegiantbrain Website: https://giantbrain.co.uk/ Email: giantbrainuk@gmail.com

2. 

   15 Dec 2025

   Brainwaves Episode 172 - Thank You!

   It is the very last episode of Brainwaves. Iain, Jamie, and Oliver venture once more into the news wilds to bring you only the latest and best news. For our last show Mythic finally admit they are no more, the Diamond case starts to actually look like there may be a conclusion in sight, Ryan Dancey puts his backing behind AI, and the usual news on movements, promotions, hirings and more. Headlines Mythic is gone https://boardgamewire.com/index.php/2025/12/10/darkest-dungeon-board-game-maker-mythic-games-officially-liquidated-fails-to-deliver-on-millions-of-dollars-worth-of-crowdfunding-projects/ Ryan Dancey embraces AI https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7402402221167894529?commentUrn=urn%3Ali%3Acomment%3A(activity%3A7402402221167894529%2C7402427021819076608)&dashCommentUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afsd_comment%3A(7402427021819076608%2Curn%3Ali%3Aactivity%3A7402402221167894529) https://bsky.app/profile/giantbrain.co.uk/post/3m7isbb6h6s2e Diamond Bankruptcy Court Denies Motions to Dismiss + Advisors Bill Another $900k https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/61085/bankruptcy-court-denies-motions-dismiss https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/61108/diamond-advisors-bill-another-900k https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/61214/bank-pulls-plug-diamond News GAMA moves chairs https://boardgamewire.com/index.php/2025/11/27/gama-names-veteran-leadership-consultant-past-lives-regression-hypnotist-zaria-davis-as-interim-executive-director/ Mongoose licenses Traveller https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/61113/mongoose-licenses-traveller-5e-version The Picts https://www.thenational.scot/news/25614713.scottish-archaeologists-gamer-designers-collaborate-picts-book/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=Iwb21leAOBc-RjbGNrA4Fz3WV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDDM1MDY4NTUzMTcyOAABHlLsAPy1xBcyuIovYHbLe8vwyB3En18KMj2-nWXN-01Fp3-TZk5xaq6n9P0g_aem_ZHoILtQp6CTdnactQo8lyQ#Echobox=1762933955-3 https://www.rascal.news/carved-in-stone-is-both-a-history-book-and-an-eye-catching-rpg/ - paying subscribers only https://www.stoutstoat.co.uk/products/carved-in-stone?ref=rascal.news Obituaries RIP Burt Meyer https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/21/arts/design/burton-meyer-dead.html?unlocked_article_code=1.3k8.fC2y.y0ySzxk44dLP&smid=url-share Patreon Shoutouts Kevin Bertram https://www.fortcircle.com/ James Naylor https://naylorgames.com/ Shaun Newman game-a-lot.fun/en facebook.com/gamealotboardgames Our Patreon https://www.patreon.com/thegiantbrain Support Us https://giantbrain.co.uk/support-us-new/ Fanroll https://fanrolldice.com/ref/2783/ Our Links Thanks very much for listening for all these years. The cast will still be around if you want to listen to our back catalogue and Iain will be covering the news in his newsletter that you can sign up for on our Patreon. Oliver: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/ Discord: https://discord.gg/3bMx2HK75r Blusky Iain https://bsky.app/profile/giantbrain.co.uk Oliver https://bsky.app/profile/tabletopgamesblog.com Jamie https://bsky.app/profile/jamsandwich.bsky.social Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thegiantbrain Website: https://giantbrain.co.uk/ Email: giantbrainuk@gmail.com

3. 

   24 Nov 2025

   Brainwaves Episode 171 - Final Countdown

   Iain and Oliver are in the studio to bring you the latest tabletop news from around the globe. From crowdfunding messes and AI promotion to Upper Deck getting counter-claimed by Ravensburger, we have all the important information you need. Also this episode we have a special announcement at the end of the cast. Headlines Altering the Deal https://gamefound.com/en/projects/altered/seeds-of-unity/updates/10 Steamforged Slash Terra Mystica Special Edition https://boardgamewire.com/index.php/2025/11/05/high-price-complaints-sluggish-start-sees-steamforged-slash-terra-mystica-special-edition-all-in-price-by-over-100-within-hours-of-gamefound-launch/ Terra Mystica Gamefound campaign: https://gamefound.com/en/projects/steamforged-games/terra-mystica Campaign update announcing the price drop: https://gamefound.com/en/projects/steamforged-games/terra-mystica/updates/7 UKGE promotes AI art https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1aAkxyfbrB/ Gates of Krystalia Kickstarter page: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/gatesofkrystalia-rpg/gates-of-krystalia-book-anime-tt-jrpg-in-style-isekai Kickstarter United victory https://www.rascal.news/kickstarter-united-workers-will-strike-beginning-october-2/ https://www.rascal.news/kickstarter-united-ends-six-week-strike-with-a-resounding-victory/ https://kickstarterunited.org/?ref=rascal.news Updates Ravensburger wants money back from Upper Deck https://boardgamewire.com/index.php/2025/11/08/ravensburger-pushes-for-upper-deck-to-pay-3-8m-legal-fees-it-racked-up-defeating-groundless-but-unrelenting-disney-lorcana-lawsuit/ News Braincrack Games shutters instagram.com/p/DQfH0H3jH8t/?igsh=MXFjejF3aHhoZGc1OA== Wise Wizard Games https://www.wisewizardgames.com/wise-wizard-games-business-update/ Asmodee interim report April-September 2025 https://corporate.asmodee.com/news/asmodees-interim-report-april-september-2025-sustained-growth-and-ebitda-improvement Bezier Games’ Socials Hacked https://bsky.app/profile/beziergames.bsky.social/post/3m5umtfrre22v Jobs, Opportunities, and Events https://www.facebook.com/groups/TabletopJobs Tabletop Games Blog Raffle in aid of Trussell / UK Food Banks http://tabletopgamesblog.com/raffle Patreon Shoutouts Kevin Bertram https://www.fortcircle.com/ James Naylor https://naylorgames.com/ Shaun Newman game-a-lot.fun/en facebook.com/gamealotboardgames Our Patreon https://www.patreon.com/thegiantbrain Support Us https://giantbrain.co.uk/support-us-new/ Fanroll https://fanrolldice.com/ref/2783/ Our Links Thanks very much for listening. If you like what you’ve listened to then the best way to help us out is to share the podcast and drop us a review and rating on itunes.  You can also follow us on Oliver: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/ Discord: https://discord.gg/3bMx2HK75r Blusky Iain https://bsky.app/profile/giantbrain.co.uk Oliver https://bsky.app/profile/tabletopgamesblog.com Jamie https://bsky.app/profile/jamsandwich.bsky.social Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thegiantbrain Website: https://giantbrain.co.uk/ Email: giantbrainuk@gmail.com

Who has been a guest on Brainwaves - Board Game and Tabletop News Show

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Cornelius O’Donovan
• Kevin Bertram
• James Naylor
• Shaun Newman

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

665

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

3.3 / 5

4 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

4 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 60 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

45

Social presence

91

YouTube

66

Engagement

77

Contact Brainwaves - Board Game and Tabletop News Show

Guest appearances

Does not typically book guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

Questions about Brainwaves - Board Game and Tabletop News Show