🔥 Welcome to the first episode of Cardboard Campfire! 🎲 Meet the campers: Tanner, Cole, Charlie, and Keith, as we share how we got into board gaming, the games we can't live without, and the unique gaming group that's become a huge part of our lives. We also play a couple of fun games to wrap things up!
Join our Discord and connect with fellow board game lovers: https://discord.gg/uRtajBryD
Stop Ruining Game Night: How to Make Game Night Better for Everyone - Episode 5
🎲 WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT?
This week, the campers gather around the fire to talk about how to make game night better for everyone. We discuss board game milestones, what everyone’s been playing, teaching games, hosting, and the little things that can turn a good game night into a great one.
⏱️ AROUND THE FIRE
00:00 — We gather round
00:00 — Burning question: What milestone must every board gamer hit?
01:18 — The cycle of buying, playing, and selling too many games
04:44 — Buying games just because they’re on sale
05:56 — Board games at dollar stores and convention bring-and-buys
10:20 — When you realize you’ve played a rule wrong
12:15 — Share your own board-game milestones
13:43 — What everyone’s been playing lately
24:03 — Main topic: How to build a better game night
24:29 — Making newcomers feel welcome at the table
29:56 — Pitching games by the experience, not the mechanics
33:14 — What makes a good rules teach?
41:41 — Prepare before teaching and give everyone grace for mistakes
44:56 — What matters more: the game or the people?
49:21 — Is it the teacher’s job to make sure everyone has fun?
53:55 — Small hosting touches that make a difference
54:55 — Making first-timers feel special
59:03 — Learn a game someone wants to try
61:22 — Share your game-night stories with the show
61:42 — Game: “Who Likes It Best?”
62:15 — Round one: Hansa Teutonica
63:47 — Round two: Clank
65:40 — Round three: Ra
69:41 — Round four: Codenames
73:41 — Round five: No Thanks!
74:45 — House rules, high scores, and memorable game components
78:32 — We head home
🔥 PULL UP A SEAT
💬 Chat with us on Discord: https://discord.gg/8Rbpnh3uV (https://discord.gg/8Rbpnh3uV)
📸 Connect with us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cardboardcampfire/ (https://www.instagram.com/cardboardcampfire/)
▶️ Watch us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CardboardCampfire (https://www.youtube.com/@CardboardCampfire)
📧 Send us a message at: cardboardcampfirepodcast@gmail.com (mailto:cardboardcampfirepodcast@gmail.com)
Thanks for pulling up a seat around the fire. See you next time! 🔥🎲
🏕️ THE CAMPERS (Credits)
Tanner Short: Co-host, Editor
Cole Smith: Co-host
Charlie Smith: Co-host
Keith Dozois: Co-host
7 Sept 2026
Small Box Smackdown: The Ultimate Small Box Bracket - Episode 4
🎲 WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT? This week, the campers are talking all things small box games. What actually qualifies as a small box? Which games pack the most punch into the tiniest package? And which one will be crowned the Cardboard Campfire favourite? Expect a small box bracket, some blind rankings, a round of Buy, Borrow, Burn, and probably a few opinions that should have stayed safely inside the box.
⏱️ AROUND THE FIRE
00:00 — We gather round
00:42 — Burning Question: What game would a designer rig against you?
08:27 — What actually counts as a small box game?
19:50 — The Small Box Bracket begins
67:42 — Bracket recap and semifinals
76:41 — The final showdown
79:37 — Blind Rankings: Which small box games could become big-box games?
92:44 — Buy, Borrow, Burn
107:47 — We head home
🔥 PULL UP A SEAT💬 Chat with us on Discord: https://discord.gg/8Rbpnh3uV (https://discord.gg/8Rbpnh3uV)
📸 Connect with us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cardboardcampfire/ (https://www.instagram.com/cardboardcampfire/)
▶️ Watch us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CardboardCampfire (https://www.youtube.com/@CardboardCampfire)
📧 Send us a message at: cardboardcampfirepodcast@gmail.com
Thanks for pulling up a seat around the fire. See you next time! 🔥🎲
🏕️ THE CAMPERS (Credits)
Tanner Short: Co-host, Editor
Cole Smith: Co-host
Charlie Smith: Co-host
Keith Dozois: Co-host
10 Aug 2026
Upcoming Heat: Board Games We're Most Looking Forward To - Episode 3
🔥 CARDBOARD CAMPFIRE — EPISODE 3
Upcoming Heat: Board Games We're Most Looking Forward To
🎲 WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT?
This week, the campers gather around the fire to talk about the future of board gaming and the upcoming releases we’re most excited about. From new games and expansions to reimplementations, industry trends, and hidden gems waiting to hit the table, we’re exploring the titles that could shape our next game nights. Expect hype, predictions, bold opinions, and probably a few games that should have stayed safely inside the box.
⏱️ AROUND THE FIRE
00:00 — We gather round
04:12 — Exploring upcoming Gen Con releases and new games on the horizon
07:00 — Grendel: A deep dive into an asymmetric comic-inspired game
09:23 — Qork and the return of a nostalgic classic
13:55 — Drillers by CGE: Deck-building, components, and strategic depth
16:18 — Compania and innovative new mechanics from Level 99 Games
21:17 — Wingspan Pocket and bringing big games to smaller tables
25:06 — Parks Europe and its refreshed art and gameplay
27:46 — Tag Team Arcade Legends and the world of fighting game expansions
30:31 — Dune: Imperium – Conspiracy and new ways to play
35:07 — Final thoughts on upcoming releases and board game trends
36:40 — Buy, Borrow, or Burn: Quick-fire game decisions
44:49 — Old King's Crown and other mystery titles
75:20 — Big box games: Eclipse, Too Many Bones, and Kingdom Death Monster
77:48 — We head home
🔥 PULL UP A SEAT
💬 Chat with us on Discord: https://discord.gg/8Rbpnh3uV (https://discord.gg/8Rbpnh3uV)
📸 Connect with us on Instagram: [INSTAGRAM LINK]
▶️ Watch us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CardboardCampfire (https://www.youtube.com/@CardboardCampfire)
📧 Send us a message at: cardboardcampfirepodcast@gmail.com (mailto:cardboardcampfirepodcast@gmail.com)
Thanks for pulling up a seat around the fire. See you next time! 🔥🎲
🏕️ THE CAMPERS (Credits)
Tanner Short: Co-host, Editor
Cole Smith: Co-host
Charlie Smith: Co-host
Keith Dozois: Co-host
10 Aug 2026
Top 3 Games That Might Make Our Top 10s... If We Played Them More
🔥 CARDBOARD CAMPFIRE — EPISODE 2
Top 3 Games That Might Make Our Top 10s... If We Played Them More
🎲 WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT?
This week, the campers gather around the fire to talk about the games sitting just outside their personal top 10s. These are the games that have impressed us, the ones we think have something special, but just haven’t had enough plays to earn a permanent spot on our favourite games lists. Expect hot takes, underrated gems, surprising picks, and plenty of opinions that should have stayed safely inside the box.
🔥 PULL UP A SEAT
💬 Chat with us on Discord: https://discord.gg/8Rbpnh3uV (https://discord.gg/8Rbpnh3uV)
📸 Connect with us on Instagram: [INSTAGRAM LINK]
▶️ Watch us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CardboardCampfire (https://www.youtube.com/@CardboardCampfire)
📧 Send us a message at: cardboardcampfirepodcast@gmail.com (mailto:cardboardcampfirepodcast@gmail.com)
Thanks for pulling up a seat around the fire. See you next time! 🔥🎲
🏕️ THE CAMPERS (Credits)
Tanner Short: Co-host, Editor
Cole Smith: Co-host
Charlie Smith: Co-host
Keith Dozois: Co-host
10 Aug 2026
Meet the Campers: Our Board Game Origin Stories - Episode 1
🔥 CARDBOARD CAMPFIRE — EPISODE 1
Meet the Campers: Our Board Game Origin Stories
🎲 WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT?
This week, the campers gather around the fire to share the stories behind how they discovered board games, the experiences that shaped their love for the hobby, and the games that made them fall in love with tabletop gaming. Expect childhood memories, gateway games, favourite picks, lessons learned from teaching new players, and probably a few opinions that should have stayed safely inside the box.
⏱️ AROUND THE FIRE
00:00 — We gather round
00:11 — How we each got into board games
38:43 — Teaching board games to aliens and finding the perfect gateway game
39:50 — How many game elements are too many for intergalactic peace?
42:29 — Game complexity, difficulty, and understanding the rules
43:48 — Daybreak and the themes that bring games to life
44:55 — Guessing each other's favourite games
45:54 — Why Wingspan has become a favourite
46:00 — Heat: Pedal to the Metal and the power of familiarity
48:10 — Blood on the Clock Tower and the magic of social deduction
50:02 — Game preferences, strategies, and the games we love
52:07 — Dominion and the evolution of deck-building
56:47 — Final scores, favourite games, and closing thoughts
57:40 — We head home
🔥 PULL UP A SEAT
💬 Chat with us on Discord: https://discord.gg/8Rbpnh3uV (https://discord.gg/8Rbpnh3uV)
📸 Connect with us on Instagram: [INSTAGRAM LINK]
▶️ Watch us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CardboardCampfire (https://www.youtube.com/@CardboardCampfire)
📧 Send us a message at: cardboardcampfirepodcast@gmail.com (mailto:cardboardcampfirepodcast@gmail.com)
Thanks for pulling up a seat around the fire. See you next time! 🔥🎲
🏕️ THE CAMPERS (Credits)
Tanner Short: Co-host, Editor
Cole Smith: Co-host
Charlie Smith: Co-host
Keith Dozois: Co-host
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Spotify
5.0 / 5
1 ratings
Contact Cardboard Campfire
Guest appearances
Does not typically book guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
Host of Cardboard Campfire?
Claim your podcast to manage its listing and keep your show details accurate.
Pod Engine is an independent podcast discovery and analytics service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by this podcast. Artwork and show content belong to their owners. Full legal notice.
Explore this show Podcast research with Pod Engine
