Best Sandbox Radio Podcasts (2025)

1
A Eulogy for the Degenerate Micro Cube 1:05:36

1h ago1:05:36

1:05:36

View all cards mentioned in this episode Andy and Anthony send off Andy’s Degenerate Micro Cube. After many years, Andy has decided to take apart the Cube, reclaiming its cards, sleeves, and mental space. The Cube attempted to capture something about the most high powered vintage games with a twist on the typical draft format and a tiny deck size. …

1
A Tale of Two Cubes with Parker LaMascus 1:21:44

4d ago1:21:44

1:21:44

View all cards mentioned in this episode This episode was recorded a few weeks ago, so forgive the untimely references to the Rhystic Studies video on 100 Ornithopters. At our weekly cube night, Andy and Parker swapped drafts of eachother’s simple cubes: Andy playing Parker’s cube Atavus and Parker playing Andy’s cube Sacred Geometry. On this episo…

1
Modal Mechanics 001 — Some Nonzero Number of Mechanics Are Kicker 1:04:23

11d ago1:04:23

1:04:23

View all cards mentioned in this episode Andy and Anthony walk through (some of) the history of modal mechanics: cards that offer players choices between multiple effects. Starting with alpha they look at the different manifestations of modality, how they compare and contrast, and how they impact gameplay and fit into their Cube design philosophy. …

1
Every Cube a Painting with Jane and Arlo 1:19:25

23d ago1:19:25

1:19:25

View all cards mentioned in this episode Andy and Anthony are joined by Jane (a.k.a. maramas) and Arlo (a.k.a. gaytransmulldrifter) to talk about taste and aesthetics in Cube design. Building off recent discussions on the show, they question if there is such a thing as “taste” in cube design and what it means. Find more of Arlo and Jane, along with…

1
The One “About Saprolings” 1:05:39

26d ago1:05:39

1:05:39

View all cards mentioned in this episode Andy and Anthony talk about saprolings, sort of. Our hosts talk about aesthetics and their own personal tastes, and how that applies to their preferences in Magic. Anthony somehow tries to make the case that saprolings connect to a pattern of affinity for systems thinking, complex iterative processes with em…

1
Book Club: Playing Oppression by Mary Flanagan and Mikael Jakobsson 1:28:50

1M ago1:28:50

1:28:50

View all cards mentioned in this episode In the second episode of the Lucky Paper Radio Book Club, Andy, Anthony, and Parker discuss Playing Oppression by By Mary Flanagan and Mikael Jakobsson. The book explores the history of colonialism in games - the many roles games have played inculcating explicit propaganda or normalizing colonial value syste…

1
The Cube Design Paradox 1:13:12

1M ago1:13:12

1:13:12

View all cards mentioned in this episode Andy and Anthony talk about a paradox they occasionally face in Cube design. Sometimes a particular card to strategy over performs and as curators we want to add cards that offer counter play. Often those cards end up being just as potent played alongside the problematic cards as they are against them, only …

1
Tarkir: Dragonstorm Cube Set Review 1:54:10

2M ago1:54:10

1:54:10

View all cards mentioned in this episode Andy, Anthony, and Parker talk about the results of the cube community survey for Tarkir: Dragonstorm. They discuss the sets new mechanics and how they function to support a the set’s themes and limited environment and how that relates to goals of many Cube designers. They also talk about the top cards catch…

1
The Sound of Profit 15:07

2M ago15:07

15:07

Follow Jacob, Miles, and Victor through a story about musical exploitation, globalization, and hope, starting with the creation of Jazz and concluding with the future of Afrobeats. Names: Jacob Matlof, Miles C. Selles, and Victor Chen Interviewees: Bolaji Oyedepo Bolaji Oyedepo is an Nigerian American musician from Houston, Texas, paving his own wa…

1
Secret Graffiti 14:24

2M ago14:24

14:24

Katie Cheng, Lela Hanson, Reyna Duffy, and Will Yu This is a story about a girl named Katie who suddenly discovers that her seemingly straight-laced, engineer dad used to lead a secret life as a graffiti artist. Fueled by curiosity and wonder, she sets out on a journey to learn more. From exploring hidden graffiti tunnels with friends to having an …

1
Vernon vs. Exide: The Fight For Justice 15:57

2M ago15:57

15:57

How can supposedly green initiatives, such as battery recycling, still result in dirty outcomes? Community members in Vernon, California, fight to shut down a local battery recycling plant because its toxic waste is polluting their air, water, and soil. The company and governmental agencies that are supposed to be responsible fail to listen and act…

1
IncludEd 16:51

2M ago16:51

16:51

In an unprecedented political, social, and cultural climate where executive orders are being issued to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives nationwide, especially in educational institutions, three college-aged students from diverse racial backgrounds reflect on their experiences with racial discrimination and exclusion in K…

1
Boston Cube Party Two and Sacred Geometry First Impressions 1:18:22

2M ago1:18:22

1:18:22

View all cards mentioned in this episode As they continue to attend more and more local, grassroots Cube events, Andy and Anthony find themselves asking: do people like these ‘tournament report’ episodes? They try to talk through their drafts at Boston Cube Party Two more quickly, but it still takes almost an hour to get through them. The episode c…

1
The Barash Files 005 — Playtesting and Cube Feedback 1:12:26

2M ago1:12:26

1:12:26

View all cards mentioned in this episode In the final installment of ”The Barash Files” (at least for now!), Zach — game designer at Wizards of the Coast — talks with Andy and Anthony about playtesting. The three talk about how they approach getting feedback on their specific different environments and how they use that information. Discussed in th…

1
The ↑↑↓↓←→←→ABCs of Combo 1:06:18

2M ago1:06:18

1:06:18

View all cards mentioned in this episode Andy and Anthony talk all things “combo”. After talking about both aggro and control on the show, they finally get around to this sometimes divisive part of the Magic landscape. They try to come up with a working definition of combo strategies, talk about their own history with it as players and cube designe…

1
The Detour - Yes, Chef 21:42

2M ago21:42

21:42

How exciting would it be if you actually tuned into that little voice in the back of your head? The one telling you to go for the thing you really want, even if it’s probably, most likely, definitely not what’s expected of you? Aren’t you curious how a girl can go from making pancakes in the kitchen with her mom one day to suddenly winning MasterCh…

1
Judge Bones Teaches You How To Organize Your Own Grassroots Cube Event 1:14:57

3M ago1:14:57

1:14:57

View all cards mentioned in this episode Andy and Anthony are joined by Judge Bones. As mid-sized Cube events have flourished, Bones has spearheaded the task of judging and carried valuable lessons over from event to event. Hot on the heels of The Salt Box in Baltimore, the three talk about Bones’ history with Cube and what it takes to host and jud…

1
The Salt Box Tournament Report 1:37:48

3M ago1:37:48

1:37:48

View all cards mentioned in this episode Andy, Anthony, and Patrick report on their experience at Baltimore’s first mid-sized Cube event: The Salt Box. Following the pattern of other regional events, the tournament featured multiple drafts of Cubes from the local area, organized by ranked choice selection. The three of them talk through the decks t…

1
Aetherdrift Cube Set Review 1:40:18

3M ago1:40:18

1:40:18

View all cards mentioned in this episode Andy, Anthony, and Parker talk about Aetherdrift and peripheral sets. They review the results of the Cube community survey where Cube designers submit the cards they’re giving a shot in their cubes and how highly they rate them. They also give their own overall impressions of the set in this single-episode r…

1
The Barash Files 004 — Building Skill vs. Building Community and Learning from Your Mistakes 1:21:06

3M ago1:21:06

1:21:06

View all cards mentioned in this episode Andy, Anthony, and Zach talk about improving as a Magic player, building a community and how they try to balance the two. They talk about the challenges of fostering positive social standards and how that can conflict with trying to improve at a competitive game. Discussed in this episode: The Null Hypothesi…

1
Mindbreak Trap Forgives All Sins with Julien Henry 1:31:57

3M ago1:31:57

1:31:57

View all cards mentioned in this episode Andy and Anthony are joined by Julien from their local playgroup, fresh off the pro-tour, to offer his expert advice on an important topic: updating the Turbo Cube. In Anthony’s novelty cube, the rules are modified so all spells and activated abilities cost Discussed in this episode: The Turbo Cube Cube Even…

1
Our Favorite Cards from 2024 1:00:06

4M ago1:00:06

1:00:06

View all cards mentioned in this episode Andy and Anthony talk about their favorite cards from the last year. They each go through their top favorite unique cards or cycles discussing their impact on their own cubes, cubes they’ve been playing, or their future potential for the format. Discussed in this episode: Aetherdrift and Aetherdrift Commande…

1
Aesthetic Values and Style in Cube Design 1:07:07

4M ago1:07:07

1:07:07

View all cards mentioned in this episode Inspired by two standards of beauty from different cultures — the Japanese Wabi-Sabi and the Italian Sprezzatura — Andy and Anthony are talking about a seemingly mundane card choice in 100 Ornithopters and how that reflects on the aesthetic values that are informally codified in cube design. Discussed in thi…

1
Vintage Cube Sucks 1:01:10

4M ago1:01:10

1:01:10

View all cards mentioned in this episode Andy and Anthony talk about why they think Vintage Cube sucks. Riddled with unintelligibly complicated cards, self-solving puzzles, and value generating haymakers that take no investment or strategy to maximize, it’s not our hosts’ favorite kind of Cube. Discussed in this episode: Aetherdrift and Aetherdrift…

1
Debriefing Vertex Philadelphia & 100 Ornithopters Unite 1:16:37

4M ago1:16:37

1:16:37

View all cards mentioned in this episode Andy and Anthony recap Magic events they participated in this week. First, Anthony talks through his experience at Vertex Philadelphia, a ~100 person Cube tournament. Anthony had another solid run in his drafts, and the event was the first time his new Broadcast Shuffling method was tried at scale to reasona…

1
The Barash Files 003 — Reflections on Cube Drafts Past 1:21:12

5M ago1:21:12

1:21:12

View all cards mentioned in this episode On the third installment of The Barash Files, Zach shares stories from his drafts of some of Andy and Anthony’s cubes over the last few years. He shares insights into how he approaches them as a player, and how effectively they deliver on their stated goals. Discussed in this episode: Drafting the Bun Magic …

1
Using the Foundations Starter Collection as the Base for Your Own Cube — with Carmen Klomparens 1:19:00

5M ago1:19:00

1:19:00

View all cards mentioned in this episode Andy and Anthony talk with Carmen Klomparens, lead designer of the Foundations Starter Collection, about the set and how it’s a great option for new Cube players looking for a starting point. They talk about what’s in the set, how and how it was designed, and then each offer ideas and specific cards they’d a…

1
Changing Patterns in Magic R&D 1:05:35

5M ago1:05:35

1:05:35

View all cards mentioned in this episode Andy and Anthony talk about changes to the design of Magic cards over the years: including some overt changes like “snap on equipment” and more subtle differences in how attack triggers are worded they feel would have been done differently in the past. They talk about how each changes the texture and focus o…

1
The Barash Files 002 — On Terminology, Communication, and Community 1:25:15

5M ago1:25:15

1:25:15

View all cards mentioned in this episode In the second installment of “The Barash Files”, Andy, Anthony, and Zach talk about Cube terminology. They talk about how the language we use effects that kinds of conversations we have which in turn effect the kinds of communities we build. New terminology can enable talking more efficiently about concepts …

1
Always Be Cubing — 2024 in Review 1:29:05

6M ago1:29:05

1:29:05

View all cards mentioned in this episode Andy and Anthony close out 2024 reflecting on their year in Magic. This year Magic’s new direction as a product driven primarily by marketing goals fueled with cheap gimmicks and cross branding feels solidified. Our hosts talk, kind of briefly, on how their relationships to the game have changed because of t…

1
The Barash Files 001 — The Principles of Game Design 1:12:44

6M ago1:12:44

1:12:44

View all cards mentioned in this episode Zach Barash joins Andy and Anthony for the first episode in a series where he shares his game design expertise. In this first episode, the three talk about the first principles of game design, including the iteration loop most game designers follow (and similar processes in other fields!). Starting with idea…

1
A Loom Made of Yarn: the Tools of Cube Design 56:59

6M ago56:59

56:59

View all cards mentioned in this episode Andy and Anthony talk about the essential digital tools and workflows for Cube designers. Starting with finding and gathering cards on Scryfall, to sculpting and sharing lists on Cube Cobra and tools for analyzing and comparing lists, they talk about how to leverage resources to make designing and playing Cu…

1
Fixing is Cringe with Jenn the Judge 1:07:29

6M ago1:07:29

1:07:29

View all cards mentioned in this episode Andy and Anthony are Joined by Jenn the Judge to talk about “5 Color Good Stuff” decks in cube. They talk about what aspects of a Cube enable 5 color decks, and the impacts these decks have on the feel and fun of an environment. They talk about some of the strategies they employ in their own cubes, including…

1
Foundations Community Set Review 1:30:56

6M ago1:30:56

1:30:56

View all cards mentioned in this episode Andy, Anthony, and Parker review the results of the Foundations Cube Community survey. They talk through the top cards that have Cube designers most excited and theorize about what’s catching people’s interest and some of the patterns in the results. They talk about the associated Jump Start set with one maj…

1
On Board Wipes and Cube Design 1:07:56

7M ago1:07:56

1:07:56

Andy and Anthony talk all things board wipes in Cube. They talk about the varieties and boundaries of cards that reset the board state and how they effect gameplay and add strategic depth to games with or against them. They talk about the roles of board wipes in their main Cubes. View cards mentioned in this episode > Discussed in this episode: Fou…

1
Clown Shoes Cubes and How to Use Feedback 1:04:35

7M ago1:04:35

1:04:35

Andy and Anthony talk about their Cubes included in CubeCon 2024: Andy’s 100 Ornithopters and Anthony’s Regular and Turbo Cubes. They talk about what they learned about each from players’ feedback and the decklists after the event. They also talk about potential changes they’re considering based on that feedback. View all cards mentioned in this ep…

1
Foundations First Impressions 1:19:11

7M ago1:19:11

1:19:11

Andy and Anthony talk about Foundations, Magic’s latest set, akin to old Core Sets. The set fills multiple roles including being an approachable set for beginners, a nostalgic set to invested players, and a way to support standard with basic effects that stay in the format longer. Our hosts talk about their overall impressions of the set and indivi…

1
Heuristics for Having a Good Time 1:07:17

7M ago1:07:17

1:07:17

In the wake of CubeCon 2024, Andy and Anthony talk about how they approach drafting new Cube environments. They talk about their general draft strategies and heuristics they start with to get a sense of what’s going to be important in the environment just by looking at the packs being passed. View all cards mentioned in this episode Discussed in th…

1
2–1 Into 3–0 Into 3–0 Into 3–0 Into Drop and Go Eat Ramen 1:31:50

8M ago1:31:50

1:31:50

Andy and Anthony, are joined by perennial favorite, Patrick, to recap their experience at CubeCon 2024. They talk about how they approached the event, the Cubes they drafted, and the highs and lows of every deck they drafted throughout the event. Growing to almost 600 players in it’s third year, CubeCon continued to deliver on being an opportunity …

1
Bloomburrow and Duskmourn: House of Horror Cube Community Set Reviews 1:49:28

8M ago1:49:28

1:49:28

Andy, Anthony, and Parker, belatedly discuss the results from the last two standard sets’ Cube community surveys, Bloomburrow and Duskmourn: House of Horror. They talk about the top cards that have the attention of the most Cube designers as well as their general observations about what from each set the community is responding to. View all cards m…

1
Ryan Saxe’s Auto Battler Inspired Format 1:47:13

8M ago1:47:13

1:47:13

Andy and Anthony talk with Ryan Saxe about his latest Magic passion project. Inspired by one of his favorite video game genres, AutoBattlers, Ryan has been working to create a Magic variant that incorporates the feeling of quick mini-games and constant upgrades and expansion of your arsenal. In his format, players face of in a series of mini-games …

1
Commander Bans and Consumption as Self Expression 1:15:10

8M ago1:15:10

1:15:10

Andy and Anthony take a step aside from their typical focus on Cube and reflect on the recent shake ups in Commander. They talk about the major bans that have rattled the format and their feelings about Wizards of the Coast formally taking control of the fan-made format which has become the dominant form of the game. View all cards mentioned in thi…

1
Boromir Sucks and Oko is a Joke-O: Sweeping Updates to the Turbo Cube 1:18:36

9M ago1:18:36

1:18:36

Andy and Anthony talk about a big batch of updates to Anthony’s Turbo Cube. In this Cube, all spells and activated abilities cost {2} less. They talk about their general philosophy of updating Cubes, what types of strategies Anthony is hoping to bolster with these updates, and talk through the changes card by card. View all cards mentioned in this …

1
State of the Game 2024 1:08:36

9M ago1:08:36

1:08:36

Andy and Anthony reflect on the Mark Rosewater’s reflection on the past year in Magic. Every year, Magic’s lead designer shares lessons learned and strengths from each booster set. This year’s felt lacking a bit of thematic focus, but maybe the lack of focus is emblematic of this last year in Magic. View all cards mentioned in this episode Discusse…

1
Cards We Were Wrong About: 2024 Standard Rotation 1:12:35

9M ago1:12:35

1:12:35

Andy and Parker look back on all the sets currently cycling out of standard and talk about their overall impressions and how individual cards from each have aged in their various Cubes. Anthony’s there too, kinda just vibing cause he’s been updating his Cubes at an agitated non-newtonian fluid pace. View all cards mentioned in this episode Discusse…

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