Best Tom Graf Podcasts (2026)

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Dirty Pool Podcast - Ep22 - Mapping It Out - Pinball Map with Ryan 30:06

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19d ago30:06

30:06

Ryan Gratzer from Pinball Map drops by to untangle how the world’s most obsessive pinball location tracker actually works and how your favorite arcades lineup changes the second you visit. This one digs into Ryan's pinball origins, community reporting, app evolution, and the odd psychology of people who will happily move a mountain to report a brok…

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Triple Drain Pinball Podcast Episode 70 - Elwin is back and he is dropping truth bombs! 1:36:23

17d ago1:36:23

1:36:23

Hosts: Joel Engelberth, Tom Graf and Travis Murie Guest: Keith Elwin We like talking pinball and pinball design so who better to invite onto the show than Keith Elwin himself. We went into this episode with no agenda and just wanted to talk game theory with one of the greats. We chatted about physical design, rules and mode design as well as the pe…

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Season 3-Episode 7 Kathryn (EHS '16) and Christine (EHS '19) Graf 27:10

17d ago27:10

27:10

Sisters Kathryn and Christine Graf were teammates on the first volleyball team from Edina High School to make the state tournament (2018). Kathryn went on to play volleyball at Bradley University and Christine played 4 years at California Baptist before playing a post-grad year at High Point University while getting her MBA. The Graf sisters talked…

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Dirty Pool Podcast - Ep21 - Beetlejuice Brains & Spooky Pinball Logic from Bug 1:26:56

23d ago1:26:56

1:26:56

Bug from Spooky Pinball joins to break down the creative chaos behind Beetlejuice, from shaping the theme into a playable world to the collaboration across design, code, art, and sound that gives the game its personality. We talk problem-solving during development, how rules evolve once players get their hands on the machine, and what it takes for …

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Dirty Pool Podcast - Ep20 - Counterflip Apparel 45:54

1M ago45:54

45:54

Counterflip absolutely makes the best pinball t-shirts... Shea sits down with us and we get into everything from his pinball favorites to why making a genuinely good T-shirt feels like a boss battle. We talk about how printing goes wrong, how his first business attempt at 15 tanked spectacularly, and how he rebuilt it into Counterflip by focusing o…

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Season 3-Episode 6 Swim Coaches Art Downey and Scott Johnson 55:57

2M ago55:57

55:57

Art Downey began coaching swimming and diving at Edina High School in 1956 when he founded the swim program. He coached for 62 years retiring in 2018. Under his leadership the Edina Boys’ Swimming and Diving team won 10 state championships. Art is in the Minnesota Swimming Coaches Hall of Fame and the National Swimming Coaches’ Hall of Fame Scott J…

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Triple Drain Pinball Podcast Episode 69 - Get that Butyrate out of here! 2:18:28

2M ago2:18:28

2:18:28

Hosts: Joel Engelberth, Tom Graf and Travis Murie Chicago Pinball Expo has come and gone and we had a blast! In this episode we discuss Tom’s newest game as well as our initial impressions of Winchester Mystery House. This leads into a discussion on what Barrels of Fun and Spooky are doing right and how 3D sculpts add to the feeling of quality with…

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Dirty Pool Podcast - Ep19 - Aaron Davis of FAST Pinball 1:22:57

2M ago1:22:57

1:22:57

What does it take to build the brain behind modern pinball? Aaron Davis, founder of FAST Pinball, joins the show to talk about designing the hardware that powers homebrews, boutique manufacturers, and the next generation of game coders. We dig into the origins of the FAST platform, how open hardware changed the indie landscape, and what it really m…

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Meet The Team... Brad Albright - Winchester Mystery House - 2D Layered Art & Illustration 1:04:16

2M ago1:04:16

1:04:16

Brad Albright is the creative force behind the 2D layered art of Winchester Mystery House, bringing the entire cabinet, playfield, and backglass to life with his signature dimensional style. His work bridges vintage illustration and modern surrealism—capturing the mansion’s eerie beauty while still keeping it fun and tactile. In this episode, Brad …

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Season 3-Episode 5 Jay Bennett and Jeff Wright Class of 1967 39:52

2M ago39:52

39:52

Lifelong friends Jay Bennett and Jeff Wright, both 1967 graduates of Edina High School, were two of the most successful athletes to come through EHS. Jay and Jeff led the Hornets to four state titles in three years - two in football and two in basketball. After high school, Jay attended Dartmouth College where he played football and still holds the…

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Meet The Team... Eric Priepke - Winchester Mystery House - Software Engineering & Programming 1:05:46

2M ago1:05:46

1:05:46

The next stop in our Winchester Mystery House series introduces Eric Priepke — the software engineer and programmer behind the house’s mind-bending code. From scripting the complex logic that ties every haunted room together to balancing the chaotic layers of light, sound, and animation, Eric helped the house come alive in ways that only a true pro…

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Meet The Team... Joshua Clay - Winchester Mystery House - UI & 3D Design 1:07:32

2M ago1:07:32

1:07:32

The first in a new series diving into the artists, engineers, and mad scientists behind Winchester Mystery House. We sit down with UI artist, 3D modeller, and graphic designer Joshua Clay to talk about what it takes to shape the look and feel of Barrels of Fun’s most ambitious game yet. From haunting interface layouts to the subtle textures that br…

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Season 3-Episode 4 Greg Buth EHS Class of 1997 34:55

2M ago34:55

34:55

A 1997 EHS grad, Greg Buth played 4 years of varsity basketball for Edina High School. During his senior year, he was named 1st team All-State and a finalist for the statewide Mr. Basketball award. Greg went on to play 4 years of NCAA Division I basketball for Dartmouth. As a sophomore, he was presented the Edward S. Steitz Award for being the top …

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Exploring the Winchester Mystery House – A Haunted Pinball Machine from Barrels of Fun 20:59

3M ago20:59

20:59

For months, we’ve been quietly building something inside the walls of Barrels of Fun. The doors are finally open. Introducing Winchester Mystery House Pinball, the next major release from Barrels of Fun, designed by Karl DeAngelo in his debut as a pinball designer. This behind-the-scenes feature pulls back the curtain on the months of development t…

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Triple Drain Pinball Podcast Episode 68 - Tom is DONE with LEs! 1:16:59

3M ago1:16:59

1:16:59

Hosts: Joel Engelberth, Tom Graf and Travis Murie Today we didn’t have much time buy we wanted to squeeze in an episode before Chicago Pinball Expo! We dove deep into our thoughts on Stern’s latest game, Star Wars Fall of the Empire as well as our thoughts on Spike 3. We ended the episode with an overview on what to play and see and Expo. Please co…

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Season 3-Episode 3 MC McGrory EHS Class of 2013 22:37

3M ago22:37

22:37

By Katie Aafedt and Tom Connell

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Dirty Pool Podcast - Ep18 - Organizing Pinball Expo with Rob Berk 1:06:18

3M ago1:06:18

1:06:18

Rob Berk has been the face behind Pinball Expo since 1985, curating a gathering that’s become the longest-running pinball show on the planet. From hosting early designers who rarely shared stories in public, to shaping the culture of how collectors, vendors, and fans come together, Rob’s influence is unmatched. We dig into what it’s like to create …

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Season 3 Episode 2-Emily Kompelien EHS Class of 2018 19:59

4M ago19:59

19:59

A 2018 graduate of Edina High School, Emily Kompelien competed in cross country, track & field and Nordic skiing at Edina High School. She was a two-time team state champion in cross country , 2018 state champion in track for 1600m and 800m events and was named the 2018 Gatorade Track & Field Player of the Year as well as the ExCEL Award Winner-Sch…

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Dirty Pool Podcast - Ep17 - Organizing Tournaments and How to Stay Zen with Tom Graf of Fox Cities 1:08:10

4M ago1:08:10

1:08:10

Tom Graf of Fox Cities Pinball joins the Dirty Pool Podcast to share what it takes to set up and run tournaments without losing your cool. From the logistics of organizing events to the art of staying calm when things get hectic, Tom breaks down his approach and why his relaxed style works so well. We also touch on his background and the Fox Cities…

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Star Wars Fall Of The Empire Pinball, I Played It – Let’s Talk About It 50:30

4M ago50:30

50:30

I went to Stern for a media day event and spent hours meeting the crew, playing Star Wars Fall Of The Empire, and hanging with tons of other creators. Along with a full factory tour, I’m now fully briefed on all things Spike 3 and Star Wars. Fire your questions away and join me as we watch Stern’s live reveal of the game and talk about it together.…

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Season 3 Episode 1-Dan Fitzgerald EHS Class of 1996 33:23

4M ago33:23

33:23

We begin Season 3 of Always A Hornet with a home run! A 1996 Edina High School grad, Dan Fitzgerald has established himself as one of the top college baseball coaches in the country. He is currently the head baseball coach at the University of Kansas and was recently named the Big 12 coach of the year. His teams have been successful everywhere he’s…

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Dirty Pool Podcast - Ep16 - Into the Rainbow With Mark Seiden at Jersey Jack Pinball 1:04:48

4M ago1:04:48

1:04:48

Mark Seiden joins the Dirty Pool Podcast to talk about his journey from homebrew designer to working at Jersey Jack Pinball. We dive into his creative process, what it’s like designing Avatar, and how collaboration shapes modern pinball design. From early influences to the nuts and bolts of game rules, this episode explores how Seiden’s unique visi…

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Triple Drain Pinball Podcast Episode 67 - Squashing Rumors! 2:23:05

4M ago2:23:05

2:23:05

Hosts: Joel Engelberth, Tom Graf and Travis Murie Today we recorded with no real agenda and still ended up talking for 2+ hours. Buckle up as we cover Jurassic Park, Harry Potter, Cactus Canyon Lyman Sheats Upgrade Kit, X-Men, John Wick, Tom’s Microwave, some overall game theory, Evil Dead, DUNE, and a bunch of other pinball talk. There was some to…

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Dirty Pool Podcast Ep15 – Rebecca Salem on Pinball Collectives 1:15:49

4M ago1:15:49

1:15:49

Rebecca Salem joins the Dirty Pool Podcast to talk about building the Austin Pinball Collective, designing her own 3D-printed pinball trophies, and what it really takes to form a collective in your own city. How not to feel alone with standing up to bad pinball peeps and how it takes a village to create one of the most interesting pinball collectiv…

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Dirty Pool Podcast - Ep14 - Custom Toppers With Rob Rath of The Electric Playground 1:08:08

5M ago1:08:08

1:08:08

Rob Rath from The Electric Playground joins Dirty Pool Podcast to talk about his work designing and building custom toppers for pinball machines. We get into how he approaches the creative process, what goes into making something that feels like it belongs with a game but still stands out, and the small shop challenges of turning ideas into somethi…

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Dirty Pool Podcast - Ep13 - Kyle Spiteri - Motorcycles, Cats, and Stern Support Guru 1:38:45

6M ago1:38:45

1:38:45

Kyle Spiteri, better known as Black Cat Pinball - joins the show to talk about his path from his time at Marco Specialties to his current support role at Stern Pinball. We dig into his early days fixing pins at the Pacific Pinball Museum, the chaos of tech support at Stern, and why you don’t always need to restore a game to perfection. Kyle shares …

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Dirty Pool Podcast - Ep12 - Manu - Streaming, Free Gold Watch, and Virtual Pinball 1:22:35

6M ago1:22:35

1:22:35

From Free Gold Watch to virtual tables and movie nights, Manu Smith has built one of the most distinctive voices in the pinball streaming world. We talk about his early days in the Bay Area pinball scene, the rise of Mystery Pinball Theater 3000, and how virtual pinball became a lifeline for players and creators alike. Plus: what really goes down d…

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Triple Drain Pinball Podcast Episode 66 - Joel Bought a Game!!! 2:00:50

6M ago2:00:50

2:00:50

Hosts: Joel Engelberth, Tom Graf and Travis Murie Well we are half way through 2025 and things are shifting around in our game rooms. With so many awesome games that just came out Travis is selling two of his, Tom is selling a few of his and just received Harry Potter, and Joel finally bought a game! We talk JAWS 50th, Predator, DUNE and Harry Pott…

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Dirty Pool Podcast - Ep11 - Paris Pinball Addict: How The Pinball Industry Needs To Change 2:00:25

6M ago2:00:25

2:00:25

Guillaume Fau (aka Paris Pinball Addict) joins us to break down the global pinball scene and we don’t hold back. We talk pinball ambassadorship, international markets, and the step-by-step process this industry should be following when announcing and releasing games. With years of large-scale marketing experience, Guillaume lays out how transparenc…

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Dirty Pool Podcast Ep10 – After Hours: Electric Bat Arcade with Rachel & Cale 1:36:55

7M ago1:36:55

1:36:55

How do you run a full-blown pinball bar until 2 AM every night and stay married? Rachel and Cale from Electric Bat Arcade break it all down—logistics, love, location pinball, and late-night arcade life in Tempe. We talk running machines in the desert heat, Arizona pinball culture, and how to build a community one quarter at a time. Praise the Great…

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Dirty Pool Podcast Ep09 – The Hunt Begins: Predator Pinball with Daniel Janson 1:03:50

7M ago1:03:50

1:03:50

The widebody has landed. We sit down with Daniel Jansen, CEO of Pinball Brothers, to talk about their new Predator machine: the rules, the features, and the sheer guts it takes to bring a licensed behemoth like this to life. We dig into the use of AI in their teaser campaign, the implications of AI-generated art in the industry, and whether high im…

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Dirty Pool Podcast Ep08 – Brewing Beans & Flipping Dreams: Tony from What’s Brewing 1:42:15

7M ago1:42:15

1:42:15

We head south to San Antonio to talk to Tony, the owner of What’s Brewing, a coffee roastery that also happens to double as a pinball arcade. We get into the grind of running two very different scenes under one roof, from roasting beans to repairing flippers, and how a city like San Antonio shaped the culture of both. Turns out, coffee people and p…

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Triple Drain Pinball Podcast Episode 65 - Strong takes on Harry Potter!!! 1:47:33

7M ago1:47:33

1:47:33

Hosts: Joel Engelberth, Tom Graf and Travis Murie We are back with another action packed episode where we tackle many of life’s tough questions like: Does Tom like his Kong Pro? Does he regret not getting an LE?! Are there things Tom thinks Keith Elwin did wrong that need fixed? Is Travis an idiot? Does Travis have one nonnegotiable rule that Harry…

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Dirty Pool Podcast Ep07 – Davey of Stumblor Mods / The Art of The Pinball Modding 1:48:25

7M ago1:48:25

1:48:25

Davey from Stumblor joins Dirty Pool to discuss how one of the most respected names in pinball modding became a quiet powerhouse. Twitch – https://twitch.tv/dirtypoolpinball YouTube – https://youtube.com/@DirtyPoolPinball Instagram – https://instagram.com/dirtypoolpinball Facebook – https://facebook.com/dirtypoolpinball Known for high-end, limited-…

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Dirty Pool Podcast Ep06 – Chad The Bird Loves Worms and Pinball 1:21:30

7M ago1:21:30

1:21:30

This week’s guest has a lot to say—and somehow says it all without moving his lips. We get into pinball, performance art, and the unique acoustics of Logan Arcade. Let’s just say this one might take flight in unexpected directions. 00:00:00 - Intro 00:01:15 - What Are You? 00:02:32 - Did I Pay Chad? ... No. 00:03:30 - Bi-coastal? Bi-Polar. 00:04:00…

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Dirty Pool Podcast Ep05 – Maker of Mischief: David Van Es from Barrels of Fun 1:47:20

7M ago1:47:20

1:47:20

David Van Es joins us to talk about launching Barrels of Fun, building a creative-first pinball company, and the wild process behind their debut game Labyrinth. With Dune now on the line, we dig into how his background in film and licensing feeds into game development—and why the second act might be even more ambitious than the first. 00:00:00 - In…

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Dirty Pool Podcast Ep04 – Ian Jacoby of Nudge Magazine 1:26:10

8M ago1:26:10

1:26:10

Talking pinball lifestyle and punk rock with Ian Jacoby, founder of Nudge,a print only pinball magazine that’s flipping the bird to digital trend. We dig into why print still matters, the aesthetics of rebellion, and the dedicated art of saying no to AI.. 00:00:00 - Intro 00:00:16 - Welcome! 00:00:58 - Jeff May Introduced Me To Nudge @heytherejeffr…

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Season 2-Episode 12 Lea Blackwell Favor EHS Class of 1984 35:30

8M ago35:30

35:30

In this episode, we catch up with 1984 grad Lea Blackwell Favor. Lea won eight letters in soccer, tennis and basketball while at Edina High School and led the Hornets to a state Class AA runner-up finish in basketball her junior year. After Katie shares her fangirl moment, we talk to Lea about her experiences growing up in Edina, her college years …

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Dirty Pool Podcast Ep03 – Jonathan Bergeron From Punk to Pinball 1:06:55

8M ago1:06:55

1:06:55

From tagging as ZEN in Montreal’s graffiti scene to illustrating Jurassic Park, Dune, and Labyrinth for Stern and Barrels of Fun—Johnny Crap has carved a path through art that’s anything but ordinary. In this episode, we trace Jonathan Bergeron’s evolution from punk-fueled muralist to in-demand illustrator, designing merch for Slayer and Guns N’ Ro…

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Triple Drain Pinball Podcast Episode 64 - Were games better 20 years ago?!! 1:34:38

8M ago1:34:38

1:34:38

Hosts: Joel Engelberth, Tom Graf and Travis Murie We are back to our normal recording set up and decided to jump right into the action. King Kong is here and we have so many thoughts about it. Joel has spent a lot of time recently with Lord of the Rings so we decide to have a fun game comparing the masterpiece that is Lord of the Rings to a few of …

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Dirty Pool Podcast Ep02 – Bowen Kerins on Designing Dune and the Art of Pinball Rules 1:23:30

8M ago1:23:30

1:23:30

What makes a pinball ruleset click? In this episode of the Dirty Pool Pinball Podcast, we’re joined by Bowen Kerins—rules designer at Barrels of Fun—to unpack how a game's structure comes together behind the glass. From early concepts to deep code layering, we talk about balancing challenge, flow, and accessibility. Bowen shares insights from his c…

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Dirty Pool Podcast Ep01 – Kineticist on the State of Pinball News 1:00:10

8M ago1:00:10

1:00:10

Episode one of the Dirty Pool Podcast kicks off with Kineticist, the go-to news source for all things pinball. We dig into how the site got started, what it's like covering this wild hobby, and what stories aren’t getting told. A candid conversation about keeping the silverball press rolling. 00:00:00 - Intro 00:00:45 - Colin Introduction 00:03:05 …

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Season 2-Episode 11 Troy Stein Assistant Principal/Activities Director at Edina High School 37:52

8M ago37:52

37:52

Troy Stein is the Assistant Principal in charge of Activities and Athletics at Edina High School. Troy has led the EHS athletic department for 12 years overseeing 34 varsity sports and numerous other independent and intramural opportunities for students. He started his career in education as a math teacher and coach in Edina and, after a brief deto…

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Season 2-Episode 10 Katie Aafedt EHS Class of 1996 40:05

9M ago40:05

40:05

A 1996 graduate of Edina High School, Katie (Ryerse) Aafedt excelled in soccer in both high school and college at Gustavus Adolphus. As Edina High School Girls' Soccer Coach for 11 years, Katie led the Hornets to a state championship in 2023. In this episode, recorded as part of the Hornet Buzz podcast in June of 2024, Katie shares her experience g…

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Triple Drain Pinball Podcast Episode 63 - UNFILTERED Conversations with Stern Pinball! 3:01:13

9M ago3:01:13

3:01:13

Triple Drain Pinball Podcast Episode 63 - UNFILTERED Conversations with Stern Pinball! Hosts: Joel Engelberth, Tom Graf and Travis Murie The three of us united at Stern’s Media Day to experience King Kong for the first time. What we did not expect was the opportunity to interview Keith Elwin, Chuck Ernst, Jeremy Packer, Matthew Geyer, Gary Stern an…

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Season 2 Episode 9-Dorothy Stotts EHS Class of 2022 21:57

9M ago21:57

21:57

A 2022 Edina High School graduate, where she was a team captain in basketball and soccer, Dorothy (Dottie) went on to play basketball at the Coast Guard Academy. Dorothy is experiencing quite a bit of success in basketball at the academy. In January, she became only the 12th player in Bears women’s basketball history to break the 1,000 point scorin…

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Season 2 Episode 8-Luke Glenna EHS Class of 2018 24:26

10M ago24:26

24:26

A 2018 Edina High School graduate who played both football and basketball for the Hornets, Luke Glenna went on to the University of St. Thomas where he became the first ever Tommie Division I All-American football player in 2022. Luke is entering his 3rd season in the European League of Football and has signed a contract with the Nordic Storm based…

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Triple Drain Pinball Podcast Episode 62 - TPF On Location! 1:07:41

10M ago1:07:41

1:07:41

Triple Drain Pinball Podcast Episode 62 - TPF On Location! Hosts: Joel Engelberth, Tom Graf and Travis Murie We recorded together LIVE here at Texas Pinball Festival. It’s Friday night and we’ve all had a chance to play some of the latest games available. Tune in to hear our thoughts on Portal, Evil Dead, Cactus Canyon Remake (with Lyman code), Mer…

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Triple Drain Pinball Podcast Episode 61 - TPF Prep 2025 1:21:51

10M ago1:21:51

1:21:51

Triple Drain Pinball Podcast Episode 61 - TPF Prep 2025 Hosts: Joel Engelberth, Tom Graf and Travis Murie The stars have aligned and Tom is BACK! Buckle up because today we were riding the Struggle Bus as we tried to record another episode. Luckily we kept it together and worked through our Texas Pinball Festival Prep episode. We discussed each man…

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Season 2 Episode 7-Hilary Lunke EHS Class of 1997 32:44

10M ago32:44

32:44

This week we talk to Hilary Lunke about her youth sports experience and how she got into golf and made a career out of it. The Star Tribune 1997 Metro Scholar Athlete of the Year, Hilary shares her experiences at both EHS and being recruited to Stanford University. She also talks us through, in great detail, her experience winning the LPGA Women's …