Best Adam Bender Podcasts (2026)

1
PART 2 DRUNKEN MESS: Commander 2025 Awards 🏆 Top Cards, Commanders & MALÖRT Chaos 🍻🔥 - #406 1:50:04

Play Pause

5h ago1:50:04

1:50:04

Episode 406: PART 2 🎙️ This Week on the CommanderSmiths Podcast! 🎙️ It’s our END OF THE YEAR episode, and we’re looking back at everything MTG Commander in 2025 — the hits, the misses, and the cards that defined the year. 🔥📆 Using our Fav 5 style, we’re breaking down: 🏆 Top 10 Cards for Commander in 2025 👑 Top 10 Favorite Commanders of the Year 📦 B…

1
Episode 312: LegalZoom CEO Jeff Stibel 34:17

6h ago34:17

34:17

A serial entrepreneur and New York Times bestselling author, Jeff Stibel is CEO of LegalZoom and the co-founder of Bryant Stibel, the venture capital firm he built in partnership with Kobe Bryant. Jeff joins Adam to share his journey and his best lessons and advice. Jeff and Adam discuss a wide range of topics: the role of failure in success; how t…

1
🚨 LIVE 🚨 PART 1 Commander 2025 Awards 🏆 Top Cards, Commanders & MALÖRT Chaos 🍻🔥 - #406 2:03:34

23h ago2:03:34

2:03:34

Episode 406: 🎙️ This Week on the CommanderSmiths Podcast! 🎙️ It’s our END OF THE YEAR episode, and we’re looking back at everything MTG Commander in 2025 — the hits, the misses, and the cards that defined the year. 🔥📆 Using our Fav 5 style, we’re breaking down: 🏆 Top 10 Cards for Commander in 2025 👑 Top 10 Favorite Commanders of the Year 📦 Best Set…

1
Episode 311: General Tim Haugh 32:52

2d ago32:52

32:52

A retired four-star general who served at the highest levels within the military and the United States government, General Tim Haugh was the commander of the United States Cyber Command, the director of the National Security Agency, and the chief of the Central Security Service. General Haugh joins Adam to share his journey and his best lessons and…

1
111: Whoa!! A surprise episode??? For me??!! 50:36

6d ago50:36

50:36

Wait, surprise is associated with a particular intonation!?Oh, you can see surprise by measuring electricity from your brain!?Hang on, some languages have grammatical marking for surprise!? In this episode, your hosts Lauren Gawne and Gretchen McCulloch get enthusiastic about surprise. We talk about surprise voice and context, writing surprise with…

1
🚨 LIVE 🚨 TOP 10 Man Lands in Commander! 💍 Sol Ring Tournament Results! - #405 1:09:15

11d ago1:09:15

1:09:15

Episode 405: 🎙️ This Week on the CommanderSmiths Podcast! 🎙️ The Commander Smiths talk about "man" lands. in a Fav5 style of discussion. rules are lands that turn into a creature or create creature tokens. Also a reveal of the first round of the sol ring art. Votes happen on youtube so go check that out. enjoy! Adam's Fav 5 ManlandsUrza's Saga http…

1
Episode 310: Olympic Gold Medalist Bonnie Blair 38:40

9d ago38:40

38:40

One of the greatest speed skaters of all time, Bonnie Blair is a five-time Olympic gold medalist. Bonnie joins Adam to share her journey and her best lessons and advice. Bonnie and Adam discuss a wide range of topics: the path to greatness, how to enjoy sustained excellence, coaching and leadership, building a support system, balance in success, an…

1
💍 The Sol Ring SEXY-OFF! | MTG SOL RING Art Tournament No One Asked For🔥 - #404 1:24:32

15d ago1:24:32

1:24:32

Episode 404: 🎙️ This Week on the CommanderSmiths Podcast! 🎙️ This week we’re doing something a little different… a full-on draft of the BEST looking Sol Rings in all of Magic! 💍🔥 Which Sol Ring art is elite? Which one is overrated? And which one will go #1 overall in the Beauty Draft? We’ve got thoughts… strong ones. 😅 🚨Live Cast Here🚨 https://yout…

1
Episode 309: Former Royal Caribbean CEO Richard Fain 34:08

17d ago34:08

34:08

Richard Fain was the CEO of Royal Caribbean Group, the parent company of Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, and Silversea Cruises. Richard joins Adam to share his journey transforming Royal Caribbean from a small cruise operator into a market leader and his best lessons and advice. Richard and Adam discuss a wide range of topics: leadership, align…

1
🚨 LIVE 🚨 Which Universes Beyond Sets Fit MTG… and Which Are Cash 💸 Grabs? - #403 2:00:56

25d ago2:00:56

2:00:56

Episode 403: 🎙️ This Week on the CommanderSmiths Podcast! 🎙️ We’re breaking down EVERY Universes Beyond set and asking the real question: 🔥 Which ones actually fit the Magic: The Gathering lore… and which ones are just cash grabs? 💸 From Warhammer 40k and Lord of the Rings… to Fallout, Marvel, Doctor Who, Jurassic World and everything in between — …

1
Episode 308: Vistage CEO Sam Reese 37:54

24d ago37:54

37:54

Sam Reese is the CEO of Vistage, the world's largest CEO coaching and peer advisory organization for small and midsize business leaders. Sam joins Adam to share his journey and his best lessons and advice. Sam and Adam discuss a wide range of topics: career success, coaching, mentorship, feedback, trust, and much more.…

1
🌊🔥🪨🌪️ Avatar: The Last Airbender MTG Set Review — BEST Commanders + BEST Cards! - #402 1:56:14

1M ago1:56:14

1:56:14

Episode 402: 🎙️ This Week on the CommanderSmiths Podcast! 🎙️ The new Avatar: The Last Airbender MTG set drops this weekend, and we’re breaking it all down! 🌊🔥🌪️🪨 This episode we’re doing our classic Fav 5 Lists — which is absolutely just our version of a “Top 10,” but we’re sticking with the branding 😆. We each pick: ✨ Our Fav 5 Legendary Creatures…

1
Episode 307: Cameo Co-Founder and CEO Steven Galanis 36:39

1M ago36:39

36:39

Steven Galanis is the co-founder and CEO of Cameo, an online marketplace that changed the way people engage with celebrities. Steven joins Adam to share his journey and his best lessons and advice. Steven and Adam discuss a wide range of topics: entrepreneurship, mentorship, business development, building a two-sided marketplace, leading through hi…

1
110: The history of the history of Indo-European - Interview with Danny Bate 1:00:40

1M ago1:00:40

1:00:40

Before there was English, or Latin, or Czech, or Hindi, there was a language that they all have in common, which we call Proto-Indo-European. Linguists have long been fascinated by the quest to get a glimpse into what Proto-Indo-European must have looked like through careful comparisons between languages we do have records for, and this very old to…

1
💰💸 Monster Hunter 🐲 Secret Lair Spoilers — Are These Drops Worth It? 💸💰 - #401 1:02:43

1M ago1:02:43

1:02:43

Episode 401: 🎙️ This Week on the CommanderSmiths Podcast! 🎙️ It’s Episode 401! 🎉 And we’re diving straight into the freshly spoiled Secret Lair: Monster Hunter Superdrop! 🐲⚔️🛡️ We’re breaking down every drop — the must-buys, the duds, the surprises, the value plays, and which ones will actually make it into your Commander decks. Whether you're a Mo…

1
Episode 306: Auntie Anne's Founder Anne Beiler 35:28

1M ago35:28

35:28

Anne Beiler is the founder of Auntie Anne's, the largest pretzel franchise in the world, with more than 2,000 locations across over 30 countries. Anne joins Adam to share her unique journey - from Amish country to global success - and best lessons learned along the way. Anne and Adam discuss a wide range of topics: leadership vs. management, perfec…

1
EPISODE 400! 💰💸 Secret Lair: Avatar — Worth It or Wallet Bender? | Is Avatar Worth It? 💸💰 56:36

2M ago56:36

56:36

Episode 400: 🎙️ This Week on the CommanderSmiths Podcast! 🎙️ It’s our 400th episode! 🥳 And we’re celebrating with something special — diving into the brand-new Secret Lair: Avatar: The Last Airbender Superdrop! 🌊🔥🌪️🪨 We’re breaking down every drop — which ones are worth it, which are cash grabs, and which ones you’ll actually want for your Commande…

1
Episode 305: Lieutenant General Bill Bender 39:45

1M ago39:45

39:45

Lieutenant General Bill Bender was the Chief Information Officer of the United States Air Force, where he oversaw a $17 billion information technology portfolio and a 54,000-person workforce. Lieutenant General Bender joins Adam to share his journey and his best lessons and advice. Lieutenant General Bender and Adam discuss a wide range of topics: …

1
🚨 LIVE 🚨 TOP 100 UTILITY LANDS! 💥 + Rhystic Study vs The One Ring FINALS 🏆 - #399 2:44:20

2M ago2:44:20

2:44:20

Episode 399: 🎙️ This Week on the CommanderSmiths Podcast! 🎙️ We’re breaking down the Top 100 Utility Lands in Commander! 🌋 From Command Tower to Field of the Dead to Maze of Ith — we’re diving into what’s truly great, what’s overrated, and what might just be garbage in EDH land bases. But that’s not all... it’s FINALS TIME for our Best Draw in Comm…

1
Episode 304: NFL Hall of Fame Coach Dick Vermeil 39:08

2M ago39:08

39:08

A coaching legend and a member of the NFL Hall of Fame, Dick Vermeil spent more than four decades coaching and broadcasting football, leading the Rams to a historic Super Bowl championship along the way. Dick joins Adam to share his journey and his best lessons and advice. Dick and Adam discuss a wide range of topics: leadership, coaching, winning,…

1
🚨 LIVE 🚨 Blueprint for Land Bases in Commander | 1–5 Color Mana Bases + Utility Lands! #398 1:42:22

2M ago1:42:22

1:42:22

Episode 398: 🎙️ This Week on the CommanderSmiths Podcast! 🎙️ We’re breaking down one of the most important parts of deckbuilding — your land base! 🌋 This week we’re laying out The Blueprint for Building Land Bases across 1 to 5-color Commander decks. We’ll talk about how we decide which lands make the cut, how to balance fixing vs. utility, and whi…

1
Episode 303: ZoomInfo Co-Founder and CEO Henry Schuck 39:59

2M ago39:59

39:59

Henry Schuck is the co-founder and CEO of ZoomInfo, a data intelligence company that generated $1.2 billion in revenue last year. Henry joins Adam to share his journey and his best lessons and advice. Henry and Adam discuss a wide range of topics: entrepreneurship, leadership, innovation, competition, growth and scale, career success, managing thro…

1
🚨 LIVE 🚨 😱 The Boogeymen of Commander! | Top 10 Most FEARED Commanders in EDH 👻 - #397 1:38:07

2M ago1:38:07

1:38:07

Episode 397: 🎙️ This Week on the CommanderSmiths Podcast! 🎙️ This week we’re diving into the Boogeymen of Commander 👻 — those commanders that make the whole table groan the second they hit the playmat. You know the ones… the scary generals that strike fear before the game even begins. 😨 Adam and Lowery each break down their Top 5 most intimidating …

1
Episode 302: Drybar Co-Founder Alli Webb 35:31

2M ago35:31

35:31

A serial entrepreneur and a New York Times bestselling author, Alli Webb is the co-founder of DryBar, which transformed the way millions of women style their hair, and is the founder and co-CEO of Messy By Alli Webb. Alli joins Adam to share her journey and her best lessons and advice. Alli and Adam discuss a wide range of topics: entrepreneurship,…

1
109: On the nose - How the nose shapes language 46:26

2M ago46:26

46:26

We often invoke the idea of language by showing the mouth or the hands. But the nose is important to both signed and spoken languages: it can be a resonating chamber that air can get shaped by, as well as a salient location for the hand to be in contact with. In this episode, your hosts Gretchen McCulloch and Lauren Gawne get enthusiastic about the…

1
🚨 LIVE 🚨 BEST DRAW TOURNAMENT! The State of Secret Lairs – Time for a Change? - #396 1:23:18

3M ago1:23:18

1:23:18

Episode 396: 🎙️ This Week on the CommanderSmiths Podcast! 🎙️ We’re talking about two big topics in the world of Magic! First up… we break down the best card draw in Commander — the engines, spells, and sneaky cards that keep your hand full and your opponents jealous. Then we dive into the current state of Secret Lairs… what’s working, what’s not, a…

1
Episode 301: Former Secretary of Health and Human Services Donna Shalala 39:20

2M ago39:20

39:20

Donna Shalala was the longest-serving Secretary of Health and Human Services in American history. Secretary Shalala has also served as the President of the University of Miami, the Chancellor of the University of Wisconsin, Madison, the President of Hunter College, and a member of Congress. Secretary Shalala joins Adam to share her journey and her …

1
💰💸 Breaking Down the PLAYSTATION Secret Lair Crossover! | What’s Worth It? 💸💰 - #395 2:25:52

3M ago2:25:52

2:25:52

Episode 395: 🎙️ This Week on the CommanderSmiths Podcast! 🎙️ We’re back... and it’s another Malört-fueled adventure! 🥃💀 We hit our raffle goal last week, so buckle up — things might get a little wild. This week we’re diving deep into the Secret Lair Superdrop coming at the end of October, plus giving an early look at the upcoming PlayStation crosso…

1
Episode 300: NBA Hall of Famer Sidney Moncrief 36:10

3M ago36:10

36:10

An NBA legend and a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame, Sidney Moncrief was a five-time NBA All-Star, five-time member of the All-NBA team, and two-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year. Sidney joins Adam to share his journey and his best lessons and advice. Sidney and Adam discuss a wide range of topics: leadership, teamwork, the keys to indivi…

1
💰💸 Breaking Down the Secret Scare Superdrop 👻 | What’s Worth It? 💸💰 - #394 1:59:46

3M ago1:59:46

1:59:46

Episode 394: 🎙️ This Week on the CommanderSmiths Podcast! 🎙️ We’re diving into the spooky side of Magic this week with a full breakdown of the Secret Scare Superdrop 👻🕷️ From creepy new art, to wild crossovers (Jaws, Iron Maiden, The Office mashups, and more), to value adds like the rainbow foil Cryptic Command bonus — we’re covering it all. We’ll …

1
Episode 299: Admiral Bill Lescher 37:19

3M ago37:19

37:19

A retired four-star admiral and the former Vice Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Bill Lescher was the second-highest-ranking commissioned officer in the United States Navy. Admiral Lescher joins Adam to share his journey and his best lessons and advice. Admiral Lescher and Adam discuss a wide range of topics: core leadership principles universal …

1
🚨 LIVE 🚨 Is Universes Beyond Good for Magic? What We Want Next? - #393 1:35:16

3M ago1:35:16

1:35:16

Episode 393: 🎙️ This Week on the CommanderSmiths Podcast! 🎙️ It’s time to talk Universes Beyond! 🌌 This week we’re diving into how UB is going so far — do we like it, what’s worked, what hasn’t, and how Wizards could improve going forward. We’ll also share the franchises and crossovers we’d love to see next. If you’ve had strong opinions about Secr…

1
Episode 298: Xero CEO Sukhinder Singh Cassidy 35:30

3M ago35:30

35:30

Sukhinder Singh Cassidy is the CEO of Xero, one of the fastest-growing SaaS companies in the world, with 4.4 million customers and a market cap of roughly $20 billion. Sukhinder was previously the President of StubHub, an executive at Google and Amazon, and an entrepreneur who founded a public company. Sukhinder joins Adam to share her journey and …

1
108: Highs and lows of tone in Babanki - Interview with Pius Akumbu 51:00

3M ago51:00

51:00

Linguistic research has its highs and lows: from staging a traditional wedding to learn about ceremonial words to having your efforts to found a village school disrupted by civil war. Linguistic research can also be about highs and lows: in this case, looking at how high and low tones in Babanki words affect their meaning. In this episode, your hos…

1
🚨 LIVE 🚨 TOP 10 Spider-Man 🕷️ Commanders and Commander Cards! 🕸️ - #392 1:47:51

4M ago1:47:51

1:47:51

Episode 392: 🎙️ This Week on the CommanderSmiths Podcast! 🎙️ We’re going full Spidey this week! 🕷️🕸️ We’re counting down our Top 10 Commanders from the brand-new Spider-Man set AND our Top 10 Cards overall for Commander! Expect some spicy picks, a few debates, and of course... plenty of laughs as we each pick our Fav 5 in classic CommanderSmiths st…

1
Episode 297: Rotary CEO John Hewko 33:23

3M ago33:23

33:23

John Hewko is the CEO of Rotary International, one of the largest service organizations in the world, with more than 1.2 million members across 46,000 Rotary Clubs. John joins Adam to share his journey and his best lessons and advice. John and Adam discuss a wide range of topics: adaptive leadership, consensus building, communication, mentorship, l…

1
🚨 LIVE 🚨 Is the Spider-Man 🕷️ Superdrop Secret Lair Worth It? 🕸️- #391 1:03:33

4M ago1:03:33

1:03:33

Episode 391: 🎙️ This Week on the CommanderSmiths Podcast! 🎙️ We’re swinging into the Spider-Verse Secret Lair Superdrop! 🕷️💥 Wizards dropped a whole batch of Spidey-themed goodies and we’re breaking down every single drop. Not only are we looking at the art and reprints... but we’re also adding a brand-new feature—grading each drop overall. Don’t w…

1
Episode 296: Former Sonic CEO Clifford Hudson 35:11

4M ago35:11

35:11

Clifford Hudson was the CEO of Sonic, the largest drive-in fast-food chain in America. Under Cliff's leadership, Sonic grew from $800 million to $4.5 billion in annual revenue and to more than 3,600 locations. Cliff joins Adam to share his journey and his best lessons and advice. Cliff and Adam discuss a wide range of topics: leadership, career suc…

1
🚨 LIVE 🚨 Magic’s Most Beautiful Art – Our Fav 5 Picks! - #390 1:38:13

4M ago1:38:13

1:38:13

🎙️ This Week on the CommanderSmiths Podcast! 🎙️ 🎨 We’re diving into the world of art! We each bring our Fav 5 arts in Magic: The Gathering to the table, highlighting the pieces that stuck with us, blew our minds, or just plain made us say “wow.” From iconic classics to modern masterpieces, we’re celebrating the visuals that make Magic more than jus…

1
Episode 295: Montel Williams 38:34

4M ago38:34

38:34

An Emmy Award winner and a New York Times bestselling author, Montel Williams was the host of The Montel Williams Show and is the host of The Balancing Act and Military Makeover with Montel. Montel joins Adam to share his journey and his best lessons and advice. Montel and Adam discuss a wide range of topics: leadership, career success, navigating …

1
🚨 LIVE 🚨 Hidden Gems in Commander! 💎 Underplayed Cards You NEED to Try! - #389 1:13:42

4M ago1:13:42

1:13:42

🎙️ This Week on the CommanderSmiths Podcast! 🎙️ We’re shining a light on the hidden gems of Commander — the underused and underplayed cards that deserve way more love than they get. 💎 Sometimes the strongest tech flies under the radar, and we’re pulling together a list of cards that could make a huge impact in your decks but rarely see the table. E…

1
Episode 294: Principal CEO Deanna Strable 40:06

4M ago40:06

40:06

A Fortune 500 CEO and the leader of one of America's largest financial services companies, Deanna Strable is the CEO of Principal, where she leads nearly 20,000 employees who serve more than 62 million customers around the world. Deanna joins Adam to share her journey and her best lessons and advice. Deanna and Adam discuss leadership, career devel…

1
107: Urban Multilingualism 39:16

4M ago39:16

39:16

When we try to represent languages on a map, it's common to assign each language a zone or a point which represents some idea of where it's used or where it comes from. But in reality, people move around, and many cities are host to hundreds of languages that don't show up on official records. In this episode, your hosts Gretchen McCulloch and Laur…

1
🚨 LIVE 🚨 Stop Playing THESE Cards! The Most Overused Cards in Commander! - #388 1:37:53

4M ago1:37:53

1:37:53

🎙️ This Week on the CommanderSmiths Podcast! 🎙️ We’re tackling one of the spiciest topics in Commander… the most overused cards in the format. 💥 You know the ones — the staples that show up in almost every deck. But are they really must-plays... or are we just leaning on them out of habit? We’re breaking down which cards we think are everywhere, wh…

1
Episode 293: Booking CEO Glenn Fogel 41:11

4M ago41:11

41:11

A Fortune 500 CEO and the leader of a company valued at more than $180 billion, Glenn Fogel is the CEO of Booking Holdings, the world's leading provider of online travel and related services and the parent company of Booking.com, Priceline, Agoda, Rentalcars.com, KAYAK, and OpenTable. Glenn joins Adam to share his journey and his best lessons and a…

1
🚨 LIVE 🚨 Reserved List Reprints? Here’s What We’d Choose! #387 1:47:20

5M ago1:47:20

1:47:20

Episode 387: 🎙 This Week on the CommanderSmiths Podcast 🎙 This week we’re going deep into Magic’s most infamous vault — the Reserved List. 💎 We’re talking about which cards we wish could be reprinted, why they deserve another shot at seeing play, and what changes it could bring to Commander and the wider MTG community. Expect some nostalgia, a litt…

1
Episode 292: Lieutenant General Jack Gardner 31:39

5M ago31:39

31:39

Lieutenant General Jack Gardner spent 35 years serving in the United States Army, with tours in Europe, Latin America, Asia, Bosnia, Iraq, and multiple locations inside the U.S. LTG Gardner was the commander of the United States Army South, the deputy commander of the United States European Command, and in charge of detainee operations during part …

1
🚨 LIVE 🚨 The State of Planeswalkers in Commander... Are They Getting Stronger? #386 1:06:39

5M ago1:06:39

1:06:39

Episode 386: 🎙 This Week on the CommanderSmiths Podcast 🎙 We’re talking about the state of planeswalkers! 🧙‍♂️ Since March of the Machine and the big "fall of planeswalkers," Wizards has scaled back how many we see… but lately the ones we do get are way more powerful. We're breaking down how this shift impacts Commander... the pros, the cons... and…

1
Episode 291: barre3 Co-Founder and CEO Sadie Lincoln 31:18

5M ago31:18

31:18

Sadie Lincoln is the co-founder and CEO of barre3, the largest omnichannel boutique fitness brand independently owned and operated by women. Sadie joins Adam to share her journey and her best lessons and advice. Sadie and Adam cover a wide range of topics: entrepreneurship, leadership, growth and scale, franchising, accountability, cultivating self…

1
🚨 LIVE 🚨 Best Edge of Eternities Cards for Commander! Our Top 10 Picks & Hot Takes! - #385 1:40:48

5M ago1:40:48

1:40:48

Episode 385: 🎙 This Week on the CommanderSmiths Podcast 🎙 The Commander Smiths have a full plate show today. First we go over the surprise Chaos Vault Secret Lair that popped up today with Crucible of Worlds Galaxy Foil involved. We also go over another round of the Basic Land Tournament. We’re diving into Edge of Eternities with our classic Fav 5-…