Portal Gaming Podcast

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A biweekly podcast about board games, card games, miniatures games and events at the Portal, a game store located at 60 Hilliard Street in Manchester, CT.

Portal Gaming Podcast


    • Aug 10, 2022 LATEST EPISODE
    • monthly NEW EPISODES
    • 53m AVG DURATION
    • 136 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Portal Gaming Podcast

    Episode 185: Portal Gaming Podcast: Episode 186 - GenCon 2022 Full Recap

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 10, 2022 89:50


    In this episode, the brandt is joined by Larry and Bryan as they drive home from GenCon 2022 and discuss the sights, the sounds, and most importantly... the games!

    Episode 185: Portal Gaming Podcast: Episode 185 - GenCon 2022: My Hero Academia

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 10, 2022 76:43


    In this episode, the brandt is joined by Bryan and Larry as they drive home from GenCon and discuss everything My Hero Academia Card Game from the weekend!

    Episode 184: Portal Gaming Podcast: Episode 184 - Dice Tower East Recap

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 25, 2022 40:02


    In this episode, the brandt is joined by Eric Summerer and Steph Hodge, both of whom attended Dice Tower East. They chat about preconvention activities, getting back to normality, and of course, games! Enjoy, and thanks for listening!

    Episode 183: Portal Gaming Podcast: Episode 183 - "Not my idea of courage"

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 9, 2022 55:00


    In this episode, the brandt is joined by Larry and Bryan as they discuss a lot of the My Hero Academia Card Game and then talk about recent plays including, Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Star Trek: Missions, Ark Nova, Gaia Project and more!

    Episode 182: Portal Gaming Podcast: Episode 182 - "A death mark is not an easy thing to live with"

    Play Episode Listen Later May 18, 2022 34:40


    the brandt is back! In this episode, the brandt talks through a pile of games that he has gone back to play in the last two months and highlights a few new ones including: Foundations of Rome, Ascension Tactics, and SolForge Fusion. This episode was recorded live and so Brandt answers questions from the audience periodically throughout the episode!

    Episode 181: Portal Gaming Podcast: Episode 181 - "Like my father before me"

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 1, 2022 68:25


    In this episode, the brandt is joined by Dan Hughes as they chat about the rollout of CoraQuest, review a pile of games including Merchants of Magick, Tinner's Trail, Vagrantsong, Batman: Shadow of the Bat, and Legends of Sleepy Hollow. They then discuss getting back to gaming and gaming groups. Thanks for listening and enjoy!

    Episode 180: Portal Gaming Podcast: Episode 180 - "I need a Hero!"

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 11, 2022 73:08


    In this episode the brandt is joined by Steve from BeatDGame as they interview Caleb Grace and Michael Boggs, the designers of Marvel Champions from Fantasy Flight Games.They discuss accessibility, design, reprints, plans for rules updates, achievements, and plans for future cards to help older heroes! The designers also give a solo hero challenge as well as a three hero challenge.

    Episode 179: Portal Gaming Podcast: Episode 179 - Game Reviews with Mason

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 9, 2022 64:28


    In this episode, the brandt is joined by Mason for another episode chock full of reviews including Ankh, Ark Nova, War of the Ring, Three Sisters, and more! They then discuss how games and game designs are changing in recent years. Thanks for listening and enjoy!

    Episode 178: Portal Gaming Podcast: Episode 178 - Curt Covert from Smirk and Dagger Games

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 14, 2022 61:14


    In this episode, the brandt is joined by Curt Covert from Smirk and Dagger Games. First they discuss recent plays including a glowing review of Ark Nova coming soon from Capstone Games! They then discuss the 2021 convention season as well as current, upcoming, and future titles from Smirk and Dagger!

    Episode 177: Portal Gaming Podcast: Episode 177 - "Judge me by my size, do you?"

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 27, 2021 45:52


    In this episode, the brandt is joined by Ellen and Randy Kirby of We Game Together as they review Istanbul, wallet games from Buttonshy, Res Arcana, and Pocket Paragons. They then discuss gaming in Christmas present and Christmas past!

    Episode 176: Portal Gaming Podcast: Episode 176 - PAX Unplugged with Eric Summerer

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 17, 2021 66:49


    In this episode, the brandt, Kathy and Bryan are joined by special guest Eric Summerer as they ride home and discuss everything about their weekend in Philadelphia at PAX Unplugged! So many games, so many stories, so much fun all in one car recorded episode.

    Episode 175: Portal Gaming Podcast: Episode 175 - "BGGCon with BJ"

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 8, 2021 73:49


    In this episode, the brandt is joined by BJ from Board Game Gumbo and they recount recent plays of Imperial Steam, Gutenberg, Bad Company and more. BJ then discusses the games he played and the experience he had at BGGCon!

    Episode 174: Portal Gaming Podcast: Episode 174 - "Fly Casual"

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 26, 2021 56:39


    In this episode, the brandt is joined by Paula Deming! They recount recent plays of Master Word, Chronicles of Crime 2400, The Deadlies, and more. They then discuss theater and the joy of using acting in games. Enjoy and thank you for listening!

    Episode 173: Portal Gaming Podcast: Episode 173 - "Bith Shuffle"

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 12, 2021 40:57


    In this episode, the brandt is joined by game designer, Carl Van Ostrand as they recount recent plays of Enchanters, Parks, Anno 1800 and more! They then discuss Carl's most recent game Bardwood Grove which is on Kickstarter now! Thanks for listening!Bardwood Grove KS can be found here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/512772051/bardwood-grove

    Episode 172: Portal Gaming Podcast: Episode 172 - "Who's Scruffy Looking"

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 1, 2021 55:16


    In this episode, the brandt recounts a trip to GenCon 2021 as well as his 40th birthday VannerCon! He also reviews a pile of games including Anno 1800, The Loop, Arch Ravels, Cascadia, Ten and more! Thank you for listening and be sure to check out our YouTube channel, Step Into The Portal!

    Episode 171: Portal Gaming Podcast: Episode 171 - "Same Old, Same Old"

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 11, 2021 30:47


    In this episode the brandt recounts recent plays of Descent: Legends in the Dark, Journeys in Middle Earth, Golden Ticket, and Summoner Wars: Second Edition. He then talks about a stack of old games that remain in his top 100 and continue to hold up after time. Thanks, as always, for listening!

    Episode 170: Portal Gaming Podcast: Episode 170 - "Holy Schnikes!"

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 30, 2021 54:57


    In this episode, the brandt reviews a HUGE stack of games including: Jinja, Greece Lightning, Meadow, Juicy Fruits, Subastral, Embarcadero, Merchant's Cove and so many more! 

    Episode 169: Portal Gaming Podcast: Episode 169 - "A Mess of Things"

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 30, 2021 50:45


    In episode 169 of the Portal Gaming Podcast the brandt goes it alone! He reviews a stack of games including Happy Little Dinosaurs, Faiyum, Destinies, Paris, and more! He then answers any questions from the audience and discusses cleaning up games!

    Episode 168: Portal Gaming Podcast: Episode 168 - "Casual Gaming"

    Play Episode Listen Later May 27, 2021 50:45


    In this episode, the brandt is joined by Dale from the YouTube Channel, Dale the Casual Gamer! They discuss gaming in general and then review a pile of games including: The Initiative, Warhammer: Labyrinth of the Necrons, Dungeon Alliance, Red Rising, Valor and Villainy and more! Thanks for listening!

    Episode 167: Portal Gaming Podcast: Episode 167 - "Gumbo-rific"

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 25, 2021 61:07


    In this episode, the brandt is joined by BJ Rozas from Board Game Gumbo. They reminisce about conventions of yore and then review a stack of games including: Caretos, My City, Renature, Honey Buzz, Beyond the Sun and more!

    Episode 166: Portal Gaming Podcast: Episode 166 - "Rhymes with Crystal"

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 16, 2021 68:46


    In this episode, the brandt is joined by the wonderful Crystal Dax from Board Game Blitz and the cohost of Dice Tower Tonight! They chat and then review seven games including: Queenz, Rosetta, Marvel United and more! Thank you so much for listening!

    Episode 165: Portal Gaming Podcast: Episode 165 - "The Esteemed Mr. Jude"

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 26, 2021 74:48


    In this episode the brandt is joined by Mr. Matthew Jude from This Game is Broken and Watch It Played as they chat a bunch, review Caper: Europe, Riverboat and more! Then Brandt presents Matthew with a pile of games he thinks Matthew will enjoy and they run through the ones he has played or sound interesting. Thanks for listening!

    Episode 164: Portal Gaming Podcast: Episode 164 - Jenn and Matt Bartlett

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 15, 2021 72:05


    In this episode the brandt is joined by Matt and Jenn the Board Game Librarian from The Literary Gamers channel! They chat about life and board gaming and then review a pile of games including: Disciple Detectives, Macro Micro Crime City, After the Empire, Hammer of the Scots, and many more! Enjoy and thanks for listening!

    Episode 163: Portal Gaming Podcast: Episode 163 - Marvel Champions Content Creator Panel

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 10, 2021 88:10


    In this episode, the brandt is joined by Steve from BeatDGame, Peter G from One Stop Coop Shop and Dale the Casual Gamer as they discuss everything Marvel Champions - from the game itself to content creation around the game. Enjoy!

    Episode 162: Portal Gaming Podcast: Episode 162 with Eric Summerer- "I'm just so tired of all these Star Wars."

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 1, 2021 72:21


    In this episode, the brandt is joined by Eric Summerer of the Dice Tower Podcast! They chat for a while to catch up and then they review Box One, Unlock! Mythic Adventures, Funfair, and more! Enjoy and thanks for listening.

    Episode 161: Portal Gaming Podcast: Episode 161 - Reviewapalooza with Jason Perez

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 16, 2021 118:27


    In this episode, the brandt is joined by Jason Perez from the Shelf Stories YouTube channel and they review a pile of games including Etherfields, Adventure Tactics, Hallertau, Praga Caput Regni, CloudAge, Duffers, and so many more!

    Episode 170: Portal Gaming Podcast: Episode 160 - "I was but the learner."

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 1, 2021 49:57


    In this episode, the brandt recounts recent plays of Papua, Red Cathedral, Under Falling Skies, Tekhenu, Bonfire, Gates of Mara, and more! He then discusses what he has learned about gaming in 2020. Happy New Year everyone!

    Episode 169: Portal Gaming Podcast: Episode 159 - "The Force is Strong With This One."

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 8, 2020 69:52


    In this very belated episode, the brandt reviews 21 games! What!? Oh, yeah, and many of them are top ten games of the year according to him. The Force is Strong With 2020! Enjoy.

    Portal Gaming Podcast: Episode 158 - Games Played in August and September 2020

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 18, 2020 39:18


    In this episode, the brandt runs through all the games he played in Aug/Sept of 2020. What was good? What was meh? What was amazing!? Listen and find out!

    Portal Gaming Podcast: Episode 157 - "I'm not dead yet!

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 26, 2020 33:05


    In this episode, the brandt reviews Marvel Champions: Rise of Red Skull, Marvel United, Tiny Epic Dinosaurs, Truffle Shuffle, Divvy Dice, Pandemic: Hot Zone, and Stick 'Em. Enjoy and thanks for listening!

    Portal Gaming Podcast: Episode 156 - Games Played in July 2020

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 26, 2020 47:05


    In this episode the brandt runs through 35 games he played in the month of July. Also we announce our new YouTube Channel where we are streaming live playthroughs. Check it out and subscribe here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmAA9f_4bv7snlh8NGSodug

    Portal Gaming Podcast: Gen Can't/NonCon Day 3

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 17, 2020 23:46


    Join us for a three part episode where the brandt, Larry, and Bryan discuss games played over their Gen Can't gaming weekend!

    Portal Gaming Podcast: Gen Can't/NonCon Day 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 13, 2020 44:25


    Join us for a three part episode where the brandt, Larry, and Bryan discuss games played over their Gen Can't gaming weekend!

    Portal Gaming Podcast: Gen Can't/NonCon Day 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 13, 2020 31:09


    Join us for a three part episode where the brandt, Larry, and Bryan discuss games played over their Gen Can't gaming weekend!

    Portal Gaming Podcast: Episode 155 - "I've forgotten how much I hate flying."

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 10, 2020 43:04


    Whew! CT got hammered by a storm and we have been without power and internet for a while so this episode got recorded in two pieces two weeks apart. We alluded to a discussion of used game but never got there. In this episode, the brandt and kathy review Ship Shape, PAN-AM, Icons, KeyForge: Mass Mutation, After the Virus, Godzilla:Tokyo Clash, and Smartphone Inc. Be on the lookout for our Gen Can't diaries coming out this week! Thanks everyone!

    Portal Gaming Podcast: Episode 154 - Games Played in June 2020

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 11, 2020 43:20


    In this episode the brandt ranks 30 games he played in the month of June 2020. Let the chaos commence!

    Portal Gaming Podcast: Episode 153 - "When you are calm, at peace"

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 5, 2020 57:03


    In this episode, the brandt is joined by Kathy and then Larry as they recount recent plays of Shadows of Kilforth, Tang Garden, Skytear, and Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion. Four big reviews in one episode, enjoy!

    Portal Gaming Podcast: Episode 152 - "...to the future, to the horizon."

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 27, 2020 56:16


    In this episode, the brandt recounts recent plays of Forgotten Waters and Back to the Future: Back in Time. He then ranks 30 games played in May 2020. Enjoy and thanks as always for listening!

    Portal Gaming Podcast: Episode 151 - "Charming to the last."

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 13, 2020 41:54


    In this episode, the brandt recounts recent plays of seven new games! Liberation of Rietburg, EXIT: Stormy Flight, High Rise, Dungeon Alliance, Marvel Champions: Black Widow, Animal Kingdoms, and Unfair. He then discusses the Online Gaming Conventions in 2020. Enjoy and thanks!

    Portal Gaming Podcast: Episode 150 - "Run, Luke, Run!"

    Play Episode Listen Later May 27, 2020 31:25


    In this brief episode, the brandt talks about The Portal reopening and then goes to a whole bunch of reviews including Castle Panic, L.L.A.M.A., Silver River, Claim, Chocolate Factory, Inner Compass and Adrenaline. Thanks, enjoy, and stay safe!

    Portal Gaming Podcast: Episode 149 - "They'll be safe here under my protection."

    Play Episode Listen Later May 8, 2020 51:25


    In this episode, the brandt takes a page out of the Book of Rahdo and runs through all the games he played in the month of April and ranks them... poorly! Thanks for listening and stay safe.

    Portal Gaming Podcast: Episode 148 - "I will make it so"

    Play Episode Listen Later May 5, 2020 35:51


    After six weeks, the podcast is back! Reviews, rambling, and talk about all the remodeling being done at the Portal. Enjoy everyone. Thanks so much for listening!

    Our Pandemic Legacy: March 23

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 25, 2020 6:17


    Quick Update on Monday, March 23.

    Our Pandemic Legacy: March 21-22

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 23, 2020 14:34


    Another daily diary covering weekend shenanigans, games played, and more!

    Our Pandemic Legacy: Part 6

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 21, 2020 12:27


    Updates for March 19 and March 20, 2020. New game room, the brandt going to distance learning and games, games, games, baby!

    Our Pandemic Legacy: Part 5

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 19, 2020 14:28


    Fun in the sun and games on the table for March 18, 2020!

    Our Pandemic Legacy - Part 4

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 18, 2020 8:14


    the brandt mostly talks about games in this daily diary.

    Our Pandemic Legacy: Part 3

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 17, 2020 10:53


    Daily Diary day 3 with the brandt.

    Our Pandemic Legacy: Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 16, 2020 16:14


    Bryan and Kathy join the brandt for the March 15 daily diary.

    Our Pandemic Legacy: Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 15, 2020 13:04


    The first in a series of daily diaries from March 2020.

    Portal Gaming Podcast: Episode 147 - "Long have I waited."

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 11, 2020 45:42


    In this episode, the brandt recounts recent plays of Proving Grounds, TMNT: Change is Constant, Isle of Cats, Stellar, Nemesis, Empires of the North: Roman Banners, and Aristocracy. He then goes through his other favorite games from 2019 that did not make his top ten list. Enjoy!

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