Best Hymes Podcasts (2025)

1
Lunch … And All That Jazz 52:51

2h ago52:51

52:51

Welcome to the latest episode of Lunch with Shelley with today’s special guest Harry Schnipper. Harry is the owner of Blues Alley, the world renowned and oldest continuously operating Jazz Supper Club in America! Nestled in the heart of Georgetown, Blues Alley – which is celebrating its’ 60th anniversary - has been referred to as the house that Diz…

1
Civ Series Finale Part 2 - Civilization VII 58:12

2h ago58:12

58:12

Dirk and David continue their discussion in part 2 of TGDRT’s Civilization Series Finale! They dive into many of the systems that didn’t work for them, and what they wish had been done instead. Topics include religion and trade, the problems with Civ VII’s map generation, and the costs associated with stripping away flavor in favor of starker mecha…

1
A Delicious Conversation with Chef Claudio Pirollo 16:08

5h ago16:08

16:08

Welcome to a special bonus episode of Lunch with Shelley featuring the great Claudio Pirollo, the owner, Chef and delightful personality behind the Et Voila restaurant. Along with fellow Et Voila Chef Alex Malaise, they have created and recently released a wonderful cookbook called “The Essentials of Belgian Cuisine,” and the book is true to its na…

1
BtC - Scott Rogers on Prototyping 52:50

21h ago52:50

52:50

Ellie Dix is joined by Scott Rogers, designer Alien: Fate of Nostrodomo, Pantone the Game, and Marvel Villainous and writer of many books on game design. Together, they discuss how to build the prototype for a game, how to decide whether to continue with a design, and what makes a prototype attractive for publishers among other topics.…

1
A Lioness on the World Stage 1:01:59

7d ago1:01:59

1:01:59

Welcome to the latest episode of Lunch with Shelley with today’s special guest Jennifer Griffin, the very well-respected national security correspondent for FOX News. Since 2007 Jen has reported daily from the Pentagon where she questions senior military leaders, travels to war zones with the Joint Chiefs and Secretaries of Defense, and reports on …

1
Civ Series Finale Part 1 - Civilization VII 53:59

8d ago53:59

53:59

The time has finally come; Civilization VII is out! After many hours with the game, Dirk and David come together to share their thoughts on the game. Did it live up to the hype? How does Civ VII stack up to previous games? Will David ever play another Civ game again? All these questions and more on part 1 of 2 for TGDRT’s Civ Series Finale. Topics …

1
BtC - Naming Games with Peter Hayward 35:34

15d ago35:34

35:34

Ellie is joined by Peter Hayward, designer of games such as Robotopia, Fiction, and That Time You Killed Me. Ellie and Peter discuss not only the process for naming a game, but also how names affect pitching and publishing, naming your prototypes, and how the process works for indie and mass market titles.…

1
Lithuania – Modern, Free and Happy – with Ambassador Audra Plepyte 53:52

21d ago53:52

53:52

Welcome to the latest episode of Lunch with Shelley with today’s special guest, Ambassador Audra Plepyte, the Lithuanian Ambassador to the United States of America and to the United Mexican States. As a career diplomat with over 30 years of experience, Ambassador Plepyte has held numerous positions within the Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs …

1
Civ Series 10 - Listener Questions 1:03:14

22d ago1:03:14

1:03:14

Civilization 7 approaches! As we prepare to share our thoughts on Civ 7, we answer another round of listener questions. Topics include Dirk and David’s ideal Civ game, how to approach kingmaking in multiplayer games, and why diplomacy in Civilization is often so underwhelming.By TGDRT

1
BtC - Sen-Foong Lim on Motivation 46:14

29d ago46:14

46:14

This week on Behind the Cardboard, Ellie is joined by Sen-Foong Lim, ENNIE winner and designer of Mind: MGMT, Corpse of Discovery, and The Revenant Society.

1
Legacy on the Menu – Welsh Rarebit, Famous Encounters and Fabulous Stories with Billy Martin 58:14

1M ago58:14

58:14

Welcome to the latest episode of Lunch with Shelley with our very special guest Billy Martin! As anyone from Washington knows, Billy is the owner of Martin’s Tavern and shares his iconic name with 4 other Billy Martins – two of whom started this great restaurant in 1933. This Billy Martin is a 3rd generation Georgetowner and a 4th generation restau…

1
Civ Series 9 - Where are we now with Soren Johnson 1:07:56

1M ago1:07:56

1:07:56

The Civilization Series returns with Soren Johnson, lead designer of Civilization IV, Offworld Trading Company, and Old World. They discuss the teasers for Civilization VII, what they’re excited for, what they’re worried about, and what they hope will change about the series. They also discuss the 4X releases since their last meeting, including Hum…

1
BtC - Daryl Andrews on Generating Ideas 37:17

1M ago37:17

37:17

Ellie Dix is joined for the inaugural episode of Behind the Cardboard by Daryl Andrews, designer of Sagrada, The Real Truth, and Kodama 3D among many others. Together, they discuss Daryl’s career, how he comes up with new games, and how he pitches to publishers. How long to stick with an idea, where to put them, and how should you keep track of the…

1
100% Authentic and Fun – with special guest Lisa Spies 45:47

2M ago45:47

45:47

Welcome to the first in person episode of Lunch with Shelley in 2025! We’re at the chic and celebratory Café Milano with my super fun and super fundraiser guest Lisa Spies. Lisa is the President and Founder of The LS Group, a political and non-profit fundraising and development firm. She has years of experience raising high national dollars and PAC…

1
#334 New Year, New Format, New Us 54:09

2M ago54:09

54:09

2024 was an excellent year for game design, and 2025 is looking to be even better. As time moves forward, TGDRT must evolve just as our favorite games do. Dirk and David discuss the state of the show; what worked, what didn’t, and what the future holds for the show. They also announce TGDRT’s brand new programming, Roundtable Retrospective and Behi…

1
A Righteous Entrepreneur in the Business of Change 51:02

2M ago51:02

51:02

Welcome to the latest 2025 episode of lunch with Shelley with today’s very special and award winning guest Mike Curtin, Jr. Mike is the Chief Executive Officer of DC Central Kitchen (DCCK), which is an iconic nonprofit and social enterprise that combats hunger and poverty through job training and job creation. Mike has led DCCK through the Great Re…

51
#333 App-Integration with Andrew Fischer 51:31

2M ago51:31

51:31

Dirk and David are joined by Andrew Fischer, lead designer of the Cosmere RPG. In this first of two interviews, the crew discusses Andrew’s career, from working at Fantasy Flight Games to being the lead designer of the world’s biggest Kickstarter game. Topics include the pros and cons of app-integration for games, surprise elements in RPGs, and the…

51
#332 Listener Questions with Ellie Dix Show 36:58

3M ago36:58

36:58

The Game Design Round Table rounds out its best year yet with another set of Listener Questions! Dirk and David are joined by Ellie Dix once more to answer your questions about hidden information, designing for different group sizes, and exploring a world in which you only played board games once.By Dirk Knemeyer, David Heron

1
The Gift of Empowerment and Style 44:45

3M ago44:45

44:45

Hello and welcome to the latest episode of Lunch with Shelley with today’s very special guest Wendy Rabin! Wendy is a fashion industry veteran and a passionate wardrobe stylist who helps clients curate a signature personal style so that getting dressed every day is a pleasure! Wendy knows what she’s talking about! She is the Founder, Buyer and Crea…

1
#331 Solforge Fusion with Justin Gary 56:08

3M ago56:08

56:08

Dirk and David are joined this week by Justin Gary, founder of Stone Blade Entertainment and co-designer of Solforge Fusion. They discuss the life, death, and rebirth of Solforge, as well as its unique approach to content generation. Topics include the history of Solforge, how the usage of the Blockchain affects monetization, the community of Solfo…

1
Crime, Politics and Lunch – the Perfect Match! 53:46

4M ago53:46

53:46

Welcome to the latest episode of Lunch with Shelley with our two special guests Harley Adsit and Sarah Geary! Harley and Sarah are the terrific hosts of their own podcast called Crime in Congress, which is a crime show that examines the shockingly true crimes and scandals of America’s elected officials throughout history. This is such a cool idea a…

1
On the Menu Today – Politics, Personalities and Podcasts! 55:36

4M ago55:36

55:36

Welcome to the latest episode of Lunch with Shelley with special guest Jim Geraghty. Jim is a National Review Senior Correspondent, and writes the “Morning Jolt” newsletter, as well as for National Review’s magazine and web site. He is aptly considered one of today’s must-read journalists. He is the author of "Heavy Lifting" with Cam Edwards, the s…

1
#330 Xenolanguage with Kathryn Hymes 52:58

4M ago52:58

52:58

This week, Dirk and David are joined by Kathryn Hymes, co-owner of Thorny Games and former co-host of the show. Together, they discuss Kathryn’s new game Xenolanguage, a roleplaying game where players take the role of humans tasked with deciphering an alien language. They give their thoughts on designing GMless games, especially focusing on how to …

1
Get Ready for Season 3 of Lunch with Shelley! 1:24

4M ago1:24

1:24

Shelley gets you ready for another season of great food and wonderful conversion at the best restaurants in Washington DC. It's Lunch with Shelley!By Shelley Hymes

1
#329 Small Games with Ellie Dix 52:48

4M ago52:48

52:48

This episode, Dirk and David are joined by Ellie Dix, owner of The Dark Imp and author of The Board Game Family. They discuss Ellie’s career and path into game design, as well as the intricacies of how she manages to design so many games. Topics include managing small projects, how to choose which designs to focus on, the importance of managing a p…

1
A Journalist Cop on the Beat 48:46

5M ago48:46

48:46

Hello and Welcome to the latest episode of Lunch with Shelley with today’s special guest Daniel Lippman. Daniel is a very well-known reporter for Politico, covering the White House and Washington. In this position, he is in the know about all the headline-grabbing events shaping our nation’s political landscape, which is especially helpful to his a…

1
#328 Civilization Series 8 - Ara 55:59

5M ago55:59

55:59

Dirk and David convene once more to discuss the release of Ara: History Untold by Oxide Games. They analyze the game’s strengths and weaknesses, how it feels to play, and how it compares to the actual Civilization series of games. Topics include managing expectations, the clunkiness of the crafting and relationship systems, performance and technica…

1
Power, Money and Devotion 48:43

5M ago48:43

48:43

Welcome to the latest episode of Lunch with Shelley with today’s special guest and my good friend Tevi Troy. Tevi is the Director of the Presidential Leadership Initiative at the Bipartisan Policy Center, he’s a best-selling presidential historian, a former White House aide and Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services, and a member of the Bipa…

1
#327 Undergrove with Elizabeth Hargrave and Mark Wootton 1:05:30

5M ago1:05:30

1:05:30

David is at the helm this week, joined by Elizabeth Hargrave (Wingspan, Mariposas) and Mark Wooton (Legend of the Five Rings, Mariposas). The trio discuss Elizabeth and Mark’s new game Undergrove, a resource management and tile placement game about building a mycelial and arboreal network. Topics include how Undergrove was developed, designing for …

1
Courage, Conservatism and Taking on Challenges 46:18

5M ago46:18

46:18

Welcome to the latest episode of Lunch with Shelley with our very special guest Katie Pavlich! Katie is an incredibly talented commentator, author, blogger, podcaster, and an all-around awesome person! Katie is the editor for Townhall.com and a Fox News contributor who serves as a rotating co-host on one of my favorite programs, The Five. She is a …

1
#326 Therapeutic TTRPGs with Daniel Hand 54:08

6M ago54:08

54:08

Dirk is joined by Daniel Hand, therapeutic counselor and author of “Role-playing Games in Psychotherapy: A Practitioners Guide”. Together, the pair discusses Daniel’s journey into TTRPGs and his process of introducing them into his practice, and eventually designing his own game for therapeutic purposes. Topics include adjusting crunch, the benefit…

1
Resilience, Global Vibes and Human Connectivity 41:57

6M ago41:57

41:57

Welcome to the latest episode of Lunch with Shelley with our special guest Matt Swift. We’re hosting today’s episode at the great Bombay Club, which always gives off a very classy and international vibe, and it makes perfect sense to be here today because Matt also gives off a very classy and global vibe! Matt is the Co-Founder, President & CEO of …

1
#325 Civilization Series 7 with Jon Shafer 57:15

6M ago57:15

57:15

Enjoy episode #325 of The Game Design Round Table. In this episode, we discuss the new Civ 7 game with Jon Shafer, the co-founder of the show and a digital games designer. This will be our seventh episode in the Civ games series.By Dirk Knemeyer

1
Curiosity – Opportunity - and an American Love Story: Discussions and Laughter with a Mentor and a Friend 49:32

7M ago49:32

49:32

Welcome to the latest episode of Lunch with Shelley with our very special guest Elaine Chao. Among many titles, Elaine is the former U.S. Secretary of Labor and the U.S. Secretary of Transportation, a trailblazer as the first Asian American and/or Asian American woman in many and various significant roles, an inspirational leader, and someone I’m p…

1
#324 Civilization Series 6: Civ 7 First Look 57:26

7M ago57:26

57:26

Civilization 7 has just been revealed! Dirk and David discuss their first impressions from the reveal stream, from the exciting new mechanics to what should have been left behind. They also talk about what they would like the Civilization Series to eventually be. Topics include the potential inclusion of RPG mechanics, focus on population centers, …

1
Today’s Special: Champagne, Caviar and Joy 41:09

7M ago41:09

41:09

Welcome to the latest episode of Lunch with Shelley with today’s special guest Elli Benchimol. Elli is the owner of Apero and La Boheme – she is an Advanced Sommelier - and most recently a RAMMY winner for best wine program of the year! Join us for a delightful and delicious conversation about caviar, wine and champagne, automatic gratuity, the res…

1
#323 Tunic with Andrew Shouldice 51:14

7M ago51:14

51:14

Dirk is joined this week by Andrew Shouldice, creator of isometric action-exploration game Tunic. They discuss the journey of developing Tunic, and the lessons learned from a lengthy production. Topics include Andrew’s attitude toward storytelling, how to manage a project long-term, how to focus on what’s important, and knowing when you need help.…

1
Fashion – Housewives – and the Real Lunch of DC 51:53

7M ago51:53

51:53

Welcome to the latest episode of Lunch with Shelley with our super special guest Lynda Erkiletian. Lynda is a mother of four, the founder and CEO of THE Artist Agency, and was famously a Bravo star on the Real Housewives of DC. She is an avid philanthropist, a lifelong entrepreneur and a really joyful and engaging person! Join us at the always fabu…

1
#322 Future of Legacy Games with Rob Daviau 56:11

8M ago56:11

56:11

In this episode, Dirk and David welcome Rob Daviau, known for creating legacy board games. They discuss what Rob has been working on, the process of designing legacy games, staying true to the original, and the future of the company's vision.By Dirk Knemeyer, David Heron

1
Work Hard and Smile 17:04

8M ago17:04

17:04

Welcome to a very special Lunch with Shelley podcast featuring my Dear Ole Dad – who just turned 95 years old! My father is my hero – my mentor – one of my favorite people on the planet – and the greatest Dad and Poppy in the world! He is also a decorated vet, an accomplished and successful businessman and entrepreneur, a philanthropist, a father o…

1
#321 Civilization Series 5 with Will Thompson 47:21

8M ago47:21

47:21

Welcome back to the Civilization Series! In this episode, Dirk welcomes Will Thompson, the creator of the upcoming game Winter Rabbit. Here, they discuss Will's vision for Civilization and the integration of Indigenous technologies into the game. They also talk about the differences between warfare and how the 4cs fit into history.…

1
On the World Stage – It All Comes Around to Food! 42:39

8M ago42:39

42:39

Welcome to the latest episode of Lunch with Shelley with Barbara Langley, the Director of the Center for Women’s Economic Empowerment at CIPE, the Center for International Private Enterprise. Barbara and I have a wonderful time discussing the importance of Gastro Diplomacy, which is a super cool way to connect with other cultures through food, her …

1
#320 Civilization Series 4 56:38

9M ago56:38

56:38

Dirk and David come together once more to discuss the civilization series! This week, topics include David’s thoughts on Civilization 6, the value in how the world map is created, what the games choose to simulate, and what can be improved in the technology and religion systems.By Dirk Knemeyer, David Heron

1
Conventions – the Superbowl of Politics! 51:54

9M ago51:54

51:54

Welcome to the latest episode of Lunch with Shelley with our special guest Darrell Henry. Darrell has sincere and historical experience with all thing’s Convention, so during a lovely outdoor lunch at the delicious Claudio’s Table, we go into a deep dive on the importance of conventions in general, some very funny memories, and of course the lay of…

1
#319 Listener Questions June 2024 57:36

9M ago57:36

57:36

Join us for another round of listener questions! David and Dirk discuss topics such as whether and how to avoid game-breaking synergies, what impact finances has on the love of design, and balancing strategy and role play mechanics.By Dirk Knemeyer, David Heron

1
Remarkable Women – Fascinating Stories! 45:47

9M ago45:47

45:47

Welcome to the latest episode of Lunch with Shelley featuring Susan Page - journalist, biographer, political commentator, Washington DC Bureau Chief for USA Today and author of the fabulous NYT best seller Rule Breaker, the Life and Times of Barbara Walters. Susan is an incredible woman who writes about incredible women – so join us at the always d…

1
#318 Modules and RPGSEA with Pam Punzalan 53:43

10M ago53:43

53:43

Dirk and David are joined by Pam Punzalan, known for her work on personal projects such as Navthem’s End and A Rising Tide, as well as commissioned pieces for Dungeons and Dragons, Blades in the Dark, and Starfinder. Together, the trio discusses the differences between producing hired work and indie projects, as well as the importance of RPGSEA. To…

1
Dishie Dollops of Joy - Georgetown and Welsh rarebit 42:05

10M ago42:05

42:05

Welcome to the latest episode of Lunch with Shelley featuring our very special guest Beth Solomon – founder of the Georgetown Dish and author of the very fun read Dishy Dollups from the World’s Most Important Neighborhood. Along with Claude we’re at the iconic Martin’s Tavern tucked into the Madeleine Albright booth, and we have a very joyous lunch…

1
#317 Earthborne Rangers with Andrew Navaro 58:28

10M ago58:28

58:28

Dirk and David are joined by Andrew Navaro, creator of open-world board game Earthborne Rangers. They discuss how Earthborne Rangers was developed, and the lessons learned from the project. Topics include the making of an open-world board game, diverging story paths, expansions, and when to stop supporting an ongoing game.…

1
A Whole Lotta Love 37:29

10M ago37:29

37:29

Welcome to the 2nd Mother’s Day episode of Lunch with Shelley! It’s one of my very favorite episodes of the year, and to celebrate this special holiday we have my beloved son Sam for his second appearance on the show, our fabulous producer and friend Claude, and making his debut we’ve included the wonderful and always entertaining Jerry the dog to …

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