Best Hymes Podcasts (2024)

1
Conventions – the Superbowl of Politics! 51:54

4h 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

10d 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

12d 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

24d 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

29d 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…

51
#317 Earthborne Rangers with Andrew Navaro 58:28

1M 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

1M 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 …

51
#316 Citizen Sleeper with Gareth Damian Martin 55:10

2M ago55:10

55:10

Dirk and David meet with Gareth Damian Martin, creator of In Other Waters and Citizen Sleeper. They discuss Gareth’s design journey, as well as the process of creating Citizen Sleeper. Topics include the use of tabletop mechanics in video games, when to obscure probabilities, using literary prose effectively, and how a game of Citizen Sleeper devel…

1
Joyful, Insightful, and Delightful! 40:01

2M ago40:01

40:01

Welcome to the latest episode of Lunch with Shelley with our very special guest Kellyanne Conway, the first woman in US history to successfully helm a presidential campaign, one of the top pollsters and cultural anthropologists in the nation, a bestselling author, and a joyful Mom of four teenagers! Kellyanne is her usual delightful and insightful …

1
#315 Civilization Series 3 52:12

2M ago52:12

52:12

Welcome back to the Civilization Series. In the third installment, David and Dirk break down their experiences with Millennia, the latest 4X offering from C Prompt Games and Paradox Interactive. They discuss what aspects of the game worked for them, as well as what they would like to see develop as patches and updates are to come. Topics include ho…

1
Lady, You Sure Are a Good Cook! 36:35

2M ago36:35

36:35

Welcome to the latest episode of Lunch with Shelley featuring this week’s very special guest Doris (RIS) Lacoste. RIS is an American chef, restaurateur, philanthropist, and community leader and owns RIS, a GREAT American bistro. RIS has one of those life stories that are so varied and fascinating you won’t want this lunch to end! Tune in while we e…

1
#314 Designing to Ship with Xalavier Nelson Jr 56:46

3M ago56:46

56:46

Dirk and David interview prolific designer and leader Xalavier Nelson Jr. They discuss Xalavier’s illustrious and busy career, focusing on his philosophy of how to ship a game as well as knowing your own capabilities. Topics include his work and inspiration for El Paso, Everywhere, how he manages to produce so many games, treating staff fairly and …

1
Leadership, Laughter and God Bless America 41:53

3M ago41:53

41:53

Welcome to the latest episode of Lunch with Shelley with our special guest - the sunny and brilliant Margaret Spellings! Margaret is a nationally recognized leader in public policy - and currently serves as President & CEO of the Bipartisan Policy Center. Her remarkable and extensive leadership experience in both state and federal government includ…

1
#313 Civilization Series 2 57:15

3M ago57:15

57:15

Welcome to the second episode of the series on the “Civilization” games, as well as other 4X titles. Continuing from episode one, the pair talk about the phenomenon of “One More Turn”, using overlapping progression paths, and quality life improvements for the genre. They also share their insights on the game “Humankind”, as well as how their attitu…

1
Paws – Faith – and Adventures Galore! 46:11

3M ago46:11

46:11

Welcome to the latest episode of Lunch with Shelley with this week’s special guest Dr. Lee Morgan. Dr. Morgan is my dog’s beloved veterinarian and a member of the elite veterinarian corps that contributes to the storied Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, which he portrays in his newly released book “Four Thousand Paws.” Join us for a truly unique conver…

1
#312 Civilization Series 1 55:31

4M ago55:31

55:31

This episode marks the beginning of a new series focused on the Civilization series of games. Dirk and David are joined by Soren Johnson to discuss their background with the Civilization games, and how they got introduced to the series. They discuss the development of the earlier games, as well as the broader strokes of Civilization, including the …

1
Passion – Curiosity – and Leaving a Kind Legacy 44:04

4M ago44:04

44:04

Welcome to the latest episode of Lunch with Shelley featuring our new friend and strategic communications maven Alex Rosenwald. We’re dining at Georgetown’s iconic Peacock Café, and we’re at the perfect table in the corner for Alex’s first visit here! Alex is the Senior Director of Communications at The Hill and Talent Relations for News Nation. He…

1
#311 Innovating Themes with Anna Anthropy 52:45

4M ago52:45

52:45

Dirk and Kathryn Hymes meet this episode to talk with Anna Anthropy, digital and tabletop designer known for her prolific work with non-traditional themes. They discuss Anna’s career in game design, and her path into becoming an educator. Topics include why violence is an attractive game element, dealing with releasing art and it no longer being on…

1
The Power of Pivoting, Hospitality and a Love of DC 47:44

4M ago47:44

47:44

Welcome to the latest episode of Lunch with Shelley with special guest Susan Holt. Aside from being a great friend and superb neighbor, Susan is a very accomplished chef and culinary teacher, so we take her to LUNCH at Claudio’s table for her very first dining experience there! After graduating with honors from L’Academie de Cuisine, one of the top…

1
#310 Listener Questions 46:35

5M ago46:35

46:35

Dirk and David answer another round of listener questions! They discuss how mobile and desktop games differ, what makes a game “broken”, and tips to follow when designing around a licensed property. They also delve into design stagnation and following what was done before you, as well as when to innovate and when to iterate.…

1
Leadership – the Lake – and Longtime Friendships 44:24

5M ago44:24

44:24

Welcome to the latest episode of the Lunch with Shelley podcast, featuring this week’s special guest Vin Weber, my longtime friend and the second Weber to be on the show! Vin is a Partner at Mercury in Washington, D.C. and is one of the most prominent and successful strategists in the Republican Party, enjoying strong bipartisan relationships acros…

1
#309 Industry and Loose Leaf with Tanya X. Short 55:02

5M ago55:02

55:02

Dirk and David are joined by Tanya X. Short, Captain of Kitfox Games. They discuss the balance between appealing to market sensibilities and following one’s own interests, and how to make them work together. They also discuss the difficulty in funding projects with non-normative themes, barriers toward funding indie games, and the unique problems a…

1
Take a Big Gulp - Luck Favors the Prepared 46:50

5M ago46:50

46:50

Welcome to the latest episode of Lunch with Shelley featuring this week’s special guest Bruce Mehlman, a partner at Mehlman Consulting, the author of very popular quarterly decks focused on political and policy trends, and despite his best efforts, a pretty optimistic guy! Bruce is a highly sought-after keynote speaker who regularly headlines busin…

1
#308 Narrative AI with Emily Short 51:12

5M ago51:12

51:12

Dirk and David are joined by legendary interactive fiction writer and creative director of Failbetter Games Emily Short. The trio discuss Emily’s career, her contributions to interactive fiction, and some of her thoughts on both traditional game AI and modern generative AI. Topics include modeling relationships in games, player psychology and how m…

1
Take a Chance – Throw out the Checklist – And Cheers to a Spectacular and Refreshing 2024! 45:02

6M ago45:02

45:02

Welcome to the first episode of Lunch with Shelley in 2024!! I have a super awesome guest to kick off this year with, my very dear friend Jane Adams, and we dine at the fabulous Palm restaurant with terrific sound engineer Blanca Vega, so this is a really fun and fascinating LUNCH to join and listen to! Grab a seat at our booth and listen in as we …

1
#307 Roundtable with Soren Johnson 52:11

6M ago52:11

52:11

Dirk and David are joined by Soren Johnson, friend of the show and founder of Mohawk Games. The trio answers questions and design problems from the community, and follow up on recent episodes. Topics include achievements and collectables, the importance of having an art style, when to innovate and when to fall back on convention, and how to integra…

1
#306 A Highland Song with Jon Ingold 57:30

7M ago57:30

57:30

Dirk and David are joined by Jon Ingold, narrative designer and co-founder of Inkle Studios. They discuss Inkle’s newly released video game A Highland Song, centered around exploration, discovery, and engaging the human form within nature. They discuss the mechanics around rewarding and incentivizing players in an exploration game, ways to hide the…

1
First Ladies, Generational Gratitude and un Pasto Delizioso! 44:48

7M ago44:48

44:48

Welcome to the latest episode of Lunch with Shelley recorded for the first time from one of our new favorite lunch spots Claudio’s Table. Our special guest is my friend and colleague Anita McBride. Anita is the Executive in Residence at the Center for Congressional and Presidential Studies in the school of Public Affairs at American University. She…

1
#305 Thirsty Suitors with Chandana Ekanayake 53:34

7M ago53:34

53:34

Dirk and David are joined by Chandana Ekanayake, Game Director of Outerloop Games and long-time designer. They discuss Eka’s newly released Thirsty Suitors, a turn-based adventure game centering around culture, relationships, family, and self-expression. They discuss Eka’s career, Outerloop’s titles, and what makes Thirsty Suitors so special. Topic…

1
#304 Listener Questions November 2023 58:34

7M ago58:34

58:34

It’s time for another round of listener questions! In this episode, Dirk and David field questions from the community, discussing a variety of subjects. Topics include the validity and usefulness of player taxonomies, the pros and cons of game jams, and the considerations that go into creating an expansion for physical and digital products.…

1
Fun, Philanthropy, and a Bi-Partisan Friendship 36:46

7M ago36:46

36:46

Welcome to the latest episode of Lunch with Shelley with my great pal and very fun guest Julie Chase. Julie is the President & CEO of ChasePR, a full-service national media relations and marketing communications firm based in Washington, DC. She is also a fellow frequent diner at Café Milano, so join us over pasta, burrata, prosciutto and vitello t…

1
#303 Darkest Dungeon 2 with Chris Bourassa and Tyler Sigman 1:07:59

8M ago1:07:59

1:07:59

This week, David is joined by Chris Bourassa, creative director and cofounder of Red Hook Studios, as well as Tyler Sigman, designer and fellow co-founder. Together, they discuss Red Hook’s latest venture, Darkest Dungeon 2, the road trip sequel to Darkest Dungeon. Topics include the risks involved in making a sequel, the use and pitfalls of early …

1
The Secret Ingredient Is Love – and Go Birds! 38:21

8M ago38:21

38:21

Welcome to the latest episode of LUNCH with Shelley featuring special guest Matt Brooks, the Chief Executive Officer of both the Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC), an organization dedicated to enhancing ties between the Jewish community and the Republican Party, and the Jewish Policy Center, a think-tank that examines public policy from a Jewish pe…

1
#302 Wildermyth with Nate Austin 51:43

8M ago51:43

51:43

Dirk and David are joined by Nate Austin, co-creator of myth-making tactical RPG Wildermyth. In this entry in the series on worldbuilding, Nate describes the origins of Wildermyth, and how he and his partners grew the game into a true success. The trio also discuss how Wildermyth’s mechanics lead to a character focused over plot focused story, as w…

1
The Win vs. The When 37:06

8M ago37:06

37:06

Welcome to the latest episode of Lunch with Shelley! Our super interesting guest is Delayna Watkins, who is the CEO of Total Woman Wellness, Inc., a comprehensive health enterprise dedicated to women's midlife wellness and healthy aging. As a board-certified registered nurse with extensive clinical and leadership expertise, she has gained recogniti…

1
What to Expect at Claudio’s Table 4:13

9M ago4:13

4:13

Join us for a behind the scenes conversation about all the thought that went into creating the new and delicious Claudios Table – and a mouthwatering description of some of the new dishes you can look forward to!By Shelley

1
#301 Design and Controls with Richard Lemarchand 1:01:49

9M ago1:01:49

1:01:49

Dirk is joined by returning guest host Soren Johnson in today's episode in the Design Talk series. Dirk and Soren speak with Richard Lemarchand, distinguished game designer and now-professor most well-known for his work on the Uncharted series. Richard details his journey through his game design career, and the skills and processes he learned along…

1
No Two Days Are the Same 44:12

9M ago44:12

44:12

Welcome to the latest episode of Lunch with Shelley with our special guest Shawn Townsend, President and CEO of the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington. Claude and I tucked into our favorite table at Et Voila to meet Shawn for the first time, since LUNCH is always perfect for meeting a whole spectrum of acquaintances, and in this case to…

1
#300 Tricentennial Celebration 59:41

9M ago59:41

59:41

Welcome to episode 300 of The Game Design Round Table! Dirk and David take the opportunity to celebrate this momentous milestone. They reflect on the role the show has played in their lives, their own journeys as designers, and hear from friends new and old. Thank you all for listening, whether this is your first episode or you’ve been listening fr…

1
Very Blessed and Lots to Celebrate! 39:02

9M ago39:02

39:02

WELCOME to the NEW season of LUNCH with Shelley featuring our very special guest Marlene Colucci, CEO of the Business Council, Vice Chair of the Board of Directors for GXO Logistics, and a very dear friend of mine! Join us as we dine at the fabulous Café Milano over lots of seafood and champagne while we discover how and why Marlene came to DC, wha…

1
Season 2 of LUNCH is ready to Launch! 0:52

10M ago0:52

0:52

Season 2 of LUNCH with Shelley is ready to launch!By Shelley

1
#299 Worldbuilding with Ryan Laukat 45:55

10M ago45:55

45:55

Dirk is joined by Ryan Laukat, designer, illustrator, and co-founder of Red Raven Games, for the second installation in this series on worldbuilding. Ryan discusses his introduction and path into game design, the creation of Red Raven Games, and different methods that can be used to worldbuild. Topics include the importance of maps, how storybooks …

1
#298 Tchia with Phil Crifo 51:37

10M ago51:37

51:37

Today on the show, Dirk and David are joined by Phil Crifo, game director at Awaceb, most prominently known for his work on Fossil Echo and Tchia. He discusses growing up in New Caledonia, and how it serves as an influence on the creation of Tchia. Topics include the history of New Caledonia and colonization, creating a world based on difficult his…

1
Summer Lunch Pop Up Special 36:11

10M ago36:11

36:11

Dine with us during the last dog days of summer with the super fun and accomplished Lisa Camooso Miller and guest producer Cleavon Davies at the ever fabulous Et Voila! In our last summer episode we talk about everything from how Lisa got to DC from NJ, to the trials of teaching teens to drive, to how to get your creative flow going. WARNING - this…

1
#297 Gerson Da Silva Talks Kingdom Rush 44:53

11M ago44:53

44:53

Dirk and David are joined by Gerson Da Silva, Director at Ironhide Game Studio and co-founder of Totem Games. Gerson is best known for his work on the Kingdom Rush series, as well as Water 2050. This episode delves into alternative paths into game design, as well as how to adapt a game to audiences of different investment levels. Topics include the…

1
LUNCH MAKES YOU HAPPY! 30:18

11M ago30:18

30:18

Welcome to the ONE YEAR Anniversary episode of the Lunch with Shelley podcast! Claude and I celebrated together at the ever fabulous Cafe Milano - just us - for a fun, relaxing lunch together on a beautiful summer day. We chat about how we first met and how the show began, along with just regular lunch conversations that range from going to the mov…

1
#296 Listener Questions 53:40

11M ago53:40

53:40

Dirk and David gather for another round of listener questions! They answer how to balance mechanical options and variety in a game, trends in how genres are under- or over-utilized, and the impact of live streaming on designing and marketing a game. Topics include the evolution of Legend of the Five Rings, the gameplay loops of extraction shooters …

1
No Techno Panic At the Palm 42:58

11M ago42:58

42:58

Welcome to the latest Lunch with Shelley podcast featuring our uplifting and fascinating guest Michael Petricone, Senior Vice President of Government Affairs at the Consumer Technology Association (CTA). While dining at our favorite booth at the Palm over salads, shrimps and truffle pasta, we talk all things tech – what’s the latest in tech, what M…

1
#295 Kingdoms and Castles with Lion Shield Studios 51:04

12M ago51:04

51:04

Dirk is joined by Pete Angstadt and Michael Peddicard, co-founders of Lion Shield Studios, to talk about the design and success of Kingdoms and Castles. They discuss designing in the city builder genre, as well as how they structure their studio. Topics include how they decided on an art style, ethical employment and business growth, the power of t…

1
94 and Still Taking One Step More 16:55

12M ago16:55

16:55

Hello and Welcome to a Super Special Episode of Lunch with Shelley! I cannot underscore how important this episode is to me because it features my hero - my Dear Ole Dad. He is funny, smart, kind, and generous, and I am the luckiest girl in the world that he is my father. As I write on my website, even my love of lunch began with my father. Ever si…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Hymes Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Quick Reference Guide