Best David Spira Podcasts (2024)

1
REPOD Season 7 Key Moments, Editor’s Choice by Steve Ewing 1:08:51

1h ago1:08:51

1:08:51

There's a reason Los Angeles is known as the City of Dreams. It's a town populated with dreamers and makers. They concoct fantasy worlds filled with quirky characters, dashing heroes, and tormented villains. Oftentimes, the backdrop of Southern California serves as inspiration itself, with its wide sandy beaches, snowy mountaintops, and the desolat…

1
The Wicker Plan – David & Peih-Gee on The Infinite Escape Room 46:44

19d ago46:44

46:44

In April, David and Peih-Gee were guests for two episodes of The Infinite Escape Room, a comedy puzzle show where a group of pals sit down, have a drink, and work together to solve an audio escape room. This time around, they needed to escape a giant, flaming wicker man, and all sorts of silliness ensued. The game episode is now available on the Re…

1
S7E12 Bonus After-Show Teaser: Hatch Escapes 6:10

1M ago6:10

6:10

We're sharing a little bit of our Patreon exclusive Bonus Show from S7E12 with Tommy Wallach and Terry Pettigrew-Rolapp of Hatch Escape. In this clip, Terry talks about the qualities that intrigue him the most when playing Escape Rooms and how Immersia and Escaparium, located in Montreal, Canada, fit the bill. Listen to the rest of the Bonus Show n…

1
S7E12 - Dreaming & Betting Big: Terry Pettigrew-Rolapp & Tommy Wallach of Hatch Escapes 1:12:31

2M ago1:12:31

1:12:31

"Where Terry and I live is between games and theater." If you ask any escape room enthusiast to recommend a must-play game in Los Angeles, you'll hear about Lab Rat. When it first opened in 2018, it was ranked #8 in the world on the TERPECA list. It has maintained a ranking in the top 100 games ever since, which is no small feat. Hatch Escapes' hig…

1
S7E11 Bonus After-Show Teaser: The Great Lore Debate 6:45

2M ago6:45

6:45

We're sharing a little bit of our Patreon exclusive Bonus show from S7E11 with Noah Nelson of No Proscenium. In this clip, Noah and David discussed the exposition dump and why writers should prioritize the audience's relationship with the characters first and foremost. Listen to the rest of the Bonus Show now by becoming a patron today at patreon.c…

1
S7E11 - Everything Immersive: Noah Nelson of No Proscenium 1:01:58

2M ago1:01:58

1:01:58

“I have irrational exuberance about the future of immersive.” Whether you work in the immersive theater space, or have more than a passing interest in the immersive arts, chances are you’ve seen Noah Nelson at an immersive event, or listened to his coverage of it on the No Proscenium podcast. Or maybe you’ve read about it on their weekly newsletter…

1
Spoilers Club: Stay in the Dark Part 1 Preview 5:28

2M ago5:28

5:28

This is a teaser from this month's Spoilers Club. David Spira & Peih-Gee Law take a deep dive into iconic or impactful escape rooms. The creators join us to share exclusive behind the scenes, commentary and insights about their games. This month explored Stay in the Dark; a remarkably enormous game of cat and mouse played through a five story aband…

1
S7E10 Bonus After-Show Teaser: RECON LA 5:37

2M ago5:37

5:37

We're sharing a little bit of our Patreon exclusive Bonus show from S7E10. In this clip. David and Lee-Fay Low discuss the art of crafting a great convention talk and what they look for in speakers at RECON. Listen to the rest of the Bonus Show now by becoming a patron today at patreon.com/roomescapeartist and to gain to access our library of over …

1
S7E10 - Unlocking the Secrets of RECON LA with Lee-Fay Low and Theresa Wagner 1:07:33

2M ago1:07:33

1:07:33

“It's remarkable what happens when you stop practicing and spend a little bit of time teaching people.“ Do you own an escape room? Do you have a skillset that applies to immersive gaming experiences, such as game designer, prop maker, or tech expert? Are you an aspiring escape room creator? Are you an escape room enthusiast looking to take a deep d…

1
S7E9 Bonus After-Show Teaser: Andy Crocker 6:06

2M ago6:06

6:06

We're sharing a little bit of our Patreon exclusive Bonus show from S7E9. In this clip, co-host Peih-Gee Law talks about rat park, a psychological experiment run by Dr. Bruce Alexander in the seventies, and the impact of creating connections through play. Listen to the rest of the Bonus Show now by becoming a patron today at patreon.com/roomescapea…

1
S7E9 - Captain of Heartfelt Shenanigans: Andy Crocker, Immersive Performance Director 1:03:37

2M ago1:03:37

1:03:37

"I think being silly is really important." Playing pretend together is powerful stuff, and Andy Crocker knows this better than anyone. If you’ve experienced heartfelt shenanigans at Ghost Town Alive, or exchanged thrilling secrets in the engineering room aboard Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser, chances are you’ve come across Andy’s work. As an Immers…

1
S7E8 Bonus After-Show Teaser: Cross Roads 6:37

3M ago6:37

6:37

We're sharing a little bit of our Patreon exclusive Bonus show from S7E8. In this clip, co-hosts David Spira and Peih-Gee Law talk about Activate and Time Mission, which are both different types of challenge arcades. Listen to the rest of the Bonus Show now by becoming a patron today at patreon.com/roomescapeartist and to gain to access our library…

1
REPOD S7E8 - Influential and Experimental: Luke & Madison Rhoades of Cross Roads Escape Games 1:05:53

3M ago1:05:53

1:05:53

“We always want to make something that we haven't seen before.” There are few companies who have been as influential in the escape room scene as Cross Roads Escape Games. Not only are all their games highly polished with brilliant puzzles, gorgeous sets, and fun interactions, they’re also creatively experimental. The owners, Luke and Madison Rhoade…

1
S7E7 Bonus After-Show Teaser: Michael Borys 6:52

3M ago6:52

6:52

We're sharing a little bit of our Patreon exclusive Bonus show from S7E7 with Michael Borys, creators of The 49 Boxes. In this clip. Michael tells us the story behind one of his most prized possessions and interactive sculptural Van Gogh head. Listen to the rest of the Bonus Show now by becoming a patron today at patreon.com/roomescapeartist and to…

1
REPOD S7E7 - Game Design is Magic: Michael Borys of The 49 Boxes 1:11:48

3M ago1:11:48

1:11:48

"There's absolutely no difference between Magic and the Magical." We shuffle slowly into the basement, careful not to bump into anything. This is harder than seems, because everywhere we turn, there are boxes and objects. Collections of items are spotlit, dust motes dancing in the air. Curious, we split up and start exploring. In one hidden nook, t…

1
S7E6 Bonus After-Show Teaser: Confusion Escapes 6:40

3M ago6:40

6:40

We're sharing a little bit of our Patreon exclusive Bonus show from S7E6 with Al and Stacy Delcome, creators of Confusion Escapes in San Bernardino, California. In this clip, Peih-Gee talks about playing her first jubensha, the larp-like murder mystery experience popularized in China. Content Warning: Please be warned that this segment does discuss…

1
REPOD S7E6 - Engineering Fun: Al & Stacy Delcome of Confusion Escapes 47:13

3M ago47:13

47:13

"A delightful dream world" Imagine walking up to the lobby of an escape room, only to be confronted by an enormous semi-truck that has smashed through one of the walls. Maybe you’re climbing up a massive, sprawling tree and ducking into the treehouse of your childhood dreams. Local favorite Confusion Escapes engineer all their games to maximize fun…

1
S7E5 Bonus After-Show Teaser: Wild Heart Ranch 5:39

3M ago5:39

5:39

We're sharing a little bit of our Patreon exclusive Bonus show from S7E5 with Blake Hodges-Koch & Thomas Meston, creators of Wild Heart Ranch outside of Joshua Tree, California. In this clip, we talk about Blake & Thomas' initial fear of seasoned escape room players finding Wild Heart Ranch and why David loving refers to a group of escape room play…

1
REPOD S7E5 - The Secrets of Wild Heart Ranch: Blake Hodges-Koch & Thomas Meston 1:02:16

3M ago1:02:16

1:02:16

“The most Myst-like experience I have had in real life” You arrive at the Airbnb, ready for a fun-filled weekend with your loved ones. The ranch is gorgeously furnished with mid-century modern touches. Outside, the desert stretches off into the distance. You wander in after a soak in the hot tub and find a little piece of paper that says "Start Her…

1
S7E4 Bonus After-Show Teaser: Steal and Escape 4:41

4M ago4:41

4:41

We're sharing a little bit of our Patreon exclusive Bonus show from S7E4 with Jason & Marketa Richard, creators of Steal and Escape in San Diego, California. In this clip, we talk about making escape room merch and making content for social media. Listen to the rest of the Bonus Show now by becoming a patron today at patreon.com/roomescapeartist an…

1
REPOD S7E4 - Design From the Heart with Jason & Marketa Richard of Steal and Escape 51:37

4M ago51:37

51:37

"Our love language is building together." “High on fun” is how David introduces the games at Steal and Escape, and that’s exactly how I felt after playing their creative and unique games. From popsicles to hilarious assessment tests, and challenges that gave me Survivor PTSD, the games created by husband-and-wife team Jason and Marketa Richard are …

1
S7E3 Bonus After-Show Teaser: Brett Jackson 5:09

4M ago5:09

5:09

We're sharing a little bit of our Patreon exclusive Bonus show from S7E3 with Brett Jackson, creator of Imagi-Ne’er-Do-Wells. Brett talks about the need to consider the guests emotional safety, and how to be considerate in your experience design. Listen to the rest of the Bonus Show now by becoming a patron today at patreon.com/roomescapeartist and…

1
S7E3 - Kooky and Creative Networking: Brett Jackson, Creator of Imagi-Ne'er Do-Wells 1:01:57

4M ago1:01:57

1:01:57

Your palms are sweaty, but your body is filled with exhilaration. You’re still coming down off the high of pitching your ludicrous idea on stage to a room filled with your peers. Thunderous applause, whistles, and exuberant cheers fill your ears. You walk off, clutching your squashed penny prize. An hour ago, you walked in, nervous as hell, with no…

1
S7E2 Bonus After-Show Teaser: Jared Butler 4:52

4M ago4:52

4:52

We're sharing a little bit of our Patreon exclusive Bonus show from S7E2 with Jared Butler, owner of Wasteland Weekend and Neotropolis. In this preview, Peih-Gee talks about some of the escape room-esque features of Neotropolis, and Jared discusses how the bars work. He also shared his dreams for the future of the event. Listen to the rest of the B…

1
S7E2 - Dystopian Desert Dreams: Jared Butler, Creator of Wasteland Weekend & Neotropolis 1:06:33

4M ago1:06:33

1:06:33

"The desert adds an incredible layer of realism that you're never gonna get in any polished one hour experience." You’ve been driving through the desert for miles. It’s nighttime, and you've seen nothing but scrub brush and rocks for a while. Suddenly, emerging from the darkness is the glimmer of lights… neon lights, and as you get closer you hear …

1
S7E1 Bonus After-Show Teaser: The Ministry of Peculiarities 4:22

4M ago4:22

4:22

We're sharing a little bit of our Patreon exclusive Bonus show from S7E1 with The Ministry of Peculiarities. In this preview, David tells a story about an unexpected guest at an early escape room tour. Listen to the rest of the Bonus Show now by becoming a patron today at patreon.com/roomescapeartist and to gain to access our library of over 60 bon…

1
Spoilers Club: Sleep No More - Part 1 Preview 4:10

4M ago4:10

4:10

To sleep, perchance to dream... Sleep No More, the seminal immersive theater piece from Punchdrunk, has inspired countless immersive creators, including Haley and Cameron Cooper of Strange Bird Immersive. Haley and Cameron make no secret that it has heavily influenced their acclaimed escape room The Man From Beyond. When we heard that Punchdrunk wo…

1
S7E1: Quirky & Compelling: The Ministry of Peculiarities 52:15

5M ago52:15

52:15

"Quirkiness is a core value." In Season 7, Episode 1, we chat with Adam Moody, Jonathan Berk, and Benjamin Berk, the creators of The Ministry of Peculiarities in Azusa, California. Their first full-length game, Hope End, established their quirky brand of escape room, elegantly mixing story, puzzles, and adventure into one of Southern California’s p…

1
Peih-Gee's Playhouse, The LA Edition 49:17

5M ago49:17

49:17

"This episode is brought to you by language that has fallen outta favor in the last century." We're putting the "celeb" in celebrate! Play along as we test each other's wits with games, puzzles, and trivia, all themed around Los Angeles, the home for this year's Reality Escape Convention. In keeping with the theme, Season 7 of REPOD will feature gu…

1
Spoilers Club: Ghost of Mentryville Preview 7:29

5M ago7:29

7:29

"Why did it have to be snakes?" "Since we started this podcast, I have been talking repeatedly about my desire for there to be more lower budget, experimental, thought provoking, and thoughtful productions." David calls this game "the black box theatre" of escape rooms, while REA Patron Dan Egnor called it "the best room in the world in awesomeness…

1
Season 6 Key Moments 1:26:03

5M ago1:26:03

1:26:03

“For new listeners, we hope it will be a great introduction to what the podcast is all about, and for our regular listeners, a reminder of the most interesting and impactful moments from Season 6.” Already missing REPOD? Don’t worry, Season 7 of the podcast is launching very soon. In the meantime, our editor, Steve Ewing, put together some of his f…

1
The Mind Behind the Who Killed Ickey Treasure Hunt, John Bromels 33:49

6M ago33:49

33:49

"We are so excited that a publishing company is using the medium of puzzles... to promote a book." The only thing I like better than puzzles is winning money while solving puzzles. Who Killed Ickey? is an online treasure hunt taking place January 27, 2024 with prizes worth $50,000. In this special release sponsored episode, we sat down with the Who…

1
Peek Behind the Curtain with Spoilers Club 51:14

6M ago51:14

51:14

"One of my favorite things about Spoilers Club is getting to hear about those tiny little details that the designers sneak into their games." One of the things I love about playing escape rooms is that post-game discussion where we get to analyze everything that happened during the game. We can talk about all of our favorite puzzles, things that wo…

1
Special Release Bonus Episode S6E3: Going Viral with Christine Barger 54:36

7M ago54:36

54:36

"You never know why something will go viral, and it doesn't matter why. They'll still come." If social media was an escape room, most owners and designers would never find the key. Navigating all the different trends and social media apps is a daunting task, and it's even harder when most escape rooms don't allow photos or videos of their games. Th…

1
S6E13 Bonus After-Show Teaser: The Value of a Good Editor 6:38

7M ago6:38

6:38

We're sharing a little bit of our Patreon exclusive Bonus show from S6E13 with A.J. Jacobs and Greg Pliska of The Puzzler Podcast. In this clip. Peih-Gee confesses to some writing struggles and David shares a story of being utterly destroyed and then rebuilt by a writing professor back in college. Listen to the rest of the Bonus Show now by becomin…

1
S6E13 - Inside the Puzzler Podcast with A.J. Jacobs & Greg Pliska 1:02:57

7M ago1:02:57

1:02:57

“Fun, bite sized, and entertaining.” In the final episode of season 6, we’re back with author and now podcaster A.J. Jacobs, along with his Chief Puzzle Officer, Greg Pliska. We first interviewed A.J. about his book, The Puzzler, in S3E11. The idea for the podcast originated in part while recording the audio book version of The Puzzler. A.J. realiz…

1
S6E12 Bonus After-Show Teaser: The Case Against Animatronics in Escape Rooms 6:01

7M ago6:01

6:01

We're sharing a little bit of our Patreon exclusive Bonus show from S6E12 with Mike Dold and Rick George of Doldrick's Escape Room. In this clip. David makes his case against using animatronics in escape rooms and explains why Doldrick's Spoopy animatronic is one of the few that works. Listen to the rest of the Bonus Show now by becoming a patron t…

1
S6E12 - Wood, Wire, & Whimsy: Mike Dold & Rick George of Doldrick’s 59:56

7M ago59:56

59:56

“Comedy and whimsy feel like the foundational principles of Doldrick’s.” In Season 6, episode 12, we chat with Mike Dold and Rick George, two of the co-owners of Doldrick’s Escape Room in Orlando, Fl. Their games are fan favorites amongst enthusiasts, in particular because of their blend of humor, whimsy, beautiful sets, and fun gameplay. Every sin…

1
S6E11 Bonus After-Show Teaser: Summer Herrick of Locurio 6:24

8M ago6:24

6:24

We're sharing a little bit of our Patreon exclusive Bonus show from S6E11 with Summer Herrick of Locurio. In this preview, we talk about the challenge of designing for and around the most devoted fans of these large format experiences in experiences like Sleep No More and Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser. Listen to the rest of the Bonus Show now by b…

1
S6E11 - The Art of Game Flow with Summer Herrick of Locurio 57:32

8M ago57:32

57:32

By David Spira & Peih-Gee Law

1
S6E10 Bonus After-Show Teaser: Lonnie Hanzon of Camp Christmas 7:09

8M ago7:09

7:09

We're sharing a little bit of our Patreon exclusive Bonus show from S6E10 with Lonnie Hanzon of Camp Christmas. In this preview, we talk about the evolution of retail, visual merchandising into social media and experiences. Listen to the rest of the Bonus Show now by becoming a patron today at patreon.com/roomescapeartist and to gain to access our …

1
S6E10 - The Magic of Maximalism with Lonnie Hanzon of Camp Christmas 1:03:36

8M ago1:03:36

1:03:36

"It's a quirky romp through this thing that we call Christmas." In Season 6, episode 10 of Reality Escape Pod, we talk to visual installation artist Lonnie Hanzon, who has been creating immersive displays celebrating Christmas for over 30 years. Lonnie is the mastermind behind the wildly creative Christmas trees and windows at Neiman Marcus in Dall…

1
S6E9 Bonus After-Show Teaser: Advent of Code 6:20

8M ago6:20

6:20

We're sharing a little bit of our Patreon exclusive Bonus show from S6E10 with Eric Wastl, creator Advent of Code. In this preview, we talk about effective interviewing techniques for hiring. Spoiler... it's not Advent of Code puzzles. Listen to the rest of the Bonus Show now by becoming a patron today at patreon.com/roomescapeartist and to gain to…

1
S6E9 - Advent of Code: 25 Days of Programming Puzzles with Creator Eric Wastl 1:02:13

8M ago1:02:13

1:02:13

"It's also sort of a gateway drug to becoming a programmer." In REPOD season 6, episode 9, we have a rare interview with Eric Wastl, who is not only the creative mind behind Advent of Code, but he is also married to our very own Kate Wastl who writes for Room Escape Artist and is the producer for RECON 24 in Los Angeles this August. Advent of Code …

1
S6E8 Bonus After-Show Teaser: Eric Berlin 5:34

8M ago5:34

5:34

We're sharing a little bit of our Patreon exclusive Bonus show from S6E8 with puzzle maker Eric Berlin, creator of Puzzle Snacks. In this preview, we talk about designing puzzles for kids and Eric gives us some tips for solving crossword puzzles. Listen to the rest of the Bonus Show now by becoming a patron today at patreon.com/roomescapeartist and…

1
S6E8 - Eric Berlin Puzzle Snacks 1:04:57

8M ago1:04:57

1:04:57

“An escape room crossword puzzle” In Season 6, episode 8, we talk to the charming crossword constructor Eric Berlin. Eric is the creator of Puzzlesnacks, one of our favorite puzzle books, and he authored the Winston Breen trilogy, a series of puzzling novels for kids. Eric was also captain of Team Palindrome, one of the largest MIT Mystery Hunt tea…

1
S6E7 Bonus After-Show Teaser: Red Fox 5:27

8M ago5:27

5:27

We're sharing a little bit of our Patreon exclusive Bonus show from S6E7 with Marie and Nico, co-creators of Red Fox. Here we talk about lessons learned from designing escape rooms and debate the merits of designing for authenticity versus ease of reset. Listen to the rest of the Bonus Show now by becoming a patron today at patreon.com/roomescapear…

1
S6E7: The Analytics of Fun: Great Escape Room Design with Marie Huber & Nico Cesar of Red Fox Escapes 1:04:58

9M ago1:04:58

1:04:58

“That is some crazy market research.” In season 6, episode 7 of REPOD, we chat with the brilliant Marie Huber and Nico César, owners of Red Fox Escapes in Cambridge, MA. Red Fox Escapes is known for constructing elegant and complex puzzles with gorgeous, detailed sets. As David notes in the episode, “There are a few hallmarks of Red Fox games… your…

1
S6E6 Bonus After-Show Teaser: Club Drosselmeyer 5:51

9M ago5:51

5:51

We're sharing a little bit of our Patreon exclusive Bonus show from S6E6 with Kellian and Brian Pletcher, co-creators of Club Drosselmeyer. Here's a snippet of us sharing some advice for interacting with the performers at an immersive event. And also how to draw some hesitant guests, deeper into your storyline. Listen to the rest of the Bonus Show …

1
S6E6: Nutcracker in Swing Time - Kellian & Brian Pletcher, Creators of Club Drosselmeyer 1:05:04

9M ago1:05:04

1:05:04

“It's an interactive Nutcracker in swing time.” In REPOD season 6, episode 6, we go behind the scenes with the creators of Club Drosselmeyer, Kellian and Brian Pletcher. Club Drosselmeyer is a World War II-themed mass-puzzling, swing-dancing, and immersive performance event, and it’s one of Room Escape Artist’s favorite holiday events. Kellian talk…

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