# Think Like A Game Designer A podcast by Justin Gary. In Think Like a Game Designer, award-winning designer and Stone Blade Entertainment CEO Justin Gary speaks with world-class game designers and creative experts from various industries. Each episode deconstructs the creative process, offering insights into the art of game design and the broader cultural, technological, and business influences shaping a myriad of creative mediums. Join us for actionable advice and unique perspectives that will enrich your understanding of what it means to be creative in and out of the gaming world. justingarydesign.substack.com Feed: https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/1945614/s/82824.rss ## Latest episodes - [Amabel Holland — Games as Political Art, Print-on-Demand Freedoms, and the Architecture of Systems (#113)](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1450200089/2438a33f9a2b) (2026-10-22, 65 min): audio https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/217431626/54323b498d217eb66d75e6cc900b9c75.mp3 - [Elizabeth Hargrave — Distilling Wingspan Pocket, AI Ethics in Tabletop, and Building Equity for Designers (#112)](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1450200089/a5068effe6d9) (2026-10-08, 61 min): audio https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/217110371/58725df08c4765f781ddc622db904733.mp3 - [Scott Morris — Making Memories Over Games, Navigating Personal Tragedy, and the Law of First Principles (#111)](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1450200089/29b4f42f8149) (2026-09-24, 65 min): audio https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/216332883/6f5df54efdff357f82d53c7261f61c09.mp3 - [Ben Robbins — Revisiting Microscope, Designing Uncomfortable Games, and the Mechanics of Shared Stories (#110)](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1450200089/22c869eb9e86) (2026-09-10, 84 min): audio https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/213696448/cfd4ac3172a56f673590e308d73b7ee4.mp3 - [Ryan Scott Dancey — From Fake Mail Order to Legend of the Five Rings, the Power of Self-Belief, and the Future of AI (#109)](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1450200089/2d22c470b4e7) (2026-08-27, 95 min): audio https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/212149366/81d14d1305d6ce6d5513a1d54ae985ee.mp3 - [Game Design Inspiration from Gen Con](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1450200089/29ba08ea3d13) (2026-08-11, 14 min): audio https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/210746484/3dbcc06894060f508c196f92f6c550d0.mp3 - [Chad Ellis—Reality Gaming at Boda Borg, the Psychology of Negotiation, and Building Ego-Free Teams (#108)](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1450200089/568b466d7b70) (2026-07-30, 63 min): audio https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/208664741/87ec74fe9c9b25f737cad915682e2956.mp3 - [Luke Peterschmidt — Designing for Massive Fandoms, Eliminating Obstacles, and Exploiting Your Superpowers (#107)](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1450200089/6ae43e3c2251) (2026-07-16, 64 min): audio https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/202729460/bdfd592f41b9a50d0844aa4040ee7a57.mp3 - [Ben Seck—Treating Your Career Like a Game, Shifting from Cards to Mobile, and Being a Boss Who Actually Backs Their Team (#107)](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1450200089/5297af0f3fde) (2026-07-02, 82 min): audio https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/204082852/9f970ff664b6485e2e641b6979efec29.mp3 - [Ivan Van Norman — From Broke Graduate to Geek & Sundry, the Reality of Scaling an Indie Studio, and Embracing Content Innovation (#106)](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1450200089/2e2f11cc69b5) (2026-06-18, 83 min): audio https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/202585377/871868e7af9d9d6028beb70282e85805.mp3 - [Zvi Mowshowitz—From the Magic Pro Tour to Wall Street, the Logic of Bookmaking, and the Future of AI Ethics (#105)](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1450200089/f9834ecdec65) (2026-06-05, 105 min): audio https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/200447119/e32ba4b0d2a9811ae3dee31c9bb940d4.mp3 - [Nate Heiss — Removing Ego from Design, The Magic of Roguelikes, and Building Across Digital and Tabletop (#104)](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1450200089/bcbfce32752c) (2026-05-21, 92 min): audio https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/198415771/f2a7a712f3807a7260b3403eff358a59.mp3 - [Mark Rosewater — Designing for Emotion, Embracing Complexity, and 28 Years of Iteration (#103)](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1450200089/7d36056f5658) (2026-05-07, 113 min): audio https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/196550605/5063f9ee7d1de750f84658342f2cf38e.mp3 - [Ross Thompson—Real-World Marketing, Influencer Strategy, and Building Community That Lasts (#102)](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1450200089/793d9e062a7e) (2026-04-23, 73 min): audio https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/195244633/414086a9ec3e79e596361610e7750d0e.mp3 - [Drew Corkill — Design Solo Game Systems, Speed, and Shipping at Scale (#101)](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1450200089/c7be76068c55) (2026-04-02, 63 min): audio https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/192956749/4e26c0f40e58175c51ecc8c6d412fb5c.mp3 - [50 Episodes of Game Design Wisdom](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1450200089/0a0efcb253aa) (2026-03-18, 117 min): audio https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/190095392/8ad2a0599e9b07b410f46e68ef222723.mp3 - [Eric Lang — Designing for Payoff, Ritual Play, and Returning to Your Roots (#100)](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1450200089/7b6e6a9fb403) (2026-02-17, 84 min): audio https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/187771556/3aa422b4a2bff5250bc3abca7b678b95.mp3 - [Theresa Duringer — UI as Game Design, Onboarding Without Friction, and the Ethics of AI (#99)](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1450200089/669a55910f76) (2026-01-29, 80 min): audio https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/185432427/29346485fe84586241353179b52487f3.mp3 - [Jaimie Wolanski — Tough Truths, Retail Realities, and How Games Create Connection (#98)](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1450200089/ae8144cda943) (2026-01-15, 61 min): audio https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/182861624/523148c46040ac712df919e30e42417e.mp3 - [Vlaada Chvátil — Designing for Joy, Building Great Games, and Letting Quality Do the Marketing (#97)](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1450200089/e5e81e814eb6) (2025-12-18, 71 min): audio https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/181695055/9b042116e6fba28d5621f88c4bdc390b.mp3 - [Carly McGinnis — Startup Scrappiness, Trusting Your Team, and the Rhythm of Leadership (#96)](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1450200089/c20216787ed5) (2025-12-04, 83 min): audio https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/180437744/56708772439e09b8f2a158817b980bc6.mp3 - [Kyle Thiermann — Deadlines, Mentors, Curiosity, and the Craft of Connection (#95)](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1450200089/6a0f34a15ed9) (2025-11-18, 78 min): audio https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/177286279/2d5f328648ba7184b99801001b66c984.mp3 - [Touko Tahkokallio — Curiosity, Physics, and the Power of Mental Playtesting (#94)](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1450200089/b59300cbb305) (2025-11-06, 75 min): audio https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/178160871/dde85e37d129635757fa74b3838a16e0.mp3 - [Jordan Weisman — From Battletech to Shadowrun: The Power of Curiosity and Collaboration (#93)](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1450200089/3ba1236b2ca5) (2025-10-16, 53 min): audio https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/176230401/db3af44421d2d9375d77b506f0d16968.mp3 - [Jonathan Grant — Critics, Experiments, Secrets, and the Business of Play (#92)](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1450200089/981fbd7ae7bb) (2025-09-23, 74 min): audio https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/173003086/8fd97a78559881102c4ba6af24e3db51.mp3 - [Elan Lee — Building Exploding Kittens, Marketing as Design, Retail Pitches, and Playing to Sell (#91)](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1450200089/95f310bfd051) (2025-09-09, 78 min): audio https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/173001010/94af160a56f7fad8d210ba439898ec92.mp3 - [Justin Gary — 5 Lessons From 15 Years (#90)](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1450200089/77d3c3166e01) (2025-08-21, 22 min): audio https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/171480915/4c1bef39f248667144d93cf0b6732325.mp3 - [Tim Ferriss — Designing Coyote, Playing to Learn, Publishing Truths, and Saying "No" (#89)](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1450200089/a06773299a44) (2025-08-07, 151 min): audio https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/169567023/2e66650ad8d27a1707a3b56d8b69f4cd.mp3 - [Cole Wehrle — Cute Creatures, Brutal Games, Asymmetric Design, and Subverting Expectations (#88)](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1450200089/71983401643c) (2025-07-24, 76 min): audio https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/168858425/1bbb4a79858c4fc296034261bc9c6114.mp3 - [Amy Lowe — Finding Your X Factor, Marketing with Heart, and Serving the Right Players (#87)](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1450200089/7368a0f23a4f) (2025-07-10, 68 min): audio https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/167978693/2c9494348f0fc7b168320e0654d57413.mp3 - [Derek Sivers — Embracing Simplicity, Owning Your Weirdness, and Designing a Life with Intent (#86)](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1450200089/0615d642e06a) (2025-06-24, 91 min): audio https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/165725289/830d75714540a2b21056f3c1f4aa5d78.mp3 - [Dominic Crapuchettes — Designing for Constraints, Rebuilding After Failure, and Finding the Magic in Games (#85)](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1450200089/fea0b52adc07) (2025-06-12, 69 min): audio https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/165698422/e2e59cc71037d1d607558229315824e8.mp3 - [SolForge Fusion Shadows Over Solis](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1450200089/7b5f70fb61fe) (2025-05-27, 10 min): audio https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/164586811/8d801ea1cbdd7f51deff7b20c85b360e.mp3 - [Kohji Nagata — Building Parallel, Designing with Obsession, and Falling in Love with Your Creations (#84)](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1450200089/cbdd6cf5893c) (2025-05-15, 90 min): audio https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/163488599/c91a9ebd590364dc94c94dbfea068cd0.mp3 - [Dafna Pleban — Editing Underwater, Building Creative Teams, and the Economics of Storytelling (#83)](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1450200089/78a020e202f7) (2025-05-01, 70 min): audio https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/162402604/0c6004e2785244f6f5240d694a6b24e3.mp3 - [Justin Ziran — Digital Magic: Fear and Success, Leading with Bold Decisions, and Redefining Innovation (#82)](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1450200089/8def363af70d) (2025-04-08, 84 min): audio https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/159006802/90daa2bc160c51828fef05e7ebc104e4.mp3 - [James Introcaso — Game Masters, the Rise of Indie RPGs and Showing Up for Luck (#81)](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1450200089/3a3c3d04e87e) (2025-03-27, 59 min): audio https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/159832598/3054f916945f377a129757257a8a59ea.mp3 - [Jesse Alexander — Mastering the Creative Hustle, Fighting for Bold Ideas, and Thriving in a Changing Industry (#80)](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1450200089/11aade18e27c) (2025-02-27, 71 min): audio https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/157897065/60c14e1354e2124df8032ec7f80bb9e6.mp3 - [Ryan Soave — Embracing Discomfort, Overcoming Mental Blocks, and Unlocking Creative Growth (#79)](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1450200089/dc4234c24b93) (2025-02-11, 61 min): audio https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/156722545/309e3fbdd633899cd81f09aa996a1d72.mp3 - [Matt Forbeck — From Warhammer to Marvel: Bold Risks, Creative Freedom, and Collaboration (#78)](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1450200089/6f1c1e256d59) (2025-01-16, 65 min): audio https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/154893878/6ba80b75ebddca916fb4743f4f8349b6.mp3 - [Alliestrasza — From Hearthstone Streaming to Web3 Gaming: Building Communities and Crafting New Worlds (#77)](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1450200089/a29bb608d830) (2025-01-02, 67 min): audio https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/153632428/a3914a65635ef0d7138c930d62864c3f.mp3 - [Eric Dieulangard — Altered: Marketing the most successful TCG Kickstarter of all time (#75)](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1450200089/8abd5a3fbdf2) (2024-12-12, 82 min): audio https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/152923378/16d093f3c86fb8a6732dfb2bdd47a38f.mp3 - [Travis George — From League of Legends to Vela Games: Prioritization, Leadership, and the Power of Constraints (#75)](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1450200089/ad78f893480b) (2024-11-21, 91 min): audio https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/151928391/bff3423a8ee37f795350e64068098c7e.mp3 - [Alexander Seropian — From Halo to Fortnite: Mastering Team Dynamics, Entrepreneurial Resilience, and User Generated Content (#74)](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1450200089/0aca38e9318b) (2024-11-07, 71 min): audio https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/150574970/3191cbc5e11b8d9e6b1dc5225dbe4df7.mp3 - [Richard Bartle & Nigel Roberts — The Power of ‘What If,’ Building Communities, and Navigating Decentralization in Game Design (#73)](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1450200089/a20b891c9262) (2024-10-24, 83 min): audio https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/150576511/e91acb408e86bf4fe7cf35c718afd038.mp3 - [Alex Yeager — Mastering Game Pitches, Reviving Evergreen Titles, and Creating Social Experiences in Game Design (#72)](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1450200089/ad0987f94e44) (2024-10-08, 71 min): audio https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/149912798/e0d2c6d807aa345c2fbb0aa03a5bb4e1.mp3 - [Scott Morris — Building a Brand, Navigating Contracts, and the Power of Relationships in Game Design (#71)](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1450200089/7a4edaad9a40) (2024-09-19, 67 min): audio https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/149067257/ca5b3969b63e64ad97ee49c30982236d.mp3 - [LIVE at Gen Con 2024 (Special Episode)](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1450200089/70d983dda7aa) (2024-08-23, 34 min): audio https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/148046863/0dd5cf49f0ead42b842d637ead5d4d24.mp3 - [Ethan Mollick — Navigating AI in Game Design, Ethical Integration, and Supporting Artists (#70)](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1450200089/41dde8c3d227) (2024-08-08, 61 min): audio https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/147414511/f636fa5f3436c54bc5dd465017777385.mp3 - [Justin Gary — C.O.R.E. Attributes (Special)](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1450200089/4de83b869bf1) (2024-07-16, 32 min): audio https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/146606652/bc57c25c86ba46a9a6f1efc93e11e6b9.mp3 Shows are listed from Apple Podcasts' charts and directory, and Podcast Index where it is used. Every show and episode belongs to its publisher and plays from the publisher's own feed; this site hosts none of them.