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Magic: The Gathering Drive to Work Podcast

Mark Rosewater

300 episodes

Join Magic: The Gathering Head Designer Mark Rosewater as he shares stories, insights, and more while driving to work. Listen and learn more about how Magic is made!

Episodes page 1 of 6

  1. #1392: New York Comic Con 2026

    · 33 min · Episode 1392

    In this episode, I talk all about my latest trip to New York Comic Con.

  2. #1391: Mini Teams

    · 31 min · Episode 1391

    In this episode, I talk about a special kind of design team that we call a mini team. What are they and how do we use them? I explain it all here.

  3. #1390: Will Magic Run Out of Design Space?

    · 36 min · Episode 1390

    I'm often asked, "Will Magic run out of design space?" This episode seeks to answer that question.

  4. #1389: Setting Up Downstream Teams

    · 35 min · Episode 1389

    Exploratory design and vision design are the first steps in the design process. There are many teams that do work after we're done, and it's important that we set them up for success. This podcast episode talks about…

  5. #1388: Predefined Artifact Tokens

    · 33 min · Episode 1388

    There are a number of frequently used artifact tokens that have their rules attached to their definition in the rules. I talk about them in this episode.

  6. #1387: Reality Fracture Limited with Ben Weitz

    · 40 min · Episode 1387

    In this episode, I sit down with Ben Weitz, lead play designer for Reality Fracture Limited, to talk about how we approached the set for Limited.

  7. #1386: Unenfranchised Players

    · 37 min · Episode 1386

    I talk a lot about our enfranchised players. This episode covers the other end of the spectrum.

  8. #1385: Being Scary

    · 31 min · Episode 1385

    Magic has had three different evergreen keywords to express that a creature is scary (fear, intimidate, and menace). In this episode, I walk through the history of all three.

  9. #1384: Concurrency 2026

    · 32 min · Episode 1384

    Four years ago, I recorded a podcast episode where I talked about all the things we were working on at the time. Everything I talked about has been released, so it's time for a new concurrency podcast where I talk…

  10. #1383: Reality Fracture Creative with Meris Mullaley

    · 40 min · Episode 1383

    In this podcast, I sit down with Meris Mullaley, the creative lead for Reality Fracture, to talk all about its creative elements.

  11. #1382: What Went Wrong – March of the Machine: The Aftermath

    · 33 min · Episode 1382

    This is the start of a new series I'll do from time to time called "What Went Wrong?" In it, I examine something we made that didn't work out. I'll explain why we made it and examine the problems it had. I begin by…

  12. #1381: Reality Fracture Design with Yoni Skolnik

    · 31 min · Episode 1381

    In this podcast, I sit down with Yoni Skolnik, the lead set designer for Reality Fracture, to talk about the set's design.

  13. #1380: Atogs

    · 30 min · Episode 1380

    This podcast is the history of one of Magic's hungriest creature types, one I had a huge hand in designing.

  14. #1379: Fresh Out of Design – Reality Fracture

    · 47 min · Episode 1379

    Back in December of 2023, I handed off the vision design for Reality Fracture. I recorded this for you to hear my thoughts at the time of handoff.

  15. #1378: Getting the Banned Together, Part 7

    · 32 min · Episode 1378

    This is the final part of a seven-part series based on a talk I gave at MagicCon: Amsterdam where I talk about the design of all the cards I had a major hand in that would later get banned or restricted.

  16. #1377: Innovation

    · 30 min · Episode 1377

    One of the important parts of doing Magic design is coming up with things players haven't seen before, but how much innovation is the right amount? In this podcast, I talk all about that issue.

  17. #1376: Getting the Banned Together, Part 6

    · 33 min · Episode 1376

    This is the part six of a seven-part series, based on a talk I gave at MagicCon: Amsterdam where I discussed the design of all the cards I had a major hand in that would later get banned or restricted.

  18. #1375: Supply Channels

    · 34 min · Episode 1375

    Once we print Magic cards, how do we get them to you, the players? This podcast talks about the various ways we do that.

  19. #1374: Getting the Banned Together, Part 5

    · 30 min · Episode 1374

    This is part five of a new series, based on a talk I gave at MagicCon: Amsterdam, where I talk about the design of all the cards I had a major hand in that would later be banned or restricted.

  20. #1373: Boston

    · 30 min · Episode 1373

    My family took a vacation to Boston, so I talk about my trip and Boston's history with Magic.

  21. #1372: Getting the Banned Together, Part 4

    · 32 min · Episode 1372

    This is part four of a new series, based on a talk I gave at MagicCon: Amsterdam, where I talk about the design of all the cards I had a major hand in that would later be banned or restricted.

  22. #1371: San Diego Comic-Con 2026

    · 30 min · Episode 1371

    In this episode, I talk about my trip to the latest San Diego Comic-Con.

  23. #1370: Getting the Banned Together, Part 3

    · 32 min · Episode 1370

    This is part three of a new series, based on a talk I gave at MagicCon: Amsterdam, where I talk about the design of all the cards I had a major hand in that would later be banned or restricted.

  24. #1369: MagicCon: Amsterdam 2026

    · 33 min · Episode 1369

    In this episode, I talk about my trip to Amsterdam for the latest MagicCon.

  25. #1368: Getting the Banned Together, Part 2

    · 31 min · Episode 1368

    This is part two of a new series, based on a talk I gave at MagicCon: Amsterdam, where I talk about the design of all the cards I had a major hand in that would later be banned or restricted.

  26. #1367: The Hobbit Design with Annie Sardelis

    · 31 min · Episode 1367

    In this episode, I sit down with Magic: The Gathering® | The Hobbit™ Set Design Lead Annie Sardelis to talk about the making of the set.

  27. #1366: Getting the Banned Together, Part 1

    · 31 min · Episode 1366

    This is the start of a new series, based on a talk I gave at MagicCon: Amsterdam, where I talk about the design of all the cards I had a major hand in that would later be banned or restricted.

  28. #1365: Dark Night of the Soul

    · 36 min · Episode 1365

    There comes a time for many players where the game changes in such a way that it moves away from what they loved most about it. I talk about this phenomenon and detail my own personal "dark night of the soul" experience.

  29. #1364: Ravnica Allegiance

    · 28 min · Episode 1364

    This is another in my series where I attempt to give every Magic expansion an episode of my podcast. Today, I talk about Ravnica Allegiance, the second set of our third visit to Ravnica.

  30. #1363: Online Negativity

    · 35 min · Episode 1363

    I use this episode to talk about dealing with negativity online.

  31. #1362: Mana Curve

    · 29 min · Episode 1362

    In this episode, I explain what a mana curve is and how they impact how we design Magic sets.

  32. #1361: Rivals of Ixalan

    · 32 min · Episode 1361

    This episode is another in my series where I talk about every Magic expansion. Today, I talk about Rivals of Ixalan, the second set in the Ixalan block.

  33. #1360: Layers with Jess Dunks

    · 31 min · Episode 1360

    One of the most complicated elements of the Magic rules is something known as "layers." I sit down with the man in charge of the rules, Jess Dunks, to help walk through an introduction to layers.

  34. #1359: Being a Magic Artist

    · 32 min · Episode 1359

    In this episode, I talk about the weird fact that I'm a published Magic artist on an evergrowing number of cards. Note that I recorded this before Bicycle Elemental was made public.

  35. #1358: Mood Swings Strategy

    · 33 min · Episode 1358

    Here, I talk about the basic strategy when playing Mood Swings. To make sure everyone gets their full allotment of Magic design episodes, this episode is bonus content.

  36. #1357: Aether Revolt

    · 30 min · Episode 1357

    This episode is another in my series to talk about every Magic expansion. Here, I talk about Aether Revolt, the second set in the Kaladesh block.

  37. #1356: Inertia

    · 34 min · Episode 1356

    In this episode, I talk about the pressures of changing things that have been the same for decades.

  38. #1355: All the Mood Swings Cards, Part 5

    · 35 min · Episode 1355

    This episode is part five of a five-part series. In it, I go through every single Mood Swings card, in collectible number order, and talk about how they were designed, including many of the changes they went through…

  39. #1354: Quirks of Limited Edition (Alpha)

    · 29 min · Episode 1354

    In this episode, I talk about many of the weird elements of Magic's first set.

  40. #1353: Emotional Response

    · 37 min · Episode 1353

    In this episode, I cover one of the main goals of game design: to create specific emotional responses in the players.

  41. #1352: All the Mood Swings Cards, Part 4

    · 31 min · Episode 1352

    This episode is part four of a five-part series. In it, I go through every single Mood Swings card, in collectible number order, and talk about how they were designed, including many of the changes they went through…

  42. #1351: My Trip to LA in 2026

    · 30 min · Episode 1351

    I just returned from a trip to Los Angeles, California, where I went to a red carpet event celebrating Magic: The Gathering® | Marvel Super Heroes. I then spent three days doing interviews about the set at Summer Game…

  43. #1350: Marvel Super Heroes Design

    · 30 min · Episode 1350

    In this episode, I talk about designing Magic: The Gathering® | Marvel Super Heroes.

  44. #1349: All the Mood Swings Cards, Part 3

    · 31 min · Episode 1349

    This episode is part three of a five-part series. In it, I go through every single Mood Swings card, in collectible number order, and talk about how they were designed, including many of the changes they went through…

  45. #1348: High Mana Value Spells, Part 2

    · 31 min · Episode 1348

    This episode is part two of a two-part series where I talk about the designs of all the cards that have a mana value of 11 or higher.

  46. #1347: High Mana Value Spells, Part 1

    · 30 min · Episode 1347

    This episode is part one of a two-part series where I talk about the designs of all the cards that have a mana value of 11 or higher.

  47. #1346: All the Mood Swings Cards, Part 2

    · 31 min · Episode 1346

    This episode is part two of a five-part series. In it, I go through every single Mood Swings card, in collectible number order, and talk about how they were designed, including many of the changes they went through and…

  48. #1345: Landfall

    · 30 min · Episode 1345

    In this episode, I talk about the history of one of Magic's greatest mechanics, landfall.

  49. #1344: Depth

    · 38 min · Episode 1344

    In this episode, I talk about the pros and cons of the depth of Magic's gameplay.

  50. #1343: All the Mood Swings Cards, Part 1

    · 31 min · Episode 1343

    This episode is part one of a five-part series. In it, I go through every single Mood Swings card, in collectible number order, and talk about how they were designed, including many of the changes they went through and…

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