PODCAST

Shelf Stable: A Board Gaming Podcast

Kenny Katayama & Tom Bowers

A podcast celebrating board games that have stood the test of time. https://linktr.ee/shelfstablecast

leisure games

All Episodes

01:12:23

#27 ft. Jacob Kinney of Phoenix Fire Games, Game...

Shelf Stable: A Board Gaming Podcast ·

2025/02/11

The code word is "Sexy Spiderman in Magic." If you say it three times quickly, any game store employee is legally required to give you a copy of Finspan below retail AND a giant Galactus figure at a discount of $900. 1:09 - Intro Jacob Kinney of Phoenix Fire Games https://www.phoenixfiregames.com Games we played: 4:43 - Mottainai (2015, Carl Chudyk, Asmadi) 12:42 - Sidereal Confluence (2017, TauCeti Deichmann, WizKids) Accessibility kits https://64-ounce-games.myshopify.com/ 20:33 - Nidavellir

57:49

#26 BGG Hall of Fame

Shelf Stable: A Board Gaming Podcast ·

2025/02/04

We give the hall of fame three BOOMs all day and a double chocolate cookie. If you're a Blood on the Clocktower fan or a member of the secret society of Knizias, please skip this episode. Speaking of Knizia, did you know they made a tv show based on him where he solves medical mysteries? Games we played: 4:35 - The Red Cathedral (2020, Isra C. & Shei S., Devir) 9:25 - Hive Mind (2016, Richard Garfield PhD, Calliope) 14:34 - Royal Visit (2006, Reiner Knizia, Iello) 18:21 - Res Arcana (2019, Thomas

01:12:50

#25 Carl Chudyk Tuckstravaganza

Shelf Stable: A Board Gaming Podcast ·

2025/01/28

Tuck, meld, then splay. Repeat but return the card, then draw and score to the waiting area and do so additional times for every clientele. If this sounds like gobbledegook, you have yet to be indoctrinated into the cult of Chudyck. Join us on an adventure that is out of this world and tuck yourself into an alien landscape full of magic. Games we played: 5:39 - Risk Express (2006, Reiner Knizia, Hasbro) 13:33 - Blockbuster (2019, uncredited, Big Potato) 18:55 - Import / Export (2017, Jordan

01:16:44

#24 Mass Market Tier List

Shelf Stable: A Board Gaming Podcast ·

2025/01/21

Probably our wildest episode yet. Hope you like Park Place cause we're going to be stuck on it for about 35 minutes paying rent in the form of words. Games we played: 4:02 - Clank Legacy (2019, Andy Clautice & Paul Dennen, Dire Wolf) 8:41 - Fantasy Realms (2017, Bruce Glassco, WizKids) 15:09 - Root (2018, Cole Wehrle, Leder) 21:10 - Smash Up (2018 og2012, Paul Peterson, AEG) 100 games before you die: 28:11 - Hanabi (2010, Antoine Bauza, R&R)

2025 Bingo

Shelf Stable: A Board Gaming Podcast ·

2025/01/17

It's official. Tom's bingo card has been submitted. Here's what we got:

55:13

#23 Don't Eat the Pieces, How to Get Reinvited to...

Shelf Stable: A Board Gaming Podcast ·

2025/01/14

Enough is enough. You've been the Donnie Thornberry of far too many game nights. It's time to wipe up that drool and extract those d20s from your nostrils. Today is the day you become a true gamer. (Forward this episode to 10 newbs or you will have bad luck all week.) Games we played: 7:03 - ICECOOL (2016, Brian Gomez, Brain) 10:40 - Downforce (2017, Rob Daviau & Justin D. Jacobson & Wolfgang Kramer, Restoration) 15:40 - Wingspan (2019, Elizabeth Hargrave, Stonemaier) 20:46 - Karuba (2015, Rudiger

01:02:56

#22 Resolutions and The Pantry

Shelf Stable: A Board Gaming Podcast ·

2025/01/07

Dust... dust everywhere as far as the eye can see. The only sign of life: a few candy-colored camels and some chain-smoking elderly throwing down in a Microsoft classic. Desperate for a drink of board games, you make your way down to the infamous bunker. The Pantry... that's what the elders called it after you threw them a few fish for pay. But what is it and how does one harness its power? Games we played: 4:06 - Cribbage (1630, Sir John Suckling, public domain) 8:45 - Scene It? (2002, Craig

New Year, New Collection

Shelf Stable: A Board Gaming Podcast ·

2025/01/01

Happy 2025 folks! Let's be honest for a second: board gaming can be stressful. So many games to choose from and so little time. Gatekeepers constantly coming over and judging you for that copy of Catan on your shelf. Newbies trying to eat the pieces in Everdell. Here at Shelf Stable, we're not just looking to solve your problems, we're looking to establish a new world order. Goodbye agonizing over what games to back, to own, to cull. Here is a standardized list of games for all of us to own. No

01:06:06

#21 Year In Review v24

Shelf Stable: A Board Gaming Podcast ·

2024/12/31

The Sphinx eyes you with a cunning smirk, "If you are so wise human, then answer me this: what has four rules in morning, twelve thousand rules in the afternoon, and three rules at night?" Without a moments hesitation you respond: "A board gamer! A board gamer starts on Catan, devolves into madness with Lacerta, and becomes grounded once more in Knizia!" The Sphinx affirms that you have the correct answer but doesn't appreciate your gatekeepy tone. They gobble you up in a single bite. Year In

01:02:30

#20 Gaming With Family

Shelf Stable: A Board Gaming Podcast ·

2024/12/24

It seems today, that all you see, is Food Chaining Magnates and Kanban EV. But where are those good old fashioned Knizias, on which we used to rely? Happy holidays! Games we played: 2:30 - Ethnos (2017, Paolo Mori, CMON) 10:16 - KingDomino (2016, Bruno Cathala, Blue Orange) 15:03 - Glory to Rome (2012 og2005, Carl Chudyk, Cambridge Games Factory) 23:27 - Food Chain Magnate (2015, Jeroen Doumen & Joris Wiersinga, Splotter) 100 games before you die: 32:57 - Dread (2004, Nathaniel Barmore & Epidiah

01:16:23

#19 ft. Nick Bentley of Underdog Games, Getting the...

Shelf Stable: A Board Gaming Podcast ·

2024/12/17

New game idea, shake the hands of as many former presidents as possible while being completely nude. Standard handshake is 1 vp. Fist bump is 2vp. Partially nude does NOT receive any partial points. You might be thinking, "this is a bad idea," to which I would respond, "have you tried it?" And you would respond "yes, and it didn't end well," to which I would respond, "but have you tried it more than once?" 2:26 - Intro Nick Bentley of Underdog Games

Kenny's 2024 Musicpalooza

Shelf Stable: A Board Gaming Podcast ·

2024/12/13

Hi folks, Kenny here. Outside of board gaming, my other hobby is music. I play in a couple bands, collect vinyl, and am constantly on the lookout for artists pushing the boundaries. Every year, I share a shortlist of my favorite albums with friends. I figured I'd share this year's list with you on the offchance that someone out there may get a kick out of it. This is NOT shelf stable, all these albums came out in 2024. Also, despite being into a number of things, my music tastes lean quite a bit