Humans of Magic

DeQuan "PowrDragn" Watson is a Magic YouTuber and content creator. 0:01:15 does DeQuan experience Magic content "burnout"? 0:03:47 the creator deckbuilding process 0:08:05 "I monitor everything" 0:10:46 don't do the same thing and expect a different result 0:12:57 DeQuan's creator origin story 0:16:44 on doing the work - streamer research 0:19:25 YouTube primary, Twitch secondary 0:25:56 YouTube monetization - celebrate it! 0:27:24 on being results-oriented as a creator, and finding your own way 0:31:02 growing on YouTube in the early stage 0:35:30 is DeQuan the same on-camera vs. off-camera? 0:38:35 things DeQuan tried that didn't quite work 0:41:06 the "PowrDragn" name 0:43:19 new Lord of the Rings set - general impressions 0:45:40 new Lord of the Rings set - race and representation 0:53:56 "how do we get out of our own heads?" 1:01:31 being a gaming nerd in black culture 1:08:51 DeQuan's upbringing --- Show notes: humansofmagic.com/ Patreon: patreon.com/humansofmagic

Filipa Carola is a Portuguese MTG caster and content creator. 0:01:40 jack of all (Magic) trades 0:08:22 Filipa's creator origin story 0:16:20 on attracting a competitive audience 0:19:45 on changing goals, careers and countries 0:23:51 Filipa's evolution and approach as a caster 0:31:45 working with Will Hall and HarryMTG 0:36:38 how to grow as a streamer (at the very beginning) 0:44:15 Twitch vs. YouTube - community vs. virality 0:47:47 content creation as a full-time vs. part-time job 0:57:22 what's it REALLY like to be a female Magic player? 1:07:51 "I felt like an outcast" / paying it forward in a positive way --- Show notes: humansofmagic.com/ Patreon: patreon.com/humansofmagic

Zan Syed is a game designer and entrepreneur. He was the 2019 Star City Games Player of the Year and Captain of Team Lotus Box. 0:01:15 reminiscing about Atlanta 0:07:48 Zan's multicultural background 0:12:21 how Zan's Magic journey began 0:20:14 the level-up process and mindset 0:26:35 on outworking the competition 0:30:52 why Zan is creating a new card game 0:42:02 making a new game - the challenges ahead 0:48:06 skill-based vs. variance-based game design 0:57:53 why Flesh and Blood (and Lost Ark) succeeded as games 1:05:20 lessons from the startup life 1:12:35 "Magic has the essence of something that needs to exist" 1:16:15 is Zan still involved with Magic? --- Show notes: humansofmagic.com/ Patreon: patreon.com/humansofmagic

Mani Davoudi is an Esports and MTG Caster from Vancouver, Canada. 0:01:15 when James first met Mani 0:06:51 growing up in Vancouver, Canada 0:14:20 university life, ADHD, and lacking direction 0:25:21 getting out of a funk / leaving Magic 0:33:04 playing Magic with a new mindset 0:38:01 WINNING a Modern Grand Prix with some unlikely help 0:46:39 what Mani would tell his younger self 0:53:21 becoming a Magic caster 1:00:12 getting better at casting 1:06:07 preparation for Pro Tours as a caster 1:15:13 on putting the work in - and being a team player 1:20:56 future casting goals 1:26:59 Mani and Maria's new show - Desk After Dark --- Show notes: humansofmagic.com/ Patreon: patreon.com/humansofmagic

Sahar Mirhadi is a Magic player, games researcher, and founding member of the European Legacy Masters invitational series. 0:00:45 "can be heard before being seen" 0:05:57 Sahar's Iranian heritage 0:13:51 James's background and language talk 0:17:46 Magic origin story 0:22:26 a career in marketing (and why she had to leave) 0:30:53 going 9-0 in Day 1 of a GP 0:39:45 James's dalliance with Legacy 0:47:32 accessibility and representation in older Magic formats 1:06:21 on tying one's identity with an online persona 1:15:38 picking up a new Legacy deck 1:18:07 European Legacy Masters 1:31:33 the ELM task force model 1:41:00 regarding niche Magic formats --- Show notes: humansofmagic.com/ Patreon: patreon.com/humansofmagic

Alex "KessWylie" Kessler is the CEO and founder of Kess.co, a kick-ass toy company. He is also a Magic creator and the host of the Masters of Modern podcast. 0:01:30 the "hourly rate in life" concept 0:06:57 Tik Tok is the new Yelp 0:08:41 Tik Tok 101 for creators 0:15:37 content evolution - effort vs. results 0:18:35 Alex's content goals 0:23:24 Alex's love for the Magic storyline 0:29:15 "podcasting has the ability to be freeform" 0:37:10 Lord of the Rings and 90's nostalgia 0:41:46 One Piece and the joy of expanded universes 0:46:44 fatherhood 0:58:44 Magic - Greatest Game Storyline of All Time? 1:10:58 how Alex sees things differently as a toy industry insider 1:18:37 The Lord of the Rings set for Magic 1:26:45 diversity and representation in the LOTR set 1:44:48 Alex's toy company - kess.co --- Show notes: humansofmagic.com/ Patreon: patreon.com/humansofmagic

Hugh Watanabe is a Japanese-American pro basketball player who plays for the Ryukyu Golden Kings in Japan's B.League. He is also an Olympian and a member of the Japanese National basketball team. 0:01:25 from Hawaii to Japan 0:08:37 transition from high school to college ball 0:12:19 fighting through mental setbacks and multiple injuries 0:21:35 a freak accident injury 0:23:56 getting into Magic The Gathering 0:26:38 Limited Magic is like basketball 0:33:10 American vs International basketball - cultural differences 0:39:09 fun stories from Japan 0:42:42 what Hugh has learned from his teammates 0:49:32 "everyone here is ridiculously good at Magic" 0:53:42 Japanese culture, applied to pro sports and general life 1:01:29 James really enjoys long distance running 1:07:13 Limited is the most skill-intensive Magic format 1:09:32 greatest basketball player of all time? (The GOAT) 1:17:04 looking forward to the future --- Show notes: humansofmagic.com/ Patreon: patreon.com/humansofmagic

HarryMTG is a Magic YouTuber. 0:00:37 Harry's self-intro 0:06:12 how Harry started making YouTube videos 0:09:29 the two millionaire brothers story 0:11:06 why Harry moved from Twitch to YouTube 0:14:47 influences - Ludwig and Mr. Beast 0:20:18 on being clickbait-y 0:24:04 how Harry stepped up his YouTube game - "it's like cooking" 0:28:12 the YouTube algorithm 0:33:09 creator goals, incentives and methodology 0:37:39 the Midweek Metagame podcast 0:43:10 podcasting with Gab Nassif 0:46:10 podcasting with Pat Robertson 0:49:37 learning Mandarin and (possibly) moving to China 0:53:17 the wonderful world of Bilibili 1:01:49 VR Chat as Mandarin practice --- Show notes: humansofmagic.com/ Patreon: patreon.com/humansofmagic

Jimmy Wong is an actor, performer, songwriter, and mainstay on The Command Zone, one of Magic's biggest YouTube channels. 0:01:09 Tokyo vacation and thoughts on Japanese culture 0:08:45 Jimmy's Pro Tour Philly experience 0:11:23 James's traveling with cats story 0:17:50 actors living in major hubs like Los Angeles - a necessity? 0:23:18 how Jimmy landed the Mulan role 0:27:26 family influences - sibling rivalry, musical aspirations 0:34:02 Video Game High School 0:35:52 parenthood 0:49:11 "big picture" of social media and where we're headed 1:01:23 negative internet emotions = profit 1:10:12 looking back on the Game Knights legacy 1:18:30 evolution of Commander and Magic content --- Show notes: humansofmagic.com/ Patreon: patreon.com/humansofmagic

Sheldon Menery is the godfather of the Commander format and founding member of the Commander Rules Committee. 0:01:30 the convention-going experience - from Gen Con '93 to now 0:10:22 Sheldon's first encounter with Magic - Alpha Edition 0:14:29 why Sheldon joined the Air Force 0:20:47 what Sheldon learned from two decades of military service 0:26:09 Florida's fine dining spots 0:32:39 early Magic judging stories 0:47:11 working with WOTC folks in the early days 0:53:20 Sheldon's life philosophy 0:58:51 on recent health challenges 1:11:10 developing Commander with Toby Elliott and Scott Larabee 1:19:29 fork in the road - Commander vs. judging 1:22:20 Sheldon is a Shakespeare scholar 1:29:26 the moment when Sheldon realized Commander had "made it big" 1:34:25 what would keep Commander going for the long-term? 1:43:52 community engagement and amplifying voices 1:46:45 singing the praises of Rebell Son and Rachel Weeks --- Show notes: humansofmagic.com/ Patreon: patreon.com/humansofmagic

Julian Knab is the host of the Everyday Eternal podcast and creator of the Legacy Premier League. 0:03:11 who is Julian Knab? 0:08:31 the competitive mindset 0:13:37 producing the "Everyday Eternal" podcast 0:20:50 edutainment and authenticity for creators 0:27:41 what is the Legacy format, and who is it for? 0:37:24 Commander's effect on Legacy 0:47:11 fighting perfectionism - and balancing pragmatism 0:53:13 Julian's quality bar for competitive Magic content 1:04:23 looking back on 2022 - podcast highs and lows 1:13:38 why are American Magic tournaments so badly run? 1:25:33 Magic players and Expected Value 1:29:59 Julian's 2022 as a commentator - highs and lows 1:34:13 looking ahead - career moves, life decisions, agency 1:43:00 on self-limiting beliefs 1:48:00 find out what you enjoy...and build around it 1:54:18 James's fear of the new / James wants to reconnect with Magic 2:06:49 James is a new person after the Shanghai lockdown --- Show notes: humansofmagic.com/ Patreon: patreon.com/humansofmagic

Anuraag Das is a Magic streamer specializing in guerrilla Magic tournament coverage. He streams at https://www.twitch.tv/anzidmtg. 0:01:30 "where I am as a content creator has shifted" 0:05:26 from playing Magic to covering Magic 0:09:15 what is "meaningful" when it comes to content? 0:15:39 developing one's streaming brand 0:17:11 monetizing coverage - the harsh reality 0:31:37 sponsorships 0:36:08 the entitlement mindset trap 0:40:17 intrinsic creator motivation 0:47:15 start with YouTube, not Twitch 0:57:12 finding the right business partner 0:58:42 Anuraag's 2022 events coverage retrospective 1:06:40 the challenge of freelancing coverage 1:14:18 commentary - "there aren't enough opportunities" 1:21:27 working without constraints / taking risks as a smaller broadcaster 1:30:49 GP Reid Duke - player as commentator - possible today? 1:34:29 documenting the coverage journey itself 1:40:07 thoughts on where Magic is going --- Show notes: humansofmagic.com/ Patreon: patreon.com/humansofmagic

Reid Duke is the Pro Tour Phyrexia champion and a member of the Magic Hall of Fame. 0:01:30 aftermath of winning the Pro Tour 0:06:23 coming back from a 0-2 deficit in the PT Top Eight 0:10:33 Reid's Pioneer deck - "I had no expectations" 0:14:20 Reid's testing house and making collective judgments 0:16:55 Reid on Kai Budde - "he's superhuman" 0:20:05 key "turning points" of Pro Tour Phyrexia 0:24:32 how does Reid feel about his legacy? 0:30:15 the next milestone - winning Worlds 0:32:49 preparation and the road less traveled - Reid's learnings 0:36:34 on speaking the metaphorical language of your teammates 0:41:10 on Organized Play and the return of the Pro Tour 0:48:56 casual vs. tournament Magic - it's not a competition 0:51:04 how James feels about competitive Magic today 0:55:08 Reid's edge in playing paper tournaments 0:58:00 what makes a truly great player - consistent excellence 1:02:28 Reid's life over the past couple of years --- Show notes: humansofmagic.com/ Patreon: patreon.com/humansofmagic

Jesse Robkin is a writer, filmmaker and Magic player. Jesse is currently fundraising for her short film STRESS FRACTURE - https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/stress-fracture-film 0:01:30 confronting fears 0:10:45 a new spin on a post-apocalyptic story 0:15:21 the impending doom of the future 0:22:18 creative freelancing - one year anniversary 0:25:57 Jesse's new short film - "Stress Fracture" 0:32:46 consistent themes in Jesse's creative work 0:43:50 make the audience think 0:47:58 how did Jesse become a storyteller? 0:54:35 Jesse's writing method 1:08:30 doing the work vs. delivering the work 1:19:57 how to be self-aware in the editing process 1:22:17 Jesse's routines for writing, editing, and doing laundry 1:29:15 professional goals 1:36:20 look backwards as well as forward 1:40:32 how Jesse got good at Magic - crossover with creative process 1:43:45 Jesse's thoughts on Magic storytelling and lore 1:49:44 Jesse's Patreon experience --- Show notes: humansofmagic.com/ Patreon: patreon.com/humansofmagic

Nathan Steuer is the 2022 Magic: The Gathering World Champion. -- 0:01:45 playing the Magic Online Championship Series (MOCS) 0:06:03 mindset entering a tournament top eight 0:10:03 writing and journaling 0:11:23 Nathan's 2022 highlights 0:15:31 books as inspiration 0:19:22 taking the unconventional road - life, school and Magic 0:30:04 why college wasn't the right fit for Nathan 0:36:51 growth as a Magic player in 2022 0:42:56 breaking the ceiling - from grinder to Pro Tour level player 0:45:23 coaching other players 0:53:28 seeing the key moments - how Nathan developed this superpower 0:57:26 is Magic a young person's game? 1:00:40 has Magic negatively impacted Nathan? 1:04:14 coaching vs. being coached 1:09:10 looking back on winning Worlds -- Show notes: humansofmagic.com Patreon: patreon.com/humansofmagic

Skyler Warfield is a Magic personality, Twitch streamer, and OnlyFans creator. -- 0:01:50 relationship to Magic - then vs. now 0:06:38 Nerd Rage Gaming tournament circuit 0:10:36 parasocial relationships 0:14:04 Abe Stein 0:16:59 NRG St. Louis travel story 0:25:01 Jesse Robkin 0:34:36 Skyler loves Valorant 0:49:42 Skyler's streaming mindset 0:55:24 the truth about hitting Twitch Partner 0:58:55 playing Magic for fun vs. as a job 1:01:18 being an OnlyFans creator - a deep dive 1:27:37 thoughts on sex work and personal politics 1:31:50 relationship with family 1:33:38 sobriety - why Skyler did it 1:40:57 rapid-fire questions: future of Magic, Culver's, creative writing 1:45:43 significance behind the names: "Skyler" and "Belle Curves" -- Show notes: humansofmagic.com Patreon: patreon.com/humansofmagic

Jean-Emmanuel Depraz is a professional Magic player from France. He is the 2017 Grand Prix Warsaw winner and second-place finisher in the 2021 World Championships. -- 0:01:40 intro 0:03:13 on walking and thinking 0:07:04 Legacy European Championships 0:10:31 the team testing process 0:17:15 on meditation 0:23:50 mindset while playing Magic 0:32:55 Magic origin story 0:39:33 why JED wants to focus less on Magic now 0:43:14 creating content vs. playing Magic 0:50:38 taking Magic breaks 0:57:27 what casual play means to JED 1:03:22 being "in the zone" 1:10:56 GP Warsaw - "the best day in my life" 1:18:47 the lows of full-time competitive play 1:23:47 the Magic Pro league experience 1:29:10 captaining the Team World Cup 1:31:18 the MKM dream-crush story 1:39:10 view on open decklists in tournaments 1:46:19 where JED's love for Limited comes from -- Show notes: humansofmagic.com Patreon: patreon.com/humansofmagic

Josh Lee Kwai is the CEO of The Command Zone, and the creative force behind Game Knights and Extra Turns. -- 0:01:50 Miles Davis and Larry Bird 0:06:27 maintaining the crazy 0:11:55 YouTube and the competitive landscape 0:17:57 the real work begins when you think it's "done" 0:22:11 kill your creative darlings 0:25:30 how Josh develops the right company culture 0:29:26 the four key values of the Command Zone 0:37:10 how Josh keeps himself honest - his circle 0:40:30 Josh's relationship with The Professor 0:45:16 Command Zone is about entertainment and fun (above all else) 0:48:48 the art of the nuanced position 0:54:35 leading by example / pursuing things you love 0:59:20 responsibility and control - the turning point 1:03:21 what Josh learned from working in the restaurant industry 1:05:36 Josh's childhood / the high school "decision" 1:10:15 Josh studied theater and improv in college 1:11:27 Josh's parents and siblings / growing up in a small town 1:16:31 on being mixed race 1:23:34 is Josh an introvert? / all-in, or stop 1:25:22 creative influences for Command Zone 1:27:54 the movie trailer creation process 1:36:58 on previews and preview-marketing 1:41:27 maintaining the fun energy of Game Knights 1:44:57 how to keep it fresh - Command Zone and Game Knights -- Show notes: humansofmagic.com Patreon: patreon.com/humansofmagic

Brian David-Marshall is a Magic player, Magic Pro Tour historian, and co-founder of Neutral Ground. -- 0:04:00 on being starstruck 0:07:56 Brian on family 0:13:03 Brian's comic book career 0:23:10 letter from Jerry Siegel / Brian starts his own comic business 0:30:17 first contact with Magic 0:37:51 being part of Magic's earliest tournaments 0:43:43 Neutral Ground 0:50:10 memorable interactions with Magic players 0:56:07 historical context - early era Magic, Alpha to Revised editions 0:59:51 opening a Revised edition booster pack at Magic 30 1:00:54 the early days of Wizards of the Coast / Wizards sanctioned events 1:05:58 Richard Garfield introduced Booster Draft to Brian (!) 1:09:24 thoughts on the Magic Hall of Fame 1:16:34 Dr. Garfield's legacy / the first IRL net-deck ever 1:20:18 James's love letter to the Star Wars CCG 1:24:27 Brian's start in Magic coverage / the Aaron Forsythe email 1:35:19 standing on the shoulders of coverage giants 1:40:29 "coverage is pretty lonely" 1:43:43 "is Jon Finkel the greatest ever?" 1:51:48 what kept Brian in coverage for so long 1:55:48 most memorable commentary interviews / art of conversation 2:05:50 Brad Nelson 2:11:03 the overall metagame of Magic 2:14:13 thoughts on coverage in 2022 / Hall of Fame induction wishlist 2:21:15 the evolution of pro players shifting to Commander 2:24:24 the era of perfect information 2:27:47 recording Shuffle Up And Play with The Professor and Sheldon Menery 2:38:06 Brian interviews James about Star Wars / "Andor is f***ing great" -- Show notes: humansofmagic.com Patreon: patreon.com/humansofmagic

Looking back at 2022 for Humans of Magic - what worked, what could be improved, and what's next. 01:43 highlight - consistency 05:26 highlight - making it conversational 13:45 highlight - putting myself into it 27:17 to improve - content experimentation 32:33 to improve - A/V quality 35:54 to improve - fear of the new 39:41 looking ahead - 2023 Show notes: humansofmagic.com Patreon: patreon.com/humansofmagic

Chase "Manacurves" Carroll is a Commander content creator and video editor. -- 0:04:00 nicknames and alts 0:07:25 life in a North Carolina college town 0:10:41 Chase's Magic collection / the Magic origin story / getting into Commander 0:20:33 funny deckbuilding gaffes / Kokusho and rules changes 0:26:37 personal backstory / Chase LOVES the "Dead or Alive" fighting game 0:35:30 path to content creation 0:44:53 Chase studied to be a social worker / being open with mental health 0:59:31 getting serious with Magic content / the art of collaborative deckbuilding 1:09:49 advice for creators: "do what feels right" 1:19:13 working with EDHRec / meeting the Command Zone crew / Post Malone & Joe Manganiello 1:40:27 putting yourself out there as a creator - pros and cons 1:52:19 on parasocial relationships 1:57:54 how Chase sees the future of Magic 2:02:55 rapid-fire questions - Magic wishlist, fave EDH product of 2022, "it's not for you" 2:18:58 Chase's love of the band "Ghost" -- opening track: The New Fools / We'll Do It All / courtesy of epidemicsound.com Show notes: humansofmagic.com Patreon: patreon.com/humansofmagic

We talk to some of the best Magic content creators in the business about... THE CREATIVE VOICE! -- 0:02:24 [Finding The Voice] Evart "aspiringspike" Moughon 0:06:24 [Finding The Voice] The Asian Avenger 0:07:54 [Finding The Voice] Rebell Son 0:10:59 [Finding The Voice] Pleasant Kenobi 0:13:02 [Finding The Voice] Sam of Rhystic Studies 0:17:09 [Authentic Voice] Taalia Vess 0:20:16 [Authentic Voice] Tappy Toe Claws 0:27:48 [On Speaking Out] Alan of Mental Misplay 0:30:05 [On Speaking Out] Pleasant Kenobi 0:33:59 [On Speaking Out] Veggie Wagon 0:37:06 [On Speaking Out] Tappy Toe Claws -- Show notes: humansofmagic.com Patreon: patreon.com/humansofmagic

Jamie Topples is a Magic content creator and painter. Jon Rigatti is a Magic player and musician. Together, this incredible couple makes sweet Magic happen. -- 0:03:30 Jon is a musician / Jamie likes to sing and dance 0:11:29 Jon introduced Jamie to Magic 0:19:12 how Jamie started streaming Magic 0:27:15 Jamie's first draft and LGS end boss 0:31:44 Jamie's streaming motivation 0:33:08 Jon's current relationship with Magic 0:36:19 MTGO vs. Magic Arena 0:41:47 2020 meetups - Taalia Vess, Lady Lavinias, Ben Wheeler and Hunter Pence 0:46:20 "the last GP" and table talking with Jaberwocki, aka Logan Nettles 0:48:43 shout-out to Melvin the Muppet 0:50:59 how Jamie joined The Ponder Podcast 0:52:20 Jamie was a massage therapist / Steve Rubin / talking Magic at weddings 0:57:26 how Jamie and Jon first met (**MUST LISTEN**) 1:04:44 joint passions: music, video games, card games 1:07:48 sacred cows in Magic / Jamie goes IN on 17Lands.com 1:18:24 spontaneity makes Magic drafts great 1:20:05 balancing watchability vs. winning as a streamer 1:24:42 losing gems SUCKS - James can relate 1:28:07 Limited Resources, Marshall Sutcliffe and Luis Scott-Vargas 1:33:10 Jamie had a dream about Marshall Sutcliffe...as Hoard Dragon 1:39:26 the time Jamie registered 41 cards 1:41:08 Jamie does painting commissions! 1:48:50 Jamie's favorite band - Coheed and Cambria 1:52:58 rapid-fire Q&A -- opening track: Eoin Mantell / Whimsical Stroll / courtesy of epidemicsound.com Show notes: humansofmagic.com Patreon: patreon.com/humansofmagic

Alex "Higher" Heyer is a content creator specializing in the Competitive Elder Dragon Highlander (CEDH) format. He is a member of the Playing With Power collective. -- 0:03:30 parenthood 0:10:54 communication as parents 0:16:05 Higher's social work and philosophy for mentoring youth 0:25:00 Higher's childhood / getting into Magic 0:36:24 how Yu-Gi-Oh influenced Higher's Magic deckbuilding 0:42:30 multiplayer Magic: threat assessment and brewer's advantage 0:52:24 getting better at multiplayer Magic & CEDH 0:57:19 high-level post-game CEDH analysis: does it exist? 1:03:55 why CEDH? it started with Selvala 1:06:12 embracing Kenrith in CEDH 1:07:54 playing online, leveling up and mindset 1:16:05 on brewing decks and leaving a deckbuilding legacy 1:21:20 value of human connection above value of content metrics 1:22:50 the point when Higher became a content creator 1:28:35 "competitive" EDH - what does it actually mean? 1:33:30 content creator advice for collaborating with others 1:36:34 joining the Playing With Power collective 1:41:57 collaborating with The Professor for Shuffle Up And Play 1:46:54 Higher's creator goals 1:48:40 current relationship with Magic 1:50:58 Higher is a beatboxer - the LIVE performance 1:58:06 Higher makes music 1:59:05 why "Higher" as the name? -- opening track: Matt Large / High Drama / courtesy of epidemicsound.com Show notes: humansofmagic.com Patreon: patreon.com/humansofmagic

Rebell Son is a content creator, YouTuber, and UX designer. 3:20 playing 1v1 formats 8:03 on group-think and the need to play the cards to evaluate them 12:02 content creators are not incentivized to break formats 14:15 roots in the Modern format / competitive gaming issues 16:18 Rebell's first time playing Commander / playing Magic creates stories 19:02 attraction to puzzles 20:55 why Rebell gets angry as a gamer / Overwatch vs. MTG 25:30 Rebell's father 37:18 Rebell's mother 41:06 the concept of 'face' in families, the self, and Asian culture 47:14 on the complications of Asian-American identity 55:28 Rebell's accidental road to content creation: 1-minute CEDH games 1:04:37 breaking through: pushing the content 'envelope' further 1:10:19 expect the unexpected / experimentation vs. mastery 1:11:31 advice for content creators: "it's an endurance game" 1:23:37 Rebell's trans identity / the transition journey, as a creator and person 1:37:08 forays into the vtuber route: Rebell AI vs. human person 1:44:10 the intersection of business and content strategy 1:46:50 the "Untitled" project: it's all about the people 2:02:39 upgrading "Untitled": leveling up as a director and producer 2:07:31 more advice for creators: "always expect that this is NOT going to be the thing" 2:11:46 Rebell's relationship with the community / CEDH community evolution 2:20:51 Rebell on objectivity and problem-solving: go wide 2:22:58 what Rebell brings to the Commander Advisory Group (CAG) 2:30:05 the value of diversity of thought opening track: DJ DENZ The Rooster / Christmas Morning Cartoons / courtesy of epidemicsound.com Show notes: humansofmagic.com Patreon: patreon.com/humansofmagic

Brian Kibler is a Magic Hall of Famer, pro gamer, game designer and broadcaster. 3:30 a day in the life of a Hearthstone streamer 7:02 why Brian has stayed with Hearthstone for streaming 14:48 how Brian views and experiences Commander 24:05 Post Malone convinced Brian to play Commander 32:09 James's first encounter with the Kibler playmat 37:07 there is a Brian Kibler impersonator out in the wild 40:02 Brian explains Live Action Role Playing (LARP) 47:20 what Brian enjoys about LARP 51:52 Brian's history with pets 53:49 Brian's current relationship with Magic 55:07 how Brian feels about the new Magic Organized Play system 58:38 Magic is not a spectator sport - it's meant to be experienced 1:04:19 how Brian feels about Magic coverage (or lack thereof) 1:07:28 competitive Magic has a marketing/content problem 1:12:14 Magic products should focus on the less competitive player base 1:14:28 removing the "Pro Tour" name was a big mistake 1:15:33 games are fun when they contain randomness 1:19:18 designing the "VS System" card game - and why it failed 1:23:11 why Steam's Artifact failed 1:23:41 game incentives: legitimacy vs. prize pool 1:27:28 Brian's greatest Magic tournament ever 1:28:50 how Brian feels about his Magic career 1:31:34 how Brian strengthened his mental game 1:34:40 Brian's Hall of Fame induction ceremony 1:35:26 the time Brian trolled Harvard college admissions opening track: Sture Zetterberg / Praying for Love (Instrumental Version) / courtesy of epidemicsound.com Show notes: humansofmagic.com Patreon: patreon.com/humansofmagic

Alan of Mental Misplay is a content creator, kung fu practitioner, and student of gonzo journalism. 2:42 structuring content and accountability 10:10 streaming an EDH game: challenges & considerations 15:50 the hard reality of being a full-time creator 18:30 Alan's Magic and EDH origin story 24:35 Ramp Gang, Rebell Son and "let's record these games" 31:44 where Alan's showmanship comes from 38:41 did Alan play other constructed formats? 40:03 Alan breaks down CEDH and multiplayer dynamics 48:38 blurring the line between competitive and casual 55:42 the evolution of Alan as a player and personality 1:00:01 how the pandemic impacted Alan 1:03:56 Alan worked in sales for over a decade 1:09:00 Alan's parents 1:13:57 Alan's kung fu training and philosophy 1:29:25 James's forays into Buddhism and keeping an open mind 1:33:40 Temporal Extortion deck tech videos 1:41:27 the Mental Misplay aesthetic / Rebell is an innovator 1:45:52 gonzo performative chaos: doing floor coverage 1:57:39 Alan studied art, photography and industrial design 2:04:27 "breaking through" with content 2:08:55 Alan's mission: the travel and coverage show 2:22:05 the underlying motivation 2:32:10 has Alan ever performed stand-up comedy or improv? opening track: Jett Everill / "Different Times" / courtesy of epidemicsound.com Show notes: humansofmagic.com Patreon: patreon.com/humansofmagic

Michael Sinclair II is a tabletop RPG performer, voice actor, and Magic content creator. 2:30 intro / career aspirations 5:03 Michael's critique of computer science 9:11 Michael recently moved back to the Pacific Northwest 15:00 what Michael loves about the Pacific Northwest 17:56 formative experiences in the US Navy 24:55 exploring communities: kink, BDSM and marginalized folks 35:55 Michael's multicultural childhood 48:47 life coaching: experience & takeaways 1:00:05 how Michael feels about his identity and roots 1:03:40 how Michael became a content creator through Dungeons & Dragons 1:10:37 the process of becoming a D&D character 1:19:32 the voice acting origin story 1:23:26 Michael's source of empathy 1:26:06 family dynamics 1:28:28 Michael's D&D career highlights 1:32:06 what Michael would tell folks who've never played D&D before 1:38:44 how Michael got into Magic: "interesting and scary" / Rakdos gang 1:47:19 working with The Professor, Jesse and Skyler 1:52:51 Michael's creator progression & the future Show notes: humansofmagic.com/ Patreon: patreon.com/humansofmagic

Taalia Vess is an actor and multimedia content creator. 3:06 intro 6:10 Taalia's coffee routine 10:26 Taalia's diet 11:27 life of a creator: upcoming events 12:53 Taalia is opening up her own LGS 14:57 from Twitch to Whatnot 20:48 what will Taalia's LGS be like? 24:39 leaving the comfort zone as a creator 29:26 authenticity 33:15 parasocial relationships 35:59 being around toxic and controlling people 37:27 how Taalia started making Magic content 42:43 Taalia was an actress 43:59 early streamer growth: how Taalia did it 47:42 finding a support network: then vs. now 50:01 being in male-dominated communities 53:24 the internet makes us misbehave 57:39 working with ZBexx and other female creators 1:02:37 is there an endgame for equality and equal representation? 1:08:13 being in control as a content creator 1:12:39 how Taalia deals with burnout 1:19:16 Hunter Pence and the witches store 1:23:23 first time playing Magic 1:24:46 Taalia loves anime and horror films 1:29:28 how Taalia got into the horror genre 1:34:27 Taalia wanted to be a model 1:39:25 k-drama talk 1:41:54 Taalia's anime recommendations 1:48:44 Taalia's watching these TV shows 1:54:29 rapid-fire Q&A: Pokemon, video games, fashion, dogs 2:11:34 why the name "Taalia Vess"? Show notes: humansofmagic.com/ Patreon: patreon.com/humansofmagic

Ben Seck is an Australian Magic: The Gathering player and Creative & Game Design Director. Ben is one of the top Limited format players in the game, and the only player to have won a Grand Prix in Africa. 2:58 intro 7:24 Seattle vs. Barcelona lifestyle 14:47 career progression in the American tech industry 18:58 Ben's parents / Asian upbringing / finding Magic 23:16 landing on a game design career / nature of learning 27:46 Magic's rise alongside the early World Wide Web 35:53 ethical play in Magic 38:13 Australian Magic community 40:17 nature of offenses / societal rules / inclusion 47:38 casual vs. competitive gaming communities 51:25 what would cause Magic to fail 58:57 inside Wizards of the Coast 1:02:36 "Magic is one of the best ways to self-actualize" 1:09:14 game design goals / digital ownership / mental models 1:18:57 behavioral psychology of players / moral obligations in design 1:22:34 how to have BALANCED game discourse 1:30:14 "Magic is getting too expensive" 1:37:53 meeting Brian David-Marshall / boat ride with BDM / cooking competition 1:47:51 cooking origin story / game design gig at Upper Deck 1:52:26 game design aspirations: "auditioning" for Wizards of the Coast 2:01:52 biggest learning at Upper Deck: listen first 2:10:02 how Ben views EDH / Magic as game engine 2:19:53 creating Limited content with LSV and Marshall Sutcliffe: planning & execution 2:26:57 Marshall Sutcliffe is the BEST at what he does 2:33:52 takeaways from recording "reverse set reviews" Show notes: humansofmagic.com/ Patreon: patreon.com/humansofmagic

Tappy Toe Claws is a cosplayer, content creator and microbiologist. 3:30 intro 6:51 better work situation = happier 12:16 Magic origin story 16:26 starting cosplay at 14 years old 22:06 Tappy as a kid 26:11 favorite Pokemon team 29:11 college & Midwestern cosplay: Daisho Con 34:44 what keeps Tappy engaged with cosplay? 41:17 cosplay integrity - does it exist? 44:34 generalists vs. specialists 50:53 nature of human debate 52:47 what IS cosplay? 58:53 what would you say to cosplay fans? 1:07:55 being "in character" / asking for a photo 1:19:11 lessoned learned: energy levels, costume goals 1:24:34 deeper into the Magic cosplay community 1:29:55 working with The Professor 1:33:33 Jhoira Office Hours: the origin story 1:44:23 going bigger as an MTG content creator 1:49:05 Ral Zarek 1:52:15 Game Knights 1:55:11 authenticity / public positions / identity politics 2:07:54 pressure to make statements? / cultivating a community 2:11:42 "are we all just f**ked?" 2:25:21 maintaining motivation 2:32:42 drawing boundaries Show notes: https://humansofmagic.com/ Patreon: patreon.com/humansofmagic

Crim Nguyen, a.k.a. The Asian Avenger, is a musician and content creator. 3:15 hair talk 8:37 present-day grind 11:05 family 12:47 fear of flying 15:48 dealing with fear 17:42 Crim’s content creation evolution / being on multiple platforms 24:52 “can I be entertaining regardless of the game?” 27:33 changing lanes as a creator: “isn’t it fucking scary?” 32:06 reframing success and failure / switching games 36:32 planning and not planning / Devin Nash 41:21 Humans of Magic: on YouTube! / be bold and learn along the way 43:03 creating is open-ended: but you can be your harshest critic 44:58 expect the unexpected / do it for yourself 49:50 keep shooting your shot / be persistent 52:10 has Crim ever been intentionally inauthentic? 56:25 turning your energy level DOWN, not UP 59:13 content: what’s working and what isn’t? 1:03:21 how to easily burn out? focus on metrics 1:05:19 the Dunning-Kruger effect 1:09:14 is Crim a perfectionist? 1:10:50 dealing with burnout: “this saved my streaming life” 1:23:17 seeking variety / not sitting still 1:29:20 musings: the INTERVIEWER role / inside the Humans of Magic studio 1:36:57 how much accomplishment is enough? 1:39:14 “what anime do you like, James?” 1:41:26 focusing on one hobby / “my fandom goes in cycles” Show notes: humansofmagic.com Patreon: patreon.com/humansofmagic

Alexander Hayne is widely considered to be the greatest Canadian Magic player of all time. He is the Pro Tour Avacyn Restored Champion. 6:36 is Alex old-school? 8:09 from learning Magic to playing the Pro Tour 12:17 present-day relationship with Magic 16:27 figuring out what’s next 18:02 the fire vs. the grind 21:48 depression & the rear-view mirror 26:11 “mistakes shape who I am” 29:03 tools from therapy 36:10 mental health stigma 38:26 PT Barca mindset 47:41 winning PT Barca & unforeseen consequences 52:20 being a relatively unknown player 54:29 negative side of Magic fame 59:43 chasing another PT top eight / hall of fame eligibility 1:04:41 on streaming 1:08:02 “plays nearly perfect all the time” 1:10:14 habits & diminishing returns 1:14:20 the period when Alex worked the hardest 1:18:08 humility vs. bravado 1:20:08 heels in today's game 1:21:13 art of trolling 1:29:50 is pro gatekeeping real? / to be the best? network 1:43:20 objective truth, do we want it? 1:50:05 state of content today / PVDVR is the content GOAT / attention spans 2:01:05 passion as a creator: find your lane 2:08:01 writing fiction / reading over 3,000 books 2:17:04 what should WOTC do in the short term? long term? 2:26:15 rant on the current Modern format / Alex’s favorite formats of all time Show notes: humansofmagic.com Patreon: patreon.com/humansofmagic

Dom Harvey is a high-level Magic: The Gathering player and content creator. He writes for Star City Games and runs the Dominaria's Judgment podcast. 3:23 intro 10:15 UK to Canada: "my life was going nowhere" 17:29 being a Brit who doesn't like soccer 22:15 the most Canadian thing Dom has picked up? 23:27 it's about the gathering 27:38 on prize splits and feel-bads 32:37 the fire 35:38 growing up with competitive Magic 41:05 oral history of Pro Tour Philadelphia: concept to reality 51:08 James's favorite part of the oral history 57:38 state of MTG content & creator incentives 1:11:35 dealing with burnout 1:15:31 what would (younger) Dom do? 1:16:20 path to SCG commentator 1:24:44 streaming: yay or nay? 1:27:15 future goals 1:29:41 deck-building & creativity Show notes: humansofmagic.com Patreon: patreon.com/humansofmagic Music: @kuplasound

Deathsie is a Magic content creator and Limited specialist. He has been ranked number one in several games, including Magic Arena, Marvel Snap, Tetris Effect, and King of Stackers (Tetris). Show notes: humansofmagic.com Patreon: patreon.com/humansofmagic Music: @kuplasound

Milan Bhayana is one of the youngest players to qualify for the Magic Online Champions Showcase (MOCS) and Magic Pro Tour. He is a Top Chef competitor and owner of the 'lilchefmil' Tik Tok account with 921K followers. [3:42] Attending school online [6:39] Offline connections matter [11:32] College aspirations [14:16] Building a Tik Tok account with his sister [18:27] Top Chef experience [22:40] Top Chef takeaways [24:15] Parents [28:28] Magic origin story [31:33] Learning mindset: Magic and cooking [34:19] Magic Online during class [39:21] Magic Online shout-outs: boomer-zoomers [41:15] Why are zoomers playing Magic? [42:17] Future MTG competitive play goals [45:21] Future Tik Tok goals Show notes: humansofmagic.com Patreon: patreon.com/humansofmagic Music: @kuplasound

Joseph Johnson is an actor and content creator. [9:12] First Comicon experience / meeting John Wick [12:45] Becoming a character [17:20] Acting: nature vs. nurture [22:37] Art of improv / having fun with it [26:15] Working in the film industry [29:07] Empathy vs. ego / the importance of your circle [35:12] "The pandemic made me realize I need to step my game up" [37:08] Falling in love with acting [43:57] Lessons from the community [46:34] Ambition / staying in the game [52:10] Positive influence of parents [58:52] Growing up in Flint, Michigan [1:04:43] Diffusing a dangerous situation [1:09:42] BLM [1:17:52] Tabletop Jocks vision [1:20:45] 'The Cookout' / representation matters [1:31:14] Normalizing black nerd culture [1:39:22] Attention to detail: the Tabletop Jocks aesthetic [1:43:09] Learnings / areas to grow [1:49:05] Community mailbag [1:57:47] Why Magneto is Joe's favorite X-Men character [2:00:42] Advice for first-time content creators Show notes: humansofmagic.com Patreon: patreon.com/humansofmagic Music: @kuplasound

Veggie Wagon is a comedian and content creator. [7:14] Moving to Medford, Mass [13:36] Chemistry degree to acting career [18:00] Veggie as actor [20:41] Performing for others as a kid [23:15] Growing up adopted [32:24] Weight of self-expectation [35:46] On family [41:29] Charity work: motivation [45:49] A content creator's responsibility [51:49] Masks we wear as creators [54:19] Gathering Support: lessons learned [1:07:12] Origin of 'Veggie Wagon' name [1:12:31] Influences: Back to the Future [1:23:34] Measuring success [1:29:49] Live versus recorded comedy [1:41:41] influences: Jackie Chan [1:51:01] Make something for yourself -- but don't take too long [1:57:04] Community mailbag Show notes: humansofmagic.com Patreon: patreon.com/humansofmagic Music: @kuplasound

Melissa DeTora is a Senior Game Designer at Wizards of the Coast and currently leads the MTG Casual Play Design team. She is the first woman to Top 8 a Magic Pro Tour. [8:03] Melissa's WOTC journey: Intern -> Senior Game Designer [9:47] What is Play Design? [13:38] Play Design -> Casual Play Design [17:41] Playtesting Commander during COVID-19 [23:26] Designing for "Casual" [25:57] Play Design interactions with Commander RC and CAG [28:21] Too many treasures / Dockside Extortionist is OP [29:36] Arcane Signet [32:06] "I'm still learning things every day" / "I don't want to go to FNM" [37:58] Melissa's mentors [43:21] Design story: Tovolar [46:33] Looking back: Mutate, Companion mechanics [53:46] Looking back: past sets [56:43] Self-criticality as a designer [58:41] Self-criticality as a player [1:00:39] Mindset change: PTQ to PT [1:02:36] "You are probably bad at Magic" [1:05:38] Raphael Levy [1:09:22] Playtesting at the DeTora residence / Joel Larsson, pathfinder [1:13:15] Parents and Magic [1:14:22] Pump It Up [1:24:06] Women in Magic: then vs. now Show notes: humansofmagic.com Patreon: patreon.com/humansofmagic Music: @kuplasound

Jon Corpora is the Content Manager for TCGplayer and producer of the YouTube series Pretty Deece. Show notes: humansofmagic.com Patreon: patreon.com/humansofmagic Music: @kuplasound

Kacem "Noxious" Khilaji is a gaming content creator. Show notes: humansofmagic.com Patreon: patreon.com/humansofmagic Music: @kuplasound

Sam is the creator of Rhystic Studies, a YouTube channel that focuses on the art and culture of Magic: The Gathering. Show notes: humansofmagic.com Patreon: patreon.com/humansofmagic Music: @kuplasound

CommandFests: a vendor's perspective -- featuring Michael Caffrey of Tales of Adventure. Show notes: humansofmagic.com Patreon: patreon.com/humansofmagic

Breaking down the TCGplayer acquisition of ChannelFireball & BinderPOS with Michael Caffrey, Edward Nguyen, and Douglas "DJ" Johnson. Show notes: humansofmagic.com Patreon: patreon.com/humansofmagic Music: @kuplasound

Phil Gallagher is an MTG content creator and owner of the ThrabenU YouTube channel. Show notes: humansofmagic.com Patreon: patreon.com/humansofmagic Music: @kuplasound

ZBexx is a content creator and the Queen of MTG Cosplay. Show notes: humansofmagic.com Patreon: patreon.com/humansofmagic Music: @kuplasound

Rich Cali is a Legacy format enthusiast, SCG Syracuse Open Champion, and ChannelFireball writer. Show notes: humansofmagic.com Patreon: patreon.com/humansofmagic Music: @kuplasound

Shivam Bhatt is a Commander Advisory Group member and host of the Casual Magic podcast. Show notes: humansofmagic.com Patreon: patreon.com/humansofmagic Music: @kuplasound

Gerry Thompson is a professional Magic player, content creator, and co-host of the Arena Decklists podcast. Show notes: humansofmagic.com Patreon: patreon.com/humansofmagic Music: @kuplasound

Amy the Amazonian is a Twitch partnered streamer, engineer and card gamer. Show notes: humansofmagic.com Patreon: patreon.com/humansofmagic Music: @kuplasound