Humans of Magic

Jonathan Sukenik is a Gold level professional Magic player. You can find him on Magic Online under the name Watchwolf92. Jonathan can also be seen crushing souls on the SCG and PT circuits. We cover fun topics like Jonathan’s Magic sportsmanship, his earliest tournament successes, and a step-by-step walkthrough of the members of the Sukenik School of Crushing. We also ruminate on life and other random absurd things. This is the last Humans of Magic episode of the year. Yes, it’s time for a holiday break. See you in 2019! Links: Through the Looking Glass: Grixis Delver with Jonathan Sukenik https://theepicstorm.com/looking-glass-grixis-delver-jonathan-sukenik/ The Humans of Magic interview with AJ Kerrigan https://humansofmagic.com/2018/07/18/aj-kerrigan/ GK MTG by Travis Perlee https://gkmtg.pro/ Beijing Orlov Legacy Tournament sponsored by CardBoard Live — December 15-16, 2018 https://www.reddit.com/r/MTGLegacy/comments/9v7xwz/beijing_orlov_december_1516_legacy_announcement/ CardBoard Live https://cardboard.live/ — To support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/jameshsu Get email updates: http://eepurl.com/dK0KFY

Don’t call Andrew Elenbogen an overnight success. Andrew won Pro Tour Guilds of Ravnica through a combination of hard work, sacrifice, and a strong drive to get better at the game. His journey this year was a challenging one, notably marked by personal tragedy. Despite the hardships, Andrew has done a lot of great things for the Magic community in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He also has a lot of strong opinions about things that you wouldn’t expect. Learn about Andrew's story on the latest Humans of Magic. Andrew is sponsored by CardBoard Live: https://cardboard.live/ To support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/jameshsu Get email updates: http://eepurl.com/dK0KFY

“Magic is a game about change…we’ve been spending the last twenty-five years figuring out how to make it even better.” The legendary Mark Rosewater, Head Designer for Magic: The Gathering, joins “Humans of Magic” to discuss the finer nuances of designing for the best game on the planet. Hear Mark talk about why building a Magic set is like building a house, how his process has evolved, and why you should be excited about Magic’s future. Timestamps: 2:55 Introductions 6:00 Mark’s family and Rosewater gaming night 10:16 Playing games with Richard Garfield 12:00 Mark’s role at Wizards—the “building a house” metaphor 14:26 What feeds exploratory and vision design? 17:58 What skillsets do Magic designers need, at each stage of the process? 22:42 The evolution of the design process—then vs. now 27:55 Designing the house for different player demographics 30:32 Compartmentalized design teams—what are the tradeoffs? 34:21 “Game design is about iteration” 40:58 Inspiring everyone working at Wizards to live the core values 44:12 Transparency, open communication, and cross-team collaboration 47:17 What does Magic need to do to stay relevant? 49:04 Thoughts on the state of Organized Play? 49:57 What advice would Mark give to a younger version of himself? 52:01 What advice would Mark give to a first-time tournament player? Enjoy! To support the Humans of Magic podcast go to: www.patreon.com/jameshsu

Kar Yung Tom, a.k.a. KYT, joins "Humans of Magic" for a candid conversation about his competitive roots, fakers on the Internet, and the power of social media. KYT is the founder of manadeprived.com. He produces the amazing First Strike Podcast and serves as the Social Media Coordinator for Face to Face Games. KYT's Twitter: https://twitter.com/kytmagic First Strike podcast: http://magic.facetofacegames.com/podcasts/first-strike/ To support the Humans of Magic podcast go to: https://www.patreon.com/jameshsu

Emma Handy joins the “Humans of Magic” podcast for a no-holds-barred interview. Emma talks openly about being in the public spotlight as a transgender woman, her darkest and brightest moments, key friendships, the Magic grind, and more. Don’t miss this conversation with one of the essential voices in Magic today. WARNING: this podcast contains adult language and topics related to self-harm, suicide, depression, and taking illegal substances. Listener beware. To support the podcast please visit: www.patreon.com/jameshsu

Emma Handy joins the “Humans of Magic” podcast for a no-holds-barred interview. Emma talks openly about being in the public spotlight as a transgender woman, her darkest and brightest moments, key friendships, the Magic grind, and more. Don’t miss this conversation with one of the essential voices in Magic today. WARNING: this podcast contains adult language and topics related to self-harm, suicide, depression, and taking illegal substances. Listener beware. To support the podcast please visit: www.patreon.com/jameshsu

“Humans of Magic” presents: AJ Kerrigan. What twenty-year old can say that he’s played Magic for literally half his life? AJ broke into the competitive Magic scene as a youngster and has never stopped improving his mental approach with the game. After a rough patch in the public spotlight, he has come out stronger and wiser than ever. Learn about how AJ optimizes performance, surrounds himself with a great group of friends, and plays Magic with purpose. Here is our full conversation, in which we discuss: - AJ’s Magic origin story - Lessons learned as a content creator - Playing Magic for the right reasons - His experiences in the Magic judging community - Why he loves playing The Epic Storm in the Legacy format - His best friend in Magic, Jonathan Sukenik - Similarities between gaming and options trading ...and much, much more! Enjoy!

“Humans of Magic” presents: Jon Finkel. Jon is one of the greatest Magic players ever and a member of the Magic Hall of Fame. To use a basketball analogy, he is undeniably the Michael Jordan of Magic. Jon is a Managing Partner at Landscape Capital Management, LLC, a hedge fund that prides itself on investing in non-traditional ways. Here is our full conversation, in which we discuss: - Jon’s first encounters with Magic - Pro Tour memories - Being part of the Ultimate Guard Pro Team - Impressions on the state of the game today - Kobe Bryant vs. Tim Duncan - Jon’s scholarship fund for Magic players: gamershelpinggamers.org ...and much, much more! Enjoy! -- Jon Finkel -- @Jonnymagic00

“Humans of Magic” presents: Ari Lax. Ari is the Pro Tour Khans of Tarkir Champion, member of Team Massdrop, and writer for Starcitygames.com. Here is our full conversation, in which we discuss: - The process of preparing for Pro Tours: before, during, and after - Similarities between preparing for the Pro Tour vs. job interviews - Leveling up as a player - Balance: finding it, or lack thereof - How to have good debates or conversations with people - Advice for new tournament players ...and much, much more! Enjoy! -- Ari Lax -- @armlx

I am pleased to present this conversation with Alix and Jesse Hatfield. The Hatfields have left an indelible mark on the growth and evolution of the Legacy format (previously “Type 1.5”) for well over a decade. They contributed to some of the most influential decks ever built — Enchantress, Threshold, and Cephalid Breakfast, amongst many others. Alix and Jesse also share stories of how the Northern Virginia community fostered, and continue to foster, a culture of innovation and teamwork. Time stamps: [01:55] Introduction [04:30] Legendary card debates: Stifle vs. Blue Elemental Blast [10:00] Background: growing up and first contact with Magic [14:15] Earliest Magic card memories [15:55] Magic’s initial allure [19:00] First Type 1.5 tournament at the Lucky Frog [21:32] First Type 1.5 decks played [23:03] Mindset: what kept them going back to play [25:12] The process of winning and tweaking decklists [29:33] Mark Perez’s impact on the Virginia Type 1.5 community [31:20] Other key figures: Anwar Ahmad, David Gearhart, Ian McInnes, Matt Elgin, Jack Elgin [33:18] Anwar’s earliest influences on James as a Legacy player [36:53] A history of friendly rivalry: Northern Virginia vs. New York / Crashing a Syracuse tournament for the first time / Major car accidents [44:23] Format evolution, ban lists, and overall player growth [47:57] Early banned & restricted list announcements [51:35] The advent of ‘Threshold’ in Legacy [55:38] Earliest ‘Threshold’ builds and card choices [57:25] Reading Magic theory and its impact on ‘Threshold’ [59:48] Friends who contributed to ‘Threshold’ deck evolution / How Nimble Mongoose became a card [1:03:10] Key decks of the format: Threshold, Goblins, Solidarity [1:05:10] Tweaking ‘Threshold’ builds with different color splashes [1:06:34] New card printings: Counterbalance and Tarmogoyf [1:09:15] The Flash Hulk era [1:11:53] First impressions of Tarmogoyf [1:13:42] Creating Cephalid Breakfast [1:15:53] Vintage and Legacy champs at Gen Con / How ‘Canadian Threshold’ came to be [1:18:50] “Too Much Information” article series: origin, goals, reception [1:30:51] Thoughts on the Legacy format today: is the metagame balanced and how does data support the conclusion? [1:40:00] Call to action and shout-outs: data collection in the community [1:41:01] Going forward, who are the key folks impacting the game in a positive way?

"I love Magic so much, I want it to be presented for what I know that it is -- and that's the best game on the planet." I broke my recording hiatus after REALLY getting into the GAM Podcast, one of the finest competitive Magic podcasts around. Bryan Gottlieb co-hosts the show and is a poker-player-turned-bartender-turned-lawyer. So when the opportunity to interview Bryan came up, I knew that I had to go for it. Here is our full conversation, in which we discuss: - Bryan's childhood - The art of content creation - Career and life choices - Helping others in unorthodox ways - Why Magic is the greatest game ever - ...and much, much more! Enjoy! -- Bryan Gottlieb -- @BryanGo GAM Podcast - @TheGAMPodcast

I am excited to share this conversation with Dan Signorini, a.k.a. Nitewolf9 on MTGTheSource. Dan and David Gearhart created the “Team America” deck, which started off as an elaborate joke and has evolved into the BUG / Grixis Delver decks of today. Chance are, if you have ever played or played against a Delver deck, you have been influenced by Dan’s deck building choices. Dan is a long-standing member of the North Virginia Legacy community, which includes players such as Alix Hatfield, Jesse Hatfield, Anwar Ahmed, David Gearhart, David Price, Damon Whitby, and many others. Together, the group has developed influential decks such as Canadian Threshold, Solidarity, Dredge, Zoo, and (of course!) Team America. Dan was also one of Bob Huang’s early mentors. Bob has, in turn, popularized the de facto Grixis Delver build that we know so well today. It is no exaggeration to say that Dan and his group have been instrumental to the development of the Legacy format, and “Type 1.5” before that. Furthermore, Dan has had a strong influence on *me*. When I started playing competitive Magic almost ten years ago, he was the person I learned from. Dan was the one to offer me advice on how to play the “Team America” deck and matchup tips. I would not be creating content today, or playing Magic at all, without his kindness and support. For these reasons, this episode is very special to me. In true “Humans of Magic” fashion, the discussion touches on everything Dan cares about – family, community, music, martial arts, competitive mindset, and more. Dan speaks openly about a wide variety of topics, and I hope that you enjoy listening to it. Time stamps: [03:17] Introduction [09:28] Eternal Weekend [13:58] Dan’s day job [16:57] Childhood and family background [29:33] Dan’s best friend in high school [33:20] Learning martial arts [39:48] Diffusing conflict [44:08] Being curious about life [46:02] First Magic experience [48:18] The North Virginia Magic crew [54:52] On being open-minded [56:30] From Suicide Black to Team America [1:05:00] Curio Cavern [1:07:26] Thoughts on the current Legacy format [1:13:03] The ban of Sensei’s Divining Top – correct? [1:16:25] Ban Deathrite Shaman? [1:18:56] Ban Delver of Secrets? [1:21:21] More thoughts on Legacy [1:29:37] On playing well in high-level competition [1:32:50] How Dan has helped other players develop [1:34:35] What Dan’s learned from the community [1:36:14] Goals [1:37:05] Things Dan would tell himself, if he could go back five years [1:39:22] On happiness [1:41:26] Things that piss Dan off [1:46:22] Tips for new competitive players

Jarvis Yu is back. He was my first guest on the show, and I am excited to have him back. In this two-part series, I sit down with Jarvis for an in-depth conversation. Part 1 is Jarvis’ year in review. Jarvis opens up about his accomplishments, goals, and insights for the coming year. He is also brutally honest about where he needs to improve in order to reach the next level. As Jarvis plays on the Pro Tour and is a regular on Team Massdrop East, you may find his observations helpful to your own player development. Part 2 (THIS EPISODE) is a Legacy Lands mini-primer straight from the master himself. As one of the most accomplished Lands players on the planet—two Grand Prix Top 8 finishes, including 1 win, and a Top 16 finish—Jarvis is uniquely qualified to speak on this subject. We cover deck basics, matchups, card choices, and more. Definitely give this episode a listen if you want to unlock the intricacies of the deck. For maximum Jarvis, make sure you listen to both parts. I hope that you enjoy listening to this double-header series as much as I enjoyed recording it. Subscribe to “Humans of Magic” on iTunes today. And if you like what you hear, leave a review on iTunes to support the cause. And tell a friend, too :) Read full text transcripts of “Humans” audio interviews here: www.humansofmagic.com

Jarvis Yu is back. He was my first guest on the show, and I am excited to have him back. In this two-part series, I sit down with Jarvis for an in-depth conversation. Part 1 (THIS EPISODE) is Jarvis’ year in review. Jarvis opens up about his accomplishments, goals, and insights for the coming year. He is also brutally honest about where he needs to improve in order to reach the next level. As Jarvis plays on the Pro Tour and is a regular on Team Massdrop East, you may find his observations helpful to your own player development. Part 2 is a Legacy Lands mini-primer straight from the master himself. As one of the most accomplished Lands players on the planet—two Grand Prix Top 8 finishes, including 1 win, and a Top 16 finish—Jarvis is uniquely qualified to speak on this subject. We cover deck basics, matchups, card choices, and more. Definitely give this episode a listen if you want to unlock the intricacies of the deck. For maximum Jarvis, make sure you listen to both parts. I hope that you enjoy listening to this double-header series as much as I enjoyed recording it. Subscribe to “Humans of Magic” on iTunes today. And if you like what you hear, leave a review on iTunes to support the cause. And tell a friend, too :) Read full text transcripts of “Humans” audio interviews here: www.humansofmagic.com

Martin Juza is a “Magic: The Gathering” Hall of Famer, Platinum Pro, and self-proclaimed “Professional Tourist.” His list of achievements is nothing short of astounding: 3 Pro Tour Top 8s, 26 Grand Prix Top 8s (including 4 wins), and over 500 lifetime Pro Points. Martin is also widely considered to be one of the best Limited players of all time. What do we talk about? • Martin’s childhood in the Czech Republic • Martin’s first Magic experiences and how he leveled up as a player • How Martin overcame the odds to turn “pro” and travel the world • Martin’s favorite places to visit — including an active volcano! • Martin’s thoughts on the current state of Limited Subscribe to “Humans of Magic” on iTunes today. And if you like what you hear, leave a review on iTunes to support the cause. And tell a friend, too :) Read full text transcripts of “Humans” audio interviews here: www.humansofmagic.com

This week, I want to share a conversation that I had with 21-year old wunderkind Noah Walker. Noah is a Magic player, competitor, basketball enthusiast, and...camp counselor?!? In fact, the conversation started off quite slowly. Noah was not quite sure what to make of some stranger asking him questions over Skype. But once we started talking about his passion for helping kids, and how he is giving back to the same summer camp that he has attended since he was eight years old... EVERYTHING CHANGED. We ended up having quite a good talk about everything. Family. Growing up in Massachusetts. Facing defeat and picking yourself back up. The Boston Celtics. The importance of possessing the proper mindset, especially in the heat of competition. I certainly knew very little about Noah at the beginning of our conversation. But I walked away from our chat extremely impressed. And to think that Noah is only 21 years old -- that is pure awesome! That is why I am excited to share this recording with you, as part of the "Humans of Magic" series. Intro music from https://www.bensound.com

Tifa Robles wears many hats. She is the founder of the Lady Planeswalker Society, a gamer, and a mother. We first talk about her day job in gaming and how she brings the passion to gamers on a national level. Tifa also shares her principles for building inclusive gaming cultures, and the trials and tribulations of starting LPS. Last but not least, Tifa shares what it is REALLY like to be a mother — and how it has given her greater happiness and joy.

Will Jonathan is a sports psychologist. mental performance coach, and Channel Fireball contributor. In this conversation, Will gives me advice on how to improve my mental game. According to him, it is all about focusing on process instead of results. And guess what -- it worked! Right after talking to Will, I Top 4’d a big Magic tournament during the same week! How’s that for some practical advice?

"Humans of Magic" interviews Christian Calcano, esteemed Gold Level Pro and Pro Tour Amonkhet Top 8 finalist. We go into Christian's backstory and how he feels about the game today. Please share this podcast with your friends! We have a lot of great content planned for this year -- subscribe now to make sure you don't miss any episodes.

We are back with the first 2017 episode of “Humans of Magic”! Our first guest of the year is Kai Sawatari. Kai is half-German, half-Japanese, all amazing. He’s a serious Legacy player with 4th and 17th place finishes at Grand Prix events. This podcast was hilarious. We talk about: - How Kai’s father would let him win at games! - Getting destroyed by a Goblin Charbelcher deck when he was 12 years old! - Irrational confidence! - Bromance! - Japanese culture and the crazy smiley guy! - The biggest mistake Kai ever made as a competitive player! (spoiler: it involves sleeving up Terminus) Too many exclamation marks, for sure. Hope you enjoy the listen!

I am pleased to have Wilson Hunter on “Humans of Magic.” Wilson is a co-host of the amazing “The Brainstorm Show” podcast, a father, and an intense competitor. Or to use his words — ultra-competitive! We talk about parenthood, the origins of his competitive drive, and growing up with Magic friends that inspire each other to perform better everyday. Wilson also self-reflects on taking losses hard, working with the community to improve his game, and the guilt that he feels in having a hobby like Magic. It gets deeply personal in places, and that’s where the learning happens. I’m grateful to know a great competitor and human being like Wilson, and hope that you’ll enjoy the listen.

Roland Chang is the only player to have won both the “Magic: The Gathering” Vintage and Legacy format World Championships. He is a mainstay on the East Coast Eternal Magic scene. What you may not know about Roland, however, is that he was close to leaving the game for good. A seriously unfortunate event almost led him down that path, but the power of the community brought him back. Like all of us, he has had his share of adversity and comebacks. In this 1:1 interview, Roland opens up about his childhood and handling the weight of familial expectations. He talks about his involvement in social activities, seeking life balance, and finding a significant other. Join us for a glimpse inside one of the game’s fiercest competitors.

“And then I decided that’s how I want to conduct myself…and it’s worked out very well for me.” Matt Pavlic is one of my best friends. He also happens to be the person that led me down the path of competitive Magic. I’ve had almost a decade of amazing gaming memories, in no small part due to Matt’s influence. I could not be where I am today were it not for his steady friendship and support. Most notably, Matt’s matured a ton over the years as a person. In this conversation, he talks about growing up fast and getting a new outlook on life. He’s worked hard for everything that he has, and as a result, he has a bright future ahead of him. I am truly honored to have my friend on “Humans of Magic” to share his perspective.

“The negative stuff just kind of hits you a little bit harder.” Gerry Thompson is a consummate pro and all-around good guy. His Magic accomplishments are plentiful. But there is another side to Gerry that he recently opened up about, in a groundbreaking Reddit post: “A Rebuttal: The Lifestyle of the Professional Magic The Gathering Player.” It’s a hard-hitting look at what it means to be a Magic pro. More importantly, Gerry opened up about this lifelong struggle with depression. It’s a great piece and I encourage you to read it if you haven’t done so already. After reading the article, I knew that I absolutely had to talk to Gerry about the themes he explored in his writing. In this 90-minute conversation, we talk about depression, perspective, life goals, and the power of community. While the topics were heavy, we had fun in the process. This is not your typical Magic strategy podcast. Rather, it’s about what it means to be human. You won’t want to miss it. --- Show notes --- “A Rebuttal: The Lifestyle of the Professional Magic: The Gathering Player” by Gerry Thompson https://www.reddit.com/r/magicTCG/comments/58slc5/a_rebuttal_the_lifestyle_of_the_professional/ “Gamers and Depression” by Noah Weil http://www.starcitygames.com/php/news/print.php?Article=11045 “Leffen: Resurrection” series http://www.redbull.com/us/en/esports/episodes/1331816544534/cultivation-season-2-leffen-resurrection-episode-1

“Everybody’s on their own journey, on their own spiritual path.” If you follow Magic, chances are you’ve heard of Bob Huang. Bob is the 2015 Legacy Champion and one of the game’s top Eternal format players. He’s put several popular Delver variants on the map and has had a major impact on how the game is played. But what you might not know about Bob is his world view and perspective on life. In this talk, we discuss some of the recent things he’s gone through, the trip of a lifetime that opened his eyes to possibilities, and his changing relationship with competitive Magic. Don’t miss this chance to get to know one of the game’s brightest minds.

This week, we interrupt your regularly scheduled programming for a different kind of interview. I appear on the Power Nine Magic podcast starring Mikail Lo to spread the word about a book I wrote called "Magic: The Addiction." That's right -- I wrote a book about Magic. It's about my personal experiences, but it's also a little bit more than that. I hope that you'll give the book a chance, because I poured my heart and soul into it. It took me down into many dark places, but there is redemption at the end. Take a listen and you'll know what I mean. And not to worry -- we'll get back to the regular show next week.

“When I get a challenge, I really just want to be the best at what I do.” Michael Bonde is a fixture in the Danish Magic scene, and one of the game’s most outgoing personalities. He created Magic history by becoming the first European player to win a Star City Games Open. He has also enjoyed two Top 4 finishes in Grand Prix events, along with a 17th place finish at Pro Tour Madrid. Through skillful play and collaboration with the game’s top talent, Michael has become a powerful force to be reckoned with. In this no-holds-barred conversation, I speak to Michael about his lifelong passions for learning, teaching, and competition. He shares his earliest childhood memories, and explains how joining the military contributed to his personal and Magic development. Michael also talks openly about staying true to his goals, and the dedicated life of the grind. The overarching theme is that of self-improvement — Michael is constantly looking to raise the bar, both for himself and others. Tune in for an inside look at one of the game’s fiercest competitors. Time stamps: [4:20] Introduction [7:15] The Pro Tour grind [9:18] Childhood and family background [11:15] Sibling rivalry and love of sport [14:11] Rifle skills // The art of the grind [17:20] Earliest Magic memories [21:22] Discipline and the Danish military [26:33] The power of routine // New experiences [30:28] A burgeoning military career // Learning to lead [35:29] Kosovo [41:11] Transitioning back to civilian life [43:20] Adjusting to the academic world [48:02] Balancing life priorities [49:55] Leveling up in competitive Magic // Love of the game [55:53] Thomas Enevoldsen, Martin Dang, and the Secret Society of Good Magic Players [1:01:07] American life and the allure of the Pro Tour [1:07:26] Playing all the time and its positive impacts [1:09:32] Magic goals [1:11:06] Breakthrough: 17th place at Pro Tour Madrid [1:14:56] How Michael plans to further improve his game [1:17:35] Preferred style of play [1:20:02] Helping friends succeed [1:22:40] Detrimental effects of being committed to the game [1:26:25] “Magic is the place where I want to be” [1:28:58] Gratitude // Conclusion

“The most important lesson I’ve learned is letting that which truly does not matter, go.” Damon Whitby, also known as “Parcher” on The Source, is one of the elder statesman of the Legacy format. He’s been advancing the format for over a decade. These days he can usually be found terrorizing opponents with his Dredge deck, although he has played a wide range of archetypes over the years. This episode is filled with Damon’s experiences and musings on life. Never one to hold back, he talks about his rough childhood and what lies beneath his gruff exterior. Damon also talks about the mid-Atlantic Magic scene and some of the best players he’s interacted with. In many instances, the discussions verged into personal and life-related observations. The honesty really came through in this conversation. As someone who grew up with The Source, I hope that I have done Damon justice in representing his views and that you will enjoy this recording. Time stamps: [4:33] Introduction [7:01] Early childhood // family history // Seattle memories [12:00] Hanging out with the punks [14:57] Hooked on wargames [19:58] Joining the army [20:40] Games Workshop in Maryland [22:47] Magic first impressions [27:24] Breaking out of casual play with Pros-Bloom [30:59] Meeting top local players and pros: Matt Linde, Kyle Rose, Brock Parker [36:10] How “Huey” Jensen got his nickname [38:06] Building the White Weenie deck that Linde won Nationals with [39:47] Mike Long and Tongo Nation [41:22] The greatest match ever played in Rochester draft [43:50] Success at ’98 Regionals [45:59] Transitioning to Extended and Legacy // First contact with The Source [48:32] The Virginia crew: Anwar Ahmad, The Hatfields, David Gearhart, Dan Signorini, Dave Price, and Jesse Krieger [53:25] Virginia vs. Syracuse rivalry [54:27] Perceptions of Legacy and its legitimacy [58:06] Alix Hatfield: the best deck builder [1:02:20] Mental preparation and honing one’s deck over time [1:05:31] The importance of format knowledge [1:08:43] The luckiest man in the world with Cabal Therapy? [1:10:39] “Where other people have decision trees, I see my job as pruning the trees.” [1:14:32] Dredge puts the fear into opponents // Letting opponents beat themselves [1:20:12] Team Dredge goes on a tear // Keeping things fresh [1:25:39] “I am my [tournament] record” — a fallacy [1:27:53] Learning to let go of things that don’t matter [1:29:23] On being direct [1:31:47] Perceptions people have of Damon [1:24:16] On legitimately disliking some people [1:36:22] “You don’t break somebody else’s rice bowl to refill your own.” [1:38:04] Origins of the name Parcher [1:39:22] Dan Signorini [1:45:32] Helping Dan prepare for PT Honolulu // Shaheen Soorani // Alex Majlaton [1:47:32] From one generation to the next [1:48:54] Ben Friedman’s rapid growth as a person [1:52:10] Jarvis Yu [1:55:14] “At his heart, Dan is a gigantic nerd” // judging a book by its cover [1:59:44] Why BBD is a great player [2:04:50] The power of listening // Signal to noise in the online community [2:07:10] Generalizing Magic lessons to life [2:12:50] How has the game been detrimental to Damon? [2:17:03] Shoutout to the mid-Atlantic area

“There’s really no reason to not be direct about what you want, or what you’re going for.” Alex Majlaton is a pretty darn good Magic player, with 26 Pro Tour appearances and 8 Grand Prix Top 8’s. He is doing solid work as the mathematical mind behind Team East-West Bowl. But more importantly, he’s humble about his status as a player and incredibly passionate about giving back to the community. Alex and I talk about his early childhood days, forays into competitive Magic, learning from experiences, and more. If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to chase Pro Tour dreams, this episode is worth the listen. Time stamps: [3:15] Introduction [5:50] Growing up [9:02] Childhood hobbies [10:21] Washington, DC / Maryland / Baltimore [13:42] How Alex got into Magic [16:12] Earliest Magic decks [18:11] Alex’s two favorite cards of all time [20:37] Getting competitive — the why and how [27:04] The advantages of being a mathematician [30:20] The Pro Tour scene / First major success with Affinity [33:09] Affinity for Affinity (pun intended) [36:49] Alex’s approach to Magic improvement [39:11] No sacred cows — a learning breakthrough at the Pro Tour stage [44:35] Lessons from Pro Tours / Quantitative approach to Limited [49:46] Maintaining the fire [51:34] Questions that people ask Alex about [55:16] Contributing to the community = personal improvement [57:51] Team East-West Bowl / Breaking the format / Analyzing Limited [1:01:46] Magic-related goals [1:04:57] What needs to happen for Magic to advance as a game [1:07:03] How Alex plans to get from Silver to Gold status [1:09:23] What would Alex tell himself, if he could go back five years? [1:12:58] Shout-outs to Ben Friedman, Team East-West Bowl, the Maryland community, and Andrew Mitchell

What does it mean to be the best at Magic? What’s the real life cost of getting too involved in the game? As content creators, why do we do the things that we do? My audio interview with Jonathan Alexander, creator of the Grinding Station deck, concludes with Part 3. “Humans of Magic” has been slower to release as of late, due to my real-life commitments. Nonetheless, I intend to continue interviewing cool people. Please keep listening and let me know what you think. Check out Jonathan’s web site here: http://theweeklywars.wordpress.com/ Time stamps — Part 3: [02:48] Legacy goals [05:41] How he plans to become the greatest [08:02] On the power level of Miracles, and not playing it [11:30] Miracles answers: “People are not willing to go far enough” [13:35] What would happen if the Legacy format had an upheaval? [16:46] Effort commensurate to success [18:42] On the recognition of effort and hard work [22:58] The negative impacts of Magic [26:12] “I definitely always wanted to do what I wanted to do” [27:25] The challenges of the grinder lifestyle [31:31] The best part of competitive Magic [34:43] “Most of the time, if you did not win the tournament, you did not deserve to win…” [37:14] The impossibility of complete consistency // X, Y and Z [40:31] How Jonathan started his blog, The Weekly Wars [41:24] Coming up with topics for the blog [46:13] Writing content in an open, accessible manner // Giving back to the community [49:18] Doing things for the love of it [51:41] Content for the masses — Jonathan’s criteria for doing it [53:46] The Storm Box (which has now been updated!) [55:48] Martin Juza likes Grim Tutor! // Be careful of the card readers

Jonathan Alexander is a Legacy-format specialist, and a good friend. What started as an innocent discussion about Magic turned into an epic podcast of sorts. Probably the most fun I’ve had so far recording for this show. At one point we asked each other, 2 hours in, if we wanted to stop or keep going. The answer was an encouraging KEEP GOING. And so we did. There are 3 parts to this talk, that’s how crazy it was. Unfortunately (fortunately?), our hour-long discussion on hip-hop didn’t make the final cut. Jonathan and I probably need to create our own podcast show at some point. Jonathan’s web site: https://theweeklywars.wordpress.com/ Time stamps — Part 2: [02:32] Grinding Station origins [04:35] The perfect storm (of a metagame) [09:23] Putting it to the test with 200+ players [12:36] The natural Tendrils revelation [14:38] Card evaluation tendencies [16:31] “That was only because it was the card I wanted.” [20:04] The complexity in the game // learning through observation [21:42] Thoughts on Team America [24:39] Having a point of view [26:06] Why Jonathan didn’t play Storm in Prague [28:59] Shout out to Rodrigo Togores, GP Prague winner [30:08] Best high-level tournament finishes [32:02] Prague preparations and changing decks [34:15] “With Canadian, you’re not playing the matchup lottery that hard.” [36:35] Minimizing variance / Why Miracles is so good [38:48] Deck selection and having the right goals [40:37] “The hard part about Magic is getting X, Y, AND Z right.” [42:31] The joy of blind Cabal Therapy [45:41] Pascal Wagner, the fastest Storm pilot ever [47:38] “Can you tell me about your relationship with Kai Sawatari?” [52:46] The bromance triangle in Seattle / a debt of gratitude [54:35] No regrets [55:35] Going back to Storm [56:59] Playing Magic Online for the first time / dabbling in the Standard format [1:00:11] Goals

Jonathan Alexander is a Legacy-format specialist, and a good friend. What started as an innocent discussion about Magic turned into an epic podcast of sorts. Probably the most fun I’ve had so far recording for this show. At one point we asked each other, 2 hours in, if we wanted to stop or keep going. The answer was an encouraging KEEP GOING. And so we did. There are 3 parts to this talk, that’s how crazy it was. Unfortunately (fortunately?), our hour-long discussion on hip-hop didn’t make the final cut. Jonathan and I probably need to create our own podcast show at some point. Jonathan’s web site: https://theweeklywars.wordpress.com/ Time stamps — Part 1: [03:21] Intro / the metric system [06:54] Jonathan's own intro [08:17] Family background and brief personal history [12:42] There and back again: university in Berlin [16:04] Homework? What's that? [18:09] Memorable teenage moments [23:06] Amsterdam [26:37] "It's all upside to not drink, in my eyes." [30:25] Happiness [31:13] Earliest gaming experiences [32:31] Playing Magic for the first time, and getting competitive [36:32] First Legacy deck [39:09] Local German Legacy scene [43:26] Initial breakthroughs in competitive Magic, and Mental Misstep [46:33] All time favorite decks [47:58] An ode to Canadian Threshold [51:44] The art of quoting stuff out of context / trolls [53:08] Good stuff deck vs. tempo deck / why he doesn't play Grixis delver [56:16] Incredible run at Bazaar of Moxen with Canadian Threshold [1:05:04] “Don’t be afraid to use your cards as Lightning Bolts.” [1:07:17] Starting to play Storm and the beginnings of Grinding Station

"Magic is kind of mind-blowing." Mike Turian is one of the greatest Limited players ever in the history of the Magic Pro Tour, and a bona fide Hall of Famer. He is also a key driving force within Wizards of the Coast, having held key roles in R&D, Organized Play, Technology, Magic Online, and Magic Duels teams. In this no-holds-barred conversation, I talk to Mike about both his illustrious playing career (Part 1) and the decade that he's spent at Wizards of the Coast (Part 2). Mike has tons of great stories and learnings to share, so please do come along for the ride! Time stamps -- Part 2: [02:06] How Mike started working at Wizards [05:22] The most important advice that Randy gave Mike at the beginning [06:53] Working at Wizards vs. being a competitive player — tough decision? [09:28] Winning for the community vs. for yourself [11:08] Summary of Mike’s different roles at Wizards [11:57] Insights Mike gained from the Market Research team [14:53] The best way to provide user feedback for Magic Online [15:58] The Magic expansion sets that Mike led from a development perspective [16:38] Leaving R&D to drive the Planeswalker Points program [17:14] How hard was it to leave R&D? [20:36] Most memorable R&D moments [23:25] Developing the planeswalker card type [26:35] “With [Jace, the Mind Sculptor] we wanted to make a card that people loved, and I think we accomplished that.” [31:09] Favorite cards that Mike’s worked on [36:23] Advice for folks who want to work in Magic R&D [42:10] Mike’s current role in the Brand team — what does it involve? [46:53] Most exciting thing in Mike’s current role [49:54] Advantages of working in the digital domain [52:08] Favorite colleagues [55:27] The unsung heroes of Wizards [56:48] Personal and career goals — and the one competitive goal he’s yet to achieve [58:15] The competitive fire, and the purity of tournament Magic Photo Credit: Wizards of the Coast

"Magic is kind of mind-blowing." Mike Turian is one of the greatest Limited players ever in the history of the Magic Pro Tour, and a bona fide Hall of Famer. He is also a key driving force within Wizards of the Coast, having held key roles in R&D, Organized Play, Technology, Magic Online, and Magic Duels teams. In this no-holds-barred conversation, I talk to Mike about both his illustrious playing career (Part 1) and the decade that he's spent at Wizards of the Coast (Part 2). Mike has tons of great stories and learnings to share, so please do come along for the ride! Time stamps -- Part 1: [03:21] Introduction [09:49] Growing up in Pittsburgh [12:04] Earliest gaming experiences [15:51] Being competitive with his best friend [19:42] Playing Magic for the first time [29:24] Getting hooked on tournaments [32:40] Booster drafts with two packs, not three [34:34] The appeal of the Limited format [36:06] Learning the basics of Limited [38:45] The outside world through The Duelist magazine [41:10] Making a splash in larger events [43:21] Playing against Brian Kibler in Grand Prix Toronto [45:02] Mike’s first Pro Tour in Chicago [46:18] Randy Buehler [50:05] Being part of a team and preparation process [55:17] Teaming up with Gary Wise and Scott Johns [1:00:04] Skills learned through team play [1:01:10] Best Magic memories [1:03:10] On sportsmanship [1:04:16] What the Hall of Fame means to him [1:06:17] Mike’s Hall of Fame achievements [1:09:25] Focusing on Limited vs. Constructed [1:11:16] Mike’s criteria for Hall of Fame membership Photo Credit: Wizards of the Coast

Bryant Cook is the innovator and creator of The Epic Storm deck, which is approaching its ten-year anniversary. He joins me to discuss the origins of the 1.5 format, the strong Syracuse, NY scene, and his earliest tournament successes. We also talk about fun stuff like reading opponents, table banter, and beating a turn 1 Griselbrand. This is one conversation you won't want to miss. Time stamps: [01:02] Introduction [03:28] Family background and origins [04:52] Earliest gaming experiences [06:18] Playing sports [06:52] Playing Magic for the first time [08:31] His first tournament [10:34] On never splitting prizes in a tournament [12:15] Improving as a player and first major tournament success [15:00] The Syracuse crew [16:29] The 1.5 scene in New York and origins of The Source [17:22] Playing combo for the first time [18:47] The beginnings of The Epic Storm [22:17] The beginnings of The Epic Syndicate [23:54] How Magic friends have helped him in life [25:15] Applying Magic learnings to life [25:49] First major success with The Epic Storm [27:22] Playing in Jupiter Games events and SCG Opens [30:10] Getting nervous at high-level events [32:48] Reading opponents [36:25] The origins of The Epic Storm website [38:30] Why he writes content [39:23] Dealing with online trolls and haters [40:59] Why Magic? [42:36] Why he is competitive [43:31] Tournament mindset and habits [46:35] Table banter with opponents [48:02] Codes of conduct and ethical gaming [49:13] Most challenging Magic-related situation [51:05] Best Magic moments [55:19] Future evolution of The Epic Storm [56:38] Magic-related goals [59:43] Life-related goals [01:01:19] What would Bryant tell himself if he could go back 5 years?

Paulo Vitor Damo Da Rosa is one of the biggest names in Magic today. The Brazilian sensation joins me to discuss his life, defining tournament moments, and the one big goal he is still chasing. We also geek out about competitive bridge, League of Legends, and how to write a great Magic article. This is one conversation you do not want to miss.

Rodrigo Togores is one of the best Storm combo players on the planet. He's also super humble and fun to talk to. I talk to the Grand Prix Prague champion about his competitive gaming past in multiple card games. Rodrigo also takes me through the play-by-play of the biggest tournament of his life.

"If I'm not moving forward in some way, I feel like I'm just burning daylight." Ben Friedman is one of the true Magic phenoms. At 23 years of age, he's already enjoyed incredible tournament success -- 3 GP Top 8s, 2 Pro Tour Top 16s, and 1 Pro Tour Top 32. Not only that, but Ben is in the running for future Hall of Fame consideration. He's a brilliant high-level Magic player, and this is only the beginning. In this free-flowing conversation, Ben goes beyond the game to discuss his views on friendship, forks in the road, life lessons, and much more.

Thomas Enevoldsen is one of the best Danish Magic players on the planet, with two Grand Prix Top 8s, a Magic World Cup win, and 13 Pro Tours played. Thomas talks about his childhood, a lifetime of competition, and what Magic means to him. Along the way, he also talks about a critical friendship that has kept him going strong over the years.

Anh Dao is one of the best Legacy grinders in the Bay Area and a good friend of mine. We talk about his childhood in Hawaii, first forays into competitive Magic, dedication to get better, and how to play with the right mindset.

Caleb Durward is the ultimate grinder and brew-master. He's also a super funny guy. I talk to Caleb about his early playing days, breaking out at GP Columbus, scumbag betrayals, the grinder lifestyle, and much more.

I talk to Travis Woo about his love of games, crushing drafts with his brother, competitive pursuits, dealing with the online community, performing TEDx talks, and more. Travis provides plenty of food for thought.

Julian Knab is a well-known gamer and grinder, and co-founder of the Legacy Mediocre League. He's also a good friend of mine. We enjoy a free-flowing conversation about his gaming background, love of video games, and competitive journey. Many shared laughs are had along the way.

Jarvis Yu is a class act, and the consummate Magic player. We talk about his childhood, methods for improvement, and how his math background has helped him excel at the game. Jarvis also shares some exciting tournament moments.