PodCavern

This week, host Tom Zalatnai (@tomzalatnai) talks to special guest Kevin Morrison of Butter Hospitality (@thebutterhospitality) about the lessons he teaches restaurateurs in his coaching program, the challenge of choosing... The post 215. Restaurant Coaching ft. Kevin Morrison of Butter Hospitality! appeared first on PodCavern.

What’s next? That’s the question of the episode in this edition of #StrugglePod. You’ll have to tune in for a bit more context. Co-hosts Nick Watson (@fivestergram) and Brie Watson (@briewats0n) are entering the dark, chilly, Canadian Winter, putting up their Ws where they can (dress for the job you want!) and bemoaning the struggles (passing out in a high school gymnasium.) Please enjoy this fun new episode from your favourite struggling siblings. The post E95 – Chill with Moments of Crazy Intensity appeared first on PodCavern.

After 128 episodes of Teffer pestering the others to review a Ship Book, it finally happened! Listen in as Teffer and Bailey review Adrienne Young's high seas fantasy, Fable, and get into exactly what it is that makes a maritime adventure so much fun. We talk pseudo-love triangles, almost-queer-baiting, and which nautical daddies can get it. The post 129. Fable by Adrienne Young appeared first on PodCavern.

Angus and Sal are running out of options for turning around Travis’ behaviour, so they go to someone who has had many sidekicks over the years. Can Bubo (Matt Barrow) provide useful advice on keeping sidekicks safe or will things just get more messy? The post EP145 – Bubo Returns appeared first on PodCavern.

This week, host Tom Zalatnai (@tomzalatnai) chats with special guest Miles Taffert (@wheelie.tattoo) about his all-liquid diet, Boost 2.24, auto-immune disorders, and how to make the most of all of it! We get into soups, teas, and the importance of refusing to accept pain and discomfort as the default. Then, what happens when turkey, celery root, and gluten-free pretzels find their way into the Random Meal Generator? The post 214. Making the Most of an All-Liquid Diet ft. Miles Taffert! appeared first on PodCavern.

Kadi and Teffer review To All the Boys: Always and Forever, the Netflix adaptation of Jenny Han's Always and Forever, Lara Jean. Join us for Kadi's first foray into the himbo universe, the joys of boys who do sports, satisfying final chapters, and a surprising side order of Jon Hamm. Is anyone else hot? The post 128. To All the Boys: Always and Forever appeared first on PodCavern.

Excited for Halloween Angus and Sal patiently await their first Trick Or Treaters of the night. They chose to set up shop at Sal’s place, a van parked under a street light in the paper mill district. The post EP144 – You Halloween Some You Lose Some appeared first on PodCavern.

This week, host Tom Zalatnai (@tomzalatnai) and special guest Julian McKenzie (@jkamckenzie) from The Athletic talk about the best and wildest foods Julian's come across on his travels as a journalist following the Ottawa Senators. Bell Centre hotdogs! The Calgary Airport Chili's! Popeyes! Buffalo Wild Wings! Chicago Deep Dish Pizza! Burger De Ville! Jersey Mike's! Then, what happens when the Random Meal Generator is given black beans, banana peppers, and "le fromage qui fait squik squik??" The post 213. Eat Like A Sports Journalist ft. Julian McKenzie! appeared first on PodCavern.

Teffer and Kadi return to the Graceling Realm with Kristin Cashore's new release, Winterkeep! We're talking about environmental anxiety, the Gen Z/Millennial tension, extended character development, generational trauma and generational healing, who can get it, and so much more. The post 127. Winterkeep by Kristin Cashore appeared first on PodCavern.

At first glance, this episode's deck with 99 lands plus Lumra as the commander might seem like a joke but as we explored the nooks and crannies with our guest, EnkiBye from France, this turned out to be a bear of a deck. We also talk 4-person cube, sharpie alters, and making do with limited options. The post EnkiBye – 99 Lands Lumra appeared first on PodCavern.

This week, host Tom Zalatnai (@tomzalatnai) and Matt Cole (@mc_dj_mc) talk about their favorite sick day comfort foods! Mashed potatoes! Soup! Tea! Cheeseburgers! Frozen lasagnas and casseroles and meal trains! Plus, the Random Meal Generator serves up a delicious trio of pork, onions, and bouillon cubes to really challenge our chefs today. No idea how you could possibly make comfort food out of those ingredients, this is a real curveball. Yeesh. The post 212. Sick Day Comfort Food ft. Matt Cole! appeared first on PodCavern.

Patron Emily Pattyn joins us to talk about one of the hottest new releases of 2020: Raybearer by Jordan Ifueko. We talk about magic systems, the development of diverse fantasy in YA, and why The Lord of the Rings should be 200 pages shorter than it is. Like all our new release reviews, this one is spoiler free! The post 126. Raybearer by Jordan Ifueko appeared first on PodCavern.

Still reeling from last week’s rescue mission Angus is in need of some first aid and Sal could not be more excited to finally try out some of his home cooked remedies. The post EP143 – Sal’s Secret Showdown of Cookery appeared first on PodCavern.

Eunice and Teffer review Rent a Boyfriend, Gloria Chao's third book! We talk (a lot) about family dynamics, boundaries, compassion, and peer pressure. Also a little about love, and a lot about writing! The post 125. Rent a Boyfriend by Gloria Chao appeared first on PodCavern.

Our guest this episode is one we had in mind as the platonic ideal for a guest of this series, DJ and his “Dear Gonti, Love Sophie” deck. Yep, the one made famous by the Rhystic Studies video. We talk about punk aesthetics, rhinestones, and tracking coin flips. The post DJ – Dear Gonti, Love Sophie appeared first on PodCavern.

Joining us for episode TEN (the big one-oh!) is comedian and Magic content creator, Mike Carrozza. Mike tours his Lyzolda, the Blood Witch deck and explains why he absolutely must send his creatures to the 'yard. We also talk about the Commander Sealed Event, garbage plates, and asking your parents to buy you a booster. The post Mike Carozza – Lyzolda Sacrifice appeared first on PodCavern.

After sixteen weeks at the Super City Maximum Security Sleep Away Camp it’s finally time to bring Travis home. Angus and Sal venture into the depths of the subterranean camp to meet with Thaniel Hardiss (Joshua Mayo) to get Travis, but the camp has what the legal team would call “A minor inconvenient issue involving the camp’s AI overseer.” The post EP142 – Keep Away Camp appeared first on PodCavern.

Host Nick Watson (@fivestergram) and Brie Watson (@briewats0n) reflect after respectively busy summers: one filled with parental obligations and the other with increased tourism volume. But with Back to School season comes a renewed sense of responsibility towards our creative endeavours, and in some cases, brand new projects and directions. Tune in to see where these creative siblings are headed next. The post E93: Busy Summer Blues appeared first on PodCavern.

This week, host Tom Zalatnai (@tomzalatnai) and Greg Schulz talk wedding food! We share our favorite cocktail hour snacks, appetizers, open bar alternatives, and more! Greg's married now! What did he serve at his wedding?! Also, what happens when rack of lamb, kale, and hummus find their way into the Random Meal Generator? The post 211. Wedding Food ft. Greg Schulz! appeared first on PodCavern.

This week our guest is Lucky Paper's Anthony Mattox! Anthony walks us through the world of Magic Cubes: what they are, why they're fun, and his very own creation, The Regular Cube. We also talk about food metaphors, how we sort our collections, and why you should never play "Tag" optimally. The post Anthony Mattox – The Regular Cube appeared first on PodCavern.

This week, hosts Tom Zalatnai (@tomzalatnai) and Teffer Adjemian (@tefferbear) talk about Tom's favorite breakfast staple, Cheese Toast! What distinguishes cheese toast from Welsh Rarebit? How far from a classic cheese toast can someone get before what they're making becomes a grilled cheese sandwich? Plus, what happens when baby back ribs, romaine lettuce, and ramen powder go into the Random Meal Generator? The post 210. Cheese Toast! appeared first on PodCavern.

This week Bailey and Teffer talk about a shiny new release: Be Dazzled by Ryan La Sala! We’re chatting about crafts, glassblowing, competition shows, Boston, crafting in competition shows in Boston, love, parents, art, passion, and so much more! The post 124. Be Dazzled by Ryan La Sala appeared first on PodCavern.

Angus and Sal interview Teen Detective Ewan Cherrywood (Jason Summers) hoping for a lighter story, but what they get is anything but. The post EP141 – Pattern Recognition appeared first on PodCavern.

This week, we review Happily Ever Afters by Elise Bryant! Kadi, Eunice, and Teffer talk about baking, relationships, baking relationships, and relationships with baking, in this SPOILER-FREE review of this great new release! The post 123. Happily Ever Afters by Elise Bryant appeared first on PodCavern.

Our guest for this week's Untapped Libraries is Gwen and her Attractions Commander deck. We hit the carnival and play the games as Gwen guides us through her deck. We discuss going to our first weekend event (Commander Sealed), working at an amusement park, and having a good time playing Magic. The post Gwen – Dee Kay Attractions appeared first on PodCavern.

This week, host Tom Zalatnai (@tomzalatnai) and guest Aslam Choudhury talk about various foods on sticks! Yakitori! Satay! Spiedini! Arrosticini! Cake Pops! Popsicles! Caprese Skewers! Plus, what happens when chicken breast, asparagus, and tomato sauce get thrown into the Random Meal Generator?! The post 209. Food On A Stick ft. Aslam Choudhury appeared first on PodCavern.

This week, hosts Tom Zalatnai (@tomzalatnai) and Teffer Adjemian (@tefferbear) bury their faces in everyone's favorite emoji, the Peach! We explore the cultural and historical significance of these fuzzy round flavor-bombs, from their role in ancient Chinese myth to their connection with One Piece, Pokemon, and more! Plus, what happens when peaches, beans, asparagus, and couscous get run through the Random Meal Generator? The results will probably not shock you. The post 208. Peaches! appeared first on PodCavern.

All good things must come to an end. After 8+ years, the time has finally arrived to hang up the podcasting gear on this ranking journey. Over the years, we have laughed, cried, passionately yelled at each other, and came together to rank numerous glorious Top 5 lists. In this final episode, the A-Team (Tuong La, Angus MacDonald, Samantha Leggatt, & Leslie Cserepy) reminisce on the humble beginnings of the show, go through our favourite moments, hear from an all-star lineup of past guests, talk about what topics we would have done if this show kept going, and of course rank some shit (because obviously). We want to thank everyone for joining Tuong La and all of our guests on this insane rollercoaster of a podcast where we ranked everything from the obscure, serious, thought provoking, delicious, silly, and most random topics we could think of. It was never about the lists (they literally don't matter as the podcast title implies). It was all about building community, having interesting conversations, and coming together on a thing while having a whole heck of a lot of fun along the way. So with that said, we are beyond proud of what we achieved with Ranked. So thank you for listening to Ranked: Top 5 Lists of Stuff That Don't Matter and for being part of this special thing. See you around the PodCavern. PS If you didn't like or agree with any of our past Top 5 lists, in the holy words of the Mayor of the PodCavern Leslie Cserepy....Fuck you The post 200 – Finale appeared first on PodCavern.

Painter and artist Hummingbird joins us on the podcast this week. Hummingbird alters the art on Magic cards and we attempt the impossible to capture the imagery in an audio-only format (with images on our website and socials). Hummingbird brings his fully altered cEDH deck, The Apparatus, to Untapped Libraries. See more at UntappedLibraries.com. The post Hummingbird Alters – Thrasios & Ardenn cEDH appeared first on PodCavern.

This week, host Tom Zalatnai (@tomzalatnai) and guest Eric Silver (@el_silvero) talk about the Bacon Industrial Complex and the Bacon Mania of 2009. How did a massive PR campaign lead to this off cut of pork becoming an american breakfast staple? How did it save fast food chains from fading into obscurity? Is the Wendy's Baconator still an exciting amount of bacon? How is Obama-era recession economics responsible for the rise of Epic Meal Time? Plus, what happens when bacon, split peas, eggplant, and ketchup find their way into the Random Meal Generator? The post 207. Bacon Mania ft. Eric Silver! appeared first on PodCavern.

This week, we're reviewing Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas! This review is SPOILER-FREE! Kadi and Teffer talk about parenting, representation of Black fathers, the 90's, and, of course, who can get it. The post 122. Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas appeared first on PodCavern.

While Sal has an easier time leaving the vigilante life behind, Angus is not so lucky. Angus opts to have his memories of his time as The Coil erased so that he won’t feel so tempted to engage in illegal heroics. Will he be the same on the other side? The post EP140 – Recurring Spitshine of a Spotty Mind appeared first on PodCavern.

This week our guest is Nick V. Nick's Zada Commander deck is completely sunbleached. Yes, he found a way to leave each card in the sun to bleach the colours creating a very distinct look to them. We discuss buying cards at the flea market, the power of the sun, and fighting birds. The post Nick V – Sunbleached Zada appeared first on PodCavern.

As it turns out, we are not dead. This is one for the real ones. The OG’s. The post PTP 396 – July 22, 2025 – Hell Yeah Brother appeared first on PodCavern.

We wrap up our spirituality miniseries with Heretics Anonymous by Katie Henry. Bailey and Teffer discuss interfaith community, changing things from the inside versus changing from the outside, and our own relationships with church, spirituality, and faith. The post 121. Heretics Anonymous by Katie Henry appeared first on PodCavern.

To all the ones who came in second. People have been wondering what we could possibly rank for our penultimate episode of this show. Well our answer is it's time to uplift the unsung heroes. The ones that almost got their time in the sun and spotlight but never quite went the distance. They are the almost-winners, the bridesmaid but never the bride, the silver medalist. And so just like this being the second last episode, it's time to bring in the second place team in all of Ranked as that was only fitting to tackle this very topic. Join the B-Team Laura Gordon, Sarah MacDonald, Bradley Sales, and Leslie Cserepy as they lock Tuong in a box and embrace the glory that they finally deserve while ranking Top 5 Runners Up. The post 199 – Top 5 Runners Up appeared first on PodCavern.

Joining us on our episode is Beth, Queen of Cardboard. Beth shares with us the thoughtful and touching commander deck made in honour of her late dog, King, including an altered Yoshimaru, Ever Faithful. We chat about Pac-Man Secret Lair, bestowing titles, and bonus animal guests. The post Beth, Queen of Cardboard – In Memory of King appeared first on PodCavern.

This week, hosts Tom Zalatnai (@tomzalatnai) and Teffer Adjemian (@tefferbear) talk about grilled meat on skewers! There are so many different kinds of kebabs in the world- donair, doner, shawarma, shish kabob, souvlaki, kefta, tacos al pastor, the list goes on and on. Cooking meat over an open flame is universal, and there's nothing quite like a kebab to get us in touch with that beautiful, primal feeling. Plus, the extremely difficult challenge of running chorizo, turnips, and smoked paprika through the Random Meal Generator. The post 206. Kebab’s Your Uncle! appeared first on PodCavern.

Joining us this week is Nick from Nick's Lotus! Nick takes us back to the very first commander deck he ever built as a teen and walks us through his memories of learning to play magic. We all reminisce about what it was like to learn this game, get pulled into the joy of building decks, and discover new cards you couldn't even imagine The post Nick’s Lotus – Old School Teneb appeared first on PodCavern.

Angus and Sal come in to work riding high after their first night back in the world of vigilantes. But it’s not all one liners and high fives, the guys learn that there is such a thing as over doing it even when it comes to doing the right thing. The post EP139 – Introspective Care Unit appeared first on PodCavern.

This week, hosts Tom Zalatnai (@tomzalatnai) and Teffer Adjemian (@tefferbear) talk about the humble zucchini! This summer squash deserves to be treated with love and respect, and if handled correctly, can be absolutely delicious. Its flowers are also wonderful, it can be turned into musical instruments, and apparently Meghan Markle thinks they make a sexy pasta sauce. Jury's out on that one. Plus, what happens when zucchini, ground beef, rhubarb, and instant coffee powder enter the Random Meal Generator?! The post 205. With Apologies to Zucchini appeared first on PodCavern.

We continue our series on religion and spirituality with Bombay Blues by Tanuja Desai Hidier! Kadi and Teffer talk about the particular introspection of being 19, what makes a really good travel book, and face our own personal discomforts around religion. The connection was a bit rough at the beginning because a storm was rolling in - sorry! The post 120. Bombay Blues by Tanuja Desai Hidier appeared first on PodCavern.

Time to SPIN THAT WHEEEEL! Back in 2021, in the thick of the pandemic, when we were all going a little stir crazy and desperately clinging to any ways to have human connection, an idea was born. From the rubble of boredom and the craving to do something new came an ambitious Top 5 improv-style game show called The Ranky Roulette. The show was a great success, and the plan was to do it once every single year with new guests, custom SFX, and bigger productions. Alas, things didn't work out that way, but as we near the end of this show, we would be remiss not to give this format another spin! So join your game show host Tuong La and comeback contestants Angus MacDonald, Samantha Leggatt, and Leslie Cserepy as they get another crack at showing off their ranking skills to be crowned the next "Ranky Ruler of the Realm"! Also featuring guest audio clips from past ranking legends: Chelsea Fahey, Brie Watson (The Constant Struggle Podcast), and Simone Dorie. The post 198 – The Ranky Roulette: Second Spin appeared first on PodCavern.

Our guest this week is Emma Skyeward. Emma is a competitive Magic player who’s been ranked #1 on Arena and a prolific content creator. She walks Neale and Vinny through the ropes of playing competitive Magic and the Merfolk deck that qualified her for a Regional Championship. We talk about what year it is, Modern Horizons 6, and taunting your friends. The post Emma Skyeward – Modern Merfolk appeared first on PodCavern.

This week, hosts Tom Zalatnai (@tomzalatnai) and Teffer Adjemian (@tefferbear) talk about iconic food duos- pairings that just feel wrong without each other! Bacon & Eggs! Burgers & Fries! Berries & Cream! Pancakes & Syrup! Chips & Dip! What's your favorite food duo? And what happens when salmon, corn, and boxed mac & cheese find their way into the Random Meal Generator? The post 204. 5 Iconic Food Duos to Eat at a Coldplay Concert! appeared first on PodCavern.

We get chatting about a miniseries on faith, religion, and spirituality, starting with Saints and Misfits by S.K. Ali. Eunice and Teffer talk about the importance of diverse faith communities, what it means to write responsibly about religion, and why we want to see more books that deal with faith coming from big presses! The post 119. Saints and Misfits by S.K. Ali appeared first on PodCavern.

Angus and Sal finally have the guest who was bumped last week. Ms. Frazzle (Chelsea Fahey) joins the guys to show them that you can learn anywhere and that you should go for the stars. The post EP138 – Field Tripping appeared first on PodCavern.

This week’s guest is COMMAND ZOE. Zoe is a Magic content creator and writer for EDHRec & Commander’s Herald. She brought an interesting take on Isshin, Two Heavens as One to Untapped Libraries ignoring your typical attack triggers and instead cursing all her enemies. We talk pillowforts, streaming, and uh-oh moments. The post Command Zoe – B’isshin Curses appeared first on PodCavern.

Host Nick Watson (@fivestergram) graciously allows his co-host Brie and her cast-mates: Dan Dingwall, Dina Senior & Heather Eyman, on this episode to chat about their upcoming production at the Hamilton Fringe Festival: What If? Improvising Your Alternate Universe. Tune in as the cast dig into the rehearsal process for an improvised Fringe production, shouting out to their absent cast-mates Bradley Doyle, David Lahti & Natasha Bromfield, and share their hopes for the festival which, for many of the cast, will be performing in their first ever Fringe Festival. The post E92: Hamilton Fringe Preview: The Cast of What If? Keeps it Tight appeared first on PodCavern.

This week, host Tom Zalatnai (@tomzalatnai) reflects on a recent Omakase experience at Montreal-based sushi restaurant Jun I, tying it back to an old season of Top Chef (obviously) and exploring what makes a dining experience memorable- for better or for worse! The post 203. Jun I, Top Chef Seattle, and the Peak-End Rule appeared first on PodCavern.