Make Time For Play

Welcome to the Make Time for Play Podcast! Thanks for joining us on our journey to make time for play through board games. We’re Neal Hooper and David Castillo and today we’re going to tackle the topic: If you haven’t played a game in a year… it’s time to get rid of it. What do YOU think?

Welcome to the Make Time for Play Podcast! Thanks for joining us on our journey to make time for play through board games. I’m Neal Hooper and I’m here with David Castillo and today we’re going to tackle the question: What Can You Expect From Your First Board Game Convention?

Join David Castillo and Neal Hooper as we discuss the games we made time to play recently and how to host a GREAT game night! As always, you can follow our individual social channels @user-ck4gt6nj9d and @DavidCastilloPlays ​

In this episode of Make Time for Play, we dive into one of tabletop gaming’s most debated questions: how much does theme really matter? From Everdell to Exploding Kittens, Sky Team to abstract classics, we explore when theme elevates a game into something unforgettable—and when it falls flat. Drawing on our own design experiences, retail insights, and a few spicy hot takes, we unpack how theme, mechanics, and immersion work together to shape the overall game experience.Join us as we challenge each other, share real-world examples from Protocon and the toy industry, and wrestle with the ultimate question: would you rather play a great game with no theme… or one with a theme that just doesn’t fit?

This week on Make Time for Play Neal and David dive into the essential ingredients of a truly great board game rulebook. They discuss key components, including starting with the object of the game, incorporating a high-level summary (with examples from Wingspan and Kingdomino), and the necessity of playtesting, the ideal text-to-visual ratio, the role of a thematic "Who you are..." introduction, and the importance of great graphic design with clear iconography and sequential information flow (objective, setup, turn order). Learn why a rulebook must effectively and quickly serve players at both the first playthrough and when looking up a specific question.

Happy Holidays! In Episode 3 of Make Time for Play, Neal and David look back on an incredible year of gaming, share highlights from their recent holiday game nights, and each count down their Top 5 games of 2025 (yes… ten games total 😄). From light, playful favorites to standout strategy hits, it’s a celebratory episode full of reflections, recommendations, and reasons to keep making time for play as we head into the new year. 🎄🎲

Happy Holidays! In Episode 2 of the Make Time for Play Podcast, Neal and David share recent game nights with their kids, dig into a timely industry conversation about whether reprints (and evergreen games) are becoming a thing of the past, and debate what makes the perfect board games to bring out during holiday gatherings with non-gamer friends and family. From quick party hits to deeper favorites, it’s a festive, thoughtful episode all about making meaningful time for play this Christmas season. 🎄🎲

Make Time for Play is a podcast about reclaiming fun in a world that’s always “too busy.” Co-hosted by Neal and David Castillo, the show explores board games, play culture, creativity, and why play isn’t optional, it’s ESSENTIAL. Expect real talk, laughs, and passionate conversations about the games we love and the joy that keeps us coming back to the table.