Oak & Onion: Board Game Podcast

Tune in for an epic episode where Joel and Chris are joined by Mat Cousineau of the Dice, Camera, Action podcast to talk all things Star Wars. After learning about three games that define Mat as a gamer, Joel will put Mat and Chris head-to-head in a brand new game called Settling Scores. Then we’ll talk about some of our favorite Star Wars media in a segment called  3-2-1 Star Wars. And finally we’ll share listener feedback and our own picks for Star Wars games or rethemes we wish existed. All that plus a secret segment from Chris! The Force will need to be with you to get through this extra long episode, but maybe, just maybe we’ll answer the biggest Star Wars question of all: just how did Palpatine return? (Spoiler alert: we won’t.)Segments:00:00:00—Intro00:00:54—Meet our Guest: Mat Cousineau00:05:23—What We’ve Been Watching00:22:46—What We’ve Been Playing00:40:52—Mad Lib: Word Choices00:47:00—Mat’s 3 Games that Define Him as a Gamer01:11:43—Settling Scores: Star Wars Edition01:36:49—3-2-1 Star Wars!02:41:11—QOTE: What Star Wars Game is Missing?03:07:39—Mad Lib: Star Wars03:11:36—Closing and Sign Off

In this bonus episode Joel and Chris look at the nominees for BGG’s 2025 Golden Geek awards by choosing what they would like to see win and comparing it to what they think will actually win. They ask where Toy Battle fits in the gaming scheme, contemplate how many times Galactic Cruise and Fate of the Fellowship can be nominated for awards, and try to determine what weight of games they play the most of (answer: lighter than 25 lbs). It’s a very special short episode, where short means under 90 minutes!Segments:00:00:00—Welcome and Introduction00:00:33—What we've been up to00:10:18—Golden Geek Awards Overview00:11:45—2p Game00:21:39—Artwork & Presentation00:29:32—Cooperative Game00:34:06—Expansion00:41:10—Innovative00:46:29—Party Game00:49:55—Solo Game00:53:13—Wargame00:56:13—Best Board Game Podcast00:59:57—Best Board Game App01:01:35—Thematic Game01:05:36—Heavy Game of the Year01:10:45—Light Game of the Year01:13:53—Medium Game of the Year01:19:21—Closing & Sign Off

Joel and Chris celebrate tax day by talking about exercise and birthdays, woodworking and pirates, and whether or not Joel’s only defining quality is being bald. Chris becomes a bit of an auspicious beast himself when he puts Azure from Bitewing Games on the Chopping Block. Then the guys discuss taxes in games by identifying three games that feature a tax mechanism, two games that feel like paying taxes, and one game worth spending your tax return on. Finally we check back in with the highlight reel for another look at what has our attention on the crowdfunding front. All that and more, like Joel offering to provide marriage counseling for Chris, on this episode of the Oak and Onion podcast!Segments:00:00:00—Welcome and Introduction00:00:37—What we've been up to00:14:11—What we've been playing00:53:55—Chopping Block: Azure01:20:04—3-2-1 Taxes!01:49:42—Highlight Reel02:03:58—Closing and Sign Off

It’s an episode of excess for Joel and Chris, where Chris watches the entire Marvel franchise, Joel plays games with his college friends for three days straight, and we tackle one of the questions at the heart of our consumerist hobby: how much is too much when it comes to board games? We’re not done there, either: Joel puts Perch on the Chopping Block to see whether cute stacking birds justify mean gameplay, and then Joel challenges Chris to a game of Two Truths and a Lie to see whether Chris can determine which 2026 releases are real and which are fake. Doing all that while we’re both still sleep deprived means we never know what we’ll say on this episode of Oak and Onion! Segments: 00:00:00—Welcome and Introduction00:00:33—What we've been up to00:22:00—What we've been playing00:43:31—Chopping Block: Perch01:05:36—Game: Two Truths and a Lie01:17:23—QOTE: How Much is Too Much?01:45:46—Closing and Sign Off

Chris spent the weekend at his local convention, TokenCon, in Oklahoma City. He, and his wife Kaitlin, recap their experience at the convention, including their favorite moments, favorite games, and more. You’ll also hear interviews from Scott Brady, designer of boop., Hues and Cues, and Caution Signs, as well as Paula Deming, a few Oklahoma game publishers and designers, the TokenCon founder, and several con goers throughout the episode. Segments:00:00:00—Welcome and Introduction00:00:51—Meet our guest host: Kaitlin00:02:17—Interview: Mike, Co-Director of TokenCon00:08:05—Interview: Brandon, Art Director of TokenCon00:11:04—Overall Thoughts on the Con00:13:52—Interview: Cassie Sikes, Designer of Jibber Jabble00:20:32—Favorite Moments of the Weekend00:23:41—Interview: Paula Deming, Things Get Dicey00:32:38—Interview: Scott Brady, Game Designer00:44:24—#3 Game of the Weekend00:49:19—Interview: Baron's Game Room00:53:30—Interview: Scrapper Games00:56:24—Interview: Absurdist Productions01:00:45—#2 Game of the Weekend01:05:38—Interview: The Guilded Grayland Game Store01:10:12—Interview: Bearded Rat Mysteries01:12:56—Honorable Mentions01:16:59—Attendee Favorites of the Weekend01:21:01—#1 Game of the Weekend01:27:30—Closing and Sign Off

Joel and Chris can’t stop talking about crowdfunding in part one of a two part episode. In this episode we do a quick check-in on what we’ve been watching, as well as games on BGA and in person, and then Chris cleans off the Chopping Block for the new Stonemaier expansions Wingspan Americas and Viticulture Bordeaux. We wrap up with all the crowdfunding games on our radar, from the recently closed to the still in-progress, as well as several that have yet to launch. We react to the new Awaken Realms Concordia Special Announcement that has the game-o-sphere aflutter, and then decide we better cut out some segments if we want to keep it under two hours. Spoiler alert: we don’t keep it under two hours. But just barely! Segments:00:00:00—Welcome and Introduction00:00:36—What we've been up to00:09:06—What we've been playing00:28:48—What we've been watching00:46:40—Review Disclaimer00:47:17—Chopping Block: Wingspan Americas01:01:23—Chopping Block: Viticulture Bordeaux01:17:28—Highlight Reel02:03:37—Closing and Sign Off

What’s this? A new board game podcast? Join Joel and Chris for the premier of the all-new Oak and Onion podcast. In this episode we introduce ourselves and talk about what things we’re  into outside of board gaming, from prestige tv to Star Wars novels. Then it’s on to the Chopping Block, where we review Periodic and Aspens. We share five games that defined our gaming journey and put Chris in the hot seat to blind rank iconic board game duos. Finally we cap it off with a discussion of what a game needs to hit our sweet spot. Get in on the ground floor and join us for the history-making first episode!Segments:00:00:00—Welcome and Introduction00:00:37—Meet your Hosts: Joel & Chris00:04:47—What have we been enjoying 00:25:05—Review Disclaimer00:25:43—Chopping Block: Periodic from Genius Games00:42:46—Chopping Block: Aspens from Ludivore Games00:56:24—5 Games That Define Us as Gamers01:33:30—Chris Blind Ranks Iconic Board Game Duos01:44:30—QOTE: What does a game need to hit your sweet spot?01:56:54—Closing and Sign Off