A somewhat grounded look at the people who actually make pinball happen. From game designers and tournament organizers to top players and studio heads, the D...
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Dirty Pool Podcast Ep06 – Chad The Bird Loves Worms and Pinball
Wednesday, June 4, 2025 • Duration 01:21:30
This week’s guest has a lot to say—and somehow says it all without moving his lips. We get into pinball, performance art, and the unique acoustics of Logan Arcade. Let’s just say this one might take flight in unexpected directions.
00:00:00 - Intro
00:01:15 - What Are You?
00:02:32 - Did I Pay Chad? ... No.
00:03:30 - Bi-coastal? Bi-Polar.
00:04:00 - All Natural Pink
00:05:50 - Go Follow @BillLarkin
00:06:05 - Comedy Monologue vs. Improv
00:09:00 - Manic Panic?!
00:09:14 - Which Font Is Better
00:10:30 - Chad's Diet And Bowel Problems / Solutions
Dirty Pool Podcast Ep05 – Maker of Mischief: David Van Es from Barrels of Fun
Season 1 · Episode 1
Wednesday, May 28, 2025 • Duration 01:47:20
David Van Es joins us to talk about launching Barrels of Fun, building a creative-first pinball company, and the wild process behind their debut game Labyrinth. With Dune now on the line, we dig into how his background in film and licensing feeds into game development—and why the second act might be even more ambitious than the first.
00:00:00 - Intro
00:00:52 - David Flips The Tables. Why Did Dirty Pool Start Streaming...
00:02:05 - David's History In Film and TV
00:04:30 - Working for 2 decades before Pinball
00:05:12 - David's Years at @SpookyPinball
00:08:15 - First Game Purchase after returning to the hobby... Tales From The Crypt
00:11:44 - The Birth of @BoFPinball
00:13:45 - Pinball is package of Experiences like a film
00:16:08 - The Creative Process Comes From Problem Solving
00:17:31 - How Does BoF approach the building blocks of an IP
00:19:08 - The People That Work At BoF Are Appreciated
00:21:28 - Do What You Love First and The Money Will Follow
00:22:08 - The Creative Process Comes From Problem Solving
00:22:22 - What Are Some Things in Labrynth That Were a Challenge
00:25:12 - Are BoF Games Good for Operators
00:26:08 - Storytelling First
00:27:32 - Do the Flippers Really Feel Different on a BoF game?
00:28:28 - Karl @IEPinball is sick so we're going to talk about him
00:29:20 - David's Worst Outlanes in History
Dirty Pool Podcast Ep04 – Ian Jacoby of Nudge Magazine
Wednesday, May 21, 2025 • Duration 01:26:10
Talking pinball lifestyle and punk rock with Ian Jacoby, founder of Nudge,a print only pinball magazine that’s flipping the bird to digital trend. We dig into why print still matters, the aesthetics of rebellion, and the dedicated art of saying no to AI..
00:00:00 - Intro
00:00:16 - Welcome!
00:00:58 - Jeff May Introduced Me To Nudge @heytherejeffro
00:01:52 - Ian's Pinball Lifestyle
00:02:41 - Lets Breakdown What Makes a Good Room
00:04:00 - Nudge Has a Company That Handles Shipping Now
00:04:51 - Nudge Issue 5... Soon?
00:05:20 - A Print Mag In The World Of Digital Publication
00:06:36 - The Origins Of Nudge
00:07:58 - Covid Created Nudge
00:08:46 - One Nice Thing About Ian (According To A Fan)
00:09:12 - Give Tracey Her Magazine Dude
00:09:45 - Is The Magazine a Creative Extension Of You?
00:11:30 - Contributors and Nudge Magazine, It Takes a Village
00:19:41 - Dirty Pool Makes Music feat. Ian's Voicemail
00:20:30 - Don't Send Me Voice Messages Unless You Want Weird Songs
Dirty Pool Podcast Ep03 – Jonathan Bergeron From Punk to Pinball
Tuesday, May 13, 2025 • Duration 01:06:55
From tagging as ZEN in Montreal’s graffiti scene to illustrating Jurassic Park, Dune, and Labyrinth for Stern and Barrels of Fun—Johnny Crap has carved a path through art that’s anything but ordinary. In this episode, we trace Jonathan Bergeron’s evolution from punk-fueled muralist to in-demand illustrator, designing merch for Slayer and Guns N’ Roses before getting hooked on pinball. He shares his creative process, the challenge of keeping his voice intact while working with major licenses, and what it really takes to bring his distinct aesthetic into the world of modern pinball machines.
00:00:00 - Intro
00:00:36 - How To Pronounce Bergeron Correctly
00:01:16 - Punk and Graffiti Background
00:02:36 - Old School Skateboarding
00:04:12 - Graffiti? Start em' Young!
00:05:00 - Who Is Zen?
00:06:05 - Art For Local Bands
00:07:25 - Art For Pinball
00:07:45 - David Bowie Rocks?
00:08:08 - Dune has a Labrynth Easter Egg.
00:09:29 - Intelligent Playfield Art Design
00:10:41 - Labrynth Had Much Of The Design Locked In
00:11:30 - Details On The Playfield By Hand
00:14:32 - Johnny Crap's Artwork Aprons Are Beautiful
00:14:50 - Designing The First Pinball Playfield (Not JP Home)
00:19:12 - Dune Alternate Backglass?
00:19:47 - What's It Like Designing Band Merch For Metal Legends.
00:23:14 - Differences Between Art and Pinball Art Design
00:24:30 - Working As A Team
00:26:10 - Involving Yourself With The Community
Dirty Pool Podcast Ep02 – Bowen Kerins on Designing Dune and the Art of Pinball Rules
Friday, May 9, 2025 • Duration 01:23:30
What makes a pinball ruleset click? In this episode of the Dirty Pool Pinball Podcast, we’re joined by Bowen Kerins—rules designer at Barrels of Fun—to unpack how a game's structure comes together behind the glass. From early concepts to deep code layering, we talk about balancing challenge, flow, and accessibility. Bowen shares insights from his current work on Dune, along with stories from his days as a top tournament player and one of the first major pinball streamers.
00:00:00 - Intro
00:00:30 - Bowen Kerins!
00:00:59 - The Origins Of Pinball Streaming
00:01:27 - Keith and Randy Elwin the First Pinball Camera
00:02:27 - No Pinball On Twitch
00:06:06 - Bowen the Mathematician
00:06:16 - Teaching Kids As A Gateway To Pinball Rules
00:09:22 - Is There a Perfect Classic Game Ruleset?
00:10:57 - How Artwork Guides The Player In Dune
00:11:45 - Start With A Grand Rule Idea and Build Backwards
00:12:56 - Do You Wait For The IP To Think Of Rules
00:14:22 - Rick and Morty as an Example
00:15:50 - Rolercoastersss Here's Your Question - Movie Modes and Order
00:18:49 - Multimorphic Final Resistance
00:19:32 - Dune Mode - Hunting For The Right Pitch
00:23:32 - Bowen Kerins Was On Who Wants To Be A Millionaire
00:26:07 - Bowen Kerins Designs Gameshow Math
00:27:46 - Deal Or No Deal Island...
00:30:46 - Oh Reddit.
00:31:55 - Pop Quiz w/ Courtney Cox
Dirty Pool Podcast Ep01 – Kineticist on the State of Pinball News
Season 1 · Episode 1
Tuesday, May 6, 2025 • Duration 01:00:10
Episode one of the Dirty Pool Podcast kicks off with Kineticist, the go-to news source for all things pinball. We dig into how the site got started, what it's like covering this wild hobby, and what stories aren’t getting told. A candid conversation about keeping the silverball press rolling.
00:00:00 - Intro
00:00:45 - Colin Introduction
00:03:05 - What Is Kineticist?
00:04:21 - Pinball Map and the Ecosystem
00:04:57 - Writing with Voice in Pinball Media
00:06:35 - The Rush of Reviewing New Releases
00:07:55 - Visiting Pinball HQs
00:11:09 - IPs We Want to See as Pins
00:13:12 - Sentimental Pinball Favorites
00:13:45 - The Fifth Favorite Game Trap
00:14:05 - Unfinished Code in Modern Pinball
00:17:36 - Do Casual Players Even Notice?
00:18:32 - Colin’s Origin Story, Take Two
00:18:56 - Pursuing Pinball Full-Time
00:22:42 - The Myth of the Affordable Home Game
00:23:36 - Expectation vs. Reality for Home Pins
00:24:45 - Why Pinball Needs Transparent Updates
00:26:45 - Tim Sexton Leaves Stern
00:28:55 - Are Remasters Worth It?
00:29:48 - Are Remasters Still Worth It?
00:31:22 - Pinball Machines Aren't Stocks
00:33:40 - Does Creating A Job Around A Hobby Ruin The Hobby?
Dirty Pool Podcast Ep07 – Davey of Stumblor Mods / The Art of The Pinball Modding
Wednesday, June 11, 2025 • Duration 01:48:25
Davey from Stumblor joins Dirty Pool to discuss how one of the most respected names in pinball modding became a quiet powerhouse.
Known for high-end, limited-run mods for machines like Godzilla, Jaws, and Elton John, Stumblor has built a reputation for precision engineering, lighting effects that don’t feel like an afterthought, and an aesthetic that leans more toward sculptural design than simple add-ons.
We talk through his full creative process—from initial idea to final shipment—and cover topics like what makes a game “worth modding,” and why some projects never make it out of the prototype phase. Davey also discusses community feedback, and testing challenges. Also included: the origin of the name "Stumblor!"
00:00:00 - Intro
00:00:01 - Oops
00:00:07 - Actual Opening
00:00:18 - Davey / Stumblor Mods!
00:02:30 - Are Mod Makers Making Manufacturers Leave Out Components?
00:05:51 - The First Mod... Creature.
00:11:12 - Godzilla.
00:12:58 - The First Pinside Post That Launched Stumblor.
Dirty Pool Podcast Ep09 – The Hunt Begins: Predator Pinball with Daniel Janson
Thursday, June 19, 2025 • Duration 01:03:50
The widebody has landed. We sit down with Daniel Jansen, CEO of Pinball Brothers, to talk about their new Predator machine: the rules, the features, and the sheer guts it takes to bring a licensed behemoth like this to life. We dig into the use of AI in their teaser campaign, the implications of AI-generated art in the industry, and whether high import costs and tariffs are creating real barriers for international buyers. Transparency, tech, and one of the most iconic monsters of all time.
00:03:41 - Art and Collaboration at Pinball Brothers
00:07:40 - Lets Talk Wide Bodies
00:08:45 - Does Predator Eat The Ball?
00:09:30 - Predator Is The Main Character
00:11:00 - The Predator Sculpt is All Original, Not a Toy
Dirty Pool Podcast Ep08 – Brewing Beans & Flipping Dreams: Tony from What’s Brewing
Thursday, June 19, 2025 • Duration 01:42:15
We head south to San Antonio to talk to Tony, the owner of What’s Brewing, a coffee roastery that also happens to double as a pinball arcade. We get into the grind of running two very different scenes under one roof, from roasting beans to repairing flippers, and how a city like San Antonio shaped the culture of both. Turns out, coffee people and pinball people might just be the same weirdos.
Praise the Great Pyramid
📡 Twitch – twitch.tv/dirtypoolpinball
📺 YouTube – youtube.com/@DirtyPoolPinball
📷 Instagram – instagram.com/dirtypoolpinball
📘 Facebook – facebook.com/dirtypoolpinball
00:00:00 - Intro
00:00:40 - Surprise Pyramid Praising
00:01:05 - Where What's Brewing Came From
00:04:25 - What To Do In A Tornado / Emergency Info
00:07:18 - Pinball Enters What's Brewing
00:11:50 - Exotic Fruit and "The Nerd Tree"
00:14:45 - Pinball On Location Doesn't Make Money
00:17:16 - Chat Asks About Pinball 'named' Coffee
00:19:41 - Where do you acquire beans?
00:23:26 - What's up @CoffeeFlipper4 !
00:23:51 - Lets talk poop coffee. (Yes Seriously)
00:29:21 - Lets break down coffee types.
00:38:00 - How Coffee is Roasted
00:45:46 - Jar Jar killed Pinball... temporarily
00:49:21 - Have you converted pinball non-believers?
00:51:41 - Booze at a roastery? Sure?
Dirty Pool Podcast Ep10 – After Hours: Electric Bat Arcade with Rachel & Cale
Tuesday, June 24, 2025 • Duration 01:36:55
How do you run a full-blown pinball bar until 2 AM every night and stay married? Rachel and Cale from Electric Bat Arcade break it all down—logistics, love, location pinball, and late-night arcade life in Tempe. We talk running machines in the desert heat, Arizona pinball culture, and how to build a community one quarter at a time.
Praise the Great Pyramid
📡 Twitch – twitch.tv/dirtypoolpinball
📺 YouTube – youtube.com/@DirtyPoolPinball
📷 Instagram – instagram.com/dirtypoolpinball
📘 Facebook – facebook.com/dirtypoolpinball
00:00:00 - Intro
00:01:15 - How Did Electric Bat Start?
00:02:38 - What's It Like Running a Business With a Partner?
00:04:15 - Cale 'Wide Stance' Pinball Technique
00:05:45 - Running an Arcade Business
00:07:21 - "Barcade" Trademark
00:10:00 - Booze On Top Of Pinball
00:11:48 - Where'd The Name Come From?
00:13:45 - Electric Bat Podcast Loves To Be Transparent and Honest About Business
00:16:00 - Earnings Info Helping The Manufacturers?
00:19:35 - Most Important Thing an Arcade Can Do...
00:21:16 - Chat Questions
00:23:00 - Pinball For Everyone
00:26:20 - How Does Booze Work at @electricbatarcade
00:28:15 - Repairing Pinball Machines / Cale @ Marco Specialties
00:30:43 - Most Important Relationship Thing... Talk Through Chat Programs?
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