Explore every episode of the podcast Gleeful Meeple: The Podcast

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Welcome to The Gleeful Meeple - A podcast all about board games, where strategy meets laughter and cities in the sky are real!

In this episode:

• We ask ourselves “who needs friends?” as we talk about solo gaming.
• We bid our way to greatness in this week's Game of the Show: Skyrise
• And you, the Gleeples, get to play along, as the hosts get put in the hot seat with this week's Game Challenge.

The Mayor has enlisted some of humanity's greatest visionaries to help build Skyrise: a magnificent city in the sky, dedicated to art, science, and beauty. But only one artisan can be remembered as the greatest!

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Welcome to The Gleeful Meeple - A podcast all about board games, where strategy meets laughter and owning the alphabet still won’t help you with spelling. 

In this episode:

• We ask ourselves: What board game would we or wouldn’t we want to be Jumanji’ed into?
• We’re reminded that words are hard in this week's Game of the Show: Letter Tycoon
• And you, the Gleeples, get to play along, as the hosts get put in the hot seat with this week's Game Challenge.

Did you hear? The alphabet is up for purchase! You better buy that patent for the letter F, otherwise you’ll be left with a bunch of ducks.

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Welcome to The Gleeful Meeple - A podcast all about board games, where strategy meets laughter and spreadsheets can be fun!

In this episode:

• We talk about buying/selling/trading board games and finding those hot deals!
• We fend off the Pict tribes in this week's Game of the Show: Hadrians Wall
• And you, the Gleeples, get to play along, as the hosts get put in the hot seat with this week's Game Challenge.

You’re a Roman General placed in charge of the construction of a milecastle and bordering wall. So construct your fort, man the defenses, and attract civilians by building services and providing entertainment — all while defending the honor of the Roman Empire.

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Welcome to The Gleeful Meeple - A podcast all about board games, where strategy meets laughter and building an art collection is as easy 1,2,blue,6,red

In this episode:

• We take a look at the technology that’s making our hobby better - from apps to websites.
• We try to attract patrons to our art show in this week's Game of the Show: Avant Card
• And you, the Gleeples, get to play along, as the hosts get put in the hot seat with this week's Game Challenge.

Your eccentric collection of avant garde art needs a public show! So make sure you purchase art that attracts the patrons you need to make your art exhibition the best in town!

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Welcome to The Gleeful Meeple - A podcast all about board games, where strategy meets laughter and paradoxes are inevitable.

In this episode:

• We bring out the crystal meeple to look into 2025 at our most anticipated games, our board game goals, and our predictions. 
• We dare to answer the question - “is the cat dead or alive?” in this week's Game of the Show: Cat in the Box.
• And you, the Gleeples, get to play along, as the hosts get put in the hot seat with this week's Game Challenge.

Don’t be fooled…being able to pick the color of your card in a trick taking game might seem like flexibility but in reality it’s a trap! And you don’t want to be the one causing a paradox - just think of the kitties.

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Welcome to The Gleeful Meeple! A podcast all about board games, where strategy meets laughter and bluffing your way to victory is as fun as going to the movies!

In this episode:

• We’re joined by a special guest to talk about Social Deduction games.
• We try to land acting jobs for our clients in this week's Game of the Show: Creature Feature
• And you, the Gleeples, get to play along, as the hosts get put in the hot seat with this week's Game Challenge.

Your clients might specialize in spooky acting roles but there’s nothing more scary than not landing a gig for them. So if you want to keep your job as their agent, you better get good at keeping all of your options available.

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Welcome to The Gleeful Meeple! A podcast all about board games, where strategy meets laughter and visiting the museum has never been this stressful.

In this episode:

• We’re joined by a special guest to talk about the Root of war games.
• We recall Darwin’s travels to the galapagos islands in this week's Game of the Show: Darwin’s Journey
• And you, the Gleeples, get to play along, as the hosts get put in the hot seat with this week's Game Challenge.

You’ll need some specialized crewmates for the journey ahead and don’t forget to mail back correspondence while you’re away because important discoveries are being made and the world needs to know. 

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Welcome to The Gleeful Meeple! A podcast all about board games, where strategy meets laughter and ancient civilizations look like you’re playing Tetris.

In this episode:

• We’re joined by a special guest to talk about all things card games.
• The aqueducts of Rome meet the Great Wall of China in this week's Game of the Show: World Wonders
• And you, the Gleeples, get to play along, as the hosts get put in the hot seat with this week's Game Challenge.

So get your tetris brain turned on and start building those roads to civilization because we have pyramids, coliseums, amphitheaters, trojan horses, and well…A LOT of wonders to build and a growing population. Let’s go!

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Welcome to The Gleeful Meeple! A podcast all about board games, where strategy meets laughter and you might be lucky enough to find an ocarina as your stroll through a meadow.

In this episode:

• We’re joined by a special guest to talk about horror in board games.
• We learn about the food chain in this week’s Game of the Show: Meadow
• And you, the Gleeples, get to play along, as the hosts get put in the hot seat with this week's Game Challenge.

So get your backpack ready for a day of walking and maybe even some kayaking because we’re off to discover new fields, see wildlife in action, and maybe even find some forgotten trinkets along the way.

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Welcome to The Gleeful Meeple! A podcast all about board games, where strategy meets laughter and euro games don’t always need ALL the things.

In this episode:

• We’re joined by a special guest to talk about video games, board games and…why not both?
• We make gowns and frock coats in this week’s Game of the Show: Rococo
• And you, the Gleeples, get to play along, as the hosts get put in the hot seat with this week's Game Challenge.

The Grand Ball is just a few weeks away and all the attendees want to dress to impress. So hire your team, purchase your cloth & materials, and don’t forget to sponsor those decorations because while you may not be going to the ball yourself, your reputation is still on the line!

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Welcome to The Gleeful Meeple! A podcast all about board games, where strategy meets laughter and a little liquid encouragement might just be what your raid needs!

In this episode:

• We’re joined by a special guest to talk about the ins and outs of hosting the best game nights!
• We return to ancient history in this week’s Game of the Show: Raiders of Scythia 
• And you, the Gleeples, get to play along, as the hosts get put in the hot seat with this week's Game Challenge.

So hire your best crew, prepare your noble steed, and stock up on those rations for the long journey ahead - We have raiding to do!

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Welcome to The Gleeful Meeple! A podcast all about board games, where strategy meets laughter and being a rummy dummy might leave you all alone counting tumbleweeds.

In this episode:

• We’re joined by a special guest to talk about what it takes to win at board games… a lot. Like, a lot, he wins a lot.
• We take it to the wild west to hunt down outlaws in this week’s Game of the Show: Wyatt Earp 
• And you, the Gleeples, get to play along, as the hosts get put in the hot seat with this week's Game Challenge.

Ya best get ready ‘cause you’re not the only sheriff comin’ to town and if you want to capture the most outlaws, you’ll need to think outside of the box…a coffin shaped box that is… 

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Welcome to The Gleeful Meeple! A podcast all about board games, where strategy meets laughter and drafting dice means more cake!

In this episode:

• We’re joined by a special guest as we flip through the pages of rulebooks and discuss our frustrations and appreciations in their design.
• We try to entice nobles, artists, citizens, and tourists to stay in our hotels in this week’s Game of the Show: Grand Austria Hotel
• And you, the Gleeples, get to play along, as the hosts get put in the hot seat with this week's Game Challenge.

So hire more staff and prepare tasty food & beverages because those hotel rooms aren’t going to fill themselves and the emperor is on the way…will you impress by being the most successful hotelier?

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Welcome to The Gleeful Meeple! A podcast all about board games, where strategy meets laughter and marbles ain't just for shootin’ anymore.

In this episode:

• The crew is back from GenCon and boy do we have some stories to tell!
• We make marbles go boom…in this week’s Game of the Show: Potion Explosion
• And you, the Gleeples, get to play along, as the hosts get put in the hot seat with this week's Game Challenge.

So get your ingredients together, mix those potions, and don’t be shy about asking the professor for some help because while the potions might not taste that great, the more you make the more you score!

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Welcome to The Gleeful Meeple! A podcast all about board games, where strategy meets laughter and cultists wait around every corner like pesky mosquitoes.

In this episode:

• We bring out our magnifying glass to focus in on one of the most iconic publishers in the industry, Days of Wonder.
• We check our sanity at the door and take on the Great Old Ones in this week’s Game of the show: Cthulhu: Death May Die
• And you, the Gleeples, get to play along, as the hosts get put in the hot seat with this week's Game Challenge.

So choose your investigator and prepare for the worst because Daddy Cthulhu don’t give a damn and there’s no chance in the Lovecraftian universe that you’re making it out alive.

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Welcome to The Gleeful Meeple - A podcast all about board games, where strategy meets laughter and the scenic route can sometimes make more sense than the best play.

In this episode:

• We’re joined by a special guest to talk about the best ways to prepare for GenCon.
• We put on our hiking boots and get our walking sticks ready as we venture out to visit the national parks in this week’s Game of the show: Parks.
• And you, the Gleeples, get to play along, as the hosts get put in the hot seat with this week's Game Challenge.

So get your water canteens ready, pack your best gear, and don’t miss out on those photo opportunities because while everyone is a winner if you’re enjoying nature, only one hiker will take home victory!

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Welcome to The Gleeful Meeple! A podcast all about board games, where strategy meets laughter and engine building doesn’t require rods and pistons.

In this episode:

• We go head to head to talk about our favorite two player games and what makes two player games unique.
• We start from nothing and build our engine to create a particularly perfect combination of buildings and resources in this week's Game of the Show: Point City!
• And you, the Gleeples, get to play along, as the hosts get put in the hot seat with this week's Game Challenge.

So plan for those civic buildings and use your wilds wisely because you may be building a city but hey - it's in the title, you’re here for the points!

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Welcome to The Gleeful Meeple - A podcast all about board games, where strategy meets laughter and engine building doesn’t require rods and pistons.

In this episode… wait a minute, is that the Glee Phone?

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Welcome to The Gleeful Meeple! 

A podcast all about board games, where strategy meets laughter and every farm reminds you that you’re playing a euro game.

In this episode:

• We catch JK yelling at clouds again as he surprises us with a contentious, cataclysmic conversation.
• France calls us back to construct buildings, create farms, mine for silver, go sailing, and of course, build castle in this week's Game of the Show: Castles of Burgundy!
• Lastly you, the Gleeples, get to play along as the hosts get put in the hot seat with this week's Game Challenge.

So roll your dice, mitigate that luck, and turn misfortune into success as you expand your duchy in the hopes to have the most, well, let’s be real here…points points points! It’s all about that point salad! Give me all the points!

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Welcome to The Gleeful Meeple - A podcast all about board games, where strategy meets laughter and every top deck is a chance for perfection or discard fodder.

In this episode:

• We’re reminded that there’s no “I” in team as we discuss … cooperative games.
• We return to space to find water, raise temperatures, and bring corporate greed to the galaxy in this week's Game of the Show: Terraforming Mars!
• And you, the Gleeples, get to play along, as the hosts get put in the hot seat with this week's Game Challenge.

So choose your corporation, prepare your resources, and make good choices when drafting those cards because terraforming a dry planet isn’t easy and without those sweet sweet tags you’ll be left in the dust.

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Welcome to The Gleeful Meeple - A podcast all about board games, where strategy meets laughter and every roll of the dice makes you wish you were playing yahtzee rules.

In this episode:

• We talk about board games based on popular and perhaps unpopular IPs
• We jump into a classic tile laying game and hope our farmers find their cities in this week’s Game of the Show: Carcassonne
• And you, the Gleeples, get to play along, as the hosts get put in the hot seat with this week's Game Challenge.

So connect those roads, surround those abbeys, get some knights in those cities, and employ some thieves..err, I mean some toll booth employees, because we’re taking a trip to France and you don’t want to share those fields if you don’t have to.

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Welcome to The Gleeful Meeple - A podcast all about board games, where strategy meets laughter and every roll of the dice is a chance for luck to be in your favor.

In this episode:

• We respond to the question “oh, you mean like Monopoly?”
• We shoot for the moon with a Rosenberg game that isn’t about farming in this week’s Game of the Show: Nova Luna!
• And you, the Gleeples, get to play along, as the hosts get put in the hot seat with this week's Game Challenge.

So get ready to connect the dots and regret that tile you placed there a few turns ago because there’s no takebacksies and hey! I see you reaching for that tile, nooooooooooooooooooooooooo

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In this episode, JK's going to tell us why he thinks an established gaming company can do better. We give our rock solid opinions on 'Stone Age'. Finally, we test each other's visual and mental faculties with a game of our own. Tune in to hear the fun!

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A podcast all about board games, where strategy meets laughter and every roll of the dice is a chance for analysis paralysis.

In this episode:

• We look into the future and talk about our Most Anticipated Games of 2024
• We get our oxygen tanks ready to talk about our Game of the Show - Space Base
• And you, the Gleeples, get to play along, as the hosts get put in the hot seat with this week's Game Challenge.

All this while JK tries his hardest to derail the episode! So suit up, because we’re launching our ships from all of our sectors and you don’t want to be left behind.

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Welcome to The Gleeful Meeple - A podcast all about board games, where strategy meets laughter and every roll of the dice is a chance for shenanigans.

In this episode:

• We talk about who we are and why we’re crazy enough to start a podcast.
• We kick it into high gear to talk about our Game of the Show - Heat: Pedal to the Metal
• And you, the Gleeples, get to play along, as the hosts get put in the hot seat with this week's Game Challenge.

All this while we pretend to know what we’re doing! So buckle up, because we’ve put on our racing slicks for this one and we’re not slowing down for the hairpins.