Small Subjects – Details, episodes & analysis
Podcast details
Technical and general information from the podcast's RSS feed.


Small Subjects is a podcast devoted to discussing big topics in the worlds of scale modeling, diorama-building, and sculpting and painting miniature figures, as well as presenting interviews with some of the top artists in the field, including every era, and ranging from historical to fantasy subjects. Co-hosts Barry Biediger, who is based in Salt Lake City, and Jim DeRogatis, who lives in Chicago, are the editors of the Web site boxdioramas.com. Both have decades of experience as modelers, though they maintain that they are always curious and always learning. They are dedicated members of the Military Miniature Society of Illinois, where they considered the great Sheperd Paine a friend and mentor. Barry is also a member of his local chapter of the Armor Modeling and Preservation Society, while DeRogatis has written, co-written, or edited ten books about popular music and two about miniatures and modeling (Sheperd Paine: The Life and Work of a Master Modeler and Military Historian and Shep Paine’s Armor Modelers Guide). You can contact the hosts at smallsubjectspodcast@gmail.com. Thanks for listening!
Recent rankings
Latest chart positions across Apple Podcasts and Spotify rankings.
Apple Podcasts
🇬🇧 Great Britain - hobbies
12/04/2026#54🇫🇷 France - hobbies
11/03/2026#100🇨🇦 Canada - hobbies
07/03/2026#86🇨🇦 Canada - hobbies
06/03/2026#55🇬🇧 Great Britain - hobbies
01/03/2026#99🇬🇧 Great Britain - hobbies
12/02/2026#61🇬🇧 Great Britain - hobbies
11/02/2026#83🇬🇧 Great Britain - hobbies
10/02/2026#62🇬🇧 Great Britain - hobbies
09/02/2026#51🇬🇧 Great Britain - hobbies
05/01/2026#92
Spotify
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Shared links between episodes and podcasts
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See all- http://modelpodcasts.com/
216 shares
- http://modelpodcasts.com
54 shares
- https://www.insidethearmour.com
40 shares
RSS feed quality and score
Technical evaluation of the podcast's RSS feed quality and structure.
See allScore global : 63%
Publication history
Monthly episode publishing history over the past years.
Episode 51: The 2025 MMSI Chicago Show
Season 4 · Episode 51
jeudi 31 octobre 2024 • Duration 01:26:48
This time we talk about the recent 2024 MMSI Chicago show with Pat Vess and Joe Berton. We also talk about some things the guys have planned for next year's 50th anniversary show.
For photos of what we discuss in each episode, visit the Small Subjects blog on boxdioramas.com: http://www.boxdioramas.com/smallsubjects
Join one of our group builds:
Historex:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/smallsubjectshistorex
Flats:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/smallsubjectsflats
Fantasy Busts:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/smallsubjectsfantasybusts
Or hang out in the Small Subjects Hospitality Suite and discuss anything else miniatures related:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/smallsubjectshospitality
email us at smallsubjectspodcast@gmail.com
Episode 50: Doug Cohen
Season 4 · Episode 50
jeudi 3 octobre 2024 • Duration 01:19:31
For their 50th episode, your hosts talk with versatile Texas-based modeler, sculptor, and painter Doug Cohen, whose work stands out at any show he enters, as readily identifiable as his sense of humor.
For photos of what we discuss in each episode, visit the Small Subjects blog on boxdioramas.com: http://www.boxdioramas.com/smallsubjects
Join one of our group builds:
Historex:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/smallsubjectshistorex
Flats:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/smallsubjectsflats
Fantasy Busts:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/smallsubjectsfantasybusts
Or hang out in the Small Subjects Hospitality Suite and discuss anything else miniatures related:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/smallsubjectshospitality
email us at smallsubjectspodcast@gmail.com
Episode 41: Bob Sarnowski
Season 3 · Episode 41
jeudi 16 novembre 2023 • Duration 02:09:11
Warning: Unlike most of our episodes, this one has some profanity.
We talk to veteran MMSI member and expert painter Bob Sarnowski. We also recap MMSI 2023. Listen to find out why there will be one less thing Jim can tease Barry about.
For photos of what we discuss in each episode, visit the Small Subjects blog on boxdioramas.com: http://www.boxdioramas.com/smallsubjects
Join one of our group builds:
Historex:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/smallsubjectshistorex
Flats:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/smallsubjectsflats
Fantasy Busts:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/smallsubjectsfantasybusts
Or hang out in the Small Subjects Hospitality Suite and discuss anything else miniatures related:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/smallsubjectshospitality
email us at smallsubjectspodcast@gmail.com
Episode 40: Barry and Jim on their Favorites (and their Failures)
jeudi 12 octobre 2023 • Duration 01:54:31
Your hosts aren’t at all sure that anybody will be interested in this rather self-indulgent episode, but hey, we were just responding to a request from one of our loyal listeners, Jamie Stokes in Australia, who left a voice mail for us on Telbee (and everyone is welcome to do the same by clicking here!).
You can find photos and links to information discussed in each episode at our podcast blog on boxdioramas.com
Join us on Facebook:
- Historex group build
- Fantasy bust group build
- or hang out in the Small Subjects Hospitality Suite.
Check out some other great modeling podcasts on modelpodcasts.com
We want to hear from you! CLICK HERE to leave us a message about anything in any of our episodes, or to pose a question you’d like to hear us address, and we’ll air it in an upcoming episode.
Contact us at smallsubjectspodcast@gmail.com
Episode 39: A Conversation About the Open System With Marijn Van Gils
Season 3 · Episode 39
jeudi 14 septembre 2023 • Duration 02:27:15
Another illuminating chat with Marijn, this time on the subject of the open system of judging miniatures and models. We also answer a listener voice message from Grant Mayberry about what to expect at your first open miniature and modelling show.
You can find photos and links to information discussed in each episode at our podcast blog on boxdioramas.com
Join us on Facebook:
- Historex group build
- Fantasy bust group build
- or hang out in the Small Subjects Hospitality Suite.
Check out some other great modeling podcasts on modelpodcasts.com
We want to hear from you! CLICK HERE to leave us a message about anything in any of our episodes, or to pose a question you’d like to hear us address, and we’ll air it in an upcoming episode.
Contact us at smallsubjectspodcast@gmail.com
Episode 38: Dave Youngquist and IPMS 2023 Nats
Season 3 · Episode 38
jeudi 17 août 2023 • Duration 01:32:50
They also chat about Barry's recent trip to the IPMS/USA National Convention.
Photos of the pieces we discuss can be found on our blog on Boxdioramas.com
Episode 37: Gary Baker, hair and Historex
Season 3 · Episode 37
jeudi 20 juillet 2023 • Duration 01:59:17
In this episode, your hosts have a fascinating chat with British native, now San Diego-based painter and modeler Gary Baker. In addition to being big fans of his work, and agreeing that he’s one of the finest gents we’ve met in the hobby in recent years, we were eager to hear Gary’s thoughts about sculpting and painting hair—he’s a professional stylist and the creative director at UNITE Hair—and he made us think even more about how much character hair adds to a figure, as well as paying attention to the fine distinctions in hair styles in different eras. We’re used to focusing on uniforms and equipment and the way such change, even within the span of one conflict, but Gary got us going even deeper.
Barry and Jim are excited about the Historex group build that sprung from the enthusiasm of their listeners. They discuss what makes these little white plastic kits, made up of a bag of initially bewildering parts, so fun to work with.
You can find photos and links to information discussed in each episode at our podcast blog on boxdioramas.com
Join us on Facebook:
- Historex group build
- Fantasy bust group build
- or hang out in the Small Subjects Hospitality Suite.
Check out some other great modeling podcasts on modelpodcasts.com
We want to hear from you! CLICK HERE to leave us a message about anything in any of our episodes, or to pose a question you’d like to hear us address, and we’ll air it in an upcoming episode.
Contact us at smallsubjectspodcast@gmail.com
Episode 36: Mike Hilleary
Season 2 · Episode 36
jeudi 22 juin 2023 • Duration 01:37:05
Barry and Jim had a splendid chat with Mike Hilleary, the Connecticut-based modeler they consider one of the best painters in America today.
The boys also used the opportunity of a question left on the show’s voice mail to discuss that recent editorial in the IPMS Journal by the group’s president David Lockhart, which effectively claimed that there would be no modeling shows in the U.S. without the group, and that people who come to and exhibit at its shows without being active members of the club are “freeloaders.”
On a much cheerier note, Jim tells the story of the recent auction in Beloit, WI, of some of the classic box dioramas by Shep Paine and others, as well as some of the “super-dioramas” by Bob Letterman and Lewis Pruneau, from the collection of the late Ralph Koebbeman.
You can find photos and links to information discussed in each episode at our podcast blog on boxdioramas.com
Check out some other great modeling podcasts on modelpodcasts.com
We want to hear from you! CLICK HERE to leave us a message about anything in any of our episodes, or to pose a question you’d like to hear us address, and we’ll air it in an upcoming episode.
Join our fantasy bust group build on Facebook, or hang out in the Small Subjects Hospitality Suite.
Contact us at smallsubjectspodcast@gmail.com
Episode 35: MFCA 2023
Season 2 · Episode 35
jeudi 25 mai 2023 • Duration 01:30:50
On May 5 and 6, your hosts once again traveled to the outskirts of Philadelphia for
the 80th Annual Show sponsored by the Miniature Figure Collectors of America, one of the premier exhibitions of miniature arts in the U.S. In this episode, Barry and Jim offer some thoughts on the show recorded after the fact, as well as some live recordings amidst all of the fun on Saturday morning—an audio vérité first for Small Subjects!
You can find photos and links to information discussed in each episode at our podcast blog on boxdioramas.com
Check out some other great modeling podcasts on modelpodcasts.com
We want to hear from you! CLICK HERE to leave us a message about anything in any of our episodes, or to pose a question you’d like to hear us address, and we’ll air it in an upcoming episode.
Join our fantasy bust group build on Facebook, or hang out in the Small Subjects Hospitality Suite.
Contact us at smallsubjectspodcast@gmail.com
Episode 34: Joe Berton
Season 2 · Episode 34
jeudi 20 avril 2023 • Duration 02:32:11
Joe has been an active modeler since his teens in the early 1970s, and he is one of the most acclaimed artists and well-loved friend-to-all in the miniatures hobby. A retired art teacher, he’s a man with a million stories (and a rather famous alter ego, at least among baseball fans). We enjoyed every minute of talking with him, and feel like we’ve only scratched the surface, so we may well have to consider a recurring segment. (We do love the idea he floated of “Travels with Shep.”)
You can find photos and links to information discussed in each episode at our podcast blog on boxdioramas.com
Check out some other great modeling podcasts on modelpodcasts.com
We want to hear from you! CLICK HERE to leave us a message about anything in any of our episodes, or to pose a question you’d like to hear us address, and we’ll air it in an upcoming episode.
Join our fantasy bust group build on Facebook, or hang out in the Small Subjects Hospitality Suite.
Contact us at smallsubjectspodcast@gmail.com









