Welcome to the Manaverse Podcast
The Manaverse Podcast is where we explore what it takes to build a successful friendly local game store! Since 2015, I’ve been interviewing a wide variety of game store owners and industry professionals doing some really interesting things in the world of trading cards, minis, games, and more.
If you want to learn how some of the best game retailers in North America have built their businesses and local communities up from the ground floor, you’ve come to the right place!
MVP014: How To Get Your Game Idea Published While Playing Magic On The High Seas
The featured guest on today's podcast is Steve Port, perhaps you've heard of him? If not him, chances are one of his products has certainly crossed your path. Here's a brief list of the things Steve has added to the Magic community:Misty Mountain GamesLegion...
MVP013: Metal Galaxy, A Ninja Star In Space
Pascal Espinosa joins us on the Manaverse Podcast today. Pascal is the owner of Metal Galaxy in Calgary, Alberta where Magic is currently thriving. Not only does Metal Galaxy have a past podcast guest (MVP008) in their backyard with Gordan Johansen`s Sentry Box,...
MVP012: Building a Massive Magic Community at the Dragon’s Lair
Chris Fedor comes onto the Manaverse Podcast to talk about the pinnacle of geek culture in Austin, Texas, the Dragon's Lair. We chat briefly about the history of the Dragon's Lair and how it grew from a small business in a house 20 years ago into the place to play...
MVP011: The Advantage Of Selling Magic Cards Over The Internet With CardAdvantage.ca
The 11th episode of the Manaverse Podcast features Peter Sonegra, one of two owners of cardadvantage.ca. Card Advantage is a rapidly growing online retailer of everybody's favourite game, Magic: the Gathering, but it wasn't always this way. Peter and his partner have...
MVP010: Battling the Minotaur Inside Labyrinth Games
The double digit episode of the Manaverse Podcast is here. Today I talk with Kathleen Donahue and Judy Thomas. Kathleen owns Labyrinth Games & Puzzles in Washington, DC and Judy handles the Magic side.. "Labyrinth Games is a family-friendly, community-focused...
MVP009: Rock The Dragon With Jenn Haines
Today on the Manaverse Podcast, we bring on Jenn Haines. She owns The Dragon in Guelph, Ontario and she owns one the best comic book and game stores in the world. She has the award to prove it too, the Will Eisner Award to be precise. Jenn knows her stuff when it...
MVP008: Gordon Johansen Talks About Building The 13 000 Square Foot Mecca Of Gaming
Gordon Johansen is one of the old guards in gaming, with 35 years of experience in the games business Gordon has seen it all. Gordon and his store, the Sentry Box has seen fads come and go, weathered multiple recessions and has a wealth of expertise to share. The past...
MVP007: How Perseverance And Determination Can Build The Foundation For A Successful LGS With Gabe Escobedo and Game Haven STL
Game Haven STL takes the G in LGS very seriously.In today's episode of the Manaverse Podcast, I talk with our featured guest Gabe Escobedo about Game Haven STL. Gabe is a study in conviction. We quickly find out that he works around 100 hours each week running his...
MVP006: The Power Of The Acronym, JBC And Just By Chance Games
In today's episode, we have a conversation with Larissa Loomes. Larissa is one of three owners of my friendly local game shop Just by Chance Games (or JBC as I know it) in Waterloo, Ontario. We talk in depth about the early days of a brand new store. The planning...
MVP005: The 411 On 401 Games
In this episode, we talk with Zoran Dobrijevic. He's the general manager of 401 Games in Toronto, Ontario. Zoran is the Magic specialist for one of the largest game stores in Ontario. Using a unique strategy that most game stores dismiss, 401 Games grew from a...