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!
MVP018: Pat’s Games And The Castle That Magic Built
Today's episode of the Manaverse Podcast features a woman whose store is literally a castle. Pat Johnson comes on the show to talk about her aptly named store Pat's Games. Pat has a fairly unique business. Most local game stores put a lot of emphasis on the games part...
MVP017: Pistols at Dawn! Wayne Mittlestead on Dueling Grounds
Wayne Mittlestead comes onto the Manaverse Podcast today to talk about life, love, and happiness as an entrepreneur... sort of. Wayne built Dueling Grounds in Toronto, Ontario from the ground up. With 11 years of experience Wayne has a lot to share with regards to...
MVP016: Redcap’s Corner with Benn Roe and Adam Friedman
Have you ever wondered what might happen if you opened a friendly local game store with a $20 000 credit card limit? Benn Roe and Adam Friedman come on to the Manaverse Podcast and share how it worked out for them. Spoiler alert: they're doing great despite the tiny...
MVP015: Exploring The Little Shop Of Magic With John Coviello
Today's episode features John Coviello as the man of the hour. John is the mind behind Little Shop of Magic in Las Vegas, Nevada. Don't let the "little" in the name fool you. It may have once been little but 3000 square feet of games would hardly be called little by...
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...