#165: From Side Project to Store Shelves: The Drawn Hungry Story

#165: From Side Project to Store Shelves: The Drawn Hungry Story

In this episode, Jason Hsieh sits down with Jordan Mishra Johnson, the artist and entrepreneur behind Drawn Hungry, a food-themed card game that blends the spirit of a cooking competition with the social energy of a classic party game. Jordan spent two years and over 1,000 hours illustrating all 320 cards by hand while juggling a career in PR and editorial work. She shares the real story behind her Kickstarter campaign, how she used media pitching to land a feature in Portland Monthly, and how in-person demos at food festivals became her best customer acquisition strategy. Whether you are building a product from scratch or trying to break into retail, this episode is packed with honest lessons on patience, creativity, and building a fan base one person at a time.

#164: Skip the Scale: Build a Game Company Your Way

In this episode, Jason Hsieh sits down with Marc Specter, founder of Grand Gamers Guild and co-winner of the prestigious Kennerspiel des Jahres award for Endeavour Deep Sea. Marc shares how a single trip to Origins Game Fair in 2005 changed the course of his life, eventually leading him to run event teams, found his own convention, and build a publishing company with over 20 titles. The conversation digs into what it really takes to run a lean, successful game company, the difference between chasing growth and building a life you love, and why mentorship might be the most underrated resource in the industry. If you have ever wondered whether you need a big team or big funding to make an impact, Marc's story will make you think again.

#163: From Raw Deal Fan to Game Founder: Steve Resk's 10-Year Journey

In this episode, Jason Hsieh sits down with Steve Resk, co-creator of Super Show the Game, the number one rated wrestling card game of all time on Board Game Geek for ten consecutive years. Steve shares how he and his business partner John Calace built SRG Universe from a few hundred dollars in card art commissions into a beloved brand with over a thousand playable characters and a community so loyal its members show up to each other's weddings. He breaks down the game design philosophy that keeps starter decks competitive, how their annual Grand Gathering event draws over a hundred fans for a full weekend of Royal Rumble tournaments and surprise wrestler appearances, and why they have never spent a dollar on social media ads. If you have ever wondered what it looks like to build a game company people truly love and not just buy from, this episode is for you.

#162: Roll the Dice: Quit Playing It Safe

In this episode, Jason sits down with Chrys Sellers, indie tabletop game designer behind Raccoon Sky Pirates and the upcoming Defy the Gods RPG, to unpack the real lessons behind building in the toy and game space. They cover everything from cancelling a $47K Kickstarter mid-campaign and relaunching it successfully, to discovering why Facebook ads flopped for a niche queer RPG while Tumblr actually moved the needle, to understanding when a platform like Launchboom fits your product and when it doesn't. It all closes with one sharp reminder: center the player experience in everything you make.

#161: Hundreds of Millions Sold: Chris Cofoni's Toy Playbook

In this episode, Jason sits down with Christopher Cofoni, founder of Triaction Toys and a 15-year toy industry veteran who has sold hundreds of millions of toys worldwide. Chris shares his unlikely path from opera singer and senior music executive at EMI Records to building one of the most trusted specialty toy companies in the business. We dig into the Boglins Kickstarter that raised $247,000 on a $20,000 goal, the launch of Snooze Monsters, a collectible parent-and-child plush line with QR-coded original bedtime stories, and how repositioning HALFTOYS with better packaging unlocked new retail success. Chris also makes a bold case for why the future belongs to specialty retailers and direct-to-consumer brands that maintain full price every day, not Amazon. If you are a toy or game brand owner trying to build real retail relationships and protect your margins, this conversation was made for you.