#182: The Game Nobody Bought That Started a 20 Year Career

#182: The Game Nobody Bought That Started a 20 Year Career

In this episode, we sit down with Sean Brown, a veteran game designer and publisher who has spent more than 20 years shaping the tabletop industry through his own brand, Mr. B Games. Sean walks us through the chance encounter at Gen Con that got him into the business, the game nobody ever bought, and how that detour turned into more than 40 Kickstarter campaigns of his own. We talk about the real challenges behind crowdfunding, from VAT in the early days to tariffs today, and what it felt like to sell his publishing rights back to Mayfair Games, the very company that gave him his start. Sean also shares blunt, hard-earned advice for anyone thinking about publishing their own game. If you want the honest version of what it takes to build a career in this industry, this one is for you.

#181: What Killed the E-Commerce Aggregator Boom

In this episode, we sit down with Miguel Muñoz Marin, CEO of Recontour, an e-commerce holding company that owns Best Chess Set Ever and Shaka Ball. Miguel shares his journey from Amazon Spain to co-founding Recontour, why valuation discipline helped his company survive when giants like Thrasio didn't, and how centralizing operations across brands transformed the business. He also dives into growth strategies like international expansion and building an in-house PPC team. A must-listen for anyone curious about running a profitable brand portfolio.

#180: From Rocket Scientist to Board Game Publisher

In this episode, we sit down with Nick Kopp, co-founder of Weird Giraffe Games and former rocket scientist who spent a decade building his board game company on nights and weekends before going full time. Nick shares the savings and runway plan that made the leap possible, and why delegation became his biggest challenge once he quit his day job. He talks through building a ten-plus person team, bringing on a logistics partner for shipping from China, and Reef and Ruins, a massive multiplayer game built for up to a hundred players. Nick also shares why stepping away from the computer sparks his best ideas, and what more than twenty Kickstarter campaigns have taught him. If you've ever wondered what it takes to turn a side hustle into a full-time game business, this one is for you.

#179: The Secret to Side Effects' Retail Success

In today's episode, we sit down with Jade Shames, co-founder of Pillbox Games, to trace the wild path from making a card game prototype on index cards to building a growing tabletop brand. Jade shares how a chance game night with friend and co-founder Ben Ronstein turned into Side Effects, the game distributors insisted on keeping exactly as designed. We dig into the real numbers behind going full time, the freedom and risk of running multiple Kickstarter campaigns, and why staying true to your own taste beats chasing what you think the market wants. Jade also opens up about the ongoing challenge of balancing creativity with organization as a small, founder-led team. If you have ever wondered what it really takes to turn a hobby into a business you love, this conversation is for you.

#178: Inside the World of Toy and Collectible Licensing

In this episode, we talk with Julian Montoya, a licensing leader whose career spans Lucasfilm, Warner Bros, and now Noble Collection. Julian traces his path from the VHS era to negotiating the first Lego Star Wars deal and pushing Funko Pop through approval back when it was called Funko Force. He shares what it takes to build a strong licensee relationship, find a clean lane in a crowded market, and become the kind of partner licensors want to keep. He also discusses how Noble Collection uses 3D printing to speed up development, and why persistence and networking matter most in this business. If you've ever wondered what happens behind the scenes of your favorite licensed toys, this one's for you.