Ep. 116: Bomb Squads, Bathroom Breaks & Bird Bam Beth Enters the Chat

Ep. 116: Bomb Squads, Bathroom Breaks & Bird Bam Beth Enters the Chat

This week on The Mahjcast, Jason and Ira are still dealing with the fallout from the reverse joker swap heard ’round the mahjong internet. Is it genius? Is it a mahjtastrophe? Is it Jason’s Law? The community has spoken — loudly — and the bros are unpacking every scandalous tile. Plus, Nancy from Cane Bay Mahjong joins by phone to talk about her team’s incredible Guinness World Record win — 48 hours, 202 games, bathroom-break strategy, no sleep, and one very missed Depends sponsorship opportunity. Then we head down to Tampa, where Florida is Florida-ing, the mahjong drama is juicy, and apparently even vintage tile boxes can trigger the bomb squad. And we are thrilled to welcome one of our favorite Mahjiverse personalities, Bird Bam Beth, for a hilarious, smart, slightly profane conversation about teaching mahjong, house rules, super jokers, alternative cards, mahjong on mushrooms, dogging, building community, and why there really is room for everyone at the table. It’s a full-on great mahjisode this week. So pull up a chair, rack your tiles, and let’s play.

Ep. 115: Kathy Wise from Mahj the Mag, Jason's Law + Ira's Outrage

This week on The Mahjcast, Jason and Ira sit down with Kathy Wise, founder and editor of Mahj the Magazine, for an amazing conThis week on The Mahjcast, Jason and Ira sit down with Kathy Wise, founder and editor of Mahj the Magazine, for an amazing conversation about the launch of the magazine, the power of print, the growing mahjong community, Texas pool mahj, centerfold dreams, and why mahjong storytelling is officially having a moment. Plus, Jason finally gets his copy of Mahj the Magazine — after only a minor USPS saga — and the guys unpack the Charleston issue, Kathy’s vision, and why this magazine feels more like a gorgeous coffee table book than something you toss in a pile. Then, things get groundbreaking. Jason unveils his bold new proposal for the National Mahjong League: it involves Jokers, and it's nothing to joke about. Ira thinks it’s the dumbest idea he’s ever heard. Jason thinks it’s the future of the game. The debate is fierce, historic, and possibly important enough to be known forever as Jason’s Law. Also in this episode: Ira’s latest teaching adventures, Jason’s losing streak finally ends, Spools Tiles get a full Mahj Bros review, Kim Eagle hits 30K followers, the mahjong podcast world keeps growing, and the Cane Bay Mahjong crew prepares for a 48-hour Guinness World Record mahjathon. This one has magazines, mahj moments, rule reform, and just the right amount of stupidity. Pull up a chair, rack your tiles, and let's play.

Ep. 114 Mahjless in the Hamptons, A Tearful Bride & a Big Mahjtraversy Unpacked!

This week on The Mahjcast, Jason and Ira go full Mahj in the Wild as they unpack real-life games, table drama, dry spells, ten-joker chaos, and the emotional toll of being completely mahjless. We’ve got a loaded mailbag, a truly scandalous Mahj Confession involving a bride, a bachelorette weekend, and way too many pauses after discards, plus shout-outs to Modern Mahjong, the New York Jewish Mahjong Festival, Mix and Maj in Summit, and more. Then the Mahjbros debut a brand-new segment: Mahjbros Investigate, featuring Rebekah from @themahjongpivot, as we crack open the case of the “mistaken mahjong” and determine whether a viral post from @ohmymahjong was actually wrong… or secretly a perfectly good mahjong all along. Plus: Ira’s mahj vocabulary lesson, Jason’s losing streak, Rebecca’s Utah mahj scene, and a Last Tile reminder that being mahjless doesn’t make you hopeless — it just means your next mahjong is coming. Pull up a chair, rack your tiles, and let's play. DM us on Instagram @themahjbros, we'd love to hear from you.

Ep. 113: Mahjong Warriors, Mahj Confessions & No Mercy from Mom

This week on The Mahjcast, Jason and Ira are back at the table with a big tournament recap, Mahj Confessions, mailbag madness, and one very serious mahjong family feud. First up, Ira recaps his big day at Jackie’s Mahjong Warriors tournament in New York City — 84 players, 28 games, seven hours of mahj, and a very respectable finish. We talk tournament pressure, moving fast, knowing the rules, getting called out for your wall, and why everyone needs to try tournament play at least once. Then Jason heads down to Jersey to play with his mom and her crew, where the chicken was dry, the tiles were cruel, and his mother showed absolutely no Mahj Mercy. Plus: * Ira’s fake sick revenge plot * Jason’s ongoing cheating confession fallout * Mahjong Warriors tournament tips * A conversation with Keen from Spools about floating pool tiles, travel racks, and building mahjong gear from a rocket scientist’s brain * Mahj speed dating becomes our newest terrible/brilliant idea * Our first Mahj Confessions winner * Mailbag rules: can you rack before the deal is over? * And a Last Tile about why every player should take the leap and try their first tournament Pull up a chair, rack your tiles… and let’s play. Mentioned in this episode: @ladiesthatmahj @shop_spools @mayorofmahj Follow us on Instagram and DM us anytime, we'd love to hear from you! @themahjbros

Ep. 112: Our Ladies That Mahj Mixer, Commitment Issues & Top Teaching Tips w/ Kim Eagle

This week on The Mahjcast, Jason and Ira welcome Kim Eagle from Ladies That Mahj to the table — and yes, we are officially obsessed. Kim shares how she went from learning mahjong during hip surgery recovery to building a fast-growing teaching community in Bucks County, PA, with sold-out classes, online lessons, and more than a few strong opinions on how the game should be taught. Also this week: * Ira clarifies the rules of his big summer card challenge — and somehow makes it even more complicated * Jason reviews the Mahjong app and brags about his win rate * Kim weighs in on playing for money, food at the table, alternate cards, and when to stop the Charleston * We talk teaching beginners, commitment issues at the table, and why touching the tiles matters * Mahj Moment spotlights So Bam Fun and Bird Bam Bears * The Mailbag brings pineapple kugel, tile flickers, and listener pet peeves * Mahj Confessions returns with a shocking cheating scandal * A very hysterical Dream Table * Last Tile--You'll want to pass it on! Follow Kim at @ladiesthatmahj and find her classes, content, and recently-launched online course at LadiesThatMahj.com. Follow us on Instagram at @TheMahjBros and slide into our DMs with your Mahj Confessions, Mailbag questions, Dream Table picks, and hot takes. We're giving away subs to Mahj the Mag, people, let's go! ($150 value) Pull up a chair, rack your tiles and let's play.