Play Saves the World

Episode 41: Board Game Rulebooks, with Jordan Ault

October 22nd, 2023  |  1 hr 10 mins

board games, rules, special guest

BGF contest winner Jordan Ault joins us for this special episode to discuss game rulebooks and rules in general, and how rules in games and religion can enlighten one another. Jordan brings his lawyerly acumen to the conversation. Plus … the return of the skit??

Episode 40: Personal Growth through Solo Board Games, with Liz Davidson

October 8th, 2023  |  1 hr 7 mins

historical games, history, solo gaming

Liz Davidson of @BeyondSolitaire joins us to discuss the joys of solo gaming, historical games, and teaching.

Episode 39: The 7 Deadly Sins of Board Gaming

September 24th, 2023  |  1 hr 1 min

game theory, gaming, lists, theology

The 7 deadly sins (or vices) in the Christian tradition are pride, greed, wrath, envy, lust, gluttony and sloth. How do they relate to board gaming?

Episode 38: Imitating God By Playing Games (Moltmann part 2)

September 10th, 2023  |  59 mins 52 secs

authentic humanity, game theory, moltmann, work

How can we imitate God? By realizing that the world is meaningful but not necessary because God created it that way, and intends us to live lives of beauty, enjoyment, meaning, and not always productive. "We are to glorify God and enjoy God forever" in the Westminster Catechism of 1647; “To put it simply, the birds are singing more than Darwin permits” (Buytendijk). Games and play allow us to be fully and authentically ourselves, from achievement to being. These are topics we explore in our Book Club episode on Moltmann's A Theology of Play (pp. 15-25).

Episode 37: A Theology of Play Retreat

August 20th, 2023  |  59 mins 44 secs

game theory, mcgonigal, suits, teaching

Daniel led sessions on the theology of play at a recent religious retreat, and he shares his thoughts on the sessions, his outlines, his hopes and expectations, and participant feedback.

Episode 36: Our Top 10 Games of All Time – But With Bible Verses!

August 6th, 2023  |  1 hr 5 mins

bible, contest winners, games, list

We plunge into the world of top 10 lists, offering up our own along with spiritual lessons and scripture references, while making fun of lists in general. But first, the winners of our first ever action-packed giveaway contest!

Episode 35: Spirituality and Board Game Design, with Jamey Stegmaier

July 23rd, 2023  |  26 mins 56 secs

game design, inclusivity, spirituality

Daniel interviews Jamey Stegmaier of Stegmaier Games (Wingspan, Scythe, and Viticulture) about his journey into board game design and his religious background, and how he sees his religious background informing his design ethic and work today.

Episode 34: Games with Religious Themes, with Alice Connor

July 9th, 2023  |  1 hr 11 mins

game theory, lists, religious games

Alice Connor is an Episcopal priest, writer, blogger, and podcaster, and she shares her deep knowledge and interest in board games – and especially games with religious themes. What defines a good game or a religious game?

Episode 33: Moltmann's Theology of Play Part 1

June 25th, 2023  |  1 hr 17 secs

book club, game theory, suffering

Another glorious book club episode! We dig into Jürgen Moltmann's Theology of Play, published in English in 1972. Moltmann asks if it is moral to play games when the world is filled with injustice and suffering, and answers with a resounding yes. Games anticipate our true identity and freedom, and can liberate us from false identities. "Games ... afford us an opportunity to experiment with free expression and with new human relationships" (p. 13).

Episode 32: Ameritrash vs. Euro Board Games, which is better?

June 11th, 2023  |  47 mins 41 secs

game theory

The 2 great camps of board game design are Ameritrash and Euro, and we define them and argue for which is better. F-I-G-H-T!!

Episode 31: Using Games to Teach, with Mandi Hutchinson

May 28th, 2023  |  59 mins 49 secs

Mandi Hutchinson of Salt and Sass Games is a teacher and educator, and she explores ways that board games have shaped her life and work. Games help the art of teaching whether it's a middle school classroom or adults in their workplaces.

Episode 30: Satanic Panic, with TheGeekPreacher

May 14th, 2023  |  1 hr 10 mins

d&d, game theory

The Geek Preacher, Rev. Derek White, explains the moral panic of the 1980s that demonized (LOLZ) Dungeons & Dragons and the human imagination. Derek helps us understand power struggles, fundamentalism, Star Wars, church life, being a game master, and being a Christian pastor.