web01.fireside.fm Tue, 14 Apr 2026 22:14:52 -0500 Fireside (https://fireside.fm) Play Saves the World - Episodes Tagged with “History” https://boardgamefaith.fireside.fm/tags/history Sun, 08 Oct 2023 15:00:00 -0400 Daniel and Kevin explore the meaning of play for human flourishing – what it is, what it means, and how people create and maintain playful lives. We explore books, people, places, and ideas committed to engendering play in the midst of busy, working lives. en-us episodic On games and spirituality Daniel Hilty & Kevin Taylor Daniel and Kevin explore the meaning of play for human flourishing – what it is, what it means, and how people create and maintain playful lives. We explore books, people, places, and ideas committed to engendering play in the midst of busy, working lives. no play, gaming, game theory, work, human flourishing, the meaning of play Daniel Hilty & Kevin Taylor thomaskevintaylor@icloud.com Episode 40: Personal Growth through Solo Board Games, with Liz Davidson https://boardgamefaith.fireside.fm/40 a825ba2b-9331-4312-9156-7c82b1c3e41b Sun, 08 Oct 2023 15:00:00 -0400 Daniel Hilty & Kevin Taylor 40 Personal Growth through Solo Board Games, with Liz Davidson full Daniel Hilty & Kevin Taylor Liz Davidson of @BeyondSolitaire joins us to discuss the joys of solo gaming, historical games, and teaching. 1:07:17 no Introduction We all know what it’s like to play games with other people. But did you know that more and more games every year give you the opportunity to play them by yourself? And we’re not just talking solitaire here. We’re talking multi-player games with a solo mode—as well as games that are designed to be played by only one person. They can be small games with boxes you can hide under a dinner roll, to epic sprawling experiences that you lay out on your table and leave there till Christmas. So what does it mean to play alone, and what lessons can we learn from the experience? This week we are thrilled to welcome Dr. Liz Davidson, from the Beyond Solitaire podcast, to discuss these questions—and more!—on Board Game Faith, the biweekly show exploring the intersection of spirituality, religion, and board games! Introducing Dr. Liz Davidson PhD from Yale University in Ancient Christianity in 2014 Has taught on the high school and college level in Latin, Greek, English, and Math Is currently a Latin teacher at Parkview High School in Atlanta, GA, where she lives Has a website, YouTube channel, and podcast, Beyond Solitaire What are the personal benefits to solo board gaming? * So much of board games, popularly understood, is their social aspect – competition, shared narratives and experiences, socializing with others. * What it means to play alone, in terms of learning to enjoy your own company. Should people practice spending time with themselves?  Historical Games * I have a historical background (Ph.D. in Ancient Christianity, to be precise). How does that inform my understanding of historical gaming? (Especially games on religious topics?) * What are some good historical games, and can history ever be represented in a game? Solo Gaming & Ethics Does solo board gaming open up a different range of ethical possibilities in play? Would you treat an automated opponent differently than a human one? Favorite Solo Games! Follow Liz through BeyondSolitaire on YouTube and other social platforms. CALL TO ACTION: - Subscribe to our newsletter (https://buttondown.email/BoardGameFaith) - Support us on Patreon (https://www.patreon.com/boardgamefaith/) - interact with us on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/boardgamefaith/) - Discord us Discord (https://discord.gg/MRqDXEJZ). board gaming, board games, solo game, historical games, church history, Christianity Introduction

We all know what it’s like to play games with other people. But did you know that more and more games every year give you the opportunity to play them by yourself? And we’re not just talking solitaire here. We’re talking multi-player games with a solo mode—as well as games that are designed to be played by only one person. They can be small games with boxes you can hide under a dinner roll, to epic sprawling experiences that you lay out on your table and leave there till Christmas.

So what does it mean to play alone, and what lessons can we learn from the experience? This week we are thrilled to welcome Dr. Liz Davidson, from the Beyond Solitaire podcast, to discuss these questions—and more!—on Board Game Faith, the biweekly show exploring the intersection of spirituality, religion, and board games!

Introducing Dr. Liz Davidson

  • PhD from Yale University in Ancient Christianity in 2014
  • Has taught on the high school and college level in Latin, Greek, English, and Math
  • Is currently a Latin teacher at Parkview High School in Atlanta, GA, where she lives
  • Has a website, YouTube channel, and podcast, Beyond Solitaire

What are the personal benefits to solo board gaming?

  • So much of board games, popularly understood, is their social aspect – competition, shared narratives and experiences, socializing with others.
  • What it means to play alone, in terms of learning to enjoy your own company. Should people practice spending time with themselves? 

Historical Games

  • I have a historical background (Ph.D. in Ancient Christianity, to be precise). How does that inform my understanding of historical gaming? (Especially games on religious topics?)
  • What are some good historical games, and can history ever be represented in a game?

Solo Gaming & Ethics
Does solo board gaming open up a different range of ethical possibilities in play? Would you treat an automated opponent differently than a human one?

Favorite Solo Games!

Follow Liz through BeyondSolitaire on YouTube and other social platforms.

CALL TO ACTION:

Links:

]]> Introduction

We all know what it’s like to play games with other people. But did you know that more and more games every year give you the opportunity to play them by yourself? And we’re not just talking solitaire here. We’re talking multi-player games with a solo mode—as well as games that are designed to be played by only one person. They can be small games with boxes you can hide under a dinner roll, to epic sprawling experiences that you lay out on your table and leave there till Christmas.

So what does it mean to play alone, and what lessons can we learn from the experience? This week we are thrilled to welcome Dr. Liz Davidson, from the Beyond Solitaire podcast, to discuss these questions—and more!—on Board Game Faith, the biweekly show exploring the intersection of spirituality, religion, and board games!

Introducing Dr. Liz Davidson

  • PhD from Yale University in Ancient Christianity in 2014
  • Has taught on the high school and college level in Latin, Greek, English, and Math
  • Is currently a Latin teacher at Parkview High School in Atlanta, GA, where she lives
  • Has a website, YouTube channel, and podcast, Beyond Solitaire

What are the personal benefits to solo board gaming?

  • So much of board games, popularly understood, is their social aspect – competition, shared narratives and experiences, socializing with others.
  • What it means to play alone, in terms of learning to enjoy your own company. Should people practice spending time with themselves? 

Historical Games

  • I have a historical background (Ph.D. in Ancient Christianity, to be precise). How does that inform my understanding of historical gaming? (Especially games on religious topics?)
  • What are some good historical games, and can history ever be represented in a game?

Solo Gaming & Ethics
Does solo board gaming open up a different range of ethical possibilities in play? Would you treat an automated opponent differently than a human one?

Favorite Solo Games!

Follow Liz through BeyondSolitaire on YouTube and other social platforms.

CALL TO ACTION:

Links:

]]> Episode 22: The Medieval Book of Games https://boardgamefaith.fireside.fm/22 d44f2ff0-65b0-4dac-a037-e6362aff7270 Sun, 22 Jan 2023 15:00:00 -0500 Daniel Hilty & Kevin Taylor 22 The Medieval Book of Games full Daniel Hilty & Kevin Taylor We examine the medieval Book of Games, King Alfonso of Spain's 1283 book about chess, dice games, and board games like Backgammon. There are rich insights here into medieval and modern board games. 55:41 no We examine the medieval Book of Games, King Alfonso of Spain's 1283 book about chess, dice games, and board games like Backgammon. There are rich insights here into medieval and modern board games – their types, challenges, wisdom, and benefits. Yay for history! CALL TO ACTION: - Subscribe to our newsletter (https://buttondown.email/BoardGameFaith) - Support us on Patreon (https://www.patreon.com/boardgamefaith/) - interact with us on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/boardgamefaith/) - Discord us Discord (https://discord.gg/MRqDXEJZ) board games, Spain, Middle Ages, medieval history, King Alfonso X, chess, Islam, Christianity We examine the medieval Book of Games, King Alfonso of Spain's 1283 book about chess, dice games, and board games like Backgammon. There are rich insights here into medieval and modern board games – their types, challenges, wisdom, and benefits. Yay for history!

CALL TO ACTION:

Links:

]]> We examine the medieval Book of Games, King Alfonso of Spain's 1283 book about chess, dice games, and board games like Backgammon. There are rich insights here into medieval and modern board games – their types, challenges, wisdom, and benefits. Yay for history!

CALL TO ACTION:

Links:

]]>