Magic: The Gathering Drive to Work Podcast
Join Magic: The Gathering Head Designer Mark Rosewater as he shares stories, insights, and more while driving to work. Listen and learn more about how Magic is made!
Episodes
#1366: Getting the Banned Together, Part 1
This is the start of a new series, based on a talk I gave at MagicCon: Amsterdam, where I talk about the design of all the cards I had a major hand in that would later be banned or restricted.
#1365: Dark Night of the Soul
There comes a time for many players where the game changes in such a way that it moves away from what they loved most about it. I talk about this phenomenon and detail my own personal "dark night of the soul" experience.
#1364: Ravnica Allegiance
This is another in my series where I attempt to give every Magic expansion an episode of my podcast. Today, I talk about Ravnica Allegiance, the second set of our third visit to Ravnica.
#1363: Online Negativity
I use this episode to talk about dealing with negativity online.
#1362: Mana Curve
In this episode, I explain what a mana curve is and how they impact how we design Magic sets.
#1361: Rivals of Ixalan
This episode is another in my series where I talk about every Magic expansion. Today, I talk about Rivals of Ixalan, the second set in the Ixalan block.
#1360: Layers with Jess Dunks
One of the most complicated elements of the Magic rules is something known as "layers." I sit down with the man in charge of the rules, Jess Dunks, to help walk through an introduction to layers.
#1359: Being a Magic Artist
In this episode, I talk about the weird fact that I'm a published Magic artist on an evergrowing number of cards. Note that I recorded this before Bicycle Elemental was made public.
#1358: Mood Swings Strategy
Here, I talk about the basic strategy when playing Mood Swings. To make sure everyone gets their full allotment of Magic design episodes, this episode is bonus content.
#1357: Aether Revolt
This episode is another in my series to talk about every Magic expansion. Here, I talk about Aether Revolt, the second set in the Kaladesh block.
#1356: Inertia
In this episode, I talk about the pressures of changing things that have been the same for decades.
#1355: All the Mood Swings Cards, Part 5
This episode is part five of a five-part series. In it, I go through every single Mood Swings card, in collectible number order, and talk about how they were designed, including many of the changes they went through and some strategic tips on how to play them. Note: This is a bonus episode for this week.
#1354: Quirks of Limited Edition (Alpha)
In this episode, I talk about many of the weird elements of Magic's first set.
#1353: Emotional Response
In this episode, I cover one of the main goals of game design: to create specific emotional responses in the players.
#1352: All the Mood Swings Cards, Part 4
This episode is part four of a five-part series. In it, I go through every single Mood Swings card, in collectible number order, and talk about how they were designed, including many of the changes they went through and some strategic tips on how to play them. Note: This is a bonus episode for this week.
#1351: My Trip to LA in 2026
I just returned from a trip to Los Angeles, California, where I went to a red carpet event celebrating Magic: The Gathering® | Marvel Super Heroes. I then spent three days doing interviews about the set at Summer Game Fest. This podcast talks all about that trip.
#1350: Marvel Super Heroes Design
In this episode, I talk about designing Magic: The Gathering® | Marvel Super Heroes.
#1349: All the Mood Swings Cards, Part 3
This episode is part three of a five-part series. In it, I go through every single Mood Swings card, in collectible number order, and talk about how they were designed, including many of the changes they went through and some strategic tips on how to play them. Note: This is a bonus episode for this week.
#1348: High Mana Value Spells, Part 2
This episode is part two of a two-part series where I talk about the designs of all the cards that have a mana value of 11 or higher.
#1347: High Mana Value Spells, Part 1
This episode is part one of a two-part series where I talk about the designs of all the cards that have a mana value of 11 or higher.
#1346: All the Mood Swings Cards, Part 2
This episode is part two of a five-part series. In it, I go through every single Mood Swings card, in collectible number order, and talk about how they were designed, including many of the changes they went through and some strategic tips on how to play them. Note: This is a bonus episode for this week.
#1345: Landfall
In this episode, I talk about the history of one of Magic's greatest mechanics, landfall.
#1344: Depth
In this episode, I talk about the pros and cons of the depth of Magic's gameplay.
#1343: All the Mood Swings Cards, Part 1
This episode is part one of a five-part series. In it, I go through every single Mood Swings card, in collectible number order, and talk about how they were designed, including many of the changes they went through and some strategic tips on how to play them. Note: This is a bonus episode for this week.
#1342: The Rule
What is "the rule"? Why does Magic have it? (It didn't always.)
#1341: The Phyrexian War Arc
In this episode, I talk about putting together the larger story arc of the Phyrexian War storyline from Throne of Eldraine through March of the Machine.
#1340: The Design of Mood Swings
How did I make Mood Swings into a simple, fast-paced trading card game? This episode talks about my 28 years of iteration and, for those of you interested in how a person designs a game from scratch, walks through how I created the game.
#1339: Journey Into Nyx
This episode is another in my series to talk about every Magic set release. Today, I discuss the third set in the original Theros block, Journey Into Nyx.
#1338: The History of Mood Swings
In 1998, I came up with the idea of a more accessible trading card game. That game is called Mood Swings and goes on sale starting June 1 on MagicSecretLair.com. This podcast talks about my 28-year journey to get it made.
#1337: MagicCon: Las Vegas 2026
In this episode, I talk about all about my adventures at MagicCon: Las Vegas 2026.
#1336: The Importance of Goat Guy
Who is Goat Guy? Why is he important? There's only one way to find out.
#1335: Born of the Gods
This is another in my quest to do an episode on every Magic set release. This one is about the design of Born of the Gods, the second set in the Theros block.
#1334: Identity
In this episode, I talk about the role games can play in a person's identity and how that affects our approach to designing Magic.
#1333: Secrets of Strixhaven Creative with Lauren Bond
In this episode, I sit down with Creative Lead Lauren Bond to talk about the worldbuilding of Secrets of Strixhaven.
#1332: Video Production
For eight years, I was in charge of overseeing final-day video production for the Pro Tour. In this podcast, I talk all about it.
#1331: Secrets of Strixhaven Set Design with Reggie Valk
In this podcast, I sit down with Reggie Valk, set design lead for Secrets of Strixhaven, to talk about the set's design.
#1330: Charms
This podcast talks about the history of Charms in Magic.
#1329: Secrets of Strixhaven Design
In this podcast, I talk about the design of Secrets of Strixhaven.
#1328: Nostalgia
This podcast is all about how Magic design interacts with nostalgia.
#1327: More Blogatog
It's been over a decade since I did a podcast about Blogatog, my blog where I answer questions daily, so I felt it was time for a second podcast on it.
#1326: How I Have Changed as a Designer
Last year, I celebrated my 30th anniversary of working at Wizards of the Coast and on Magic. In this episode, I look back and explore how I've changed as a designer over the last three decades.
#1325: Secret Lair with Lindsey Bartell
In this episode, I sit down with Senior Director Lindsey Bartell to talk about Secret Lair.
#1324: New Phyrexia
This podcast is another in my ongoing quest to talk about every Magic expansion. In it, I talk about the third set in the Scars of Mirrodin block, New Phyrexia.
#1323: Collector Numbers
Do I have 30 minutes of content about collector numbers? It turns out I do.
#1322: Stretching Boundaries
In this podcast, I respond to a post that proposed Magic should "stick to its fantasy roots." As a Magic historian, I make the case that Magic has been stretching the boundaries of what fantasy is since Limited Edition (Alpha). For those who like deep dives into Magic history, this episode is for you.
#1321: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles with Eric Engelhard
For this week's podcast, I sit down with Magic: The Gathering® | Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Lead Designer Eric Engelhard to talk about the set's design.
#1320: Slideshow
One of our latest design processes involves a slideshow where we show off every card in an upcoming set and make final comments before everything is locked down. In this podcast, I talk all about the evolution of the slideshow.
#1319: Energy
This podcast is all about the journey of the energy mechanic, from its original inception during Mirrodin design all the way to its first appearance in Kaladesh and beyond.
#1318: Layering Your Mechanics
This podcast is a companion to this year's "Nuts & Bolts" column. I talk all about how to slowly add mechanics to your set.
#1317: The Magic Dojo with Frank Kusumoto
The Magic Dojo was the very first major online gathering spot for the Magic community. In this podcast, I speak with its creator, Frank Kusumoto, to talk all about it.
#1316: Mirrodin Besieged
This podcast is another in my quest to record a podcast about every Magic expansion. This time, I talk about Mirrodin Besieged, the second set in the Scars of Mirrodin block and a set with one of the most unique Prereleases of all time.
#1315: Evasion
In this podcast, I talk about a core element of every design: making sure your creatures can get through and help the game end.
#1314: BroadwayCon 2026
Every year, my oldest daughter Rachel and I attend BroadwayCon, a convention dedicated to Broadway, and each year I make a podcast about it, taking all the things I learned and comparing them to Magic design. This podcast is about this year's trip.
#1313: Lorwyn Eclipsed Play Design with Jadine Klomparens
In this podcast, I sit down with Jadine Klomparens, the play design lead for Lorwyn Eclipsed, to talk about how the set was structured and balanced.
#1312: Kai Budde
I spent eight years working on the Pro Tour overseeing the feature matches and final-day video coverage. Those eight years just happened to overlap with the greatest run in professional Magic where Pro Tour legend Kai Budde won seven Pro Tours in five years. This podcast honors Kai, who sadly passed away last week, talking all about that epic run.
#1311: Lorwyn Eclipsed Creative with Neale LaPlante Johnson
In this podcast, I sit down with Neale LaPlante Johnson, the creative lead of Lorwyn Eclipsed, to talk all about the worldbuilding for the set.
#1310: Color Matters
In this podcast, I talk about a big theme from Lorwyn Eclipsed called "color matters."
#1309: Subgames
In this podcast, I talk about a very narrow type of design: Magic cards that interrupt the game and initiate a subgame.
#1308: Lorwyn Eclipsed Vision Design
In this podcast, I talk all about the vision design for Lorwyn Eclipsed.
#1307: Why Blocks Aren't Returning
A common topic on my blog is why some players want to return to blocks. I spend this podcast talking through the various reasons this is unlikely to happen.
#1306: Subjectivity in Design
Part of a designer's job involves figuring out what to include and what not to include. In this podcast, I talk about subjectivity in Magic design.
#1305: Alara Reborn
In this podcast, I talk about the third set of the Shards of Alara block.
#1304: Upkeep
In this podcast, I call the upkeep step the appendix of Magic. Why? Listen in as I talk all about the origin and history of upkeep.
#1303: Conflux
In this podcast, I talk about the second set of the Shards of Alara block, Conflux.
#1302: 30 Years, Part 4
This is my fourth and final episode talking about 30 big design evolutions since I started working at Wizards of the Coast in October 1995. This is based on a three-part series I did in my Making Magic column.
#1301: Resources
There are a lot of costs you can pay other than mana. In this episode, I talk about different types of resources in Magic.
#1300: 30 Years, Part 3
This is part three of a four-part series talking about 30 big design evolutions since I started working at Wizards of the Coast in October 1995. This is based on a three-part series I did in my Making Magic column.
#1299: Color Pie Evolution
In this episode, I talk about how the color pie has evolved over the last three decades.
#1298: 30 Years, Part 2
This podcast is part two of a four-part series talking about 30 big design evolutions since I started working at Wizards of the Coast in October 1995. This is based on a three-part series I did in my Making Magic column.
#1297: Commander Design with Melissa DeTora
In this podcast, I sit down with Melissa DeTora, the leader of the Casual Play Design team, to talk about Commander design.
#1296: 30 Years, Part 1
This podcast is part one of a four-part series talking about 30 big design evolutions since I started working at Wizards of the Coast in October 1995. This is based on a three-part series I did in my Making Magic column.
#1295: Eventide
In this podcast, I talk all about the design of the fourth set in the Lorwyn-Shadowmoor block, Eventide.
#1294: Moxen and Lotuses
In this podcast, I talk about the design of every card with Mox or Lotus in the name designed as a spiritual successor to Limited Edition (Alpha)'s Moxen and Black Lotus.
#1293: Avatar: The Last Airbender with Chris Mooney
In this podcast, I sit down with Lead Set Designer Chris Mooney to talk about the design of Magic: The Gathering® | Avatar: The Last Airbender™.
#1292: Designing for a Format
This episode talks about why it's good for R&D to design around a format you play.
#1291: Starting a Podcast
This podcast is all about how to start a podcast of your own.
#1290: Persistence
Sometimes, the greatest design skill is to never give up. In this podcast, I talk about times it took a while for an idea to make it to print.
#1289: Lessons Learned – Murders at Karlov Manor
This podcast is another in my "Lessons Learned" series where I talk about sets I led or co-led and walk through all the design lessons I learned. This time, I discuss Murders at Karlov Manor.
#1288: Hybrid in Commander
When the Commander Format Panel visited Wizards, I gave a presentation pitching why I felt it was important to change how hybrid worked in Commander. This podcast goes over the contents of that presentation and explains my reasoning for the change.
#1287: New York Comic Con 2025
I just returned from New York Comic Con. This podcast talks all about it.
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