Clutch Power

Eric Crittenden
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A Show about the Ways We Love LEGO. In-depth conversations about LEGO. Hosted by Emmy-nominated reporter Eric Crittenden.

  1. That Time Minifigs Had Noses

    16 HR AGO

    That Time Minifigs Had Noses

    LEGO Western may not be the shortest-lasting, the strangest, or the most problematic LEGO theme, but it’s up there. On this episode, a look back at the good, the bad, and the ugly legacy of these 24 sets with one of the people who knows it best. Today’s guests include the one and only TrikBrix! Jamie has huge Clutch Power guest energy with his deep dives into 80s and 90s LEGO themes, and I’m so happy I got to talk about LEGO Western with him. You can really tell how much he loves this theme - if his masterful retrospectives didn’t give it away: The Gold Rush of 1996 LEGO 6746 Chief’s Tepee LEGO 6718 Raindance Ridge (& Friends!) But honestly you can’t go wrong with any of his videos. Jamie has some of the highest quality LEGO content you’ll find, period, end of sentence. Every frame of his videos is a masterpiece. I’m also honored to introduce you to two scholars in Part 2 of this episode: James Mackay, Associate Professor of Literature and Digital Cultures at European University Cyprus Gregory Smithers, Ph.D., author, professor of History at Virginia Commonwealth University, and researcher Both of these men are absolute gems and gave me so much to ponder about Native American representation. I grew up in Alabama and my school didn’t give Native Americans a lot of focus - at least, not in the way you’d want in 2026. I can’t get over something James said - about how a “Native American LEGO set” is the same as a “white person LEGO set” or “black person LEGO set” which obviously would not fly. If you want to read more about LEGO and Native American representation, here are some great articles: Native American Heritage and LEGO Representation (BrickNerd) Disappointing action behind LEGOLAND disappearing act (The Copenhagen Post) If you’re a Patreon supporter, you’ll get a bonus act called: “The Music of 90s LEGO”. Jamie writes all the music for his videos, so I wanted to chat with him about his process, as well as throwing some curveball LEGO themes at him to see what kind of music he’d think up. Also - hot takes on Time Cruisers! You’ll also get access to a special MOC just for this episode! I love this one: a classic Western standoff, with a sunset, silhouette, revolver. Man I love the Wild West. It’s $2 / month to become a Patron, and you’ll get bonus content + a MOC for every episode! Join the Patreon! Songs from: Nihilore (www.nihilore.com): A way WombatNoisesAudio: Song: Cesare Rides Again Website: https://soundcloud.com/user-734462061 License: Creative Commons (BY 3.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Music powered by BreakingCopyright: https://breakingcopyright.com And TrikBricks: Wild West Background Wild West Intro Wild West Theme Wild West - The Tribe

    47 min
  2. We Cheated on LEGO (with jtsandman45!)

    6 APR

    We Cheated on LEGO (with jtsandman45!)

    There are a lot of sexy alt-bricks brands out there. Lumibricks. Bluebrixx. Pantasy. I made a lifelong commitment to LEGO, but I’ll be honest…the temptation is strong. Today’s guest: Jackson Sandler of LEGO YouTube fame. Jackson burst into the scene about a year ago with his phenomenal video Building All 36 Minikits from Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga. Since then, it’s been banger after banger of mid-2000s LEGO themes. As someone who grew up in that time, I am loving the content. 2008 LEGO City Police was PEAK Building the LEGENDARY 2008 Death Star And of course his video that inspired the episode: LEGO: The Rise of Alt-Bricks I know these alt-bricks can be controversial with us LEGO purists, but Jackson and I ranked some brands that you might want to check out: Lumibricks Pantasy Mattel Brick Shop (formerly Mega) If you’re a Patreon supporter, you’ll get a bonus act called: “My Hero” talking about his passion for Guitar Hero. Jackson will occasionally post a video on social media, playing Guitar Hero to some meme LEGO sounds. His video on the LEGO Star Wars Video Game death sounds is particularly good. You’ll also get access to a special MOC just for this episode! There’s an underground movement of anti-LEGO fans, and here’s some of their graffiti. Just don’t tell LEGO I built this… It’s $2 / month to become a Patron, and you’ll get bonus content + a MOC for every episode! Join the Patreon! All music by Nihilore (www.nihilore.com): Alter Ego Mendel Hypercube A Vision of Light The Mountains, My Home Whispers Invoke Paranoia

    44 min
  3. LEGOLAND's Lost Potential

    23 MAR

    LEGOLAND's Lost Potential

    If you’re over 10 years old going to a LEGOLAND park, something will feel off. The parks are…barren. Low attendance, badly-maintained attractions, and limited entertainment staff. LEGO is obsessed with high quality, so why are LEGOLANDs so shoddy? I’m proud to declare this Clutch Power’s first two-person interview! Dan Ibbertson of Slope’s Game Room and Slope’s Adventures, and his buddy Andrew Dalton (who’s appeared on many Slope’s Adventures videos). Both these guys are theme park mega-fans, and they’ve done some great coverage on UK theme parks, specifically Merlin Entertainments, who owns every LEGOLAND. A few LEGO-centric episodes: The Sad State of Merlin Entertainment Former LEGOLAND Performer Interview Is LEGOLAND Discovery Centre Manchester worth it??? A ton of theme park discussion in this episode, and if you want to dip your toe into theme park YouTube, I cannot recommend Defunctland enough. The quality on these videos is unbelievable. Here’s the specific video I reference in this episode: The History of Coney Island If you’re a Patreon supporter, you’ll get a bonus act called: “This Park’s Theme? Nightmare!” Dan and Andrew share tales from Merlin parks, a really bevy of horror stories. The Peppa Pig park story in particular (4 P’s!) is my favorite. You’ll also get access to a special MOC just for this episode! I built LEGOLAND Windsor’s front gate (before the renovation). Yet even this small build conveys that feeling of emptiness. It’s just $5 / month to become a Patron, and you’ll get bonus content + a MOC for all episodes! Join the Patreon! All music by Nihilore (www.nihilore.com): Alter Ego Facticity The Dweller on the Threshold Hailstorm Noctivagant Artifice Something Beautiful is Going to Happen

    45 min
  4. The Rise of the Bricks & Minifigs Empire

    9 MAR

    The Rise of the Bricks & Minifigs Empire

    WATCH THIS EPISODE ON YOUTUBE  If you don’t live near a Bricks & Minifigs store, you will soon. These secondhand LEGO stores are expanding incredibly quickly, and I swung by a grand opening to chat with locals, management, and LEGO Masters about what makes these stores so special. YES, this is a video and YES it was a lot of fun to put together. I talked to so many wonderful people but I want to highlight a couple: Jake Faust - Owner of Bricks & Minifigs Brentwood and Bricks & Minifigs Bellevue. I can’t believe this guy is only 26! Which means he opened the BAM in Bellevue at 23 / 24…absolutely incredible. He’s such a warm guy and if you want to see more from him, Beyond the Brick did an interview with him a few years ago. Brittain Edison and Niki Loheit - Sisters and LEGO Masters competitors. Brittain and Niki have done several BAM openings and I am in awe of how approachable and friendly they are - even after hours of doing meet and greets! If you’re a Patreon supporter, you’ll get a bonus segment in Part 2, where I search for the most expensive LEGO set at BAM Bellevue. Even now, a week later, I’m still confused as to why it’s that set that costs that much. This is normally where I’d put a picture of the special MOC built for this episode, but…I don’t want to spoil it! If you become a Patron, you’ll get access to that extra content, along with bonus content + a MOC for every episode! Join the Patreon! All music by Nihilore (www.nihilore.com): Alter Ego Bush Week Garden Untitled

    30 min
  5. LEGO v. 乐拼

    23 FEB

    LEGO v. 乐拼

    April 23rd, 2019. Shanghai Police arrest nine people, smash assembly lines, and raid a warehouse. It looks like a LEGO factory, but it’s not. This is Lepin, a Chinese knockoff company that will get shut down by 2021. But with knockoff LEGO companies facing such severe penalties, why are there more than ever before? Two very educated guests for this episode! First, Aaron Wininger, Principal and Director of the China IP Practice at Schwegman Lundberg & Woessner, P.A., which advertises a boutique law firm with a focus on Intellectual Property. Aaron is extremely knowledgeable about the relationship between China and trademarks, and I’m so grateful he took some time out of his undoubtedly busy schedule to chat. Aaron often writes for the National Law Review, and has been featured in: Bloomberg IPLaw360 The Fashion Law And many more. You can find more about Aaron here! My second guest is Dylan O. Adams, a patent attorney at Davis Wright Tremaine LLP. On top of being a #1 Amazon best seller, a featured expert on CNBC, and a million other laurels, he also runs the YouTube channel Patents Demystified, which is a wonderful resource if you’re writing an IP-focused episode of your LEGO podcast, or if you have any curiosity about IP law in general. If you’re a Patreon supporter, you’ll get a bonus act called: “The Mega Question” where I ask Dylan about the difference between Mega Bloks and Lepin and - as it turns out - LEGO has tried to shut Mega Bloks down in the past. Over a dozen lawsuits! I’d hate to be on the other side of that. You’ll also get access to a special MOC just for this episode! In true Lepin fashion I ripped off a official mini Millennium Falcon but with the added bonus that this one is extremely unstable and will probably fall apart before you can even mount it. How else can I replicate the quality of Lepin products? It’s just $5 / month to become a Patron, and you’ll get bonus content + a MOC for every episode! Join the Patreon! All music by Nihilore (www.nihilore.com): Alter Ego The Cage The Water and the Well The Other Side Hemiteleia Four and a Half Tatami Shapes Within the Jade

    39 min
  6. What Even is a LEGO? (with The Plop!)

    9 FEB

    What Even is a LEGO? (with The Plop!)

    Ask anyone what a LEGO is, and they’ll tell you: it’s the little brick with studs on top. But the deeper you look into that question, the stranger and stranger it becomes. Is string LEGO? Is foam? Am I? Today’s guest: Darian from The Plop! About a year ago, Darian put out a video called “LEGO, But It’s NOT Plastic...” where he made LEGO bricks out of all sorts of materials: snow, concrete, even wood! I thought if anyone could help me figure out what a LEGO is, it’d be him. These days, The Plop is all about 3D Printing. Darian works on making 3D Printing approachable, with personality-focused content, instead of content full of technical jargon. If you’re a Patreon supporter, you’ll get a bonus act called: “Am I a LEGO?” where I explore the darkest corners of Bricklink, from LEGO’s Barbie knock-off to bricks that can conduct electricity. These days, LEGO plays it safe, but their history is anything but. You’ll also get access to a special MOC just for this episode! This time it’s a 3D Printer construct - what else - a LEGO! I hope you can use this MOC during your morning meditation to reflect on…what, indeed, is a LEGO? Join the Patreon! Music by Nihilore (www.nihilore.com): Follow Me Into The DarkThe Art of Being LonelyLet’s Make a MemoryIdentity CrisisSymbols In The Shape Of A WordScarecrowAnd Jeopardy theme by BenFranklyn: https://freesound.org/s/789077/ License: Attribution NonCommercial 4.0

    38 min
  7. Life After Galidor: Defenders of the Outer Dimension

    26 JAN

    Life After Galidor: Defenders of the Outer Dimension

    In 2002, a LEGO theme and companion show came and went: Galidor: Defenders of the Outer Dimension. These days the theme is infamous for nearly bankrupting LEGO, and the show is hardly remembered at all. But Galidor wasn’t the end of the line for the co-star of the show. If anything, it was the jumping off point. Two guests this episode! First, it’s Marie-Marguerite Sabongui, who played Allega Zane in Galidor. But M-M’s story doesn’t end there. After Galidor, she dove headfirst into climate activism, and these days produces a bevy of projects, including Blind River Media and Lil D’Bunk. And R. R. Slugger is back! Slugger is a genuine Galidor fan (one of the few) and has done really great videos on the theme. LEGO Galidor ~ 20th Anniversary Retrospective!Galidor Is The Best.Extremely Rare LEGO Galidor Prototype Figure!Patreon supporters get a bonus segment where Slugger and I talk about Galidor’s history, legacy, and what he loves about it. This episode also touches on climate change, so I wanted to link some resources M-M sent me to help with climate anxiety: Navigating Climate Anxiety with Dr. Britt WayAnya KemnitzMy Climate PlanIf you’re a Patreon supporter, you get a bonus build for this episode! It’s a celebration of Galidor and glinching. Supporters get a link to the digital build and a wishlist if you’d like to order it and build it for yourself! It’s really goofy and that’s why I love it. Join the Patreon! All music by Nihilore (www.nihilore.com): ArtificeA Mundance ConclusionAlter EgoEscapeSomething Beautiful Is Going To HappenViolenceLiberosis

    53 min
  8. Just How Smart IS this Brick? (with Graham E. Hancock and Fairplay!)

    12 JAN

    Just How Smart IS this Brick? (with Graham E. Hancock and Fairplay!)

    LEGO's new Smart Play System is very controversial. And everyone’s got an opinion. But I wanted to talk to some people with credibility - beyond just “adult LEGO fan”: someone who's actually USED the Smart Brick, and someone who's dedicated to children's well-being. Two guests on today's episode! First, Graham E. Hancock of Blocks Magazine! Graham was at CES in January when LEGO unveiled the Smart Brick, and he spoke to me about his initial impressions, and his excitement of the Smart Brick's potential.  If you haven't checked out Blocks Magazine before, it is absolutely worth your time. It is in-depth, beautifully designed, and just a treat for the uber LEGO nerd like myself. I also spoke to Rachel Franz of Fairplay, a children's well-being advocacy group that works to "put kids' needs ahead of corporate greed". Rachel raised some fascinating points about the Smart Play System and LEGO's marketing and she's a wonderful counter-balance. My goal with this episode is to give you multiple perspective on the Smart Brick. Right now it seems like every LEGO YouTuber is sharing their thoughts, though only a few have actually played with the brick. A few who have: Tiago CatarinoCNET's Bridget CareyCNN's Rikka AltlandAnd there are a few others out there as well. I also want to link R. R. Slugger's great opinion piece on the Smart Brick. As always, Slugger always has well-thought-out opinions, and he shares a perspective different than most I've seen. If you’re a Patreon supporter, you get a bonus build for this episode! It’s a portrait of the Smart Brick graduating from college. Cap, gown, diploma - the works. Supporters get a link to the digital build and a wishlist if you’d like to order it and build it for yourself! Join the Patreon! All music by Nihilore (www.nihilore.com): Alter EgoFringe WeaverFollow Me Into The DarkAn Unexpected HangingDivine Violence

    33 min
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About

A Show about the Ways We Love LEGO. In-depth conversations about LEGO. Hosted by Emmy-nominated reporter Eric Crittenden.

Information

  • Creator
    Eric Crittenden
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    17
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Clutch Power
  • Show Website
    Clutch Power

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