Bad at Magic

Bad at Magic
  • 5.0 (16)
  • LEISURE
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

This is a podcast about games, life, and other things. Co-hosts Ben and Josh have been friends for 15 years. Our curiosity about life is at the heart of our great conversations about virtually anything. Come join us every other week as we look at the world around us and the things we enjoy with the perspective of lifetime gamers.

  1. 5H AGO

    170:Falling Down

    Show Notes  Ben and Josh debate the origins of The Bible, Josh crashes headlong into his limitations, and the guys discuss what makes a good (and bad) series and what the payoffs and pitfalls are for revisiting an intellectual property.   Intro & Follow-up (0-27:44) The Holy Bible  God is Disappointed in You – Mark Russell  What I’m Reading (27:44-40:10) Josh: The Fires of Heaven – Robert Jordan  Ben: The Great Gatsby – F. Scott Fitzgerald  Train Dreams – Denis Johnson  Main Segment: Serieses (40:10-end) The Muppets Episode 101: Pig Girls Don’t Cry  Jim Henson vs Stan Lee. Epic Rap Battles of History  The Expendables Star Trek Lower Decks  Join in the discussion on: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BadAtMagicPodcast  Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/badatmagic/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@badatmagic/podcasts  Check out our website(s): http://www.badatmagic.live  Our YouTube Channel  Support us on: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/badatmagic/  Credits: Bad at Magic Logos by Jonica Rich  Transition music by Jarus Rich  Outro music from Cascading by Ammon Rich

    2h 1m

  2. FEB 5

    169:Squeegee the Shower

    Show Notes  Josh and Ben are (surprise, surprise) bad at parenting, the Cosmere is coming to TV with the oversight of Brandon Sanderson, Ben explains what a “trash bag move” is, and the guys fruitlessly debate which is better: fiction or nonfiction?  Intro & Follow-up (0-11:55) SEND HELP trailer  Bad at Husbanding (11:55-19:15)  Sanderson News (19:15-26:39) The Cosmere comes to Apple TV+  Trash Bag Moves (26:39-42:23)  Bad at Parenting & What I’m Reading (42:23-1:19:37) Josh: The Shadow Rising – Robert Jordan  Josh’s Homework: Bad at Magic Episode 4 – Scarcity  Fiction vs. Nonfiction Debate (1:19:37-end) John Green quotes himself   Ben and Josh’s first discussion on the Harvard Classics: Bad at Magic Episode 86 – A Thanksgiving Potpourri  Join in the discussion on: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BadAtMagicPodcast  Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/badatmagic/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@badatmagic/podcasts  Check out our website(s): http://www.badatmagic.live  Our YouTube Channel  Support us on: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/badatmagic/  Credits: Bad at Magic Logos by Jonica Rich  Transition music by Jarus Rich  Outro music from Cascading by Ammon Rich

    2h 15m

  3. JAN 22

    168:Ways of the Realm

    Show Notes  Ben and Josh talk about death, parenting, making your mark on the world, and present a new framework for analyzing business priorities they call “Ways of the Realm”.   Intro & Follow-up (0-15:59) What We Did on Our Holiday (UK)  The end of the ‘People I Mostly Admire’ podcast after 5 years  Bad at Parenting (15:59-38:58)  Your Pixel in the Grid (38:58-54:04) Jason’s Supra  Spreadsheets and What I’m Reading (54:04-1:20:55) Spreadsheet discussion on our subreddit  Josh: The Shadow Rising – Robert Jordan  Ben: Paradise Bronx: The Life and Times of New York’s Greatest Borough – Ian Frazier  Feature (1:20:55-end) Medieval Barber Theodoric of York (SNL)  Join in the discussion on: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BadAtMagicPodcast  Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/badatmagic/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@badatmagic/podcasts  Check out our website(s): http://www.badatmagic.live  Our YouTube Channel  Support us on: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/badatmagic/  Credits: Bad at Magic Logos by Jonica Rich  Transition music by Jarus Rich  Outro music from Cascading by Ammon Rich

    2h 4m

  4. JAN 8

    Episode 167 – New Year’s Bingo Redux

    Show Notes  The Bad at Magic Disney Baddie Showdown reaches the Semifinals thanks to a sudden-death tiebreak on Patreon, Ben is bad at parenting (again), Josh’s World of Warcraft characters died to his surprising great dismay, and the hosts set their New Year’s resolutions with the now-customary bingo cards.  Intro & Follow-up (0-11:03) Patreon Exclusive Bonus Episode: Ursula vs. Hans  The 2023 British Protest Film “Paint Drying” by Charlie Shackleton  Bad at Parenting & Bad at Science (11:03-39:50) “Yes, Some Children May Have Died From COVID Shots” by Benjamin Mazer  How Monogamous are Humans? By Helen Briggs  The Ubisoft Heist & “What I’m Reading” (39:50-1:13:37) The Ubisoft Heist: EXPLAINED  What I’m reading: Josh: The Dragon Reborn – Robert Jordan  Ben: Empire of the Summer Moon – SC Gwynne  Hardcore WoW  New Year’s Resolutions (1:13:37-end) Make your own!  Hear the story of “The Italian Job” from Ep. 9  Join in the discussion on: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BadAtMagicPodcast  Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/badatmagic/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@badatmagic/podcasts  Check out our website(s): http://www.badatmagic.live  Our YouTube Channel  Support us on: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/badatmagic/  Credits: Bad at Magic Logos by Jonica Rich  Transition music by Jarus Rich  Outro music from Cascading by Ammon Rich

  5. 12/25/2025

    166:Tiny Tim goes to Disney

    Show Notes  Happy holidays from the Bad at Magic podcast as Ben and Josh revisit last year’s resolutions bingo cards, Josh shares some research on what probably happened to Tiny Tim in the Dickens’ classic, and the guys do a deep dive following Josh’s trip to Walt Disney World.  Intro & Follow-up (0-15:24) Ben’s Old S’mores Tier Chart (start at 44:46)  What’s wrong with Tiny Tim?  New Year’s Bingo Revisited (15:24-35:45)  Bad at Husbanding (35:45-52:57)  Bad at Parenting/Work (52:57-1:16:56) Definition of today’s word/phrase  ChatGPT analysis of the Bad at Magic Podcast  Fleshman Family Vacation to Disney World (1:16:56-end) What I’m Reading: Josh: The Great Hunt – Robert Jordan  Ben: Empire of the Summer Moon – SC Gwynne  Eye of The World leatherbound announcement – Brandon Sanderson  Join in the discussion on: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BadAtMagicPodcast  Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/badatmagic/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@badatmagic/podcasts  Check out our website(s): http://www.badatmagic.live  Our YouTube Channel  Support us on: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/badatmagic/  Credits: Bad at Magic Logos by Jonica Rich  Transition music by Jarus Rich  Outro music from Cascading by Ammon Rich

    2h 15m

  6. 12/11/2025

    165:The Murtaugh List

    Show Notes Ben and Josh weigh in on the death of the penny, AI in video game development, the evils of social media, and finally a trip to the Emergency Room over the Thanksgiving holiday for Ben prompts the hosts to share their “Murtaugh List”. Intro & Follow-up (0-32:06) US Mint FAQ on the penny being “suspended” PennyArcade Blog: AI in video game production What I’m Reading & Bad at Social Media (32:06-1:20:50) Josh: The Great Hunt – Robert Jordan Ben: Careless People – Sarah Wynn-Williams MUST WATCH: Expensive petroleum!!! Feature (1:20:50-end) The Murtaugh List (How I Met Your Mother) Join in the discussion on: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BadAtMagicPodcast Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/badatmagic/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@badatmagic/podcasts Check out our website(s): http://www.badatmagic.live Our YouTube Channel Support us on: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/badatmagic/ Credits: Bad at Magic Logos by Jonica Rich Transition music by Jarus Rich Outro music from Cascading by Ammon Rich

    2h 3m

  7. 11/27/2025

    Ep164:House of Dynamite

    Show Notes  Ben and Josh discuss why Elon Musk threatened to buy Hasbro Corporation, office potlucks, fender benders, political thrillers that have come true 30 years later, some revisions that need to be made to the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), and finally, the new movie on Netflix called ‘A House of Dynamite’ about what could happen if someone launched an Inter-continental Ballistic Missile (ICBM).   Intro & Follow-up (0-35:59) Man told employer not to celebrate his birthday. He was awarded $450,000 after unwanted party.  Watch ‘Clear and Present Danger’ on Netflix  Dungeons & Dragons Rolls the Dice With New Rules About Identity  “Why Elon Musk Needs Dungeons & Dragons to Be Racist: The fantastical roots of ‘scientific racism’” By Adam Serwer  The EU’s GDPR turns 10 years old (35:59-58:59) EU plans to ease GDPR laws and AI constraints in major shift – DW – 11/18/2025  What I’m Reading (58:59-1:10:44) Josh: The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan  Ben: Careless People by Sarah Wynn-Williams  Main Segment (1:10:44-end) Watch ‘A House of Dynamite’ on Netflix Watch the trailer (2:11)  What do the 5 levels of DEFense readiness CONdition (DEFCON) mean? Video explanation   Join in the discussion on: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BadAtMagicPodcast  Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/badatmagic/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@badatmagic/podcasts  Check out our website(s): http://www.badatmagic.live  Our YouTube Channel  Support us on: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/badatmagic/  Credits: Bad at Magic Logos by Jonica Rich  Transition music by Jarus Rich  Outro music from Cascading by Ammon Rich

    2h 8m

  8. 11/13/2025

    Ep163:Bad Blood

    Show Notes  Ben and Josh tentatively embrace the newest Magic set (Avatar: The Last Airbender) prior to its release, Josh complains about Daylight Savings Time (again), Presidents do (or don’t) catch fainting people standing behind them, the first round of the Bad at Magic Disney Baddie Showdown “sweet 16” wraps up, and the hosts discuss the scandal surrounding Silicon Valley startup Theranos and its CEO Elizabeth Holmes and COO Sunny Balwani.   Intro & Follow-up (0-29:35) Languages most frequently used for web content as of Oct 2025 by share of websites  Avatar: The Last Air Bender | Magic: The Gathering – Universes Beyond  Check out the Disney Baddie Showdown on the Bad at Magic subreddit  Lore Olympus | WEBTOON  Bad at Daylight Savings Time & Hometown Football (29:35-46:53) Obama catches fainting woman  What I’m Reading (46:53-1:08:55) Josh: Slay by Laurell K. Hamilton (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter book #30) Airplane facts with Max  Ben: The Proper Care and Feeding of Husbands by Dr. Laura Schlessinger  Main Segment (1:08:55-end) Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup – John Carreyrou  The guy at your company who does NOTHING  Theranos CEO Elizabeth Holmes Mad Money Interview, Oct 2015   Join in the discussion on: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BadAtMagicPodcast  Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/badatmagic/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@badatmagic/podcasts  Check out our website(s): http://www.badatmagic.live  Our YouTube Channel  Support us on: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/badatmagic/  Credits: Bad at Magic Logos by Jonica Rich  Transition music by Jarus Rich  Outro music from Cascading by Ammon Rich

    2h 33m
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5
out of 5
16 Ratings

About

This is a podcast about games, life, and other things. Co-hosts Ben and Josh have been friends for 15 years. Our curiosity about life is at the heart of our great conversations about virtually anything. Come join us every other week as we look at the world around us and the things we enjoy with the perspective of lifetime gamers.

Information

  • Creator
    Bad at Magic
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodes
    170
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Show Website
    Bad at Magic