The Match Slip

Frank Angelone
  • 5.0 (5)
  • Games

Whether you're a fan of Pokémon, Magic: The Gathering, One Piece, Yu-Gi-Oh!, Digimon, board games, or any other tradeable card game, or you're looking to open a game store, this podcast gives you a behind-the-scenes look into what goes into running a game store in the United States.

  1. Jul 25

    A Visit To Final Boss Games In Springdale, Arkansas

    In this mini-documentary, we visit Final Boss Games in Springdale, Arkansas, and learn how co-owner Bennett helped save his Magic: The Gathering community, which almost had nowhere to go. A note from The Match Slip's founder, Frank Angelone: The Match Slip podcast has released 63 interview episodes. During that time, there have also been mini-documentaries produced for YouTube (with more in the queue) in which we visit stores featured on the podcast. While the interviews have taught me a lot about the game store industry, I hope they also provided the same look behind the curtain for listeners. I've been very grateful to the game store owners who have taken the time out of their busy days to come on the show and have me visit their stores. That said, producing these mini-documentaries has been very fulfilling and coincides with my passion for videography and photography. It's also the directional focus I will be taking The Match Slip on moving forward. These mini-documentaries will still have the interview component, but also provide visuals to give those watching a better idea of the location being covered. I appreciate those listeners and viewers who have checked out my interviews and corresponded with me over email, and I hope you'll enjoy this new direction. While there will be longer gaps between new mini-documentaries, for these videos I work with a professional editor to enhance the production value. I 'm looking forward to sharing this next chapter of The Match Slip beyond just YouTube with you.

  2. Apr 27

    The Differentiation Factor: Venture Trade Co. Extends BEYOND Games

    Vladimir, owner of Venture Trade Co. in Mansfield, MA, runs a game store, but it's so much more than that. He doesn't consider himself in competition with other game stores. Rather, he considers his store more of a Five Below or Newbury Comics. In his words, they're "...kind of a 'stuff' store."From attending conventions to Sundays at the Raynham Flea Market, Vladimir is always looking for new verticals to enter. Whether that be video games, books, scented candles, or fishing gear. He's looking to be a store that people want to come back to.

  3. Mar 30

    The Realities of Running a Game Store

    What are the realities faced when running a game store? Even for someone like Jamison, who's been in the industry for over 30 years, getting product is one of those difficult realities. So, how does he deal with it, and what are some of his thoughts on how to improve upon it?

  4. Feb 9

    Game Night Deli: Sandwiches, Spells, And A Dream

    In this interview, we discuss the "dream" of creating a space where you never have to "play hungry" and how a store owner's lifelong dream was realized, if not for some unexpected costs along the way.

  5. 11/10/2025

    A Game Store Owner's Pokémon Supply Struggle

    Pokémon is experiencing high demand; the issue is that the supply does not match the demand. For Card N All Gaming store owner, Mason, Pokémon is his favorite game, but he's seeing a shift at his store. The shift? Customers aren't buying sealed products to open packs and trade in cards, as the latter yields the highest margins. When he wants to purchase sealed products for events like pre-releases, his favorite, he's unable to obtain the amount he needs. If that weren't frustrating enough, he has nobody he can talk to at the Pokémon Company to share the problems he's experiencing.

  6. 10/27/2025

    She Stood by Me. THIS Community Made It Real.

    This is the story of Underhill Gaming and how its store owner, Jason, overcame adversity with the support of his wife to build a community of players who bring him much joy.

  7. 09/22/2025

    A 25,000 Card Collection Arrives At LGS

    Selling at MSRP is always a goal of Joe's, the owner of Cardboard Chaos Games. Having a smaller store allows him the flexibility to offer products at said price. That said, sorting cards is a challenge, especially when you're operating solo and a collection of 25,000 cards comes into the store.

  8. 09/01/2025

    $11,000 Offer For MTG Revised Box

    Herbie, owner of Reality A Games, is a lover of games, with MTG Commander and video games being his favorite. Owning a game store, which has always been a dream of his, says every day is different at the shop. The most recent example: a customer offering boxes of MTG Revised at $11,000 per box. Not only is Herbie a game store owner, he is also a game developer, having built an RPG called Reality A. Moreover, he's now working on his own TCG.

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About

Whether you're a fan of Pokémon, Magic: The Gathering, One Piece, Yu-Gi-Oh!, Digimon, board games, or any other tradeable card game, or you're looking to open a game store, this podcast gives you a behind-the-scenes look into what goes into running a game store in the United States.

Information

  • Creator
    Frank Angelone
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodes
    65
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Frank Angelone
  • Show Website
    The Match Slip