What happens behind the scenes of a poker tour, and what keeps someone fascinated by the game after more than 20 years?

In this episode of Behind the Tour, Alessandra Pino sits down with poker writer, author and PartyPoker Tour ambassador Barry Carter ahead of the Tour’s stop in Castellón.

We talk about how Barry first discovered online poker, why satellites remain one of his favourite parts of the game, the mistakes players make in Mystery Bounty tournaments, what makes a great live poker festival, and why poker is ultimately a game of problem solving.

Barry also talks about variance, luck and learning to separate good decisions from bad outcomes, the subject of his forthcoming first solo poker book. Plus: gut instinct versus GTO, online versus live poker, the most overrated skill in poker, the poker-table cliché he still cannot stand after 20 years, and, crucially, his ideal tournament snack.

And yes, we also find out what makes the PartyPoker Tour in Castellón worth the trip.

🎙️ Behind the Tour is a VibeLive podcast taking you behind the scenes of the PartyPoker Tour and into the stories, people and culture surrounding live poker.

Subscribe to the VibeLive YouTube channel for more episodes and behind-the-scenes content from the Tour.

As the PartyPoker Tour prepares to return to Glasgow, we sit down with ambassador Natalie Bromley to discuss the people, friendships and community that make the tour unlike any other.

A commercial corporate lawyer by profession, Natalie is also a football broadcaster, host of the No Nay Never podcast, founder of the Hearts of Queens Initiative and one of the welcoming faces players meet at every PartyPoker Tour stop. In this episode, she reflects on why Glasgow became such a defining moment for the tour, the importance of creating an inclusive poker community, and why helping first-time players is every bit as rewarding as winning trophies.

From late-night celebrations in Glasgow to the welcoming atmosphere that defines every stop on the PartyPoker Tour, we discuss what makes this community so special. Natalie also shares her thoughts on supporting women in poker, balancing careers in law, football broadcasting and poker, the work of the Hearts of Queens Initiative, and why putting players first has always been central to her approach. Along the way, we also meet Pickles, the cat whose name has become familiar to many within the poker community.

This episode offers a fascinating look behind the scenes at the people, friendships and shared experiences that continue to shape the PartyPoker Tour.

Read the full poker.pro article here: https://www.poker.pro/poker-news/partypoker-tour/glasgow-calling-natalie-bromley-on-what-makes-the-partypoker-tour-different/

Listen to the No Nay Never podcast:
https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/no-nay-never-podcast/id680373743

Learn more about the Hearts of Queens Initiative:
https://heartsofqueens.org/

Behind the Tour takes you beyond the tables, introducing the people who make the PartyPoker Tour what it is. Through conversations with ambassadors, players and members of the wider poker community, we explore the stories, friendships and experiences that shape every stop on the tour.

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https://www.vibelive.net

Fresh from winning the PartyPoker Tour Manchester Main Event, Michael "Breen Machine" Breen joined me to reflect on the biggest victory of his poker career. Read the full article on Poker.pro.

Recorded immediately after his Manchester triumph, this conversation explores much more than the final table. Michael talks about playing alongside some of the UK's strongest professionals, why the PartyPoker Tour has become one of his favourite live circuits and how competition and community continue to go hand in hand.

We also discuss satellite qualifiers, memorable opponents, the importance of tournament structure, bringing new players into live poker and why, even after lifting the trophy, he was already excited for the next stop on the tour.

Michael offers an honest and engaging insight into life on the live poker circuit, from the thrill of competition to the friendships that keep players coming back.

• Winning the 2026 PartyPoker Tour Manchester Main Event

• Facing elite professionals including Andrew Wilson and Alex Montgomery

• Why the PartyPoker Tour stands out from other live festivals

• Tournament structures, satellites and making live poker accessible

• Competition, friendship and the importance of the poker community

• Looking ahead to the next stop on the tour

• The story behind the "Breen Machine"

• Food, family and celebrating a career-best result

Behind the Tour is a VibeLive podcast hosted by Alessandra Pino. Produced in collaboration with VibeLive, the series takes listeners behind the scenes of the PartyPoker Tour, exploring the people who make each stop memorable, from players and ambassadors to journalists, organisers and industry figures.

Every conversation is accompanied by an in-depth feature on poker.pro, where you can read more about the stories behind the interviews.

VibeLive is an event collective dedicated to telling the stories behind live events through original journalism, photography, video and audio.

Website: www.vibelive.net

Instagram: @vibeliveeventcollective

Facebook: VibeLive Event Collective

For more than twenty years, Sam Acheampong has watched poker evolve. Strategies have become more sophisticated, technology has transformed the way people study the game and live tournaments have grown into major festivals. Yet one thing, he believes, has remained remarkably constant: the people.

In this episode of Behind the Tour, I sit down with PartyPoker Tour ambassador Sam Acheampong to explore the friendships, stories and shared experiences that continue to define live poker.

Together we discuss:

♠️ How a £5 rebuy tournament at London's legendary Gutshot Poker Club sparked a lifelong passion for poker.

♠️ Why community remains at the heart of the PartyPoker Tour.

♠️ How poker has evolved over the past two decades, from GTO strategy to today's live tournament culture.

♠️ What it really means to be a PartyPoker Tour ambassador.

♠️ Why psychology, body language and conversation remain just as important as mathematics.

♠️ Advice for players preparing for their first live tournament.

♠️ The story behind Sam's famous cry of "Hold!"

♠️ The food that reminds him of home and the meal he always celebrates with after a good result.

Recorded during the PartyPoker Tour's visit to Manchester235, this conversation goes beyond poker strategy to explore the people, places and experiences that keep players returning from one stop to the next. Read the full article on Poker.pro.

About Behind the Tour

Behind the Tour is a VibeLive Podcast hosted by Alessandra Pino, bringing you conversations with the players, ambassadors, journalists, organisers and personalities who make the PartyPoker Tour what it is.

The Stories Behind the PartyPoker Tour with Christoffer Karlén

Behind the Tour is a VibeLive Podcast that takes listeners behind the scenes of the PartyPoker Tour, exploring the stories, personalities and moments that bring every stop to life.

In this episode, I sit down with Christoffer Karlén, poker journalist, live reporter and writer, to explore life behind the notebook at the PartyPoker Tour.

Although many know Christoffer for his tournament coverage, he also has a background as a player, and he shares why reporting on poker has taught him more about the game than any strategy book ever could.

Together we discuss:

♠️ How poker journalism transformed his own game.

♠️ What makes the PartyPoker Tour stand out from other live festivals.

♠️ Why the £150 Mini Main has become such an attractive event for recreational players.

♠️ The importance of tournament structure, accessibility and creating an unforgettable player experience.

♠️ Why the PartyPoker Tour crew and regular players have become like family.

♠️ The poker hand he still remembers years later.

♠️ Why writing remains his greatest passion.

♠️ The story he's hoping to capture at the London stop.

We also finish with a fun quick-fire round, where Christoffer reveals his favourite poker city, the casino he'd happily return to again and again, his dream interview, biggest poker pet peeve, favourite starting hand and, naturally, his go-to snack during a tournament.

If you've ever wondered what poker looks like through the eyes of the person reporting the action rather than playing it, this conversation offers a fascinating glimpse behind the scenes.

About Behind the Tour

Behind the Tour is a VibeLive Podcast hosted by Alessandra Pino. Produced in collaboration with VibeLive, the team behind the PartyPoker Tour, the series explores the people who make the tour what it is, from players and ambassadors to journalists, organisers and industry personalities.

📰 Read the accompanying feature on poker.pro.

In this episode of Behind the Tour, Alessandra Pino sits down with PartyPoker Tour ambassador Glenn Brown to discuss introducing his son Sonny to live poker for the very first time.

From the endearing question, "Dad... I don't need to deal, do I?", to Glenn's own journey from pub poker to becoming one of the UK's best-known poker ambassadors, this conversation explores first tournaments, grassroots poker, the PartyPoker Tour community and why every player's journey has to start somewhere.

🎙️ Read the accompanying feature on poker.pro.