Joel and Chris celebrate tax day by talking about exercise and birthdays, woodworking and pirates, and whether or not Joel’s only defining quality is being bald. Chris becomes a bit of an auspicious beast himself when he puts Azure from Bitewing Games on the Chopping Block. Then the guys discuss taxes in games by identifying three games that feature a tax mechanism, two games that feel like paying taxes, and one game worth spending your tax return on. Finally we check back in with the highlight reel for another look at what has our attention on the crowdfunding front. All that and more, like Joel offering to provide marriage counseling for Chris, on this episode of the Oak and Onion podcast!

Segments:

• 00:00:00—Welcome and Introduction
• 00:00:37—What we've been up to
• 00:14:11—What we've been playing
• 00:53:55—Chopping Block: Azure
• 01:20:04—3-2-1 Taxes!
• 01:49:42—Highlight Reel
• 02:03:58—Closing and Sign Off

It’s an episode of excess for Joel and Chris, where Chris watches the entire Marvel franchise, Joel plays games with his college friends for three days straight, and we tackle one of the questions at the heart of our consumerist hobby: how much is too much when it comes to board games? We’re not done there, either: Joel puts Perch on the Chopping Block to see whether cute stacking birds justify mean gameplay, and then Joel challenges Chris to a game of Two Truths and a Lie to see whether Chris can determine which 2026 releases are real and which are fake. Doing all that while we’re both still sleep deprived means we never know what we’ll say on this episode of Oak and Onion!

Segments:

• 00:00:00—Welcome and Introduction
• 00:00:33—What we've been up to
• 00:22:00—What we've been playing
• 00:43:31—Chopping Block: Perch
• 01:05:36—Game: Two Truths and a Lie
• 01:17:23—QOTE: How Much is Too Much?
• 01:45:46—Closing and Sign Off

Chris spent the weekend at his local convention, TokenCon, in Oklahoma City. He, and his wife Kaitlin, recap their experience at the convention, including their favorite moments, favorite games, and more. You’ll also hear interviews from Scott Brady, designer of boop., Hues and Cues, and Caution Signs, as well as Paula Deming, a few Oklahoma game publishers and designers, the TokenCon founder, and several con goers throughout the episode. Segments:

• 00:00:00—Welcome and Introduction
• 00:00:51—Meet our guest host: Kaitlin
• 00:02:17—Interview: Mike, Co-Director of TokenCon
• 00:08:05—Interview: Brandon, Art Director of TokenCon
• 00:11:04—Overall Thoughts on the Con
• 00:13:52—Interview: Cassie Sikes, Designer of Jibber Jabble
• 00:20:32—Favorite Moments of the Weekend
• 00:23:41—Interview: Paula Deming, Things Get Dicey
• 00:32:38—Interview: Scott Brady, Game Designer
• 00:44:24—#3 Game of the Weekend
• 00:49:19—Interview: Baron's Game Room
• 00:53:30—Interview: Scrapper Games
• 00:56:24—Interview: Absurdist Productions
• 01:00:45—#2 Game of the Weekend
• 01:05:38—Interview: The Guilded Grayland Game Store
• 01:10:12—Interview: Bearded Rat Mysteries
• 01:12:56—Honorable Mentions
• 01:16:59—Attendee Favorites of the Weekend
• 01:21:01—#1 Game of the Weekend
• 01:27:30—Closing and Sign Off

Joel and Chris can’t stop talking about crowdfunding in part one of a two part episode. In this episode we do a quick check-in on what we’ve been watching, as well as games on BGA and in person, and then Chris cleans off the Chopping Block for the new Stonemaier expansions Wingspan Americas and Viticulture Bordeaux. We wrap up with all the crowdfunding games on our radar, from the recently closed to the still in-progress, as well as several that have yet to launch. We react to the new Awaken Realms Concordia Special Announcement that has the game-o-sphere aflutter, and then decide we better cut out some segments if we want to keep it under two hours. Spoiler alert: we don’t keep it under two hours. But just barely!

Segments:

00:00:00—Welcome and Introduction

00:00:36—What we've been up to

00:09:06—What we've been playing

00:28:48—What we've been watching

00:46:40—Review Disclaimer

00:47:17—Chopping Block: Wingspan Americas

01:01:23—Chopping Block: Viticulture Bordeaux

01:17:28—Highlight Reel

02:03:37—Closing and Sign Off

What’s this? A new board game podcast? Join Joel and Chris for the premier of the all-new Oak and Onion podcast. In this episode we introduce ourselves and talk about what things we’re  into outside of board gaming, from prestige tv to Star Wars novels. Then it’s on to the Chopping Block, where we review Periodic and Aspens. We share five games that defined our gaming journey and put Chris in the hot seat to blind rank iconic board game duos. Finally we cap it off with a discussion of what a game needs to hit our sweet spot. Get in on the ground floor and join us for the history-making first episode!

Segments:

• 00:00:00—Welcome and Introduction
• 00:00:37—Meet your Hosts: Joel & Chris
• 00:04:47—What have we been enjoying
• 00:25:05—Review Disclaimer
• 00:25:43—Chopping Block: Periodic from Genius Games
• 00:42:46—Chopping Block: Aspens from Ludivore Games
• 00:56:24—5 Games That Define Us as Gamers
• 01:33:30—Chris Blind Ranks Iconic Board Game Duos
• 01:44:30—QOTE: What does a game need to hit your sweet spot?
• 01:56:54—Closing and Sign Off