The Mahj Salon

Houston native Avery Herring of Herring House joins Jenn and Cathy to talk her new Houston-inspired Mahjong set. From blue herons and Heights street tiles to Houston landmarks, neighborhood pride, licensing headaches, and the challenge of making a city feel like home in 160 tiles.

Get on the wait list for Avery's Houston tiles: https://www.herringhouse.co/houston-mahjong

The racks we talked about: https://a.co/d/01iAOkHd

Avery's mat comes from Oh My Mahjong: https://ohmymahjong.com/

Connect with Mahjong Meets Moxie, order "Groan Stones," or a cameo for the Mahj player in your life: https://www.mahjongmeetsmoxie.com/

Join the conversation on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/793859083054812/

Key Takeaways

1. Avery Herring created Herring House after searching for a Houston Mahjong set and realizing the city did not have one that captured the details she wanted.

2. The set will feature Houston-inspired designs including blue herons, stars, cattails, Texas wildflowers, Heights mosaic street tiles, neighborhood references, and landmark-themed jokers.

3. Herring House had to balance creative ideas with readability, making sure the tiles feel specific to Houston while remaining easy to identify during play.

4. Licensing restrictions limited some obvious Houston references, especially NASA and other protected local icons, which pushed Avery and Clay to find more original design solutions.

5. Herring House plans to grow beyond tile sets with local hosting gifts, paper goods, and community-focused products designed for Houstonians and anyone with a Houston connection.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mahjong champion Dave Moussa and Nancy Dubner join Jenn and Cathy after Vegas to talk 700 points, defensive play, tournament nerves, and the dating requirement that started it all. Plus, East-seat advantages, table manners, and their Half Moon Bay tournaments.

Connect with Mahjong Meets Moxie, order "Groan Stones," or a cameo for the Mahj player in your life: https://www.mahjongmeetsmoxie.com/

Join the conversation on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/793859083054812/

Key Takeaways

1. Dave’s championship run included a rough afternoon, a strong final day, and 700 total points. He focused on steady results rather than letting a bad stretch decide the rest of his tournament.

2. Defense mattered. Dave says he threw an opponent’s winning tile only once, costing him 10 points, compared with past tournaments where those penalties had cost him more than 100.

3. Dave learned Mahjong after Nancy made it a condition of dating her. More consistent play during COVID helped him develop, and tournaments eventually became a regular part of their travel together.

4. The group debates whether a fixed East seat creates an advantage because East players avoid facing one another. They discuss rotating everyone or holding a tournament specifically for Easts and past winners.

5. Nancy and Dave want their Half Moon Bay tournaments to give players a welcoming entry into competition. Their approach combines clear expectations, calling an organizer for disputes, and some grace for inexperienced players.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jamie Shemesh of The Mahj Lounge joins Jenn and Cathy to talk collectible Mahjong sets inspired by iconic decades. From peace signs and lava lamps to poodle skirts, disco dancers, and 80s Art Deco, Jamie shares how nostalgia, design, and careful research turn history into tiles.

Connect with Jamie's Mahj Lounge: https://mymahjlounge.com/

Connect with Mahjong Meets Moxie, order "Groan Stones," or a cameo for the Mahj player in your life: https://www.mahjongmeetsmoxie.com/

Join the conversation on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/793859083054812/

Key Takeaways

1. Jamie’s Play the Past collection turns iconic decades into collectible Mahjong sets, beginning with the bright, bold, and unmistakably groovy 1960s Far Out Edition. 

2. The 1960s set includes peace-sign dots, lava-lamp one bams, guitar cracks, flower-power flowers, cool-cat jokers, and textured tile backs designed to feel as memorable as the fronts.

 3. Jamie researches each decade carefully, using recognizable cultural details while avoiding designs that would make the tiles difficult to read during an actual game.

4. Copyright and trademark rules shape every set. Familiar images, logos, characters, and phrases may be unavailable without licensing, so original interpretation matters.

5. Upcoming sets include a 1950s collection with records, French fries, and retro diner energy, followed by a 1970s Disco Edition and an 80s set inspired by the era’s Miami-style Art Deco revival.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jenn and Cathy talk about men in Mahjong after a male player was welcomed into an open group, then quietly left out. They discuss women-only games, public play, inclusion, golf-club double standards, and why a seat at the Mahjong table should not depend on gender.

Connect with Mahjong Meets Moxie, order "Groan Stones," or a cameo for the Mahj player in your life: https://www.mahjongmeetsmoxie.com/

Join the conversation on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/793859083054812/

Tiles we talked about: Lightweight 3D-printed American-theme Mahjong tile set, including a dice holder and dice (https://www.litemahj.com/)

Today's mat: Custom leather Mahjong mat embossed with “Moxie” (https://www.circlepleather.com/collections/mahjong-mats-accessories)

Key Takeaways

1. More men are joining American Mahjong because the game offers strategy, competition, bluffing, social connection, and a lot more than the old stereotype of a ladies’ game.

2. Private groups can set their own boundaries, but excluding a player from an open public event after inviting them creates an uncomfortable and confusing experience.

3. Women-only games can provide a space for friendship, privacy, and conversation, especially in a private-home setting where everyone understands the group’s purpose.

4. Public Mahjong communities grow stronger when players welcome people with different backgrounds, personalities, genders, ages, and styles of play.

5. Choosing to sit with players who are different from you can expand your Mahjong skills, your perspective, and the community that makes the game worth playing.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sheryl Rue-Borden joins Jenn and Cathy to explain how a dispensary grand opening, a lifelong love of Mahjong, and medical cannabis advocacy became Mahjong Bong. They talk ADHD, adult cannabis culture, responsible use, rules, laughter, luxury game design, and starting business number twelve.

Connect with MahJongg Bong (https://www.facebook.com/mahjonggbong/)

Connect with Mahjong Meets Moxie, order "Groan Stones," or a cameo for the Mahj player in your life: https://www.mahjongmeetsmoxie.com/

Join the conversation on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/793859083054812/

Key Takeaways

1. Sheryl Rue-Borden created Mahjongg Bong after teaching Mahjong at a cannabis dispensary’s social-consumption lounge in suburban Chicago.

2. Mahjongg Bong is an adult game for players who already know American Mahjong and want to add dice, action cards, house rules, and their preferred vice to game night.

3. Sheryl says cannabis helps her manage ADHD, slow down racing thoughts, focus at the table, and play more strategically.

4. The game includes a custom bong, dice with cannabis leaves, Mahjongg Bong logos, and red dragons, plus 420-themed action cards that change play after the Charleston.

5. Sheryl built Mahjongg Bong as her twelfth business venture, self-funded it, trademarked the name, and designed it as a luxury, limited-edition game for adults 21 and older.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jenn and Cathy dive into the wild world of Mahjong variations, from blanks and black dragons to kitties, double dice, trinkets, high-stakes games, Siamese, Royale, and one very unexpected Mahjong bong. Every table has rules, but some rules are a whole different game.

Connect with Mahjong Meets Moxie, order "Groan Stones," or a cameo for the Mahj player in your life: https://www.mahjongmeetsmoxie.com/

Join the conversation on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/793859083054812/

Tiles we talked about: Larger traditional-style Mahjong tile set with sunset-toned backs (https://www.snackcrackbam.com/)

Today's racks: Clear acrylic racks from The Mahjong House (https://themahjonghouse.com/collections/racks)

Key Takeaways

1. Groups should teach standard Mahjong rules first, then clearly explain variations such as blanks, special scoring, and house rules before a new player sits down.

2. Blanks allow players to secretly retrieve a tile already discarded, which changes defensive strategy and gives the game a different level of risk and surprise.

3. The proposed black dragon would give dots their own dedicated dragon while leaving the white dragon to function only as zero, sparking a big debate among players.

4. Table rules can include kitties, double dice, bonus payouts, wind cheers, special joker placement, and different ways to play for money, trinkets, or score.

5. Siamese and Royale add more racks, more tiles, and more complexity, proving that Mahjong players will happily find new ways to make an already addictive game even more complicated.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Mahjong resale market is booming, and Jenn and Cathy have thoughts. They tackle tile flippers, overpriced drops, dupes, Facebook resale rules, scam-proof selling, and better ways to clear out the closet, including donating old tiles and cards to players who need them.

Connect with Mahjong Meets Moxie, order "Groan Stones," or a cameo for the Mahj player in your life: https://www.mahjongmeetsmoxie.com/

Join the conversation on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/793859083054812/

Tiles we talked about: Sunday Mahjong Plum Panda Tile Set (https://sundaymahjong.com/products/plum-panda-tile-set-preorder-est-jan-27)

Today's mat: Trail East Mahjong Neoprene Mahjong mat (https://traileaststudio.com/collections/original-painting-mahjong-mats)

Today's rack: The Minted Design Clear acrylic Mahjong racks (https://www.theminteddesign.com/products/the-minted-design-mahjong-racks)

Key Takeaways

1. Reselling tiles, mats, and accessories you no longer use can be a practical way to clean out your Mahjong closet and give another player a chance to enjoy them.

2. Collectible, discontinued, vintage, and hard-to-find sets can hold or gain value over time, especially when they have a known history or are in great condition.

3. Buying a limited tile drop solely to flip it days later for a steep markup creates frustration for players who genuinely wanted the set.

4. Buyers and sellers should take basic precautions in resale transactions, including requesting current photos, proof of purchase, a video call, and original packaging when possible.

5. If resale does not feel right, donate old tiles and previous-year cards to a nonprofit, a school program, or a new Mahjong group building its supplies.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jillian and her nine-year-old son Ben join Jenn and Cathy for Mahjong strategy, kid-friendly teaching, tournament talk, and plenty of table commentary. Ben shares how he learned, why he loves the Charleston, and how he keeps grown-ups accountable for their language.

Connect with Mahjong Meets Moxie: https://www.mahjongmeetsmoxie.com/

Join the conversation on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/793859083054812/

Tiles we talked about: https://www.twosparrowsmahjong.com/

Connect with Jillian: https://www.mahjeltovwithjillian.com/product-page/play-smarter-screw-your-opponents-a-strategy-workbook-for-the-nmjl-2026-card

Key Takeaways

1. Kids can learn Mahjong quickly when they start with tile names, hand-building practice, and regular play with a patient adult.

2. Mahjong builds pattern recognition, strategy, math skills, decision-making, and confidence across generations.

3. Jillian’s strategy workbook uses exposures, discards, Charleston choices, betting exercises, and Mahjong mysteries to help players practice reading the table.

4. Ben’s beginner videos make Mahjong feel accessible for younger players and give adult beginners a friendly starting point before open play.

5. Clear rules matter at every age. Learn the standard rules first, then be upfront whenever a group uses house rules or a variation like Siamese Mahjong.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tracy and Trent Painter join Jenn and Cathy to talk tablescapes, leather mats, themed parties, 3D-printed accessories, and turning a Mahjong hobby into a family business. They also share tournament rules, big-hand bragging rights, and what happens when creativity takes over the house.

Connect with Mahjong Meets Moxie: https://www.mahjongmeetsmoxie.com/

Join the conversation on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1262701418521503/

Connect with Circle P Leather: https://www.circlepleather.com/

Join Tracy’s Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1F43na86ET/

Key Takeaways

1. Tracy and Trent turned their love of Mahjong, leatherwork, themed parties, and creative accessories into a growing business built around the game.

2. Great tablescapes can be affordable, personal, practical, and fun, with tile readability and a mat that slides staying high on the priority list.

3. Tournament rules still matter, especially during the Charleston. A player cannot be called dead before East officially begins the game.

4. Mahjong has become a major part of Trent’s leather business, with most of his custom work now connected to mats, tile bags, card pouches, and player accessories.

5. Working, playing, and building a Mahjong business together takes humor, shared effort, and a willingness to let one more tile set, mat, or party idea into the house.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We put original tiles beside look-alikes and ask the messy question: when does inspiration become copying?

From quality differences and price points to copyrights, trademarks, small-business realities, and consumer ethics, we unpack mahjong dupes—without legal advice, but with plenty of opinions.

Connect with Mahjong Meets Moxie: https://www.mahjongmeetsmoxie.com/

Join the conversation on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1262701418521503/

Today's episode was recorded live from The Birdie Houston: https://thebirdiehouston.com/

Where to get Jenn's jewelry: https://mahjonggjewelry.com/

REAL tiles we talked about: https://ohmymahjong.com/products/lagoon-tile-set

Key Takeaways

1. We compare original tiles with look-alikes and spot differences in finish, detail, color, and artwork.

2. Not every similar design is a counterfeit, but direct copies can create a serious problem for creators.

3. Tile designers invest time, money, artistic vision, and business resources into original products.

4. Affordable mahjong sets exist without buying a copy of another brand’s design.

5. Before you buy a dramatically cheaper look-alike, ask yourself: Is it just legally questionable, or does it feel morally wrong too?

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.