The Mana Pool

By Chewie Slate

Chewie, Mike, Brian, and Dirk have been talking about Magic: The Gathering on the internet for almost 10 years (at the time of this writing). Since there are so many shows about strategy and tournamen... more

4.9

6464 ratings

FAQs about The Mana Pool:

How many episodes does The Mana Pool have?

The podcast currently has 1,026 episodes available.

The Mana Pool episodes:

April 22, 2026 Being a Nerd Over the Years (We're Old!) w/ Brian Edwards from Character Issues | The Mana Pool #750
We've done it! We're made it to three quarters of four figures! To celebrate doing this for over 18 years (not quite half our lives) we're going to take a look at what it's been like being a nerd over the course of our lifetimes. How we're viewed by society and even the very defintion of "nerd" have changed a lot over the years, so we're digging into it from our own experiences.

To help us with this we've enlisted the aid of one of Chewie's favorite podcasters! It's Brian Edwards, host of The Character Issues Podcast and one of the many contributing hosts of Cane and Rinse! He's awesome and also an aging nerd, so it was really great of him to join us for this momentous occasion! Also, you should totally go check out Character Issues, it's a lot of fun. Go follow Brian on Bluesky at characterissues.bsky.social!

Thank you all so much for helping us get this far! Let us know about your nerd history and if anything we talked about hit especially close to home for you. Here's to reaching 1000!

Come join us in the future! The show is live on Thursdays around 8pm(ish) Eastern time on Twitch.

Become a Lifeguard on Patreon! – patreon.com/themanapool Podcast RSS Feed: themanapool.libsyn.com/rss YouTube: youtube.com/TheManaPool The Deep End: youtube.com/@TheDeepEndTMP TMP Streams Archive: youtube.com/@TMPStreams Twitch: twitch.tv/themanapool Discord: discord.gg/7da7T6s BlueSky: themanapool.bsky.social Instagram: TheManaPool Threads: @TheManaPool Email: [email protected]

Intro & Outro Music: Diamond by Swift – https://open.spotify.com/artist/0vAs5HIBkUPbuoN5b5GWTE
...more
2h 56min
April 01, 2026 The Downfall of Blizzard Entertainment | The Mana Pool #749
And then it all came crashing down. After Overwatch, the Devil Himself took over and ran decades of goodwill into the ground in the pursuit of the mighty dollar. And also other...problems...came to light that accelerated the fall.

But is it all doom and gloom forever? Can Blizzard save itself under the control of...Microsoft? Wait, seriously?

Why Jeff Kaplan left Blizzard: https://kotaku.com/overwatch-jeff-kaplan-blizzard-pve-leaving-2000678084 Design Delve on Hearthstone's bad UI: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1oX9go1ITQ Chewie's Steam Next Fest article - https://www.patreon.com/posts/chewie-played-22-152827365

Come join us in the future! The show is live on Thursdays around 8pm(ish) Eastern time on Twitch.

Become a Lifeguard on Patreon! – patreon.com/themanapool Podcast RSS Feed: themanapool.libsyn.com/rss YouTube: youtube.com/TheManaPool The Deep End: youtube.com/@TheDeepEndTMP TMP Streams Archive: youtube.com/@TMPStreams Twitch: twitch.tv/themanapool Discord: discord.gg/7da7T6s BlueSky: themanapool.bsky.social Instagram: TheManaPool Threads: @TheManaPool Email: [email protected]

Intro & Outro Music: Diamond by Swift – https://open.spotify.com/artist/0vAs5HIBkUPbuoN5b5GWTE
...more
2h 7min
March 25, 2026 So Whatcha Been Playing? | Dorks Just Chatting
We pivoted away from our second Blizzard show to save Brian's mental health, but we'll do it very soon! Instead we're doing a DJC that starts with the titular question and just goes from there, as these shows tend to do. Also, I think Dirk talks more on this episode than he has on a single episode in YEARS. Hope you enjoy the conversation as much as we did!

Come join us in the future! The show is live on Thursdays around 8pm(ish) Eastern time on Twitch.

Become a Lifeguard on Patreon! – patreon.com/themanapool Podcast RSS Feed: themanapool.libsyn.com/rss YouTube: youtube.com/TheManaPool The Deep End: youtube.com/@TheDeepEndTMP TMP Streams Archive: youtube.com/@TMPStreams Twitch: twitch.tv/themanapool Discord: discord.gg/7da7T6s BlueSky: themanapool.bsky.social Instagram: TheManaPool Threads: @TheManaPool Email: [email protected]
...more
2h 8min
March 18, 2026 The Ascent of Blizzard Entertainment | The Mana Pool #748
Remember when Blizzard was great? Warcraft, Starcraft, and Diablo were some of the most powerful IPs in gaming, and they all came from a singular company that could do no wrong. It was truly a glorious time to be alive. So let's bask in the warm glow of nostalgia for this episode, remembering only the good times back before the Devil Himself took sole control and destroyed two and a half decades of loyalty and goodwill.

Chewie's Steam Next Fest article - https://www.patreon.com/posts/chewie-played-22-152827365

Come join us in the future! The show is live on Thursdays around 8pm(ish) Eastern time on Twitch.

Become a Lifeguard on Patreon! – patreon.com/themanapool Podcast RSS Feed: themanapool.libsyn.com/rss YouTube: youtube.com/TheManaPool The Deep End: youtube.com/@TheDeepEndTMP TMP Streams Archive: youtube.com/@TMPStreams Twitch: twitch.tv/themanapool Discord: discord.gg/7da7T6s BlueSky: themanapool.bsky.social Instagram: TheManaPool Threads: @TheManaPool Email: [email protected]

Intro & Outro Music: Diamond by Swift – https://open.spotify.com/artist/0vAs5HIBkUPbuoN5b5GWTE
...more
2h 6min
March 04, 2026 Turtle Soup and the Dining Thereof | The Mana Pool #747
The dorks (most of them anyway) return to do exactly one (1) episode on the TMNT MTG set. There are improved versions of old mechanics, video game nostalgia, and lots of ampersands. What's your take on the turtle set, and have you ever had turtle soup?

Mechanics: https://magic.wizards.com/en/news/feature/teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles-mechanics Gallery: https://magic.wizards.com/en/products/teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles/card-image-gallery

Come join us in the future! The show is live on Thursdays around 8pm(ish) Eastern time on Twitch.

Become a Lifeguard on Patreon! – patreon.com/themanapool Podcast RSS Feed: themanapool.libsyn.com/rss YouTube: youtube.com/TheManaPool The Deep End: youtube.com/@TheDeepEndTMP TMP Streams Archive: youtube.com/@TMPStreams Twitch: twitch.tv/themanapool Discord: discord.gg/7da7T6s BlueSky: themanapool.bsky.social Instagram: TheManaPool Threads: @TheManaPool Email: [email protected]

Intro & Outro Music: Diamond by Swift – https://open.spotify.com/artist/0vAs5HIBkUPbuoN5b5GWTE
...more
2h 16min
February 25, 2026 The Rogues Gallery | The Mana Pool #746
The dorks are joined this episode by our old buddy and former Monday Night Magic host Squee! Or Bill, if you prefer. And we're talking about rogues across all media. The archetype of The Rogue is far wider than just the D&D definition of sneaking around in the shadows to pick locks and stab people in the back, and we'll be going into detail about all the different aspects of roguishness with plenty of examples of each.

So be sure to let us know your favorite roguish character across all the different media out there!

Come join us in the future! The show is live on Thursdays around 8pm(ish) Eastern time on Twitch.

Become a Lifeguard on Patreon! – patreon.com/themanapool Podcast RSS Feed: themanapool.libsyn.com/rss YouTube: youtube.com/TheManaPool The Deep End: youtube.com/@TheDeepEndTMP TMP Streams Archive: youtube.com/@TMPStreams Twitch: twitch.tv/themanapool Discord: discord.gg/7da7T6s BlueSky: themanapool.bsky.social Instagram: TheManaPool Threads: @TheManaPool Email: [email protected]

Intro & Outro Music: Diamond by Swift – https://open.spotify.com/artist/0vAs5HIBkUPbuoN5b5GWTE
...more
2h 23min
February 12, 2026 Talking Crossovers | The Mana Pool #745
The dorks dive into the idea of crossovers, when intellectual properties show up in other intellectual properties. We're placing examples on a two-axis spectrum and discussing the good, the bad, the stupid, the greedy, and the ugly. Let us know about any types we missed and tell us about your favorite (or least favorite) media crossover you've encountered!

Come join us in the future! The show is live on Thursdays around 8pm(ish) Eastern time on Twitch.

Become a Lifeguard on Patreon! – patreon.com/themanapool Podcast RSS Feed: themanapool.libsyn.com/rss YouTube: youtube.com/TheManaPool The Deep End: youtube.com/@TheDeepEndTMP TMP Streams Archive: youtube.com/@TMPStreams Twitch: twitch.tv/themanapool Discord: discord.gg/7da7T6s BlueSky: themanapool.bsky.social Instagram: TheManaPool Threads: @TheManaPool Email: [email protected]

Intro & Outro Music: Diamond by Swift – https://open.spotify.com/artist/0vAs5HIBkUPbuoN5b5GWTE
...more
2h 47min
January 27, 2026 We Spent Longer Talking Lorwyn Than WotC Did | The Mana Pool #744
The dorks return for our second week on Lorwyn Eclipsed, which is officially more than Wizards of the Coast spent previewing the entire set. Sigh. So join us as we bounce around the gallery as usual! Just uh...ignore the bit about feet.

Gallery: https://magic.wizards.com/en/products/lorwyn-eclipsed/card-image-gallery

Come join us in the future! The show is live on Thursdays around 8pm(ish) Eastern time on Twitch.

Become a Lifeguard on Patreon! – patreon.com/themanapool Podcast RSS Feed: themanapool.libsyn.com/rss YouTube: youtube.com/TheManaPool The Deep End: youtube.com/@TheDeepEndTMP TMP Streams Archive: youtube.com/@TMPStreams Twitch: twitch.tv/themanapool Discord: discord.gg/7da7T6s BlueSky: themanapool.bsky.social Instagram: TheManaPool Threads: @TheManaPool Email: [email protected]

Intro & Outro Music: Diamond by Swift – https://open.spotify.com/artist/0vAs5HIBkUPbuoN5b5GWTE
...more
2h 23min
January 20, 2026 Our Lorwyn Nostalgia Is Out of Control | The Mana Pool #743
It all comes full circle eventually. We first went to Lorwyn waaaay back in 2007, when The Mana Pool started, and we haven't been back since. Until now! The dorks are taking a look at the mechanics and then diving into the full set, focusing on the returning characters! We'll bounce around the rest of the set next episode!

Mechanics: https://magic.wizards.com/en/news/feature/lorwyn-eclipsed-mechanics Gallery: https://magic.wizards.com/en/products/lorwyn-eclipsed/card-image-gallery

Come join us in the future! The show is live on Thursdays around 8pm(ish) Eastern time on Twitch.

Become a Lifeguard on Patreon! – patreon.com/themanapool Podcast RSS Feed: themanapool.libsyn.com/rss YouTube: youtube.com/TheManaPool The Deep End: youtube.com/@TheDeepEndTMP TMP Streams Archive: youtube.com/@TMPStreams Twitch: twitch.tv/themanapool Discord: discord.gg/7da7T6s BlueSky: themanapool.bsky.social Instagram: TheManaPool Threads: @TheManaPool Email: [email protected]

Intro & Outro Music: Diamond by Swift – https://open.spotify.com/artist/0vAs5HIBkUPbuoN5b5GWTE
...more
1h 57min
January 12, 2026 Welcome to Earth! - Aliens in Media | The Mana Pool #742
Hey it's the first episode of 2026! And the dorks are back in force, with a big look at the different types of aliens and how they're depicted in media. We're talking aliens that are friendly, absolutely not friendly, just sort of passing through, and not even sentient, and how they've been shown in movies, shows, games, comics, and whatever else comes up. And at the end we'll dip into some real science to discuss the possibility of the existence of aliens out there somewhere and the likelihood that they're actually hanging out on and around Earth.

Let us know about your favorite aliens and whether or not you think they're out there!

Come join us in the future! The show is live on Thursdays around 8pm(ish) Eastern time on Twitch.

Become a Lifeguard on Patreon! – patreon.com/themanapool Podcast RSS Feed: themanapool.libsyn.com/rss YouTube: youtube.com/TheManaPool The Deep End: youtube.com/@TheDeepEndTMP TMP Streams Archive: youtube.com/@TMPStreams Twitch: twitch.tv/themanapool Discord: discord.gg/7da7T6s BlueSky: themanapool.bsky.social Instagram: TheManaPool Threads: @TheManaPool Email: [email protected]

Intro & Outro Music: Diamond by Swift – https://open.spotify.com/artist/0vAs5HIBkUPbuoN5b5GWTE
...more
2h 36min

FAQs about The Mana Pool:

How many episodes does The Mana Pool have?

The podcast currently has 1,026 episodes available.

More shows like The Mana Pool

Planet Money

30,609 Listeners

Limited Resources

1,115 Listeners

TapTapConcede - LoadingReadyRun

142 Listeners

Lords of Limited

316 Listeners

Share The Mana Pool

Sign up to save your podcasts

The Mana Pool

FAQs about The Mana Pool:

How many episodes does The Mana Pool have?

The Mana Pool episodes:

FAQs about The Mana Pool:

How many episodes does The Mana Pool have?

More shows like The Mana Pool

Planet Money

Limited Resources

TapTapConcede - LoadingReadyRun

Lords of Limited