Wedgehead Pinball Podcast

By Wedgehead

What's Wedgehead Pinball Podcast about?

A weekly pinball podcast brought to you by the people that run Wedgehead, a pinball bar in Portland, Oregon.  Each week Alan and Alex discuss a different pinball topic, occasionally with other guests. 

If you have any questions, or might want to guest on a future episode, please email : [email protected].

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Wedgehead Pinball Podcast episodes:

05.27.2024
Episode 32 - Stern's 'Miracle' Year
It's the year 1980, and the US Olympic Hockey team shocks the world and beats the Soviet team in a stunning 4-3 upset in Lake Placid, NY during the height of the cold war.But another miracle happens in pinball that...
05.20.2024
Episode 31 - Operator Spotlight: Propeller Arcade
In this episode Alan sits down to talk with Ian Matheson, operator at Propeller arcade inside of Propeller Brewing in Halifax, Canada.We talk about how he got started, including some incredible stories about the old school underground Nova Scotia pinball...
05.13.2024
Episode 30 - Throwback Games
In this episode, Alan and Alex discuss the outlier machines released in the last 7 years without ramps, and with simpler rulesets.We talk about Total Nuclear Annihilation, Beatles, Bond 60th, and Pulp Fiction, and why we love seeing the variety...
05.06.2024
Episode 29 - Modern Pinball
In this episode we finally talk in depth about "Modern" pinball, where it started, what defines the modern era, and the different innovations or changes to the classic game that we all know and love.For all the listeners out there...
04.29.2024
Episode 28 - Die on this Hill: Sharkey's Shootout
In this edition of our popular "Die on this Hill" series, we are rejoined on the show by Mitch Curtis, the operator known as 'Pinball Over Boston' as he jumps onto the show to defend one of his favorite underappreciated...
04.22.2024
Episode 27 - Operator Spotlight: Pinball Over Boston
In this episode of our 'Operator Spotlight' series Alan and Alex speak with Mitch Curtis of Pinball Over Boston, about his decade of running a pinball route in the Boston area. We cover what it was like starting out,...
04.15.2024
Episode 26 - Die on this Hill: Space Jam
In this edition of our "Die on this Hill" series, John Dozier of Inner Orbit Pinball rejoins the show and steps up to defend Sega's 1996 pinball machine based on the hit movie, Space Jam!This game is actually the LOWEST...
04.08.2024
Episode 25 - Operator Spotlight: Inner Orbit
In the latest addition of our Operator Spotlight series, Alan speaks with John Dozier of Inner Orbit pinball about his pinball route based in Springfield Missouri. John began operating pinball machines about 10 years ago, and was drawn in...
04.01.2024
Episode 24 - Pinball Setup
In what will surely be the most controversial episode of the podcast, Alan and Alex discuss all the different ways that people can choose to customize the setup of their pinball machines.Pitch, tilts, outlanes, rubber types, toy and lighting mods,...
03.25.2024
Episode 23 - How to Talk to an Operator
In this episode we discuss how to get to know your friendly neighborhood pinball operator, including tips for making a good first impression, and how to find the proper channels in which to communicate with them about machine malfunctions.Alan speaks...
03.18.2024
Episode 22 - Die on this Hill: Sinbad
Rachel and Cale from the Electric Bat join us on the show once again, and they are back to defend their favorite Gottlieb System 1 game: Sinbad!Listen to us discuss the merits of this first generation solid state effort from...
03.11.2024
Episode 21 - Harry Williams: Pinball Prophet w/ Roger Sharpe
In this episode we are joined by a very special guest, the man who saved pinball with a single shot, and who wrote the first published book on the history of pinball, Mr. Roger Sharpe.https://wedgeheadpdx.com/podcasts/ Link is to some bonus...
03.04.2024
Episode 20 - Operator Spotlight: Electric Bat Arcade
In this episode, Alan and Alex are joined on the show by Rachel and Cale, owners and operators of the Electric Bat Arcade in Tempe, Arizona. We discuss the Phoenix Valley pinball scene, the history of the Bat, their...
02.26.2024
Episode 19 - Die on this Hill: Bad Cats
In this episode, Jessica DeNardo from Barrels of Fun pinball returns to the show to defend one of her favorite games of all time, 1989's Bad Cats designed by Barry Oursler with art and theme concept by the inimitable Python...
02.19.2024
Episode 18 - The Susan B. Anthony Years / Bally
In this episode, Alan and Alex are joined by their good friend and staunch solid state pinball evangelist, Ty Palmer. Ty is a fiend for early solid state machines, and will happily go weeks or months without playing a...
02.12.2024
Episode 17 - Extra Button Gimmicks
In this episode of the podcast, Alan and Alex are joined by their friend Jessica DeNardo, a multi talented woman who hosts her own pinball podcast (the Pinball Podcast), makes and sells her own pinball inspired clothing (Soft Plunge), founded...
02.05.2024
Episode 16 - So You Wanna Buy a Pinball Machine?
In this episode Alan and Alex discuss the most common new post on any pinball forum, subreddit, or facebook group: Buying your own pinball machine to put into your house.This episode is meant to give a better, more whole picture...
01.29.2024
Episode 15 - Die on this Hill: No Fear
On this episode, Alex sits in the hot seat to defend his love of 1995's No Fear: Dangerous Sports. A divisive game design by the king of flow, Steve Ritchie.Hear Alan and Alex discuss the game, and read and...
01.22.2024
Episode 14 - So You Wanna Play Pinball?
In this episode of the podcast Alan and Alex reminisce over how they got into the hobby, and dive into some conversation aimed at newbies to the hobby who have gotten bit by the pinball bug. We give some advice...
01.15.2024
Episode 13 - Superpins
In this widebody episode of the Wedgehead pinball podcast, Alan and Alex welcome the return of Chris Rhodes back to the show. He is the other half of Wedgehead, and he is back to discuss the 7 widebody pinball machines...
01.08.2024
Episode 12 - Die on this Hill: WWF Royal Rumble
In the 3rd installment of our "Die on this Hill" series, we welcome back Greg Dunlap, former pinball programmer whom we interviewed on Episode 11, to defend Data East's 1994 game 'WWF Royal Rumble.Hear why Greg thinks this an underrated...
01.01.2024
Episode 11 - Life of a Former Pinball Programmer
In this episode, Alan and Alex are joined by Greg Dunlap, a computer programmer that worked at both Bally/Williams doing slot machines and then later at Pat Lawlor Designs, working on programming lightshows and animations for Early Stern Pinball machine...
12.25.2023
Episode 10 - Die on this Hill: Popeye Saves the Earth
In this episode, Alan speaks with Daniel and Ty from Pop's Pinball Parlor in Massachusetts about why they unironically love the 1994 Bally Williams Superpin: Popeye Saves the Earth.This is the second edition of our "Die on this Hill" series,...
12.18.2023
Episode 9 - Operator Spotlight: Pop's Pinball Parlor
In this episode Alan interviews Daniel and Ty, two buddies and pinball operators from New England. We speak about how they started operating games, what types of games they choose to operate, how to find locations and how they...
12.11.2023
Episode 8 - Pinball Terminology Explained (new players start here)
Sample DefinitionPop Bumper : The round (usually) mechanism on the playfield of a pinball machine, often found in clusters, that contracts when the ball hits it, and slams it off into another direction, typically into another pop or two...
12.04.2023
Episode 7 - Die on this Hill: Gilligan's Island
In this episode, we are doing a special new segment which we hope to continue in the future. It's called "I'm gonna die on this hill!" and it's where we have a guest on to speak about and...
11.27.2023
Episode 6 - Howdy Pardner!
Special guest Zoe Vrabel joins Alan and Alex as they discuss the history of the popular casual team based pinball tourney format "Howdy Pardner!"We discuss what it is, how it works, and what makes it so much different than standard...
11.20.2023
Episode 5 - Video Modes
In this episode Alan and Alex talk about what Alex likes to describe as the "best thing that has ever happened to pinball!". Hear about what they are, when they started, and whose fault they are.We discuss our opinions...
11.13.2023
Episode 4 - The Brief History of Wedgehead
In this episode Alan is joined by his business partner Chris Rhodes, and they form like Voltron into Wedgehead. We discuss how we met, the beginning of our pinball bar, the evolution and challenges presented by covid and the...
11.06.2023
Episode 3 - Boutique Manufacturers
In this episode Alan and Alex talk about the rise of the little guys in pinball, and what it means to have so many small and independent pinball makers. We discuss our experiences with some of these manufacturers and...
10.30.2023
Episode 2 - The Ritchie Brothers Steve vs. Mark
In this double length episode Alan and Alex talk about the brothers Ritchie, and discuss their favorite games from each brother, their individual styles and trademarks, address the Ritchie haters, and Alan tells a couple of anecdotes from the time...
10.23.2023
Episode 1 - Lightning Flippers
Alan and Alex discuss the curious case of the Williams lightning flippers that were developed and used on a few games in the early 1990s. Learn about the history of them, what games came with them, and why they're...

What's Wedgehead Pinball Podcast about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

Wedgehead Pinball Podcast episodes:

Episode 32 - Stern's 'Miracle' Year

Episode 31 - Operator Spotlight: Propeller Arcade

Episode 30 - Throwback Games

Episode 29 - Modern Pinball

Episode 28 - Die on this Hill: Sharkey's Shootout

Episode 27 - Operator Spotlight: Pinball Over Boston

Episode 26 - Die on this Hill: Space Jam

Episode 25 - Operator Spotlight: Inner Orbit

Episode 24 - Pinball Setup

Episode 23 - How to Talk to an Operator

Episode 22 - Die on this Hill: Sinbad

Episode 21 - Harry Williams: Pinball Prophet w/ Roger Sharpe

Episode 20 - Operator Spotlight: Electric Bat Arcade

Episode 19 - Die on this Hill: Bad Cats

Episode 18 - The Susan B. Anthony Years / Bally

Episode 17 - Extra Button Gimmicks

Episode 16 - So You Wanna Buy a Pinball Machine?

Episode 15 - Die on this Hill: No Fear

Episode 14 - So You Wanna Play Pinball?

Episode 13 - Superpins

Episode 12 - Die on this Hill: WWF Royal Rumble

Episode 11 - Life of a Former Pinball Programmer

Episode 10 - Die on this Hill: Popeye Saves the Earth

Episode 9 - Operator Spotlight: Pop's Pinball Parlor

Episode 8 - Pinball Terminology Explained (new players start here)

Episode 7 - Die on this Hill: Gilligan's Island

Episode 6 - Howdy Pardner!

Episode 5 - Video Modes

Episode 4 - The Brief History of Wedgehead

Episode 3 - Boutique Manufacturers

Episode 2 - The Ritchie Brothers Steve vs. Mark

Episode 1 - Lightning Flippers

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