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Games & Hobbies

Designer Notes

Idle Thumbs

Why do we make games? Every designer has a different and very personal answer to that question. Soren Johnson, founder of Mohawk Games, sits down with noted designers to find out by examinin...

Designer Notes Podcast Guide

Listen to Designer Notes, a Games & Hobbies podcast by Idle Thumbs. Stream 96 episodes in English, follow new audio stories, and play episodes online on Radio and Podcast.

Show Topic

Browse this show under Games & Hobbies podcasts.

Episodes

20 episodes are loaded now from a catalog of 96. More episodes can be opened from this page.

Episodes

20 of 96 episodes

Designer Notes 96: Owen Mahoney

In this episode, Soren interviews Owen Mahoney, who served first as the CFO and then as the CEO of Nexon. They discuss what the transition t...

01:29:19Jul 6, 2026

Designer Notes 95: Seth Sivak

In this episode, Soren interviews Seth Sivak, best known as the co-founder and CEO of Proletariat, makers of World Zombination and Spellbrea...

02:59:27Jun 6, 2026

Designer Notes 94: Charles Cecil - Part 2

In this episode, Soren interviews veteran game developer Charles Cecil, co-founder of Revolution Software and best known for his work on Ben...

03:33:36May 4, 2026

Designer Notes 93: Charles Cecil - Part 1

In this episode, Soren interviews veteran game developer Charles Cecil, co-founder of Revolution Software and best known for his work on Ben...

01:56:49Apr 20, 2026

Designer Notes 92: Paul Kilduff-Taylor

In this episode, Soren interviews Paul Kilduff-Taylor, best known for his work on Frozen Cortex and the Frozen Synapse series. They discuss...

03:08:39Dec 26, 2025

Designer Notes 91: Tomislav Uzelac

In this episode, Soren interviews Tomislav Uzelac, best known for his work on the Unity of Command series. They discuss how he taped his fir...

02:27:46Nov 18, 2025

Designer Notes 86: Anton Strenger

In this episode, Soren interviews Anton Strenger, best known for his work on Civilization 5, Civilization 6, and Beyond Earth. They discuss...

03:06:23Nov 4, 2024

Designer Notes 85: Zach Barth - Part 2

In this episode, Soren interviews independent game developer Zach Barth, best known for his puzzle games, including SpaceChem, Infinifactory...

02:30:32Sep 29, 2024

Designer Notes 84: Zach Barth - Part 1

In this episode, Soren interviews independent game developer Zach Barth, best known for his puzzle games, including SpaceChem, Infinifactory...

02:39:32Aug 31, 2024

Designer Notes 83: Mitch Lasky - Part 2

In this episode, Soren interviews noted game investor Mitch Lasky, best known for his work as a venture capitalist at Benchmark, as the CEO...

01:54:05Jun 6, 2024

Designer Notes 82: Mitch Lasky - Part 1

In this episode, Soren interviews noted game investor Mitch Lasky, best known for his work as a venture capitalist at Benchmark, as the CEO...

01:53:26May 6, 2024

Designer Notes 81: Jake Solomon - Part 2

In this episode, Soren interviews veteran game developer Jake Solomon, best known for the XCOM reboot and Midnight Suns. They discuss his fi...

03:13:37Apr 11, 2024

Designer Notes 80: Jake Solomon - Part 1

In this episode, Soren interviews veteran game developer Jake Solomon, best known for the XCOM reboot and Midnight Suns. They discuss how mu...

02:42:26Dec 5, 2023

Designer Notes 79: Trent Kusters - Part 2

In this episode, Soren interviews veteran game developer Trent Kusters, co-founder of League of Geeks, best known for the strategy game Arme...

02:21:37Oct 9, 2023

Designer Notes 78: Trent Kusters - Part 1

In this episode, Soren interviews veteran game developer Trent Kusters, co-founder of League of Geeks, best known for the strategy game Arme...

02:31:12Sep 25, 2023

Designer Notes 77: Cole Wehrle

In this episode, Soren interviews tabletop designer Cole Wehrle, best known for his work on Root, Oath, Pax Pamir, and John Company. They di...

03:08:30Aug 14, 2023