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Magic: The Gathering Drive to Work Podcast artwork

Magic: The Gathering Drive to Work Podcast

Mark Rosewater·1000 episodes

LeisureGamesSolo hostGame designMagic lore30-40 minTwice weeklyBehind the scenes

Join Magic: The Gathering Head Designer Mark Rosewater as he shares stories, insights, and more while driving to work. Listen and learn more about how Magic is made!

Why listen

Magic: The Gathering Drive to Work Podcast is a rare inside look at how a long-running game is built, told directly by Magic head designer Mark Rosewater during his commute. Episodes mix design lessons, set histories, behind-the-scenes stories, and occasional colleague interviews, so fans get both practical game-design thinking and deep Magic lore. It is especially good for Magic players, tabletop designers, and anyone curious about how a complex game stays fresh for decades.

Series(5)

Episodes

27 min
Jul 17, 2026Episode 1364
Ravnica Allegiance

This is another in my series where I attempt to give every Magic expansion an episode of my podcast. Today, I talk about Ravnica Allegiance, the second set of our third visit to Ravnica.

35 min
Jul 17, 2026Episode 1363
Online Negativity

I use this episode to talk about dealing with negativity online.

29 min
Jul 10, 2026Episode 1362
Mana Curve

In this episode, I explain what a mana curve is and how they impact how we design Magic sets.

31 min
Jul 10, 2026Episode 1361
Rivals of Ixalan

This episode is another in my series where I talk about every Magic expansion. Today, I talk about Rivals of Ixalan, the second set in the Ixalan block.

30 min
Jul 3, 2026Episode 1360
Layers with Jess Dunks

One of the most complicated elements of the Magic rules is something known as "layers." I sit down with the man in charge of the rules, Jess Dunks, to help walk through an introduction to layers.

31 min
Jul 3, 2026Episode 1359
Being a Magic Artist

In this episode, I talk about the weird fact that I'm a published Magic artist on an evergrowing number of cards. Note that I recorded this before Bicycle Elemental was made public.

32 min
Jun 26, 2026Episode 1358
Mood Swings Strategy

Here, I talk about the basic strategy when playing Mood Swings. To make sure everyone gets their full allotment of Magic design episodes, this episode is bonus content.

30 min
Jun 26, 2026Episode 1357
Aether Revolt

This episode is another in my series to talk about every Magic expansion. Here, I talk about Aether Revolt, the second set in the Kaladesh block.

33 min
Jun 26, 2026Episode 1356
Inertia

In this episode, I talk about the pressures of changing things that have been the same for decades.

34 min
Jun 19, 2026Episode 1355
All the Mood Swings Cards, Part 5

This episode is part five of a five-part series. In it, I go through every single Mood Swings card, in collectible number order, and talk about how they were designed, including many of the changes they went through and some strategic tips on how to play them. Note: This is a bonus episode for this week.

29 min
Jun 19, 2026Episode 1354
Quirks of Limited Edition (Alpha)

In this episode, I talk about many of the weird elements of Magic's first set.

36 min
Jun 19, 2026Episode 1353
Emotional Response

In this episode, I cover one of the main goals of game design: to create specific emotional responses in the players.

31 min
Jun 12, 2026Episode 1352
All the Mood Swings Cards, Part 4

This episode is part four of a five-part series. In it, I go through every single Mood Swings card, in collectible number order, and talk about how they were designed, including many of the changes they went through and some strategic tips on how to play them. Note: This is a bonus episode for this week.

29 min
Jun 12, 2026Episode 1351
My Trip to LA in 2026

I just returned from a trip to Los Angeles, California, where I went to a red carpet event celebrating Magic: The Gathering® | Marvel Super Heroes. I then spent three days doing interviews about the set at Summer Game Fest. This podcast talks all about that trip.

30 min
Jun 12, 2026Episode 1350
Marvel Super Heroes Design

In this episode, I talk about designing Magic: The Gathering® | Marvel Super Heroes.

31 min
Jun 5, 2026Episode 1349
All the Mood Swings Cards, Part 3

This episode is part three of a five-part series. In it, I go through every single Mood Swings card, in collectible number order, and talk about how they were designed, including many of the changes they went through and some strategic tips on how to play them. Note: This is a bonus episode for this week.

31 min
Jun 5, 2026Episode 1348
High Mana Value Spells, Part 2

This episode is part two of a two-part series where I talk about the designs of all the cards that have a mana value of 11 or higher.

29 min
Jun 5, 2026Episode 1347
High Mana Value Spells, Part 1

This episode is part one of a two-part series where I talk about the designs of all the cards that have a mana value of 11 or higher.

31 min
May 29, 2026Episode 1346
All the Mood Swings Cards, Part 2

This episode is part two of a five-part series. In it, I go through every single Mood Swings card, in collectible number order, and talk about how they were designed, including many of the changes they went through and some strategic tips on how to play them. Note: This is a bonus episode for this week.

30 min
May 29, 2026Episode 1345
Landfall

In this episode, I talk about the history of one of Magic's greatest mechanics, landfall.

37 min
May 29, 2026Episode 1344
Depth

In this episode, I talk about the pros and cons of the depth of Magic's gameplay.

30 min
May 22, 2026Episode 1343
All the Mood Swings Cards, Part 1

This episode is part one of a five-part series. In it, I go through every single Mood Swings card, in collectible number order, and talk about how they were designed, including many of the changes they went through and some strategic tips on how to play them. Note: This is a bonus episode for this week.

31 min
May 22, 2026Episode 1342
The Rule

What is "the rule"? Why does Magic have it? (It didn't always.)

29 min
May 22, 2026Episode 1341
The Phyrexian War Arc

In this episode, I talk about putting together the larger story arc of the Phyrexian War storyline from Throne of Eldraine through March of the Machine.

31 min
May 15, 2026Episode 1340
The Design of Mood Swings

How did I make Mood Swings into a simple, fast-paced trading card game? This episode talks about my 28 years of iteration and, for those of you interested in how a person designs a game from scratch, walks through how I created the game.

29 min
May 15, 2026Episode 1339
Journey into Nyx

This episode is another in my series to talk about every Magic set release. Today, I discuss the third set in the original Theros block, Journey into Nyx.

30 min
May 8, 2026Episode 1338
The History of Mood Swings

In 1998, I came up with the idea of a more accessible trading card game. That game is called Mood Swings and goes on sale starting June 1 on MagicSecretLair.com. This podcast talks about my 28-year journey to get it made.

32 min
May 8, 2026Episode 1337
MagicCon: Las Vegas 2026

In this episode, I talk about all about my adventures at MagicCon: Las Vegas 2026.

31 min
May 1, 2026Episode 1336
The Importance of Goat Guy

Who is Goat Guy? Why is he important? There's only one way to find out.

35 min
May 1, 2026Episode 1335
Born of the Gods

This is another in my quest to do an episode on every Magic set release. This one is about the design of Born of the Gods, the second set in the Theros block.

39 min
Apr 24, 2026Episode 1334
Identity

In this episode, I talk about the role games can play in a person's identity and how that affects our approach to designing Magic.

1 min
Apr 24, 2026Episode 1333
Secrets of Strixhaven Creative with Lauren Bond

In this episode, I sit down with Creative Lead Lauren Bond to talk about the worldbuilding of Secrets of Strixhaven.

32 min
Apr 17, 2026Episode 1332
Video Production

For eight years, I was in charge of overseeing final-day video production for the Pro Tour. In this podcast, I talk all about it.

34 min
Apr 17, 2026Episode 1331
Secrets of Strixhaven Set Design with Reggie Valk

In this podcast, I sit down with Reggie Valk, set design lead for Secrets of Strixhaven, to talk about the set's design.

32 min
Apr 10, 2026Episode 1329
Charms

This podcast talks about the history of Charms in Magic.

34 min
Apr 10, 2026Episode 1328
Secrets of Strixhaven Design

In this podcast, I talk about the design of Secrets of Strixhaven.

36 min
Apr 3, 2026Episode 1327
Nostalgia

This podcast is all about how Magic design interacts with nostalgia.

41 min
Apr 3, 2026Episode 1327
More Blogatog

It's been over a decade since I did a podcast about Blogatog, my blog where I answer questions daily, so I felt it was time for a second podcast on it.

33 min
Mar 27, 2026Episode 1326
How I Have Changed as a Designer

Last year, I celebrated my 30th anniversary of working at Wizards of the Coast and on Magic. In this episode, I look back and explore how I've changed as a designer over the last three decades.

31 min
Mar 27, 2026Episode 1325
Secret Lair with Lindsey Bartell

In this episode, I sit down with Senior Director Lindsey Bartell to talk about Secret Lair.

33 min
Mar 20, 2026Episode 1324
New Phyrexia

This podcast is another in my ongoing quest to talk about every Magic expansion. In it, I talk about the third set in the Scars of Mirrodin block, New Phyrexia.

33 min
Mar 20, 2026Episode 1323
Collector Numbers

Do I have 30 minutes of content about collector numbers? It turns out I do.

33 min
Mar 13, 2026Episode 1322
Stretching Boundaries

In this podcast, I respond to a post that proposed Magic should "stick to its fantasy roots." As a Magic historian, I make the case that Magic has been stretching the boundaries of what fantasy is since Limited Edition (Alpha). For those who like deep dives into Magic history, this episode is for you.

34 min
Mar 13, 2026Episode 1321
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles with Eric Engelhard

For this week's podcast, I sit down with Magic: The Gathering® | Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Lead Designer Eric Engelhard to talk about the set's design.

30 min
Mar 6, 2026Episode 1320
Slideshow

One of our latest design processes involves a slideshow where we show off every card in an upcoming set and make final comments before everything is locked down. In this podcast, I talk all about the evolution of the slideshow.

30 min
Mar 6, 2026Episode 1319
Energy

This podcast is all about the journey of the energy mechanic, from its original inception during Mirrodin design all the way to its first appearance in Kaladesh and beyond.

36 min
Feb 27, 2026Episode 1318
Layering Your Mechanics

This podcast is a companion to this year's "Nuts & Bolts" column. I talk all about how to slowly add mechanics to your set.

33 min
Feb 27, 2026Episode 1317
The Magic Dojo with Frank Kusumoto

The Magic Dojo was the very first major online gathering spot for the Magic community. In this podcast, I speak with its creator, Frank Kusumoto, to talk all about it.

30 min
Feb 20, 2026Episode 1316
Mirrodin Besieged

This podcast is another in my quest to record a podcast about every Magic expansion. This time, I talk about Mirrodin Besieged, the second set in the Scars of Mirrodin block and a set with one of the most unique Prereleases of all time.

35 min
Feb 20, 2026Episode 1315
Evasion

In this podcast, I talk about a core element of every design: making sure your creatures can get through and help the game end.