Magic: The Gathering Drive to Work Podcast

40 Episodes
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By: Mark Rosewater

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!

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#1384: Concurrency 2026
#1384
Today at 2:30 PM

Four years ago, I recorded a podcast episode where I talked about all the things we were working on at the time. Everything I talked about has been released, so it's time for a new concurrency podcast where I talk about things we're working on right now.


#1383: Reality Fracture Creative with Meris Mullaley
#1383
Today at 2:29 PM

In this podcast, I sit down with Meris Mullaley, the creative lead for Reality Fracture, to talk all about its creative elements.


#1382: What Went Wrong – March of the Machine: The Aftermath
#1382
09/18/2026

This is the start of a new series I'll do from time to time called "What Went Wrong?" In it, I examine something we made that didn't work out. I'll explain why we made it and examine the problems it had. I begin by discussing March of the Machine: The Aftermath.


#1381: Reality Fracture Design with Yoni Skolnik
#1381
09/18/2026

In this podcast, I sit down with Yoni Skolnik, the lead set designer for Reality Fracture, to talk about the set's design.


#1380: Atogs
#1380
09/11/2026

This podcast is the history of one of Magic's hungriest creature types, one I had a huge hand in designing.


#1379: Fresh Out of Design – Reality Fracture
#1379
09/11/2026

Back in December of 2023, I handed off the vision design for Reality Fracture. I recorded this for you to hear my thoughts at the time of handoff.


#1378: Getting the Banned Together, Part 7
#1378
09/04/2026

This is the final part of a seven-part series based on a talk I gave at MagicCon: Amsterdam where I talk about the design of all the cards I had a major hand in that would later get banned or restricted.


#1377: Innovation
#1377
09/04/2026

One of the important parts of doing Magic design is coming up with things players haven't seen before, but how much innovation is the right amount? In this podcast, I talk all about that issue.


#1376: Getting the Banned Together, Part 6
#1376
08/28/2026

This is the part six of a seven-part series, based on a talk I gave at MagicCon: Amsterdam where I discussed the design of all the cards I had a major hand in that would later get banned or restricted.


#1375: Supply Channels
#1375
08/28/2026

Once we print Magic cards, how do we get them to you, the players? This podcast talks about the various ways we do that.


#1374: Getting the Banned Together, Part 5
#1374
08/21/2026

This is part five of a new series, based on a talk I gave at MagicCon: Amsterdam, where I talk about the design of all the cards I had a major hand in that would later be banned or restricted.


#1373: Boston
#1373
08/21/2026

My family took a vacation to Boston, so I talk about my trip and Boston's history with Magic.


#1372: Getting the Banned Together, Part 4
#1372
08/14/2026

This is part four of a new series, based on a talk I gave at MagicCon: Amsterdam, where I talk about the design of all the cards I had a major hand in that would later be banned or restricted.


#1371: San Diego Comic-Con 2026
#1371
08/14/2026

In this episode, I talk about my trip to the latest San Diego Comic-Con.


#1370: Getting the Banned Together, Part 3
#1370
08/07/2026

This is part three of a new series, based on a talk I gave at MagicCon: Amsterdam, where I talk about the design of all the cards I had a major hand in that would later be banned or restricted.


#1369: MagicCon: Amsterdam 2026
#1369
08/07/2026

In this episode, I talk about my trip to Amsterdam for the latest MagicCon.


#1368: Getting the Banned Together, Part 2
#1368
07/31/2026

This is part two of a new series, based on a talk I gave at MagicCon: Amsterdam, where I talk about the design of all the cards I had a major hand in that would later be banned or restricted.


#1367: The Hobbit Design with Annie Sardelis
#1367
07/31/2026

In this episode, I sit down with Magic: The Gathering® | The Hobbit™ Set Design Lead Annie Sardelis to talk about the making of the set.


#1366: Getting the Banned Together, Part 1
#1366
07/24/2026

This is the start of a new series, based on a talk I gave at MagicCon: Amsterdam, where I talk about the design of all the cards I had a major hand in that would later be banned or restricted.


#1365: Dark Night of the Soul
#1365
07/24/2026

There comes a time for many players where the game changes in such a way that it moves away from what they loved most about it. I talk about this phenomenon and detail my own personal "dark night of the soul" experience.


#1364: Ravnica Allegiance
#1364
07/17/2026

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.


#1363: Online Negativity
#1363
07/17/2026

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


#1362: Mana Curve
#1362
07/10/2026

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


#1361: Rivals of Ixalan
#1361
07/10/2026

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.


#1360: Layers with Jess Dunks
#1360
07/03/2026

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.


#1359: Being a Magic Artist
#1359
07/03/2026

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.


#1358: Mood Swings Strategy
#1358
06/26/2026

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.


#1357: Aether Revolt
#1357
06/26/2026

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.


#1356: Inertia
#1356
06/26/2026

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


#1355: All the Mood Swings Cards, Part 5
#1355
06/19/2026

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.


#1354: Quirks of Limited Edition (Alpha)
#1354
06/19/2026

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


#1353: Emotional Response
#1353
06/19/2026

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


#1352: All the Mood Swings Cards, Part 4
#1352
06/12/2026

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.


#1351: My Trip to LA in 2026
#1351
06/12/2026

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.


#1350: Marvel Super Heroes Design
#1350
06/12/2026

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


#1349: All the Mood Swings Cards, Part 3
#1349
06/05/2026

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.


#1348: High Mana Value Spells, Part 2
#1348
06/05/2026

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.


#1347: High Mana Value Spells, Part 1
#1347
06/05/2026

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.


#1346: All the Mood Swings Cards, Part 2
#1346
05/29/2026

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.


#1345: Landfall
#1345
05/29/2026

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