Best Square Room Studios Podcasts (2025)

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#252 - Bad Boy 1:14:53

19h ago1:14:53

1:14:53

This week Jo and Des are back and talking about everything from the birds and the bees to being on the "Down Low" Join them and decide if Des truly can give "sexy eyes" or if Jo is just a hater plus so much more! 0:00 Intro 0:30 Des’ News 3:54 All Gingers Are Black 7:23 The Birds And Bees 9:45 Scary Baby 13:54 Sexy Eyes 25:30 Teenage Stalker 45:14 …

1
Dark Forest 37:36

1d ago37:36

37:36

A dark forest would be a great setting for Animal Kingdom. However, it has become the basis for a pivot. Listen in to hear about the new direction we are heading as Gen Con and Indianapolis loom over us.

1
Season 2 Ep 48: Why your "welcome packet" isn't very welcoming 36:08

1d ago36:08

36:08

We believe one of the most underrated parts of a client journey is the intake process. This isn’t about a boring list of preferences like if they prefer black over blue or which kitchen they like best. Instead, it's about asking the right questions to uncover how clients live, communicate, and make decisions. Our unique and customized client questi…

1
Unstucking 35:01

15d ago35:01

35:01

If we can invent the word unstucking, we'd better figure out how to do it. We talk through the sticky stuff and create a plan to continue moving forward. Plus, we lighten things up with a game where we try to guess board game titles.

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Season 2 Ep 47: ASKED AND ANSWERED - There is no one right way--but there is a better way 12:05

16d ago12:05

12:05

There’s no one right way to run a design business—but there is often a better way. This is not to say if something is working for you—great. Keep going. But if you're stuck or wondering why the same problems keep popping up? It might be time to challenge the models you’re using. How can you challenge the traditional business models, such as cost pl…

1
#251 - White-The-Hell?! 57:07

25d ago57:07

57:07

Des and Jo react to questions that white people have always wanted to ask black people. They also discuss their first crushes, the why having a separate bedroom from your spouse is ideal and why being petty just might be the right thing to do in certain situations. 0:00 Intro 0:41 Kool-Aid Man 3:07 Dirty Shows/Music 5:00 Crushing 12:25 White-The-He…

1
Design Block 37:57

30d ago37:57

37:57

We know creative blocks come with the creative process—and we’re squarely in one. Do we change direction? Scrap everything? Simplify? Or maybe just admit our game will never be as good as Monopoly and move on?

1
Season 2 Ep 46: The Best Marketing Tool Hiding in Plain Sight 35:02

30d ago35:02

35:02

Social proof from your clients is important for building trust and credibility in a business. Reviews and testimonials from happy clients, while also being mindful of how and when, can be used to showcase the success and unique offerings of your business. This not only helps attract the right clients, but also addresses common pain points and frequ…

1
#250 - Sounds About WHITE 54:06

1M ago54:06

54:06

This week, the duo decide which “White People Phrases” are their favourite. Des asks Jo how she would deal with a friendship dilemma and the two give advice on how to get off of an emotional rollercoaster and end a toxic relationship. 0:00 Intro 0:23 Sounds about White 19:52 Fake Friend 28:09 Emotional Rollercoaster 35:47 Love The Way You Lie…

1
#249 - Culture Clash 1:24:57

1M ago1:24:57

1:24:57

Jo and Des take a deep drive into why Jamaican men seem take pride in being womanizers and reflect on where they may have gone wrong culturally. They also discuss f*cking vs making love and their perfect dates. 0:00 Intro 1:16 F*cking vs making love 12:25 Perfect Date 23:41 Culture Clash 28:04 Jamaican Me Crazy 1:16:19 Family Values…

1
#248 - BDSM 101 1:47:58

1M ago1:47:58

1:47:58

This week Jo and Des invite Saintless onto the podcast to discuss his experience and knowledge of the world of BDSM. Follow Saintless on TikTok @saintlesschoir and on https://www.youtube.com/ ⁨@saintlesschoir⁩ 0:00 Intro 4:55 Des BDSM 12:29 First BDSM Experience 16:31 Kink Community 17:41 Extreme Kinks 19:03 Consensual Non Consent 22:19 Sub Frenzy …

1
Season 2 Ep 45: ASKED AND ANSWERED - Why cleaning the toilet might help your creativity more than you think 16:43

1M ago16:43

16:43

You can't lead clients from survival mode---well you can, but not well and not for extended periods of time. how How you feel directly impacts how you lead, sell, and scale. The mindset shift I have to use is to keep my business steady is the "attitude of gratitude." This "Asked and Answered" topic this week is slightly more personal but a question…

1
The Way We Designed It 35:07

1M ago35:07

35:07

We laugh at a ridiculous misplay we made in our own game. A broken strategy in Animal Kingdom forces us back to the redesign table. Along the way, we dive into gamer identities and how they shape both playstyles and game design.

1
#247 - Touch Of The Tism 1:00:14

2M ago1:00:14

1:00:14

Embarrassing intimate stories, unsolicited advice and an autism diagnosis. What more could you want in an episode? 0:00 Intro 0:18 Partner vs Child 7:47 Call Me Daddy 10:00 Sh*tty Soda 13:50 Doggy Style 18:48 Making A Movie 21:56 Embarrassing Sex 35:28 Spinning The Block 37:12 Unsolicited Advice 56:02 Touch of Tism…

1
Season 2 Ep 44: ASKED AND ANSWERED - The most damaging thing you can do in your business 16:34

2M ago16:34

16:34

This week we are answering questions from our audience--first up is one of my FAVORITE hills to die on and what I consider one of the most damaging things you can do for your business. It is not a smart business practice to sell blocks of time as a designer because this is not an effective way to market and value creative brilliance. Selling based …

1
#246 - Scratch N Sniff 1:09:47

2M ago1:09:47

1:09:47

This week is all about phoning a friend because Jo and Des need some outside opinions for some of the interesting things discussed in this episode. Things get a little smelly this week when they discuss a sensitive area, Des tries to talk Jo out of an important decision, and they test their friends loyalty. And this gets paranormal when Des shares …

1
Breakout Rooms 32:27

2M ago32:27

32:27

We attend our first Golden Gate Gamemakers event at Guildhouse in San Jose, where we meet Board Game Casual. We also share highlights from recent meetings, including one with breakout rooms to spark new ideas and get things done.

1
#245 - Power Hour 2 1:58:03

2M ago1:58:03

1:58:03

Join Des and Jo for another chaotic power hour. One shot, every minute for an hour. What could possibly go wrong?By Square Room Studios

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Season 2 Ep 43: The Hidden Mindset Mistakes Killing Your Team’s Momentum 53:59

2M ago53:59

53:59

Sometimes the simplest of truths is what is going to move the needle and this begins with understanding who you are and your own weaknesses. We all have them right?? If you have a team, or even if you are a solopreneur, you are still consistently working with others and there are always going to be challenges of working together. However, being abl…

1
Playtesting with Randy O'Connor 45:44

2M ago45:44

45:44

We chat with game designer Randy O'Connor from Randy O Games, creator of Roll in One and Gun It. We explore the art of playtesting—especially defining "the turn", the moment when you’ve gone from idea to game.

1
#244 - X-Rated Bucket List 59:51

3M ago59:51

59:51

What's on your x-rated bucket list? Find out what's on Des and Jo's lists in this episode and find out their opinions on putting in extra effort in a relationship. 0:00 Intro 1:49 XXX Bucket List 20:51 Missing The SparkBy Square Room Studios

1
#243 - Clutching My Rosary 54:40

3M ago54:40

54:40

This episode is just as spooky as it is silly. Jo and Des discuss dreams, ghosts, Idiots and more. 0:00 Intro 1:00 Diddy Krueger 5:27 Sex Sleep Demons 6:54 Sleep Twitching 8:36 Sleep Apnea 12:29 Crazy Baby 19:29 Ghost Jo 21:35 Astral Projecting 23:03 Family Ghost 33:55 Haunted Houses 42:08 Dream meanings 51:09 Idiots…

1
Parallel Kingdoms 43:40

3M ago43:40

43:40

We discuss our latest playtest of Animal Kingdom, inspired by a fresh take on the game. Plus, we attempt a round of board game trivia—but it doesn’t go exactly as planned.

1
Season 2 Ep 42: How to Stop Wasting Time on Marketing that doesn't Work 39:45

3M ago39:45

39:45

Your marketing dollars are important. There are many elements to successful marketing and it starts with becoming part of the DNA of your business. This week we met with Denise Grothouse, the founder and CEO of Perfect Six Marketing, a company specializing in marketing strategies for the kitchen and bath design industry. In this episode we discuss …

1
#242 - The Full Tea 59:33

3M ago59:33

59:33

This weeks Deswayne spills his dirty laundry and gets into the nitty gritty of a friendship that blew up.By Square Room Studios

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#241 - No Nut Nathan 1:05:45

3M ago1:05:45

1:05:45

In this week's episode, the hosts talk about party planning, out of body experiences, trouble in the bedroom and more! 0:00 Intro 0:33 Feb Blues 6:02 The search is over 11:02 Des’ Party 28:08 No Nut Nathan 40:40 Denying Pleasure 44:33 Inside Out 45:04 Dirty Do-Over 52:27 Scary dreamsBy Square Room Studios

1
Community with City Square Studios 55:58

3M ago55:58

55:58

We sit down with the talented and creative minds behind City Square Studios, a game design team from New Zealand. They share their story, their ethos about sustainability in games, and give us a glimpse into their brand, including 52 Pickup and the world of TTRPG zines. Plus, we discuss fostering community engagement and strategies for growth. http…

1
REPLAY of Season 1 Ep 10: What is the Cost of Doing Business? (Re-Release of top 5 episodes!) 45:14

4M ago45:14

45:14

Optics matter. Client's trusting you know how to manage money--matters. Understanding there is no free lunch--matters. Here is the drum roll take away. It takes money to make money. Ta da! Professional designers understand that it costs money to travel to market to learn about the products they specify ( and usually sell for a profit) -- or how imp…

1
#240 - Dirty Laundry 1:24:12

4M ago1:24:12

1:24:12

This week Jo and Des are truly airing it all out. They play (Extra Dirty) Dirty Laundry and air out secrets they've never spoken about on the podcast, break some new and exciting news, talk about the recent games night video and also play a fun drinking game. Prepare for an unhinged episode. 0:00 Intro 1:10 Game Night 2:19 Cheating 3:16 Behind the …

1
Protocol in Action 33:30

4M ago33:30

33:30

Our playtest protocol has been put into action for the first time with Animal Kingdom this season. Tuckman would be proud! Plus, we share a quote from our notes—what were we thinking?

1
#239 - Puff Puff Pass 43:59

4M ago43:59

43:59

Jo has learned a new magic trick and tries it on Des. Simp's deserve justice and someone is getting high and it's not who you would expect. And E-LIE-JAH is back and Deswayne isn't happy about it.By Square Room Studios

1
#238 - 2nd Time's The Charm 51:04

4M ago51:04

51:04

We're back with a late upload, but better late than never right? In this episode Deswayne discusses a friend who wants a second chance and some drama that went down between some other friends. The duo also discuss what they would do if they woke up in the body of the opposite gender.By Square Room Studios

1
Shaping Game Feel 38:53

4M ago38:53

38:53

We begin defining how we want our game to feel. From physical engagement to the atmosphere we create, and the emotions we want players to experience, we explore the three levels of feelings in game design.

1
REPLAY! of Season 1 Ep 14 Passion Rules, Mediocrity Sucks ( ALL TIME FAVE RERELEASED!) 54:17

4M ago54:17

54:17

I am PASSIONATE--and if you have gotten my weekly newsletter the past two weeks then you would know all those years ago in college my young professor's advice stuck. So we are re-releasing one of our most popular episodes and trying to reignite the flame in those that may feel it dwindling! Are you giving clients the yearning for more? Showing pass…

1
It’s Time to Build 26:26

5M ago26:26

26:26

In this season opener, we reveal the board game we've chosen to build. We hone our design skills in a quickfire challenge inspired by the word “tender” and share our roadmap for the year ahead. We’re officially ready to bring our board game to life!

1
Season 2 Ep 41: The Top 5 Marketing Musts for 2025 18:37

5M ago18:37

18:37

Happy New Year! What better way to start off the year than with my top 5 marketing strategies for small business owners grow their businesses. Marketing is a mindset and not just an activity, and it takes time and effort to see results. This is not simply a standalone entity, it is ingrained in the essence of any business. Every interaction, from t…

1
A Misplay Carol 28:59

5M ago28:59

28:59

We’re visited by three ghosts and take a spirited journey through our podcast past, present, and future. We reflect on what we’d do differently if we could start from scratch, celebrate what’s going well, and share lessons learned as we look ahead to season two!

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Season 2 Ep 40: Stop Running Your Business like a Popsicle Stand 39:48

5M ago39:48

39:48

The process of procurement in a busy design firm is NO joke. You are not running popsicle stand, you are running a firm with various moving parts and you have to be able to have a way to track what is coming and going through your business. This is where checks and balances come into play to avoid costly mistakes and keep the firm running smoothly.…

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Season 2 Ep 39: Don't Blame Your Client--it's your show. Own it. 35:24

5M ago35:24

35:24

Cheryl is going solo this week while Liz takes a well-deserved little vacation. Cheryl is discussing managing client expectations and making sure you are not keeping them in the dark--you need them to trust the process! There is a level of professionalism that comes with the importance of managing clients' expectations during their project. Setting…

1
Two Roads 30:29

6M ago30:29

30:29

The team is zeroing in on a game direction! We dive into each game, Depths and Animal Kingdom, and share key takeaways from their playtests. Next time, we’ll face the challenge of making the final decision.

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Season 2 Ep 38: How to Make Money Selling Project Management 38:41

6M ago38:41

38:41

How can you be team player without giving up your own rights? Working with contractors can be a tricky relationship when they want you to stay in your lane--BUT it doesn't have to be. Creating a team approach with positioning in your marketing, the copy that you use, the verbiage that you talk about, and how you talk about it with other people, all…

1
Panic Mode 28:25

6M ago28:25

28:25

Try not to let the clickbait title fool you—we’re definitely not in panic mode. Nope. Not even close. Couldn’t be further from panicking. Not us. Never ever. Instead, we’re diving into Tuckman’s Group Theory and breaking down how our team is formin’, stormin’, normin’, and performin’. See? Totally chill. No panic here.…

1
Season 2 Ep 37: The Icing on the Cake 17:33

6M ago17:33

17:33

Who doesn't love an install day!? Sure, it can be hectic and exhausting but this is where you get to see the fruit of your labor come together. Cheryl went solo this week talking about In Detail's top tips for a successful install day! Having a team in place for installation that understands the logistics and are able to convey it to your movers AN…

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Season 2 Ep 36: Selling a client on the value of project management 33:02

6M ago33:02

33:02

How important is project management in interior design? Bottom line: Very. Because it saves your client money in the long run! This starts with having a clear and cogent scope of work to be able to refer back to when issues arise within the project. Project management, how it is handled and why you do it can make or break a project. This means bein…

1
Theme Does Matter 32:06

7M ago32:06

32:06

We pitch fresh themes for "Succession", reimagining the game’s world and setting to create new dynamics and depth. From the political landscapes to gang wars to dating games, we're on a mission to find a theme to build mechanics that match.

1
Season 2 Ep 35: Are You Sabotaging Yourself? 53:42

7M ago53:42

53:42

Have you ever stopped to think where your time is spent vs your energy output? The truth is we could be sabotaging ourselves and our capacity to work if we are not managing our energy. We all have relentless demands and unexpected challenges we deal with on the daily and we all tend to slip into negative emotions—the fight-or-flight mode—often mult…

1
Season 2 Ep 34: How to Create Your Brand Identity with a Competitive Edge 50:52

7M ago50:52

50:52

This week was a bit of a whirlwind coming home from High Point! We had the pleasure of having Jude Charles as a guest and we got to meet in person while we were attending Market. Jude Charles is a filmmaker and for over 18 years and has been producing documentaries for entrepreneurs. He has produced stories for Google, Steve Harvey, LuAnn Nigara, R…

1
Pitch Perfect 31:41

7M ago31:41

31:41

We recap each board game pitch from our team and put them to the test in a round of 'Hit or Miss.' Join us to find out which ideas scored big and which ones are still in the prototype phase.

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Season 2 Ep 33: Why the vendor relationship can make or break you 40:29

7M ago40:29

40:29

How good of a partner are you to your vendors? Strong vendor relationships are a secret to success! Many designers do not think about their vendors until there is a problem. This approach does not allow to maximize the partnership. Getting to know your reps, your customer service people, and marketing team can enhance your bottom line and the custo…

1
#237 - Hear Me Out 33:31

8M ago33:31

33:31

Hear us out! This week Jo and Des participate in the hear me out trend where they share fictional characters that they are attracted to. They also discuss getting ghosted by a friend and how to be sneaky and catch someone doing something they shouldn't be doing! 00:00 Costume Reveal 01:37 Hear Me Out 11:54 Ghosting Friends 17:40 Fred Update 21:34 L…

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