This is part two of my review of the Hasbro and Wizards of the Coast branded company podcast:

Magic: The Gathering Drive to Work

Yesterday I covered the first two lessons from the show:

1. Reveal how the product is made
2. Interact with the wider community

Today I’ll cover the next two of the remaining four lessons:

1. Be candid about mistakes
2. Don’t worry about having a simple recording setup
3. Stick with it long term
4. Adapt when circumstances change

Across all of his content channels, Mark Rosewater is also unflinchingly candid about mistakes the company, his teams, and himself personally have made in the design of specific cards and overall sets. It’s incredibly tough to be the primary touchpoint for scrutiny and criticism from a massive, avid community. It’s admirable that the podcast is willing to touch on these sensitive topics, and a testament to Mark’s influence internally that he has the freedom to be so open.

Throughout the history of the show, it has been Mark Rosewater recording monologues literally driving to work and releasing them essentially unedited. Basically the only unused content comes from times he makes a full recording on a particular day’s drive, decides it didn’t meet his bar for the quality of content, and so he records an entirely new second take on a different day’s commute. The driving aspect also adds to the charm of the commentary - there are days he is stuck in traffic so he ends up with a longer episode, and he’ll occasionally pause his talking noting “safety first” since he truly and impressively is driving. If your company is concerned that you don’t have fancy recording gear and space, this show is a reminder to just get started.

Keep an eye out for the exciting conclusion tomorrow with the final two lessons and closing thoughts!