In this episode, Mik and Starla from Our Family Plays Games share their inspiring journey of promoting diversity and inclusion in the board gaming community, their mission to create welcoming spaces, and their insights on the social impact of gaming.

Join us as we explore the vibrant world of board game conventions, featuring insights from the inaugural Omaha Gaming Convention, highlights of diverse games played, and the inspiring stories of community and inclusion. Discover how these events foster creativity, diversity, and faith in the gaming community.

Discover the top board game accessories that enhance your gaming experience! From essential organizers to fun upgrades, we cover it all in this episode of Play Saves the World.

Key takeaways:

Learn about the best accessories to elevate your board game nights.

Find out how to keep your games organized and easy to set up.

Explore unique upgrades that can make your favorite games even better.

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
00:30 Top Board Game Accessories
02:00 Salsa Bowls
05:00 Self Adhesive Tape
08:00 Dice Trays
10:00 Card Holders
12:00 Board Game Geek
15:00 BG Stats App
18:00 Cloth Drawstring Bags
20:00 Neoprene Playmats
25:00 Upgraded Components
30:00 Board Game Inserts
35:00 Bonus Accessories

What's your favorite board game accessory? Drop it in the comments!

Subscribe for more board game insights and tips!

#BoardGames #GamingAccessories #PlaySavesTheWorld

Kevin discusses his experience at the 2026 Geekway to the West board game convention, highlighting new games he encountered and played. We both explore a variety of board games, from Welsh seaside village building to Japanese train games, television station management, and more.

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Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction to New Games Roundup
• 05:59 New Games at Geekway
• 11:12 Networks Primetime: Running a Television Station
• 17:26 Up or Down: Building Elevators
• 22:28 Orloge: Building the Clock in Prague

We discuss our top 10 animal-themed board games, including a shadow animal game list and the real animal game list. Will your favorite game make the cut? What did we miss?

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The games offer educational and thematic values. Some focus on animal rescue, set collection, card management, area control, and ecosystem simulation.

Chapters

• 00:00 Opening Mayhem
• 26:49 Introduction to Animal-Themed Games
• 33:07 Gloomhaven and Animal Characters
• 38:28 Wingspan and Bird Collection
• 46:22 Cascadia and Pacific Northwest Wildlife

We offer our top 5 lists of games that surprised us the most.

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Daniel and Kevin discuss the unexpected elements and experiences of these games, highlighting their unique features and gameplay. The conversation explores surprising and transformative board games that have defied expectations, leading to a shift in perspective and a newfound appreciation for the gaming experience. There are personal stories and insights about each game, highlighting the unexpected elements that made them stand out.

The conversation explores the intersection of play, theology, and womanism, highlighting the role of play in Lakisha's life and its connection to her theological journey. Lakisha shares her definition of play as an embodied aesthetic experience and a cultural expression, and discusses womanism as an expansive and inclusive approach to feminism. The chapters cover Lakisha's background, her journey with play and theology, the intersection of play and theology, and an introduction to womanism. The conversation delves into the metaphorical use of double dutch in theological exploration, emphasizing the historical context and practical application of play practices. It also addresses the theological significance of play, the benefits of play in self-care and community care, and the pushback against play in theological and pastoral contexts.

Takeaways

• Play as an embodied aesthetic experience and a cultural expression
• Womanism as an expansive and inclusive approach to feminism Embracing play as a lens for theological exploration
• The importance of play in self-care and community care

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction to the Podcast
• 05:15 Lakisha's Journey with Play and Theology
• 11:16 Finding God and Self in Play
• 16:39 Defining Play and Womanism
• 21:46 Introduction to Womanism
• 26:49 Double Dutch as a Metaphor
• 37:28 Pushback Against Play

We discuss the absence of tabletop games in the Bible (eeeek!) – and the presence of randomization and game-like elements.

You can help us by liking, subscribing, and supporting us on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/playsavestheworld

We talk about the Biblical, game-like practices of casting lots, the significance of Urim and Thummim, and the game-like nature of the parable of the talents.

There is a playfulness in the Bible, and the idea of control and randomization in religious and secular contexts. We note the parallels between games, war strategy, and life, as well as the gamification of life and the playfulness in ritualized meals. We also touch on the themes of order from chaos, playing a different game, and the game of being born again.

Chapters

• 00:00 Game-Like Elements in the Bible
• 26:12 Gamification of Life
• 32:10 Children and Playful Rule-Breaking
• 40:20 Order from Chaos