In Episode 13 of Tales From The Brick, Jon (8 Bit Bricks) sits down with Daniel Siskind, the visionary founder of Brickmania, a company that transformed a passion for building into one of the most recognizable brands in the custom LEGO space.

From receiving one of the earliest LEGO sets as a child to building an empire of high-end, military-inspired kits, Daniel shares how his obsession with parts, creativity, and community led to the creation of Brickmania. What started as small, handmade runs of custom sets quickly evolved into a full-scale operation, complete with in-house printing, design, and production.

The conversation dives into the early days of sourcing bricks before BrickLink existed, the hustle of turning eBay sales into startup capital, and how customer demand unexpectedly pushed Brickmania into the military niche it’s known for today. Daniel also opens up about scaling from solo builder to running a full team, the realities of balancing business with community, and what it takes to stay innovative in a rapidly evolving hobby.

From basement builds to industrial printers, this episode is a deep dive into what happens when passion meets persistence—and how one builder helped shape an entire corner of the LEGO world.

📍 Find Daniel Siskind/BrickMania: • brickmania.com • Instagram: @brickmania_toys

To find the best LEGO deals, check out the Bargain Bricks app

Until next time… play well.

In Episode 12 of Tales From The Brick, Jon (8 Bit Bricks) sits down with Corey Samuels - LEGO Masters champion, STEM educator, and the most dapper LEGO Masters contestant. He shares his journey from a kid in New Jersey building freestyle creations to becoming a standout contestant on LEGO Masters, and eventually taking home the trophy. Along the way, he dives into how LEGO became more than just a hobby, transforming into a career rooted in education, storytelling, and inspiring the next generation of builders.

The conversation explores behind-the-scenes moments from LEGO Masters, the hustle of turning pandemic-era uncertainty into a thriving STEM business, and how Corey built his own path teaching kids through creativity and hands-on learning. From viral builds to building a brand, Corey’s story is all about betting on yourself and building something bigger than bricks.

📍 Find Corey Samuels: • Instagram / TikTok / YouTube: @samzbrago

Until next time… play well.

In Episode 11 of Tales From The Brick, Jon (8 Bit Bricks) is joined by Liz Puleo, LEGO Masters Season 3 contestant, teacher, and creative force behind @lizpbuilds. Liz shares her unconventional journey into LEGO - from being banned from her brother’s basement LEGO city as a kid to rediscovering the hobby through her children and diving headfirst into the AFOL community during COVID.

They talk about Liz’s rapid rise from building her first MOC to winning Best Pop Culture at her first convention, going viral in the LEGO community, and ultimately landing on LEGO Masters as one half of the unforgettable “Masshole Moms.” The episode also dives into her experience on the show, from chaotic challenges and behind-the-scenes stories to building under pressure, embracing creativity, and how LEGO became both a personal passion and a powerful outlet for connection and joy.

📍 Find Liz Puleo: • Instagram: @lizpbuilds • TikTok: @lizpbuilds

Until next time… play well.