Leslie Scott
British game designer who brought the family block game Jenga from a Ghanaian pastime to market, recounting the game's origins, her financial risk to launch it, and the naming story.
Best podcasts with Leslie Scott
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Dec 27, 2025 • 1h 1min
The history of toys
Join Leslie Scott, the innovative mind behind Jenga, as she shares the game's fascinating Ghanaian roots and her daring journey to bring it to market. Hear how she navigated financial risks and the story behind its name. Also, meet Ramm Mylavaganam, the mastermind who revolutionized football analytics with ProZone, discussing his pioneering use of data tracking to enhance game strategy. Together, they uncover the intersection of creativity and technology in the world of play.
Aug 12, 2015 • 14min
16. Word Play
Leslie Scott, game designer and founder of Oxford Games, inventor of Jenga and many word games. She talks about what makes word games fun: bluffing, mischief and pace. They explore tempo in games like Boggle and Scrabble, how naming and trademarks shape a game’s identity, and why a catchy, protectable name matters.
