

Magic: The Gathering Drive to Work Podcast
Mark Rosewater
Join Magic: The Gathering Head Designer Mark Rosewater as he shares stories, insights, and more while driving to work. Listen and learn more about how Magic is made!
Episodes
Mentioned books

Feb 20, 2026 • 31min
#1316: Mirrodin Besieged
This podcast is another in my quest to record a podcast about every Magic expansion. This time, I talk about Mirrodin Besieged, the second set in the Scars of Mirrodin block and a set with one of the most unique Prereleases of all time.

Feb 20, 2026 • 35min
#1315: Evasion
In this podcast, I talk about a core element of every design: making sure your creatures can get through and help the game end.

Feb 13, 2026 • 32min
#1314: BroadwayCon 2026
Every year, my oldest daughter Rachel and I attend BroadwayCon, a convention dedicated to Broadway, and each year I make a podcast about it, taking all the things I learned and comparing them to Magic design. This podcast is about this year's trip.

Feb 13, 2026 • 30min
#1313: Lorwyn Eclipsed Play Design with Jadine Klomparens
In this podcast, I sit down with Jadine Klomparens, the play design lead for Lorwyn Eclipsed, to talk about how the set was structured and balanced.

Feb 6, 2026 • 36min
#1312: Kai Budde
I spent eight years working on the Pro Tour overseeing the feature matches and final-day video coverage. Those eight years just happened to overlap with the greatest run in professional Magic where Pro Tour legend Kai Budde won seven Pro Tours in five years. This podcast honors Kai, who sadly passed away last week, talking all about that epic run.

Feb 6, 2026 • 33min
#1311: Lorwyn Eclipsed Creative with Neale LaPlante Johnson
In this podcast, I sit down with Neale LaPlante Johnson, the creative lead of Lorwyn Eclipsed, to talk all about the worldbuilding for the set.

Jan 30, 2026 • 33min
#1310: Color Matters
In this podcast, I talk about a big theme from Lorwyn Eclipsed called "color matters."

Jan 30, 2026 • 31min
#1309: Subgames
In this podcast, I talk about a very narrow type of design: Magic cards that interrupt the game and initiate a subgame.

Jan 23, 2026 • 38min
#1308: Lorwyn Eclipsed Vision Design
In this podcast, I talk all about the vision design for Lorwyn Eclipsed.

Jan 23, 2026 • 35min
#1307: Why Blocks Aren't Returning
A common topic on my blog is why some players want to return to blocks. I spend this podcast talking through the various reasons this is unlikely to happen.


