With Halloween behind us (at least by the time this episode drops), we manage to once again release an episode lasting only 90 minutes–but what a 90 minutes it is! From apps in development to games on BGA, from Clayface to Ted Lasso, from Kickstarter to Gamefound, we catch up on everything that’s been stealing our attention for the past week. Then in honor of Diwali, we share our top five games featuring light and fire. But heck, the whole episode is fire when it comes right down to it. At least that’s what the kids say. (Is that what the kids still say? Let’s hope yes.)

It’s almost Halloween, and that means it’s time to party! Before they head out trick-or-treating, Chris and Joel sit down for a Board Games 101 lesson on party games. Then they go back to the spooky-games well for some hot takes on horror themed board games that are overhyped, underhyped, and appropriately hyped. All that plus Halloween memories and a very special Mad Libs–you won’t believe who’s behind all the scares! Put on your witch masks and grab your pillowcases for one more trip around the block with Oak and Onion!

Halloween BG Music: TipToes by Myuu @myuu

Music promoted by Audio Library: https://links.al/youtube

Spooky scary skeletons take over the podcast this episode when Joel and Chris revel in their joint enjoyment of all things horror-themed. We count down five great horror movies and five great horror board games in a conversation short on jump scares but long on fun. Then Joel finally agrees to play another game, when Chris decides to test his horror prowess. On a scale of 1 to 13, just how Friday are we? Tune in to find out!

After two special guest episodes in a row, we’re back to basics as Joel and Chris can’t shut up about movies, games, and everything else. On today’s episode we countdown another 3-2-1, this time pairing up games and food for a high-end dinner party for the ages (or at least Chris does, but Joel is there too, offering what we can only charitably describe as everyday food). And then Joel puts Chris to the test to see what he can remember about the games he’s played only one time. Does he have what it takes to earn a game title that he can wear proudly on his chest? Listen now to find out, and make sure to subscribe while you’re at it. I mean, you’re here already and you’ve read this far, right?

Joel and Chris strap on their space helmets this week and take a cruise to the far reaches of game design when they sit down with designer Ben Rosset and Dennis Northcott, one of the minds behind Kinson Key Games. With the recent launch of Excursions on Kickstarter, Ben and Dennis share the games that define them as well as their thoughts on game design, simultaneous action, running a successful game company, and more. And what interview would be complete without Chris putting them through their paces in a brand new game set against a ticking clock? Will they be successful? Only one way to find out! Download, give us a listen, and then pop on over to the Excursions Kickstarter and see if it’s a game for you!

Joel and Chris might be small potatoes, but sometimes we bring in the big potatoes to show us how it's done. In episode 22 we sit down with actor, standup, board game designer, and all-around cool guy Grant Lyon. We’ll hear about the games that define him, his approach to comedy, how he stumbled into board game stardom, and his brand new comedy tour blending games with standup. Then Chris puts Grant through the paces with a travel-themed game perfect for a man on the road. We may not be as funny as Grant, but if he’s willing to show up and chat with us, that’s something, right? Right?!

Get out your pumpkin spice sweaters and curl up with a cozy hand knit latte as you tune in for another episode of the Oak and Onion Podcast. Enjoy Chris’s envy as Joel has the big gaming weekend for once, then pull out your notecards for another installment of Board Games 101, where we snuggle up to find out what people mean by Cozy Games. Then we wrap things up with our top five games with an autumnal theme (spoiler alert: turns out, we don’t know a lot of games with an autumnal theme). Whether it’s cooling down where you are or still a thousand degrees like where Chris is, it’s always the right season for Oak and Onion! Join us!

If you’ve been with us since the beginning, then this is now 20 times you’ve tuned in to hear a little Oak and Onion action, and as excited as we are to hit that milestone, we’re especially excited for how many people have joined us on that journey. Thank you, listeners! On this celebratory episode, Joel and Chris talk spooky movies, superhero tv, and games we’ve played this week. Listen in as we give each other 20th anniversary gifts and then travel back to 2020 for a look at how the pandemic impacted our gaming habits followed by a 3-2-1 exploration of the hits and misses of that year. Twenty episodes in? We’re just getting started!