Board Game Blitz Podcast
A bi-weekly, 30-minute podcast where two friends discuss the board games they've been playing and dive into specific mechanics and themes.
A fast-paced, tightly edited podcast for board gamers who are short on time. Each episode typically opens with the hosts discussing games they've played recently, followed by a focused thematic segment. Topics range from specific game mechanics like bluffing and deduction to recaps of gaming conventions.
“The show's defining feature is its brevity, captured by its signature opening line: "...less time than it takes to..." It was also an early entry in the effort to bring more female voices to board game podcasting.”
Who hosts this show
Board Game Blitz is a bi-weekly podcast hosted by Ambie Vaes and Crystal Pisano. Launched in 2016, the show originated from a 2015 Reddit thread about what was missing in board game media. It was created to provide a shorter-form alternative to the typically long, male-dominated podcasts of the time. The show maintains a roughly 30-minute format, discussing recently played games and exploring deeper topics in the hobby. In May 2026, the hosts announced the podcast would be ending in a few months.
Credentials & credits
- Ambie Vaes: Author of the children's book 'Board Game Day'
Other ventures
- Board Game Blitz YouTube Channel
- Board Game Blitz Twitch Stream
- Ambie's personal YouTube channel (ambierona)
- Ambie's personal website (ambievaldes.com)
What kind of podcast
- Country
- United States
- Region
- usa
When new episodes drop
- 01
- 02Bluffing vs lying in games #boardgames #podcast #boardgameblitzJun 26, 2026 · 43s
- 03Episode 264 - To Blave!Jun 25, 2026 · 32 min
- 04Episode 263 - KublaConningJun 11, 2026 · 29 min
- 05Reminiscing about our old podcast outros #podcast #boardgameblitzJun 10, 2026 · 45s
- 06
- 07Episode 262 - 10 YEARS OF BLITZMay 28, 2026 · 45 min
- 08Episode 261 - Best of the BlitziesMay 14, 2026 · 32 min
Notable episodes
- 01Episode 262 - 10 YEARS OF BLITZ
The hosts recount the podcast's origin story, discuss its evolution, and announce that the show will be ending soon, making it a key historical episode.
- 02Episode 264 - To Blave!
A representative example of the show's standard format: a 'Recent Games' segment followed by a thematic discussion on the differences between deduction, social deduction, and bluffing.
- 03Episode 263 - KublaConning
Showcases a rare and different format where the hosts are joined by Ambie's young children to recap a gaming convention from their perspective.
What you'll be asked on this show
The show is primarily a co-hosted discussion and does not follow a standard interview format. In a rare episode featuring guests (the host's young children), the interview style was patient and informal, using simple, direct questions to guide the conversation about their experiences at a game convention. The hosts used the children's answers as a springboard to discuss broader topics like sportsmanship.
This is a two-host discussion show, not a narrative or solo-host format. Ambie and Crystal have a friendly and established rapport, keeping the conversation moving quickly through structured segments. Episodes often begin with a topical joke before moving into recent games and the main discussion topic.
Questions the host keeps coming back to
4 cataloguedIf you're going on this show as a guest, expect some version of each of these. Each note explains when the host reaches for it.
personal
3- Q.01
“What board games have you been playing at home recently?”
Used to shift the conversation from a specific event to the guest's general gaming habits.
- Q.02
“What's the [specific event/item]?”
A simple, direct question to get a guest to elaborate on something they mentioned, like the 'Kubla March' or 'the castle'.
- Q.03
“Do you like [game name] now?”
Asked to gauge a guest's opinion on a game after they mentioned playing or winning it.
mindset
1- Q.01
“Do you know why it's okay to lose at games?”
Asked as a gentle teaching moment after a young guest expressed frustration with losing.
Signature segments
- · Introductory phrase: '...less time than it takes to...'
- · Recent Games segment
- · Thematic deep-dive segment
- · Outro song parodies
- · Annual 'Blitzies' awards
Topics covered repeatedly
Who gets booked here
The show is not a typical interview podcast and rarely features guests. When guests do appear, they are often personal connections, such as the host's children, for informal, family-oriented discussions about their gaming experiences.
- Kevin (Ambie's son)on Episode 263 - KublaConning
- Bob (Ambie's son)on Episode 263 - KublaConning
Where to find this show
Audience & reach
Grey Fox Games is a consistent, long-term sponsor of the podcast.
Subscriber and view counts are pulled live from YouTube and re-verified on a 30-day cycle. Listener estimates for the RSS feed aren't published here unless they're host-verified.
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People also ask
- Who are the hosts of Board Game Blitz?
- The podcast is hosted by Ambie Vaes and Crystal Pisano.
- What is the format of the show?
- It's a bi-weekly, 30-minute podcast that typically features a segment on recently played games followed by a discussion on a specific theme or mechanic.
- Is the podcast still running?
- As of May 2026, the hosts have announced that the podcast will be concluding after a 10-year run, with the final episodes to be released in the following months.
- Where can I listen to the podcast?
- The podcast is available on their website, YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify.
- Is this an interview show?
- No, it is primarily a co-hosted discussion show. It does not regularly feature guest interviews.
Built from the show's public RSS feed, YouTube, the host's own websites, and the cited sources below. Computed and AI-extracted fields are labelled. Facts only — no private info, no fabrication, no transcripts republished.
Sources & how this page was built
This page is AI-assisted, grounded in the public sources cited below, and host-verifiable. We publish facts only; we do not republish transcripts. If anything here is wrong, the host can claim and correct the page above.Model: gemini-2.5-pro · high confidence
- [01]Episode 262 - 10 YEARS OF BLITZboardgameblitz.com
- [02]About | Board Game Blitzboardgameblitz.com
- [03]Board Game Blitz - Main Websiteboardgameblitz.com
- [04]Board Game Blitz - Apple Podcastspodcasts.apple.com
- [05]Episode 94: Ambie Valdés - BoardGameGeek Podcastyoutube.com
- [06]How the Board Game Blitz Podcast is made | Behind the Scenes Vlogyoutube.com
- [07]Episode 250 - Q&A Celebrationboardgameblitz.com
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