The Dive Down

The Dive Down

A Magic: The Gathering podcast for the casual spike, focused on Modern, Pioneer, Explorer, and more!

  • 1 hour 10 minutes
    Episode 363: 3 Dimensions, 2 Screens, 1 Stylus

    On today's show, Stan and Shane relive the joys of Nintendo's 3DS! We chat about Pocket Monsters, retinal fatigue, when stylus, and that sweet sweet hinge. Then we talk about Project Hail Mary (2026) and hold NOTHING back. Excite!

    Timestamps:
    0:01 - Shane's a nepo baby
    10:50 - This week's episode
    12:10 - Talking about the Nintendo 3DS
    22:00 - Pocket Monsters (and others) on the 3DS
    31:30 - The games we played
    40:30 - What's up with the stylus?
    49:40 - Project Hail Mary: Spoilers ahead
    1:08:45 - Wrapping up

    Our opening music is Nowhere - You Never Knew, and our closing music is Space Blood - Goro? Is That Your Christian Name?

    email us: [email protected]

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    3 April 2026, 7:00 am
  • 1 hour 9 minutes
    Episode 362: Use Your Spirellusion I & II

    Well people, we did it again. It's another week of The Dive Down — but sadly, the focus is not strong this week. Apologies in advance as we bounce from G'n'F'n'R's to DanDan to The Cheesecake Factory. Blame it on the weather — or blame it on Dave's internet. Either way, enjoy!

    Timestamps:
    0:01 - We're a Rubik's pod now
    3:42 - Dave uses his illusion
    10:40 - Our first CDs
    15:20 - This week's episode
    16:22 - StanStan DanDan
    26:20 - We're still playing Slay The Spire 2
    55:29 - When you're here, you're cheesy
    1:06:50 - Wrapping up

    Our opening music is Nowhere - You Never Knew, and our closing music is Space Blood - Goro? Is That Your Christian Name?

    email us: [email protected]

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    27 March 2026, 7:00 am
  • 1 hour 11 minutes
    Episode 361: These Spires Were Made For Slaying

    Sorry haters, this is a Slay the Spire 2 podcast now. At least for this week. On today's show, Shane pieces together his first successful run, Dave pines for some better intro content, and Stan reminds us of Ball x Pit. We wrap the show with a chat through some new 2026 albums we've enjoyed.

    Timestamps:
    0:01 - Shane, interrupted
    9:16 - You can't multitask/This week's episode
    12:30 - Slay The Spire 2, oh wait Ball X Pit
    20:40 - Actually Slay the Spire 2
    24:06 - It's not so secretly a drafting game
    46:56 - What we think about when we think about STS
    52:45 - Stan's hot take
    56:25 - Kim Gordon - PLAY ME
    1:01:40 - Victoryland - My Heart Is A Room With No Cameras In It
    1:04:57 - Sunday Mourners - A-Rhythm Absolute
    1:07:40 - Twisted Teens - Blame the Clown
    1:10:03 - Wrapping up

    Links from this week's episode:
    Slay the Spire 2: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2868840/Slay_the_Spire_2/
    Mobalytics/STS2: https://mobalytics.gg/slay-the-spire-2
    Kim Gordon/PLAY ME: https://kimaltheagordon.com/play-me
    Victoryland/My Heart Is A Room With No Cameras In It: https://victoryland.bandcamp.com/album/my-heart-is-a-room-with-no-cameras-in-it
    Sunday Mourners/A-Rhythm Absolute: https://sundaymourners.bandcamp.com/album/a-rhythm-absolute
    Twisted Teens/Blame the Clown: https://cpnpc.bandcamp.com/album/blame-the-clown

    Our opening music is Nowhere - You Never Knew, and our closing music is Space Blood - Goro? Is That Your Christian Name?

    email us: [email protected]

    Support The Dive Down

    20 March 2026, 7:00 am
  • 1 hour 4 minutes
    Episode 360: The Seventh Circle of The Dive Down

    On this week's show, we celebrate 360 episodes with a chat about our favorite circles. Then we return to the climb in Slay the Spire 2. And Shane puts the C in RPG with Esoteric Ebb.

    We also talk about ultrawide monitors and Stan's latest adventures in gambling on Oscar predictions.

    Timestamps:
    0:01 - We've come full circle
    4:53 - Dave's circle of hell
    11:17 - This week's episode
    12:45 - Jobs are lame and this conversation is lame
    16:59 - Slay The Spire 2 is here and we are talking about it
    40:05 - Resident Evil 9 is too scary (for now)
    42:07 - Ultrawide monitors
    49:14 - Esoteric Ebb is a neat Disco Elysium like
    57:07 - Stan's Oscar bets
    1:02:51 - Wrapping up

    Our opening music is Nowhere - You Never Knew, and our closing music is Space Blood - Goro? Is That Your Christian Name?

    email us: [email protected]

    Support The Dive Down

    13 March 2026, 7:00 am
  • 1 hour 8 minutes
    Episode 359: Defeating Demons in The Killing Stone

    On this week's show, Stan and Shane sit down with Ken Strickland, Design Director for The Killing Stone, the latest card battler/board game/devil mystery from Question games.

    We talk about the game's unique blend of deck building and gothic storytelling, how to wager with demons, and the subtle art of card design.

    Timestamps:
    0:01 - This week's episode
    3:53 - Interview begins
    5:40 - Question games
    8:38 - The Killing Stone, explained
    23:45 - How is The Killing Stone different?
    30:40 - How Early Access works
    37:12 - Ken's hopes for The Killing Stone
    39:12 - The language of the game
    59:10 - The final pitch for The Killing Stone
    1:06:50 - Wrapping up

    Links from this week's episode:
    https://store.steampowered.com/app/2781470/The_Killing_Stone/

    Our opening music is Nowhere - You Never Knew, and our closing music is Space Blood - Goro? Is That Your Christian Name?

    email us: [email protected]

    Support The Dive Down

    6 March 2026, 8:00 am
  • 1 hour 10 minutes
    Episode 358: Cards Are So Back

    This week it's just Dave and Stan — and cards are... back? We talk about Stan's solo birthday adventures in Milwaukee, some games he learned, the steaks we've loved before, and Dave's Very Strict House Rules for a Friendly Game of Poker.

    Timestamps:
    0:01 - We're old and tired
    8:18 - Some stuff about food
    12:17 - Stan's fire is re-lit in Milwaukee, and Limited chat
    22:52 - Riftbound and Vibes
    41:00 - Stan's Milwaukee digression
    51:00 - Dave's steak aspirations
    54:25 - Survivor 50 and Dave's Poker Rules
    1:08:10 - Wrapping up

    Our opening music is Nowhere - You Never Knew, and our closing music is Space Blood - Goro? Is That Your Christian Name?

    email us: [email protected]

    Support The Dive Down

    27 February 2026, 8:00 am
  • 1 hour 9 minutes
    Episode 357: High on Life 2 & D&D for Children

    On this week's show, the boys feel weird about the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Stan and Shane discuss the new sci-fi boomer shooter High on Life 2, and Dave tells us about his latest D&D campaign.

    Timestamps:
    0:01 - The heart of Rock n' Roll
    9:08 - This week's episode
    13:50 - We get High On Life (2)
    23:50 - There's a skateboard
    29:50 - Exploring the world
    44:51 - Dave's DMing adventures
    1:05:20 - Next week's episode
    1:07:11 - Wrapping up

    Our opening music is Nowhere - You Never Knew, and our closing music is Space Blood - Goro? Is That Your Christian Name?

    email us: [email protected]

    Support The Dive Down

    20 February 2026, 8:00 am
  • 1 hour 15 minutes
    Episode 356: God of Cheevos: Zeldarök

    On this week's show it's the unofficial return of What's That In Your Pocket? Stan rolls credits on God of War Ragnarök, while Shane collects Retro Achievements in Final Fantasy 6 and the original Zelda!

    Timestamps:
    0:01 - Peak childhood, Dogbert's fear of Y2K, framed.wtf
    13:15 - This week's episode
    15:05 - God of War Ragnarök
    25:12 - The PS Portal
    28:25 - Final Fantasy VI, Aria of Sorrow, RetroAchievements
    38:00 - Swordless Zelda 1
    47:50 - The upcoming backlog
    55:40 - PC games... in my Android handheld?
    1:05:40 - The problem with Dave (and the Steam Machine)
    1:13:10 - Wrapping up

    Our opening music is Nowhere - You Never Knew, and our closing music is Space Blood - Goro? Is That Your Christian Name?

    email us: [email protected]

    Support The Dive Down

    13 February 2026, 8:00 am
  • 1 hour 6 minutes
    Episode 355: Beer

    From the modest hop to the liveliest yeast, nothing makes for a more questionable podcast quite like beer. On this week's show, we talk about our personal history with one of the world's favorite alcohols. We talk about our personal favorites, the weird lengths we've gone to find some, and how we learned to worship the Dark Lord.

    Timestamps:
    2:54 - This week's episode
    10:45 - When did we decide we liked beer?
    23:30 - Getting into beer
    35:20 - Dark Lord culture
    40:35 - What beers do we like?
    1:04:22 - Wrapping up

    Our opening music is Nowhere - You Never Knew, and our closing music is Space Blood - Goro? Is That Your Christian Name?

    email us: [email protected]

    Support The Dive Down

    6 February 2026, 8:00 am
  • 1 hour 7 minutes
    Episode 354: The Young Jerks of Weast Coast Games

    On this week's show, Dave and Stan chat with Dan, Dan, and Meg from Weast Coast Games. We talk about the creative process behind some of their games, the origins of their collaboration, and balancing their game studio with their design agency.

    Timestamps:
    0:01 - This week's episode
    3:59 - Introducing Weast Coast Games / Young Jerks
    8:09 - The Weast Coast Games concept
    22:51 - The WCG games
    33:15 - The balance of Young Jerks and Weast Coast
    43:35 - How they met
    46:00 - Getting the word out
    52:30 - What's inspiring them
    59:20 - Post-interview time
    1:05:20 - Wrapping up

    Links from this week's episode:
    Check out their games! Buy one!
    https://weastcoast.games/
    https://youngjerks.com/

    Our opening music is Nowhere - You Never Knew, and our closing music is Space Blood - Goro? Is That Your Christian Name?

    email us: [email protected]

    Support The Dive Down

    30 January 2026, 8:00 am
  • 1 hour 4 minutes
    Episode 353: Selling Vibes and Spooky Robes

    This week we get... a little loose. Stan's on the run, so we record a catch up episode about Dave's obessions with The Traitors, Shane's obsession with Selling a Vibe, and Stan's general thoughts on deep dish and getting the Led out. Are you more of an In Through the Out Door or a Zoso?

    Timestamps:
    0:01 - One liners and Lakewood things
    13:30 - Led Zeppelin
    15:53 - The album of the week: The Cribs - Selling a Vibe, and power pop
    26:17 - OBAA
    29:47 - Chicago pizza and Stan's LDL levels
    35:17 - The Traitors
    50:38 - Podcast.... for kids?
    56:00 - Dave's productive birthday
    59:50 - Ratcatching
    1:02:25 - Wrapping up

    Our opening music is Nowhere - You Never Knew, and our closing music is Space Blood - Goro? Is That Your Christian Name?

    email us: [email protected]

    Support The Dive Down

    23 January 2026, 8:00 am
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