Clutch Power

The original text of the Bible is rampant with violence and sex. Most adaptations tone that down. The Brick Bible puts it on full display - albeit in LEGO form.

Today’s guest: Elbe Spurling, author and artist who spent 12 years creating a very accurate version of the Bible completely out of LEGO. Elbe also have a handful of other LEGO adaptations, including:

• The Brick Book of Mormon
• REVOLUTION!
• ASSASSINATION!

Elbe also has many non-LEGO projects I want to shout out:

• Salvation: From Ancient Judaism to Christianity without a Historical Jesus
• Her Music as ɘlbe

If you’re a Clutch Power supporter, you’ll get a bonus act called: “Beautiful Inconsistency”. The Brick Bible is an OLD piece of online LEGO lore and comes from the days of LUGnet (which even I was too young for), and it’s fascinating to take a look back at that era of LEGO the Brick Bible so perfectly encapsulates.

You’ll also get access to a special MOC just for this episode! It’s a crucifix, and just like the Brick Bible, it’s kinda up to you: do you see it as genuine or satire?

It’s $2 / month to become a Clutch Power supporter, and you’ll get bonus content + a MOC for every episode!

• Become a Member!

Music by Nihilore (www.nihilore.com):

• The Other Side
• Alter Ego
• Breaking the Cycle
• A Fog Too Thick
• The Absurd
• The Water and the Well

Three months after moving houses, I still haven’t unpacked all my LEGO. When I look at the massive piles behind me I can’t help but wonder: am I a hoarder?

Two great guests for this one.

First, Nathan Sawyer of Sawyer Studios on YouTube. Nathan is a rare LEGO content creator who A.) genuinely admits there’s a problem and B.) takes steps to address it. He has twice now cleared out a bunch of his LEGO after coming to a similar realization as me.

Second, Professor Nick Neave of Northumbria University Newcastle. I lucked into finding one of THE hoarding experts in the world. Nick approaches this disorder with empathy and compassion and it’s so refreshing to hear someone finally taking steps to help hoarders - not just shaming them.

Nick is part of the UK Hoarding Partnership which provides resources to people who need help. He encourages anyone who thinks they hoard to fill out this self-assessment survey. There aren’t many resources out there for people who hoard, so any data you can give Nick will help!

I also want to link to Ace’s post on From Bricks to Bothans that inspired this episode. It’s a really fascinating look at someone who realizes they have too much LEGO.

• I Have Too Much Stuff And Need To Get Rid Of It (FBTB.net)

For Clutch Power supporters, you get a bonus section about the use of the word “hoard”. It’s had a winding road from its original meaning to now, where many TikTokers with a lot of one thing use it.

Usually this is where I’d provide the MOC for this episode, but it didn’t feel ethical to do an episode about hoarding and then say: GET THIS BUILD! So while I did build one for socials, it isn’t available (unless you email me personally). We’ll be back to the normal builds next episode!

It’s $2 / month to become a Clutch Power supporter, and you’ll get bonus content + a MOC for every episode!

• Join the Patreon!

Music by Nihilore (www.nihilore.com):

• Alter Ego
• Nonexistent
• Anti-Nostalgia
• ápeiros
• Found Poetry

If you haven’t had an existential crisis over LEGO, then you haven’t listened to enough of this show.

Find episode notes and more at clutchpower.substack.com.

All music by Nihilore (www.nihilore.com)

• Do Not Look Back

25 episodes. 43 guests. One year of Clutch Power. And I’m putting three previous guests to the test: how much do they REALLY know about LEGO?

Four guests in this one!

Three you are familiar with if you’ve listened to the show before:

• Caleb of Cheesey Studios: LEGO Masters contestant, Minecraft aficionado, and Power Miners fanatic.
• Wes of BLACKLUG: world traveler, MOC-displayer, and the only Monkie Kid fan I know.
• Kevin of KDX Brick Analytics: LEGO investing wizard. spreadsheet expert, and an all-around genuine and nice guy.

If you want more of these guys, check out the previous episode of Clutch Power they appeared in:

• LEGO and Minecraft: A Match made in Heaven (Caleb)
• What Race is a LEGO Minifig? (Wes)
• Can LEGO Outperform the Stock Market? (Kevin)

I also pull out a fourth, surprise guest - who is it? You’ll have to listen to find out. I so appreciate him coming on the show; I know it’s a long trek from that dimension!

For Clutch Power supporters, you get a bonus round where I grill each player on their favorite LEGO themes:

• Caleb on Power Miners
• Wes on Monkie Kid
• Kevin on LEGO Ideas

You’ll also get a MOC specially-designed for this episode: Clutch Power’s new logo!

It’s $2 / month to become a Clutch Power supporter, and you’ll get bonus content + a MOC for every episode!

Join the Patreon!

Music by Nihilore (www.nihilore.com):

• Broken in Two
• Glimmer
• The Absurd

Ch-Ching.wav by hgernhardt -- https://freesound.org/s/402651/ -- License: Attribution NonCommercial 4.0

Upbeat Theme Loop.wav by Mrthenoronha -- https://freesound.org/s/506893/ -- License: Attribution NonCommercial 4.0

rbh Applause 05 big.WAV by RHumphries -- https://freesound.org/s/1925/ -- License: Attribution 4.0

LEGO won’t make realistic guns and minifigs. People want realistic LEGO guns and minifigs. Meet the custom companies stepping up to fill that void.

Two guests today!

First: Payton Dean, founder of BrickTactical. Payton manufactures dozens - maybe hundreds - of custom weapons and minifigs of all sorts: from video game weapons to customizable .50 caliber sniper rifles. If you want a gun, odds are BrickTactical has you covered.

Payton also runs the BrickTactical YouTube channel, which showcases new batches of minifigs / weapons. A lot of these are limited run, so keep your eyes peeled for new uploads! Recently, he did a batch of sand red Scout Troopers and I’m kicking myself that I didn’t grab (at least) one.

My other guest is Joe Trupia of Citizen Brick. It’s another custom minifig website, but his offerings couldn’t be more different from Payton’s. A lot of joke minifigs with a handful of military stuff thrown in there.

For Clutch Power supporters, you get a bonus segment with Joe about why Citizen Brick has military stuff at all. And why are there no guns?

You’ll also get access to a MOC of Uncle Sam. This is straight up my favorite MOC I’ve built for this show so far. It came together so well and I love how unsettling and aggressive he is. If that don’t represent America, I don’t know what does!

It’s $2 / month to become a Clutch Power supporter, and you’ll get bonus content + a MOC for every episode!

• Join the Patreon!

All music by Nihilore (www.nihilore.com):

• Alter Ego
• Nonexistent
• Forever Lying to Myself
• Guillotines for Christmas
• Phantasms
• Resistentialism

Who let me in front of a crowd? A badly-needed analysis of how, why, and when LEGOs got so complicated I held at Dragon Con 2026!

Joining me on this panel were two familiar faces for viewers of Clutch Power 18: What Race is a LEGO Minifig?:

• Corey D. Samuels - LEGO Masters Contestant and LEGO STEM Teacher
• Christine “Tacos” Blandino - LEGO Masters Contestant and LEGO STEM Teacher

I can’t thank them enough for coming on the panel with me! They have done so many cons and panels and they brought a much-needed air of confidence and professionalism to the panel.

I also want to thank John Christian, head of the Maker track at Dragon Con. Thank you for taking a chance on me! LEGO has had 0 representation at Dragon Con, but based on the turnout and amount of questions, people wanna chat LEGO. And I am happy to oblige.

if you’re a Clutch Power supporter, you get an entire other panel I did solo, with the intriguing title ILLEGAL LEGO (oooooh). This one was more casual, sillier, and you can see me in a big dumb LEGO brick costume. Who doesn’t want that?

It’s $2 / month to become a Clutch Power supporter, and you’ll get bonus content for every released episode so far - along with a companion MOC for most episodes.

• Join the Patreon!

All music by Nihilore (www.nihilore.com):

• Alter Ego
• Nonexistent

Olivia Rodrigo has a LEGO set. BTS has a LEGO set. Where is the LEGO set for the biggest pop star in the world?

Today’s guest: Olivia Sheane aka my fiancée! We got engaged on August 12th and I want you guys to get to know her. She is a Taylor Swift fanatic in the same way that I am a LEGO fanatic. Once she named 300 Taylor Swift songs off the dome which I don’t even think I could do for LEGO.

If you’re a Clutch Power supporter, you’ll get a bonus act called: “Idol Merch”. Olivia and I walk through Taylor Swift’s recent merch offerings (for Life of a Showgirl) and hold it up next to her best stuff.

You’ll also get access to a special MOC just for this episode! I asked Olivia what icon best represents Taylor Swift and she said her famed rhinestone guitar. Turns out there are not a ton of rhinestone-adjacent elements but I did my best!

It’s $2 / month to become a Clutch Power supporter, and you’ll get bonus content + a MOC for every episode!

• Become a Member!

Music by Nihilore (www.nihilore.com):

• The Other Side
• Alter Ego
• Breaking the Cycle
• Hemiteleia
• The Promised Place Beyond the Clouds
• This is How You Know I Had a Good Weekend

Some LEGO sets are worth their weight in gold. Some LEGO sets are worth more than that. And a small cabal of LEGO Investors is finding ways to make serious profit.

Two guests today!

First, the incredible Phil Edwards. If you haven’t seen Phil on Youtube yet, consider this your formal invitation. For a data / culture fiend like me, his videos are a feast every single time. Here are some of my favorites from his recent videos:

• The cult of Buc-ee’s
• I bought a billboard to explain billboards
• Why these playgrounds disappeared

Of course, the video that prompted me to reach out is The secret economics of LEGO, which takes a different look at this whole weird world of investments.

My other guest - Kevin of KDX Bricks Analytics. Kevin’s videos are very straightforward, very numbers- and facts-based, and, as someone who had no exposure to this world, fascinating.

If you want to dip a toe into the LEGO Investing pool, he told me people can get started here:

• Brick Seller Boot Camp

Kevin says, and I quote: “it’s a game changer for anyone doing over $10k of profit annually”.

For Clutch Power supporters, you get a bonus segment with Kevin all about the green flags and red flags of LEGO themes. One theme he mentioned surprised me…makes me want to do an episode on it. Which theme? You’ll have to join to find out!

It’s $2 / month to become a Clutch Power supporter, and you’ll get bonus content + a MOC for every episode!

• Join the Patreon!

All music by Nihilore (www.nihilore.com):

• Alter Ego
• Nonexistent
• Apparition
• Eternal Light
• Laissez-faire

It seems like a no-brainer collab, but LEGO and Nintendo have a history messier than your one bum cousin. On this episode, a look at LEGO and Nintendo’s first time butting heads in the 60s, and how that evolved into the beautiful partnership of 2026.

Today’s guest: Chris Byrne, AKA The Toy Guy! Chris is a genuine talent who’s appeared on Live with Kelly and Mark, Oprah, Good Morning America, and a million other shows! He loves talking toys.

Here are a few of my favorite Chris Byrne appearances:

• Chris’ Ted Talk: How Your Childhood Toys Tell Your Life Story
• Hot Summer Toys 2019 (one of my favorite YouTube thumbnails ever)
• Where Are Kids Today and How to Meet Them

A hundred thousand thanks to Chris for talking with me. Nintendo has such a fascinating history that they don’t really talk about; it was fun looking back!

If you’re a Patreon supporter, you’ll get a bonus act called: “I Dreamed a Dream”. My old podcast collaborator Joseph Thomas and I brainstorm LEGO sets for some lesser-known LEGO themes including:

• Fire Emblem
• Mother
• Tomadachi Life

You’ll also get access to a special MOC just for this episode! I learned how to draw Mario when I was eight and I’m happy to share that those skills transfer to LEGO!

It’s $2 / month to become a Patron, and you’ll get bonus content + a MOC for every episode!

Join the Patreon!

Music by Nihilore (www.nihilore.com):

• The Other Side
• Alter Ego
• An Unwavering Will
• The Author Never Dies
• Forgiven
• Reluctance

Loretta Veney had been building LEGO with her mom for decades. And even after her mom was diagnosed with dementia, their love of LEGO kept them together.

Today’s guests: the wonderful Loretta Veney! Loretta is an inspirational speaker, author, and LEGO Serious Play facilitator. Her mom was diagnosed with dementia in 2006, and in the years after, through the highs and the lows of the disease, LEGO would help ground her mother.

Here are a few links if you want to see more of Loretta:

• Read about Loretta’s mom and LEGOs here.
• WCVE PBS did a wonderful documentary with Loretta and other caregivers and you can see them in action (around 15:30).
• Loretta’s book: Being My Mom’s Mom

Loretta is such a jolt of positivity; I feel honored to share her story.

For Clutch Power supporters, you’ll hear a bonus segment with Natalia Kasperovich. Natalis runs Bricks for Better Brains and ran a study about the relationship between people living with dementia and LEGO. It’s really interesting stuff.

I have experience working with people with dementia and they are often treated like children, so it’s super important to give them agency whenever possible. I love that Natalia’s work is doing that!

You’ll also get access to a MOC I built just for this episode! It’s a portrait of Loretta’s mom, Doris. I hope it does her justice.

It’s $2 / month to become a Clutch Power supporter, and you’ll get bonus content + a MOC for every episode!

• Join the Patreon!

All music by Nihilore (www.nihilore.com):

• Alter Ego
• Nonexistent
• The Water and the Well
• Garden
• Escape
• Aquamarine, My Distant Blue

LEGO Universe shut down on January 31st, 2012. But a group of players are dedicated to keeping the lights still running - 14 years later.

Today’s guests: HailStorm and aronwk from Nexus Universe. Nexus Universe is a public server where you can experience LEGO Universe like it’s 2011 again. It’s extremely simple to set up - only took me a few minutes. All you’ll need is a Discord to get the game key, and you’re on your way!

• Get started here!

Both HailStorm and Aaron warned me of what they call the “scam server”. I won’t get into specifics, but they say it’s another LEGO Universe server that will charge you money for stuff as simple as like levelling up. I can personally vouch that Nexus Universe is safe, credible, and constantly moderated, so if you want to experience LEGO Universe, go with Nexus.

If you’re a Clutch Power supporter, you get a bonus video. My buddy Joe from Jeez! joins me as we play through the opening of LEGO Universe. If you’re not sure if LEGO Universe is for you, check out that video - you’ll get the answer!

You’ll also get access to this MOC I built just for this episode! is a recreation of the Nexus Force symbol (the good guys in LEGO Universe). If you, like me, thought making a five-pointed star would be simple, then you, like me, might be struck but how not true that is.

It’s $2 / month to become a Clutch Power supporter, and you’ll get bonus content + a MOC for every episode!

• Join the Patreon!

All music by Nihilore (www.nihilore.com):

• Alter Ego
• Nonexistent
• Four and a Half Tatami
• Violence

WATCH THIS EPISODE ON YOUTUBE

LEGO says yellow represents every person. LEGO fans of color disagree. On this episode, a deep dive into the origins of the “yellow everyman” and the consequences that’s had on the LEGO fandom.

Today’s guests are numerous and wide-ranging, from philosophers to LEGO Masters contestants. In order of appearance:

• Randall Wilson - LEGO Masters Contestant and Brick Artist
• Wes Royer - founder of BLACKLUG
• Levi Knighten - LEGO fan and writer
• Roy T. Cook - Professor of Philosophy, University of Minnesota
• Corey D. Samuels - LEGO Masters Contestant and LEGO STEM Teacher
• Christine “Tacos” Blandino - LEGO Masters Contestant and LEGO STEM Teacher

This episode is the culmination of months of work, research, and feedback - not just from those six guests. I want to shout-out a few others for working with me on this episode:

• Harrison White
• BrickContractor
• brick5cape
• Syreeta Gates
• Jerry Shannon
• Olivia Sheane (my girlfriend!)

If you’re a Clutch Power supporter, you get a bonus act between Parts 2 and 3 called “The Yellow Option”, where I jump back to 2015 when LEGO’s “yellow minifig myth” was stretched to its limits. I also talk to LEGO fans of color who do use the yellow minifig to represent them. It’s $2 / month to become a Patron, and you’ll get bonus content + a MOC for every episode!

Join the Patreon!

Sources:

• Hollywood’s Racism Exposed…by LEGO (Wired)
• Everything is Racist (Wyatt Cenac)
• Why are Emojis Yellow? (Lily Alexandre)
• The Smiley Face was Invented for Corporate America (Smithsonian Channel)
• The Yellow LEGO Minifigure. Is it Black is it White? View from the kids eye. (Iceberg Bricks)
• Inside the AC360 doll study (CNN)
• The First and Last Time I Experienced Racism (Grindr)
• People Tell The Stories Of The First Time They Experienced Racism! (Yours Truly)
• BILLY DEE WILLIAMS: Lando’s Significance to Star Wars, Chemistry with Diana Ross & Innate Smoothness (Inside of You with Michael Rosenbaum)
• George Lucas talks STAR WARS, Coppola, gender/race + more from Cannes 2024 (That Shelf)
• LEGO Booth Comic-Con 2015 (TrolleyTimeSD)
• San Diego Comic-Con 2015: LEGO Booth Tour (GamesRadar)
• DC & Lego Steal the Show at Comic-Con 2015! (fanlalatv)
• Tested Goes to Comic-Con 2015! (Adam Savage’s Tested)
• Billy Dee Williams • Interview (Star Wars/Lando Calrissian) • 1980 (Reelin’ In The Years Archive)

All music by Nihilore (www.nihilore.com):

• They Walked Into the Arms of Time
• Alter Ego
• Shape of a Gun

20100320.slide.projector.wav (cleaned) by dav0r -- https://freesound.org/s/500413/ -- License: Attribution 4.0

There are over 250 Bricks & Minifigs stores that claim to be independent. But what kind of control does the corporate office have over its franchises?

BAM (Bricks & Minifigs) is entrenched in Internet outrage, at least one lawsuit, and allegations flying around. Many BAM locations have come out with statements saying they are “locally owned and operated small business.” On this episode, I sit down with a franchise attorney to examine BAM’s Franchise Agreement, how it compares to its Operations Manual, and some of the more uncommon aspects of that agreement.

I also take those questions to Ammon McNeff, CEO of Bricks & Minifigs.

In the spirit of transparency, I’ve put up the full, unedited interview with Ammon on my Patreon. You can view it for $2.

• Join the Patreon!

Also, to address claims that I’m working with BAM or I’m in their camp, let me say: I have shared the full interview with Reckless Ben, the YouTuber who put these allegations into the spotlight.

I am more than willing to share any information I have with relevant parties. My loyalty is, and will always be, to the truth. All I ask is that these parties share in that loyalty to the truth.

All music by Nihilore (www.nihilore.com):

• Alter Ego
• Nonexistent
• Building Nests in the Ruins

If you have even a passing interest in LEGO’s larger sets, you’re gonna run into the black boxes. And I, quite frankly, am sick of it.

Today’s guest: Graham E. Hancock, writer and editor of Blocks Magazine. Blocks really carries on the spirit of mid-2000s LEGO Magazine with designer interviews, MOC showcases, and reviews of old LEGO themes. Each issue is massive and I can’t imagine the amount of work that goes into it behind the scenes.

Graham’s actually been on Clutch Power before! In Episode 7: Just How Smart IS This Brick?, we talked about his hands-on experience with the LEGO Smart Brick the day it was announced.

Although if you recognize his name, it’s probably from the thick tome LEGO Star Wars - The Force of Creativity. It’s everything you want to know about LEGO Star Wars up to 2024. If you want newer LEGO Star Wars news, I’ll point you to a special issue of Blocks Magazine: LEGO Star Wars Special Magazine.

If you’re a Clutch Power supporter, you get a bonus act called “Fast Times at Mos Eisley High”. LEGO’s original Mos Eisley Cantina - from 2004 - actually has two box variants, which is the only example I can find of this. Graham talks me through why this happened, which put to rest a 22-year-old mystery.

You’ll also get access to a special MOC just for this episode! I re-created the LEGO black box with a stud for you to put…whatever you want on display! If LEGO’s gonna do it, I’m gonna do it, too!

It’s $2 / month to become a Clutch Power supporter, and you’ll get bonus content + a MOC for every episode!

Join the Patreon!

All music by Nihilore (www.nihilore.com):

• Alter Ego
• Are You Happy
• Diving Violence
• Laissez Faire
• Throne of the Soul
• apeiros
• Violence

Welcome to the world of AFOLs, MOCs, BURPs, SNOT, greebles, and a bunch of other nonsense words LEGO fans use. Wondering where to begin? The author of a LEGO glossary can help.

Today's guest: the charming Jim Winslett! Jim is what I would describe as a hobbyist, and his website shows that: LEGOs, roller coasters, handbells, and his most recent obsession: British hip hop group Pete & Bas.

This is the most philosophical episode I've done so far (but I have many more planned), and it was so fun to dive into the why behind hobby-speak. I'd love to hear from you about your favorite LEGO-isms, and what you've found difficult about getting into the LEGO hobby?

I mention this in the episode, but if you're as deep into LEGO fandom as I am, you'll want to check out Disturbing the Piece podcast. It is about a niche as a LEGO podcast can get (even more than this one, somehow) and it is so entertaining.

If you’re a Patreon supporter, you’ll get a bonus act called: “Pete and Bas and Jim." Jim tells me about his cancer diagnosis and how that hip hop group saved his life (his words - not mine). It's a genuinely great story.

You’ll also get access to a special MOC just for this episode! For this one it is the long-lost LEGO dictionary. I found it deep within the LEGO vaults and am proud to share it with the wide world. Just don't go broadcasting about it or I could get into trouble.

It’s $2 / month to become a Patron, and you’ll get bonus content + a MOC for every episode!

• Join the Patreon!

All music by Nihilore (www.nihilore.com):

• Alter Ego
• Against the Indifference
• Black Light
• Find Me in the Future
• Consequences
• Monolithic
• Bones

LEGO Western may not be the shortest-lasting, the strangest, or the most problematic LEGO theme, but it’s up there. On this episode, a look back at the good, the bad, and the ugly legacy of these 24 sets with one of the people who knows it best.

Today’s guests include the one and only TrikBrix! Jamie has huge Clutch Power guest energy with his deep dives into 80s and 90s LEGO themes, and I’m so happy I got to talk about LEGO Western with him. You can really tell how much he loves this theme - if his masterful retrospectives didn’t give it away:

• The Gold Rush of 1996
• LEGO 6746 Chief’s Tepee
• LEGO 6718 Raindance Ridge (& Friends!)

But honestly you can’t go wrong with any of his videos. Jamie has some of the highest quality LEGO content you’ll find, period, end of sentence. Every frame of his videos is a masterpiece.

I’m also honored to introduce you to two scholars in Part 2 of this episode:

• James Mackay, Associate Professor of Literature and Digital Cultures at European University Cyprus
• Gregory Smithers, Ph.D., author, professor of History at Virginia Commonwealth University, and researcher

Both of these men are absolute gems and gave me so much to ponder about Native American representation. I grew up in Alabama and my school didn’t give Native Americans a lot of focus - at least, not in the way you’d want in 2026. I can’t get over something James said - about how a “Native American LEGO set” is the same as a “white person LEGO set” or “black person LEGO set” which obviously would not fly.

If you want to read more about LEGO and Native American representation, here are some great articles:

• Native American Heritage and LEGO Representation (BrickNerd)
• Disappointing action behind LEGOLAND disappearing act (The Copenhagen Post)

If you’re a Patreon supporter, you’ll get a bonus act called: “The Music of 90s LEGO”. Jamie writes all the music for his videos, so I wanted to chat with him about his process, as well as throwing some curveball LEGO themes at him to see what kind of music he’d think up. Also - hot takes on Time Cruisers!

You’ll also get access to a special MOC just for this episode! I love this one: a classic Western standoff, with a sunset, silhouette, revolver. Man I love the Wild West.

It’s $2 / month to become a Patron, and you’ll get bonus content + a MOC for every episode!

Join the Patreon!

Songs from:

Nihilore (www.nihilore.com):

• A way

WombatNoisesAudio:

• Song: Cesare Rides Again
• Website: https://soundcloud.com/user-734462061
• License: Creative Commons (BY 3.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
• Music powered by BreakingCopyright: https://breakingcopyright.com

And TrikBricks:

• Wild West Background
• Wild West Intro
• Wild West Theme
• Wild West - The Tribe

There are a lot of sexy alt-bricks brands out there. Lumibricks. Bluebrixx. Pantasy. I made a lifelong commitment to LEGO, but I’ll be honest…the temptation is strong.

Today’s guest: Jackson Sandler of LEGO YouTube fame. Jackson burst into the scene about a year ago with his phenomenal video Building All 36 Minikits from Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga.

Since then, it’s been banger after banger of mid-2000s LEGO themes. As someone who grew up in that time, I am loving the content.

• 2008 LEGO City Police was PEAK
• Building the LEGENDARY 2008 Death Star

And of course his video that inspired the episode:

• LEGO: The Rise of Alt-Bricks

I know these alt-bricks can be controversial with us LEGO purists, but Jackson and I ranked some brands that you might want to check out:

• Lumibricks
• Pantasy
• Mattel Brick Shop (formerly Mega)

If you’re a Patreon supporter, you’ll get a bonus act called: “My Hero” talking about his passion for Guitar Hero. Jackson will occasionally post a video on social media, playing Guitar Hero to some meme LEGO sounds. His video on the LEGO Star Wars Video Game death sounds is particularly good.

You’ll also get access to a special MOC just for this episode! There’s an underground movement of anti-LEGO fans, and here’s some of their graffiti. Just don’t tell LEGO I built this…

It’s $2 / month to become a Patron, and you’ll get bonus content + a MOC for every episode!

• Join the Patreon!

All music by Nihilore (www.nihilore.com):

• Alter Ego
• Mendel Hypercube
• A Vision of Light
• The Mountains, My Home
• Whispers Invoke Paranoia

If you’re over 10 years old going to a LEGOLAND park, something will feel off. The parks are…barren. Low attendance, badly-maintained attractions, and limited entertainment staff. LEGO is obsessed with high quality, so why are LEGOLANDs so shoddy?

I’m proud to declare this Clutch Power’s first two-person interview! Dan Ibbertson of Slope’s Game Room and Slope’s Adventures, and his buddy Andrew Dalton (who’s appeared on many Slope’s Adventures videos). Both these guys are theme park mega-fans, and they’ve done some great coverage on UK theme parks, specifically Merlin Entertainments, who owns every LEGOLAND.

A few LEGO-centric episodes:

• The Sad State of Merlin Entertainment
• Former LEGOLAND Performer Interview
• Is LEGOLAND Discovery Centre Manchester worth it???

A ton of theme park discussion in this episode, and if you want to dip your toe into theme park YouTube, I cannot recommend Defunctland enough. The quality on these videos is unbelievable. Here’s the specific video I reference in this episode:

• The History of Coney Island

If you’re a Patreon supporter, you’ll get a bonus act called: “This Park’s Theme? Nightmare!” Dan and Andrew share tales from Merlin parks, a really bevy of horror stories. The Peppa Pig park story in particular (4 P’s!) is my favorite.

You’ll also get access to a special MOC just for this episode! I built LEGOLAND Windsor’s front gate (before the renovation). Yet even this small build conveys that feeling of emptiness.

It’s just $5 / month to become a Patron, and you’ll get bonus content + a MOC for all episodes!

Join the Patreon!

All music by Nihilore (www.nihilore.com):

• Alter Ego
• Facticity
• The Dweller on the Threshold
• Hailstorm
• Noctivagant
• Artifice
• Something Beautiful is Going to Happen

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If you don’t live near a Bricks & Minifigs store, you will soon. These secondhand LEGO stores are expanding incredibly quickly, and I swung by a grand opening to chat with locals, management, and LEGO Masters about what makes these stores so special.

YES, this is a video and YES it was a lot of fun to put together.

I talked to so many wonderful people but I want to highlight a couple:

Jake Faust - Owner of Bricks & Minifigs Brentwood and Bricks & Minifigs Bellevue. I can’t believe this guy is only 26! Which means he opened the BAM in Bellevue at 23 / 24…absolutely incredible. He’s such a warm guy and if you want to see more from him, Beyond the Brick did an interview with him a few years ago.

Brittain Edison and Niki Loheit - Sisters and LEGO Masters competitors. Brittain and Niki have done several BAM openings and I am in awe of how approachable and friendly they are - even after hours of doing meet and greets!

If you’re a Patreon supporter, you’ll get a bonus segment in Part 2, where I search for the most expensive LEGO set at BAM Bellevue. Even now, a week later, I’m still confused as to why it’s that set that costs that much.

This is normally where I’d put a picture of the special MOC built for this episode, but…I don’t want to spoil it! If you become a Patron, you’ll get access to that extra content, along with bonus content + a MOC for every episode!

Join the Patreon!

All music by Nihilore (www.nihilore.com):

• Alter Ego
• Bush Week
• Garden
• Untitled

April 23rd, 2019. Shanghai Police arrest nine people, smash assembly lines, and raid a warehouse. It looks like a LEGO factory, but it’s not. This is Lepin, a Chinese knockoff company that will get shut down by 2021. But with knockoff LEGO companies facing such severe penalties, why are there more than ever before?

Two very educated guests for this episode! First, Aaron Wininger, Principal and Director of the China IP Practice at Schwegman Lundberg & Woessner, P.A., which advertises a boutique law firm with a focus on Intellectual Property. Aaron is extremely knowledgeable about the relationship between China and trademarks, and I’m so grateful he took some time out of his undoubtedly busy schedule to chat.

Aaron often writes for the National Law Review, and has been featured in:

• Bloomberg
• IPLaw360
• The Fashion Law

And many more. You can find more about Aaron here!

My second guest is Dylan O. Adams, a patent attorney at Davis Wright Tremaine LLP. On top of being a #1 Amazon best seller, a featured expert on CNBC, and a million other laurels, he also runs the YouTube channel Patents Demystified, which is a wonderful resource if you’re writing an IP-focused episode of your LEGO podcast, or if you have any curiosity about IP law in general.

If you’re a Patreon supporter, you’ll get a bonus act called: “The Mega Question” where I ask Dylan about the difference between Mega Bloks and Lepin and - as it turns out - LEGO has tried to shut Mega Bloks down in the past. Over a dozen lawsuits! I’d hate to be on the other side of that. You’ll also get access to a special MOC just for this episode! In true Lepin fashion I ripped off a official mini Millennium Falcon but with the added bonus that this one is extremely unstable and will probably fall apart before you can even mount it. How else can I replicate the quality of Lepin products?

It’s just $5 / month to become a Patron, and you’ll get bonus content + a MOC for every episode!

Join the Patreon!

All music by Nihilore (www.nihilore.com):

• Alter Ego
• The Cage
• The Water and the Well
• The Other Side
• Hemiteleia
• Four and a Half Tatami
• Shapes Within the Jade