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Matching Minds with Sondheim: The Podcast

Matching Minds with Sondheim: The Podcast

Auteur(s): Barry Joseph & Broadway Podcast Network
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À propos de cet audio

 Matching Minds with Sondheim: The Podcast in an open invitation into the puzzle-loving, game-designing mind of Broadway legend Stephen Sondheim. Based on the acclaimed book by Barry Joseph, each episode uncovers the hidden world of Sondheim’s lifelong passion for treasure hunts, cryptic crosswords, parlor games, and more. Join Barry and his guests—puzzle-makers, game designers, and Sondheim aficionados—as they explore how Sondheim's playful designs delivered moments of clarity and connection for friends, colleagues, and anyone who's ever been captivated by his genius. Whether you’re a musical theater fan, a puzzlehead, or just Sondheim-curious, this series invites you to match minds with Sondheim. Make sure to get the book everywhere books are found, or click here.Barry Joseph & Broadway Podcast Network Art Divertissement et arts de la scène Monde
Épisodes
  • #10 - The Brooklyn Book Festival - It’s Puzzling: The Power of Crosswords and Games

    #10 - The Brooklyn Book Festival - It’s Puzzling: The Power of Crosswords and Games
    Oct 14 2025
    In It's Puzzling: The Power of Crosswords and Games, host Natan Last, author of the cultural history of crosswords, Across the Universe, moderates a discussion at the Brooklyn Book Festival with Barry Joseph, game designer and author of Matching Minds with Sondheim, and Juliana Pache, the creator of Black Crossword. The conversation delves into the cultural significance of games and puzzles and how they reflect history and community. Barry shares insights from his book while Juliana discusses the creation of Black Crossword and how it connects the African diaspora through daily mini puzzles. They explore themes such as the joy of solving cryptic crosswords, the social dynamics of community-based puzzles, and the personal impacts of puzzling on their own lives. The episode also introduces listeners to the intricacies of cryptic crosswords and how Sondheim popularized them in America. Make sure to get the book everywhere books are found, ⁠⁠or click here⁠⁠. 00:00 Introduction and Book Tour Updates 01:54 Brooklyn Book Festival Panel Introduction 02:49 Meet the Panelists 04:20 The Cultural Significance of Games and Puzzles 09:05 Creating Black Crossword 11:58 Sondheim's Fascination with Games 13:38 The Intersection of Puzzles and Culture 20:00 Challenges and Innovations in Crossword Puzzles 25:55 The Everything Bagel Crossword Controversy 26:25 The Art of Clue Writing 28:38 Community and Crosswords 30:32 The Power of Black Crosswords 34:42 Cryptic Crosswords Explained 37:08 Sondheim's Puzzle Legacy 41:42 Personal Stories and Puzzle Connections 44:26 Closing Thoughts on Crosswords and Community Special Links: Colm Molloy Ann Morrison Mateo Chavez Lewis Natan Last Juliana Pache Brooklyn Book Festival Locavore Variety Store Recent talk: Interview and book reading at The Drama Book Shop Recent talk: Playing and Composing with Graduate Students at NYU Recent talk: Sondheim Week at the New York Public Library for The Performing Arts Matching Minds with Sondheim: The Exhibit Thanks to everyone who contributed behind the scenes to this episode, specifically the musical stingers composed by Mateo Chavez Lewis, and the theme song to our podcast with lyrics and music by Colm Molloy, and sung by the one and only Ann Morrison, who created the role of Mary in Merrily We Roll Along. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    54 min
  • #09 - Sondheim and the 2013 City Center Treasure Hunt

    #09 - Sondheim and the 2013 City Center Treasure Hunt
    Oct 7 2025
    Barry Joseph and guests walk through Sondheim’s final treasure hunt. Guests Kellian Adams Pletcher, a game designer at FableVision Studios, and Robert Lee, a faculty member and current chair of NYU's Tisch School of the Arts Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program, join Barry to analyze and discuss Sondheim's love for treasure hunts. Together they explore his design of the 2013 City Center Treasure Hunt and the engaging experiences created for friends. The episode features anecdotes from participants in the 2013 City Center treasure hunt (Marty Granoff, Erin Ortman, Alexander Gemignani) highlighting Sondheim's genius in creating these immersive and fun-filled games. It also features analysis from those Joseph brought together to solve them for his book ( Andrew Parr, Jess Butler, Michael Mitnick, Mark Halpin, Richard Malty Jr.) in a half-day “re-staging”. Listen to learn more about Sondheim's playful side, his intellectual generosity, and the intricate puzzles that made his hunts legendary. Make sure to get the book everywhere books are found, ⁠⁠or click here⁠⁠. 00:00 Introduction to Matching Minds with Sondheim 01:15 Meet the Guests: Kellian Adams Pletcher and Robert Lee 02:28 Robert Lee's Journey with Sondheim and Games 06:19 Kellian's Early Love for Treasure Hunts 07:56 Stephen Sondheim's 2013 City Center Treasure Hunt 11:38 The Mechanics of the Treasure Hunt 20:51 Reflections on Sondheim's Puzzle Design 34:28 Exploring Ballroom Game Formats 34:55 Debating Sondheim's Puzzle Intentions 36:50 Diving into the Clues 38:16 The Thrill of Solving Puzzles 39:49 Sondheim's Puzzle Design Philosophy 41:32 The Grid and Grill Puzzle Challenge 43:17 Inclusivity in Puzzle Design 44:37 Solving Clue Number 12 48:57 Reflecting on Sondheim's Legacy 59:35 Final Thoughts and Farewell Special Links: Colm Molloy Ann Morrison Mateo Chavez Lewis Thanks to everyone who contributed behind the scenes to this episode, specifically transcription and text editing by Jenny Westfall, the musical stingers composed by Mateo Chavez Lewis, and the theme song to our podcast with lyrics and music by Colm Molloy, and sung by the one and only Ann Morrison, who created the role of Mary in Merrily We Roll Along. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 h et 6 min
  • #08 - Periodically Sondheim: His Puzzling Magazines

    #08 - Periodically Sondheim: His Puzzling Magazines
    Sep 30 2025
    Barry Joseph and guest Andrew Parr page through Stephen Sondheim's passion for puzzle and game magazines. From Sondheim's early fascination with cryptic crosswords to his last major interview about puzzles, this episode uncovers how these collections provided inspiration for his works. Discover how Sondheim managed and preserved his assemblage, hear contributions from renowned puzzle creators, and explore the generational impact of Sondheim's puzzling endeavors. Make sure to get the book everywhere books are found, ⁠⁠or click here⁠⁠. 00:00 Introduction and Welcome 00:42 Introducing Tonight's Episode 01:56 Meet Andrew Parr 03:43 Andrew's Puzzle Box Journey 05:22 Connecting with Sondheim 08:13 Sondheim's Puzzle Collection 13:56 The Doyle Auction Experience 23:13 Unboxing Sondheim's Collection 25:34 Stephen Sondheim's Quest for Eye-Witness 26:41 The Significance of Games and Puzzles Magazine 28:29 Games Magazine and the 4-Star Puzzler 29:36 Stephen Sondheim's Puzzle-Solving Habits 36:55 Sondheim's Markings and Interests in Games 42:58 The Impact of Sondheim's Collection 47:08 Concluding Thoughts and Reflections Special Links: Results from Sondheim auction Andrew Parr’s True North Puzzles Dr. Nicholas Phillips’ AffineCreations Games World of Puzzles magazine The Strong Museum of Play Colm Molloy Ann Morrison Mateo Chavez Lewis Thanks to everyone who contributed behind the scenes to this episode, specifically transcription and text editing by Jenny Westfall, the musical stingers composed by Mateo Chavez Lewis, and the theme song to our podcast with lyrics and music by Colm Molloy, and sung by the one and only Ann Morrison, who created the role of Mary in Merrily We Roll Along. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    54 min
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