Matching Minds with Sondheim: The Podcast
Matching Minds with Sondheim: The Podcast
Podcast Description
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.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
Focuses on Sondheim's passion for puzzles and games, examining topics such as the influence of games in his musicals and his interest in escape rooms. Episodes include discussions on the cultural significance of escape rooms and how Sondheim's clever uses of games are evident in shows like 'Company' and 'Sweeney Todd.'
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 brings his Matching Minds with Sondheim book tour to London, leading a Sondheim games workshop and presenting “The Puzzling Mind of Sondheim” at NYU London and a special event at Upstairs at the Gatehouse with the Stephen Sondheim Society. The episode includes live performance excerpts (with Oliver Sidney, Rhys Lambert, and Colm Molloy), a first live rendition of the podcast theme, and discussion of Sondheim’s puzzle-editing legacy at New York Magazine, his ties to British cryptics, and his iterative playtesting process, alongside extensive thanks to collaborators, performers, and coordinators.
00:00 London Tour Whirlwind
02:31 NYU London Welcome
04:20 Barry Opens The Talk
07:19 Sondheim Board Game Stardom
10:24 Bartletts Parlor Game Demo
16:08 Wordplay And Cryptics
22:48 Puzzle Boxes And Clarity
26:36 Q And A Highlights
33:33 Sondheim Society Night Begins
36:11 Live Theme Song Performance
38:00 Puzzles As Art Order
39:18 Clarity vs Connection
41:57 Warmup Treasure Clues
44:48 Bernstein Board Game
48:48 Treasure Hunt Theater
51:40 British Cryptic Roots
53:55 Apex Crossword Circle
57:49 Bespoke Jigsaw Gifts
01:02:23 Songs and Game Metaphors
01:09:38 Parlor Game Murder
01:16:27 Q&A Design Lessons
Special Links:
Thanks to everyone who contributed behind the scenes to this episode: the Musical Stingers composed by Mateo Chavez Lewis, our line producer Dennis Caouki, and the theme song to our podcast with lyrics and music by Colm Molloy and sung by the one and only Anne Morrison. And of course thank you to both New York University and The Stephen Sondheim Society.
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