Can your hobby become the next best selling board game? If you’ve ever wondered how to turn your weekend hobby into something magical and marketable, this episode is your cheat sheet.

In this episode of Making It In The Toy Industry, I’m unpacking the gold that Elizabeth Hargrave, the brilliant mind behind Wingspan, dropped in our conversation from last week’s episode so you don’t miss a thing.

You’ll discover why designing around real-life experience is the secret to a standout game, how Elizabeth’s deep love for birding led to Wingspan’s immersive mechanics, and why tapping into the right creative community can level up your game from legal tips to pitch feedback.

Plus, you’ll hear the exact strategy Elizabeth used to land her first-ever game deal, including the simple practice method that helped her pitch with confidence and clarity. You’ll even hear a little brainstorm from me! Turning my salsa dancing obsession into a hypothetical board game and I promise it’ll get your gears turning!

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What are your hobbies? I personally enjoy dance, specifically latin dance and often I wonder, “What if I could translate salsa dancing into a toy or game?”. Well today, we’re going to explore that possibility. Today my guest shares how she turned her hobby into a best selling board game!

In this episode of Making It in the Toy Industry, I’m joined by Elizabeth Hargrave, award-winning board game designer and co-founder of the Tabletop Game Designers Association. You might know her from her hit game Wingspan, which turned the world of nature and birdwatching into one of the most beloved engine-building games of all time.

Elizabeth shares how she took her passion for the natural world and used it to build a meaningful and immersive game that fully translated the experience of birding. Our conversation today circles around how to accurately translate the “experience” of doing various hobbies to a tabletop play pattern. In my opinion that’s the secret sauce of how Elizabeth created such an incredible game on her first try.

During this episode, we also talk about her upcoming game Sanibel, inspired by collecting seashells on the beach. A hobby so simple and a game so elegant, that I’m sure you’ll find yourself inspired to build a tabletop experience based on your hobbies.

Listen For These Important Moments:

• [00:01:12] - What started as a love for birdwatching became Wingspan, a wildly successful board game that blends strategy with nature through clever engine-building mechanics.
• [00:04:07] - Elizabeth introduces the Tabletop Game Designers Association, which offers support with contracts, advocacy, and education, perfect for both new and seasoned game designers.
• [00:10:51] - From butterflies to beachcombing, see how personal passions can evolve into meaningful, immersive game themes that resonate with players.
• [00:23:07] - Elizabeth’s Wingspan pitch journey proves you don’t. Learn how smart feedback, persistence, and a strong prototype can open doors for your game invention.
• [00:34:49] - Even with success, staying grounded in playtesting and peer feedback is key to creating games that last. No shortcuts, just a solid creative process.

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Your Low-Stress, Start-To-Finish Playful Product Launch In 5 Steps
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Licensing a tabletop game doesn’t require years of experience or a perfectly polished prototype. What it really takes is a strong idea, a strategic approach, and the confidence to put yourself out there.

In this episode of Making It In The Toy Industry, I’m sitting down with April Mitchell, motivational speaker, licensing expert, TCA Alumni, and founder of 4A’s Creations, LLC. This past year April licensed 6 tabletop games!

How did she do it? April shares the creative system and pitching approach that helped her get those deals signed, all while co-creating a powerful resource for other game inventors , the Tabletop Game Design Masterclass with industry veteran Ed Gartin.

You’ll hear how a simple name like “Pizza Pie” sparked a full-blown licensing deal, why maintaining a pipeline of game ideas helps you license faster, and the key differences between virtual and in-person pitching that can make or break your chances. You’ll also discover what to do when a game isn’t clicking with playtesters, how to successfully collaborate with other designers, and why long-term momentum in licensing comes from strategy, not luck.

Listen for These Important Moments:

• [00:03:45] - Hear how a road trip idea became a fully licensed tabletop game and how April co-developed and pitched it with lightning speed.
• [00:08:34] - Explore the pros and cons of virtual vs. in-person pitching and how choosing the right moment to go live can boost your licensing odds.
• [00:13:38] - Discover how creative storytelling, educational twists, and everyday life inspired two of the most personal games April has ever made.
• [00:17:33] - Learn how to juggle multiple game concepts at different stages so you’re always prototyping, pitching, or playtesting something.
• [00:22:51] - The biggest takeaways from April’s journey from pitching smarter to building unstoppable momentum with the right system.

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Support the show

Popular Masterclass! How To Make & Sell Your Toy Ideas
Your Low-Stress, Start-To-Finish Playful Product Launch In 5 Steps
>> https://learn.thetoycoach.com/masterclass <<