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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 EgoNonexistentAnti-NostalgiaápeirosFound 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 MinersWes on Monkie KidKevin on LEGO IdeasYou’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 TwoGlimmerThe AbsurdCh-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 TeacherChristine “Tacos” Blandino - LEGO Masters Contestant and LEGO STEM TeacherI 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 EgoNonexistent

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