Ep. 115: Kathy Wise from Mahj the Mag, Jason's Law + Ira's Mahjong Outrage
The Mahjcast: Two Bros Talk MahjongShow Notes
This week on The Mahjcast, Jason and Ira sit down with Kathy Wise, founder and editor of Mahj the Magazine, for an amazing conversation about the launch of the magazine, the power of print, the growing mahjong community, Texas pool mahj, centerfold dreams, and why mahjong storytelling is officially having a moment. Plus, Jason finally gets his copy of Mahj the Magazine — after only a minor USPS saga — and the guys unpack the Charleston issue, Kathy’s vision, and why this magazine feels more like a gorgeous coffee table book than something you toss in a pile. Then, things get groundbreaking. Jason unveils his bold new proposal for the National Mahjong League: it involves Jokers, and it's nothing to joke about. Ira thinks it’s the dumbest idea he’s ever heard. Jason thinks it’s the future of the game. The debate is fierce, historic, and possibly important enough to be known forever as Jason’s Law. Also in this episode: Ira’s latest teaching adventures, Jason’s losing streak finally ends, Spools Tiles get a full Mahj Bros review, Kim Eagle hits 30K followers, the mahjong podcast world keeps growing, and the Cane Bay Mahjong crew prepares for a 48-hour Guinness World Record mahjathon. This one has magazines, mahj moments, rule reform, and just the right amount of stupidity. Pull up a chair, rack your tiles, and let's play.
More from The Mahjcast: Two Bros Talk Mahjong
This week, the Mahj Bros welcome the one and only Jamie Lynn Sigler! From playing Meadow Soprano on one of television's most iconic shows to becoming an author, podcast host, and full-fledged mahjong maven, Jamie joins Jason and Ira for a hilarious, heartfelt, and completely unfiltered conversation. Turns out, Jamie learned mahjong the Texas way, complete with blanks, a few loosey-goosey rules, and some revelations that nearly sent the Mahj Bros over the edge! She dishes on her mahjong obsession, her favorite ways to play, and how the game has become a meaningful source of friendship, connection, and joy while navigating life's challenges. And of course, we couldn't let her leave without imagining what a mahjong night with Carmela, Meadow, Dr. Melfi, and the rest of The Sopranos crew might look like. Fuggedaboutit! PLUS: The fabulous 10-Joker @Zac.Mathias joins us to share an incredible cause benefiting the Breast Cancer Alliance, and the Bros are getting in on the action! We're also giving the 2026 NMJL card a six-month review, celebrating some @MiniMahjDaily victories, and dishing on all the latest Mahj Moments. It's an episode packed with laughs, a little controversy, and a whole lot of heart. Pull up a chair, rack your tiles, and let's play! 🎧 Listen, follow, and share The Mahjcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Amazon Music. 📲 Instagram & Facebook: @themahjbros 🌐 www.themahjbros.com 💗 Support the Breast Cancer Alliance: www.breastcanceralliance.org 📖 Check out Jamie Lynn Sigler's And So it Is: A Memoir of Acceptance and Hope on Amazon here
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This week on The Mahjcast, we’re joined by Lara from @larasmahjongedit, one of the fastest-rising teachers in the mahjiverse, to talk about how she went from teaching herself the game to building a huge online mahjong community, plus her best advice for beginners, Charleston strategy, black dragons, tournaments, playing for money and more. Then Jason and Ira get into a question they’ve been asking for a while: why don’t more men mahj? We dig into some of the history of mahjong in America, how it became so closely associated with women, and why the game may finally be having a bro moment. Plus: Mini Mahj Daily drama, a very competitive mailbag, mahjong tells, a lost card found, @sodakmahj hysterics, a grandmother’s vintage set, and plenty of nonsense along the way. Pull up a chair, rack your tiles, and let’s play. Follow The Mahj Bros: Instagram: @themahjbros Facebook: @themahjbros Check out our site and new merch: www.themahjbros.com Follow Lara: Instagram: @larasmahjongedit Website: www.laurasmahjongedit.com
This week on The Mahjcast, it’s Jason’s birthday, and the Bros are celebrating with one of our BIGGEST episodes yet. 🎂🀄 First up, the hysterical social media mahjong sensations @mahjladies pull up a chair. Mara and Sharon talk about going from a decades-long weekly mahjong game to social media stardom, Cameos, mahjong fame, questionable tuna fish etiquette, pickleball, the Alamo, Marshalls, and everything in between. Let’s just say there wasn’t a dry Depends to be found. And then, a Mahjcast exclusive: Lesssssssslie Kimel, founder and creator of @MiniMahjDaily, joins us for a rare interview about the phenomenon that has taken the mahjong world by storm. Leslie gives us the story behind MMD, how she built the “Wordle of mahjong,” what nearly half a million games played looks like, why Ivy is such a bitch, the recent National Mah Jongg League card rollout, and where Mini Mahj Daily goes from here. Plus: 🀄 Jason and Ira play the 1973–74 NMJL card 🀄 Ira reveals the final results of his Summer Challenge… and then loses the evidence 🀄 A birthday edition of “How Well Does Ira Know Jason?” 🀄 The Mahj Bros Battle heats up on Mini Mahj Daily 🀄 And The Last Tile looks at the creators, personalities and communities turning mahjong from a game into a full-blown lifestyle It’s funny, a little inappropriate, occasionally educational, and very Mahj Bros. Pull up a chair. Rack your tiles. Let’s play. 🎧 Listen to The Mahjcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and Amazon Music 📲 Follow us on Instagram & Facebook: @themahjbros 🌐 Everything Mahj Bros: themahjbros.com And, as always… may the jokers be with you. 🀄
Ira is back in the studio, the mahjiverse is busy, and this week’s episode has a little bit of everything. We’re recapping Jason’s latest tournament adventure with his mom in New Jersey, checking in on Ira’s very loosely defined “challenge,” and celebrating a big update from Mini Mahj Daily that's quite literally, a game changer. Then Kim Eagle from @ladiesthatmahj joins us for CALL IT, where one seemingly simple mahjong etiquette question turns into exactly the kind of debate we love: part rules, part courtesy, part strategy, and very much up for discussion. We’ve also got updates on upcoming trips and events, plenty of Mahj Bros chaos, and one of our best Mailbags yet with some incredibly thoughtful, funny, and very on-brand notes and gifts from listeners. And yes, there’s a little New Year energy in the air too as we ring in 5787, with a Last Tile about tradition, community, and why this game keeps bringing people together. Pull up a chair, rack your tiles, and let’s play. 🛍️ Shop the Mahj Bros store at themahjbros.com Use code PINKICEDTEA for 20% off through the end of the month. 📲 Follow us on Instagram & Facebook: @themahjbros 💌 Send us your table drama, rules debates, Mahj Moments and confessions at [email protected]