In Episode 13 of Tales From The Brick, Jon (8 Bit Bricks) sits down with Daniel Siskind, the visionary founder of Brickmania, a company that transformed a passion for building into one of the most recognizable brands in the custom LEGO space.

From receiving one of the earliest LEGO sets as a child to building an empire of high-end, military-inspired kits, Daniel shares how his obsession with parts, creativity, and community led to the creation of Brickmania. What started as small, handmade runs of custom sets quickly evolved into a full-scale operation, complete with in-house printing, design, and production.

The conversation dives into the early days of sourcing bricks before BrickLink existed, the hustle of turning eBay sales into startup capital, and how customer demand unexpectedly pushed Brickmania into the military niche it’s known for today. Daniel also opens up about scaling from solo builder to running a full team, the realities of balancing business with community, and what it takes to stay innovative in a rapidly evolving hobby.

From basement builds to industrial printers, this episode is a deep dive into what happens when passion meets persistence—and how one builder helped shape an entire corner of the LEGO world.

📍 Find Daniel Siskind/BrickMania: • brickmania.com • Instagram: @brickmania_toys

To find the best LEGO deals, check out the Bargain Bricks app

Until next time… play well.

In Episode 12 of Tales From The Brick, Jon (8 Bit Bricks) sits down with Corey Samuels - LEGO Masters champion, STEM educator, and the most dapper LEGO Masters contestant. He shares his journey from a kid in New Jersey building freestyle creations to becoming a standout contestant on LEGO Masters, and eventually taking home the trophy. Along the way, he dives into how LEGO became more than just a hobby, transforming into a career rooted in education, storytelling, and inspiring the next generation of builders.

The conversation explores behind-the-scenes moments from LEGO Masters, the hustle of turning pandemic-era uncertainty into a thriving STEM business, and how Corey built his own path teaching kids through creativity and hands-on learning. From viral builds to building a brand, Corey’s story is all about betting on yourself and building something bigger than bricks.

📍 Find Corey Samuels: • Instagram / TikTok / YouTube: @samzbrago

Until next time… play well.

In Episode 11 of Tales From The Brick, Jon (8 Bit Bricks) is joined by Liz Puleo, LEGO Masters Season 3 contestant, teacher, and creative force behind @lizpbuilds. Liz shares her unconventional journey into LEGO - from being banned from her brother’s basement LEGO city as a kid to rediscovering the hobby through her children and diving headfirst into the AFOL community during COVID.

They talk about Liz’s rapid rise from building her first MOC to winning Best Pop Culture at her first convention, going viral in the LEGO community, and ultimately landing on LEGO Masters as one half of the unforgettable “Masshole Moms.” The episode also dives into her experience on the show, from chaotic challenges and behind-the-scenes stories to building under pressure, embracing creativity, and how LEGO became both a personal passion and a powerful outlet for connection and joy.

📍 Find Liz Puleo: • Instagram: @lizpbuilds • TikTok: @lizpbuilds

Until next time… play well.

In Episode 10 of Tales From The Brick, Jon (8 Bit Bricks) is joined by TJ Bricky, LEGO Ambassador, content creator, and licensed therapist. TJ shares how LEGO has been part of his life since childhood, from early ‘90s sets to rediscovering the hobby through the Las Vegas Architecture skyline and diving back in fully with massive builds like the Titanic and Eiffel Tower.

They talk about LEGO as both a creative outlet and a therapeutic tool, from mindfulness and reconnecting with your inner child to TJ’s real-world experience using LEGO in therapy sessions with kids. The episode also explores content creation, conventions, the online LEGO community, and why the best way to enjoy the hobby is simply to do LEGO your way.

📍 Find TJ Bricky: • TikTok: @tj.bricky • Instagram: @tj.bricky • YouTube: @tj.bricky • Twitch: @tjbricky

Until next time… play well.

In Episode 9 of Tales From The Brick, Jon (8 Bit Bricks) is joined by Maddie (BrickenMad), a LEGO builder and BrickFair staff member who shares her journey into the hobby and her perspective as an LGBTQ+ member of the LEGO community. Maddie talks about growing up around LEGO with four brothers, rediscovering the bricks during the pandemic, and how that rediscovery led to building travel-inspired MOCs, collecting modulars, and eventually sharing her creations online.

They also discuss Maddie’s time creating LEGO content on TikTok, how the platform and creator landscape have changed over the years, and the welcoming nature of the LEGO community for builders of all backgrounds. The episode touches on inclusive communities like AFOL Gals and Pals and GayFOL, the experience of attending and working at BrickFair, and the creativity that comes from building for fun—including the viral moment when Maddie’s cat turned the LEGO Colosseum into the world’s most expensive cat bed.

📍 Find Maddie online: • Instagram: @Bricken_Mad • TikTok: @BrickenMad

Until next time… play well.

In Episode 8 of Tales From The Brick, Jon (8 Bit Bricks) sits down with John Sosis—host of the Building Friendships podcast/web series and LEGO Ideas creator behind the Full House submission with Jodie Sweetin. John shares the unexpectedly intense story of how LEGO re-entered his life in 2014 during recovery from major surgeries, when he stumbled into a Toys “R” Us, grabbed the Palace Cinema modular, and rediscovered a version of LEGO that was far more detailed—and far more customizable—than what he remembered as a kid. From there, it spiraled (in the best way) into a deep dive through missed themes, aftermarket hunting, and ultimately building a platform where guests open up while they build.

The conversation veers into the modern LEGO ecosystem: aftermarket chaos, scalping culture, pricing creep, GWPs, and whether LEGO’s increasing focus on adults could someday expand into “edgier” IP territory. John also breaks down how Building Friendships evolved from a scrappy apartment shoot into a studio production with big-name guests, why ~450 pieces is the sweet spot for a one-hour interview, and how LEGO acts as the perfect distraction that gets people talking—sometimes too honestly. He closes with practical creator advice: stop overthinking, hit record, iterate, and let the show find its shape over time.

📍 Find John Sosis:

• Instagram / TikTok: @sayaintososis

• YouTube: @buildingfriendships

Until next time… play well.

In Episode 7 of Tales From The Brick, Jon (8 Bit Bricks) is joined by Andrew Bulthaupt, owner and administrator of BZPower, one of the longest-running Bionicle fan communities on the internet. Andrew shares how Bionicle’s rich mythology and transmedia storytelling pulled him in at just the right moment in the early 2000s - and how BZPower grew from a merger of early fan sites into a 25-year-old community that predates YouTube, Wikipedia, and modern social media. They discuss how fandom evolved from message boards to today’s content-creator landscape, why Bionicle remains a small but fiercely loyal niche, and how fans—including former Bionicle builders who are now LEGO designers—continue to shape the hobby.

The conversation also dives into Bionicle’s convention roots (especially BrickFair), the evolution of Bionicle MOCs into more organic, sculpture-like builds, and the ways the community still gathers today through the Bionicle LUG.

The episode closes on a heartfelt tribute to Joe Meno (our guest from episode 2), reflecting on his warmth, his passion, and the lasting impact he had on the LEGO community - from Toy Fair memories to the simple joy of catching up at conventions.

📍 Find BZPower & BioniLUG: • bzpower.com • bionilug.com

Until next time… play well.

In Episode 6 of Tales From The Brick, Jon (8 Bit Bricks) is joined by Erin Landry, Season 3 LEGO Masters contestant and owner of Bottomless Bricks in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. Erin shares how she found LEGO as an adult through family life, garage-sale brick hunts, and pop-culture favorites like the LEGO Ideas Yellow Submarine—eventually turning that passion into a community-focused LEGO business.

They talk about what it’s really like to run an independent LEGO shop, navigating a three-year shutdown, reopening stronger after LEGO Masters, and why staying authentic matters when building both a business and a community. The episode also dives into LEGO education, FIRST LEGO League, events, and how LEGO continues to bring people together at every age.

📍 Find Erin & Bottomless Bricks: • 163 South Street, Pittsfield, MA • bottomlessbricks.com • Instagram: @bottomlessbricksberkshire | @folkybrick

Until next time… play well.