#161: Brainteasers, Puzzles, and Autism Awareness with Brandi Pinsker
I recently went to a board game night and got introduced to a variety of games I’d always seen but never actually played. I can’t recall ever playing Tenzi before — a game where you roll up to ten dice and try to get specific numbers with each roll. Ditto for Blokkus, a multiplayer Tetris-esque game that reinforced the belief that I’m terrible at planning ahead in board games. And likewise with Five Crowns, a card game that everyone else seemed to be good at while I flailed away hopelessly with a useless hand. I even witnessed Codenames being played with pictures instead of words. Wild stuff.
The moral of this story is that there are a TON of activities out there, and if you’ve ever thought, “Nah, I don’t think these kinds of games are for me,” it’s possible you just haven’t tried the right one yet.
Maybe instead of a board game, you’d do better with a brainteaser or puzzle. That’s the genius behind the Austin-based company Project Genius, which makes brainteasers and puzzles designed to get your mind stimulated. The company is also women-owned and an active member of the Austin Autism Council. One of those owners is Brandi Pinsker, who founded the company and serves as CEO.
Brandi shares how she got into this world, what the creation process is like, and how to build more diverse and inclusive workplaces for everyone.
Highlights of our conversation
How Brandi got involved in board games, brainteasers, and puzzles. Plus, the surprising power of well-licensed games. (2:12)
The art of collecting games and how they create social interactions for all kinds of people. (3:44)
What makes for a good brainteaser. (6:46)
How a timer — or a “quick” element a la Bananagrams — can add both a frantic energy and encourage participation among all players. (10:18)
What to expect with the new Project Genius game Head Spin. (14:00)
A look inside some of the horror stories of creating new games that didn’t pan out. (16:23)
What playtesting of these games looks like. (20:09)
Something that’s surprised Brandi about running a business and lessons she’s picked up that other leaders should know. (21:45)
Why Brandi is involved with Austin Autism and how Project Genius consistently works with that community. (29:10)
How to include adults with autism in your workforce. (33:58)
Brandi’s top three board games. (36:22)
Where to find Brandi Pinsker
Project Genius is a great spot to pick up a game or brainteaser.
Learn more about more inclusive workforces through organizations like Greenleaf.