Top Pair Podcast 335: Interview with Brad Owen

Robbie Strazynski

May 27, 2019

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In episode 335 of the Top Pair Home Game Poker Podcast, Bruce Briggs and Robbie Strazynski welcome poker vlogger Brad Owen to the show. He speaks of his introduction to poker via home games with his brother and the “good old days” as a teenager playing at poker rooms on Native American reservations. Of course, we dive into his poker vlogging life, what makes his style unique, and what he loves about the MUGs (meet up games) that he co-hosts with fellow poker vlogger Andrew Neeme.

Plus, new installments of the show’s “It’s in the Cards” and “Table Talk” segments, Bruce and Robbie sharing their latest home game recaps, and a One Outer that figure(ine)s to get you a good chuckle.

Top Pair thanks their sponsor, the Poker Notes Live mobile app, for their support. Be sure to check it out!

Show Time Stamps

00:24	Synopsis
1:05–15:58	How Ya Runnin?
	Bruce: Making a solid $45 over two home game sessions. Breaking down what “Eric’s game” is all about, six-handed for three hours; one orbit of every single game in the mix, according to a set pattern of flop games, followed by draw games, and finally stud games..
6:25	Email from a listener, Ron from South Carolina, sharing a game called “action razz” that he plays at the well-known BARGE poker gatherings in Las Vegas.
	Robbie: Finally got a local home game, because we planned for it one week in advance. Nice mini-mixed game: Hold’em, PLO, PLO8, Stud, Stud8, 2-7 Single Draw, SHOP, and 2-7 Triple Draw. Unfortunately lost, but grateful to have gotten some good preparation in prior to entering the $1,500 Dealer’s Choice, as well as all the “run bad” out of the way.
12:30	Busy preparing lots of World Series of Poker-oriented content ahead of my trip to Las Vegas, including 50 Tips for the 50th Annual WSOP.
16:42	It’s In the Cards with Tom Wheaton of Faded Spade Playing Cards: Playing cards – paper or plastic? Why 100% plastic playing cards are best for the home game.
21:46	Table Talk with George Chao of BBOPokerTables: Digging into the nitty gritty of qualitative differences among various types poker chips. Don’t forget to use the coupon code “TOPPAIR” for a discount and free upgrades when ordering your poker table products.
31:35–1:01:38	Look Who We’ve Found (Interview with Brad Owen)
32:48	Brad talks about his poker beginnings, as a teenager in high school, playing $3/6 limit with his old brother and his buddies. Giving professional poker a shot after satelliting into the Main Event in 2010. Going broke in 2012, building his way back up to starting to play professionally full time in 2015.
34:22	Brad reflects on the success he experienced when he first started playing, winning more often than losing, and what he loved about poker that made him want to pursue it. Playing in Native American poker rooms about an hour away from the University of San Diego, where he was studying for a degree.
36:58	Does Brad’s background as a CPA and crunching numbers help him at the table? Also, always feeling it’s important to share with people what it was like to go broke; being a pro isn’t as glamorous as it seems and it’s really difficult to succeed. More thoughts on Las Vegas being a tough city for single guys. Lows of not being prepared to handle the higher cost of living in California.
40:05	What Brad loves and finds most challenging about playing poker full-time as a professional.
42:16	A video Brad made where he revealed his exact net earnings from playing poker. Why he’s chosen to be so open, and if it was easy for him to share all those private details.
47:25	Does Brad feel that having had real jobs in the real world, now that he’s in a good place playing poker professionally and as a popular vlogger, was important in retrospect?
48:25	Brad reflects on having hit 100,000 YouTube subscribers, how all the grinding and editing of videos has been worthwhile, and how he stays motivated.
50:22	What’s unique about Brad’s vlogging style versus other poker vloggers?
52:27	How Brad first met Andrew Neeme and hwo the two ended up becoming business partners in the MUGs venture.
54:44	Brad reflects on the success of MUGs. What’s it like meeting all the fans?
56:34	When will the first non-Hold’em MUGs happen? The people wanna play mixed games!
58:26	Brad’s plans for the 2019 WSOP. Any meet-up games on the horizon? Will he be firing in tournaments or sticking to cash games?
1:01:03	Subscribe to Brad’s YouTube channel and follow him on Twitter.
1:02:20	One Outer – Figurines at the poker table?!