Tales From The Brick

In Episode 37 of Tales From The Brick, Jon (8 Bit Bricks) sits down with Daniel Zimmerman, Master Model Builder at LEGOLAND New York and custom LEGO builder known online as TacoBricks. Daniel shares how a childhood obsession with LEGO never went through a dark age, eventually taking him from building MOCs in his basement and attending BrickFair with his mom to turning LEGO building into a full-time career.
Daniel takes us behind the scenes of life as a Master Model Builder, from maintaining Miniland and designing new models to teaching workshops, interacting with guests, and occasionally chasing rabbits out of the displays. He talks about building seasonal models, creating Miniland versions of celebrities and LEGO community members, working on massive projects for the park, and collaborations with organizations like Radio City Music Hall and the Newburgh Armory.
The conversation also explores Daniel's work outside LEGOLAND, including custom commissions, writing and building for BrickNerd, and the six-foot-long 1924 Studebaker model that took 14 months to complete. Daniel shares the story of his first commission for one of his favorite bands, Slow Pulp, his passion for music-inspired builds, and the projects he hopes to tackle next, from AC/DC and Def Leppard logos to trains and more Ninjago creations.
Find Daniel Zimmerman:
• Instagram: @TacoBricks• BrickNerd: Find Daniel's builds and articles on BrickNerd• Visit Daniel and the Master Model Builders at LEGOLAND New York
To find the best LEGO deals, check out the Bargain Bricks app.
View the video version of this podcast at https://youtu.be/-THMbhZnw0Y
For more Tales From The Brick, visit talesfromthebrick.com.
Until next time... play well.

In Episode 36 of Tales From The Brick, Jon (8 Bit Bricks) is joined by Jessica and Justin Rupp, longtime LEGO city and train builders and the creators of BrickLayouts, a web app designed to make planning LEGO displays easier.
Jessica and Justin share how a model train show helped reignite their love of LEGO, eventually leading them to join the Washington Metro Area LEGO Train Club and attend the very first BrickFair in 2008. They talk about nearly two decades of building and displaying together, from trains and detailed city layouts to landscapes, cabins, animals, and even the LEGO wedding canopy they built together and had their guests sign.
The conversation also dives into the problem that led them to create BrickLayouts. After years of planning displays with paper, graph paper, spreadsheets, and other workarounds, they decided to build their own solution. Jessica and Justin explain how BrickLayouts lets builders plan layouts across devices, work with track, roads, buildings, layers and custom shapes, share plans with other builders, and prepare collaborative convention displays. They also discuss upcoming features including custom MOCs, expanded support for LUGs, a public layout gallery, more track options, and some more ambitious ideas for the future.
Find Jessica, Justin & BrickLayouts:
• Website: https://bricklayouts.com• App: app.bricklayouts.com• Instagram: BrickLayouts• Facebook: BrickLayouts• Reddit: BrickLayouts• Discord: BrickLayouts
To find the best LEGO deals, check out the Bargain Bricks app.
For more Tales From The Brick, visit talesfromthebrick.com.
View the video version of this podcast at https://youtu.be/cDNOoP4wqnM
Until next time... play well.

In Episode 35 of Tales From The Brick, Jon (8 Bit Bricks) is joined by Kate, AKA BrickHuntress, an award-winning LEGO mosaic artist and high school mental health counselor whose work combines art, unconventional parts, lighting, and even wearable LEGO creations.
Kate shares how building alongside her older brother introduced her to LEGO as a kid, how her son's interest brought her back after her dark age, and how seeing The Art of the Brick completely changed the way she looked at LEGO. That inspiration led to her first mosaic, painstakingly built over several months using pieces she dug out of the bulk bins at her local LEGO shop.
The conversation dives into how Kate's artistic background influences her builds, from using botanical elements and unexpected pieces to create hair and texture to hiding Easter eggs throughout her mosaics. She also talks about incorporating lighting into her artwork, creating a wearable LEGO dress using nets, and why she loves pushing LEGO beyond traditional building techniques.
Kate also brings her experience as a mental health counselor into the conversation, discussing the calming, tactile nature of LEGO and how students naturally gravitate toward the bricks in her office. She shares how she has brought LEGO into the classroom, used mosaics to teach art history, and seen firsthand how building can give kids a creative outlet.
Plus, Kate talks about collaborating with Eric Clough on a massive Harry Potter build, the magic of watching kids discover MOCs at conventions, and her plans for a new dinosaur mosaic that will combine three-dimensional building, LEGO nets, and motorized movement.
Find Brick Huntress:
• Instagram: @brickhuntress• TikTok: @brickhuntress
To find the best LEGO deals, check out the Bargain Bricks app.
Until next time... play well.

In Episode 34 of Tales From The Brick, Jon (8 Bit Bricks) is joined by Orion Pobursky, longtime administrator of LDraw, the open standard and parts library that has helped LEGO fans build virtually for decades.
Orion shares how a lifelong love of LEGO, a career in the Navy, and a lack of space for physical builds led him into the world of virtual LEGO building. That journey brought him to LDraw and the early online LEGO community through LUGNET, eventually leading him to take over LDraw.org in 2003 and help steward a project that dates all the way back to 1996.
The conversation dives into what actually goes into creating a digital LEGO element, from measuring physical parts and recreating complex geometry to reviewing, certifying, and releasing them into a library that now contains around 17,000 unique shapes and patterns. Orion also explains LDraw's surprising connection to BrickLink Studio, how the community handles everything from thousands of stickers to obscure vintage elements, and why maintaining backwards compatibility is so important.
They also explore LDraw's role in 3D printing, the challenges of recreating Bionicle parts, the history of virtual LEGO building, and what it takes to keep a community-driven project alive for more than 20 years. Plus, Orion shares how LDraw has evolved from a handful of large updates each year to monthly releases containing hundreds of new parts.
Find LDraw:
• Website: ldraw.org• Forums: forums.ldraw.org• Instagram: @ldraw_org• Threads: @ldraw_org• Bluesky: @ldraw_org
To find the best LEGO deals, check out the Bargain Bricks app.
Until next time... play well.

In Episode 33 of Tales From The Brick, Jon (8 Bit Bricks) is joined by Al and Steve of Briefly Bricks, LEGO stop-motion animators from Melbourne, Australia, and the podcast's first international guests.
Al and Steve share how a friendship and a failed LEGO Masters Australia audition unexpectedly led to Briefly Bricks. After building a yin-yang inspired MOC together, they turned the creation into a stop-motion story that explored themes of mental health and loss. The video exploded online, reaching millions of viewers and eventually catching the attention of the LEGO Group, which invited them to begin creating official content.
The conversation goes behind the scenes of LEGO stop-motion animation, from homemade Technic camera rigs and Blu Tack to Stop Motion Studio, Photoshop, and After Effects. Al and Steve explain how they create professional animations using phones, why storytelling is at the heart of their work, and what it has been like producing projects for the LEGO Group, including LEGO Braille Bricks stories and a Christmas adventure set aboard the Death Star.
They also discuss their growing focus on teaching stop motion through workshops and convention presentations, the creation of their Toekitty character, and their advice for anyone who wants to try LEGO animation themselves. Most importantly, start simple, expect to make mistakes, and keep creating.
Find Briefly Bricks:
• Instagram: @brieflybricks• YouTube: Briefly Bricks
To find the best LEGO deals, check out the Bargain Bricks app.
Until next time... play well.

In Episode 32 of Tales From The Brick, Jon (8 Bit Bricks) is joined by Randall Wilson, LEGO Masters Season 2 contestant, professional LEGO artist, and founder of Rocs Mocs. Randall shares his journey from building Technic sets as a child to turning a passion for architecture and LEGO into a full-time creative career. Along the way, he reflects on losing his childhood collection in an apartment fire, finding his way back through MOCs, and how LEGO Masters opened the door to opportunities he never imagined.
The conversation dives behind the scenes of LEGO Masters, exploring what it's really like to build under intense time pressure, the lessons Randall took away from the competition, and how the experience changed the way he approaches storytelling, scale, and color in his creations. He also talks about returning for the Holiday Bricktacular, working alongside Kelly Osbourne, and the friendships that continue long after the cameras stop rolling.
Randall also discusses building culturally inspired LEGO projects, creating large-scale commissioned artwork around the world, and why representation and creativity matter in the LEGO community. From life-size Power Rangers weapons and architectural replicas to an eight-foot heart catheter and interactive public art, this episode is a fascinating look at how one builder transformed a lifelong hobby into a career built brick by brick.
Find Randall Wilson:
• Website: randall-wilson.com• Instagram: @rocsmocs
To find the best LEGO deals, check out the Bargain Bricks app.
Until next time... play well.

In Episode 31 of Tales From The Brick, Jon (8 Bit Bricks) sits down with Alice Finch, LEGO Certified Professional, founder of the Women's Brick Initiative, and creator of the legendary life-size Hogwarts model that inspired builders around the world. Alice shares how building with her children led to creating one of the most iconic LEGO fan creations ever, and how that experience shaped the rest of her journey in the hobby.
The conversation explores the origins of the Women's Brick Initiative, the challenges women still face in the LEGO community, and how research, education, and outreach are helping make the hobby more welcoming and inclusive for everyone. Alice also discusses her work as a newly appointed LEGO Certified Professional, the unique commissions she's taking on, and her vision for using LEGO as a tool for creativity, collaboration, and social impact.
Along the way, Jon and Alice dive into architectural building techniques, the evolution of LEGO Botanicals, the story behind Alice's influential LEGO architecture book, and why the best builds are often the ones that inspire others to create something of their own. Whether you're a longtime builder or just discovering the hobby, this episode is a fascinating look at how one person's creativity can help shape an entire community.
Find Alice Finch:
• Website: thebricknest.org• Women's Brick Initiative: womensbrickinitiative.com• Instagram: @womensbrickinitiative
To find the best LEGO deals, check out the Bargain Bricks app.
Until next time... play well.

In Episode 30 of Tales From The Brick, Jon (8 Bit Bricks) welcomes Charlene Jones, author of Brick by Brick: Rebuilding Through Play, for a thoughtful conversation about creativity, mindfulness, and the therapeutic power of LEGO. Charlene shares how rediscovering her sons' old collection helped her navigate stress, reconnect with her creative side, and ultimately inspired her to leave the corporate world to write a book centered around play and wellness.
The discussion explores how LEGO can be more than just a hobby, serving as a tool for mindfulness, self-expression, and mental well-being. Charlene also talks about her creative workshops at public libraries, where adults use bricks to slow down, reflect, and build together, along with practical exercises from her book designed to encourage creativity through play.
Along the way, Jon and Charlene dive into the LEGO community, content creation, conventions, original building, and why making time to play is just as important for adults as it is for kids. Whether you're an experienced builder or just rediscovering the brick, this episode is a reminder that creativity can be one of the most powerful tools for personal growth.
Find Charlene Jones:
• TikTok: @anotherjones• Instagram: @anotherjones• Brick by Brick: Rebuilding Through Play is available wherever books are sold.
To find the best LEGO deals, check out the Bargain Bricks app.
Until next time... play well.

In Episode 29 of Tales From The Brick, Jon (8 Bit Bricks) is joined by Jason Rittberg, creator of Dr. Blocko's Brick Cleaning Snot, to talk about the surprising journey from rediscovering LEGO as an adult to launching a product designed specifically for keeping brick collections clean. Jason shares how a dusty display at a local LEGO resale shop sparked an idea that eventually became a product now carried by stores across North America.
The conversation dives into the development of Brick Cleaning Snot, from refining the formula to make it safe for LEGO bricks and families, to manufacturing, product testing, and getting it onto the shelves of Bricks & Minifigs locations and independent LEGO retailers. Jason also discusses the challenges of launching a new business, working with retailers, and expanding into conventions and the broader LEGO community.
Whether you're a LEGO collector looking for a better way to clean your displays or an entrepreneur interested in turning a simple idea into a growing business, this episode offers a fun and informative look at innovation within the LEGO hobby.
📍 Find Dr. Blocko's Brick Cleaning Snot:
• Website: https://drblocko.com• Instagram: @drbloxo
To find the best LEGO deals, check out the Bargain Bricks app.
Until next time... play well.

In Episode 28 of Tales From The Brick, Jon (8 Bit Bricks) sits down with Chip Snell, founder of BrickCentric, to discuss what it takes to launch a brand-new LEGO convention from the ground up. From researching established events across North America to assembling a team, finding the perfect venue, and learning from the inevitable first-year challenges, Chip shares an honest behind-the-scenes look at creating a fan-first convention.
The conversation explores the state of the LEGO convention scene, the importance of supporting local builders, and how BrickCentric is building its own identity with themed displays, hands-on workshops, speed builds, brick films, community events, and unique experiences for both exhibitors and attendees. Chip also discusses plans for future conventions, expanding programming, attracting new audiences, and creating an event that delivers exceptional value for AFOLs.
Whether you've dreamed of starting your own LEGO convention, enjoy attending fan events, or simply want a behind-the-scenes look at what goes into producing one, this episode offers fascinating insights into the passion, planning, and community that make LEGO conventions possible.
Find BrickCentric:
• Website: https://brickcentric.com• Instagram: @brickcentric• Facebook: BrickCentric
To find the best LEGO deals, check out the Bargain Bricks app.
Until next time... play well.