Ben Mandelker
@benmandelker.bsky.social
co-host Watch What Crappens and Game Brain podcasts
writer NBD Fancy on substack
obsessed with Bravo, board games, and Ina Garten
writer NBD Fancy on substack
obsessed with Bravo, board games, and Ina Garten
Pinned
Ben Mandelker
@benmandelker.bsky.social
· Nov 14
In an attempt to introduce myself to Blue Sky, here are three credibility-boosting pics from my hobbies: Shackleton Base board game, homemade butternut squash, and Taylor Armstrong from #rhobh
February 3, 2026 at 10:11 PM
Here are four recipes I made to help me get out of the January rut: open.substack.com/pub/nbdfancy...
How I Got Through The January Rut
A chocolate cake, a bowl of farro, a simple pasta, and an ambitious lasagna.
open.substack.com
February 3, 2026 at 10:04 PM
Here are four recipes I made to help me get out of the January rut: open.substack.com/pub/nbdfancy...
Stop Setting Yourself Up for Game Night Disappointment
YouTube video by Table Scraps
youtu.be
January 27, 2026 at 3:39 PM
So cool to be nominated for an iHeart award today! Amazing company to be in. #watchwhatcrappens #bravotv #podcasts
January 14, 2026 at 11:27 PM
So cool to be nominated for an iHeart award today! Amazing company to be in. #watchwhatcrappens #bravotv #podcasts
If you’re looking for an awesome #cookbook check out Hot Date by Rawaan Alkhatib. I review it here:
youtu.be/U3LcOgbR750?...
youtu.be/U3LcOgbR750?...
NBD Fancy Cookbook Show: Hot Date!
YouTube video by NBD Fancy
youtu.be
January 13, 2026 at 7:05 AM
If you’re looking for an awesome #cookbook check out Hot Date by Rawaan Alkhatib. I review it here:
youtu.be/U3LcOgbR750?...
youtu.be/U3LcOgbR750?...
I already did a list of my favorite #boardgames of 2025. Now here are my favorite older games I tried for the first time last year:
youtu.be/R4dGWalhcXc?...
youtu.be/R4dGWalhcXc?...
Best New-to-Me Board Games of 2025 | Table Scraps
YouTube video by Table Scraps
youtu.be
January 13, 2026 at 7:01 AM
I already did a list of my favorite #boardgames of 2025. Now here are my favorite older games I tried for the first time last year:
youtu.be/R4dGWalhcXc?...
youtu.be/R4dGWalhcXc?...
My 11 Best Board Games of 2025 | Table Scraps
YouTube video by Table Scraps
youtu.be
January 9, 2026 at 12:48 AM
The Wildest 1-Star Reviews of the Greatest Games | Table Scraps
YouTube video by Table Scraps
youtu.be
December 19, 2025 at 7:23 PM
Here are all the #boardgames I played last month. It’s a lot! And of course my game of the month:
youtu.be/GxJEU0o5Q1E?...
youtu.be/GxJEU0o5Q1E?...
Every Game I Played in November (+ My Favorite) | Table ScrapsEp 26 November roundup
YouTube video by Table Scraps
youtu.be
December 16, 2025 at 11:03 PM
Here are all the #boardgames I played last month. It’s a lot! And of course my game of the month:
youtu.be/GxJEU0o5Q1E?...
youtu.be/GxJEU0o5Q1E?...
I fully support everyone's choices for their own lists, but it feels strange to me that not a single reality TV show made the "Best Of" at the New York Times. I continue my crusade that Bravo produces series that deserve to be in the conversation.
Mike Hale and I came up with our Best TV of 2025 lists and then a funny thing happened: The shows on my list started talking to each other. (giftie) www.nytimes.com/2025/12/04/a...
Best TV Shows of 2025
www.nytimes.com
December 4, 2025 at 5:58 PM
I fully support everyone's choices for their own lists, but it feels strange to me that not a single reality TV show made the "Best Of" at the New York Times. I continue my crusade that Bravo produces series that deserve to be in the conversation.
December 1, 2025 at 9:17 AM
Everything I Played and Experienced at BGG.CON Fall 2025 | Table Scraps
boardgamegeek.com
December 1, 2025 at 8:49 AM
Reposted by Ben Mandelker
NEW POD: Part one of the #RHOC reunion, #BravoCon preview and some quick thoughts on the #LoveIslandUSA Beyond The Villa season 2 announcement with @benmandelker.bsky.social of Watch What Crappens!
Listen here: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/r...
Listen here: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/r...
'Real Housewives of Orange County' Reunion Part 1 & BravoCon Preview with Ben Mandelker ( + 'Love Island: Beyond The Villa' Season 2 Announced)
Podcast Episode · Gabbing with Gib · 11/11/2025 · 1h
podcasts.apple.com
November 11, 2025 at 5:11 PM
NEW POD: Part one of the #RHOC reunion, #BravoCon preview and some quick thoughts on the #LoveIslandUSA Beyond The Villa season 2 announcement with @benmandelker.bsky.social of Watch What Crappens!
Listen here: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/r...
Listen here: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/r...
14 Board Games I Played in October 2025 - Monthly Roundup
YouTube video by Table Scraps
youtu.be
November 6, 2025 at 10:10 PM
I am really psyched about #speakeasy by Vital Lacerda. Here’s my first impressions! #boardgames
youtu.be/104Py4ibYhI?...
youtu.be/104Py4ibYhI?...
Speakeasy First Impressions - Lacerda's BEST Game? | Table Scraps
YouTube video by Table Scraps
youtu.be
October 23, 2025 at 4:16 PM
I am really psyched about #speakeasy by Vital Lacerda. Here’s my first impressions! #boardgames
youtu.be/104Py4ibYhI?...
youtu.be/104Py4ibYhI?...
Hey #boardgame friends - I made a video review of one of my fave games of the past year. I highly recommend #shackletonbase
www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzWF...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzWF...
Shackleton Base is Damn Near Perfect | Table Scraps Review
YouTube video by Table Scraps
www.youtube.com
October 20, 2025 at 9:17 PM
Hey #boardgame friends - I made a video review of one of my fave games of the past year. I highly recommend #shackletonbase
www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzWF...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzWF...
I wrote about cheap #kitchen basics you may have overlooked. Go check it out and make your cooking easier! #shopping #nbdfancy #cooking
open.substack.com/pub/nbdfancy...
open.substack.com/pub/nbdfancy...
Don't Overlook These Cheap Kitchen Basics
You may already have these items, but some may have flown under your radar.
open.substack.com
October 9, 2025 at 1:06 AM
I wrote about cheap #kitchen basics you may have overlooked. Go check it out and make your cooking easier! #shopping #nbdfancy #cooking
open.substack.com/pub/nbdfancy...
open.substack.com/pub/nbdfancy...
12 Board Games I Played in September 2025 - Monthly Roundup
YouTube video by Table Scraps
youtu.be
October 4, 2025 at 5:57 PM
Reposted by Ben Mandelker
"I love a board game that encourages a specific snacking experience"
@benmandelker.bsky.social
youtu.be/MvWZcJteifo?...
@benmandelker.bsky.social
youtu.be/MvWZcJteifo?...
6 Cozy Board Games That Feel Like a Warm Blanket
YouTube video by Table Scraps
youtu.be
September 30, 2025 at 12:45 AM
"I love a board game that encourages a specific snacking experience"
@benmandelker.bsky.social
youtu.be/MvWZcJteifo?...
@benmandelker.bsky.social
youtu.be/MvWZcJteifo?...
Here's my latest #boardgames video. Everything I played in August: youtu.be/o0GQKuv-I6I?...
14 Board Games I Played in August 2025 - Monthly Roundup
YouTube video by Table Scraps
youtu.be
September 10, 2025 at 4:40 PM
Here's my latest #boardgames video. Everything I played in August: youtu.be/o0GQKuv-I6I?...
Reposted by Ben Mandelker
TIL Thee Ben Mandelker has a Substack and oh! the way I just RAN 💯
This is the feel good content we NEED rn! 💕 you Benoonies!!!!
This is the feel good content we NEED rn! 💕 you Benoonies!!!!
September 2, 2025 at 6:23 PM
TIL Thee Ben Mandelker has a Substack and oh! the way I just RAN 💯
This is the feel good content we NEED rn! 💕 you Benoonies!!!!
This is the feel good content we NEED rn! 💕 you Benoonies!!!!
Reposted by Ben Mandelker
Thanks @benmandelker.bsky.social for this delicious recipe! I got pan-fried gyoza from a local shop, mixing chili crunch from Trader Joe’s with the dipping sauce for a perfect vinaigrette. Plus heirloom tomatoes from my CSA farm share.
I Tried the Dumpling Tomato Salad
Hetty McKinnon's viral recipe has a strange elevator pitch, but it's worth the ride.
open.substack.com
September 1, 2025 at 11:31 PM
Thanks @benmandelker.bsky.social for this delicious recipe! I got pan-fried gyoza from a local shop, mixing chili crunch from Trader Joe’s with the dipping sauce for a perfect vinaigrette. Plus heirloom tomatoes from my CSA farm share.
Reposted by Ben Mandelker
Ben's #KeepIt: "This is not the Project Runway I want to watch. They decided they were going to reality-show it up. We have all sorts of reality show elements that i never asked for. Way too much silliness, it feels like any other reality show." - @benmandelker.bsky.social
youtu.be/Ryf0N9Vd_ys?...
youtu.be/Ryf0N9Vd_ys?...
Project Runway Season 21 Episode 5 Complimentary Couture || Aug 21_ 2025 Full Episode HD(720P_HD)
YouTube video by Room of Secrets
youtu.be
August 28, 2025 at 12:36 AM
Ben's #KeepIt: "This is not the Project Runway I want to watch. They decided they were going to reality-show it up. We have all sorts of reality show elements that i never asked for. Way too much silliness, it feels like any other reality show." - @benmandelker.bsky.social
youtu.be/Ryf0N9Vd_ys?...
youtu.be/Ryf0N9Vd_ys?...
I made another #boardgames video. This time I'm talking about games that are great for 6 players (or more!). I'm not talking about party games — those are great too — but chunkier, more strategic options.
youtu.be/lUh5gNMx5Kk?...
youtu.be/lUh5gNMx5Kk?...
6 Excellent Board Games for Large Groups (6+ Players)
YouTube video by Table Scraps
youtu.be
August 28, 2025 at 12:56 AM
I made another #boardgames video. This time I'm talking about games that are great for 6 players (or more!). I'm not talking about party games — those are great too — but chunkier, more strategic options.
youtu.be/lUh5gNMx5Kk?...
youtu.be/lUh5gNMx5Kk?...