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.