Poker careers don’t usually start with a screenwriting degree, a philosophy PhD track, and a failed TV pitch.But David Lappin’s did.In this episode of the Table 1 Podcast, David Lappin joins Art and Justin for a wide-ranging conversation that connects poker, writing, creativity, and the emotional...
Poker careers don’t usually start with a screenwriting degree, a philosophy PhD track, and a failed TV pitch.
But David Lappin’s did.
In this episode of the Table 1 Podcast, David Lappin joins Art and Justin for a wide-ranging conversation that connects poker, writing, creativity, and the emotional reality of life in the game. From late-night UK poker TV to $5 sit-and-gos on Full Tilt… from near-miss Hollywood scripts to building one of poker’s most respected podcasts… this is a masterclass in how strange, nonlinear careers actually happen.
David opens up about growing up around film and theater, falling in love with philosophy, and how rejection in the writing world prepared him for poker’s brutal swings. He breaks down the need to scratch the creative itch—and why so many players eventually build podcasts, write books, or create something outside the game.
In this episode:
- The origin story of The Chip Race and how David and Dara O’Kearney built an award-winning poker podcast by treating interviews like game trees
- Why most poker content fails to market the actual poker audience (and how that hurts the ecosystem)
- The Irish Poker Open’s transformation into one of the best poker festivals in the world (and why player experience matters more than prestige buy-ins)
- A sharp critique of modern tournament structures, late registration abuse, and re-entry culture
- David’s personal Black Friday story—and how it quietly reshaped European poker
- Why poker players, writers, and creatives all struggle with the same thing: rejection, confidence, and meaning
There are hilarious Full Tilt chatbox stories, honest industry takes, commentary war stories, and thoughtful reflections on how poker has changed—and where it should go next.
If you care about poker beyond hand histories…
If you’ve ever felt the urge to build something outside the game…
Or if you just want to hear one of poker’s smartest voices talk candidly about the life behind the results…
This one’s for you.
Show Notes:
- 00:00 Early Life & Film Studies
- 20:12 The Poker Grind
- 27:19 Meeting his Girlfriend In A Sit n Go?!
- 32:34 Favorite Poker Stops
- 46:10 Value to the Players (WSOP vs WPT)
- 54:48 Black Friday & Staking Deals
- 1:04:49 The Chip Race Podcast
- 1:19:20 The Future!
David's Links:
Table 1 Links: