Power Your Performance: Recent Episodes
MAP Esports Podcast Network
Are you ready to learn how to optimize your performance? Whether it's at work, gaming, socially, financially, physically, or just living, within all performances are highs, lows, challenges, obstacles, and even greater successes. No matter where we are in life, learning to power our performance is the differentiator between staying average or achieving great heights. In this podcast, you'll learn from some of the greatest in the gaming world and outside on how they power their lives through health, wellness, nutrition, mentorships, meditation, and other techniques. Learn the proven techniques from some of today's highest achievers and take your life to a whole new level.
Braedon Sheppard joins us today to talk about content creation, his journey and experiences in gaming and esports, and the relevance and proper use of TikTok to engage with audiences, brands, and gamers. Braedon is the founder and President of Sheppard Media LLC; he is a TikTok Gaming Content Creator with over 230K followers and over 1 million weekly engagements, views, and impressions on the platform. In this episode, our conversation revolves around Braedon's journey in content creation, from joining Machinima at 16 to becoming a digital -marketing specialist, a network expert, and then founding Sheppard Media. We talked about his passion for content creation and why he chose TikTok to share his content over other social media platforms. In addition, Braedon kindly shared advice for content creators and brands on engaging their audiences using TikTok. Connect with Brandon on social media: Sheppard Media Beacons: https://beacons.ai/sheppard TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@TheSheppard Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesheppardlol LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thecontentcreator/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/thesheppardlol Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/TheSheppard This podcast is Powered by Cognizin: Visit cognizin.com to learn more and find a product to help fuel your day. Visit: www.cognizin.com.
Joining us today to bring a different perspective of the esports industry is Jason Chung, Esports Business Professor and Attorney, Executive Director of Esports at the University of New Haven, and a lifelong gamer. Jason's background in law and business offers a refreshing look at the industry, thinking of esports as a fertile ground for pro gamers, entrepreneurs, and professionals from virtually any industry. Our conversation revolves around the preconceived ideas of what a prototypical gamer is, resulting in a limitation when talking about the positive aspects of gaming. Jason shared his thoughts on how good games are at educating and how entertaining it is to learn through them. We also talk about Jason's unique approach to teaching, providing his students with specific tools, and the importance of creating more conversations about health, nutrition, and wellness in esports. This podcast is Powered by Cognizin: Visit cognizin.com to learn more and find a product to help fuel your day. Visit: www.cognizin.com.
Resources: Visit New Haven University's website: https://www.newhaven.edu/. Or connect with Jason on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonchung/.
Trevor May joins us today to talk about health, wellness, and nutrition from his unique perspective as a gamer, streamer, and professional baseballer. Trevor recently joined the New York Mets to be part of their team as a pitcher. He is a lifelong gamer, co-founder of MayContainAction Media, founder of IamTrevorMay Media, podcast host of the May Contain Action podcast, and the Trevor May podcast, a Youtuber and streamer. In this episode, we dive deep into the importance of balancing screen time with proper rest, wellness, and nutrition. Trevor shares some of the techniques he uses to rest and get centered during the long streaming hours and gaming and how he prepares for those long sessions. We also talk about Trevor's ADD and anxiety diagnosis, how he deals with them as a professional baseballer and heavy gamer, and meditation as a tool that helped him deal with the noise and the distractions of playing for a NY baseball team. This podcast is Powered by Cognizin: Visit cognizin.com to learn more and find a product to help fuel your day. Visit: www.cognizin.com. Resources; Visit the IamTrevorMay Media Website: https://www.iamtrevormay.com/category/may-contain-action/. Listen to his podcasts: MayContentAction podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/may-contain-action/id1487412312 The Trevor May podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-trevor-may-podcast/id1351441700 or Connect with him on social media: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iamtrevormay/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trevmay65/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/IamTrevorMay?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor
Between mental and physical health, our youth face so many potential issues whether they’re playing traditional sports or gaming. In this episode of Power Your Performance, Gary is joined by Dr. Abby Gordon, physical therapist, and Dr. Susan Kleiner owner of High Performance Nutrition, LLC to discuss the risks facing our youth in a post-COVID world. They discuss why parents shouldn’t feel disappointed if their child moves out of traditional sports and takes an interest in gaming, and how this medium can really help to cultivate a community for their child. They also discuss the risks, both physical and mental that can occur through everyday play, and what parents should know to be able to minimize these. This podcast is Powered by Cognizin: Visit cognizin.com to learn more and find a product to help fuel your day. Visit: www.cognizin.com.
At this point, there's no doubt esports is here to stay, and it is definitely going somewhere, although it is a bit hard to predict exactly where. In today's episode, Angela Bernard Thomas and Michael Williams join us to talk about Glytch and share a glimpse of where they see esports heading. Angela is the EVP of Collegiate Sports Management Group and EsportsU and the Founder of A-Game Esports. Michael is the Chief Visionary Officer at Glytch Inc. Throughout our conversation, Angela and Michael described the esports scene, where they see it heading, and its business opportunities. They explained why therey should be 32 professional esports stadiums in America, the need for regional and location-based entertainment venues, and what differentiates the Glythc project from the rest of what we've seen so far in the industry. This podcast is Powered by Cognizin: Visit cognizin.com to learn more and find a product to help fuel your day. Visit: www.cognizin.com.
Resources: Visit Glytch's website: https://www.glytch.com/
Connect with Angela and Michael on LinkedIn:
Angela: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angelabernhardthomas/ Michael: https://www.linkedin.com/in/onlinegameguy/
Although many people depict esports as a consolidated forest of redwood trees, our guest, Christopher LaPorte, believes the industry is still grass. It has the potential to become a multi-billion dollar industry, but we are not there yet. Christopher is the Founder of RESET, a cannabis hospitality management company specializing in creating venues and events focusing on competitive and casual gaming, skill-based gaming, and VR/AR tech. In this episode, Christopher shared his unique perspective on community building, the (re)introduction of arcades to the gaming scene, and esports and betting. He described his relationship with gaming and explained why he believes there is a massive market to explore in the esports betting niche. Plus, we discuss how the traditional sports approach translates to gaming and esports, the role of YouTube and Twitch in community building, and much more. This podcast is Powered by Cognizin: Visit cognizin.com to learn more and find a product to help fuel your day. Visit: www.cognizin.com. Resources: Visit the RESET website: https://www.reset.vegas
Connect with Christopher on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-laporte-52471b52/
Already described as "The most interesting Ironman in the World" and the "Fittest and Mentally Toughest 66-Year-Old in the World," our guest, Robert Hamilton Owens, turned fitness and health into a lifestyle. Robert is a keynote speaker, leadership and management development coach, mediator, crisis coach, and former Air Force Pararescue. He finished the World Marathon Challenge known as 777, 7 marathons, in 7 days, on 7 continents. He also completed the "300 of Sparta," an 8 day 238-mile run-climb trek from Sparta to Thermopylae, and is the oldest finisher of the SEALFIT's Navy SEAL "Kokoro 50 Hour nonstop Hell Week Challenge." Robert finished his 12th Ironman, and his goal is to become the oldest Ironman ever. In this episode, Robert shares some amazing facts about his origin, his love for athleticism and fitness, and how training to get into the Air Force set him up for the intensity of physical pain. Robert described his first encounter with Ironman, why he decided to compete, and how he prepared for such a physically and mentally taxing race. Robert also described his work as a physical and fitness trainer; he gave his thoughts on bullying and explained his approach to the subject with teens and young kids. This podcast is Powered by Cognizin: Visit cognizin.com to learn more and find a product to help fuel your day. Visit: www.cognizin.com Resources: Visit Robert's website: https://www.roberthamiltonowens.com/ Visit SEALfit's website: https://sealfit.com/. Connect with him on social media: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-hamilton-owens-6a6a9493/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/roberthamiltonowens/?hl=es
One of the issues with esports is that, so far, it has been treated as a gamers' activity instead of a business. That particular view, slowly but surely, has started to change. Meet Angela Bernhard Thomas, EVP of Collegiate Sports Management Group and EsportsU, and Founder at A-Game Esports. A lifelong admirer of art and raised by her mother, a brilliant painter, Angela imbues artistry into every project she becomes part of. In this episode, we delve into Angela's journey from entrepreneurship to gaming and apply her unique perspective to collegiate esports. We also talk about her work with EsportsU and how it can impact the future of collegiate esports, the relationship between brands and viewership, why brands are more likely to spend more on advertising than on activations and much more. This podcast is Powered by Cognizin: Visit cognizin.com to learn more and find a product to help fuel your day. Visit: www.cognizin.com Resources: Visit the EsportsU Twitch channel: https://www.twitch.tv/esportsu?lang=es.
Visit the Collegiate Sports Management Group website: https://collegiatesmg.com/.
Or connect with Angela on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angelabernhardthomas/.
Consequences aren't necessarily negative; we can learn a lot from the results of our actions. By acknowledging that and taking accountability for our decisions, we not only learn from our mistakes but empower ourselves.
In this episode, Robert Hunt and Salem Thyne join us to talk about "Nobody Cares... Until You Do," the book they co-authored, where they share stories about themselves, two ordinary guys who embraced the power of accountability.
Salem is an Entrepreneur, CEO, Author, and Host of The CEO Tip Of The Day Podcast. Robert is an Executive Coach and Partner at Renaissance Executive Forums, where he leads CEO Groups, Advisory Boards, Peer Groups, and Mastermind Groups in Dallas.
They shared the story of how they met and why they decided to write the book, the book's premises and core message, and some practical actions from their book to day-to-day life. Robert and Salem also explained how their book can help gamers develop their gaming skills, how to look at preparation for tournaments slightly differently, why it's crucial to avoid falling into victim mentality mode, and so much more. This podcast is Powered by Cognizin: Visit cognizin.com to learn more and find a product to help fuel your day. Visit: www.cognizin.com
Resources: Visit Nobody Cares... Until You Do's website: https://nobodycaresbook.com/
Get the book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Nobody-Cares-Until-You-Do/dp/1642253200.
Or connect with Robert and Salem on LinkedIn:
Salem: https://www.linkedin.com/in/salem-thyne/. Robert: https://www.linkedin.com/in/roberthuntceo/
We've all heard it from our parents at some point, to stop staring at a screen because it will harm our eyesight. However, what's the scientific data behind this, and most importantly, if it is true, what can you do to prevent any damage from happening? Dr. Tom Czyz and Dr. Amy Czyz, Optometrists and Co-Founders of Intent Brands, join Gary for this episode of Power Your Performance to discuss the truths and myths of the effects gaming and excessive screen time have on our eyesight. They also talk about their history in Optometry, and why they become so passionate about helping esports and gaming enthusiasts perform at the top level. Intent Brands offers drinks that keep you in sync by helping you chill, dream, and provide a boost for focus (with no caffeine), and this is important for your vision because the more tired you are, staring at a screen, the faster your eyes deteriorate. They also discuss other factors that help with the decline of eyesight and what you can do to prevent those, in addition to different exercises you can do that can have a significant impact on your eyesight. Plus they also talk about why it may not be too late to make a big difference in what's been caused by so much screen time! To find out more about Intent, visit https://www.linkedin.com/company/drinkonthesly. This podcast is Powered by Cognizin: Visit cognizin.com to learn more and find a product to help fuel your day. Visit: www.cognizin.com
A massive part of esports' growth and development relies on its distribution and broadcast. The more accessible it is for the masses to access esports events, shows, and content dedicated to it, the faster and stronger the industry will develop. In today's show, we are joined by someone directly responsible for generating that fast and steady growth, the founder & CEO of ESTV, Eric Yoon. Eric created ESTV, the world's first 24/7 live linear and AVOD esports channel, allowing thousands of people worldwide to watch live esports events and tournaments and interact with their favorite gamers. Eric is also an Esports Advisor for the NFL Alumni Association, part of the Advisory Board Member for Hearo, BAPE's Ambassador, and Advisor of MetaLife Social. We had a fantastic conversation about Eric's journey into the industry, his beginnings as a banker, and how and when he decided to transition into gaming and esports. We also talk about ESTV's massive success relatively quickly, the impact the metaverse will have in the next couple of years, and the importance of using big streaming platforms to spread information about health and wellness. This podcast is Powered by Cognizin: Visit cognizin.com to learn more and find a product to help fuel your day. Visit: www.cognizin.com Resources: Visit ESTV's website: https://www.estv.co/ or connect with Eric on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-yoon-932b8b23/
In today's episode, we have the pleasure of talking with Wim Stocks, one of the most refined and revolutionary minds in gaming and esports.
Currently, Wim is Head of Partnerships & Commercial at Belong Gaming & Vindex. His relationship with gaming started when gaming was a garage business; he evolved and grew alongside the industry, from pinball machines to console and pc games.
For over ten years, Wim was Executive Vice President at Virgin Gaming, where he participated in the forging of gaming and esports' cornerstones as we know them today.
Throughout our fantastic conversation, Wim described his relationship with gaming, his natural and unavoidable evolution into becoming part of the space, and some of his most impactful career achievements. We also talk about the early stages of esports and collegiate, which Wim helped develop, the benefits of gaming, and much more.
This podcast is Powered by Cognizin: Visit cognizin.com to learn more and find a product to help fuel your day. Visit: www.cognizin.com Resources: Visit Belong Gaming's website: https://us.belong.gg/
Connect with Wim at LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wimstocks/
In today's episode, Kevin Dawidowicz joins us to talk about turning healthy life and food choices into habits, the importance of proper hydration, and the multiple benefits of tracking and measuring our fitness activities and behavior around food and nutrition.
Kevin is the Co-founder, and President of CoachMePlus, a human performance software created to encourage coaches and athletes to work as a team and track, measure, and improve their health and fitness goals. Kevin and the CoachMePlus team worked successfully with multiple NFL, NHL, MLB, and NCAA sports franchises and organizations.
Throughout our conversation, Kevin talks about how his grandfather influenced him to get interested in nutrition and fitness, his first steps in the space, and his decision to create CoachMePlus. We discuss the harmful effects on athletes' performance of poor hydration, sleep, and nutrition and how CoachMePlus can help its users navigate and solve those issues.
This podcast is Powered by Cognizin: Visit cognizin.com to learn more and find a product to help fuel your day. Visit: www.cognizin.com Resources: Visit the CoachMePlus website: https://coachmeplus.com/
Or connect with Kevin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kdawidowicz/
In today's episode, we have a fantastic conversation about natural supplementation for gamers that can improve their performance and health and a teenager gamer's perspective on harmful gamers' habits.
Joining us today are Dr. Chris Jackson and his 16-year-old nephew, Marcus. Dr. Chris is the co-founder and CEO of Betterbrand Health; a nutraceutical company focused on upper respiratory support and mental acuity. He is also the Lead Product Developer at Elite Sweets, a Doctor of Pharmacy from The University of Texas, a lifelong gamer, and a retired US Army Veteran.
Throughout our conversation, Dr. Chris talks about his journey from the military to becoming a pharmacist, his interest in esports and gaming, and his passion for helping others recover and improving their health. Dr. Chris also talks about his decision to dive into the entrepreneurial side of medicine and the multiple benefits for gamers from using the right supplements.
In addition, Marcus shares his perspective as a teenager gamer on bad habits, how to encourage good practices and healthy routines, how he sees schools getting into the health and wellness for gamers conversation, and much more.
This podcast is Powered by Cognizin: Visit cognizin.com to learn more and find a product to help fuel your day. Visit: www.cognizin.com
Resources: Visit Betterbrand's website: www.trybetterbrand.com Or connect with Dr. Chris on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-jackson-betterbrand/
Danny Martin joins us today to share his perspective as a Pro-gamer of the esports and gaming industry and to talk about the importance of developing gamers and pro-gamers skillsets through learning management platforms. Danny co-founded Geekletes in 2015, an initiative designed to help gamers turn pros. After the pandemic hit, Danny saw a more significant opportunity in the education realm and co-founded Esposure, an esports platform created by and for the competitive gaming community. He is a passionate entrepreneur and a Pro-gamer himself, who is lucky enough to live at the intersection of education and gaming. Throughout our conversation, Danny shared bits of his journey into gaming and becoming a Pro-gamer, his aspirations in the industry, and his fantastic ability to turn a lack of initial financial resources into creative and productive ways of solving issues. We also talk about some of the traits every entrepreneur must have, like feeling comfortable being uncomfortable and learning to build solid structures regardless of the financial possibilities. He shared his experiences at college, what made him jump into the entrepreneurial world, and his thoughts and what is going on in the industry where we are seeing layoffs more often than ever.
Resources: Visit the Esposure website: https://www.esposure.gg/ or connect with them on social media: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJCr9VO4MCiOiDfYHEeAnOw Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/esposuregg Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/esposure.gg/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/esposure/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/esposure Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/esposure.gg/
Joining us today is the founder of the Esports Trade Association, Megan Van Petten, to share her experiences in the gaming and esports space, how she started the association, and the challenge of changing the industry from the inside out through collaborative efforts and connectivity. Megan is a faith-based visionary with over 20 years of experience transforming non-profit associations, foundations, & societies into best-of-class organizations. She is a John Maxwell Certified Executive Coach, host of the Esports Connected podcast, and a Thought Leader. In this episode, we dive into Megan's first steps in the gaming and esports industry, her innate talent for creating collaborative spaces, and her experiences with the Fantasy Sports Trade Association, which spurred the creation of the Esports Trade Association in 2017. Megan also shared her thoughts on the need to pay attention to health and wellness in gaming, her first contact with gaming, The EsportsNext Conference organized by the Esports Trade Association in Chicago, and much more. This podcast is Powered by Cognizin: Visit cognizin.com to learn more and find a product to help fuel your day. Visit: www.cognizin.com / Resources: Visit the Esports Trade Association website: https://esportsta.org/. Learn more about The EsportsNext Conference: https://esportsta.org/esportsnext-2022/. Connect with Megan on social media: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meganvanpetten/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/vanpettengroup?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor
Salem Thyne visits us today to talk about entrepreneurship, how to get in touch with our purpose, and esports. Salem is an Entrepreneur, CEO, Podcast Host, and Author passionate about excellence and for constantly setting the bar high for himself and his teams. He has a solid background in the oil, chemical, and nuclear fuels industry; he hosts The CEO Tip of The Day Podcast and is the co-author of the soon-to-be-published book "Nobody Cares (Until You Do)." In this episode, we go through Salem's fantastic journey into entrepreneurship, from his early experiences as a restaurant manager, his military background, and the aha moment when he decided to make the leap of faith and become an entrepreneur. We delve into his transition into esports and his experiences with Esports Virtual Arenas (EVA): the future of esports. We also talk about the challenges of finding a market in the gaps, the close relationship between fear and entrepreneurship, the importance of taking action to start modifying the things we don't like in our lives, and much more. This podcast is Powered by Cognizin: Visit cognizin.com to learn more and find a product to help fuel your day. Visit: www.cognizin.com / Resources: Visit EVA's website: https://www.eva.gg/. Listen to The CEO Tip of The Day Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ceo-tip-of-the-day-podcast-by/id1566845003. Pre-order Salem's book: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/nobody-cares-salem-thyne/1141704375.
Connect with Salem on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/salem-thyne/.
Today, we dive deeply into the esports world and its profitability, guided by our guest, Marcus "Esports" Howard. Marcus is a lifelong gamer, a published author, featured speaker, indie games advocate, professor, international startup advisor, blockchain enthusiast, and growth hacker. Besides wearing so many hats, Marcus is passionate about making esports profitable. Throughout our conversation, we delve into Marcus' relationship with video games and his parents' influence in developing his video game technology career. He kindly shared the most significant learnings from his first experiences as a game and software developer and community builder. We also discuss esports' possibilities of turning into a standalone business, the future of Web3, the metaverse, and NFTs. In addition, we talk about Marcus' book and the issues in the gaming and esports industry he addressed with his work. This podcast is Powered by Cognizin: Visit cognizin.com to learn more and find a product to help fuel your day. Visit: www.cognizin.com Resources:
Book: Marcus Howard, Sven Boermeester, Carel Van Graan - INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports - a Book that showcases the people, companies, products, and services that are leading the race within the gaming/esports industry's innovation ecosystem.
Connect with Marcus on social media: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcus-esports-howard-60785023/. Twitter: https://twitter.com/therearetwoofme
Joining us today is Corey J. Csakai to talk about the importance of ergonomics in gaming, proper posture, warm-ups, and stretching.
Corey is a Doctor of Chiropractic and the Founder and Owner of Esports Healthcare, LLC. Esports Healthcare brings a holistic approach to gamers' health, focusing not only on posture and ergonomics but on sleep quality, nutrition, and wellness.
In this episode, we explore Corey's relationship with gaming, his passion for fitness and wellness, and how he decided to focus on gamers' health. We also discuss the challenge for young kids to keep their attention on school while esports and gaming grant millions of dollars in prizes. Corey narrates the exact moment wellness, and fitness became part of his life and when he added the nutrition component into his routine.
We also discuss the industry's tendency to produce ergonomic hardware and the need for broader awareness regarding warm-ups and stretching. In the end, Corey shares tips to better care for our health when gaming and a curious piece of information about human's natural rest position.
This podcast is Powered by Cognizin: Visit cognizin.com to learn more and find a product to help fuel your day. Visit: www.cognizin.com Resources: Visit Esports Healthcare website: https://esportshealthcare.com/.
Connect with Corey on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coreyjcsakai/.
In today's episode, Gary talks with Mark Goldstone about the Venture Capital world, the improvements AI can bring to the table in the health space, eye health, and much more. Mark is an Investor with over 25 years of experience in the healthcare industry. He is Partner at Eckuity; a firm focused on investing in disruptive, pathbreaking science and technology and translating science into health. Throughout our conversation, we delve into Mark's journey in the healthcare space, first as a pharmacist and copywriter and then as an investor. We also explore Eckuity's investment approach and what they look for before investing in a particular project. Mark shared some fascinating facts about how AI is being used to improve health issues and prevent the natural deterioration produced by aging. This podcast is Powered by Cognizin: Visit cognizin.com to learn more and find a product to help fuel your day. Visit: www.cognizin.com Resources: Visit Eckuity's website: https://eckuity.com/ Or connect with Mark on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-goldstone-a218661/.
Joining us today is arguably the youngest owner of an esports team, Harley Parks, to share her unique perspective about the esports teams' ecosystem, its challenges, and opportunities. s Harley is the Founder and CEO of BearClaw Esports. Harley, now 19 years old, started her journey with BearClaw in 2020, establishing its headquarters in Seoul, South Korea, and gathering talent from around the world. In this episode, we delve into Harley's relationship with gaming and esports, why she decided to pursue a career in the space, and her family's reaction to that. She shared some of the frustrating, painful, and expensive lessons she learned along the way and what she learned from them. We also discuss the challenges esports teams face to make it a profitable business; Harley shared her thoughts on why many esports teams fail and where she sees her team heading in the next couple of years. This podcast is Powered by Cognizin: Visit cognizin.com to learn more and find a product to help fuel your day.
Resources: Visit BearClaw Esports website: https://bearclawesports.co/news-1.
Connect with Harley on social media: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/harley-parks-bearclawarmy/?trk=org-employees. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bearclawharley/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/bearclawharley
Ian Seltzer joins us today to share his thoughts on streaming media, the profitability of esports, Venture Capitals, and marketing. Ian is a well-round esports strategist and the lead for Business Development at Pierce Yates Ventures. Before his incursion into the VC world, Ian led the content and business side of the top-ranked esports team, Rogue. He also worked at Hulu, Vuguru, and Paramount Digital Entertainment, where he developed, licensed and launched 30 original titles for TV, film, and the web in over 110 countries worldwide. In this episode, we delve into Ian's journey in content creation and his visionary interest in streaming media when the industry was just in diapers. We discussed esports as a business per se, and Ian shared his mind on when he sees esports going in the following years. We also talk about the possibilities for VCs in gaming and esports and what companies must figure out to brand themselves in the industry. In addition, Ian talked about betting in esports, the independent game market, and more.
This week, Rebecca Dixon joins us to talk about the perceptions, shared beliefs, and reality of female gamers in the space. Rebecca is the co-founder and CEO of thegameHERs, arguably the largest community of female gamers. She is also one of the Esports Trade Association's Board Members. Rebecca was the Managing Director of Advertising and Strategic Partnerships at @mommybites and counts over 20 years of experience in advertising, marketing, brand partnerships, and community building. Throughout our conversation, we delve into the challenges most females face regarding the opportunities and resources offered to them to join the gaming and esports industry. We discuss how games have been historically branded to male gamers and the difference between genders in how they identify themselves concerning their gaming tendencies. Rebecca also shared thegameHERs approach to health and wellness, the different tools and resources they provide to the gaming community, and her take on gaming's positivities. Resources: Visit thegame*HERs website: https://thegamehers.com/. Or connect with Rebecca on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-dixon-3903015/.
In today's episode, we are joined by one of the OGs of game development, Noah Falstein, Executive Advisor at Akili Interactive. Noah has been designing games since 1980; he has worked for LucasArts, 3DO, Dreamworks Interactive, and Google.
Noah is also the Owner of The Inspiracy, a consulting game production and design company focusing on neuroscience and health games.
In this episode, we delve into one of Noah's many passions in gaming, creating games to improve health. Noah shares fascinating facts about the connection between gaming and neuroscience and how games can effectively mitigate the symptoms or even cure many health issues like anxiety, phobias, Alzheimer's disease, autism, and even myopia.
We also learn about his journey in the industry, from creating tabletop games to video games. We discuss the implications of game developing tools' evolution, his consultant experience, and more.
Resources: Visit The Inspiracy website: http://www.theinspiracy.com/.
Visit the Akili Interactive website: https://www.akiliinteractive.com/.
Or connect with Noah on social media:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gamedesignexpert/.
Twitter: https://twitter.com/nfalstein
Adding value to a company is, without a doubt, the easiest way to put a foot in any industry. If our business card is a concrete plan for improving a business, we will most likely get hired for the position or, going even further; the company might create the job position for us.
Our guest, Mike Cotton, certainly mastered this skill throughout his exciting and multifaceted career. He is the Founder, President, and COO of Wondr Gaming and the President and COO of Gamelancer, the largest Gen Z social gaming network. Mike is also the Founder and Chief Investment Officer at Rumble Gaming and an Investor and Advisor at PropSwap LLC.
In this episode, we delve into Mike's vertiginous professional career. We explore his background as an economist and "statistics nerd" that helped him differentiate himself in the traditional sports and esports industries. He shared his experiences, the lessons learned, and some practical advice for those interested in joining sports, esports, or any other industry.
We also talk about his experiences in the VC world, his time as COO of Toronto Esports Club, and his current role at Gamelancer.
Resources:
Visit Gamelancer's website: https://gamelancer.com/.
or connect with Mike on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikecotton/details/experience/
Good ergonomic conditions don't depend exclusively on the quality, price, or even the ergonomic qualities of the furniture we use when we are gaming, in our workstations, or wherever we spend the most time. Jeannie Koulizakis, today's guest, indicates that good ergonomics conditions include all the mentioned above plus a lot of other things, like positioning, movement, and activity, to remark some of them. Jeannie Koulizakis is the Director of Physical Therapy at Nova Pain and Rehab. She is also the Founder and Physical Therapist at ErgoRX.com, a company that helps users customize people's workspaces to fit every body type and work style to maximize comfort, productivity, and wellness during work. In this episode, Jeannie shares vital information about ergonomics, how massively important it is to pay attention to our sitting positions where we spend most of our time and the dangers of neglecting ergonomics in our workspaces. We talk about total exposure, ideal postures, workplace hygiene, and the urgency for digital native generations to take care of their ergonomics.
Resources: You can visit Nova Pain & Rehab's website: https://novapainandrehab.com/. Visit ErgoRX's website: https://www.ergorx.com/. Or connect with Jeannie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeannie-koulizakis-physical-therapist/.
Joining us today is Borko Popic to talk about high-performing competitive gaming athletes, how to build healthy, high-performing environments, and his unique approach to overall health and wellness.
Borko is a Sr. Manager and Performance Coach at Overactive Media, Canada's largest esports ownership group. Borko and his family, originally from Bosnia, lived for some time in Serbia before immigrating to Canada when he was 9. Practicing sports and collective games quickly broke the language barriers Borko had when he arrived in Canada. Fast forward many years, his passion for sports and high-performing athletes made him a perfect fit to mentor and coach competitive gaming athletes.
Throughout our conversation, we explored Borko's background in traditional sports and how that experience served him to help esports athletes perform at their best. We talk about his approach to the mental and physical preparation for esports and gaming, the necessary elements of a healthy, high-performing environment, and the challenges of coaching esports athletes from different backgrounds and latitudes worldwide.
Resources: Visit the Overactive Media website: https://overactivemedia.com/.
Connect with Borko on social media:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/borkopopic/?originalSubdomain=ca Twitter: https://twitter.com/borkopopic?lang=es
Braedon Sheppard joins us today to talk about content creation, his journey and experiences in gaming and esports, and the relevance and proper use of TikTok to engage with audiences, brands, and gamers. Braedon is the founder and President of Sheppard Media LLC; he is a TikTok Gaming Content Creator with over 230K followers and over 1 million weekly engagements, views, and impressions on the platform. In this episode, our conversation revolves around Braedon's journey in content creation, from joining Machinima at 16 to becoming a digital -marketing specialist, a network expert, and then founding Sheppard Media. We talked about his passion for content creation and why he chose TikTok to share his content over other social media platforms. In addition, Braedon kindly shared advice for content creators and brands on engaging their audiences using TikTok. Connect with Brandon on social media: Sheppard Media Beacons: https://beacons.ai/sheppard TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@TheSheppard Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesheppardlol/?hl=es. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thecontentcreator/. Twitter: https://twitter.com/thesheppardlol Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/TheSheppard
Visiting us today is Alexandrie Brekke, Allie, to talk about diversity, bullying, the feminine presence in gaming and esports, and how she used video games to rescue herself from a dark place.
Allie Brekke is the Director of Operations at Kungarna, Brand Manager at Antares Gaming, and an Esports Marketing Consultant. Allie is passionate about helping individuals, teams, and brands grow their online presence. She is an advocate for diversity and inclusion and an active combatant of online bullying, discrimination, and any form of online hate.
In this episode, we delve into Allie's journey into gaming. We talked about her tough childhood and how video games provided her with a safe space. She kindly shared how video games offered her the chance to find peace and inspired her to create safe environments for other gamers. We discuss the responsibility and possibilities streaming platforms have in preventing and stopping online bullying and the importance of educating gamers and esports athletes about their behavior online.
Resources: Visit Kungarna's website: https://kungarna.com/
Or connect with Allie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abrekke83/
Joining us today to bring a different perspective of the esports industry is Jason Chung, Esports Business Professor and Attorney, Executive Director of Esports at the University of New Haven, and a lifelong gamer. Jason's background in law and business offers a refreshing look at the industry, thinking of esports as a fertile ground for pro gamers, entrepreneurs, and professionals from virtually any industry. Our conversation revolves around the preconceived ideas of what a prototypical gamer is, resulting in a limitation when talking about the positive aspects of gaming. Jason shared his thoughts on how good games are at educating and how entertaining it is to learn through them. We also talk about Jason's unique approach to teaching, providing his students with specific tools, and the importance of creating more conversations about health, nutrition, and wellness in esports. Resources: Visit New Haven University's website: https://www.newhaven.edu/. Or connect with Jason on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonchung/.
A massive part of esports' growth and development relies on its distribution and broadcast. The more accessible it is for the masses to access esports events, shows, and content dedicated to it, the faster and stronger the industry will develop. In today's show, we are joined by someone directly responsible for generating that fast and steady growth, the founder & CEO of ESTV, Eric Yoon. Eric created ESTV, the world's first 24/7 live linear and AVOD esports channel, allowing thousands of people worldwide to watch live esports events and tournaments and interact with their favorite gamers. Eric is also an Esports Advisor for the NFL Alumni Association, part of the Advisory Board Member for Hearo, BAPE's Ambassador, and Advisor of MetaLife Social. We had a fantastic conversation about Eric's journey into the industry, his beginnings as a banker, and how and when he decided to transition into gaming and esports. We also talk about ESTV's massive success relatively quickly, the impact the metaverse will have in the next couple of years, and the importance of using big streaming platforms to spread information about health and wellness.
Resources: Visit ESTV's website: https://www.estv.co/
Trevor May joins us today to talk about health, wellness, and nutrition from his unique perspective as a gamer, streamer, and professional baseballer. Trevor recently joined the New York Mets to be part of their team as a pitcher. He is a lifelong gamer, co-founder of MayContainAction Media, founder of IamTrevorMay Media, podcast host of the May Contain Action podcast, and the Trevor May podcast, a Youtuber and streamer. In this episode, we dive deep into the importance of balancing screen time with proper rest, wellness, and nutrition. Trevor shares some of the techniques he uses to rest and get centered during the long streaming hours and gaming and how he prepares for those long sessions. We also talk about Trevor's ADD and anxiety diagnosis, how he deals with them as a professional baseballer and heavy gamer, and meditation as a tool that helped him deal with the noise and the distractions of playing for a NY baseball team. Resources; Visit the IamTrevorMay Media Website: https://www.iamtrevormay.com/category/may-contain-action/. Listen to his podcasts: MayContentAction podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/may-contain-action/id1487412312 The Trevor May podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-trevor-may-podcast/id1351441700 or Connect with him on social media: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iamtrevormay/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trevmay65/?hl=es Twitter: https://twitter.com/IamTrevorMay?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor
We've seen a notorious evolution in how gamers and competitive video games athletes approach their overall health and nutrition. It's been profusely divulged in the space that a balanced diet is beneficial to preventing diseases and improving health, and it is essential to reach peak performance. Today, we receive the amazing Dr. Susan Kleiner to shed some light and debunk some myths about proper nutrition. She is the founder and owner of High Performance Nutrition, LLC, a nutrition consulting firm focused on helping athletes achieve peak performance from the locker room to the board room to the bedroom. We delve into her decision to work with nutrition and performance, her parents and household influence, and the lack of information about the link between nutrition and high-performing athletes when she decided to pursue a career in health and nutrition. We talk about the best resources for esports athletes and gamers to take care of their health, what types of food to avoid, and why it is crucial to pay attention to sugar and salt consumption. Resources: Visit the High Performance Nutrition website: https://www.drskleiner.com/. Get access to Dr. Kleiner's books: https://www.drskleiner.com/books/. Or connect with Dr. Kleiner on social media: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susankleiner/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/powereat/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrSusanKleiner/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/powereat?lang=en
There is a widespread belief that kids are born entirely perfect, and it is the environment and the parents who "ruin" them, causing them to have different issues; it is not true. However, how parents deal with a kid that gets easily upset upon defeat or is used to cheat to win impacts that kid's development. Joining us today is Dr. Marianne Engle, Ph.D. She is a clinical psychologist, sports psychologist, and vice president of inCourage, a not-for-profit organization that helps young athletes and adults redefine success in youth sports. In this episode, we delve into the link between the mental health of traditional sports and competitive gaming athletes and the unresolved issues during their childhood. Dr. Mariane talks about the right timing for athletes to seek psychological support and how to identify when their mental issues become dysfunctional to their athletic performance. We also talk about the harmful effects of interacting with the world exclusively in the digital plane and the questions gamers and streamers should ask themselves to avoid developing mental health issues. Resources: Visit the inCourage website: https://www.incourage.com/. Or connect with Dr. Engle on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-engle-7b930a2b/.
The gaming industry has matured a lot in the last couple of years, from a business perspective, health and wellness, and social awareness space. How society sees gamers has also changed; the idea of a lonely young kid with poor social skills playing in a basement has been thoroughly debunked. Gaming has shown that the space is about the community more than about the games being played. Several games are now functioning more like social media platforms than games themselves. Many of these and other positive aspects of the industry are not being divulged enough, and our special guest, John Davidson, joins us today to talk about it. John Davidson is the host of the DLC Drop Podcast, Founder and CEO of the Davidson Learning Company, Chair of the Board of Directors of the Esports Trade Association, a thought leader, and a guru of the gaming industry. We dive into the pros and cons of an industry run by young people from a community, marketing, and business opportunities perspective and the structural difference between the traditional sports space and esports. We discuss the lack of exposure to positive aspects of gaming, like teamwork, conflict resolution, direct contact with several art forms, like music, design, and storytelling. John also shares his thoughts on the maturing process he witnessed in the industry, the importance of allowing more room for healthy habits and wellness in the space, and the self-reflecting and problem-solving personality of the community. Resources: Visit the Davidson Learning Company website: https://www.dlcyouth.com/ Listen to the DLC Drop podcast: https://esportsfpn.com/show/the-dlc-drop-podcast/ or connect with John on social media: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-davidson-42953846/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/J0hnDavids0n