The DLC Drop Podcast: Recent Episodes
MAP Esports Podcast Network
Join John Davidson as he interviews leaders in the esports, music, entertainment, gaming, and sports industries. You'll hear the untold stories of the grind and perseverance behind their climb to the top, inspirational stories of how they made it, along with the lighter side of their most memorable career moments.
We are no longer in a world where we have to justify encouraging our youth to play video games, but even with the evolution of the industry, there is still a long way to go before esports can officially go head-to-head with traditional sports. In this episode of the DLC Drop Podcast, John is joined by Glenn Plat, Co-Director of Esports ta Miami University. Glenn has an incredible history and was one of the first to bring an esports program to a university. Glenn and John discuss the differences between traditional sports and esports, and why there will continue to be a divide between the two. They also talk about how universities should approach their esports program, and what they should realistically be able to expect from a revenue and ROI perspective. They also cover how businesses and partners can win in a space that is still finding its footing, and why a long game is going to be the most important play for success. If you’re interested in connecting with Glenn, visit: https://www.linkedin.com/in/glennjplatt/ Jennifer Frank: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-frank-3bb5a2159/ Taxed on first 80% of the revenue
How cool would it be to play video games with your pet? The world has been through dramatic changes in the last couple of years, and pets' relationships with their owners are definitely one of them. What if, then, there was a disruptive technology that allowed people to play with their pets on a whole new level? Meet Ben Nichol, Founder and CFO of Mega Bad Crew, who proposes a change in the paradigm of how people interact and play with their pets. In this episode, Ben shares details about Kitty Arcade, the first-ever video game FOR cats. He explains the technology behind this creative idea, how they got people to invest in it, and shares examples of the types of video games for pets being created. Plus, we talk about how to create a bulletproof mindset, how to pitch crazy ideas to investors and developers, how his previous experiences in brand-building helped him create and develop Kitty Arcade, and much more. Resources: Visit the Kitty Arcade website: https://www.kittyarcadegame.com/ Follow them on Social Media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kittyarcadegame/ Discord: https://discord.com/invite/bR9SCxBEJD Twitter: https://twitter.com/kittyarcadegame TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kittyarcadegame Connect with Ben on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-nichol-bb597a117/
Taxed on first 80% of the revenue
We all know there are a lot of opportunities for brands to get involved in the world of esports and gaming. Often times they miss out on the right opportunities and determine that gaming and esports can’t provide them the ROI that they would like. Tatiana Tacca joins John in this episode of the DLC Drop to discuss how brands can get creative when it comes to getting involved in the world of esports and gaming, and she also discusses some of the most interesting ways brands are getting involved and seeing success. Tatiana is the founder of Oni Vision, a consulting and advisory practice that specializes in gaming, esports, anime, and live streaming. She has worked with brands by riding the gap toward new culture through building strategic platforms, putting together collaborations, and launching activations that can optimize on trends. She and John discuss why brands need to look at esports and gaming from a much broader perspective than just someone with a controller in front of a tv. They have to understand things like whether will they work with a team or a content creator, which game makes sense for them to get involved in, and how, in a world of skeptical consumers, can they best fit in and win. Tatiana also discusses the opportunities in anime, and why this is often an overlooked option with brands. She talks about various ways they can win and see great results. To connect with Tatiana, visit: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tatianatacca/ Taxed on first 80% of the revenue
The world of esports and gaming is expanding at exponential rates, but many are still standing on the sidelines wondering how to best jump in. Todd Harris joins John in this week’s episode of the DLC Drop Podcast to discuss the evolution of his company Skill Shot and the merger with Ghost Gaming to become a one-stop solution for partners wanting to leverage gaming and gaming media to reach and support active gaming enthusiasts. In this conversation, John and Todd discuss how his love for creating games formed his own company, and why he’s so passionate about building communities and excitement around his games. They also discuss how they utilized esports to gain more exposure for their games, and why it ended up being a great payoff. Todd also discusses how acquiring Ghost Gaming moved them into producing events, not just for the games they create, but for other gaming companies. He talks about how they can provide a more holistic approach for brands to create a win-win opportunity to work in the gaming world. To learn more about the upcoming events and to connect with Todd, visit: https://www.linkedin.com/in/toddalanharris/ https://twitter.com/ToddAlanHarris Taxed on first 80% of the revenue
Business education allows you to either learn how to make money out of what you love doing or discover that what you love doing, doesn't make any money.
In today's episode, Bob Heere joins us to discuss the importance of adding the business component to our passion. Bob is a Professor and Director of Sports Management at the University of North Texas, a Managing Partner at World Soccer Holdings, and part of the Board of Directors of MVV Maastricht, a 3rd division Dutch soccer team.
Throughout our conversation, Bob shared his experiences in the last 5 years at UNT, his passion for academic life, and why he considers it vital to learn about the business side of any industry. He also described how amazing it is from an opportunity perspective to be a student in Frisco and how their program at UNT prepares students.
Plus, we discussed the similarities and differences between esports and traditional sports from a business perspective, he shared the incredible story of how he became a Managing Partner of a soccer team. and much more.
Resources: Visit the University of North Texas website: https://www.unt.edu/.
Or connect with Bob on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobheere/. Taxed on first 80% of the revenue
Entrepreneurs rely a lot on their gut; sometimes, they decide to follow a hunch, and many of those times, they hit the bullseye. Still, there can't be a better decision than the one based on data. Today's guest, Alex Kerr, has been on both sides of the counter in the agency/brand relationship and came up with a solution for the doubts about how much a campaign is worth or how much revenue it can generate. Alex is the CEO and co-founder of Trajektory, a startup designed to be the one-stop for all partnerships data. Alex is also an adjunct professor at Northwestern University in Marketing Strategy and Market Research and at Georgetown University in Business Analytics. In this episode, Alex shared his entrepreneurial journey, his experiences working on both sides of the brand/agency relationship, and the decision to create a solution in data analytics. He talks about his passion for using data to tell stories and his experiences raising capital to turn his idea into a profitable company. Plus, we discuss the best ways to pitch an idea to VCs, how to build a core team, a balanced culture, and much more.
Resources: Visit Trajektory website: https://www.trajektory.com/ Connect with Alex on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexckerr/ Or send him an email at: alex@trajektory.com Taxed on first 80% of the revenue
You can have the best boxing coach to teach you how to throw and dodge punches, the best way to walk the ring, and how to train to avoid gassing out during a fight. Still, until you get hit in the face, there is no way to know how you'll assimilate that punch and react to it. Meet Clinton Sparks, a producer and songwriter, Grammy-nominated, multi-platinum DJ, entrepreneur, and author, who, despite learning most things in life the hard way, managed to end on top.
Clinton wrote and produced songs for Lady Gaga, Beyonce, Rick Ross, Diddy, and Pitbull, to name some of them. He worked on several projects with Eminem, Busta Rhymes, and Kanye West. Clinton is also the co-founder and Chief Business Development Officer of XSET, the world's fastest-growing, most diverse, and inclusive gaming lifestyle brand.
In this episode, Clinton shared his journey from a troubled childhood to working with the music industry's biggest stars. We talk about the importance of getting our hands dirty to gain experience, the mentality needed to succeed in life, and why most people nowadays aren't willing to put in the necessary reps to experience a career breakthrough.
We also delve into Clinton's entrepreneurial spirit and connection with video games; he explains why he believes his brain was built to shine in the gaming industry, shares golden nuggets about how to succeed in life, why it is essential to plan for failing, and more.
Resources: Visit Clinton's website: https://clintonsparks.com/
Get his book for FREE: How To Win Big In The Music Business: https://www.winbiginmusic.com/free-book46211038.
Or follow him on social media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clintonsparks/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/clintonsparks LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clinton-sparks-158096b7/
Visit XSET's website: https://xset.com/. Taxed on first 80% of the revenue
Solving an issue, a community is struggling with is an excellent way of assuring success in that particular space, yet it's not the only way. As long as you get the audience's tone correctly, you can do a great job at entertaining, and you'll still manage to achieve great success.
Felix Lahaye joins us today, among many other things, to help us understand better the intricate relationship between brands and their target audiences. He is the Founder of United Esports and Co-founder of Open Influence (formerly InstaBrand), the first-ever influencer marketing company.
Felix is also a Keynote Speaker, Inc. & Forbes 30 Under 30, and esports and marketing investor.
We have a fantastic conversation about the evolution of influencer marketing, the main differences between its original version and how we know it today, and what makes it successful in today's market. Felix shared bits of his journey, his passion for music and gaming, his unique view on marketing, and the right way to connect with target audiences. Plus, we talk about meltdown bars, a concept that is gaining momentum worldwide and is growing rapidly in the US.
Resources: Visit the United Esports website: https://www.unitedesports.com/.
Connect with Felix on social media: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/felix-lahaye-a194ba2a/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/felix_lahaye?lang=es
Or send him an email: felix@unitedesports.com. Taxed on first 80% of the revenue
Andy Mendez joins us to talk about the importance of supporting esports at the high school level, how it'll make the process of creating endemic people in the space even smoother, and everything students must know to start an esports club at their high schools.
Andy Mendez is the Executive Director of the Illinois High School Esports Association. He is responsible for building the esports space in the Illinois area. He is also an esports coach and host of the Blueprint Podcast.
In this episode, Andy shares his journey in the high school esports space, what got him into it, and how he created opportunities for himself thanks to his passion for gaming and esports. We talked about the process of creating an esports club in high schools; Andy shared some advice for students who want to make one in their high schools and to who they should talk.
We also dive into why students should promote the creation of esports clubs at their high schools, the connection between STEM-Related careers and gaming, the soft skills esports and gaming teach, and so much more.
Resources: Visit the Illinois High School Esports Association website: https://www.ihsea.org/.
Or follow them on social media: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IHSEA.org/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/ihsea_org Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ihsea_org/
You can also connect with Andy on social media: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andy-mendez117/ Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/abxygg Taxed on first 80% of the revenue
Today, we have a special episode broadcasting directly from the metaverse with Allison DeLeone and Reid SantaBarbara.
Allison is the President and CEO of The Production Network, and Reid is the Co-founder and CEO of Odyssey. Odyssey is a platform created to empower users and brands' presence in the metaverse, design and launch their products, and connect with their audiences.
In this immersive experience, Allison and Reid showed us around and explained how to interact and enjoy Odyssey's features. We learned how brands can interact with their users, the platform's multiple activations and streaming options, and virtually infinite customization possibilities available for virtual environments and digital identities.
We tasted Odyssey's multi-sensory experiences, discussed the platform's educational opportunities, its approach to creating an inclusive digital space, and much more.
Resources:
Immerse in Odyssey's website: https://www.odyssey.stream/
Or connect with Allison and Reid on LinkedIn: Allison DeLeone: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allison-deleone-91938a11/
Reid SantaBarbara: https://www.linkedin.com/in/reid-santabarbara-9a70364b/ Taxed on first 80% of the revenue
Bennet Newsome joins us today to talk about esports and gaming formal education, streaming, and how to use business education to make a career out of a passion.
Bennet is the Director of Esports Growth & Development at Full Sail University, a Twitch partner passionate about community building and gaming, co-owner of whereisxur.com, and host of XurWatch on Twitch. Bennet is also a musician, a lifelong gamer, and a tireless advocate for promoting and facilitating opportunities in esports and gaming for high school and college students.
In this episode, we delve into Bennett's transition from music to esports and gaming, his journey as a facilitator and growth promoter in the gaming and esports space, and his evolution as a streamer and host. Bennett shares details of Full Sail's programs in gaming and esports and the university's approach to the industry's business side.
We also talk about Bennett's experience as a musician and the lessons he learned on the road that helped him in his role at Full Sail, his relationship with gaming and streaming, and much more.
Resources:
Full Sail University website: https://www.fullsail.edu/.
Full Sail Armada website: https://armada.fullsail.edu/fortress
Where is Xur website: https://whereisxur.com/
XurWatch Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/xurwatch
Connect with Bennet on social media: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bennett-newsome-77467686/ Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@damnitbennett Twitter: https://twitter.com/damnitbennett?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor Taxed on first 80% of the revenue
Son of first-generation immigrants from Nigeria, Jesse Iwuji relied on his grinding and ability to find a solution for every problem to build a prominent future for himself. From competing in Division 1 A College Football to serving in the US Navy, becoming a NASCAR Professional Race Driver, and a multripreneur.
Jesse Iwuji is a NASCAR driver and Team Owner, US Naval Officer, Keynote Speaker, Actor, TV Personality, CEO, Esports Company Owner, and Co-founder of the eRacing Association.
In this episode, Jesse takes us on a fun and exciting journey throughout his childhood and upbringing, how his parents influenced him always to strive to reach his maximum potential, and his relentless attitude of constantly creating opportunities for himself.
He described how becoming a US Navy official helped him fulfill his dreams of becoming a NASCAR pilot and how his ambition and vision led him to start and own a Team and build an esports association. He also talked about his mission to help others reach their dreams, how he got into sim racing, and much more.
Resources: Visit Jesse's website: https://www.jesseiwuji.com/.
Visit the eRacing Association website: https://www.eragaming.gg/.
Or connect with Jesse on social media:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jesseiwuji/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jesse_iwuji/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/Jesse_Iwuji Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Jesseiwujiracing Snapchat: https://www.snapchat.com/add/jesse_iwuji YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5Yt0M8_w1aUNH-I_OMsy7A Taxed on first 80% of the revenue
Mike Zweigbaum joins us today to share his experience bringing a successful business model into esports, the secrets of team building, and the perfect blend of passion and business experience that led him to create a successful esports org.
Mike is the CEO and Founder of Wisdom, a gaming company that makes it all, from esports production and content creation to tournament organization and strategic brand activation. They also have their own IPs and Rocke League, Halo, and Apex Legends esports teams.
In this episode, we talk about Mike's journey into esports and his unique path from owning a successful scrap metal company to jumping into the esports and gaming space. He shared the secrets of building successful teams and the importance of creating a sense of belonging.
Mike described his approach to business in general and details what he considers helped him from his previous experiences helped him thrive in the esports space. He also shared his thoughts on what he feels the industry lacks, his perspective on Web3, the metaverse, mobile gaming, and much more.
Resources: Visit Wisdom Gaming website: https://www.wisdom.gg/ or connect with them on social media: Twitter: https://twitter.com/WSDMGG Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wsdmgg/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wsdmgg
Follow Mike on social media: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-zweigbaum-19a400169/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/mikezweigbaum?lang=es Taxed on first 80% of the revenue
Although many specialists believe VR is the future of gaming and esports, the growth we see in this gaming modality looks relatively slow. So, what is missing? What is keeping VR from going mainstream? Today's guest, Jonathan Ovadia, can certainly help us clear this doubt.
Jonathan is the CEO and Founder of Aexlab Inc, the studio responsible for creating VAIL VR, the world's number one VR esports game. He is also a lifelong gamer, an innovative entrepreneur, and a VR enthusiast.
In this episode, we immerse ourselves into the VR world; Jonathan shows us the way through VR development and programming, from the hardships of hiring developers who can handle VR to solving VR's programming complicated issues. We explore the differences between programming traditional and VR games and the passion needed to work in VR. Jonathan also talked about Aexlab's creation, VAIL VR, how the project evolved through the years, and the crucial role its community played in its development and success.
Resources: Visit Aexlab's website: https://aexlab.com/ Join VAIL VR's Discord: https://discord.com/invite/vailvr Or connect with Jonathan on social media: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanovadia/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/j.ovadia/?hl=es Taxed on first 80% of the revenue
In today's episode, Gabriel Causse joins us to share his unique perspective on partnerships in esports, the differences between creating partnerships in traditional sports and esports, and how traditional sports teams and franchises can engage with gamers.
Gabriel Causse is the Manager of Business Operations at Magic Gaming and the first esports Partnership Manager in the history of the NBA with the Orlando Magic. Gabriel came from France and got a scholarship to play soccer at Brigham Young University–Hawaii, where he graduated in Sports Management.
Throughout our conversation, we navigate Gabriel's journey and his experiences coming from France to start a career in sports in America. He shares his thoughts on partnerships and the similarities and differences between the traditional sports and esports space when convincing brands to support esports teams.
We also discuss how the esports space has changed and evolved, where it is common to find parents now more engaged with gaming and understanding their kids are not "wasting their time" in front of a screen playing video games. Gabriel also shared what he believes is the best strategy for traditional sports teams to engage with gamers, the evolution of conversations about health and wellness in the gaming industry, and more.
Resources: Visit the Magic Gaming website: https://magicgaming.nba.com/ or connect with them on social media: Twitter: https://twitter.com/MagicGaming Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/magicgaming/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MagicGaming/ Twitch https://www.twitch.tv/orlandomagicgaming YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4vVVAHcMRD8bCIrwxGWUPg
You can also connect with Gabriel on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabcausse/details/education/. Taxed on first 80% of the revenue
Henry Burreson joins us today to talk about influencer marketing, podcasting, how to grow an audience organically, and the courage and resources needed to turn a passion into a profitable business.
Henry is the Co-host of "Third Party: An Apex Legends Podcast" and Co-founder of Third Party Productions. He is an influencer marketing and multimedia producer, content creator, Patreon ambassador, and part of the EA Creator Network.
Henry shared valuable insights on content creation, audience growth, and how to generate ROI from influencer marketing throughout our conversation. We delve into the pros and cons of having a podcast dedicated entirely to one game; Henry described how and why he decided to start the show and the keys to making it grow and evolve with time.
Henry also talks about his goals when he started the podcast, the lessons learned along the way, how connecting with Patreon changed everything, and much more.
Resources: Listen to the Third Party podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/third-party-an-apex-legends-podcast/id1500861437. Third Party Pod Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thirdpartypod
Connect with Henry on social media: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/henryburreson/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/HbBurreson?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor Taxed on first 80% of the revenue
The profound connection between music and video games is undeniable. Whether it is because certain soundtracks are designed to change and adjust to the game's progression or because certain songs create core memories in gamers' minds, at this point, it is possible to state that one couldn't exist without the other.
In this episode, Alex Tarrand joins us to talk a bit more about the symbiotic relationship between music and gaming, which enhances not only the user experience playing the game but also game developers and music artists. Alex is the COO and Co-Founder at Styngr, a lifelong gamer, a serial entrepreneur, and a specialist in music tech, P&L ownership, forecasting & modeling, VOD/Live mobile streaming production, product management, sponsorships, social media, and behavioral economics, among many other things.
Throughout our conversation, we delve into Alex's journey in the gaming industry and his intimate relationship with music, and his experiences working with different labels and publishers. Alex also shares his thoughts on the relationship between the metaverse and other emerging technologies and music, some missteps in the music industry most game developers make, and more.
Resources: Visit Styngr's website: https://www.styngr.com/
Connect with Alex on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alextarrand/ Taxed on first 80% of the revenue
In today's episode, Rob Johnson visits us to help us answer perhaps one of the most asked questions in the esports space, how to effectively connect brands with esports fans? Rob is the CEO of Playfly Esports, co-author of "Millennial Reboot," and a passionate marketer who has been solving traditional sports, entertainment, and esports marketing problems for almost the last two decades. We delve into Rob's journey in traditional sports, from unpaid internships to his first position in Marketing with the Philadelphia Flyers, and his transition from traditional sports to gaming and esports. He described how Playfly helps companies understand the value of advertising in esports and how they build that connection in an industry that is so dependent on brands' dollars. Rob also talked about how building relationships and consistency helped him get into traditional sports and entertainment first and esports and gaming later, the importance of establishing trust and managing expectations with brands, and more.
Resources: Visit the Playfly Esports website: https://playfly.com/esports/.
or Connect with Rob on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnsonr/details/experience/
Book: Kate Athmer, Rob Johnson: Millennial Reboot: Our Generation's Playbook for Professional Growth: https://www.amazon.com/Millennial-Reboot-Generations-Playbook-Professional-ebook/dp/B01MXPMV9J/ref=sr_1_5?crid=3OG2G2RIAZL21&keywords=millennial+reboot&qid=1658662020&sprefix=milennial+reboo%2Caps%2C162&sr=8-5 Taxed on first 80% of the revenue
Chris Ray joins us today to talk about his videographer career, his transition from skate filmer to filmmaker, and his experiences working for Transworld, DC Shoes, and now starting his own company, Motion Clubhouse. Chris Ray is a filmmaker and Co-founder of Motion Clubhouse, a company founded by award-winning creators specializing in all forms of video production. In this episode, we delve into Chris' first steps as a skateboarder and skate filmer, his passion for video production, and his relentless approach to pro skateboarders that opened so many doors for him in the skateboarding world. Chris also shared his first impressions dealing with the pros he admired, how he got mentored into crafting his filmmaking skills, and the contrasting reality between producing films for skateboarding and any other industry. In addition, Chris remembers the most memorable trips he experienced traveling the world with skateboarding, how DC helped him transition from skate filmer to filmmaker, and more. Resources: Visit Motion Clubhouse's website: https://www.motionclubhouse.com/. Follow them on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/motionclubhouse/. YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/MOTIONCLUBHOUSE.
Or connect with Chris on social media:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisrayfilms/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chrisrayfilms/?hl=es Taxed on first 80% of the revenue
Joining us today is Alex "Axeltoss" Rodrigues to talk about streaming, education, and the present and future of esports.
Alex is an Esports Host/Commentator, a Producer, Advisor, and Player and Community Development Director at Oxygen Esports. Alex is a Texas A&M University graduate who got his Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Journalism. For the last decade, Alex has been broadcasting consistently from his home studio, following esports and gaming tendencies, and supporting local and international initiatives, always aiming for the industry's growth and evolution.
In this episode, we delve into Alex's journey in the industry, his relationship with casual and competitive gaming, and how he blended his passion for communication, journalism, and video games. He shared his thoughts on the opportunities for newcomers in esports, the many entrance paths available, and the importance of supporting and engaging with local communities.
We also talk about the opportunities for esports in college and the fertile ground schools provide for students to generate growth for the industry, the educational institutions, and themselves. In the end, Alex shared a tidbit of what we can expect in esports in the following years.
Resources: Visit Oxygen Esports website: https://www.oxgesports.com/.
Or connect with Alex on social media: Twitter: https://twitter.com/axeltoss?lang=es Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/axeltoss YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/Axeltoss LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/axeltoss/ Taxed on first 80% of the revenue
Mark Neifeld joins us today to talk about entrepreneurship, leadership, and how to disrupt an industry by creating a business that provides value for an underserved community. Mark is a creator, a leader, a builder, and the Commissioner and CEO of the Sport Fishing Championship. He developed, created, and produced new customer experiences in sports, entertainment, live events, media and film. Before starting his own business, Mark worked with massive firms like the Dallas Cowboys, Texas Rangers, Georgia Dome and Tampa Bay Lightning, to name a few. In this episode, we delve into Mark's transition from working for massive organizations to starting his own company. He shares how coming back home during the pandemic connected him with his roots, his love for fishing, and how that influenced him to start the Sport Fishing Championship. Mark also talks about how working for the Dallas Cowboys influenced his business and entrepreneurship style, how he convinced stakeholders to bet for him, how the Sport Fishing Championship sees and adapts to new technologies, and how they plan to attract young audiences. Resources: Visit the Sport Fishing Championship website: https://www.sportfishingchampionship.com/. Connect with Mark on social media: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markeneifeld/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sfcfishcommish/?hl=es Taxed on first 80% of the revenue
This week, we are joined by Joe Cox to talk about pop culture and marketing, marketing in gaming and esports, and the opportunities for brands in the metaverse. Joe is the Founder and Creator of The Pop-Marketer, host of the Pop-Marketing Podcast, and a lifelong marketer passionate about helping brands incorporate pop culture and use it to connect deeply with their communities. Throughout our conversation, we delve into Joe's career, his first steps in marketing, and Pop-Marketer's approach to advertising campaigns and activations. We talk about the intersection between pop culture and marketing, the importance of understanding a community's identity, the mashup between physical and digital identities, and the opportunities brands aren't seeing there. Joe also shared his view on the metaverse and depicted some of the many opportunities it offers for gaming, content creation, and music industries. Resources: Visit The Pop-Marketer website:https://www.pop-marketer.com/. Listen to The Pop-Marketing Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-pop-marketing-podcast/id1518917910. Connect with Joe on social media: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jocox/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joecox/?hl=es Twitter: https://twitter.com/joenormal
This episode is sponsored by Ice Shaker! Grab your own custom DLC Drop Ice Shaker at: https://www.IceShaker.com/DLCDrop
And make sure you use the code DLCDrop to save 20% off ALL Ice Shaker Products. Taxed on first 80% of the revenue
In this episode, we are led by hand behind-the-scenes of marketing and e-commerce by Robert Brink, Director of Digital Marketing & E-commerce, who has been writing copy and creating disruptive content for over 22 years. Robert created and launched digital content and marketing strategies for Paul Rodriguez's Primitive Skateboards and Tony Hawk's Ride Channel. He wrote copy for Beats, Red Bull, Complex, Playboy, ESPN, High Snobiety, Boost Mobile, Monster Energy, and many other leading brands. Robert also co-created, co-produced, and hosted skateboarding's first round table talk show, with over 20 million views and still counting. We delve into Robert's background as a skateboarder and his transition to the marketing side of it, his first steps in his e-commerce successful and fruitful journey, and his distinctive look at connecting with audiences. We glance at the kitchen of some of the most influential marketing campaigns Robert created, and he shares his thoughts on skateboarding's uniqueness and how it influenced broader culture. Resources: Follow Robert on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/robertbrink/?hl=es. Taxed on first 80% of the revenue
Joining us today is Ryan Johnson to talk about inclusion, minority representation, HBCUs and brands collaborations, and the multiple opportunities for underrepresented communities in the esports and gaming industry. As the Founder and CEO of Cxmmunity, Ryan focuses on increasing minority representation in esports through STEAM development. Cxmmunity successfully established solid partnerships with Verizon, Twitch, Microsoft, Discover, and The House of Hoops, to name some of them. In this episode, Ryan talks about his upbringing, his relationship with video games, and his parents' influence that encouraged and inspired him to get involved in solving social issues. We also discuss traditional industries, sports, and media, what esports can learn from them, and the ones to improve. Ryan shares valuable advice for students and schools about a practical approach to the industry and advice for parents of gamer kids. In addition, we talk about minority representation in every aspect of gaming, from pro players to game development. Resources: Visit the Cxmmunity website: https://www.cxmmunity.co/. Follow them on all social media platforms: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cxmmunity.co/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cxmmunity/ Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/cxmmunityco Twitter: https://twitter.com/cxmmunity Discord: https://discord.com/invite/qYfEurn9ty Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Cxmmunity/?modal=admin_todo_tour
Connect with Ryan on social media: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-johnson-249497aa/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/ryanranitup?lang=es Taxed on first 80% of the revenue
This week, we are joined by Justin Varghese to talk about esports, marketing, and partnerships. Justin is in charge of Sales and Marketing Partnerships at Panda. He is an event speaker, esports broadcaster and evangelist, taco aficionado, and a dear friend. He shared a holistic view of the esports ecosystem, developed through his vast experience in the industry. Justin gives his thoughts on the struggle of esports teams to generate revenue from partnerships and how they address the issue at Panda. We also talk about the different strategies to attract sponsors, including the tricky ones and their effects on the audience. In addition, we talk about the Fighting Gaming Community (FGC), and Justin explains why he thinks FGC is the bedrock of esports. Resources: Visit Panda's website: https://www.panda.gg/ Connect with Justin on social media: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jvarg1990/details/experience/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/jvarg1990
Cisco Garrido, the Senior Graphic Designer at AOE Creative, is joining us today to talk about resilience, commitment, and following and trusting our passions.
Originally from Venezuela, and after his mentor died at a young age, Cisco moved to Panama to avoid the financial and social crisis getting in the way of his progress. His passion for graphic design and the luck of connecting with the right people allowed Cisco to establish himself in Spain and enjoy being a freelancer and developing his craft.
In this episode, we delve into Cisco's extraordinary journey of passion and commitment and his development as a graphic designer and as a freelancer. We discuss the challenges freelancers face in the gaming and esports industry, the importance of not taking criticism of their work personally, and Cisco's unique approach to graphic design.
We also talk about the meaning behind fonts and colors, why companies use them, and the difference between designing for an esports team or a gaming company and for a business from any other industry.
Resources: Vist AOE Creative's website: https://aoecreative.com/ Connect with Cisco on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ciscogarrido/?originalSubdomain=ve This episode is sponsored by Ice Shaker! Grab your own custom DLC Drop Ice Shaker at: https://www.IceShaker.com/DLCDrop And make sure you use the code DLCDrop to save 20% off ALL Ice Shaker Products.
Today, we have a very special guest, Jason Norton, Senior Pastor of the King's Trail Cowboy Church. Jason is a former US Army Ranger and SWAT Assistant Team Leader who felt God's voice talking to him in a swamp during a training drill as a Ranger. Throughout our conversation, Jason reveals some of the most demanding training he went through during his time with the US Army Rangers, the lessons learned from those experiences, and how they affected him in his civilian life. We talk about his experience at SWAT and what made him leave his job and never come back as a law enforcer. We also talk about how he discovered the King's Trail Cowboy Church and what made him join the church and eventually become a pastor. Visit the King's Trail Cowboy Church website: https://kingstrailcowboychurch.com/. This episode is sponsored by Ice Shaker! Grab your own custom DLC Drop Ice Shaker at: https://www.IceShaker.com/DLCDrop And make sure you use the code DLCDrop to save 20% off ALL Ice Shaker Products.
James Creech joins us today to talk about the growth, evolution, and possibilities of influencer advertising. This marketing tool developed its strength, reach, and effectiveness in the last decade and has become a great asset for the gaming and esports industry.
James is the SVP of Influencer Strategy at Brandwatch; he is an Entrepreneur, Startup Coach and Advisor, Angel Investor, and host of the All Things Video podcast. James co-founded the recently acquired by Brandwatch, Paladin, where he honed his influencer strategist craft.
Our conversation revolves around online marketing growth and evolution. We analyze the changes in online content consumption, the possibilities the internet opened for the video industry, and how those changes affected how brands engage with their audiences. James shares his experiences as an entrepreneur, why he decided to start his own thing, and describes his feelings, mistakes, and correct decisions made during the acquisition process. We also talk about influencer marketing as an answer to interruptive advertising and where companies should start to look to engage with their audiences.
Resources: Visit Brandwatch's website: https://www.brandwatch.com/. Listen to the All Things Video Podcast with James Creech: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/all-things-video/id1048524075. Connect with James on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jlcreech/ This episode is sponsored by Ice Shaker! Grab your own custom DLC Drop Ice Shaker at: https://www.IceShaker.com/DLCDrop And make sure you use the code DLCDrop to save 20% off ALL Ice Shaker Products.
We can learn a lot from today's guest, Karsten Williams, about resiliency, commitment, gratitude, and using past experiences to improve our personal and professional lives. Karsten Williams is a 6 times American Ninja Warrior finalist, Director of Ninja Warrior North Texas, former Alpha Warrior athlete and body transformation specialist. We delve into Karsten's journey to becoming an American Ninja Warrior, from his not so successful first appearance in the show to almost a decade of competing in it. Karsten shared his mental and physical preparation before and after competing, his mother's essential role in his education, and the resilience that helped him get to the sport's top. We also talk about Karsten's work with schools, the military, and the leap of faith towards entrepreneurship. Resources: Connect with Karsten on social media: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/teamkarsten/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teamkarsten/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/realteamkarsten Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TeamKarsten This episode is sponsored by Ice Shaker! Grab your own custom DLC Drop Ice Shaker at: https://www.IceShaker.com/DLCDrop
And make sure you use the code DLCDrop to save 20% off ALL Ice Shaker Products.
Sponsoring esports teams remains this kinda undecipherable-but-with great-opportunities-in-it space for many brands. Many brands and agencies would approach it as supporting traditional sports teams, and they might get good results with that strategy. Still, with esports, the story is a bit different.
Today, Joe McMahon, Manager of Marketing and Esports at Wavemaker Sports & Live, joins us to share his thoughts on the different (and successful) ways to approach esports teams.
Throughout our conversation, Joe talks about his journey into gaming and esports, his transition from traditional sports to esports, and the differences he noticed between the two industries at first sight. We touch on the importance of networking, how networking influenced Joe's career, and why it is crucial to make connections without expecting anything in return. We also talk about the importance of brands communicating their expectations clearly, the massive opportunities for regionally-focused teams, and the several elements to consider when approaching an esports team.
Resources: Visit Wavemaker's website: https://wavemakerglobal.com/. Connect with Joe on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joemcmahoniv/. This episode is sponsored by Ice Shaker! Grab your own custom DLC Drop Ice Shaker at: https://www.IceShaker.com/DLCDrop
And make sure you use the code DLCDrop to save 20% off ALL Ice Shaker Products.
Brad Jakeman joins us today to share his unique perspective on mentorship, recruitment, diversity, digitization of the food industry, and the mindset to build a successful career. Having worked for some of the biggest companies in the world, Brad's main drive (apart from his passion for marketing) was joining teams, not companies, and focusing on working for inspiring leaders instead of what companies or industries he would like to join. Brad Jakeman is the Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Rethink Food LLC and Senior Advisor at Boston Consulting Group (BCG). Throughout his career, Brad worked at PepsiCo as President of the Global Beverage Group, Activision Blizzard, Macy's, and Citibank, to name a few. In this episode, we delve into Brad's serendipity-driven career, the decision to test himself constantly in unknown industries to promote big changes, and his particular approach to attracting talent. Brad shared his thoughts on why diversity is not only needed but highly beneficial for companies, the lessons he learned from the mistakes in his career, the proper way to lead transformations at big companies, and what are the most challenging parts of it.
Resources: Visit Rethink Food's website: https://www.rethinkfood.org/ Connect with Brad on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradjakeman/ or follow him on Twitter: https://twitter.com/bradjakeman
This episode is sponsored by Ice Shaker! Grab your own custom DLC Drop Ice Shaker at: https://www.IceShaker.com/DLCDrop And make sure you use the code DLCDrop to save 20% off ALL Ice Shaker Products.
Erin Ashley Simon joins us to talk about her career in the esports and gaming space, in the entertainment business, and as an entrepreneur. She is a Gaming & Entertainment Host and co-owner of XSET, but her deep commitment to giving back stands out in her career path. Whether it is signing a contract with a brand, or thinking of projects, Erin has this drive of thinking of those less privileged first and figuring out a way of providing them with tools for their progress. In this episode, our conversation revolves around Erin's first steps in the industry, her beginning writing a blog for McDonald's All-American Games, and the exposition that helped her realize she was more into journalism and entertainment than into kinesiology, which she was studying at the time. We also talk about providing value, generation connections without being transactional, how to achieve confidence in what we do, and more. Resources: Visit XSET's website: https://xset.com/ or connect with Erin on social media: https://linktr.ee/erinasimon This episode is sponsored by Ice Shaker! Grab your own custom DLC Drop Ice Shaker at: https://www.IceShaker.com/DLCDrop And make sure you use the code DLCDrop to save 20% off ALL Ice Shaker Products.
Joining us today are Jimmy Baratta and Paul Dawalibi, hosts of the Business of Esports podcast, investors, entrepreneurs, and references in the gaming industry. Jimmy is the Chief Gaming Officer at Holodeck Ventures, he is an instructor at the University of California, and he is a business development and brand strategy specialist. Paul is the CEO at Holodeck Ventures; he is an esports and gaming expert, founder and creator of the 2020 Fastest Growing Company in Canada, and creator of the world's first esports NFT. Our conversation spins around authenticity vs. authority, the things the gaming community is doing right and wrong, and the proper way to get into esports. They even gifted us a couple of predictions for the industry in the forthcoming years. We discuss the distinction between gaming and esports, the lack of innovation, and the untapped opportunities in the industry. Resources: Visit the Business of Esports website: https://thebusinessofesports.com/. or Connect with Jimmy and Paul on LinkedIn: Paul: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pauldawalibi/. Jimmy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimmybaratta/. This episode is sponsored by Ice Shaker! Grab your own custom DLC Drop Ice Shaker at: https://www.IceShaker.com/DLCDrop And make sure you use the code DLCDrop to save 20% off ALL Ice Shaker Products.
Undoubtedly, one of the reasons the esports and gaming industry expanded so quickly in the last five or six years is its intrinsic inclusive traits. The "there is always an extra controller" type of mindset makes the video games space a place where new voices and perspectives are always welcomed, and rapid growth is a byproduct of that plurality. Our guest, Nathan Lindberg, experienced gaming and esports growth from its very beginning. He visits us to talk about his journey in esports and gaming, how brands should approach the industry to effectively engage with the esports audience, and where he thinks the space is heading. Nathan is the Commercial Director of Gaming at SuperAwesome, a Member Of The Board Of Advisors at Esports Business Summit, and a Founding Board Member of the Esports Ad Bureau. He has over ten years of experience in digital and print advertising in arenas, primarily gaming and entertainment. Resources: Visit SuperAwesome's website: https://www.superawesome.com/ Connect with them on social media: Twitter: https://twitter.com/GoSuperAwesome Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lifeatsuperawesome/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/superawesome/ Or read their blog: https://www.superawesome.com/blog/ You can also connect with Nathan on social media: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanlindberg/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/therealnate This episode is sponsored by Ice Shaker! Grab your own custom DLC Drop Ice Shaker at: https://www.IceShaker.com/DLCDrop And make sure you use the code DLCDrop to save 20% off ALL Ice Shaker Products.
If we look at any traditional sport played professionally, we find the same path. It starts with a game, a team or individual game created by a group of people. Then the community starts to play the game, then it travels to another city, state, gets regulations, becomes a national sport, and even maybe worldwide. That game will have professional, amateur, varsity, collegiate, and rec leagues. For esports, there are two significant differences compared with traditional sports. First, professional esports started differently; it first caught fire globally before having varsity, amateur, and collegiate leagues. The second difference is that esports has no rec league, and there is precisely where our guest, Austin Smith, saw a great opportunity to add massive value to the space and use esports as an excuse to do what he likes to do most, build communities. Austin Smith is the Co-founder and CEO of Mission Control GG; he is an Economist and Entrepreneur passionate about gathering and building communities. In this episode, Austin talks about his journey in esports and why he decided to build a company around rec leagues. We talk about the future of esports and its use as a medium to build community. Austin talks about how Mission Control GG works with some brands like Cinemark and how entertainment companies are targeting video games as what they really are, the future of entertainment. Our conversation pivots into the entrepreneurial side of Austin's journey; we talk about his experience on both sides of dealing with VC (Venture Capitals). He also shares some valuable tips for entrepreneurs and what he considers is the best way for startups to build their advisory boards. Resources: Visit the Mission Control website: https://www.missioncontrol.gg/. or connect with Austin on social media: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/austinmilessmith/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/austinmilesmith This episode is sponsored by Ice Shaker! Grab your own custom DLC Drop Ice Shaker at: https://www.IceShaker.com/DLCDrop And make sure you use the code DLCDrop to save 20% off ALL Ice Shaker Products.
Although brands' approach to traditional sports teams and events is different from how they do it in the esports space, the result of just slapping a logo into something without providing value to the community is the same. It won't impact the community nor get any financial benefit from it. Joining us today is Brett Diamond, COO of Version1 and Minnesota RØKKR. Brett spent over 15 years in the traditional sports industry, serving as Senior Manager of Events at the NFL and Director of Partnership Strategy at the Minnesota Vikings. Our conversation revolves around the similarities and differences between advertising and sponsorship in traditional sports and esports events. Brett shared his thoughts on the different treatment but the same result for brands advertising without providing value in traditional sports and esports, the importance of live events for the esports space, and how crucial it is to enhance attendants' experiences to run successful live events. We also talk about the role and benefits the Esports Trade Association represents to the industry, Version1 stance on inclusion in esports and gaming, the decision of hiring an entirely feminine roster, and the creation of VersionX. Resources: Visit Version1 website: https://version1.gg/ Visit Minnesota RØKKR website: https://rokkr.callofdutyleague.com/en-us/ or connect with Brett on social media: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brett-diamond-03505a4/details/experience/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/Diamond_Sota This episode is sponsored by Ice Shaker! Grab your own custom DLC Drop Ice Shaker at: https://www.IceShaker.com/DLCDrop And make sure you use the code DLCDrop to save 20% off ALL Ice Shaker Products.
Growing up, our guest, Dale Alexander, was shocked when he knew people were paid to create those commercial breaks short movies. For him, advertising was as entertaining as the movies and the sitcoms he was watching. Fast forward some years, and after over 20 years working with creativity, Dale's eyes light up the same way when he needs to come up with an idea, whether it is for a multi-billion dollar company or helping out a friend with their terrible folk album. Dale Alexander is the Creative Lead at Zelus. For the past 20 years, Dale worked as Creative Director of UPROAR!, Group Concept Director at The Marketing Arm, and VP Creative of the Dallas Mavericks. In this episode, we go through some of Dale's biggest learnings throughout his career in marketing and advertising. We learn about NFTs, the irruption of new technologies, and how they modify the way society interacts, works, and evolves. We also dive into the future of marketing and branding, the importance of leaders creating space for their teams to speak their minds and share their thoughts, and more. Resources: You can connect with Dale on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dalealexander/ This episode is sponsored by Ice Shaker! Grab your own custom DLC Drop Ice Shaker at: https://www.IceShaker.com/DLCDrop And make sure you use the code DLCDrop to save 20% off ALL Ice Shaker Products.
Joining us today is Vinny Minichiello, recently incorporated as a Supervisor in Digital Activations of Gaming & Esports at Zero Code. Vinny brings an interesting three-tiered approach for endemic and non-endemic brands into esports and gaming. He believes that brands should aim at three main objectives, be known first, be understood later, and finally, be loved by the community. Coming from the traditional sports industry, where he worked with the Elmira Jackals and the Arizona Coyotes, Vinny transitioned to the gaming industry, where he, identified as a gamer, believes he can add more value and be involved in projects more aligned with his core values. In this episode, we talk about activations from the agency, the brand, and the production side, the industry's struggles in connecting with the skeptical gaming community, and the challenges of partnerships and sponsorships in esports events. Vinny also shares details of his journey in the traditional sports and the gaming industry, and we discuss the new marketing opportunities COVID brought to the gaming scene. Resources: Visit Omnicom Media Group website: https://omnicommediagroup.com/ Connect with Vinny on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vminichiello/details/experience/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/vinichiello or Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vinichiello/ This episode is sponsored by Ice Shaker! Grab your own custom DLC Drop Ice Shaker at: https://www.IceShaker.com/DLCDrop And make sure you use the code DLCDrop to save 20% off ALL Ice Shaker Products.
In the early 2000s, becoming a Raid Leader and a Guild Master helped our guest, Michael "Moog" Aguilar, overcome not only his introverted nature but also his social anxiety. It also taught him how important it is for any community to feel wanted and welcomed, regardless of whatever adjective society puts over their heads. Fast forward many years, when the University of Oklahoma journey started for Michael, he knew the epicenter of anything he would build must be the community. He took the burden of trying to satisfy gamers' needs; whether they were causals, competitive, Animal Crossing, or Halo, he would listen and make space for them, physical or digital. Michael Aguilar is the Director of Esports & Co-Curricular Innovation at the University of Oklahoma and the Esports Curriculum Developer & Adjunct Instructor at Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication. Michael holds a Bachelor's degree in Information Technology and an MBA in Technology Management Focus from the University of Phoenix. We had a fantastic conversation about the gaming community, gaming and esports' career paths opportunities, and the University of Oklahoma's six pillars of intention in which they based their gaming and esports programs. We also discuss the importance of vulnerability in leadership, the keys to building an engaged community that feels heard and seen, esports and gaming degrees, and how challenging it is for him to be the translator between the university's administrators and students gamers. Resources: Visit Esports & Gaming at OU website: https://www.ou.edu/esports Follow them on all social media platforms: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ouesports1 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ouesports/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/ouesports Twitter: https://twitter.com/ouesports
Or connect with Michael on: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maaguilar/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/MoogDiesel?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/moogdiesel/?hl=es
This episode is sponsored by Ice Shaker! Grab your own custom DLC Drop Ice Shaker at: https://www.IceShaker.com/DLCDrop And make sure you use the code DLCDrop to save 20% off ALL Ice Shaker Products
One of the main obstacles brands and marketers find when investing in a content creator is the lack of data. Companies don't know precisely what is working and what is not, so they don't know whether to invest more in a campaign or pivot and try a different strategy. Our guest, Adam Whyte, created a solution for what has been a pain point across the board in the gaming industry. His company, Edge, ensures reliable data to brands, marketers, and shareholders about how their campaign is performing and, at the same time, facilitates payments to creators and influencers. Adam Whyte is the Founder and CEO of Edge, a company that connects data and insights to smart contracts and payments that everyone can rely on, or, in his own words, the Uber for creators. Our conversation spins around Edge's revolutionary concept and input into the industry, the ups and downs in the entrepreneurial journey, the power of believing in our vision as entrepreneurs, the fear of failure and success, and the power of authenticity. Adam shared his experiences with getting investors for his company, the importance of building the right mindset, and how crucial it is to set clear expectations with investors, clients, and ourselves. Resources: Visit Edge's website: https://www.edge.gg/ Follow them on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/edgegroup/ or Twitter: https://twitter.com/EdgeTechGG You can also connect with Adam on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edgewhyte/?originalSubdomain=uk Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/edgewhyte/?hl=es Twitter: https://twitter.com/edgewhyte
This episode is sponsored by Ice Shaker! Grab your own custom DLC Drop Ice Shaker at: https://www.IceShaker.com/DLCDrop And make sure you use the code DLCDrop to save 20% off ALL Ice Shaker Products
Today's episode is a bit different for many reasons. I'm joined by Chris Gronkowski, former NFL player, Founder & CEO of our first sponsor, Ice Shaker, and the participant of one of ABC's Shark Tank most viewed episodes, where he landed a deal for $150k for a 15% stake with Mark Cuban and Alex Rodriguez. Our conversation revolves around three major topics: Chris's experiences as an NFL player, the decision to start his business and how it exploded after Shark Tank, and how his gamer past helped him open the gates of the industry to Ice Shaker. We delve into the details of what it takes to become an NFL player, the pros and cons from a financial standpoint, the risks, and the devastating effects on players' mental and physical health. Chris shared details of his experience at ABC's Shark Tank and learned lessons as an entrepreneur. Chris also talked about his past as a Halo and Counter Striker player and how he realized his product was a perfect fit for gamers. Resources: Visit Ice Shaker website: https://www.iceshaker.com/ Or follow them on their socials. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iceshakerbottle Twitter: https://twitter.com/iceshakerbottle YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaL_vSjJLMe5C5sX-GRCh1w Pinterest: https://ar.pinterest.com/ChrisGronkowskiCEOIceShaker/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iceshaker/ Connect with Chris on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-gronkowski-053374124/ or follow him on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Chrisgronkowski TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/discover/chris-gronkowski or Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chrisgronkowski/ This episode is sponsored by Ice Shaker! Grab your own custom DLC Drop Ice Shaker at: https://www.IceShaker.com/DLCDrop And make sure you use the code DLCDrop to save 20% off ALL Ice Shaker Products
Except for the obvious difference in the physical output traditional sports requires from their athletes, the training programs for traditional sports and competitive gaming athletes are pretty similar. When putting together training programs for traditional sports and esports athletes, our guest, Taylor Johnson, focuses on five focal points: psychological, physiological, cultural, neurological, and tactical. However, when working with gamers, Taylor makes sure he also works their cardiovascular fitness for longevity and cognitive performance. Taylor Johnson is a Performance Optimization Coach, Project Manager, Speaker, Author, and Founder of Taylor Johnson Performance, LLC. He worked with the San Francisco 49ers as a Performance Coach before jumping into the esports space, where he had his first experience as VP of Performance at Infinite Esports & Entertainment. Throughout this episode, we go through the similarities and differences between the preparation of traditional sports and esports athletes. We also discuss the difference between purpose and goals and why it is crucial to discover our purpose. Taylor shared his thoughts on the importance of focusing on building productive habits, being present, incorporating breathing routines into our lives, journaling as a method of being accountable for our actions, and more. Resources: Visit Taylor Johnson Performance's website: https://www.taylorjohnsonperformance.com/ Follow Taylor on Twitter: https://twitter.com/coacht_johnson on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coacht_johnson/ or connect with him on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/taylorjohnsonperformance/details/experience/ This episode is sponsored by Ice Shaker! Grab your own custom DLC Drop Ice Shaker at: https://www.IceShaker.com/DLCDrop And make sure you use the code DLCDrop to save 20% off ALL Ice Shaker Products!
If back in 2005 someone would tell us that a complete stranger would pick us up in his car to take us where we wanted to go, or that people would rent a room in their house to a stranger they met online from the other side of the world, we would probably don't believe it. Still, Uber and Airbnb are companies fully integrated into our lives nowadays. The service our guest, Bob Miles, offers is perhaps as disruptive as the businesses mentioned above, but that will most likely become commonplace for most gamers in the next couple of years. Bob Miles is the Founder and CEO of Salad Technologies, a company that offers gamers rewards for sharing their idle PCs. Bob also co-founded caMetric, an IoT startup; he worked as Product Manager at Proxima and Head of Product at Teal Drones. In this episode, we delve into Bob's fascinating journey into technology and entrepreneurship. Bob shared his experiences developing a waste-powered fuel that became a sailing adventure around Australia, filmed and produced by Netflix. We also talk about managing a company, hiring and letting people go, the relationship between younger generations and digital assets, and the pros and cons of having technology so ingrained into our lives. Bob also talked about Salad Technologies' mission, goals, the projection for the following years, the metaverse, and much more. Resources: Visit Salad Technologies website: https://salad.com/ or connect with Bob on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/milesbob/ This episode is sponsored by Ice Shaker! Grab your own custom DLC Drop Ice Shaker at: www.IceShaker.com/DLCdrop And make sure you use the code DLCDrop to save 20% off ALL Ice Shaker Products!
There are so many paths into the gaming industry, perhaps, as there are gamers in the world. The access points are constantly redefined by gamers' passion, creativity, and, like in our guest's case, the urge to build a community. Our guest, Jonathon Oudthone, went from hardcore gamer to the Founder and President of Esports Stadium Arlington, the largest dedicated esports facility in the US, moved purely by his desire of building a gaming community. In this episode, Jonathon shares bits of his incredible journey, how he discovered, in a time where social media didn't offer vast opportunities to connect, the existence of other gamers. Plus he discovered that they were also striving for connection. He also took us through becoming a competitive gamer and then deciding to leave competitive gaming and dedicate his time and effort to streaming content. Jonathon also shared the process he went through from deciding to build a community and the details of founding and directing the Esports Stadium Arlington. Resources: Connect with Jonathon on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathonoudthone/ or follow him on Twitter: https://twitter.com/solidxpanda This episode is sponsored by Ice Shaker! Grab your own custom DLC Drop Ice Shaker at: https://www.IceShaker.com/DLCDrop And make sure you use the code DLCDrop to save 20% off ALL Ice Shaker Products!
In an industry as skeptical as the gaming industry, being the interpreter between two groups of people that need but can't talk to each other is a rare and priceless skill. Our guest, Jay Hairston, is one of those few people in the industry who fluently speaks both languages, the one companies and brands talk, and, as a gamer himself, the one spoken by esports athletes and gamers. Jay Hairston is currently the Social Director at Mogul, a customer-centric esports tournament hosting platform. He worked as Director of Social Media and as a Community Manager at Envy, and as a Global Community Manager at Funimation. In this episode, Jay shares how he got in touch with the world of special needs, where he spent several years helping kids with physical and cognitive disabilities to learn skills so they can be productive members of society and integrate into the community. We go through Jay's journey into the gaming industry, his experiences in public speaking, and the importance of understanding what brands want and need and translating it into the language that the gaming community speaks. We also talk about the cancel culture, the gaming community's skepticism, and Jay's top tips for getting into the gaming industry. Resources: Visit Mogul website: http://esh.mogul.gg/ Follow them on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/esportsmogul/ Add them into your Facebook's friends list: https://www.facebook.com/MogulOfficialGG You can connect with Jay on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayhairston/
At the same time, leagues, esports teams, and video games companies, in general, make considerable efforts to help endemic and nonendemic companies reach the space and make money in the gaming industry, the worst-performing metric, by far, is ROI. Whether the problem is the lack of measurement, or the reluctance from certain companies to share their metrics, Cam Kelly, our guest today, believes it needs to be addressed and solved ASAP. Cameron Kelly is the VP of Marketing & Brand at Maestro. During his career, Cam developed an acute understanding of marketing and the gaming industry and how they interact. Before joining Maestro, Cam served as a CMO at Complexity Gaming and Senior Marketing Strategist at OnePlus. In this episode, Cam shares bits of his vast experience and knowledge of marketing in the gaming industry. We delve into the superficial approach to gaming, the lack of interest from young generations for the "less sexy" jobs, and how we can get young people interested in developing skills rather than getting likes and social media fame. We talk about the lack of metrics that affects the entire industry, which doesn't allow us to keep doing what is working, or pivot when something is not. We also go through the dangers of playing "the convenience game," how endemics and nonendemics can get access to the skeptical gamers' universe, the merge of the digital and physical space in marketing, and much more. Resources: Visit Maestro website: https://www.maestro.io/ Connect with Cam on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cameron-kelly-81656031/ or follow him on Twitter: https://twitter.com/col_csk
Perhaps one of the first things that come to mind when we think of augmented reality (AR) is Pokemon GO, some sort of stigma AR deals with. Pokemon GO was an excellent icebreaker for what AR could be; still, it didn't show AR's full potential, such as its possibilities in the geospatial sense. Our guest, Kevin Hart, is the Founder and CEO of Aireal, a geospatial augmented platform that allows designers to see and experience their designs before building them. Aireal provides solutions for real estate development, architecture, construction, and smart cities. We had a fantastic conversation about AR's potential, its multiple applications to develop the way we do business, consume goods, and even buy properties. Kevin shared their strategies to narrow Aireal's target market since its products can serve virtually any industry. We also discuss the value of soft skills, how hard it is to pivot and change direction while leading a company, the importance of facing our fears, and more. In addition, Kevin gifted us with a mini masterclass on the metaverse, its applications, and where he sees it heading. Visit the Aireal website: https://www.aireal.com/ You can send an email to Kevin at: khart {at} aireal.io Connect with him on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kjhart/ or follow him on Twitter: https://twitter.com/kevinjosephhart
Niching down and specializing in just one or two types of products is one of the recipes for success. But there are also alternative routes; a company can sign up to take care of several kinds of jobs, as long as they deliver the same value and quality in all of them. The latter approach is the one our guest, Mike Arzt, picked for his company, The Public Works. Today's guest, Mike Arzt, is the Co-owner and Co-pilot at The Public Works, Owner of Battery 621, and Member of the Entrepreneurs' Organization. Constant growth and evolution are the cornerstones of his founded and co-founded companies. At The Public Works, a company committed to creating beautiful photos and videos, they do things based on three core values: putting people first, making sure working with them is fun, and always doing what they say they would do. Our conversation spins around Mike's past, present, and future projects at TPW, the values he chooses to lean on to run his company, and his networking, Mike's experiences working for some of the biggest companies in the world, and what he took from that experiences into his own company. We also delve into being a giver the proper way, Mike's take on snowboarding at the Olympics, and more. Visit The Public Works website: https://www.tpw.media/ or Follow them on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thepublicworks/ Connect with Mike on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-arzt-thepublicworks/ or follow him on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arztm/
Those who want to make a living out of the live streaming and video content creation space depend on gathering at least a million followers. The challenging part is that they must have them on one platform; otherwise, having a million followers on several platforms won't do the trick. In the game development space, the path is slightly smoother. For instance, a Roadblock developer with three to five thousand concurrent players could make a reasonable living. Joining us today to help us understand better the monetization mechanisms in gaming is Matt Edelman, CCO at Super League Gaming. Matt built and produced content basically on every known platform in his over 20+ years of experience in the space. He worked at Marvel in the '90s, he executive produced the first-ever electronic comic book, helped to create marvel.com, and that was only the beginning of his career. In this episode, Matt kindly shared his expertise in monetizing online and gaming spaces, content creation, and providing the gaming and esports audiences value. We delve into Super League Gaming services, how they help the everyday gamer connect and engage with like-minded people, and how they can make money while gaming or streaming. We also talk about the power of creating an inspired gaming and esports fandom, the strong bond between younger generations and the metaverse, and much more. Visit Super League Gaming website: https://www.superleague.com/ Connect with Matt on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattedelman/
One of the trickiest parts of creating content and products for kids isn't only that we aren't kids anymore; it is also the generational differences. The sociocultural environment, the technology, and the access to it are just some of the main differences separating marketers and content creators from their target audience. To Terence Burke, our guest today, kids are the caterpillar, an early stage of us, and, at the same time, an entirely different version of ourselves. Terence Burke is the V.P Director of Research and Editor-In-Chief of KidSay's Trend Tracker. KidSay is a full-service youth trend forecasting, brand strategy, and generational market research firm. KidSay asks students about what they like to do on their weekends and their favorite toys, and in return, they give funds to schools they can use to do the things local school budget taxes don't cover, like field trips, buying instruments, scholarships, or sports gear. In this episode, we had a wholesome conversation about some of the secrets of a market that its constant evolution and fluctuation makes it so hard to get: producing content and products for kids. We talked about the problems marketers and developers face to create these products, the new trends among kids that came to stay, and what kind of work KidSay does. We also delve into the discussion of reframing the understanding of gender within the new generations, the toxicity of social media, why some social platforms are more successful than others among kids, and much more. Resources: Visit KidSay website: https://www.kidsay.com/ You can also write an email to Terence at: tburke@kidsay.com Or connect with him on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/terenceburkekidsay/
The evolution of technology has always been seen as something positive; faster and more efficient tech turns people and companies' lives easier. However, when we take technology as a component of our business, there are so many things happening simultaneously that it requires a lot of effort and resources to make sure we stay at the top of the game. To our guest, Chris Hana, this "catch up" game with technology is what most companies are struggling with right now. Chris Hana is the Founder and CEO of The Esports Observer (TEO). He is a Media Executive with vast experience in brand building, storytelling, and experiential marketing in the digital entertainment, esports, and pop-culture space. Almost 3 years ago, TEO was acquired by Sports Business Journal (SBJ). Chris saw it as an excellent opportunity to expand the audience and felt like a validation for the hard work creating and growing TEO. Today, in one of the most anticipated interviews of the year, Chris kindly shared his insights on brand and team building, the past, present, and future of esports, and the overwhelming pace of technology's evolution. We discuss the lack of conversations about normalizing failure, mental health issues like burnout or stress. We also talked about Chris' first steps in the industry when he created TEO, he shared some advice for future entrepreneurs, and more. Resources: Visit The Esports Observer website: https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Esports.aspx You can connect with Chris on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/herrhana/ or follow him on Twitter: https://twitter.com/herrhana
Although he had been a gamer since he was a kid, Arda Ocal didn't know anything about League of Legends; he hadn't played a single minute in his entire life. However, when ESPN officials asked him if he would like to host their Digital Desk for League of Legends, he didn't flinch. He said yes right away; he knew he'd had time to get ready for it. Arda Ocal is a Host and anchor at ESPN and an Adjunct Professor of the Department of Mass Communication Master’s Degree Program in Sports Broadcasting from Iona College. In this episode, we delve into Arda's journey of becoming a host and anchor for ESPN and what kind of mindset helped him land his dream job. We explore different aspects of esports, its evolution through time, the possible inclusion of competitive gaming in the Olympics, and discuss who would benefit more from that. Arda also shared how he felt the first time he hosted for ESPN, how fulfilling it felt, and the firm sensation of starting a new chapter of his life. We also talk about the importance of volunteering and the right way to do it, beat the fear of failure, and much more. Resources: Visit Arda's website: https://www.ardaocal.me/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ardaocaltv/ or connect with him on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arda-ocal-34a97a12a/
Son of two elite athletes, as a division one athlete at high school and a two-time state champion in his junior year, being a track runner was more than something Jarryd Wallace loved to do; it was part of his identity. He had the potential to become a professional athlete. But destiny had something different in mind for him. He had a chronic exertional compartment syndrome, which required surgery to solve. The surgery went wrong; he had complications. After 10 reconstructive surgeries and more than a year and a half of suffering from chronic pain, 17-year-old Jarryd had to face the decision to get his leg amputated. Joining us today is the three-time Paralympian, Tokyo 2020 bronze medalist, and Co-Founder and CEO of Rival, Jarryd Wallace. We had a fantastic conversation about resilience, identity, the life of a Paralympic athlete, and marketing. Jarryd shared his journey from having a promising future as a professional athlete to looking at amputation as hope for a painless life and becoming an elite Paralympic athlete. We also talked about the barriers to access prosthetic equipment, the importance of authenticity, the complicated world of sponsorship for athletes, and much more. Resources: Visit Jarryd's website: https://www.jarrydwallace.com/ Connect with Jarryd on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jarryd-wallace-3a70b586/ or follow him on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wallace_jarryd/
One of the hardest things to get for companies about the gaming and esports industry is how to engage with its massive audience. Business professionals would attend esports events and be blown away by the gigantic screens. They would look at the missing logo placement opportunities and be distracted by that. Donny Neufuss, our guest today, calls that the SOS, the Shiny Object Syndrome. He believes most companies are missing the point. It is not about logo placement; it is about the people attending the event. Donny Neufuss is the Director of Business Development & Strategic Partnerships at Sonic Foundry, a technology strategist, an esports expert, a hip hop enthusiast, and a dear, long time friend. In this episode, we had a great conversation about what companies are missing and where most of them fail to engage with the gaming community. Donny shared bits of his background as a gamer and streamer, his participation in the MP3 revolution in the early 2000s, and his incredible conversation with Apple's music division. We also discuss the role of digital engagement in education, the future of the entertainment industry, Donny's passion for music, and much more. Resources: Visit Sonic Foundry website: https://sonicfoundry.com/ or connect with Donny on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donnyneufuss/ or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DO2NY/about
The Digital Isle of Man is a private/public initiative created within the Isle of Man Government's Department for Enterprise, developed to incentivize the growth and prosperity of tech-based companies, which represent 30% of the Island's economy. The action's primary goal is to support and sustain the economic growth and establish the Island as a center of international excellence for the digital economy. To teach us more about this particular project is Chris Kissack. Chris is the Esports Advisor of the Digital Isle of Man. He is a lifelong gamer and esports solutions specialist, utterly passionate about the gaming industry and the esports ecosystem. In this episode, our conversation delves into Chris' approach to gamers and the industry in general. He talked about how despite being a guy from the government in a suit, he is a true gamer and how that authentic approach helps him access the industry quickly. We also talk about betting and gambling in esports, the complex process of regulating that practice, the different ways governments can incentivize esports, the Metaverse, and much more. Visit the Digital Isle of Man website: https://www.digitalisleofman.com/ or connect with Chris on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chriskissack/?trk=public_profile_browsemap&originalSubdomain=im
When leading creative teams, finding effective ways to offer them ownership and freedom is essential to obtain high-level results. A creative who is doing only what their boss is telling them to do is doing half of his job; the other half is figuring out different ways to do it. Our guest, Robert M. Atkins, is particularly good at empowering teams, contributing to a greater good in the online communities, and adding true value to the gaming community. He is the CEO at BALANCED Media | Technology. As a game developer, Robert worked in DOOM, and Counter-Strike, to mention just a few of the massive projects he has been involved in. We had a fantastic conversation about leadership, teams’ empowerment, ownership, the future of the gaming industry, esports as the future of entertainment, and monetizing the gaming industry. Robert kindly shared his point of view on how to benefit from offering freedom to creatives, how to inspire them, and help them create at their fullest potential. Visit BALANCED Media | Technology website: https://www.balancedmediatechnology.com/ or send him Robert an email at: robert@bmt.world
When leaders have some hands-on experience, they're more likely to develop authentic connections with their teams and external collaborators. To Chris Smith, our guest today, who had spent more than 10 years working at virtually any position in the industry before becoming a CEO, experienced hands-on leaders are kind of a cheat code.
Chris Smith is the Founder and CEO of Big Esports, an esports and gaming PR consultant firm. Chris has worked in every role in the gaming industry: top-level competitive player, commentator, tournament coordinator, PR and marketing representative, and consultant, to name a few.
Every new position he got into, he felt that was the job of his life... until he discovered the next one. His passion for gaming and his voracity for learning led him to start his own company. Chris's diverse journey turned him into a leader who knows every corner of an industry that saw him grow and evolve for the last 12 years.
In this episode, we have a fantastic conversation about leadership, the evolution of the gaming community, esports and gaming education, and some of the industry's future trends. Chris kindly shared bits of his background and the attitude and mindset that helped him grow and evolve in the gaming industry. We also discuss what can take someone to "the right room" to meet the right people and forge the beginning of a career in gaming.
Visit the Big Esports website: https://www.bigesports.gg/
Connect with Chris on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/smithymayo/
or follow him on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smithymayo/
or Twitter: https://twitter.com/smithymayo
In such a competitive and demanding industry like marketing, many creative agencies fail to implement a simple yet effective method to attract big brands: making themselves their most important clients. This is one of the many innovative ideas Chad Rea, our guest, put into practice in his own agency and allowed him to work with Fuel TV, Target, Mountain Dew, Starbucks, Aquafina, or Technicolor, to name a few. Chad Rea is a Social Impact Artist, International Creative Director, Creative Mentor, and Voice Over artist. Before becoming a full-time artist, Chad worked at the most prominent and most influential creative agencies in the U.S and Europe, including Wieden + Kennedy, Mother, Kessels Kramer, and his own unconventional agency, 86 the onions. In this episode, we go through Chad's fascinating journey into the advertising world; his passion for influencing large groups through entertainment and his overseas experiences changed the way he saw the marketing industry. We also explore the different approaches to marketing, brand positioning, hiring talent, culture, and much more. You can learn more about Chad's art at: https://www.chadrea.com/about You can also follow him on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chadrea/?hl=es or reach out to him on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chadrea/
Although it is developing quickly and growing at a breakneck pace, the gaming industry is still relatively young, just as most of its members and, especially, its talent. This becomes evident when signing contracts and agreements as we see players close deals clearly not favorable to them. Justin Jacobson believes the lack of legal information, the pressure from those hiring, and players not understanding how negotiations work are some of the leading causes for this to happen. Justin Jacobson is an Esports and Entertainment Attorney, VP of The Jacobson Firm, PC, and Author of "The Essential Guide to the Business & Law of Esports & Professional Video Gaming." His book became a reference in the gaming industry, is used by many universities and was published in several countries. We had a fascinating conversation about the legal side of the gaming industry, which has massive importance and it's often overlooked. We also talked about Justin's process of writing the book, his initial idea, and how it was for him that it was so well received. We explore some of the most common mistakes young talents make when signing contracts, the red flags they should pay attention to, how contract negotiations should be conducted, and much more. Visit The Jacobson Firm website: https://thejacobsonfirmpc.com/ Connect with Justin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinmjacobson/?locale=es_ES Follow him on Twitter: https://twitter.com/justinjesq Get a copy of his book: https://www.amazon.com/Essential-Business-Esports-Professional-Gaming/dp/0367675129/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=justin+m+jacobson&qid=1633391960&sr=8-1
The gaming community is known for being a little hermetic; for some brands and companies, it feels like it is a small knitting club. To Billy Le Voir-Barry, our guest today, the best way to get into it is to put away the jacket, go to startups, meetups, turn off the sales DNA and interact with the community, in his own words: "just go on and be." This is the kind of approach IBM applied during the time he worked there, with incredible success. Billy Le Voir-Barry is the President, Chief of Esports, and Gaming Visionary Officer at GENERATION Esports & Video Games Consulting. He is a gaming visionary, currently leveling up in the world of esports. Billy was an independent consultant, acting as a PMO Architect Technologist when IBM contacted him to work for them. He spent over ten years as a CTO IBM of Esports and Video Games with incredible success, and now his career goes full circle, working as a consultant in his own company. Our conversation today revolves around the complex task for companies and brands to approach the gaming community, how to do it organically, and what are, in Billy's opinion, the companies that did it right. We also talk about Billy's journey from being an independent contractor to working in one of the world's biggest companies to being an entrepreneur. We reflect on the importance of healthy leadership, eliminating toxicity in the workplace, and much more. Visit GENERATION Esports & Video Games Consulting website: https://consultingesports.com/ or connect with Billy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/billy-le-voir-barry-b198446/?trk=public_profile_browsemap_profile-result-card_result-card_full-click
I have to admit, I've always been a little bit skeptical about business coaches. The idea of people teaching others how to do things they haven't done themselves sounded like the modern version of an oil snake salesman to me. But after working with today's guest, Sharon Gill, my idea of what coaching is changed. It changed my career, how I see the world around me, and how I see myself in it. Before being coached, I'd never dreamed of being an entrepreneur, and today I can't imagine my life not being one. Today, I'm honored to bring Sharon Gill to the show. She is a Leadership Strategist & Purpose Centered Business Coach; Sharon is also the Founder and CEO of the Sharon Gill International Consulting Services. Sharon has been mentoring people, coaching, and sharing information her whole life, even before becoming a Certified Coach. She is passionate about empowering people and helping them live their God-ordained lives. In this episode, we explore the world of coaching from Sharon's unique perspective. We talk about self-imposed challenges and blockages, the stories we tell ourselves about success and failure, and the power of believing in ourselves and our abilities. Sharon shared bits of her background, how professional coaching changed her life and the lives of many people around her, and her passion for helping others. We also explore the concepts of mindset, goals, affirmations, and much more. Visit Sharon's website: https://www.sharongill.com/ or connect with her on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharongillinternational/ You can also send her an email: contact@sharongill.com
Growing up surrounded by entrepreneurs and with a natural talent for seeing opportunities to capitalize his abilities and help people, Danny Martin couldn't see himself anywhere else than running his own company. He studied Small Business Management and Entrepreneurship, even without what kind of company he would run. Today, he is a visionary and one of the most influential thought leaders in the esports industry. Danny Ray Martin is the co-founder and CEO of Esposure Inc. and Esports Subject Matter Expert at SMU. He is passionate about opening doors and facilitating the entrance of young students to the gaming and esports industry. He helped hundreds of students get scholarships and employment from acclaimed Universities and esports Organizations like Central Methodist University, Complexity Gaming, Pacers Gaming, and Mavs Gaming. In this episode, the conversation flows around the different challenges and the possible solutions for young people to get into the esports and gaming industry. Danny kindly shared bits of his background, how easy it was for him to decide his career path, the difficulties he learned to deal with along the way, and how COVID changed his business and the mindset he and his team were putting into it. Visit Esposure website to learn more about their programs: https://www.esposure.gg/ Follow them on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/esposure.gg/ Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/esposuregg or subscribe to their YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJCr9VO4MCiOiDfYHEeAnOw You can also connect with Danny on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dannyrmartin/
Company owners know that investing in people leads to the best business results. It will also improve employees' personal lives and eventually develop the company's brand as a rebound effect of that improvement. To Ed Offterdinger, professional development goes further than that; he sees it as a social contribution. Ed Offterdinger is a Leadership Coach, Conscious Capitalist, Author, and Former CEO. He is the co-founder of AO People Partners and co-author of the book "Conscious, Capable, and Ready to Contribute: A Fable." Ed built his extensive and successful career in consulting and public accounting under two premises: heavily investing in leadership and professional development for himself and others. In this episode, Ed brings a different perspective of personal and professional development. We talk about the book he co-authored, his creative process, and the people and situations that inspired it. We explore the benefits of investing in people, eliminating the "kill the closest snake" mentality, what coaching can offer to improve managers' and employees' experiences, and much more. Connect with Ed on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ed-offterdinger/ Pre-order his book: https://consciousandcapable.com/
For an artist, a creator, the connection between his creation and the user is everything. Books, movies, and songs can establish a deep relationship with their audiences, and still, perhaps none of them gets close to the link between a gamer with a controller in their hands and a video game. To Jamie King, video games reach this level of connection because they offer users unlimited possibilities to experience and play in a way they can't in real life. Jamie King is the VP of Marketing at Solace Lifesciences, Inc, and Former Head of Esports, EVP at Engine Shop. He has a vast and incredible background in the gaming industry; he was Chief Creative Officer at 4MM Games LLC and Co-Founder & Vp of Development at Rockstar Games. On this episode, John and Jamie have a fantastic conversation from almost every angle possible of the gaming industry. They talk about how brands and sponsors should approach the industry, the pros and cons of treating gaming and esports as entertainment, and the difference between new and traditional esports marketing strategies. Jamie shares his experiences at Rockstar, how it started, and the process of creating games for adults, the impact Grand Theft Auto has at the beginning, and much more. You can connect with Jamie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamieking/ Some resources mentioned: Twitch Rivals: https://www.twitch.tv/twitchrivals?lang=es eMLS: https://www.mlssoccer.com/emls/#best-moments-2021-emls-all-star-challenge-presented-by-mcdonald-s You can support the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society: https://www.lls.org/
Imagine seeing a need for a new type of shoe, but not having product design training in addition to no true list of industry contacts. Would you purse creating the business? It’s a dilemma that Ryan and Eric of MUVEZ Footwear were faced with, but they persevered, and even when a manufacturing company in China told them their design was impossible, they came home, bought items at a hardware store and built their own prototype. This tenacity provided them an opportunity to not just pitch their business on Shark Tank, but win a deal with Daymond John. Today, Ryan and Eric Cruz talk to John about how they developed their shoe, what being on a show like Shark Tank is like, and why conscious capitalism is such a big part of their brand, plus so much more.
Connect with MUVEZ at: https://www.muvez.co/
It’s with heavy hearts that we have to talk about today’s episode. Today, John welcomes E.Jay Miranda, and unfortunately, shortly after recording this, E.Jay passed away. If there's one thing we can take from this discussion is E.Jay's passion for life, his ability to identify opportunities and go for them, and his heart for helping others along the way. He shares with John why he chose to move to the Philippines to take on the General Manager role with LuponWXC, his plans for seeing esports grow in the Philippines, and why his passion is all about the grassroots growth and doing what he can to make a difference. He’s an inspiration and someone who the world of esports will miss greatly. To learn more about LuponWXC, visit https://www.luponwxc.gg/ The DLC Drop Podcast is part MAP Esports Podcast Network. To learn more about this show and all of our other shows, visit: EsportsFPN.com.
The world we live in has turned into the Stress Olympics. We need drugless coping mechanisms to help us deal with stress and develop stress resilience more than ever. Building that mechanism was what Sarah Hill had in mind when she created Healium. This technology produces a "digital drug" that teaches the user to self-regulate their focus and calm by allowing them to see their EEG brain patterns in near-real-time. Sarah Hill is the CEO and Chief Storyteller at Healium, a mental fitness product for human performance that teaches users to self-regulate their own brainwaves and heart rate. After spending over 20 years as a news reporter, witnessing firsthand all kinds of tragedies, Sarah started suffering from sleeping problems and anxiety. She developed Healium as an answer to her anxiety, creating a solution for more than 41 million others who struggle with the same condition. In this episode, we talk about Sarah's journey as a journalist and the experiences that led to her mental health issues. Sarah kindly explained the advantages of Healium, how it works, and the solutions it provides. We also discuss the importance of mental fitness, reducing stress at work, and how stressful it is working from home and constantly attending Zoom meetings. You can visit the Healium website: https://www.tryhealium.com/ Follow them on IG: https://www.instagram.com/healiumxr/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/Storyupstudios/videos LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/healiumxr/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/healiumxr or you can connect with Sarah on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahhill1/ or Twitter: https://twitter.com/sarahmidmo The DLC Drop Podcast is part of the MAP Esports Podcast Network. To learn more about this show and all of our other shows, visit: https://www.EsportsFPN.com.
Although the esports industry has been around for the last 20 plus years and exploded in the US over the previous four years, Dan Ciccone believes that the audience has always been there. He also believes that most brands struggle to get into the industry because they focus only on data and engagement and ignore awareness. Dan Ciccone is the Founder and CEO of STACKED ENTERTAINMENT, a gaming agency specializing in property representation and content development in esports and gaming. He facilitated $45 plus million in transactions and represented properties like OpTic Gaming, Splyce, Esports Awards, Dexerto.com, GameTrailers, and Major League Gaming in the esports events field. In this episode, we talk about Dan's journey in the industry, from his beginnings at The Weather Channel to his first esports event. Dan talks about the intricate relationship between business people who don't understand gaming and gamers who don't understand business. We also analyze the way brands approach the gaming space and the "slapping a logo" tactic that never works. You can visit the STACKED ENTERTAINMENT website: https://www.stackedent.com/ or connect with Dan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danciccone/
The DLC Drop Podcast is part of the MAP Esports Podcast Network. For more information on this show and all of our other shows, visit, https://esportsfpn.com
Being the only woman in the room was something Gina Miller experienced daily at the beginning of her career. Every time she got into a locker room, someone would say the words: lady in the locker room or woman on the floor, and suddenly hundreds of eyeballs will turn around and look at her. Although that made her cringe and feel very awkward, it also boosted her sense of confidence, and she managed to translate that into every other area of her career. Gina Miller is a communicator, a storyteller, and a media coach for C-suite executives, athletes, and coaches. She is the Senior Vice President of Media and Communication at FC Dallas, serving as the chief storytelling for the club. Gina is a trailblazer in sports and broadcasting, being the only woman featuring sports across the country for many years. She holds a BA in Radio and Television from the University of Houston. She covered the campaigns of the Houston Rockets, the Dallas Mavericks, the Dallas Cowboys, to name a few. In this episode, Gina shares her extensive career in sports media, how she decided to work in sports and the challenges she had to face until becoming a reference for women in sports and journalism in general. We talked about how hard it was to be the only woman in almost every place she went and how that affected her career. We also talked about diversity and inclusion, collaboration vs. competition between women, and the importance of going beyond criticism. You can visit Gina's website: http://www.theginamiller.com/ or you can connect with her on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ginamillermedia/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theginamiller/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/theginamiller or Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thatsportsgirl To follow John on Twitter: https://twitter.com/J0hnDavids0n The DLC Drop Podcast is part of the Map Esports Podcast Network. To see this show, and all of our other shows, visit: https://EsportsFPN.com
Rebecca Dixon is the CMO and Co-Founder of thegameHers, a social media and networking platform for women who game. Rebecca is a serial entrepreneur; she founded BE Designs, Mommybites, a company that sold in 2016. While looking at the next step, she looked at the gaming industry and realized the alarming lack of female representativity. Rebecca then decided to use her 20+ years of experience in advertising, marketing, brand partnerships, event planning, and community building to create a space for gaming women. In this episode, Rebecca shared her experience joining the gaming industry and how strong it was for her to be well received by the community by reaching for the right reasons. We talked about diversity, inclusion, and scholarships. She took us through building her brand and the relevance of hearing gamers, receiving feedback, and making adjustments based on that feedback. You can visit thegameHERs website: https://thegamehers.com/ Or you can follow them on their social media channels: Twitter: https://twitter.com/thegamehers Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegamehers/ Discord: https://discord.com/invite/thegamehers Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/thegamehers/about Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thegamehers YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQXfs9DqJLstjl3WwbpvBjQ?view_as=subscriber or LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegamehers/about/?viewAsMember=true You can connect with Rebecca on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-dixon-3903015/ The DLC Drop Podcast is part of the MAP Esports Podcast Network. To learn more about this show and all of our other shows, visit: www.EsportsFPN.com
Recognition and validation are perhaps two of the most desired achievements of every human being. The fulfillment of a big victory might only be compared by the recognition of colleagues and competitors. That is one of the many reasons why the Esports Awards exist; to recognize excellence, create a legacy, and honor the industry. Our guest for today's show is Mike Ashford, an enthusiastic, expert digital marketer, former Managing Director, and now CEO of the Esports Awards. We had a fantastic conversation about Mike's journey in the industry, the Esports Awards evolution, growth, and values. We also talked about Mike's passion for marketing, his work ethic, the gaming industry's future, and the role of influencers. You can visit the Esports Awards website: https://esportsawards.com/ Or you can connect with Mike on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-ashford/
Building a great team is one of the cornerstones of creating a successful company. For Matthew Benson, a great team is built under three principles, recognizing who you are and what skills you have, hiring someone ready to navigate the ups and downs, and identifying the moments of the business. Some people are better for starting things, and others for scaling and growth. Matthew Benson is the Founder and CEO of eFuse; he is also on the Forbes 2021 30 under 30 list and drawing a lot of attention from the gaming community with his creation, which many people call "the LinkedIn for gamers." On his platform, gamers can upload their in-game credentials and reels to connect with other gamers, apply for scholarships, and participate in tournaments. In this episode, we talked about Matthew's company meteoric rise, created in 2018 and with substantial success so far. In addition, Matthew shared some brilliant insights about putting a team together, legacy, and values. We also talked about his past in the venture capital world, his future projects with eFuse, and much more. You can visit eFuse website: https://efuse.gg/ Connect with Matthew on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewjbenson1/ Follow him on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/matthewjbenson/ or on Twitter: https://twitter.com/mjb_oh The DLC Drop Podcast is part of the MAP Esports Podcast Network. To learn more, visit, ESportsFPN.com
John Younger remembers being in his father's car, his father picking important calls from his car phone, popular in the '80s and '90s. He could never tell if his father was talking to a friend, a colleague from work, a client, or a potential partner; the old man would treat everyone the same way. Creating meaningful and authentic relationships at work is something John picked up naturally from his father. In this episode, John is joined by John Younger, Vice President of Esports & Gaming at Pivot. John is the former President of Signal Fire Sports & Entertainment and former Senior Vice President of Partnerships at Infinite Esports & Entertainment. John also has vast experience in the car racing space; he worked for Hulman Motorsports Connection, International Speedway Corporation, Richard Childress Racing, Vision Racing, and Red Bull Racing, to name a few. They also talk about the importance of building meaningful relationships in the workspace and why it is vital to keep those relationships as authentic and intentional as possible. John shares some of his experiences in the marketing space, and he established some interesting parallelisms between traditional sports and sports and gaming. Finally, they talked about internships and how they can help us learn what we love to do or how wrong we were about what we thought was our dream job. Connect with John on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnyounger/ To follow John on Twitter: https://twitter.com/J0hnDavids0n The DLC Drop Podcast is part of the Esports Futuri Podcast network. To see this show, and all of our other shows, visit: https://EsportsFPN.com
Soon after he started organizing LAN parties and gaming events, Kye learned that those meetings were a lot more than just playing video games. It was a safe space for hundreds of students and young people in general to grow a sense of community, of belonging, and to learn life skills in a comfortable setting. Joining John in this episode is Kye Browning; he is the Director of Esports at Us Sports Camps. Kye founded and was Executive Director for three years of UVU Esports, where he created a space on the Utah University campus for gamers. He was also the Founder, and Co-Director of We Are Thinkbox, and he was the Tournament and Program Director of Salt Lake Con for four years, to name a bit of his vast experience in the industry. Throughout this episode, Kye talks about his Kye's passion for the world of esports and creating communities. He shares some fantastic insights on how brands approach the gaming community, the best and worst kind of activation in esports and gaming events, and where he sees most marketing campaigns are failing. Visit US Sports Camps website: https://www.ussportscamps.com/ Connect with Kye on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyebrowning/ or follow him on Twitter: https://twitter.com/captkaty To follow John on Twitter: https://twitter.com/J0hnDavids0n The DLC Drop Podcast is part of the Esports Futuri Podcast network. To see this show, and all of our other shows, visit: https://EsportsFPN.com
After having been on both sides of the entrepreneurship vs. corporate spectrum, Greg Neal has it clear; the right place is to be is where we feel more comfortable. We can either rely on a steady paycheck or be in constant movement overcoming new challenges; in both cases, the key is to have a positive attitude and make an effort to provide value. Greg Neal is the Executive Vice President of Production at The Marketing Arm and the Vice President of Marketing and Brand at Didjatv. Greg is an accomplished broadcasting brand-builder; he launched over 9 television networks, including the Oprah Winfrey Network, HGTV, and Fox Family Channel (now Freeform), to name a few. Throughout this episode, he shared some powerful insights about leadership, entrepreneurship, and work ethic. In addition, he shared the impact of his journey constantly oscillating between entrepreneurship and the corporate world and his experiences putting together and leading teams. You can connect with Greg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregneal/ You can follow him on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/greg_neal/ Or you can email him at: nealjgn {at} gmail.com The DLC Drop Podcast is part of the Esports Futuri Podcast Network. To see this show, and all of our shows, visit: www.EsportsFPN.com
Hand out or sampling products in traditional sports is more accessible if compared to esports. Traditional sports fans are easy-going; they are there to have fun, and they are more likely to get familiar with brands advertising in the arenas. Rebecca Longawa believes that esports fans don't want to be marketed to; they want to be part of the conversation and that the brand is there for the right reasons. Rebecca Longawa is an esports brand builder and strategist. She is the founder and President of Happy Warrior, advisor and mentor at Stadia Ventures, and advisor at Mission Control GG, ESPAT, Fanticipate, and Brickhouse Ventures Corp. Rebecca is the creator and host of The Future of Marketing in Esports podcast and a moderator in multiple Clubhouse rooms covering Esports 101, Esports Marketing, and Health & Wellness in Esports. In this episode, Rebecca talks about her background in traditional sports and the transition to esports. She shares her vision on why she considers traditional marketing metrics are obsolete in esports and gaming and what her approach is in that regard. We talked about how different esports and traditional sports audiences respond to marketing and branding and the best ways for gamers to connect with their audiences. You can hear more from Rebecca on Clubhouse: https://clubhousedb.com/user/rlongawa You can also follow her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rebecca_longawa/?hl=es or LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebeccalongawa/ You can visit Happy Warrior's website: https://www.happywarrior.us/ To follow John on Twitter: https://twitter.com/J0hnDavids0n The DLC Drop Podcast is part of the Esports Futuri Podcast network. To see this show, and all of our other shows, visit: https://EsportsFPN.com
Imagine being one of the team members who helped to bring one of the biggest video games of our generation to life. That’s a story that Ralph D'Amato can tell because he is one of the members of the original development team of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater video game franchise. Ralph joins John in this episode of the DLC Drop Podcast to discuss why he was so passionate about bringing the documentary ‘Pretending I’m A Superman’ to life. Plus why this documentary was such a labor of love for him. He also discusses how his career brought him to being a part of Tony Hawk’s team, and why his approach to life and being open to new possibilities has opened so many doors to new opportunities for him. To learn more about the film, visit: https://thpsfilm.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/THPSfilm/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thpsfilm/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/THPSfilm To follow John on Twitter: https://twitter.com/J0hnDavids0n The DLC Drop Podcast is part of the Esports Futuri Podcast network. To see this show, and all of our other shows, visit: https://EsportsFPN.com
Mobile gaming went from 10% of global games revenue in 2012 to more than PC and consoles combined last year. What started as an afterthought on YouTube and other platforms today is a reality. Esports organizations like Tribe Gaming work hard to create tentpole and memorable experiences in mobile gaming to get the broader gaming ecosystem's attention, pioneer, and push mobile gaming forward. Joining John today is Patrick "Chief Pat" Carney, founder and CEO of Tribe Gaming. Patrick is also a renowned content creator, with over 2.5 million subscribers on YouTube, and a passionate mobile gamer. Without knowing it, he became one of the first mobile creators on YouTube. Soon after being transferred into his dream school, he had to choose between pursuing his academic career or turning into a content creator. Luckily for the gaming community, he chose the second option. In this episode, Patrick discusses his journey to becoming a content creator and his beginnings in 2012 when the YouTube community was totally different. They spoke about the importance of consistency in content creation, likes vs. engagement, mobile audience's characteristics, and brands' challenges in getting partnerships on esports. You can connect with Patrick on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrickcarney1/ on Twitter: https://twitter.com/chiefpat or on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/chiefpat You can also follow him on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chiefpat/ or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChiefPat You can also visit the Tribe Gaming website: https://tribegaming.gg/ To follow John on Twitter: https://twitter.com/J0hnDavids0n The DLC Drop Podcast is part of the Esports Futuri Podcast network. To see this show, and all of our other shows, visit: https://EsportsFPN.com
Unless you are the talent or already have the connections, getting into any industry means starting from the lower position. Part of that journey could include unpaid internships, which could be seen as unpaid work or as time invested in your future. Philip Hübner, has a fantastic perspective to share about why starting at the bottom may not be so bad. Philip Hübner is the Chief Business Development Officer at Challengermode. This Swedish company offers online esports infrastructure to players, organizers, and developers. Challengermode sees itself as the railroad of esports, facilitating players' access to esports, helping organizations develop and create competitions or monetize their communities, and assist developers in launching, scale, and monetize their games. In this episode, we talked about Philip's remarkable journey in the gaming industry, from a professional player to becoming CBDO. He shares his vision on free internships, diversity in esports, and talent. Connect with Philip on Twitter: https://twitter.com/philhubner or visit Challengermode's website: https://www.challengermode.com/ Find them on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/challengermode/ on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/challengermode Twitter: https://twitter.com/challengermode Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/challengermode or Through Discord: https://discord.com/invite/challengermode To follow John on Twitter: https://twitter.com/J0hnDavids0n The DLC Drop Podcast is part of the Esports Futuri Podcast network. To see this show, and all of our other shows, visit: https://EsportsFPN.com
Regardless of religious or any other spiritual beliefs, what happened in 2020 was a big call for everyone to look at our lives and reassess a couple of things. For Richie Valdez, it was a particularly tough year, dealing with delicate health issues on top of COVID. Richie Valdez is a photographer, a filmmaker, and a professional skateboarder. He filmed the documentary "Lyssophobia" in 2016. He also has a YouTube channel where he publishes "The Other Side," a series of interviews with people from the skateboarding community sharing the other side of their lives. In this episode, Richie kindly shared his experiences as a professional skateboarder and mastering the sport helped him succeed in different areas of his life. We spoke about his challenging 2020 and what kept him going despite all the difficulties, the physical and emotional pain, the loneliness, and the isolation. Connect with Richie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/richievaldez/ or visit his YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/richievaldez/videos Lyssophobia - Documentary by Richie Valdez: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJTN0kzVNHk To follow John on Twitter: https://twitter.com/J0hnDavids0n The DLC Drop Podcast is part of the Esports Futuri Podcast network. To see this show, and all of our other shows, visit: https://EsportsFPN.com
A marketer should have a clear vision of what the consumer will take away at the pinnacle of a marketing campaign. Jason Hines believes that when a marketing campaign is treated as a checklist, disconnected from what reaction it'll generate in the audience, it'll probably fail. "You must have a vision in your mind; what do you want them to feel? What do you want their facial expression to be? What do you want them to tell their friends?" - Jason Hines. Jason Hines is an Integrated Marketing Leader and Developer. He is the co-founder of Moonshot Collective, which helps high-potential leaders reach new frontiers of growth and impact. Jason worked 10 years as Regional Marketing Manager at Red Bull, Director of Competition and Demo Events at ASA Entertainment, and co-founder and President of Mix Ride Media, Inc, a sports marketing and competition organizing company. In this episode, Jason discusses his beginnings as an event organizer and his experiences in the industry. They talked about where he sees marketing agencies failing, the role of leadership and inspiration in a creative team, and the power of "we." He kindly shared how he transitioned from a giant like Red Bull, where he spent a decade, to make a leap of faith into reinventing himself. To connect with Jason, visit LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-c-hines/ or Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mixridejay Moonshot Collective website: https://www.moonshot.co/ To follow John on Twitter: https://twitter.com/J0hnDavids0n The DLC Drop Podcast is part of the Esports Futuri Podcast network. To see this show, and all of our other shows, visit: https://EsportsFPN.com
Even with a terrific start, many esports and gaming companies fail in the long term not because they don't deliver premium quality work, but because they don't prepare themselves to scale. Simon Bennett believes that thinking about how to scale and grow is the "boring part" of running a business, and that's why people avoid doing it, and it is what ends up swallowing them at the end. Simon was born in the UK. He is the Co-Owner and CEO at AoE Creative. He is also the Founder & Director at WE ARE SEED Ltd, a company that identifies and grows competitive communities via thoughtful engagement and broadcasts emerging games partnering with game developers. In AoE Creative, Simon and his team manage Call of Duty League social accounts, and Gareth Bale's esports organization Ellevens, among many others. In this episode, Simon shares how gaming saved him when he was in a dark place. Members of his War of Warcraft guild told him Blizzard was hiring, and he decided to give it a chance. He didn't know that they were Blizzard employees, and he got a position as a customer service representative. We had a fantastic conversation about his journey in the industry, the difference between English and American investors, his vision on the importance of a company's culture, and what, in his opinion, investors should pay more attention to. To Connect with Simon, visit LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/justsimonbennett/ AoE Creative website: https://aoecreative.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/aoecreative Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aoecreative/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AOECreative/ You can also connect with Marke Lee's LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markellee/ or with Thomas Hadjuk also on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hajduk-esports/ To follow John on Twitter: https://twitter.com/J0hnDavids0n The DLC Drop Podcast is part of the Esports Futuri Podcast network. To see this show, and all of our other shows, visit: https://EsportsFPN.com
From all the business models available, something we don't see very often is one created from a community perspective. That is what ESPAT TV is about, to allow the talent to become the voice. Dante Simpson, CEO and Co-Founder of ESPAT TV, believes that as gaming and esports changed the way we consume content, it is time to push the boundaries and change the style stories are told in the gaming and esports community. In this episode, Dante shares his experience in the Gucci Group that helped him understand the concept of building a brand and how those teachings helped him develop his own company. He brilliantly explained how to build bridges between consumers and brands and how he'd apply that principle to any industry. We also talked about the future of gaming and esports content creation and what we can expect in the following months from ESPAT TV. To connect with Dante, visit LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dante-simpson/ Dante's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dsa_boss ESPAT Media website: https://www.espat.ai/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/espatmedia?lang=es Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/espatmedia ESPAT TV website: https://www.espat.tv/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/EspatTv Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/espattv To follow John on Twitter: https://twitter.com/J0hnDavids0n The DLC Drop Podcast is part of the Esports Futuri Podcast network. To see this show, and all of our other shows, visit: https://EsportsFPN.com
From an entrepreneurial perspective, Marco Mereu believes that gaming companies should aim to identify the industry's issues, go hard at them, and find a way to add value for both the company and the users. Looking at a pile of real estate files on his desk, and after seven years working with intellectual property in his law firm, Marco decided to shut down his company and pursue his passion in the gaming industry. In this episode, Marco Mereu, Co-Founder and COO of XSET, shares his journey of transitioning from running a law firm to become an entrepreneur in the gaming industry. They also talk about different ways of getting into the gaming industry, content creation for gaming companies, and how working in what we are passionate about can make us go the extra mile effortlessly. To connect with Marco, visit LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcomereu/ Marco's Twitter account: https://twitter.com/mfmereu Marco's Instagram account: https://www.instagram.com/mfmereu XSET Website: https://xset.com/ To follow John on Twitter: https://twitter.com/J0hnDavids0n The DLC Drop Podcast is part of the Esports Futuri Podcast network. To see this show, and all of our other shows, visit: https://EsportsFPN.com
The trading card industry has seen a surge in popularity, and Panini America is one of the major companies behind this phenomenon. Jason Howarth, Vice President of Marketing at Panini America joins John Davidson in this episode of the DLC Drop Podcast to talk about what is so unique about the trading card popularity of this decade vs. when it was popular in the 80's and 90's.. He also talks about what’s happening across social media to make trading cards such an incredible experience, the opportunities of trading cards within esports, and some of his most memorable experiences with some of today’s biggest athletes. To connect with Jason, visit Twitter: https://twitter.com/sportsmktgguy To learn more about Panini visit: Twitter: https://twitter.com/PaniniAmerica Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paniniamerica/ To follow John on Twitter: https://twitter.com/J0hnDavids0n The DLC Drop Podcast is part of the Esports Futuri Podcast network. To see this show, and all of our other shows, visit: https://EsportsFPN.com
What does it take to build an online presence and become a professional streamer and creator? Melonie Mac joins John in this episode of the DLC Drop Podcast to share her journey from being a game lover to making a living by sharing her passion with the world. Melonie talks about how after failing an audition, she realized she needed to hone in on her on-camera skills, what it took for her to go full time in content creation. She also talks about what influencers need to know when starting out, and how to really work with sponsors, in addition to what sponsors need to know to truly take advantage of working with a talent. To connect with Melonie, visit: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meloniemac YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQMEms3zgX-dmS2mttSJEYw Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/meloniemac To follow John on Twitter: https://twitter.com/J0hnDavids0n The DLC Drop Podcast is part of the Esports Futuri Podcast network. To see this show, and all of our other shows, visit: https://EsportsFPN.com
From a struggling athlete to the Head of Marketing at Best Buy, Tracy Benson has an inspiring story. Even though she ended up leaving sports to pursue the corporate world, throughout her entire career, she was always fueled by a passion for sports and competition. Now she’s come full circle helping those athletes monetize their talent while doing what they love as the CEO and Co-Founder of Obsesh. Tracy shares her story with John in this episode of The DLC Drop Podcast, discussing the biggest lessons learned leading Marketing Teams for some of today’s biggest brands, and what she’s learned from working with some of today’s greatest leaders. To connect with Tracy, visit: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tbdigital/ Obsesh: Obsesh.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/obseshmedia/ To follow John on Twitter: https://twitter.com/J0hnDavids0n The DLC Drop Podcast is part of the Esports Futuri Podcast network. To see this show, and all of our other shows, visit: https://EsportsFPN.com
Events can help to elevate brands in big ways, and if there’s one industry where this is especially true, it's esports. Ben Nichol has an incredible history with esports, starting out as a player, to a caster, and then working in events for Red Bull. Now the Sr. Account Executive at Next Generation Esports (NGE), he shares his journey with John Davidson in this episode of The DLC Drop Podcast. Ben also shares the inside tips of what makes brands stand out in the world of esports along with the can’t miss details when putting on an event. Connect with Ben here: https://twitter.com/MrBitterTV To follow John on Twitter: https://twitter.com/J0hnDavids0n The DLC Drop Podcast is part of the Esports Futuri Podcast network. To see this show, and all of our other shows, visit: https://EsportsFPN.com
There are lots of stories to share when you were an integral part of one of the fastest-growing cities in America, and Maher Maso doesn’t disappoint in this episode of The DLC Drop Podcast. Maher, the Former Mayor of Frisco, TX, and Principal, Site Select and Business Incentives at Ryan shares what was most important to him as he led a city during a recession to one of the most booming in the nation. He also talks about how he viewed deals, what is similar between business and politics, and what he’s excited about now, working for Ryan. To follow John on Twitter: https://twitter.com/J0hnDavids0n The DLC Drop Podcast is part of the Esports Futuri Network. To hear more of our podcasts, visit: https://www.EsportsFPN.com
When it comes to a career in gaming, Wim Stocks has one of the most incredible journeys in the industry. From being Executive Vice President of Atari, to Executive Vice President of Virgin Gaming, and being in the industry for over 25 years, he has seen the gaming world come a long way. In this episode of the DLC Drop Podcast, Wim shares some of his most beloved highlights of his career from negotiating a deal with Richard Branson to learning about gambling within the world of gaming, and what it means to create meaningful and important partnerships. He also talks about his most recent venture, and why he’s so excited to help bring this concept across the US. To learn more about Belong Gaming & Vindex, visit https://belong-us.gg/ To follow John on Twitter: https://twitter.com/J0hnDavids0n The DLC Drop Podcast is part of the Esports Futuri Network. To hear more of our podcasts, visit: https://www.EsportsFPN.com
From the CEO of Beats by Dre to the CEO of DropLabs, Susan Paley has a lot to share about leading innovative and cutting-edge companies. In this episode, John welcomes Susan to discuss work culture, leadership, innovation, problem-solving, and running a business. She shares how entrepreneurs need these traits before influencing their employees. Susan also shares her new company, DropLabs, on this episode with John. Aimed for gaming enthusiasts, DropLabs creates shoes that provide a profound experience for physical and cognitive gamers alike. Join John on this episode as he looks forward to this new brand’s success while sharing ideas with an experienced CEO of a global brand. Connect with Susan and her new company here: Susan’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/SusanPaley/ DropLabs website: https://DropLabs.com/ DropLabs Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/DropLabs/ DropLabs Twitter: https://twitter.com/DropLabsEP To follow John on Twitter: https://twitter.com/J0hnDavids0n The DLC Drop Podcast is part of the Esports Futuri Network. To hear more of our podcasts, visit: https://www.EsportsFPN.com
Have a seat and learn to prioritize your health and wellness with Josh Otero! Excelling in sports requires healthy cognitive abilities, which is achievable through having sound well-being. Josh Otero, CEO, and Founder of NutriGMR and well-being expert, is announcing the release of NutriGMR, an energy drink that provides added benefit. Josh discusses it with John as they talk about how a community should benefit its members. He also shares his origin story in finance and fitness and how it brought him to build a community and create this product. Although being successful in making money, Josh also shared his struggles, where he obtained the ideas that brought him to this point. Interested in connecting with Josh? Visit him here: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/Joshotero/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/oterofit NutriGMR Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/NutriGMR/ NutriGMR website: https://nutrigmr.com/ To follow John on Twitter: https://twitter.com/J0hnDavids0n The DLC Drop Podcast is part of the Esports Futuri Network. To hear more of our podcasts, visit: https://www.EsportsFPN.com
How can the world of esports and gaming continue to evolve, allow for a bigger vision, and provide a path for growth? This is what Kim Meltzer discusses with John in this week’s episode of The DLC Drop Podcast. Kim Meltzer, CEO of Destination Esports, has an extensive background in esports and gaming, and she shares some of the stories of how she received the nickname “Cod Mom”, how this industry has evolved over the years, but what’s still on the table of things that need to be done. Plus they discuss the important factors that any brand needs to know before spending any money in the world of esports. To connect with Kim on LinkedIn, visit: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimmeltzer/ To learn more about Destination Esports: https://destinationesports.com/ To follow John on Twitter: https://twitter.com/J0hnDavids0n The DLC Drop Podcast is part of the Esports Futuri Network. To hear more of our podcasts, visit: https://www.EsportsFPN.com
Many people dream of joining a large corporation with a drive for innovation, but of course, with that, they also need to be willing to deal with the challenges and hurdles that come their way. Chris Mann, former CEO of ULTIMATE and now COO of Subnation knows those challenges all too well but has always been willing to work hard for his passion and career in the gaming field. In this episode he discusses his story, and why he continues to be so inspired by the culture of gaming and the content created from it. Learn more about Subnation by visiting: https://www.subnationmedia.gg/ To follow John on Twitter: https://twitter.com/J0hnDavids0n The DLC Drop Podcast is part of the Esports Futuri Network. To hear more of our podcasts, visit: https://www.EsportsFPN.com
If you can look into the magic ball of understanding the next generation trends and culture, who would you turn to? John Davidson digs into that crystal ball with Gregg Witt, Chief Strategy Officer at Engage Youth Co, Author of the Gen Z Frequency and forever skateboarder. Gregg shares his incredible journey from a 16-year-old entrepreneur of a global company to a successful consultant on youth culture. Non-endemic and endemic brands take heed. What may have worked once, may not work as culture and tastes evolve. Be authentic. Be engaged. Listen. Co-create. Commit Learn more about Gregg Witt and Engage Youth: Twitter: https://twitter.com/thinkwithwitt LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thinkwithwitt/ Engage Youth: https://engageyouth.com/ To follow John on Twitter: https://twitter.com/J0hnDavids0n The DLC Drop Podcast is part of the Esports Futuri Network. To hear more of our podcasts, visit: https://www.EsportsFPN.com
It’s hard to find the OG’s in the world of gaming and esports, but Mark Nausha can wear the title proud. Mark first came into the world of esports as a gaming developer and worked his way through various roles from publishing to even owning his own studio. He joins John Davidson in this episode of The DLC Drop podcast to talk about the world of esports, and what it’s meant to him, the lessons he has learned, and why the opportunities are more abundant than ever for people looking to get into the gaming world as a career. Plus he shares what’s on the horizon for esports, plus so much more. Links Mentioned: Connect with Mark Nausha - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-nausha-7484021/ SMU Gaming Program/Development: https://www.smu.edu/guildhall To follow John on Twitter: https://twitter.com/J0hnDavids0n The DLC Drop Podcast is part of the Esports Futuri Network. To hear more of our podcasts, visit: www.EsportsFPN.com
Geoff Moore, President and CEO at Team Envy joins John Davidson in charting a path in respecting the power of Time and always working to solve problems, both personally and professionally. It’s not every day when a 26-year-old is in charge of a $200+M dollar construction project, and it’s not every day that being the right resource at the right time can propel you into trips around the world for your job. Geoff shares his life stories and keen insights into the move to esports its potential post-pandemic era. To learn more about Envy Gaming, visit: https://envy.gg/ To follow John on Twitter: https://twitter.com/J0hnDavids0n The DLC Drop Podcast is part of the Esports Futuri Network. To hear more of our podcasts, visit: www.EsportsFPN.com
Life is short, and if there’s anything we’ve learned in the era of COVID, it’s to seize every possible moment. That’s exactly what today’s DLC Drop Podcast guest, Gabrielle Bosche, does by helping people unlock their passions and purpose and helping them to uncover a path to living that purpose. Gabrielle is the President of the Millennial Solution, Co-Founder, of The Purpose Company, and a Best-Selling Author and Speaker. In this episode, they dive into breakthrough moments, the myth that you should wait to be discovered, why when the pool is already full, you should still jump in (and how to stand out), plus more great examples of how to win as an entrepreneur. To Connect With Gabrielle, Visit: https://millennialsolution.com/ and https://www.purposecompany.co/home37354734 Also, Grab her book 'The Purpose Factor' at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08F9SKRL1 To follow John on Twitter: https://twitter.com/J0hnDavids0n The DLC Drop Podcast is part of the Esports Futuri Network. To hear more of our podcasts, visit: www.EsportsFPN.com
There was a time when people enjoyed concerts and large scale events with simple staging and lighting. This all changed with Marc Brickman, Emmy nominated and renowned visionary for Pink Floyd, Paul McCartney, and Olympic ceremonies in Barcelona and Nagano, among many other accolades. From concerts, events, and film projects under his belt, John Davidson walks down memory lane with Marc to reminisce on his story and how the pandemic is ushering a shift in the next generation of communication and community. “I think we’re in such a cultural change… the world has moved on… I think there is a whole new communication between people. “Narrowcasting.” People are trying to get authenticity out of people. We’re all human. We have those same emotions inside of us. To me, that is the future.” To follow John on Twitter: https://twitter.com/J0hnDavids0n The DLC Drop Podcast is part of the Esports Futuri Network. To hear more of our podcasts, visit: www.EsportsFPN.com
How did your first jobs help to define where you are today? How can you look at creative ways to connect dots which could lead to opening doors in ways you may not have imagined? These are just some of the questions that are discussed, probed, and pondered in this episode of the DLC Drop Podcast, as John welcomes his good friend and the CEO & Founder of The Uptown Agency, Joseph Alexander. Joseph shares his journey from cleaning CVS bathrooms to running his own agency, and creating a career that brings him joy day in and day out! If you’d like to connect with Joseph’s agency, visit: https://www.theuptownagency.com/ To follow John on Twitter: https://twitter.com/J0hnDavids0n The DLC Drop Podcast is part of the Esports Futuri Network. To hear more of our podcasts, visit: www.EsportsFPN.com
Daniel Herz, Chief Revenue Office of Mission Control, is a seasoned veteran in the Esports and Video Game Industry, and is focused on helping brands and companies reach consumers in these industries. In this episode of the DLC Drop Podcast, Daniel sits down with John to talk about the gold rush of esports, and why brands have to be extremely cautious when trying to get in on the action. They also discuss the struggle that brands face when partnering with the esports and gaming industries, and the crucial foundation to any successful partnership in these industries, plus so much more! To learn more about Mission Control, visit: MissionControl.gg To follow John on Twitter: https://twitter.com/J0hnDavids0n The DLC Drop Podcast is part of the Esports Futuri Network. To hear more of our podcasts, visit: www.EsportsFPN.com
Charles Conroy has a storied esports history, starting out as a player, then moving to a manager. When the team was ended and eventually re-purchased, he was brought back to help run the team and help build Complexity Gaming. Eventually that same team was sold to Dallas Cowboys’ owner, Jerry Jones. Charles shares his stories of what it was like to build a team with little money, and how it all changed. He also discusses how companies can utilize their sponsorship dollars in the gaming world to see the massive results they dream of, but it’s so much more than putting some money in and hoping for a 3x return! To learn more about Charles: Visit: https://www.theswitch.tv/ Companies mentioned: Visit: https://complexity.gg/ To follow John on Twitter: https://twitter.com/J0hnDavids0n The DLC Drop Podcast is part of the Esports Futuri Network. To hear more of our podcasts, visit: www.EsportsFPN.com
John catches up with the ever positive Lucas “Rico” Corrubia on his incredible history and experiences in all the influential times in entertainment. With the likes of Liza Manelli, Bruce Springsteen, Michael Crawford, Van Halen and the incomparable, Frank Sinatra, Rico’s A-List stories goes on and on. John digs deep from Rico’s early life to his life threatening aortic aneurysm that caused the loss of his fingers. Rico shares his thoughts on how lighting, sound and life are all intertwined. We live in an acoustic space. Don’t sweat the small stuff. To learn more about Lucas, visit: https://www.linkedin.com/in/corrubia-lucas-3004167/ To follow John on Twitter: https://twitter.com/J0hnDavids0n The DLC Drop Podcast is part of the Esports Futuri Network. To hear more of our podcasts, visit: www.EsportsFPN.com
How does one go from a comfortable corporate career to jumping into Hollywood, make zero income for 2 years and ultimately land at Method? Christian Bishop shares his path to esports and the satisfaction of knowing that every step leading to Method was carved by Christian’s desire to strive to be better. It’s not, “Do it and chill.” It’s “Do it and WORK.” Connect with Christian and Method Gaming at: https://www.twitter.com/bishopchristian https://www.twitter.com/Method https://www.Method.gg To follow John on Twitter: https://twitter.com/J0hnDavids0n The DLC Drop Podcast is part of the Esports Futuri Network. To hear more of our podcasts, visit: www.EsportsFPN.com
Launching a clothing company is one thing. Launching streetwear that is hyper focused on the esports and gaming community is another. John catches up with Nate Eckman, Co-Founder of ULT and talks about the opportunities in enhancing connection, authenticity and brand integrity within the gaming ecosystem. Apparel is not simply a product, but a reflection of shared ideas, developing cultures and playing with different mediums for individuality. Oh, and nachos are dope. For more info: ULT : https://ultesports.com/ Twitter: www.Twitter.com/UltEsports To follow John on Twitter: https://twitter.com/J0hnDavids0n The DLC Drop Podcast is part of the Esports Futuri Network. To hear more of our podcasts, visit: www.EsportsFPN.com