Level Up Podcast with Tommy Knapp

We sat down with Magnus Leppaniemi, the Vice President of Marketing & Head of Esports at Esports Entertainment Group and an adviser to the ESPL. He is an integral part of the team that is building the EEG into one of the top esports betting platforms. Expanding their global reach is his primary focus. Leppaniemi is based in Stockholm and has been involved in the industry for decades. We discussed fascinating topics, including betting in esports vs. traditional sports, differences in the industry across international borders, and the investment into and valuation of esports organizations. The Ultimate Gamer Podcast: All About The Game! is a show that features conversations with trailblazers, thought leaders, risk takers, decision makers, celebrities, athletes, and investors who are defining the esports space. This podcast is for you if you love gaming, you’re a part of the esports community, you’re interested in learning more about the esports business, you want to improve your gaming performance, or you’re an aspiring professional gamer. We’re going to decode who and what’s making news in the industry while we explore the habits, best practices, successes, and setbacks faced by our guests.

Today’s episode features Steve Blickensderfer, a Senior Associate at Carlton Fields and Co-Chair of its Esports & Electronic Gaming Practice. He hosts the LAN Party Lawyers Podcast, which addresses various topics on the legal side of gaming. Blickensderfer and I discussed topics like intellectual property law in gaming, contracts in traditional sports vs esports, and current hot topics in the space. Later in the episode, Blickensderfer discussed some of the legal challenges in the gaming industry and the evolution of legal work in the video gaming space. He talked about the massive mobile gaming market, the growth of the competitive collegiate scene, and how he’s diving deep into these conversations on his own esports and gaming podcast. The Ultimate Gamer Podcast: All About The Game! is a show that features conversations with trailblazers, thought leaders, risk takers, decision makers, celebrities, athletes, and investors who are defining the esports space. This podcast is for you if you love gaming, you’re a part of the esports community, you’re interested in learning more about the esports business, you want to improve your gaming performance, or you’re an aspiring professional gamer. We’re going to decode who and what’s making news in the industry while we explore the habits, best practices, successes, and setbacks faced by our guests.

Jean Casanova is a professional baseball player in the Texas Rangers system playing as a pitcher. He is currently in the late stages of his recovery from Tommy John surgery, which is on the player’s elbow, and it can typically take anywhere from 1 to 2 years to fully recover. Early in our conversation, Jean broke down his personal strategy that goes into deciding which type of pitch to throw based on the batter, count, and numerous other factors, including game situation. He talked about baseball in the Dominican Republic and playing makeshift baseball in the DR using a bottle cap and a broomstick. He suggested that if you can manage to hit a bottle cap with a broomstick, you can hit a baseball with a bat. In his free time, Jean is a gamer and streamer primarily playing Call of Duty and NBA 2K. Not only does he play games, but he is a playable character in MLB: The Show for the Texas Rangers double A affiliate. Jean joked that the developers could have done a better job on his in-game appearance. Jean also shed some light on the challenges of balancing his passion for gaming with a professional baseball schedule, as well as the similarities between gaming and baseball in terms of reading your opponent. The Ultimate Gamer Podcast: All About The Game! is a show that features conversations with trailblazers, thought leaders, risk takers, decision makers, celebrities, athletes, and investors who are defining the esports space. This podcast is for you if you love gaming, you’re a part of the esports community, you’re interested in learning more about the esports business, you want to improve your gaming performance, or you’re an aspiring professional gamer. We’re going to decode who and what’s making news in the industry while we explore the habits, best practices, successes, and setbacks faced by our guests.

Dr. Marc Williams is the Global Scholar Practitioner and Head of Esports at Florida Memorial University, plus he is the Host of Dr. Marc’s Masterclass, which receives between 9 and 10 million views monthly. A sports entertainment and marketing guru, Dr. Marc channeled his sports, music, and hip hop culture to deliver major sponsorships and product placements for Champs and Footaction in the entertainment industry. In our conversation, we discussed why Dr. Marc decided to leave corporate America to evolve his career in the esports space. Dr. Marc talked about his role at Florida Memorial and how he leverages his extensive experience to deliver expert advice to universities that are beginning to learn more about esports. The Ultimate Gamer Podcast: All About The Game! is a show that features conversations with trailblazers, thought leaders, risk takers, decision makers, celebrities, athletes, and investors who are defining the esports space. This podcast is for you if you love gaming, you’re a part of the esports community, you’re interested in learning more about the esports business, you want to improve your gaming performance, or you’re an aspiring professional gamer. We’re going to decode who and what’s making news in the industry while we explore the habits, best practices, successes, and setbacks faced by our guests.

We are excited to share our conversation with Chris Toussaint, an esports talent and acquisition specialist. He is easily one of the most business-savvy 20-year-olds on the planet. After breaking into the esports space in his pre-teen years, Toussaint has navigated the industry among multiple different gaming organizations, all before the age of 21. Most recently, Chris was the Head of Esports at Overtime, a sports network focused on digital-native sports and esports fans. Before Overtime, Chris was the Esports Team Manager for the Orlando Magic’s NBA2K team. In our conversation, Toussaint walked us through his journey toward his impressive and memorable esports career. The Ultimate Gamer Podcast: All About The Game! is a show that features conversations with trailblazers, thought leaders, risk takers, decision makers, celebrities, athletes, and investors who are defining the esports space. This podcast is for you if you love gaming, you’re a part of the esports community, you’re interested in learning more about the esports business, you want to improve your gaming performance, or you’re an aspiring professional gamer. We’re going to decode who and what’s making news in the industry while we explore the habits, best practices, successes, and setbacks faced by our guests.

Ella Pravetz is the President of Media & Branding at Misfits Gaming Group. Her role with Misfits expanded from Creative Director to her current position as the company expanded in the last few years. Under the Misfits umbrella, Ella oversees Media and Branding for the Misfits League of Legends Team, the Florida Mayhem Overwatch League roster, the team that competes for the Florida Mutineers in the Call of Duty League, and a handful of other competitive gamers and content creators that make up this Top 10 global esports organization. With a background in creative and performing arts, Pravetz found her way into the gaming industry by joining Fnatic in Berlin, Germany as a content creator. We discussed her path to Misfits and the challenges she faced along the way. Toward the end of our conversation, Pravetz shared information about the status of Misfits’ new headquarters in Boca Raton, FL. She also updated me on their events and plans amidst the pandemic. The Ultimate Gamer Podcast: All About The Game! is a show that features conversations with trailblazers, thought leaders, risk takers, decision makers, celebrities, athletes, and investors who are defining the esports space. This podcast is for you if you love gaming, you’re a part of the esports community, you’re interested in learning more about the esports business, you want to improve your gaming performance, or you’re an aspiring professional gamer. We’re going to decode who and what’s making news in the industry while we explore the habits, best practices, successes, and setbacks faced by our guests.

Football fans, this podcast episode is for you! Taybor Pepper is a long snapper who most recently played for the Miami Dolphins. He is currently a free agent, and in his down time, a growing Twitch streamer. Pepper is in an exclusive club as one of the 30 to 50 people in the entire world to actually get paid to be a long snapper. We discussed the science behind long snapping, all the way down to perfecting ball rotations per yard! We discussed practice, the exclusivity of the profession, and free agency before moving to the topic of gaming. Pepper is a long-time gamer, and he has developed a following on Twitch. He shared with us how he balances his football, streaming, and home life schedule. The Ultimate Gamer Podcast: All About The Game! is a show that features conversations with trailblazers, thought leaders, risk takers, decision makers, celebrities, athletes, and investors who are defining the esports space. This podcast is for you if you love gaming, you’re a part of the esports community, you’re interested in learning more about the esports business, you want to improve your gaming performance, or you’re an aspiring professional gamer.We’re going to decode who and what’s making news in the industry while we explore the habits, best practices, successes, and setbacks faced by our guests.

Here’s another podcast guest you might recognize if you’re from Florida! Marcus Howard is the President of the Tampa Association of Gaming, Member of the Blockchain Gaming Alliance, and Esports Adviser at Game Credits. In each of his positions, he leads and supports brand engagement and development in esports. Howard is exceptionally knowledgeable about the underpinnings of cryptocurrencies, and he is committed to promoting blockchain in the gaming industry. Howard has over a decade of strategic experience in building startups across multiple industries, and he is currently a leader in the Tampa Bay esports scene. As President of TAG, he works to promote the gaming industry in the Central Florida area through education and events. The Ultimate Gamer Podcast: All About The Game! is a show that features conversations with trailblazers, thought leaders, risk takers, decision makers, celebrities, athletes, and investors who are defining the esports space. This podcast is for you if you love gaming, you’re a part of the esports community, you’re interested in learning more about the esports business, you want to improve your gaming performance, or you’re an aspiring professional gamer. We’re going to decode who and what’s making news in the industry while we explore the habits, best practices, successes, and setbacks faced by our guests.

If you’re interested in game development, today’s podcast episode is right up your alley! We sat down with Rick Daniels, the Director of Operations at Ghostpunch Games, an independent game studio based in South Florida. Ghostpunch’s services include game development, performance optimization, programming, and more! We started our conversation by talking about Daniels’ early life, including how he became interested in gaming. Then, we discussed budgets and costs of game development, game classification levels, and his experience with working on Spongebob. Daniels even shared what it’s like to see reviews of the game after its release, from a game developer’s perspective. The Ultimate Gamer Podcast: All About The Game! is a show that features conversations with trailblazers, thought leaders, risk takers, decision makers, celebrities, athletes, and investors who are defining the esports space. This podcast is for you if you love gaming, you’re a part of the esports community, you’re interested in learning more about the esports business, you want to improve your gaming performance, or you’re an aspiring professional gamer. We’re going to decode who and what’s making news in the industry while we explore the habits, best practices, successes, and setbacks faced by our guests.

Amanda Solomon is the Co-Owner and Vice President of Aftershock Media Group, a premier gaming and esports-focused influencer marketing and talent agency. She is also a co-host on the Next Level Talk Show, which covers all things gaming. Solomon kicked off our conversation by sharing her enthusiasm for WoW, business, and sales. After leaving her traditional corporate job, Solomon pursued a career in talent management. She started Aftershock Media Group (AMG) with two other friends to create change for under-represented groups in the content creator, talent, and gaming space. Solomon also started the Next Level Talk Show to educate and give back to the esports community. The Ultimate Gamer Podcast: All About The Game! is a show that features conversations with trailblazers, thought leaders, risk takers, decision makers, celebrities, athletes, and investors who are defining the esports space. This podcast is for you if you love gaming, you’re a part of the esports community, you’re interested in learning more about the esports business, you want to improve your gaming performance, or you’re an aspiring professional gamer. We’re going to decode who and what’s making news in the industry while we explore the habits, best practices, successes, and setbacks faced by our guests.

If you live in Orlando, you might recognize today’s podcast guest! Bennett Newsome is the Esports Strategist at Full Sail University and a long-time Twitch Partner. He's been with Full Sail University for more than 12 years, and as the university’s Esports Strategist, he is helping to build Full Sail's gaming culture. As soon as we started talking, Newsome’s passion, knowledge, and expertise showed. He discussed the groundbreaking changes in console design as gaming and technology advanced. Then, we talked about his days in the music scene. He played rhythm guitar, and he was a backup vocalist in a number of bands. He spent years touring and playing gigs all over the country. After discussing music, we talked about streaming and gaming. He educated me on how he became a Twitch partner. We also discussed the collegiate scene’s biggest and best esports facility, the nuts and bolts of gaming fundraisers, and so much more. The Ultimate Gamer Podcast: All About The Game! is a show that features conversations with trailblazers, thought leaders, risk takers, decision makers, celebrities, athletes, and investors who are defining the esports space. This podcast is for you if you love gaming, you’re a part of the esports community, you’re interested in learning more about the esports business, you want to improve your gaming performance, or you’re an aspiring professional gamer. We’re going to decode who and what’s making news in the industry while we explore the habits, best practices, successes, and setbacks faced by our guests.

Our discussion with Crystal Mills was an insightful one! She is a Writer for the Esports Insider & Benzinga, as well as Host of the Podcast Power Level. The Esports Insider, founded in 2016 and based in London, presents the latest news from across the esports industry. It covers interviews, events, opinion pieces, and more. Mills started by talking about her busy writing career, which she juggles with another full-time occupation in pediatric surgery. Her love for games started at a young age. She enjoyed playing a wide range of titles, and she eventually started a blog around 2010 to merge gaming with her love for writing. She parlayed her writing skills into roles with both Benzinga & Esports Insider. Today, Mills is one of the most prominent esports writers sharing her expertise with the industry. The Ultimate Gamer Podcast: All About The Game! is a show that features conversations with trailblazers, thought leaders, risk takers, decision makers, celebrities, athletes, and investors who are defining the esports space. This podcast is for you if you love gaming, you’re a part of the esports community, you’re interested in learning more about the esports business, you want to improve your gaming performance, or you’re an aspiring professional gamer. We’re going to decode who and what’s making news in the industry while we explore the habits, best practices, successes, and setbacks faced by our guests.

Want to know if it’s legal? Talk to Evan Kubes. He’s the Co-Founder of MKM Group, a Toronto-based global law firm and management agency dedicated exclusively to esports and content creators. He is also the President of Rumble Gaming, an industry leading talent agency that specializes in bridging the gap between brands and the esports and gaming ecosystem. First, we talked about Kubes’ gaming habits while he studied for law degrees at the University of Windsor and the University of Detroit simultaneously. Then, we discussed the firm’s and agency’s entry into the marketplace and how they quickly scaled as investments in esports exploded in late 2018. The company’s give and support philosophy attracted nearly 350 clients in just two years. The Ultimate Gamer Podcast: All About The Game! is a show that features conversations with trailblazers, thought leaders, risk takers, decision makers, celebrities, athletes, and investors who are defining the esports space. This podcast is for you if you love gaming, you’re a part of the esports community, you’re interested in learning more about the esports business, you want to improve your gaming performance, or you’re an aspiring professional gamer. We’re going to decode who and what’s making news in the industry while we explore the habits, best practices, successes, and setbacks faced by our guests.

In today’s episode, we caught up with Matt Hillman, the Founding Partner of Cut + Sew, a collaborative team of multi-hyphenates who are pushing the boundaries of the modern marketing agency, and z0ned Gaming, a full-service creative agency and venture studio built at the intersection of gaming and culture. First, we talked about the Philly scene and the inspiration behind Cut + Sew. We discussed the pivot from real-life events to the digital event format, and then Matt talked about the boom in charity events they have supported and helped produce since the COVID-19 pandemic. Finally, we discussed career opportunities in gaming, specifically on content platforms like Twitch. The Ultimate Gamer Podcast: All About The Game! is a show that features conversations with trailblazers, thought leaders, risk takers, decision makers, celebrities, athletes, and investors who are defining the esports space. This podcast is for you if you love gaming, you’re a part of the esports community, you’re interested in learning more about the esports business, you want to improve your gaming performance, or you’re an aspiring professional gamer. We’re going to decode who and what’s making news in the industry while we explore the habits, best practices, successes, and setbacks faced by our guests.

In our latest episode, we sat down with Todd Harris, CEO of Skillshot Media, an esports community building organization that operates both online and offline competitions, as well as production, management, and integration of brand partners. We took a deep dive into the production capabilities of Skillshot Media, and Harris really demonstrated his knowledge of computer science, software programming, and the blending of right and left brain functioning in game development. Finally, we talked about collegiate esports and the gamer’s vote initiative. This show is packed! The Ultimate Gamer Podcast: All About The Game! is a show that features conversations with trailblazers, thought leaders, risk takers, decision makers, celebrities, athletes, and investors who are defining the esports space. This podcast is for you if you love gaming, you’re a part of the esports community, you’re interested in learning more about the esports business, you want to improve your gaming performance, or you’re an aspiring professional gamer. We’re going to decode who and what’s making news in the industry while we explore the habits, best practices, successes, and setbacks faced by our guests.

The Ultimate Gamer Podcast: All About The Game! is a show that features conversations with trailblazers, thought leaders, risk takers, decision makers, celebrities, athletes, and investors who are defining the esports space. This podcast is for you if you love gaming, you’re a part of the esports community, you’re interested in learning more about the esports business, you want to improve your gaming performance, or you’re an aspiring professional gamer. We’re going to decode who and what’s making news in the industry while we explore the habits, best practices, successes, and setbacks faced by our guests.

Markel Lee is Co-Owner and Chief Creative Officer at AoE Creative. He was a finalist for the Tempest Up-And-Comer of the Year Award and was the creative power behind OpTic Gaming, The Houston Outlaws, PVP Live, EVO, and Panda x Gaming. He is also a founding member of Infinite Esports & Entertainment and the Houston Outlaws. In today’s episode, we talk about the process of building a brand from the creative brief to the mood board, logo, and style guide. After taking us through the stories of many of the biggest brands in esports, we end on his love for the space. Listen in! The Ultimate Gamer Podcast: All About The Game! is a show that features conversations with trailblazers, thought leaders, risk takers, decision makers, celebrities, athletes, and investors who are defining the esports space. This podcast is for you if you love gaming, you’re a part of the esports community, you’re interested in learning more about the esports business, you want to improve your gaming performance, or you’re an aspiring professional gamer. We’re going to decode who and what’s making news in the industry while we explore the habits, best practices, successes, and setbacks faced by our guests.

If you want to learn more about the intersection of esports and media, Erin Ashley Simon is the person to talk to! She is a TV Anchor and Host of the Grass Routes Podcast. She was co-host of Cheddar Esports, a daily esports and gaming show. She is currently signed to CAA as a media journalist and content strategist. Hear about her experience in today’s podcast episode! The Ultimate Gamer Podcast: All About The Game! is a show that features conversations with trailblazers, thought leaders, risk takers, decision makers, celebrities, athletes, and investors who are defining the esports space. This podcast is for you if you love gaming, you’re a part of the esports community, you’re interested in learning more about the esports business, you want to improve your gaming performance, or you’re an aspiring professional gamer. We’re going to decode who and what’s making news in the industry while we explore the habits, best practices, successes, and setbacks faced by our guests.

Few people know the business of esports as well as Chris Chaney. He is Founder and CEO of C4+, a global venture studio and investment company committed to entrepreneurship and focused on sports, entertainment, esports, and gaming. He’s driven by the process and a burning passion to make a difference in the industry. If you want to learn more about the industry of esports, tune into our conversation! The Ultimate Gamer Podcast: All About The Game! is a show that features conversations with trailblazers, thought leaders, risk takers, decision makers, celebrities, athletes, and investors who are defining the esports space. This podcast is for you if you love gaming, you’re a part of the esports community, you’re interested in learning more about the esports business, you want to improve your gaming performance, or you’re an aspiring professional gamer. We’re going to decode who and what’s making news in the industry while we explore the habits, best practices, successes, and setbacks faced by our guests.

Looking for a cool new gaming spot? Talk to Allie Young, Founder & CEO of Axis Replay, a 12,000 square ft. recreational technical venue designed for daily gaming, coworking for tech companies, and esports/high-tech conferences and events. On our show, Young and I discussed Axis Replay, Esports week, and diversity and inclusion in the esports industry. Listen in! The Ultimate Gamer Podcast: All About The Game! is a show that features conversations with trailblazers, thought leaders, risk takers, decision makers, celebrities, athletes, and investors who are defining the esports space. This podcast is for you if you love gaming, you’re a part of the esports community, you’re interested in learning more about the esports business, you want to improve your gaming performance, or you’re an aspiring professional gamer. We’re going to decode who and what’s making news in the industry while we explore the habits, best practices, successes, and setbacks faced by our guests.

Toa Dunn is Head of Riot Music at Riot Games. His professional career started in banking and trading, not your typical route to the music industry and gaming, but he’d always been involved in music from a young age. He produced one of the very first music videos for League of Legends. Tune into our conversation! The Ultimate Gamer Podcast: All About The Game! is a show that features conversations with trailblazers, thought leaders, risk takers, decision makers, celebrities, athletes, and investors who are defining the esports space. This podcast is for you if you love gaming, you’re a part of the esports community, you’re interested in learning more about the esports business, you want to improve your gaming performance, or you’re an aspiring professional gamer. We’re going to decode who and what’s making news in the industry while we explore the habits, best practices, successes, and setbacks faced by our guests.

Mental performance is crucial for esports athletes, and James Leath is an expert in that realm! He is a mental performance coach and The Founder of Unleash the Athlete. Although he comes from a traditional sports background, he added mental performance training to his coaching pedigree when he realized that all the other hard work doesn’t really matter if your mind isn’t in the right spot. Listen to our conversation to learn more! The Ultimate Gamer Podcast: All About The Game! is a show that features conversations with trailblazers, thought leaders, risk takers, decision makers, celebrities, athletes, and investors who are defining the esports space. This podcast is for you if you love gaming, you’re a part of the esports community, you’re interested in learning more about the esports business, you want to improve your gaming performance, or you’re an aspiring professional gamer. We’re going to decode who and what’s making news in the industry while we explore the habits, best practices, successes, and setbacks faced by our guests.

Ashley Chalk has had an exciting career in the esports and entertainment industries! She had a lot to share in today’s podcast episode. Chalk is the Vice President of Partnerships at Complexity Gaming, one of the top competitive esports organizations on the planet. Prior to that, she worked at Feld Entertainment, handling global partnerships for properties such as Disney on Ice, Monster Jam and Marvel Universe Live! Tune in to our conversation to hear more about her career. The Ultimate Gamer Podcast: All About The Game! is a show that features conversations with trailblazers, thought leaders, risk takers, decision makers, celebrities, athletes, and investors who are defining the esports space. This podcast is for you if you love gaming, you’re a part of the esports community, you’re interested in learning more about the esports business, you want to improve your gaming performance, or you’re an aspiring professional gamer. We’re going to decode who and what’s making news in the industry while we explore the habits, best practices, successes, and setbacks faced by our guests.

Charles Conroy is a walking encyclopedia on gaming and esports, so we were so happy we got a chance to talk to him. He is Vice President of The Switch, a platform that provides the production and transmission of live video. Listen to our conversation with this instrumental leader in the esports industry! The Ultimate Gamer Podcast: All About The Game! is a show that features conversations with trailblazers, thought leaders, risk takers, decision makers, celebrities, athletes, and investors who are defining the esports space. This podcast is for you if you love gaming, you’re a part of the esports community, you’re interested in learning more about the esports business, you want to improve your gaming performance, or you’re an aspiring professional gamer. We’re going to decode who and what’s making news in the industry while we explore the habits, best practices, successes, and setbacks faced by our guests.

Our conversation with Frank Ericson was an insightful one! He is the Chief Commercial Officer at G Loot, a global online platform delivering competitive gaming experiences on both PC and Mobile. G Loot’s mission is to provide a gaming platform for everyone, anywhere, anytime! Ericson is coming up with awesome solutions for the esports industry. Learn more about his work by listening to today’s podcast episode! The Ultimate Gamer Podcast: All About The Game! is a show that features conversations with trailblazers, thought leaders, risk takers, decision makers, celebrities, athletes, and investors who are defining the esports space. This podcast is for you if you love gaming, you’re a part of the esports community, you’re interested in learning more about the esports business, you want to improve your gaming performance, or you’re an aspiring professional gamer. We’re going to decode who and what’s making news in the industry while we explore the habits, best practices, successes, and setbacks faced by our guests.

Laylah Bulman is the Senior Program Officer at the Samueli Foundation and Chief Strategist at NASEF. She started her career teaching innovative STEM courses in high school before being recruited to LEGO Education to grow and expand their impact in school systems nationwide. We sat down to discuss the intersection of esports and innovative education. Listen to our conversation to learn more about what Bulman does! The Ultimate Gamer Level Up! Podcast is a show that features conversations with trailblazers, thought leaders, risk takers, decision makers, celebrities, athletes, and investors who are defining the eSports space. This podcast is for you if you love gaming, you’re a part of the eSports community, you’re interested in learning more about the eSports business, you want to improve your gaming performance, or you’re an aspiring professional gamer. We’re going to decode who and what’s making news in the industry while we explore the habits, best practices, successes, and setbacks faced by our guests.

Kevin Wasielewski blew our minds with his depth of knowledge about the esports industry! He is CEO and Co-Founder of Origin PC, delivering the “Best PC Experience in the World,” with focus on customization, service, quality, and performance. We talked about the origin of Origin, how Steam saved PC gaming, and more! Tune in. The Ultimate Gamer Level Up! Podcast is a show that features conversations with trailblazers, thought leaders, risk takers, decision makers, celebrities, athletes, and investors who are defining the eSports space. This podcast is for you if you love gaming, you’re a part of the eSports community, you’re interested in learning more about the eSports business, you want to improve your gaming performance, or you’re an aspiring professional gamer. We’re going to decode who and what’s making news in the industry while we explore the habits, best practices, successes, and setbacks faced by our guests.

As General Manager & CEO of WorldGaming & Collegiate StarLeague, Wim Stocks is a pioneer and legend in the esports industry. We sat down with him to discuss game-changing innovations in the esports scene, such as online SDK, auto validation, telemetry and integration with publishers. Listen to our conversation to learn more! The Ultimate Gamer Level Up! Podcast is a show that features conversations with trailblazers, thought leaders, risk takers, decision makers, celebrities, athletes, and investors who are defining the eSports space. This podcast is for you if you love gaming, you’re a part of the eSports community, you’re interested in learning more about the eSports business, you want to improve your gaming performance, or you’re an aspiring professional gamer. We’re going to decode who and what’s making news in the industry while we explore the habits, best practices, successes, and setbacks faced by our guests.

HipHopGamer is legit! As a gaming media personality, journalist, host, and creator, he uses his infectious energy to deliver engaging content about the esports world. He is a passionate gamer and creator with a lot to share, so tune in to hear our conversation! The Ultimate Gamer Level Up! Podcast is a show that features conversations with trailblazers, thought leaders, risk takers, decision makers, celebrities, athletes, and investors who are defining the eSports space. This podcast is for you if you love gaming, you’re a part of the eSports community, you’re interested in learning more about the eSports business, you want to improve your gaming performance, or you’re an aspiring professional gamer. We’re going to decode who and what’s making news in the industry while we explore the habits, best practices, successes, and setbacks faced by our guests.

We had a fascinating conversation with Wendy Lecot, the Head of Strategic Alliances and Digital Marketing Innovation at HyperX. HyperX is a gaming gear brand committed to making sure every gamer feels included. Its mission is similar to Ultimate Gamer’s goal of creating an all-inclusive community of gamers! Lecot and I discussed accessibility in esports, supporting charities, distance learning, LAN centers, and more. Tune in! The Ultimate Gamer Level Up! Podcast is a show that features conversations with trailblazers, thought leaders, risk takers, decision makers, celebrities, athletes, and investors who are defining the eSports space. This podcast is for you if you love gaming, you’re a part of the eSports community, you’re interested in learning more about the eSports business, you want to improve your gaming performance, or you’re an aspiring professional gamer. We’re going to decode who and what’s making news in the industry while we explore the habits, best practices, successes, and setbacks faced by our guests.

Allan Phang is the Regional Head of Marketing and PR at EVOS Esports, the leading esports organization in Southeast Asia. He helps the organization fulfill its mission to “turn dreams into reality and inspire the next generation.” We discussed how marketing esports internationally varies from country to country. As someone who has defined culture and led strategic initiatives for EVOS, Phang has some amazing insights into the global phenomenon of esports. Tune in to hear his ideas! The Ultimate Gamer Level Up! Podcast is a show that features conversations with trailblazers, thought leaders, risk takers, decision makers, celebrities, athletes, and investors who are defining the eSports space. This podcast is for you if you love gaming, you’re a part of the eSports community, you’re interested in learning more about the eSports business, you want to improve your gaming performance, or you’re an aspiring professional gamer. We’re going to decode who and what’s making news in the industry while we explore the habits, best practices, successes, and setbacks faced by our guests.

Dr. Debi Lemon is one of the pioneers in collegiate esports. We’re so happy she came on our podcast! Dr. Lemon is a professional speaker, futurist, thought leader, and esports advocate. Currently, she is the Head of Esports and Academic Program Developer at Ohlone College. She explained how to build an esports presence on a college campus, and she also explained how esports is a platform for networking and building authentic communities at colleges and universities. If you want to learn about collegiate esports, listen in! The Ultimate Gamer Level Up! Podcast is a show that features conversations with trailblazers, thought leaders, risk takers, decision makers, celebrities, athletes, and investors who are defining the eSports space. This podcast is for you if you love gaming, you’re a part of the eSports community, you’re interested in learning more about the eSports business, you want to improve your gaming performance, or you’re an aspiring professional gamer. We’re going to decode who and what’s making news in the industry while we explore the habits, best practices, successes, and setbacks faced by our guests.

If you want to learn how to break into the esports industry, you have to listen to our conversation with Herb May. He is the Director of Corporate Partnerships for the Houston Outlaws, a professional Overwatch esports team. We talked about the importance of networking, mentorship, and being both strategic and aggressive when you pursue a career in esports. Tune in for May’s top tips! The Ultimate Gamer Level Up! Podcast is a show that features conversations with trailblazers, thought leaders, risk-takers, decision-makers, celebrities, athletes, and investors who are defining the eSports space. This podcast is for you if you love gaming, you’re a part of the eSports community, you’re interested in learning more about the eSports business, you want to improve your gaming performance, or you’re an aspiring professional gamer. We’re going to decode who and what’s making news in the industry while we explore the habits, best practices, successes, and setbacks faced by our guests.

Meet Darren Heitner, an attorney and Florida Supreme Court Qualified Arbitrator focusing on sports, entertainment, intellectual property, litigation, and transactional work. He is one of the hardworking professionals that help the esports industry thrive. On our podcast, we got a chance to discuss valuation, whether to register trademarks early, and the deal structure of investments in esports. Tune in! The Ultimate Gamer Level Up! Podcast is a show that features conversations with trailblazers, thought leaders, risk takers, decision makers, celebrities, athletes, and investors who are defining the eSports space. This podcast is for you if you love gaming, you’re a part of the eSports community, you’re interested in learning more about the eSports business, you want to improve your gaming performance, or you’re an aspiring professional gamer. We’re going to decode who and what’s making news in the industry while we explore the habits, best practices, successes, and setbacks faced by our guests.

We sat down with Victoria Horsley, CRO of Unified Esports Association & President of the Unified Collegiate, to talk about female gamers, college recruitment for eSports teams, and how the eSports industry forms community through competition. Tune in! The Ultimate Gamer Level Up! Podcast is a show that features conversations with trailblazers, thought leaders, risk takers, decision makers, celebrities, athletes, and investors who are defining the eSports space. This podcast is for you if you love gaming, you’re a part of the eSports community, you’re interested in learning more about the eSports business, you want to improve your gaming performance, or you’re an aspiring professional gamer. We’re going to decode who and what’s making news in the industry while we explore the habits, best practices, successes, and setbacks faced by our guests.

If you’re passionate about social change, you’ll want to tune into our conversation with Diana Jeanne (“DJ”) Moreau, Senior Director of Partnerships at Games for Change, a nonprofit that empowers game creators and social innovators to drive real-world impact through games and immersive media. We talked about her organization’s initiatives, funding, sponsors, and grants. The Ultimate Gamer Level Up! Podcast is a show that features conversations with trailblazers, thought leaders, risk takers, decision makers, celebrities, athletes, and investors who are defining the eSports space. This podcast is for you if you love gaming, you’re a part of the eSports community, you’re interested in learning more about the eSports business, you want to improve your gaming performance, or you’re an aspiring professional gamer. We’re going to decode who and what’s making news in the industry while we explore the habits, best practices, successes, and setbacks faced by our guests.

We were so excited to sit down with our own CEO, Steve Suarez, to talk about the creation of Ultimate Gamer! Suarez is an entrepreneur with a passion for creating world-class audience experiences. Listen to our conversation to hear about what inspired him to create the greatest esports community on Earth! The Ultimate Gamer Level Up! Podcast is a show that features conversations with trailblazers, thought leaders, risk takers, decision makers, celebrities, athletes, and investors who are defining the eSports space. This podcast is for you if you love gaming, you’re a part of the eSports community, you’re interested in learning more about the eSports business, you want to improve your gaming performance, or you’re an aspiring professional gamer. We’re going to decode who and what’s making news in the industry while we explore the habits, best practices, successes, and setbacks faced by our guests.

If you want to improve your gaming skills, you can’t miss this conversation! We got the chance to speak to Taylor Johnson, a human and esports performance professional. Johnson is the Chief Performance Engineer at Statespace, a company that uses artificial intelligence to help humans improve. Listen to our conversation to learn more about the science behind gaming! The Ultimate Gamer Level Up! Podcast is a show that features conversations with trailblazers, thought leaders, risk takers, decision makers, celebrities, athletes, and investors who are defining the eSports space. This podcast is for you if you love gaming, you’re a part of the eSports community, you’re interested in learning more about the eSports business, you want to improve your gaming performance, or you’re an aspiring professional gamer. We’re going to decode who and what’s making news in the industry while we explore the habits, best practices, successes, and setbacks faced by our guests.

Listen to our fascinating conversation with Derric Franklin, Head Coach for HEAT Check Gaming, the NBA2KLeague affiliate of the Miami HEAT! Find out what eSports recruiters look for and how you can make yourself stand out from other gamers. The Ultimate Gamer Level Up! Podcast is a show that features conversations with trailblazers, thought leaders, risk takers, decision makers, celebrities, athletes, and investors who are defining the eSports space. This podcast is for you if you love gaming, you’re a part of the eSports community, you’re interested in learning more about the eSports business, you want to improve your gaming performance, or you’re an aspiring professional gamer. We’re going to decode who and what’s making news in the industry while we explore the habits, best practices, successes, and setbacks faced by our guests.

Renee Gittins is the Executive Director of the International Game Developers Association (IGDA), CEO of Stumbling Cat, and Forbes 30 under 30 honoree. We sat down with Gittins to discuss IGDA resources such as Global Mentorship, her efforts to increase diversity within the eSports industry, and her initiatives to support the growth of game developers. Tune in to hear about the fascinating projects Gittins is working on! The Ultimate Gamer Level Up! Podcast is a show that features conversations with trailblazers, thought leaders, risk takers, decision makers, celebrities, athletes, and investors who are defining the eSports space. This podcast is for you if you love gaming, you’re a part of the eSports community, you’re interested in learning more about the eSports business, you want to improve your gaming performance, or you’re an aspiring professional gamer. We’re going to decode who and what’s making news in the industry while we explore the habits, best practices, successes, and setbacks faced by our guests.

Dena Mekawiis Co-Founder of ThunderPixelGames and Founder of the MekawiGroup. ThunderPixelis a collection of award-winning creators with a shared goal of developing exciting & fun pop culture themed games. MekawiGroup is the umbrella company of Style & Resilience, a consulting + marketing firm, focused on curating opportunities that have an impact on society, while working with investors to identify partnerships and projects. Ms. Mekawiis a first-generation Egyptian Muslim American living in NYC. She ran for Miss Arab USA 2013 when realizing she wanted to be the voice for underrepresented communities. Dena then went on to work for Oprah Magazine, where she was able to use self-expression of fashion & editorial to celebrate her individuality. She now uses her experience of self-discovery as an Arab American to work collectively, creating space for culture diversity. Dena has been chosen as a representative to the United Nations NGO,DGC which compliments her work as a Social Entrepreneur.

Ryan Johnson is Founder of Cxmmunity, a non-profit committed to increasing participation in minority esports through STEAM development. He’s also an Advisor for Brickhouse Ventures, an early stage venture firm that focuses primarily on esports, sports technology, music, film and production.Ryan and I met a few years back at a Dreamhack event in Atlanta. At the time, he was just breaking into the industry. In less than two years I have watched him become a true force in the space with a mission, intelligence and drive to evoke real change. From the moment he told me about his inspiration for the X in Cxmmunity, I knew he was setting me up for an education regarding his vision and mission. From grassroots initiatives in underserved communities – more than 9 million kids have no access to laptops and wi-fi – to making history and changing the world, he dropped knowledge, reeled off data points and started me down his path to a better future. It’s hard not to be impressed and with dual tasking his new norm he’s achieving he’s goals quickly.

Rebecca Longawa is Founder + President of Happy Warrior and an Esports Advisor to Stadia Ventures and Brickhouse Ventures. Rebecca told me she has a love for people which makes her a natural connector. She also talks about how her dad inspired her brand, Happy Warrior, and how esports continues to foster connection. With over 20 years of experience in sports marketing and innovation, Rebecca runs her own consultancy agency, is an advisor for three global sports-tech investment firms and an Advisory Board Member for a number of sports-tech startups. She is a go-to for both brands & athletes looking for strategic introductions, ambassador partnerships, post-career advice and personal branding. Our conversation starts in gerbil tunnels, continues into the VC world of esports investment and crosses the finish line with the evolution of connecting through esports & esports-esque systems and platforms.

Joey Brander is President & Managing Partner of First Serve Partners. He was the youngest person ever hired to be an ESPN radio host and soon after settled into a career in venture capitalism. As President of FSP, he has invested in the Toronto Defiant and Splyce, as well as the Mad Lions, giving his firm a piece of the three major franchised esports leagues.After we tinkered our way through a few audio and visual challenges, the two of us settled into a very entertaining conversation about the industry. You see, Joey knows esports. He's an expert investor and was one of the first to anticipate the esports world’s path to resembling thetraditional sports structure.As a successful venture capitalist and student of the gaming industry his deal flow is substantial. He’s a special guest host on Cheddar Esports and a frequent contributor to multiple media outlets, due to his unique knowledge, connections and understanding of the space. Clear yourmind and then sit back and hang on for this one. There is a lot to take in.

Darcy Lorincz is an award winning, engineering-driven executive with 25+ years of experience building, implementing, and managing technology strategies delivering global solutions in communications, sports, esports, IoT and digital media markets.From the minute Darcy and I started talking about the game changing moves behind what was recently announced as ENGINE Media, I was both awestruck and impressed with his vision, and that of the organizations leadership, and the speed with which they have been able to bring their plan to market.As an industry-shaping founder, strategist, and technology pioneer, Darcy is a proven authority and innovator in digital media; delivering global engagement, scale, and monetization in esports.And, as you will learn from our discussion, whether it’s the video game analytics of Stream Hatchet, the tournament platform of UMG and now UMG TV, the future of betting through WinView, or talking about haptic suits, avatars & holograms, ENGINE Media has grabbed the pole position in much more than just simulated racing.