Welcome to the Esports Connected Podcast with Patricia Driscoll and Christina Grimes! Join us as we embark on a thrilling exploration of the dynamic world of esports. From the electrifying energy of live esports events that bring communities together to the ever-evolving technology that drives the industry, we dive deep into the passion and innovation that fuels this vibrant space. Our conversations touch on the significant changes and trends we've witnessed since entering the esports realm, highlighting the growing recognition of gaming as more than just a hobby. We also emphasize the importance of inclusivity, advocating for diversity, and celebrating the inspiring women who are breaking barriers in the industry. Tune in as we share insights, engage in thought-provoking discussions, and connect with the passionate individuals shaping the future of esports on the Esports Connected Podcast.

What was your entry point into esports/gaming and what is your current role?: I run a network of nonprofits that use Esports for education and empowering youth; high school Esports Coach; collegiate Esports Coach.Why did you decide to become a member of ESTA?: I wanted more insight into the industry and how we can expand it into Connecticut.Tell us 3 fun/unexpected facts about yourself: I started a GI Joe toy repair business in the 5th grade; I wasn't allowed to play video games, and didn't own a console until I was 18; I got a Certificate of Recognition from the City of New York for peer mentoring work at 19 and have been doing advocacy work ever since.Which aspect of the esports industry are you most passionate about?: Scholastic Esports is my expertise. I'm empowering youth and advocating for scholastic Esports in schools in multiple States and working with an education company in Dubai and several other initiatives geared at bringing Esports to schools across the African continent.

Why did you get involved in esports? What was your entry point and what is your current role? I started in esports by helping build EGLX starting all the way back in 2014.Why did you decide to become a member of ESTA? To help develop the gaming industry in Toronto.What is your expertise/niche and how do you see that changing relative to the esports industry? What are you doing now? Where are you making an impact? I'm currently focused on building XP Gaming and through that, the XP Game Developer Summit in Toronto and Vancouver. I hope to create a platform where more esports deals can be made.Since you’ve entered the esports industry, what has been the biggest industry change or trend that you’ve seen? Have you felt the impact of this change? I've seen the industry go from mainly grassroots communities to mainstream attention - for better or worse.What is your favorite esports title, genre, and/or esports passion? Smash Bros and Hearthstone.

Why did you get involved in esports? What was your entry point and what is your current role?: We got drawn into the world of Esports through our Valari gaming pillow product, which we believe can play a role in improving the comfort and enjoyment of professional & casual gamersWhy did you decide to become a member of ESTA?: We would like to be involved more in the Esports ecosystem, we would like to network with other businesses in gaming and Esports and we would like to learn more about Esports.Tell us 3 fun/unexpected facts you would like us to mention when we introduce you?: The Valari was inspired by Nadim using his wife's nursing pillow. We launched on Kickstarter. The company was founded in Beirut, Lebanon in the middle of one of the bigges economic and political disasters in history.What is your expertise/niche and how do you see that changing relative to the esports industry? What are you doing now? Where are you making an impact?: Our niche is comfort and ergonomics in gaming. We started by launching our gaming pillow but we see this expanding into a range of gaming peripherals and accessories designed with comfort in mind. We believe this will have beneficial impact on the comfort and posture of gamers.Since you’ve entered the esports industry, what has been the biggest industry change or trend that you’ve seen? Have you felt the impact of this change?: We just entered the space so too soon for us to comment on thisWe are all about making a real connection - not talk about just business - what’s the most FUN or craziest thing that happened to you this past year?: Our trip to Twitchcon in San Diego was a really fun and interesting experienceTell us about a situation that you can look back on and say that it defined, or really influenced you as you are now or doing what you are doing now? A “fork in the road” moment?: Probably really early on in our development of the Valari pillow we made a decision to launch on Kickstarter. While Kickstarter certainly has its challenges, and it certainly wasn't easy, it was definitely the right decision as we managed to prove the concept in a significant way and draw the interes of our current investor.

Why did you get involved in esports? What was your entry point and what is your current role?: I view esports as a terrific way to engage a vibrant community and audience for fundraising. My entry point was watching the Starcraft championships in South Korea. As a video gamer, it's awe-inspiring to see stadiums filled with people who want to watch a competitive video game tournament. Currently, I serve as the livestream gaming SME at Doctors Without Borders USA.Why did you decide to become a member of ESTA?: I felt that the ESTA's wealth of experience in esports could be a source of learning for both my company and at Doctors Without Borders USATell us 3 fun/unexpected facts you would like us to mention when we introduce you?: 1) As a Twitch streamer, I've raised over $7K for orgs, and about 75% of that was from donation incentives for eating Beanboozled jelly beans; 2) I was a member of the American Homebrew Association and livestreamed how to make beer; 3) Found out that the #2 biggest lie in competitive video games is "I'm bad at Mario Kart"What is your expertise/niche and how do you see that changing relative to the esports industry? What are you doing now? Where are you making an impact?: My expertise is in utilizing livestream media, specifically gaming, as a vehicle for fundraising. I see more esports events organized as a fundraiser for various organizations. For example, Dreamhack does plenty of events for charity. What I am trying to do is to make connections between organizations and esports organizers to try and get more fundraising events on calendars. Since my venture is new, I haven't had any impact yet, but I hope to start making an impact at college esports, in particular at my alma maters Rutgers and Seton Hall, who have established esports programs.Since you’ve entered the esports industry, what has been the biggest industry change or trend that you’ve seen? Have you felt the impact of this change?: The biggest change is the growing level of acceptance. Gaming in general has grown from being viewed as a hobby and is now viewed as a full-blown industry. The impact of this in the fundraising sphere is an increase in corporate giving either via event sponsorships or by direct donations to nonprofits.What is your favorite esports title, genre, and/or esports passion?: Overwatch We are all about making a real connection - not talk about just business - what’s the most FUN or craziest thing that happened to you this past year?: The most fun was attending TwitchCon. It was great to meet up with colleagues from across the nonprofit industry, as well as seeing friends I've met on Twitch and hanging out with them in person for the first time.Tell us about a situation that you can look back on and say that it defined, or really influenced you as you are now or doing what you are doing now? A “fork in the road” moment?: 6 years ago, at my last job, I was told to watch Summer Games Done Quick - a speedrun event to raise money for Doctors Without Borders. For years, organizations had been looking to engage younger audiences and failed. Now, I see an org that has embraced gaming and seeing the dividends pay off. I was inspired by this and I tried to get a similar initiative started at my last job, but alas my pleas fell on deaf ears. When a job opened up at Doctors Without Borders, even though it wasn't related to gaming, I jumped on it and it's where I am today. Though I still work at Doctors Without Borders, I am also able to work with other organizations and their gaming fundraising initiatives. It's so refreshing to be involved with folks who understand the gaming world and are always trying to figure out how best to utilize it as a way to raise funds as well as for advocacy.

Meet Matthew Hixon of Gamers Glorified. Gamers Glorified works with youth gamers by giving them a social outlet where they can come together in a safe environment, learn new games, and make new friends. To learn more about Gamers Glorified, visit: GamersGlorified.comFull Episode Q&A Why did you get involved in esports? What was your entry point and what is your current role?: I've been a competitive and professional gamer since 1999Why did you decide to become a member of ESTA?: Because of ESTA Network and connections.Tell us 3 fun/unexpected facts you would like us to mention when we introduce you?: Born in England, I have dual citizenship, I'm the only Lefty in my familySince you’ve entered the esports industry, what has been the biggest industry change or trend that you’ve seen? Have you felt the impact of this change?: The Biggest change is that other major companies and industries are now looking into Esports.What is your favorite esports title, genre, and/or esports passion?: Genre Fighting Games, passion coaching & teaching.We are all about making a real connection - not talk about just business - what’s the most FUN or craziest thing that happened to you this past year?: I entered Combo Breaker 2022 and placed top 3, top 8, and top 8 in three I've never played or competed inTell us about a situation that you can look back on and say that it defined, or really influenced you as you are now or doing what you are doing now? A “fork in the road” moment?: Becoming the Head Esports Coach of Kishwaukee CollegeHas there been a moment in your life or career when you realized that you have reached a certain level of satisfaction with your position or status? If you became an influencer in your space has this happened?: Satisfaction brings content, I never want to be content, that means I'll stop growing and striving to accomplish new things.What lies ahead for you? What is your biggest goal for the year ahead?: Acquiring more schools for my programs and to attend at least 2 more schools this year while hiring more employees.What is your parting advice for the industry?: In order to survive we have to work together we cannot be in competition with one another. We all have to bring value to one another while simultaneously staying in your lane.

When it comes to getting kids involved in team sports, it shouldn’t stop at gaming. Teacher Chris Aviles saw an opportunity to use kids’ love of gaming to create a team atmosphere and developed the first middle school esports team through Garden State Esports.He now helps kids from all over through school teams and events, helping them cultivate their love for gaming in a team atmosphere. Garden State Esports He joins Megan Van Patten on this episode of Esports Connected to talk about his journey to creating and building this organization, and what he sees for its future.Garden States Esports is a nonprofit founded by educators, Garden and is the organizing body of scholastic esports for New Jersey. Their mission is to create high-quality, student-centered experiences through scholastic esports so ALL students can use esports as a platform to grow socially, emotionally, and academically.Chris talks about how the pandemic provided him opportunities to expand the team, the obstacles they continue to overcome to bring this brand to the masses, and how sponsorships have helped him offer this service to kids for free.He also talks about what’s next for this amazing organization.To find out more, visit: gsesports.org or email Chris at:chris@gsesports.org

Having an idea is only the first step in a very long journey to make a company successful. However, there are many nights of hard work and many different paths that can be taken to find the right partners and funding to grow a company.In this episode of Esports Connected, Megan is joined by Mark Besharaty, CEO and President of Gamelevate. Gamelevate is on a mission to become the premiere hub for esports information and content by sharing inclusive and diverse thoughts about the world of esports and gaming.Mark shares his journey from bootstrapping at the beginning of his company to seeking investors. After hitting some obstacles when approaching standard investors, Mark decided to explore the crowdfunding route. He talks about the process of working with Start Engine, and the lessons he has learned along the way. If you’re interested in learning more about Gamelevate, visit: https://gamelevate.com/If you’d like to learn more or even participate in Gamelevate’s funding campaign, visit: StartEngine.com/GamElevateResources mentioned: Rohan Bose at https://www.teknosassociates.com/

Although it seems very obvious that there’s a correlation between eye health and gaming, it hasn’t been at the forefront of research and solutions.Dr. Amy Czyz and her husband, Dr. Tom Czyz, Optometrists by Day, discovered an opportunity after they weren’t making their own health a priority during the pandemic. This was when they got the idea for SLY, the first of-its-kind, drink made specifically for gamers. Plus it’s made with the ingredients you need for better sleep and better recovery, which all leads to better eye health.Dr. Amy joins Megan on this episode of Esports Connected to talk about her journey from seeing over 80,000 patients to discovering a need in the gaming space. And she talks about why she was so passionate about creating this product herself. She also discusses how the Esports Trade Association has been crucial for her in helping build partnerships and create collaborations.If you’re interested in connecting with Dr. Amy, you can email her at: dramy@intentbrands.com. To find out more about the products, visit: DrinkOnTheSly.com

Many times we don’t think about needing a lawyer or legal advice until it’s too late. However, this is the absolute worst time to start engaging a team who can help you with your due diligence and setting up things the right way.This is more important than ever in the gaming industry, and in this episode of Esports Connected, Megan is joined by Darius Gambin and Leah Leyendecker from Saul Ewing Arnstein and Lehr. They are lawyers and also the hosts of the Lawyers with Game Podcast. They talk about how they got involved in the world of gaming, and it’s so important to have representation if you’re a veteran or just getting in.They also talk about their podcast, and how it’s been such an incredible journey for them. What started as a COVID project, has now turned into an incredible networking tool for them and something they have a lot of fun doing.If you’re interested in learning more about the legal world of esports, trademarks, patents, copyrights, video games, and more, then visit their podcast: https://www.saul.com/lawyers-game.

There is no doubt talent plays a significant role in any success story; however, talent only is not enough. The right mindset, proper guidance, and putting in the work are also necessary. Coming from a family of athletes and entrepreneurs, Caleb Smith is the perfect example of that. Caleb Smith is the founder and CEO of CVS Entertainment and a franchise owner of Contender eSports in Cary, NC. CVS Entertainment provides premium encounters to improve the esports community, mainly in the Triangle area of North Carolina. Caleb is also the founder and owner of the clothing brand Griarté. Son and grandson of athletes, Caleb decided to play soccer overseas. He played two years for the German team FC Herta Rheidt 1916 e.V before deciding to start his entrepreneurial journey. In this episode, we talked about Caleb's latest entrepreneurial endeavor, the Lan Center that provides a space to play, workshops, and coaching sessions. Caleb kindly shared his journey into entrepreneurship and gave us a bit of background from his entrepreneurial family. We also talked about the importance of coaching in the esports community. You can connect with Caleb on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caleb-s-b8556b103/CVS Entertainment Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/cvsentertainment/Contender eSports Cary website: https://www.contendercary.com/The Esports Connected Podcast was created by the Esports Trade Association. To find out more, visit: https://esportsta.org/This podcast is also part of the Esports Futuri Podcast Network. To find out more about this podcast, and all of our other shows, visit: EsportsFPN.com

It may not be something we think about (or want to think about every day), but insurance is part of our daily lives, and getting the right one for your business and life can save you a lot of headaches when you actually need it. That's exactly what Chris Johnson, from the Johnsonese Brokerage LLC is here to discuss.In this episode of Esports Connected, Chris talks to Megan Van Patten about the importance of insurance in the industry. They discuss how insurance can protect your business and explains how even virtually, events can suffer big losses if not properly covered. From guests being unable to participate to natural disasters, Chris shares it all.To learn more about Chris’ business, visit: https://www.johnsonese.com/

In 2021 we’re seeing the re-emergence of live events, and no one is more excited about this then today’s guest, Rebecca de Freitas. Rebecca produces Mega Events and is the Director, of Customer Engagement at Hargrove.In this episode of Esports Connected, Rebecca talks about her role in putting on live events, and why all industries need to be watching and paying close attention to what esports is doing within events.She also talks about how companies can stand out, even when working on hybrid and live events, and how we really need to pay attention to the expectations of Gen Z and what’s happening within the world of events.To find out more about Rebecca and her company visit. https://www.hargroveinc.com/Esports Connected is part of the Esports Trade Association and you can learn more by visiting: https://esportsta.org/

The gaming and esports industry is about connection, inclusion, and growth, but what happens when people interested in participating can't do it because they lack the resources to do it. That is why organizations like Varsity Esports Foundation exist; to ensure connectivity for low-income families and schools.In this episode of Esports Connected, Megan is joined by Bubba Gaeddert, Executive Director of Varsity Esports Foundation. He has over 20 years of experience in non-profit and development. Being a child raised in the urban core of Oklahoma, where funding and STEM weren't available, he is aware of the importance of creating pipelines to esports and gaming for students from the urban core and low-income areas. In this episode, they talked about the foundation's mission and vision, interns, and the gaming industry's future. Bubba explained how the Varsity Esports Foundation acts as connective tissue between the industry and people from less fortunate areas. We talked about the challenges of organizing esports events and people jumping into the industry just to make money. You can connect with Bubba on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bubbagaeddert/Or find him on Twitter: https://twitter.com/bubbagaeddertYou can also visit Varsity Esports Foundation's website: https://www.varsityesportsfoundation.org/The Esports Connected Podcast was created by the Esports Trade Association. To find out more, visit: https://esportsta.org/This podcast is also part of the Esports Futuri Podcast Network. To find out more about this podcast, and all of our other shows, visit: EsportsFPN.com

The 20% growth of the gaming industry during the pandemic turn it into a talent constraint market. Betting dollars, hours of content consumption, people buying the consoles, and the entertainment industry, in general, is heading into esports and gaming. Because of all that, companies turn into recruitment agencies and ask for help; they need to recruit double of what they initially thought they would. That is one of the many challenges recruiters face and some of the things we will discuss with Kim Shatzer today.Kim Shatzer is the Managing Director at Onward Play and Women In Games Ambassador. Kim is also a Board Member of Feeding the Orphans and Marketing and Communications Committee Member at the Esports Trade Association.We discussed the challenges recruitment teams face in the growing gaming and esports industry from the candidates' and corporations' perspectives. Kim shared her story of how she was converted into the gaming world and fell in love with the industry. We also talked about diversity, inclusion, and the details companies should observe before getting into the gaming and esports industry.Visit Onward Play website: https://www.onwardplay.com/Or Connect with Kim on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vanchic/Esports Connected is part of the Esports Trade Association. To learn more, visit: ESTA.orgEsports Connected is also part of the Map Esports Podcast Network. To learn more about this show and all of our other shows, visit: EsportsFPN.com

Being authentic and bringing positive energy, and of course, his natural talent for marketing, helped our guest, Jeff Donnelley, build a flawless and outstanding career as an independent contractor working with online gaming companies.After 15 years of experience in the gaming market, the moment he learned about esports, he knew it was the industry's next natural wave. Jeff hasn't stopped doing great things since then, and today is sharing all that with us.Jeff Donnelley is the CEO of MEGAFANS, a mobile esports platform that combines mobile games with competitive tournaments for prizes. Jeff, considered by many people a marketing guru, has vast experience working with gaming companies like Ubisoft, World of Tanks, and Jam City, to name a few.In this episode, we explore bits of Jeff's extensive career; we go through some of his career highlights, the lessons learned from mistakes, and the things that came up better than expected. We also talk about the affinity between mobile gaming and NFTs, the possibilities and the potential of that communion, and the promising future of mobile gaming and esports.Resources:Visit MEGAFANS website: https://www.megafans.com/Follow them on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MegafansEsportsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/megafansesports/Or visit their YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOlBIJWTEC_X6RTY4idFmTQConnect with Jeff on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-donnelley-95a602191/

There is a difference between professional organizations and gaming communities; professional teams focus only on professional players and neglect community building. However, it is possible to create a community, have a professional structure, and be competitive at the same time, and Team 7AM is the living proof of that.John Smith-Howell, Director of Team 7AM, created a professional esports team grounded on community values, offering its players the opportunity to compete at the highest level and be part of a supportive environment ideal for developing new talents.He shares his vision of what kind of support esports teams should provide for their players beyond financial support and how gamers could benefit from it. We talked about how he overcame leaving school at an early age and found fulfillment in professional gaming. We also talked about how gaming is a great tool to connect kids from all over the world.You can connect with John on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnsmith-howell/or on Twitter: https://twitter.com/7am_WundAVisit Team 7AM's website: https://team7am.com/The Esports Connected Podcast was created by the Esports Trade Association. To find out more, visit: https://esportsta.org/This podcast is also part of the Esports Futuri Podcast Network. To find out more about this podcast, and all of our other shows, visit: EsportsFPN.com

Today, we have the pleasure of chatting with Bruce Stein, Managing Director at Westbridge Consulting, LLC.Bruce is an experienced CEO and multi-preneur. He has vast experience as president, CEO, and Board Member of several toys, video game, technology and entertainment companies. He co-founded and directed aXiomatic, an esports and video gaming enterprise.In this episode, Bruce shares his thoughts on the need for a connection in the gaming industry, the misunderstanding about esports, and why esports and gaming companies should learn how to take advantage of the demographic and technology tailwind they have.Connect with Bruce on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brucelstein/.

There was a time when robots serving you drinks and food only seemed to only be real in a cartoon like the Jetsons. However, if you were at the EsportsNext Conference last September, you would have had drinks being served to you by CLOi. CLOi is LG’s robot technology, and she’s not just about serving drinks. In fact, she does so much more, including disinfecting public places by utilizing UV lights.Dan Leunig, Senior National Sales Manager, joins Megan for this live episode at EsportsNext to talk about innovation at LG Technologies, and why he’s so excited about what is on the horizon for CLOi in addition to their other products.They discuss how CLOi works, and why this new technology will be a difference-maker in a post-pandemic world, and how they were able to bring such an incredible experience to EsportsNext. To learn more about LG and CLOi, visit: https://www.lg.com/us/business/commercial-displays/discover-cloi-uv-c-robot

In this episode, we’re back at last year’s EsportsNext Conference, as Megan welcomes Chyron’s Vice President of Marketing, Carol Bettencourt. Chyron was one of the production sponsors at EsportsNext, and the ladies discuss how Chyron helped take the delivery and graphics at the conference to a whole new level.They also talk about events, and how it can be amazing when different teams come together for one main purpose. Plus, how hard that can be at times. They also talk about what sets Chyron apart, and why Chyron is so excited to be working more in the world of esports. To learn more about Chyron, visit: https://chyron.com/This year’s EsportsNext Conference is set for August 22nd and 23rd. Learn more and grab your tickets before they’re gone! https://esportsta.org/esportsnext-2022/