CTRL + ALT + COMPETE

This week, James is joined by Cody Hendry, a prominent figure in the Scottish esports landscape. Cody is a professional player, coach, and the owner of Opell Esports. Cody dives deep into the state of the competitive scene in Scotland and discusses the various titles his organisation competes in. The conversation also shifts to Cody's passion for the new esports title, The Finals. Join James and C...

We welcome singer-songwriter Craig Eddie, a former winner of The Voice, to the show. An avid Rocket League fan, Craig shares insights into the mindset required to achieve excellence, discussing his drive to set ambitious targets and become the best he can be. Craig also opens up about his personal challenges, including his struggle with tinnitus and how he manages it while pursuing a career in mus...

Alex Hirbe is a trailblazing educator and esports innovator from St. Louis, MO, with a lifelong passion for discovery learning, leadership, and video games. After pivoting from architecture studies at Kansas State University to high school social studies—and later industrial technology—he spent over a decade in the classroom, presenting at state and national conferences on meaningful tech integrat...

Bubba is a broadcaster, host, consultant, entrepreneur, professor, and esports veteran with over 25 years in non-profits and sports, plus 11 years in gaming and esports. As President & Co-Founder of the Videogames and Esports Foundation (VEF)—the first STEM-accredited non-profit in the space—he champions education and career pathways in gaming. He currently serves as Head of Events and Senior...

Gavin Ferry is a passionate esports educator and event specialist from the UK, with a career dedicated to blending gaming, technology, and learning. Starting his journey in sports management, he transitioned into esports coordination, organizing tournaments and coaching student teams at institutions like Confetti Institute. Holding a BSc in Sports Management from Nottingham Trent University, Gavin...

Cameron "Cammy" McKilligan, aka Breach Cammy, is a Scottish professional Call of Duty player hailing from Edinburgh, born October 10, 1999. With over $584,000 in career earnings from 44 tournaments, he's a standout in the esports scene, currently competing for Boston Breach in the Call of Duty League—where he's earned accolades like NA Stage 3 Elite MVP. A veteran competitor, Cammy streams on Twit...

In this episode of the  Ctrl Alt Compete Podcast , we sit down with Drew Spark-Whitworth at PHASE25, the esteemed Head Coach of G2 VALORANT, for an insightful conversation on leadership, strategy, and competitive excellence in esports. Since taking the helm in 2022, Drew has guided his teams to an International Championship and two Regional Championships, solidifying his reputation as one of the t...

Shoubna Naika-Taylor has 14 years of educational experience, lecturing in media, games, and esports and has built the esports provisions in 2 FE colleges. She works hard to create an inclusive and safe space for young people to participate in esports roles. Her involvement with Esports started in 2019 when she led a team for a 3v3 tournament to the finals, and since then, as the provision grew, na...

Nik Turner serves as the Managing Director of Ntesports, a company committed to fostering grassroots esports, providing educational consultancy, and running the largest online shop for esports teaching resources. With over a decade of experience in the esports industry, Nik previously held the position of Head of Department at an Ofsted Outstanding College for ten years before shifting his focus t...

Graham Carroll is a distinguished racing driver turned sim-racing legend, currently representing Scuderia Ferrari HP Esports. His motorsport journey began at just eight years old, where he quickly claimed success in karting, including a Scottish championship in 2003. He later transitioned to car racing with distinction, winning the Scottish Formula Ford Championship and the Jackie Stewart Trophy i...

Kairo, whose real name is Kieran Tulloch, is a professional esports caster from Scotland specializing in Valorant, Rainbow Six Siege, and Roller Champions. He has provided commentary for major events such as VCT Pacific and VCT EMEA, with experience in LAN, studio, home, and international broadcasts. Starting his journey in 2020, Kairo has built a dedicated following through his Twitch streams and...

Mark Bryceland, aka MarkyB, is a Scottish esports veteran with over 15 years in competitive Call of Duty. Starting as a player in 2008, he dominated the European scene, clinching seven championships before transitioning to coaching. He’s led top CDL teams like Toronto Ultra to major tournament wins and rebuilt rosters for Los Angeles Guerrillas. Nominated for an Esports Award, Mark, now based in D...

Dr. Amanda Ford is a lecturer in Creative & Digital Industries at West College Scotland, specialising in games-based learning. With a PhD from the University of the West of Scotland, her research explores how games enhance student skills. As founder of the Scottish Games Education Network (SGEN), she drives collaboration through events like the Scottish Games Education Symposium. A Women in Ga...

Amy Russell is the Mass Participation Fundraiser at Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity, where she inspires communities to take on epic challenges—online and offline—to raise vital funds for children and families facing life-changing hospital stays. Passionate about ensuring no child faces hospital alone, she turns gaming marathons, streaming events, and community fundraisers into powerful acts...

Altany is a life-long resident of Glenrothes and is an elected Councillor for the Glenrothes West and Kinglassie Ward. Elected in 2012 Altany has served in a number of roles and represented Fife Council on a variety of external bodies and boards, currently serving on Scotland Excel Executive Board, COSLA Economy Board, East of Scotland European Consortium and as Scottish Regional Chair of the Indu...

Never one to hit pause on the conversation, Arran Donald brings his signature mix of wit, wisdom, and just a touch of chaos to the CTRL + ALT + COMPLETE podcast. With a background spanning casting, event management, tournament organising, and live broadcasting, Arran has spent years in the trenches of esports—shaping events, calling the plays, and keeping the hype alive. A bit eccentric by nature...

Gavin Baxter is a university lecturer at the University of the West of Scotland with a lifelong passion for gaming. In recent years, Gavin has developed a keen academic and professional interest in the world of esports. Currently authoring a research paper on the evolving landscape of esports, he joins us in this episode to share key insights and findings from his work. Whether you're a fan of com...

With a dynamic background in streaming, acting, and content production, Lindsay Pattison, known as Toastie, has been a pivotal figure in the Twitch community since 2018. As the founder of Twitch Glasgow, they’ve created a thriving local streaming scene. Leveraging extensive experience in acting and voice acting, Lindsay infuses their streams with a distinctive storytelling flair and authentic audi...

Euan Jardine is a multi-talented entertainer, councillor, rapper, and former competitive athlete based in Galashiels, Scotland. With over a decade of experience in stage and short film acting, he has cultivated a unique voice that blends performance, public service, and creative expression across multiple platforms. A serving councillor with the Scottish Borders Council since 2017 and Council Lead...

Lucas Blakeley is a professional sim racer and motorsport talent, best known for winning the 2022 F1 Esports World Championship. Born in Irvine, Scotland, Lucas's journey into racing began at the age of seven, when he first experienced the thrill of go-karting—an encounter that ignited a lifelong passion for motorsport. From 2010 to 2015, Lucas competed in both club and national-level karting comp...

Greg Lee is the founder and CEO of Team Terrible, an independent game development studio best known for its breakout hit The Baby In Yellow, which has been downloaded over 150 million times across multiple platforms. Greg’s journey into game design began at home, inspired by a childhood filled with creativity, play, and imagination—encouraged by his father, who made everyday moments into games. Hi...

Ben Grant’s career spans international athletics, military service, and the esports industry. Starting in athletics, he later served as a Project Manager in the British Army, developing strong leadership and operational skills. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Ben transitioned into esports, quickly advancing to an Acting Executive Officer role, ultimately leading UK-wide marketing and recruitment for...

Maurizio Sciglio is a seasoned tech entrepreneur and investor, renowned for his pioneering contributions to cloud computing in the gaming industry. He co-founded Cloudgine in 2012 alongside Dave Jones and Marco Anastasi, a company that specialized in integrating cloud technology with video game development. Cloudgine's innovations led to its acquisition by Epic Games in 2018, where Maurizio subseq...

Mark McCready, CEO of Scottish Esports and a lecturer at New College Lanarkshire, drives the growth of esports in Scotland. He leads educational initiatives and qualifications development, integrating academic and community settings, backed by his health-related research expertise. Mark also engages with Scottish and local governments on policy change.

Craig McNeill is a professional YouTuber and Twitch streamer who launched his gaming content career alongside his wife, Emma, with their channel MarriedtoXbox. Based in Kirkcaldy, Scotland, the couple shares their passion for Xbox gaming, offering gameplay and reviews. Since starting MarriedtoXbox, Craig has expanded his presence with engaging content on YouTube building a community around their l...