Esports Connected With Megan Van Petten

Welcome to the Esports Connected Podcast , hosted by Megan Van Petten! In this episode, we sit down with Ben Traub, Director of Sales at ggCircuit. With nearly 30 years in software sales, nonprofit development, and event production, Ben brings a unique perspective to the esports industry. He shares his journey from early gaming with siblings to leading sales at ggCircuit, where he supports LAN cen...

Welcome to the Esports Connected Podcast! Today, we have Robert Powell, Founder & CEO of the BGG Foundation. Based in St. Louis, BGG empowers youth by transforming their passion for gaming into rewarding careers. With partnerships with industry giants like PlayStation, Nintendo, and Xbox, Robert has created opportunities for underserved youth through tournaments and programs supported by local...

Welcome to the Esports Connected Podcast! Today, we are thrilled to have Joanne Loton, Film and Media Officer at Tourism Kingston. Joanne brings a wealth of experience from traditional media, immersive, digital, and XR, making her platform agnostic in her approach to storytelling. Now entering the world of esports from a tourism perspective, she is developing an esports strategy for Kingston, Onta...

Welcome to the Esports Connected Podcast! In this episode, we chat with Ron Kerbs, Founder and CEO of Kidas, about his groundbreaking AI-powered software, ProtectMe Bot. Despite Discord's efforts to enhance moderation, toxicity still infiltrates voice chats. Ron's innovative solution addresses this gap by monitoring both voice and text communications to safeguard young users from predators, scamme...

Welcome to the Esports Connected Podcast, where we explore the dynamic world of competitive sim drifting with our special guest, a passionate tournament organizer deeply involved in the sim racing scene. In this episode, we uncover the origins of the Esports Drifting Association (ESDA) and its strategic partnerships with industry leaders like Next-Level Racing, MOZA Racing, and Firman. Our guest s...

Welcome to the Esports Connected Podcast, where we delve into the dynamic world of esports and its intersection with education. Join David Bruno and Sean Dwyer, as they share their journeys into the esports industry, from casual gamers to key players in academic and competitive spaces. In this episode, explore the incredible growth of Cougar Esports at Camden County College, from its inception to...

Join us on the Esports Connected Podcast for an exclusive Q&A session with Titus Walker, the dynamic CEO of Ultimate Endgamers League (UEL). Titus, a lifelong gamer and visionary entrepreneur, shares his inspiring journey from childhood gaming experiences to leading the charge in esports innovation. In this episode, Titus provides insights into UEL's latest endeavors, including a TV show, majo...

Welcome to the Esports Connected Podcast, featuring Mark Consiglio, a 20-year veteran in the event technology industry and current Account Executive at 4Wall Entertainment. Join us as Mark discusses his transition from traditional sports and entertainment to esports, sharing insights into creating synergies between the events and sports business. Explore his role in managing esports opportunities...

In this episode of the EsportsConnected Podcast, we sit down with Danielle Rourke, a technology strategist turned gaming entrepreneur. After a successful career at Dell Technologies, Danielle launched Gaming Culturist, LLC, a consulting business aimed at bridging the gap between the gaming world and education. Join us as we explore Danielle's journey from childhood gaming enthusiast to esports adv...

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 conversatio...

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 s...

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...

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 gamers Why did you decide to become a member of ESTA?: We would like to be involved more in the Esports ecosystem, we would...

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...

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.com Full 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 comp...

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...

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...

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 specificall...

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 A...

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...

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 im...

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...

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 Direc...

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 wo...

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 g...