Story x Story

We're on a recording break over July and will be back with new episodes in early August. Until then, join us for sun, sand (or pebbles), and stories in this special live recording of the Story x Story podcast! Nigel & Tazziii are discussing the video games industry, as we recap the Develop:Brighton experience with a series of guests who attended the conference. We invited attendees to shar...

We're on a recording break over July and will be back with new episodes in August. In the meantime, we’re revisiting some of the amazing conversations we've had over the past year and have a Rewind of Casual Conversations With Comic Creators, the show where we speak with fellow creators about their work and the craft of making comics! It’s about showcasing the human being behind the art as...

We're on a recording break over July and will be back with new episodes in August. In the meantime, we’re revisiting some of the amazing conversations we've had over the past year and have the third and final part from our "Do I Look Like A Gamer?" campaign launch livestream. In this segment, Nigel and Tazziii met with Content Creator Michael Akpowowo and indie developer Leon Ive...

We're on a recording break over July and will be back with new episodes in August. In the meantime, we’re revisiting some of the amazing conversations we've had over the past year and have the second of three parts from our "Do I Look Like A Gamer?" campaign launch livestream. In this segment, Nigel and Tazziii met with C Bedford, Founder of à la mode games, and Troy Aidoo, Conte...

We're on a recording break over July and will be back with new episodes in August. In the meantime, we’re revisiting some of the amazing conversations we've had over the past year, starting with the first of three parts from our "Do I Look Like A Gamer?" campaign launch livestream. In this segment, Nigel and Tazziii talked with indie developer Sarah Harrison and Hivefolio founder...

This week, Nigel is hosting solo as he welcomes two of our "Do I Look Like A Gamer?" Campaign 40 members to the podcast for the first time to talk about the games we've been playing and the summer of video games, along with the deluge of showcases that come with it (starting at 22:29). Marketing Manager & Chair of DEI, Jerreau Henry, alongside Content Creator and Gaming Ambassado...

This week, Nigel and Tazziii delve into the war between humans and simians for a deep dive into Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (starting at 26:46), with The Popcorn Podcast Host Dylan. We discuss the legacy of this franchise and the value of another instalment after a strong initial reboot trilogy. With some impressive motion capture and CGI showcasing this thoughtful narrative, we examine the...

This week, Nigel and Tazziii sit down with Jupiter Hadley, a community manager and freelance journalist, to discuss their literal and figurative journey from Upstate New York to building communities and reporting across the UK games industry. Listen as we delve into how their love of indie games prepared them to make a splash in a brand new country, becoming MCV/DEVELOP’s 30 Under 30 in 2023. Join...

In this Story x Story Rewind episode, we're bringing you the audio from our recent "Games Industry Explained: All Quirks Required" roundtable discussion. Nigel and Tazziii are joined by Talent Acquisition Consultant, Terrence Cua, to discuss the ever-evolving landscape of the video game industry and the skills, talents, and qualities needed for a successful career. This event, origin...

This week, Nigel and Tazziii talk to the new comic duo, Emmanuel Ojo and Camex Udeh. Their first published entry together placed them 4th out of 10 shortlisted in the 2024 Manga Jiman Competition. We learn how they collaborated to produce an award-winning story and their future plans in the world of manga. In this comprehensive interview, we delve into the process behind comic collaborations. We d...

This week, Nigel and Tazziii get folded up and fly as they enter the world of stop-motion for a deep dive into Kubo and the Two Strings (starting at 20:15), with Content Creator Manny Moon. We get caught up in the animated marvel that brings a lot of texture to a Hero’s Journey that sees some serious and complex themes brought to a children’s feature. As well as the great representation on display...

This week, Nigel and Tazziii talk to content creator and cosplayer Abi, also known as Opal Ink Cosplay. By day, she works as a publishing executive at Future Friends Games, and by night, she dresses as her favourite fictional characters. We hear how an early passion for games has turned into a promising career balancing multiple creative pursuits. We also hear Abi's perspective on tackling bur...

This week, Nigel and Tazziii blur the lines between reality and fantasy as they chase dreams through time for a deep dive into the Satoshi Kon anime, Millennium Actress (starting at 16:50), with Content Creator Izzy Kento and Comic Creator Feff Silvers. We get to grips with this boundary-pushing narrative that explores the pursuit of love and goals in a way only the acclaimed late Japanese directo...

This week, Nigel and Tazziii sit with fantasy author Janelle McCurdy, creator of Mia and the Lightcasters, to discuss her early life journey to becoming a fully-fledged writer and video game content creator. Listen as we discover how discouragement at college led to 10 years of perseverance that prepared her to achieve agency representation and create worlds of diverse characters that reach reader...

This week, Nigel and Tazziii are going it alone as they figure out the secret to cloning for a deep dive into the genre-mashing mystery, They Cloned Tyrone (starting at 24:23), without our usual guest spot. We take a look at this feature-length debut and examine why it resonates as an entertaining piece that wraps a meaningful message about the treatment of communities by the powers that be. The s...

This week, Nigel and Tazziii are joined by Jasmine Moore, a Games Producer & Narrative Designer, to talk about the skills and personal qualities needed to navigate the challenging journey into the video games industry. Jasmine has worked for some of the biggest companies in games as well as working on her own projects. In the episode, she shares the early life moments that sparked her interest...

This week, Nigel and Tazziii are pulled through a vegan portal for a deep dive into the latest adaptation of the cult hit, Scott Pilgrim Takes Off (starting at 18:28), with Content Creator MiyukiPanda and Executive Producer at Radical Forge, Des Gayle. We examine the differences between the popular film, comic source material, and this new story being told in an animated medium as we delve into th...

This week, we have a rewind of a recent Story Club livestream special! Nigel and Tazziii are joined by Vik Deluca from Mega City Comics as they dive into the Eisner Award-winning graphic novel, "Superman For All Seasons." This introspective narrative explores the transformation of Clark Kent from farm boy to (arguably) the world's greatest superhero. Our discussion not only focuses o...

This week, Nigel and Tazziii are joined by Navy Bird, a comic artist and writer specialising in fantasy comics, to discuss how manga, anime, and novels from major authors have shaped her career. Navy is part of the WIP Comics group and contributed to their recent "Change" anthology that was successfully Kickstarted in 2023. Listen as we delve into her experiences working with other creat...

This week, Nigel and Tazziii take a stroll through South London for a deep dive into the refreshing Rom-Com, Rye Lane, (starting at 29:47) with Presenter and Broadcaster Shay Thompson. We revel in this positive and recognisable depiction of love in one of London's lesser-known boroughs when it comes to mainstream representation. Despite a narrative built on familiar genre underpinnings, Raine...

We're back talking about AI and creative industries! This week, Nigel and Tazziii are joined by University of the Arts London Lecturer and Game Developer Thom Kaczmarek to discuss the impact AI is having on creative industries and the students studying today with hopes of entering those industries tomorrow. We delve into the recent rapid advancements in AI technology and how these tools are im...

This week, Nigel and Tazziii head to the Italian Riviera as we take a deep dive into the deep blue sea for Luca (starting at 27:44) with Cosplayer Coco. A pandemic-affected release didn't seem to impact the reception of this coming-of-age story, and we get into the reasons for its successful outing with audiences of all ages. We explore the themes of latent "otherness" beneath the su...

We've got a great Rewind episode for you! In addition to the Story x Story podcast, we also have other livestream shows here at mayamada, and throughout the season, we want to introduce more of them to you. So, each season, we'll be sharing audio from some of those shows for you to check out. This week, it's the recording of The Studio77 Report, a show where Nigel and Tazziii discuss v...

It's our first video game roundtable of 2024! This week, Nigel and Tazziii welcome brand new guests to the podcast to talk about the games we’ve been playing and the outlook for the three main platform holders over the year (starting at 30:31). Content Creators Atari and Mini Midas both bring their perspective to what has already been a busy start to the news cycle, as we debate Microsoft’s ap...

This week, Nigel and Tazziii sit with Alexandra McCarthy, a Birmingham-based illustrator and comic creator, to discuss how art became a release in her early years and how it has become her profession today. We learn more about her experiences through education and what makes the difference when supporting young creative talent. Listen as we delve into her experiences creating her own manga and ste...