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Season 3

Sept. 16, 2023

Game On Africa: Esports as a Catalyst for Growth and Opportunity

Today we are speaking with three returning guests on our first LinkedIn Live Event: Soufiane EL FILALI from Morocco, Brad Kirby from South Africa, and Ronny Lusigi from Kenya. Tom Leonard kicks off the LinkedIn Live session of "Gamers Change …

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Sept. 9, 2023

Playing Life’s Game: Bridging Esports and Improvisation

Today we are speaking with Patricia Ryan Madson, a Professor Emerita from Stanford University, and author of the book: "IMPROV WISDOM: Don’t Prepare, Just Show Up". "The Gamers Change Lives Podcast" Episode with Tom Leonard & Patricia Ryan Madsen...

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Sept. 2, 2023

Talk Smarter, Game Better: Mastering the Game of Communication

Today we are speaking with Matt Abrahams, Lecturer at the Stanford University Graduate School of Business specializing in Strategic Communication. He hosts the popular podcast “Think Fast Talk Smart”. He is also the author of a new book called “Think...

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Aug. 26, 2023

Innovate & Play: How Creativity Drives the World of Asian Esports

Today we are speaking with Robert Gax, Creative Lead, APAC & India at Ampverse in Singapore. Summary of the Gamers Change Lives Podcast Episode: Esports 101 with Robert Gax Robert Gax, a seasoned creative director, now drives the vision for …

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Aug. 12, 2023

Crafting Success: The Evolution of a Gaming Visionary

Today’s guest is Amila Pathirana. He is the Co-Founder and CEO at GamerTech™ and Founder at The Gaming Insider. Key Points: Esports in Sri Lanka: Amila overviews the esports scene, its decade-long presence, and the challenges faced. Amila's Gaming Or...

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Aug. 5, 2023

Breaking Boundaries and Fostering Inclusivity in Esports

Today we are speaking with Fernando Pereira. He is the President at GROW UP / CEO at XTEND3D / Founder at GIRLGAMER Festival. In this episode of the Gamers Change Lives podcast, host Tom Leonard interviews Fernando Pereira, an event …

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July 29, 2023

Closing the College-to-Career Gap: College Esports’ Impact

Donna “BasicTaq” Walters I am Tom Leonard, the host of the Gamers Change Lives Podcast where we talk about how esports can create jobs anywhere in the world. Play Games. Create Jobs. Change Lives. In Season 1 we talked about …

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July 22, 2023

Building Long-term Partnerships: Strategies and Perspectives

Today’s guest is Nimish Raut, Global Head Esports : Partnerships & Special Projects at NODWIN Gaming in India. Our discussion included: Nimish highlights the importance of long-term thinking in the esports industry, emphasizing future growth and ...

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July 15, 2023

Using Tech to Level Up Esports, Education, and Equity

Today’s guest is Today’s guest is Danielle Rourke, Chief Technology and Innovation Strategist at Dell Technologies. In the Gamers Change Lives podcast, host Tom Leonard and Danielle Rourke, Chief Technology and Innovation Strategist for Higher Educat...

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July 8, 2023

Startups, AI, and Health Data Integration into Gaming

Today’s guest is Today’s guest is Hendrikje Wagner, Founder HypeRate.io. Welcome to The Gamers Change Lives Podcast, where Tom Leonard explores the integration of health data in gaming with Hendrikje Wagner from Hype Rate. They discuss Hype Rate's in...

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July 1, 2023

Beyond Sponsorship: Strategies for Non-Profit Esports Funding

Today’s guest is Eliot J. Oreskovic. He is the Executive Co-Director of the United States Esports Association and an esports consultant. In this episode of The Gamers Change Lives Podcast, Tom Leonard interviews Elliot Oreskovic, the executive co-dir...

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June 24, 2023

Empowering Youth: Esports’ Impact on STEM Education

Today’s guest is Jadesola Adedeji Co-Founder of STEM METS in Lagos, Nigeria, who prides herself on being a life-long learner. In this episode of "The Gamers Change Lives Podcast," Jadesola Adedeji, co-founder of STEM-METS, discusses her journey and t...

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June 17, 2023

Art Direction, AI, and Diversity in Games: A Game Developer’s Insights

Today’s guest is Inka McAtee from Germany. She founded KnotHorn Studio where she works as CEO and Art Director for the independent company. Since October 2021, INKA has been the Project Lead of Amazon UNIVERSITY Esports Germany. In this podcast …

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June 10, 2023

Esports and Games in Puerto Rico & the Power of Mythology

Today’s guest is Shirley McPhaul from Puerto Rico. She is a speaker, researcher & educator in Web3 & Video Games. In this podcast conversation, host Tom Leonard speaks with Shirley McPhaul about the growth of the esports industry in Puerto …

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June 3, 2023

How Simple Solutions Can Create Job Opportunities

In this podcast conversation, Tom Leonard interviews Amir Satvat, the head of Global Startup Operations at AWS, covering topics related to e-sports, gaming, community building, and content creation on LinkedIn. Amir shares his passion for gaming, par...

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May 27, 2023

Training for an Esports Future

Today’s guests are Nik Turner - consultant and lecturer in Esports & Education at Queen Mary’s College in the UK – and the founders of CTRL Esports: COO George Lewin, CMO Harry Lunn, CDO Ben Gregg, and CEO William Holman. …

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May 20, 2023

Unconventional Journeys and the Power of Determination

Today’s guest is Chris Tran, a SEA Esports and Gaming Expert with experience working at the top levels of one of the largest gaming esports organizations: RIOT Games. In this podcast conversation, Tom Leonard interviews Chris Tran, an expert in …

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May 13, 2023

Bridging the Gap Between Esports and Non-Profits

Today’s guest is Marc Almanzor, Senior Manager of Gift Processing at MÉDECINS SANS FRONTIÈRES (MSF). Marc is the owner of Make Gaming About Fundraising. He is also a broadcaster on Twitch.TV. In this podcast conversation, Tom Leonard interviews Marc ...

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May 6, 2023

The Playbook for Running a Winning Esports Organization

Grant Rousseau, the Global Director of Esports and European Director of Operations for Team Falcons, the biggest esports organization in the Middle East, recently appeared on the Gamer’s Change Lives podcast with host Tom Leonard. During the conversa...

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April 29, 2023

The Role of International Esports Organizations

Today’s guest is Boban Totovski, the Secretary General of the International Esports Federation. Our conversation includes talking about the role of International Organizations such as the International Esports Federation. How do they: Encourage devel...

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April 22, 2023

Transforming Education Through Esports

In today’s episode we talk with Gerald Solomon, the Executive Director of the North America Scholastic Esports Federation (NASEF) and founder of the Orange County High School Esports League. Gerald shares how he was inspired to use esports as a …

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April 15, 2023

Esports and the Law

Welcome to Season 3 of the Gamers Change Lives Podcast: Building a Business, Esports 101. In Season One we talked about jobs. In Season Two we talked about sources of funding for esports ‘Follow the Money’. And now in Season …

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April 8, 2023

Leading a Strong Esports Team: Lessons from West Point

This podcast is an not a government production. The views expressed do not reflect the official policy or position of the United States Military Academy, United States Army, Department of Defense or the US Government. Today’s guest is Victor Castro, …

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April 4, 2023

Season 3 Introduction: Building a Thriving Esports Business

Welcome to Season 3 of the Gamers Change Lives Podcast: Building a Business, Esports 101. In Season One we talked about jobs. In Season Two we talked about sources of funding for esports ‘Follow the Money’. And now in Season …

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