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Episodes

Unlock Learning: Gaming is the Secret Weapon for Students
10
Nov. 22, 2025

Unlock Learning: Gaming is the Secret Weapon for Students

Season 6: New Voices, New Perspectives Over the past five seasons of The Gamers Change Lives Podcast, we’ve shared the stories of over 100 guests from across the globe, each one showcasing how esports is transforming lives by creating new jobs and opportunities. From entrepreneurs to players, to industry leaders, we've seen firsthand how gaming is more than just a pastime, it’s a powerful force for change. In Season 6, we’re doing something exciting: we’re handing over the mic to a diverse group...
Uplifting Voices: Diversity, Representation and Resilience in Gaming
4
Nov. 15, 2025

Uplifting Voices: Diversity, Representation and Resilience in Gaming

Season 6: New Voices, New Perspectives Over the past five seasons of The Gamers Change Lives Podcast, we’ve shared the stories of over 100 guests from across the globe, each one showcasing how esports is transforming lives by creating new jobs and opportunities. From entrepreneurs to players, to industry leaders, we've seen firsthand how gaming is more than just a pastime, it’s a powerful force for change. In Season 6, we’re doing something exciting: we’re handing over the mic to a diverse group...
From Player to Pioneer: Michael Rüsz's Two-Decade Esports Journey
8
Nov. 8, 2025

From Player to Pioneer: Michael Rüsz's Two-Decade Esports Journey

Over the past five seasons of The Gamers Change Lives Podcast, we’ve shared the stories of over 100 guests from across the globe, each one showcasing how esports is transforming lives by creating new jobs and opportunities. From entrepreneurs to players, to industry leaders, we've seen firsthand how gaming is more than just a pastime, it’s a powerful force for change. In Season 6, we’re doing something exciting: we’re handing over the mic to a diverse group of guest hosts. Each of these hosts wi...
Learning Through Play: How Esports is Changing Education
7
Nov. 1, 2025

Learning Through Play: How Esports is Changing Education

Over the past five seasons of The Gamers Change Lives Podcast, we’ve shared the stories of over 100 guests from across the globe, each one showcasing how esports is transforming lives by creating new jobs and opportunities. From entrepreneurs to players, to industry leaders, we've seen firsthand how gaming is more than just a pastime, it’s a powerful force for change. In Season 6, we’re doing something exciting: we’re handing over the mic to a diverse group of guest hosts. Each of these hosts wi...
Beyond the Hype: How One Shoutcaster Found His Voice in Esports
6
July 5, 2025

Beyond the Hype: How One Shoutcaster Found His Voice in Esports

Over the past five seasons of The Gamers Change Lives Podcast, we’ve shared the stories of over 100 guests from across the globe, each one showcasing how esports is transforming lives by creating new jobs and opportunities. From entrepreneurs to players, to industry leaders, we've seen firsthand how gaming is more than just a pastime, it’s a powerful force for change. In Season 6, we’re doing something exciting: we’re handing over the mic to a diverse group of guest hosts. Each of these hosts wi...
Code, Community and Mentorship: Women Leading Africa’s Game Development
5
June 28, 2025

Code, Community and Mentorship: Women Leading Africa’s Game Development

Over the past five seasons of The Gamers Change Lives Podcast, we’ve shared the stories of over 100 guests from across the globe, each one showcasing how esports is transforming lives by creating new jobs and opportunities. From entrepreneurs to players, to industry leaders, we've seen firsthand how gaming is more than just a pastime, it’s a powerful force for change. In Season 6, we’re doing something exciting: we’re handing over the mic to a diverse group of guest hosts. Each of these hosts wi...
Beyond the Game: Building Community and Developing Talent in Esports
4
June 21, 2025

Beyond the Game: Building Community and Developing Talent in Esports

Season 6: New Voices, New Perspectives Over the past five seasons of The Gamers Change Lives Podcast, we’ve shared the stories of over 100 guests from across the globe, each one showcasing how esports is transforming lives by creating new jobs and opportunities. From entrepreneurs to players, to industry leaders, we've seen firsthand how gaming is more than just a pastime, it’s a powerful force for change. In Season 6, we’re doing something exciting: we’re handing over the mic to a diverse group...
The Intersection of Esports and Game Development
3
June 14, 2025

The Intersection of Esports and Game Development

Over the past five seasons of The Gamers Change Lives Podcast, we’ve shared the stories of over 100 guests from across the globe, each one showcasing how esports is transforming lives by creating new jobs and opportunities. From entrepreneurs to players, to industry leaders, we've seen firsthand how gaming is more than just a pastime, it’s a powerful force for change. In Season 6, we’re doing something exciting: we’re handing over the mic to a diverse group of guest hosts. Each of these hosts wi...
The Power of Tournament Organizers in African Esports
2
June 7, 2025

The Power of Tournament Organizers in African Esports

Season 6: New Voices, New Perspectives Episode 2: The Power of Tournament Organizers in African Esports Over the past five seasons of The Gamers Change Lives Podcast, we’ve shared the stories of over 100 guests from across the globe, each one showcasing how esports is transforming lives by creating new jobs and opportunities. From entrepreneurs to players, to industry leaders, we've seen firsthand how gaming is more than just a pastime, it’s a powerful force for change. In Season 6, we’re doing ...
Building Africa’s esports Future: A Conversation with Désiré Koussawo
1
May 31, 2025

Building Africa’s esports Future: A Conversation with Désiré Koussawo

Over the past five seasons of The Gamers Change Lives Podcast, we’ve shared the stories of over 100 guests from across the globe, each one showcasing how esports is transforming lives by creating new jobs and opportunities. From entrepreneurs to players, to industry leaders, we've seen firsthand how gaming is more than just a pastime, it’s a powerful force for change. In Season 6, we’re doing something exciting: we’re handing over the mic to a diverse group of guest hosts. Each of these hosts wi...
Mettlestate: Forging the Future of South African Esports
32
Feb. 15, 2025

Mettlestate: Forging the Future of South African Esports

Summary In this final episode of Season 5 the Gamers Change Lives podcast, host Tom Leonard speaks with Barry Louzada and Carly Twaddle from South Africa about their gaming journeys, the evolution of e-sports in the region, the challenges faced in gaming infrastructure, and the growing presence of women in e-sports. They discuss the importance of community, job creation in the gaming industry, and the hiring process for gaming-related positions. The conversation highlights the positive changes ...
Game Changers: African Women Making a Difference in Esports
31
Dec. 14, 2024

Game Changers: African Women Making a Difference in Esports

Summary In this episode of the Gamers Change Lives podcast, host Tom Leonard engages with two women from Africa, Bambina and Dabi, to discuss their experiences in the eSports industry. They share their personal journeys into gaming, the challenges and opportunities they have encountered, and the importance of female representation in the gaming community. The conversation highlights the various roles available in eSports beyond just playing, the significance of networking, and the impact of init...
Hiring to Build An Esports Empire in Saudi Arabia
30
Nov. 30, 2024

Hiring to Build An Esports Empire in Saudi Arabia

Summary In this episode of the Gamers Change Lives podcast, host Tom Leonard speaks with Sultan and Nestor from Saudi Arabia about their journeys in the gaming and eSports industry. They discuss the rapid growth of eSports in Saudi Arabia, the establishment of Levels Gaming Group, and the importance of networking in securing jobs in the industry. Sultan shares insights on the hiring process and the qualities they look for in potential employees, emphasizing the significance of chemistry and cult...
Esports Without Borders: Landing Global Roles With Experts Tips and Coaching
29
Nov. 23, 2024

Esports Without Borders: Landing Global Roles With Experts Tips and Coaching

Summary In this episode of the Gamers Change Lives podcast, host Tom Leonard engages with guests Adam Hobbs and Jihyeok Choi to explore the evolving landscape of the eSports job market. They discuss personal journeys into the gaming industry, the importance of career development and education in eSports, and the challenges and strategies involved in seeking international opportunities. The conversation highlights the competitive nature of the industry and the significance of networking and build...
Shout and Connect: How Esports Shoutcasters Land Their Big Break
28
Nov. 16, 2024

Shout and Connect: How Esports Shoutcasters Land Their Big Break

In this episode of the Gamers Change Lives podcast, host Tom Leonard delves into the vibrant world of esports shoutcasting in Africa with three dynamic guests: Alex ‘Slymorh’ Boateng, a renowned Ghanaian esports shoutcaster; Elijah ‘Kal’ Jefia, an esports caster and analyst from Ace Gamers; and Calebson Agbenyega, the founder and CEO of Ace Gamers Esports Ghana. The discussion covers their personal journeys into esports, the challenges they’ve overcome, and their breakthrough moments. Calebson s...
The Hunt for Talent: How Can Networking Land You a Job in Esports
27
Nov. 9, 2024

The Hunt for Talent: How Can Networking Land You a Job in Esports

Summary In this episode of the Gamers Change Lives podcast, host Tom Leonard speaks with Ben Finnegan and Emma O'Neill from Phoenix Group about their personal journeys into the gaming industry, the evolution of their agency, and the importance of networking and diversity in eSports. They discuss their current roles, the significance of real-world experience in hiring, and how self-promotion can lead to career opportunities in the gaming sector. In this conversation, Ben Finnegan and Emma O'Neill...
The Hunt for Talent: What Do Game Recruiters Look for in a Developer?
26
Nov. 2, 2024

The Hunt for Talent: What Do Game Recruiters Look for in a Developer?

Summary In this episode of the Gamers Change Lives podcast, host Tom Leonard dives into e-sports and game development careers with Darren Butler , a gaming recruiter, and Oliver Collier , a gameplay programmer at Endreams. They explore their unique journeys into the gaming industry, covering what recruiters seek in developer candidates, the importance of research, and how networking can pave the way to success. The conversation also touches on the shift toward hybrid and remote work models and t...
Hunt for Esports Talent: Perspectives from a Recruiter, Copywriter,and Intern
2
Oct. 26, 2024

Hunt for Esports Talent: Perspectives from a Recruiter, Copywriter,and Intern

Summary In this episode of the Gamers Change Lives podcast, host Tom Leonard engages with guests Sheila Cruz, Jem Sagcal, and Yen ( Adrienne Moya ) from Tier 1 Entertainment to discuss the evolving landscape of eSports and job creation within the industry. Shiela is the people operations director, Jem is the senior marketing writer and Yen is a marketing intern all at Tier One Entertainment. They share personal gaming stories, insights into their roles, and eSports hiring and job creation proces...
The Hunt for Talent: How Do Esports Coaches Recruit Top Players?
1
Oct. 19, 2024

The Hunt for Talent: How Do Esports Coaches Recruit Top Players?

Summary In this episode of the Gamers Change Lives podcast, host Tom Leonard interviews Marlon Melo from Team Secret in Brazil and Adrian from the UK. They discuss their journeys in esports and their current roles in the industry. Marlon is the head coach and team manager for Team Secret's Rainbow Six Siege project, while Adrian is a player on the team. They talk about the responsibilities of their roles, the difference between a manager and a coach, and the qualities they look for in players. T...
Innovating for Change: The Story of Mountain Hub in Cameroon
8
March 30, 2024

Innovating for Change: The Story of Mountain Hub in Cameroon

In this episode of the Gamers Change Lives podcast, host Tom Leonard interviews Martin Elonge, the director of Mountain Hub, a startup accelerator in Cameroon. They discuss the mission and programs of Mountain Hub, including ecosystem building, capac...
From Theory to Practice: Impact of Simulation Training for Immigrant Founders
11
March 23, 2024

From Theory to Practice: Impact of Simulation Training for Immigrant Founders

In this episode, Tom Leonard interviews Mai Phan, the founder of Propel, a startup that builds job simulations to better train nurses. Mai shares her journey from Vietnam to Norway and explains how she started Propel. She discusses the challenges nur...
The Business of Esports: Recruitment and Market Growth in the Gaming Industry
8
March 16, 2024

The Business of Esports: Recruitment and Market Growth in the Gaming Industry

In this episode, host Tom Leonard interviews Mirko Minenza, the Business Strategy Manager at Antal and a gaming enthusiast. They discuss Mirko's background in gaming and his journey into the gaming industry. They also explore the challenges and oppor...
Venture Building in African Markets: Insights on Building Sustainable Businesses
7
March 9, 2024

Venture Building in African Markets: Insights on Building Sustainable Businesses

In this episode, host Tom Leonard interviews Daniel Kwaku Merki, the founder of Boxplay Ventures, a venture builder and startup consultant in Africa. They discuss the role of Boxplay Ventures in supporting early-stage financing for startups and SMEs,...
From the Classroom to the Real World: The Role of Universities in Accelerating Entrepreneurship
8
March 2, 2024

From the Classroom to the Real World: The Role of Universities in Accelerating Entrepreneurship

In this episode of the Gamers Change Lives podcast, host Tom Leonard interviews Andreas Johansson, CEO of SSE Business Lab, a startup incubator, and accelerator based in Stockholm. They discuss the difference between incubators and accelerators, the ...