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 of guest hosts. Each of these hosts will bring their own unique perspective and tell stories from their personal worlds, offering fresh insights into how esports is creating jobs, changing lives, and shaping the future of work in ways we might not have imagined.

This season is all about exploring new angles, broadening our reach, and bringing more voices into the conversation. Get ready for stories that are different, yet aligned with our core message: Play Games, Create Jobs, Change Lives!

Guest host: Calino Calebson, CEO of Ace Gamers Esports in Ghana.

Meet Caleb Agbenyega, he is our first guest host of the Gamers Change Lives podcast, who also goes by his media personality name ‘Calino Calebson’,  and is from Ghana. He is the CEO and founder of Ace Gamers Esports and the president of the Africa Champions League.

We were fortunate to have him as a guest in Season 5, and soon realized he has more stories to tell. We are very excited to have him on board.

Season 6, Episode 8

Summary

In this conversation, Annabel, the founder of Melanin Gamers, discusses her journey in the gaming industry, the importance of diversity and inclusion, and the challenges faced by gamers of color. She shares insights on the impact of gaming on her life, particularly in relation to her health condition, sickle cell anemia. Annabel emphasizes the need for authentic representation in games and the role of networking in building a successful career in the gaming industry. The discussion also touches on the importance of advocacy, community building, and the challenges of cyberbullying in gaming.

Takeaways

• Melanin Gamers aims to uplift people of color in the gaming industry.
• Gaming can provide a sense of community and belonging.
• Authentic representation in games is crucial for relatability.
• Networking is essential for success in the gaming industry.
• Sickle cell awareness can be raised through gaming initiatives.
• The gaming industry has a perception problem that needs addressing.
• Consulting for game studios helps improve diversity in character representation.
• Esports can provide viable career paths for young gamers.
• Introverts can thrive in networking by preparing and being intentional.
• Gaming can be a powerful tool for advocacy and awareness.

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Featured in this episode:

Anabel Ashalley-Anthony

Founder at Melanin Gamers | Award Winning Writer | Sickle-cell Superhero | D&I Consultant| Public Speaker

Annabel Ashalley-Anthony is an award-winning writer. Her novel ‘A Thousand natural shocks’ was Long-listed for the Lucy Cavendish Prize 2020. She is currently working on - a manga inspired children's book about a young boy with Sickle-cell Anaemia.

Annabel is a Women in Games Ambassador and the founder of award-winning gaming community: Melanin Gamers, a gaming community that promotes inclusion and diversity in the video games industry. Melanin Gamers were the recipients of Barnet's Big Idea Entrepreneurial prize 2020.

Alongside her passion for writing and gaming; she is also an avid fundraiser and regularly works with the Bloodfund an Imperial Health Charity to raise awareness and funds for Sickle-Cell Anaemia.

Featured in BBC Xtra Radio, Newsround. The Voice. Gamesindustry.biz. Middlesex University Press. teneightymagazine.com.

Public speaker and advocate for diversity and Inclusion.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annabel-ashalley-anthony-276947183/

Website: https://www.themelaningamers.com/  

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PRODUCTION:

Creator and host: Tom Leonard (USA) - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomeleonard/

Executive Producer: Reginald Nsowah (Ghana) - https://www.linkedin.com/in/reginald-nsowah-09352929/

ABOUT THE SHOW:

Play Games. Create Jobs. Change Lives.

This is a show about how to build an esports business from literally anywhere in the world where each week we showcase the journey of esports entrepreneurs and others to learn how they solved a particular problem that everyone will ultimately face.

Thanks for listening to The Gamers Change Lives Podcast!