Best Espn Esports Podcasts (2024)

1
Is Valve ruining Counter-Strike? Exposing Conflicts of Interest (ft messioso) 2:50:06

26d ago2:50:06

2:50:06

Richard Lewis, Thorin, and MonteCristo are joined by Graham "messioso" Pitt, currently the GM for Complexity CS, to discuss upcoming changes being made by Valve to professional Counter-Strike. Main topics include Team Falcons and Saudi conflicts of interest, difficulties that teams are facing with securing visas, teams' perspectives on the upcoming…

1
The Sad Truth of Esports Journalism / Why ESPN Esports Failed (ft Kevin Hitt) 3:13:27

2M ago3:13:27

3:13:27

Richard Lewis, Thorin, and MonteCristo are joined by journalist Kevin Hitt to discuss the state of esports journalism. Topics include the history of esports journalism, recent involvement from Saudi Arabia especially in relation to Rolling Stone and the Esports Awards, the reasons why ESPN Esports failed, how the recent Dr. Disrespect scandal was h…

1
How esports sold out | Saudi money floods the industry 3:31:11

3M ago3:31:11

3:31:11

Pride month has begun and so has the corporate hypocrisy in the esports industry as Saudi money continues to increase its control over the industry with the imminent arrival of the Esports World Cup. Andrew "Zyori" Campbell, former DotA caster and esports personality, joins to discuss the corporate virtue signaling, the increasing level of sportswa…

1
Riot Vanguard Disaster - Is a Kernel-Level Anti-Cheat safe? (ft Yasukeh) 2:08:29

4M ago2:08:29

2:08:29

Richard Lewis, Thorin, and MonteCristo are joined by retired former Challenger player Yasukeh to discuss Riot Vanguard: Riot Games's anti-cheat used for VALORANT, League of Legends, and Teamfight Tactics. Further topics include the intrusiveness levels of kernel-level anti-cheat systems, Riot's claims on why Vanguard is needed, Reddit Moderators de…

1
The EG Files Part 2: In the Trenches at EG ft. Phillip Aram 3:11:53

5M ago3:11:53

3:11:53

Richard Lewis, Thorin, MonteCristo, and guest Phillip Aram continue the mini-series "The EG Files" by discussing Phillip's history with Evil Geniuses, the successes and struggles of their iconic DOTA team, the effects of the org splitting from Twitch and Amazon, difficulty in gaining sponsors and investment, the reasons why Peak6 was eventually cho…

1
The EG Files Part 1: Evil Origins and the Rise of Alex Garfield 2:38:11

6M ago2:38:11

2:38:11

Richard Lewis, Thorin, and MonteCristo begin the mini-series "The EG Files" by discussing how Evil Geniuses was formed, the team's time in Quake, Starcraft 2, and early Counter-Strike, Alex Garfield's cut-throat rise in power, EG's spike in popularity with signing players like HuK & IdrA, their handling of media, their Twitch era, and more. Learn m…

1
Esports Winter RAGES ON | A storm of stickers and Saudis (ft Tomi) 3:10:12

7M ago3:10:12

3:10:12

We check in with Tomi "Lurppis" Kovanen on the status of "esports winter" as we head into the second year of budget cuts, layoffs, lack of sponsorship interest, and more. The Horsemen discuss the changes in the landscape, particularly the money flowing in from the Saudi government through ESL FACEIT Group and the surprising sticker returns from the…

1
OpTic SUES Activision / H3CZ and Scump's industry-changing gamble (ft. Harris Peskin) 2:29:17

7M ago2:29:17

2:29:17

Richard Lewis, Thorin, and MonteCristo are joined by Harris Peskin of ESG Law to discuss the lawsuit filed by H3CZ and Scump against Activision-Blizzard and their alleged monopoly of Call of Duty Competition. The discussion also delves into the past and potential future of organized esports competition, the monumental impact this case could make on…

1
MASS LAYOFFS at Riot Games and Activision Blizzard (ft. Foxdrop) 4:01:57

8M ago4:01:57

4:01:57

Richard Lewis, Thorin, and MonteCristo are joined by Dan "Foxdrop" Wyatt to discuss the mass layoffs at Riot Games & Activision Blizzard, the layoffs' effects on the LEC as a product, experiences working with people at Riot and Activision Blizzard, and the bleak future of working in the esports industry. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podc…

1
How Gaming Can Effectively Address Diversity & Inclusion 1:02:35

9M ago1:02:35

1:02:35

Gaming has long grappled with challenges related to diversity and inclusion. From the high-profile lawsuit targeting Activision Blizzard, the publisher behind World of Warcraft and Call of Duty, for gender discrimination, to a recent incident involving a colorist joke by OfflineTV co-founder William "Scarra" Li, the industry has shown a lack of inc…

1
The Indie Game Developer That Raised $1 Million in One Month 1:00:25

9M ago1:00:25

1:00:25

Dan Fornace is the creator and developer of Rivals of Aether and its forthcoming sequel Rivals 2. In mid-November, Fornace and the Rivals team launched a Kickstarter to help fund further development on Rivals 2. The Kickstarter received public support from some of the largest influencers in the Super Smash Bros. community, including streamer Ludwig…

1
How Music Enriches the Emotional Experience of Gaming 1:04:18

10M ago1:04:18

1:04:18

Ever reached a game level that stirred intense emotions? Odds are, music played a pivotal role. Join content creator Marco "MarcoMeatball" Cammarota, a former opera singer, as he talks with Jacob to explore the profound impact of music and scoring on the gaming experience. Dive into a conversation about iconic musical moments in gaming history, spa…

1
From Fortnite To Baldur's Gate in Less Than an Hour With Lightforge 1:17:41

10M ago1:17:41

1:17:41

It's been a busy year for gaming, as the billion dollar industry's undergone transformative mergers and acquisitions and unnerving scandals. You've seen the stories and the reports, but how does someone on the inside see these changes? In the latest episode of Visionaries, Lightforge Games co-founder and CEO Matt Schembari breaks down the intricate…

1
ABANDONING LCS: Evil Geniuses and Golden Guardians leave LoL (feat. Danan) 2:34:19

10M ago2:34:19

2:34:19

Evil Geniuses and Golden Guardians have suddenly left the LCS, League of Legends' North American professional league, leaving only 8 team remaining out of the original 10 franchise slots. Former GM of Golden Guardians and long-time esports manager Danan Flander joins the Horsemen to discuss how we arrived at this moment and what it means in the bro…

1
The CEO that Saved Europe’s Biggest Esports Team 1:06:02

11M ago1:06:02

1:06:02

Alban Dechelotte became Chief Executive Officer of G2 Esports in a critical moment of the organization's history after the controversial resignation of G2 Founder, Carlos 'ocelote' Rodriguez. Less than a year later, he joins Jacob on Visionaries to dive into G2's past problems and future obstacles. Explore G2 Esports' evolution from an up and comin…

1
How Marvel Went from Zero to Hero with the MCU 1:10:19

12M ago1:10:19

1:10:19

Get ready for a Marvel-ous treat with the latest episode of Visionaries! Joanna Robinson, the co-author of the upcoming book "MCU: The Reign of Marvel Studios" joins Jacob Wolf to discuss the creation of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and its profound impact on the entertainment industry. Diving into the unique challenge of crafting an ending for a …

1
Shopify’s Esports Playbook: Innovating in Heavy Turbulence 1:09:06

12M ago1:09:06

1:09:06

On September 20, the LCS waved goodbye to TSM, once the most popular name in the North American league, and rolled out the welcome mat for Shopify Rebellion. This unexpected move had everyone buzzing: What's Shopify Rebellion's game plan? Dario "TLO" Wünsch, ex-StarCraft pro turned esports leader at Shopify, joined Jacob this week to discuss how th…

1
Patreon Exclusive 9/20: The ‘Esports Reckoning’ 19:57

12M ago19:57

19:57

Listen to the full episode by subscribing to the Jacob Wolf & Mikhail Klimentov Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/JacobWolfMikhailKlimentov In our first Patreon exclusive episode, Jacob is joined by former Riot Games and Loaded executive Avi Bhuiyan and attorney Bryce Blum to discuss their new set of essays entitled, "The Esports Reckoning." Long-ti…

1
Fatherhood's Mark on GrandPooBear's Approach to Creating Content 53:13

1y ago53:13

53:13

David "GrandPooBear" Hunt is one of Twitch's fastest-growing stars, but he is, by no means, new to the art of content creation. After a snowboarding accident left him severely injured in early 2013, GrandPooBear found a new way to compete: Speedrunning — the art of competing for the fastest completion time in a certain game. In his time as a speedr…

1
Why Two Riot Games Alums are Straying Away from Competitive Games 1:03:22

1y ago1:03:22

1:03:22

After a combined span of 13 years at Riot Games, the developer of League of Legends, Andrea Sepenzis and Michael Chu have embarked on a new venture: Codename Islands. Taking inspiration from games like Minecraft, Roblox, and other cooperative multiplayer titles, the duo is deliberately veering from their origins of crafting competitive, player-vers…

1
A ‘Fallout’ and ‘Skyrim’ Dev’s Journey of Entrepreneurship and Mental Health 1:25:30

1y ago1:25:30

1:25:30

'Visionaries' is back and Prem and Jacob are joined by Jeff Gardiner, an award-winning game developer who worked on some of gaming's highest-grossing titles, including Fallout 3, Fallout 4, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and Fallout 76. Jeff is now on a new journey: Building a game studio and learning how to transition from full-time game development …

1
We're Moving to Patreon! 45:56

1y ago45:56

45:56

We have some exciting news! We're moving to Patreon. Starting Monday, August 14, you can find new content from Jacob Wolf and Mikhail Klimentov, the former editor of The Washington Post's Launcher video game vertical, on our new Patreon. Subscribe today to get exclusive content from The Jacob Wolf Report, ReaderGrev and the 'Visionaires' podcast. S…

1
Taylor Lorenz on the Difficulty of Online Harassment 1:06:26

1y ago1:06:26

1:06:26

If you've spent any time on the Internet, chances are, you know who Taylor Lorenz is. The blogger turned New York Times and later Washington Post reporter is arguably the most relevant journalist on the Internet — sometimes for better or worst. A fascination of the American MAGA conservative movement, Lorenz's reporting and her bombastic personalit…

1
How Game Publishers are Addressing Extremism 59:00

1y ago59:00

59:00

As the social Internet begins to fracture, gaming faces a pressing new challenge: the emergence of extremist havens within some of its communities. From Discord to Roblox, even the most beloved games and apps must now forge innovative systems to confront this growing risk. Join Jacob in an insightful conversation with Stanley Pierre-Louis, the head…

1
END of the Overwatch League? / Teams paid $6m to LEAVE (feat. Harsha) 2:41:09

1y ago2:41:09

2:41:09

The Overwatch League suffered another wave of layoffs this week and news broke that Activision-Blizzard will pay teams $6 million to abandon their franchise slots at the end of the current season. It appears that the era of the Overwatch League has ended, so Harsha Bandi, former professional coach for the San Francisco Shock, Vancouver Titans, and …

1
Motion City Soundtrack, Mental Health, and Rock'n'Roll 1:54:47

1y ago1:54:47

1:54:47

The founding members of pop punk band Motion City Soundtrack, Justin Courtney Pierre and Joshua Cain, open up about their careers and how addiction, grief, and mental health shaped their journeys both in music and life. Reflecting on the power of music as a tool for healing and self-discovery, the band’s members share an insightful look at how thei…

1
War Games and the Harsh Realities of Warfare 1:01:05

1y ago1:01:05

1:01:05

War games have revolutionized the gaming industry, captivating millions with their immersive experiences. But have you ever wondered about the real-life consequences and their portrayal of warfare? John Phipps, a U.S. Marine Corps and Iraq War veteran and host of the Super Deluxe GamesCast, joins Jacob on the pod to discuss Six Days in Fallujah, a …

1
Unraveling the Threads: Reddit's Descent into Chaos 1:04:05

1y ago1:04:05

1:04:05

In a hunt for profitability, Reddit's begun limiting access to its API behind a paywall, functionally killing extremely popular third-party apps like Apollo and Infinity. The policy change's started an entire revolt, with volunteer moderators on the site taking some of their subreddits private, ensnaring the website in a battle between its administ…

1
Why Starfield’s Success is a Do-or-Die Scenario for Xbox 1:03:57

1+ y ago1:03:57

1:03:57

Fresh from Summer Games Fest, Jacob and Prem handpick their top three thrilling game announcements and delve into the whirlwind of Xbox's extravagant marketing campaign for Starfield, which is fueling astronomical expectations. Will Xbox finally deliver a groundbreaking title following its acquisition of Bethesda Softworks, the creators of blockbus…

1
How Twitch is Losing its Way 1:54:43

1+ y ago1:54:43

1:54:43

On Tuesday, Amazon-owned livestreaming platform Twitch announced controversial new advertising changes, severely prohibiting streamers from the ways they can promote sponsors. The change would affect nearly all of Twitch's top earners. The platform walked it back on Wednesday after much backlash, but there's still some concern the same rules will b…

1
The Impending Existential Crisis of North American Esports 1:04:27

1+ y ago1:04:27

1:04:27

The League of Legends North American esports scene braces for what could be a full-scale crisis. The financial problems in the scene kicked off a chain reaction that is leading the sector towards a downward spiral. Is there a way to avoid it? The New York Times' reporter Kellen Browning joins Jacob Wolf on ‘Visionaries’ to discuss the current chall…

1
Will Riot KILL the LCS by removing the path to pro? (feat. Phillip Aram) 3:03:33

1+ y ago3:03:33

3:03:33

Riot has eliminated the requirement for the North American LCS teams to field amateur rosters, which left many questioning the future development of talent in the region. LCS Players' Association leader Phillip Aram joins the horsemen to discuss the group's demands to Riot and the possibility of a player walk-out at the start of the Summer Split. T…

1
Inside the Writer’s Strike Shaking Up Hollywood 55:15

1+ y ago55:15

55:15

For the past few weeks, one of Hollywood's biggest unions, the Writers Guild of America, has been on strike, disrupting the TV and film industries in mass. Late night programs on CBS, ABC, NBC and HBO all halted production and other shows, like "Abbott Elementary" and "Stranger Things," have also been affected. Comedian, actor, former YouTuber and …

1
The 'Tears of the Kingdom' Kotaku Controversy & Jacob's Contentious Substack Article 59:59

1+ y ago59:59

59:59

Kotaku is in hot water with gamers after first discussing why the publication didn't receive a review code for 'The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom' and then reporting on leaks of that game ahead of its Friday release. Host Jacob Wolf and producer Prem Thottumkara discuss why the narrative against the publication is wrong. They also dive into…

1
Troubles at the LAST CS:GO Major / Putting BLAST on blast? (feat. kassad) 2:30:34

1+ y ago2:30:34

2:30:34

Aleksandar "kassad" Trifunović, professional Counter-Strike coach and analyst, joins the Horsemen to discuss the issues with the talent announcement and the lead-up to the final CS:GO Major hosted by BLAST. They discuss the competitive integrity issues that plagues the qualifying RMRs, the lack of key historic talent at the event to close out the G…

1
Best Of: Anthony Fantano 53:44

1+ y ago53:44

53:44

Known as the "Internet's busiest music nerd", Anthony Fantano, aka The Needle Drop, is the web's most popular music critic. His takes on Kendrick Lamar, Frank Ocean, and Kanye West have garnered him hundreds of millions of views, and in 2020, The New York Times called him, "The Only Music Critic Who Matters (if You’re Under 25)." Recently, he got i…

1
Why the U.K. is Blocking Gaming's Biggest Deal Ever 1:03:51

1+ y ago1:03:51

1:03:51

On April 26, the United Kingdom's Competition and Markets Authority announced its intent to block the $68.7 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard by Microsoft, the largest merger and acquisition deal ever in gaming. The regulating body argues that with franchises like Call of Duty in tow, Microsoft will take over the small-but-growing cloud ga…

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