Teaching kids pro gaming skills go far beyond learning how to be great at gaming. In today’s episode of The DLC Drop Podcast, John Davidson is joined by Jay Melamed, CEO of XP League to discuss how many different ways kids can benefit from getting involved in the world of gaming and joining teams. XP League is the first Positive Coaching Alliance (…

The argument between the music industry and the internet about music's democratization has existed since the internet's very first steps. On one side is the music industry, which historically owned the means of production and distribution; on the other, creators, startups, and the general public. Our guest, Paul Sampson, a crusade for democratizing…

Investing in disruptive ideas is betting on massively changing people's lives and how they see and interact with the world or revolutionizing an entire industry. Yet identifying a disruptive idea's potential can be tricky. After over two decades as a sports tech venture capitalist, Wayne Kimmel has a clear idea of how to spot ideas that might creat…

There aren’t many who can not only make a career out of what they love but also be at the absolute top of their game by doing what they love. Michael ‘Flamesword’ Chaves is one of those people, and he joins John Davidson in this episode of the DLC Drop Podcast to discuss his journey from wanting to go pro in Halo, to entering himself in some of the…

Ryan Clements has taken his love of skateboarding to not just one, but two companies. In this episode of the DLC Drop Podcast Ryan joins John to talk about his journey from owning his own lawn care company, to becoming the GM of Skatepark of Tampa. After building an incredible reputation in skateboarding competitions, Ryan co-founded SPoT Productio…

We are no longer in a world where we have to justify encouraging our youth to play video games, but even with the evolution of the industry, there is still a long way to go before esports can officially go head-to-head with traditional sports. In this episode of the DLC Drop Podcast, John is joined by Glenn Plat, Co-Director of Esports ta Miami Uni…

How cool would it be to play video games with your pet? The world has been through dramatic changes in the last couple of years, and pets' relationships with their owners are definitely one of them. What if, then, there was a disruptive technology that allowed people to play with their pets on a whole new level? Meet Ben Nichol, Founder and CFO of …

We all know there are a lot of opportunities for brands to get involved in the world of esports and gaming. Often times they miss out on the right opportunities and determine that gaming and esports can’t provide them the ROI that they would like. Tatiana Tacca joins John in this episode of the DLC Drop to discuss how brands can get creative when i…

The world of esports and gaming is expanding at exponential rates, but many are still standing on the sidelines wondering how to best jump in. Todd Harris joins John in this week’s episode of the DLC Drop Podcast to discuss the evolution of his company Skill Shot and the merger with Ghost Gaming to become a one-stop solution for partners wanting to…

Business education allows you to either learn how to make money out of what you love doing or discover that what you love doing, doesn't make any money. In today's episode, Bob Heere joins us to discuss the importance of adding the business component to our passion. Bob is a Professor and Director of Sports Management at the University of North Tex…

Entrepreneurs rely a lot on their gut; sometimes, they decide to follow a hunch, and many of those times, they hit the bullseye. Still, there can't be a better decision than the one based on data. Today's guest, Alex Kerr, has been on both sides of the counter in the agency/brand relationship and came up with a solution for the doubts about how muc…

You can have the best boxing coach to teach you how to throw and dodge punches, the best way to walk the ring, and how to train to avoid gassing out during a fight. Still, until you get hit in the face, there is no way to know how you'll assimilate that punch and react to it. Meet Clinton Sparks, a producer and songwriter, Grammy-nominated, multi-p…

Solving an issue, a community is struggling with is an excellent way of assuring success in that particular space, yet it's not the only way. As long as you get the audience's tone correctly, you can do a great job at entertaining, and you'll still manage to achieve great success. Felix Lahaye joins us today, among many other things, to help us und…

Andy Mendez joins us to talk about the importance of supporting esports at the high school level, how it'll make the process of creating endemic people in the space even smoother, and everything students must know to start an esports club at their high schools. Andy Mendez is the Executive Director of the Illinois High School Esports Association. H…

Today, we have a special episode broadcasting directly from the metaverse with Allison DeLeone and Reid SantaBarbara. Allison is the President and CEO of The Production Network, and Reid is the Co-founder and CEO of Odyssey. Odyssey is a platform created to empower users and brands' presence in the metaverse, design and launch their products, and c…

Bennet Newsome joins us today to talk about esports and gaming formal education, streaming, and how to use business education to make a career out of a passion. Bennet is the Director of Esports Growth & Development at Full Sail University, a Twitch partner passionate about community building and gaming, co-owner of whereisxur.com, and host of XurW…

Son of first-generation immigrants from Nigeria, Jesse Iwuji relied on his grinding and ability to find a solution for every problem to build a prominent future for himself. From competing in Division 1 A College Football to serving in the US Navy, becoming a NASCAR Professional Race Driver, and a multripreneur. Jesse Iwuji is a NASCAR driver and T…

Mike Zweigbaum joins us today to share his experience bringing a successful business model into esports, the secrets of team building, and the perfect blend of passion and business experience that led him to create a successful esports org. Mike is the CEO and Founder of Wisdom, a gaming company that makes it all, from esports production and conten…

Although many specialists believe VR is the future of gaming and esports, the growth we see in this gaming modality looks relatively slow. So, what is missing? What is keeping VR from going mainstream? Today's guest, Jonathan Ovadia, can certainly help us clear this doubt. Jonathan is the CEO and Founder of Aexlab Inc, the studio responsible for cr…

In today's episode, Gabriel Causse joins us to share his unique perspective on partnerships in esports, the differences between creating partnerships in traditional sports and esports, and how traditional sports teams and franchises can engage with gamers. Gabriel Causse is the Manager of Business Operations at Magic Gaming and the first esports Pa…

Henry Burreson joins us today to talk about influencer marketing, podcasting, how to grow an audience organically, and the courage and resources needed to turn a passion into a profitable business. Henry is the Co-host of "Third Party: An Apex Legends Podcast" and Co-founder of Third Party Productions. He is an influencer marketing and multimedia p…

The opportunities seem to be endless when it comes to esports and gaming, however, many of the experiences are still limited to a select few. Enter Martin Byerley, CEO of MountainSideGames, a company that offers comprehensive event and tournament hosting services including a venue, marketing, live broadcasting and video archival, sponsors, and more…

The profound connection between music and video games is undeniable. Whether it is because certain soundtracks are designed to change and adjust to the game's progression or because certain songs create core memories in gamers' minds, at this point, it is possible to state that one couldn't exist without the other. In this episode, Alex Tarrand joi…

In today's episode, Rob Johnson visits us to help us answer perhaps one of the most asked questions in the esports space, how to effectively connect brands with esports fans? Rob is the CEO of Playfly Esports, co-author of "Millennial Reboot," and a passionate marketer who has been solving traditional sports, entertainment, and esports marketing pr…

Chris Ray joins us today to talk about his videographer career, his transition from skate filmer to filmmaker, and his experiences working for Transworld, DC Shoes, and now starting his own company, Motion Clubhouse. Chris Ray is a filmmaker and Co-founder of Motion Clubhouse, a company founded by award-winning creators specializing in all forms of…

The world of esports can still feel like the Wild West, but as fast as it’s moving things are starting to change for the better. In this episode of The Future of Marketing in Esports, Rebecca is joined by Jake Hicks. Jake is a Lawyer and host of the Law of Esports Podcast where they break down the esports scene and legal issues that stem from this …

Joining us today is Alex "Axeltoss" Rodrigues to talk about streaming, education, and the present and future of esports. Alex is an Esports Host/Commentator, a Producer, Advisor, and Player and Community Development Director at Oxygen Esports. Alex is a Texas A&M University graduate who got his Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Journalism. For …

Mark Neifeld joins us today to talk about entrepreneurship, leadership, and how to disrupt an industry by creating a business that provides value for an underserved community. Mark is a creator, a leader, a builder, and the Commissioner and CEO of the Sport Fishing Championship. He developed, created, and produced new customer experiences in sports…

This week, we are joined by Joe Cox to talk about pop culture and marketing, marketing in gaming and esports, and the opportunities for brands in the metaverse. Joe is the Founder and Creator of The Pop-Marketer, host of the Pop-Marketing Podcast, and a lifelong marketer passionate about helping brands incorporate pop culture and use it to connect …

In this episode, we are led by hand behind-the-scenes of marketing and e-commerce by Robert Brink, Director of Digital Marketing & E-commerce, who has been writing copy and creating disruptive content for over 22 years. Robert created and launched digital content and marketing strategies for Paul Rodriguez's Primitive Skateboards and Tony Hawk's Ri…

Joining us today is Ryan Johnson to talk about inclusion, minority representation, HBCUs and brands collaborations, and the multiple opportunities for underrepresented communities in the esports and gaming industry. As the Founder and CEO of Cxmmunity, Ryan focuses on increasing minority representation in esports through STEAM development. Cxmmunit…

This week, we are joined by Justin Varghese to talk about esports, marketing, and partnerships. Justin is in charge of Sales and Marketing Partnerships at Panda. He is an event speaker, esports broadcaster and evangelist, taco aficionado, and a dear friend. He shared a holistic view of the esports ecosystem, developed through his vast experience in…

Cisco Garrido, the Senior Graphic Designer at AOE Creative, is joining us today to talk about resilience, commitment, and following and trusting our passions. Originally from Venezuela, and after his mentor died at a young age, Cisco moved to Panama to avoid the financial and social crisis getting in the way of his progress. His passion for graphic…

Today, we have a very special guest, Jason Norton, Senior Pastor of the King's Trail Cowboy Church. Jason is a former US Army Ranger and SWAT Assistant Team Leader who felt God's voice talking to him in a swamp during a training drill as a Ranger. Throughout our conversation, Jason reveals some of the most demanding training he went through during …

Joining us today to talk about digital marketing, the importance of building an online presence, and new generations and their inherited knowledge of the digital space are Jean Marie Richarson and Ronnie Tullis. Jean Marie is the President and CEO of iFOLIO, and she is a member of the Board of Directors at the Metro Atlanta Chamber. Jean Marie is a…

James Creech joins us today to talk about the growth, evolution, and possibilities of influencer advertising. This marketing tool developed its strength, reach, and effectiveness in the last decade and has become a great asset for the gaming and esports industry. James is the SVP of Influencer Strategy at Brandwatch; he is an Entrepreneur, Startup …

We can learn a lot from today's guest, Karsten Williams, about resiliency, commitment, gratitude, and using past experiences to improve our personal and professional lives. Karsten Williams is a 6 times American Ninja Warrior finalist, Director of Ninja Warrior North Texas, former Alpha Warrior athlete and body transformation specialist. We delve i…

There may still be a few people out there who view gaming in a negative light, but the list of positive outcomes far outweighs the bad in today’s world. In today’s episode of the Future of Marketing in Esports, Rebecca is joined by Peter Young, founder of the Minnesota Esports Club. What started as a student group in a high school, now is helping k…

Sponsoring esports teams remains this kinda undecipherable-but-with great-opportunities-in-it space for many brands. Many brands and agencies would approach it as supporting traditional sports teams, and they might get good results with that strategy. Still, with esports, the story is a bit different. Today, Joe McMahon, Manager of Marketing and Es…

Brad Jakeman joins us today to share his unique perspective on mentorship, recruitment, diversity, digitization of the food industry, and the mindset to build a successful career. Having worked for some of the biggest companies in the world, Brad's main drive (apart from his passion for marketing) was joining teams, not companies, and focusing on w…

As more and more businesses try to find ways to get involved in the world of esports and gaming, it’s crucial they have a place that can help guide them in the right direction and help them make the connections they need. That’s exactly what the Esports Trade Association does by helping those within the industry or looking to get involved, find a w…

Erin Ashley Simon joins us to talk about her career in the esports and gaming space, in the entertainment business, and as an entrepreneur. She is a Gaming & Entertainment Host and co-owner of XSET, but her deep commitment to giving back stands out in her career path. Whether it is signing a contract with a brand, or thinking of projects, Erin has …

Joining us today are Jimmy Baratta and Paul Dawalibi, hosts of the Business of Esports podcast, investors, entrepreneurs, and references in the gaming industry. Jimmy is the Chief Gaming Officer at Holodeck Ventures, he is an instructor at the University of California, and he is a business development and brand strategy specialist. Paul is the CEO …

What are some of the top ways brands are engaging with esports teams? In this episode of The Future of Marketing in Esports, Rebecca is joined by Kansas City Pioneers CEO & Founder, Mark Josey. Mark talks about his unique background in marketing and building an agency that has helped him drive the growth of the Pioneers. Plus he talks about creativ…

Undoubtedly, one of the reasons the esports and gaming industry expanded so quickly in the last five or six years is its intrinsic inclusive traits. The "there is always an extra controller" type of mindset makes the video games space a place where new voices and perspectives are always welcomed, and rapid growth is a byproduct of that plurality. O…

If we look at any traditional sport played professionally, we find the same path. It starts with a game, a team or individual game created by a group of people. Then the community starts to play the game, then it travels to another city, state, gets regulations, becomes a national sport, and even maybe worldwide. That game will have professional, a…

We know that there are opportunities for those who love gaming to potentially take their skill level to the pros. However, what opportunities are there for those who may not want to be pro? Are there job options for them? Can they do something in a field that they love? Queue Danny Martin and Esposure. Ēsposure is the leading esports technology pro…

Although brands' approach to traditional sports teams and events is different from how they do it in the esports space, the result of just slapping a logo into something without providing value to the community is the same. It won't impact the community nor get any financial benefit from it. Joining us today is Brett Diamond, COO of Version1 and Mi…

Growing up, our guest, Dale Alexander, was shocked when he knew people were paid to create those commercial breaks short movies. For him, advertising was as entertaining as the movies and the sitcoms he was watching. Fast forward some years, and after over 20 years working with creativity, Dale's eyes light up the same way when he needs to come up …

Joining us today is Vinny Minichiello, recently incorporated as a Supervisor in Digital Activations of Gaming & Esports at Zero Code. Vinny brings an interesting three-tiered approach for endemic and non-endemic brands into esports and gaming. He believes that brands should aim at three main objectives, be known first, be understood later, and fina…