She Plays Games Podcast
116 episodes - English - Latest episode: 9 months ago - ★★★★★ - 13 ratingsWelcome to the She Plays Games Podcast! Over the next weeks, months and years, I, Lauren, hope to speak to a broad spectrum of women who’re working in the video games industry to learn more about their amazing experiences and the paths they've taken to get to where they are today. Whether you’re thinking about joining the video games industry or are just interested to learn more about the incredible women that I’ll be speaking to, my goal is to inspire you through the telling of these stories.
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Episodes
Abbie Willett (Game Designer / Sumo Digital)
August 02, 2023 17:46 - 1 hour - 89.4 MBMaking the shift from Animation to Game Design This episode, Abbie Willett, a game designer at Sumo Digital, joins us to talk about her experience working on popular titles such as Hitman 2 and Sackboy Adventures. In this episode we discuss: Abbie’s transition into game design from animation Navigating the pressure of working on games with established franchise Abbie’s love of all things crocodiles and PERSONA 5 This is episode 112 of She Plays Games.
Evolve Accreditation Program - Code Coven Special Episode
July 13, 2023 10:18 - 26 minutes - 36.5 MBEvolving Studios’ Accountability Through DEI Accreditation Today we have the wonderful initiative Code Coven on the show to talk about their new DEI accreditation program, Evolve, which is designed to accredit studios and give them ratings based off of how closely they follow DEI policies and implement them in their work. On the show I have the CEOs of Code Coven, Tara Mustapha and Cinzia Musio, to talk about the program and how exactly it will benefit the industry and highlight studios ...
Alyx Jones (Studio Founder / Post Production Lead)
June 20, 2023 19:24 - 1 hour - 82.9 MBThis episode we sit down with UK-based Game Audio Professional and Silver Script Games Studio Founder, Alyx Jones, known for her work on AAA titles like Elden Ring and Final Fantasy VII Remake. Alyx talks about her journey into games audio, her inspirations for composing, and the challenges of working on a game of Elden Ring's size. She also shares her experience as part of the BAFTA Breakthrough program and her new adventure developing her first game, “The Quiet Things”. Join us as we dive ...
Failbetter Games Special Episode (Emily Short / Lesleyann White)
June 06, 2023 12:01 - 42 minutes - 57.9 MBWhat Makes Failbetter A Place Where Diverse Talent Can Thrive Welcome to the She Plays Games Podcast! In our latest episode, we have the pleasure of hosting two incredible women from Failbetter Games, Emily Short (Creative Director) and Lesleyann White (Principle QA Specialist). Join us as we delve into the world of Failbetter, an award-winning game company that has been recognized as one of GI Biz's best places to work five times. Ever wondered how Emily and Lesleyann found themselves ...
Project AWR (Asian Women Representation) Special Episode
May 16, 2023 10:10 - 45 minutes - 62.1 MBCreating positive spaces for asian women in the games industry Join us for a special panel discussion with Project AWR, a diversity group dedicated to supporting and empowering Asian Women in the games industry. Our panelists include: Marion Mỹ Anh Baxerres, founder of Project AWR and Global Community & Social Media Manager at Prime Matter/Plaion Karen Lee, co-founder of Project AWR and Senior Manager of the Global Core Community team on Apex Legends at Respawn Elisa Choi, mentor for ...
Gleaney (Twitch Streamer / Actor)
May 03, 2023 16:02 - 38 minutes - 35 MBBreaking Barriers in Streaming: Gleaney is Helping the Next Gen of Streamers Join us for an inspiring episode as we sit down with Twitch streamer Gleaney to discuss her streaming journey, from her acting background to her experience working with Twitch's diversity Gleaney shares her best transferable skills and strategies, advice for negotiating sponsored streams and regaining momentum during long streams. We also delve into her TikTok Streaming Tips series, benefits of belonging to Twitc...
Tara Voelker (Senior Accessibility Lead - Xbox Game Studios)
April 11, 2023 11:37 - 34 minutes - 47.7 MBGaming for Everyone: Insights from Xbox's Tara Voelker In this episode of She Plays Games, we talk to Tara Voelker, the Senior Xbox Game Studios Accessibility Lead, about her journey into the field of game accessibility, her experience working in the gaming industry, and her thoughts on the future of accessibility in gaming. Tara discusses the importance of staying up to date with the latest accessibility trends and how Xbox Game Studios approaches implementing new concepts. She also shar...
Taya B (Digital Producer / Etch Play)
March 28, 2023 15:22 - 42 minutes - 38.8 MBLevelling Up Your Marketing Agency With Livestreaming This episode we have Digital Producer Taya B from Etch Play. Taya has made her way into games marketing from a more general marketing agency. This episode we discuss what a digital producer in games does, her experience coming into the games industry, and her advice for anyone coming in! This is episode 105 of She Plays Games.
Madison Karrh (Indie Dev - BIRTH) Wings Fund Sponsored Episode
March 14, 2023 14:29 - 36 minutes - 50.4 MBCreating Games To Process Life's Challenges We have Madison Karrh, an indie developer, on the show to talk about her latest title Birth. Madison’s games all share very unique art styles and themes reflecting her own life. Birth is a puzzle game about overcoming loneliness by building your very own friend. This episode we talk about Madison’s self discovery through game development and how she’s been able to feel fulfilled through the experience. This is episode 104 of she plays games.
Jessinia (Founder - Jellyfish Parade) Wings Fund Special
February 28, 2023 18:46 - 41 minutes - 56.4 MBHow Belle Automata Found Its Voice With Wings Fund This episode we have indie game dev Jessinia! Jessinia is the founder of the studio Jellyfish Parade, whose bio states that they create “ethnically diverse games that'll turn your heart to jelly!” In this episode we talk about Jessinia’s experience creating Belle Automata which releases on March 3rd! along with her journey into creating visual novels and how the support from the Wings Fund helped her to create her first ever full voice act...
Mollie Evans (LittleMoTac / Nnesaga)
February 14, 2023 11:02 - 55 minutes - 76.3 MBAbandoning the Unhealthy Commuter Life for Streaming This episode we have content creator Mollie Evans also known as Littlemotac. Mollie is a disabled content creator a part of the Nnesaga Content Team and is also helping to consult people in diversity & equity in gaming. This episode we discuss her favorite streaming resources, what it’s been like to join Nnesaga and her love for Overwatch! This is episode 102 of She Plays Games.
SPG Presents: Harnessing the Power of Influencers with Disobey
January 31, 2023 10:30 - 34 minutes - 47.2 MBThis episode of She Plays Games is our first ever live panel at Take-Two Interactive Software's studio where we sat down with marketing / influencer agency Disobey to discuss how brands can better their relationships with Influencers and make sure their communications are clear and effective. Joining us are Disobey's Strategy Lead Ruby and Influencer Manager Kolo.
Sylvia Gathoni / QueenArrow (Esports Tekken Player)
January 17, 2023 14:35 - 35 minutes - 48.4 MBAlso known as QueenArrow, Sylvia has been thriving in the pro gaming space nabbing working now with Red Bull and making the Forbes Africa 30 under 30 list. This episode we talk about the need for more support in the Kenya gaming scene, how to get involved with Pro gaming tournaments and the benefits of developing careers alongside pro-gaming.
Manda Farough (Co-Director, Strategic Partnerships / Robot Teddy)
December 20, 2022 21:23 - 1 hour - 84.6 MBThis episode we have writer, author, and entrepreneur Amanda Farough. Amanda started off her career in games journalism and has since taken opportunities in many different areas making her a real force within the games industry. We’re so happy to have Amanda with us to talk about the release of her new book with Dr. Rachel Kowert, Digital Playgrounds - Our Kids and Video Games along with a discussion about her experience helping indie dev achieve their potential with her company F-Squared.
Alison Lang / Georgie Christoforou (Changing Day / Neonhive)
December 06, 2022 11:20 - 21 minutes - 29.6 MBCreating Games for those on the Spectrum This episode we have founder and CEO of ChangingDay Alison Lang and Georgie Christoforou, Jr Community Manager for Neonhive. Alison’s studio is developing a title specifically for those on the Spectrum and this episode we focus on how she got started in games development, their first title Blnnk and the Vacuum of Space and her main motivations for developing VR games aimed at those on the spectrum and also looking at it from Georgie’s perspective ...
Ellie Gibson (Games Journalist / Streamer)
November 22, 2022 10:22 - 48 minutes - 44.4 MBThis episode we have games Journalist Ellie Gibson. Ellie has been a real incredible force of good with in the games industry through her incredible writing and wit. This episode we talk about her experience coming into the industry and how it’s evolved since and of course, streaming choices on Twitch. This is episode 97 of She Plays Games.
Hannah Nicklin (Studio Lead - Die Gute Fabrik)
October 18, 2022 10:28 - 1 hour - 88.3 MBThis episode we have Hannah Nicklin, Hannah is the studio lead at Gute Fabrik and a PhD in games. This episode we focus on her incredible book "Writing For Games" and talk about the future of games writing. This is episode 96 of She Plays Games.
Gabrielle Zevin (Author 'Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow')
October 04, 2022 18:52 - 1 hour - 93.3 MBCapturing the true essence of indie game dev in fiction Author Gabrielle Zevin's latest book Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow focuses on the lives of 3 game dev and the trials and tribulations that come into games development. It’s seen high acclaim with a spot on the New York Best Times list and Jimmy Fallon’s Book Club List as well as cred in the game dev scene for the book’s authenticity. We’re also delighted to have our friend and fellow indie Dev Jay Shin, Director at Arrogant Pixe...
Bee Fogah (Social Media Manager - Modern Wolf)
September 20, 2022 19:26 - 49 minutes - 67.5 MBThis episode we have Bee who is Social Media Manager at Modern Wolf! This episode we talk all about social media resources, how to identify what viral trend to latch on to, and advice on how to keep KPI Expectations in check. This is episode 94 of She Plays Games.
Emzii (Commonwealth Esports Champion)
September 06, 2022 11:38 - 37 minutes - 51.4 MBThis episode we have Emzii who is the first Commonwealth Esports efootball Champion! In this episode we talk about the importance of visibility in online competitive sports, how to keep yourself safe, and the benefits of having an esports coach! This is episode 93 of She Plays Games.
JazeenaPlays (Studio Manager / Twitch Streamer - Interior/Night
August 23, 2022 07:53 - 42 minutes - 58.5 MBThis episode we have Jazeena who is a Studio Manager at Interior Night and Twitch Streamer at Jazeena Plays. Jazeena and I co-hosted the show Pixel Perfect on Ginx TV which at the time as well Jazeena was working as an operations manager while streaming the nights she had off. This episode we talk about her experience landing the job at GINX, Twitch community building and her advice on finding your Streaming Brand. This is episode 92 of She Plays Games.
Sophie Vo (Studio Game Lead / Games Investor - Rise and Play)
August 09, 2022 20:24 - 47 minutes - 65.1 MBThis episode we have Sophie Vo founder of Rise and Play and Games Investor. Through her platform and podcast called Rise and Play, Sophie shares her knowledge about leadership through a free masterclass and then interviews women in leadership positions in the games industry to further help those who are in need of advice. This episode we discuss the gender imbalance in learning about finance, the value in trust when leading a team, and the effectiveness of defining what you need in a home. ...
Alhvi Balcárcel (Director - Selva Interactive) Wings Fund Special
July 27, 2022 09:41 - 28 minutes - 38.9 MBWe have a special episode for you all today as it’s sponsored by Wings Fund. Wings is an organization which helps fund indie projects and so we will be featuring a few of their incredible devs to talk about their experience both in creating indie games and how Wings helped in their development. This episode we have developer Alhvi Balcárcel. Alongside her partner, Ahlvi is helping to pave the way for game developers in Guatamala with their studio Selva Interactive. This episode we talk abo...
The Women of The Quarry - Supermassive Games Special
July 19, 2022 08:34 - 26 minutes - 36.1 MBThis is a special episode as we’re having a Supermassive Games special! We’re featuring 4 of the women who worked on their latest title, The Quarry, Mara Cerreti / Lighting Artist, Rose Kenny / Narrative Designer, Selen Ceri / Producer, and Thea Chetcuti / Designer. In this episode the evolution of roles needed to make a game like this, how supermassive is tackling accessibility and our favorite characters. This is episode 89 of She Plays Games.
Charlotte Sutherland (Director - Cave Monsters) Wings Fund Special
July 14, 2022 13:24 - 22 minutes - 30.2 MBWe have a special episode for you all today as it’s sponsored by Wings Fund. Wings is an organization which helps fund indie projects and so we will be featuring a few of their incredible devs to talk about their experience both in creating indie games and how Wings helped in their development. This episode we have Charlotte Sutherland. Charlotte is the founder and game developer of the indie studio Cave Monsters and is currently working on Lord Winklebottom Investigates. We first had Char...
Develop / Twitch Con Special Panel - Jay Shin (Arrogant Pixel) / Rosie Taylor (Safe in our World)
July 05, 2022 12:46 - 59 minutes - 82.2 MBThis episode we’re talking all about going to conferences. Joining us are Jay Shin from University of West London Lecturer and Director at Arrogant Pixel and Rosie Taylor, Communications Officer and Community Manager at Safe in our World and the host of the Safe Spaces Podcast. We talk about how to prepare for your first games industry conference, what to do when you’re there, and how to cope in uncomfortable situations. This is episode 87 of She Plays Games.
Riana Manuel-Peña (Brand Marketer)
June 28, 2022 14:29 - 40 minutes - 55.9 MBRiana is a Brand Marketer having worked recently on the G4 relaunch and Product Marketing for Xbox. This episode we chat about finding the role that works best for you in games, planning out a brand strategy, and how What’s Good Games is paving the way for women in gaming. This is episode 86 of She Plays Games.
Kelly Wallick (CEO / Founder - Indie Megabooth / Partner / Community Builder - 1Up Fund)
June 21, 2022 19:10 - 47 minutes - 64.8 MBKelly is the Founder and CEO of Indie Megabooth as well as a Partner and Community Developer at the 1Up fund which is a Venture fund company setup by former Microsoft VP Ed Fries which works to finance diverse talent in the indie dev scene. This episode we talk about her experience deciding what games get funding, celebrating and HOSTING her last ever Independent Games Festival Event at GDC in April, and helping to shape Glaad’s video game division. This is Episode 85 of She Plays Games.
GeekyCassie (Director of Nox Lumina / Streamer)
June 14, 2022 14:23 - 39 minutes - 35.8 MBCassie is a streamer, community manager of The Noir Network, Director of Nox Lumina,and Co-Founder of Black Twitch UK! In this episode we talk about her mission to create more accessible events in the games industry, how Noir Network supports black femmes, and her exciting mixer she’s holding on behalf of Nox Lumina at Twitch Con in July. This is episode 84 of She Plays Games.
MJ Widomska (Founder / Director - YRS Truly)
June 07, 2022 08:12 - 57 minutes - 79.3 MBHow TikTok can Humanize your Brand This episode we have MJ Widomska. MJ is the founder and Director of the Award-Winning Creative studio YRS Truly, helping brands in the games industry reach their KPI targets with influential campaigns with an amazing team that is fully gender diverse. In this episode we chat about the benefits of using TikTok, why its so important to market globally, and the impact The Witcher has had on Poland’s gaming landscape. This is episode 83 of She P...
Sally Sheppard (Founder - Wyrdren Games)
May 31, 2022 13:35 - 56 minutes - 78.1 MBWhat an Indie Studio Needs to Survive This episode we have Sally Sheppard. Sally is the founder of Wyrdren a studio she setup during the early stages of lockdown to help keep her gamedev skills sharp while she was in between projects, but has now blossomed into a full studio with Spellbound as their first game. In this episode we discuss what you need to look out for when starting up your own studio, the gap between big budget indie and low budget indie, and what the games industry can do ...
What an Indie Studio Needs to Survive - Sally Sheppard (Founder - Wyrdren Games)
May 31, 2022 13:35 - 56 minutes - 78.1 MBThis episode we have Sally Sheppard. Sally is the founder of Wyrdren a studio she setup during the early stages of lockdown to help keep her gamedev skills sharp while she was in between projects, but has now blossomed into a full studio with Spellbound as their first game. In this episode we discuss what you need to look out for when starting up your own studio, the gap between big budget indie and low budget indie, and what the games industry can do to help support these amazing projects. ...
Marie Ablaza (Talent Recruiter - Netflix Gaming)
May 24, 2022 09:13 - 35 minutes - 49 MBHow to Show Your Best Self in an Interview This episode we have Marie Albaza. Marie Ablaza, also known as Your Fairy Job Mother is a Talent Recruiter at Netflix Games who uses her experiences in hiring staff to help others land their dream job by sharing advice through her Linkedin page. In this episode we chat about how talent recruiters fit within the hiring process, what you should ask in the dreaded “Do you have any questions for us section”, and how to deal when your dream company doe...
How to Show Your Best Self in an Interview - Marie Ablaza (Talent Recruiter - Netflix Gaming)
May 24, 2022 09:13 - 35 minutes - 49 MBThis episode we have Marie Albaza. Marie Ablaza, also known as Your Fairy Job Mother is a Talent Recruiter at Netflix Games who uses her experiences in hiring staff to help others land their dream job by sharing advice through her Linkedin page. In this episode we chat about how talent recruiters fit within the hiring process, what you should ask in the dreaded “Do you have any questions for us section”, and how to deal when your dream company doesn’t suit your career needs. This is episod...
Mel Ramsay (Editor-in-Chief - GGRecon)
May 17, 2022 07:26 - 40 minutes - 55 MBMel is Editor-in-Chief at GGRecon, a news resource for E-sports. In this episode we talk about where to begin your career in games journalism, how to have an eye for bylines, and how esports is taking over the world. This is episode 80 of She Plays Games.
JustKaalin (Twitch Streamer)
May 10, 2022 07:13 - 47 minutes - 64.9 MBKaalin is a popular twitch streamer from Scotland having previously been a Community Developer and in this episode we discuss her journey into streaming, how she manages her incredible community and Social Media channels and of course, Elden Ring. This is episode 79 of She Plays Games.
Nikatine (Twitch Ambassador / PurpleRP)
May 03, 2022 08:10 - 39 minutes - 54 MBThis episode we have Veronica Ripley a.k.a Nikatine. Nikatine is a Twitch Ambassador, co-owner of Purple RP, and Founder of Transmission Gaming, a community for trans gamers who seek safe places in online games. In this episode we discuss navigating identity through games like the Sims, how having an incredible bond with her Dad has shaped her, and how to get into role-playing in games like Grand Theft Auto. This is episode 78 of She Plays Games.
Sarah Sorrell (Charity Manager - Safe in our World)
April 26, 2022 12:20 - 36 minutes - 33.6 MBComing from Sports Charities, Sarah brings a generous supply of knowledge to Safe in our World, a games industry charity which focuses on raising awareness for mental health. In this episode we discuss the importance of mental health training for games industry professionals, the various resources Safe in our World offers, and their new Play Your Way campaign which starts in May. This is Episode 77 of She Plays Games.
Laura Deutsch / Rebecca Dixon (Co-Founders, The*GameHers)
April 19, 2022 19:38 - 43 minutes - 40.1 MBThis episode we have The GameHers Co-Founders, Rebecca Dixon and Laura Deutsch. The*GameHers is hosting a 3 day professional bootcamp from Friday, April 29th to Sunday, May 1st and in honor of the occasion, we’ve had Rebecca and Laura on to discuss The*GameHers community and their incredible app. In this episode we discuss how the gamehers was formed and how their app is connecting women who love games. To learn more about the Professional Bootcamp Be Sure to check out the link in the ...
Lauran Carter (Head of Comms / Host - Liquid Crimson)
April 12, 2022 18:04 - 53 minutes - 49 MBThis episode we have Lauran Carter. Lauran is the head of comms and host at Liquid Crimson helping indie devs release and promote their games and helps run the Guildford Games Festival. She has worked with a number of brands including Modern World, Sega, and Lionhead Studios and even worked on the Animal Crossing Social Campaign with Maisie Williams and H&M. In this episode we discuss what comms should look out for in their influencers, how to develop relationships with your community heroes,...
Leslee (Producer - Oculus)
April 05, 2022 15:29 - 50 minutes - 46.2 MBLeslee is a producer at Oculus with years of experience in many major studios in the games industry. In this episode we discuss the importance of producers in games, her amazing experience creating Braum from League of Legends, and of course, her epic Tik Tok, famous_streamer. This is episode 74 of She Plays Games.
Mother's Day Special - Marion Mỹ Anh B, InspiringMarah, Korina Abbott, Jo Haslam
March 27, 2022 11:52 - 57 minutes - 53 MBThis episode we have four guests on the show to talk about their experiences as mothers working in the games industry. We discuss our first gaming experiences, common misconceptions about being a mother in games, and whether or not we're doing enough as an industry to give kids the same gaming origins that we had as children.
Storm Stewart (Face Model / Streamer)
March 22, 2022 20:45 - 37 minutes - 33.9 MBThis episode we have Storm Stewart also known as Stormyjazzy Storm is a model and Streamer having started in the games industry as a face model for Supermassive Games. She can be seen as Victoria in Until Dawn’s The InPatient, Jody in Hidden Agenda, and most famously, Captain Fliss in Man of Medan. This episode we discuss how the games industry could help raise voices of Face Models, Streaming on Behance, and the best things about couch co-op titles! This is episode 72 of She Plays Games.
Sara Machado (Head of Recruitment - Hitmarker)
March 15, 2022 21:05 - 1 hour - 59.1 MBSara is the Head of Recruitment at Hitmarker. In this episode we talk about her life working as a Brazilian in the UK games industry, tips for how to scope out whether or not a company is the right fit for you, and her role in the UK Kickstart Scheme which saw over 100 young unemployed people get their first roles in the games industry. This is episode 71 of She Plays Games.
Mary Kenney (Writer / Author - Insomniac Games)
March 08, 2022 09:13 - 53 minutes - 49.2 MBThis episode again we’re welcoming Mary Kenney! We last spoke with Mary about 2 years ago and since then she has gone from strength to strength. This time we’ll be talking about her experience working at Insomniac on Spider Man Miles Morales, how she makes sure her scripts are true to life, and her new book which comes out later this year Gamer Girls. This is episode 70 of She Plays Games.
Sarah Makdad (Corporate Community Developer - Focus Entertainment)
March 01, 2022 09:19 - 34 minutes - 31.2 MBThis episode we have Sarah Makdad. Sarah is a Corporate Community Developer at Focus Entertainment and in this episode we talk about her experience as a part of the Game Awards’ Future Class, the French game dev scene, and how she donates her time to the non-profit organization Friendship Garden which helps aspiring game devs get to GDC. This is episode 69 of She Plays Games.
Sarah Wellock (Senior European PR Manager - Sega Europe)
February 21, 2022 09:40 - 36 minutes - 33.6 MBThis episode we have Sarah Wellock. Sarah is the Senior European Comms Manager for Sega Europe and in this episode we discuss the evolution of community management over the years, handling press events in a COVID world, and the immense difficulty journalists face playing games without guides. This is episode 68 of She Plays Games.
Kawaiifoxita (Sims Content Creator)
February 14, 2022 19:53 - 25 minutes - 23.7 MBThis episode we have Gemma also known as KawaiiFoxita. Having started back in March 2020, Kawaii is a sims builder focusing on Architecture. In this episode we talk about her journey in finding the Sims, how the Sims lead her to pursuing a professional diploma in interior design and how she goes about planning her inspiring builds. This is episode 67 of she plays games.
Victoria Tran (Community Director - Inner Sloth)
February 08, 2022 10:02 - 29 minutes - 27.1 MBThis episode we have Victoria Tran. Victoria is the Community Director on Among Us at Inner Sloth. In this episode we discuss her journey into games, how she manages to stay away from burnout, and her advice for any newcomers who are hoping to join the games industry. This is episode 66 of She Plays Games.
Rosa Carbó-Mascarell (Lead Game Designer - Loveshark)
January 31, 2022 20:54 - 41 minutes - 37.8 MBRosa is a Lead Game Designer at Loveshark having worked in the games industry for over 4 years. In her journey, Rosa’s been recognized for her achievements in games design as well as her work helping others to transition into games. In this episode we talk about her games design principles and how she managed to snag the amazing opportunity to work as an artist on the remake of Dear Esther with the Chinese Room. This is episode 65 of She Plays Games.