Gaming For The Culture

Corona Be Gona

Gifted Sounds Network — Fri, 24 Apr 2020 22:30:00 -0400

Show Notes

And if you are wondering where we got the title check out this link https://youtu.be/QTpRPTtzq5o

Guest: Kevin Fair @kfair_IPG

Can You Ban Racism and Transphobia?

Gifted Sounds Network — Sat, 02 May 2020 06:00:00 -0400

IG: KevinFair3, JunaeBenne, Mccray_at_work, NeSMithJr.Charles

S2 Ep1: What's it like being a Game Dev in Jamaica? Guest: Glen Henry

Gifted Sounds Network — Wed, 03 Jul 2024 06:33:05 -0400

Gaming for the Culture podcast host, Junae Benne talks to Jamaican Developer Glen Henry, founder of game studio SpriteWrench.
Follow Glen here:
https://spritewrench.com/
https://x.com/SpriteWrench
https://www.instagram.com/spritewrench/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClaedbcOFAi9JY8Afp9Vulw
https://spritewrench.itch.io/

Follow Junae here:
Linktr.ee/JunaeBenne

Want to support the show? Subscribe to the Patreon.com/JunaeBenne
Patreon gets episodes first & it's livestreamed so you can participate and ask our guest any questions

Jamaican Indie Dev Glen Henry

Gifted Sounds Network — Mon, 08 Jul 2024 17:12:01 -0400

Glen Henry talks about the Jamaican Game Development Society
episode 1 of season 2

What's it like making a sequel indie game? Aerial Knight

Gifted Sounds Network — Wed, 10 Jul 2024 05:00:00 -0400

Gaming for the Culture host talks to Aerial Knight, indie developer of the latest game We Never Yield releasing July 16, available on Steam
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2804740/Aerial_Knights_We_Never_Yield/
https://twitter.com/aerial_knight

Follow Junae
linktr.ee/JunaeBenne

Want to ask the guests questions? Join the livestream via Patreon. I film an episode every week sometimes thrice a week! Don't miss out.
Patreon.com/JunaeBenne

What's it like working in esports?

Gifted Sounds Network — Wed, 17 Jul 2024 11:21:05 -0400

Host Junae Benne speaks with supervisor of longform content The Score Esports, Danielle Rosen
We go through making an esports game, the state of games journalism, and how to cover a competitive gameplay

Follow Danielle at https://x.com/_DanielleRosen

Support the podcast by subscribing to the Patreon
Linktr.ee/GFTCPodcast

What it's like being an Engineer in the Gaming Industry?

Gifted Sounds Network — Thu, 25 Jul 2024 05:51:02 -0400

Talking to the talented engineer copsplayer, and hostess, Giselle about her experience growing up in the US, as a Black cosplayer, and being a professional engineer in the gaming industry -phew- she had a lot to say and it's all good stuff!

https://www.tiktok.com/@giselleium
https://x.com/giselleium
https://www.instagram.com/giselleium

Support the podcast by subscribing to the Patreon. Subscribers get the episode first & get to ask questions to the guests
https://linktr.ee/gftcpodcast

Follow the hostess with the mostess - Junae Benne
https://linktr.ee/JunaeBenne

What's it like being a technical games journalist?

Gifted Sounds Network — Wed, 31 Jul 2024 06:20:39 -0400

Award winning journalist, Jeffrey Rousseau talks about being in the technical journalism space in the gaming industry. Technical and business journalism differs from reviews and interviews. He deals with numbers, watches stocks, and other client facing data. Games journalism is usually consumer based.

Follow Jeffrey R at https://x.com/JRpotential

Support the podcast by subscribing to the Patreon
Linktr.ee/GFTCPodcast

Follow the host Junae linktr.ee/JunaeBenne

What’s it like having an indie gaming media outlet?

Gifted Sounds Network — Wed, 07 Aug 2024 10:12:24 -0400

Keith Mitchell, founder out the video game media publication, The Outer Haven, talks bout being an outlet in the time where many video game publications that have been around for years like, Game Informer, PitchFork, Edge, Aftermath, etc are closing.

Follow Keith & his publication
https://x.com/TheOuterHaven
theouterhaven.net
https://x.com/Shadowhaxor

Support the podcast by subscribing to the Patreon. Subscribers get the episode first & get to ask questions to the guests
https://linktr.ee/gftcpodcast

Follow the hostess with the mostess - Junae Benne
https://linktr.ee/JunaeBenne

Keith Mitchell Indie Publication Ep.6 Trailer

Gifted Sounds Network — Wed, 07 Aug 2024 14:00:00 -0400

Keith Mitchell, founder of The Outer Haven and Junae Benne talk about trying not to sell out while trying to make a living off of games journalism.
Listen to the full episode airing, Wednesday 8/7/24

Keith Mitchell
https://x.com/Shadowhaxor
theouterhaven.net
https://x.com/TheOuterHaven

Support the podcast by subscribing to the Patreon. Subscribers get the episode first & get to ask questions to the guests
https://linktr.ee/gftcpodcast

Follow the hostess with the mostess - Junae Benne
https://linktr.ee/JunaeBenne

The Schell Games Episode (ft. Women Behind the Screens)

Gifted Sounds Network — Tue, 11 Nov 2025 13:18:28 -0500

Inside Schell Games with Kathryn De Shields-Moon: Sr. PR Manager & Carmen DeMint: Senior Talent Acquisition Specialist at Schell Games | Kathryn De Shields-Moon: Sr. PR Manager & Carmen DeMint: Senior Talent Acquisition

What does it take to build one of the most respected studios in educational and VR gaming? In this episode of Gaming for the Culture, host Junae Benne sits down with Kathryn De Shields-Moon, Senior PR Manager, and Carmen DeMint, Senior Talent Acquisition Specialist at Schell Games, to discuss what it means to grow a people-first studio in an ever-evolving industry.

You’ll hear:
• How Schell Games cultivates creative culture and diversity behind the scenes
• What it really takes to recruit and retain talent in gaming
• Advice for women and marginalized voices building careers in games

Whether you’re a recruiter, developer, or storyteller, this episode offers insider insight into how studios like Schell Games stay innovative, inclusive, and authentic.

Watch this episode on YouTube or listen wherever you get podcasts.
🔗 Guest Links:
Kathryn De Shields-Moon
Carmen DeMint
Newsletter: Behind the Code

Connect with Host: @JunaeBenne
| Substack | Patreon

Gaming for the Culture brings authentic conversations with the creatives, producers, and innovators redefining gaming culture from the inside out.

Like what you hear? Subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode — your support keeps the culture growing.

The Streamer Episode (ft. Lady Infamous)

Gifted Sounds Network — Tue, 18 Nov 2025 01:00:00 -0500

What does it take to build a thriving community? In this episode of Gaming for the Culture, host Junae Benne sits down with one fourth of the Grown Women Gaming Podcast, streamer, wig snatcher, smack talker, content creator, Lady Infamous.

You’ll hear:

• How she started streaming

• What it really takes to keep up with a gaming community

• Advice for women and marginalized streamers

Listen to this episode wherever you get podcasts.

Guest Links:

Lady Infamous

Grown Women Gaming Podcast

Connect with Host: @JunaeBenne

| Substack | Patreon

Gaming for the Culture brings authentic conversations with the creatives, producers, and innovators redefining gaming culture from the inside out.

Like what you hear? Subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode — your support keeps the culture growing.

The Producer Episode (ft. Invincible Fight Girl) Pt. 1

Gifted Sounds Network — Tue, 25 Nov 2025 01:00:00 -0500

Part 1 of the Producer ft. Bryan Newton

Bryan Newton on Producing and Creative Direction in Animation & Games, focusing on Invincible Fight Girl, a show about a young girl named Andy, living in Wrestling World, endeavors to become the best pro-wrestler ever and takes on the alias of "Fight Girl."

You’ll hear:
• Plot of Invincible Fight Girl

• What it really takes to become a TV show producer

• What's next for Invincible Fight Girl

Listen to this episode wherever you get podcasts.

Guest Links:
Bryan Newton: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1186997/
https://x.com/DarkKingZoro

Connect with Host: @JunaeBenne (http://linktr.ee/junaebenne)

| Substack (https://junae.substack.com/) | Patreon (https://www.patreon.com/JunaeBenne)

Gaming for the Culture brings authentic conversations with the creatives, producers, and innovators redefining gaming culture from the inside out.

🎧 Enjoyed the conversation? Hit Subscribe to join the Gaming for the Culture community — where gamers, creators, and industry pros share real stories from every corner of gaming.
👇 Watch more episodes, drop your thoughts in the comments, and connect with our host Junae Benne over on her channel: https://www.youtube.com/@JunaeBenne
Let’s keep building the culture, one game at a time. 🎮

The Producer Episode (ft. Invincible Fight Girl) Pt. 2

Gifted Sounds Network — Tue, 25 Nov 2025 01:00:00 -0500

Part 2 of the Producer ft. Bryan Newton

You’ll hear:
• Plot of Invincible Fight Girl

• What it really takes to become a TV show producer

• What's next for Invincible Fight Girl

Listen to this episode wherever you get podcasts.

Guest Links:
Bryan Newton: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1186997/
https://x.com/DarkKingZoro

Connect with Host: @JunaeBenne (http://linktr.ee/junaebenne)

| Substack (https://junae.substack.com/) | Patreon (https://www.patreon.com/JunaeBenne)

Gaming for the Culture brings authentic conversations with the creatives, producers, and innovators redefining gaming culture from the inside out.

The Producer Episode (ft. Sweet Baby Inc)

Gifted Sounds Network — Tue, 02 Dec 2025 11:02:45 -0500

Maria Beck, Producer at Sweet Baby Inc, on Narrative Development & Representation in Games. She talks about being in the industry and in one of the most influential companies to hit the gaming scene. Along with what it’s like to be targeted by potential gamer gate 2.

You’ll hear:
• Gamer Gate

• What’s it like inside Sweet Baby Inc

• New game plus in real life

Listen to this episode wherever you get podcasts.

Connect with Host: @JunaeBenne (http://linktr.ee/junaebenne)

Gaming for the Culture brings authentic conversations with the creatives, producers, and innovators redefining gaming culture from the inside out.

🎧 Enjoyed the conversation? Hit Subscribe to join the Gaming for the Culture community — where gamers, creators, and industry pros share real stories from every corner of gaming.
👇 Watch more episodes, drop your thoughts in the comments, and connect with our host Junae Benne over on her channel: / @junaebenne
Let’s keep building the culture, one game at a time. 🎮

Connect with Host: @JunaeBenne
| Substack https://junae.substack.com/ |
Patreon https://www.patreon.com/JunaeBenne

Gaming for the Culture brings authentic conversations with the creatives, producers, and innovators redefining gaming culture from the inside out.

Like what you hear? Subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode — your support keeps the culture growing.

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction and Podcast Experience
00:59 Producer and Gamer Background
01:32 Gaming Preferences and Experiences
03:26 Challenges and Enjoyment in Gaming
06:07 Using Walkthroughs and Game Strategies
08:18 Role of a Producer in Game Development
12:43 Client Communication and Project Management
19:23 Personal Journey and Career Path
24:44 Fitness Industry Insights
32:14 Struggles in the Gaming Industry
32:37 Entering the Gaming Industry During a Downturn
33:12 Working with Sweet Baby Inc. Amid Industry Changes
34:05 Navigating Layoffs and Industry Uncertainty
38:02 The Role of a Producer in Game Development
38:51 Technical Skills and Adaptability
41:06 Empathy and Communication in Production
42:22 Balancing Personal Interests and Professional Work
50:25 Console vs. PC Gaming Preferences
59:37 Challenges and Harassment in the Industry
01:08:23 Navigating Racism and Classism in Gaming
01:09:16 The Strategy of Outrage in Media
01:11:17 Challenges of Representation in Gaming
01:12:48 The Complexity of Inclusivity
01:21:54 Critiquing Art vs. Artist
01:27:30 Personal Reflections on Gaming
01:33:07 Concluding Thoughts and Future Projects

The Professor Episode (ft. Princeton University)

Gifted Sounds Network — Thu, 11 Dec 2025 16:49:58 -0500

Professor Akil Fletcher on Teaching Video Games & Culture at Princeton.

You’ll hear:
• Teaching Video Games & Culture at Princeton.

• Blackness in games

• Gaming industries hot takes

Listen to this episode wherever you get podcasts.

Connect with Host: @JunaeBenne (http://linktr.ee/junaebenne)
| Substack (https://junae.substack.com/) | Patreon (https://www.patreon.com/JunaeBenne)

Gaming for the Culture brings authentic conversations with the creatives, producers, and innovators redefining gaming culture from the inside out.

🎧 Enjoyed the conversation? Hit Subscribe to join the Gaming for the Culture community — where gamers, creators, and industry pros share real stories from every corner of gaming.
👇 Watch more episodes, drop your thoughts in the comments, and connect with our host Junae Benne over on her channel: / @junaebenne
Let’s keep building the culture, one game at a time. 🎮

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction and Host Welcome
00:55 Guest Introduction: Professor Akil Fletcher
01:28 Teaching Gaming Blackness at Princeton
03:04 Experiential Learning in Tokyo
04:24 Engaging with Blackness in Japanese Gaming Culture
05:14 Historical Context and Black Representation in Japan
08:59 Challenges and Stereotypes in Gaming Academia
17:13 GTA: A Parody or Problematic Representation?
34:07 Bioshock Infinite: A Critique of Utopian Ideals
47:25 Analyzing Representation in Media
49:40 Donald Glover's Writing Experience
50:59 Black Famous vs. White Famous
58:05 The Impact of Layoffs in the Gaming Industry
01:09:59 Unionization in the Gaming Industry

The Solo Dev Episode (ft. Notes of Harmony)

Gifted Sounds Network — Tue, 16 Dec 2025 10:59:27 -0500

Stephen Ddungu on teaching Music Theory, Game Design & Solo Development Journey.

You'll hear:

Music theory (evolution of classical music)
How to solo develop a game
Law in game development

Listen to this episode wherever you get podcasts.

Connect with Host: @JunaeBenne (http://linktr.ee/junaebenne)
| Substack (https://junae.substack.com/) | Patreon (https://www.patreon.com/JunaeBenne)

Gaming for the Culture brings authentic conversations with the creatives, producers, and innovators redefining gaming culture from the inside out.

🎧 Enjoyed the conversation? Hit Subscribe to join the Gaming for the Culture community — where gamers, creators, and industry pros share real stories from every corner of gaming.
👇 Watch more episodes, drop your thoughts in the comments, and connect with our host Junae Benne over on her channel: / @junaebenne
Let’s keep building the culture, one game at a time. 🎮

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome
01:54 Steven's Musical Journey
07:10 From Music to Game Development
11:34 The Birth of 'Sort of a Symphony'
13:34 Challenges and Success on TikTok
19:41 Solo Development vs. Teamwork
36:23 From Game Development to Cybersecurity
36:52 Learning Through Application
38:00 The Journey of Mastering Skills
47:28 The Role of Classical Music in Modern Media
53:41 The Evolution of Classical Music
57:13 Indie Game Development Challenges
01:10:08 Understanding Non-Compete Clauses in Game Development
01:11:20 Investor Faith and Contract Termination
01:12:25 Surviving Clauses and Revenue Sharing
01:16:05 Licensing and Protecting Indie IP
01:19:01 Publisher Negotiations and Revenue Agreements
01:23:09 The Role of Publishers and Self-Financing
01:28:07 Contractual Obligations and Revenue Recovery
01:31:26 Artistic Challenges and Preferences
01:35:11 Game Development Insights and Marketing Strategies
01:41:17 Educational Potential of Game Mechanics
01:44:26 Final Thoughts and Farewell

🎧 Enjoyed the conversation? Hit Subscribe to join the Gaming for the Culture community — where gamers, creators, and industry pros share real stories from every corner of gaming.
👇 Watch more episodes, drop your thoughts in the comments, and connect with our host Junae Benne over on her channel: / @junaebenne
Let’s keep building the culture, one game at a time. 🎮

The Level-Up Episode (ft. Lowco)

Gifted Sounds Network — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Kacey “Lowco” Shields on Going from Creator to Product Leader at RivrStream.

(00:00) - Introduction and Today's Topic
(00:53) - Guest Introduction: Loko the Streamer
(01:18) - Loko's Streaming Journey
(03:37) - Early Streaming Setups and Challenges
(04:54) - Finding Community and Streaming Evolution
(10:25) - Streaming as a Career Path
(15:39) - Representation and Challenges on Twitch
(34:28) - Twitch's Evolution and Future
(37:00) - The Power of Clout in the Gaming Industry
(37:25) - The Significance of Verification and Blue Checks
(40:10) - Navigating Inclusivity in the Gaming Industry
(43:42) - Challenges and Performative Activism
(53:23) - The Role of Charity Streams and Authenticity
(56:52) - The Evolution of Streaming Practices
(01:00:40) - The Dangers of Unsafe Streaming Practices
(01:06:46) - Creating Family-Friendly Content
(01:12:49) - Twitch's Evolution and Just Chatting
(01:13:17) - Transition to Just Chatting and Creator Education
(01:16:12) - Consistency in Content Creation
(01:22:15) - The Importance of Niching Down
(01:29:54) - Starting Out as a Streamer Today
(01:37:26) - Collaborate and Find Your Community
(01:38:52) - Conclusion and Final Thoughts