Episodes

  • How Gaming and Education Influence Each Other

    How Gaming and Education Influence Each Other
    Jan 3 2022
    After having a great run in the corporate world, working for great companies like Schweppes, Dr. Pepper, Cadbury, and Southwest Airlines, and reaching the managerial level at many of them, Dr. Clinton Purtell felt he needed to give something back to society. His endless curiosity and a massive appetite for learning led him to the academic space where he found fulfillment as an educator, mentor, and career facilitator.  Clinton Purtell, Ph.D., is a Professor of Entrepreneurship and Strategy, Director of External Relations, UNT Frisco/New College at the University of North Texas, and a dear friend. He is passionate about corporate entrepreneurship, early-stage venture strategy, and start-up supply chain strategies.  In this episode, Dr. Clint shares his experiences in the corporate and entrepreneur space, the reasons why he transitioned into academia, and the biggest challenges and rewards of being at the front in the classroom. We also talk about Dr. Clint's past as a gamer, where he pictures the future of gaming, esports, and education and how these three can influence each other.  Resources: Visit the UNT website: https://frisco.unt.edu/ Connect with Dr. Clint on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cpurtell/ Send him an email: clinton.purtell@unt.edu or follow him on Twitter: https://twitter.com/cpurtell1
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    43 mins
  • Marketing and the Intersection of Traditional Sports and Esports

    Marketing and the Intersection of Traditional Sports and Esports
    Nov 29 2021
    Many Black students, especially male students, get into college believing they'll be professional athletes. Unfortunately, the reality is that less than 1% of them will actually get there. However, that doesn't mean they can't work in the sports industry; they can be linked with professional sports through finance, technology, or marketing. Closing the gap between those job opportunities and students is one of the many jobs the National Society of Black Sports Professionals performs in the community. Our guest, Larry Lundy, is here to talk to us about it.  Larry Landy is the President of the Landy Marketing Group (LMG). He has over 20 years of experience working in strategic marketing and sales. Larry is the former Vice President of Advantage Marketing Group; he was the Director of Sports Marketing at Disney, and the President of Dallas All Sports Association for 9 years, from 2001 to 2010.  In this episode, Larry kindly shared bits of his journey of getting into sports, his experience working for Disney's sports division, and how that opportunity opened lots of doors for him. We also talk about the legendary coach Eddie Robinson and how he influenced Larry's life and college sports in general. Larry shared his point of view on the intersections between traditional sports and esports, how they can influence each other, what marketing strategies can be used in both arenas, and much more.  Resources: Lundy Marketing Group website: http://www.lundymarketinggroup.com/ National Society of Black Sports Professionals website: https://blacksportsprofessionals.com/ Follow Larry on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/llundylmg/ or on Twitter: https://twitter.com/lundylmg
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    Less than 1 minute
  • How Esports Is Creating Opportunities in the Traditional Sports World

    How Esports Is Creating Opportunities in the Traditional Sports World
    Nov 8 2021
    The traditional sports industry is known for being relatively small; you are never further from two or three degrees of separation. If we look at college athletics, that number could be even smaller. It is also known because it is difficult to get in; a lot of people want to work in sports, and there are not many positions. Still, it is not impossible, and new technologies, communication tools, and even gaming and esports opened multiple new pathways into it.  Our guest Scottie Rodgers, Director of Communications for the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic, has a lot to say about the different ways of getting into the sports industry, about consistency, and about pursuing a dream job.  In this episode, Scottie shared bits of his story and how he stayed connected with sports throughout his life. Although he always wanted to work in the NFL, he had to wait over 20 years to do it, which he used to gain experience and know the nuances of the industry. We also talk about social media, esports and gaming, the power of communications, and much more.  Resources: Visit the Goodyear Cotton Bowl website: https://www.cottonbowl.com/index.aspx or connect with Scottie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sfrodgers/ or Twitter: https://twitter.com/sfrodgers?lang=es
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    35 mins
  • How Sports Can Transform The Future For Youth

    How Sports Can Transform The Future For Youth
    Oct 25 2021
    In the conversation about connecting marginalized communities and sports, exposure seems to be one of the best options. LaDondra Wilson, Dallas Wings' VP of Social Responsibility, believes that kids can't believe in what they can't see. The Wings and Panther City Lacrosse Club regularly take kids from these communities to the games to gain first-hand experience with the product.  LaDondra believes that it is not only about visiting schools once in a while and telling them what it is about but also about checking schools periodically and ensuring they have the right equipment.  Our guest, LaDondra Wilson, is the VP of Social Responsibility and Executive Director of the Dallas Wings Community Foundation. She is passionate about connecting underserved populations with resources and opportunities to help them succeed.  In this episode, our conversation spins around the use of sports as a pathway to education, job opportunities, and progress. LaDondra talks about her background in social work and how she managed to adapt her knowledge and use it in the traditional sports space at the Wings. We also go through how to bring more people from minorities to the traditional sports and the esports and gaming space.  Visit the Dallas Wings website: https://wings.wnba.com/ Connect with LaDondra on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ladondra-wilson-she-her-hers-53566653/
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    33 mins
  • How Gaming Is Changing Kids' Lives

    How Gaming Is Changing Kids' Lives
    Oct 18 2021
    One of the many things that changed around video games is their role in kids' lives. Initially, video games were seen as alienating, isolating, and addictive flashing lights that kept the children in front of the screen for hours. Today, and since the massive use of online games, video games are much more than just games; kids use them to socialize, make friends, learn teamwork, and many other things.  Gaming became, in many ways, an enriching experience, and we will discuss that with our guest, Keith Vinson.   Keith Vinson is the Vice President of Operations at the YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas and former executive director of Greater Charlotte's YMCA. Keith has over 20 years of leadership experience, building effective teams, highly productive, and immersed in a culture of continuous improvement and operational excellence.  In this episode, we talk about the role of video games in people's lives, the career opportunities they offer, and the evolution of the relationship between parents and gaming. Keith shares part s of his journey to YMCA, his experiences with video games as a kid, and his reaction to having a gamer son. We also talk about YMCA's numerous inclusive programs, Keith's relationship with parents at YMCA, and much more.  Visit the YMCA Dallas website: https://www.ymcadallas.org/ or connect with Keith at LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keithvinson/
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    26 mins
  • How the Education System is Changing

    How the Education System is Changing
    Oct 11 2021
    In the past, professors and educators were seen as information sources; students would attend lectures to learn about stuff. To Dr. Bob Heere, our guest today, the role of the professor has (or should have) changed; students have access to information in the palm of their hands. He believes that students don't need the educators to tell them the story but to help them make sense of it and apply it to the real world.  Dr. Bob Heere is a Professor & Director of Sport Management at the University of North Texas. He was born in the Netherlands, where he got a Masters' degree in International Affairs from the University of Amsterdam. Dr. Bob spent his entire life in the academic space, whether as a Lecturer, Researcher, Knowledge manager, or Ph.D. Program Director. In 2005, he got his Ph.D. in Sport Management from Florida State University, and he actually lives in Texas.  In this episode, we look at the higher education system from a different perspective. Dr. Bob offers his unique point of view on the approach to lecturing, diversity, the creation of esports degrees, and paid internships. We also talk about the type of education students get from the University of North Texas, where Dr. Bob lectures, and more.  Connect with Dr. Bob on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobheere/ or send him an email at: bob.heere {at} unt.edu
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    51 mins
  • Building a Community One Business at a Time With Kiyundra Jones

    Building a Community One Business at a Time With Kiyundra Jones
    Oct 4 2021
    Although Oak Cliff is a neighborhood where more than 66% of the population is Hispanic, 22% white, and over 7% Black, the Oak Cliff Chamber of Commerce didn't hire a Black person until 2007. That person is one of today's guests to the show, the current President of the Chamber, Kiyundra Jones.  In this episode, I have the pleasure of welcoming Kiyundra Jones and DeAnn Lax to the podcast. Kiyundra is the Oak Cliff Chamber of Commerce president, IOM, and a Business Expert. DeAnn Lax works as an Associate Creative Director at the Chamber; she is a communications professional with over 15 years of experience in community relations, grant writing, and public affairs.  Today, Kiyundra and DeAnn share bits of their story, how and why they decided to join the Chamber. We have a conversation about the Chamber's services, how they assist the community, and their link with minorities' representation. Kiyundra talks about the moment she got into the Chamber and noticed she was the only Black person there. We also talk about video games, education, the St. Philip's School and Community Center work, and much more.  Visit the Oak Cliff Chamber website: http://oakcliffchamber.org/ Check on their Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Oak-Cliff-Chamber-of-Commerce-105530486724/ Follow them on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oakcliffchamber/ You can connect with Kiyundra on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kiyundra-jones-iom-314855104/ Or with DeAnn also on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deann-lax-m-a-0425a611/
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    43 mins
  • Doing Things With Games With Lindsay Grace

    Doing Things With Games With Lindsay Grace
    Jun 7 2021
    When it comes to turning our passion for video games into a job, the key is to look for what we are excited about, what we are good at, and being flexible and open to new challenges. For example, some of Lindsay Grace's students started in Localization translating Nintendo games into Japanese and then moved into game design. He believes that having flexibility affords longevity in the gaming industry. Today Marc welcomes Lindsay Grace; is Knight Chair in Interactive Media and an associate professor at the University of Miami School of Communication. Lindsay is the author of 'Doing Things with Games' and the 2019 recipient of the Games for Change Vanguard award. He has received multiple awards for his work, including the Games for Change Festival, the Digital Diversity Network, the Association of Computing Machinery's digital arts community, and Black Enterprise, to name a few. We talked about Lindsay's passion for video games, his humble origins, and his incredible connection with IBM charity programs. He spoke about how he started designing video games when he was 10 and how his parents influenced him. We also talked about equality in gaming and his consistent work in representativity and inclusion in the industry. Visit Lindsay's website at: https://professorgrace.com/ or connect with him on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindsaygrace/ or on Twitter: https://twitter.com/mindtoggle?lang=es
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    55 mins