Shows
The Upside of GamingThe Upside of Gaming, Episode 08: Impact of Games on Society and Beyond with Deborah Mensah-Bonsu and Marta KostrzewaIn the final episode of The Upside of Gaming series, I had the incredible opportunity to speak with none other than Deborah Mensah-Bonsu about the social impact of video games. Deborah has led and contributed to a wide range of initiatives that use the power of games for social good.
We talk about her work on Green Game Jam, Playing for the Planet, in-game campaigns, and many more!
What stood out most is how game developers are actively empowering players to make a difference and encouraging real-world action through in-game experiences. Producer and Host: Marta Kostrzewa L...2025-06-1900 min
Games for GoodEpisode 7: Levelling the playing field with Dr. Mick DoneganSHOWNOTESIn this episode, I’m joined by Special Effect Founder and BAFTA winner Dr. Mick Donegan. Mick shares the highs and lows of his transformational work, the walls he and his team have broken through and stories of some of the lives they’ve changed. Mick’s unflinching commitment to helping people bridge the gap between their potential and their physical ability through gaming has changed the way many people think about disability and the games industry too. Come join us.About Dr. Mick:Dr Mick Donegan is the Founder and CEO of...2024-10-0257 min
Games for GoodEpisode 6: Friendship, failure and a WILD LIFE with Gautam ShahIn this episode, I’m joined by Gautam Shah, founder of social enterprise Internet of Elephants and champion for wildlife conservation. We talk about friendship, staying connected and what it means to be a risk-taker, which may not be what you think. And of course wildlife– why most donation campaigns fall short, and how we can all shift from watching others protect the most precious parts of nature, to becoming the protectors ourselves. Walking with gorillas, swimming with whale sharks, and feeling the expanse of Antarctica, Gautam has experienced a wild life, and he’s sharing it with you and me...2024-07-121h 21
Games for GoodEpisode 5: Culture, Ego, and the Environment with UNEP’s Sam BarrattSHOWNOTESIn this episode I’m joined by United Nations Environment Programme’s Sam Barratt. Not only is he the Chief of the Environmental Education and Youth Unit at UNEP, but also the Co-Founder of Playing for the Planet, the game industry’s collective for climate action. I’ve known Sam since P4P’s inception back in 2020, and I’m so excited to talk to him about all the adventures, wins and losses we’ve gone through in the last four years. We talk about the pursuit of culture change, the importance of scale and syst...2024-05-311h 00
Games for GoodEpisode 4: Winter Season RecapIn this episode I do a bit of a recap, looking at some of my favourite moments from the first three episodes featuring Jennifer Estaris, Hanna Toivonen and Karla Reyes before we head into our next season. Come join us.About Deborah:Deborah Mensah-Bonsu is the founder of Games for Good, which focuses on harnessing the power of video games and the video game industry for social impact and climate action. She consults for console and mobile studios, NGOs and the United Nations Environment Programme. She thrives on collaborating to create healthier cultures, products and...2024-04-3017 min
Games for GoodEpisode 3: Gaming vs Social Injustice with Karla ReyesIn this 3rd episode I’m joined by the supremely creative, optimistic and tireless Karla Reyes, Founder & Studio Director of Anima Interactive, on a mission to create games that champion social justice issues. Alongside running her studio, Karla also recently developed the Just Play Jam. We dive into the power of perspective, the immigrant experience, mentorship and the complexities of privilege. Plus we serve up some cheese and corniness. Come join us.About Karla:Karla is the Founder & Studio Director of Anima Interactive, a new socially conscious interactive media studio that blends art and technology to craft experiences that ma...2024-03-2954 min
Games for GoodEpisode 2: Gaming vs Loneliness with Hanna ToivonenIn this 2nd episode I’m joined by the talented, soulful and hilarious Hanna Toivonen, CEO & Co-Founder of Starstuff, a spatial imaging AI startup for deeper human connection. We talk about the loneliness epidemic, entrepreneurship and building a great team, the ethics of AI, being terrified and doing it anyway, and the LIGHT inside all of us. Come join us. About Hanna: Hanna is the CEO & Co-Founder of Starstuff, a spatial imaging AI startup, building the spatial generative internet for deeper human connection online, with a mission to solve the loneliness pandemic caused by t...2024-03-011h 22
Games for GoodEpisode 1: Gaming vs Climate Change with Jennifer EstarisWelcome to the very first episode of the podcast! In this episode I chat with my very good friend and champion of change Jennifer Estaris. We discuss games as a climate solution, her path into the industry, the freedom of failure, the power of the human spirit and what ‘good’ means to her. Rounded out with tangents, jokes and random ramblings. Come join us.About Jennifer:Jennifer is a game director and climate activist. At ustwo games she directed Monument Valley 2’s The Lost Forest, which petitions for forest conservation, and is game directing the next Monume...2024-01-2637 min
Climate CuriousHow to play for a better worldWho says you can’t have fun whilst solving the world’s problems? Playing video games can increase climate action, says Deborah Mensah-Bonsu, the founder of Games for Good on TEDxLondon’s Climate Curious. With more than 3 billion gamers on the planet, plus a tonne of green themed content, tune in to explore the ways in which people are playing for the planet, and how games can help us change the world for the better, together. Resources: Follow Deborah on Twitter Follow Deborah on LinkedInWatch Deborah’s TEDx Talk – Why video games aren’t a waste...2024-01-1906 min
Games for GoodWelcome | Deborah Mensah-BonsuWelcome to the Games for Good Podcast! In this short teaser episode Deborah shares the ‘why’ of the podcast and tee’s up her first guest.Website: games-for-good.comMore Stories: games-for-good.com/blogHost: Deborah Mensah-BonsuProducer: Panji Kaonga2023-11-2201 min
The GamesIndustry.biz MicrocastPlayable Futures: The future of mobileThe latest episode of Playable Futures features a conversation with Deborah Mensah-Bonsu, who is the founder of dmb crew. Her flagship initiative is Games for Good, which focuses on helping studios and the wider industry harness games for social impact. Will and Deborah discuss the opportunity presented by the proliferation of games on mobile to unlock societal and behavioural change for good. “People are starting to understand that what it means to be a gamer is not what it was ten years ago,” Deborah says, adding later - “There is a potential for mobile to engage with people...2023-06-3036 min
Climate CuriousClimate Quickie: How video games inspire climate actionIt's confirmed – players say they want more green content, says Deborah Mensah-Bonsu, the founder of Games for Good on TEDxLondon’s Climate Curious. With more than 3 billion gamers on the planet, plus a tonne of green themed content, tune in to explore the ways in which people are playing for the planet, and how games can help us change the world for the better, together. Resources: Follow Deborah on TwitterFollow Deborah on LinkedInCheck out Games for GoodCheck out Playing for the PlanetCheck out Green Game JamRead the Gr...2023-03-1706 min
The GamesIndustry.biz MicrocastClimate Change: How The Games Industry Can Fight BackThis week, we're presenting audio versions of the panel discussions from this year's Best Places To Work Awards UK. In today's session, a panel of professionals discuss the fight to address climate change and what more the games industry can do to aid these efforts. The panel featurs Playing for the Planet's Deborah Mensah-Bonsu, Ustwo Games' Jane Campbell, Games London's Michael French and Sports Interactive's Miles Jacobson. It is hosted by GamesIndustry.biz's Christopher Dring. You can find the full video at www.gamesindustry.biz. Learn more about your...2021-09-1452 min
Apps, Games and InsightsGreen games: How to green up your gaming - Episode 10Making the world a greener place and joining us for this episode are Jennifer Estaris of SYBO games, and Deborah Mensah-Bonsu, founder of Games for Good, and formerly of mobile games studio SpaceApe. They talk about the recent Green Game Jam – bringing more environmental education to games – and the innovative ways to educate players about climate change and empower them to take action. This one’s an important one for everyone and the future so don't miss it. Find out more: Playing for the Planet → https://goo.gle/3kPPk5n Green Game Jam → https://goo.gle/3kTHyr6...2020-11-0234 min
One Life LeftOne Life Left -- s20e15 -- #400 -- The Big Four Oh Oh It's our 400th episode! To celebrate this non-provable fact we managed to successfully not answer any questions that our listeners sent in, launched the RIO scheme, and invented a new stamp. More importantly, we had Deborah Mensah-Bonsu from Space Ape Games on as a Super-Special Guest. She was on to advertise the already sold-out Games For Good event, which is about how games can actually be for good. We already knew about this (see: Bangman) but it's still good to hear. Plus it means that you are...2020-01-161h 01
Esports Roundtable Podcast: Past, Present and Future of Business in EsportsERT #30 Is mobile the future of esports? Deborah Mensah-Bonsu, Space Ape GamesDeborah joins us to discuss her view on how mobile will change the future of esports and redefine expectations of what we consider esports in the next few years. We also drift into the importance of mobile as a leveller for accessibility in gaming globally, how the industry can better educate next gen students to pursue gamings and esports seriously + much more
Reach Deborah on Twitter @ DebMensahBonsu to say hey!
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Website: www.lookingforgrouplfg.com/podcast2018-03-2135 minEsports Roundtable Podcast: Past, Present and Future of Business in EsportsERT #26 Gender Diversity in Gaming + UK National Esports Tournament with Shahneila Saeed, Head of Education of UKIE and Deborah Mensah-Bonsu, Community Lead of Space ApeThis is your final chance to win an Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet! You can find the giveaway at [https://gleam.io/ECuNE/esports-roundtable-tablet-giveaway](Meanwhile, our Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet giveaway is still live! Grab your chance to win it while you can over at https://gleam.io/ECuNE/esports-roundtable-tablet-giveaway)
We break down the second Nationals Esports Tournament, diversity in esports/gaming and more in our second live Roundtable!
Please leave a rating and review and send your feedback or questions to:
Twitter: @esroundtablepod
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LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/joehillslfg/
Website: www.lookingforgrouplfg.com/podcast2018-02-2141 min
One Life LeftOne Life Left -- s15e09 -- #337 -- Baby You're A BonfireThis episode sees our latest attempt in Understanding Esports. The Super-Special Guest showing incredible patience as we ask obvious questions was Deborah Mensah-Bonsu from Space Ape Games. We find out when the first ever esport happened and how Twitter changed the world of esports. In addition we try to see if you can deliberately design a game to be an esport. Ann then uses this information to make her own esport. Space Ape have made lots of games that can be classed as esports so Deborah was a good guest to have. But in order for their...2017-11-131h 00
The GamesIndustry.biz MicrocastWomen In Games – The GamesIndustry.biz PodcastRecorded during this year's European Women In Games Conference, James is joined by Dovetail Games' VP of HR and facilities Gemma Johnson-Brown, Space Ape Games' content marketing boss Deborah Mensah-Bonsu and Nyamyam co-founder Jennifer Schneidereit. Together they discuss the various challenges involved in not only recruiting more women into the games industry – thus balancing the current gender split of the workforce - but also highlighting the accomplishments of those already established and ensuring their talents are recognised. We also cover the lack of diversity when it comes to leadership positions, the media, games writing and mor...2017-09-0734 min