In Episode 51 Aalia digs into the gaming world with this episode with special guests Dena Mekawi and Greg Zinone. Dena, besides founding the consulting company Style and Residency and serving as an advisor for the UN, co-founded the gaming studio ThunderPixel. Greg is a philanthropist who got his start by connecting active military to their favorite pro athletes to play esports. Now, he runs ROI Co-Labs, a set of studios designed to teach underprivileged communities the digital skills they need to find success in streaming or digital production. Aalia, Dena, and Greg’s conversation stretches the whole impact of gaming. Aalia brings up the “power of play” for creativity and mental health (13:51). They break the stereotype that it’s just lazy kids playing these games (18:48) and Greg talks about how video games like Call of Duty help the military (22:18). The conversationalists examine the gaming space as a community and an opportunity, Dena emphasizes, to focus on men’s mental health (30:15). Finally, the three speak about the career opportunities in gaming. Despite all agreeing that there are wonderful possibilities, they examine some blockades. Greg talks about the economic inaccessibility of gaming that his company strives to overcome (40:25) and Dena talks about the rarity of female game developers (45:50).



To learn more about Dena Mekawi and ThunderPixel, check out her website: www.denamekawi.com, ThunderPixel’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thunderpixel-games/, and her twitter: @dena_mekawi



To learn more about Greg Zinone and ROI Co-Labs, check out its website: www.roicolab.com and his twitter: @GZinoneRWTT


For more information on Unsugarcoated Media or your award-winning host, go to www.UNSUGARCOATEDMedia.com and stay connected with Aalia on IG: @aalia_unsugarcoated