BFBS Pro League: The Lobby

Military esports takes centre stage this week as Owen "Psycho" Williams steps into the host's chair alongside Leyna, aka "Affinity". They're joined by special guest Daromas, one of the RAF's leading Rocket League players and casters. Together, they look back at the latest BFBS Pro League action before exploring how esports is helping to build confidence, community and careers across the Armed Forces.

Highlights

🎮 The latest Rocket League and League of Legends action from the BFBS Pro League

🚀 RAF Mustangs' impressive start to the season and their ambitions for the LAN finals

🎙️ Daromas' journey from college Rocket League player to esports commentator

🌍 Why military esports continues to grow across the Armed Forces

🧠 How gaming develops teamwork, communication and transferable workplace skills

🏎️ Counter-Strike, Formula 1, Rocket League and the games everyone's playing right now

💬 A powerful conversation about diversity, inclusion and being yourself while serving

😂 Kettle lead disasters, hidden Mecha Chameleons, Haribo negotiations and plenty of Lobby chaos
Featured Guest

🎙️ Daromas

One of the RAF's leading Rocket League players and casters, Daromas discusses balancing service life with competitive gaming, the growth of military esports, and why creating an inclusive community matters both in gaming and across Defence.
Want to get involved?

The BFBS Pro League is open to serving personnel, veterans, MOD civilians, cadets, Royal Fleet Auxiliary personnel and eligible family members.

Head to bfbsesports.com and join the BFBS Esports Discord to meet players, find a team, enter community competitions and keep up with all the latest action.

With the World Cup in full swing and the BFBS Pro League's Rocket League competition heating up, this week it’s all about the relationship between football, gaming and esports.

Danni G is joined by Jonah Jupp, Owen "Psycho" Williams and special guest Curtis Tyler from BFBS Germany to talk about the World Cup, Rocket League, EAFC and the growing crossover between traditional sport and competitive gaming.

Highlights

⚽ Football fever and World Cup excitement across the Forces community

🚗 Why Rocket League is the perfect blend of football and esports

🎮 EAFC, FIFA nostalgia and the fall of Pro Evolution Soccer

🏆 The latest BFBS Pro League updates

⚔️ League of Legends highlights with Middlecott and Roodood

🎁 Win big with BFBS Esports on Discord!

🕹️ LEGO Batman, and childhood gaming memories

⭐ Celebrity gamers you might not know about

Featured Guest

🎙️ Curtis Tyler

Broadcaster, football fanatic and the voice of BFBS Germany, Curtis joins the team to talk football, gaming, esports and life supporting the Forces community overseas.

Want to get involved?

The BFBS Pro League is open to serving personnel, veterans, MOD civilians, cadets, Royal Fleet Auxiliary personnel and eligible family members.

Head to bfbsesports.com and join the BFBS Esports Discord to meet players, find a team, enter community competitions and keep up with all the latest action.

The BFBS Pro League is back for Split 2, and this week on The Lobby, Danni G is joined by Jonah Jupp, Owen Williams and special guest EddiePlaysGames to talk all things League of Legends.

Fresh from visits to HMS Collingwood and HMS Sultan, the team shares stories from meeting service personnel, running sim-racing challenges and introducing more people to the BFBS esports community.

With Rocket League returning as one of the Pro League's most popular titles, Owen explains how the competition is shaping up, what the Swiss Stage means for players, and why underdogs like the Lossie Phantoms are becoming teams to watch.

There’s also a crash course in League of Legends. Whether you're a seasoned player or you've never touched the game before, veteran player EddiePlaysGames breaks down the basics, explains why LoL remains one of the biggest esports titles in the world, and shares what it's like competing with UK Veterans Gaming.

We’ll also dive into gaming culture, discussing adaptations like Arcane, Fallout, The Last of Us, and other video game franchises that have successfully made the jump to TV and film.

Plus, we take a look at the eye-watering prize pools on offer at the Esports World Cup and what they mean for the future of competitive gaming.

Highlights

🎮 Rocket League returns to the BFBS Pro League

⚔️ League of Legends explained in under 30 minutes(!)

🏆 UK Veterans Gaming's Pro League campaign

🚀 Why the Lossie Phantoms are turning heads

🎬 Arcane, Fallout and gaming's impact on pop culture

💰 The huge prize money behind the Esports World Cup

Featured Guest

EddiePlaysGames Army veteran, UK Veterans Gaming player and long-time League of Legends competitor with more than a decade of experience in one of esports' biggest games.

Want to get involved?

The BFBS Pro League is open to serving personnel, veterans, MOD civilians, cadets, Royal Fleet Auxiliary personnel and eligible family members.

Head to bfbsesports.com and join the BFBS Esports Discord to find a team, register as a free agent and connect with the community.

Before PlayStation V XBOX there was a rivalry that changed gaming forever: Sega V Nintendo.

Danni G, Jonah Jupp, and Owen are joined by Dave from GeekTown to look back at gaming’s first great console war. From playground debates to ground-breaking marketing battles, the team discover how Sega and Nintendo shaped the industry we know today.

🎙️ This Week on The Lobby 

• Split two of the Pro League begins 

• The Battle for the Living Room, who won the gamers’ attention? 

• The End of Discs, physical games may be a thing of the past 

• Danni G’s Sega V Nintendo Challenge 

📢 Get Involved 

Want to take part in the Pro League? 

👉 Sign up: bfbsesports.com 
👉 Join the Discord: discord.gg/bfbsesports 
👉 More about GeekTown 

(00:00:00) - Welcome back Owen
(00:02:40) - Armed Forces Day & Fast Laps
(00:04:14) - Pad wives
(00:05:37) - Field Guns & Cadet Glory Days
(00:08:19) - Verification Ticket Nightmares and Split Two of the Pro League
(00:13:44) - How to get involved
(00:16:20) - Enter the Console Wars
(00:29:55) - Why Does Everything Cost So Much?!
(00:31:37) - RIP Physical Games
(00:38:14) - Sega vs Nintendo: Sound Quiz Showdown
(00:44:29) - Next Time on The Lobby

Gaming is evolving and the women shaping its future aren’t waiting for an invite.

Danni G, Jonah Jupp, and Lena are joined by Maisie Cochrane-Edwards (aka EasyGarlicKale) for an insightful conversation about women in the gaming industry and how it is becoming a more inclusive space.

🎙️ This Week on The Lobby

• Pro League F1 25 recap – Monza madness

• An interview with the winner of the F1 25 split

• Special guest: Maisie Cochrane-Edwards (aka EasyGarlicKale)

• Shining a light on women in the gaming industry

• What’s next for the Pro League?

📢 Get Involved

Do you want to take part in the Pro League?

👉 Sign up: bfbsesports.com
👉 Join the Discord: discord.gg/bfbsesports
👉 Follow EasyGarlicKale

DannI G, Jonah Jupp, and Lena are joined by a very special guest—Jonah’s dad, Steve Jupp—for a Father’s Day special! 

The team dive into family, gaming across generations, and the ever-evolving world of esports, alongside the latest updates from the BFBS Pro League. 

🎧 This Week on The Lobby: 

🏁 F1 26 heads to Suzuka, Japan 

🕹️ Then vs Now: How gaming has evolved—from ZX Spectrum and Atari to modern esports 

🎮 Growing up with gaming: Life in a gaming household across generations 

😂 Family gaming stories: Headsets and dinner bells! 

🎅 Christmas memories: Console surprises gone wrong… and right 

💬 Community spotlight: Father’s Day stories from the BFBS esports community 

👉 Get involved: bfbsesports.com 

Let’s take a deep dive into one of esports’ biggest debates. 

Danni G is joined by Jonah, new team member Leyna (aka Affinity), and special guest Simon Hunter for a packed episode featuring Pro League chaos, team updates, and a detailed discussion about whether esports is actually a sport. 

🎙️ This Week on The Lobby 

• Introducing Leyna (Affinity) – the newest member of the BFBS esports team 

• Pro League Round 6 recap – Australia brings chaos 

• Community highlights and Discord madness 

• Upcoming events: RAF Cosford Air Show 

• Big discussion: Is esports really a sport? 

• Special guest: Simon Hunter (BFBS Sport) gives his take 

📢 Get Involved 

Want to race in the Pro League? 

👉 Sign up: bfbsesports.com 
👉 Join the Discord: discord.gg/bfbsesports  

💬 Join the conversation! 
Drop a comment and you might get a shoutout in the next episode of The Lobby. 

(00:00:09) - Welcome to The Lobby!
(00:00:20) - A new member on the BFBS Esports Team
(00:05:13) - Our sports expert Simon Hunter
(00:06:55) - F1 25 Week 6 Highlights
(00:13:43) - Who can sign up and play
(00:14:28) - What's next for the Pro League
(00:14:49) - The Discord Counting challenge!
(00:16:12) - What else is going on in the community?
(00:20:14) - The great debate: is Esports a sport?
(00:38:20) - What's in store next week?

📝 Episode Summary 

Danni, Jonah, and Owen recap a packed few days out on the road—from RAF Brize Norton Families Day to cadet events—where they’ve been recruiting new players into the BFBS Pro League and spreading the esports word (with jellybeans, of course). 

They break down the latest F1 25 Pro League race in Las Vegas, packed with tight corners, big incidents, and a dramatic three-wide finish that could shake up the championship standings. 

Plus, Dave from Geektown returns with another deep dive into gaming history—this time exploring how Nintendo rose from the ashes of Atari. 

And to top it off: a surprise retro gaming object appears in the studio and Danni tests the boys with a chaotic gaming trivia game. 

🎙️ In This Episode 

• 🏁 Highlights from the Las Vegas F1 25 Pro League race 

• 🎤 Behind the scenes at RAF Brize Norton Families Day & cadet events  

• 🎮 UK Defence Masters League launch a Le Mans Ultimate series 

• 🧠 Gaming history: How Nintendo rebuilt trust after Atari 

• 🔢 The BFBS Discord “counting challenge” (currently… struggling 😅) 

• 🪡 Call for military patches to add to The Lobby wall 

• 🎲 A gaming trivia game (with questionable answers…) 

🎮 Wanna Play? 

The BFBS Pro League is esports for the Armed Forces — and you can get involved. 

Head to BFBSesports.com and join the community on Discord. 

(00:00:16) - What the Esports team have been up to
(00:03:19) - F1 25 Week 5 Highlights
(00:08:51) - Dave From GeekTown
(00:22:43) - The Esports Military Community
(00:26:29) - Jonah's Gift to Danni and Owen
(00:29:13) - Danni's Gaming Shenanigans
(00:35:14) - What's in store next episode?

Danni, Jonah and Owen dive into a packed week of esports events (including a chaotic F1 Pro League race), share behind-the-scenes stories from the competition scene, and explore the relationship between gaming and mental health. 

Our guest is Sky Tunley-Stainton from Safe In Our World, a charity dedicated to supporting mental health in the gaming community.  Sky shares practical advice, resources, and insights into how gaming can both positively support wellbeing—and sometimes trigger challenges. 

🎮 In This Episode 

• 🏎️ A look inside the F1 25 Pro League and the chaos of the Austrian Grand Prix 

• 😂 Gaming fails, “beached” cars, and behind-the-scenes commentary moments 

• 🧠 A deep dive into mental health in gaming with Safe In Our World 

• ⚠️ Understanding toxicity in competitive gaming — and how to manage it 

• 🧩 Tools and resources for using games to support wellbeing 

• 🎲 A chaotic gaming anagram challenge (play along!) 

🔗   For more from Safe In Our World: https://safeinourworld.org where you’ll find… 

• 🎮 Able To Play (game accessibility tool) 

• 📘 Good Game Playbooks (mental health & gaming resources) 

🎧 Listen & Follow 

Enjoying The Lobby? 

• ✅ Follow the podcast for new weekly episodes 

• ⭐ Leave a rating or review 

• 📲 Share with someone who loves gaming, esports, or wellbeing content 

(00:00:18) - What are the Esports team up to?
(00:01:32) - The Austria Race
(00:04:54) - Mental Health and Gaming
(00:34:57) - Anagram Chaos!

The Pro League is heating up as F1 25 heads to Singapore, and we take a trip back in time, way back 🦕 

Danni G, Jonah Jupp, and Owen (Psycho!)  catch up with their old friend, Dave from GeekTown. The trio discover the lore of the Atari console, and the origin of a famous Italian plumber. Dave reveals all, the highs and lows of the Atari legacy 👾🕹️ 

The crew delve into the latest gaming news and new releases and answer another Discord question – revealing which games they would spend 24 hours living in.

🎮 Wanna Play?

The BFBS Pro League is esports for the Armed Forces — and you can get involved.

Head to BFBSesports.com and join the community on Discord.

Lights out, pressure off —
this is The Lobby. 🔥

(00:00:31) - 🏁 F1 26 at Singapore — who put that wall there?
(00:13:56) - 🎙️ The Lore with Dave from GeekTown — consoles, cartridges, and gaming history
(00:25:03) - 💬 Discord Q&A — 24 hours in any game
(00:28:32) - 🎮 Gaming News — GameStop and eBay, Saubnautica 2, and universities using GTA