This discussion is with Javon Goard, he obtained a B.A. in sociology with honors from the University of Maryland, College Park (2016), and his M.S. in informatics from Indiana University, Bloomington (2018). Goard’s research takes an interdisciplinary approach in studying aspects of video game culture by working in the domains of sociology, informatics, and media studies. His current work focuses on African American/Blacks within esports and the intersection of black joy within gaming culture.  His blog, jstonee.wordpress.com, bridges the gap between academic discourse and personal anecdotes, discussing a wide range of topics from gender, race, and economics as they relate to digital spaces. Goard is also co-host and co-creator with two other UMD alum for the “My Gaming Academia” podcast which is focused on discussing psychological and sociological topics as they relate to videogames. Featured on the podcast has been guests ranging from Twitch streamers, game developers, and a games scholar. Episodes are available on Spotify. Goard is an advocate of public scholarship and he “goes where the gamers are”, thus he attends both academic conferences and anime/comic book conventions which include: SXSW 2023, Johns Hopkins University EdFest, Music and Gaming Education Symposium, BlerDCon, Balticon, Indiana Comic Con, Indy PopCon, GenCon, and the Eighth Annual International Symposium on Digital Ethics.