Level Up with Wondr

To close out Native American Heritage Month, Wondr Nation President & CEO Anika Howard speaks with Rodney Butler, Chairman of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation on his career journey and experiences in tribal government. Their conversation highlights the importance of perseverance and community engagement while exploring current challenges and opportunities for the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe and Indian Country at large. Chairman provides insights on the impact of gaming revenue on providing essential services and preserving heritage while also highlighting the importance of respecting sovereignty and fostering strong partnerships.

In honor of Native American Heritage Month, Rebecca Naragon joins the podcast to discuss her role as Economic Development Director for United South and Eastern Tribes, Inc. (USET). Her conversation with Wondr Nation VP of Marketing Strategy and Operations Dyani Marvel highlights the power of economic storytelling and growth and innovation in tribal industries. Rebecca provides valuable insights on the impacts of supporting Native entrepreneurs and tribal enterprises, while emphasizing the importance of community development.

To honor Hispanic Heritage Month, we're featuring Elaine Gómez, game designer, co-founder and current president of Latinx in Gaming. Elaine joins the podcast to share the story of her career journey, finding inspiration, and the importance of a player-centric approach to game design. She discusses the potential for social impact in game design, the importance of community, and provides advice for aspiring developers. 

September is Responsible Gaming Education Month and we're featuring Melodie Keen, a behavioral health veteran with over 40 years of experience and a recognized expert in gambling addiction. In her conversation with Wondr Nation VP Marketing & Strategy Dyani Marvel, Melodie dives into the specifics of gambling addiction treatment and how her own career path has shaped her approach. She provides insights on individualized treatment methods while emphasizing the importance of understanding gambling addiction as a mental health disorder.

Nia Grace, restaurateur, entrepreneur, and owner of Grace by Nia, joins the podcast to discuss her career journey, from her start in marketing and hospitality, to building successful businesses for herself and others. She provides insights on overcoming challenges, the importance of community, and the power of flexibility. Her conversation with Wondr Nation VP of Marketing and Operations Dyani Marvel highlights her passion for creating immersive experiences blending food, culture, and entertainment. 

Emra Arkansas joins the podcast to discuss her 18 year long journey in the gaming industry, from her start as a table games dealer to her current role as the Executive Director for the Cherokee Tribal Gaming Commission. Her discussion with Wondr Nation VP Professional Services & Sales Megan Nation covers the importance of flexibility, innovation, and talent development. Emra provides insights into embracing digital advancements and modernization while continuing to ensure compliance in an evolving industry.

In honor of Pride Month, we’re highlighting the groundbreaking work of Stefy Bau, former motocross champion turned Founder & CEO of Init Esports. In her conversation with Wondr Nation President & CEO Anika Howard, Stefy talks about her career journey from her time as a professional athlete to her current role at the world’s first woman-led sim racing company. Stefy shares her passion for STEM education and introducing young people to motorsports and engineering while emphasizing the importance of authenticity and community.

In honor of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Level Up with Wondr welcomes Manjit Gombra Singh to the podcast to discuss his extensive career spanning three decades in tech and gaming. Manjit details his path from software engineering to his current work as CEO & Founder of DruvStar, providing cybersecurity solutions in gaming and healthcare. He shares insights on the importance of data security and the future of cybersecurity with the rise of AI, while also sharing how he has found success in identifying and solving client problems. 

Melanie Gross joins the podcast to discuss what she's learned in her two decades of experience in the iGaming industry, from her start in engineering to her current role as Senior Vice President and Head of Product at Golden Hearts Games. She shares stories about some pivotal moments and projects throughout her career as well as her love of start-up environments and her passion for building and managing effective teams. 

This Problem Gambling Awareness Month, we are highlighting the work our partners at the Connecticut Council on Problem Gambling (CCPG) are doing to address gambling related harm in the state of Connecticut. Shebrikea Warburton, Program Manager for the Multicultural Problem Gambling Prevention Program joins the podcast to share more about the CCPG’s efforts to better understand the culturally based motivation to gamble and increasing protective factors within communities. She provides insights on the importance of targeted prevention efforts while offering advice to others looking to implement similar programming.