No guest? No problem. This week, it’s just Mike and Hillary catching up, swapping stories, and pretending there’s a plan.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Decoding corporate jargon

• Hillary's big move & Mike's career change

• Our time in NYC at Next.io

• LinkedIn's most embarrassing feature

• Where we're headed next

Dan Schrementi, President of Incredible Technologies, steps up to the mic to talk about the company’s comeback after a few rough years and why true persistence slot games deserve more respect in the gaming industry. We also cover what IS a true persistance game vs. perceived, because some listeners (Hillary) may need to know. In true Chicago grit fashion, Dan isn’t here to sugarcoat anything. Plus, he shares how he earned the coveted title of Sausage King of Chicago.

This week, we’re all in on Double Down Madness, the table game shaking up the casino floor. We’ve got Matt Booth, the mind behind it, breaking down how it came to life and why players can’t get enough. Mike McKiski met Matt back in their Light & Wonder table games days, and now they’re back together talking shop. Stack your chips, place your bets, and hit play.

Listen. If there’s one thing we’ve learned from the EKG Slot Awards, it’s that a tuxedo and a pair of Jordans can absolutely coexist, confetti cannons are not to be trusted, and yes—someone did take a full-on nap mid-awards show. We’re recapping the biggest wins, the boldest fashion choices, and the moments that had us questioning everything. Plus, we’re officially volunteering for the nominating committee because we have some strong opinions on the award categories that need to exist next year. Buckle up—it’s a good one.

Madam President has entered the chat and the floor is hers- literally and figuratively. Lauren Bates started at the front desk at Konami and worked her way up to VP at Light & Wonder and President of Global Gaming Women.

She learned her numbers on a mini roulette wheel, built her career from the ground up, and now she’s helping thousands of women do the same. In this episode, Lauren talks about the rapid global expansion of GGW, the Harvard-accredited programs launching soon, and why mentorship and peer networking are game changers in the industry.

Also, Mike may have gotten himself into something big. If GGW hits 10,000 members by G2E 2025, he’s sponsoring something at Kick Up Your Heels. It’s on record now. Ladies, you know what to do.

Diana Bennett doesn’t want to be called a Vegas legend, but let’s be real, she’s done more for this city than most. In this episode, we hear incredible stories from the mob days, her inspiring work giving back to Las Vegas, the phone call that cost her dad $4.9 million, and some classic gaming stories you won’t want to miss.

Diana is deeply involved in supporting these amazing organizations that are making a real difference in Las Vegas:

💜 The Shade Tree – https://www.theshadetree.org

🐾 Noah’s Animal House – https://noahsanimalhouse.org

🥫 Three Square – https://www.threesquare.org

👩‍💼 empowHER – https://www.rebelsempowher.org 

Bluberi's CEO Andrew Burke paid the MaxBet Podcast a visit and shared his insights on company culture, Bluberi's successful hiring hack, and most importantly, what his AOL instant messenger screen name was. Spoiler alert: It does not disappoint. Plus, Hillary and Mike interpret gaming industry buzzwords for regular humans.

If you're looking for a crash course on Web3 and blockchain, explained through Birkin bag examples, this is the episode for you! Cheli Wolf-Kroupp came to break it down for us like we're five, and for that, we thank her for her service.

Cheli is the COO at Uplandme, Inc. Upland is an immersive layer 1 gaming platform that uses virtual properties of the real world to engage players, creators, entrepreneurs, developers, and brands like FIFA or the NFL PA.

Erica Kosemund joins the MaxBet Podcast, and let’s just say Choctaw’s Gaming and Partnerships marketing is next-level creative. We’re talking about projecting messages on failed imploded buildings like it’s a Tuesday. Erica shares her favorite marketing stories, some huge wins for Choctaw, and how she somehow knows every celebrity (She didn’t outright say this, but the vibe was palpable, which, naturally, makes us all question our life choices.)

At the end, Hillary and Mike get into their Super Bowl bets, predictions, and the truly ridiculous things they’d actually bet on for the big game. In short, it's a rollercoaster of bad ideas. Stick around!

Mark Dedeaux, GM and Senior Vice President of Slots at AGS, joins us on the podcast to discuss gaming supplier strategy, what makes a premium game truly premium, and to share a his favorite gaming story from his time in Tunica, Mississippi, involving a 911 page, an interim casino manager, and a rowdy craps table.