Henry Burreson joins us today to talk about influencer marketing, podcasting, how to grow an audience organically, and the courage and resources needed to turn a passion into a profitable business. 

Henry is the Co-host of "Third Party: An Apex Legends Podcast" and Co-founder of Third Party Productions. He is an influencer marketing and multimedia producer, content creator, Patreon ambassador, and part of the EA Creator Network. 

Henry shared valuable insights on content creation, audience growth, and how to generate ROI from influencer marketing throughout our conversation. We delve into the pros and cons of having a podcast dedicated entirely to one game; Henry described how and why he decided to start the show and the keys to making it grow and evolve with time. 

Henry also talks about his goals when he started the podcast, the lessons learned along the way, how connecting with Patreon changed everything, and much more. 

Resources:

Listen to the Third Party podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/third-party-an-apex-legends-podcast/id1500861437.

Third Party Pod Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thirdpartypod

Connect with Henry on social media:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/henryburreson/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/HbBurreson?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor

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The profound connection between music and video games is undeniable. Whether it is because certain soundtracks are designed to change and adjust to the game's progression or because certain songs create core memories in gamers' minds, at this point, it is possible to state that one couldn't exist without the other.

In this episode, Alex Tarrand joins us to talk a bit more about the symbiotic relationship between music and gaming, which enhances not only the user experience playing the game but also game developers and music artists. Alex is the COO and Co-Founder at Styngr, a lifelong gamer, a serial entrepreneur, and a specialist in music tech, P&L ownership, forecasting & modeling, VOD/Live mobile streaming production, product management, sponsorships, social media, and behavioral economics, among many other things.

Throughout our conversation, we delve into Alex's journey in the gaming industry and his intimate relationship with music, and his experiences working with different labels and publishers. Alex also shares his thoughts on the relationship between the metaverse and other emerging technologies and music, some missteps in the music industry most game developers make, and more.

Resources:

Visit Styngr's website: https://www.styngr.com/

Connect with Alex on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alextarrand/

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In today's episode, Rob Johnson visits us to help us answer perhaps one of the most asked questions in the esports space, how to effectively connect brands with esports fans? 

Rob is the CEO of Playfly Esports, co-author of "Millennial Reboot," and a passionate marketer who has been solving traditional sports, entertainment, and esports marketing problems for almost the last two decades. 

We delve into Rob's journey in traditional sports, from unpaid internships to his first position in Marketing with the Philadelphia Flyers, and his transition from traditional sports to gaming and esports. He described how Playfly helps companies understand the value of advertising in esports and how they build that connection in an industry that is so dependent on brands' dollars. 

Rob also talked about how building relationships and consistency helped him get into traditional sports and entertainment first and esports and gaming later, the importance of establishing trust and managing expectations with brands, and more. 

Resources:

Visit the Playfly Esports website: https://playfly.com/esports/.

or Connect with Rob on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnsonr/details/experience/

Book: Kate Athmer, Rob Johnson: Millennial Reboot: Our Generation's Playbook for Professional Growth: https://www.amazon.com/Millennial-Reboot-Generations-Playbook-Professional-ebook/dp/B01MXPMV9J/ref=sr_1_5?crid=3OG2G2RIAZL21&keywords=millennial+reboot&qid=1658662020&sprefix=milennial+reboo%2Caps%2C162&sr=8-5

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Chris Ray joins us today to talk about his videographer career, his transition from skate filmer to filmmaker, and his experiences working for Transworld, DC Shoes, and now starting his own company, Motion Clubhouse.

Chris Ray is a filmmaker and Co-founder of Motion Clubhouse, a company founded by award-winning creators specializing in all forms of video production.

In this episode, we delve into Chris' first steps as a skateboarder and skate filmer, his passion for video production, and his relentless approach to pro skateboarders that opened so many doors for him in the skateboarding world. Chris also shared his first impressions dealing with the pros he admired, how he got mentored into crafting his filmmaking skills, and the contrasting reality between producing films for skateboarding and any other industry.

In addition, Chris remembers the most memorable trips he experienced traveling the world with skateboarding, how DC helped him transition from skate filmer to filmmaker, and more.

Resources:

Visit Motion Clubhouse's website: https://www.motionclubhouse.com/.

Follow them on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/motionclubhouse/.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/MOTIONCLUBHOUSE.

Or connect with Chris on social media:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisrayfilms/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chrisrayfilms/?hl=es

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Joining us today is Alex "Axeltoss" Rodrigues to talk about streaming, education, and the present and future of esports.

Alex is an Esports Host/Commentator, a Producer, Advisor, and Player and Community Development Director at Oxygen Esports. Alex is a Texas A&M University graduate who got his Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Journalism. For the last decade, Alex has been broadcasting consistently from his home studio, following esports and gaming tendencies, and supporting local and international initiatives, always aiming for the industry's growth and evolution. 

In this episode, we delve into Alex's journey in the industry, his relationship with casual and competitive gaming, and how he blended his passion for communication, journalism, and video games. He shared his thoughts on the opportunities for newcomers in esports, the many entrance paths available, and the importance of supporting and engaging with local communities. 

We also talk about the opportunities for esports in college and the fertile ground schools provide for students to generate growth for the industry, the educational institutions, and themselves. In the end, Alex shared a tidbit of what we can expect in esports in the following years. 

Resources:

Visit Oxygen Esports website: https://www.oxgesports.com/.

Or connect with Alex on social media:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/axeltoss?lang=es

Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/axeltoss

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/Axeltoss

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/axeltoss/

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Mark Neifeld joins us today to talk about entrepreneurship, leadership, and how to disrupt an industry by creating a business that provides value for an underserved community.

Mark is a creator, a leader, a builder, and the Commissioner and CEO of the Sport Fishing Championship. He developed, created, and produced new customer experiences in sports, entertainment, live events, media and film. Before starting his own business, Mark worked with massive firms like the Dallas Cowboys, Texas Rangers, Georgia Dome and Tampa Bay Lightning, to name a few. 

In this episode, we delve into Mark's transition from working for massive organizations to starting his own company. He shares how coming back home during the pandemic connected him with his roots, his love for fishing, and how that influenced him to start the Sport Fishing Championship. 

Mark also talks about how working for the Dallas Cowboys influenced his business and entrepreneurship style, how he convinced stakeholders to bet for him, how the Sport Fishing Championship sees and adapts to new technologies, and how they plan to attract young audiences. 

Resources:

Visit the Sport Fishing Championship website: https://www.sportfishingchampionship.com/.

Connect with Mark on social media:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markeneifeld/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sfcfishcommish/?hl=es

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This week, we are joined by Joe Cox to talk about pop culture and marketing, marketing in gaming and esports, and the opportunities for brands in the metaverse. 

Joe is the Founder and Creator of The Pop-Marketer, host of the Pop-Marketing Podcast, and a lifelong marketer passionate about helping brands incorporate pop culture and use it to connect deeply with their communities. 

Throughout our conversation, we delve into Joe's career, his first steps in marketing, and Pop-Marketer's approach to advertising campaigns and activations. We talk about the intersection between pop culture and marketing, the importance of understanding a community's identity, the mashup between physical and digital identities, and the opportunities brands aren't seeing there. 

Joe also shared his view on the metaverse and depicted some of the many opportunities it offers for gaming, content creation, and music industries. 

Resources:

Visit The Pop-Marketer website:https://www.pop-marketer.com/.

Listen to The Pop-Marketing Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-pop-marketing-podcast/id1518917910. 

Connect with Joe on social media:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jocox/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joecox/?hl=es

Twitter: https://twitter.com/joenormal

This episode is sponsored by Ice Shaker! Grab your own custom DLC Drop Ice Shaker at: https://www.IceShaker.com/DLCDrop

And make sure you use the code DLCDrop to save 20% off ALL Ice Shaker Products.

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In this episode, we are led by hand behind-the-scenes of marketing and e-commerce by Robert Brink, Director of Digital Marketing & E-commerce, who has been writing copy and creating disruptive content for over 22 years.

Robert created and launched digital content and marketing strategies for Paul Rodriguez's Primitive Skateboards and Tony Hawk's Ride Channel. He wrote copy for Beats, Red Bull, Complex, Playboy, ESPN, High Snobiety, Boost Mobile, Monster Energy, and many other leading brands. Robert also co-created, co-produced, and hosted skateboarding's first round table talk show, with over 20 million views and still counting.

We delve into Robert's background as a skateboarder and his transition to the marketing side of it, his first steps in his e-commerce successful and fruitful journey, and his distinctive look at connecting with audiences. We glance at the kitchen of some of the most influential marketing campaigns Robert created, and he shares his thoughts on skateboarding's uniqueness and how it influenced broader culture. 

Resources:

Follow Robert on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/robertbrink/?hl=es.

This episode is sponsored by Ice Shaker! Grab your own custom DLC Drop Ice Shaker at: https://www.IceShaker.com/DLCDrop

And make sure you use the code DLCDrop to save 20% off ALL Ice Shaker Products.

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Joining us today is Ryan Johnson to talk about inclusion, minority representation, HBCUs and brands collaborations, and the multiple opportunities for underrepresented communities in the esports and gaming industry. 

As the Founder and CEO of Cxmmunity, Ryan focuses on increasing minority representation in esports through STEAM development. Cxmmunity successfully established solid partnerships with Verizon, Twitch, Microsoft, Discover, and The House of Hoops, to name some of them. 

In this episode, Ryan talks about his upbringing, his relationship with video games, and his parents' influence that encouraged and inspired him to get involved in solving social issues. We also discuss traditional industries, sports, and media, what esports can learn from them, and the ones to improve. 

Ryan shares valuable advice for students and schools about a practical approach to the industry and advice for parents of gamer kids. In addition, we talk about minority representation in every aspect of gaming, from pro players to game development.

Resources:

Visit the Cxmmunity website: https://www.cxmmunity.co/.

Follow them on all social media platforms:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cxmmunity.co/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cxmmunity/

Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/cxmmunityco

Twitter: https://twitter.com/cxmmunity

Discord: https://discord.com/invite/qYfEurn9ty

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Cxmmunity/?modal=admin_todo_tour

Connect with Ryan on social media:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-johnson-249497aa/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ryanranitup?lang=es

This episode is sponsored by Ice Shaker! Grab your own custom DLC Drop Ice Shaker at: https://www.IceShaker.com/DLCDrop

And make sure you use the code DLCDrop to save 20% off ALL Ice Shaker Products.

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This week, we are joined by Justin Varghese to talk about esports, marketing, and partnerships. 

Justin is in charge of Sales and Marketing Partnerships at Panda. He is an event speaker, esports broadcaster and evangelist, taco aficionado, and a dear friend.

He shared a holistic view of the esports ecosystem, developed through his vast experience in the industry. Justin gives his thoughts on the struggle of esports teams to generate revenue from partnerships and how they address the issue at Panda. We also talk about the different strategies to attract sponsors, including the tricky ones and their effects on the audience. In addition, we talk about the Fighting Gaming Community (FGC), and Justin explains why he thinks FGC is the bedrock of esports. 

Resources:

Visit Panda's website: https://www.panda.gg/

Connect with Justin on social media:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jvarg1990/details/experience/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/jvarg1990

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