As summer approaches, conference season kicks into high gear, bringing a whirlwind of networking events, exhibitions and expos. If you’re anything like me, the excitement of reconnecting with friends and meeting new people is often overshadowed by a lot of exhaustion that seems disproportionate to the activities involved. After a day of attending sessions and socialising, you might feel completely drained, as if you’ve run a marathon instead of simply standing around chatting.

In this episode I explore the reasons behind this exhaustion and share practical tips to help you navigate conferences and networking events without burning out.

I also share some tips from a neurodivergent perspective which I’ve been trying at recent events.

Send me your questions/comments at: https://www.gothboss.co.uk/podcast 

Want to watch the video version of this episode? You can find it on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@gothboss 

You can find me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/catburton/

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Growing up, I thought ADHD meant you had to be a hyperactive boy who couldn't sit still. I was the quiet, A* student, so it never crossed my mind that my burnouts, working memory issues, sensory overwhelm and a constant need for novelty were all part of the same picture.

In this episode, I walk through everything that led me to seek an ADHD diagnosis in my 40s, what the private assessment process was like and the months since: unmasking, quitting alcohol and finally understanding why a 9–5 & sitting at a desk has always felt really, really difficult.

I also answer listener questions on how diagnosis has impacted my career and share the coping mechanisms that are currently working for my brain.

There’s a quick mention of perimenopause and I chat about what my next steps are.

Chapters

00:00 Understanding ADHD Diagnosis at 41

00:55 The Journey to Self-Discovery

02:26 Exploring Neurodivergent Burnout

04:33 Identifying Symptoms of Neurodivergence

06:43 Boredom and Task Initiation

08:22 The Need for Novelty and Impulsivity

10:03 The Hobby Pile of Shame

12:06 Working Memory Challenges

16:29 Sensory Sensitivities and Their Impact

21:23 Body Awareness and Emotional Regulation

25:01 Navigating Social Relationships and People-Pleasing

30:38 Struggling to Stop

31:37 Anticipation and Waiting

33:32 Conversation Overload

37:19 Dopamine Seeking

38:58 Struggles with Reading and Attention

40:16 Why it Took Until 40 to Seek a Diagnosis

42:36 The Journey to Diagnosis

44:14 The Diagnosis Process

51:19 Understanding ADHD: The Assessment Experience

53:01 Post-Diagnosis Reflections and Adjustments

01:00:03 Embracing Movement and Fidgeting

01:02:40 Understanding People Pleasing and Rejection Sensitivity

01:05:29 The Impact of Masking and Authenticity

01:08:10 How I'm Reworking My Relationship With Dopamine

01:09:18 Reassessing My Relationship With Alcohol

01:12:08 Reassessing Introversion

01:13:46 Finding Joy in Exercise and Novelty

01:16:06 Reassessing Friendships and Socialising

01:19:02 Am I Taking Any Medication?

01:22:13 Career Reflections: Positives and Negatives of ADHD

01:26:16 Resources for Understanding ADHD

01:29:36 Building a Life That Works for Me

Mentioned resources & links

CareADHD: https://www.careadhd.co.uk/ 

Brain.fm

Late Bloomers Podcast <3

- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ADHD_love 

- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0BddWlSVqtvfSGy1mlWHr1 

ADHD Chatter podcast:

- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ADHD_Chatter_Podcast

- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/371UdLohffgSlWAEuQ55Hi 

Books I’m actually able to read:

- Piranesi - https://amzn.to/4aclRhF 

- The Midnight Library - https://amzn.to/3QcZVwh 

- Wool (Silo Series, pt 1) - https://amzn.to/4vWByBQ 

- Shift (Silo Series, pt 2) - https://amzn.to/4xyWKQ5 

Send me your questions/comments at: https://www.gothboss.co.uk/podcast 

Want to watch the video version of this episode? You can find it on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@gothboss 

You can find me on:

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

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gothbosscat 

P.S. Book links are Amazon affiliate links. Any clicks on those really helps support the show so I can keep producing free content.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Got something you know you need to do, but you just... don't? Maybe it's asking someone out, changing career, starting a business, or finally admitting that your job title doesn't fit you any more. In this episode I dig into why our brains cling to "better the devil you know" even when it’s making us miserable. I share my own fears and leaps of faith, and walk you through the questions that will help get you unstuck. You're probably never going to feel completely ready,  so here's a little pep talk to help you be brave and take action.

Send me your questions/comments at: https://www.gothboss.co.uk/podcast 

You can also find me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/catburton/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hands up if you ever get that creeping feeling on a Sunday evening that the weekend's over and Monday's lurking on the horizon.

Most of us know that feeling, but if it's happening every single week, it's worth figuring out what it's actually telling you.

In this episode we dig into what could be causing your Sunday dread, how to identify the specific things draining your energy and some small practical things you can do to make your week a little easier.

Key topics: Sunday dread, work anxiety, burnout, workplace stress, neurodivergence, ADHD, meetings, boundaries, commuting

P.S. In this episode I mention one of my favourite books: The Dip by Seth Godin. It’s brilliant. Here’s the link to Amazon/Audible (affiliate) if you wanted to give it a read/listen: https://amzn.to/4uRChUU 

I highly recommend it. It’s got me through a lot of big/tough decisions.

P.P.S. Affiliate links cost you nothing, but if you buy the book I get a tiny commission. Which helps me to keep releasing the podcast for free. It genuinely helps me out when you click an affiliate link, and you get more free content in return.

Send me your questions/comments at: https://www.gothboss.co.uk/podcast 

You can also find me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/catburton/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you've ever called yourself lazy or had someone else say it to you, this episode is for you.

Chances are, you're probably not lazy at all. You're likely depleted, overworked, burning out and running on empty.

In this episode we talk about where that horrible label comes from and what we do when we're low energy that makes things worse.

I remind you why rest isn't a reward & how it is an essential part of the process.

Key topics: burnout, depletion, rest, energy management, self-criticism, doomscrolling, productivity guilt, overscheduling

Send me your questions/comments at: https://www.gothboss.co.uk/podcast

You can also find me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/catburton/ 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The podcast is back! And it's had a bit of a makeover (or a make-under as I’ve stopped doing video, at least for now). In this update episode, I explain why I've been away for so long, why I've renamed the podcast and what you can expect going forward.

If you're someone who looks fine on the outside but is quietly struggling underneath, this is for you.

It’s good to be back!

Key topics: burnout, sustainable success, ADHD, imposter syndrome, masking, people pleasing, career pivots, purpose

Send me your questions/comments at: https://www.gothboss.co.uk/podcast

You can also find me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/catburton/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dan Pinchbeck is the co-founder of The Chinese Room, the award-winning studio behind many wonderful games including Dear Esther, Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs, Everybody’s Gone to the Rapture, Little Orpheus, Still Wakes The Deep and most recently Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2.

In this episode, we talk through Dan’s incredible journey with the studio. From its early days making Half-Life 2 mods to becoming one of the UK’s most distinctive storytelling studios. Dan opens up about the highs and lows of running a team and what really happened behind the scenes. He gives an honest insight into how he navigated creative burnout and what led him to leave the studio before Bloodlines 2 shipped.

We also get into some big industry topics: the AI hype sweeping game dev, what’s broken in the games industry and what gives him hope for the future of smaller studios.

Chapters:

00:00 The Origins of The Chinese Room

03:49 Starting with Mods: Conscientious Objector, Antilion Soccer, Dear Esther & Korsakovia

05:11 Moving to Commercial Games: Dear Esther and Amnesia: A Machine For Pigs

07:02 Shifting from Walking Simulators to Horror Games

12:39 The Formation of The Chinese Room as a Company

16:33 The Impact of Studio Size on Development

20:23 Funding Struggles and the Studio Downsizing in 2017

25:57 Recovery and the Sumo Group Acquisition

29:06 Little Orpheus and Maintaining Creative Control After Acquisition

34:01 The State of the Game Industry

39:26 The Impact of AI on Game Development

45:46 Challenges for Indie Developers

48:27 Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2

01:02:43 What's next for Dan

About Dan:

Dan Pinchbeck is a writer, creative director, and co-founder of the acclaimed UK studio The Chinese Room. With a background in academia and digital arts, he’s known for pioneering narrative-driven experiences that blur the line between storytelling, atmosphere, and player agency. Dan’s work has helped shape modern indie game storytelling and inspired a generation of developers to experiment with emotion and meaning in games. You can find him on:

Dan's Website: https://www.danpinchbeck.co.uk/

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

About Me

Hi, I’m Cat Burton! I've built studios, raised funding and shipped games to millions of players. Now I help you do the same with expert games consultancy and advice. The Goth Boss Podcast dives into the real challenges of making games and running game studios by sharing honest stories and inspiring conversations with my industry friends.

You can connect with me on:

GothBoss (Games Consultancy & Coaching): https://www.GothBoss.co.uk

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

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gothbosscat

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/gothbosscat.bsky.social

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@gothbosscat

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The game industry might be unpredictable, but your career doesn’t have to be.

In this episode, I share ten practical tips to help you stay strong while working through these really tough times.

Chapters:

00:00 10 Practical Tips to Future-Proof Your Career

02:00 Tip 1: Focus on What You Can Control

03:04 Tip 2: Be Ready for Change

05:25 Tip 3: Lift Others Up

07:23 Tip 4: Stay Visible

09:41 Tip 5: Protect Your Energy

12:49 Tip 6: Build Your Confidence

16:10 Tip 7: Lead with Transparency and Trust

19:41 Tip 8: Stay Curious and Keep Learning

22:09 Tip 9: Create Financial and Mental Stability

24:59 Tip 10: Redefine Success

27:15 Recap

Links:

UK game industry Slack: https://www.ukgamesindustry.com/

Imposter syndrome episode: https://youtu.be/hOTjI38cnCg?si=vogYLgBkFVvJ0AP3

Burnout episode: https://youtu.be/1tKNL_iuk1c?si=L_HSNh-5hA1vfWlR 

About Me:

Hi, I’m Cat Burton!

I've built studios, raised funding and shipped games to millions of players. Now I help you do the same with expert games consultancy and advice. The Goth Boss Podcast dives into the real challenges of making games and running game studios by sharing honest stories and inspiring conversations with my industry friends

You can find me on:

Goth Boss Studios: https://www.GothBoss.co.uk

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

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gothbosscat

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/gothbosscat.bsky.social

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@gothbosscat

Take Part:

Send me your questions to answer in future episodes! Or if you would like me to interview someone to hear about their game industry career, game or studio, please recommend them. Send me a message at: https://www.gothboss.co.uk/podcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if the key to solving the climate crisis, social inequality and even human behavior wasn’t found in policy papers, but in games?

In this episode, I sit down with Trevin York, founder of Dire Lark, to explore how Games for Change are reshaping the way we tackle global challenges. From climate action and healthcare to finance and education, Trevin reveals how playful design can turn complex, serious topics into experiences that inspire real-world impact.

We dive into the power of data to understand players, what it takes to design for transformation and the surprising business realities of running a purpose-driven game studio. You’ll hear how AI is influencing funding and what aspiring designers can do to build games that truly make a difference.

If you’ve ever wondered how games could actually change the world, this conversation will make you rethink what “serious play” really means.

Books:

Design for the real world by victor Papanek: https://amzn.to/43d7nKK 

Design when everybody designs by ezio manzini: https://amzn.to/3KKd2lh 

Designs for the pluriverse by Arturo escobar: https://amzn.to/4nMxzV3 

Ideas Arrangements Effects by the Design Studio for Social Intervention: https://amzn.to/477DpJx 

The Transformational Framework by Sabrina Culyba: https://amzn.to/4n446Vt 

Trevin's book - The Game Needs to Change: https://www.routledge.com/The-Game-Needs-to-Change-Towards-Sustainable-Game-Design/Prax-Whittle-York/p/book/9781032836195?srsltid=AfmBOoq7wZEBpY_yHJWvlB1iKJPOXi4CLmyWnPxGWdl4q1DXIl7DWJ69 

About Trevin

Trevin York  has spent over a decade collaborating with talented teams to make games and other interactive experiences focused on effecting lasting change. As the founder of Dire Lark, Trevin works with organizations ranging from tech startups to game studios to international firms, bringing game design techniques and processes to projects aiming for real-world positive impacts across a variety of contexts. You can find Trevin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trevin-york/, and Dire Lark at: https://direlark.co.uk/

About Cat

Hi, I’m Cat Burton! I've built studios, raised funding and shipped games to millions of players. Now I help you do the same with expert games consultancy and ecosystem building. The Goth Boss Podcast is where I dive into the real challenges of making games and running studios.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Unity has had a rough few years including PR disasters, project cancellations, layoffs, a now-cancelled runtime fee policy and a recent security flaw. Many developers have switched engines in the last few years as a result. But is Unity still the right engine for your next game?

In this episode, I break down Unity’s recent challenges, compare it to Unreal, Godot and GameMaker, and explain why many developers still stick with Unity in 2025.

Topics:

• Unity’s controversies & leadership shakeups

• Which engine to choose for for different project types

• Godot’s rise as an indie favorite

• Why Unity still excels for prototyping, mobile and AR/VR

Subscribe for more weekly insights into the games industry.

Chapters:

00:00 Unity's Current Crisis

01:01 A Few Difficult Years For Unity

04:20 Unity's Strengths and Advantages

06:51 Comparing Unity to Unreal Engine, Godot and Game Maker

07:09 Unity vs Unreal Engine

08:36 Unity vs Godot

09:48 Unity vs Game Maker

11:10 Where Unity Still Wins

12:27 Summary

14:15 Goth Boss Studios Podcast - Video Intro.mp4

References:

Pocket Gamer’s article about John Riccitiello calling people idiots: https://www.pocketgamer.biz/unity-ironsource-john-riccitiello-marc-whitten-merger/ 

John Riccitiello’s apology in Pocket Gamer: https://www.pcgamer.com/unity-ceo-apologizes-for-calling-developers-fking-idiots-promises-to-do-better/

Unity announces, then cancels, Gigaya: https://unity.com/blog/games/introducing-unitys-latest-sample-game-gigaya 

Unity layoffs 2022-2025: https://www.blog.udonis.co/mobile-marketing/mobile-games/unity-layoffs 

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