Gaming has become the world's most valuable entertainment industry, eclipsing movies and music combined.
That's why we're launching "Game Jam," where we're reinventing how the gaming industry discovers and develops the next generation of innovation.
Gaming has evolved from niche hobby to cultural cornerstone. It's now the primary stress relief outlet for millions. Yet while the industry's dominance is clear, what fascinates us most are the unexpected ways technology is reshaping not just how we play games, but how we connect, create, and express ourselves through them.
Why Playing More Video Games Might Actually Make You Healthier, with Vanessa Lane @ Better Play Studios
Vanessa Lane of Better Play Studios discusses how intentional video game play can improve mental health, emotional regulation, and community connection in this interview with Max.
13 May 2025
Why the Most Relevant Brands in 2025 Are Weird, Fun, and Everywhere You’re Not, with Michael Miraflor
What do Duolingo, Roblox, and Ray-Ban Meta glasses have in common?
They’re all proof that brands are being built in places most marketers aren’t even looking.
In this episode, Max sits down with Michael Miraflor — independent brand strategist, former CMO, and trusted advisor to VC firms, startups, and Fortune 500s — for an unfiltered conversation on where modern marketing is headed.
They cover:
Why gaming is no longer just “media”, it’s culture.
The death (and rebirth) of brand building in a performance-obsessed world
Chaos packaging, ad-tech fatigue, and the real threat of AI-generated creative
Why CMOs are afraid of risk — and how to earn their trust anyway
What most early-stage companies misunderstand about branding in 2025
If you care about marketing, brand, or reaching the next generation of consumers, this is a masterclass.
🎧 Listen now and subscribe to Game Jam for weekly interviews on gaming, attention, and the future of interactive media.
29 Apr 2025
Why AR Isn’t a Gimmick Anymore, with Moody Mattan, Founder & CEO of BrandXR
Moody Mattan, Founder and CEO of BrandXR, joins Max Albert to break down where augmented reality is actually working—and where it’s just hype.
From activating 3-minute ad experiences in Miami to building military-grade training tools and retail tech for tattoo parlors, Moody walks through real-world AR use cases that are solving real business problems today.
This isn’t a conversation about the metaverse. It’s a tactical, on-the-ground look at:
Why AR murals outperformed traditional ads
How BrandXR raised capital by doing cool shit (not just pitching decks)
Why the best AR apps will be invisible, not immersive
What startups are fundable in 2025 (and what’s still 10 years out)
The most promising AR products coming down the pipeline
We even play AR Shark Tank, pitching Moody wild concepts like memory-enhancing glasses and virtual wardrobe filters.
If you’re a founder, investor, or operator building in the gaming, spatial tech, or adtech ecosystem—this is required listening.
15 Apr 2025
The Publishing Industry Is Broken. Here’s How We Fix It. With Ben Kvalo of Midwest Games
Is the future of game publishing being built in the Midwest?
In this episode, Game Jam host Max Albert sits down with Ben Kvalo, founder of Midwest Games and former Netflix Games executive, for one of the most honest, insightful, and eye-opening conversations about the state of game publishing today.
Ben is not just building a new publisher. He’s rebuilding the entire model—with a developer-first approach, a new monetization structure, and a commitment to supporting talent in underrepresented regions like the Midwest.
This episode covers it all:
Why 1.74% of games are earning 90% of the revenue
How most publishers are still stuck in a broken, extractive model
What “shadow publishing” is and why it might be the future
Why Netflix Games is really about retention, not content
And what it means to build sustainable infrastructure for indies in 2025 and beyond
Whether you’re an indie dev, investor, publisher, or just someone who cares about the future of gaming—you do not want to miss this conversation.
Topics Covered:
00:00 – GDC, VIP sightings, and post-conference chaos
03:00 – Why the games industry still exploits developers
06:00 – How game publishing is becoming more like indie film
09:00 – Ben’s process for evaluating games at Midwest
14:00 – What makes a game commercially viable
17:00 – Shocking revenue stats: publishers vs. everyone else
20:00 – Inside Netflix Games: retention, IP strategy, and churn
26:00 – Why gaming needs better curation platforms
33:00 – The rise of Shadow Publishing
40:00 – Building a sustainable publishing model for 2025
44:00 – Overrated vs. underrated: AI art, live service, UGC
50:00 – Publishing in the Midwest and funding overlooked talent
2 Apr 2025
Funding, Friction, and the Future of Gaming: Hard Truths from Justin Berenbaum, VP Strategic Planning at Xsolla & GM Xsolla Funding Club
Is the gaming industry broken—or just evolving?
In this wide-ranging episode, Max Albert sits down with Justin Berenbaum, VP Strategic Planning at Xsolla & GM Xsolla Funding Club, to unpack the massive shifts happening across game development, funding, publishing, and player behavior.
Whether you’re building your first indie game, fundraising for your studio, or just trying to make sense of this weird post-pandemic gaming economy—this episode is your founder’s field guide.
Justin has nearly 30 years of strategic development experience in the video game industry. As part of his role at Xsolla, Justin travels the globe, speaking at events on topics such as funding, investment, strategic partnerships, and the broader video game industry. Justin has worked with thousands of developers and publishers across the globe, and brings an unfiltered perspective of someone who’s actually read the pitch decks, fielded the builds, and seen what works (and what definitely doesn’t).
🎯 We dive deep into:
Why you should build your game like you’ll never get funded
What publishers actually want to see before they take a meeting
How indie devs are failing to think like businesses
The truth about market oversaturation and content fatigue
Why wishlists ≠ players (and what matters more)
The rise (and risks) of UGC and platform-driven development
Why “games with purpose” are attracting smart money
The biggest mistake devs make when copying breakout hits
How to pitch like your survival depends on it—because it might
From Steam oversupply to building community before building hype—this conversation is the realest talk on game development and publishing you’ll hear all year.
26 Mar 2025
The Death of Bro-Science Protein: How Wellious Is Changing the Game, with Sean Hall
In this episode, Max Albert sits down with Sean Hall, the founder of wellious, a wellness-focused protein powder brand that went from a $3,000 side hustle to a multi-million dollar business—without raising a dollar of venture capital (yet).
Sean shares the full behind-the-scenes of building Wellious:
🏋️♂️ How he developed the product in just 3 months
💡 Why taste & brand matter more than hype
📈 What’s working (and what’s not) when it comes to content, influencers, and awareness
🧠 The mindset and discipline that helped him stay consistent—both in the gym and as a founder
💸 What he’s learned as he enters his first fundraise after building a profitable foundation
Whether you’re in CPG, bootstrapping a business, or trying to build a brand people actually care about—this episode is a masterclass in focus, consistency, and building something real.
18 Mar 2025
How Gaming is Becoming a Catalyst for Wellness & Personal Growth, with Alina Matson, CEO and Co-founder of Glossbird
Gaming is evolving. It’s no longer just about entertainment—it’s becoming a powerful tool for personal growth, wellness, and community building.In this episode, Max Albert sits down with Alina Matson, CEO & Founder of Glossbird, to discuss how gaming is shifting from escapism to empowerment. From launching Fitment, an exercise game inspired by Animal Crossing, to developing Nudes, a desktop tool that fights distractions (yes, we talk about those Nudes), Alina is redefining what games can do for players beyond just fun.🔥 In this episode, we cover:✔️ The VC vs. publisher debate—how should indie studios raise money?✔️ How games are being designed to improve mental & physical wellness✔️ The biggest mistakes indie founders make when pitching their games✔️ Where gaming is headed in 2025 & beyond—new trends in funding, community, and retention✔️ Why the next big thing in gaming isn’t just about graphics—it’s about growth🎮 If you’re an indie developer, game marketer, or just obsessed with how gaming is changing the world, this episode is for you.📌 Timestamps:00:00 - Intro02:00 - VC vs. Publishers: What Indie Studios Need to Know10:30 - Why Games Are the Next Frontier for Wellness & Self-Improvement18:45 - The Story Behind “Nudes” (Yes, That’s the Actual Game Name)26:00 - Monetization & Retention Strategies for Indie Developers34:15 - The Future of Gaming: Where the Industry is Headed42:00 - Final Thoughts & Where to Find Alina🔔 Subscribe for more deep dives into the gaming industry & how it’s transforming culture, business, and creativity.
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