by Good Game Club Podcast
The Good Game Club Podcast 🎙️- where conversations about good gaming happen. Hosted by Jude Ower MBE and Mathias Norvig, we shine a light on gaming’s hidden and unexpected benefits, and the positive impact digital play can have on people and the planet. In partnership with Tencent. Please give your valuable feedback - https://form.typeform.com/to/XMt11pO5
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🇺🇲
Publishing Since
11/21/2025
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July 23, 2026
<p>In this episode of the <strong>Good Game Club Podcast</strong>, we're joined by <strong>Dr. Rachel Kowert</strong>, Research Director at <strong>Games for Change</strong>, to discuss her groundbreaking new white paper, <strong>Raising Good Gamers: What Families Need to Know About Video Games and Well-Being</strong>. Released at the annual <strong>Games for Change Festival</strong> in New York, the white paper marks the next phase of <strong>Raising Good Gamers</strong>, a Games for Change programme supported by <strong>Tencent Games</strong>.</p><p>Together, we unpack one of the biggest challenges facing gaming today: the gap between public perception and the evidence. We explore why parents remain fearful of games despite decades of research, how policymakers, industry leaders and families can work from a shared understanding, and why the conversation needs to move from panic to partnership.</p><p>Along the way, Rachel shares practical advice for families, explains why context matters more than screen time, and reminds us that games are, fundamentally, play—and that play is essential to human wellbeing.</p><p>Learn more about <strong>Raising Good Gamers</strong> at:<a href="https://www.raisinggoodgamers.com/"> <u>https://www.raisinggoodgamers.com/</u></a></p><p><br></p><p><strong>00:00 – Games Are Play</strong> Why play is fundamental to wellbeing and why gaming deserves to be part of that conversation.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>00:01:15 – Rachel's Journey into Gaming Research</strong> How a future therapist became one of the leading researchers exploring games and wellbeing after questions from worried parents during the World of Warcraft era.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>00:02:20 – The Biggest Misunderstanding About Games</strong> Why games are often dismissed as frivolous despite research showing play remains essential throughout our lives.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>00:03:40 – Why the Moral Panic Around Games Has Lasted 50 Years</strong> Exploring why gaming has remained trapped in a cycle of fear long after other media panics faded.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>00:05:34 – Why Parents Mostly See Negative Gaming Stories</strong> New research reveals parents are five times more likely to encounter negative messages about games than positive ones.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>00:07:26 – The Stories We Need to Tell</strong> How documentaries like The Remarkable Life of Ibelin demonstrate the life-changing social impact of games.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>00:10:08 – From Panic to Partnership</strong> Why parents don't need to fear games—they need the tools to understand and navigate them alongside their children.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>00:11:01 – Inside the Raising Good Gamers White Paper</strong> Rachel explains the paper's goals, the biggest parental concerns, and how it translates research into practical guidance.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>00:13:02 – Parents, Industry and Policymakers Need a Shared Language</strong> Why this research matters not only for families, but also for studios designing games and governments creating regulation.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>00:16:42 – Content vs Context</strong> Why researchers argue parents should worry less about hours played and more about who children are playing with and why they're playing.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>00:19:39 – Healthy Gaming Doesn't Have a Magic Number</strong> Why communication matters more than screen time limits, and why gaming should be viewed as part of a child's wider life ecosystem.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>00:22:13 – How Rachel Parents Gamers at Home</strong> Practical approaches to age ratings, online safety, family conversations and setting healthy gaming boundaries.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>00:31:10 – The Research Questions We Should Be Asking</strong> Moving beyond outdated debates about violence towards conversations around digital wellbeing, online safety and children's right to play.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>00:35:00 – A Message to Every Parent</strong> Rachel's simple advice: learn about the games your children play, because understanding removes fear.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>00:36:20 – The Golden Thread</strong> Rachel shares why Final Fantasy VI remains her favourite game, the gaming moments that made her cry, and leaves a thought-provoking question for the next guest.</p><p><br></p>
July 9, 2026
<p>Can gaming become one of the most powerful tools for preparing people for the future of work?</p><p><br></p><p>In this episode of the <strong>Good Game Club Podcast</strong>, we speak with <strong>David Barrie</strong>, Co-Founder of <strong>Game Academy</strong>, about how games develop real-world skills, why gamers are uniquely positioned for the future economy, and how gaming communities can unlock opportunities for education, employment and social mobility. From AI and neurodiversity to urban regeneration and community building, David shares why games are far more than entertainment—they're engines for human potential.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>00:00 – Welcome to the Good Game Club</strong> Introducing David Barrie and why Game Academy perfectly aligns with the mission of healthy gaming.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>01:30 – What is Game Academy?</strong> How Game Academy helps gamers turn their passion into careers through government-backed education and employability programmes.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>02:45 – Why Gamers Are Ready for the Future of Work</strong> The origins of Game Academy and why gaming naturally develops many of tomorrow's most valuable skills.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>05:45 – From Documentary Filmmaker to Community Builder</strong> David's unconventional career journey and how experiences in journalism, filmmaking and urban regeneration shaped his thinking.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>08:00 – Lessons from Liberia: The Power of Community</strong> How witnessing self-organisation inside a Liberian prison fundamentally changed David's understanding of community.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>11:00 – Gaming Communities as Learning Communities</strong> Why gamers naturally collaborate, teach one another and solve problems together.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>18:30 – What 50,000 Players Revealed</strong> The research connecting game preferences with career paths, from Football Manager to cybersecurity and management.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>22:00 – Should Games Become Part of Education?</strong> Why David believes commercial games belong inside future curricula alongside traditional teaching.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>26:30 – Healthy Gaming vs. Isolation</strong> Balancing gaming's incredible benefits with the importance of maintaining healthy relationships outside the game.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>31:00 – Neurodiversity and Unlocking Talent</strong> How Game Academy supports neurodivergent learners and why gaming offers alternative pathways into employment.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>35:00 – Why Gamers Are on the Right Side of History</strong> The rise of digital work, AI and why gamers already possess many of tomorrow's most valuable capabilities.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>44:00 – AI, Creativity and the Future of Games</strong> The opportunities and concerns surrounding generative AI, storytelling and game development.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>47:00 – A Call to Parents, Studios and Employers</strong> Why we should "cut gamers some slack" and build deeper relationships with gaming communities.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>50:00 – Mapping Games to Careers</strong> How Game Academy is working with major employers to connect game genres with professional skills.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>52:20 – Architects of Culture</strong> David's advice for the games industry and why developers should see themselves as builders of the future.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>54:30 – The Golden Thread Question</strong> "What skills in your personal and professional life were born in games?"</p><p><br></p><p><br></p>
July 2, 2026
<p>In this episode of the <strong>Good Game Club Podcast</strong>, we sit down with <strong>Brian Ward</strong>, CEO of Savvy Games Group, to explore how Saudi Arabia is reshaping the future of gaming through Vision 2030. Drawing on three decades of leadership across Electronic Arts, Xbox, Activision and now Savvy, Brian shares insights into building one of the world's most ambitious gaming ecosystems, the rise of esports, the power of gaming communities, and why games are becoming one of the most important platforms for education, economic development and social impact. From Play-to-Learn programmes reaching hundreds of thousands of students to the future of responsible leadership in gaming, this conversation offers a fascinating perspective on where the industry is heading.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>00:00 – Welcome & Introducing Brian Ward</strong> </p><p>Brian's background across EA, Xbox, Activision and his move to Savvy Games Group.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>01:26 – Vision 2030 & Building Saudi Arabia's Gaming Ecosystem</strong> How Savvy fits into Saudi Arabia's national transformation strategy and its ambition to become a global gaming hub.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>03:50 – Why Savvy Invested in Esports First</strong> The acquisition of ESL FACEIT Group and the role esports plays in building community and engagement.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>05:20 – The Rise of Community-Driven Games</strong> What Monopoly GO! and live-service games reveal about player behaviour, friendships and long-term engagement.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>07:49 – Why Humans Need Play</strong> Gaming as a fundamental part of learning, social development and human connection.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>10:28 – Demystifying Esports</strong> Why professional gaming requires elite skill, and what esports can learn from Formula 1's storytelling.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>14:56 – Creating Gaming's Next Generation of Celebrities</strong> Why esports players deserve the same recognition as athletes and entertainers.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>17:11 – Female Esports Growth in Saudi Arabia</strong> Why Saudi Arabia now has one of the highest rates of female professional esports participation.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>19:35 – What Parents & Policymakers Need to Understand About Gaming</strong> Why modern gaming is fundamentally social, educational and increasingly career-focused.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>22:12 – Play to Learn: 700,000 Students Sign Up</strong> How game design education is inspiring the next generation of STEM talent.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>24:00 – Supporting Indie Developers & The Role of AI</strong> Why independent studios remain vital and how AI may help democratise game development.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>26:20 – Responsible Leadership in Gaming</strong> Building healthy ecosystems, empowering studios and creating long-term industry impact.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>30:00 – Games as Career Development</strong> How gaming develops transferable skills and why ecosystem-building is Brian's lasting legacy.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>33:06 – Favourite Games & Lessons from Space Invaders</strong> From Need for Speed to TriPeaks Solitaire—and late-night arcade sessions that lasted until sunrise.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>36:06 – The Meaning of Life... Through Games</strong> Brian's question for the next Good Game Club guest and reflections on the future of gaming in the Middle East.</p><p><br></p>
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The Good Game Club Podcast 🎙️- where conversations about good gaming happen.
Hosted by Jude Ower MBE and Mathias Norvig, we shine a light on gaming’s hidden and unexpected benefits, and the positive impact digital play can have on people and the planet.
In partnership with Tencent.
Please give your valuable feedback - https://form.typeform.com/to/XMt11pO5
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