Founder's Quest Podcast
@gamefounders.org
We interview founders of game studios about their journey with startup life, fundraising, co-founder dating, and finding emotional support along the way. Trying to share real stories and de-mythologize the journey. Episodes on Thursdays, weekly (mostly)
Ep 13: M. Yichao, Jam & Tea Studios
Yichao shares how he was convinced to join a founding journey he wasn't entirely planning on, and how moving from theater and narrative design into a startup founder has been different than what he expected.
Listen:
Yichao shares how he was convinced to join a founding journey he wasn't entirely planning on, and how moving from theater and narrative design into a startup founder has been different than what he expected.
Listen:
Ep 13: M Yichao, Jam & Tea Studios
As the last episode of the year, I sat down with my co-founder at Jam & Tea Studios to have him share his founding journey. Hearing his perspective of the journey that we've shared really emphasized…
www.podbean.com
June 6, 2025 at 4:37 PM
Ep 13: M. Yichao, Jam & Tea Studios
Yichao shares how he was convinced to join a founding journey he wasn't entirely planning on, and how moving from theater and narrative design into a startup founder has been different than what he expected.
Listen:
Yichao shares how he was convinced to join a founding journey he wasn't entirely planning on, and how moving from theater and narrative design into a startup founder has been different than what he expected.
Listen:
Ep 12: Irena Pereira, Unleashed Games
Irena and I nerd out about our passion for social design and how more games could be built around that desire and need for humans to find belonging. And how that passion has shaped her founding journey.
Listen: www.podbean.com/eas/pb-9xsqu...
Irena and I nerd out about our passion for social design and how more games could be built around that desire and need for humans to find belonging. And how that passion has shaped her founding journey.
Listen: www.podbean.com/eas/pb-9xsqu...
June 5, 2025 at 4:09 PM
Ep 12: Irena Pereira, Unleashed Games
Irena and I nerd out about our passion for social design and how more games could be built around that desire and need for humans to find belonging. And how that passion has shaped her founding journey.
Listen: www.podbean.com/eas/pb-9xsqu...
Irena and I nerd out about our passion for social design and how more games could be built around that desire and need for humans to find belonging. And how that passion has shaped her founding journey.
Listen: www.podbean.com/eas/pb-9xsqu...
Ep 10: Ran Mo, Proxima
Ran came up through consulting and worked for a stint at EA before jumping into his own startup. His journey was one that was pretty tough but ultimately he found stability and conviction, releasing Suck Up in 2023.
Listen: www.podbean.com/eas/pb-iqtnh...
Ran came up through consulting and worked for a stint at EA before jumping into his own startup. His journey was one that was pretty tough but ultimately he found stability and conviction, releasing Suck Up in 2023.
Listen: www.podbean.com/eas/pb-iqtnh...
June 4, 2025 at 5:27 PM
Ep 10: Ran Mo, Proxima
Ran came up through consulting and worked for a stint at EA before jumping into his own startup. His journey was one that was pretty tough but ultimately he found stability and conviction, releasing Suck Up in 2023.
Listen: www.podbean.com/eas/pb-iqtnh...
Ran came up through consulting and worked for a stint at EA before jumping into his own startup. His journey was one that was pretty tough but ultimately he found stability and conviction, releasing Suck Up in 2023.
Listen: www.podbean.com/eas/pb-iqtnh...
Ep 11: Jeanne-Marie Owens, Critical Path Games
Jeanne had a front-row seat to startup founder life from her time at Phoenix Labs and shares how that shaped her founding journey with Critical Path. Getting to take direct lessons and apply them.
Listen: www.podbean.com/eas/pb-7k5km...
Jeanne had a front-row seat to startup founder life from her time at Phoenix Labs and shares how that shaped her founding journey with Critical Path. Getting to take direct lessons and apply them.
Listen: www.podbean.com/eas/pb-7k5km...
June 4, 2025 at 4:53 PM
Ep 11: Jeanne-Marie Owens, Critical Path Games
Jeanne had a front-row seat to startup founder life from her time at Phoenix Labs and shares how that shaped her founding journey with Critical Path. Getting to take direct lessons and apply them.
Listen: www.podbean.com/eas/pb-7k5km...
Jeanne had a front-row seat to startup founder life from her time at Phoenix Labs and shares how that shaped her founding journey with Critical Path. Getting to take direct lessons and apply them.
Listen: www.podbean.com/eas/pb-7k5km...
Ep 9: Mickael Zerihoun, Caldera Interactive
Mickael shares a journey of leveraging government grants, specifically the Canadian Media Fund, to help start a studio -- and what the transition from early volunteer team to funded startup looked like.
Listen: www.podbean.com/eas/pb-zvtu9...
Mickael shares a journey of leveraging government grants, specifically the Canadian Media Fund, to help start a studio -- and what the transition from early volunteer team to funded startup looked like.
Listen: www.podbean.com/eas/pb-zvtu9...
June 3, 2025 at 4:16 PM
Ep 9: Mickael Zerihoun, Caldera Interactive
Mickael shares a journey of leveraging government grants, specifically the Canadian Media Fund, to help start a studio -- and what the transition from early volunteer team to funded startup looked like.
Listen: www.podbean.com/eas/pb-zvtu9...
Mickael shares a journey of leveraging government grants, specifically the Canadian Media Fund, to help start a studio -- and what the transition from early volunteer team to funded startup looked like.
Listen: www.podbean.com/eas/pb-zvtu9...
Ep 8: Andy Mauro, Storycraft
Andy shares how he went from an exit in tech to building in his lifelong passion of games, what carries over and what doesn't, and how learning how to coach (and be coached) has helped him along the way.
Listen: www.podbean.com/eas/pb-kakky...
Andy shares how he went from an exit in tech to building in his lifelong passion of games, what carries over and what doesn't, and how learning how to coach (and be coached) has helped him along the way.
Listen: www.podbean.com/eas/pb-kakky...
May 30, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Ep 8: Andy Mauro, Storycraft
Andy shares how he went from an exit in tech to building in his lifelong passion of games, what carries over and what doesn't, and how learning how to coach (and be coached) has helped him along the way.
Listen: www.podbean.com/eas/pb-kakky...
Andy shares how he went from an exit in tech to building in his lifelong passion of games, what carries over and what doesn't, and how learning how to coach (and be coached) has helped him along the way.
Listen: www.podbean.com/eas/pb-kakky...
Ep 7: Guy Costantini, Stealth
Guy shares how he moved from marketing roles into founding a studio and trading his time at large studios including Riot and Skydance into a unique founding journey.
Listen: www.podbean.com/eas/pb-xgx6u...
Guy shares how he moved from marketing roles into founding a studio and trading his time at large studios including Riot and Skydance into a unique founding journey.
Listen: www.podbean.com/eas/pb-xgx6u...
May 29, 2025 at 4:09 PM
Ep 7: Guy Costantini, Stealth
Guy shares how he moved from marketing roles into founding a studio and trading his time at large studios including Riot and Skydance into a unique founding journey.
Listen: www.podbean.com/eas/pb-xgx6u...
Guy shares how he moved from marketing roles into founding a studio and trading his time at large studios including Riot and Skydance into a unique founding journey.
Listen: www.podbean.com/eas/pb-xgx6u...
Ep 6: Jenny Xu, Talofa Games
As you'll hear, Jenny is incredibly driven and that has propelled her on a very different founding journey: from having family as cofounders, learning leadership/management on the fly, & using her passion for fitness to network.
Listen: www.podbean.com/eas/pb-6scwt...
As you'll hear, Jenny is incredibly driven and that has propelled her on a very different founding journey: from having family as cofounders, learning leadership/management on the fly, & using her passion for fitness to network.
Listen: www.podbean.com/eas/pb-6scwt...
May 28, 2025 at 4:52 PM
Ep 6: Jenny Xu, Talofa Games
As you'll hear, Jenny is incredibly driven and that has propelled her on a very different founding journey: from having family as cofounders, learning leadership/management on the fly, & using her passion for fitness to network.
Listen: www.podbean.com/eas/pb-6scwt...
As you'll hear, Jenny is incredibly driven and that has propelled her on a very different founding journey: from having family as cofounders, learning leadership/management on the fly, & using her passion for fitness to network.
Listen: www.podbean.com/eas/pb-6scwt...
Episode 5: Zabir Hoque of Torbie Games
Zabir shares how he synthesized his student, startup, and big company experiences into founding Torbie. Torbie’s first game is coming soon, check it out on Steam here and wishlist! store.steampowered.com/app/1891280/...
Listen:
www.podbean.com/eas/pb-tj7pf...
Zabir shares how he synthesized his student, startup, and big company experiences into founding Torbie. Torbie’s first game is coming soon, check it out on Steam here and wishlist! store.steampowered.com/app/1891280/...
Listen:
www.podbean.com/eas/pb-tj7pf...
May 27, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Episode 5: Zabir Hoque of Torbie Games
Zabir shares how he synthesized his student, startup, and big company experiences into founding Torbie. Torbie’s first game is coming soon, check it out on Steam here and wishlist! store.steampowered.com/app/1891280/...
Listen:
www.podbean.com/eas/pb-tj7pf...
Zabir shares how he synthesized his student, startup, and big company experiences into founding Torbie. Torbie’s first game is coming soon, check it out on Steam here and wishlist! store.steampowered.com/app/1891280/...
Listen:
www.podbean.com/eas/pb-tj7pf...
Ep 24: Oksana Kubushyna of Seeker Entertainment.
I first met Oksana when she joined Riot. She was already an accomplished engineer and leader. She also went on a true co-founder dating experience, so we spoke about that difficult task.
Episode Link: www.podbean.com/eas/pb-7vhcy...
I first met Oksana when she joined Riot. She was already an accomplished engineer and leader. She also went on a true co-founder dating experience, so we spoke about that difficult task.
Episode Link: www.podbean.com/eas/pb-7vhcy...
May 15, 2025 at 3:37 PM
Ep 24: Oksana Kubushyna of Seeker Entertainment.
I first met Oksana when she joined Riot. She was already an accomplished engineer and leader. She also went on a true co-founder dating experience, so we spoke about that difficult task.
Episode Link: www.podbean.com/eas/pb-7vhcy...
I first met Oksana when she joined Riot. She was already an accomplished engineer and leader. She also went on a true co-founder dating experience, so we spoke about that difficult task.
Episode Link: www.podbean.com/eas/pb-7vhcy...
Episode 23: Jen MacLean of Dragon Snacks Games.
Jen shares about getting started on her founder's journey in 2024 and the ups, downs, and lessons she's learned along the way.
PodBean: www.podbean.com/eas/pb-k8vyw...
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/e...
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/56ST...
Jen shares about getting started on her founder's journey in 2024 and the ups, downs, and lessons she's learned along the way.
PodBean: www.podbean.com/eas/pb-k8vyw...
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/e...
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/56ST...
May 1, 2025 at 3:22 PM
Episode 23: Jen MacLean of Dragon Snacks Games.
Jen shares about getting started on her founder's journey in 2024 and the ups, downs, and lessons she's learned along the way.
PodBean: www.podbean.com/eas/pb-k8vyw...
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/e...
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/56ST...
Jen shares about getting started on her founder's journey in 2024 and the ups, downs, and lessons she's learned along the way.
PodBean: www.podbean.com/eas/pb-k8vyw...
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/e...
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/56ST...
Episode 3: @emilygreer.bsky.social of Double Loop Games, Kongregate
We compare two founding journeys & how lessons from the first led to starting her second. She shared both what an acquisition and a studio closure were like, and the common thread of her journey.
www.podbean.com/ew/pb-wimcq-...
We compare two founding journeys & how lessons from the first led to starting her second. She shared both what an acquisition and a studio closure were like, and the common thread of her journey.
www.podbean.com/ew/pb-wimcq-...
April 25, 2025 at 4:37 PM
Episode 3: @emilygreer.bsky.social of Double Loop Games, Kongregate
We compare two founding journeys & how lessons from the first led to starting her second. She shared both what an acquisition and a studio closure were like, and the common thread of her journey.
www.podbean.com/ew/pb-wimcq-...
We compare two founding journeys & how lessons from the first led to starting her second. She shared both what an acquisition and a studio closure were like, and the common thread of her journey.
www.podbean.com/ew/pb-wimcq-...
Ep 22: @steph.cam of @gardens.dev
I loved talking with Stephen about applying both his love of poker and his narrative skills to pitching, taking the leap from indie size teams to a big swing, and newly taking on the CEO role at Gardens.
www.podbean.com/eas/pb-ejmsu...
I loved talking with Stephen about applying both his love of poker and his narrative skills to pitching, taking the leap from indie size teams to a big swing, and newly taking on the CEO role at Gardens.
www.podbean.com/eas/pb-ejmsu...
April 24, 2025 at 4:08 PM
Ep 22: @steph.cam of @gardens.dev
I loved talking with Stephen about applying both his love of poker and his narrative skills to pitching, taking the leap from indie size teams to a big swing, and newly taking on the CEO role at Gardens.
www.podbean.com/eas/pb-ejmsu...
I loved talking with Stephen about applying both his love of poker and his narrative skills to pitching, taking the leap from indie size teams to a big swing, and newly taking on the CEO role at Gardens.
www.podbean.com/eas/pb-ejmsu...
Episode 3: Paul Sage, Ruckus Games
Paul moved from AAA into startup life with a team of founders from his previous companies. We talked a lot about that transition - tackling the myths and cautionary tales involved. Paul had very grounded perspective and advice.
www.podbean.com/ew/pb-hj2bs-...
Paul moved from AAA into startup life with a team of founders from his previous companies. We talked a lot about that transition - tackling the myths and cautionary tales involved. Paul had very grounded perspective and advice.
www.podbean.com/ew/pb-hj2bs-...
April 23, 2025 at 4:52 PM
Episode 3: Paul Sage, Ruckus Games
Paul moved from AAA into startup life with a team of founders from his previous companies. We talked a lot about that transition - tackling the myths and cautionary tales involved. Paul had very grounded perspective and advice.
www.podbean.com/ew/pb-hj2bs-...
Paul moved from AAA into startup life with a team of founders from his previous companies. We talked a lot about that transition - tackling the myths and cautionary tales involved. Paul had very grounded perspective and advice.
www.podbean.com/ew/pb-hj2bs-...
Episode 2: Jessica Murrey of Wicked Saints Studios.
Jessica talks about how she moved from non-profits to games, her desire to change the world, and how her relentless optimism led to learnings along the way. Her studio recently released their game World Reborn!
www.podbean.com/ew/pb-uxxuj-...
Jessica talks about how she moved from non-profits to games, her desire to change the world, and how her relentless optimism led to learnings along the way. Her studio recently released their game World Reborn!
www.podbean.com/ew/pb-uxxuj-...
April 22, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Episode 2: Jessica Murrey of Wicked Saints Studios.
Jessica talks about how she moved from non-profits to games, her desire to change the world, and how her relentless optimism led to learnings along the way. Her studio recently released their game World Reborn!
www.podbean.com/ew/pb-uxxuj-...
Jessica talks about how she moved from non-profits to games, her desire to change the world, and how her relentless optimism led to learnings along the way. Her studio recently released their game World Reborn!
www.podbean.com/ew/pb-uxxuj-...
Episode 1 of Founder's Quest: Derek Reese of Chronicler! Derek shares his long history of entrepreneurship, how each experience has shaped his current journey, and what he's learned along the way with a long history of entrepreneurship . foundersquest.podbean.com/e/derekreese/
April 21, 2025 at 4:49 PM
Episode 1 of Founder's Quest: Derek Reese of Chronicler! Derek shares his long history of entrepreneurship, how each experience has shaped his current journey, and what he's learned along the way with a long history of entrepreneurship . foundersquest.podbean.com/e/derekreese/
We'll be posting our older episodes here on BlueSky to catch up, as well as new episodes as we go! We generally post a new episode most Thursdays.
April 18, 2025 at 5:25 PM
We'll be posting our older episodes here on BlueSky to catch up, as well as new episodes as we go! We generally post a new episode most Thursdays.
Founder's Quest interviews individual founders in the game industry, trying to demythologize the experience and focus on how folks handle and learn from the experience. Would love to have you join us!
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/f...
Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/0V5kp32...
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/f...
Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/0V5kp32...
April 18, 2025 at 5:24 PM
Founder's Quest interviews individual founders in the game industry, trying to demythologize the experience and focus on how folks handle and learn from the experience. Would love to have you join us!
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/f...
Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/0V5kp32...
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/f...
Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/0V5kp32...