Let's Play Podcast

In this episode, Kaili Vernoff (Susan Grimshaw in RDR2) interviews the wildly talented actress Alex McKenna.  Alex was a finalist in the*gameHERs awards for her incredible portrayal of Sadie Adler in Red Dead Redemption 2. Having literally grown up in Hollywood, Alex has worked steadily in the business, appearing in over 40 films and TV shows to date.  Alex and Kaili touch on what it was like to start acting as a kid, her move to New York, her time in the Van der Linde gang, how she's keeping busy in quarantine, and so much more. Follow Alex McKenna on social media:Instagram: @maxmagpieTwitter: @MsAlexMcKennaAlex's upcoming work includes:Film: DoulaPodcasts: Good Grief, In the GreyFor bonus material with Alex and other Let's Play guests, visit: https://thegamehers.com/bonus-materialFor a transcript of this episode, click here.

In this interview, Kaili Vernoff (Susan Grimshaw in RDR2) interviews Jacquie Shriver Sladeck, a longtime games casting and dialogue professional. In her current position as Head of Studio at Side L.A., along with the decade she spent at Sony, Jackie has developed and cast some of the most celebrated performances in gaming history, including God of War, Marvel's Spider-Man, and everybody's current obsession, Cyberpunk 2077. Jacquie and Kaili talk about her early interest in recording engineering, the realities of auditioning in a pandemic, and just how much collaboration is involved in bringing these incredible characters to life.Learn about the studio Jacquie heads, Side LA, at: www.side.comFollow: @jacquieshriver on TwitterCheck out Jacquie's episode of The Game Dev Show coming soon!For bonus material with Jacquie and other Let's Play guests, visit the*gameHERs website.You can find a transcript of this episode here.

In this episode, Kaili Vernoff (Susan Grimshaw in Red Dead Redemption 2), interviews Mary Kenney, an award-winning writer and narrative designer. Mary has written for some of the industry's most celebrated games, including this year's smash hit Spider-Man: Miles Morales and The Walking Dead, The Final Season for which she just received a GLAAD Media Award nomination. Mary and Kaili discuss her roots in journalism, what it's like being named one of Forbes 30 Under 30 in gaming, her upcoming book about the women who built the industry, and so much more. Check out Mary's website here:www.marykgames.com Follow Mary on Twitter here:twitter.com/maryknewsFor bonus questions with Mary and other Let's Play Guests, check out the*gameHERs website.Find a transcript of this episode here.

In this episode, host Kaili Vernoff (Susan Grimshaw in RDR2) dives into the world of esports with Brittany Lattanzio, Senior Talent Manager at Team Liquid. Brittany and Kaili discussed what it’s like to manage a team of 18-to-22-year-old players, prioritizing physical and mental health in the esports industry, how Brittany guides players to stay true to their authentic selves in the ways they take on partnerships and promotions, and what she hopes for the future of esports. For exclusive bonus material, visit the*gameHERs website.Photo in episode graphic by Rhys Rasmussen (@Rhys_Rasmussen)Follow Brittany:Brittany's Twitter is @_JunoTheCatFor business inquiries, Brittany Lattanzio can be found on LinkedInFor more on Team Liquid:Team Liquid's Twitter is: @TeamLiquid and Team Liquid's website is  teamliquid.com Find a transcript of this episode here

In this episode, Kaili Vernoff (Susan Grimshaw in RDR2) interviews the legendary actor David Patrick Kelly.  Fans will know David, or DP,  from his truly iconic roles in projects like the Warriors, Commando, The Crow, Twin Peaks, John Wick, and many, many more. Broadway fans will also fondly remember his performance as Da in the Tony Award-winning musical Once.  DP tells Kaili incredible stories about growing up in Detroit in the music scene, studying with Marcel Marceau in Paris, and his experiences working with some of the greatest actors and directors in the industry.  Check out the*gameHERs website for exclusive bonus content with David Patrick Kelly and other awesome Let's Play guests.Follow David Patrick Kelly on Twitter: @DPatKellyListen to David Patrick Kelly's music on SpotifyCheck out a transcript from this episode here.

In this episode, host Kaili Vernoff (Susan Grimshaw in Red Dead Redemption 2) interviews Carolina Ravassa. Gamers will know Carolina best as the stealthy hacker Sombra in Overwatch and Valorant's explosive Agent Raze, but Carolina also has a stellar film and TV resume, including roles on "The Affair," "Mr. Robot" and Step Up 3D, as well as the amazing web series she wrote, produced, and starred in, called Hispanglosaxon. Carolina and Kaili discussed her acting training, the tricky business of auditioning, and how Carolina's experiences meeting fans all over the world have made her an even stronger actress.Follow Carolina Ravassa's social, YouTube, and Twitch channels for updates on her latest film and interviews with other video game and animation stars:Instagram: @ravassaTwitter: @carolinaravassaYoutube: @hispanglosaxonTwitch: @carolinaravassaFor bonus material with Carolina, visit the*gameHERs website.For a transcript of this episode, click here.Tune into the*gameHERs Twitch this Thursday, November 19th for the*gameHERs Awards.

In this episode, Kaili interviews Erin Ashley Simon, a multimedia personality in gaming and esports who currently hosts The Download on VENN. Erin has forged an incredible career in gaming and journalism and broadcast all before the age of 30.  She has never stopped advocating for greater representation for women and people of color in the gaming space. Erin and Kaili talk about the power of community in gaming, her roots in traditional journalism, and the importance of knowing your worth. Follow Erin on Social Media:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/erinasimon/Twitter: https://twitter.com/erinasimonFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/ErinAshleySimonYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCa19WiJUhXTgcYYxgC_-9mQTwitch: https://www.twitch.tv/erinasimonLink to Raise Money for HBCU Esports Leauge: https://tiltify.com/@erinasimon/amplifyhbcuesportsAmplify is a new charity stream series focusing on raising money to support the new HBCU Esports League driven by Cxmmunity, in partnership with Twitch. The series is a partnership between 300, Erin Ashley Simon and Cxmmunity, powered by eFuse. How funds will be used:Providing scholarships to students competing in the HBCU Esports League Building physical esports labs on our partner HBCU campuses Assisting HBCUs developing accredited gaming curriculumVote in the*gameHERs Awards: https://thegamehers.com/voteFind a transcript of this episode here.

In this episode, Kaili Vernoff (Susan Grimshaw in RDR2) interviews classically trained actor Roger Clark, whose breakout performance as Arthur Morgan in Red Dead Redemption 2 gained him international acclaim and countless accolades, including his win for best performance at the 2018 Game Awards. Kaili and Roger discuss how he built his craft in the theater, the nuances of performance capture, his own love of video games, and some behind-the-scenes stories about the "slap heard round the world." Check out Roger on social media:Twitter: @rclark98Instagram: @rollingrogand on YouTube: Roger ClarkYou can purchase Roger's western audiobooks at https://payhip.com/unbridledaudioFor a transcript of this episode, click here.For bonus questions with Roger, check out the bonus material page on the*gameHERs website.VOTE in the*gameHERs Awards!

In Season 2, Episode 2, Kaili hosts the incredible, badass game designer and developer Brenda Romero. In 2017, Brenda won both The Develop Conference's Development Legend Award and a BAFTA special award. In 2015, she won the Game Developers Choice Awards coveted Ambassador Award. She's a 2014 Fulbright Scholar and is the recipient of the 2013 Women in Games Lifetime Achievement Award by Microsoft. With design credits in 49 games, her portfolio includes the Wizardry series and her highly anticipated new game, Empire of Sin. But it's her critically acclaimed and deeply meaningful analog game series called The Message Is The Mechanic that fueled much of the discussion in this episode. Empire of Sin releases on December 1, 2020 for PC, Mac, Switch, PS4 and Xbox One.  Follow Brenda on Twitter at @br. Check out the Romero Games website at: romerogames.ie. For bonus material from this episode and to learn more about the*gameHERs, check out the*gameHERs website.Check out a transcript of this episode here. 

In this episode, Kaili kicks off a new season by interviewing actors Sharon Muthu and Noshir Dalal. These two have a roster of credits in video games and movies and TV shows that is so long, it's kind of hard to know what to name first. So to list just a few: Sharon plays Dr. Bellum in Netflix's Carmen Sandiego. She plays Agent Scheherazade in Agents of Mayhem and Karyna in Diablo III. Sharon is also an ambassador with The Dark is Beautiful campaign. Noshir plays Charles Smith in Red Dead Redemption 2, Varko Grey in the new Star Wars: Squadrons, and has roles in Gears Tactics, in Call of Duty, in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, and so many more. Kaili, Sharon, and Noshir talk about their acting careers, representation in the media, how acting may have literally saved Noshir's life and so much more.To stay updated on their careers, their puppy Nala, and Sharon’s latest culinary adventures, you can follow Noshir & Sharon on social media:Instagram: @sharonmuthu and @noshirdalalTwitter:  @sharonmuthu and @noshirdalalNoshir is also very active on Reddit, and you can search his name listed under:  u/noshirdalal. For more info on Noshir as an actor, please feel free to check out his website at:  www.NoshirDalal.comBe sure to vote in the*gameHERs Awards: https://thegamehers.com/voteCheck out a transcript of this episode here.

The Let's Play Podcast is back for Season 2!Kaili Vernoff, who plays the fiery Susan Grimshaw in RDR2, interviews a new group of guests from all across the gaming industry, discussing their careers, their thoughts on gaming, issues that matter to them, and more!For a transcript of this trailer, click here.

Part 1Steven Ogg (Trevor Philips in Grand Theft Auto V)*Adult language warning in this episodeWe’re going out with a bang! What better way to end Season 1 of the Let’s Play Podcast than a chat with ridiculously talented, charismatic and incredibly popular Steven Ogg. Gamers know Steven best as Simon in The Walking Dead and as Trevor Philips in Grand Theft Auto V.  His character in GTA V was critically acclaimed and he received numerous award nominations as a result. His impressive resume also includes turns in The Tick, Better Call Saul and Westworld.Because this is the very last episode of the season, we mixed things up a bit. Instead of Kaili doing one of her signature interviews, she and Steven leave all their scripted notes and inhibitions aside and just talk. And laugh. And share. And reminisce. And swear (and then swear some more. You’ve been warned!). So you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to be a fly on the wall when two good friends “in the biz” get caught up, now’s your chance! Part two of this two-part episode coming next week!Be sure to check out Steven in:SNOWPIERCER which premiered on Sunday May 17th and airs weekly on TNT: https://www.tntdrama.com/snowpiercerAnd his new film THE SHORT HISTORY OF THE LONG ROAD coming out June 12th: The Short History of the Long Road Steven can also be found on Instagram: @Ogg_StevenThe Let’s Play Podcast is co-produced by Kaili Vernoff, Heather Ouida, Laura Deutsch, Rebecca Dixon and Verta Maloney and is proudly brought to you by www.thegamehers.com.The*gameHERs is a community where women who game connect. We honor all women, marginalized genders and non-binary gamers. We welcome all humans who support this.

Calling all Cosplay fans! Today's guests are two of the most popular and respected cosplayers in the world; husband and wife cosplay couple Ben and Maja Bergmann, aka Maul Cosplay. Best known as the legendary Witcher, Geralt of Rivia, Ben and Maja co-founded the company Defcon Unlimited, a studio dedicated to the creation of cosplay outfits, stunts, choreographies and walking acts. The Defcon team creates “pure visual magic such as a complete samurai outfit for Naoki Yoshida, Producer and Director of Final Fantasy XIV, as well as cosplay outfits for games like Overwatch, Dishonored , Metal Gear Solid, The Last of Us, Tomb Raider, God of War, Mass Effect and Mortal Kombat.” Kaili and the Bergmanns discuss the art of cosplay, their love and appreciation of their fans, the ups (and downs) of  being world renowned cosplayers, their mutual respect and admiration of each other as a couple and so much more!Ben and Maja are currently working on Kratos from God Of War and also producing a huge Cyberpunk fan film. You can learn more about what they’re up to on their socials:Instagram: @maul_cosplayFacebook: Maul CosplayCheck out our BONUS clip where the Bergmanns answer 10 fun rapid fire questions and visit www.thegamehers.com.The Let’s Play Podcast is co-produced by Kaili Vernoff, Heather Ouida, Laura Deutsch, Rebecca Dixon and Verta Maloney and is proudly brought to you by www.thegamehers.com.The*gameHERs is a community where women gamers connect. We honor all women, marginalized genders and non-binary gamers. We welcome all humans who support this.

Today’s episode is with the enthusiastic and fun-loving UK based streamer, Leah Viathan. Leah’s been streaming since 2015 and previously  worked as a Stream Strategist and Presenter for Xbox UK, Youtube and Mixer channels. Leah and Kaili discuss how she got started as a streamer, how she grew her audience, why being authentic is so important to her, ways to monetize streaming, dealing with trolls, lessons she learned along the way and a lot more! You can learn more about Leah via her:Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/leah  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leahviathan/  Twitter: https://twitter.com/leahviathanYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/leahloveschiefCheck out Leah’s BONUS clip where she answers 10 fun rapid fire questions and visit www.thegamehers.com.The Let’s Play Podcast is co-produced by Kaili Vernoff, Heather Ouida, Laura Deutsch, Rebecca Dixon and Verta Maloney and is proudly brought to you by www.thegamehers.com.The*gameHERs is a community where women gamers connect. We honor all women, marginalized genders and non-binary gamers. We welcome all humans who support this.

Grab your marshmallows, gather round the camp fire and get ready for part 1 of a VERY special two-part interview with three of Kaili’s brilliantly talented, whip-smart and hilarious co-stars from Red Dead Redemption II. For the first time ever Kaili (Susan Grimshaw) sits down with Jo Armeniox (Karen Jones), Meeya Davis (Tilly Jackson) and Samantha Strelitz (Mary Beth Gaskill) to discuss what is was like working on one of the most popular video games of all time; as well as their individual career paths, the unique friendship the four of them share and so much more!You can learn more about Jo, Meeya and Sam by following them on their socials:Jo: IG: @imjoarmeniox Twitter: @joarmenioxMeeya: IG and Twitter: @meeyadavisSam: IG and Twitter: @samstrelitz, and http://www.samanthastrelitz.com/The Let’s Play Podcast is co-produced by Kaili Vernoff, Heather Ouida, Laura Deutsch, Rebecca Dixon and Verta Maloney and is proudly brought to you by www.thegamehers.com.The*gameHERs is a community where women gamers connect. We honor all women, marginalized genders and non-binary gamers. We welcome all humans who support this.

In this episode, Kaili interviews the incredibly wise and charismatic Niles Heron.  Niles is the Chief Strategy Officer and co-founder at Popdog which is a technology and services company focused on fixing core problems in the Esports and gaming video content industry. One of Popdog’s subsidiary initiatives, Loaded Management Agency,  represents some of the top content creators in the gaming industry including Ninja, TimTheTatman, Shroud, AnneMunition, King Richard, Lirik, and many more , and focuses on supporting streamers and gamers as they grow their content, brands, and careers. Niles spends a significant amount of his time thinking about that content and how to make it more creative, impactful, inclusive, and accessible. Niles and Kaili cover a wide range of topics in this important and thought provoking interview including trends in the gaming industry, culture, race, gender equity and so much more!Niles can be found via his socials - @Loadedgg @popdog and @nilesheronPlease visit https://thegamehers.com/ for show notes!The Let’s Play Podcast is co-produced by Kaili Vernoff, Heather Ouida, Laura Deutsch, Rebecca Dixon and Verta Maloney and is proudly brought to you by www.thegamehers.comThe*gameHERs is a community where women gamers connect. We honor all women, marginalized genders and non-binary gamers. We welcome all humans who support this.

Calling all Trekkies! This episode features the talented, smart, poised and wonderful actress Michelle Hurd. Michelle has been in many popular TV shows including Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Leap Years, The Glades,  Ash vs Evil Dead, Blindspot and she currently portrays Raffi Musiker in the riveting science fiction series Star Trek: Picard.During the interview Michelle and host Kaili Vernoff (who have known each other since their college days at BU!), discuss their shared history as actresses, what is was like for Michelle to work with Partick Stewart and the whole cast of Star Trek: Picard, the influence her upbringing had on her career, how women and women of color have a bigger influence and greater impact on the industry today and much more!Star Trek: Picard airs on CBS ALL ACCESS in the US, Amazon Prime in Europe and you can also stay connected with Michelle by checking out herInstagram: @realmichellehurd and on Twitter: @ItsMichelleHurd The Let’s Play Podcast is co-produced by Kaili Vernoff, Heather Ouida, Laura Deutsch, Rebecca Dixon and Verta Maloney and is proudly brought to you by www.thegamehers.com. The*gameHERs is a community where women gamers connect. We honor all women, marginalized genders and non-binary gamers. We welcome all humans who support this.

Rob Wiethoff (John Marston in RDR & RDR2)This episode features Rob Wiethoff who plays the iconic John Marston in the Red Dead Redemption series. Rob taped this fun and informative interview from a chicken coop on his farm in Indiana accompanied by his cat Waylon, (naturally!).  Rob discusses his journey becoming an actor, what is was like taping the Red Dead series, balancing work and family, his respect and appreciation for his fans, ways gaming brings people together and the importance of treating everyone with kindness and compassion.Like Rob’s iconic voice as much we do?  Be sure to check him out on Cameo and follow Rob on his fun, engaging and down to earth Instagram @rob_wiethoff.Check out Rob’s BONUS clip exclusively on the*gameHERs website.The Let’s Play Podcast is co-produced by Kaili Vernoff, Heather Ouida, Laura Deutsch, Rebecca Dixon and Verta Maloney and is proudly brought to you by www.thegamehers.com.The*gameHERs is a community where women gamers connect. We honor all women, marginalized genders and non-binary gamers. We welcome all humans who support this.

Jen Cohn: (Pharah from Overwatch)Follow Jen’s new twice-weekly Variety Show/Livestream on Twitch at Twitch.tv/heyitsjencohn! You can catch up on past episodes on her YouTube channel - also HeyItsJenCohnYou can catch her this spring at Florida Supercon in Miami July 3-5, and  this summer at Keystone Comicon in Philadelphia August 28-30. For info on more of Jen’s upcoming appearances and events, follow her on Instagram and Twitter at @heyitsjencohn, or go to her website www.jencohn.comCheck out Jen’s BONUS clip where she answers 10 fun rapid fire questionsThe Let’s Play Podcast is co-produced by Kaili Vernoff, Heather Ouida, Laura Deutsch, Rebecca Dixon and Verta Maloney and is proudly brought to you by www.thegamehers.comThe*gameHERs is a community where women gamers connect. We honor all women, marginalized genders and non-binary gamers. We welcome all humans who support this.Come visit us on our socials!Twitter: https://twitter.com/thegamehersInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegamehers/

Part 2Steven Ogg (Trevor Philips in Grand Theft Auto V)*Adult language warning in this episodeJust can't get enough?! Us either! For our very LAST episode what better way to end the season than with Part 2 of our chat with the ridiculously talented, charismatic and incredibly popular Steven Ogg. Gamers know Steven best as Simon in The Walking Dead and as Trevor Philips in Grand Theft Auto V.  His character in GTA V was critically acclaimed and he received numerous award nominations as a result. His impressive resume also includes turns in The Tick, Better Call Saul and Westworld.Because this is the very last episode of the season, we mixed things up a bit. Instead of Kaili doing one of her signature interviews, she and Steven leave all their scripted notes and inhibitions aside and just talk. And laugh. And share. And reminisce. And swear (and then swear some more. You’ve been warned!). So you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to be a fly on the wall when two good friends “in the biz” get caught up, now’s your chance! Part two of this two-part episode coming next week!Be sure to check out Steven in:SNOWPIERCER which premiered on Sunday May 17th and airs weekly on TNT: https://www.tntdrama.com/snowpiercerAnd his new film THE SHORT HISTORY OF THE LONG ROAD coming out June 12th: The Short History of the Long RoadSteven can also be found on Instagram: @Ogg_StevenThe Let’s Play Podcast is co-produced by Kaili Vernoff, Heather Ouida, Laura Deutsch, Rebecca Dixon and Verta Maloney and is proudly brought to you by www.thegamehers.com.The*gameHERs is a community where women who game connect. We honor all women, marginalized genders and non-binary gamers. We welcome all humans who support this.