Games for Good (Deborah Mensah-Bonsu)

Welcome to the Games for Good Podcast!

In this short teaser episode Deborah shares the ‘why’ of the podcast and tee’s up her first guest.Website: games-for-good.com
More Stories: games-for-good.com/blog
Host: Deborah Mensah-Bonsu
Producer: Panji Kaonga

In this 2nd episode I’m joined by the talented, soulful and hilarious Hanna Toivonen, CEO & Co-Founder of Starstuff, a spatial imaging AI startup for deeper human connection. We talk about the loneliness epidemic, entrepreneurship and building a great team, the ethics of AI, being terrified and doing it anyway, and the LIGHT inside all of us. Come join us. 

About Hanna: 

Hanna is the CEO & Co-Founder of Starstuff, a spatial imaging AI startup, building the spatial generative internet for deeper human connection online, with a mission to solve the loneliness pandemic caused by the disconnection paradox. Hanna’s background is in gaming and music, having over a decade of experience in the industry. She was the Brand Lead for Angry Birds maker Rovio, co-founder of the Finnish VR Association, Team Lead at Slush, and singer/songwriter of the band Phantom, among other things, before starting her own venture in January 2023.

Hanna’s LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/huntoivonen/

Starstuff

https://starstuff.space/

Play Huda Siraj’s game Synthoria

https://hudasraj.itch.io/synthoria

About Deborah:

Deborah Mensah-Bonsu is the founder of Games for Good, which focuses on harnessing the power of video games and the video game industry for social impact and climate action. She consults for console and mobile studios, NGOs and the United Nations Environment Programme. She thrives on collaborating to create healthier cultures, products and communities and has worked with some of the most influential names in games and entertainment.

Deborah’s LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/deborah-mensah-bonsu/

Find more stories and get in touch: 

games-for-good.com/podcast

Host: Deborah Mensah-Bonsu

Producer: Panji Kaonga

Illustration: Jordan Stephensen

In this 3rd episode I’m joined by the supremely creative, optimistic and tireless Karla Reyes, Founder & Studio Director of Anima Interactive, on a mission to create games that champion social justice issues. Alongside running her studio, Karla also recently developed the Just Play Jam. We dive into the power of perspective, the immigrant experience, mentorship and the complexities of privilege. Plus we serve up some cheese and corniness. Come join us.About Karla:Karla is the Founder & Studio Director of Anima Interactive, a new socially conscious interactive media studio that blends art and technology to craft experiences that make a positive cultural impact. Prior to founding Anima, Karla developed games at Square Enix and Niantic and also helped build Code Coven, an award-winning global games accelerator for underrepresented talent. Passionate about harnessing the power of games for good, Karla has led games industry initiatives with NGOs and non-profits such as UNEP and UN Women. She is also an active mentor and serves on advisory boards for Los Angeles City College’s Game Design Program and Devcom. Deeply passionate about music, Karla is also a DJ and radio presenter.

Karla’s LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/karla-reyes-6a21ba53/

Anima Interactive
https://www.anima-interactive.com/

Just Play Jam
https://www.justplayjam.com/

About Deborah:
Deborah Mensah-Bonsu is the founder of Games for Good, which focuses on harnessing the power of video games and the video game industry for social impact and climate action. She consults for console and mobile studios, NGOs and the United Nations Environment Programme. She thrives on collaborating to create healthier cultures, products and communities and has worked with some of the most influential names in games and entertainment.

Deborah’s LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/deborah-mensah-bonsu/

Find more stories and get in touch:
games-for-good.com/podcast

Host: Deborah Mensah-Bonsu
Producer: Panji Kaonga
Illustration: Jordan Stephensen 

In this episode I do a bit of a recap, looking at some of my favourite moments from the first three episodes featuring Jennifer Estaris, Hanna Toivonen and Karla Reyes before we head into our next season. Come join us.


About Deborah:
Deborah Mensah-Bonsu is the founder of Games for Good, which focuses on harnessing the power of video games and the video game industry for social impact and climate action. She consults for console and mobile studios, NGOs and the United Nations Environment Programme. She thrives on collaborating to create healthier cultures, products and communities and has worked with some of the most influential names in games and entertainment.

Deborah’s LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/deborah-mensah-bonsu/

Find more stories and get in touch:
games-for-good.com/podcast

Host: Deborah Mensah-Bonsu
Producer: Panji Kaonga
Illustration: Jordan Stephensen

SHOWNOTES

In this episode I’m joined by United Nations Environment Programme’s Sam Barratt. Not only is he the Chief of the Environmental Education and Youth Unit at UNEP, but also the Co-Founder of Playing for the Planet, the game industry’s collective for climate action. I’ve known Sam since P4P’s inception back in 2020, and I’m so excited to talk to him about all the adventures, wins and losses we’ve gone through in the last four years. We talk about the pursuit of culture change, the importance of scale and systems, the ongoing balancing act of the ego, and how we want to be remembered. Come join us.

About Sam:
Sam Barratt is Chief of the Youth, Education and Advocacy Unit in UNEP’s Ecosystems Division. At UNEP, he founded the Playing for the Planet Alliance, a collaboration with the video gaming industry to nudge gamers’ behaviour and for the industry to use cleaner energy. He also oversees the work on green jobs and green skills, works with the Olympics and other sports on how they can invest in the natural landscapes they depend on and with youth movements such as the scouts and girl guides to unlock their 75 million young people to be agents for change.

Sam’s LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-barratt-a7946a6/

Playing for the Planet
https://www.playing4theplanet.org/

About Deborah:
Deborah Mensah-Bonsu is the founder of Games for Good, which focuses on harnessing the power of video games and the video game industry for social impact and climate action. She consults for console and mobile studios, NGOs and the United Nations Environment Programme. She thrives on collaborating to create healthier cultures, products and communities and has worked with some of the most influential names in games and entertainment.

Deborah’s LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/deborah-mensah-bonsu/

Find more stories and get in touch:
games-for-good.com/podcast

Host: Deborah Mensah-Bonsu
Producer: Panji Kaonga
Illustration: Jordan Stephensen 

In this episode, I’m joined by Gautam Shah, founder of social enterprise Internet of Elephants and champion for wildlife conservation. We talk about friendship, staying connected and what it means to be a risk-taker, which may not be what you think. And of course wildlife– why most donation campaigns fall short, and how we can all shift from watching others protect the most precious parts of nature, to becoming the protectors ourselves. Walking with gorillas, swimming with whale sharks, and feeling the expanse of Antarctica, Gautam has experienced a wild life, and he’s sharing it with you and me. Come join us. 

About Gautam: 

Gautam is the founder of Internet of Elephants, which tells nature and wildlife stories through thoughtful combinations of mobile games, augmented reality, and data visualizations that use GPS and other data gathered about animals and the planet. In doing so, they hope to catalyze whole new approaches to engaging the public with wildlife. Gautam is both a National Geographic and TED Fellow.

Gautam’s LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/internetofelephants/

Internet of Elephants

http://www.internetofelephants.com/

About Deborah:

Deborah Mensah-Bonsu is the founder of Games for Good, which focuses on harnessing the power of video games and the video game industry for social impact and climate action. She consults for console and mobile studios, NGOs and the United Nations Environment Programme. She thrives on collaborating to create healthier cultures, products and communities and has worked with some of the most influential names in games and entertainment.

Deborah’s LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/deborah-mensah-bonsu/

Find more stories and get in touch: 

games-for-good.com/podcast

Host: Deborah Mensah-Bonsu

Producer: Panji Kaonga

Illustration: Jordan Stephensen

SHOWNOTES

In this episode, I’m joined by Special Effect Founder and BAFTA winner Dr. Mick Donegan. Mick shares the highs and lows of his transformational work, the walls he and his team have broken through and stories of some of the lives they’ve changed. Mick’s unflinching commitment to helping people bridge the gap between their potential and their physical ability through gaming has changed the way many people think about disability and the games industry too. Come join us.

About Dr. Mick:
Dr Mick Donegan is the Founder and CEO of UK-based gaming charity Special Effect. He has been at the forefront of new technology for people living with disabilities for more than 20 years and has a background in practice-based work as a teacher and an Assistive Technology Specialist. He founded Special Effect in 2007, which uses specialised technology to enhance access to video games and creative self-expression for people with a wide range of disabilities. Special Effect’s One Special Day brings together the games industry every year and has raised more than XX dollars to support gamers with disabilities.

Dr. Mick’s LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mick-donegan-specialeffect-9709734/

Special Effect
https://www.specialeffect.org.uk/

About Deborah:
Deborah Mensah-Bonsu is the founder of Games for Good, which focuses on harnessing the power of video games and the video game industry for social impact and climate action. She consults for console and mobile studios, NGOs and the United Nations Environment Programme. She thrives on collaborating to create healthier cultures, products and communities and has worked with some of the most influential names in games and entertainment.

Deborah’s LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/deborah-mensah-bonsu/

Find more stories and get in touch:
games-for-good.com/podcast

Host: Deborah Mensah-Bonsu
Producer: Panji Kaonga
Illustration: Jordan Stephensen