MGIF S5 E9 - Jon “Log” Blyth

Episode 9 is with Landlord of Nottingham’s King Billy pub, games media veteran and one fifth of the comedy podcast Regular Features, it’s Jon “Log” Blyth!

I met Log at St Pancras station where we walked around for a bit, got pissed on by the rain, sang a bit of Nina Simone, bought a shitty wrap and slagged off the significantly more successful podcast and media outlet RKG. We then moved on to Loading bar to talk about all manner of shite including saying the C word in old computer games, Knightmare and the Crystal Maze and whatever else popped into our heads.

Despite his best efforts to sidetrack me, I did manage to get Log to talk about himself, his life and his early career writing for PC Zone, amongst many other places.

Log is the best and I love him. I’m sure you know him already but if you don’t you’re in for a massive treat. Go and listen to the Regular Features podcast for more of him.

Thanks everyone and I’ll see you soon!

Love,

Gary x



MGIF S5 E8 Pete Donaldson

Episode 8 is with legendary radio DJ and lord and master of the Stak podcast network, Pete Donaldson!

I met up with Pete over at the Stak studio. We went for a brisk walk in the park and discussed jolly topics like having heart palpitations at the age of 40 and what “brands” of dogs he knows, before strolling back to the Stak studio and plugging in the big boy mics for a lovely, radio style bit of chat. We covered wrestling, anime and the myriad problems with it, new videogames, old videogames, and everything in between.

Pete is an absolute smasher and we’ve been mates for a while, so all the madness and silliness comes out in this one. It’s another really fun one and I think you’ll enjoy it massively, I know I did!

Hope you’re enjoying this new series and we’ll see you soon for the next pod!

Love,

Gary x



MGIF S5 E7 Imogen Mellor

Episode 7 is with the absolutely wonderful Imogen Mellor. Imogen worked at PC Gamer until she recently left for a new job working with the Telegraph as an Audience Development Editor for the puzzle section of the paper.

I met with Imogen in Chiswick and we took a walk around the market before settling down in the park to complete our podcast chat. We talked about puzzle games, horror games, imogen’s route into the industry, the creation of the website Start Menu, and many many other things. Also we meet a crow!

It was great to podcast with Imogen - her energy and enthusiasm rubs off on you almost immediately and we had a blast hanging out together. She is a very talented woman and I look forward to seeing her doing big things in the future.

Thanks for listening, come back for another episode soon!

Love,

Gary x



MGIF S5 E6 Bilal Zafar

Episode 6 is with the incredible stand up comedian Bilal Zafar. Bilal is currently on tour with his new show “Care”, which recounts his experiences working in a private care home on minimum wage. He is also well known for his Twitch presence, particularly the ongoing serial drama / sitcom series “Hot Peppsy”.

I met up with Bilal and we went for a coffee before retiring to his place to have an (eventually) games-leaning chat (and it was the mildest of leans). Aside from games we discuss US vs UK comedy, getting obsessed with really shit, jobbing Benidorm comedians, stand up vs twitch as mediums for comedy, parody twitter accounts, and a dozen other tangents.

It was a pleasure to be invited into Bilal’s home for a chat: he’s a great comedian, a naturally funny guy, as well as very friendly and welcoming.

Thanks for listening, a new ep is not too far away, so keep subbed and I’ll see you soon.

Love,

Gary x



MGIF S5 E5 Sarah Dyer

Episode 5 is with the brilliant Sarah Dyer, community manager at Splash Damage.

I met up with Sarah in a pub near Splash Damage’s offices and we had a couple of pints whilst discussing wrestling (for a bit), Sarah’s move into her first games role at Splash Damage, getting into games without having to go to uni to study them and BRAINS, and how they work (or how we think they work). PLUS a 40 year old man learns a bit more about Tik Tok.

Sarah is lovely, funny and knowledgeable, and it was a pleasure to have a relaxing afternoon in the pub with her discussing everything and anything that came to mind.

Thanks for listening as always and I’ll be back soon with the next episode!

Love,

Gary x



MGIF S5 E4 Lauren Kaye

Episode 4 has arrived and it’s with the wonderful Lauren Kaye - a presenter and content creator behind the podcast She Plays Games and the Youtube channel Final Fantasy Union.

I met up with Lauren in summer last year in Ecclestone Yards, where we talked about London-centric events, our initiative Photomode, as well as other initiatives such as Women In Games and Code Coven, being a parents of two kids and getting literally ANYTHING else done, games as art vs games as a product, The Last Guardian, Final Fantasy and much more. Plus, Gex ONCE AGAIN somehow slithers his way into the podcast against my will, like the classy spy he is.

Lauren is a big hearted, kind, wonderful person with a knack for organisation and putting together great ideas to help others in the industry, and it was a joy to spend a sunny afternoon with her drinking coffee, getting lunch and chatting away about whatever came to mind.


Please enjoy the sounds of Ecclestone Yards and I’ll be back as soon as I can with another episode.


Love,

Gary x



MGIF S5 E3 Lana Zgombic

Happy new year! Episode 3 is here and it’s with the magnificent Lana Zgombić, producer at Playstation London and co-founder of the Limit Break mentorship program.

I met up with Lana in the park in the summer of 2022, where we talked about a dizzying variety of stuff, gaming and non-gaming related. We discussed fashion, coastal Croatia, the PS2, Limit Break, the infamous playstation plaftormer Gex, there’s quite a bit of Soulsborne chat, we discuss Lana’s route into the industry and the importance of mentorship as well as walking around a nice little petting farm for a bit and looking at some animals.

Lana is great fun, very smart, very sweet and a good laugh. I had a relaxing time in the sunshine with her and I hope I can bring that sense of a long day spent in the park to you as well, especially seeing as it’s almost at freezing point outside as I type this with slightly stiff, cold fingers, half-thawed out by the office radiator.


So enjoy and I will see you again with another podcast as soon as possible!


Love,

Gary x



MGIF S5 E2: Sean Bell

Episode 2 is ready for your enjoyment and it’s an absolute beauty. It’s Sean Bell, podcast legend and co-host of the weekly podcast The Computer Game show AKA TCGS.

I met up with Sean in the Manchester food court Mackie Mayor, where we absolutely stuffed ourselves with all manner of delicious shite, before taking a walk right through the majesty of Manchester Pride, before stopping off to take a look around the Science Museum’s gaming exhibition and remember why, actually, old games were rubbish and we’re much better off now.

Sean is an absolute belter, a fantastic man and a close friend, so we absolutely go off on this episode. Plus I think you’re really going to enjoy the little soundscape I’ve put together of us walking through pride before arriving at the science museum.


Thanks everyone and see you again soon!


Love,

Gary x