Polygamer is a biweekly audio podcast that encourages and celebrates equality and diversity in gaming by interviewing voices pushing for change. By speaking with traditionally marginalized voices, host Ken Gagne of Gamebits provides a platform to discuss problems and seek perspective on matters of sexism, racism, ableism, ageism, and more, within our industry, our community, and our games. Polygamer airs the second and fourth Wednesday of every month.
Polygamer #128: Reflecting on Eight Years
Host Ken Gagne concludes eight years of Polygamer with clips and reflections from eight of his most memorable episodes.
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7/27/2022 • 37 minutes, 39 seconds
Polygamer #127: Helene Utterback on polyamory
Helene Utterback discusses polyamory, why we don't see this romantic relationship modeled in video games, and how modders have closed the gap.
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7/20/2022 • 1 hour, 3 minutes, 34 seconds
Polygamer #126: Aenne Schumann of Arcade Spirits
A podcast interview with Aenne Schumann, narrative designer of the Arcade Spirits visual novels, about social justice, ADHD, and FMV games.
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6/15/2022 • 1 hour, 19 minutes, 55 seconds
Polygamer #125: Game to Grow
Game to Grow is a non-profit that promotes the therapeutic, educational, and community growth benefits of gaming. With structured online sessions of Dungeons & Dragons and Minecraft, as well as their own tabletop game called Critical Core, Game to Grow teaches gamers of all ages and to become more confident, creative, and socially capable. In […]
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5/18/2022 • 1 hour, 4 minutes, 28 seconds
Polygamer #124: Cyndi Wiley, Iowa State University’s Digital Accessibility Lead
Cyndi Wiley is the Digital Accessibility Lead for Iowa State University’s Digital Accessibility Lab. Equipped with everything from screenreaders to Xbox consoles, the Lab helps students and faculty create, advocate for, and consume media that is accessible to users of all different abilities. In this interview, Cyndi and I chat about how disability is a […]
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4/20/2022 • 1 hour, 4 minutes, 27 seconds
Polygamer #123: Honey P. Rosenbloom of Friendship Garden
Honey P. Rosenbloom is the executive director of Friendship Garden, a founding member of the Alphabet Workers Union, and an accomplished indie game developer.
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3/23/2022 • 1 hour, 9 minutes, 23 seconds
Polygamer #122: Web developer Allison Holt
A podcast interview with Allison Holt, a Webby-award-winning web developer who's worked at such video game companies as Turbine, Harmonix & 38 Studios.
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2/23/2022 • 1 hour, 8 minutes, 35 seconds
Polygamer #121: Arthur Inasi of Harmonix & Greasy Says
Arthur Inasi has spent the last 15 years at Harmonix, developer of the Guitar Hero and Rock Band rhythm games, working as a sound designer, level designer, voice actor, mocap actor, and more. As creative lead of Dance Central VR, he oversaw the series’ reboot for Oculus virtual reality headsets. His side hustles include producing […]
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1/12/2022 • 57 minutes, 29 seconds
Polygamer #120: Sabriel Mastin, D&D editor & Overwatch player
After years as a Dungeons & Dragons player, Sabriel Mastin stepped behind the DM screen to run her own campaign. She immediately loved it, creating her own adventures in the world of Eberron. With that experience under her belt, she realized she could help other DMs with their own creations as well. She now offers […]
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12/22/2021 • 1 hour, 1 minute, 50 seconds
Polygamer #119: Bonnie Gordon of Star Trek & Con Artist
Bonnie Gordon is an actor, voice actor, and musician extraordinaire. Having previously been a Starfleet ensign at Star Trek: The Experience in Las Vegas, she now voices the ship’s computer on the animated series Star Trek: Prodigy. And as part of the Library Bards musical comedy duo, she sings pop culture songs rewritten with nerdy […]
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11/29/2021 • 1 hour, 16 minutes, 20 seconds
Polygamer #118: Freelance composer & sound designer Chel Wong
Chel Wong is a Boston-based video game composter and sound designer. As a freelancer, she has worked on such titles as the music puzzler Kine, the Starfox-inspired Whisker Squadron, and the surreal adventure RPG She Dreams Elsewhere. Not only has she also helped run the Game Audio Boston group, but as a freelancer, she invests […]
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10/20/2021 • 50 minutes, 23 seconds
Polygamer #117: GamerDoc esports physician Dr. Lindsey Migliore
Dr. Lindsey Migliore, also known as GamerDoc, is a licensed esports physician. While hiking the Appalachian Trail, she realized that only by abandoning her original goal of becoming an NFL team doctor could she combine her passions for medicine and video games. She now works with esports athletes to maintain and improve their health; and, […]
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9/22/2021 • 59 minutes, 30 seconds
Polygamer #116: Beth Daggert of Lode Runner, Star Wars & Nox Archaist
Beth Daggert has been a game designer, software engineer, lead programmer, director of engineering, and vice president of engineering, within and without the gaming industry. Having worked on such historic franchises as Lode Runner and Star Wars, she recently accomplished a bucket-list item of contributing to the development of an Ultima-inspired role-playing game — for the […]
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8/25/2021 • 1 hour, 11 minutes, 49 seconds
Polygamer #115: Brianna Dym on fanworks
Brianna Dym is a Ph.D student in the University of Colorado Boulder’s information science department under Dr. Casey Fiesler. Brianna’s field of study is fanworks: the original creations, derivations, and reimaginings of existing brands and media, from movies to video games. LGBTQIA+ authors engage in this creative component of fandom to produce original stories and […]
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7/21/2021 • 1 hour, 7 minutes, 50 seconds
Polygamer #114: Dr. Melissa Chaplin on indie game marketing
Dr. Melissa Chaplin is the head of client strategy at Game If You Are, a UK-based marketing firm helping indie video games get the attention they deserve. When not writing press releases, editing trailers, and landing podcast spots for upcoming developers, Melissa is busily building community. She’s the founder of Games Industry Lunch Club, a […]
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6/16/2021 • 1 hour, 4 minutes, 33 seconds
Polygamer #113: Maia Weinstock of LEGO Women of Computing
Maia Weinstock is the creator of LEGO Women of NASA, a kit she proposed on the LEGO Ideas site that won approval to be made into a real product. Now she’s pitching the Women of Computing, a set that pays homage to Ada Lovelace, Grace Hopper, and other women who were instrumental in the early […]
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5/19/2021 • 58 minutes, 55 seconds
Polygamer #112: Kate Olguin of Other Ocean Interactive
Kate Olguin knew that finishing her undergraduate career and searching for a job would be difficult; she did not expect a pandemic to make it even harder. Fortunately, armed with a degree in interactive media and game design from Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Kate landed as a game designer at Other Ocean Interactive, where she currently […]
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4/14/2021 • 1 hour, 3 minutes, 21 seconds
Polygamer #111: Artist & unschooler Ivy Dolamore
Ivy Dolamore is an artist, cryptid, and unschooler. The product of a curriculum-free homeschooling education, Ivy quit her job at GameStop to become a full-time artist, supported by commissions, Patreon, and an extensive social media following. Her creations span a variety of art styles and media, including prints, jewelry, and Diamond Art. In this episode, […]
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3/17/2021 • 1 hour, 51 seconds
Polygamer #110: Librarian Amanda Pegg-Wheat
Amanda Pegg-Wheat is a children’s librarian and branch manager in Quincy, Massachusetts. In addition to books, movies, video games, and Internet access, Amanda offers her patrons another service: Dungeons & Dragons campaigns. As the DM, she guides young adventurers through the fantasy world of Theros — even when the pandemic keeps them from gathering around the […]
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2/17/2021 • 1 hour, 11 minutes, 35 seconds
Polygamer #109: Dianna Lora of Massive Entertainment
Dianna Lora is an account manager at Massive Entertainment, the Ubisoft studio working on the next Star Wars video game. She is an accomplished multimedia maven, having written reviews, produced videos, and edited podcasts for such outlets as Sony, DualShockers, and GoodgameTV. Now, from her new home in Sweden, Dianna manages corporate relationships with producers, […]
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1/27/2021 • 1 hour, 5 minutes, 11 seconds
Polygamer #108: Dr. Rachel Kowert of Psychgeist
A podcast interview with Dr. Rachel Kowert -- gamer, psychologist, author, research director at Take This, and host of the YouTube channel Psychgeist.
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12/16/2020 • 1 hour, 5 minutes, 12 seconds
Polygamer #107: Kelsey Lewin of Video Game History Foundation & Pink Gorilla Games
A podcast interview with Kelsey Lewin, the co-director of the Video Game History Foundation and co-owner of Pink Gorilla retail stores in Seattle, Washington.
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11/11/2020 • 1 hour, 2 minutes, 29 seconds
Polygamer #106: Courtney Garcia of Screen Therapy
A podcast interview with Courtney Garcia, who uses media psychology to analyze video games and how they can help us develop our emotional intelligence.
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10/14/2020 • 58 minutes, 42 seconds
Polygamer #105: T.L. Taylor on Twitch streaming
Dr. T.L. Taylor of MIT is the author of 'Watch Me Play'. We talk about Twitch, esports, online play, teaching during a pandemic, and amusement parks.
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9/23/2020 • 57 minutes, 7 seconds
Polygamer #104: Creatrix Tiara
A podcast interview with Creatrix Tiara, a Melbourne-based shenaniganist using stage magic & video games to advocate for immigration reform.
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8/19/2020 • 57 minutes, 51 seconds
Polygamer #103: Jordan Jones-Brewster of We should talk.
An audio podcast interview with Jordan Jones-Brewster, narrative designer of the video game We should talk.
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7/29/2020 • 1 hour, 40 seconds
Polygamer #102: Jason Oda of Waking
A podcast interview with Jason Oda of Waking, a game that uses the player's personal memories as weapons in the fight to awaken from a coma.
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6/17/2020 • 54 minutes, 59 seconds
Polygamer #101: Gaming After Kids at PAX East 2020
How do we hold onto our identity as gamers after becoming parents and find time for our favorite hobby? Ken Gagne talks with parents on this PAX East panel.
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5/13/2020 • 1 hour, 3 minutes, 27 seconds
Polygamer #100: Voice actor Sarah Elmaleh
Ken Gagne's podcast interview with Sarah Elmaleh, voice actor from video games Gone Home, Gears of War 5, Final Fantasy XV & co-founder of GameDev.World.
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4/15/2020 • 1 hour, 8 minutes, 31 seconds
Polygamer #99: Ludomusicologist Dr. Dana Plank
A podcast interview with Dr. Dana Plank, a ludomusicologist devoted to the study of video game music and audio.
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3/18/2020 • 1 hour, 21 minutes, 13 seconds
Polygamer #98: Nic Tompkins-Hughes
Nic Tompkins-Hughes talks about being a gamer parent, raising neuroatypical children on the rainbow spectrum, and transitioning themselves.
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2/12/2020 • 1 hour, 22 minutes, 19 seconds
Polygamer #97: Dr. Carly Kocurek of Save Point & Games for Girls
A podcast interview with Dr. Carly Kocurek, who's crowdfunding issue #2 of Save Point zine on Kickstarter while studying the Games for Girls movement.
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1/22/2020 • 50 minutes, 58 seconds
Polygamer #96: Caspian Whistler of A Profound Waste of Time
A podcast interview with the founder & creative director of APWOT, an independent magazine inspired by video games, about the Kickstarter for its second issue.
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12/11/2019 • 47 minutes, 3 seconds
Polygamer #95: Dr. Jessica Hebert of the PDX Broadsides
A podcast interview with Dr. Jessica Hebert, placentologist & nerd musician with the PDX Broadsides, about nerd music, touring, Rosalind Franklin & placentas.
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11/13/2019 • 1 hour, 4 minutes, 55 seconds
Polygamer #94: Jeri Ellsworth of Tilt Five
A podcast interview with Jeri Ellsworth, CEO of Tilt Five, about her successful Kickstarter to produce a mixed reality gaming headset to succeed castAR.
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10/9/2019 • 1 hour, 2 minutes, 15 seconds
Polygamer #93: Dr. Aurit Lazerus on playfulness
A podcast interview with Dr. Aurit Lazerus, a gamer with a clinical practice who uses video & board games to incorporate playfulness into daily life.
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9/18/2019 • 58 minutes, 30 seconds
Polygamer #92: Bobbi A Sand of Transcenders Media
A podcast interview with Bobbi Sand of Transcenders Media, developer and publisher of Knife Sisters, a BDSM visual novel released for Steam in April 2019.
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8/14/2019 • 56 minutes, 39 seconds
Polygamer #91: Alicia Caillier of Harmonix Music Systems
A podcast interview with Alicia Caillier, product manager at Harmonix, developer of Dance Central for Oculus.
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7/10/2019 • 59 minutes, 41 seconds
Polygamer #90: Athena Z Peters of Adventure Pub
An audio podcast interview with Athena Peters, the founder and co-owner of Adventure Pub, a gaming gastropub located outside Boston in Arlington, Massachusetts.
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6/19/2019 • 1 hour, 2 minutes, 37 seconds
Polygamer #89: Twitch variety streamer SlyTQ
SlyTQ is a variety Twitch streamer who hosts charity streams for Take This. We podcast about avoiding creative burnout and emotional support animals.
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5/8/2019 • 1 hour, 12 minutes, 46 seconds
Polygamer #88: The Art of Craft at PAX East 2019
A PAX East 2019 panel, moderated by Ken Gagne, featuring independent artists who create arts and crafts inspired by video games.
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4/10/2019 • 59 minutes, 48 seconds
Polygamer #87: Tifa Robles and The Explorers of Azullucent
Tifa Robles is a freelance writer whose first book, the young-adult fantasy novel The Explorers of Azullucent, is currently on Kickstarter.
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3/6/2019 • 1 hour, 5 minutes, 34 seconds
Polygamer #86: Eve Leblanc of Clever Endeavour Games
A podcast interview with Geneviève "Eve" Leblanc is the community manager and QA tester for Clever Endeavor Games, developer of Ultimate Chicken Horse.
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2/13/2019 • 55 minutes, 40 seconds
Polygamer #85: Shannon Symonds of The Strong Museum of Play
Shannon Symonds is a curator at the Strong Museum of Play, home to the International Center for the History of Electronic Games (ICHEG).
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1/9/2019 • 1 hour, 3 minutes, 9 seconds
Polygamer #84: Meagan Marie, author of “Women in Gaming”
A podcast interview with Meagan Marie of Crystal Dynamics, author of Women in Gaming: 100 Professionals of Play, a book of profiles and interviews.
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12/5/2018 • 40 minutes, 41 seconds
Polygamer #83: Bahiyya Khan of after HOURS
A podcast interview with Bahiyya Khan, the developer of after HOURS, a full-motion video (FMV) game about sexual assault & borderline personality disorder (BPD).
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11/14/2018 • 53 minutes, 15 seconds
Polygamer #82: Geek Remix’s Stacy & Mari
A podcast interview with Stacy and Mari of YouTube channel GeekRemix, in which the two women Let's Play and analyze mainstream and indie video games.
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10/17/2018 • 1 hour, 40 minutes, 46 seconds
Polygamer #81: Cynthia Lowen, director of NETIZENS
A podcast interview with Cynthia Lowen, the director and producer of Netizens, a documentary that exposes the proliferation of gendered, online harassment faced by women, including Anita Sarkeesian.
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9/26/2018 • 48 minutes, 52 seconds
Polygamer #80: Angela O’Hara of Big Viking Games
Angela O'Hara is the senior artist at Big Viking Games in London, Ontario. In this podcast interview, we talk vector art, Sailor Moon, and Flash games.
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8/15/2018 • 54 minutes, 18 seconds
Polygamer #79: Abbey Perl of the Diverse Gaming Coalition
Abbey Perl is the founder of the Diverse Gaming Coalition, a non-profit charged with ending bullying in gaming and other media -- and having fun while doing it.
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