2020's been a tough year for most everyone around the globe, but the past couple weeks in particular have been heavy for Black people in the United States and abroad. The murders of George Floyd, Briana Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and more have returned the spotlight to discussions of racism, anti-Blackness, and police brutality. For our first episode back from our break, we start by saying: Black Lives Matter.

This episode features an interview with Zoe Schneider, Community Manager at Harmonix, as well as a public speaker and activist. We talk about what it means to be a creator at this moment, and some of our personal experiences as Black professionals. We also discuss what it means to have platform at a moment like this, and how to work towards progress for all.

This week's game recommendation is SweetXHeart, a game created by Catt Small about being a Black woman in the Bronx. The main character, Kara, goes through a typical week in her world: working, going to class, and dealing with microaggressions. Still, the game isn't just about pain: it's about life, and the particular issues that take place for those who have multiple forms of marginalization they deal with on a regular basis.

Thanks for listening, folks.

-Josh

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