This is by far my favorite video game podcast. Since I discovered it a year and a half ago, I have listened to every single episode (that’s over 230!), and I can attest that every one is a winner. The cast has changed many times over the 11 years that Not Your Mama’s Gamer has been around, but every change works like magic: longtime host Sam Blackmon never fails to find new co-hosts that are uniquely charming and bring new perspectives to the table which revitalize the energy on the podcast. Shout out to Jordyn and Victoria, the two current co-hosts keeping the faith! But make no mistake, Sam is the hero of Not Your Mama’s Gamer. She is a modern-day Renaissance woman: college professor, Twitch streamer, single mother, social activist, alcoholic beverage connoisseur, book club host, inspirational mentor, lifelong gamer, and staunch advocate for the value of scholarly research on games and games culture. Before I listened to this podcast, there was a part of me that was always ashamed of my passion for video games. I bought into our dominant cultural narrative that games are nothing but a waste of time. But every time I listen to a new episode, I remember that there are people who are much more assertive and much more accomplished than I who reject that narrative in favor of a firm conviction that games are important. Hearing those voices helps me let go of my embarrassment and feel free to just love games. It is liberating. I cannot recommend Not Your Mama’s Gamer highly enough.
