GAMING: How Donkey Kong Became A Trans Icon

Back in 2019, Youtuber HBomberGuy committed to a completing Donkey Kong 64 to 101% (finding every collectable) while live streaming the whole thing, in what turned out to be one of the biggest charity streams ever seen, raising over $340,000 for the charity Mermaids.

In this episode, gaming journalist and prolific podcaster Laura Kate Dale breaks down the story of a couple of days where not just a lot of money was raised, but where, over one weekend, a space was created for tens of thousands could come together and provide a positive experience supporting trans rights and sharing stories. We hear from CaseyExplosion, who helped make the stream possible, and the beneficiaries of what turned into a game-changing amount of money for the charity. All stream footage from @HBomberGuy on YouTube, all in-game audio from Donkey Kong 64, published by Nintendo, developed by Rare and composed by Grant Kirkhope.

This episode was presented by Laura Kate Dale Produced by Ally McCrae, Ross Semple and Kate Adair Senior Producers are Kirsty Drain & Paul McFadyen Exec Producer is Anthony Browne

Original Pilot Material is a podcast for BBC Sounds from the team behind BBC The Social, the award winning new talent platform from BBC Scotland.

Live in the UK and want to pitch an idea? originalpilotmaterial.thesocial@bbc.co.uk