Spawn On Me with Kahlief Adams: A Video Game Podcast

Spawn On Me LLC
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Spawn On Me is an award-winning video game podcast founded in 2013 by Kahlief Adams. The show is widely recognized as one of the earliest podcasts dedicated to exploring the intersection of video games, race, diversity, and culture. Through in-depth conversations with developers, journalists, academics, and creators, Spawn On Me has helped shape critical discussions about representation and inclusion within the gaming industry. Check out our work on IG, Youtube, Twitch - https://campsite.bio/spawnonme Business inquiries - spawnonmepodcast@gmail.com

  1. 3D AGO

    The Future of Gaming at Tribeca's 25th Anniversary with Casey Baron

    I sit down with Casey Baron, Senior Programmer for the Tribeca Film Festival's Games Program, for an exciting conversation about the newly announced 2026 Tribeca Festival Games Program. Casey shares his vision for the festival's 25th anniversary edition, running June 3-14, 2026, and we discuss how the games program has become an early champion of titles that go on to critical acclaim and deeply resonate with players. We dive into this year's selections that showcase the incredible breadth and ambition of storytelling in games today, including immersive projects like "Escape The Internet: Part 2." With over a decade of experience across the games and film industries, Casey brings unique insights into how Tribeca continues to serve as a launchpad for visionary creators who are redefining the possibilities of interactive storytelling. We explore his background as a programmer since 2022, his work on juries at NewFest and Brooklyn Horror Film Festival, and his journey through gaming and film culture. Join me for this deep dive into one of gaming's most prestigious festival programs and the future of games as an art form. Follow Spawn On Me:Twitter/X: @SpawnOnMeInstagram: @SpawnOnMeTikTok: @SpawnOnMeHost: @KahliefAdams

    56 min

  2. 4D AGO

    The Mixtape Discourse, Saros, Directive 8020 & Double Fine Gets Organized

    This week, the internet did what it always does: took something good, something that clearly resonated with real people, and turned it into a battlefield. We're talking about Mixtape — the new game from Beethoven & Dinosaur and Annapurna — and why the so-called "controversy" surrounding it tells you more about gaming culture than it does about the actual game. Because let's be honest: a 2-to-3 hour game with a 95 Metascore on Xbox, thousands of positive Steam reviews, and music from Devo, Joy Division, and the Smashing Pumpkins doesn't NEED the internet's permission to be good. But here we are. We're going to talk about why these faux controversies keep popping up, what they say about who gaming makes room for, and why some people just cannot stand it when a game dares to be an emotional experience without a fail state. Then we get into Saros — Housemarque's spiritual successor to Returnal — and yeah, we have THOUGHTS. Arjun Devraj, Rahul Kohli going absolutely OFF in this performance, cosmic horror on planet Carcosa, and a roguelite loop that somehow got MORE accessible without losing the teeth that made Returnal special. Is it better than Returnal? That's a conversation we need to have. We also sat down with Directive 8020 — the newest entry in Supermassive's Dark Pictures Anthology — which takes the series to space and has y'all fighting alien mimics in the void. Alien meets The Thing in video game form? The story and the Turning Points mechanic are genuinely doing something. The stealth sections though… we'll talk about it. And to close it out: Double Fine — Tim Schafer's legendary studio, makers of Psychonauts and the recently released Kiln — has filed a petition to unionize with the CWA. 42 workers. Microsoft taking a neutral stance. This is big, and it's part of a larger wave rolling through the industry. Workers deserve protection, and this moment matters. We're gonna break it all down. Let's get into it. Twitter/X — https://twitter.com/spawnonmeInstagram — https://instagram.com/spawnonmeYouTube — https://youtube.com/@spawnonmeTwitch — https://twitch.tv/spawnonmeSpotify — https://open.spotify.com/show/spawnonmeApple Podcasts — https://podcasts.apple.com/spawnonme

    53 min

  3. APR 16

    Matt Booty on the future of Xbox and Ball and Gun Game Interview

    On this episode, we talk about Xbox's Matt Booty's appearance on the Xbox Wire podcast — his discussion on the current state of their June showcase, Project Helix, and how teams are working together. I share my thoughts on how the Rockstar hack gives new insight into microtransactions, and I give my Pragmata review. We close out the episode with an interview with the team from ballandgun.com to talk about their new game. Check out the content here. YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SpawnOnMeSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/SpawnOnMeApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/spawn-on-meTwitch: https://twitch.tv/spawnonmeX: https://x.com/SpawnOnMeInstagram: https://instagram.com/spawnonmepodcast

    1h 28m

  4. APR 6

    The Future of Xbox, PlayStation Price Hikes, and Why Low-Income Gamers Are Getting Left Behind

    The PS5 Pro just hit $900 and I've got a lot to say about it. This week I'm pulling the best clips from Kind of Funny's Xbox future breakdown and GamerTag Radio's conversation with industry analyst Mat Piscatella — then giving you my unfiltered take on what the industry is actually telling us right now about affordability, access, and who gaming is really being built for. Plus, I sat down with Whitson Gordon from ASUS ROG for a real behind-the-scenes look at how gaming hardware collaborations like the Xbox ROG Ally X and the Kojima Productions laptop actually get made. This episode covers: Mat Piscatella's data on gaming's affordability crisis and what it means for low-income familiesThe future of Xbox and PlayStation in an era of rising prices and geopolitical pressureAI's impact on the gaming industry and what it means going forwardA deep dive with ASUS ROG's Whitson Gordon on brand collaborations and the art of connecting hardware with cultureWhat a $900 console means for the length of this console generationWe are in year 13 out of Brookago and this conversation is more necessary now than ever. Subscribe, leave us 5 stars, and find us everywhere below. — FIND US EVERYWHERE — YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/SPAWNONME Twitch (Live Wed 6PM PST):https://www.twitch.tv/SPAWNONME X / Twitter:https://x.com/SpawnOnMe Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/spawnonmepodcast TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@SpawnOnMe Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/4q7gu7BteqvEnhZAP0MM2A Apple Podcasts:https://apple.co/3wuJxYt Merch:https://spawnonme-1-shop.fourthwall.com Business / PR:spawnonmepodcast@gmail.com

    1h 38m

  5. MAR 30

    Sound System: The Rhythm Game That's Fixing Guitar Hero's Mistakes

    I got to check out Sound System at GDC and immediately knew I had to get the team back on the show. This conversation with Echo Foundry's Lennon Lange, who worked on the original Guitar Hero, breaks down exactly why this could be the rhythm game revival we've been waiting for. We're talking about real innovation, not just nostalgia.• How Classic Mode and Pro Mode balance accessibility with hardcore challenge• The creator-focused tools that could transform how rhythm games work• Why having a Guitar Hero veteran leading this matters for the genre's future• What Sound System gets right about multiplayer and customization• The bigger picture of bringing rhythm games back to mainstream gamingSound System isn't just trying to recapture the past - it's building something that makes sense for today's gaming landscape. This is the kind of conversation that gets me hyped about where gaming is headed.— FIND US EVERYWHERE —YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/SPAWNONMETwitch (Live Wed 6PM PST):https://www.twitch.tv/SPAWNONMEX / Twitter:https://x.com/SpawnOnMeInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/spawnonmepodcastTikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@SpawnOnMeSpotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/4q7gu7BteqvEnhZAP0MM2AApple Podcasts:https://apple.co/3wuJxYtMerch:https://spawnonme-1-shop.fourthwall.comBusiness / PR:spawnonmepodcast@gmail.comKahlief on X:https://x.com/KahliefAdamsKahlief on IG:https://www.instagram.com/itskahliefKahlief on Bluesky:itskahlief.bsky.social

    30 min

  6. MAR 24

    Poppy Playtime Creator on Horror Game Success & "Weaponized Nostalgia"

    Finally got to sit down with George Krstic, the creative mind behind one of horror gaming's biggest hits right now. We're talking Poppy Playtime Chapter 5, the psychology of "weaponized nostalgia," and why this series has managed to stand out in the crowded mascot horror space when so many others fall flat.What we covered:• The origins of Poppy Playtime and what inspired the creepy-cute aesthetic• How they approach character design to maximize the creep factor • The concept of "weaponized nostalgia" and turning childhood comfort into terror• Chapter 5's development and what makes this horror series actually workIf you're not already subscribed to Spawn On Me, now's the time! We're the internet's definitive gaming podcast spotlighting gamers of color, and we bring you conversations like this every week. Hit that subscribe button, ring the notification bell, and let's keep this community growing. We out here in Brookago doing the work, and we need y'all with us. — FIND US EVERYWHERE — YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/SPAWNONME Twitch (Live Wed 6PM PST):https://www.twitch.tv/SPAWNONME X / Twitter:https://x.com/SpawnOnMe Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/spawnonmepodcast TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@SpawnOnMe Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/4q7gu7BteqvEnhZAP0MM2A Apple Podcasts:https://apple.co/3wuJxYt Merch:https://spawnonme-1-shop.fourthwall.com Business / PR:spawnonmepodcast@gmail.com Kahlief on X:https://x.com/KahliefAdams Kahlief on IG:https://www.instagram.com/itskahlief Kahlief on Bluesky:itskahlief.bsky.social

    36 min

  7. MAR 18

    DLSS 5 Is DIVIDING The Gaming Community

    We're back from GDC and I've got A LOT to unpack. This week on Spawn On Me. I'm diving deep into everything that had the internet buzzing coming out of the Game Developers Conference. First up: Project Helix. Xbox finally confirmed the name, the hardware direction, and what their partnership with AMD really means for the future — FSR Next, machine learning integration, a custom AMD SOC, and yes… it IS a console.Then I get into the DLSS 5 controversy that has the gaming community split right down the middle. Is NVIDIA's latest AI upscaling tech a game-changer or a line that shouldn't have been crossed? Plus — GDC sleeper hit alert. I got hands-on with a 90's nostalgia brawler that nobody saw coming, and it might be one of the most exciting indie games of the year. Think Double Dragon meets Scott Pilgrim with Demolition Manenergy. THIS EPISODE IS SPONSORED BY GB STUDIO CENTRAL MAGAZINE! Have you ever wanted to make your OWN Game Boy game? Now you can — no coding required. My friends at GB Studio Central have an incredible open-source retro game creator AND a gorgeous quarterly magazine delivered straight to your door, packed with interviews, game showcases, and everything you need to get started in the GB game-making world. 👉 Check out the magazine & get started at: magazine.GBStudioCentral.comShow them some love — they help make shows like this possible. 🙏━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━📲 FOLLOW SPAWN ON ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA 🐦 Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/spawnonme📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/spawnonme🎵 TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@spawnonme▶️ YouTube: https://youtube.com/@spawnonme🎙️ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/spawn-on-me🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/spawnonme

    1h 3m

  8. FEB 23

    How the IGDA Foundation is helping the developers of the future.

    In this episode of Spawn On Me, I sit down with IGDA Foundation Executive Director Alyssa Walles for a real conversation about what it actually takes to get more game developers the funding, mentorship, and access they deserve. We dig into the Foundation’s mission to break down barriers for underrepresented and marginalized creators around the world, and how their programs help devs find the resources they need to build sustainable careers and bring their games to life. We talk about how access to capital, professional development, and community can change everything for a developer trying to break into the industry. Alyssa shares how the Foundation is building pathways through scholarships, mentorship initiatives, and direct support that connect talented creators with real opportunities. If you care about equity in games, want to understand how funding pipelines really work, or are looking for ways to support the next generation of developers, this is a conversation you don’t want to miss.

    37 min
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4.8
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About

Spawn On Me is an award-winning video game podcast founded in 2013 by Kahlief Adams. The show is widely recognized as one of the earliest podcasts dedicated to exploring the intersection of video games, race, diversity, and culture. Through in-depth conversations with developers, journalists, academics, and creators, Spawn On Me has helped shape critical discussions about representation and inclusion within the gaming industry. Check out our work on IG, Youtube, Twitch - https://campsite.bio/spawnonme Business inquiries - spawnonmepodcast@gmail.com

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