Throughout his career, #VFSwriting alumnus and serial starter Matt Toner has built businesses that specialize in the design of ground-breaking video games and new models for player engagement. 
His latest venture, Biba, creates free mobile games that work with any playground to turn screen time into healthy, imaginative outdoor play for the entire family. We sat down with Matt to discuss where he finds inspiration for his invention...

As the Director of Product Management at EA, Ahsan Nanji and his team are exploring new ways to leverage the Cloud and AI to shift how game teams can build new game experiences and service capabilities. In this episode, he takes us deep into the forefront of technology, design, and development at one of the world’s biggest studios. A must watch for aspiring game designers and technologists everywhere. 

https://www.ea.com/en-ca/caree...

Riaz Meghji is a firm believer that a good conversation has the power to change everything. When he was 22, a pivotal exchange persuaded him to explore life as a presenter, rather than chase the stock markets as an investment broker. Seventeen years of broadcast experience later, Riaz has hosted for brands such as Citytv’s Breakfast Television Vancouver, CTV News, TEDxVancouver, MTV Canada’s 969 and marquee events like the Toronto ...

Prem Gill is the CEO of Creative BC, where she is responsible for delivering programs and services that will expand BC’s creative economy to reach its economic and creative potential. In this episode, Prem discusses the state of the industry both globally and in BC (flourishing), and the worldwide rise in demand for content that makes right now such an exciting time to be a part of the creative economy. 

https://www.creativebc.com/a...

Brooklyn-born Lino DiSalvo is an Italian-American animator, director, writer, and voice actor. After 16 years at Disney that culminated in being named Head of Animation on Oscar winner Frozen, Lino made his directorial debut on Playmobil: The Movie. In this episode, Lino tells the story of growing up in his family’s pizzeria in Long Island, moving to Vancouver to study animation at VFS, and graduating with a job at Disney at age 23...

Dan Payne is a Canadian actor best known for his roles on Disney's Descendants, The Cabin in the Woods, and Stargate: Atlantis. In this episode, Dan chronicles how he transitioned from professional volleyball to a different kind of stage. Travelling the world as an actor has given Dan a deep appreciation and love of performing, and he breaks down the approach to his craft that has allowed him to have an enduring career in both ...

Graham Qually has been building his career on the cutting edge of performance capture technology since 2007. After establishing Ubisoft Canada’s Performance Capture Stage in Toronto, he moved back to the west coast of Canada in 2016 to establish his own world class facility: Beyond Capture Studios. In this episode, GQ talks us through the mindset needed to succeed in an industry defined by ever-evolving technology, how to break int...

Sarah Edmondson was a member of the infamous cult, NXIVM, for 12 years. Now, she has documented that experience in her book, Scarred: The True Story of How I Escaped NXIVM, the Cult that Bound My Life. In this episode, the accomplished Vancouver actor takes us through the shocking story of how she became a high-ranking cult member, her escape, and the physical, mental, and emotional scars she still carries with her today.

https://w...

Frank Palmer is a Canadian entrepreneur, marketing executive, and philanthropist. He served as president, chairman, and CEO of DDB Canada until April 2019. Since retiring, Frank has focused on painting, charitable work, and initiatives aimed at developing the next generation of creatives and advertisers. In this episode, Frank offers insights from his 50-year career building and leading the advertising industry in Canada. He discus...

Julie Vu is a Canadian woman who is passionate about social activism and increasing acceptance and equality for other transgender people. To her hundreds of thousands of followers, she is known for being the first to document her transition authentically on social media. In this episode, Julie opens up on starring in movies,  what her identity means to her, and why she invited the world to follow along on the intensely personal jou...

Tim Holloway is the Director of Esports at the Canucks Sports and Entertainment Group, overseeing the Vancouver Titans in the Overwatch League and the Seattle Surge in the Call of Duty League. In this episode, Tim offers unique insights into the fascinating lives of professional players, the importance of storytelling to the evolution of the industry, and why Esports isn’t the sport of the future - it’s the sport of right now.

Vanco...