CTRL + ALT + COMPETE

Cody Hendry

This week, James is joined by Cody Hendry, a prominent figure in the Scottish esports landscape. Cody is a professional player, coach, and the owner of Opell Esports. Cody dives deep into the state of the competitive scene in Scotland and discusses the various titles his organisation competes in. The conversation also shifts to Cody's passion for the new esports title, The Finals. Join James and Cody as they explore their shared love for the innovative developer behind it, Embark Studios.

Craig Eddie

We welcome singer-songwriter Craig Eddie, a former winner of The Voice, to the show. An avid Rocket League fan, Craig shares insights into the mindset required to achieve excellence, discussing his drive to set ambitious targets and become the best he can be. Craig also opens up about his personal challenges, including his struggle with tinnitus and how he manages it while pursuing a career in music.

Alex Hirbe

Alex Hirbe is a trailblazing educator and esports innovator from St. Louis, MO, with a lifelong passion for discovery learning, leadership, and video games. After pivoting from architecture studies at Kansas State University to high school social studies—and later industrial technology—he spent over a decade in the classroom, presenting at state and national conferences on meaningful tech integration. Armed with a master’s in educational technology from the University of Central Missouri, Alex served as a Technology Integration Specialist at Basehor-Linwood School District before diving into esports. He helped build online learning solutions for Generation Esports' Gaming Concepts curriculum, and now as Education Manager at PlayVS, he designs and implements impactful online curricula to foster esports education. In this live episode from Phase 25, Alex joins James to explore his dynamic career shift into esports, the power of tech in education, and how gaming is revolutionizing learning and competition.

Bubba Gaeddert

Bubba is a broadcaster, host, consultant, entrepreneur, professor, and esports veteran with over 25 years in non-profits and sports, plus 11 years in gaming and esports. As President & Co-Founder of the Videogames and Esports Foundation (VEF)—the first STEM-accredited non-profit in the space—he champions education and career pathways in gaming. He currently serves as Head of Events and Senior Lecturer at the University Campus of Esports in London, UK, and hosts popular shows such as Invite Sent and The rAVe Esports Show. In this live episode from Phase 25, Bubba joins James to discuss his remarkable career journey, the evolution of competitive gaming, and the importance of neurodiversity in esports.

Gavin Ferry

Gavin Ferry is a passionate esports educator and event specialist from the UK, with a career dedicated to blending gaming, technology, and learning. Starting his journey in sports management, he transitioned into esports coordination, organizing tournaments and coaching student teams at institutions like Confetti Institute. Holding a BSc in Sports Management from Nottingham Trent University, Gavin has presented at industry conferences on esports integration in education. Currently, as Senior Lecturer in Esports at the University Campus of Esports in London, he teaches on business, marketing, and event management in the competitive gaming space, inspiring the next generation of industry pros. In this live episode from Phase 25, Gavin joins James to discuss his esports career, the evolution of gaming education, and strategies for building successful competitive programs. 🔗 Find Gavin Online 🌐 Website: https://www.nufoundation.org.uk/ 🐦 X: https://x.com/GavFerry 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gavin-ferry-2b4ba220b/ 🎮 Find Ctrl + Alt + Compete Here 📸 Instagram: @ctrlaltcompetepodcast I https://www.instagram.com/ctrlaltcompetepodcast 🐦 X: @CTRLALTCOMPOD I https://x.com/CTRLALTCOMPOD 🎵 TikTok: @erenasports I https://www.tiktok.com/@erenasports