Uploaded February 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
In our very first episode, producer Shirley McPhaul turns the mic on host Susan Gold - educator, organizer, and co-founder of the Global Game Jam - to explore how a fine arts professor who “lost boyfriends to video games” ended up creating one of the largest collaborative events in the world. Together they trace the origins of GGJ, Susan’s lifelong impulse to build community, and the quiet labor of making things happen so other people can thrive.
Susan Gold is an educator, facilitator, and organizer best known as a co‑founder of the Global Game Jam, the world’s largest game creation event. Across her career, she has worked to bridge academia and industry, designing experiences that let students, educators, and developers learn by making together while building a global network of trust, collaboration, and creative support. After retiring from the non-profit in 2020, she continues to champion innovation in game development and education.
As host of The Global Game Jam Podcast, Susan spotlights voices at the intersection of creativity, technology, and education. Her mission is to empower diverse creators and inspire the future of games through accessible, inclusive storytelling
linkedin.com/in/susangold
globalgamejam.org
tinyurl.com/GGJPodcastSubstack
Click here to view the episode transcript. (https://share.transistor.fm/s/84b74ad4/transcript)
In our very first episode, producer Shirley McPhaul turns the mic on host Susan Gold - educator, organizer, and co-founder of the Global Game Jam - to explore how a fine arts professor who “lost boyfriends to video games” ended up creating one of the largest collaborative events in the world. Together they trace the origins of GGJ, Susan’s lifelong impulse to build community, and the quiet labor of making things happen so other people can thrive.
Susan Gold is an educator, facilitator, and organizer best known as a co‑founder of the Global Game Jam, the world’s largest game creation event. Across her career, she has worked to bridge academia and industry, designing experiences that let students, educators, and developers learn by making together while building a global network of trust, collaboration, and creative support. After retiring from the non-profit in 2020, she continues to champion innovation in game development and education.
As host of The Global Game Jam Podcast, Susan spotlights voices at the intersection of creativity, technology, and education. Her mission is to empower diverse creators and inspire the future of games through accessible, inclusive storytelling
linkedin.com/in/susangold
globalgamejam.org
tinyurl.com/GGJPodcastSubstack
Click here to view the episode transcript. (https://share.transistor.fm/s/84b74ad4/transcript)
