CTRL + ALT + COMPETE

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.

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

In this episode of the Ctrl Alt Compete Podcast, we sit down with Drew Spark-Whitworth at PHASE25, the esteemed Head Coach of G2 VALORANT, for an insightful conversation on leadership, strategy, and competitive excellence in esports. Since taking the helm in 2022, Drew has guided his teams to an International Championship and two Regional Championships, solidifying his reputation as one of the top coaching minds in VALORANT.With a career spanning role as an analyst for XSET, assistant coach for Sentinels, and foundational experience in Rainbow Six Siege, Drew brings a deep understanding of team dynamics and performance at the highest level of play.Tune in for an interview that delves into his coaching philosophy, the evolution of esports, and what it takes to build and sustain success on the global stage.

Nik Turner serves as the Managing Director of Ntesports, a company committed to fostering grassroots esports, providing educational consultancy, and running the largest online shop for esports teaching resources. With over a decade of experience in the esports industry, Nik previously held the position of Head of Department at an Ofsted Outstanding College for ten years before shifting his focus to Ntesports. In this role, he has expanded the company's influence through team sponsorships, educational initiatives, and strategic industry partnerships. Passionate about nurturing the next generation of esports professionals, Nik collaborates with students, educators, and industry leaders to develop meaningful career pathways in the field. He also serves as the Chair of the Education Committee at the Esports Trade Association and partners with Yoyotech, the UK's leading provider of esports facilities in education.

Kairo, whose real name is Kieran Tulloch, is a professional esports caster from Scotland specializing in Valorant, Rainbow Six Siege, and Roller Champions. He has provided commentary for major events such as VCT Pacific and VCT EMEA, with experience in LAN, studio, home, and international broadcasts. Starting his journey in 2020, Kairo has built a dedicated following through his Twitch streams and as one half of The Scoreboard podcast alongside Hazza. With over five years in the industry, he continues to engage the community with his unique "Clove Accent" style, inspired by the Valorant agent, while pursuing new opportunities in esports broadcasting.

Dr. Amanda Ford is a lecturer in Creative & Digital Industries at West College Scotland, specialising in games-based learning. With a PhD from the University of the West of Scotland, her research explores how games enhance student skills. As founder of the Scottish Games Education Network (SGEN), she drives collaboration through events like the Scottish Games Education Symposium. A Women in Games Jobs Ambassador and STEM Ambassador, Amanda champions diversity and mentors aspiring game developers. Honoured with the 2022 Grads in Games Academic Award, she balances her academic work with her love for gaming and community building.

Altany is a life-long resident of Glenrothes and is an elected Councillor for the Glenrothes West and Kinglassie Ward.Elected in 2012 Altany has served in a number of roles and represented Fife Council on a variety of external bodies and boards, currently serving on Scotland Excel Executive Board, COSLA Economy Board, East of Scotland European Consortium and as Scottish Regional Chair of the Industrial Communities Alliance, Altany brings a wide range of knowledge and experience to these roles.Altany is the Spokesperson for Finance, Economy and Strategic Planning in the current Administration of the Council with a wide ranging remit.Having spent much of his work life in Industry and latterly lecturing at Adam Smith College, Altany has a variety of workplace experiences to call upon and supports this with many qualifications gained through frequent returns as an adult learner.A love of numbers led him to Accounting (ACCA) and then Economics (OU) after a degree in Management and he uses these skills regularly as a Senior Member of the Fife Council Administration.Married with a grown-up family and no pets, Altany enjoys writing horror fiction, football and esports among many other interests.

Gavin Baxter is a university lecturer at the University of the West of Scotland with a lifelong passion for gaming. In recent years, Gavin has developed a keen academic and professional interest in the world of esports. Currently authoring a research paper on the evolving landscape of esports, he joins us in this episode to share key insights and findings from his work. Whether you're a fan of competitive gaming or interested in the academic perspective behind the industry, this episode offers a look at esports through Gavin’s lens.

Euan Jardine is a multi-talented entertainer, councillor, rapper, and former competitive athlete based in Galashiels, Scotland. With over a decade of experience in stage and short film acting, he has cultivated a unique voice that blends performance, public service, and creative expression across multiple platforms.A serving councillor with the Scottish Borders Council since 2017 and Council Leader since 2022, he brings the same passion and presence to public service as he does to the stage. After retiring from athletics, he launched a YouTube channel that has grown to over 1,500 subscribers in under nine months, offering a mix of comedy sketches, interviews, and social commentary.In addition to his work in politics and entertainment, he is an independent hip-hop artist, having released his own original rap single that reflects his perspective, experiences, and artistic identity. He views esports as a transformative cultural force—one that empowers young people, creates inclusive communities, and provides real pathways to education, career, and confidence. His belief in the power of storytelling, whether through lyrics, leadership, or gameplay, is central to his creative and civic mission.Euan has been one of the most interesting guests we have had on the show, this is one not to miss!

Greg Lee is the founder and CEO of Team Terrible, an independent game development studio best known for its breakout hit The Baby In Yellow, which has been downloaded over 150 million times across multiple platforms. Greg’s journey into game design began at home, inspired by a childhood filled with creativity, play, and imagination—encouraged by his father, who made everyday moments into games. His passion for building interactive experiences led him to a successful career in the games industry, including a role at Rockstar Games. In a bold move to follow his dream, Greg left Rockstar to fully commit to Team Terrible, determined to bring his unique creative vision to life. Before founding the studio, Greg gained broad experience across animation, VR development, and gameplay engineering, contributing to immersive projects at Cooperative Innovations and various digital agencies. Today, he continues to push the boundaries of indie game development, combining technical expertise with a strong player-first philosophy to create whimsical and memorable gaming experiences.

Maurizio Sciglio is a seasoned tech entrepreneur and investor, renowned for his pioneering contributions to cloud computing in the gaming industry. He co-founded Cloudgine in 2012 alongside Dave Jones and Marco Anastasi, a company that specialized in integrating cloud technology with video game development. Cloudgine's innovations led to its acquisition by Epic Games in 2018, where Maurizio subsequently served as Director of Unreal Cloud Services.At Epic Games, Maurizio was part of the team instrumental in transforming Fortnite from its original Save the World mode into the globally successful Battle Royale experience recognized today.Beyond his professional accomplishments, Maurizio is passionate about motorsports and actively participates in racing events. He also supports charitable initiatives, including events like the British Racing Greats, which benefit organisations such as Solving Kids' Cancer UK and SpecialEffect.

Craig McNeill is a professional YouTuber and Twitch streamer who launched his gaming content career alongside his wife, Emma, with their channel MarriedtoXbox. Based in Kirkcaldy, Scotland, the couple shares their passion for Xbox gaming, offering gameplay and reviews.Since starting MarriedtoXbox, Craig has expanded his presence with engaging content on YouTube building a community around their love for video games. He has since created the fight the flat earth YouTube show ands his career is going from strength to strength.