Missa Dawson is a Mental Health Champion

05/04/21 • 49 min

Gaming--and the communities we meet through gaming--can have a profound impact on mental health and social development. Some can even say that gaming literally saved their lives. Tune in to hear Missa Dawson, manager of the retail store The Gaming Goat in Mason, Ohio, share stories about how gaming has given her the courage to seek the help she needs, how RPGs helped her cope with social anxiety, and how Critical Role saved her life.
CW: talk of suicide and suicidal ideation.

01:14 -- Meet Missa!
06:45 -- Gaming is life
14:00 -- First experience with true acceptance
24:43 -- Coping with mental health challenges
29:32: -- How Critical Role saved Missa’s life
42:39 -- Fostering positive communities

As an affiliate, Victor Media Group may earn from qualifying purchases.
Games
Magic: The Gathering -- https://magic.wizards.com/
Dungeons and Dragons, 5th Edition -- https://amzn.to/32sfVhh

More Resources
Critical Role -- https://critrole.com/
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline -- 800-273-8255 (available 24/7)
**Reach out to [email protected] if you want help finding additional mental health resources. I am here to support you however I can.

Credits
Guest -- Missa Dawson
Production by Victor Media Group, Inc. -- https://victormediagroup.co/
Original Music by Byson -- https://spoti.fi/3eoC47l
Creator / Host -- Clara Mount
Executive Producers -- J.B. Adams and Gerard Mitchell
Sound Editing -- Aaron Trnka

As an affiliate, Victor Media Group may earn from qualifying purchases.
Games
Magic: The Gathering -- https://magic.wizards.com/
Dungeons and Dragons, 5th Edition -- https://amzn.to/32sfVhh

Previous Episode

Oliver Opens the Door to Gender Exploration

Tabletop RPGs offer a unique and often underappreciated opportunity to explore elements of your identity in a safe space. Tune in to hear Oliver, our favorite Canadian forever GM, talk about his early gaming experiences including “Denny’s and Dragons,” how gaming impacted his trans journey, and how we can be better allies to trans gamers.

01:15 -- Meet Oliver!
09:35 -- Experimental role playing
15:10 -- Gaming and gender identity
29:25 -- Advice for GMs
33:05 -- Advice for allies in the gaming community
44:00 -- Influencing the industry

As an affiliate, Victor Media Group may earn from qualifying purchases.
Games
Dungeons and Dragons, 5th Edition -- https://amzn.to/32sfVhh
Dark Heresy RPG -- https://amzn.to/3xamAef
Ragnarok Online -- http://iro.ragnarokonline.com/
Celeste -- https://amzn.to/3an990F
2064: Read Only Memories -- https://store.steampowered.com/app/330820/2064_Read_Only_Memories/

More Resources
Roll20 -- https://roll20.net/
Discord -- https://discord.com/
One Punch Man -- https://amzn.to/3gsa43F

Credits
Guest -- Oliver
Production by Victor Media Group, Inc. -- https://victormediagroup.co/
Original Music by Byson -- https://spoti.fi/3eoC47l
Creator / Host -- Clara Mount
Executive Producers -- J.B. Adams and Gerard Mitchell
Sound Editing -- Aaron Trnka

Next Episode

Jazmine Betz Wants You to Talk About Your Feelings

Identities are complex and multi-layered, and these layered identities contribute to gaming experiences in ways you may not even realize. Today we talk to Jazmine Betz, Associate Manager of Consumer and Market Insights at Wizards of the Coast, about intersectional identities, her experiences as a woman of color in predominantly white gaming communities, and how tabletop RPGs can offer a safe space for people of color.
To enter the merch giveaway, head over to @victormediagrp on Instagram! Enter by May 27. Winner will be announced on the air on June 1.

01:05 -- Meet Jazmine!
06:10 -- “The boobs are fascinating”
11:00 -- What is intersectionality?
21:35 -- Welcoming diverse identities
30:30 -- Raising baby gamers
41:20 -- D&D diversity rewrites

As an affiliate, Victor Media Group may earn from qualifying purchases.
Games
Mario Kart 64 -- https://amzn.to/3eSRArO
Pokemon Stadium (N64) -- https://amzn.to/3bwRdBc
Wandersong -- https://amzn.to/3tUxVfz
Spiritfarer -- https://amzn.to/2T1UUIZ
Animal Crossing -- https://amzn.to/3fs9y3G
Champions of Norrath (PS2) -- https://amzn.to/3oo9GFg
Super Smash Bros -- https://amzn.to/3fn7cTK
Dungeons and Dragons, 5th Edition -- https://amzn.to/32sfVhh
Edge of the Empire (Star Wars RPG) -- https://amzn.to/2RhvRRD

More Resources
Wizards of the Coast -- https://company.wizards.com/en
Xbox Game Pass -- https://www.xbox.com/en-US/xbox-game-pass
Steam -- https://store.steampowered.com/
D&D diversity rewrites -- https://www.wired.com/story/dungeons-dragons-diversity/

Credits
Guest -- Jazmine Betz
Production by Victor Media Group, Inc. -- https://victormediagroup.co/
Original Music by Byson -- https://spoti.fi/3eoC47l
Creator / Host -- Clara Mount
Executive Producers -- J.B. Adams and Gerard Mitchell
Sound Editing -- Aaron Trnka