After a hiatus, MYM is back with a special guest - Cloud 9's Operations Manager & Head of Training Grounds Mae. Erin, Amanda, and Briggsy talk with Mae about the esports path to pro. Unlike traditional sports, going from someone who is interested in an esport to a professional player is somewhat of a vague path. With Erin taking the helm this week - the gang talks about how becoming a pro works in their individual scenes and how they'd like to see things approve. Mae talks about what Cloud 9 is doing to build up the youth esports ecosystem and talks about C9's new Training Grounds program.  Follow us on our socials:  Mute Your Mic on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MuteYourMic_Pod  Amanda Stevens on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AmandaTNStevens Erin Ashley Simon on Twitter: https://twitter.com/erinasimon Briggsy on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Briggsycakes Mae on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Maebeebuzz You can help support Mute Your Mic by supporting Amanda on Patreon: https://patreon.com/sagegnosis  Intro/Outro Music Let You Go (feat. Tara Flanagan) (Instrumental) by Spectrum https://spoti.fi/2ZLAORn Free Download / Stream: https://bit.ly/_let-you-go Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/of6rlIM0AZA

On this week's episode Amanda and Ginny are left to their own devices - which can't be good for anyone. They open the episode talking about the TSM drama and their thoughts on Duncan's HOLY WAR versus the organization. This leads into this week's actual topic: what has esports given Amanda and Ginny and what has it taken away from them.  Follow us on our socials:  Mute Your Mic on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MuteYourMic_Pod  Amanda Stevens on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AmandaTNStevens Ginny on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GinnyWoes You can help support Mute Your Mic by supporting Amanda on Patreon: https://patreon.com/sagegnosis  Intro/Outro Music Let You Go (feat. Tara Flanagan) (Instrumental) by Spectrum https://spoti.fi/2ZLAORn Free Download / Stream: https://bit.ly/_let-you-go Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/of6rlIM0AZA

After two episodes talking about some heavy topics, the ladies decide to take a step back and have a more relaxed conversation. Erin talks about her smore alchemy and Ginny talks about her bacon and cheese nacho recipe. Amanda talks about some of her reckless self care purchases and we find out Erin is still living out of a tent in Animal Crossing.  Follow us on our socials:  Mute Your Mic on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MuteYourMic_Pod  Amanda Stevens on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AmandaTNStevens Erin Ashley Simon on Twitter: https://twitter.com/erinasimon Ginny on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GinnyWoes You can help support Mute Your Mic by supporting Amanda on Patreon: https://patreon.com/sagegnosis  Intro/Outro Music Let You Go (feat. Tara Flanagan) (Instrumental) by Spectrum https://spoti.fi/2ZLAORn Free Download / Stream: https://bit.ly/_let-you-go Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/of6rlIM0AZA

After a brief hiatus, Mute Your Mic is back with a little bit of a different look. With Frosk taking some time personal time, Amanda and Ginny are joined by Erin Ashley Simon. You may recognize Erin from Cheddar Esports or her own podcast; the Grass Routes Podcast.  It seems that even with most of the world under quarantine - esports can't seem to go too long without a serious of 'heated gamer moments.' From Kyle Larson from NASCAR being banned for saying a racial slur during an iRacing livestream to the LTG & Ceroblast drama from this weekend - the topic of slurs and language in gaming, especially esports, is back in the discourse. Amanda, Erin, and Ginny share their own personal experiences with racism and derogatory language and what they think can be done to curb its prevalence in gaming.  Follow us on our socials:  Mute Your Mic on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MuteYourMic_Pod  Amanda Stevens on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AmandaTNStevens Erin Ashley Simon on Twitter: https://twitter.com/erinasimon Ginny on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GinnyWoes You can help support Mute Your Mic by supporting Amanda on Patreon: https://patreon.com/sagegnosis  Intro/Outro Music Let You Go (feat. Tara Flanagan) (Instrumental) by Spectrum https://spoti.fi/2ZLAORn Free Download / Stream: https://bit.ly/_let-you-go Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/of6rlIM0AZA

Mute Your Mic - Episode 1 Shownotes Introducing: Ginny - New Zealand, freelance journalist for Gamespot, Fanbyte and more Froskurinn - Berlin, freelance caster with the likes of Riot Games Amanda - New York, freelance esports journalist covering FGC and more COVID-19 and its impact on esports Articles referenced: Majority of LCS Players Association reportedly voted to cancel 2020 Spring Split esports as a gig economy The impact on the FGC scene and journalists who cover it How the FGC grassroots scene is coping with COVID-19 The impact on contractors and specifically casting talent The impact on freelance journalists esports funding being impacted by COVID-19 The run-on effects of funding withdrawal and the investment response to COVID-19 Common mainstream misconceptions about the esports economy One positive thing since lockdown Putting this podcast together Hitting our funding and Patreon goals Keeping cool heads during a crisis and how we’re coping with it Our socials Amanda: @AmandaTNStevens Patreon Froskurinn: @Froskurinn Ginny: @ginnywoes Recent work: The Castlevania Season 3 Guide to Being in a Healthy, Queer Polycule / What Your Granblue Fantasy Versus Main Was Like in High School Audio Let You Go (feat. Tara Flanagan) (Instrumental) by Spectrum https://spoti.fi/2ZLAORn Free Download / Stream: https://bit.ly/_let-you-go Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/of6rlIM0AZA