From comforting RPG's to the life changing power of adaptive controllers, games are breaking barriers.

They're helping people cope with anxiety, find community and even recover from trauma.

Each episode we speak to developers, content creators and gamers like you and me, to discover how each of us was saved by gaming.

So whether you game to unwind, to connect, or overcome - this is the show for you.

Subscribe now wherever you get your podcasts and let's press start on this conversation.

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Find ziggychris live on Twitch

​Main Channel http://youtube.com/ziggychris

​BlueSky https://bsky.app/profile/ziggychris.bsky.social

​Tiktok https://www.tiktok.com/@ziggychris

Music credit

Song: Convex - 4U (feat. Jex Jordyn) [NCS Release]

Music provided by NoCopyrightSounds

Free Download/Stream: http://ncs.io/4U

Watch: http://youtu.be/dMnWZ8tAUkU

In this episode of "Saved by Gaming," host Ziggychris sits down with the multi-talented Imran Yusuf—stand-up comedian, former games industry pro, and passionate charity advocate. Imran shares his journey from childhood gaming obsession to a career in comedy, and how video games became a lifeline during tough times. Discover how Imran now pays it forward as a patron of Games Aid, using laughter and gaming to make a real-world impact.

Episode Highlights & Time Stamps:

Due to technical issues, this interview was recorded in two parts and some visuals for the video version of the podcast were affected, but we’re happy to have salvaged the audio for you and used placeholders where necessary to ensure the conversation stays intact.

Spotify

Apple podcasts

Youtube

Twitch

Youtube

BlueSky

Official Site 

Twitter

Bluesky

Whether you’re a lifelong gamer, a fan of stand-up, or just love a good story of overcoming adversity, this episode is for you. Don’t forget to check the links above for more on Imran, Games Aid, and how you can get involved!

Watch: http://youtu.be/dMnWZ8tAUkU

Welcome to the very first episode of the Saved by Gaming podcast! Join your host, ziggychris, as he shares the deeply personal story behind the show’s name and mission. In this solo episode, Ziggy opens up about how gaming—and the friendships forged within online communities—helped him through some of life’s toughest moments.

(00:27) Introduction: Meet ziggychris and the vision for Saved by Gaming
(01:53) What is “Saved by Gaming”? The story behind the name
(02:56) The power of gaming communities during tough times
(06:26) How online friends became real-life support
(09:07) The emotional impact of gaming and community
(08:55) Looking ahead: What to expect from future episodes

From late-night World of Warcraft raids to finding solace and support in unexpected places, discover how games can be so much more than a pastime. Whether you’re a lifelong gamer or just curious about the power of play, this episode sets the stage for a series exploring the emotional, social, and transformative impact of gaming.

Links:

In this episode of Saved by Gaming, we welcome Sam Hollis, creator of  @moondayss for a deep dive into how video games, especially Elden Ring, can impact mental health, creativity, and community.

Sam shares his personal journey, the transformative power of gaming, and the challenges and rewards of content creation. We also explore the broader culture of gaming, accessibility and the importance of art and self-expression in games.(00:00) Introduction(00:46) Sam's journey and the impact of Elden Ring.(01:50) Discovering Elden Ring and it's effect(02:30) Mental Health & Gaming(04:27) The story behind Sam’s viral Elden Ring video(07:10) Art, Interpretation, and Community(09:10) Stormveil Castle & Overcoming Challenges(12:10) The Power of Community(14:50) Long-form vs. Short-form Content(18:50) Other Comfort Games(24:00) Gaming Prescriptions(29:00) Accessibility & Difficulty in Games(32:00) Content Creation Burnout(37:00) Future Plans(40:00) Who next?(41:00) Closing ThoughtsSaved by Gaming PodcastYoutube http://youtube.com/savedbygamingpodSpotify https://bit.ly/3FITNq4 Apple https://bit.ly/45GIA3Q Discord https://discord.gg/4hRctCGJua Sam HollisYoutube http://youtube.com/moondayssLinkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/samhollis72ziggychrisTwitch https://www.twitch.tv/ziggychristoff Youtube http://youtube.com/ziggychris BlueSky https://bsky.app/profile/ziggychris.bsky.social Music creditSong: Convex - 4U (feat. Jex Jordyn) [NCS Release]Music provided by NoCopyrightSoundsFree Download/Stream: http://ncs.io/4U Watch: http://youtu.be/dMnWZ8tAUkU

🎙️ In this episode of Save By Gaming, we welcome Vicki Fieldhouse { @gtg_vicki ), Senior Community Manager at  @SecretMode  and founder of Girls That Game UK, for a heartfelt conversation about the power of games to connect, heal, and inspire.

(00:00) – Introduction & Vicki’s background

(01:28) – How gaming helped Vicki through depression and COVID

(02:20) – Processing grief through games like Pine Hearts

(03:22) – Building real-life friendships from online gaming

(04:54) – Escapism, Twitch, and finding community during tough times

(07:08) – The impact of community management and player stories

(08:13) – Nostalgia and the magic of World of Warcraft

(10:09) – Favorite games: Kingdom Two Crowns, Borderlands, and more

(14:48) – The importance of board games and founding Girls That Game UK

(16:02) – Taking risks, making friends as an adult, and the value of community

(20:46) – Addressing the “games are a waste of time” myth

(25:57) – How streaming and Kingdom Two Crowns led Vicki into the games industry

(34:05) – The value of neurodiversity and finding a place in the games industry

(36:59) – Closing thoughts

Saved by Gaming Podcast

Youtube https://bit.ly/3I3Js90

Spotify https://bit.ly/3FITNq4

Apple https://bit.ly/45GIA3Q

Discord https://bit.ly/43ZnCL7

Vicki Fieldhouse

Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/victoriasteeleYoutube - https://www.youtube.com/@UC4X8JD1oLgNS1muzb7WXMGg

ziggychris

Twitch https://www.twitch.tv/ziggychristoff Youtube http://youtube.com/ziggychris

BlueSky https://bsky.app/profile/ziggychris.bsky.social

Music creditSong: Convex - 4U (feat. Jex Jordyn) [NCS Release]Music provided by NoCopyrightSoundsFree Download/Stream: http://ncs.io/4UWatch: http://youtu.be/dMnWZ8tAUkU

In this episode of "Saved by Gaming," ziggychris welcomes the charismatic Twitch streamer Beardly.

Together, they dive deep into the power of gaming communities, the impact of games on mental health, and the journey from casual gamer to full-time content creator.

Beardly shares heartfelt stories about the positive influence of his community, the importance of inclusivity and accessibility in gaming, and the life-changing friendships forged online.

Expect laughs, emotional moments, and plenty of nostalgia for classic games.

Timestamps

(0:00) Welcome & Introduction

(0:35) Meet Beardly: Elevator Pitch & Early Gaming Memories

(1:22) How Gaming Changed Beardly’s Life

(3:29) Building a Positive Community on Twitch

(4:40) Handling Negativity & Setting Boundaries

(5:55) Balancing Humor and Serious Topics

(7:13) Fundraising and Charity Work

(8:05) The Power of Gaming for Connection & Mental Health

(9:15) Stories from the Community: Impactful Moments

(11:26) Gaming as an Escape & Childhood Memories

(12:43) Most Influential Games: Zelda, Sea of Thieves, and More

(14:31) Prescribing Games for Tough Times

(17:45) The Value of Online Friendships & Real-Life Meetups

(19:52) Accessibility and Inclusion in Gaming

(23:56) Ridiculous and Wholesome Stream Moments

(27:00) The Future of Gaming as a Force for Good

(30:00) Final Thoughts: Saved by Gaming

(31:00) Outro & Farewell

Connect with Beardly

Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/behavingbeardly

Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/BehavingBeardly

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behavingbeardly

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BehavingBeardly

Saved by Gaming Podcast

Spotify https://bit.ly/3FITNq4 

Apple https://bit.ly/45GIA3Q 

Youtube https://bit.ly/3I3Js90 

Discord https://bit.ly/43ZnCL7 

ziggychris

Twitch https://www.twitch.tv/ziggychristoff 

Youtube http://youtube.com/ziggychris 

Tiktok https://www.tiktok.com/@ziggychris 

BlueSky https://bsky.app/profile/ziggychris.bsky.social 

Music credit

Song: Convex - 4U (feat. Jex Jordyn) [NCS Release]

Music provided by NoCopyrightSounds

Free Download/Stream: http://ncs.io/4UWatch: http://youtu.be/dMnWZ8tAUkU

In this heartfelt episode of "Saved by Gaming," ziggy sits down with Jarvs Tasker, Head of Communications at Happy Volcano, Lead Social Media Manager for Nothing Without Us, Women in Games ambassador, and Certified Accessibility Consultant.

Jarvs shares their powerful journey from losing a beloved teaching career to disability, to finding new purpose and community through gaming.

Discover how games like Death Stranding and Hades became lifelines, how building an online community transformed isolation into connection, and why accessibility in games matters more than ever.

Jarvs also discusses breaking into the games industry as a disabled and neurodiverse person, the importance of advocacy, and practical advice for studios of all sizes.

Whether you're a gamer, developer, or advocate, this episode is packed with inspiration, real talk, and actionable insights on making gaming more inclusive for everyone.

Timestamps:

(00:00) - Welcome & Introduction

(00:58) - Meet Jarvs Tasker: Roles & Achievements

(02:07) - Gaming Saved My Life: Jarvs' Story

(03:47) - Losing a Career to Disability

(05:31) - Finding Escape & Community in Gaming

(07:45) - Building the PlayStation Access Community

(10:30) - Death Stranding: A Game That Heals

(13:00) - From Community Manager to Industry Pro

(15:00) - Breaking Into Games with a Disability

(18:00) - Accessibility Barriers in the Industry

(21:00) - Becoming an Accessibility Consultant

(24:00) - Accessibility for Indie Studios

(27:00) - The Power of Simple Accessibility Features

(30:00) - Celebrating Studios Doing Accessibility Right

(33:00) - The "Get Good" Debate & Ableism in Games

(36:00) - Community Stories: Friendship & Support

(40:00) - Games That Helped: Sable, Hades, and More

(43:00) - Who Should Share Their Saved by Gaming Story Next?

(45:00) - Final Thoughts & Farewell

Saved by Gaming Podcast

Spotify https://bit.ly/3FITNq4

Apple https://bit.ly/45GIA3Q

Youtube https://bit.ly/3I3Js90

Discord https://bit.ly/43ZnCL7

Jarvs TaskerBlueSky https://bsky.app/profile/jarvdusa.bsky.socialLinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jarvstasker

ziggychris

Twitch https://www.twitch.tv/ziggychristoff

Youtube http://youtube.com/ziggychris

Tiktok https://www.tiktok.com/@ziggychris

BlueSky https://bsky.app/profile/ziggychris.bsky.social

Music credit

Song: Convex - 4U (feat. Jex Jordyn) [NCS Release]

Music provided by NoCopyrightSounds

Free Download/Stream: http://ncs.io/4U

Watch: http://youtu.be/dMnWZ8tAUkU