Best Ctrl Alt Access Podcasts (2026)

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Rolf Krolke: Surviving Scale at Access Group 15:02

Play Pause

9h ago15:02

15:02

Access Group runs a vast, acquisition-led IT estate while supporting mission-critical services such as NHS payroll. Tom speaks with regional technology director Rolf Krolke about how the organisation designed a scalable reference architecture that delivers resilience, flexibility and near-zero downtime across private and public cloud environments. …

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Ep 36: You Can’t Stop (Game) Being My Game of the Year! - Ctrl, Alt, Access 47:55

14d ago47:55

47:55

Cutting down to just five games for the past 12 months was a challenging process.00:00 - Intro01:40 - Criteria for Game of the Year03:20 - R.E.P.O06:10 - Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii08:40 - Tiny Bookshop11:48 - Bridge Command16:30 - PEAK20:40 - Death Stranding 225:30 - Powerwash Simulator 228:10 - Clair Obscur: Expedition 3332:40 - Schedu…

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Ctrl-Alt-Invest: Rebooting Risk for a New Era 34:48

6d ago34:48

34:48

Markets are evolving faster than ever - uncertainty is rising, portfolios are becoming more complex and AI is reshaping how investment decisions are made. We bring together sharp insights from global investment and risk leaders on navigating today's shifting landscape: from new market dynamics and emerging risks to the growing move toward total-por…

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Alexandra Ebert: The AI Workslop Problem 14:47

1M ago14:47

14:47

Alexandra Ebert, advisor to regulators like the FCA and IEEE, as well as chief AI and democratisation officer at Mostly AI, joins Tom to discuss the modern AI landscape. She warns that too many organisations are rushing to “get more GenAI” without doing the groundwork, arguing that AI needs to be a strategic capability rooted in solid data foundati…

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Ep 35: The GA Conf Awards 2025 Nominee Discussion Ep - Ctrl, Alt, Access 1:02:48

1M ago1:02:48

1:02:48

Maybe vote for us in some awards if you like?GA Conf Awards 2025 Voting: https://www.gaconf.com/gaconf-awards-... 00:00 - Intro02:50 - AAA excellence09:09 - AA excellence12:10 - Indie excellence15:10 - Best Deaf & hard of hearing accessibility20:20 - Best motor/mobility accessibility22:32 - Best blind & low vision accessibility23:35 - Best cognitiv…

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Katia Gil Guzman: Why OpenAI's EU Dev Lead Says ‘No’ to Vibe Coding 29:52

1M ago29:52

29:52

In this bonus episode Tom Allen sits down with Katia Gil Guzman, a founding member of OpenAI’s Developer Experience team, to explore how AI coding is evolving beyond the hype. Katia explains why OpenAI actively discourages “vibe coding” for anything beyond small experiments, arguing that enterprise-ready AI tools should behave more like software en…

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Leading without losing it: CISOs Don Gibson & Bronwyn Boyle on protecting mental health in cyber 24:28

2M ago24:28

24:28

Cyber attacks and crisis response are daily realities for security professionals, but the demands of defending critical systems and services from cyber attack can exert a heavy toll on cybersecurity practitioners at all levels. A combination of the "always on" nature of cybersecurity, the urgency of the task and some of the personality traits often…

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Ep 34: Powerwashed Heroes and Mandatory Timed Inputs - Ctrl, Alt, Access 47:17

2M ago47:17

47:17

Yes, having to select dialogue choices under time pressure is a "timed input".00:00 - Intro01:18 - Arevya - Game Accessibility Events04:36 - Powerwash Simulator 214:09 - Dispatch30:00 - Nintendo Direct highlights accessibility in Kirby Air Riders40:40 - Atomfall accessibility update44:00 - PlayStation’s Cloud Streaming and Remote Play accessibility…

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John Seabourn: Growing Tomorrow’s Talent at APEM Group 21:08

2M ago21:08

21:08

When John Seabourn asked his team how AI made them feel, the answers ranged from "excited" to "concerned," but the word that stood out most was "efficient". In this episode of Ctrl Alt Lead, John - CDIO of global environmental consultancy APEM Group - joins Tom to unpack what that word really means in a world where technology can accelerate renewab…

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Making Private Equity Everybody's Business 26:35

2M ago26:35

26:35

How do you track private equity returns in a liquid, transparent form? Experts from MSCI and Goldman Sachs Asset Management discuss how data and analytics came together with deep industry insights to build the MSCI World Private Equity Return Tracker Index and GSAM's associated ETF.By MSCI Inc

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Rachel Bence: Sustainable Computing, Human Leadership 22:36

3M ago22:36

22:36

Queen Mary University of London CIO Rachel Bence joins Computing’s Penny Horwood to discuss how the university is embedding sustainability into its IT strategy — from using waste heat from high-performance computing to warm student halls, to running datacentres powered by recycled energy. Rachel shares how a focus on sustainability aligns with Quee…

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Investment Trends in Focus: AI, Asset Allocation and Adaptation 36:57

3M ago36:57

36:57

The great wealth transition has arrived, and with it comes a new client base for wealth managers who demand personalization, tech-driven solutions and portfolios that reflect their values. April Rudin of The Rudin Group, join our own Govinda Quish and Dimtris Melas walk us through these shifts, along with a side trip into the global economic and ma…

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Ep 32: Megabonking the Haters with Seated Dance Moves - Ctrl, Alt, Access 49:46

3M ago49:46

49:46

We're back to relative health, and it's time to auto attack and bonk our way to seated dancing revenge.00:00 - Intro01:23 - Arevya / Stardew Valley04:38 - Just Dance08:16 - Ghost of Yotei17:08 - MegaBonk22:30 - Hades 225:12 - Star Trek Ressurgence28:09 - Lego Voyagers32:17 - News / Peak36:03 - Microsoft Withdraws IDF Azure Access39:09 - Brazil Bans…

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Ep 31: Silksong, Hidden Rooms, and Being Disabled - Ctrl, Alt, Access 38:47

4M ago38:47

38:47

We're enjoying the new indie darling, buuuuut....00:00 - Intro02:12 - Hollow Knight: Silksong19:30 - Whisper of the House22:30 - Ghost of Yōtei23:20 - Pokémon Sword and Shield Dynamax Adventures29:45 - PEAK accessibility update32:40 - Mario Galaxy assist mode34:55 - Ramble about life and where to find us…

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A Wealth of Opportunity 31:20

4M ago31:20

31:20

The great wealth transition has arrived, and with it comes a new client base for wealth managers who demand personalization, tech-driven solutions and portfolios that reflect their values. April Rudin of The Rudin Group, join our own Govinda Quish and Dimtris Melas walk us through these shifts, along with a side trip into the global economic and ma…

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Rana Bhattacharya: Why Cynergy Banks on Flutter 14:09

4M ago14:09

14:09

Banking is known for its monolithic, legacy IT systems, but new challenger banks have a different approach. Cynergy Bank's CDIO Rana Bhattacharya joins Tom to explain how the bank is blending the latest tech with a modern mindset. By adopting Flutter and a microservices architecture, Cynergy has been able to build once and deploy across iOS, Androi…

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The Portfolio Pie, Reimagined 27:21

4M ago27:21

27:21

Globally, investors are rethinking the "pie chart" of traditional asset allocation. Many are adopting the total portfolio approach (TPA) - a holistic way of assessing how every investment contributes to the risk and return of the entire portfolio. In this episode, Oleg Ruban, MSCI's Head of APAC Research, and Ian Patrick, Chief Investment Officer o…

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Steve Capper: From Construction to Carnival Cruises 16:28

4M ago16:28

16:28

Tom speaks with Steve Capper, Chief Digital & Information Officer at Carnival UK, whose brands include Cunard and P&O Cruises. Formerly a multi-award-winning leader in the engineering and construction world, Capper explains how the leap into the cruise industry revealed unexpected parallels, from large-scale refits to complex logistics, but with on…

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Ep 30: Illness, and Chilling with a Great Book or Three - Ctrl, Alt, Access 50:14

4M ago50:14

50:14

It's hard to find games to play when you're ill, if playing games is something you associate with work.Timestamps00:00 - Intro01:45 - Supermarket Simulator02:40 - Tiny Bookshop09:38 - Discounty15:21 - Bridge Command Campaign26:07 - Vampire the Masquerade Bloodlines 233:01 - Silksong Release Date35:44 - Gamescom38:40 - Resident Evil 9 Third Person T…

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Secondaries First: Accessing Innovation Before the IPO 33:48

5M ago33:48

33:48

The world's most innovative companies - leaders in AI, fintech, space tech and beyond - are staying private longer and growing bigger before going public. That means much of today's growth story is unfolding out of reach for many investors. In this episode MSCI's Mehdi Alighanbari, Caplight's Javier Avalos and Derek Yan of KraneShares discuss the f…

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Ep 29: Powerwash Those Phobias Out of Your Cutscenes - Ctrl, Alt Access 53:52

5M ago53:52

53:52

We are riding high, and loving video games this week. Well, except for one set in The Shire.00:00 - Intro01:15 - Powerwash Simulator 207:13 - Bridge Command and Empty Epsilon09:54 - Yakuza 011:35 - Co-op Kaiju Horror Cooking13:40 - Nubby's Number Factory16:05 - PEAK "no head bobbing" update21:55 - Tales of the shire32:44 - Grounded 244:00 - Clair O…

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Ep 28: Real Life Star Trek - Bridge Command Bananza - Ctrl, Alt, Access 50:32

5M ago50:32

50:32

We've been busy smashing crystal bananas and piloting starships this Disability Pride Month.00:00 - Intro01:25 - Donkey Kong Bananza14:01 - Nice Day for Fishing16:44 - Bridge Command 23:44 - Idle Games: Chillquarium and Rusty's Retirement26:22 - Grounded30:27 - Patapon 1+2 Replay33:20 - Many Cats Studio Impact day and Nothing Without Us livestream …

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Investment Trends in Focus: Two Views on Public and Private Markets 37:10

6M ago37:10

37:10

After years of U.S. market dominance, the tide may be turning. MSCI's Ashley Lester and Axel Kilian reveal what they're hearing from global investors—from rising interest in Europe and Asia to growing concerns about currency risk and private equity liquidity. This mid-year check-in offers timely insights into how capital may be repositioning for wh…

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Paul Smith: Fighting for Rights, not Revenue 19:36

6M ago19:36

19:36

Paul Smith, CIO of Amnesty International, offers a rare glimpse into what it means to lead technology in one of the world’s largest and most complex nonprofit organisations. With operations in over 150 countries, Paul’s role goes far beyond the usual CIO remit: from safeguarding whistleblowers in war zones to supporting campaigners in politically s…

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Matt Sharp: Building digital, brick by brick 24:00

6M ago24:00

24:00

Technology still plays second fiddle to steel and scaffolding in many people’s view of construction, but that image belies the truth behind the industry's impressive digital progress. In this episode of Ctrl Alt Lead Matt Sharp, CDO at RLB, talks about how he launched his IT team as a separate digital consultancy to serve clients beyond constructio…

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Real Estate Investors Ask, "Et Tu, 2025?" 33:22

7M ago33:22

33:22

After holding on and repeating the mantra, "stay alive until 2025," six months into the new year, commercial real estate investors find themselves anxious about the way forward. But are there actual signs of distress? Our panel of real estate experts explain.By MSCI Inc

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Joanna Drake: How THG Fixed its Frankenstack 18:24

7M ago18:24

18:24

In this episode of Ctrl Alt Lead, Tom speaks with Joanna Drake, CIO and now also CTO at THG (The Hut Group), about the company’s radical IT modernisation journey. Facing rapid growth, fragmented storage, and escalating demands for AI and machine learning, Jo led a transformation of THG’s global infrastructure with zero downtime. She discusses the s…

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Yield Games: Bonds, Swaps and Strategy 38:21

7M ago38:21

38:21

Questions abound around inflation, interest rates, trade disruption - and beneath it all, fixed-income and derivatives markets adapting at speed. With Treasury auctions stirring unease and a dramatic shift in how global investors are positioning, it's no surprise that bonds and derivatives are back in focus. But the questions are bigger than just "…

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Alex Rutter: Transparency? Google’s Got It Covered 19:19

7M ago19:19

19:19

Every tech vendor is trying to crack AI, but does that match up to how it's being adopted on the ground? In this episode Tom and Alex Rutter of Google Cloud talk about the difference in approach from IT leaders - focusing on governance, compliance and integration - and business leaders - eager to move quickly and pushing for quick, transformative w…

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Leon Butler: What’s Bubbling in IBM’s Beaker? 24:27

8M ago24:27

24:27

Leon Butler, IBM’s UK and Ireland CEO, explains why most generative AI models aren't fit for enterprise use and stresses the need for transparent, trusted systems. He also discusses how recent acquisitions - including HashiCorp and DataStax - support IBM’s push to automate enterprise IT. Leon talks about other key IT areas, like data sovereignty an…

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From Private to Prominent: The Asset Class Everyone's Watching 34:34

8M ago34:34

34:34

Luke Flemmer, MSCI's head of private assets, provides his views on how the industry, tools and participants stand to evolve as the worlds of public and private investing converge and more investors adopt a total portfolio approach.By MSCI Inc

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Chris Betz: Why AWS Doesn’t Let AI Run the Show (Yet) 18:07

8M ago18:07

18:07

In this episode of Ctrl Alt Lead, Tom speaks with AWS CISO Chris Betz about the evolving AI landscape and its implications for cybersecurity. They discuss the challenges and blind spots security leaders face with AI agents; the importance of proactive security measures, and the differences in AI security between public and private sectors. Betz, wh…

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Ep 24: A Lengthy GA Conf 2025 Recap Live Report - Ctrl, Alt, Access 1:41:48

9M ago1:41:48

1:41:48

Two days and 16 hours of intensive accessibility panels and talks, condensced into two hours of live and not so live discussion.00:00 - DAY 102:00 - GA Conf info and "News update"04:20 - "Behind the Curtain: Sustainable Accessibility in an Indie Development Environment"08:14 - "Include, Learn, Iterate: User Research for Accessibility"13:07 - "You’r…

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Who's Afraid of the Big, Bad Bond Market? 24:38

9M ago24:38

24:38

Though many of the headlines follow every twist and turn that equities have taken over the last month, fixed income remains an important part of the story. From drivers of inflation to the relative strength of the U.S. dollar and the rise of private credit as a funding source for corporate America, understanding the shifting dynamics is key as inve…

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Ep 23: Nintendo and Accessibility? We're Surprised Too! - Ctrl, Alt, Access 1:07:10

9M ago1:07:10

1:07:10

Not something I anticipated, but we have a lot of positive words to say about Nintendo this week.00:00 - Intro01:12 - Atomfall07:00 - South of Midnight23:05 - Abiotic Factor30:30 - Switch 2 31:05 - Switch 2 Accessibility Settings37:05 - Switch 2 Price and Game Price 49:40 - Switch 2 Mouse52:35 - Drag x Drive59:20 - Switch 2 Further DiscussionFor re…

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Investment Trends in Focus: Quarterly Roundtable Q2 2025 38:29

9M ago38:29

38:29

As the year started, the overriding theme was the dominance of the U.S. in the world's financial markets. However, there were already some uncertainties on the horizon. Three months later we have seen quite astounding action on both the policy front and in financial markets. MSCI's roundtable of experts provide their unique perspective on it all.…

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From Dot-com to Dot-AI: Is History Repeating? 16:56

9M ago16:56

16:56

25 years on from the peak of the dot-com bubble, we discuss parallels between today's AI-driven market boom and the dot-com era with MSCI's Donald Sze, exploring market sentiment, lessons from history and implications for investors navigating current dynamics.By MSCI Inc

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Ep 22: Accessibility Tags, Joysticks, and Emotional Shadows - Ctrl, Alt, Access 57:57

9M ago57:57

57:57

We've got thoughts on emotional subtitles and Xbox nunchucks this week.00:00 - Intro01:40 - Avowed update04:20 - One Lonely Outpost, Wanderstop, and In Stars and Time10:00 - Split Fiction11:30 - R.E.P.O14:00 - Assassins Creeds Shadows 32:00 - Xbox Adaptive Joystick43:00 - Able To Play43:40 - Accessible Games Initiative51:50 - Microsoft Accessible P…

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Abletop - Episode 6 - Board Game Accessibility Bits Bobs 46:29

10M ago46:29

46:29

Timestamps00:00 - Intro01:22 - Making Board Games Accessible04:18 - Building Up a Teach & TCG Tangent14:26 - Rubber Banding18:51 - Randomness26:01 - Financial Accessibility29:48 - Canvas Mobility Spotlight31:18 - Asmodee Access+35:23 - Game & Rule Adaptations44:37 - Outro Quick Points💜 No board game can be 100% accessible. Don’t let the fact you ca…

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Siobhan Wilson: Oracle's DIY AI 10:20

10M ago10:20

10:20

With AI agents taking over the world, Oracle's launch of AI Agent Studio last week is exceedingly timely. UK country leader Siobhan Wilson joins Tom at Oracle Cloudworld 2025 to explain how it works, who can use it, and what it means for IT teams. Siobhan also discusses Oracle’s $5 billion investment in UK cloud infrastructure, why demand for AI ag…

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Abletop - Episode 5 - Communication Accessibility 57:32

10M ago57:32

57:32

Timestamps00:00 - Intro01:47 - Communication-Based Games11:24 - Abstraction of Communication18:09 - Visual Communication26:58 - Improv Games35:22 - Social Deduction & Hidden Roles48:40 - Dyslexia & Literacy54:05 - Alternative Communication56:59 - Outro Quick Points📝 Provide options to use different communication methods, like verbal or text-based.😶…

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Ep 21: Cooperative Wheelchairs and T Posing - Ctrl, Alt, Access 50:26

10M ago50:26

50:26

More games with disabled protagonists that don't shy away from reality, please.00:00 - Intro00:40 - How we are doing02:50 - Rare Disease Day 202503:47 - Thumb Soldiers09:20 - Able to Play18:00 - Bokura20:55 - Split Fiction30:00 - Sea of Thieves32:46 - Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii36:18 - Mecha38:34 - To a T42:00 - Monster Hunter arachnopho…

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Abletop - Episode 4 - Cognitive Accessibility in Board Gaming 59:15

10M ago59:15

59:15

00:00 - Intro01:28 - Transparency of Consequences07:40 - Choice Overwhelm13:13 - Game Complexity20:05 - Game Length 33:30 - Memory 37:33 - Speed & Pacing47:21 - Co-op & Asymmetry52:40 - Content Warnings & Player Safety58:25 - Outro Quick Points🔍 Provide transparency for consequences, by default or optionally. In legacy games you could make a digita…

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Martin Woodward: How Coding can Git Good 25:31

10M ago25:31

25:31

In this episode Tom talks to GitHub's VP of Developer Relations, Martin Woodward, about open source's evolving landscape and funding models, as well as the role of AI in software development. We dive deep into GitHub's Secure Open Source fund, the importance of financial sustainability for open source projects, and how AI tools like GitHub Copilot …

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Abletop - Episode 3 - Visual Board Game Accessibility 53:16

10M ago53:16

53:16

00:00 - Intro01:08 - Text Clarity11:01 - Iconography20:06 - Large Print & QR Codes28:19 - Braille & Tactile Components36:52 - Contrast42:31 - Colourblindness & Dual Coding48:48 - Visual Overwhelm52:21 - Outro Quick Points🔤 Use a clear sans serif font and avoid all caps, underlines and italics.📝 Use good text formatting, like left-aligned paragraphs…

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Ep 20: Accessible Souls, City Building, and AI Scepticism - Ctrl, Alt, Access 1:03:54

10M ago1:03:54

1:03:54

Who would ever have expected we'd have so much possive to say about cognitive accessibility in a From Software game?00:00 - Intro00:40 - How we are doing07:00 - Abletop09:25 - Elden Ring Nightreign16:00 - Dawnfolk24:50 - Lost Records: Bloom and Rage - Tape 132:10 - Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii32:50 - Cabernet 33:20 - Avowed47:30 - Sea of thieves update5…

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Tariff-ied Markets: What Investors Need to Know 28:42

10M ago28:42

28:42

Trade tensions are rising - what does this mean for investors? MSCI's Abhishek Gupta and Thomas Verbraken discuss the latest tariff developments, their potential impact on inflation and interest rates and how they could reshape market dynamics in 2025 and beyond.By MSCI Inc

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Abletop - Episode 1 - Rulebooks & Learning a Boardgame 54:05

10M ago54:05

54:05

00:00 - Intro01:48 - Online Rulebooks & FAQs07:20 - How Rules are Written & Reference Cards15:19 - How to Play Videos & Objective Context20:12 - Learning, Teaching & Co-op Games23:18 - How to Play Video Availability26:19 - Player Strategy Guides32:35 - Learning Asymmetric Games44:22 - Game Phases & Changes48:15 - Closing Thoughts53:00 - Outro Ablet…

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Abletop - Episode 2 - Mobility Accessibility in Tabletop Gaming 57:27

10M ago57:27

57:27

00:00 - Intro01:43 - Box & Packaging12:46 - Set Up & Tear Down21:17 - Components36:20 - Motion in Games44:49 - Dexterity Mechanics53:16 - Time Constraints56:02 - Closing Thoughts57:00 - Outro Abletop Episode 2 Quick Points:📦 Consider accessible packaging options such as adding loops, tags or stickers.🫳 Make space in the box insert for grabbing comp…

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Javed Iqbal: Big Tobacco Meets Big Tech 17:53

11M ago17:53

17:53

A tobacco company that wants more regulation? Javed Iqbal, Director of Digital & Transformation at British American Tobacco, describes how clear rules, plus technology, can accelerate safer alternatives to smoking. He reveals how AI is driving breakthroughs in marketing insights, patent research and even tackling ESG issues like child labour; and d…