Deconstructor of Fun

Hiring is one of the most underestimated competitive advantages in startups, and one of the fastest ways to break a company.In this episode, Michail Katkoff (Deconstructor of Fun), Joe Burridge (Head of Talent at Play Ventures), and Miki Blasko (Head of Talent at Deconstructor of Fun) break down what founders consistently get wrong about hiring, and how those mistakes quietly turn into culture, execution problems, and talent drain.links: www.deconstructoroffun.com/talentwww.linkedin.com/in/joeburridgewww.linkedin.com/in/mikiblaskoWe unpack: Why hiring is a founder-level strategic decision The myth that great talent “shows up” once funding is announced Culture vs. competenceWhy compensation alone doesn’t attract A-players The red flags of “corporate refugees” vs. true startup operatorsHow weak hiring processes drive top performers away What successful founders do differently for the 10–20 hiresChapterrs01:00 The Challenges of Hiring in Startups06:33 Understanding Compensation and Talent Attraction16:10 Culture vs. Competence in Hiring17:31 Identifying the Right Fit for Startups23:13 The Role of Founders in Shaping Culture30:43 Navigating the Unhinged Nature of Founders40:06 Reality Distortion and Leadership45:41 Challenges in Retaining Talent51:13 Building an Employer Brand53:25 Hiring Patterns for Success61:24 Painful Hiring Mistakes

Rocky (12) and Mickey (10) are back with Eric Kress and Jen Donahoe for the annual TWIG Jr segment, bringing unfiltered Gen Alpha opinions on everything from Roblox to the Switch 2. The kids don't hold back: hypercasual games are "mindless slop," Steal a Brain Rot is "ruining America," and Fortnite is running out of collabs. They break down what's actually hot at school (Clash Royale in the carpool line), why Grow a Garden faded, and make predictions for 2026.The conversation takes a sharp turn when Eric asks if they've heard of PrizePicks. Turns out, after watching four football games in a day, these kids can rattle off gambling brands like pros. They don't know what the apps actually do, but they've definitely seen the ads. A revealing look at what sports media saturation looks like through younger eyes.00:00 Welcome to Twig Junior Awards01:30 Meet the Junior Hosts: Rocky and Mickey02:57 Opinions on Gaming Industry04:24 Twig Junior Awards: Disappointing Games07:07 Twig Junior Awards: Talk of the Year12:00 Roblox and Social Gaming16:24 Console Gaming and Preferences17:00 Fortnite and Minecraft Discussions18:23 Minecraft Education vs. Switch18:43 Gaming Predictions for the Future19:04 Fortnite and Platform Preferences20:08 Clash Royale Craze21:32 Discovering New Games22:27 Indie Games and PC Gaming23:38 Social Media and Gaming24:44 Predictions for 202626:46 Sibling Dynamics and Gaming28:39 Sports and Betting Ads30:14 Conclusion and Holiday Wishes

Is Die Hard a Christmas Shooter Movie? Only this podcast would know!We discuss:- Call of Duty’s rare public admission of failure and what the end of back-to-back sub-franchise releases actually signals.- Marathon’s delay, $40 price point, and why fiscal calendars still distort launch strategy.- Why Valorant Mobile exploded in China, and why Western mobile shooters keep failing to break through.- EA hiring a VP of Shooters for mobile, and whether Battlefield or Apex can realistically return to phones.- Highguard’s confused reveal, the danger of losing narrative control, and why innovation still matters.- Marvel Rivals as a ceiling, not a failure, and what the hero-shooter arms race gets wrong about retention.

Steam PC flops, Xbox layoffs return, Sony’s handheld dominates, investors flee games for apps, Roblox sees a $100M exit, China beats Turkey, PC indie rises, mobile teams pivot to apps.01:01 Tribute to Vince Zampella08:03 Biggest Game of the Year Predictions08:09 GTA 6 and Its Impact11:42 Other Major Game Predictions14:13 Industry Macro Trends18:50 VC Investments and Gaming26:11 FIFA and Netflix Collaboration32:51 China's Dominance in Mobile Gaming38:52 Epic Games and the Future of Gaming43:08 Predictions for the Gaming Industry53:25 The AI Bubble and Its Implications56:50 Final Thoughts and Holiday Wishes

In this Deep Dive, Jen drops into the pit with Sean “Clown” Crahan — co-founder of Slipknot, lifelong gamer, and unapologetic creative chaos agent.We go from masks to Minecraft, breaking down the origin story of VERNEARTH, why creator-led studios are having their moment, and how the things metal has always understood, culture, empathy, friction, and community, are now becoming core pillars of modern game development.This isn’t a celebrity side quest.It’s a conversation about world-building, trust, and why great games (and great bands) are built by people who actually give a sh*t.Headphones on. Controllers ready. 00:40 Meet Sean Clown Rahan: From Music to Game Development01:24 The Origin of VERNEARTH07:22 Sean's Journey in Gaming and Modding16:54 Collaborations and Creative Challenges25:16 Empathy and Respect in Digital Spaces33:05 The Future of Creator-Led Studios39:17 Failures and Collaborations in the Gaming Industry42:55 The Inspiration Behind VERNEARTH49:11 The Role of Culture in Gaming and Music01:00:32 The Intersection of Metal and Gaming Cultures