Rivals of Waterdeep

Aram Vartian

Aram Vartian is a photo/videographer, designer, podcaster, storyteller and a fairly decent human. He found his way into podcasting by writing, recording and editing the D&D actual play show, Godsfall.

• Website:aramvartian.com
• Podcast:godsfall.com
• Twitter:@vartian

Carlos Luna

Carlos is a sound designer and improviser from Chicago. He currently produces the D&D podcast 'The Dungeon Rats' and is a cast member on 'Godsfall'. In 2017 he co-founded Neon Rival, a collective of artists producing audio dramas. He studied improv at The Second City as well as Improv Olympic, and actively performs on stage throughout Chicago. When he's not working on shows or improvising, he can be found making show posters and backpacking. He still hasn't seen True Detective.

• Website:neonrival.com
• Podcast: thedungeonrats.com
• Twitter:carloscrits

Cicero Holmes

Cicero a lifelong gamer who parlayed his love for all things tech into a 20 plus year career in Systems Administration. This Bronx-born, Long Island-raised eccentric truly marches to the beat of his own drum. A former thespian, Cicero is also credited (by him) for inventing the phrase & motion of 'popping one’s collar'. You can find Cicero every week yelling about why Chicago’s pizza is not as good as New York's.

• Podcast:Spawn on Me
• Twitter:stubbystan

Tanya DePass

Tanya DePass is the Founder and Director of I Need Diverse Games, a not-for-profit foundation based in Chicago. She’s part of the Spawn on Me podcast, the programming coordinator for OrcaCon; and often speaks on issues of diversity, feminism, race, intersectionality & other topics at conventions. Her writing appears in Uncanny Magazine, Polygon, Vice Gaming, Mic, Waypoint, Wiscon Chronicles, Paste Games and other publications. She's been a Industry Insider at GenCon (2017), Guest of Honor at OrcaCon (2016), and is a partnered variety streamer on Twitch.

• Podcast: Spawn on Me
• Twitch: cypheroftyr
• Twitter:@cypheroftyr

Shareef Jackson

As the founder of the math and physics tutoring service Math Looks Good LLC, Shareef’s culturally relevant communication style helps break down science, gaming, and math in a way that the average person can understand and appreciate.

In addition to being a business owner, Shareef is an adjunct professor of video games and learning as well as a substitute math teacher. His views on science and technology have been featured on sources such as the New York Times, NPR, Scientific American, and MacLean's. Shareef is a co-host on the Spawn on Me podcast, which spotlights people of color in gaming. He highlights issues of gender and race on his YouTube series at Gaming Looks Good.

• Podcast: Spawn on Me
• Twitter:@ShareefJackson

Surena Marie

Surena Marie is a writer, comedian, and artist living in Chicago. She has studied and performed with The Annoyance Theater, IO Chicago and the Musical Conservatory at Second City. Currently, she is a player character on several live play podcasts including Godsfall, The Dungeon Rats and Neon Rival Presents. She also performs in Chicago with the all WOC comedy troupe Matt Damon Improv. When she's not gaming, you can find her panicking in the craft aisle of your local craft store, cosplaying or trying not to get lost in the woods with her strong desire to become the "outdoorsy type".

• Podcast: thedungeonrats.com
• Podcast: godsfall.com
• Instagram:SurenaMarie
• Twitter:@SurenaXMarie

Brandon Stennis

Brandon Stennis is a partnered content creator on Twitch.tv for the last 4 years. He also works as the Influencer Manager of the indie publishing company Versus Evil. Brandon has gathered quite the career in the gaming industry since 2012 and has innovated himself into a self made gaming personality. He continues to try and help other creators find their place within themselves and the gaming/streaming communities.

• Twitch:iamBrandon
• Twitter:@iamBrandonTV