Rephonic
Artwork for The VGBees Podcast

The VGBees Podcast

VGBees
Video Games
Xbox
Fortnite
Nintendo
Ubisoft
Nintendo Switch
Pokémon
Nintendo Direct
Tencent
Nintendo Switch 2
Microsoft
Halo
Vgbees
Immigration Law
2024 Video Games
Monster Hunter
Assassin's Creed
Venezuelans
Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Prince Of Persia: Sands Of Time Remake

Host and founder of VGBees, John Warren, is joined every week by cohosts Niki Grayson and Lotus for candid, funny, and enlightening conversations about the video games industry and video games medium (two very different things). Every week, The VGBees Podcast will explore trends and touchpoints you need to know in order to have the most well-rounded idea of what's going on in games. Explore vgbees... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes136Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Video GamesLeisureTechnology

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for The VGBees Podcast

Latest Episodes

This week, John, Niki, and (for about an hour, at least) Lotus ponder what makes a good games outlet name. Also, perhaps more importantly, Epic's full-throttle commitment to AI game production, Grand Theft Auto VI's potential PC release in Q1 2027, a... more

YouTube

This week, Lotus, Niki, and John dove very deep into the surprisingly busy week of games news, including Kotaku's fascinating report about Double Fine's union misfire, Bobby Kotick joining the Skydance Board, and Star Wars Zero Company dev returning ... more

YouTube

On this week's episode, the crew handle a slow news week by going very, very deep on Mike Tomlin's Minecraft city, 2XKO's missed concurrent player target, and impressions of cozy-yet-hardcore Dressmaker.

00:00:00 Intro, John's bad day, pallbearers f... more

YouTube

This week, Lotus, John, and Niki tackle a very busy week of games news, including a new round of Xbox layoffs, Xbox studio consolidation, Activision making the next Halo game, and Bungie's unvaulting of Destiny 2 content.

00:00:00 Intro & Niki's big... more

YouTube

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Game Mess Decides
Game Mess DecidesJeff Grubb's Game Mess
Fire Escape Cast
Fire Escape CastFire Escape Cast

Recent Guests

Pablo Torre
Investigative journalist and media commentator
Pablo Torre (independent) / YouTube channel
Episode: Ep 118: Star Wars Zero Company Furloughs, Xbox Cloud Limits, Pablo Torre & Games Journalism
Jesse Vitelli
Freelance content creator and streamer; frequent guest
Independent/Restart.Run contributor
Episode: Ep 115: Saber CEO's Outburst, Netflix Closes Studios, Star Wars Zero Company Impressions
Joe Is Hungry
Creator and host of the YouTube channel Joe Is Hungry
Self-employed/YouTube
Episode: The VGBees Interview: Joe Is Hungry
Phil Salvador
Library Director, Video Game History Foundation
Video Game History Foundation
Episode: The VGBees Interview: Phil Salvador, Library Director at Video Game History Foundation
Jeff Gerstmann
Veteran game journalist and industry figure
Episode: Ep 104: Witcher 3 DLC, Steam Deck Price Hikes, & 007 First Light w/ Jeff Gerstmann
Danielle Riendeau
Editor-in-Chief over at gamedeveloper.com; journalist and writer adjacent to video games
gamedeveloper.com
Episode: The Pittcast Season Two w/ Danielle Riendeau
Michael P. Higham
Guest on the show, frequent contributor
Episode: Voluntarily Surrendering Your License To Print Money w/ Michael Higham
Charles Harte
Games journalist and contributor at Game Informer
Game Informer
Episode: Are You Strong Enough To Be My Cat w/ Charles Harte
Garrett Martin
Editor-in-Chief of Endless Mode
Endless Mode
Episode: Beard Care At the End of the World w/ Garrett Martin

Hosts

John Warren
Host of The VGBees Podcast; founder of VGBees; leads discussions with humor and industry insight.
Niki Grayson
Cohost known for sharp takes and engaging banter; contributes industry and culture perspectives.
Lotus
Cohost bringing diverse viewpoints and humor; adds balance to discussions.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 136 ratings
  • I LOVE THEM

    Started listening to this a few months ago, joined the Hive, and went back and listened to all the old episodes because their incisive commentary and endless bloviating about any and all topics is a timeless treasure. Really do love this group more than my immediate family.

    PS - Niki’s justification for buying a PS Portal on ep 120 was insane and I disagree completely with their thought process but I still respect them.

    PPS - Use your television, Niki, it’s fine.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Hadji402
    United Statesa month ago
  • Good Pod

    Good Pod

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    GatsuTheUnlikely
    Canadaa month ago
  • Top shelf video game podcast

    This podcast has the best sense of humor, and if you listened to it and weren’t about it, you must live a vapid existence.

    Also, I subscribe to vgbees.com, which feels like a rib on Niki cause they hate being on a 3 hour podcast.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    rva-zem
    United Statesa month ago
  • Refreshing

    Thanks for the auteur discussion on the latest episode. It really solidified for me that this is a show with enough knowledge and expertise to know what they are talking about and still have the gumption to just say the things that other shows tend to shy around.

    I say all this to say - hey stop giving Kojima blanks checks.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    hatebitmhz
    United Statesa month ago
  • If you're looking for a podcast that focuses only on good news about the video games industry, this is the place for you! They only talk about the positives and skip all the negative stuff.

    I only listened to episode 101 but I assume the rest is much the same! :) lemme just jump to episode 103–

    Oh...

    Oh...... N- No....

    Look, this is a podcast for those who are tired of pretending like everything is fine, when it just ISN'T. Calling out the unethical practices of the industry, giving kudos whe... more

    Podchaser
    5
    wiwa4444
    3 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

The show is appreciated for insider industry context and candid conversations.
Listener feedback highlights the hosts' strong chemistry and humor.
Many reviews praise thoughtful takes on gaming industry trends.
Guests and discussions around creator economy and gaming culture are frequent positives.
Community engagement and Discord/Hive plugs are seen as a plus for fans.
Some listeners note changes in tone or vibe over time but generally defend the show's unique voice.
A few negative reviews mention overlong riffs or polarizing opinions.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Ep 123: Double Fine's Union Misfire, Skydance Board, Bit Reactor Returns Furloughed Workers
Q: When you play a fighting game, who are you picking? Karate man, kick lady, big grabby guy, Bruce Lee, etc.
Lotus usually chooses characters based on design and likes Taekwondo fighters, while John prefers powerful grapplers such as Hugo and Jeffrey McWild.
Ep 123: Double Fine's Union Misfire, Skydance Board, Bit Reactor Returns Furloughed Workers
Q: If you could only wear clothing worn by Final Fantasy party members from one specific Final Fantasy, which game would you pick?
The hosts favor Final Fantasy VIII for its stylish but relatively wearable outfits, while praising Final Fantasy X's distinctive character designs despite finding most of its clothes impractical.
Ep 124: Epic Goes Full AI, GTAVI on PC Q1 2027, Ubisoft Studio Closures
Q: Getting into NBA and WNBA basketball as an adult has me feeling like basketball players just have more fun overall, almost like the league celebrates the personalities of the players in it, and it's more laid back as a whole. Do you think this is a valid perception? And if so, why do you think this is?
The hosts say the perception is valid, citing the smaller rosters and greater visibility of players' faces in basketball, which helps audiences connect with individual personalities. They contrast this with football's larger rosters, short careers, and serious physical toll, including brain injuries, which can affect players' health and public presence after retirement.
Ep 124: Epic Goes Full AI, GTAVI on PC Q1 2027, Ubisoft Studio Closures
Q: I find myself now in charge of leading a team at work. Now in a leadership role, I feel deeply responsible for the well-being of my team, though I know that this may at times be at odds with the wishes of those above me. Can you speak to how you've handled situations like this in the past? Any advice that you find particularly useful?
John recommends weighing when to shield a team from unreasonable demands and when to push back, while staying available to ask what people need and watching for burnout. He and Niki also stress that a manager cannot take on the team's emotional burden or control every decision made by senior leaders.
The VGBees Interview: Joe Is Hungry
Q: Do platform changes affect your strategy for growth and revenue?
Yes. I diversify across YouTube and TikTok, adjust thumbnails and titles for each platform, and use AI tools selectively to support SEO and workflow without overreliance.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About The VGBees Podcast

What is The VGBees Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A lively, opinionated group discusses gaming industry news, tech, and pop culture with long-form riffs, humor, and personal stories. Episodes blend current events, industry moves, and hands-on impressions of games, platforms, and events, often spilling into tangents about culture, tech, and everyday life. Noteworthy is the clear chemistry among hosts, willingness to push strong takes, and recurring community plugs that foster an engaged listener base. The show frequently features deep dives into consoles, publishers, and industry trends, paired with interviews and creator-focused conversations that illuminate the broader gaming ecosystem. This mix makes it appealing to listeners who want candid commentary, smart analysis, and a sense of cam... more

Where can I find podcast stats for The VGBees Podcast?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for The VGBees Podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to The VGBees Podcast and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does The VGBees Podcast get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for four million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for The VGBees Podcast, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for The VGBees Podcast?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for The VGBees Podcast, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does The VGBees Podcast have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The VGBees Podcast has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to The VGBees Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The VGBees Podcast:

1. Game Mess Decides
2. Fire Escape Cast
3. Voicemail Dump Truck
4. Game Mess Mornings
5. The Jeff Gerstmann Show - A Podcast About Video Games

How many episodes of The VGBees Podcast are there?

The VGBees Podcast launched 2 years ago and published 136 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The VGBees Podcast?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for The VGBees Podcast?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The VGBees Podcast from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for The VGBees Podcast?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of The VGBees Podcast. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on The VGBees Podcast?

Recent guests on The VGBees Podcast include:

1. Pablo Torre
2. Jesse Vitelli
3. Joe Is Hungry
4. Phil Salvador
5. Jeff Gerstmann
6. Danielle Riendeau
7. Michael P. Higham
8. Charles Harte

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days