We had the good fortune of connecting with Danny Peña and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Danny, what is the most important factor behind your success?
I have always been a leader instead of following trends. Over two decades ago, I started my internet radio show about video games. It helped me to not only meet people within the video game industry but I also got better at creating content when no one was doing that type of thing at the time. Years later, I launched my video podcast Gamertag Radio. nearly two decades later I am still releasing weekly episodes since Feb 25, 2005. During that time, there weren’t any smartphones or apps to download podcasts. I had to find gamers in my local area to get the word about my show.

The reason why I have been successful with my career is I am always thinking outside of the norm and coming up with new ideas that help me stand out.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
What sets me apart from others is that I have the longest running most prolific gaming podcast on the planet. My proudest achievements are 1) being the first Latino inducted into the inaugural podcast hall of fame, 2) being the first gaming podcast to reach 1000 episodes, and 3) celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month 2021 in partnership with Twitch by being featured on four billboards in Times Square, 20 years after attending my first gaming event there for the release of the original Xbox. Getting to where I am today took a lot of creativity, hard work, and risk. In college I used a student loan to get my first computer and edited interviews I did on my tape deck to make my show. I spent what little money I had traveling to gaming events to get interviews and spread the word about my internet radio show before smartphones or ipods. I passed out flyers to promote Gamertag Radio and used my experience as a party promoter to market it. A lesson I’ve learned along the way is to never give up and to keep working to find a way to make things happen.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
The first restaurant my wife and I went to when we moved to LA was Over/Under Public House in downtown Burbank. This is still one of our favorite spots to grab a drink, have a bite to eat, and people watch while catching a football or soccer game on TV. When friends and family come to visit, we always order breakfast and pastries from the legendary Porto’s Bakery. If we have enough free time, some weekends we’ll drive to Paradise Cove in Malibu to spend the day on the beach or grab lunch seaside. We also enjoy meeting up with friends for some games and good times at Guildhall on Victory Blvd.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I want to dedicate this to my grandmother. In 1984, she gifted me the Atari 2600 as my first gaming console for Christmas. She knew that I loved games but didn’t have a way to play them at home. Having that console introduced me to so many games, and changed my life and my future career forever.

Website: www.gamertagradio.com

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

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dpena7/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/godfree

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/godfree

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thedannypena

Image Credits
Christian Ordonez – https://www.instagram.com/christianthooo Riana Manuel-Peña – https://www.instagram.com/rianagramsnow

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