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Mick
Get the Angel REEF Special at McDonald's. Now let's break it down. My favorite barbecue sauce, American cheese, crispy bacon, pickles, onions and a sesame seed bun, of course. And don't forget the fries and a drink. Sound good?
Jordan Rambis
I participate in restaurants for a limited time.
Unknown Host
What would you say is Jordan Rambes?
Jordan Rambis
Because I'd probably say two things. I'm extremely grateful for all the hard work that my parents continue to do to make my life better. I so definitely doing things to make my family proud and my parents proud is always a big motivator to me. And then the other aspect is how.
Unknown Host
Did you take esports and really put it on the grand stage that it deserved and also just kept it moving and kept it viable.
Jordan Rambis
I think I was just in the right place at the right time with the right knowledge and passion. I was again just a die hard gamer.
Unknown Host
And the income that some of these.
Jordan Rambis
Gamers make, you know, some of the salaries for esports depends on the game. Some will be or there's other games that you'll be the top player of that game and your salary.
Unknown Host
Welcome to Mick Unplugged where we ignite potential and fuel purpose. Get ready for raw insights, bold moves and game changing conversations. Buckle up.
Mick
Here's Mick.
Unknown Host
Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to another exciting episode of Mick Unplugged. And today we're joined by a visionary leader at the forefront of esports and entertainment industries. He's a strategic thinker with a passion for shaping the future and he's raising the bar for what's possible in immersive experiences. Please join me in welcoming the innovator of the forward thinking, the dynamic, the producer of the year in my book, Mr. Jordan Rambis. Jordan, how you doing today, brother?
Jordan Rambis
Thank you so much. I'm doing great. Lovely to be here and I might need to just go around and walk around with you because you are the perfect hype. Man. That was the best intro I've ever had. Thank you so much.
Unknown Host
No, I definitely know that you've had better than that, man. I definitely know you've had better than that. So Jordan, man, I know that you are a guy that has so much going on. You're always doing things, looking to, I'm gonna say innovate, like that's my word of the day, to be innovative and not sit still. Where did that come from, man?
Jordan Rambis
Probably I've always been a stubborn person, to be honest. I was a stubborn little kid. I was on a, you know, just the kid that could never sit down in class and if someone told them, no, you can't do something, I'd figure out a way to do it. And I think kind of growing up and utilizing that as an adult is I'll look towards an industry. I'll see some sort of issue within the industry, some sort of problem to be fixed. But I also know my limitations. So what I'll do is I'll find, I'll figure out like, okay, hey, here's the problem, here's maybe a solution for it. Who's going to be the right people that I can put in place and empower and take a minority position and really let them do what they do best. So that's kind of what I've done because that is actually how I was brought into my first big project. I was brought in to Axumatic Gaming, which is a investment fund. We received investment from Disney Groupon, owners of Groupon, aol, Michael Jordan, Tony Robbins, Dick Clark Productions. And I was paired up with this extremely intelligent gentleman, Bruce Stein, who was the former, I think it was CEO or CEO of Mattel and, and had worked in a lot of fun capacity before that. And I was just the gaming industry guy. I knew my lane. I'm just going to give him the information that I know best. And he was going to be kind of the, the puppet master kind of making, okay, well this is how we should do this then, because you tell this. So I've been working to be in that position where I can be the person that brings everyone together, they feed the info to and then I push out to everyone what, what we should do next. So for example, you know, if, if any of the listeners maybe want kind of advice on, on ways to go about with what I'm doing now. Almost everything I'm thinking now is very AI driven in terms of what's a need within the community, how can we identify people or how can that system be brought into an AI capacity to be more efficient. So one of them is actually just become a lot more relevant. Fortunately for the company, but unfortunately for the fires that occurred. But it's a AI system we built out called Plan Check Solver. You can go. It's actually up right now, plancheck solver.com and what it just does is it cross references your building designs with local city ordinances. So the hope is with all the fires that have occurred in L. A we're taking these lead times from six months to six years or five, whatever it's going to be taking to get these business plans approved or building plans approved down to, you know, the hope would be just, you know, instantaneous feedback on, hey, everything's up to code. You can, you know, start on the next step.
Unknown Host
You know what's crazy about that, Jordan? I started my career, my life, and still am on a consulting standpoint in the insurance space, right? So now imagine what's going on with the fires in la. What's happened with the fires in la. Imagine from an insurance perspective now, right, From a rating perspective. And I know I have a ton of insurance folks that are listeners and viewers. I might need to connect you with some players, Jordan, if you haven't already, because my insurance, my risk management cap comes on there all of a sudden, and now we could almost get individualized ratings on buildings instead of having blanket ratings based on where you're physically located. But now you're aggregated against others. This could open the door for individualized rating.
Jordan Rambis
No, definitely. I think there needs to be a complete rethinking of insurance for natural disasters, especially when it comes to one that, you know, some of the government's actions can increase or decrease the risk itself. So I think it would be nice to see a program similar to what Cal Fire in theory is, but a way where when an insurance company is not offering fire protection or flood or something, that there should be a little bit more government aid on that side, that there's offerings by the government that can help subsidize those costs in terms of reducing the risk. So like, let's just say, for example, fire, you know, you have your home fire protection through your insurance company. If something that, you know, you have a barbecue or something that happened that you know was. Was more of your fault, quote unquote. And then something that, again, if you look at the fires in L. A, what's a fire protection service where we can analyze where the risk factors are and actually incentivize property and homeowners to implement pieces that actually will reduce their premiums being paid to insurance. So, example, here comes. We, we do an analysis using all these different factors of your home. Okay, well, now we're going to monitor this home via satellite. You can do all the AI stuff for privacy, so it's never any human interaction on it where they don't see. Like you could blur out people and all that, but it could track. Is there shrubbery growing within five feet of the home? Hey, have. Do you have this? You have a pool? If you buy this water pump system and the sprinkler guard will reduce your premiums by this much a month and only through tech. Can that be something that's scalable? But you can then have the state backing an insurance program that is using this tech and AI systems to be okay. Hey, instead of trying to look at this problem just on the grander scale, we can get down to the smaller nitty gritty details of is this house being. Doing what it needs to do to be protected? Is this house doing what's the new needed to be productive? And I think, again, just looking at those issues and using tech and AI as a problem as a way to solve those problems, I think is just, you know, what everyone should be looking at.
Unknown Host
Yeah.
Jordan Rambis
Yeah. If you know, any insurance people that. That want to get that done, I. It would be great to. Because I'm hearing these horror stories that's one after another. I feel so bad for these people.
Unknown Host
Totally agree. So. So Keith, Frank, Chris, Darren, Daniel, Ryan, I'm setting you all up with a call with Jordan because I think all of you, maybe me and Jordan, can definitely give some insight there. So, Jordan, this can definitely happen. But, you know, I don't want to bore people with insurance. Right. Because we know insurance is not sexy till you need it. And then when you need it, it's still not sexy because it's like, it's crazy. But by that point. But you talked about AI and you talked about, you know, again, going back to your. Your just sense of innovation. Right. You know, on Make Unplugged, we talk about your. Because that reason that kind of makes you do the things that you do, that big purpose that you have in life. What would you say is Jordan Rambes?
Jordan Rambis
Because I'd probably say two things. I'm extremely grateful for all the hard work that my parents continue to do to. To make my life better. So definitely doing things to make my family proud and my parents proud is always a big motivator to me. And then the other aspect is probably like, I have like this kind of like inner superhero wannabe child. I grew up, I actually had a speech, a pretty bad speech impediment. I was deaf for two, three years. I had to get a couple surgeries when I was like three to five. And it gave me this kind of more awkward speech impediment. So I was kind of like that nerdy kid in class. I'd go home and play video games. And the other thing I would do is I had a. A red wagon that I would call my WED wagon back then. And it was full of comic books. And I take that down the street and I would just read Comic books all day long. So I got obsessed with this kind of superhero mentality. So it's one of these things where I just, you know, always strive to see if like, hey, what's this? What's something I can do that could help the world? And I think there's also ways to do that that can be cross beneficial. So one of my friends from college, after college got diagnosed with malignant melanoma. He's fine now, but we were trying to give out sunscreen and stuff and realized that wasn't scalable. So my first kind of tech hardware company I started was something called Bright Guard that I started with one of my college friends, Ryan Warren. And it was automated sunscreen dispensers. Just like you would have hand sanitizer dispensers at places and we would sell the ad and you'd be able to sell the ad for more than what you would sell the sunscreen for. So it allowed us to give out free sunscreen while making a potentially profitable business, which we eventually get to. So I think something like that too, where, you know, again with the plan check solver. Something where you can innovate and actually help people make the world a better place, but at the same time have a successful business. It'll allow you to help more people. Right? If we were just giving out sunscreen, we might be able to kind of save a few lives here and there or whatever. But by what we did in getting hundreds of thousands of gallons of sunscreen out there to people who didn't have it on at the time, Bayer, who was our supplier, said we statistically saved hundreds or thousands of lives, which is kind of a cool thing that again allows it to scale more because it is a business for profit.
Mick
Get the Angel Reese Special at McDonald's. Now let's break it down. My favorite barbecue sauce, American cheese, crispy bacon, pickles, onions and a sesame seed bun, of course. And don't forget the fries and the drinks. Sound good?
Jordan Rambis
I participate in restaurants for a limited time.
Unknown Advertiser
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Unknown Host
The quarter pounder with cheese had many great things. Maple flavored griddle cakes isn't one of them. McDonald's breakfast comes first.
Jordan Rambis
Ba da ba ba ba.
Unknown Host
That's amazing, man. One of the things I want to give you credit for, I know you get a lot of credit for it, but you don't really talk about as much as I'm going to say you should. So these are the words of Mick and Mick only. You were in my mind one of the key people that were responsible for the explosion, explosion of the esports industry and the esports trend and bringing it to the forefront and really making it a thing. Right? Because there's been, let's just be honest, you're out in LA and Hollywood, there's hundreds of ideas that never really take ground, right? Like there's a lot of money that gets wasted and lost in ideas. How did you take esports and really put it on the grand stage that it deserved and also just kept it moving and kept it viable?
Jordan Rambis
Well, I appreciate that there's obviously a lot more people who had a lot more of an impact on it than me, but I think I was just in the right place at the right time with the right knowledge and passion. I was again just a die hard gamer and had been meeting with, with Riot Games and I've always wanted to get into video game development and just saw this path where I was lucky enough to have a, you know, a sports background and knowledge about the sports industry while also being a die hard gamer and understanding a little bit of business. So I kind of saw that opportunity within esports and with the right network, was able to get my friends within gaming and my investor friends and my sports friends and their connections and just to get everyone together saying, hey, you know, esports is becoming a thing. We could be on the forefront of, you know, kind of trying to, to make it go down the right path and be on that upswing. And yeah, I mean it was just right, right as I jumped into it, you know, I think we just had a very notable group around us crossing all these different industries that it was definitely some of those names made esports, you know, kind of go to the next level. Whereas again, getting it taken seriously now. I still think there's a lot of innovation that needs to happen with esports and I think there's also a lot of misconstruing of what esports is. But I think people viewing gaming content for a multitude of reasons, entertainment education on the Games. There's, there's a lot of different aspects to what esport or, you know, watching someone play on Twitch can be. But it's, it's always funny because you get these people that don't get that. They're like, why would they, why would you want to watch someone play video games? Like, that's, that's not something the naysayers. Or it's like some of the game development stuff is like, oh, you're building a game that allows your users to build games. Why would gamers want to do that? They're lazy. They don't want someone else to build, you know, the game for them. They just want someone to build the game for them. And I think one thing, other two, going back to your question earlier is just like you're always going to have a lot of people saying no, even if you're in the right and it's very obvious and 99% people saying yes. There will always be that one person saying no. So it just kind of depends on who you talk to at what time and get that no or whatever. But just if that's something of a passion for you and you feel like this is a need that needs to get solved. There's not a single project or single investment I ever made or a single idea I ever had that there were no's to. Almost every time, actually. Every time pretty much, right?
Unknown Host
Pretty much. And what's crazy is, you know, obviously I've known about gaming and esports and all that, but it wasn't until Covid that I realized how much money people were actually making. And I was sitting there like, oh, I thought fun and games was fun and games. I didn't realize that there are 13, 14, 15 year olds making money like that. And then also when adults making crazy money, like for the casual listener to understanding esports, talk about the income that some of these gamers make and why this has become very important.
Jordan Rambis
So there's two kind of aspects to talk about. Again, there's the esport athlete that's being paid as a competitive gamer, which a lot of them, they'll sometimes be the same person. The person making the most is that. But a lot of times, what, you know, being the best player, it's a, you're a really good player. Maybe if there's a team, you're good at being a team, but you're just really good at that game. And you know, some of the salaries for esports depends on the game. Some will be, you know, you'll be the top player of that game and only making tens of thousands, or there's other games that you'll be the top player that game and your salary as a from the competitive team could be in the millions. So it really just kind of depends. But then if you add the aspect where they're a good streamer, that's where you get the biggest checks. And there was, whenever you kind of see in the news, oh, this esport guy or this streamer gamer was paid this. It's typically because they might be good at the game, but then their personality and how they engage and how they create their audience, they know kind of all the right pieces at all the right times. But they had one just on his streaming deal alone was $80 million over two years. And there's ladies and gentlemen.
Unknown Host
Yeah, there's real money that Jordan is talking about right there.
Jordan Rambis
Yeah. And you get a direct connection too with your audience. So you can sell your sponsorships. On top of that, you can build out products and really get this immediate response from your fans about, you know, who you are and what you're doing. So you see all these guys that again, like Kai, I think it's pronounced Kaisenat, right?
Unknown Host
Yeah.
Jordan Rambis
And all these other people that now they're just, they're making more money than the celebrities that they bring on, which is crazy.
Unknown Host
Which is crazy. And, and here's a confession. Nobody's ever heard this before, so. And physically I was really good at Madden, right? Like Madden was, was my game and that really was the only game I ever played. And then, you know when, when it got to where you could play other people online, right? Cause I always just played individuals or family members or friends. In Jordan, I used to bust heads.
Jordan Rambis
Yeah.
Unknown Host
Like we used to have rules.
Jordan Rambis
Like, okay, your little sister had no chance. She.
Unknown Host
Right. When my kids were 7, 9 and 12, they couldn't touch me. But there was this one time, Jordan, I was like, all right, I'm gonna go play online. I'm gonna do this play against somebody I don't know. And again, I bust heads, Jordan. I got crushed, like out of the gate crushed. And then you can communicate with the person on the other end. And it was a 12 year old. And I was like, how is this 12 year old who doesn't even watch football? That can be because I'm playing football logically, like a football player would play, right? Like gonna run the ball, do some little screens and they're up there like, no, Mr. Hunt. And first when they called me Mr. Hunt, I knew life was over. For me. And I could never play Madden again. Like, there's a way to play the game, the game. Like you're a footballer trying to play it like it's a football game. Like, no, you gotta understand it's a game and there's ways to like beat the game. I'm like, yeah, but I don't wanna play that way. I know you can maneuver your tackle over here and put him at receiver and put your receiver. Like I know all that. But they're like, no, that's how you're supposed to play the game. And I was like, oh, I'm done. And I haven't played madden in like five years since I got beat by 12 year old.
Jordan Rambis
Yeah, and the 12 year old will smack talk you better too. You'll just be like, oh, oh dang.
Unknown Host
Oh my God. Yeah, what about my mama?
Jordan Rambis
No, it's cool. I mean it is the great thing. It's actually, I'm too old. I'm aged out. I used to be decently competitive at a few titles where I'd be Master Rank or you know, diamond or whatever it may be across multiple titles from like multiple different genres. But now I get in there and it's, yeah, like you said, like I'll have my like 10 year old, 12 year old nephew is, is now kicking my ass at Fortnite. I'm just like, this used to be my thing, all right, we're not, we're playing Zero build now. You don't get a build. We gotta, we gotta go and we'll just be shooters. But it, the thing that they were describing to you is I think one of the things that gets undervalued for gamers is most of these games. A lot of these games are about problem solving. And I kind of look at them as almost like, you know, digital. Kind of more fun to play chess in that capacity. Because again, gaming is a massive genre, but for the most part you're trying to understand the mechanics of a game and problem solve on how to have like the best outcome for it. Right? And there's some that are just straight puzzle games, you know, like a, like a Lara Croft Tomb Raider type game. And then there's other ones where again like, like they were saying, hey, if you run this play, you have like a better chance of getting it because this is how the game works. And I think a lot of gamers actually should do that more than they probably do. They probably just play the game and not trying to identify like where are the mechanics of the game that I Could, like, be better at Because I do think it's one of those things where you can train your brain certain ways to, like, be more analytical and using that where you're like, okay, hey, I'm gonna look at gaming as more problem solving than just entertainment.
Mick
Get the angel REEF Special at McDonald's. Now let's break it down. My favorite barbecue sauce, American cheese, crispy bacon, pickles, onions, and a sesame seed bun, of course. And don't forget the fries and the drinks. Sound good? Ba da ba ba ba.
Jordan Rambis
I participate in restaurants for a limited time.
Unknown Advertiser
There's a lot in life that feels like it should be guaranteed but isn't. Like getting the same number of socks from the dryer that you put in a pair of jeans still fitting weather forecasts or an empty nest, staying empty. AT&T is introducing a new guarantee you can count on. The ATT guarantee, offering connectivity that you can depend on deals you want and service you deserve or they'll make it right. Visit att.com guaranty to learn more. AT&T connecting changes everything. Terms and conditions apply. Visit att.comguaranty for details.
Unknown Host
The quarter pounder with cheese had many great things. Maple flavored griddle cakes isn't one of them.
Jordan Rambis
McDonald's breakfast comes first. Ba da ba ba ba.
Unknown Host
Yeah, totally agree. So the evolution of Jordan Rambis, right? So again, crazy cool in the esports entertainment arena. Now you're also a producer, man, you don't quit, right? Every time. I think I've got Jordan figured out. There's a new aspect to the game, no pun intended, that you're doing. So I want to talk about running point specifically in a moment, but like, what got you into the film and the entertainment aspect that way, aside from, you know, living over there? But what got you there?
Jordan Rambis
I mean, it kind of began when I was. I had left the restaurant industry. I worked my way up from like a bartender to a GM and then kind of wanted to get out of the restaurant industry and I became an account executive for a software company. That was kind of more explained to me that I was going to be like, more like marketing. But it was like cold call marketing type thing, which, which wasn't, you know, my. My cup of tea. So then I had an opportunity to be a production assistant on a TV show and just kind of fell in love with that process of a bunch of people just kind of sitting in the room being like, hey, wouldn't this be funny or wouldn't this be entertaining? It was with Craig Kilborn Who's a legend, to say the least. But he took me under his wing. And there was actually one joke that I pitched him which, like, normally, like, production assistants wouldn't pitch a joke. And I was just like, hey, what do you think about this? And he's like, I like it. Let's do it and put it on. That kind of gave me that bug. So I spent hundreds of hours trying to develop reality TV shows and putting together sizzles and, you know, trying to get a show sold. Never could failed for three, four years as I was being a production assistant on other shows and then connected with one of my friends. We want to do a horror film. And kind of sitting down, thinking about what we could do is like, oh, well, what if we go after an existing, like, iconic horror property and use that to leverage to help get a film done? So we went to the Winchester House in Santa Clara, San Jose, San Jose, and. Cause there's a lot of lore around it, and pitched them and had to actually put on their haunted house as a way to convince them to give us the rights to do the film. So we actually, like, managed and produced their haunted house during Halloween for a couple years before they, like, were willing to kind of give us the rights to go try to do the film for it, which we got Helen Mirren for. I didn't have too many hands on the two horror projects I produced. I kind of helped in certain ways that kind of made it happen. But the jump to the TV and the scripted doing the Lakers documentary and helping package that and be a part of that was amazing. And then this, the what is now running point was something that I always joked around with my mom about how much fun it would be. And Jeannie Buss, my mom, had been trying to do a similar show for a long time. It was pitched more as on a drama side and looked at everything from more of a drama angle. And just being around my mom and Jeannie, like, the one power that they have to kind of keep going and deal with a lot of the. The struggles that they have that. The headaches that they have is they laugh. They laugh a lot, they crack jokes, they try to keep the spirits light. And some of the stuff that they have to deal with is so ridiculous, you can't do anything but laugh at it. So repositioned it as a comedy. Finally convinced them to, like, let me take it out, and brought it to a longtime friend, Andrew Thomas, who we were first, maybe going to talk to some other people, but then he goes, no, like, you Got to talk to Mindy Kaling and Howard Klein, who did the Office, because I was pitching it as the Office, but the Lakers. So then Andrew made those intros, and it was off to running from there. It was a lot of fun. The development process was really cool. Going back and talking about the old stories. Cause we just had finished the documentary, so it's like, oh, even here's what. You know, other things that happen that we didn't put in the documentary that could be funny to do, because now we can do it is. It's. It's a fictitious comedy. So, you know, it's. It's. You can change things around and have more fun with it, rather, when it's a documentary and you have to, like, kind of stay in your lane.
Unknown Host
Too many permissions in documentaries. Right? Like, if it's a fictitious comedy, like, you get to be a little creative because it's branded that way. Right?
Jordan Rambis
Exactly. Yeah. So it's been really fun, and there is a lot of laughs during that process. And again, that's back to your question earlier of what drives you. It's like, I love. Love the humor, Love making people laugh, love making people entertained. And also, it's like, if my mom and I are able to crack up for hours, you know, talking about all the stories and funny situations, that's, you know, it's about what drives happiness in your life.
Unknown Host
Yep. No, agree, man. I agree. Huge fan of it. You know, obviously, I saw the trailer a few weeks ago, and then I was like, oh, this is dynamic. Like, this is gonna be so huge fan. And I'm gonna do my part in promoting it as well, too. Like, freaking love it.
Jordan Rambis
Yeah. Put it on every house, every tv on repeat, Whatever. Whatever you need to do. I'd love to get a season two out of this. It was such a fun season one.
Unknown Host
So let's do it now. Do I get to be a part of season two?
Jordan Rambis
We'll put a little. Maybe we can get a little cameo in there somewhere. We'll see.
Unknown Host
I'm a Die hard Laker, man. I'm a Die Hard Laker. Which leads me to my next question or proposal. I think there needs to be Growing Up Rambus as a series somewhere, bro. Because I know. I know there's funny stories. I know that there are moments of heartbreak. Like growing up Rambus is something that people want. Just throwing that out there for you.
Jordan Rambis
That's very funny. No, there's actually. There was a couple of very big reality TV production groups that back in the day, wanted to do, like, a Rambus and bus type thing and, you know, some. Just a Rambus type thing. But I have no desire to be famous whatsoever. I want to, you know, as much as. As little as I can be, to still do the things that I want to do. Fame is, you know, it's. It's not something I want to be a part of, but, you know, it is cool to kind of picture what that story would be. That sounds like a fun idea. That show would be a fun show.
Unknown Host
We're going to make it happen. I promise you. So, Jordan, man, I know you're. You're a busy guy. Thank you for gracing us with some time, but before I get you out of here, two questions I've always wanted to ask. Jordan, favorite Laker of all time.
Jordan Rambis
Well, I mean, love my dad, so I'm gonna have to say. I'm gonna have to say him. Mark Madsen was one of the nicest guys.
Unknown Host
Mad Dog. Yes.
Jordan Rambis
Matt.
Unknown Host
We.
Jordan Rambis
We both volunteered for the Red Cross back in the day, and he was just. He's just a character, and one of the nicest guys would always light up a room. But if you're. If you're saying everything, it has to be Kobe, you know, I mean, that was. That's. Know. Knew him when he kind of first came to the team. And I'd be over there back in the day, you could, like, have your family over at the practices over in the corner. So I'd be off just kind of, like, playing, and he was always. Just. Just came over with just a nice, big smile. And it's a. It's a terrible loss, to say the least. But he's inspired so many, and I think it's. I don't think there's anyone in the league that could say that he inspired this mentality of greatness in so many people that I know have changed their lives because of that. So I'd have to say, you know, after my dad, hands down, would be Kobe. Truly, truly an inspiration.
Unknown Host
My favorite Laker of all time is Kobe, for sure. Your dad's number three, so Kobe, Magic, number two. Magic.
Jordan Rambis
Magic.
Unknown Host
So Magic's the reason I love the Lakers. So I'm a. I'm a Boston sports guy, although I live and I'm from South Carolina. But here's the deal. My uncle played for the Patriots, so I grew up. I was born a Patriot fan, but the first basketball game he took me to was Lakers, Celtics, and I fell in love with Magic Johnson, and so I became a Laker fan. So I'M the only person that loves the Patriots, the Red Sox, the Bruins. But the Lakers are my basketball team. I hate the Celtics. I hate the Celtics.
Jordan Rambis
Yeah. I mean, that makes at least the back in the day, the new. The new ownership's a lot nicer, but Celtics is. I don't know. Never understood that. That mentality of the 80s Celtics fans. But they're diehards, that's for sure. But it's fun. I mean. I mean, that's what, you know, you need that in sports. That's the one thing I never got about the football and the penalties and stuff for, like, celebrating and all that, because that's like. To me, like, that's like. That's how you build stuff. You build rivalries, you build entertainment. You want to see them celebrate. You want to see the emotion.
Unknown Host
Yeah. You're telling people to go hurt each other, but then don't, don't. Don't celebrate it. Or don't have the emotion after you.
Jordan Rambis
It'd be like producing a TV show or movie and being like, okay, just say the lines. Don't show emotion.
Unknown Host
How boring is that?
Jordan Rambis
Yeah. So I love it. I love to see that kind of. Just that, you know, the heart come out of the game in whichever capacity.
Unknown Host
Cool. Second question I've always wanted to ask Jordan Rambis your least favorite Celtic.
Jordan Rambis
That's. I won't. I won't say his name because I don't like bashing people, but I think we all. We all know it's Kevin McHale. It's Kevin.
Unknown Host
We need to have the highlight rolling right now. We need to have the tackle rolling. Make sure everybody's seeing this play.
Jordan Rambis
Yeah. Obviously I don't know him from any experience, but if I had to say anyone. Yeah. But there's still.
Unknown Host
He could be your least favorite but most respected at the same time. Right. That's not a bad thing to have a least favorite of something.
Jordan Rambis
I would have gone up and kicked him on the shin after when I saw the videos if I knew. No, but most liked it would probably be Gordon Hayward. He was. He's actually was big in esports as well, and really one of those ambassadors of a traditional sports player who loves gaming, so. And a very nice guy as well. So.
Unknown Host
I don't have a favorite Celtic Jordan.
Jordan Rambis
Yeah. Not even one. You just like.
Unknown Host
I'm a uncle.
Jordan Rambis
Dislike.
Unknown Host
I don't have a favorite Duke player either, which is tough for me right now with Laker basketball, knowing who their coach is and my. My hatred of Duke basketball is tough.
Jordan Rambis
Well, I'LL stick up for him. I will say JJ's a nice guy and very intelligent guy.
Unknown Host
So if you say so.
Jordan Rambis
Yeah, if you're gonna have one, he wouldn't be a bad one to have. I can't do it.
Unknown Host
I can't do it. Jordan, man, I know you're busy, so I appreciate your time. Last thing, where can people follow and find you?
Jordan Rambis
I mean, again, I try not to, but I guess, I guess on Instagram. If anyone wants to reach out on Instagram, just, you know, jordanrambis ordanrambis. But I appreciate the time. Thank you so much and looking forward to more conversations in the future.
Unknown Host
You got it, brother. And for all the viewers and listeners, remember your because is your superpower. Unleash it. Thank you for tuning in to MC Unplugged. Keep pushing your limits, embracing your purpose and chasing greatness. Until next time, stay unstoppable.
Mick
Get the Angel Reese Special at McDonald's. Now, let's break it down. My favorite barbecue sauce, American cheese, crispy bacon, pickles, onions, and a sesame seed bun, of course. And don't forget the fries and the drinks. Sound good?
Jordan Rambis
Participating restaurants for a limited time.
Episode Overview: In this compelling episode of "Mick Unplugged," host Mick Hunt engages in an insightful conversation with Jordan Rambis, a visionary leader in the esports and entertainment industries. The discussion traverses Jordan's journey, the burgeoning esports landscape, the intersection of technology and insurance, and his foray into film production. Packed with personal anecdotes, industry insights, and forward-thinking ideas, this episode offers listeners a deep dive into the transformative world of modern leadership within esports.
The episode kicks off with Mick Hunt introducing Jordan Rambis as a strategic thinker passionate about shaping the future of esports and immersive experiences. Jordan expresses gratitude towards his parents as a primary motivator, stating:
"I'm extremely grateful for all the hard work that my parents continue to do to make my life better. Doing things to make my family proud is always a big motivator to me."
— Jordan Rambis [09:21]
Additionally, Jordan touches upon his childhood experiences that fueled his passion for problem-solving and innovation, drawing parallels between gaming and strategic thinking.
Jordan delves into his pivotal role in elevating esports to mainstream recognition. Reflecting on his success, he attributes it to being "in the right place at the right time with the right knowledge and passion," and his deep-rooted enthusiasm as a gamer.
"I was a die-hard gamer and had been meeting with Riot Games... I saw this opportunity within esports and, with the right network, was able to get everyone together to propel it forward."
— Jordan Rambis [13:41]
He acknowledges the collaborative efforts with industry giants like Disney and Dick Clark Productions, emphasizing the importance of networking and interdisciplinary collaboration in driving esports' growth.
A significant portion of the discussion revolves around the financial landscape of esports. Jordan explains the varied income sources for gamers:
"Some of the salaries for esports depends on the game. Some will be... the top player of that game and your salary could be in the millions."
— Jordan Rambis [17:14]
He highlights the lucrative opportunities in streaming, sponsorships, and product endorsements, noting that some esports personalities earn more than traditional celebrities due to their direct engagement with audiences.
Transitioning from esports, Jordan explores the innovative application of AI in the insurance sector, particularly in mitigating natural disaster risks.
"With all the fires that have occurred in L.A., we're taking these lead times from six months to instantaneous feedback on building codes compliance."
— Jordan Rambis [05:14]
He introduces "Plan Check Solver," an AI system designed to cross-reference building designs with local ordinances, aiming to streamline approval processes and enhance safety measures. Jordan envisions a future where personalized insurance ratings are possible through detailed, AI-driven assessments of individual properties.
Jordan shares his journey from the restaurant industry to film production, detailing his passion for creating entertaining and impactful content. His experience as a production assistant under the mentorship of Craig Kilborn ignited his interest in reality TV and scripted comedies.
"I fell in love with the process of a bunch of people just kind of sitting in the room being like, hey, wouldn't this be funny or entertaining."
— Jordan Rambis [23:59]
He recounts producing horror films and transitioning to comedy by leveraging personal connections and industry expertise, ultimately contributing to projects like the Lakers documentary and the fictitious comedy series "Running Point."
The conversation takes a personal turn as Mick shares his experiences with gaming, highlighting the competitive and strategic nature of esports.
"Gaming is a massive genre, but for the most part, you're trying to understand the mechanics of a game and problem solve on how to have the best outcome."
— Jordan Rambis [20:49]
Jordan emphasizes the cognitive benefits of gaming, likening it to a form of digital chess that enhances analytical and problem-solving skills. He encourages gamers to approach games not just as entertainment but as opportunities for mental development.
Jordan discusses the influence of esports on traditional sports, touching upon how athletes like Gordon Hayward are bridging the gap between sports and gaming.
"He's actually was big in esports as well, and really one of those ambassadors of a traditional sports player who loves gaming."
— Jordan Rambis [33:31]
He underscores the evolving perceptions of gaming within the broader sports community, advocating for greater acceptance and integration of esports into mainstream sports culture.
As the episode wraps up, Mick and Jordan reflect on the future of esports and entertainment. Jordan expresses a desire to continue innovating and making impactful contributions without seeking fame.
"I want to, you know, as much as I can be, to still do the things that I want to do. Fame is not something I want to be a part of, but it is cool to kind of picture what that story would be."
— Jordan Rambis [29:44]
He invites listeners to connect with him on Instagram for future collaborations, signaling ongoing projects and the potential for season two of his current endeavors.
Passion and Timing: Jordan's success in esports stems from his unwavering passion and being at the forefront of the industry's growth.
Diverse Revenue Streams: Esports offers multiple income avenues beyond gaming, including streaming, sponsorships, and product endorsements.
AI in Insurance: Innovative applications of AI can revolutionize the insurance sector by providing personalized and efficient solutions for building safety.
Gaming as Problem-Solving: Viewing gaming as a strategic tool can enhance cognitive skills and provide meaningful personal development.
Bridging Sports and Esports: The integration of traditional sports figures into esports highlights the growing synergy between these domains.
Impactful Leadership: Jordan exemplifies modern leadership by combining strategic thinking, innovation, and a commitment to making a positive impact without seeking personal fame.
For listeners eager to explore the dynamic interplay between esports, technology, and entertainment, this episode of "Mick Unplugged" offers invaluable insights and inspiration from one of the industry's leading figures.