GaIM Live showcases student projects and creative conversations while providing hands-on professional production experience.
By: Majdulina Hamed | Published March 3, 2026
A new livestreamed podcast is amplifying student voices and creative work within the Games and Interactive Media (GaIM) program at the University of Central Florida.
Created and produced by a small student team, GaIM Live highlights current digital media projects while giving students hands-on experience in live production, storytelling and collaborative content creation. The weekly show streams on Twitch and features conversations with students about their creative processes, project development and emerging trends in interactive media.
GaIM Live was developed as part of a Directed Independent Research course advised by Instructor Madeline Davis. Over several weeks, the team conceptualized the show’s format, built its production workflow and launched the livestream, giving the students and opportunity to gain experience for professional roles such as producing, hosting, technical direction, visual design and post-production.
The current production team includes game and interactive media students Colby Brustein, Bryan Cunha, Summer Smith, Michael Thomas, Kyle Williams and Gregory Degenhart.
“I’ve been teaching GaIM since 2018, and there’s always been a need to show what happens in this program beyond the classroom,” Davis says. “GaIM Live isn’t meant to be an advertisement; it’s a showcase of the creativity, experimentation, and work our students are already doing.”
For Bryan Cunha, one of the show’s hosts, the podcast creates visibility for student work that often remains unseen.
“I’ve been part of the program since 2022, and I’ve been able to witness and participate in some incredible projects, most of which will never be seen outside of the classroom,” Cunha says. “This podcast is an amazing solution that gives students the ability to talk about their projects in a professional setting. I think it’ll show the value of all projects that are completed on the pathway to graduation.”
The first episode introduced viewers to the GaIM community and featured conversations with two student teams who participated in the FIEA Game Jam, held at UCF Downtown, is an annual 44.5-hour competition where student teams from across Florida create, develop, and present original games, along with demonstrations of ongoing projects. Future episodes will continue spotlighting student work and discussions relevant to digital media and interactive design.
For Summer Smith, content director for GaIM Live, the experience has also created meaningful professional connections.
“Being a part of GaIM Live has given me the opportunity to connect with students and alumni and think about what might come next for me,” Smith says. “It’s inspiring to see and hear how their projects have come to life, and I love that we’re able to share those stories through our livestreams.”
New episodes stream weekly on Twitch, with recordings archived on the GaIM Live YouTube channel. The third episode airs Wednesday at 6 p.m. and will feature additional projects currently in development.
GaIM Live is actively seeking participation from students, faculty and alumni interested in sharing projects, experiences or discussion topics. Submissions for sharing projects, experiences, or discussion topics can be made through the program’s Linktree , and students interested in joining future production teams are encouraged to contact Davis directly.