Who Gets to Be a Gamer? How Video Games Shape Identity and Belonging

from Bro-ing Pains · host Papa Chad & Corporate Papi

For years, video games have been blamed for laziness, addiction, and wasted potential. But what if that’s not the full story?In this episode, we sit down with Dr. M. Coopilton, a video game educator, researcher, and creator of Kai Unearthed, to explore how gaming shapes identity, community, and belonging in ways most people overlook.We unpack why immersive games and online communities can feel more meaningful than real life, how players can find a sense of mastery and self-expression, and why the gamer identity is expanding as Black, brown, queer, and marginalized communities claim their space in gaming.If you’ve ever been told gaming is a waste of time, or that gaming spaces weren’t meant for you, this conversation might change the way you see gaming entirely.Kai Unearthed is available to download for free on the Epic Games Store.

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Mar 26, 2026

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Who Gets to Be a Gamer? How Video Games Shape Identity and Belonging

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This episode was published on March 26, 2026.

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