In the second episode of Dev to Dev – the podcast about everyday video game developers and why they do what they do every day – I sit down with Leyla Mamedova, a cinematic pipeline manager whose career path has been anything but ordinary.

Born in post-Soviet Russia, Leyla’s introduction to games came through contraband consoles and unlikely movie tie-in titles – learning pieces of English by lip-reading through Hercules and Chicken Run on PlayStation, and later falling hard for the melodrama of JRPGs on her beloved PS2. What began as a childhood obsession with soap operas, anime, and sprawling RPG storylines set her on a trajectory toward animation school, with dreams of working at DreamWorks.

Leyla shares fascinating insight into how personal struggles can fuel growth, how ADHD has shaped her professionally and personally, and why she now views her systems-oriented mindset as a superpower, doing it all with wit and honesty. It’s a funny, heartfelt, and eye-opening episode about resilience, identity, and the hidden systems behind both games and the people who make them. It’s everything this show is about!

Thank you for listening and I really hope you enjoyed this episode. Please subscribe in your Podcast App of choice to keep up-to-date with each new episode when it lands. And if you would like to keep the Podcast ad free please consider joining the Patreon. Think of it as a Virtual Tip Jar at a minimum, with the option to upgrade for additional benefits such as:

• Video Versions of each episode

• Occasional additional Shows

• Direct access to me and the show

Patreon.com/DevToDevPodcast

Also please reach out if you have any questions, thoughts, comments, guest suggestions, or ideas!

DevToDevPodcast@Gmail.com

Find Leyla at:

• Leyla Mamedova | LinkedIn

• https://bsky.app/profile/leylses.bsky.social

• https://medium.com/@leylamamart

• (00:00:00) - Dev to Dev: Layla Mamedova's Story
• (00:04:08) - Gaining English Through Playing Video Games
• (00:05:28) - What drew you to JRPGs?
• (00:09:31) - Zombie on Xena: The Story of Animation
• (00:14:34) - How I Flunked Out Of School
• (00:17:48) - How to Manage a Cinematic Pipeline
• (00:25:02) - Having ADHD, Managing a Team's Systems
• (00:29:40) - The Importance of Murderbot The Diaries
• (00:36:38) - The Perfect Employer
• (00:41:35) - Making The Transition From Animation to Video Games
• (00:44:01) - On Working With Game Developers
• (00:47:45) - In the Elevator With Steven Spielberg
• (00:51:35) - How Does Your Family Relate To Your Work?
• (00:55:54) - Has Going To Film School Affected Your Gameplay?
• (00:59:30) - Interview with Alex Borromeo

Welcome to the very first episode of Dev to Dev — the podcast about everyday videogame developers and why they do what they do every day!

My inaugural guest is Anthony Avancena-Brigante, an Audio Engineer whose journey into game development began with videogames as more than just entertainment — they were his way to connect, to socialize, and to belong.

In this conversation, Anthony shares how a single spark of inspiration convinced him he could make games, how moving to college surrounded him with game developers and shifted his culture overnight, and how he found creativity not through playing music, but through the science of creating digital sound. He reflects on how internships across different studios cemented his love for audio technology, and how landing at a big studio gave him the platform to empower others to make great audio.

And yes — even a thunderstorm couldn’t stop us from recording this fascinating debut episode.

Also, apologies for my eye line focusing more on Anthony on my screen rather than the camera! I hope to improve that in upcoming episodes!

Thank you for listening and I really hope you enjoyed this episode. Please subscribe in your Podcast App of choice to keep up-to-date with each new episode when it lands. And if you would like to keep the Podcast ad free please consider joining the Patreon. Think of it as a Virtual Tip Jar at a minimum, with the option to upgrade for additional benefits such as:

• Video Versions of each episode

• Occasional additional Shows

• Direct access to me and the show

Patreon.com/DevToDevPodcast

Also please reach out if you have any questions, thoughts, comments, guest suggestions, or ideas!

DevToDevPodcast@Gmail.com

You can find Anthony on the web here:

• Anthony Avancena-Brigante | LinkedIn

• www.abrigante.com

Dev to Dev - the podcast about everyday videogame developers and why they do what they do every day - is dedicated to exploring the stories of the many animators, engineers, artists, producers, and designers whose work shapes the games we play.

Hosted by Alex Sulman, a veteran of nearly three decades in the industry, the show highlights the passion, challenges, and personal journeys of those often overlooked in gaming’s spotlight. Inspired by Greg Miller’s 2015 Game Awards speech recognizing a developer in the credits, Dev to Dev continues that spirit of appreciation, giving voice to the people behind the craft.

Each week, the podcast offers thoughtful, positive conversations about connection, creativity, and the human side of game development, providing insight into both the rewards and challenges of making video games a livelihood.

Find the Podcast at:

• Patreon: DevToDevPodcast
• Instagram: @devto.devpodcast
• Bluesky: @devtodevpodcast.bsky.social‬
• TikTok: @devtodevpodcast
• YouTube: @DevToDevPodcast

…and please drop me an email if you have any questions, thoughts, comments, guest suggestions, or ideas to

• DevToDevPodcast@Gmail.com

• (00:00:00) - Dev to Dev