Episode 368: Donna Wai
It would be tough to find someone who doesn't love the social aspect of pinball more than Donna. She is always looking forward to the next event, willing to assist, and see strangers that become instant friends. And as for playing, don't ask Donna what she's doing or what to do...but it doesn't matter, it works.
Kineticist’s take
Donna Wai on community-first pinball: social bonding over competitive drive.
Synopsis
Jeff Teolis interviews Donna Wai, a casual pinball player and tournament competitor from Ontario, Canada, who prioritizes the social and community aspects of pinball over competitive success. During a Pinball Profile Played in America tour covering South Carolina, Nashville, and Louisville, Donna won a grand championship on Break Shot at the Louisville Arcade Expo despite playing the game for the first time, and discusses her philosophy of keeping the ball alive, meeting new friends across the pinball circuit, and upcoming travel to major events like Yagpin, the Beast, and Chicago Expo.
Entities
- Chicago Expo· event
- Louisville Arcade Expo· event
- Pinberg· event
- Played in America Tour· event
- The Beast· event
- Yagpin· event
- Break Shot· game
- Pinball Profile· media
- Bang Back Pinball Lounge· organization
- Game Terminal· organization
- Maple Pinball· organization
- Marco Pinball· organization
- Pocketeer Billiards· organization
- Rec Bar· organization
- Rochester Pinball Collective (RPC)· organization
- Angela Fisher· person
- Bowen Kerins· person
- Donna Wai· person
- Elizabeth Gieske· person
- Escher Lefkoff· person
- Holly Koskinen· person
- Jeff Teolis· person
- Raymond Davidson· person
- Shane Jackson· person
- Wayne Rouse· person