Buy Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution now on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox, and Steam. Pre-order the physical version on Limited Run Games, including the Standard Edition, Revolutionary Edition, and a Classic Edition.
In this Spotlight Series Interview
This week, Corey Dirrig and LeRon Dawkins sat down with Matt Bozon, founding member of WayForward and the creative mind behind the beloved Shantae series. Matt talked about his move into game development—starting out as a caricature artist at Six Flags, studying animation, and eventually helping shape some of WayForward’s most celebrated characters.
He opened up about his unique approach to game design, where his love of classic animation, hardware limitations, and gameplay guided the creative process rather than traditional methods.
From there, he discussed stories from his time at WayForward, the many games he worked on, and the creation of everyone’s favorite purple-haired genie alongside his wife, Erin Bozon.
Finally, they discussed the incredible story behind the revival of Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution with Limited Run Games—why it was brought back after nearly two decades, how the vision compared to the original, building on the original code twenty years later, and what’s next for this franchise and these beloved characters.
Follow our Guest:
Matt Bozon is Founding Member of WayForward and the co-creator of the beloved Shantae series. Matt on Twitter or learn more about his career on MobyGames. Learn more about WayForward and their games on their website.
Buy Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution now on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox, and Steam. Pre-order the physical version on Limited Run Games, including the Standard Edition, Collector’s Edition, and a Classic Edition.
Follow our Hosts
Corey Dirrig is the Founder and President of Boss Rush Media. He is the host of The Boss Rush Podcast, Nintendo Pow Block, Tower Casuals: The Destiny Podcast, and cohosts a variety of other podcasts and content. You can follow Corey on Bluesky, on X/Twitter, and on Instagram or connect with him on LinkedIn for Business Inquiries.
LeRon Dawkins is the Vice President of Technology and Culture at The Boss Rush Network, cohost of The Boss Rush Podcast, and host of After Dark: The Alternative Topical Podcast by Boss Rush. You can connect with LeRon on X/Twitter, Instagram, and subscribe to his personal YouTube channel.
Boss Rush Network Spotlight Interview Series – Part of Boss Rush Podcast Plus
The Boss Rush Network Spotlight Interview Series is a major part of Boss Rush Podcast Plus, featuring insightful conversations with developers, publishers, creators, and industry veterans. Each interview delves into their careers, experiences in the gaming industry, creative inspirations, and favorite games, offering a personal look at the people shaping the games we play today. Find more interviews, spoilercasts, episodes of Expansion Pass, and more on YouTube and podcast services.
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Expansion Pass – Bonus Conversations by Nintendo Pow Block on Boss Rush Podcast Plus
Boss Rush Podcast Plus from Boss Rush Media and the Boss Rush Network features extended conversations and extra content released first on Patreon and later for free. Join Corey Dirrig, LeRon Dawkins, Stephanie Klimov, Edward Varnell, and guests as they dive deeper into games, the industry, interviews, spoilercasts and review discussions, and the topics that matter to them. Expect longer discussions, candid takes, and side conversations that go beyond the main podcasts.
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GAMESCAST: The Power of the Perfect Handshake & Fall 2026 Game Preview – Boss Rush Podcast Plus – Bonus Content and Conversations
Boss Rush Podcast – A Podcast about Video Games
The Boss Rush Podcast – A Podcast about Video Games – is the flagship show of the Boss Rush Network and Boss Rush Media. Each week, hosts Corey Dirrig and LeRon Dawkins are joined by friends, fellow creators, indie developers, and industry veterans to discuss the latest in the world of video games, including news, rumors, new releases, and what they’ve been playing. They also answer listener questions, debate important industry topics and Boss Rush Banter discussion points, and feature a rotating weekly segment. New episodes post every Monday.
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Thank you for watching or listening to The Boss Rush Podcast. If you’re watching this episode on YouTube, hit the Subscribe button, Like the video, and hit the notification bell so you don’t miss an episode! If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, consider leaving us a rating and a review as it helps with discoverability and growth. Support Boss Rush on Patreon for exclusive content, early access and audio versions of shows, become a Patreon Producer, and more. Visit our website for all of our content including reviews, news, daily Boss Rush Banter discussion topics, listicles, features, and more. However you support us, it means so much to us. Thank you for your continued support of the Boss Rush Podcast and the Boss Rush Network.
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