Leading a business in 2025 means facing constant change and constant pressure. Whether you’re running a global operation or managing a growing team, every decision carries weight. At times, leadership can feel isolating, which is why honest conversations between those who’ve been there matter more than ever.
That’s the idea behind Under Pressure, a podcast created by Alexandre Tomic, founder of Alea, to open up real dialogues with iGaming leaders about success, failure and everything in between.
“I realised that these conversations, the stories about the risks, the failures, and the lessons learned, are incredibly valuable if shared,” Tomic told iGaming Expert. “Under Pressure was born to bring those insights into the public space, in a way that’s both engaging and authentic. It’s about understanding the moments that shape leaders, industries, and businesses.”
You may be thinking, ‘another podcast, come on!’ Indeed, there are so many podcasts available, and there are only so many one can listen to, even with playback speed on 2x. So what makes Under Pressure stand out?
Tomic noted that the authenticity of the conversation is essential to Under Pressure’s identity, noting that admitting failures and the lessons learnt stand out from many business and leadership podcasts, which are often glossy and only focused on the wins.
“We talk about the moments when things don’t go to plan, because that’s where the learning happens,” Alex explained. “It’s never a monologue; it’s two people figuring things out together. We talk, we disagree, we laugh. It’s a real conversation.”
Oh, and if that doesn’t make Under Pressure stand out enough, it is recorded and filmed in a hyperbaric chamber.
Hyperbaric chambers – for those unfamiliar – are chambers that filter pure oxygen, designed to aid recovery from injuries and healing. If you have been to industry conferences throughout 2025, you would have seen an Alea-branded chamber in which Under Pressure is filmed.
iGaming Expert asked why the chamber was so important to the show’s identity and whether it was to get more juicy answers out of the guests.
“The chamber isn’t a gimmick; it’s a space designed for focus and recovery,” Tomic explained. “It encourages presence and deep reflection, creating an environment where people open up about their real experiences. If anything, it’s made to sharpen the mind and help you focus on giving the right answer, rather than trap you.
“There’s something about being literally ‘under pressure’ that mirrors the challenges these leaders have faced in their careers; it helps the conversation go deeper than it might in a conventional interview, but without the controversy or clickbait.”
Visionaries, founders, and risk-takers
As for the guests themselves, Tomic has selected people who he said are special to him, who he has ‘grown up with’ professionally, and, most importantly, those with whom he has had conversations and who impress him the most.
Tomic is in search of people with unique stories and a vision who can offer true value to the audience.
“I’m curious, that’s what drives me,” Alex said. “I look for people who’ve built something, broken something, and learned from both. It’s about mindset. The guests who inspire me most are the ones who’ve been through fire and still show up for themselves, for their team.”
Podcast guests so far include David Natroshvili from Spribe and Jonas Tegman from Nolimit City, who have discussed their journeys as some of the industry’s most talked about game studios in recent years.
Under Pressure has also featured several iGaming event industry organisers, including SiGMA’s Eman Pulis, Clarion Gaming’s Alex Pratt, and, most recently, SBC’s founder and CEO, Rasmus Sojmark.
Sojmark, amongst other topics, spoke of the recent Legends Charity Game in Lisbon, of which Alea was a key sponsor, and Tomic handed out the trophy.
SBC’s CEO said: “Having an event in Portugal, working with clubs like Benfica and Sporting Lisbon, working with the Portuguese Football Federation isn’t the easiest, because there’s a lot of politics and bureaucracy you have to deal with. At the same time, we apply our experience from the B2B area. It’s my SBC Summit. It’s a big event, 30,000 people. We’re used to organising events like that.
“But when it comes to an event in the B2C side in a big football stadium, it’s a whole different ball game. We don’t have that experience, we don’t have that reputation and credibility that shows we know what we’re doing. So we need to earn that trust.”
So why does Under Pressure feature several event organisers?
The Under Pressure host noted. “Most of us live online, spread across countries, time zones, and screens. Events are where the industry actually happens. That’s where friendships form, partnerships start, and ideas turn into something real. Where you feel the energy you just can’t get from reports or emails.
“A lot of episodes are recorded there too,” he added. “It’s chaotic, alive, and full of energy; that’s the whole point. The best stories come from people who’ve seen it all up close, and they remind you why this industry never stands still.”
Reinventing the corporate podcast
Ultimately, Under Pressure is about telling stories that resonate with a global audience and give valuable insights to professionals into what makes leaders successful.
For Tomic, it is not about promoting Alea at all. He wants the podcast to be authentic and about the conversations, rather than about the business in any way, shape, or form.
He noted: “Under Pressure is me. Sure, I’m part of Alea, so the podcast shares some DNA with the company, but that’s it. This isn’t a corporate project; it’s not a marketing channel. It’s about the conversations I want to have, the stories I want to hear. If Alea benefits from it indirectly, fine, but that’s not the point.”
That notion is felt strongly within Tomic’s parting message. Anybody considering launching a podcast should do it for the love of the conversation rather than any wider business aims. He considers most ‘corporate podcasts’ to be self-promoting rather than genuinely insightful.
“The trick isn’t building a media presence for your company, it’s doing it for yourself,” he concluded. “What do you find interesting? What do you want to know? Be curious, be genuine, and people will listen. That’s it. Under Pressure works because I care about the conversations, not the marketing. If the insights are good, people stick around. If it’s fake, they won’t.”
New episodes of Under Pressure are available on Spotify, Amazon, Audible, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.
