All my life I’ve been a fierce force of imagination, persistence, and hard work: like a dragon hunting for gold. But instead of treasure, I’ve been searching for stories to tell and ways to make an impact.

Born in Belarus, I studied journalism in Bulgaria and worked in marketing in Russia, but storytelling has always been my true passion. I create narratives that allow people to explore fresh perspectives in a safe, immersive way.

As a queer, neurodivergent woman from a patriarchal country, I’m passionate about shedding light on complex topics through my work. Over the years, I’ve designed more than 100 LARP games, written 10+ original tabletop campaigns, and worked as a script supervisor on the short film Mein Name Akim (2024), which tells the story of transgender refugees in Germany.

During my MA in Serial Storytelling at IFS Cologne, I honed my skills across genres, working on solo projects as well as collaborating in Writers' Rooms.

Currently, I’m co-developing a visual novel game with a co-author as a passion project.

Now that I've completed my degree, I’m eager to bring my creativity to TV and gaming, crafting stories in both English and German.

Dragons never stop breathing fire. And neither do I, with an endless flow of ideas and stories I can’t wait to share.

Alena Lysiakova

I’m currently writing my first vertical series, and here’s my biggest takeaway so far:


🐲 Momentum is everything.

#Verticals don’t live in perfect structure or beautiful prose. They live in forward motion. Every scene has to pull the reader into the next one immediately without warm-ups or lingering. 

And that’s both the hardest and the most fun part.

You constantly ask yourself:
 👉 Does this end with a reason to keep scrolling?
 👉 Does this scene move, emotionally or plot-wise?
 👉 Can I afford to slow down here? (Usually no)

It’s intense, slightly addictive, and weirdly liberating. Once you lock into the rhythm, the story starts running on its own momentum.

#VerticalSeries #Screenwriting #Storytelling

Alena Lysiakova 🐉

Narrative designer and screenwriter ▶️ Let's create stories that make an impact

Finishing my first #vertical rom-com sample taught me one thing very clearly: you don’t write episodes from the beginning. You write them from the cliffhanger. 🙂 


In verticals, the ending isn’t a nice wrap-up. It’s the engine. Every episode has to land on a moment that reframes what we just saw, emotionally, romantically, or comedically, and makes the next episode unavoidable.
So instead of asking, “How does this episode start?” I started asking, “What’s the last thing I want the viewer to feel?” 

💡 Once the cliffhanger is clear, the rest of the episode snaps into place. Scenes suddenly know how long they’re allowed to be. Dialogue stops rambling. Every beat either pushes toward that final turn or it gets cut.

Writing verticals this way changed how I think about structure in general.
Endings first. Then precision. Then mercy for nothing that doesn’t earn its place. In most of the cases, if the cliffhanger works, the episode works. Everything else is just scaffolding.

#VerticalSeries #Screenwriting #StoryStructure

🐲 Ever wondered why some audio games pull you in instantly, and others just sound like long audiobooks with buttons?

It’s rarely a tech problem. It’s almost always a writing problem.
That’s why I’m running a live masterclass on writing for audio interactive games, and it’s built as a write-along session, not a lecture. 

What we’ll do together:
- Start with a simple inner pitch and turn it into a playable audio scene
- Learn how to write stories that work without visuals, using sound, silence, and pacing
- Craft dialogue that actually survives being spoken aloud
- Design micro-choices that create emotional pressure instead of fake branching
- Learn how to ask the right questions that drive interactive audio forward
- Break down the most common mistakes in audio interactive writing, and fix them with less text 

We’ll also explore TWIST, the interactive audio engine by EarReality, and how it makes writing for audio easy, intuitive, and exciting, even if you’re not technical.

You’ll leave with:
- A playable audio micro-scene you wrote during the session
- A repeatable way of thinking about interactive audio writing
- Clear next steps to continue developing your story

This is for you if you’re:
- A writer curious about games but focused on story
- A narrative designer moving into audio
- An audio drama creator exploring interactivity
- A creator looking for new storytelling formats

📝 Come ready to write. This is a write-along interactive session.
Event details & registration are below 👇 
https://lnkd.in/eiV_CTyB

Audio interactive games are not audiobooks. They are not podcasts with choices. And they don’t work if you “just write good dialogue.”

This live masterclass is a writing-first, hands-on session focused entirely on how stories change when they are written for ears, choice, and listener agency. We are not talking about game mechanics or coding. We are talking about writing — and how to rethink it for interactive audio.

📝 Be ready to write a lot. And interact a lot. This masterclass is designed for people who learn by doing, not by watching slides.

Lawrence Marable, Wynona Cybil Alwyn and 23 other attendees

View event: Masterclass: Writing for Interactive Audio Games

Masterclass: Writing for Interactive Audio Games

One of the fastest ways to break immersion in an audio game is letting the protagonist know more than the player. 👾 


The moment that happens, intimacy is gone. 💀 
Audio works because it’s close. Personal. Almost conspiratorial. The player is inside the character’s head. And that only works when discovery happens together.

Shared ignorance is powerful.

When neither the player nor the protagonist knows what’s behind the door, every sound matters. Every pause carries weight. Every choice feels risky, not because it’s complex, but because it’s unknown.

From a narrative design perspective, this changes how you structure information:
🐲 Exposition becomes something you earn, not something you dump
🐲 Revelations land harder because they surprise both sides
🐲 Trust forms between player and character; you’re figuring it out together

The opposite is also true. If the protagonist casually hints at knowledge the player doesn’t have (“You already know why this is bad…”), the player is suddenly outside the story, trying to catch up instead of living it.

In audio, dramatic irony is a luxury you rarely need. Alignment beats cleverness.

👉 Design your stories so the player and protagonist learn, doubt, and panic at the same pace. That’s where audio stops being a format and becomes an experience.

#NarrativeDesign #AudioGames #StoryArchitecture

Audio games are often designed as one-time experiences. 


You listen, you move forward, you reach an ending. The format is intimate and linear, so replayability is usually not the goal. 
👉 But it could be.

Replayability in audio doesn’t mean adding more branches or content. It means designing for a new understanding.

If you want a second playthrough to feel rewarding, focus on how knowledge changes the experience:
🐲 Early lines that seem insignificant
🐲 Casual remarks or offhand comments that only gain meaning once the player knows what’s coming
🐲 Consistent NPC behavior

Characters don’t need twists, just logic. On replay, players start recognizing patterns that were always there. 
👉 Choices that don’t announce their importance
👉 Decisions that feel neutral at first, but quietly shape tone, trust, or outcomes later
👉 Consequences that echo instead of exploding
👉 Subtle shifts rather than obvious feedback

The difference becomes clear only in comparison.

If a second playthrough doesn’t make the player notice what they missed the first time, the story was built to be consumed, not discovered. And audio, of all formats, benefits the most from discovery.

Do you replay audio games at all?

#AudioGames #InteractiveStorytelling

In audio games, choices aren’t just content. 
👉 They’re mechanics.


“Open the door.” “Crack the door quietly.” “Kick the door in.”
Same action. Completely different game.

The phrasing doesn’t just describe behavior, it tells the player how to feel about the choice. Safe. Careful. Aggressive. Desperate. Confident. Panicked.

That’s why writing choices is a design task, not just a writing one.
When I work on audio narratives, I think about:
🐲 What emotional tone does this phrasing signal?
🐲 Does it invite caution or recklessness?
🐲 Does it frame the player as in control or reacting under pressure?
🐲 Does it suggest consequences without spelling them out?

The player isn’t only choosing what to do. They’re choosing how they are doing it and who they are in this moment.

If your choices are all written in the same neutral voice, you’re flattening player agency, even if the branches are complex. In audio, wording is gameplay.

#NarrativeDesign #AudioGames #GameWriting

I’m hosting a remastered round of our free EarReality webinar:
“The Business of Interactive Audio: TWIST Engine & Monetization”

If you’re a(n):
🐲author or narrative designer
🐲voice actor or podcaster
🐲 brand/content marketer
…and you’re curious how to turn stories (or your voice) into interactive audio experiences that can actually earn royalties, this is for you.

I’ll cover:
🎧 A practical intro to the TWIST Engine – what writers & performers really need to know
💰 How self-publishing, collaborations, and monetization work on TWIST & TWIST Tales
🎭 A “lean back” listening session + breakdown of how an interactive story is built step by step

Wish to attend? Link is below 👇 
https://lnkd.in/eWjk-bNA

Feel free to join, share, or tag a writer / voice actor who keeps saying “one day I’ll try something interactive.” This is the day.

#interactiveaudio #narrativedesign #voiceacting #writingcommunity #EarReality #TWIST

🎤 🎧 We’re back with a remastered version of our FREE webinar for authors, narrative designers, voice actors, podcasters, and brand marketers who want to understand how interactive audio actually works – and how to create it. 🕹️

Last time we ran this session, we got a lot of “Wait, this is way more doable than I thought.”

So we fine-tuned it, added more concrete examples, and are doing Round 2: Remastered.

What we’ll cover this time:

✅ TWIST Engine – Updated Intro
A clear walkthrough of the tool we use to build interactive audio stories (with more focus on what storytellers and voice actors really need to know).

✅ Business Opportunities on TWIST & TWIST Tales
How self-publishing, collaborations, and monetization work on the platform – and what that means for you as a creator or performer.

✅ Practical Listening + Workflow Demo
We start with ~30 minutes of listening to an interactive audio story, then break down exactly how it was created step by step.

If you want to:
create interactive audio yourself,
evaluate the format for professional use, or
explore future publishing & royalty opportunities as a creator or voice actor,
…this webinar gives you the essentials in one session.

📌 The registration link is directly beneath this post.

If you want to support the event, feel free to like, share, or repost 😎

#EarReality #TWIST #marketing #storytelling #games #gaming #stories #audiobooks #audio #RPGs #writing #books

Christian Mahnke, Aleksandra Kovalchuk and 13 other attendees

View event: EarReality Webinar: The Business of Interactive Audio & TWIST Remastered

EarReality Webinar: The Business of Interactive Audio & TWIST Remastered

Flowcharts are great. They tell you what happens in the game.
👉 But audio players don’t navigate through logic. 


They navigate through emotion.
They stay because they’re tense. They leave when that tension flattens.
That’s why, when designing audio games, I think in emotional curves before plot structure:
👾 Where does anxiety peak?
👾 Where does the player finally breathe?
👾 When does curiosity replace fear?
👾 Where does silence do more work than dialogue?

This directly affects architecture:
🐲 High emotional intensity = fewer choices, tighter scenes
🐲 Low intensity = space for exploration or reflection
🐲 Too many branches at an emotional peak = cognitive overload
🐲 No emotional variation = disengagement

If your emotional intensity stays on one level for too long, the player’s brain checks out, no matter how good the writing is. 

So yes, map your plot. But also map how it feels to listen minute by minute. Because in audio, emotion is navigation.

#NarrativeDesign #AudioGames #GameArchitecture

⏱️ Starting in ONE hour! 
Our free webinar on interactive audio storytelling and the business behind it is about to go live 🎤🎧

If you’re curious about narrative design for audio, TWIST, or how creators can turn stories into actual projects (not just ideas), now’s the moment.

👉 Jump in here before we start 
https://lnkd.in/eWjk-bNA

🐲 Audio games shine when they tap into instinct. 


Fear. Curiosity. Trust. Suspicion. That split-second feeling of “this feels wrong” or “I should follow this voice.” 

💀 What they don’t do well?
Turning into memory exams.

If a good outcome depends on recalling a name, a code, or a tiny detail from 20 minutes ago, you’re fighting the format. Audio isn’t built for note-taking. It’s built for presence.

Instead, strong audio choices are designed around:
🐲 Emotional recognition (“This voice feels unsafe.”)
🐲 Pattern sensing (“This keeps happening when I trust them.”)
🐲 Narrative logic (“They warned me about this kind of room.”)

That way, even if the player doesn’t remember the exact detail, they still feel like they made a meaningful choice, not a random guess.

Good audio design doesn’t ask: “Did you remember?”
It asks: “What does your gut tell you right now?”

That’s where audio becomes powerful.

#NarrativeDesign #AudioGames

Quick reminder: our free EarReality webinar is happening tomorrow 🎧


If interactive audio has been sitting on your “sounds cool but how does it actually work?” list, this one’s for you. We’ll talk tools, storytelling, and the business side (yes, the part where you can actually publish and monetize).

🐲 Expect practical insights, real examples, and no unnecessary fluff. 

See you tomorrow 👇 
https://lnkd.in/eWjk-bNA

⏱️ Starting in ONE hour!

The masterclass on writing for interactive audio is about to begin. 
If you’re in — grab your spot now and join live.

👉 https://lnkd.in/edpWX8TG

See you there 🎧 🐲

RADD LLC

At RADD, we’re a strategic advisory firm helping community banks, credit unions, and fintech navigate today’s complex regulatory landscape. While we offer best-in-class audits and fractional compliance support, our real value lies in helping leaders think beyond checkboxes—aligning compliance and risk management with business strategy. Whether you need expert insight to guide growth, manage regulatory pressure, or improve internal operations, RADD is your partner for building smarter, stronger institutions.

At RADD, our team offers unparalleled expertise in:

- Internal Auditing & Compliance Consulting**
- Cost-Saving Technology**
- Customized Compliance Solutions**

From comprehensive internal audit services to strategic consulting, we are your partner in navigating the complexities of compliance and risk management.

★ What Makes Us Different ★
Our hand-picked team of former senior compliance leaders and examiners averages 25 years of industry experience. We stay ahead of regulatory trends, speak at conferences, and share insights through whitepapers and educational webinars. Understanding that no two financial institutions are alike, we customize our approach to meet your unique needs.

★ Specialties Include ★  
- Compliance Consulting  
- Internal Audit  
- Compliance Support  
- Mortgage Compliance  
- Cannabis-Related Banking  
- Money Service Business  
- BSA  
- FinTech Collaboration  
- High-Risk Banking Implementation  

★ Next Step ★
Contact me at 949-872-7720 or brian@raddllc.com to discuss how we can become a trusted strategic advisor to your financial institution.

Chief Executive Officer

Business Manager

Scaleocity Works 

At Scaleocity Works, we help growing businesses break through barriers, boost efficiency, and scale smarter, not harder. We specialize in operational strategy, change leadership, and building powerhouse teams, partnering with companies ready to eliminate roadblocks and unlock their full potential.

When you work with Scaleocity Works, you can expect real results:  
✅ Increased profit margins through smarter operations and cost control.  
✅ Improved employee retention by building engaged, high-performing teams.  
✅ A business that runs smoother — and grows faster — without always needing you in the driver's seat.

What We Deliver:  
✔ Business Operations Consulting – Sharpening workflows, slashing waste, and driving next-level productivity.  
✔ Fractional COO & Change Management – Leading critical transformations that fuel real growth.  
✔ People & Talent Strategy – Building unstoppable teams and shaping future-ready leaders.  
✔ M&A and Exit Planning – Preparing owners for a profitable sale, merger, or leadership transition.

Who We Work With: Ambitious SMEs, financial services firms, and entrepreneurs who are ready to stop playing small and start scaling with impact.

Fractional COO and Business Strategist 

Fresh Catch Inc.

Operations Management Consultant

JNH Lifestyles

As an organization, we pride ourselves on being the preeminent manufacturer and distributor of infrared saunas for your home. JNH stands for Joyful, Natural, and Healthy Living.

Our vision is very clear – we want to empower our community to live their best life possible and make the infrared sauna lifestyle available to everyone. Our culture of ownership, accountability, and transparency empowers our team to achieve milestones they never felt possible.

As JNH's Chief Operating Officer, 

1. Ensure development and continued growth of key personnel, focusing on continual training, 
    development and mentorship.
2. Develop operating procedures and best practices; define operational KPIs and set goals for 
    department heads and senior business leaders to facilitate achievement of company-wide financial 
    targets
3. Work closely with Accounting and other support teams to utilize financial reporting and KPIs to 
    inform business decisions and operating strategy, while balancing growth and profit margins
4. Translate strategy into actionable goals for performance and growth helping to implement 
    organization-wide goal setting and performance enablement 
5. Collaborate with the marketing, sales, and customer service team to continuously drive a frictionless customer experience.
 6. Oversee project prioritization to balance priorities, allocate resources and ensure a seamless operation.

Chief Operating Officer 

Fluidity Partners

Fluidity Partners supports mid-market manufacturing, distribution and business service companies seeking profitable growth, operational excellence and long-term sustainability. Collaborating with our global experience, we help build companies into efficient and productive enterprises.

Managing Partner & Co-Founder

BetterTrades

Since 1988, BetterTrades has been bringing Wall Street to Main Street and has taught thousands of self-directed investors how to trade in the stock and options market. BetterTrades offers an integrated approach that provides students with the knowledge, tools, and techniques required to make better trading decisions and give them the potential to achieve their personal financial goals. BetterTrades offers online and in-person courses, as well as distance-learning material, that allows students to progress at a pace that is comfortable and compatible with their personal goals and trading strategies.

Director of Sales and Operations

Leggett & Platt

Leggett & Platt, based in Carthage, Missouri, is a Fortune 500 diversified manufacturer that designs and produces various engineered components and products.

•Worked with Fortune 500 customers such as Hon, Herman Miller, and Kimball to drive revenues as a key account strategist in the sale of seating components including die castings, injection moldings, polyurethane and steel components. 
•Increased import program revenues over a seven year period from $1.5MM to $2.3MM annually.
•Spearheaded a new global import initiative, directing a $10MM component sourcing program with suppliers in China and Taiwan.
•Implemented our ability to compete for custom-engineered products for national clients based upon overseas manufacturing. Negotiated all custom contracts, performed supplier audits and accountability, established pricing strategy, and led continuous improvement. 
•Successfully negotiated the division’s first die cast business tooled in Asia.
•Reduced west coast warehouse inventory by $1MM, and increased inventory accuracy from 88.5% to 97%.

Branch Sales Manager | Supply Chain Management for Asia

Leggett & Platt, based in Carthage, Missouri, is a diversified manufacturer that designs and produces various engineered components and products.

•Managed the Southern California sales territory for the Commercial Products Division, selling engineered solutions to Office Furniture Manufacturers. 
•Through account based selling, we worked with our customer's engineers, designers, supply chain professionals and C-suite executives to offer a range of engineered product solutions for their office chair design. 
•Product offerings included die cast and plastic chair bases, casters, gas cylinders, chair mechanisms, height adjustable arms, polyurethane components and foam seats and backs.

Sales Representative

Actionable insights on hiring, onboarding, training and giving your team a reason to stay | Fractional HR & Payroll solutions | Host of the Entrepreneur to Employer Podcast

I help community banks, credit unions, and fintech companies stay ahead of regulatory expectations by providing expert compliance and audit solutions. At RADD, LLC, we partner with financial institutions to proactively manage regulatory risk, ensure audit readiness, and strengthen compliance frameworks.  
 
I work with:  
- Community banks (typically under $5 billion in assets)  
- Credit unions  
- Fintech companies partnering with banks and financial institutions. 
- Fintechs looking to bring new products to market

Services I Provide:
- Fractional Compliance Staffing & Consulting 
- BSA/AML & OFAC audits  
- Fair Lending & UDAAP compliance reviews  
- Compliance management system assessments  
- Risk assessments (BSA, fraud, Fair Lending, enterprise risk)  
- Model validation for AML software  
- Regulatory exam preparation & remediation support  
- Internal audit services  
- Third-party vendor management reviews  

I take a proactive, strategic approach to compliance, helping financial institutions move beyond checkbox compliance to a risk-based, sustainable compliance model. With hands-on experience in regulatory audits and operational compliance, I bridge the gap between regulatory expectations and real-world implementation, ensuring our clients stay ahead.

I became CEO of RADD, LLC, in 2024, bringing my leadership experience and ability to scale businesses to the financial and regulatory world. With a deep understanding of risk management and operational efficiency, I saw an opportunity to elevate RADD’s impact by helping banks, credit unions, and fintech companies confidently navigate complex regulatory challenges. I focus on leading the RADD team to build strong compliance frameworks that meet regulatory requirements and support long-term business success.

Ready to talk?

Reach out to me directly here on LinkedIn or email me at brian@raddllc.com.

taplio

The Battle

Alena Lysiakova

Brian Montes

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance ScoreAlena Lysiakova's LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

taplio

The Battle

Alena Lysiakova

Brian Montes

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Alena Lysiakova's LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

Performance ScoreAlena Lysiakova's LinkedIn Performance