Shows
Professor Game PodcastEarned, Not Given: Rewards Beyond Points and BadgesGet the free Core Drives in the Wild guide, behavioral design applied to real products: professorgame.com/WildCD Episode Summary Charlie Hopkins-Brinicombe, co-founder and CEO of Trophy, a gamification layer that powers features for around two million consumer-app users, makes the case for rewards beyond points and badges: rewards people earn instead of rewards they are handed. He walks through a gym guest pass that nobody uses when it is free and that members value once they earn it with three straight months of attendance. Rob and Charlie also debate where A/B testing helps gamification and...
2026-10-1920 min
Professor Game PodcastNobody Decided to Keep ItGet the free Core Drives in the Wild guide, behavioral design applied to real products: professorgame.com/WildCD Episode Summary Rob explains subtraction neglect, the tendency of teams to fix problems by adding features, programs and pilots while rarely considering what to remove, using his own decision to stop publishing Professor Game on video as the case study. He walks through the 2021 Nature study by Adams, Converse, Hales and Klotz, including a Lego experiment where people paid to add bricks and a university call for ideas where 89% of suggestions were additions. Listeners learn the questions that expose...
2026-10-1213 min
Professor Game PodcastYour Login Numbers Can't Tell If the Bar Is RightGet the free Core Drives in the Wild guide, behavioral design applied to real products: professorgame.com/WildCD Episode Summary Rob breaks down adoption target difficulty, showing why login counts cannot tell you whether a goal is set right. He covers a 2026 Journal of Marketing Research study of the Australian micro-investing app Raiz Invest and a randomized test in a popular free-to-play puzzle game, drawing on both to explain why missed targets are associated with lower retention a year later. Listeners learn to measure the valuable action instead of the login and how to re-tune difficulty for...
2026-10-0509 min
Professor Game PodcastNine Years, 400+ Episodes, and I'm Changing Three ThingsWant in before anyone else? Join the Engagers and get early access to the November relaunch: professorgame.com/relaunch Episode Summary Rob marks Professor Game's ninth anniversary by announcing the biggest format change in over 450 episodes, moving from one episode a week to several episodes on the same Monday, all answering a single question. He reveals the first of at least three changes coming to the show and invites the Engagers, his core community, to get early previews, private launch details, and an exclusive reward before the public announcement. Listeners learn how to join the early access...
2026-09-2802 min
Professor Game PodcastPersonalization Is Overrated, with Kristen BermanDon't experiment on your own revenue with broken game mechanics. Get our guide "Core Drives in the Wild" to learn how to apply real behavioral science to your product: professorgame.com/WildCD Episode Summary Kristen Berman, behavioral scientist and CEO and co-founder of Irrational Labs, argues that personalization is overrated in product design, and she brings the experiment to back it up. She walks through a published onboarding test with Headspace where asking new users a few questions and then recommending the same Basics course to everyone doubled course enrollments, outperforming both the personalized recommendation and the...
2026-09-2133 min
Professor Game PodcastEveryone Did Their Job Right and the Product Still BrokeGet the free Core Drives in the Wild guide, behavioral design applied to real products: professorgame.com/WildCD Episode Summary Rob breaks down why a product can feel stitched together even when every team involved did excellent work, using Conway's Law as the lens: organizations that design systems are constrained to produce designs that copy their own communication structures. He walks through three real cases, a regional sales dashboard at Procter & Gamble where each region had picked a defensible and incompatible way to count sales, a client engagement where technology decision rights sat with a team that...
2026-09-1418 min
Professor Game PodcastMonobank Gave Away 5 BMWs by AccidentGet the free Core Drives in the Wild guide, behavioral design applied to real products: professorgame.com/WildCD Episode Summary Mykhailo Rogalskyi, co-founder of Fintech IT-Group and the fintech unicorn behind monobank (11 million users), shares how a viral in-app scavenger hunt called Lemon Hunt turned into the bank's biggest gamification win, and its costliest infrastructure failure. He walks through what happens when a 50-hidden-lemon prize draw for one BMW spirals into five cars given away and a 10,000X spike in server requests, plus the AI bot cheating problem now hitting leaderboard-based games. Listeners come away with a...
2026-09-0729 min
Professor Game PodcastYour Customers Don't Remember What You Think They DoGet the free Core Drives in the Wild guide, behavioral design applied to real products: professorgame.com/WildCD Episode Summary Rob breaks down the peak-end rule, the finding from Daniel Kahneman and Donald Redelmeier's 1996 study that people remember an experience by its most intense moment and its ending, not its average. He walks through how cruise lines engineer both moments with nightly raffle dinners, a captain's dinner placed near the end of the trip, and a deliberately overinvested farewell, mapping each to Core Drives 1, 5, and 7 from the Octalysis Framework. Listeners learn why the remembering self, not the...
2026-08-3113 min
Professor Game PodcastChess Beat Behavioral Design to Flow StateGet the free Core Drives in the Wild guide, behavioral design applied to real products: professorgame.com/WildCD Episode Summary Dan Shapiro, author of Decoding Genius: The Unexpected Lessons of After-School Chess Club, shares how a father-son hobby turned into a study of why chess has held people's attention for more than 1,500 years. He walks through Miguel Najdorf's feat of holding 45 blindfolded chess games in his head at once, the built-in rating system that keeps every match in a flow state, and the habit of chess notation that teaches players to review their own decisions. Listeners come...
2026-08-2427 min
Professor Game PodcastFactory Workers Who Wanted Safety TrainingGet the free Core Drives in the Wild guide, behavioral design applied to real products: professorgame.com/WildCD Episode Summary Rob breaks down Gartner's prediction that 40% of large warehouse operations will adopt gamification by 2028, showing why the definition attached to that number (points, badges, leaderboards, and rewards) is the setup for the White Hat to Black Hat drift rather than a win for the field. He covers the frontline cases already on record, from Disney's 2011 "electronic whip" laundry leaderboard to Amazon's FC Games and Tae Wan Kim's 2026 Carnegie Mellon paper on gamifying meaningful work, then walks through...
2026-08-1718 min
Professor Game PodcastWhy Points and Leaderboards Don't Fix RetentionRecently funded and aiming for sustainable retention? Intro chat (no sales pitch): professorgame.com/chat Episode Summary Travis Clapp, co-founder and CEO of Coursebox AI, joins Rob to explain how AI is reshaping course creation and delivery for a platform used in 180 countries with over 300,000 courses built on it. He walks through Coursebox's "Break My Brain" feature, an AI mode built for personalized, adversarial learning rather than points and leaderboards, and explains why the platform now generates in 10 minutes what used to take him days to compile by hand. Travis also shares two gamification experiments gone wrong...
2026-08-1032 min
Professor Game PodcastYour Engagement Program Is a Loan You're Still PayingGet the free Core Drives in the Wild guide, behavioral design applied to real engagement programs: professorgame.com/WildCD Episode Summary Rob breaks down behavioral debt: the borrowed motivation hiding inside every legacy points, discount, or bonus program, showing why cutting an engagement program off cold is the fastest way to blow it up. He walks through JCPenney's collapse under Ron Johnson, a Fortune 500 rewards program employees now budget around like income, and how LATAM Airlines and Caixa Econômica Federal restructured their own behavioral debt using Octalysis Core Drives instead of switching it off. Listeners learn h...
2026-08-0313 min
Professor Game PodcastThe Same Bonus Can Motivate Your Team, or Wreck ItReal cases pulled apart through the Octalysis Core Drives, sent to your inbox over a few days. Get the free guide: professorgame.com/WildCD Episode Summary Rob breaks down why the same reward can pull a team forward or quietly wreck it, using three cases where the design decided the outcome. He walks through a school in Caracas where escalating fines for late pickups made lateness worse, the sales bonus patterns that produce burnout and sandbagging, and The Octalysis Group's project with Procter & Gamble's distributor Navo Orbico, where a gamified ship upgrade tightened the feedback loop instead...
2026-07-2714 min
Professor Game PodcastDriving Ranges Are Replacing Bowling Alleys (Here's Why)Get the free Core Drives in the Wild guide, behavioral design applied to real products: professorgame.com/WildCD Episode Summary Frédéric Guitton, who leads sales and marketing at iTargetGolf after a career across banking, startups, financial services, and investment firms, explains how driving ranges are turning dead space into an interactive, gamified experience. He walks through the company's product line, including the iTarget Night Saber target that connects to Toptracer, Inrange, and Trackman through an API, the in-bay lights that fire when a player hits their target, and the new Cash Cup Golf hole-in-one contest pl...
2026-07-2033 min
Professor Game PodcastThe Reason Your Users Agree But Never StartWant a sharper read on motivation design? Get the free Core Drives in the Wild guide, real cases decoded through this exact framework, one short email a day: professorgame.com/WildCD Episode Summary Rob argues that Black Hat motivation, the urgency and scarcity most designers treat as the villain, is the on-ramp that gets people to act at all. He breaks down the Octalysis Group's award-winning project with Procter & Gamble's distributor Navo Orbico, which reached 99.5% voluntary participation on a non-compulsory rollout and a 28.6% revenue increase by starting with pressure and handing off to meaning. Drawing on Ocean...
2026-07-1312 min
Professor Game PodcastWhy "More Effort" is Ruining Your Team (And How to Fix It)Get the free Core Drives in the Wild guide, behavioral design applied to real products: professorgame.com/WildCD Episode Summary Michael Lukich, a marketing analytics leader with more than 20 years across consulting, data, and strategy, explains why the fix for a struggling team is almost never more effort. He walks through the closed-loop trap he built early in his management career, the systems thinking tools he now uses to find leverage points, and why over-measuring single marketing channels quietly starves the top of the funnel. Drawing on the Cabreras' DSRP model, Donella Meadows, and nearly 25 years at...
2026-07-0633 min
Professor Game PodcastWhy Driven People Can't Take a Real VacationGet the free Core Drives in the Wild guide, behavioral design applied to real products, with one real-world example in your inbox each day: professorgame.com/WildCD Episode Summary Rob breaks down why disconnecting on vacation is so hard for driven people, and why it is a motivation problem rather than a willpower one. He maps the specific Octalysis Core Drives that keep high achievers tied to work during a break, including Core Drive 2 (progress addiction), Core Drive 8 (FOMO and Black Hat urgency), and Core Drive 1 (the mission needs me trap). Drawing on his own routine of...
2026-06-2909 min
Professor Game PodcastSpent $200 Billion, Then Said: Use AI LessThese engagement failures, and how to fix them, map directly onto the Octalysis Core Drives. Get the free Core Drives in the Wild guide: professorgame.com/WildCD Episode Summary Rob breaks down why Amazon shut down KiroRank, the internal leaderboard that scored staff on raw AI usage on its Kiro developer platform. He shows how stacking Core Drive 2 (Development & Accomplishment) and Core Drive 5 (Social Influence & Relatedness) produced flawless compliance toward the wrong target, a textbook case of Goodhart's law: once a measure becomes a target, it stops being a good measure. Drawing on the Octalysis Strategy Dashboard...
2026-06-2209 min
Professor Game PodcastStop Dumping Textbooks Into Your Games, with Alan YeatsStruggling with retention, churn, or adoption in your product, service, or program? Get the free Core Drives in the Wild guide and see how to apply real behavioral design to your engagement: professorgame.com/WildCD Episode Summary Alan Yeats, CEO of Pocket Sized Hands, a co-development game studio in Dundee, Scotland, explains why the best learning games start with play and add the curriculum second. He walks through real projects, a knife-crime prevention game stopped cold by school firewalls and a stem cell science game built with Cambridge University, to show how co-design keeps everyone pointed at...
2026-06-1522 min
Professor Game PodcastSame AI, Opposite Outcome (It's Not the Tool)Get the free Core Drives in the Wild guide, behavioral design applied to real corporate cases: professorgame.com/WildCD Episode Summary Rob breaks down why enterprise AI adoption stalls even with paid licenses and training, while a group of students beat a locked, proctored exam with ChatGPT and no support at all. Reading both cases through the Octalysis Framework, he shows how the exam accidentally stacked Core Drive 8 (Loss & Avoidance), Core Drive 6 (Scarcity & Impatience), and Core Drive 2 (Development & Accomplishment) into a ferocious, if mispointed, motivation engine. The enterprise bought the most capable tool and surrounded it with...
2026-06-0809 min
Professor Game PodcastI Build War Games for the US Government (And I Hate Video Games)Get the free Core Drives in the Wild guide and see behavioral design applied to real products and services: professorgame.com/WildCD Episode Summary Eleanor Ross, Creative Director at Expert Theory and one of the youngest recipients of the National Training and Simulation Association's Top Under 40 award, breaks down how she designs wargames and simulations that put learners inside high stakes decisions instead of watching from the outside. She walks through the moment a Team USA group tried to buy Greenland mid game, the Logic, Function, Form framework she uses to build every simulation, and a year...
2026-06-0136 min
Professor Game PodcastMy Barber Beats Airline Miles At LoyaltyGet the free Core Drives in the Wild guide, behavioral design applied to real products: professorgame.com/WildCD Episode Summary Rob breaks down why the most durable loyalty has almost nothing to do with points, contrasting a typical airline miles program with a neighborhood barber who keeps a customer for ten years with no app, no tiers, and no expiring rewards. He shows how the same Core Drive can run in opposite directions: airline programs fake Core Drive 4 (Ownership and Possession) with a points balance they control and devalue, while the barber builds real ownership through a...
2026-05-2509 min
Professor Game PodcastStop Overthinking in 90 Seconds with the "Brain Huddle" TrickGet the free Core Drives in the Wild guide, behavioral design applied to real products: professorgame.com/WildCD Episode Summary Victoria Ichizli-Bartels, author of fourteen books on gameful living and coiner of the term "self-gamification," explores how the role of the tabletop RPG game master maps onto the inner conversation we have with ourselves. She walks through Jill Bolte Taylor's "brain huddle" concept (a 90-second pause that resolves inner conflict by letting the 12 different players in our heads come to the table), three diagnostic questions for stressful moments ("what is happening inside myself," "who is talking," and "...
2026-05-1830 min
Professor Game PodcastWhy a Gamification Expert HATES Duolingo's StrategyGet the free Core Drives in the Wild guide, behavioral design applied to real products: professorgame.com/WildCD Episode Summary Tetiana Kobzar, product designer with 18 years of experience and creator of the Comportance Framework, joins Rob to share how behavioral design turns clinical and educational software into products people actually want to use. She walks through the seven steps of Comportance (goal, baseline, emotion, hypothesis, minimum validation, cadence, and iteration) and shows how it shaped a gamified speech therapy app for Alder Hey Children's Hospital and a mini-game replacement for 27 cognitive assessment tests. The conversation covers why...
2026-05-1136 min
Professor Game PodcastWhat UI Designers DON'T Tell You About User OnboardingDon't experiment on your own revenue with broken game mechanics. Get our guide "Core Drives in the Wild" to learn how to apply real behavioral science to your product: professorgame.com/WildCD Most apps lose 77% of their users within the first three days because they treat onboarding like a tax audit instead of a human journey. In this episode, Rob Alvarez breaks down why your "helpful" 15-step toolkit might actually be causing cognitive friction and driving users away. By moving from function-focused design to human-focused design, you can transform a bounce into a lifelong advocate. Rob explores...
2026-05-0408 min
Professor Game PodcastFrom Grand Theft Auto to Fighting DementiaIdentify the exact strategies Sharon and Rob discussed so you can start increasing engagement in your own projects today. Grab our Core Drives in the Wild guide for free professorgame.com/WildCD What if the secret to solving real-world isolation or preventing misconduct wasn't more rules, but better play? Sharon Wood, a veteran gaming executive who helped launch the original Grand Theft Auto, joins us to discuss her shift from commercial hits to "Serious Games" with a scientific edge. We explore the neurological reality that the brain cannot distinguish between real and virtual experiences, making games a...
2026-04-2728 min
Professor Game PodcastIf You are Losing Users Despite Growth, Watch This!Don't experiment on your own revenue with broken game mechanics. Get our guide "Core Drives in the Wild" to learn how to apply real behavioral science to your product: professorgame.com/WildCD Most companies treat user churn as a data problem, but looking at "where" someone leaves doesn't explain "why" they lost interest. We break down the "Engagement Leaks," a phenomenon where record-breaking marketing spend fails to fix a product that is effectively a sieve for users. By analyzing the high-touch onboarding of Superhuman, the "novelty hangover" of Robinhood's digital confetti, and the legendary community design of...
2026-04-2007 min
Professor Game PodcastStop Sprinkling Joy: Integrating Delight into the Core LoopExploring gamification for your product or org? Let's chat → professorgame.com/chat We sit down with product leader and author Nesrine Changuel to explore the behavioral science of "Product Delight." Nesrine pulls from her extensive experience at tech giants like Google and Spotify to explain why emotional connection cannot be treated as an afterthought in product design. By distinguishing between purely functional requirements and deep emotional motivators, she reveals how features like Google Chrome's inactive tabs or Spotify's curated playlists solve core psychological needs rather than just technical problems. You can walk away with actionable frameworks for re...
2026-04-1335 min
Professor Game PodcastWhy is EVERYONE Failing At Gamification? (WHAT'S REALLY GOING ON?)Master the science of motivation and see how top experts do it right. Get the free 9-day "Core Drives in the Wild" email sequence here: professorgame.com/WildCD We break down three massive gamification disasters from 3 huge companies to reveal exactly what happens when we ignore behavioral science. We explain how well-intentioned features like leaderboards and point systems can accidentally create toxic work environments or destroy thriving communities. By applying the Octalysis framework, we highlight the dangers of relying too heavily on Black Hat motivation and extrinsic rewards without balancing them correctly. You will learn how to...
2026-04-0606 min
Professor Game PodcastJoris Beerda tested Human-Focused Design vs Design Thinking (Which actually works?)Wondering if Octalysis fits your challenge? Quick intro chat → professorgame.com/chat Most companies rely on traditional design thinking to build their products. That assumption is exactly why their retention rates flatline. In this episode, Rob Alvarez sits down with Joris Beerda, CEO of The Octalysis Group, to unpack the five-step Octalysis design process that drives engagement for Fortune 500 companies like Microsoft and Porsche. They discuss the critical difference between human-centered and human-focused design, the mechanics of building a high-functioning loyalty loop, and how to prioritize features using the "Biggest Bang for the Buck" model. If you wa...
2026-03-3042 min
Professor Game PodcastHow To Boost Long-Term Retention! Without Relying on NoveltyDon't experiment on your own revenue with broken game mechanics. Get our guide "Core Drives in the Wild" to learn how to apply real behavioral science to your product: professorgame.com/WildCD We dismantle the myth that simply adding points, badges, and leaderboards will fix a broken product. We explore why superficial rewards often lead to a 90% failure rate in corporate gamification and cause dangerous spikes followed by massive engagement crashes. By contrasting Google News's failed badge system with Wikipedia's intrinsic motivation model, we highlight the critical shift from transactional features to human-focused behavioral science. You can learn how to...
2026-03-2307 min
Professor Game PodcastUsing AI to Build Better Learning GamesHave a product challenge around retention? Quick intro chat → professorgame.com/chat Leif Sorensen reveals why most corporate learning games fail. We discuss the "magic powder" fallacy, where companies try to cram too many behavioral frameworks into a single experience. Leif breaks down his process for building AI-generated learning games at Actee and explains why focusing on the transfer of learning is the real secret to changing behavior. The episode also explores the post-COVID failure of traditional LMS platforms and how facilitators can run better sessions by focusing on player engagement instead of memorizing game content. ...
2026-03-1637 min
Professor Game PodcastWhy Your Team Hates Your AI Strategy (And How to Fix It)If you're implementing AI and want to realize that promised ROI, let's see if Octalysis fits → professorgame.com/chat Breaking down why most AI projects fail despite being technically flawless. The problem isn't the code; it's the lack of behavioral design. By applying the Octalysis Framework, we see how to move away from "Black Hat" implementations that trigger resistance and identity threats. Instead, we shares how to design AI as an individual contributor's superpower. It is a deep dive into balancing short-term Black Hat-driven data bumps with long-term White Hat engagement to ensure your team feels like ma...
2026-03-0905 min
Professor Game PodcastThe Blueprint to Leading High-Performing Teams from Day 1I've interviewed hundreds of experts and now lead Engagement Strategy (EU) at TOG. If you want help applying this, start here: professorgame.com/chat Can a leader truly be effective without ever presenting a single slide? Clark Aldrich returns to the show to dismantle the "expert-led" model of management and education. He introduces Socratic Cards: a physical tool designed to replace passive consumption with active, high-stakes inquiry. By shifting the responsibility of learning from the teacher to the learner, Clark explains how organizations can transition from "easily replaceable employees" to "heroic tribes" that thrive on peer...
2026-03-0232 min
Professor Game PodcastGetting ADDICTED to CAREER PROGRESSION is Easy, ActuallyHave a product challenge around retention? Quick intro chat → professorgame.com/chat Stop feeling like you're grinding without a progress bar. In this episode, we explore the behavioral science of "leveling up" in real life to combat burnout and invisible growth. By applying the Octalysis Framework we discusse how to map your career as an evolving skill tree. Whether you are a product leader looking to build meaningful user progression or an individual seeking to reclaim your "Player 1" status, this episode provides a blueprint for turning disjointed milestones into a cohesive, high-functioning journey of mastery. Ro...
2026-02-2312 min
Professor Game PodcastFrom Tank to Healer: Gamifying Academic TeamsRecently funded and aiming for sustainable retention? Intro chat (no sales pitch): professorgame.com/chat What if your research team worked like a raid party? Raul Mora shares how bringing gamer language and MMORPG structures into academia boosted clarity, motivation, and long-term commitment. This conversation explores community design, role-based engagement, and why listening to gamers is the most underrated retention strategy in education. Raúl is a professor at Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana in Medellín, Colombia, now also teaching remotely from Trondheim, Norway. He's been in education for over 30 years, including time as a school an...
2026-02-1628 min
Professor Game PodcastGamification Isn't About Games. It's About MotivationI've interviewed hundreds of experts and now lead Engagement Strategy (EU) at The Octalysis Group. If you want help applying this, start here: professorgame.com/chat Why do people ignore things they know are good for them and obsess over games instead? In this episode, we introduce the Octalysis Framework, unpacking the eight core drives of human motivation and explain how human-focused design leads to stronger engagement, higher retention, and better-designed products, platforms, and learning experiences. Rob Alvarez is Head of Engagement Strategy, Europe at The Octalysis Group (TOG), a leading gamification and behavioral...
2026-02-0918 min
Professor Game PodcastGamification Where You Least Expect It with David DandIf you're considering gamification for engagement, retention, or loyalty, I'm happy to compare options with you: professorgame.com/chat The biggest impact of gamification often happens in the least obvious places. In this episode, Rob Alvarez talks with David Dand about using game-inspired strategies in recruitment, leadership, and employee experience to attract better-fit talent, reduce churn, and build stronger, more human organizations, even in highly traditional sectors. David is the Founder and Managing Director of Coreus, a boutique hiring services provider based in Brighton. Coreus specialises in helping professional SMEs tackle critical talent challenges and...
2026-02-0229 min
Professor Game PodcastTom Vorselen On Why Effort Isn't the Problem (Your Learning Systems Are)You'll get the same 14-day free trial either way—but if you use my link, you'll also be supporting Professor Game: 👉 professorgame.com/openyourskool What if learning felt less like burnout and more like leveling up? We welcome Tom Vorselen, founder of The Study Coach, to explore how active learning, mindset shifts, and gamified structures help students and professionals overcome procrastination, manage time better, and achieve results without overwhelm. Tom Vorselen is the founder of The Study Coach, a global coaching brand helping students and working professionals overcome procrastination, master time management, and study smarter with...
2026-01-2637 min
Professor Game PodcastFrom Theater to Gamification: Lessons I Learned from My DadIn this heartfelt episode, Rob reflects on the profound impact his father, Mariano Alvarez, had on his life, particularly as a prominent actor in Venezuela. As he commemorates the 25th anniversary of his father's passing, Rob shares personal anecdotes that highlight the lessons he learned from Mariano, including the importance of believability in storytelling, the value of physical fitness, and the significance of generosity. Through his father's legacy, Rob connects these lessons to his work in gamification, emphasizing how immersive experiences can evoke empathy and engagement in audiences. Rob also reminisces about their shared love for superheroes...
2026-01-1922 min
Professor Game PodcastWhen the Game Is Rigged: Why Venezuela Couldn't WinIn this rare and deeply personal episode, Rob steps away from the traditional gamification conversation to speak as a Venezuelan. Blending lived experience, political involvement, and game-thinking principles, Rob reflects on the cost of doing everything "by the rules," the exhaustion of democratic paths, and why this moment matters so deeply to millions of Venezuelans around the world. Rob Alvarez is Head of Engagement Strategy, Europe at The Octalysis Group (TOG), a leading gamification and behavioral design consultancy. A globally recognized gamification strategist and TEDx speaker, he founded and hosts Professor Game, the #1 gamification podcast, and has...
2026-01-1223 min
Professor Game PodcastBeyond Points & Badges: How James Portnow Designs Intrinsic EngagementIf you're considering gamification for engagement, retention, or loyalty, I'm happy to compare options with you: professorgame.com/chat What if gamification isn't about rewards at all? James Portnow joins the Professor Game Podcast to explain why intrinsic engagement, thoughtful iteration, and strong design goals matter more than mechanics. From YouTube education to tabletop games, this conversation is packed with insights on building experiences people truly care about. James Portnow is a Game Designer by trade, who's worked on games ranging from the Call of Duty Series to League of Legends to Farmville. His latest...
2026-01-0542 min
Professor Game PodcastThe Magic Doesn't Start Where You Think It DoesWant to run away from destroying an experience? Happy to brainstorm → professorgame.com/chat A magical Christmas experience in Madrid almost collapsed because of one overlooked detail. We break down a real-world holiday experience through the stages of gamification, and reveal where confusion can destroy even the most beautiful experience. Rob Alvarez is Head of Engagement Strategy, Europe at The Octalysis Group (TOG), a leading gamification and behavioral design consultancy. A globally recognized gamification strategist and TEDx speaker, he founded and hosts Professor Game, the #1 gamification podcast, and has interviewed hundreds of global experts. He de...
2025-12-2913 min
Professor Game PodcastYour Bio as an Origin Story: Gamifying the Job Hunt with Jade ArthurIf you're considering gamification for engagement, retention, or loyalty, I'm happy to compare options with you: professorgame.com/chat What if your bio was more than a skills list and your job hunt felt like a well-designed game? We explore with our guest Jade Arthur how to gamify the job search for the games industry, creating stories, systems and mindsets that boost confidence, visibility and long-term career engagement. Jade is a language and mindset coach for job seekers in gaming. She helps job seekers take down the villains in their job search like the "Cover...
2025-12-2228 min
Professor Game PodcastYou're Using Streaks Wrong - Here's What Actually WorksExploring useful streaks for your product or org? Let's chat → professorgame.com/chat Why do streaks motivate users at first but eventually push them away? Rob explores the psychology behind collapses, the dangers of existing habit metrics, and practical ways to redesign streaks so they support, not sabotage, long-term engagement. Perfect for product leads, community builders, and behavior designers. Rob Alvarez is Head of Engagement Strategy, Europe at The Octalysis Group (TOG), a leading gamification and behavioral design consultancy. A globally recognized gamification strategist and TEDx speaker, he founded and hosts Professor Game, the #1 gamification po...
2025-12-1516 min
Professor Game PodcastQuests, Self-Talk & Health: Glen Lubbert's Stamina Lab Game of LifeRetention or loyalty on your roadmap? Happy to brainstorm → professorgame.com/chat We unpack the "tell the cab driver where to go" strategy, health quests, and the eight magic words that shift self-talk from guilt and shame to possibility and lasting change on this chat with Stamina Lab CEO Glen Lubbert. We discuss how to turn health and well-being into a game you can actually win. Glen is the co-founder and CEO of Stamina Lab, a health tech company that helps people create lasting well-being—not through willpower, hacks, habits, or fixing themselves—but by buildi...
2025-12-0831 min
Professor Game PodcastStop Shaming Your Users: Ethical Alternatives to Dark PatternsExploring behavioral design without shaming? Let's chat → professorgame.com/chat In this episode, we break down the wild world of "confirm shaming": manipulative, guilt-driven prompts apps use to push you into saying yes. From hilarious to downright unethical examples, we unpack why these dark patterns harm long-term loyalty and how to use motivation ethically to build real engagement and retention. Rob Alvarez is Head of Engagement Strategy, Europe at The Octalysis Group (TOG), a leading gamification and behavioral design consultancy. A gamification strategist and TEDx speaker, he founded and hosts Professor Game, the #1 gamification podcast, an...
2025-12-0119 min
Professor Game PodcastBuilding Beats Playing: Matt Dalio's PathBuild a thriving, monetized community—without chasing members or cranking out content 24/7. Join us for free: 🏡 professorgame.com/freecommunity-web When is failure the first step to real success? In this episode, Matt Dalio, founder of Endless Studios, shares how a dream project collapsed—and sparked a breakthrough. Discover how building games, not just playing them, helps kids master coding, design, and 21st-century skills. From pragmatic lessons on profitability to testing assumptions cheaply, Matt reveals how to turn ambitious visions into lasting, scalable impact. Matt is the founder of Endless, which is fighting for a world...
2025-11-2433 min
Professor Game Podcast8 Years Building the Global Leading Gamification PodcastAiming for sustainable retention? Intro chat (no sales pitch): professorgame.com/chat Eight years, 420 episodes, and countless insights later: we celebrate the incredible journey of the Professor Game Podcast. From humble beginnings to becoming the #1 gamification podcast in the world, this episode dives into consistency, growth, and what's next for the Engagers community. Rob Alvarez is Head of Engagement Strategy, Europe at The Octalysis Group (TOG), a leading gamification and behavioral design consultancy. A gamification strategist and TEDx speaker, he founded and hosts Professor Game, the #1 gamification podcast, and has interviewed hundreds of global experts...
2025-11-1714 min
Professor Game PodcastDesign With Audiences: Mister and Mischief's Playful Guide to EngagementBuild a thriving, loyal community—without chasing members or cranking out content 24/7. Join us for free: 🏡 professorgame.com/freecommunity-web From theme parks to zines, Andy & Jeff Crocker reveal how analog thinking powers modern engagement. We explore Infinite Right Answers, designing for collaboration, embracing imperfection over performance, and a field-tested model (confidence + generosity) that boosts motivation, loyalty, and community value. With roots firmly planted in the worlds of theatre and themed entertainment, Mister & Mischief (a.k.a. Jeff and Andy Crocker) create fun-forward journeys beyond the fourth wall. With an unexpected blend of storytelling and r...
2025-11-1033 min
Professor Game PodcastThe Secret Framework That Keeps Users Coming BackExploring gamification for your product or org? Let's chat → professorgame.com/chat We dive into the fascinating overlap between product thinking and gamification. By bridging Marty Cagan's product discovery mindset with the Octalysis framework, we uncover how to build not just functional products — but ones users love coming back to. Rob Alvarez is Head of Engagement Strategy, Europe at The Octalysis Group (TOG), a leading gamification and behavioral design consultancy. A gamification strategist and TEDx speaker, he founded and hosts Professor Game, the #1 gamification podcast, and has interviewed hundreds of global experts. He designs evidence-based enga...
2025-11-0316 min
Professor Game PodcastFrom Viral Spike to Sticky Play: Doug Weitzbuch on Building HousleWant your members to actually stick around and engage without burning out or guessing what works? Join our free community of retention-focused leaders: 👥 professorgame.com/freecommunity-web What happens after "going viral"? Doug Weitzbuch (Housel) breaks down the Wordle-style mechanics, player feedback he wishes he'd acted on sooner, and the roadmap to localized, high-intent engagement. Practical lessons on PR, streaks, and turning play into business outcomes. Doug Weitzbuch is a television producer with credits on hit series including Hell's Kitchen, World of Dance, Lip Sync Battle, and Duck Dynasty. After producing Netflix's Buy My Hou...
2025-10-2732 min
Professor Game PodcastEpic Fight? Here's What Really HappenedExploring gamification for your product or org? Let's chat → professorgame.com/chat No, there was no epic showdown, just a powerful new alliance. Rob joins The Octalysis Group and reveals how this new chapter amplifies his mission to make gamification practical, ethical, and impactful. Plus, what stays the same on Professor Game. Rob Alvarez is Head of Engagement Strategy, Europe at The Octalysis Group (TOG), a leading gamification and behavioral design consultancy. A gamification strategist and TEDx speaker, he founded and hosts Professor Game, the #1 gamification podcast, and has interviewed hundreds of global experts. He de...
2025-10-2014 min
Professor Game PodcastHow To Grow Your Community! Without Paying For AdsYour next viral title is already written. Get the free sheet: 👉 professorgame.com/YT-Title-Spreadsheet Curious about Skool? Grab the 14-day free trial through my link (and it helps me keep creating resources for you): 👉 professorgame.com/openyourskool Think ads are the only way to grow your community? Think again. Rob reveals how he grew his community to 140+ members with $0 in ad spend—using three powerful, game-inspired strategies you can start today. Rob is a host and consultant at Professor Game as well as an expert, international speaker and advocate for the use of gamifica...
2025-09-2211 min
Professor Game PodcastHow to Win at the Game of Life (Without Playing by the Rules)If you feel like your inner explorer's been benched for too long... you're not alone. We're rebuilding new learning quests inside a Skool group. Might be your next side quest. 🎯 professorgame.com/freecommunity-web Education wasn't built to empower—it was built to control. In this episode, Rob Alvarez breaks down how education evolved into a grind loop and how we can flip the system using gamification. If you've ever felt like your inner explorer got benched, this one's for you. Rob is a host and consultant at Professor Game as well as an expert, international speak...
2025-08-1815 min
Professor Game PodcastFrom Boring to Brilliant: Rethinking Education with AI and EngagementBuild a thriving, loyal community—without chasing members or cranking out content 24/7. Join us for free: 🏡 professorgame.com/freecommunity-web Crushing churn in the classroom? It starts with embracing AI. Rob Alvarez is joined by Dr. Matt Metzger to explore how AI can revamp higher education—boosting motivation, retention, and engagement while staying human-centered. No tech expertise required, just a willingness to rethink learning. Dr. Matthew R. Metzgar, PhD, is a Clinical Professor of Economics at UNC Charlotte's Belk College of Business and an award-winning teacher who develops and delivers undergraduate and MBA courses focused...
2025-07-2131 min
Professor Game PodcastFailed Game Becomes a Hit — 8 Years Later with Dain Saint🚀 Want your community buzzing and bringing in more revenue? Snag my free mini course with 3 killer gamification hacks: professorgame.com/freebie-3-gamification-hacks "Sometimes your idea isn't broken — it's just not ready yet." In this immersive episode, Dain joins Rob to explore how interactive storytelling can drive real-world impact, from failed game prototypes that resurrected years later to transforming news stories into joyful community games. Tune in for deep insights on designing for emotion, embracing iteration, and why sometimes a pamphlet beats an app. dain saint (he/they) is a Philly-based storyteller, designer, and creative director makin...
2025-07-1434 min
Professor Game PodcastWhy Most Community Building Fails (And HOW TO WIN)🚀 Want your community buzzing and bringing in more revenue? Snag my free mini course with 3 killer gamification hacks: professorgame.com/freebie-3-gamification-hacks Why are your members disappearing—even when you're doing everything "right"? Rob breaks down the real reasons communities lose members, even when packed with great content. Drawing from what successful games do to keep players hooked, you'll learn the 3 invisible traps that quietly destroy retention—and what to do instead. No gimmicks. No burnout. Just practical, game-inspired strategies to re-engage your members and boost community revenue. Grab the free Retenti...
2025-06-0909 min
Professor Game PodcastThe Great Gambit: Teaching Peace Through Play with Anders Kjellberg🔥 Losing users? Get free, expert-backed resources to boost retention with gamification: professorgame.com/freecommunity-web What happens when a teacher turns history into a simulation? We interview Swedish educator Anders Kjellberg, who co-created The Great Gambit, a role-playing simulation designed to help students understand the driving forces behind conflict—and how to prevent war. From sweaty failures to empowering classroom dynamics, Anders shares what worked, what didn't, and how learning through games can activate students like never before. Anders works as a teacher in Swedish upper secondary school. His main subjects are History and Swedish but h...
2025-05-2625 min
Professor Game PodcastBram Wulteputte Gamifies Education With Minecraft and NASA🔥 Losing users? Get free, expert-backed resources to boost retention with gamification: professorgame.com/freecommunity-web How do you gamify learning without losing the learning? We talk with Bram about designing Minecraft-powered learning experiences that actually work. From working with NASA to teaching democracy through play, he reveals how chunking content, building tutorials, and collaborating with subject matter experts creates game-based learning that sticks. Bram Wulteputte is a Co-founder and the Head of Education at Shapescape, a company merging education with the immersive world of Minecraft. With years of experience in games and gamification, Bram has bui...
2025-05-1931 min
Professor Game PodcastWhy Aldi Agaj Builds Games With Scientists AND Teachers🔥 Losing users? Get free, expert-backed resources to boost retention with gamification: professorgame.com/freecommunity-web What if learning felt like playing — and retention was built into the design? In this episode, Rob interviews Aldi Agaj, CEO of Alter Learning, who shares how his team builds educational video games in collaboration with scientists, educators, and developers. From failures to scaling 40+ games, Aldi reveals how passion, teamwork, and gamification fuel long-term engagement and real-world impact in education. Chief Executive Officer of AAK Tele-Science , And CEO of Alter-Learning Educational Platform from since 2020. He's an Entrepreneurial Chief Executive Officer, exper...
2025-05-1231 min
Professor Game Podcast3 Customer Retention Strategies That Keep Customers Coming Back🚀 Want your community buzzing and bringing in more revenue? Snag my free mini course with 3 killer gamification hacks: professorgame.com/freebie-3-gamification-hacks Tired of watching great customers walk away? We reveal how gamification can transform retention, skyrocket engagement, and massively increase your customer lifetime value—without resorting to gimmicky rewards. Rob is a host and consultant at Professor Game as well as an expert, international speaker and advocate for the use of gamification and games-based solutions, especially in education and learning. He's also a professor and workshop facilitator for the topics of the podcast and L...
2025-05-0508 min
Professor Game PodcastRole-Playing for Real Learning with Anthony Kurza🔥 Losing users? Get free, expert-backed resources to boost retention with gamification: professorgame.com/freecommunity-web From clueless to collaborative in one session? That's the power of a well-designed Tabletop RPG. Rob Alvarez sits down with Anthony Kurza, creator of the SAN model and higher ed coach, to explore how role-playing games can unlock retention, connection, and deep learning—both inside and outside the classroom. Anthony Kurza is a game designer specializing in tabletop role-playing games and an educator in higher education. His work bridges storytelling, game mechanics, and immersive learning, creating experiences that foster social-emotional learning and c...
2025-04-2836 min
Professor Game PodcastWitcher-Level Storytelling for Real Engagement with Jakub Szamalek🔥 Losing users? Get free, expert-backed resources to boost retention with gamification: professorgame.com/freecommunity-web Why do players stay hooked for 100+ hours in games like The Witcher 3? It's not just gameplay—it's story. Rob Alvarez is joined by Jakub Szamalek, the master narrative designer behind gaming's most iconic worlds, to unpack the secrets of choice, emotion, and retention through storytelling. Jakub Szamalek is an award-winning narrative designer and writer, best known for his work on The Witcher III: Wild Hunt and Cyberpunk 2077. Jakub has played a key role in shaping some of the most emotionally immersive and c...
2025-04-2142 min
Professor Game PodcastWhen Perfect Balance Fails: Lessons in Gamified Design with Alireza RanjbarIf you're struggling to keep people engaged and loyal in your product or business, check out my FREE gamification course to learn how to do just that: professorgame.com/freecommunity-web What happens when a perfectly balanced gamification system fails with users? Alireza Ranjbar Shourabi shares this shocking experience and unpacks how cultural nuances, hidden perceptions, and behavioral insights can make or break your engagement strategy. Starting in high school, Alireza used computers as a means to create and play games, first diving into programming and then exploring 2D and 3D art. Eventually, he discovered his...
2025-04-1431 min
Professor Game PodcastFeedback Loops for Saving the World with Katie PatrickIf you're struggling to keep people engaged and loyal in your product or business, check out my FREE gamification course to learn how to do just that: professorgame.com/freecommunity-web Badges won't cut it. Katie Patrick reveals how focusing on feedback loops, imagination, and measurable actions makes climate programs actually work. Join us to explore how to crush environmental inaction with game-inspired design. Katie Patrick is an Australian-American environmental engineer and climate action designer. She's author of the books How to Save the World and Zerowastify and hosts a podcast where she investigates the academic...
2025-04-0741 min
Professor Game PodcastWhy Most Habit Hacks Fail (and What Actually Works) with Jason HrehaIf you're struggling to keep people engaged and loyal in your product or business, check out my FREE gamification course to learn how to do just that: professorgame.com/freecommunity-web Forget hacks—behavioral change starts with better behavior selection. In this episode, Jason Hreha and Rob Alvarez explore how psychometrics can help align strategies with personalities for meaningful, lasting impact in business and life. For close to 15 years, Jason has been applying behavioral science research and methodologies to solve hard problems in the technology world. He is the founder and CEO of Persona, The Talent Co...
2025-03-3137 min
Professor Game Podcast🎤 Crocs Not Allowed: Building Trivia, Nations, and Engagement with Mark CoronaIf you're struggling to keep people engaged and loyal in your product or business, check out my FREE gamification course to learn how to do just that: professorgame.com/freecommunity-web 🎤 What do a trivia show, a fake country, and a war against Crocs have in common? You'll find out in this hilariously high-energy episode of the Professor Game Podcast with Rob and the unforgettable Mark Corona! From founding the micro-nation of Slowjamistan (where Crocs are banned by law 😆) to designing and hosting a national trivia game show unlike any other, Mark shares the wild ride of combining entert...
2025-03-2427 min
Professor Game PodcastHow Games Reveal Who We Are With Ryan Jones 🔍🎮If you're struggling to keep people engaged and loyal in your product or business, check out my FREE gamification course to learn how to do just that: professorgame.com/freecommunity-web What if the characters we play in games reveal more about who we truly are? 🎭🎲 Tabletop Role-Playing Games (TTRPGs) offer more than just entertainment—they create powerful opportunities for self-discovery, personal growth, and deeper engagement. This conversation dives into how the roles we play in games often reflect real-life struggles, aspirations, and identities—sometimes without us even realizing it. Through immersive storytelling and emergent gameplay, TTRPGs become tools for...
2025-03-1733 min
Professor Game PodcastRole-Playing for Real Growth 🎭 with Kathrin FischerIf you're struggling to keep people engaged and loyal in your product or business, check out my FREE gamification course to learn how to do just that: professorgame.com/freecommunity-web What if playing pretend could unlock real-world skills? 🎭🎲 We explore how Tabletop Role-Playing Games (TTRPGs) are transforming education and therapy. Through structured yet creative gameplay, Kathrin helps students and therapy patients develop communication, teamwork, and confidence—while having fun. She shares how even short, one-hour sessions can lead to long-term behavioral changes, deeper engagement, and transferable skills that go beyond the game table. Whether you're an educator, a produc...
2025-03-1031 min
Professor Game PodcastWhat Gamers Can Teach Us About Motivation with Christopher DattoliIf you're struggling to keep people engaged and loyal in your product or business, check out my FREE gamification course to learn how to do just that: professorgame.com/freecommunity-web What if your favorite video game could teach you more about life and career success than any classroom? 🎮🎙️ We explore the surprising connections between gaming, motivation, and professional growth. From mastering Starcraft strategies to navigating the world of voice acting, Chris shares how the principles of grit, iteration, and engagement in games helped him transition from corporate marketing to a thriving career behind the mic. They discuss the powe...
2025-03-0339 min
Professor Game PodcastBalancing Play and Pedagogy with Dr. Mark Harvey ProjectIf you're struggling to keep people engaged and loyal in your product or business, check out my FREE gamification course to learn how to do just that: professorgame.com/freecommunity-web What if games could be more than just fun—what if they could transform learning itself? Our guest Dr. Mark Harvey brings a wealth of experience in integrating games into educational settings to this ongoing conversation on gamification. This conversation delves into practical strategies for enhancing classroom engagement and sharing stories that reveal the transformative potential of playfulness in education. Dr. Mark Harvey is an As...
2025-02-2434 min
Professor Game PodcastBuilding Success from Scratch in Gaming with Dhiraj JujareIf you're struggling to keep people engaged and loyal in your product or business, check out my FREE gamification course to learn how to do just that: professorgame.com/freecommunity-web Unlock the secrets behind truly captivating game design and community-building. We have this conversation with Dhiraj Jujare, the force heading Warpverse X. Armed with a visionary outlook, Dhiraj demystifies the paths less traveled that bridge gamers and creators under one roof. Set your imagination free; here awaits thought-provoking discourse on harmonizing fine art with technology, built upon enduring design principles. If you have ever wondered what's at...
2025-02-1730 min
Professor Game PodcastTori Mondelli with Innovative Learning with Gamification and AIIf you're struggling to keep people engaged and loyal in your product or business, check out my FREE gamification course to learn how to do just that: professorgame.com/freecommunity-web Discover the intersection of AI and gamification in education to enhance creativity and efficiency. We're joined by Dr. Victoria "Tori" Mondelli, a pioneer in the field of educational game design and the founding director of the University of Missouri's Teaching for Learning Center. This episode dives deep into the world of gamification, exploring how games can be used as powerful educational tools to enhance engagement and learning...
2025-02-0633 min
Professor Game PodcastCrafting Engagement Through Educational Entertainment with Jerry KolberIf you're struggling to keep people engaged and loyal in your product or business, check out my FREE gamification course to learn how to do just that: professorgame.com/freecommunity-web "I'm better than almost anyone at making complex subjects easy to understand for anybody." – Jerry Kolber. On this episode Jerry shares his journey in revolutionizing edutainment with popular shows like "Brain Games" and his podcast Who Smarted. Dive into the fascinating world of gamifying education, learn about the intricacies behind creating engaging content, and gather insights on building a successful podcast. Jerry Kolber is a cr...
2025-02-0333 min
Professor Game PodcastGamified Approach to Climate Education with Bobby DonohueIf you're struggling to keep people engaged and loyal in your product or business, check out my FREE gamification course to learn how to do just that: professorgame.com/freecommunity-web "Life is a game, and we get to wake up and play it every day." – Bobby Donohue on the Professor Game podcast. Bobby Donohue, the founder of Planet Bonehead, an innovative educational platform designed to empower teachers and inspire students to address climate change through gamification and storytelling. With over 15 years of experience, Bobby shares his journey of using game-inspired solutions to facilitate interactive learning. Throughout the co...
2025-01-2735 min
Professor Game PodcastLife Questification and Disability Advocacy with Sierra GrandyIf you're struggling to keep people engaged and loyal in your product or business, check out my FREE gamification course to learn how to do just that: bit.ly/freegamificationcourse-web "Questify Your Life" system that also works alongside disabilities. We sit with Sierra Grandy to discuss how she gamifies life using her unique "Questify Your Life" system. They explore Sierra's approach to living life as a series of quests and how gamification can drive engagement and personal growth. Sierra Grandy is a recent lawyer, disability advocate, and business owner. She plays her life as if...
2025-01-2034 min
Professor Game PodcastAntonis Triantafyllakis from Poland with Purpose: Gamification Meets SustainabilityIf you're struggling to keep people engaged and loyal in your product or business, check out my FREE gamification course to learn how to do just that: professorgame.com/freecommunity-web Gamification Global Gathering 2025 conference, underscoring its focus on sustainability and the strategic partnerships formed to ensure its success, including a significant collaboration with the Octalysis Group. We welcome back Antonis, a returning guest and gamification expert. We episode dive into impactful projects, including "Climate for All," a successful initiative that was recently recognized by the European Commission. Antonis Triantafyllakis is a past guest (we also...
2025-01-1331 min
Professor Game PodcastThe Evolution of Game Reality with Bobby VoicuIf you're struggling to keep people engaged and loyal in your product or business, check out my FREE gamification course to learn how to do just that: professorgame.com/freecommunity-web "Look at what people say about other similar games and try to implement that into your game, then give it your own twist." - Bobby Voicy. Dive into the fascinating world of mixed reality technology and gaming, exploring how Mixrift is shaping immersive experiences. Learn about Bobby's journey from his previous successful gaming venture, Mavenhut, and discover insights on the evolving game development landscape. Serial...
2025-01-0636 min
Professor Game PodcastHappy Holidays and The Elf on the ShelfIf you're struggling to keep people engaged and loyal in your product or business, check out my FREE gamification course to learn how to do just that: professorgame.com/freecommunity-web This time of the year we reflect on the importance of taking time off during the holidays, sharing personal experiences with family traditions like the Elf on the Shelf. We dive deeper into how this new tradition fits into the broader Santa universe and the strategies behind creating engaging experiences that are limited in time. We also have a question for you! It relates to the planning...
2024-12-3015 min
Professor Game PodcastDave Faliskie With Rapid PrototypingIf you're struggling to keep people engaged and loyal in your product or business, Join Our (FREE) Professor Game Community Now & Learn how to create true loyalty: professorgame.com/freecommunity-web Can planning marketing be a make-or-break decision? This episode of the Professor Game podcast also offers a comprehensive look into the iterative development process and the importance of user-centric design. We explore how failures can be powerful learning tools and how engaging with users early can shape the app's future direction. Our guest discusses his success with a mobile game that addresses environmental issues and highlights the...
2024-12-2330 min
Professor Game PodcastBoosting Loyalty through Gamified Marketing with Chris DoelleIf you're struggling to keep people engaged and loyal in your product or business, Join Our (FREE) Professor Game Community Now & Learn how to create true loyalty: professorgame.com/freecommunity-web How do you handle early failure to leverage technology? With expert insights from gamification specialist Chris Doelle, we discuss real-life case studies, the psychology behind motivation, and practical steps for implementing effective gamified strategies. From handling early failures to leveraging technology for continuous improvement, this episode offers a comprehensive guide to making gamification work for your business. From his days of designing actual board games...
2024-12-1628 min
Professor Game PodcastFueling Loyalty with Gamified Business Models: Connor HiebelIf you're struggling to keep people engaged and loyal in your product or business, Join Our (FREE) Professor Game Community Now & Learn how to create true loyalty: professorgame.com/freecommunity-web Unpack gamification's role in driving user engagement and loyalty through a lite, live coaching case. Learn about understanding your audience, defining clear objectives, choosing the right game mechanics, and creating a feedback loop that keeps users motivated. This episode offers valuable insights for businesses looking to stand out with innovative and engaging strategies. Connor Hiebel is the founder of Amelia Island Microgreens, creator of Jurassic...
2024-12-0924 min
Professor Game PodcastAndres Leon: Business Benefits of Immersive TechnologiesIf you're struggling to keep people engaged and loyal in your product or business, check out my FREE gamification course to learn how to do just that: professorgame.com/freegamificationcourse-web From gamified learning platforms to virtual corporate training, discover how these strategies can elevate user engagement and drive business success across diverse sectors. Join us to chat with Andres Leon about the future of digital transformation through gamification and immersive technologies. We uncover the practical applications of gamification in enhancing business performance and user retention. Andres shares his experiences in leading innovative projects that blend creativity and...
2024-12-0233 min
Professor Game PodcastMichael Yang Builds a Sustainable Game Design CareerIf you're struggling to keep people engaged and loyal in your product or business, check out my FREE gamification course to learn how to do just that: professorgame.com/freegamificationcourse-web Can embracing failures and iterative improvement lead to lasting success and innovation in game creation? This conversation sheds light on how strategic experience design can achieve educational and business objectives while maintaining an element of fun and excitement. Michael also recounts his early struggles with teamwork and humility, as well as the tension between creative fulfillment and financial stability. From his tranquil morning rituals to his meticulous...
2024-11-2531 min
Professor Game PodcastProfessor Game's Free Community is live!With this episode, we are officially launching Professor Game's Free Community! I'd tell you all about it here, but it's better if you watch the video. I'll see you on the inside of our free community where you can find our renewed free gamification course, regular group calls, an awesome community and many more things to come. It is the best way to start building up your skills and network to create and upgrade your products, services, business or learning experiences through engagement, motivation and loyalty. Let's do this together! Rob is a host and consultant at...
2024-11-1808 min
Professor Game PodcastTransforming Gamification's Goal Setting Using OKRs With Sara LobkovichIf you're struggling to keep people engaged and loyal in your product or business, check out my FREE gamification course to learn how to do just that: bit.ly/freegamificationcourse-web The Objectives and Key Results framework can transform ambitious visions into measurable outcomes and inspire high performance. Learn about the critical shift from activity-based goals to outcome-based objectives and how gamification can enhance engagement and loyalty. Our guest: Sara Lobkovich, a seasoned strategy coach, shares her insights and real-world examples of leveraging these powerful tools to drive remarkable organizational progress. Join us on this insightful episode where...
2024-11-1135 min
Professor Game PodcastMike Rufail Using Repetition On Gamified StrategiesIf you're struggling to keep people engaged and loyal in your product or business, check out my FREE gamification course to learn how to do just that: bit.ly/freegamificationcourse-web Have you wondered about the significance of respecting and refining every idea within a creative team? In this episode of the Professor Game Podcast, we explore successful gamification strategies and insights with Mike Rufail, a notable figure in the gaming and gamification industry. Understand the allure and functionality of gamification, which merges game design with non-gaming environments to boost interaction and dedication. Rufail shares hard-earned lessons from...
2024-11-0430 min
Professor Game PodcastReese Zahner Gets Brain Upgrades With Board GamesIf you're struggling to keep people engaged and loyal in your product or business, check out my FREE gamification course to learn how to do just that: bit.ly/freegamificationcourse-web Games like Dungeons and Dragons can unexpectedly become a training ground for executive functioning skills, turning what many consider a challenge into a superpower for Reese. In this episode we delve into the unique relationship of ADHD and both board games and tabletop role-playing games (TTRPGs). The discussion features insights from Reese Zahner, exploring her journey to discover these cognitive benefits, we highlight how structured gameplay can...
2024-10-2835 min
Professor Game PodcastAditya Nagrath Creates Real Personalization in MathIf you're struggling to keep people engaged and loyal in your product or business, check out my FREE gamification course to learn how to do just that: bit.ly/freegamificationcourse-web We discuss how to use gamification to help students overcome math anxiety. This is how Dr. Aditya Nagrath, founder of Elephant Learning Mathematics Academy, makes education engaging and effective through gamification. By incorporating engaging and playful elements, Elephant Learning enables students to expedite their math learning significantly. This episode highlights how gamified educational platforms can make challenging subjects more approachable, motivating, and less intimidating for students.
2024-10-2129 min
Professor Game PodcastMark Sample Brings The Best From Teams For GamesIf you're struggling to keep people engaged and loyal in your product or business, check out my FREE gamification course to learn how to do just that: bit.ly/freegamificationcourse-web We discuss the significance of fostering high-performing teams and nurturing a positive studio culture. With over three decades of experience, Mark Sample shares his insights on what it takes to lead successful game development projects. Gain valuable perspectives from Mark's extensive experience in launching award-winning games across multiple platforms. Listen as he shares his approach to building strong, innovative teams and his philosophy on strategic leadership that...
2024-10-1429 min
Professor Game PodcastDrew Davidson Strengthening Creative Playful TeamsIf you're struggling to keep people engaged and loyal in your product or business, check out my FREE gamification course to learn how to do just that: bit.ly/freegamificationcourse-web A unique perspective on how combining diverse fields can lead to innovative and socially impactful projects, shedding light on the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in developing interactive media. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in enhancing user engagement through creative and collaborative approaches, whether in educational settings or business applications. Drew Davidson is a professor, producer and player of interactive media. His background...
2024-10-0737 min
Professor Game PodcastMurray Gray Turns Courses Into MissionsIf you're struggling to keep people engaged and loyal in your product or business, check out my FREE gamification course to learn how to do just that: bit.ly/freegamificationcourse-web Learn how storytelling, achievement recognition and immediate feedback can turn passive content consumption into an active, engaging learning experience. It's a fascinating conversation about the journey of integrating gamification into online education. Our guest, a seasoned entrepreneur, shares insights into how his latest venture, Experiencify, has revolutionized the way students learn by employing a gamification-first approach. If you're struggling with student engagement in your courses, this episode...
2024-09-3032 min
Professor Game PodcastTore Olsson With What's History on Red Dead Redemption 2Can games like "Red Dead Redemption 2" help overcome stereotypes around subjects like history, making them more immersive and relatable? In this episode, we delve deep into the transformative role of video games in education. Our guest, an expert in integrating existing video games elements into learning environments, shares how gamification can make education more engaging and effective. Tore Olsson is an associate professor of history at the University of Tennessee, where he teaches and researches American history after the Civil War. He is the author of the new book Red Dead's History: A Video Game, an Obsession, a...
2024-09-2334 min
Professor Game PodcastGamification Inspiration from House M.D.From the eccentric problem-solving approach of the TV series "House, M.D.," to the essential role of team dynamics, we elucidate how these principles translate into the mechanics of creating engaging and effective gamified solutions. Join us as we delve into the multifaceted world of gamification and discover how an unexpected source of inspiration offers profound insights into the art and science of gamifying experiences. Rob is a host and consultant at Professor Game as well as an expert, international speaker and advocate for the use of gamification and games-based solutions, especially in education and learning. He's a...
2024-09-1628 min
Professor Game PodcastJulie Dirksen Goes Beyond Learning For Behavior ChangeBehavioral Science Meets Learning Design. We feature a deep dive into the role of behavioral science in creating effective learning interventions. Our conversation sheds light on how principles from behavioral science can be employed to bridge the gap between knowledge and action. By focusing on learner behavior and the contexts in which they operate, we discuss how to craft learning experiences that lead to meaningful and lasting change. Our guest, a seasoned learning strategy consultant, shares practical examples and methodologies to ensure that learning is not just informative but also transformative. This is a must-listen for educators and instructional d...
2024-09-0944 min
Professor Game PodcastChris Marshall Looks into the Future Through PlayfulnessDiscover how playfulness, not just work, holds the key to creativity, resilience, and a more fulfilling life. In this engaging conversation, Rob Alvarez, founder of Professor Game, interviews Chris Marshall, a behavioral scientist and futurist who explores the power of playfulness as a pathway to human flourishing. Chris shares how his own experience with burnout led him to the transformative potential of playfulness, breaking down the essential pillars of curiosity, creativity, and connectedness. He offers practical insights into how individuals and organizations can cultivate a playful mindset, not by adding new skills, but by reconnecting with their natural, childlike...
2024-08-2632 min
Professor Game PodcastBernardo Letayf Is Doing the Hard Gamification Work with Tabi.oneDiscover how to skyrocket engagement by 7,000% with innovative gamification techniques! In this conversation, Bernardo Letayf and Rob Alvarez dive into the complexities and rewards of creating meaningful, long-term engagement through gamification. They discuss the launch of Tabi, a cutting-edge platform that redefines player progression by focusing on mastery rather than rewards, and highlight how effective gamification, while challenging, yields extraordinary results. Bernardo develops game-like solutions through their software on a mission to transform education. With over 12 years of gamification experience and over 25 years in web and UX design/development, international speaking and consulting, Bernardo has c...
2024-08-1930 min
Professor Game PodcastBusiness Learning Games 2019 Panel DiscussionThis special episode is the live recording of the panel that was held on the Business Learning Games Conference 2019 in Lisbon, organized by the Business Excellence Institute. The panel had quite a broad topic, and as such features questions from Rob as head of the discussion but also questions and comments from the audience itself.
2019-10-2829 minProfessor Game PodcastWhat is Professor GameIf you're struggling to keep people engaged and loyal in your product or business, check out my FREE gamification course to learn how to do just that: https://bit.ly/freegamificationcourse-web This episode is to help you understand the Professor Game podcast. We will go over basic things like who this podcast is for, what it is about, why we created Professor Game, and who Rob Alvarez Bucholska is. Lets's do stuff together! Get started in Gamification for FREE! https://bit.ly/freegamificationcourse-web LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/professorgame Instagram https://www.instagram...
2017-11-0601 min