Professor Game Podcast

Want 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 designs evidence-based engagement systems that drive motivation, loyalty, and results, and teaches LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® and gamification at top institutions including IE Business School, EFMD, and EBS University across Europe, the Americas, and Asia.

Links to episode mentions:

• El Manantial de los Sueños
• 4 Phases of a Player Journey

Lets's do stuff together!

• Let's chat about your gamification project
• 3 Gamification Hacks To Boost Your Community's Revenue
• Start Your Community on Skool for Free
• Game of Skool Community
• YouTube
• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• Facebook
• Ask a question

If 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 Letter Crusher" and the "Interview Assassin." Her mission is to give job seekers the knowledge to authentically express their value and vision while finding joy in the process.

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 designs evidence-based engagement systems that drive motivation, loyalty, and results, and teaches LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® and gamification at top institutions including IE Business School, EFMD, and EBS University across Europe, the Americas, and Asia.

Guest Links and Info

• Website: make-the-grade-with-jade.lovable.app
• LinkedIn: Jade Arthur
• Instagram: @makethegradewithjade

Links to episode mentions:

• Proposed guests: Bruno Frasca
• Recommended book: Made to Stick by Dan and Chip Heath
• Favorite game: Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen

Lets's do stuff together!

• Let's chat about your gamification project
• 3 Gamification Hacks To Boost Your Community's Revenue
• Start Your Community on Skool for Free
• Game of Skool Community
• YouTube
• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• Facebook
• Ask a question

Exploring 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 podcast, and has interviewed hundreds of global experts. He designs evidence-based engagement systems that drive motivation, loyalty, and results, and teaches LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® and gamification at top institutions including IE Business School, EFMD, and EBS University across Europe, the Americas, and Asia.

Links to episode mentions:

• Duolingo (language learning & streak mechanics)
• Happier Meditation (formerly 10% Happier)
• Streaks (habit-tracking app)
• Finch (self-care & habit-tracking app)
• Octalysis Framework (gamification & Core Drives)
• Abstinence Violation Effect (psychology of lapses)

Lets's do stuff together!

• Let's chat about your gamification project
• 3 Gamification Hacks To Boost Your Community's Revenue
• Start Your Community on Skool for Free
• Game of Skool Community
• YouTube
• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• Facebook
• Ask a question

Retention 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 building on the inner resources and skills they already have. His company combines solution-focused health coaching, behavior science, and personalized data to improve energy, focus and resilience—without the usual shame or overwhelm.

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 designs evidence-based engagement systems that drive motivation, loyalty, and results, and teaches LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® and gamification at top institutions including IE Business School, EFMD, and EBS University across Europe, the Americas, and Asia.

Guest Links and Info

• Website: staminalab.io
• LinkedIn: Glen Lubbert
• Instagram: @staminalab.io
• X/Twitter: @glenlubbert
• YouTube: youtube.com/@staminalabTV

Links to episode mentions:

• Proposed guest: Dr. Deborah Teplow
• Recommended book: Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity by Peter Attia
• Favorite game: The Five Crowns Card Game

Lets's do stuff together!

• Let's chat about your gamification project
• 3 Gamification Hacks To Boost Your Community's Revenue
• Start Your Community on Skool for Free
• Game of Skool Community
• YouTube
• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• Facebook
• Ask a question

Exploring 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, and has interviewed hundreds of global experts. He designs evidence-based engagement systems that drive motivation, loyalty, and results, and teaches LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® and gamification at top institutions including IE Business School, EFMD, and EBS University across Europe, the Americas, and Asia.

Links to episode mentions:

• Confirmshaming.tumblr.com
• deceptive.design
• Ethics in Game-Based Solutions and Gamification | Episode 153
• Andrzej Marczewski Doing Ethics In Gamification | Episode 161

Lets's do stuff together!

• Let's chat about your gamification project
• 3 Gamification Hacks To Boost Your Community's Revenue
• Start Your Community on Skool for Free
• Game of Skool Community
• YouTube
• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• Facebook
• Ask a question

Build 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 in which every kid is a creator. Endless Studios is a youth game making studio built to introduce youth to 21st Century skills like coding and design. Matt's mantra is that if you can engage them, you can teach them. His second mission is to make that available to everyone in the world by addressing the device and internet gap, which is the work of the Endless Foundation. Matt dreams of a world in which every kid can shape their technology instead of being shaped by it.

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 engagement systems that drive motivation, loyalty, and results, and teaches LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® and gamification at top institutions including IE Business School, EFMD, and EBS University across Europe, the Americas, and Asia.

Guest Links and Info

• Website: endlessstudios.com

Links to episode mentions:

• Recommended book:
  • Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert
  • The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron
• Favorite games:
  • Civilization
  • Sim City
  • Plague

Lets's do stuff together!

• Let's chat about your gamification project
• 3 Gamification Hacks To Boost Your Community's Revenue
• Start Your Community on Skool for Free
• Game of Skool Community
• YouTube
• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• Facebook
• Ask a question

Aiming 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. He designs evidence-based engagement systems that drive motivation, loyalty, and results, and teaches LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® and gamification at top institutions including IE Business School, EFMD, and EBS University across Europe, the Americas, and Asia.

Links to episode mentions:

• Episodes mentioned:
  • Episode 000
  • Episode 1 with Yu-kai Chou!
  • Episode 2 with Scott Reinke, winner of the Educational Gamification Project of the Year 2016
• Professor Game, the world's #1 gamification podcast, is recognized by independent rankings such as MillionPodcasts, Feedspot, Player.fm, and others like ListenNotes.
• Gamification World Congress, this is the most official reference still online I could find!
• The Octalysis Group
• Community Building Resources: Game of Skool Community
• Social Media and Contact Information:
  • LinkedIn
  • Instagram
  • Facebook
• Professor Game YouTube Channel

Lets's do stuff together!

• Let's chat about your gamification project
• 3 Gamification Hacks To Boost Your Community's Revenue
• Start Your Community on Skool for Free
• Game of Skool Community
• YouTube
• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• Facebook
• Ask a question

Build 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 real-world engagement, the husband-and-wife team help foster curiosity and connection through immersive experiences that encourage participants to revisit an opportunity to play pretend. Think of them as your extroverted friends that allow anyone a safe place to step out of their shell and explore in places they'd otherwise never go. Jeff and Andy have created experiences for clients including Universal Studios and Walt Disney Imagineering and their award-winning work has been praised by The New York Times, Broadway World and No Proscenium. They were recently named in Blooloop's International list of Top 50 Immersive Influencers

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 engagement systems that drive motivation, loyalty, and results, and teaches LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® and gamification at top institutions including IE Business School, EFMD, and EBS University across Europe, the Americas, and Asia.

Guest Links and Info

• Website: misterandmischief.fun
• LinkedIn: Mister & Mischief
• Instagram: @misterandmischief

Lets's do stuff together!

• 3 Gamification Hacks To Boost Your Community's Revenue
• Start Your Community on Skool for Free
• Community
• YouTube
• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• Facebook
• Ask a question

Exploring 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 engagement systems that drive motivation, loyalty, and results, and teaches LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® and gamification at top institutions including IE Business School, EFMD, and EBS University across Europe, the Americas, and Asia.

Links to episode mentions:

• Some public references to the Octalysis Framework and the process discussed:
  • The Strategy Dashboard for Gamification Design
  • Using the Octalysis Framework to Understand What Game Design Techniques to Use
  • Intro to the Battleplan Spreadsheet within Octalysis Design
• References to Marty Cagan and his works and principles through Silicon Valley's Product Group (SVPG):
  • Principles
  • Discovery vs. Delivery
  • Markers of an Empowered Product Team: A Talk by Marty Cagan
  • The Product Discovery Plan

Lets's do stuff together!

• Let's chat about your gamification project
• 3 Gamification Hacks To Boost Your Community's Revenue
• Start Your Community on Skool for Free
• Game of Skool Community
• YouTube
• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• Facebook
• Ask a question

Want 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 House, a Shark Tank–style real estate series, he created HOU$LE, the viral daily house-price guessing game often described as "Wordle for Real Estate." He currently produces FOX's The 1% Club, hosted by Joel McHale. Doug lives in Los Angeles with his wife (a real estate agent, naturally) and their two kids.

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 engagement systems that drive motivation, loyalty, and results, and teaches LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® and gamification at top institutions including IE Business School, EFMD, and EBS University across Europe, the Americas, and Asia.

Guest Links and Info

• Website: housle.house
• LinkedIn: Doug Weitzbuch
• Instagram: @housle.house
• TikTok: @housle

Links to episode mentions:

• Proposed guest: Andrew Chen A16Z Speedrun
• Recommended book: The All In Podcast
• Favorite game: NYT mini games!

Lets's do stuff together!

• Let's chat about your gamification project
• 3 Gamification Hacks To Boost Your Community's Revenue
• Start Your Community on Skool for Free
• Game of Skool Community
• YouTube
• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• Facebook
• Ask a question