Professor Game Podcast

Professor Game is a weekly podcast where we interview gurus, experts and successful practitioners of games, gamification and game thinking that will bring us the best of their experiences to get ideas, insights and inspiration to make experiences meaningful.

How To Grow Your Community! Without Paying For Ads | Episode 411 09/22/2025

Escape Rooms for Growth with Sarah Iverson | Episode 410 09/15/2025

I Tried VR Fire Training (and Failed to Find the Phone) with Ludus | Episode 409 09/08/2025

I Paid 5 Growth Experts To Create A Growth Playbook For The Same Community | Episode 408 09/01/2025

Civic Engagement Through Classroom Games with Kerry Flanagan-Owen | Episode 407 08/25/2025

How to Win at the Game of Life (Without Playing by the Rules) | Episode 406 08/18/2025

From Skeptics to Superstars: The Power of Play at Work with Alex Suchman | Episode 405 08/11/2025

Why Your Game Mechanic Is the Learning with Elisa Navarro Chinchilla | Episode 404 08/04/2025

Why Your Game Mechanic Is the Learning with Elisa Navarro Chinchilla | Episode 404 Get access to over $1,000 worth of retention and gamification strategies, templates, and live sessions—for free. All inside our Professor Game community: 🎁 What happens when a powerful game opens Pandora’s box? Elisa Navarro Chinchilla shares the highs, lows, and serious challenges of designing games for real-world impact—from schools in Mexico to reforestation efforts in Afghanistan. Elisa Navarro Chinchilla is the CEO and co-founder of Gold Bug Interactive and a veteran educational video game developer with more than 25 titles under her belt. Her most recent projects include Dino Dance for PBS Fred Rogers, Sabz, a reforestation game for Afghanistan; Protection, a tabletop game to teach Results Based Protection for InterAction; Chuka: Break the Silence, developed for the Education for Justice initiative of the UNODC, that leverages social and emotional learning to help prevent domestic violence, and consulting for Project 21, FES, to develop a game for youth participation, governance and citizenship in the MENA region. Convinced of the power of games to support underprivileged contexts through collaborative learning, she has received several national grants in Mexico (Fonca, Procine, Prosoft) to create educational experiences with networked technology, alternate reality games, and digital literacy workshops. Her games challenge players to develop resilience through problem solving, stimulate critical thinking, and practice transferable skills. Elisa has an MA from the Institute of Education at UCL, UK. Rob is a host and consultant at Professor Game as well as an expert, and advocate for the use of gamification and games-based solutions, especially in community building and education. He's also a professor and workshop facilitator for the topics of the podcast and LEGO SERIOUS PLAY (LSP) for top higher education institutions that include EFMD, IE Business School and EBS among others in Europe, America and Asia. Guest Links and Info Website: Website: LinkedIn: Links to episode mentions: Proposed guest: Recommended book: by James Paul Gee Favorite game: Lets's do stuff together! /episode/index/show/professorgame/id/37596265

Secrets to Building the Most Engaging Community Ever | Episode 403 07/28/2025

From Boring to Brilliant: Rethinking Education with AI and Engagement | Episode 402 07/21/2025

Failed Game Becomes a Hit — 8 Years Later with Dain Saint | Episode 401 07/14/2025

Level Up IRL: Designing Your Purpose with Yu-kai Chou | Episode 400 07/07/2025

They Made $300k Per Month With Skool (Just Copy Them) | Episode 399 06/30/2025

When Computers Taught You to Create, Not Just Consume with Jesper Juul | Episode 398 06/23/2025

AI + Game Thinking = Retention Breakthrough | Episode 397 06/16/2025

Why Most Community Building Fails (And HOW TO WIN) | Episode 396 06/09/2025

Coaching Leadership Through Role-Playing Games with Joe Lasley | Episode 395 06/02/2025

Coaching Leadership Through Role-Playing Games with Joe Lasley | Episode 395 🚀 Want your community buzzing and bringing in more revenue? Snag my free mini course with 3 killer gamification hacks: What happens when role-playing games become a leadership development tool? In this episode we interview Joe, founder of GameNamic Leadership, to explore how tabletop RPGs can unlock transformational learning, reshape team dynamics, and deliver lasting cultural change. From piloting immersive retreats to coaching teams in real time, Joe shares how combining leadership coaching with roleplay doesn't just gamify learning—it changes how people show up at work. Dr. Joe Lasley is an Assistant Professor of Leadership and Organizational Studies at the University of Southern Maine and the Founder of Gamenamic Leadership, where he merges academic rigor with the imaginative power of tabletop role-playing games to transform how individuals and teams learn to lead in the real world. He is an International Coaching Federation certified Leadership Coach, has a Ph.D. in Leadership Studies, and degrees in Organizational Psychology, Higher Education Administration, and Organizational Communication. In academia, Joe designs and teaches courses on leadership development, systems thinking, organizational and group dynamics, with a focus on experiential and transformational learning. He has published peer-reviewed aresearch on leadership development through role-playing games, led action research projects, and regularly presents at national and international conferences including International Leadership Association, National Communication Association, and North American Simulation And Gaming Association. As a consultant, Dr. Joe created LeadRPG, an innovative method that blends leadership development with tabletop role-playing games to build emotionally intelligent, adaptive leaders and creative teams. With the LeadRPG Team, he has developed immersive retreats, facilitated custom programs for mission-driven organizations and tech leaders, and produced game-based toolkits used for leadership coaching, team development, and reflective practice. With expertise spanning group dynamics, adaptive leadership, and game-based learning, Dr. Joe is committed to helping people unlock their potential, co-design shared experiences, and navigate complexity with creativity, purpose, and play. Rob is a host and consultant at Professor Game as well as an expert, 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 LEGO SERIOUS PLAY (LSP) for top higher education institutions that include EFMD, IE Business School and EBS among others in Europe, America and Asia. Guest Links and Info Website: Retreats: LinkedIn: LinkedIn: Links to episode mentions: Proposed guest: Recommended book: by D.W. Winnicott Favorite game: Lets's do stuff together! /episode/index/show/professorgame/id/36786500

The Great Gambit: Teaching Peace Through Play with Anders Kjellberg | Episode 394 05/26/2025

The Great Gambit: Teaching Peace Through Play with Anders Kjellberg | Episode 394 🔥 Losing users? Get free, expert-backed resources to boost retention with gamification: 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 he is also part of the school's educational steering group and takes part in a collaborational project with other Nordic upper secondary shools. Apart from being a teacher, Anders is a musician, playing mostly bass, guitars and syntheizsers in several of bands and records a lot of music in his house up in the Swedish forests. Together with his friend Zhenya Luchaninau, he has created an educational tool/simulation to be used in history class in upper secondary school, called "The Great Gambit". The scene is a tumultous transitional period in Europes history, dealing with the years between 1871 and 1914: the build up to World War One. The purpose of the game is, to put it short: make the students understand the driving forces behind conflicts and wars and, hopefully, teach them to understand how a society can avoid such things. Rob is a host and consultant at Professor Game as well as an expert, 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 LEGO SERIOUS PLAY (LSP) for top higher education institutions that include EFMD, IE Business School and EBS among others in Europe, America and Asia. Guest Links and Info Website: LinkedIn: Facebook: Links to episode mentions: Proposed guest: Recommended book: (In Swedish) Favorite game: Lets's do stuff together! /episode/index/show/professorgame/id/36658815

Bram Wulteputte Gamifies Education With Minecraft and NASA | Episode 393 05/19/2025

Why Aldi Agaj Builds Games With Scientists AND Teachers | Episode 392 05/12/2025

3 Customer Retention Strategies That Keep Customers Coming Back | Episode 391 05/05/2025

Role-Playing for Real Learning with Anthony Kurza | Episode 390 04/28/2025

Witcher-Level Storytelling for Real Engagement with Jakub Szamalek | Episode 389 04/21/2025

When Perfect Balance Fails: Lessons in Gamified Design with Alireza Ranjbar | Episode 388 04/14/2025

When Perfect Balance Fails: Lessons in Gamified Design with Alireza Ranjbar | Episode 388 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: 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 true passion in game design, which sparked a deep curiosity about human behavior. With this newfound interest, he went for psychology, sociology, behavioral economics, and persuasive design, continually learning about motivational theories like Self-Determination Theory (SDT), Flow, and the Fogg Behavior Model, as well as every aspect of behavioral economics available. Soon enough, he realized these principles and insights could be applied outside of games as well. This revelation led him to design engagement solutions and gamified campaigns across a variety of fields, including Fintech, E-learning, E-health, Open Innovation, and even offline advertising. With experience in designing for diverse platforms and genres, Alireza has contributed to nearly every area of gamification and game development, from systems design, AI, and UX to marketing and monetization. However, economy and balance—the 'hidden' yet crucial elements of experience design—have always been his primary focus and specialty. For him, design is about striking a balance between a fun, fair player experience and sustainable monetization for a successful business. Above all, he views players as complex individuals with limitless dimensions, constantly seeking to understand and interpret the behavioral data collected from in-game interactions—and beyond. Rob is a host and consultant at Professor Game as well as an expert, 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 LEGO SERIOUS PLAY (LSP) for top higher education institutions that include EFMD, IE Business School and EBS among others in Europe, America and Asia. Guest Links and Info LinkedIn: Links to episode mentions: Proposed guests: Recommended books: by Joris Dormans by BJ Fogg Favorite game: Lets's do stuff together! /episode/index/show/professorgame/id/36064705

Feedback Loops for Saving the World with Katie Patrick | Episode 387 04/07/2025

Feedback Loops for Saving the World with Katie Patrick | Episode 387 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: 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 and and hosts a where she investigates the academic research in environmental psychology. Katie specializes in the design of getting people to change. She applies gamification and behavioral science in a way that dramatically increases the adoption of environmental programs and has worked with organizations including UNEP, NASA JPL, Stanford University, U.S. State Department, Google, University of California, Magic Leap, and the Institute for the Future. Katie started , a map-based application that uses satellite imaging of urban heat islands and vegetation cover to encourage urban greening and cooling initiatives. She is also the co-founder of , a Chrome extension and outdoor screen project that shows the electric grid's CO2 emissions in real time. She was CEO of the VC-funded green-lifestyle magazine Green Pages Australia and was appointed environmental brand ambassador by the Ogilvy Earth advertising agency for Volkswagen, Lipton Tea and Wolfblass Wines. She has served on the board of Australia’s national eco label, Good Environmental Choice Australia, and won the Cosmopolitan Woman of the Year Award for entrepreneurship. After graduating from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology with a B.Eng in Environmental Engineering, she worked as an environmental design engineer for building engineers WSP in Sydney on some of the world’s first platinum-LEED-certified commercial buildings. Katie lives in Silicon Valley with her young daughter, Anastasia.< Rob is a host and consultant at Professor Game as well as an expert, 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 LEGO SERIOUS PLAY (LSP) for top higher education institutions that include EFMD, IE Business School and EBS among others in Europe, America and Asia. Guest Links and Info Website: LinkedIn: Instagram: X/Twitter: Links to episode mentions: Proposed guest: Cybernetic Theory experts (mostly professors) Recommended book: by Steven Pinker by Robert Greene Lets's do stuff together! /episode/index/show/professorgame/id/35956715

Why Most Habit Hacks Fail (and What Actually Works) with Jason Hreha | Episode 386 03/31/2025

Why Most Habit Hacks Fail (and What Actually Works) with Jason Hreha | Episode 386 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: 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 Company. They are the world's leading provider of elite non-technical talent. Jason is also a senior advisor at Edelman, a global communications firm, where he provides behavioral science insights and guidance to clients across various industries and sectors. Jason's passion is to create products and services that empower people to achieve their goals and improve their lives. He has co-founded and led several successful startups, such as Kite.io, a mobile search company that was acquired by Quixey, and Dopamine, the first tech-focused applied behavioral science firm. Jason has also served as the global head of behavioral science at Walmart, where he co-founded and built the Walmart Behavioral Science Team. Additionally, he is the creator of Behavioral Strategy, an interdisciplinary approach to ensuring that behavioral research is incorporated into new products and initiatives from the strategic planning phase. The goal of Behavioral Strategy is to achieve Behavior Market Fit. Rob is a host and consultant at Professor Game as well as an expert, 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 LEGO SERIOUS PLAY (LSP) for top higher education institutions that include EFMD, IE Business School and EBS among others in Europe, America and Asia. Guest Links and Info LinkedIn: Websites: Book: Links to episode mentions: Proposed guest: BJ Fogg Recommended book: by Daniel Nettel Favorite game: Final Fantasy VII Earthbound (NES) Overwatch Lets's do stuff together! /episode/index/show/professorgame/id/35932805

🎤 Crocs Not Allowed: Building Trivia, Nations, and Engagement with Mark Corona | Episode 385 03/24/2025

How Games Reveal Who We Are With Ryan Jones 🔍🎮 | Episode 384 03/17/2025

How Games Reveal Who We Are With Ryan Jones 🔍🎮 | Episode 384 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: 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 building emotional intelligence, confidence, and connection. Whether you're designing learning experiences, digital communities, or gamified products, this episode uncovers how role-play can drive transformation and long-term engagement. Ryan Alan Jones is a transformational coach, mindfulness practitioner, and advocate for the power of storytelling in personal development. Currently pursuing a doctorate in leadership and coaching, Ryan’s academic work complements his unique approach, which integrates tabletop role-playing games (TTRPGs) to help individuals uncover new facets of themselves, build social and emotional intelligence, and foster beautiful and satisfying lives. His work bridges the creative and the practical, drawing on his experiences as a certified personal trainer, yoga instructor, actor, and director. Through his innovative approach, Ryan bridges the worlds of imagination and reality, helping others discover their potential and redefine their personal narratives. Rob is a host and consultant at Professor Game as well as an expert, 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 LEGO SERIOUS PLAY (LSP) for top higher education institutions that include EFMD, IE Business School and EBS among others in Europe, America and Asia. Guest Links and Info Website: LinkedIn: Instagram: TikTok: Links to episode mentions: Proposed guest: Recommended book: (free PDF!) Favorite game: Lets's do stuff together! /episode/index/show/professorgame/id/35700580

Role-Playing for Real Growth 🎭 with Kathrin Fischer | Episode 383 03/10/2025

What Gamers Can Teach Us About Motivation with Christopher Dattoli | Episode 382 03/03/2025

What Gamers Can Teach Us About Motivation with Christopher Dattoli | Episode 382 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: 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 power of storytelling in games, how to design experiences that keep people engaged naturally, and why the best retention strategies mirror the mechanics of great games. Whether you're an educator, community builder, or product designer, this episode is packed with actionable insights on gamification, engagement, and building loyalty—all inspired by the world of video games. 🚀 Chris Dattoli is an NJ-based voice actor who has been a part of various video games, audiobooks, anime’s, cartoons, & commercials, such as “Kon" in the fighter game Konsui Fighter, "Kuroki Maeba" in ReBite: The Psychopathic Chef, "Rower" in the animated series Handaria, Arthur, Marty, and all the male roles in the physiological video game IMAGO: Beyond the Nightmare, & in the video game Brigandine Grand Edition as Zemeckis, Cador & Paternus. He’s also voiced numerous commercials for brands like the NFL Network, Disney, Microsoft, Lowes, and more! In addition to his voice resume, Chris is also an On Camera actor and model. In 2024, Chris won a Voice Arts Award from the Society of Voice Arts & Sciences! Chris is a long-time fan of anime (back when they were on LaserDisc!) and video games and loves to keep up to date on the newest titles. Rob is a host and consultant at Professor Game as well as an expert, 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 LEGO SERIOUS PLAY (LSP) for top higher education institutions that include EFMD, IE Business School and EBS among others in Europe, America and Asia. Guest Links and Info Website: LinkedIn: Instagram: TikTok: Facebook: X/Twitter: Links to episode mentions: Proposed guest: Simon Gato of Recommended book: by John Ruhlin by Mike Diver Favorite game: Other top games for Chris /episode/index/show/professorgame/id/35479820

Professor Game Podcast

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