Professor Game Podcast
#1 Gamification Podcast | Insights and Real-World Strategies to Boost Engagement, Loyalty & Retention. Professor Game helps innovators, product leaders, and educators use gamification and game thinking to create engagement that lasts. 🎙️ Hosted by Rob Alvarez — TEDx Speaker, consultant, and host of the #1 Gamification Podcast — each week brings you practical insights, case studies, and frameworks from 400+ global experts and proven real-world examples. Expect interviews with top practitioners in gamification, game design, and behavioral strategy, plus solo episodes where Rob breaks down practical frameworks you can apply in your team, classroom, or product. Join the movement to make engagement, motivation, and loyalty truly meaningful — with stories and strategies that transform the way people learn, work, and play. 💡 Listen. Learn. Apply Play to Your Strategy.
Episodes
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 ga...
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...
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.
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 h...
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.
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 play...
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 O...
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 im...
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 gamific...
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 act...
Exploring 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...
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 if your game character could earn you royalties? Jaime Schwarz unpacks co-creation, interactive media, and why the next frontie...
Build a thriving, monetized community—without chasing members or cranking out content 24/7.
Join us for free: 🏡 professorgame.com/freecommunity-web
Thinking of trying Skool? Use my link to get the 14-day free trial (same as direct)—and you'll also be supporting my work: 👉 professorgame.com/openyourskool
Build a thriving, monetized community—without chasing members or cranking out content 24/7.
Join us for free: 🏡 professorgame.com/freecommunity-web
Vice President at Unity and author of The Career Game Loop, Jessica Lindl shares how game-based strategies build better communities, improve retention, and drive real impact.
Jessica Lindl is the Vice President...
Your 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 strateg...
👉 Build a thriving, playful community—without chasing members or creating endless content.
✨ Get started free with our community The Game of Skool: professorgame.com/freecommunity-web
Magic in the Mundane: Sarah Iverson on Gamifying Wellness
Discover how Sarah Iverson transforms personal growth into playful adventures thro...
Health and Safety 🔥 training is a drag and ineffective or expensive and dangerous ☠️... Or is it? Check out what's possible with our sponsor Ludus and their Free Guide: professorgame.com/free-ludus-guide
Or just book a free VR demo. Warning: you might end up liking Health and Safety training... professorgame.com/ludus-vr-demo
Hearing this only? Check out the video episode on our web or straight on YouTube
On this sponsored episode...
Don't guess your next title – get the proven ones for free: 👉 professorgame.com/YT-Title-Spreadsheet
Want your content to actually get seen? I paid five growth experts to reverse-engineer how to grow a community—without spending a cent on ads. In this episode, I reveals the three biggest levers.
Rob is a host and consultant at Professor Game as well as an expert, international speaker and advocate for the use of gamification and g...
Book a free 1:1 call to create your personalized gamification game plan: 🎯 professorgame.com/discoverycall
Can games teach students to navigate politics and power? Kerry Flanagan-Owen from the Bill of Rights Institute says YES—and she's showing us how playful learning is transforming civics education in classrooms across the U.S.
Kerry Flanagan-Owen is the Senior Manager of Learning Design at the Bill of Rights Institute, where sh...
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 ...
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