🚀 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 [https://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 making beautiful immersive experiences. They run Reckless Magic, an interactive storytelling label, and curate Futurefull, an interfuturist storytelling collective.

Rob is a host and consultant at Professor Game as well as an expert, international speaker [https://www.professorgame.com/talks-and-conferences/] 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: dainsaint.com [https://dainsaint.com]
 * LinkedIn: Dain Saint [https://www.linkedin.com/in/dainsaint/]
 * Instagram: @dainsaint [https://instagram.com/dainsaint]

 

Links to episode mentions:

 * Recommended book:
   * Immersive Storytelling for Real and Imagined Worlds [https://smile.amazon.com/Immersive-Storytelling-Real-Imagined-Worlds/dp/1615933417] by Margaret (Imagineering)
   *  Emerging Strategy [https://smile.amazon.com/Emergent-Strategy-Shaping-Change-Changing/dp/1849352607] by Adrienne Maree Brown
 * Favorite game:
   * Hades [https://www.amazon.com/Hades-Nintendo-Switch/dp/B08WWC6GBX/]
   * Roll For Shoes [https://rollforshoes.com/]
   * Tag! [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tag_(game)]
   * Football / Soccer

 

Lets's do stuff together!

 * 3 Gamification Hacks To Boost Your Community's Revenue [https://professorgame.com/freebie-3-gamification-hacks]
 * LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/professorgame]
 * Twitter [https://twitter.com/RobAlvarezB]
 * Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/ProfessorGame/]
 * Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/robalvarezb/]
 * TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@professorgamepodcast]
 * YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@ProfessorGamePodcast/]
 * Ask a question [https://www.professorgame.com/question/]

Failed Game Becomes a Hit — 8 Years Later with Dain Saint | Episode 401

🚀 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 [https://professorgame.com/freebie-3-gamification-hacks]

What if your life was a game—and you had the playbook to win? In this episode, gamification expert Yu-kai Chou returns to share his new framework, 10K HP (10,000 Hours of Play) [https://smile.amazon.com/000-Hours-Play-Real-Life-Legendary-ebook/dp/B0DWY2FCP8/], and how aligning your purpose, role, and daily actions can unlock real-life legendary success. 🎮💥

Previous episodes with Yu-kai:

 * Yu-kai Chou and how to do gamification with Octalysis [https://www.professorgame.com/podcast/001/]
 * Yu-kai Chou Creating Frameworks including REMOTE [https://www.professorgame.com/podcast/133/]
 * Octalysis Prime is a Big Part of Yu-kai Chou’s Life Mission [https://www.professorgame.com/podcast/215/]
 * Yu-kai Chou Bringing Gamification Balance for Kids [https://www.professorgame.com/podcast/269/]

Rob is a host and consultant at Professor Game as well as an expert, international speaker [https://www.professorgame.com/talks-and-conferences/] 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.

 

Links to episode mentions:

 * 10,000 Hours of Play: Unlock Your Real-Life Legendary Success [https://smile.amazon.com/000-Hours-Play-Real-Life-Legendary-ebook/dp/B0DWY2FCP8/] Yu-kai's new book!

 

Lets's do stuff together!

 * 3 Gamification Hacks To Boost Your Community's Revenue [https://professorgame.com/freebie-3-gamification-hacks]
 * LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/professorgame]
 * Twitter [https://twitter.com/RobAlvarezB]
 * Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/ProfessorGame/]
 * Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/robalvarezb/]
 * TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@professorgamepodcast]
 * YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@ProfessorGamePodcast/]
 * Ask a question [https://www.professorgame.com/question/]

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

Want help creating online revenue—without needing like a thousand different tools?

Book a free 1:1 call to create your single platform revenue-creating online community: 🎯 professorgame.com/discoverycall [https://professorgame.com/discoverycall]

Tired of juggling tools to run your online business? We break down why Skool is a game-changing platform for building and scaling online communities and offer a tour of its features, benefits, and real earning potential. Plus, learn how to go beyond tech and design for retention and revenue with the right strategy.

Rob is a host and consultant at Professor Game as well as an expert, international speaker [https://www.professorgame.com/talks-and-conferences/] 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.

 

Links to episode mentions:

 * Create your own community in Skool with my help [https://www.skool.com/signup?ref=15874b8940904c9c9f28ebd0bb569dba]
 * Book Your FREE Clarity Call [https://professorgame.com/discoverycall]

 

Lets's do stuff together!

 * Book Your FREE Clarity Call [https://professorgame.com/discoverycall]
 * YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@ProfessorGamePodcast/]
 * LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/professorgame]
 * Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/robalvarezb/]
 * Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/ProfessorGame/]
 * Ask a question [https://www.professorgame.com/question/]

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

If you're struggling to make more money with your online community, check out my FREE resources to learn how to do just that: professorgame.com/freecommunity-web [https://www.professorgame.com/freecommunity-web]

What can a 40-year-old machine teach us about loyalty, engagement, and creative freedom? In this episode, Jesper Juul returns to the Professor Game Podcast to talk about his new book Too Much Fun, diving deep into the legacy of the Commodore 64.

From hacking and game development to subculture and hardware design, Jesper unpacks the "five lives" of the C64 and what they reveal about user retention, tinkering, and systems that last. If you're designing for engagement today, this is a nostalgia-fueled masterclass in getting it right—and where we started getting it wrong.

Jesper Juul is a video game theorist and occasional developer working at the Royal Danish Academy. He has previously taught at MIT and New York University. His books include Half-Real, and recently “Too much Fun” about the Commodore 64, his first computer, on which he wrote games and demos. Here's his first episode on the podcast: Jesper Juul and Handmade Games [https://www.professorgame.com/podcast/148/]

Rob is a host and consultant at Professor Game as well as an expert, international speaker [https://www.professorgame.com/talks-and-conferences/] 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: jesperjuul.net [https://www.jesperjuul.net]
 * X/Twitter: @jesperjuul [https://x.com/jesperjuul]
 * BlueSky: @jesperjuul.bsky.social [https://bsky.app/profile/jesperjuul.bsky.social]

 

Links to episode mentions:

 * Jesper's new book: Too Much Fun: The Five Lives of the Commodore 64 Computer [https://smile.amazon.com/Too-Much-Fun-Commodore-Computer-ebook/dp/B0CVKX4J11]

 

Lets's do stuff together!

 * Get started in Gamification for FREE! [https://www.professorgame.com/freecommunity-web]
 * LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/professorgame]
 * Twitter [https://twitter.com/RobAlvarezB]
 * Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/ProfessorGame/]
 * Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/robalvarezb/]
 * TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@professorgamepodcast]
 * YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@ProfessorGamePodcast/]
 * Ask a question [https://www.professorgame.com/question/]

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

Click the link below to book a quick 10–15 minute chat with me.

No sales, no pressure—just ideas and clarity on how to engage your community and grow revenue. 🗓 professorgame.com/discoverycall [https://professorgame.com/discoverycall]

Strategy Meets AI Game design + AI = game changer. In this episode, Amy Jo Kim returns to share how she’s combining decades of design wisdom with cutting-edge AI to build smarter, faster onboarding and retention systems. If you're struggling with churn, this conversation is your blueprint to better systems, better questions, and better engagement.

Previous episodes with Amy Jo Kim:

 * Amy Jo Kim shows the importance of finding the fun as a game designer [https://www.professorgame.com/podcast/027/]
 * Amy Jo Kim's Game Thinking Masterclass 2019 [https://www.professorgame.com/podcast/080/]

 

Rob is a host and consultant at Professor Game as well as an expert, international speaker [https://www.professorgame.com/talks-and-conferences/] 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.

 

Links to episode mentions:

 * AI Journey Maker [https://gamethinking.io/journeymaker/]

 

Lets's do stuff together!

 * 3 Gamification Hacks To Boost Your Community's Revenue [https://professorgame.com/freebie-3-gamification-hacks]
 * LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/professorgame]
 * Twitter [https://twitter.com/RobAlvarezB]
 * Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/ProfessorGame/]
 * Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/robalvarezb/]
 * TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@professorgamepodcast]
 * YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@ProfessorGamePodcast/]
 * Ask a question [https://www.professorgame.com/question/]

AI + Game Thinking = Retention Breakthrough | Episode 397

🚀 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 [https://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 Retention Hacks Guide [https://professorgame.com/freebie-3-gamification-hacks] above to start implementing today!

Rob is a host and consultant at Professor Game as well as an expert, international speaker [https://www.professorgame.com/talks-and-conferences/] 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.

 

Lets's do stuff together!

 * 3 Gamification Hacks To Boost Your Community's Revenue [https://professorgame.com/freebie-3-gamification-hacks]
 * LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/professorgame]
 * Twitter [https://twitter.com/RobAlvarezB]
 * Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/ProfessorGame/]
 * Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/robalvarezb/]
 * TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@professorgamepodcast]
 * YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@ProfessorGamePodcast/]
 * Ask a question [https://www.professorgame.com/question/]

Why Most Community Building Fails (And HOW TO WIN) | Episode 396

🚀 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 [https://professorgame.com/freebie-3-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 d evelopment, systems thinking, organizational and group dynamics, with a focus on experiential and transformational learning. He has published peer-reviewed a research on leadership development through role-playing games, led action research projects, and regularly presents at national and international conferences including I nternational L eadership A ssociation, National Communication Association, and N orth American S imulation A nd G aming A ssociation.

As a consultant, Dr. Joe created LeadRPG, an innovative method that blends leadership d evelopment with tabletop role-playing games to build emotionally intelligent, adaptive leaders and creative teams. W ith the LeadRPG Team, he has developed immersive retreats, facilitated custom programs for mission-driven organizations and tech l eaders, 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, international speaker [https://www.professorgame.com/talks-and-conferences/] 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: gamenamic.org [https://gamenamic.org]
   * Retreats: gamenamic.org/retreat [https://gamenamic.org/retreat]
 * LinkedIn: Joe Lasley [https://www.linkedin.com/in/joelasley/]
 * LinkedIn: GameNamic Leadership [https://www.linkedin.com/company/gamenamic-leadership/]

 

Links to episode mentions:

 * Proposed guest: Gijs [https://liveactionlearning.com/en/about-us/]
 * Recommended book: Playing and Reality [https://smile.amazon.com/Playing-Reality-Routledge-Classics-Winnicott/dp/0415345464] by

Coaching Leadership Through Role-Playing Games with Joe Lasley | Episode 395

🔥 Losing users? Get free, expert-backed resources to boost retention with gamification: professorgame.com/freecommunity-web [https://www.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 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, international speaker [https://www.professorgame.com/talks-and-conferences/] 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: thegreatgambit.com [https://www.thegreatgambit.com/]
 * LinkedIn: Anders Kjellberg [https://www.linkedin.com/in/anders-kjellberg-410195109/]
 * Facebook: The Great Gambit Community [https://www.facebook.com/groups/1120168349454850/]

 

Links to episode mentions:

 * Proposed guest: Neil Young [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neil_Young]
 * Recommended book: Hang City [https://smile.amazon.com/H%C3%A4ng-City-Mikael-Yvesand/dp/9177957350] (In Swedish)
 * Favorite game: Who Knows Where [https://smile.amazon.com/Who-Knows-Where-Location-Guessing/dp/B00GSSMI1M]

 

Lets's do stuff together!

 * FREE Gamification Resources! [https://www.professorgame.com/freecommunity-web]
 * LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/professorgame]
 * YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@ProfessorGamePodcast/]
 * Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/robalvarezb/]
 * Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/ProfessorGame/]
 * Ask a question [https://www.professorgame.com/question/]

The Great Gambit: Teaching Peace Through Play with Anders Kjellberg | Episode 394

🔥 Losing users? Get free, expert-backed resources to boost retention with gamification: professorgame.com/freecommunity-web [https://www.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 [https://www.minecraft.net/]. With years of experience in games and gamification, Bram has built educational experiences that don’t just engage—they inspire. Through Shapescape’s partnership with Minecraft Education, he’s been shaping unique content that bridges fun and learning, resonating with audiences around the globe. From guiding strategy to developing immersive curriculums, Bram has hands-on insights into how gamification can unlock new dimensions in both education and business.

Rob is a host and consultant at Professor Game as well as an expert, international speaker [https://www.professorgame.com/talks-and-conferences/] 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: shapescape.com/education [https://www.shapescape.com/education] LinkedIn: Bram Wulteputte [https://www.linkedin.com/in/bram-wulteputte-7bb0a65a/] X/Twitter: @BramWulteputte [https://x.com/BramWulteputte]

 

Links to episode mentions:

 * Proposed guest: Justin Edwards [https://www.linkedin.com/in/justineducation/] (from Minecraft Education [https://education.minecraft.net/])
 * Recommended book:
   * The Anxious Generation [https://smile.amazon.com/Anxious-Generation-Rewiring-Childhood-Epidemic/dp/0593655036] by Jonathan Haidt
   * Start With Why [https://smile.amazon.com/Start-Why-Simon-Sinek/dp/1591844517] by Simon Sinek
 * Favorite game:
   * Overwatch [https://overwatch.blizzard.com/]
   * Minecraft [https://www.minecraft.net/]

 

Lets's do stuff together!

 * FREE Gamification Resources! [https://www.professorgame.com/freecommunity-web]
 * LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/professorgame]
 * YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@ProfessorGamePodcast/]
 * Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/robalvarezb/]
 * Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/ProfessorGame/]
 * Ask a question [https://www.professorgame.com/question/]

Bram Wulteputte Gamifies Education With Minecraft and NASA | Episode 393

🔥 Losing users? Get free, expert-backed resources to boost retention with gamification: professorgame.com/freecommunity-web [https://www.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, experienced in founding companies in domestic and international marketplaces. Facilitator and builder of world-class technology. Provides technical and visionary leadership for technology company offering a Cloud-Based Platform as a Service (SaaS) for Scientific Research.

Rob is a host and consultant at Professor Game as well as an expert, international speaker [https://www.professorgame.com/talks-and-conferences/] 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: alter-learning.com [https://alter-learning.com]
   * LinkedIn: Aldi Agaj [https://linkedin.com/in/aldi-agaj-7167b182]

 

Links to episode mentions:

 * * Recommended book: Silmarillion [https://smile.amazon.com/J-R-R-Tolkien/dp/B004RTNSMM] by J.R.R. Tolkien
   * Favorite game: Volleyball

 

Lets's do stuff together!

 * * FREE Gamification Resources! [https://www.professorgame.com/freecommunity-web]
   * LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/professorgame]
   * YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@ProfessorGamePodcast/]
   * Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/robalvarezb/]
   * Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/ProfessorGame/]
   * Ask a question [https://www.professorgame.com/question/]

Why Aldi Agaj Builds Games With Scientists AND Teachers | Episode 392

Professor Game is a weekly podcast where we interview successful practitioners of games, gamification and game thinking that will bring us the best of their experiences to get ideas, insights and will inspire us in the process of getting students or trainees to learn what we teach.

Rob

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