Send a text

Are video games bad for us, or could they actually help our mental health?

In this episode of Emerging Tech Unpacked, host Lucy Lin sits down with Dr Michelle Chen, game developer, researcher, and founder of Mental Jam, to explore how video games can become powerful tools for emotional expression, empathy, and self‑care.

Michelle shares how her lived experiences of depression and anxiety inspired her to co‑create games with young people that turn real emotions into playable stories. She explains how her mental health-focused design, rejects addictive “pay‑to‑win” game systems, in favour of compassion‑driven mechanics like spoon limits and cozy characters, including a bubble‑tea‑loving wombat baristas 🧋🐾.

Whether you’re a gamer, a mental‑health advocate, or simply curious about the future of tech for good, this conversation will change the way you see your controller, your phone, and your own mental wellbeing.

*Subscribe to our YouTube channel:*

http://www.youtube.com/@emergingtechunpacked?sub_confirmation=1

For more information, visit our website: https://www.emergingtechunpacked.com/

*Follow us on our social media channels to get the latest news:*

🔔 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/emergingtechunpacked

🔔 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emergingtechunpacked/

🔔 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Emerging-Tech-Unpacked/100090565331236/

🔔 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@emergingtechunpacked

*Chapters*

00:00 Meet Dr. Michelle Chen & a Filipino Fun Fact

03:42 A Third-Culture Journey: Philippines, Taiwan, UK, Australia

07:11 A PhD in Gaming + Mental Health: Surviving Through COVID

15:22 Why Asians Don’t Talk About Mental Health (and How Gaming Open Doors)

21:47 Commercial vs Empathy-Driven Game Design (Avoiding Addictive Tricks)

24:35 Ethical Monetisation + Fixing Harmful Portrayals in Gaming

27:51 Women in Games: Representation, ‘Jiggle Physics,’ and More Female Devs

36:06 Designing Feelings: Embodied Sound vs Metaphor vs Narrative Games

39:14 Not All Games Are the Same: Violence, Cozy Play, and the PTSD Example

41:47 Consent, Safety & Ownership in Mental Health Co‑Creation

43:55 Culture & Language Barriers: Making Games for Diverse/Asian Families

51:57 CSIRO ON Program Pivot: 200+ Interviews and Focusing on Access & Early Intervention

54:56 Quickfire Skills for Game Dev & Founders: Creativity, Resilience, Communication

57:22 AI & Ethics in Mental Health + Game Studios: Chatbots, Copyright, and Human Art

01:02:54 Games as a Complement to Therapy: The ‘In‑Between’ Support Role

Support the show

🎙️ Website: https://www.EmergingTechUnpacked.com/
🎙️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@emergingtechunpacked
🎙️ Apple Podcast: https://apple.co/4d6Hfoi
🎙️ Spotify: https://spoti.fi/49TS1LG

Send a text

Redundancy. Reinvention. Risk‑taking.

In this special episode of Emerging Tech Unpacked, I (host Lucy Lin) flip the microphone and share my own leadership odyssey - from six‑year‑old migrant arriving in Australia from Taiwan, to teaching in Japan, global professional in London and Canada, and now innovation leader, founder and STEM podcast host.

You’ll hear the honest story behind the LinkedIn headlines: navigating culture shock and language barriers, building a global career across technology, law and financial services, facing a career‑shaking redundancy, and turning it into a values‑led portfolio career in consulting, ecosystem building and emerging tech communications.

We dive into nonlinear career paths, the mindset shift from “Why is this happening to me?” to “What matters to me?”, and why I believe communication is the foundation of modern leadership and a true power skill.

If you’re a founder, emerging leader, woman in STEM, global citizen or someone sitting at a career crossroads, this episode will give you practical inspiration to follow your curiosity, back your adaptability and design work that aligns with your values.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel:

http://www.youtube.com/@emergingtechunpacked?sub_confirmation=1

For more information, visit our website: https://www.emergingtechunpacked.com/

Follow us on our social media channels to get the latest news:

🔔 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/emergingtechunpacked

🔔 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emergingtechunpacked/

🔔 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Emerging-Tech-Unpacked/100090565331236/

🔔 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@emergingtechunpacked

Support the Podcast

💙 If you find this podcast valuable, consider keeping the podcast lights on and helping us cover some of our video and audio editing and operational costs: https://www.paypal.me/lucylin007007

☕ Or buy me a coffee (or three! :-): https://buymeacoffee.com/lucylin

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Lucy Lin's Journey

01:41 Early Life and Migration to Australia

04:19 Settling in Australia and Cultural Adaptation

10:57 Educational Pursuits and Career Beginnings

16:02 Teaching in Japan: A Formative Experience

20:56 Professional Growth in the UK

27:57 Innovation and Corporate Roles in Australia and Canada

36:27 Facing Redundancy and Embracing Entrepreneurship

39:18 Starting the Entrepreneurial Journey

40:30 Transitioning from Corporate to Entrepreneurship

41:49 Naming the Business: Forestlyn

44:37 Challenges and Realities of Entrepreneurship

47:20 Teaching Entrepreneurship Skills to Diverse Founders

55:59 Launching a Podcast: Emerging Tech Unpacked

01:08:40 Reflections on a Portfolio Career

Support the show

🎙️ Website: https://www.EmergingTechUnpacked.com/
🎙️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@emergingtechunpacked
🎙️ Apple Podcast: https://apple.co/4d6Hfoi
🎙️ Spotify: https://spoti.fi/49TS1LG

Send a text

When you think about the future of work, are you energised, or quietly terrified? In an era where AI is evolving faster than job titles, the real advantage isn’t predicting what’s next, it’s learning how to adapt, reinvent and stay human in the middle of it all.

In this special live episode of Emerging Tech Unpacked from the SXSW Sydney podcast stage, host Lucy Lin sits down with leaders from LinkedIn, Google Cloud and Microsoft to unpack the mindsets, skills and strategies you actually need to thrive in an age of uncertainty. From empathy, storytelling and human connection to AI fluency and lifelong learning, this conversation goes beyond the buzzwords and into practical, real-world advice.

Tune in for a dynamic, insight-packed discussion filled with key takeaways you can apply immediately to future‑proof your career and navigate the evolving tech landscape with confidence.

For more information, visit: https://www.emergingtechunpacked.com/

Follow us on our social media channels to get the latest news:

🔔 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/emergingtechunpacked

🔔 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emergingtechunpacked/

🔔 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Emerging-Tech-Unpacked/100090565331236/

🔔 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@emergingtechunpacked

Support the Podcast

💙 If you find this podcast valuable, consider keeping the podcast lights on and helping us cover some of our video and audio editing and operational costs: https://www.paypal.me/lucylin007007

☕ Or buy me a coffee (or three! :-): https://buymeacoffee.com/lucylin

Chapters

00:00 Emerging Tech Unpacked Live from SXSW Sydney

01:51 Meet the Panellists

04:26 Audrey's Career Journey

06:29 Natalie's Career Journey

09:28 Tim's Career Journey

13:43 Future Skills and Workforce Trends

17:19 Impact of AI on Jobs

21:18 Emerging Technologies and Skills

26:02 Essential Skills for the Future

30:40 Leadership Skills For Fast Moving Times

37:02 Strategies for Staying Updated

39:04 Diving into New Learning Methods

44:35 Gender Differences in AI Upskilling

49:37 The Role of Small Businesses in AI Adoption

51:51 Future Skills and Systems Change

56:58 The Art of Prompting and Critical Thinking

01:00:04 The Power of Storytelling and Personal Branding

01:02:13 Superpowers and Fun Facts

Support the show

🎙️ Website: https://www.EmergingTechUnpacked.com/
🎙️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@emergingtechunpacked
🎙️ Apple Podcast: https://apple.co/4d6Hfoi
🎙️ Spotify: https://spoti.fi/49TS1LG