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Professor Game Podcast

Professor Game Podcast

Written by: Rob Alvarez
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 #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.professorgame.com © 2025 Economics Management Management & Leadership Self-Help Success
Episodes
  • Gamification Where You Least Expect It with David Dand | Episode 430

    Gamification Where You Least Expect It with David Dand | Episode 430
    Feb 2 2026
    If you're considering gamification for engagement, retention, or loyalty, I'm happy to compare options with you: professorgame.com/chat The biggest impact of gamification often happens in the least obvious places. In this episode, Rob Alvarez talks with David Dand about using game-inspired strategies in recruitment, leadership, and employee experience to attract better-fit talent, reduce churn, and build stronger, more human organizations, even in highly traditional sectors. David is the Founder and Managing Director of Coreus, a boutique hiring services provider based in Brighton. Coreus specialises in helping professional SMEs tackle critical talent challenges and is experienced in the complexities of recruiting in skilled, competitive, and often highly regulated markets. David is a CIPD-qualified HR and recruitment expert with a career spanning global firms such as EY, AXA, and Roche, with a focus on cultural fit, leadership assessment, and career coaching. He lives in the South Downs near Brighton, UK, with his wife and their three mischievous children. His interests include music, travel, and sport. 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: Gamification in Recruitment | CoreusLinkedIn: Personal: David Dand | LinkedInCompany: Coreus Instagram: @coreus_talentacquisition Links to episode mentions: Recommended book: Hiring Success by Jerome TernynckFavorite game: Chess and Football Lets's do stuff together! Let's chat about your gamification projectStart Your Community on Skool for FreeYouTubeLinkedInInstagramFacebookAsk a question
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    30 mins
  • Tom Vorselen On Why Effort Isn't the Problem (Your Learning Systems Are) | Episode 429

    Tom Vorselen On Why Effort Isn't the Problem (Your Learning Systems Are) | Episode 429
    Jan 26 2026
    You'll get the same 14-day free trial either way—but if you use my link, you'll also be supporting Professor Game: 👉 professorgame.com/openyourskool What if learning felt less like burnout and more like leveling up? We welcome Tom Vorselen, founder of The Study Coach, to explore how active learning, mindset shifts, and gamified structures help students and professionals overcome procrastination, manage time better, and achieve results without overwhelm. Tom Vorselen is the founder of The Study Coach, a global coaching brand helping students and working professionals overcome procrastination, master time management, and study smarter with proven science-based methods. After struggling with poor grades and burnout during university, Tom transformed his own approach using evidence from cognitive psychology and neuroscience, eventually graduating with top marks and turning his system into a full-time mission. Today, The Study Coach supports learners in over 40 countries through personalized coaching, online programs, and workshops focused on efficiency, focus, and mindset. Tom's methods have helped thousands of students from medicine to business to engineering achieve higher results in less time and regain confidence in their ability to learn, grow, and perform at their best. 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 Study Breakthrough Bundle: Send a DM to @the_studycoach on IG and send the word PROFESSORWebsite: tomsteam.nlLinkedIn: Tom VorselenInstagram: @the_studycoachTikTok: @the_studycoachFacebook: tom.vorselenYouTube: youtube.com/@the_studycoach Links to episode mentions: Proposed guest: Dan (A Team Member)Recommended book: Level Up by Rob DialFavorite game: Call of Duty seriesFifa (FC nowadays) Lets's do stuff together! Let's chat about your gamification projectStart Your Community on Skool for FreeYouTubeLinkedInInstagramFacebookAsk a question
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    37 mins
  • From Theater to Gamification: Lessons I Learned from My Dad | Episode 428

    From Theater to Gamification: Lessons I Learned from My Dad | Episode 428
    Jan 19 2026

    In this heartfelt episode, Rob reflects on the profound impact his father, Mariano Alvarez, had on his life, particularly as a prominent actor in Venezuela. As he commemorates the 25th anniversary of his father's passing, Rob shares personal anecdotes that highlight the lessons he learned from Mariano, including the importance of believability in storytelling, the value of physical fitness, and the significance of generosity. Through his father's legacy, Rob connects these lessons to his work in gamification, emphasizing how immersive experiences can evoke empathy and engagement in audiences.

    Rob also reminisces about their shared love for superheroes and video games, illustrating how these interests were nurtured by his father. He discusses the influence of Mariano's career in theater and film, and how it shaped his understanding of performance and audience connection. Ultimately, this episode serves as a tribute to Mariano's life and the enduring lessons that continue to inspire Rob in both his personal and professional endeavors.

    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 and Info

    • Mariano Alvarez Wikipedia
    • Mariano Alvarez IMDb
    • Homenaje a Mariano Alvarez - Detrás de las Cámaras
    • Jose Gregorio Hernandez (one of the characters he represented)

    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
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    23 mins
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