Professor Game Podcast

Rob Alvarez
  • 5.0 (91)
  • EDUCATION
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

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.

  1. Escape Rooms for Growth with Sarah Iverson

    1D AGO

    Escape Rooms for Growth with Sarah Iverson

    👉 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 through wellness escape rooms, storytelling, and creative game design. Sarah Iverson is the founder of Curious Sunshine, a play-based wellness initiative that transforms personal growth into an imaginative adventure. A multidisciplinary artist, graphic designer, and holistic coach, Sarah fuses her love of puzzles, storytelling, and wellness to create experiences that spark joy, reflection, and real change. Backed by a B.A. in Art and a Master’s in Environmental Leadership, Sarah’s work lives at the intersection of creativity and consciousness. Through Curious Sunshine, she develops escape rooms, courses, and coaching programs that help people move from stuck to sparked—using play as the engine for transformation. Whether it’s decoding riddles or unblocking old patterns, Sarah invites you to explore the magic of your mind, one curious step at a time. Rob is a host and consultant at Professor Game as well as an expert, international speaker 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: curioussunshine.com LinkedIn: Sarah Iverson Instagram: @playfullysarah YouTube: playwithcurioussunshine   Links to episode mentions: Recommended book: The Playful Intelligence by Anthony T. DeBenedet Favorite game: Paper Mario series Sudoku   Lets's do stuff together! 3 Gamification Hacks To Boost Your Community's Revenue YouTube LinkedIn Instagram Facebook Ask a question

    36 min
  2. I Tried VR Fire Training (and Failed to Find the Phone) with Ludus

    SEP 8

    I Tried VR Fire Training (and Failed to Find the Phone) with Ludus

    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, we dive into the world of VR-based health and safety training with Ludus. You'll get a behind-the-scenes peek into my home HQ as I test five of their standalone VR/AR simulations — from firefighting to CPR and even recycling! I share honest, hands-on impressions of how they look, feel, and function, including what works, what could be clearer, and how gamified experiences like these can truly enhance engagement and learning. Rob is a host and consultant at Professor Game as well as an expert, international speaker 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 and Info Free Demo with Ludus: professorgame.com/ludus-vr-demo Health and Safety Training with Ludus VR Free Guide: professorgame.com/free-ludus-guide   Lets's do stuff together! 3 Gamification Hacks To Boost Your Community's Revenue Start Your Community on Skool for Free Community YouTube LinkedIn Instagram Facebook Ask a question

    3 min
  3. I Paid 5 Growth Experts To Create A Growth Playbook For The Same Community

    SEP 1

    I Paid 5 Growth Experts To Create A Growth Playbook For The Same Community

    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 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: Want titles that actually earn clicks? Grab the free spreadsheet! Why Hooks Are So Important by Alex Hormozi  Start Your Community on Skool for Free (and help Professor Game without paying anything)   Lets's do stuff together! Optimize YouTube Titles Spreadsheet Community YouTube LinkedIn Instagram Facebook Ask a question

    8 min
  4. Civic Engagement Through Classroom Games with Kerry Flanagan-Owen

    AUG 25

    Civic Engagement Through Classroom Games with Kerry Flanagan-Owen

    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 she leads the development of free K–12 civics, government, and U.S. history resources. With a background in teaching and instructional coaching, Kerry brings deep expertise in designing engaging, inquiry-driven experiences for classrooms nationwide. Most recently, she spearheaded the creation of a series of card-based games as part of the Institute's Government and Politics: Civics for the American Experiment curriculum, using play to bring abstract civics concepts to life for high school students. Rob is a host and consultant at Professor Game as well as an expert, international speaker 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: billofrightsinstitute.org LinkedIn: Kerry Flanagan-Owen LinkedIn: Bill Of Rights Institute Instagram: @brinstitute Facebook: facebook.com/BillofRightsInstitute X/Twitter: @brinstitute YouTube: youtube.com/user/BillofRightsInst   Links to episode mentions: Proposed guest: Dr. Susan Rivers Game Design and SEL Psychologist and GBL Recommended book: The Power of Play by David Elkind Favorite game: Space Team and Cranium Peter Williamson Episode   Lets's do stuff together! 3 Gamification Hacks To Boost Your Community's Revenue LinkedIn Twitter Facebook Instagram TikTok YouTube Ask a question

    32 min
  5. How to Win at the Game of Life (Without Playing by the Rules)

    AUG 18

    How to Win at the Game of Life (Without Playing by the Rules)

    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 you've ever felt like your inner explorer got benched, this one's for you. Rob is a host and consultant at Professor Game as well as an expert, international speaker 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: Peter Gray's article: A Brief History of Education Our community to rekindle curiosity, play and exploration   Lets's do stuff together! 3 Gamification Hacks To Boost Your Community's Revenue Community YouTube LinkedIn Instagram Facebook Ask a question

    16 min
  6. From Skeptics to Superstars: The Power of Play at Work with Alex Suchman

    AUG 11

    From Skeptics to Superstars: The Power of Play at Work with Alex Suchman

    🚀 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 Forget trust falls and awkward icebreakers. Alex Suchman is redefining the workplace with intentional play. Tune in to find out how one game changed a manager’s mindset—and why play may be the missing ingredient in your team culture. Alex Suchman is the CEO and co-founder of Barometer XP, whose mission is to create cultures where people are excited about their work because they feel a strong sense of purpose and belonging. She uses games and play to strengthen interpersonal dynamics, such as trust, accountability, and psychological safety, into the workplace. Rob is a host and consultant at Professor Game as well as an expert, international speaker 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: barometerxp.com LinkedIn: Alex Suchman Play Concierge Platform: barometerxp.com/concierge   Links to episode mentions: Recommended book: Predictable Success by Les McKeown Favorite game: The Mind   Lets's do stuff together! 3 Gamification Hacks To Boost Your Community's Revenue LinkedIn Twitter Facebook Instagram TikTok YouTube Ask a question

    36 min
  7. Why Your Game Mechanic Is the Learning with Elisa Navarro Chinchilla

    AUG 4

    Why Your Game Mechanic Is the Learning with Elisa Navarro Chinchilla

    Get access to over $1,000 worth of retention and gamification strategies, templates, and live sessions—for free. All inside our Professor Game community: 🎁 professorgame.com/freecommunity-web 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, international speaker 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: goldbuginteractive.com Website: seriousplayconf.com LinkedIn: Elisa Navarro Chinchilla   Links to episode mentions: Proposed guest: Gonzalo Frasca Recommended book:  What Video Games Have to Teach Us About Learning and Literacy by James Paul Gee Favorite game: Puerto Rico   Lets's do stuff together! 3 Gamification Hacks To Boost Your Community's Revenue LinkedIn Twitter Facebook Instagram TikTok YouTube Ask a question

    33 min
  8. Secrets to Building the Most Engaging Community Ever

    JUL 28

    Secrets to Building the Most Engaging Community Ever

    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 What do sticky communities and addictive games have in common? We break down two powerful design moves to build a community you love showing up to—and one your members will too. Rob is a host and consultant at Professor Game as well as an expert, international speaker 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 and Info Book your clarity call: professorgame.com/discoverycall Start your own community on Skool and take advantage of the perks of using this link: professorgame.com/openyourskool (let me know on a DM in Skool)   Lets's do stuff together! 3 Gamification Hacks To Boost Your Community's Revenue YouTube LinkedIn Instagram Facebook Ask a question

    5 min
See All (411)

5
out of 5
91 Ratings

About

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.

Information

  • Creator
    Rob Alvarez
  • Years Active
    2017 - 2025
  • Episodes
    411
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    professorgame.com © 2024
  • Show Website
    Professor Game Podcast

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