ParadoxPort Podcast

Ari Levari
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  • Self-Improvement
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The ParadoxPort Podcast is a journey into the minds of creators who use games, storytelling, and playful design to help people grow. We explore the projects reshaping how we learn, change, and understand ourselves, one creative experiment at a time.

Episodes

  1. May 20

    #3 - Richard Durham: Games That Teach Without Telling

    Richard Durham joins Ari to talk about what games can do that lectures can't. They dig into Welcome to Pinnacle Biogenics, a deck-based RPG that drops players inside a double bind and slowly strips away their agency, and Open the Chicken Coop, a game where players construct their own reality from a box of ambiguous artifacts. Along the way: the difference between simulation training and identity transformation, why "serious games" became a useless label, how to design experiences that give players vocabulary for the dynamics they're stuck in, and where gamification quietly goes wrong when extrinsic rewards crowd out the process you actually wanted to enjoy.

  2. Feb 11

    #2 - Hard Reset: When To-Do Lists Meet a Dystopian Cyberpunk Game

    In this episode, discover how founders Will and Janet are revolutionizing habit change with their app, Hard Reset. By combining AI, no-code tools, and roguelike game mechanics, they transform daily routines into engaging quests. Drawing inspiration from games like Slay the Spire, they create a system that’s both fun and scalable, using psychological science to keep users motivated beyond willpower alone. Perfect for entrepreneurs and health advocates, this episode offers a fresh take on making behavior change addictive and enjoyable. Tune in to learn how the intersection of technology and purpose is reshaping habit building, providing strategies to turn life's toughest challenges into exciting adventures. You can find Hard Reset on the Apple or Android app stores!

  3. 12/15/2025

    #1 - Launch Episode w/ Thomas Shellberg of Emberglow

    I kick off the show with Thomas, creator of Emberglow: the app where you level up by locking your screen. We talk about Emberglow, the design philosophy behind it, and how it fits into our modern, chaotic world. We then discuss Just Roll With It, the habit journal/RPG that helps you grow through gaming. I ask Thomas about his experience in the world of Just Roll With It, and we explore some of the differences between creating physical and digital products.

  • 3 Episodes

About

The ParadoxPort Podcast is a journey into the minds of creators who use games, storytelling, and playful design to help people grow. We explore the projects reshaping how we learn, change, and understand ourselves, one creative experiment at a time.

Information

  • Creator
    Ari Levari
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    3
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Ari Levari
  • Show Website
    ParadoxPort Podcast