Want in before anyone else? Join the Engagers and get early access to the November relaunch: professorgame.com/relaunch

Episode Summary

Rob marks Professor Game’s ninth anniversary by announcing the biggest format change in over 450 episodes, moving from one episode a week to several episodes on the same Monday, all answering a single question. He reveals the first of at least three changes coming to the show and invites the Engagers, his core community, to get early previews, private launch details, and an exclusive reward before the public announcement. Listeners learn how to join the early access group ahead of the early November relaunch and which Core Drives are shaping the new format.

About the Host

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.

Key Takeaways

• Professor Game turns nine in early November 2026, and for the first time in over 450 episodes, a single Monday will carry multiple episodes instead of one.
• Rob is changing at least three things about the show’s format, revealing them one at a time between now and the relaunch instead of all at once.
• The Engagers, Professor Game’s core community, get early previews, private details on how they can join the launch, and an exclusive reward before the public reveal.
• The relaunch design itself draws on Core Drive 1 (Epic Meaning), Core Drive 5 (Social Influence and Relatedness), Core Drive 2 (Achievement), and CD7 (Unpredictability and Curiosity).
• Signing up at professorgame.com/relaunch takes about 30 seconds and puts a listener inside the early access group before the relaunch goes public.

Topics Covered

• 0:00 — Something Rob’s never done in over 450 episodes
• 0:21 — At least three things are changing
• 0:40 — Exclusive access for the Engagers first
• 1:17 — The Core Drives behind the relaunch
• 1:40 — How to join before the public reveal
• 1:56 — Game over, for now

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Looking forward to reading or hearing from you, Rob   Full episode transcription (AI Generated)

Something Rob’s never done in over 450 episodes

Rob Alvarez (0:00): In early November, the show turns nine years old, and I’m not just gonna celebrate it. I’m going to do something I’ve never done in four hundred and fifty something episodes. For the first time ever, there won’t be just one episode on Monday. There will be a lot more. All of them answering the same question.

At least three things are changing

Rob Alvarez (0:21): At least three things are changing. I’ve just told you one. The other two I’m going to reveal one at a time between now and the actual relaunch. Four hundred and fifty episodes didn’t just happen because of me. They also happened because you kept showing up week after week.

Exclusive access for the Engagers first

Rob Alvarez (0:40): So before I just reveal to the world what’s coming up, I wanna tell you, the Engagers, my people, what is coming up before everyone else. That way we take Professor Game to the next level together. The Engagers are gonna have access to exclusive things like previews of an episode before it comes live, being a part of the launch themselves in ways that I’ll explain, of course, privately. And well, it wouldn’t be me if I didn’t have some form of a reward exclusively for you. And of course, I always have to introduce some CD7, Unpredictability and Curiosity. I’m not gonna say what that is yet.

The Core Drives behind the relaunch

Rob Alvarez (1:17): If this sounds interesting to you, the mix of Core Drive 1, Epic Meaning, where the show is evolving together, this greater meaning that is taking on this Core Drive 5, Social Influence and Relatedness, where we’re all in this together. We’re also leveling up. So Core Drive 2, Achievement as well is introduced in here. And you know, I had to introduce some Black Hat as well, some Unpredictability and Curiosity.

How to join before the public reveal

Rob Alvarez (1:40): If you want in, if you want to be part of that exclusive group of the Engagers, all you have to do is click on the link in the description, which is professorgame.com slash relaunch. Put your name down, takes, you know, 30 seconds, do it right away, and you’ll be on the inside.

Game over, for now

Rob Alvarez (1:56): Early November. I’ve now said it publicly, on camera, on audio. You can find it wherever you’re hearing or seeing this. So it’s happening. And at least for now and for today, it is time to say that it’s game over. End of transcription