Every episode of the Professor Game podcast, hosted by Rob Alvarez of The Octalysis Group. Honest breakdowns of gamification, behavioral design, and the Octalysis Framework, applied to real products, retention, and engagement. New episodes weekly, plus interviews with leading experts.
From Fan to Creator: Jaime Schwarz on the IP Economy | Episode 414
Episode Summary Jaime Schwarz, holder of the world’s first NFT patent (filed 2017), argues that centralized platforms have turned gamification into extraction (a digital sharecropping system he calls techno-feudalism) and that the next economic frontier is an IP economy where co-creators hold transferable rights. […]
The One Choice That Will Determine Your Online Success | Episode 413
Episode Summary Rob Alvarez argues that content alone cannot sustain an online community and identifies three “engines” that turn passive followers into committed members: recognition (being seen, heard, and valued), shared language (in-group rituals, memes, and phrases that build identity), and the third space […]
Why Careers Need a Game Loop, with Unity’s Jessica Lindl | Episode 412
Build a thriving, monetized community—without chasing members or cranking out content 24/7. Join us for free: 🏡 professorgame.com/freecommunity-web Vice President at Unity and author of The Career Game Loop, Jessica Lindl shares how game-based strategies build better communities, improve retention, and drive real […]
How To Grow Your Community! Without Paying For Ads | Episode 411
Episode Summary Rob Alvarez explains how he grew his Skool community to over 140 members with zero ad spend, using three game-inspired strategies: leveraging existing social media presence with a clear CTA (such as a free YouTube titles spreadsheet), exploiting platform discovery features (citing […]
Escape Rooms for Growth with Sarah Iverson | Episode 410
Episode Summary Sarah Iverson, founder of Curious Sunshine, describes how she designs play-based wellness experiences (including a virtual wellness escape room called The Labyrinth of Mystery released in June) that pair puzzle-solving with goal-setting exercises. She walks through her design process (start from the […]