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)

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In this rare and deeply personal episode, Rob steps away from the traditional gamification conversation to speak as a Venezuelan. Blending lived experience, political involvement, and game-thinking principles, Rob reflects on the cost of doing everything "by the rules," the exhaustion of democratic paths, and why this moment matters so deeply to millions of Venezuelans around the world.

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.

Want to run away from destroying an experience? Happy to brainstorm → professorgame.com/chat

A magical Christmas experience in Madrid almost collapsed because of one overlooked detail. We break down a real-world holiday experience through the stages of gamification, and reveal where confusion can destroy even the most beautiful experience.

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 to episode mentions:

• El Manantial de los Sueños
• 4 Phases of a Player Journey

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
• Game of Skool Community
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If you're considering gamification for engagement, retention, or loyalty, I'm happy to compare options with you: professorgame.com/chat

What if your bio was more than a skills list and your job hunt felt like a well-designed game? We explore with our guest Jade Arthur how to gamify the job search for the games industry, creating stories, systems and mindsets that boost confidence, visibility and long-term career engagement.

Jade is a language and mindset coach for job seekers in gaming. She helps job seekers take down the villains in their job search like the "Cover Letter Crusher" and the "Interview Assassin." Her mission is to give job seekers the knowledge to authentically express their value and vision while finding joy in the process.

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: make-the-grade-with-jade.lovable.app
• LinkedIn: Jade Arthur
• Instagram: @makethegradewithjade

Links to episode mentions:

• Proposed guests: Bruno Frasca
• Recommended book: Made to Stick by Dan and Chip Heath
• Favorite game: Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen

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
• Game of Skool Community
• YouTube
• LinkedIn
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• Ask a question

Exploring useful streaks for your product or org? Let's chat → professorgame.com/chat

Why do streaks motivate users at first but eventually push them away? Rob explores the psychology behind collapses, the dangers of existing habit metrics, and practical ways to redesign streaks so they support, not sabotage, long-term engagement. Perfect for product leads, community builders, and behavior designers.

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 to episode mentions:

• Duolingo (language learning & streak mechanics)
• Happier Meditation (formerly 10% Happier)
• Streaks (habit-tracking app)
• Finch (self-care & habit-tracking app)
• Octalysis Framework (gamification & Core Drives)
• Abstinence Violation Effect (psychology of lapses)

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
• Game of Skool Community
• YouTube
• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• Facebook
• Ask a question

Exploring behavioral design without shaming? Let's chat → professorgame.com/chat

In this episode, we break down the wild world of "confirm shaming": manipulative, guilt-driven prompts apps use to push you into saying yes. From hilarious to downright unethical examples, we unpack why these dark patterns harm long-term loyalty and how to use motivation ethically to build real engagement and retention.

Rob Alvarez is Head of Engagement Strategy, Europe at The Octalysis Group (TOG), a leading gamification and behavioral design consultancy. A 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 to episode mentions:

• Confirmshaming.tumblr.com
• deceptive.design
• Ethics in Game-Based Solutions and Gamification | Episode 153
• Andrzej Marczewski Doing Ethics In Gamification | Episode 161

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
• Game of Skool Community
• YouTube
• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• Facebook
• Ask a question