Hey friends — here’s the big update I teased 👀 After years of teaching, using, and admiring the Octalysis Framework… I’ve officially joined The Octalysis Group as Head of Engagement Strategy in Europe! 🙌 This wasn’t a quick decision. It came after deep conversations, time with the full team, and realizing just how aligned we are in purpose and mission. The retreat in Dubai sealed the deal. But don’t worry — Professor Game stays independent. The podcast continues, free as ever, and focused on what it’s always been about: making gamification practical, ethical, and effective. I’m beyond excited — and super grateful to have this community here to share it with. 🙏 If you want to talk about how this might apply to what you’re building, just DM me “CHAT.” Let’s gooo 🚀

I’ve been thinking a lot about streaks lately. Not the “fun” kind, but the kind that quietly crush engagement. In this episode, I dig into why streaks often backfire: one missed day, the streak resets to zero, and suddenly the user’s identity (“I’m a meditator,” “I’m a language learner” or a Skool flame-bearer) collapses with it. That’s when the rage-quitting begins. The good news? Flexible streak design, recovery paths, and better messaging can completely change the retention curve. Streaks don’t need to be a time bomb, they can actually support long-term engagement when designed with human psychology in mind. What’s your experience with streaks, have you ever quit an app because you lost one?

Ever notice how players stay stuck when the game doesn’t tell them where they’re going? Turns out… we do the same in real life. In the latest episode of the Professor Game Podcast, Glen Lubbert shared a powerful idea: 🚕 Your brain is a cab driver. If you don’t give it a destination, it just stays parked. It hit me hard because it applies directly to how we design experiences, communities, and products. Clear goals = clearer paths = more motivated players. So let’s turn this into a practical discussion for our community: 👉 What’s one goal in your current project or product that feels too fuzzy… and how could you turn it into a “clear destination” for your users? It can be big or small, the point is to sharpen it together. Drop your thoughts below. I’ll be replying to every comment and helping refine ideas so they become more actionable (and more gamifiable). Let’s level this up together!

I just released a new episode diving into something we’ve all run into: confirm shaming. Those guilt-driven prompts apps use to push us into the choice they want. Sure, these dark patterns can boost quick numbers… but they absolutely destroy long-term trust, retention, and community. In the episode, I unpack real examples (some wild ones), the psychology behind them, and how ethical, game-inspired design can motivate users without manipulating them. If your product or community relies on behavior change, this episode will give you a clearer path to ethical motivation that actually works. 👉 Watch the episode and let me know in the comments: Have you ever been “confirm shamed” by an app? What did it say?

What if your biggest failure ended up being your biggest breakthrough? 💡 That’s what happened to Matt Dalio, founder of Endless Studios. He joined me on the latest episode of the Professor Game Podcast to share how a failed “hackable game” project became the foundation for a new way of learning — where students build games to master coding, design, and collaboration. We talked about testing assumptions cheaply, balancing vision with pragmatism, and finding sustainable ways to grow without losing your north star. 👉 Now I’d love to hear from you: Have you ever had a “favorite fail” — one that taught you something essential or changed your approach completely? Share your story below! Let’s turn our collective lessons into inspiration for the community. 🎯