{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"From Tank to Healer: Gamifying Academic Teams | Episode 432","description":"Recently funded and aiming for sustainable retention? Intro chat (no sales pitch): professorgame.com\/chat What if your research team worked like a raid party? Raul Mora shares how bringing gamer language and MMORPG structures into academia boosted clarity, motivation, and long-term commitment. This conversation explores community design, role-based engagement, and why listening to gamers is the most underrated retention strategy in education. Ra\u00fal is a professor at Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana in Medell\u00edn, Colombia, now also teaching remotely from Trondheim, Norway. He's been in education for over 30 years, including time as a school and English teacher and as a college professor. His research explores second language literacy practices in the city, digital spaces, and schools. 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\u00ae SERIOUS PLAY\u00ae and gamification at top institutions including IE Business School, EFMD, and EBS University across Europe, the Americas, and Asia. &amp;nbsp; Guest Links and Info  Webs:  Guest: elpatronhimself.net Research Lab: lslp.org   LinkedIn: Ra\u00fal Mora Instagram: @lslplegion TikTok: @lslplegion Bluesky: bsky.app\/profile\/elpatronhimself.bsky.social Book: Understanding Second Language Users as Gamers  &amp;nbsp; Links to episode mentions:  Proposed guest: Antero Garcia Recommended book: What Video Games Have to Teach Us by James P. Gee Favorite game: Mortal Kombat  &amp;nbsp; Lets's do stuff together!  Let's chat about your gamification project YouTube LinkedIn Instagram Facebook Start Your Community on Skool for Free Ask a question  ","author_name":"Professor Game Podcast","author_url":"http:\/\/www.professorgame.com\/","html":"<iframe title=\"Libsyn Player\" style=\"border: none\" src=\"\/\/html5-player.libsyn.com\/embed\/episode\/id\/40107605\/height\/90\/theme\/custom\/thumbnail\/yes\/direction\/forward\/render-playlist\/no\/custom-color\/88AA3C\/\" height=\"90\" width=\"600\" scrolling=\"no\"  allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen><\/iframe>","thumbnail_url":"https:\/\/assets.libsyn.com\/secure\/content\/198559575"}