Podcast
The Serious Games Podcast
Hosted by Julian Kea · EN
The #SeriousGamesPodcast is about interactive methods and serious games for meetings, workshops, trainings and conferences.
16episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Drake's Dice
4d ago01:25:23Tap to summarizeInterview with Daniel Larose Are we alone in the universe? For decades, that question has been tackled with complex formulas. Drake’s Dice flips the experience: you explore the Drake Equation through dice, risk, peer review, and discovery cards, without doing any math. Game designer Daniel Larose shares how he and Alissa Pott built a science outreach board game designed to stand on its own at home, while staying grounded through expert review. Daniel Larose on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/riotlarose/?locale=en Alissa Pott on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alissa-pott/?locale=en Larose des Jeux website: https://larosedesjeux.com/ Drake’s Dice website: https://drakesdice.com/ Drake’s Dice on wemakeit: https://wemakeit.com/projects/drake-s-dice/show/comments FEJEST AFRIQUE: https://fejest.org/ Cartomerveilles Association: https://www.cartomerveilles.ch/ European Astrobiology Institute: https://www.esf.org/eai/ COSPAR Committee for Space Research: https://cospar2026.org/ European Space Agency: https://www.esa.int/AboutUs/Careersat_ESA CERN (European Council for Nuclear Research): https://home.cern/ NASA Artemis program: https://www.nasa.gov/humans-in-space/artemis/ Drake equation (Wikipedia): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drake_equation Kessler syndrome on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kessler_syndrome Fame Lab Switzerland: https://www.famelab.ch/ Carl Sagan “Pale Blue Dot”: https://www.planetary.org/worlds/pale-blue-dot |Hop> the quantum game – Another game by Daniel Larose: https://www.hopquantumgame.com/en/ Jungle Speed: https://www.zygomatic-games.com/en/game/jungle-speed/ Dixit: https://www.libellud.com/en/our-games/dixit/ Twilight Imperium Fourth Edition: https://www.fantasyflightgames.com/en/products/twilight-imperium-fourth-edition/ Serious Play Conference Europe in Mainz: https://eu.seriousplayconf.com/ ISAGA conferences: https://isaga.com/our-activities/conferences/ President Clinton's Remarks About Mars Life Evidence, August 7, 1996: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wt-eToev944 Music: "Blanks" by Podington Bear (CC BY-NC 3.0, soundofpicture.com). A big thank you for sharing this wonderful track. For feedback or to share your own experiences, please reach out at hello@kiLearning.net or connect with Julian on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kilearning/
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Serious Play Conference Europe
1w ago00:52:42Tap to summarizeInterview with Dr. Philipp Busch The Serious Play Conference comes to Europe for the first time. Dr. Philipp Busch, co-organizer of the first European edition in Mainz, unpacks what it takes to move game-based learning from niche enthusiasm to cross-sector cultural change — and what happens when the right people finally share a room. Philipp Busch on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/philipp-busch/ Serious Play Conference Europe 2026. Mainz, 18–19 June 2026: https://eu.seriousplayconf.com/ Serious Play Conference North America. Durham, August 5-7 2026: https://seriousplayconf.com/homepage/ Sue Bohle – Founder of the Serious Play Conference – on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suebohle/ Paul Darvasi on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-darvasi-ph-d-431688126/ Elisa Navarro Chinchilla on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elisachinch/ Gold Bug Interactive in Montreal: https://goldbuginteractive.com/ Mind Games – Philipp's company: https://www.mind-games.online International Serious Play Awards: https://eu.seriousplayconf.com/awards/ Serious Play Conference on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/seriousplayconference Serious Play Conference on Discord: https://discord.gg/xbT6kYCTqy Philpp's book "Effective Serious Games Development. A Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners". Routledge, Abingdon, UK, 2025: https://www.routledge.com/Effective-Serious-Games-Development-A-Step-by-Step-Guide-for-Beginners/Busch/p/book/9781032610139 Meta-Analysis of the Cognitive and Motivational Effects of Serious Games by Wouters, Pieter & Nimwegen, C. & Oostendorp, H. & Spek, Erik. (2013): https://www.researchgate.net/publication/263936571_A_Meta-Analysis_of_the_Cognitive_and_Motivational_Effects_of_Serious_Games Human Resource Development Quarterly Article (2024) from Shukla, Sanket and Ashwani “Factors affecting transfer of online training: A systematic literature review and proposed taxonomy”: https://doi.org/10.1002/hrdq.21518 Serious Games Podcast episode on the Counterplay Festival with Matthias Paulsen: https://seriousgames.podigee.io/46-counterplay Johannisnacht Mainz — city festival running alongside the Serious Play Conference: https://www.mainzer-johannisnacht.de/en/ Gamescon by Koelnmesse GmbH: https://www.gamescom.global/en Happy Working Podcast with Manuel Grassler ("Spielen ist eine Superpower") – in German language: https://podcasts.apple.com/de/podcast/happy-working/id1876027540?l=en-GB&i=1000767188052 Lernkino featuring compact keynote impulses from Dr. Philipp Busch and Julian Kea. Mainz, 17 June 2026: https://lernkino.com/tour/mainz-lernkino Discount code for the Serious Play Conference Europe 2026 for Serious Games Podcast listeners: SERIOUSGAMESPODCAST20, https://eu.seriousplayconf.com/registration/ Music: "Blanks" by Podington Bear (CC BY-NC 3.0, soundofpicture.com). A big thank you for sharing this wonderful track. For feedback or to share your own experiences, please reach out at hello@kiLearning.net or connect with Julian on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kilearning/
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The Climate Business Challenge
2w ago01:04:11Tap to summarizeInterview with Tim Riedel and Jan Störkel The Climate Business Challenge helps organizations link climate ambition with real business constraints instead of feel‑good wishful thinking. Creator Tim Riedel and facilitator Jan Störkel explain how their 4‑hour workshop moves from systemic awareness (how our economic system drives growth at all costs) to redesigning business models and generating concrete, organizations‑specific ideas. Tim Riedel on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/planetgroupstimriedel Jan Störkel on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jan-stoerkel/ Climate Business Challenge – Official website: https://www.climate-business-challenge.com/ Climate Business Challenge – Image film: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5v_omb0p-k Climate Business Challenge – Image film in German language: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQOppsIuiWk PlanetGroups website: https://planetgroups.net Jan Störkel's Prisma Workshops website: https://www.prismaworkshops.de/ Climate Fresk – Collaborative climate workshop that inspired Tim’s work: https://climatefresk.org/ Ikigai ("a reason for being"): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ikigai Everett Rogers' Diffusion of Innovations theory ("Reaching the 16%"): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diffusionofinnovations World Bee Day: https://www.gov.si/en/registries/projects/world-bee-day/ Music: "Blanks" by Podington Bear (CC BY-NC 3.0, soundofpicture.com). A big thank you for sharing this wonderful track. For feedback or to share your own experiences with gamified dialogue, reach out at hello@kiLearning.net or connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kilearning/
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CounterPlay Festival
May 400:56:14Tap to summarizeInterview with Mathias Poulsen CounterPlay is a playful festival and global community that invites adults to reclaim play as a way of living, learning, and being together. In this episode, founder Mathias Poulsen shares how building a “play commons” gives us the courage to unhide play in everyday life – from libraries and design schools to horses, soap bubbles, and serious work. Mathias Poulsen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mathiaspoulsen/ International Play Festival CounterPlay ’26 homepage: https://www.designskolenkolding.dk/en/counterplay-26 CounterPlay Festival documentary by Aarhus Global Media (Part 1): https://youtu.be/xIdowtXuCvg CounterPlay Festival documentary by Aarhus Global Media (Part 2): https://youtu.be/vtugkhU8524 CounterPlay ’26 Program: https://files.designskolenkolding.dk/production/files/Konference/CounterPlay.pdf?dm=1775644852 CounterPlay - A Playful Community on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/16187100/ Lab for Play Design at Kolding School of Design: https://www.designskolenkolding.dk/en/research-development/labs-and-hubs/play-and-design Kolding School of Design: https://www.designskolenkolding.dk/ CounterPlay ’26 Call for Submissions (closed): https://www.counterplay.org/wp-content/plugins/pdf-poster/pdfjs-new/web/viewer.html?file=https://www.counterplay.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/CounterPlayCallfor_Play.pdf Dokk1 (Aarhus Public Library), former home of CounterPlay: https://dokk1.dk/english Bart Durand on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bartdurand/ Eugen Fink on Wikipedia (“Play gives us the present”): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eugen_Fink Music: "Blanks" by Podington Bear (CC BY-NC 3.0, soundofpicture.com). A big thank you for sharing this wonderful track. For feedback or to share your own experiences with gamified dialogue, reach out at hello@kiLearning.net or connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kilearning/
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Finding the Top Topic with Topaasia®
Apr 201:04:32Tap to summarizeInterview with Jussi Galla & Wiro Kuipers Jussi Galla and Wiro Kuipers join Julian to unpack Topaasia® – a card-based gamified dialogue tool that gets any group to the one thing that actually matters, in just 75 minutes. No dominant voices. No endless stickies. Just one rule, one topic, and the "alibi" as built-in design feature, which gives people permission to raise the topics they have always been too cautious to name. If you've ever left a meeting wondering why nothing got decided, this episode is for you. Jussi Galla on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jussigalla/ Wiro Kuipers on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wirokuipers/ Topaasia® website (Hint: Look out for the no-strings-attached free 30-day trial!): https://topaasia.com/en/ Topaasia® on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/topaasia/ Topaasia® research/study webinar with Prof. J. Tuomas Harviainen, from Tampere University: https://youtu.be/jO47KyOooEg Topaasia® use case on Strategy Implementation: https://topaasia.com/en/strategic-communications-implementation-gamified-at-granlund/ Topaasia® tutorial on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z349xP_c1EU Available Topaasia® decks: https://topaasia.com/en/topaasia-decks/ Lewis Deep Democracy (LDD) website: https://www.lewisdeepdemocracy.com/ Serious Games Podcast episode with Per Kristiansen on the LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® method: https://seriousgames.podigee.io/20-the-lego-serious-play-method 10.Serious Play Conference Europe in Mainz: https://eu.seriousplayconf.com/ CounrterPlay in Kolding: https://www.designskolenkolding.dk/en/counterplay-26 #play14 in Berlin: https://play14.org/de/events/berlin-2026-06 Discontinued Unstuck app by Unstuck, LLC on the internet archive: https://web.archive.org/web/20160315010935/http://www.unstuck.com/index.html Music: "Blanks" by Podington Bear (CC BY-NC 3.0, soundofpicture.com). A big thank you for sharing this wonderful track. For feedback or to share your own experiences with gamified dialogue, reach out at hello@kiLearning.net or connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kilearning/
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Jargon Busting with Poetry for Neanderthals
Jan 2900:57:56Tap to summarizeInterview with Lucy Chambers Lucy Chambers joins Julian to explore how playful word games like Poetry for Neanderthals can help teams break down jargon, foster empathy, and create more inclusive communication. Drawing on her journey from “word nerd” outsider in tech to facilitation expert, Lucy shares practical ways to make language accessible, fun, and meaningful for everyone at work. Lucy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucyfedia/ Lucy's website: https://facilitationmindset.com/ Lucy's podcast 'Edges of Facilitation' on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0gXwn9Ex9ZOGubX8WTGVYS Lucy's podcast 'Edges of Facilitation' on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Lucyfacilitates/ Lucy's Facilitation Mindset on Substack: https://substack.com/@lucyfedia Lucy's article on Jargon Busting: https://facilitationmindset.substack.com/p/j-is-for-jargon-busting The Poetry for Neanderthals Card Game: https://www.explodingkittens.com/products/poetry-for-neanderthals xkcd webcomic by Randall P. Munroe: https://xkcd.com Only use the one thousand most frequent words with xkcd's Simple Writer: https://xkcd.com/simplewriter/ The Up-Goer Five text editor by Theo Sanderson: https://splasho.com/upgoer5/ Randall P. Munroe's 2012 comic "Up-Goer Five" on the Saturn V rocket: https://xkcd.com/1133/ #play14 website: https://play14.org/ Music: "Blanks" by Podington Bear (CC BY-NC 3.0, soundofpicture.com). A big thank you for sharing this wonderful track. For feedback or to share your own jargon-busting stories, reach out at hello@kiLearning.net or connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kilearning/
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The Power of Story in Team Transformation
Jan 901:15:23Tap to summarizeInterview with Irmi Schäffl Pen & Paper is more than just a game for Irmi. In this episode she reveals how the magic of tabletop roleplaying games can spark trust, creativity, and genuine transformation in teams. Experience how storytelling and playful immersion break down barriers, ignite emotional connection, and inspire teams to grow beyond their comfort zones. Irmi Schäffl on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/irmi-schaeffl/ "Twelve or higher" website: www.twelve-or-higher.de "Twelve or higher" on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/twelveorhigher/ "Twelve or higher" on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/twelve-or-higher/ Serious Games Podcast episode with Irmi Schäffl & Jasmin Justen about Tabletop Roleplaying Games (TRPG or TRPG) (German): https://seriousgames.podigee.io/27-pen-and-paper Storytelling as Adaptive Collective Sensemaking by Lucas M Bietti, et al.: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7379714/ ABOREA is an ideal beginner-friendly tabletop RPG for newcomers to pen-and-paper gaming, families, and groups aged 14+, featuring simplified rules (German): https://www.aborea.de/ Recommended podcast about roleplaying "Dungeon Starter" (German): https://dungeonstarter.de/ Recommended podcast about roleplaying "My First Dungeon": https://podcasts.apple.com/de/podcast/my-first-dungeon/id1601290088?l=en-GB Music: "Blanks" by Podington Bear (CC BY-NC 3.0, soundofpicture.com). A big thank you for sharing this wonderful track.
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Moonshot
Dec 1501:16:40Tap to summarizeInterview with Till Hasbach Moonshot transforms innovation from a rigid, post-it-laden process into a playful, immersive experience. Co-creator Till Hasbach reveals how this “innovation lab in a box” helps teams break out of their routines, embrace chaos, and generate truly groundbreaking ideas. Through game mechanics, creative constraints, and collaborative prototyping, Moonshot empowers participants to think bigger, laugh harder, and own their ideas – making innovation culture tangible and fun. Till Hasbach on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/till-hasbach/ MoonShot Website: https://moonshot.game/ Serious Games Podcast Episode with Till Hasbach on Moonshot from January 2023: https://seriousgames.podigee.io/26-moonshot Moonshot – The Innovation Game Explained: https://youtu.be/Ojaac71lfG0 Adjustable liquid-filled eyeglasses by Joshua Silver: https://www.ted.com/talks/joshuasilveradjustableliquidfilled_eyeglasses 10-hours of #play14 Berlin – Winter Edition 2026: https://10-hours-of-play14-winter26.eventbrite.de/?aff=podcast Music: "Blanks" by Podington Bear (CC BY-NC 3.0, soundofpicture.com). A big thank you for sharing this wonderful track.
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Strategy Knotworking
Nov 101:16:29Tap to summarizeInterview with Christian Weinert Strategy Knotworking is a playful, inclusive approach to strategy development rooted in Liberating Structures. Christian explains how this method transcends rigid planning by involving all stakeholders to co-create a meaningful North Star, adapt to multiple possible futures, and facilitate genuinely participatory workshops. Christian Weinert on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christian-weinert-4a953b142/ Christian Weinert’s website: https://www.weinert-beratung.de/ Christian Weinert's Praxis-Podcast zu Liberating Structures: https://praxispodcast-liberating-structures.podigee.io/ Article ‘Surprise and Serendipity Put to Work’ by Keith McCandless and Johannes Schartau: https://www.liberatingstructures.de/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Liberating-Strategy.pdf Liberating Structures website: https://www.liberatingstructures.com/ #play14 website: https://play14.org/ Holisticon AG website: https://www.holisticon.de/ Liberating Structures Workshop Companion (LISA App) by Holisticon AG: https://liberatingstructures.app/en/ Music: "Blanks" by Podington Bear (CC BY-NC 3.0, soundofpicture.com). A big thank you for sharing this wonderful track.
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ScrumTale
Sep 2601:16:55Tap to summarizeInterview with Przemek Witka ScrumTale is a serious game that uses collaborative crime story writing to teach Scrum principles. Co-creator Przemek Witka explains how this simulation mirrors software development challenges (like integration and quality assurance) making it a one-of-its-kind engaging learning experience. Przemystaw Witka on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/przemekwitka/ ScrumTale website: https://scrumtale.com/ ScrumTale on medium.com: https://medium.com/scrumtale Serious Games Podcast episode about LEGO Zoo in German: https://seriousgames.podigee.io/7-lego-zoo Enjoy 50% off the ‘ScrumTale - Do It Yourself Edition’ by using "serious-games-podcast" as coupon code. Offer valid until December 31, 2025: https://scrumtale.com/product/scrumtale-diy-edition/ Music: "Blanks" by Podington Bear (CC BY-NC 3.0, soundofpicture.com). A big thank you for sharing this wonderful track.
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