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Podcast

Experience Points

Posts in Playfulness
Episode 164 Victoria Ichizli-Bartels on Be Your Best Game Master

This episode of Experience Points features self-gamification pioneer Victoria Ichizli-Bartels, who reveals how treating everyday life as a game can spark joy, reduce stress, and boost productivity. Victoria shares how combining role-playing, kaizen, and playful design helps people navigate challenges with curiosity and self-compassion.

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Episode 149 Josefine Schwarzer Applied Games and Mental Health

In this episode of Experience Points, Dave Eng interviews Josefine Schwarzer, a German occupational therapist exploring how tabletop RPGs and LARPs support mental health. Josefine shares how role-play creates safe, expressive spaces that boost self-esteem and break from anxiety. She recounts clients using fantasy roles to assert themselves and even physical rehab sessions transformed into Minecraft sword battles. Together, they discuss “bleed,” storytelling’s power to build empathy, and how shared narratives deepen therapeutic bonds. Josefine highlights the inclusive LARP community and encourages playful approaches in therapy. The episode reveals games’ unique ability to connect, heal, and inspire personal growth.

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