Is there benefit to video games–or are they just a time suck? Ryan wanted to know if the games he and his family play have effects on their motivation and abilities. He spoke with gamification expert Gabe Zichermann and mental health communicator Josué Cardona.
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Show notes:
Josué Cardona is the founder of Geek Therapy, a therapeutic model based on the idea that the best way to understand each other, and ourselves, is through the media we enjoy. He runs the Geek Therapy Network, which is home to many podcasts about mental health, psychology, and Geek culture. He is currently the Design Researcher at the Diversity and Inclusion Studio of the University of Chicago. You can hear more of his work at the intersection of games and psychology on the Headshots podcast.

Gabe Zichermann is an entrepreneur, author, public speaker, mentor and teacher who is best-known for his work in Gamification. His new project focuses on the 4th Industrial Revolution and the Future of Work – furthering his interest in how humans interact with AI. Gabe is originally from Toronto and resides in Los Angeles.
A couple favorite TEDx talks from Gabe:
The concerns that parents have about the effects of video games were found, along with their supporting evidence, at Raise Smart Kid. There is also evidence there providing support for video games, too.
Josué recommended this page about gaming statistics from the Entertainment Software Association.
