Emerging Tech Unpacked with Lucy Lin
Emerging Tech Unpacked is where technology meets storytelling.
Hosted by Lucy Lin, the podcast makes emerging technologies and innovations easier to understand by breaking down complex ideas into real, relatable conversations.
Each episode features thought-provoking discussions with women in STEM and male allies who are driving change in their industries. They share their journeys, lessons learned, and insights on how we can future-proof our careers and close the diversity gaps in science, technology, and innovation.
Mission-driven, educational, and deeply inspirational, Emerging Tech Unpacked shines a light on the people shaping our tech-powered future and invites you to be part of the movement.
Our Mission:
• Provide educational content about emerging tech and innovation topics
• To shine a spotlight on diverse & inclusive leadership
• Promote career pathways for more people to enter STEM careers
For more information: https://www.emergingtechunpacked.com/
Emerging Tech Unpacked with Lucy Lin
Video Games and Mental Health: Gaming for Wellbeing 🎮
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Are video games bad for us, or could they actually help our mental health?
In this episode of Emerging Tech Unpacked, host Lucy Lin sits down with Dr Michelle Chen, game developer, researcher, and founder of Mental Jam, to explore how video games can become powerful tools for emotional expression, empathy, and self‑care.
Michelle shares how her lived experiences of depression and anxiety inspired her to co‑create games with young people that turn real emotions into playable stories. She explains how her mental health-focused design, rejects addictive “pay‑to‑win” game systems, in favour of compassion‑driven mechanics like spoon limits and cozy characters, including a bubble‑tea‑loving wombat baristas 🧋🐾.
Whether you’re a gamer, a mental‑health advocate, or simply curious about the future of tech for good, this conversation will change the way you see your controller, your phone, and your own mental wellbeing.
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*Chapters*
00:00 Meet Dr. Michelle Chen & a Filipino Fun Fact
03:42 A Third-Culture Journey: Philippines, Taiwan, UK, Australia
07:11 A PhD in Gaming + Mental Health: Surviving Through COVID
15:22 Why Asians Don’t Talk About Mental Health (and How Gaming Open Doors)
21:47 Commercial vs Empathy-Driven Game Design (Avoiding Addictive Tricks)
24:35 Ethical Monetisation + Fixing Harmful Portrayals in Gaming
27:51 Women in Games: Representation, ‘Jiggle Physics,’ and More Female Devs
36:06 Designing Feelings: Embodied Sound vs Metaphor vs Narrative Games
39:14 Not All Games Are the Same: Violence, Cozy Play, and the PTSD Example
41:47 Consent, Safety & Ownership in Mental Health Co‑Creation
43:55 Culture & Language Barriers: Making Games for Diverse/Asian Families
51:57 CSIRO ON Program Pivot: 200+ Interviews and Focusing on Access & Early Intervention
54:56 Quickfire Skills for Game Dev & Founders: Creativity, Resilience, Communication
57:22 AI & Ethics in Mental Health + Game Studios: Chatbots, Copyright, and Human Art
01:02:54 Games as a Complement to Therapy: The ‘In‑Between’ Support Role
🎙️ Website: https://www.EmergingTechUnpacked.com/
🎙️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@emergingtechunpacked
🎙️ Apple Podcast: https://apple.co/4d6Hfoi
🎙️ Spotify: https://spoti.fi/49TS1LG
