forteen-mind-labs

EPISODE 1: THE SLOT MACHINE HEART

Complete Implementation Guide

OVERVIEW

Duration: 10-12 minutes
Segments: 6 interactive segments
Brand: FORTEEN MIND LABS (Sora font)
Palette: Healing Flame (Terracotta, Sage, Gold)
Approach: First-person, warm, gamified, mobile-first

COMPLETE SCRIPT & STRUCTURE

SEGMENT 1: THE HOOK (90 seconds)

Purpose: Grab attention, establish first-person voice, introduce core concept

Episode Header Includes:

FORTEEN MIND LABS branding (larger, more prominent)
Episode number badge
Episode title
Episode description: “Discover why you’re drawn to unpredictability, how your brain mistakes chaos for chemistry, and why safe love feels wrong.”
- Purpose: Clear value proposition, sets expectations, shows what learner will gain
- Tone: Active, benefit-focused, intriguing without spoiling
Tagline (poetic/memorable)
Meta info (duration, segments, format)

Script:

Voice callout: “I used to think I was attracted to interesting people. You know—complex, deep, passionate.”
Personal revelation: “Turns out, I was just addicted to uncertainty.”
Animated slot machine visual (💔❤️💔)
Key line: “Every time they pulled away, I leaned in harder.”
Hook closer: “I thought that rush meant connection. I was wrong.”

Interactive Element:

Animated CSS slot machine
Primary CTA button: “Continue →”

SEGMENT 2: THE SCIENCE (2.5 minutes)

Purpose: Explain intermittent reinforcement without jargon, introduce neuroscience

Script:

Truth bomb: “Your brain can’t tell the difference between a slot machine jackpot and what you think is ‘real’ love.”
Core concept: Intermittent reinforcement
Brain chemistry breakdown (Dopamine, Oxytocin, Cortisol)
Key insight: “You’re not falling for them. You’re falling for the chase.”

Interactive Elements:

PRO TIP #1: “Your brain confuses intensity for intimacy. The rush isn’t love—it’s dopamine.”
Brain chemistry visual (3 rows with icons + explanations)
Stats grid showing normalized data:
- 68% recognize this pattern
- 73% chose chaos over calm
- 91% thought it was love

SEGMENT 3: PATTERN RECOGNITION CHECK (3 minutes)

Purpose: Self-assessment, personalization, engagement through quiz

Two Randomized Questions:

Question 1: “When someone is consistently kind to you, how do you typically feel?”

A) Grateful and at ease (32% - healthy attachment)
B) Suspicious—waiting for the other shoe to drop (68% - expects inconsistency)
C) Bored—like something’s missing (73% - wired for chaos)
D) Confused—it doesn’t feel like “chemistry” (81% - familiar = chemistry)

Question 2: “Think about your most intense relationship. What made it feel so ‘real’?”

A) They truly understood me (47% - check if intensity played role)
B) The emotional highs and lows (79% - slot machine effect)
C) I never knew what to expect (84% - dopamine trigger)
D) The relief when things were good again (76% - jackpot feeling)

Interactive Elements:

Each answer reveals instant, warm feedback
Normalized statistics shown (“68% also selected this”)
No shame, just pattern recognition
Questions appear sequentially
Continue button unlocks after both questions

SEGMENT 4: THE WHY (2 minutes)

Purpose: Connect childhood patterns to present behavior, reframe “chemistry”

Script:

Callback to quiz results: “If you selected B, C, or D…”
Voice callout: Childhood calibration explanation
Key reframe: “Your body reads it as wrong.”
Core insight: “Calm wasn’t what you learned to associate with love.”
Truth bomb: “Chemistry is often just familiarity in disguise.”

Interactive Elements:

PRO TIP #2: “Your ‘gut’ was calibrated in childhood by people who didn’t know what they were doing.”
Voice callout box with quoted wisdom

SEGMENT 5: INSIGHT UNLOCK (2 minutes)

Purpose: Reward completion, unlock collectible, build hope

Script:

Insight card unlock with animation
Affirmation: “You’re not broken.”
Hope injection: “Nervous systems can be recalibrated.”
Empowerment: “You’ve spotted the pattern. That’s the first step.”

Interactive Elements:

Animated insight card unlock (pulse animation)
Insight text: “Your nervous system was calibrated in childhood. What felt ‘normal’ then becomes what feels like ‘chemistry’ now.”
PRO TIP #3: Nervous systems can be recalibrated
CTA: “See Your Progress →”

SEGMENT 6: DASHBOARD (2-3 minutes)

Purpose: Show progress, celebrate completion, gamify journey, tease next episode

Dashboard Components:

1. Completion Celebration

“Episode Complete! 🎉”
Animated progress circle (100%)

2. Insights Collected

Count badge showing “1”
Display of unlocked insight
Saved to collection

3. Pro Tips Collected

Badge showing “3 Pro Tips”
List of all tips from episode:
- Intensity ≠ Intimacy
- Your “gut” recreates familiar patterns
- Nervous systems can be recalibrated

4. Badges System

Grid of 4 badges (2x2)
Earned: “🎯 Pattern Spotter” (unlocked, highlighted)
Locked (grayed out): Deep Diver, Loop Breaker, Growth Seeker
Visual distinction between earned/locked

5. Next Episode Preview

“UP NEXT” label
Episode 2 title: “The Rerun”
Tagline: “Why you keep choosing the same story”
CTA: “Continue Your Journey →”

INTERACTIVE ELEMENTS SYSTEM

Back Button

Fixed position (top-left, below header)
Appears on segments 2-6
Hidden on segment 1 (no previous segment)
Semi-transparent white background with blur effect
Navigates to previous segment
Maintains progress bar accuracy
Smooth scroll to top on navigation

Try Again Button (Quiz)

Appears in quiz section (Segment 3)
Resets all quiz selections
Clears feedback messages
Hides second question
Scrolls back to first question
Allows users to retake assessment

Restart Episode Button (Dashboard)

Appears at end of episode (Segment 6)
Completely resets episode state
Returns to Segment 1
Clears all quiz answers
Resets progress to 0%
Hides back button
Allows full replay experience

2. PROGRESS TRACKING

Fixed Progress Bar

Always visible at top of screen
Smooth gradient fill (terracotta → gold)
Updates based on segment completion (0% → 16% → 33% → 50% → 66% → 83% → 100%)

Time Badge

Fixed position, top-right
Shows minutes remaining
Decreases as user progresses
Adds urgency without pressure

Progress Circle (Dashboard)

Animated SVG circle
Fills to 100% on dashboard view
Large percentage display in center

2. QUIZ SYSTEM

Randomization (for full implementation):

Question pool of 12 questions per topic
Random selection of 5-7 for each user
Different users see different combinations
Maintains variety on re-takes

Current Implementation:

2 sequential questions
4 answer options each
Instant feedback per answer
Normalized statistics displayed

Feedback Structure:

Warm, affirming tone
No wrong answers
Shows percentage who selected same
Contextualizes the pattern
Appears below selected answer

Progression:

Question 1 → auto-shows Question 2 after feedback
Question 2 → unlocks Continue button
Smooth scroll animations between questions
Back button always available to return to previous segment

Back Button:

Available on segments 2-6 (not on segment 1)
Secondary button style (outlined, sage color)
Returns to previous segment
Updates progress bar backwards
Smooth scroll to top
Maintains quiz state if going back from quiz

Try Again Button:

Available on dashboard (segment 6)
Clay/gold styling
Resets entire episode to beginning
Clears all quiz answers
Resets progress to 0%
Shows confirmation message
Allows users to replay episode with fresh perspective

5. PRO TIPS

When They Appear:

Contextually during content
After key insights
3 total in Episode 1

Visual Treatment:

Gradient background (gold → clay)
Light bulb emoji watermark
“PRO TIP” label
Large, bold insight text
Collectible (shown in dashboard)

Examples:

“Your brain confuses intensity for intimacy. The rush isn’t love—it’s dopamine.”
“Your ‘gut’ was calibrated in childhood…”
“Nervous systems can be recalibrated”

6. INSIGHT CARDS

Unlock Trigger:

End of Segment 5
Animated entrance (pulse effect)

Components:

Badge: “✨ INSIGHT UNLOCKED”
Main insight text (large, centered)
Meta info: “Saved to your collection”

Collectible System:

Appears in dashboard
Counts toward total insights
Can be reviewed later
Shareable (in full implementation)

5. BADGES & GAMIFICATION

Badge Types:

🎯 Pattern Spotter (earned in Episode 1)
🔍 Deep Diver (locked - future episodes)
🧩 Loop Breaker (locked - future episodes)
🌱 Growth Seeker (locked - future episodes)

Visual States:

Earned: Full color gradient, bright
Locked: Grayscale, 40% opacity

Purpose:

Track journey progress
Encourage completion
Create collection motivation
Non-competitive (personal journey)

6. VOICE CALLOUTS

Purpose:

Highlight key first-person insights
Create intimacy
Break up text visually

Visual Treatment:

Soft sage background
Left border accent
Italic text
Larger font size
Quoted appearance

TECHNICAL IMPLEMENTATION

Design System

Color Variables:

--terracotta: #E07A5F
--clay: #D4A574
--sage: #81B29A
--soft-sage: #A8DADC
--gold: #F2CC8F
--warm-white: #FAF9F6
--warm-beige: #E8DED2
--soft-gray: #6C757D

Typography:

Font: Sora (Google Fonts)
Weights: 300, 400, 600, 700, 800
Hierarchy:
- Headers: 700-800
- Body: 400
- Labels/Meta: 300-400
- Branding:
  - FORTEEN: 18px, weight 700
  - MIND LABS: 16px, weight 400, letter-spacing 4px

Episode Header Components:

Logo (FORTEEN MIND LABS)
Episode badge (e.g., “EPISODE 1”)
Episode title (e.g., “The Slot Machine Heart”)
Episode description (new!) - Clear statement of what learner will discover
Tagline (e.g., “Why unpredictability feels like love”)
Episode meta (duration, segments, format)

Spacing:

Sections: 35px padding
Cards: 25-30px padding
Margins: 20-25px between elements
Generous white space

Animations

Slot Machine:

@keyframes spin {
    0%, 80%, 100% { rotateX(0deg), opacity: 1 }
    40% { rotateX(180deg), opacity: 0.3 }
}

Fade In:

@keyframes fadeIn {
    from { opacity: 0, translateY(20px) }
    to { opacity: 1, translateY(0) }
}

Insight Unlock:

@keyframes unlockPulse {
    0%, 100% { scale(1) }
    50% { scale(1.02) }
}

Interaction Patterns

Navigation Functions:

nextSegment(n) - Advances to next segment, updates progress and back button
previousSegment() - Returns to previous segment (disabled on segment 1)
updateBackButton(segmentNum) - Shows/hides back button based on segment
selectAnswer() - Handles quiz selection
resetQuiz() - Clears all quiz state and returns to first question
restartEpisode() - Resets entire episode to beginning
completeEpisode() - Completion flow

Button Types:

Primary: Main action (Continue, Complete)
Secondary: Alternative action (Back, Try Again, Restart)
Disabled: Locked until condition met (quiz completion)

Segment Transitions:

Hide current (.active removed)
Show next (.active added)
Scroll to top (smooth)
Update progress bar
Update time badge

State Management:

let currentSegment = 1
let quizAnswers = {}
let insightsCollected = []
let timeSpent = 0

MOBILE-FIRST RESPONSIVENESS

Breakpoints:

Default: 600px max-width
Mobile (<600px): Adjusted font sizes, tighter spacing

Touch Optimization:

Large tap targets (minimum 44px)
Generous padding on buttons
Smooth scroll behavior
No hover-dependent interactions

Performance:

Pure CSS animations (no JS)
Minimal dependencies (only Google Fonts)
Optimized for 3G networks
Fast load time

CONTENT TONE GUIDE

Voice Characteristics:

First-Person:

“I used to think…”
“Turns out, I was…”
Creates intimacy and relatability

Warm & Conversational:

No clinical jargon
Simple, clear language
Like talking to a wise friend

Non-Judgmental:

“You’re not broken”
“No wrong answers”
Normalizing statistics

Darkly Honest:

“I was just addicted to uncertainty”
“Chemistry is often just familiarity in disguise”
Truth without sugar-coating

Hopeful:

“Nervous systems can be recalibrated”
“You’ve spotted the pattern”
Future-focused without toxic positivity

FUTURE ENHANCEMENTS

For Full Platform:

1. Question Randomization:

Build 12-question pool per topic
Randomize 5-7 per user session
Track which questions shown
Ensure variety

2. User Accounts:

Save progress across devices
Store insights collection
Track badge progress
Enable social features

3. Video/Audio:

Voiceover narration option
Video segments for key parts
Background music option
Auto-play controls

4. Journal Integration:

Optional reflection prompts
Private notes section
Pattern tracking over time
Export capabilities

5. Social Features:

Anonymous insight sharing
“You’re not alone” counter
Community highlights
No comparison/competition

6. Accessibility:

Screen reader optimization
Keyboard navigation
High contrast mode
Adjustable text size

EPISODE SERIES ROADMAP

Based on The Undertow Project Bible:

Series 1: The Patterns

✅ The Slot Machine Heart (Complete)
The Rerun - Why you keep choosing the same story
The Allergy to Calm - Why peace feels like boredom
The Inheritance - What was passed down without consent
The Extras - Who’s actually in the film of your life

Series 2: The Mechanisms

The Familiar Stranger - Why you “just knew” immediately
The Withdrawal - What happens when you leave the poison
The Calibration - How your “normal” got set

Series 3: The Exit

The Glitch - When the pattern finally breaks
The Boring Miracle - Learning to crave what’s good for you

TESTING CHECKLIST

BRAND CONSISTENCY

Always Include:

FORTEEN MIND LABS branding (never THE UNDERTOW publicly)
Healing Flame color palette
Sora typography
Warm, first-person tone
Non-judgmental feedback
Progress visualization
Gamification elements
Mobile-first design

Never Include:

Clinical language
Shame or judgment
Traditional self-help clichés
Toxic positivity
Competitive elements
Public comparison
THE UNDERTOW name (internal only)

Created: December 13, 2025
Project: THE UNDERTOW (Internal Codename)
Brand: FORTEEN MIND LABS
Episode: 1 of 10
Status: Pilot Complete

forteen-mind-labs

EPISODE 1: THE SLOT MACHINE HEART

Complete Implementation Guide

OVERVIEW

COMPLETE SCRIPT & STRUCTURE

SEGMENT 1: THE HOOK (90 seconds)

SEGMENT 2: THE SCIENCE (2.5 minutes)

SEGMENT 3: PATTERN RECOGNITION CHECK (3 minutes)

SEGMENT 4: THE WHY (2 minutes)

SEGMENT 5: INSIGHT UNLOCK (2 minutes)

SEGMENT 6: DASHBOARD (2-3 minutes)

INTERACTIVE ELEMENTS SYSTEM

1. NAVIGATION CONTROLS

2. PROGRESS TRACKING

2. QUIZ SYSTEM

4. NAVIGATION CONTROLS

5. PRO TIPS

6. INSIGHT CARDS

5. BADGES & GAMIFICATION

6. VOICE CALLOUTS

TECHNICAL IMPLEMENTATION

Design System

Animations

Interaction Patterns

MOBILE-FIRST RESPONSIVENESS

CONTENT TONE GUIDE

Voice Characteristics:

FUTURE ENHANCEMENTS

For Full Platform:

EPISODE SERIES ROADMAP

TESTING CHECKLIST

BRAND CONSISTENCY