Workshops for Life

This episode is a conversation with Julie Randle, a woman really knows the value of play throughout all phases of life. She enjoys bringing people together, playing physically, and supporting others as they play. Her battle with cancer was made more bearable due to adding play.

You can play AFTER all your work is done! Not true! Shawnee, therapist and human with silliness superpowers, reminds us how important it is to make play a priority. She cautions us to not care what others think about our play and finally to lean into what we love. Guys she is so fun to talk to! Enjoy this convoContinue reading "Why Wait to Play with Shawnee Johnson"

Here we go! Well, where have you been!? I hope you have been playing. If not, it's time to get back to it! Today's episode is a reminder that play is a pillar of wellness and health. It's also a way for us to become the authentic version of ourselves that goes away after childhood but doesn't have to. Continue reading "Back at PLAY"

We the people, in order to form a more connected society, NEED JOKERS! So bad! Jokers are connectors and that's what we are starved for these days is true connection. So the next time you decide to check out and disconnect from the world at, say the grocery store, consider looking around and pointing outContinue reading "Jokers Playstyle with Angie Williams"

Elizabeth Gilbert wrote Big Magic Creative Living Beyond Fear and her advise applies perfectly to what we are doing on Play for Life, living the best life we can through PLAY. Being playful often requires courage to do that thing that is inside you and longs to come to life! Do you have the courageContinue reading "Courage to Live a Playful Life"

We make all sorts of lists but this is one you're going to want to make and keep handy. A playlist is rad. Basically make a list of all the play possibilities so when play is possible you've already thought of lots of options. The play styles or personalities is a good place to start.Continue reading "The Playlist"

This conversation is helpful for young moms and working moms. Prepare for the worst and then enjoy. Becky is an explorer/director who loves the outdoors and moving. She is the mother of four young, busy kids and is married to an involved husband. Her philosophy is “Have Fun”. Listen and learn how she does it.

Have you ever wondered why people try so hard at a game? Does someone you know always invite you to join a health challenge? Listen to this episode with Katie Lariviere and you may understand their motivation and you may even want to join in the fun.

Doctor Stewart Brown isn't dead! I am thrilled to share that the founder of the National Institute for Play is back and rocking the world with his research about how NECESSARY play is. On the hierarchy of needs, sleep is foundational and he claims that someone with a sleep deficit is in parallel lack asContinue reading "Play: If you need Sleep you need Play"

Mover is the playstyle most easily recognized as traditional play. Liz discusses how physical play improves her mood, health, and relationships. She giggles through stories of play making her life better. If this kind of play is not your jam, listen anyway as you'll see the joy that can come by making time for yourContinue reading "Mover Playstyle with Liz Shakespear"

It's back to school for many of the young ones which is a perfect time to recommit to making time for play. Because play is purposeless by definition we have a hard time making time for it. BUT it is essential to our wellbeing so don't be deceived by old thoughts of play AFTER allContinue reading "Episode 35: Back to School. Time to Recommit to Play"

It isn't having a clean house that will help you have what you think you want. It's not your career, your body, stuff you buy, how much of the world you see, or any of the other thousands of the things on which we place importance. So what matters? A few years ago, I learnedContinue reading "Episode 34: Connect"

This is the rest of the conversation from episode 32 with Bre about creativity. We get into how play can be a part of your work, why that's cool sometimes, and why you should also find times when play isn't part of work, but something totally kept separate. One of the key characteristics of playContinue reading "Episode 33: Work and Play with Bre Welch"

Whether or not you consider yourself a crafty artist, this episode will remind you that creativity is actually about solving problems, and that everybody creates. Bre is a mommy, actor, and headshot photographer and she finds ways to be creative in each of these areas of life. You can see her work and the incredibleContinue reading "Episode 32: Artist/Creator with Bre Welch"

We have lots of reasons to want to have beauty; and quests for beauty are common with us women as we seek to be valid and confident in this world.  We want to feel good.  We want to feel acceptable or loved.  Whatever it is we want to feel, we think we can get itContinue reading "Episode 31: Play is True Beauty"

Wealth is often what we are waiting for in order to feel like we deserve play time. It's just not true. Play can give us wealth now and improve our quality of life. Choose to live well by scheduling time to play. You won't be sorry you did.

Explorers are naturally good at something inherent in play and that is discovering what they like AND what they don't like.  We would all do well in our play journeys to learn a rad skill from our Explorer friends – the art of finding out.   Let's say you are a Collector and you don't know whetherContinue reading "Episode 29: Angie, the Explorer"

Have you noticed how on vacation you clearly see the beauty of the area and wonder how the locals handle all that amazingness? They don’t even seem to notice it. Have you ever observed someone’s life and found it totally charming only to have her show you all its shortcomings? In a way, our brainsContinue reading "Episode 28: Daily Play It’s an Attitude"

EVERYBODY PLAYS! EVERYBODY! Do you collect bobble head figures? How about spoons from your travels? Playbills? Do you want to visit every state or see every solar eclipse? You just might be a Collector! My father-in-law loves thrifting. LOVES IT! He visits a local thrift store probably three times a week. I’m not exaggerating. HisContinue reading "Episode 27: The Collector"

Hi! We’re talking about Play today, as we do. But, like, as we’re talking about Play today, we’re getting a little academic. Not in a boring way, I hope. But, as we seek to understand how something like Play can really make our lives better, I think it makes lots of sense to have researched,Continue reading "Episode 26: Play Like A Kid"

EVERYBODY PLAYS! EVERYBODY! I remember talking to my sister-in-law Krissy next to a pool last summer, and we got talking about Play, because I’m a zealot. And she told me she didn’t think she played. But, with my obsession, I’m totally convinced that everybody plays. EVERYBODY! So, we talked about it, Krissy and I. AndContinue reading "Episode 25: Play like a Director"

The ways you and your people play are so much broader and more important than you think they are! And understanding your Play Personality, and how your Play Personality vibes with the Play Personalities of your people can make your relationships so much better and your play so much more!

Play TIme! When we stop playing, we start dying.  Super uplifting thought, right? But actually, yes. Super uplifting. We need play throughout our whole life, not just as children learning the ropes, or teenagers being morons, or newlyweds talking baby talk to each other. We need it our whole life. WE NEED IT. Play allowsContinue reading "Episode 23: Play Time!"

We all want to get the most out of our lives. Unfortunately our brains want us to just stay alive. This podcast takes us beyond survival to getting serious traction out of NOW. The present is the only place we can enjoy this life. The past and the unknown future are tempting places to spendContinue reading "Episode 22: Presence"

“The single greatest thing you can do to change your life today would be to start by being grateful for what you have right now.” – Her Highness, Oprah Winfrey Gratitude is what started me on this whole process of upgrading myself. So, to wrap up these episodes on the Science of Well Being fromContinue reading "Episode 21: Let’s Thank"

Here’s a catchy phrase my mother-in-law will just LOVE! When God made the planet, he had to plan it. ZINGER!! But the point is, today we’re talking about Goals and plans, and, most importantly, how making it Tiny makes it not suck. Don’t roll your eyes. Just stay open. Goals don’t have to make youContinue reading "Episode 20: Let’s Plan"

Sleep is like salt. Curious? Listen to 19 minutes about it. Try to stay awake!

Today, the art of wanting EXACTLY WHAT YOU ALREADY HAVE!! How many of you saw Hamilton? It was on Disney+ recently! Whether or not you’ve seen it there’s a song about Hamilton saying that he has never been and never will never be satisfied. And he is quite proud of that fact actually. As youContinue reading "Episode 18: Let’s Savor"

Hippie Dippie Miss Lippie here! But, for real, in another life, I could have been a hippie. I could have a shrine to Jerry Garcia in my VW Bus. I could know all the sweet, sweet tunes of Phish. I could bathe only in rainwater. I love hippies. But, guess what? Although distinctly fragrant andContinue reading "Episode 17: Let’s Be"

The Science of Well Being, this course I keep talking about by Yale’s Laurie Santos, has changed my life. It just has. It’s about finding true well being, true joy, true happiness. It’s full of truth and goodness. And at least 15 “No duh!” moments for me, things that I’ve learned before, things that I’veContinue reading "Episode 16: Let’s Kind"

Hey! Don’t know if you guys have heard, but things are kind of weird right now. And when I say “kind of weird,” what I mean is that, if the you of three months ago would have hibernated for 90 days and woke up today, three-months-ago you would feel as out of place as MartyContinue reading "Episode 15: Let’s Connect"

Hey, no time for making you read words today, it’s time to MOVE! Get outside and move around while you listen to these 17 minutes and 17 seconds about tiny ways to make MOVING a part of your daily routine.

Do yourself a favor. Go over to https://dogoodbekind.life/ right now. It’s the coolest, and you want to be involved. I’ll wait. Do Good. Be Kind. started as Chris Kurtz’ email signature. In 2017 Co-founder Brittany Kurtz put the phrase on a T-Shirt and the message quickly grew into a movement. The simple invitation is toContinue reading "Episode 13: Do Good. Be Kind."

What’s the very number one most important thing in the life of a human being on planet earth? Smart people at Harvard and Yale have some thoughts about that, and they are thoughts I share with you today. The very number one most important thing! And, the way the world is in the moment, youContinue reading "Episode 12: Savoring Relationships"

Guys! Play. Play is the thing. The more I read, the more I explore and develop these ideas about helping people get upgraded, the more I realize the fundamental importance of PLAY. This episode, we talk with Danny about the eight PLAY PERSONALITIES. We also talk about pork. Look, I know there’s like a zillionContinue reading "Episode 11: Play Personalities and Pork With Danny"

So on the day my son found out he wasn’t going to get to go on choir tour to Vegas and LA to see Hamilton, Bright Star, Beatles LOVE and get out of school for a few days, he found himself feeling so blessed, grateful and at peace. I wondered if he had been smokingContinue reading "Episode 10: Walter on Mindfulness"

Guys we got this. Think. Act. Play. During this time of change and new and uncertainty there are a few things we can do to make sure we are in the right state of mind, acting with intention and selflessness, and playing to stay sane and to grow with our people. PLUS! My amazing husbandContinue reading "Episode 9: Covid-19 Special"

Phil Connors started out miserable in Punxsatawney, PA watching a little fur ball predict the weather. However, he finally figures out he could make something of himself if he took advantage of the moments that happened to him EVERY FREAKING DAY!!!! Well we can too. We might not end up buying a bed n breakfastContinue reading "Episode 8: Groundhoggy Moments"

NEWSFLASH: WOMAN STARTS SUPER AGGRESSIVE, LIFE-TRANSFORMING, INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT EXERCISE PLAN, QUITS AFTER SECOND WORKOUT. WORLD IN SHOCK!! That’s not about anybody around here, for sure! Because we stick to stuff around here! We are motivated! We have willpower! We are super heroes! AAARRRGGHHHH!!!! But really, this is everybody around here, and everybody in the wholeContinue reading "Episode 7: Make It Tiny!"

I, like the vast majority of thinking people on this planet, think of one thing when I hear the word “Celebrate.” Kool & The Gang is life, the rest is just details. But today, we are going to talk about a second thing for you to think of when you hear “celebrate,” and it’s somethingContinue reading "Episode 6: How Celebrations Help Make Habits"

How many thoughts does the average human being have each day? And what percentage of those thoughts are new? What thoughts do you have stuck in your brain that just need to be cleaned out? I’ve got stuff from 8th grade still rolling around in there. What a waste. So, today, some ideas about makingContinue reading "Episode 5: Making Friends With Your Thoughts"

What the heck? Cues? Yes if we want to have a behavior change that sticks like white bread to peanut butter we need to have a cue to this behavior that is OBVIOUS. That’s what we talk about this episode; how to make a cue obvious.

This year we can have behavior changes that stick. This is part one of many podcasts about habit change. Happy New Year, New DECADE!!!

I majored in Recreation Management. Yes, that’s a major. Save your judgment!! I’ve always thrived on play. It’s just part of who I am. And I’m so impressed with all of the research on the science of play, how crucial it is, how it’s one of the core elements of what makes us humans insteadContinue reading "Episode 2: Play (part 1)"

Okay here starts a great adventure – The Workshops for Life Podcast! I’m so excited to share ideas from our workshops with you through these 15 or 20 minute bites once every two weeks. Each episode we will “try on” an idea like you do when buying new clothes at the store. I hand theContinue reading "Episode 1 – Gratitude (part 1)"

Okay this is an explanatory podcast for those who used to listen to my PIP podcast. It’s a quick wrap-up of the PIP Podcast, as it was, and a bridge to this new Podcast, Workshops for Life, where we take the ideas of the PIP Podcast and expand them into helping you be the bestContinue reading "Episode Zero"