The Playful Den Podcast

In this week’s episode, Emma sits down with author, performance artist, and original Laa-Laa, Nikki Smedley (@realtubbylaa). Episode notes: * The Role of Play in Childhood and Beyond * Nikki shares her childhood experiences of imaginative play and independence. * The connection between her early leadership in play and her later career in creating stories for performance. * From Dancer to Teletubby...

In this week’s episode, Emma sits down with Dr. Martha Deiros Collado (@dr.marthapsychologist), a clinical psychologist specializing in parenting and child development. Episode notes: Guest Introduction : * Meet Marta, a clinical psychologist, author, and Instagram creator known for her practical, compassionate advice for parents. * Marta shares her journey from working in the NHS to becoming a tr...

This episode is all about toys! What's the latest in the toy industry? Are today's toys increasing imagination or fuelling more and more mindless consumerism? Emma dives into these questions and more with Azhelle Wade aka the Toy Coach, a toy industry veteran who now helps inventors take their new ideas to market. This episode is sponsored by Whirli toys the UK's revolutionary toy swap service tha...

In this episode Emma and Ben discuss a variety of pointlessly playful topics such as - is Nesquik still relevant? Is Stranger Things the best thing our eyes have ever seen? And Ben's hardest life challenge so far - building a playhouse. Emma talks to Racheal Jackson aka Banyan Bridges who shares her story of how her creativity came from a difficult period of post-natal depression and blossomed int...

On this guest episode, Emma is joined by Dr Peter Grey, a research professor of psychology and neuroscience at Boston College and author of internationally acclaimed introductory psychology textbook- Psychology, Worth Publishers, which views all of psychology from an evolutionary perspective. His recent research focuses on the role of play in human evolution and how children educate themselves thr...

In this episode Emma chats to Greg Botrill, teacher, educational thought leader and early years expert. Greg explains how education is so deeply entrenched in politics and the gaps between where we’re at with education today and where kids are going. Greg is passionate about imagination and creativity and shares some of his approaches and introduces Emma to the ‘magic mustard tin’. Greg is the aut...

In this episode Emma chats to Kirstie Beaven founder and editor of Sonshine magazine, a publication which focusses on raising boys for a more equal world, by raising a generation of boys who feel able to express their emotions and explore new versions of masculinity. Kirstie @sonshinemagazine This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus...

On a mission to change the narrative of Special Educational Needs by going right to the top of Government and legislative level; Jo supports children with additional needs, their Parents and Professionals to navigate the health and education systems. Self advocacy and acceptance lie right at the heart of it. Jo is an award winning Consultant Children’s Physiotherapist, Author of number 1 best sell...

Emma speaks to Canada based Kara Latta aka the Playful Warrior who works with groups, individuals and businesses to help heal perfectionism and self-doubt through play. Kara supports people in their return to play - something that can be a lot more difficult than it sounds - and shares tips for how to reconnect with your inner joyful child through play based activities. Follow Kara @theplayfulwarr...

Emma talks to Isobel Wolff, National Director at The Flying Seagulls, who for 15 years have been spreading laughter, play and silliness as far and wide as their net will cast. Isobel is an actor-musician and trained singer and works in both fields. She also works as a pro-bono musician and clown for the Children's Theatre charity and the The Flying Seagull Project, travelling and performing in the...

Emma and Ben share their opposing strategies to coping with the common cold and why they don't get on when they're ill. Interview with artist Murugiah who discusses the importance of creative freedom in childhood and how to maintain a passion for something that is your play when it becomes your career. Murugiah Instagram https://www.instagram.com/_murugiah/?hl=en This is a public episode. If you w...

Emma and Ben share their joy of the Olympics, talk about Ben's immersion into Jabba's Palace and try and work out if Emma is a mouth-breather. Today's guest is Jeff Harry, a positive psychology coach and an expert in helping businesses use play to solve problems and improve corporate culture. Jeff shares why playing at work isn't what people assume and how it really help organisations retain staff...

In this episode Emma speaks to Olga Thompson aka Big Fat Greek Mother a comedienne who brings to life characters and tells stories to make us laugh - a creative process sparked from a difficult time which has led to a transformational personal growth and alignment. Follow Olga on IG: @big_fat_greekmother This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get acce...

Emma chats to Laura Walsh, Head of Play, from Starlight a charity organisation which facilitates play for children suffering serious illnesses. Laura talks about the magic of play and its power to transform difficult medical interventions which can be scary experiences for young people receiving medial treatment. Laura also explains why it’s so important to facilitate play for families who are goi...

Emma chats to Marcus Veerman founder of Playground Ideas, a not for profit organisation supporting communities around the world to build playgrounds with local resources, about a variety of play-based topics including adventure and creativity, playground design and loose parts play. Marcus shares his journey with his invention of the Nüdel Kart - a stimulating and inclusive loose-parts play resour...

Emma chats to Lu - a '52 year old accidental influencer who is ageing disgracefully'. Lu is in the middle of her tour in her RV Susie travelling the US giving talks to women about self love and masturbation. Emma asks for a heads up on the 40s and Lu discusses her divorce and middle aged rebellion. Follow Lu @luinluland This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscri...

This is a glorious chat with Anna Mathur about the contemporary culture of motherhood and how it makes it difficult to accept ourselves and move towards our own needs. Anna Mathur is a mum of three, author, podcaster and psychotherapist. She's also the founder of The MotherMind Way (www.themothermindway.com) a platform of low cost, resources to support the emotional and mental health of all mums....

Emma chats to LA based professional toy photographer Mitchel Wu. Mitchel pivoted his career multiple times before landing on toy photography where he has carved out a dreamy creative profession working for global brands. Using photography as his medium, he uses toys and special effects and create his art and tell stories. Emma and Mitchel chat about finding work that fires you up creatively, how t...

Adam Lewis is a social entrepreneur and changemaker focused on using play and sport to drive social justice and build equitable communities around the United States. Adam is currently serving a 3-year term as an Appointed Advisor to the Portland, OR Parks and Recreation Bureau Board. Prior to that he founded and served as the Managing Director of Street Soccer USA-Portland, oversaw strategy at the...

Emma dives headlong into some playful chat, this week focusing on something that the whole world seems to have gone crazy for right now.…nostalgia! In a bid to understand more about this fascinating topic, Emma talks to Clay Routledge, PhD, who is the Vice President of Research and Director of the Human Flourishing Lab at the Archbridge Institute. Clay is also the co-editor of Profectus (a periodi...

We have a change of pace for you today. We’re going somewhat technical (don’t worry, it’s all understandable!) as Emma invites onto the show, Dr Hilary Marusak to talk about the brain and how it can relate to play or more specifically in movement based activity. We’re peeling back the layers and brain science of the ‘runners high’ how it happens and how to get it (not just from running!) Dr. Marus...

Emma and Ben are back! Emma interviews author and photographer Kate T Parker discussing her cult followed books Strong is the New Pretty and Heart of Boy. They discuss photography and the benefits of sport and team play in childhood. Follow Kate on IG @katetparker Follow Emma on IG @playful_den Follow Ben in IG @BenFlyingRetro This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other...

Emma and Ben are back discussing their new domestic dilemma - fridge stink. This weeks guest is Hannah Saunders founder of Big Fish Little Fish - a family rave experience. Hannah describes her personal experience of being in the 'playground' of the rave scene and how she's switched career to bring the magic and freedom of rave culture into the family space. Emma and Ben also answer some new faxes...

Strap in for a silly-fuelled episode as Ben and Ems spiral into madness as they work through their 'domestic dilemmas'. How will Emma win her war on ants? Will Ben be able to cope with the new bleach-free cleaning products? To continue the lols and laughter Emma interviews social media comedian Chris Hall as they unpick when and why he started to put comedic pieces online and how social media has...

Emma speaks to Bristol’s Anna Jackson, a style consultant who challenges clients with her mantra, “Don’t be scared of how you look!”. Anna offers services in colour analysis, wardrobe consultation and personal shopping as well as organising fashion shows whilst remembering that life is always a fashion parade! This episode is about having fun with clothes and how life is too short not to wear the...