Playful Humans - People Who Play for a Living

Nema Semnani is president of Precision Sales Consulting. He is also a LinkedIn video influencer, speaker, startup mentor, and he has performed standup comedy at Caroline's in New York City.  Precision Sales Consulting is a licensed Sandler Training company in Northern Virginia dedicated to helping individuals and companies of all sizes increase profitability through scalable sales training, m...

Charles Peachock has performed on the biggest stages from America's Got Talent to the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. He has gone viral on Instagram and YouTube and even been featured in People Magazine! Chances are, you have probably seen him play a song on the keyboard using tennis balls, but he also does so much more. In this episode, he shows of his talent and tells the story behind it. F...

Jake Novak is a creative multi-hyphenate and self-aggrandizer in Los Angeles. Born and raised in Chicago, Jake studied Acting with a capital A at Emerson College in Boston. You may have heard Jake singing jazz in a club, or barbershop at Disneyland, or holiday carols on your television in shows like Sugar Rush on Netflix! He has also had several viral videos with his song parodies and sketches. Fi...

Gary Ware is a creative yet strategic Play Consultant that was brought here to make your life even better than it already is. By day, Gary helps companies and professionals level up their skills, and by night he is an improv comedian. In between all of Gary’s passions, his most desirous one is helping people become the best versions of themselves through fun and entertainment. Now that you know th...

Dr . Roger Firestien has trained more people to lead the creative process than anyone else in the world. He is the Senior Faculty member at the International Center for Studies in Creativity at SUNY Buffalo State, President of Innovation Resources, Inc . and Author of Create in a Flash: A leader’s recipe for breakthrough innovation. He has trained creative problem solving to produce unprecedented...

Dr. Cyndi Burnett is the Director of Possibilities for Creativity and Education. Like her creativity-focused curriculum for students and teachers, Cyndi embraces the creative lifestyle that she teaches. You will often find her trying on new ideas, exploring resources to stretch her thinking, and being an advocate for playfulness and humor. Although she loves to research and write about creativity,...

John Grindle is a virtual game show host and chief purveyor of fun and games at Grin Events. From a young age, he loved to play games. He quickly realized he also loved to bring people together to have fun. He was the friend you wanted at your birthday party or wedding because you knew he would make sure everyone was having a great time. Now, he’s dedicated his life to helping others connect in me...

Kara Fortier-Stewart is an interfaith minister, mental health advocate, and creator of the Playgrounding podcast. Kara specializes in play deprivation and those adults who feel like they can't or don't know how to play. Researchers began to discover that lack of play in children can lead to antisocial behavior and violence. Over the years, they’ve discovered that play is vitally importan...

Robert Manolson is a fun at work facilitator of powerful play experiences! He is a passionate advocate for positive workplace mental health and has been hosting play workshops for teams in Edmonton since 2006. Powerful Play Experiences is all about making it a priority to re-group and re-energize through a much-needed series of fun at work, play workshops. Find Robert at https://www.powerfulplay.c...

Karen Morgan is seriously funny. She shares comedy through the perceptive eye of a wife and mother, prepared with the tenacity of an attorney, and tempered with a dash of southern charm. Karen Morgan’s clean comedy is a hit with audiences in theaters & performing arts centers and at corporate events, charity fundraisers, civic events, wellness retreats, and school fundraisers. Her work is prof...

Josh Linkner is an awesome and prolific speaker, author, venture capitalist investor, jazz guitarist, and host of the Creative Troublemakers podcast!  Josh is an innovation expert, New York Times best-selling author, 5-time tech entrepreneur, and lover of greasy pizza. He loves to talk about how to unlock your creativity and spur explosive growth in your life and business. Most people think that c...

Brandi Heather is a play professional at Amped2Play, where she speaks and facilitates playshops for social, cognitive, and physical improvement. She created the Play for a Change Podcast series where she helps adults reexamine the power of play. And, she recently released her new book, Return to Play: Rebuilding Resilience, Risk and Reconnection, to answer the question, "Can play be the answe...

Joel Bryant has been an actor, MC, and stand-up comedian for over 20 years hosting on TV, live corporate events, huge galas, and even Drag Queen Bingo. In short: There's not a lot he hasn't brought his sense of humor and event professionalism to, but for Joel, life isn't all about the career.  Life is about, well, living it.  Joel does plenty of that, whether he's jumping over...

Jen Ables is a public speaker, entertainer, and event facilitator. Jen has worn many hats in her life, from insurance underwriter to professional dancer to the founder of a charity, Soldiers Who Salsa. Her journey took her from a cubicle in Philadelphia to the White House and includes a flag being flown in her honor in Kandahar Air Field, Afghanistan. Jen also enjoys teaching ballroom and Latin da...

Greg Knapp is the author of Go! How to Find and Pursue Your Passionate Purpose, public speaker, podcaster, and radio talk show host! Greg has been nationally syndicated on the radio and even filled in a guest host on some of the country's most popular shows. He has given his expert opinion as a guest on CNBC, Fox News Channel, CNN, Fox Business, 41 Action News, KCTV5, and more. He has penned...

Cait Leow is a talented musician, singer, songwriter, and ukuleleist! She has released a viral video hit on YouTube covering La Vie en Rose, which has over 1.6 Million views, and she just released her new single, Heartbreaker this month! She is a hardworking midwestern gal giving her all making a career out of doing things she loves. Find Cait Leow at https://www.caitleowmusic.com/ . In this episo...

Jeff Harry is an international speaker, play consultant, and positive psychology coach. He helps teams address toxicity in the workplace through play. His play work has been featured in the NY Times, AJ+, SoulPancake, the SF Chronicle, and CNN. Jeff believes that we already have many of the answers we seek, and by simply unleashing our inner child, we can find our purpose and, in turn, help to cre...

Meg Lewis is a designer, comedian, performer, and educator working to make the world a happier place. She designs cool, fun products, teaches a self-discovery personal brand course, created a Sit There and Do Nothing comedy mindfulness podcast, and so much more! Last year, she was the host of the international Dribble Overtime podcast, as well. Find Meg Lewis at https://meglewis.com/ In this episo...

Antarctic Mike is a public speaker, coach, and teacher of leadership lessons he collected while competing in marathons in the Antarctic! His flagship program, Leading at 90 Below Zero, brings the secrets of South Pole explorers to the real world and today's business environments. He also specializes in helping others tell their stories with impact. Find Antarctic Mike at https://antarcticmike...

Benjamin Lloyd is an improv actor and teacher, who uses the power of play and improv to help people find real human connection. He is the Founder of Bright Invention which is a non-profit that performs improv, performs custom scenarios for corporate training, and works with people of all abilities to make extraordinary things happen on stage. Find Benjamin and Bright Inventions at: https://www.bri...

Raquel Borras is a social media brand consultant and self-proclaimed Queen of Goofiness. She has a ton of fun on social media, especially LinkedIn and YouTube, where she makes entertaining videos, interview kids, and Find Raquel at https://www.linkedin.com/in/raquel-borras/ or Raq the Boat on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCU10_pLGmlT_5XECXFdw8Dg In this episode, you'll hear: - Jok...

Keith Kong is a mentalist. That means he reads people's minds for a living on stage. He has performed around the world and fooled Penn and Teller on season 7 of their show Fool Us! Find Keith at www.kongmentalist.com or @kongmentalist on YouTube or TikTok. In this episode, you'll hear: Joke of the Week How Keith plays for a living How to have the most fun in your life and work If Keith c...

Mike Montague is a public speaker, podcaster, and writer. He has been a radio DJ, karaoke host, game show host, MC, and DJ for live events including opening for Billy Idol, Frankie Valli, and MC-ed at Toby Keith's Bar & Grill. He is also the founder of Playful Humans, a community designed to help the burned-out and bored get re-energized and engaged with life. Find out more at https://www...