Swing Forward

In this first season of Swing Forward, co-hosts James Siegal and Jen DeMelo of KABOOM! speak with leading playground manufacturers in the US and around the world about the playground industry and advancing playspace equity. In this episode, we talk with Adam Bienenstock of Bienenstock Natural Playgrounds about his vision for biophilic cities with abundant opportunities for kids to play and how con...

In this first season of Swing Forward, co-hosts James Siegal and Jen DeMelo of KABOOM! speak with leading playground manufacturers in the US and around the world about the playground industry and advancing playspace equity. In this episode, we talk with Lukas Steinke of Berliner about everything from building playgrounds that magically light up to meeting the playspace needs of refugee families in...

In this first season of Swing Forward, co-hosts James Siegal and Jen DeMelo of KABOOM! speak with leading playground manufacturers in the US and around the world about the playground industry and advancing playspace equity. In this episode, we talk with Tom Norquist of PlayCore about how, in his words, playgrounds are the great equalizer that build empathy and compassion. BIO: Tom Norquist is Seni...

In this first season of Swing Forward, co-hosts James Siegal and Jen DeMelo of KABOOM! speak with leading playground manufacturers in the US and around the world about the playground industry and advancing playspace equity. In this episode, we talk with Ole Barslund Nielsen of MONSTRUM about how his company builds unique, custom playgrounds that become the central gathering places in communities....

In this first season of Swing Forward, co-hosts James Siegal and Jen DeMelo of KABOOM! speak with leading playground manufacturers in the US and around the world about the playground industry and advancing playspace equity. In this episode, we talk with Sarah Lisiecki of Burke about how Burke’s product development is inspired by the “cans” -- what kids can do, not their limitations. BIO: Sarah Lis...

In this first season of Swing Forward, co-hosts James Siegal and Jen DeMelo of KABOOM! speak with leading playground manufacturers in the US and around the world about the playground industry and advancing playspace equity. In this episode, we talk with former colleague Dave Flanigan of Lappset about how his company aims to strike the right balance with playground technology and how he sees playgr...

In this first season of Swing Forward, co-hosts James Siegal and Jen DeMelo of KABOOM! speak with leading playground manufacturers in the US and around the world about the playground industry and advancing playspace equity. In this episode, we talk with Joe Palermo of PlayPower about how his company approaches building playgrounds, how children inform the playgrounds they build, and why that matte...

In this first season of Swing Forward, co-hosts James Siegal and Jen DeMelo of KABOOM! speak with leading playground manufacturers in the US and around the world about the playground industry and advancing playspace equity. In this episode, we talk with Dr. Suzanne Flannery Quinn and Jay Cooke of KOMPAN about their research-based approach to driving childhood development outcomes and embracing the...

In this first season of Swing Forward, co-hosts James Siegal and Jen DeMelo of KABOOM! speak with leading playground manufacturers in the US and around the world about the playground industry and advancing playspace equity. In this episode, we talk with Scott Roschi of Landscape Structures about how he and his colleagues pay attention to the little details–from paint colors to signage–to make each...

In this first of Swing Forward, co-hosts James Siegal and Jen DeMelo of KABOOM! speak with leading playground manufacturers in the U.S. and around the world about the playground industry and advancing playspace equity. In this episode, we talk with Nathan Schleicher about Earthscape Play's approach to building custom-made, wood-forward playgrounds that capture the imagination and are responsi...

In this first season of Swing Forward, co-hosts James Siegal and Jen DeMelo of KABOOM! speak with leading playground manufacturers in the U.S. and around the world about the playground industry and advancing playspace equity. In this first episode, we talk with our colleague, KABOOM! CEO Lysa Ratliff, about our mission and what brought her to this work. Lysa Ratliff CEO, KABOOM!   In early 2021, L...

Swing Forward is a podcast series from KABOOM! on the future of playgrounds and playspace equity. In this first season, co-hosts James Siegal and Jen DeMelo speak with leading playground manufacturers in the U.S. and around the world about the playground industry and its role in addressing societal challenges. Here's a teaser with our guests thoughts on why every kid deserves a great playgrou...

Swing Forward is a podcast series from KABOOM! on the future of playgrounds and playspace equity. In this first season, co-hosts James Siegal and Jen DeMelo speak with leading playground manufacturers in the U.S. and around the world about the playground industry and its role in addressing societal challenges. Here's a teaser of what to look forward to this season.  About Swing Forward Swing...