People Who Play #liveplayfully

It’s finally time to hear about Ben’s big pivot and who could have guessed? Well actually we probably all could have if we’d thought about it long enough.
Other things in this episode:
* Emma on changing room etiquette and doing another silly thing
* New segment; ‘school runnings’, clips from the car
* How who your kids make friends effects everything, but no one talks about it
* The delicate balance of critiquing art without dulling down creative
* How skill sharing and influence can help kids learn


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Consistent weekly drops, inconsistent topics. The conversation continues :)
* Ben has joined the gym so naturally behaves like he’s the first person to do so
* Emma finds flow in time blocking and getting rid of the ‘mental juggle’ of thoughts
* Emma hears the term ‘a gift to your future self’ and describes why she loves it
* Emma and Ben discuss the feeling of…

We’re back for another weekly episode of People who Play live from the Martin household HQ. On the aimlessly wondering agenda this week:
* Talking nostalgia (again) and how it continues to bring joy
* Emma receives an unexpected compliment from a stranger
* Ben wants a landline
* Procrastination or an important part of the creative process?
* Emma finds flow in the garden


This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theplayfulden.substack.com/subscribe

Emma chats to fellow ‘play’ expert Gary Ware. Gary is a creative and strategic Play Consultant who aims 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’s an improv comedian. Gary works with corporate organisations to infuse more play into the workplace and shares how activities such as improv can really help navigate professional challenges. Gary’s book, ‘Playful Rebellion’ is out now.
In this episode, Emma and Gary discuss (with timestamps):
00:00 - Introductions
06:23 - Disappearance of play
08:25 - Feeling guilty about play
10:27 - Similarities in play styles from childhood to adulthood?
12:33 - Does ‘life set-up’ allow people to express their playful personality? 
14:16 - When you play, life just works better
15:55 - Misconceptions of, and barriers to play
18:52 - Peak Emotional Experience
20:37 - Inviting people to play
24:49 - Cynicism to playfulness at work
27:46 - Improv as a tool for changing work environments
33:12 - What actually is improv?
34:22 - Exercising performance muscles
38:16 - Warming up imagination
39:06 - Intergenerational play
45:05 - The Playful Rebellion
To find out more about Gary including his upcoming events, training courses and resources he recommends, check out the links below:
www.breakthroughplay.com
X - @garyware
Instagram - @garyware
This is a public episode. For more People Who Play episodes become a Substack subscriber 
 
Paid subscribers get weekly conversations with Emma and her husband Ben on all things living playfully and you can also read Emma's monthly writing series on Raising Alpha and how to Live Playfully.


This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theplayfulden.substack.com/subscribe

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 things!
In this episode, Emma and Anna discuss (with timestamps):
00:00 - Introductions
07:00 - Dopamine dressing & making others feel happy
10:00 - Not being scared of how you look
12:00 - Colouring outside your box
15:20 - Colour analysis
18:28 - Confidence in dressing
19:30 - What a stylist does
23:24 - Lockdown loungewear
24:36 - Thoughts on trends
28:52 - Rediscovering style during motherhood
Follow Anna on Instagram: 
@alwaysafashionparade
This is a public episode. For more People Who Play episodes become a Substack subscriber 
 
Paid subscribers get weekly conversations with Emma and her husband Ben on all things living playfully and you can also read Emma's monthly writing series on Raising and how to Live Playfully.


This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theplayfulden.substack.com/subscribe

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 UK and internationally. As part of the Flying Seagulls Izzy has taken play into difficult environments and to vulnerable communities. She shares why play isn’t just for when we’re feeling in a good mood but is vital to protect and bring into the darkest of times.
On this episode, Emma and Isobel discuss (with timestamps):
00:00 - Intro
01:17 - Taking play into ‘non-playful situations
02:34 - The role of play in those situations
05:12 - Play is a ‘right’ for children
05:37 - Life before The Flying Seagulls
06:44 - Style of play (clowning)
08:21 - How is clowning different to acting?
12:34 - Universal hypnotism
15:02 - Duck duck goose
18:57 - Expectation layering
22:30 - Getting kids to play
25:53 - Performance intimidation
30:49 - The science and magic of play
36:02 - Play in mainstream education
40:20 - Izzy’s childhood playtime 
41:43 - Work play vs Down time play
43:05 - Tips for integrating clowning into everyday life 
To find out more about The Flying Seagulls and all the great work they do, use the link below:
https://www.theflyingseagullproject.com
This is a public episode. For more People Who Play episodes become a Substack subscriber 
 
Paid subscribers get weekly conversations with Emma and her husband Ben on all things living playfully and you can also read Emma's writing series - Raising Alpha and Live Playfully.


This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theplayfulden.substack.com/subscribe