For the Love of Play

Playgroup Victoria
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A podcast created by Playgroup Victoria exploring childhood, community, family and belonging. 

  1. S3 EP1: Jacinta Parsons - Keeping Curious And Embracing The Unexpected

    3d ago

    S3 EP1: Jacinta Parsons - Keeping Curious And Embracing The Unexpected

    Send us Fan Mail "I just feel compelled to tell the truth."    In Conversation with Jacinta Parsons – Broadcaster, Writer and Public Speaker   To kick off season three of For the Love of Play, we welcome broadcaster, writer and speaker Jacinta Parsons into the studio. She brings warmth, wit and depth to our conversation on play.  Known for her radio work on ABC Melbourne and her books Unseen and A Question of Age, Jacinta reflects on curiosity, creativity and living with chronic illness.  We explore how play can coexist with hardship, how asking bigger questions shapes our lives and why staying true to yourself matters.   This episode is a thoughtful and uplifting look at what it means to live playfully, even through life’s challenges.  About Our Guest  Jacinta Parsons began her career in radio more than 20 years ago at Triple R and has been speaking with Victorians across the airwaves ever since. Today she is the co-host of The Friday Revue with Brian Nankervis. She has published a memoir about living with Crohn's disease, a condition she has lived with for more than half of her life. A Melburnian through and through, she had the distinction of finishing top of the class in tram conductor training. Jacinta's websiteJacinta's ABC Listen profileShow Links  Website: For the Love of Play Listen to all episodes: Buzzsprout Follow us on Instagram: @fortheloveofplaypodcast Learn More About Playgroup Victoria  Website: playgroup.org.au Instagram: @playgroupvicofficial Facebook: Playgroup Victoria LinkedIn: Playgroup Victoria Episode Credits  Hosted by Mylie Nauendorf and Sinead Halliday.  Interview conducted by Sinead Halliday.  Edited by Jonathan Rivett.  Mastering by James North Productions.  Music by Selina Byrne.  And thanks to our little friends Laddy, Lucy, Toby, Andie and Adelaide for voicing the intro.  Enjoyed This Episode?  Subscribe to the podcast so you never miss a conversation. If this episode resonated with you, please share it with friends and family.   Support the show

    56 min
  2. Introducing Season 3 of For the Love of Play

    Season 3 Trailer

    Introducing Season 3 of For the Love of Play

    Send us Fan Mail For the Love of Play is a podcast by Playgroup Victoria exploring childhood, community, family and belonging... and play, of course, in its many wonderful forms.   In this short intro episode, we give listeners a glimpse at what you can expect from our third season.  Whether you are a parent, carer, educator or just someone curious about childhood, community and culture - come along with us as we explore, live, learn and grow through play!  Support the show

    2 min
  3. S2 EP6: Ryan Carters - Sport And Conversation Creating Space For Dads

    Mar 17

    S2 EP6: Ryan Carters - Sport And Conversation Creating Space For Dads

    Send us Fan Mail "I was happiest in the cricket world, and funnily enough I performed at my best, when I could tap into that childlike sense of play and love of the game."    In Conversation with Ryan Carters – Former Professional Cricketer and Founder of Dadfit    In this episode of For the Love of Play, we sit down with former professional cricketer and founder of dadfit, Ryan Carters.  He tells us about his childhood, including a love of cricket that began at the age of three, his work across the world raising money for disadvantaged women in cricket-playing countries and his community work back in Australia.  Ryan also tells us about dadfit, a grass roots not-for-profit which creates spaces for dads to reconnect with so much of what we love about childhood: play, a sense of fun and a feeling of belonging.    About Our Guest  Ryan Carters has carried the best of what he loved about top-level sport - mateship, empathy and teamwork - and directed it back into philanthropic and community work. A natural leader, Ryan founded dadfit, a "community on a mission to make dadding a team sport". Before turning his attention to parenting and mental health advocacy, Ryan played cricket for Victoria, New South Wales, the Sydney Sixers and the Sydney Thunder.  Ryan Carters' websiteThe dadfit websiteShow Links  Website: For the Love of Play Listen to all episodes: Buzzsprout Follow us on Instagram: @fortheloveofplaypodcast Learn More About Playgroup Victoria  Website: playgroup.org.au Instagram: @playgroupvicofficial Facebook: Playgroup Victoria LinkedIn: Playgroup Victoria Episode Credits  Hosted by Mylie Nauendorf and Sinead Halliday.  Interview conducted by Sinead Halliday.  Edited by Jonathan Rivett.  Mastering by James North Productions.  Music by Selina Byrne.  And thanks to our little friends Laddy, Toby and Adelaide for voicing the intro.  Enjoyed This Episode?  Subscribe to the podcast so you never miss a conversation. If this episode resonated with you, please share it with friends and family.   Support the show

    51 min
  4. S2 EP5: Matt Okine - Finding The Funny In Life's More Challenging Moments

    Mar 10

    S2 EP5: Matt Okine - Finding The Funny In Life's More Challenging Moments

    Send us Fan Mail "I share the realities of my life to try to de-stigmatise things. To let people know 'I'm going through this and you might be going through something similar. You're not alone here in this world.'"   In Conversation with Matt Okine – Comedian, Actor, Writer and Musician   In this episode of For the Love of Play, we chat with the "joker" (his daughter's word), actor and writer, Matt Okine.  He talks about the pain he suppressed after the death of his mother when he was just 12 years old, the unexpected joys of becoming a father and the fun that comes from making music for kids.  Matt spoke with us just a few weeks before touring Australia, including a stint at the Melbourne Comedy Festival where he is performing a show called Number 10 Hope Street. About Our Guest  As a young man, Matt Okine had to make a choice between pursuing his talent for Australian rules football or his gifts in the arts. He chose the latter and the rest is history. He is now one of Australia's most popular comedians and actors. He is also a writer, producer and talented musician, performing for both adults and children.  Matt Okine's websiteMatt's 2026 Comedy Festival pageShow Links  Website: For the Love of Play Listen to all episodes: Buzzsprout Follow us on Instagram: @fortheloveofplaypodcast Learn More About Playgroup Victoria  Website: playgroup.org.au Instagram: @playgroupvicofficial Facebook: Playgroup Victoria LinkedIn: Playgroup Victoria Episode Credits  Hosted by Mylie Nauendorf and Sinead Halliday.  Interview conducted by Sinead Halliday.  Edited by Jonathan Rivett.  Mastering by James North Productions.  Music by Selina Byrne.  And thanks to our little friends Toby and Adelaide for voicing the intro.  Enjoyed This Episode?  Subscribe to the podcast so you never miss a conversation. If this episode resonated with you, please share it with friends and family.   Support the show

    1h 4m
  5. S2 EP4: Justin Calverley - The Legacy And Life Force Of The Gardens We Grow

    Mar 3

    S2 EP4: Justin Calverley - The Legacy And Life Force Of The Gardens We Grow

    Send us Fan Mail "I'm lucky enough to be a Gen Xer. We weren't allowed inside. Our generation was literally: 'Here's breakfast. Out you go. Be back by six.'"   In Conversation with Justin Calverley – Horticulturist and Author   In this episode of For the Love of Play, we have a yarn with horticulturist, author, garden lover and radio personality, Justin Calverley.  A man who loves grassroots work (in every sense of the word), Justin chatted with us about working in and with local communities, but also his own garden, a place for making memories that he hopes last generations.  Justin knows the power of pottering in the garden and, in the interview, talks about how gardening positively affects the wellbeing of people and the planet.  About Our Guest  Justin Calverley has spent decades devoting his days to the natural world, tending to the health of the soil and understanding the rhythms of different local ecosystems. Based in Melbourne, he is hands-on and passionate about urban gardening; it's a passion that comes through in his books and regular community radio discussions.  Justin's HarperCollins author profileJustin's InstagramShow Links  Website: For the Love of Play Listen to all episodes: Buzzsprout Follow us on Instagram: @fortheloveofplaypodcast Learn More About Playgroup Victoria  Website: playgroup.org.au Instagram: @playgroupvicofficial Facebook: Playgroup Victoria LinkedIn: Playgroup Victoria Episode Credits  Hosted by Mylie Nauendorf and Sinead Halliday.  Interview conducted by Sinead Halliday.  Edited by Jonathan Rivett.  Mastering by James North Productions.  Music by Selina Byrne.  And thanks to our little friends Toby and Adelaide for voicing the intro.  Enjoyed This Episode?  Subscribe to the podcast so you never miss a conversation. If this episode resonated with you, please share it with friends and family.   Support the show

    43 min
  6. S2 EP3: Jackie French - You Cannot Survive by Yourself - You Need Stories, Community And Nature

    Feb 24

    S2 EP3: Jackie French - You Cannot Survive by Yourself - You Need Stories, Community And Nature

    Send us Fan Mail "It's almost impossible to survive by yourself. But once you are working and linked together, you will not be defeated. You will be impregnable."    In Conversation with Jackie French – Author, Ecologist and Historian    In this episode of For the Love of Play, we speak with one of Australia's best-known and best-loved authors, Jackie French.  As she tells us in this frank and broad-ranging interview, Jackie experienced an extraordinary, and often incredibly difficult, childhood in Queensland. Teachers knew from a young age that she had learning difficulties - later diagnosed as dyslexia - but also that she was precociously bright and exceptionally talented. By nurturing her gifts, they helped her onto a path that has led to international renown.  Jackie discusses overcoming hardship through determination, as well as the help and generosity of others, seeking refuge (and new worlds) in books and the beauty of the place in which she's lived for the last half century.  About Our Guest  Jackie French wrote her first book at the age six and has gone on to publish over 200. Although she was an Australian Children's Laureate and is perhaps best known for her books for kids, she has also written many books for adults, including historical fiction, historical non-fiction, books on gardening and on ecology.   Jackie French's websiteJackie's HarperCollins profileShow Links  Website: For the Love of Play Listen to all episodes: Buzzsprout Follow us on Instagram: @fortheloveofplaypodcast Learn More About Playgroup Victoria  Website: playgroup.org.au Instagram: @playgroupvicofficial Facebook: Playgroup Victoria LinkedIn: Playgroup Victoria Episode Credits  Hosted by Mylie Nauendorf and Sinead Halliday.  Interview conducted by Sinead Halliday.  Edited by Jonathan Rivett.  Mastering by James North Productions.  Music by Selina Byrne.  And thanks to our little friends Toby and Adelaide for voicing the intro.  Enjoyed This Episode?  Subscribe to the podcast so you never miss a conversation. If this episode resonated with you, please share it with friends and family.   Support the show

    39 min
  7. S2 EP2: Tina and Mark Harris (Lah Lah) - Music Is The International Language We Share

    Feb 17

    S2 EP2: Tina and Mark Harris (Lah Lah) - Music Is The International Language We Share

    Send us Fan Mail "Exposing your child to music - having music play, taking them to concerts - that's one of the best thing you can do." In Conversation with Tina and Mark Harris – Musicians, Musical Educators and Co-Creators of Children's Music Group, Lah Lah  In In this episode of For the Love of Play, we chat with Mark and Tina Harris, the musicians behind the hugely popular Australian children's music group, Lah Lah. Tina and Mark Harris have dedicated their lives to music and in this discussion, they talk about their partnership, their respective (and often overlapping) musical careers and their views on music and the world.  The conversation covers the therapeutic benefits of music, the challenge of retaining human quality in a medium that often rewards AI-produced mediocrity and the ways in which parents can introduce their children to music and musical instruments.  About Our Guests Tina and Mark Harris, who have been married for 30 years, met at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music and have gone on to be part of orchestras, theatre productions and bands. They have amassed millions of views on their YouTube channel dedicated to Lah Lah, the children’s ensemble they co-created in 2009. They are also passionate advocates for musical spaces and musical education.  The Lah Lah websiteThe Lah Lah YouTube channelWebsite of Dr Anita Collins', the researcher mentioned in the interviewShow Links Website: For the Love of PlayListen to all episodes: BuzzsproutFollow us on Instagram: @fortheloveofplaypodcastLearn More About Playgroup Victoria Website: playgroup.org.auInstagram: @playgroupvicofficialFacebook: Playgroup VictoriaLinkedIn: Playgroup VictoriaEpisode Credits Hosted by Mylie Nauendorf and Sinead Halliday. Interview conducted by Sinead Halliday. Editing by Jonathan Rivett. Mastering by James North Productions. Music by Selina Byrne. And thanks to our little friends Toby, Adelaide and Laddie for voicing the intro. Enjoyed This Episode? Subscribe to the podcast so you never miss a conversation. If this episode resonated with you, please share it with friends and family.  Support the show

    56 min
  8. S2 EP1: Sean Szeps - The Gift Of Being Reminded What It's Like To Be A Kid

    Feb 10

    S2 EP1: Sean Szeps - The Gift Of Being Reminded What It's Like To Be A Kid

    Send us Fan Mail "I think it's a great gift to be reminded what it's like to be a kid..." In Conversation with Sean Szeps – Writer and Creator  In our first episode of For the Love of Play's second season, we chat with writer and creator Sean Szeps.  Candid and humorous, Sean prompts us to think about gender roles, the importance of friendship, the early years of childhood and what it is that makes a healthy home.  Sean also discusses his own childhood, the difficulty of moving to a new country with infant twins, and the wonder that comes from watching children's capacity for silliness, creativity and acceptance of difference.  About Our Guest On social media, and in his memoir, 'Not Like Other Dads', Sean Szeps chronicles the fun, delight and challenges of raising twins with his husband Josh. Born in the United States - he met Josh in New York - Sean moved to Australia just after the birth of his children. Since then, he has amassed a huge following on Instagram, posting hilarious videos about parenting and childhood.  Sean Szeps on InstagramSean Szeps' memoir, 'Not Like Other Dads'Show Links Website: For the Love of PlayListen to all episodes: BuzzsproutFollow us on Instagram: @fortheloveofplaypodcastLearn More About Playgroup Victoria Website: playgroup.org.auInstagram: @playgroupvicofficialFacebook: Playgroup VictoriaLinkedIn: Playgroup VictoriaEpisode Credits Hosted by Mylie Nauendorf and Sinead Halliday. Interview conducted by Sinead Halliday. Editing by Jonathan Rivett. Mastering by James North Productions. Music by Selina Byrne. And thanks to our little friends Toby, Adelaide and Laddie for voicing the intro. Enjoyed This Episode? Subscribe to the podcast so you never miss a conversation. If this episode resonated with you, please share it with friends and family.  Support the show

    55 min
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About

A podcast created by Playgroup Victoria exploring childhood, community, family and belonging. 

Information

  • Creator
    Playgroup Victoria
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    15
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 For the Love of Play
  • Show Website
    For the Love of Play