For the Love of Play

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

  1. 2d ago

    S3 EP4: Nelly Thomas - Writing Your Own Script

    Send us Fan Mail "A good comedian speaks truth to power."    In Conversation with Nelly Thomas – Comedian, Author and Broadcaster   In the fourth episode of For the Love of Play's third season, we shoot the breeze with comedian Nelly Thomas.  She discusses being a BMX champion at a young age, the fact that boredom often acts as a catalyst for creativity, coming to Melbourne from Western Australia to pursue postgrad studies and the way her life changed after stumbling into the world of comedy.  Nelly also talks about being the first person in her family to go to university, and about becoming an author after growing up in a rural, working-class home without many books.  The conversation also covers neurodiversity, a subject that Nelly has thought about carefully and written about extensively.  About Our Guest  Nelly Thomas is a comedian, conversationalist and companion to many through her writing and broadcasting. She shares human experiences, seeking to find meaning in topics that challenge us and connect us: culture, equality, health, gender and neurodiversity.  Through candid humour and stories, Nelly brings us together, highlighting that that understanding can be a bridge between people.      Nelly's website Nelly 's Penguin Publishing 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

    S3 EP4: Nelly Thomas - Writing Your Own Script

  2. Jul 12

    S3 EP3: Jay Laga'aia - The Power of Performing Through Play

    Send us Fan Mail "Our children have to hear our stories in our own voices."    In Conversation with Jay Laga'aia – Actor, Children's Entertainer and Singer   In the third episode of For the Love of Play's third season, we chat with actor and musician Jay Laga'aia.  Jay discusses the joy and fun of a large family, the lessons he's learnt as a parent and the bittersweet moment of pushing a child's 'canoe' out into the open sea. Beloved for his hosting role on the legendary Australian children's show Play School, Jay tells us how performing for children has taught him valuable life lessons. The conversation also covers the wisdom of older family members, the importance of local television programming, the universal nature of music and much more.  About Our Guest  Jay is a proud Polynesian man who spent his youth in New Zealand before crossing the Tasman to begin his career in Australia as a performer.  He started out acting in the primetime television program Water Rats, before starring in Hollywood blockbuster Star Wars, as well as Australian TV classics Home and Away and Play School. Alongside his time performing for early years audiences, he has played Mufasa in The Lion King musical, Vince Fontaine in Grease the musical and Shrek in the popular stage show.  Jay's InstagramJay on SpotifyShow 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

    S3 EP3: Jay Laga'aia - The Power of Performing Through Play

  3. Jul 5

    S3 EP2: Jane Edmanson - Growing Goodness in the Great Outdoors

    Send us Fan Mail "I think gardening teaches you resilience. And awareness that things go on."    In Conversation with Jane Edmanson – Gardener, Horticulturalist and TV Host    It's the third season of For the Love of Play and in our second episode, we have a chinwag with gardener and TV personality, Jane Edmanson.  Jane discusses her early years travelling overseas, her experiences in England, "the home of horticulture", and her start in nurseries at a time when women rarely pursued a career in the area.  She talks about overcoming her natural shyness to begin working on TV as a gardening expert, which turned into a 35-year stint on Gardening Australia. Jane mentions the many reasons she loves plants, gardens and the great outdoors, including her interest in the Japanese concept of forest bathing. She suggests "garden bathing" as a way of slowing down in a world that asks us to constantly go fast.  About Our Guest  Jane Edmanson has wandered down thousands of garden paths in her time - and forged many of her own. At a time when it was unheard of for women to work in nurseries, Jane prevailed, knowing that there was something in the career worth pursuing. Getting her hands in the soil prepared her for what was to come. She has been part of the team at Gardening Australia for 35 years, only recently stepping back from the camera, but not from the communities of gardeners across Australia.   Jane's Gardening Australia profileJane'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 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

    S3 EP2: Jane Edmanson - Growing Goodness in the Great Outdoors

  4. Jun 28

    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

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

  5. 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

    Introducing Season 3 of For the Love of Play

  6. 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

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

  7. 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

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

  8. 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

    S2 EP4: Justin Calverley - The Legacy And Life Force Of The Gardens We Grow
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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
    18
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 For the Love of Play
  • Show Website
    For the Love of Play

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