The Play Rebels

The Playful Revolution
  • 5.0 (5)
  • MENTAL HEALTH
  • BIWEEKLY SERIES

Remember joy? Unbridled, liberated, authentic joy? Joy is freaking awesome, but for many adults, it seems absurd to even think about feeling joy in your everyday life. The Play Rebels are here to fix that. What if everything you know about play is wrong? Society wants you to believe that play is just for kids, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Play isn’t a hobby, an indulgence, or an exercise class—it’s a radical act of self-liberation. TJ Matton and Bailey Jacobs are The Play Rebels, your guides and play buddies as you reprogram your mind and unleash the power of play for authentic joy, self-expression, and transformation. Through storytelling, nervous system education, and experiential and embodied play practices, you’ll rediscover mindful play and integrate it into your daily life. When you treat play with the same commitment as other wellness practices, it has the power to rewire your brain, strengthen relationships, and unlock a life of creativity, connection, and ease—without changing a single external thing. When they’re not speaking into microphones, TJ and Bailey are the co-founders of The Playful Revolution. They are deeply committed to helping adults rediscover play as a path to liberation, greater belonging, and happiness.

  1. EPISODE 1

    Episode 1: Curious? Good. Welcome to the Revolution

    What if everything you knew about play was wrong?   In this introductory episode of 'The Play Rebels' podcast, co-founders Bailey and TJ of The Playful Revolution invite listeners to get curious about their connection to joy and play in a society that doesn’t give a sh*t if they feel joy.   Listen and explore the importance of joy and play as revolutionary practice, the concepts of curiosity and personal fulfillment, and engage in exploratory play practices.   Better understand the transformative power of play and its benefits, including stress relief, creativity, and self-empowerment.     00:00 Meet the Play Rebels  02:34 The Power of Your Curiosity  04:19 Exploratory Play Break   12:00  Joy as a Revolutionary Practice Further your play reorientation by visiting www.theplayfulrevolution.com. There you'll find free play practices, courses, and more.  Send us your play as well as your questions and curiosities via email at hello@theplayfulrevolution.com or on Instagram by following us and DMing us @theplayfulrevolution.

    18 min

  2. EPISODE 2

    Ep 2: This is Your Brain on Play + Understanding Play Neuroscience

    What if play wasn’t something you did, but something you experienced?   In this episode of The Play Rebels, hosts TJ and Bailey delve into the fundamental importance of understanding play as a nervous system state rather than a behavior or action. You’ll better understand the inner workings of your own mind and reframe your experience of joy and play in your life.   Through experiential and imaginative play practices, they explore the different states of the nervous system. They also provide ways to identify your current nervous system states, break ingrained survival patterns, and harness play to enhance mental flexibility, resilience, and joy.   Get ready to rethink the significance of play and how it can transform your life. 00:00 Welcome + Introduction  01:59 Play as a Nervous System Experience 04:35 Experiential Play Break 09:28 Understanding Nervous System States 16:50 The Role of Play in Healing and Growth 27:22 Recognizing Nervous System Patterns Further your play reorientation by visiting www.theplayfulrevolution.com. There you'll find free play practices, courses, and more.  Send us your play as well as your questions and curiosities via email at hello@theplayfulrevolution.com or on Instagram by following us and DMing us @theplayfulrevolution.

    34 min

  3. EPISODE 3

    Ep 3: Combatting Adult Loneliness + How We Became Rebels

    In this episode of 'The Play Rebels,' co-founders Bailey and TJ of the Playful Revolution delve into the importance of play in their relationship and its profound impact on their growth and connection. They discuss how play fosters openness and personal evolution, serving as a powerful antidote to loneliness. Through sharing personal experiences and insights, they explore the transformative nature of play and offer listeners practical advice on identifying and cultivating playful relationships in their own lives. The episode also encourages listeners to reflect on their play experiences and relationships, aiming to inspire a more joyful, connected life. 00:00 The Role of Play in Adult Relationships 02:38 The Healing Power of Play 07:17 Building a Playful Partnership 10:23 Trust and Vulnerability in Play 13:19 Reflecting on Growth and Play 15:56 Identifying Playful Relationships Further your play reorientation by visiting www.theplayfulrevolution.com. There you'll find free play practices, courses, and more.  Send us your play as well as your questions and curiosities via email at hello@theplayfulrevolution.com or on Instagram by following us and DMing us @theplayfulrevolution.

    26 min

  4. EPISODE 4

    Ep 4: What are Play Personalities? + Rediscovering Joy

    In this episode of Play Rebels, hosts TJ and Bailey explore the concept of play personalities, emphasizing the importance of reconnecting with joy through play. The episode highlights the significance of understanding one's play style, using a powerful research-based framework to help you think about where you feel joy. They also demystify intellectual play to help adults stop siloing play into the “childish.” TJ and Bailey also introduce a self-assessment tool, The Play Compass. Available on The Playful Revolution’s website. The internal exploration practice helps listeners identify their natural play entry points.  Download the Play Compass The discussion aims to empower adults to embrace their unique play patterns and incorporate joy into their daily routines. 00:00 Understanding Play Personalities 01:18 The Joy of Play 06:00 Exploring Play Patterns 14:22 The Eight Play Personalities 48:30 Wrapping Up: Embracing All Play Personalities Further your play reorientation by visiting www.theplayfulrevolution.com. There you'll find free play practices, courses, and more.  Send us your play as well as your questions and curiosities via email at hello@theplayfulrevolution.com or on Instagram by following us and DMing us @theplayfulrevolution.

    51 min

  5. EPISODE 5

    Ep 5: Play with the Rebels!!

    It’s time to play!  What’s that? You don’t think you can play through a podcast? CHALLENGE ACCEPTED.  In this episode of The Play Rebels, hosts TJ and Bailey guide you in rekindling their sense of play through a game of 20 Questions (or is it 21?).  Listen and feel your engagement spark as you participate in play with TJ and Bailey.  See if you can guess the mystery objects before the Rebels. Relearn and reclaim enjoyment in your life through play.  Remember, play is your engagement with enjoyment. It’s not an action, it’s not hobbies, it’s a personal and internal experience you cultivate.  Let your intrigue and curiosity guide you as you explore how it feels to play.  Episode Chapters  00:00 Introduction + Setting the Rules for Play 02:40 Round 1: Is it 20 or 21? 12:54 Round 2: Maintaining Novelty  14:44 Round 3: Personal Play Mysteries  22:38 Reflections on Play and Engagement Further your play reorientation by visiting www.theplayfulrevolution.com. There you'll find free play practices, courses, and more.  Use our Free Play Compass to orient to the joy in your life. This internal exploration practice helps you identify your natural play entry points.  Download the Play Compass Send us your play as well as your questions and curiosities via email at hello@theplayfulrevolution.com or on Instagram by following us and DMing us @theplayfulrevolution. Further your play reorientation by visiting www.theplayfulrevolution.com. There you'll find free play practices, courses, and more.  Send us your play as well as your questions and curiosities via email at hello@theplayfulrevolution.com or on Instagram by following us and DMing us @theplayfulrevolution.

    26 min

  6. EPISODE 6

    Ep 6: How You Lost Play + Healing Your Play Wounds?

    In this episode of 'The Play Rebels,' hosts TJ and Bailey dive into the topic of play wounds and how your play wounds are why you struggle with playfulness.  Everyone’s play has been wounded. Times it didn’t go as planned. Times when someone or something hurt you. Times when societal messaging stopped you from being your authentic self.  In this episode, we explore how cultural, relational, and personal factors inhibit our ability to engage in playful activities.  We also introduce you to the play wave as a framework for you to start thinking about your own experience in play and where it might be getting stuck.  Through personal anecdotes and professional insights, The Play Rebels explore how societal norms and personal experiences shape our play behaviors and how to begin healing play wounds for a more joyful and fulfilling life.  00:30 Understanding Play Wounds 01:52 How Play is like a Wave 09:40 Cultural and Relational Impacts on Play 32:32 Vulnerability & “Safe Enough”  41:47 Relearning Play and Finding Joy Further your play reorientation by visiting www.theplayfulrevolution.com. There you'll find free play practices, courses, and more.  Use our Free Play Compass to orient to the joy in your life. This internal exploration practice helps you identify your natural play entry points.  Download the Play Compass Send us your play as well as your questions and curiosities via email at hello@theplayfulrevolution.com or on Instagram by following us and DMing us @theplayfulrevolution. Further your play reorientation by visiting www.theplayfulrevolution.com. There you'll find free play practices, courses, and more.  Send us your play as well as your questions and curiosities via email at hello@theplayfulrevolution.com or on Instagram by following us and DMing us @theplayfulrevolution.

    47 min

  7. EPISODE 7

    Ep 7: Your Practical Guide to Joy w/ The Play Compass

    Did you know each and every person has their own unique way of playing? (Including You!)  It’s your play personality, and learning it is the secret to rediscovering joy in your life.  In this interactive episode of 'The Play Rebels,' hosts Bailey and TJ help you find your play personality using The Play Compass, a free tool designed to help individuals discover their play personalities and find pathways to joy.  Consider Bailey and TJ your body doubles as they guide you through the eight play personalities as defined by Stuart Brown. You’ll learn how to use the Play Compass to identify your own entry points into playful activities.  Bailey and TJ share their personal experiences and ratings of various playful activities, offering insights into how listeners can use the compass to understand and cultivate their own sense of playfulness.  If you want to join Bailey and TJ in filling out The Play Compass, download it for free here:  Download the Play Compass Episode Chapters  00:00  Exploring the Play Compass 02:34 No Printer? No Problem!  05:01 Guilded Tour of The Play Compass  23:59 Reflecting on Play Patterns 30:30 Encouraging Joy and Playfulness Further your play reorientation by visiting www.theplayfulrevolution.com. There you'll find free play practices, courses, and more.  Send us your play as well as your questions and curiosities via email at hello@theplayfulrevolution.com or on Instagram by following us and DMing us @theplayfulrevolution.

    32 min

  8. EPISODE 8

    Ep 8: Reclaiming Play made SIMPLE

    Why is play so effortless for kids...but feels awkward, distant, or even impossible for so many adults? In this episode of Play Rebels, hosts Bailey and TJ guide listeners on how to reclaim play and joy in their daily lives without needing significant changes or purchases. In this episode, TJ and Bailey introduce SIMPLE—a powerful, easy-to-follow framework for reconnecting with your playfulness in everyday life. Without needing to overhaul your schedule or buy anything new, you’ll learn how to tap into joy, connection, and empowerment through small, intentional acts of play. The episode will help you redefine play outside of the narrow societal constructs. It also provides practical ways to reintegrate play, making it a meaningful, intentional part of their day-to-day lives. Episode Chapters  01:17 Episode Play Prompt  04:22 The SIMPLE Method: Reclaiming Play 21:45 The Regenerative Power of Play 24:39 Redefining Playfulness Beyond Cultural Norms 35:25 How to Cultivate Play in Everyday Activities Ready to start understanding how you feel joy? Discover your play personality with our free Play Compass here: Download the Play Compass  Further your play reorientation by visiting www.theplayfulrevolution.com. There you'll find free play practices, courses, and more.  Send us your play as well as your questions and curiosities via email at hello@theplayfulrevolution.com or on Instagram by following us and DMing us @theplayfulrevolution.

    41 min
See All Season 1 (13)

5
out of 5
5 Ratings

About

Remember joy? Unbridled, liberated, authentic joy? Joy is freaking awesome, but for many adults, it seems absurd to even think about feeling joy in your everyday life. The Play Rebels are here to fix that. What if everything you know about play is wrong? Society wants you to believe that play is just for kids, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Play isn’t a hobby, an indulgence, or an exercise class—it’s a radical act of self-liberation. TJ Matton and Bailey Jacobs are The Play Rebels, your guides and play buddies as you reprogram your mind and unleash the power of play for authentic joy, self-expression, and transformation. Through storytelling, nervous system education, and experiential and embodied play practices, you’ll rediscover mindful play and integrate it into your daily life. When you treat play with the same commitment as other wellness practices, it has the power to rewire your brain, strengthen relationships, and unlock a life of creativity, connection, and ease—without changing a single external thing. When they’re not speaking into microphones, TJ and Bailey are the co-founders of The Playful Revolution. They are deeply committed to helping adults rediscover play as a path to liberation, greater belonging, and happiness.

Information

  • Creator
    The Playful Revolution
  • Episodes
    13
  • Seasons
    1
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2025 The Playful Revolution
  • Show Website
    The Play Rebels