Amber Clisura is a force of nature. The good kind. And she has some very strong feelings about the vitality of play to share with us in this episode. She believes that how we play can shape our own lives as well as help to open up the possibility of joy and fun in the lives of others.
She’s part of a community dedicated to song and pure play called Jerk Church that began in Oakland, California. They’re irreverent and fun, but they’re also dedicated to giving back. At Jerk Church, doing good deeds is never a drag. Learn more about the Jerks as well as Amber’s personal take on how our attitudes toward play shape our perspectives on career, hard work and what it means to “follow our bliss.” (Believe me, it’s not what you’re expecting.)
Enjoy!
Show Notes & Links:
As the post-election storms continue to rock the world, a group of play enthusiasts are coming together to ask the question, can play help us heal from this divisiveness and turmoil? One Facebook post really caught my imagination. It was entitled, “Can Play Save Us?” Mathias Poulsen, Co-founder & Chairman of the Board of the NGO CounterPlay in Denmark, began his post by saying, “I need to act.” He went on to explain how a playful perspective is more vital than ever right now and therefore, so is his crusade. Between his words and the many inspiring comments, I’m re-energized to keep going as well.
So this episode is my refection on what I’ve been learning so far about play from PlayGrounding guests and how we might be able to answer the question, can play save us? In a special conversation with Amanda Coolong, Co-Chairman of the Board at WITI - Women In Technology International and former PlayGrounding guest, actress Michelle Barton, we’ll look at how play can pull us out of negative, non-productive thought patterns and open us up to inspiration and action. We’ll also learn from other former guests, Meg Athavale and Megan Sadd about play’s role in battling addiction and depression.
This is not my way of definitively answering Mathias’ question. It’s my starting place. I hope many more voices join in to help answer the questions he poses in his call for proposals for the CounterPlay Festival/Conference in 2017:
We wish to explore the potential role of playful participation, for individuals, communities and society at large. How might it facilitate a stronger sense of agency and become a catalyst of adaptability and change? In what ways can play inspire and encourage us to question the status quo and challenge the rules? When will our innate playfulness spark our imagination and curiosity, and will it enable us to see that the world could be transformed into something else? Should we consider play a political act that can shape societies? Could it even make democracy come alive through new forms of participation? Can play bolster our courage, so we dare to speak out and challenge established power structures and hierarchies?
Let’s start figuring it out together.
“If you think about the human spirit – if we were to evolve to our highest state – what is that? It’s play.” – Artist Patrick Shearn
Patrick Shearn is an artist and founder of Poetic Kinetics. He creates interactive, experimental art installations such as the recent Liquid Shard, a beautiful temporary installation above Pershing Square in Downtown Los Angeles. Made of holographic mylar that spanned 15,000 square feet, it rode on the wind up to 115 feet in the air. Liquid Shard brought hundreds of people out of their offices each day to enjoy lunch in the park who wouldn't ordinarly have left their cubicles.
Patrick and his team are also responsible for incredible art pieces at festivals like Burning Man and Coachella. In 2013, they created an 80-foot snail called “Helix Poeticus,” in 2014, the 36-foot tall astronaut called “Escape Velocity” (affectionately dubbed “The Coachella Astronaut”), and a double piece in 2015 called "Caterpillar’s Longing" – a giant colorful caterpillar and butterfly that shaded festival-goers from the sun with its giant wings.
But this interview is about much more than just Patrick’s art. He’s very passionate about instigating play in the lives of those around him. He encourages us grown-ups to see that our wild ideas can STILL be possible, and it all starts with making play at integral part of our lives.
You’ll hear how his philosophy of life springs out of an unusual childhood where he was encouraged to run with his wildest ideas, to figure things out on his own at a young age, to explore the unknown and follow his instincts.
No one has ever promised us cozy and secure lives, but many choose to live in a state of denial when it comes to the fact that sometimes our planet is trying to kill us.
As of the day this podcast is going live, Hurricane Matthew is pounding Florida. Just a few weeks ago, an earthquake alert was issued for the first time in the State of California. We were told to be ready for a possible earthquake with a magnitude of 7 or greater in the southern part of the state.
These things aren’t fun. Why would we talk about them on a podcast about play? No one in their right mind WANTS to think about them, right? Wrong. Meet professional artist Kevin “Kevissimo” Rolly. Kevin thinks about this stuff a lot, but he’s far from a Debbie Downer.
Kevin has been attending Burning Man since 1996. Early on, he experienced how radical self-reliance could be incredibly empowering and even fun. Facing the unknown, getting educated and being prepared can lead not only to peace of mind but to great adventures and the ability to care for and teach his community.
So for this working artist, emergency preparation has become his side gig. He now teaches earthquake preparedness classes for fun, but I promise they’re not like any class of its kind you’ve ever experienced.
In today’s episode, you’ll get a little taste of Kevin’s class, Earthquake 101: A Humble Guide on How Not to Die.
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Chef David Weidman, or “Chef Dave” as he’s known to his admirers, is known for his spectacular mini-cheesecakes and desserts. But his fame among the Burning Man community is due to his generosity, passion and creativity in the dusty kitchen. On this episode, you’ll hear how cooking became a lifeline when he was a young boy struggling with a learning disability. He also talks about meeting Julia Child, partnering with a rocket scientist to create amazing frozen desserts in the harshest desert conditions, and how giving himself over to what many would have called a hobby led him to deeper friendships, great adventures and a new business.
If you’ve ever been to Burning Man, you might have met Chef Dave or tasted some of his food. He’s cooked for Black Rock Observatory, The French Quarter, Black Rock Bakery, Red Nose District and even the ever elusive Tuna Guys. He even made jasmine cupcakes for a wedding on the open playa this year! (They were amazing.)
You can buy his cheesecakes and other desserts at local Los Angeles area farmers markets or you can find him online at www.f2d4.net. From his website, you can also email him if you’d like to be added to his list for ethnic culinary adventures around Los Angeles.
“We’re the outcasts and the oddballs. We see things a little differently. We give ourselves permission to find something about ourselves to love, something we’re good at and passionate about. We don’t try to fit in. Then we just do our thing.” – Chef David Weidman "Chef Dave"
We don’t always know what we’re going to grow up to be. This week’s guest, AJ Freysteinson, didn’t know, but he followed a play-inspired path from the time he was a child that led him to become one of today’s leading innovators in 3D projection mapping, holographic art, and a lot of other unique and breath-taking visual solutions. You’ll hear what inspires him as well as the guiding principle behind the career decisions he’s made throughout his life. You’ll also hear how he refuels his own fire to keep his creative juices flowing – and it involves a very well-known playground.
It’s easy to point a finger at over-protective parents, but don’t let yourself away with being over-protective of YOU. You’ll be missing all the fun.
It’s so sad, right? Many kids don’t get to run free and play with sticks or climb dangerous jungle gyms anymore. But a lot of study has been done around how important it is for kids to explore and challenge themselves, even when it means they might get hurt.
But as I always wonder, what about us adults? We need play in the same ways that children do – even play that could get a little dangerous. Some adults choose dangerous sporting activities to challenge themselves. We have an awesome sense of accomplishment when we push past a fear and climb that rock face or float down those rapids.
But there’s a whole world beyond sport for those of us who want to challenge ourselves while having a little fun. That’s what this show is about.
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When we were kids, everyone thought it was important for us to play. They even set up this weird thing called “recess” where we could encounter the awesome world of the playground. They knew it was good for us then, but what about now? As adults, no one seems to care about recess for us anymore. It was good for us then, and it’s vital for us now. But how do we find a playground like we had back then? One that’s a world unto itself? I started this show for that very reason. There are no teachers watching out for us now. We have to prioritize play for ourselves.
In this episode, part two of a three-part series on finding a great playground, we’ll revisit Dr. Stuart Brown’s properties of play and how I found them at Burning Man. Like the playground at school – it was a world unto itself. It cut us off from the world of expectations and homework only to leave us with possibility and exploration. We can find it as adults. I found it at Burning Man. I invite you to share with me the other places where you find your own “Secret Gardens” and playgrounds.
We’ll also meet an old friend of mine from the other side of the world who has a very special message for all of us.
Mark Azoulay, “a psychotherapist in Boulder, CO that helps people explore and destroy the unconscious motivations and barriers that cripple them.” Check out his blog!
Dr. Stuart Brown’s book, Play: How it Shapes the Brain, Opens the Imagination, and Invigorates the Soul
Keeping your feet on the ground is the number one cause of boring, uninspired lives. In addition to taking care of ourselves and our families, we have every right to play and lead fun, fulfilling and interesting lives. It's one thing to know that and another to figure out how to do it. Especially if your feet have been on the ground for so long you forget how to have fun.
This episode is the introduction to a series about finding a playground that sets you free to really experience the power of play. The last PlayGrounding episode, Escaping Your Cage, was about identifying and plotting a course away from the things that tie us down. But for what? There has to be a second step. Sometimes our discontent is so ingrained, it’s hard to know what to do when you actually get out. It might even seem easier just to go back inside the cage. But there IS more to life (as I might have mentioned).
Over the next few episodes, we’ll talk about how to create the circumstances that make play possible – real play – the kind that can help us burned-out adults rediscover our childlike exuberance for life. We'll talk about how Dr. Stuart Brown defines transformative play in his book, Play. According to Dr. Brown, play:
Now we just need to find a playground that allows us to really experience these things. All of our playgrounds will be different, but I stumbled upon one where I experienced all of these things at once: Burning Man. It's a huge cultural phenomenon and a healing experience for so many people all over the world, that I thought I'd use it as an example of a playground that truly sets people free.
What will yours playground look like? That's what we're going to explore in the next few episodes, so be sure to subscribe!
Do you live in a cage? (Of course you don’t. Right?) That’s what we explore in this week’s episode of PlayGrounding. I’ll talk about ideas for how to identify whether you’re really as happy as you keep telling yourself you are, then help you identify your own personal cage so that you can start making plans to break out. And it was all inspired by a dog.
Here’s what I promised you from this week’s episode:
Play transforms lives, and this week’s guest, Martin Mapoma, believes one way to get the most out of play is by transforming our bodies. Martin is a fitness and nutrition expert who runs a youth strength and conditioning program called Primal Play. I got to talk to him about why he believes it’s so important to teach fitness to kids as early as possible, how he motivates them through play, and how we adults can do the same. Getting strong and gaining the ability to move well doesn’t have to be torture. We can reach new heights and depths of fun and enjoyment in our lives when we take care of our bodies.
Learn More About Primal Play:
Today’s show exposes our limited point of view when it comes to what’s possible. The idea that we really can take charge of the order of events in our life can seem crazy. But don’t sell yourself out. The things you gave up when you decided to “be a grownup,” those things you always wanted, are probably still available to you.
Hear from Heather Dowling about her one-woman show, Unemployed. Finally... It took 30 jobs in 30 years, but she is finally doing what she wants. It’s about her life from the age of 14 to 40. She explores the different phases of life and what brought her back to finally doing what she loves because she finally gave herself permission to play.
This episode is posted a day late. Yes, I’m busted. The reason is that it was SO HARD to interview this particular person, let alone edit it. He’s a handful. He’s my husband. He’s the reason this podcast exists and the person who came up with its name. His name is Cupcake. Yes, Cupcake. Hear how the heartache of his youth became fuel for a life of generosity, empathy and love for anyone who crosses his path. He identifies best with Stuart Brown’s “joker” play personality, so it makes sense that he’s the life of the party. But he’s also an amazing “camp counselor” for those of us who call him friend. He re-introduced this podcaster to a life of fun and hilarity & I’ve been looking forward to introducing him to you. Have fun!
Show Notes:
See what innovative projection solutions Cupcake is up to at RabCup
Have you ever had a moment when you just needed to “show up” but couldn’t feel any less like being there? Many of us have, whether it be obligations to our jobs, families or friends. But oftentimes, “putting on a happy face” can be the least constructive approach. In this episode, actress and producer Michelle Barton shares tips from the acting world about how we can find authenticity and power in those difficult moments through play.
In this episode, you’ll hear:
Show Notes!
“Play is a state of mind, rather than an activity.” – Dr. Stuart Brown
This week we get ready for a new round of upcoming guests by exploring the eight “Play Personalities” from Dr. Brown’s book, Play: How it Shapes the Brain, Opens the Imagination, and Invigorates the Soul. I look at the play personalities as a kind of menu. Some of them might be your usual comfort food while others are new and different, something you try to mix things up when you feel stuck. In the episodes to come, we’ll ask each guest about their play personalities and how they helped propel them into a lifestyle of play.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
Amazing things happen inside of our brains when we play. As Dr. Stuart Brown wrote, play is “a profound biological process. It has evolved over eons in many animal species to promote survival. It shapes the brain and makes animals smarter and more adaptable. In higher animals, it fosters empathy and makes possible complex social groups. For us, play lies at the core of creativity and innovation.” It’s not easy to define play, but in this episode, you’ll hear Dr. Brown’s definition as well as stories of lives that were changed by taking up true play again as adults.
In this episode you’ll hear:
When battling burnout or even something as serious as anxiety or depression, constantly seeking ways to fix yourself might not be the best strategy. Taking care of yourself by having fun can help retrain your brain, improve your mental health, make you more productive and it might even help you to become an inspiration to others.
Discover comedienne and vegan cooking instructor Megan Sadd’s strategy for how to focus on joy. In her battle with depression, Megan turned down good money and set off on an adventure she calls the #30dayfunchallenge that’s been going viral. Consider this your invitation – your challenge – to join in the fun.
Join the #30dayfunchallenge!
In this episode, you’ll hear:
Let the memories of how you played as a child become a guide for the decisions you make as an adult. What made you excited to get out of bed when you were a little kid? Staying true to the vision of what inspired us as children can help us get perspective on the pressures we place on ourselves in the never ending quest for stability and prosperity. Hear from tech entrepreneur and artist Meg Athavale (a.k.a. Meg Rabbit) as she shares her story and advice about how letting yourself play can lead to to a life of fulfillment and adventure.
Listen online by clicking the play button below or >>Subscribe on iTunes<<
Meet Meg Athavale at MegRabbit.com.
Follow her on Twitter: @meghanrabbit
On this very first episode of The PlayGrounding Podcast, I'll take a moment to introduce myself and tell you why I'm investing so much in the concept of play. You'll hear:
It's one thing to know how important it is to play and another to work it into a busy schedule. Hear how Audrey "Mourning" Wood took on boredom. She's been a member of the L.A. Derby Dolls Sirens team since 2011 and was a member of All Stars from 2012-2015. She's a derby trainer and has been head trainer, captain of the Sirens and co-captain of All Stars. And this is only one of the many things she does "just" for fun.
I invited her onto the show because we need to hear that people like Audrey face the same challenges so many of us do, but she's managed to take purposeful, conscious steps into new and sometimes scary territory to find fun and meaning in life. So, for those of us who regularly stay late at work and collapse in a heap in front of Netflix the moment we get home, Audrey has advice on how to not only find and create community and fun outside of work, but how to have the energy to enjoy it.
In this episode, you'll hear about: