What better time to give ourselves permission to be wholly unhinged than an episode dedicated to playfulness? This week’s episode is a true exercise in practicing what we preach as we allow ourselves to laugh, let go, and fully embody playfulness as we reflect on it. One of the phrases we say most on this episode is “I can’t believe I’m sharing this” so you know we’re keeping it real.

Our episode opens with sharing some intellectual inspiration for the topic of playfulness, drawing on María Lugones and Susan Sontag, both of whom have contributed greatly to our theoretical understanding of what playfulness entails and its social-political implications. We then each share an example of playfulness that we practice in our current lives (we’ll refrain from even hinting at what we discuss here so that you can get the full effect listening to the episode, you’re welcome). Zooming out, we then explore some of the barriers to playfulness in adult life and real forces and fears that prevent us from leaning into it. Finally, on a hopeful note for the future, we discuss areas of life where we would actually like to see more playfulness… well, at play. We hope you enjoy this week’s episode and laugh as much listening to it as we did making it. 

Episode Breakdown

00:00 - 7:08: Lightbulb Moments

7:09 - 18:20: Creative Lab

18:21 - 26:31: Motivation + Background on Playfulness

26:32 - 32:13: Share an example where we practice playfulness in our lives

32:14 - 46:25: What are the barriers to playfulness in adult life?

46:26 - 1:09:49: What areas of life or situations do we think would benefit from more playfulness?

Don’t Be a Stranger! 

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We’d love to hear what reflections came up for you while listening to our episode. In what ways do you currently practice playfulness? And moving forward, how would you like to engage more with it? Let us know what your thoughts are, on these questions or today’s episode, by sending us an email at [email protected]!

Sound Credits: see here

References:

Check out Cristina’s Substack here! And Sitara’s too!  

“Playfulness, ‘World’-Travelling, and Loving Perception” by María Lugones

“Notes on Camp” by Susan Sontag 

Qwirkle

13 Going on 30

April Waller