For the Love of Play

By Playgroup Victoria

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

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FAQs about For the Love of Play:

How many episodes does For the Love of Play have?

The podcast currently has 13 episodes available.

For the Love of Play episodes:

March 10, 2026S2 EP5: Matt Okine - Finding The Funny In Life's More Challenging Moments
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"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 website
Matt's 2026 Comedy Festival page
Show 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?
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1h 5min
March 03, 2026S2 EP4: Justin Calverley - The Legacy And Life Force Of The Gardens We Grow
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"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 profile
Justin's Instagram
Show 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?
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43min
February 24, 2026S2 EP3: Jackie French - You Cannot Survive by Yourself - You Need Stories, Community And Nature
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"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 website
Jackie's HarperCollins profile
Show 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
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39min
February 17, 2026S2 EP2: Tina and Mark Harris (Lah Lah) - Music Is The International Language We Share
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"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 website
The Lah Lah YouTube channel
Website of Dr Anita Collins', the researcher mentioned in the interview
Show 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.
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
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57min
February 10, 2026S2 EP1: Sean Szeps - The Gift Of Being Reminded What It's Like To Be A Kid
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"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 Instagram
Sean Szeps' memoir, 'Not Like Other Dads'
Show 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.
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
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56min
October 14, 2025S1 Bonus Episode: Emeritus Professor Dorothy Scott - It Takes a Village to Raise a Child... and What Does it Take to Build a Village?
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"I like that African proverb that it takes a village to raise a child because it always makes me think ‘and what does it take to build a village?’"

In Conversation with Emeritus Professor Dorothy Scott – World-Leading Expert in Child and Family Welfare
This special episode of For the Love of Play was in fact part of our original podcast series, the Playgroup Podcast, which we launched in early 2020. Sadly, the project was derailed by the pandemic.
Our conversation with Emeritus Professor Dorothy Scott was recorded in 2019, but remains as interesting and relevant now as it was all those years ago.
The discussion covers Dorothy’s early professional years, including how she came to the field of early childhood, her work in developing the state’s first sexual assault counselling service, as well as the radical societal shifts over the past 50 years that have changed parenting and roles within families. Dorothy also talks about the fundamentally inclusive and democratic nature of community institutions such as playgroups.
About Our Guest
Emeritus Professor Dorothy Scott is Playgroup Victoria’s Patron.
Over a long and distinguished career, Dorothy has closely examined the folds of early childhood, disentangling aspects of children's and families' worlds, as well as our wider communities - our villages. Dorothy is a scholar, an honorary fellow at the University of Melbourne, and the custodian of much knowledge and wisdom in the field of child and family welfare.
View Professor Scott’s University of Melbourne Profile
Show 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
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32min
September 16, 2025S1 EP5: Naomi Jeffree - Playgroup Saved Me
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"Playgroup saved me. Although I know that sounds really dramatic, I actually feel it’s really true."

In Conversation with Naomi Jeffree – Playgroup Facilitator and Training Coordinator
In our final episode of season one, we speak with our wonderful colleague and playgroup expert, Naomi Jeffree.
Naomi has been working with families for over twenty years and her work within playgroups has focused heavily on families whose children have different abilities and needs.
In this conversation, Naomi discusses the way playgroups can give people a profound sense of belonging, can change children’s lives for the better and which, above all else, emphasise fun and joy. She also reflects on the fact that because playgroups are so varied, there is really no such thing as typical “playgroup mum”.
About Our Guest
Naomi Jeffree has dedicated more than 20 years of her professional life to working with families. Today she is a facilitator, training coordinator, community leader and, most importantly, the proud mum of two boys.
Read the story of a PlayConnect+ playgroup facilitated by Naomi.
Show 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
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48min
September 09, 2025S1 EP4: Paul Kennedy - Sport Can Be An Oasis From The Chaos Of Life
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"That’s a really powerful thing... for people to have almost an oasis from the chaos of their lives to come and spend time at a sports club.”

In Conversation with Paul Kennedy – Journalist, Author and TV Presenter
Content Warning: this episode references child abuse. Please take care of yourself when listening and, if necessary, skip the interview between 39:10 and 42:00.

While Paul is well known as the former ABC mornings sports reporter, his books and documentaries shed more light on who he is and what he cares about. In this episode we talk about his writing, his love of sport and his discovery of creativity as an outlet.
The conversation also explores the importance of family and how community institutions like sporting clubs can connect us, providing support, purpose and sometimes even a sanctuary from the challenges of life.
Paul talks about why role models matter, the importance of encouragement during childhood and how one person can have a profound influence on their community - and society at large.
About Our Guest
A promising footballer in his youth, Paul pursued his love of sport and writing to become a journalist, eventually spending more than a decade as ABC TV’s morning sport reporter. His journalism has also taken the form of books and documentaries, and his beautifully honest memoir, Funkytown, is a rite-of-passage story, focusing on his teenage years in the Melbourne suburb of Seaford.
Read Paul’s bio on the ABC website.
Read Paul’s Penguin Books profile.
Show 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
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50min
September 02, 2025S1 EP3: Emma Watkins - Play Is The Most Important Learning Vehicle Of Life
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"Play is the most important learning vehicle of life..."

In Conversation with Emma Watkins – Children’s Entertainer, Singer, Dancer and Author
In this episode, we speak with beloved children’s entertainer, Emma Watkins, better known as the Yellow Wiggle and Emma Memma.
We discuss play as a vehicle for early learning and talk in depth about Emma’s passion for visual communication and her endeavour to create interactive spaces that connect us through dance, movement and Auslan.
We ask Emma about her experience with the Wiggles and her love of performance, but we also learn more about her life outside her characters and costumes.
A quick heads up: We recorded this interview over Zoom, and you'll notice the audio has a few minor blips.
About Our Guest
Emma Watkins, who rose to international stardom as the Yellow Wiggle, is a dancer, filmmaker and a passionate Auslan advocate. Her work and performances shine a light on accessibility in visual communicative.
www.emmawatkins.com
www.emmamemma.com
View Emma Memma’s YouTube channel.
Show 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
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37min
August 26, 2025S1 EP2: Alice Zaslavsky - We Are All Craving Connection
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"We are all craving connection. We are all hungry for it. And I think that we’ve been desensitised to the value of it."

In Conversation with Alice Zaslavsky – Author, Cook, TV and Radio Personality

In this episode of For the Love of Play, we speak with author, chef, teacher, TV and radio personality, Alice Zaslavsky.
Our conversation explores the innate human need for connection, cooking as a form of play and food as a celebration of culture. We talk about Alice’s childhood and how her Georgian heritage, as well as her childhood spent in the Soviet Union, has shaped her - and her zest for life!
About Our Guest
When you think of cooking, colour and contagious enthusiasm - Alice Zaslavsky is one of the first people who springs to mind! Her vibrant cookbooks light up the shelves of bookshops across the country, and she is a warm, familiar presence on ABC radio and television.
www.alicezaslavsky.com
Phenomenom
Listen to Alice’s conversation with Dr Flavia Fayet-Moore
Show 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
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47min

FAQs about For the Love of Play:

How many episodes does For the Love of Play have?

The podcast currently has 13 episodes available.