Magic Thread Media Podcast Collective

What if play belongs in your day before the work is done? Mia Sundstrom, CEO of the National Institute for Play, joins Amy Lynn Durham, founder of Magic Thread Media, to explore why we’re wired to play and what happens when we keep pushing that impulse aside. Carrying forward the work of her grandfather, pioneering play researcher Dr. Stuart Brown, Mia brings a fresh perspective to productivity guilt, childhood curiosity, and the pressure to be good at everything we enjoy.

Ahead of her TEDxClovis Play talk, Mia explores the connections between play, creativity, empathy, and human connection. She also raises a curious question for an AI-driven world: if we give machines room to experiment and learn through games, why are we leaving less room for people to do the same? From singing while getting ready to sharing a laugh at work, this conversation invites us to make a little space for play, even when there’s no score to keep or outcome to chase.

Your Play Preview:

• A closer look at the science behind our instinct to play.
• A fresh perspective on the guilt that creeps in when we make time for fun.
• The surprising connection between play and how we relate to one another.
• An invitation to rethink what counts as play in a world full of screens.
• A curious parallel between how AI learns and the space we give ourselves to experiment.

Learn more about the TedxClovisPlay: The Power of Play Event March 6, 2027 - https://tedxclovis.com/

About Mia:

Mia Sundstrom is the CEO of the National Institute for Play, a non-profit founded by her grandfather and pioneering play scientist, Dr. Stuart Brown. Mia is an internationally recognized speaker, delivering presentations to help society better understand play as a public health necessity and pathway to human flourishing in an AI world. Prior to her time at NIFPlay, Mia was a division 1 student-athlete and then coach at the University of Denver. instagra

IG: https://www.instagram.com/playinstitute/

LI: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-national-institute-for-play/

Site: https://nifplay.org/

About Amy:

Amy Lynn Durham, known by her clients as the Corporate Mystic, is the founder of the Executive Coaching Firm, Create Magic At Work®, where they help leaders build workplaces rooted in creativity, collaboration, and fulfillment. A former corporate executive turned Executive Coach, Amy blends practical leadership strategies with spiritual intelligence to unlock human potential at work.

She’s a certified Executive Coach through UC Berkeley & the International Coaching Federation (ICF) In addition, Amy holds coaching certifications in Spiritual Intelligence (SQ21), the Edgewalker Profile, and the Archetypes of Change . In addition to being the host of the Create Magic At Work® podcast, Amy is the author of Create Magic At Work®, Creating Career Magic: A Daily Prompt Journal and the founder of Magic Thread Media™. Through her work, she inspires intentional leadership for thriving workplaces and lives where “magic” becomes reality.

Connect with Amy:

https://createmagicatwork.net/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/create-magic-at-work

https://www.facebook.com/112951637095427

https://www.instagram.com/createmagicatwork

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnEm4h3fUgaq8qgvZpz6dGg

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.

Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!

What happens to play when we feel pressured to fit in? Dr. Kerry Magro joins Amy Lynn Durham, founder of Magic Thread Media, to explore how making room for our differences can open up more opportunities for joy, creativity, and connection. An autistic speaker, best-selling author, and autism consultant for Netflix’s Love on the Spectrum, Kerry shares how his childhood love of basketball and theater helped him engage with the world and discover possibilities that went far beyond other people’s expectations.

Ahead of his TEDxClovis Power of Play talk, Kerry brings that conversation into our schools and workplaces, exploring bullying, belonging, and the assumptions that can leave people feeling excluded. From creating sensory-friendly Santa experiences to trying stand-up comedy, he offers a personal look at what play can make possible when people feel welcome to participate. It’s an invitation to get curious about our own ideas of playfulness, including whether the fun we’re creating makes room for everyone.

Your Play Preview:

• Rethink how the pressure to fit in can quiet our playful side.
• Explore how childhood interests can open unexpected doors.
• Discover where allyship and belonging enter the conversation about play.
• Meet the sensory-friendly Santa making room for more holiday magic.
• Consider when humor brings people together and when it leaves someone out.

Learn more about the TedxClovisPlay: The Power of Play Event March 6, 2027 - https://tedxclovis.com/

About Kerry:

Dr. Kerry Magro, Ed.D., is an award-winning autistic professional speaker, best-selling author, and autism consultant for Netflix’s Emmy-winning Love on the Spectrum U.S. and HBO’s Mrs. Fletcher. He has also worked as a writer for PBS KIDS’ Carl the Collector, featuring the network’s first autistic lead character. Nonspeaking until age two and a half and diagnosed with autism at four, Kerry discovered a love of theater that helped develop his communication skills and inspired a speaking career spanning more than 1,400 events, including TEDx talks and a Talks at Google presentation.

As CEO and president of KFM Making a Difference, Kerry champions inclusion through college scholarships for autistic students, grants for businesses that hire people with disabilities, and sensory-friendly Santa events. His books and online storytelling amplify autistic voices and challenge stereotypes, while his presentations help schools and workplaces address bullying, embrace neurodiversity, and create a stronger sense of belonging.

https://kfmmakingadifference.org/

About Amy:

Amy Lynn Durham, known by her clients as the Corporate Mystic, is the founder of the Executive Coaching Firm, Create Magic At Work®, where they help leaders build workplaces rooted in creativity, collaboration, and fulfillment. A former corporate executive turned Executive Coach, Amy blends practical leadership strategies with spiritual intelligence to unlock human potential at work.

She’s a certified Executive Coach through UC Berkeley & the International Coaching Federation (ICF) In addition, Amy holds coaching certifications in Spiritual Intelligence (SQ21), the Edgewalker Profile, and the Archetypes of Change . In addition to being the host of the Create Magic At Work® podcast, Amy is the author of Create Magic At Work®, Creating Career Magic: A Daily Prompt Journal and the founder of Magic Thread Media™. Through her work, she inspires intentional leadership for thriving workplaces and lives where “magic” becomes reality.

Connect with Amy:

https://createmagicatwork.net/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/create-magic-at-work

https://www.facebook.com/112951637095427

https://www.instagram.com/createmagicatwork

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnEm4h3fUgaq8qgvZpz6dGg

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.

Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!

Welcome to the next evolution of your podcast experience with Magic Thread Media.

Audio is just the beginning. We created these interactive experiences so you can connect deeper with your favorite shows, hosts, and personal development tools—taking the connection far beyond your earbuds.

Whether you tune in to Create Magic at Work, Circle's Edges, Finding Treasures in the Trash, Bending the Light, or any other show in our network, you can now engage directly with our host collective:

• Candle Lighting Rituals: Light a candle with Aaron on Circle's Edges
• Nature & Wellness Retreats: Join Cari for immersive, in-person community retreats in nature
• Astrology & Karma Readings: Receive your personalized karmic snapshot reading from Vish
• Guided Journaling: Reflect on your personal journey with weekly magic microdose prompts guided by Amy Lynn Durham

Explore Your Experience: Ready to move beyond passive listening and have an amazing, interactive experience?

Visit magicthreadmedia.com/experience to thread yourself in.