GUEST EPISODE

Emma chats to LA based professional toy photographer Mitchel Wu. Mitchel pivoted his career multiple times before landing on toy photography where he has carved out a dreamy creative profession working for global brands. Using photography as his medium, he uses toys and special effects and create his art and tell stories.

Emma and Mitchel chat about finding work that fires you up creatively, how to pivot and why toy photography is so joyful and imaginative. They also explore themes of scale and why it makes us curious and why it it feels so satisfying to observe characters we know and love doing something completely unexpected.

Find Mitchel on IG @mitchelwuphotography
and on his website https://www.mitchelwutoyphotography.com/

Follow Emma @playful_den and @emmaworrollo

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit peoplewhoplay.substack.com/subscribe

In this weeks instalment Emma and Ben face up to the fact that ‘slow weekend mornings’ with a 3 year old are an illusion. They discuss a new action plan for trying to have a weekend that doesn’t end in tears and fears for the next one.

Covered in this episode:

Retro Rewind - middle school discos!
Stumbled upon some research - what will be the things we cringe about in the future?
Overheard at home - Scout gets told off for ‘not passing Daddy his pants’

Email Emma and Ben - [email protected]
Follow @playful_den
Follow @benflyingretro

Article discussed:
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/30/learning/what-do-we-do-today-that-will-make-us-cringe-in-the-future.html

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit peoplewhoplay.substack.com/subscribe

Emma and Ben sit down for another weekly catch up and to discuss their playful approach to family life. This weeks episode covers:
- Emma's up to date career advice for generation Alpha kids
- Ben's return to the world of Transformers
- Some data on how going to museums and art galleries makes you less stressed
- Listener questions: can you have too many toys?

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Follow @Benflyingretro
Follow @emmaworrollo

Research mentioned in this episode https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/the-mind-collector/202206/can-visiting-art-museum-help-reduce-stress

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit peoplewhoplay.substack.com/subscribe

Emma and Ben are back and are committed to putting 'Blue January' in the bin. They share what they've been playing this month - Ben has rediscovered snowboarding on the dry slope and Emma can't stop reading. They also talk about why younger generations love friends and a fringe movement of teens who are taking flip phones to parties.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit peoplewhoplay.substack.com/subscribe

Ben & Ems are back! Emma is stepping up and into some family leadership and Ben is trying to keep up. The two parents discuss the trappings of english schooling and discuss how they will support kids' options and choices and dig into some research which suggests 'respectful parenting' is the answer to helping kids follow their dreams. Emma also tries to help Ben with his Christmas Cherry Cola addiction.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit peoplewhoplay.substack.com/subscribe

Emma and Ben discuss the Christmas build up and recall that time when they did a real life Home Alone and left a child at home

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit peoplewhoplay.substack.com/subscribe

Well it's a weird and loud one. Strap in folks. If Emma ever manages to get a word in, this weeks episode the co-parents / 90s kids discuss all of the below:
- Elf on the Shelf and why Ben doesn't know about trends
- Ben asks Emma if he can quit work
- Ben has tracked down a walkman and is listening to Now 08 - but will his shorts fall down?
- Ben guesses Emma's favourite wrestler
- Emma has been working on her small talk and it's not going well
- CHRISTMAS IS COMING!

Follow Emma @playful_den
Follow Ben @benflyingretro

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit peoplewhoplay.substack.com/subscribe

Emma chats to Lu - a '52 year old accidental influencer who is ageing disgracefully'. Lu is in the middle of her tour in her RV Susie travelling the US giving talks to women about self love and masturbation. Emma asks for a heads up on the 40s and Lu discusses her divorce and middle aged rebellion.

Follow Lu @luinluland
Follow Emma @playful_den

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit peoplewhoplay.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode Ben and Ems dig deep into the differences of growing up in a digital world and how they crave analogue experiences. They also discuss how being a hungover parent is the worst punishment imaginable.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit peoplewhoplay.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode Emma chats to Kirstie Beaven founder and editor of Sonshine magazine, a publication which focusses on raising boys for a more equal world, by raising a generation of boys who feel able to express their emotions and explore new versions of masculinity.

Follow Emma @playful_den
Follow Kirstie @sonshinemagazine

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit peoplewhoplay.substack.com/subscribe