PlayGrounding

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:

• Watch the official music video for Life Is Excellent by Bobby Joe Ebola and the Children MacNuggits
• Visit the Jerk Church website
• Check out Amber's clothing line, Salt Clothing
• Like Salt Clothing on Facebook

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.

• The Play Summit
• Mathias Poulsen's Inspirational Facebook Post
• The CounterPlay '17 Conference/Festival on Facebook
• Meg Athavale's Full Interview (a.k.a. Meg Rabbit)
• Lumo Play - Meg Athavale's Interactive Projection Toy
• Stuart McMillen's Graphic Novel – Rat Park
• Megan Sadd's Full Interview
• Charlie Hoehn's Book, Play It Away, A Workaholic's Cure for Anxiety
• Follow #100daysoffun with The Flying Raccoon
• Michelle Barton's Full Interview
• Life Vest Inside

"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.

• Visit the Poetic Kinetics Website
• Keep up with Patrick's Work on Facebook
• Learn more about public art in Los Angeles, California from Now Art LA

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.

• How terror and staying in denial is understandable, but it doesn't help us. Preparation helps take the fear of the unknown out of the equation so we can do what we need to do then get on with enjoying our lives.
• How we need to take care of ourselves, but also to coordinate and be able to take care of one another as well. No person is an island. We're part of a community, so it's important to prepare together with our neighbors and co-workers. (Yes, even the ones you've never talked to before.)
• That the "universe" doesn't give a crap about you. Being unprepared brings everyone in your community down when the chips fall. Don't be "that guy." Be prepared for yourself and to help others. The more of us who do that, the better we all fare.
• Tips for earthquake prep on a tight budget.
• How three days-worth of food and water isn't enough. It's imperative we prepare for at least two weeks without expectations of emergency responders.
• What to do to make sure you can communicate and get around town without your phone.
• How to make sure you feed your pets and even your addictions during a stressful disaster.

• Visit Kevin's Website, K1KMO, for emergency prep shopping lists and updates on earthquake preparedness classes.
• Learn about your local Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT)

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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"

• Read Charlie Hoehn's Book - Play It Away, A Workaholic's Cure for Anxiety
• Listen to Megan Sadd's PlayGrounding Episode, Play the Heals and Inspires

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.

• Visit RabCup's Website
• See videos from projects RabCup has worked on
• Like RabCup on Facebook!

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.

• Gever Tulley's Interview with Melissa Block
• Gever Tulley's Interview on the TED Radio Hour
• Gever Tulley's Full TED Talk
• Gever Tulley's Book, Fifty Dangerous Things You Should Let Your Children Do
• Tinkering School
• Flaming Lotus Girls
• Poetic Kinetics

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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:

1. Is apparently purposeless (done for its own sake)
2. Is voluntary
3. Has inherent attraction
4. Gives us freedom from time
5. Allows us to feel a diminished consciousness of self
6. Has improvisational potential

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!

• Get the book - Play: How it Shapes the Brain, Opens the Imagination, and Invigorates the Soul by Dr. Stuart Brown
• Visit the official Burning Man website
• My all-time favorite podcast episode ever - TED Radio Hour's "Press Play" episode
• The Neverending Stor

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:

• WOOP – A scientific strategy that people can use to find and fulfill their wishes and change their habits. Including the book, Rethinking Positive Thinking by Gabriele Oettingen.
• NPR's Hidden Brain Podcast with Shankar Vedantam: WOOP, There It Is! 4 Steps To Achieve Your Goals
• Joy – Staring Jennifer Lawrence
• Meg Rabbit's Story – Episode 2 of PlayGrounding, Child's Play and Grown Up Decisions