19. PLAY AND NEURODIVERSITY WITH JO McMEECHAN

19. PLAY AND NEURODIVERSITY WITH JO McMEECHAN

Author: Exploring the power of play in contemporary culture January 10, 2025 Duration: 1:01:57

On a mission to change the narrative of Special Educational Needs by going right to the top of Government and legislative level; Jo supports children with additional needs, their Parents and Professionals to navigate the health and education systems. Self advocacy and acceptance lie right at the heart of it. Jo is an award winning Consultant Children’s Physiotherapist, Author of number 1 best seller, Equipping SEN Children for Life, and SEN Advocate. She has seen and experienced the barriers to support for SEN children first hand as Mum to Autistic, ADHD children. She runs a hugely successful and pioneering non profit organisation that provides fun, back to nature opportunities for therapy, play and learning. These take place in the great outdoors with a team of gorgeous therapy ponies to enrich children's experiences and enhance development. Jo is a seasoned public speaker featured on stage at national events such as EPOP Early Years Festival, Nursery World Exhibition, the global Bee Inspired event and through national charities such as the Riding For Disabled Association. Her book has supported hundreds of families and professionals to change their approach to the Special Educational Needs Narrative. Instagram: @jo_mc_sen_physio Get a free SEN Parent Toolkit here: https://www.senstorycic.com/opt-in-SEN-toolkit Buy the book: Equipping SEN Children for Life: Changing the Neurodiversity SENStory®️ : McMeechan, Jo: Amazon.co.uk: Books



This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit playfulden.substack.com

The Playful Den Podcast digs into the serious business of having fun. It’s a space where curiosity meets conversation, examining how a playful approach influences everything from scientific innovation and educational methods to personal growth and social bonds. Each episode unpacks a different facet of this core idea, moving beyond theory to find the practical applications in our daily lives. You’ll hear from researchers, artists, parents, and community organizers who are actively integrating play into their work and homes, sharing stories that reveal its profound impact on creativity, resilience, and connection. This isn’t about nostalgia for childhood games, but rather an investigation into a fundamental human drive and how we can harness it. The discussions are thoughtful yet accessible, blending evidence from various fields with relatable anecdotes. Whether the topic is designing better learning environments, fostering mental well-being through imaginative practices, or understanding how play shapes cultural trends, the aim is to offer tangible insights. The goal of this podcast is to provide a consistent, engaging exploration that encourages listeners to reconsider their own routines and perspectives, finding opportunities for lightness and invention where they might not expect them. Tune in for a regular dose of inspiration that makes the case for incorporating more spontaneity and joy into the fabric of contemporary life.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 27

The Playful Den Podcast
Podcast Episodes
15. PLAYING AT WORK WITH JEFF HARRY [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:18:10
Emma and Ben share their joy of the Olympics, talk about Ben's immersion into Jabba's Palace and try and work out if Emma is a mouth-breather. Today's guest is Jeff Harry, a positive psychology coach and an expert in hel…
14. TURNING TEARS TO LOLS WITH OLGA THOMPSON [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:31
In this episode Emma speaks to Olga Thompson aka Big Fat Greek Mother a comedienne who brings to life characters and tells stories to make us laugh - a creative process sparked from a difficult time which has led to a tr…
13. PLAY AS MEDICINE WITH LAURA WALSH [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:26
Emma chats to Laura Walsh, Head of Play, from Starlight a charity organisation which facilitates play for children suffering serious illnesses. Laura talks about the magic of play and its power to transform difficult med…
12. THE MAGIC OF LOOSE PARTS PLAY WITH MARCUS VEERMAN [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:19:59
Emma chats to Marcus Veerman founder of Playground Ideas, a not for profit organisation supporting communities around the world to build playgrounds with local resources, about a variety of play-based topics including ad…
11. SELF LOVE REVOLUTION WITH LU IN LULAND [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:10
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 fo…
10. HOW SELF-ACCEPTANCE ENHANCES MOTHERHOOD WITH ANNA MATHUR [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:18
This is a glorious chat with Anna Mathur about the contemporary culture of motherhood and how it makes it difficult to accept ourselves and move towards our own needs. Anna Mathur is a mum of three, author, podcaster and…
09. TOY PHOTOGRAPHY WITH MITCHEL WU [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:57
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.…
08. PLAY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE WITH ADAM LEWIS [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:46
Adam Lewis is a social entrepreneur and changemaker focused on using play and sport to drive social justice and build equitable communities around the United States. Adam is currently serving a 3-year term as an Appointe…
07. CLAY ROUTLEDGE: NOSTALGIA IS GOOD FOR US [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:39
Emma dives headlong into some playful chat, this week focusing on something that the whole world seems to have gone crazy for right now.…nostalgia!In a bid to understand more about this fascinating topic, Emma talks to C…
06. DR HILARY MARUSAK: THE RUNNERS' HIGH [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:28
We have a change of pace for you today. We’re going somewhat technical (don’t worry, it’s all understandable!) as Emma invites onto the show, Dr Hilary Marusak to talk about the brain and how it can relate to play or mor…