22. PROTECTING THE FREEDOM TO PLAY WITH DR PETER GREY

22. PROTECTING THE FREEDOM TO PLAY WITH DR PETER GREY

Author: Exploring the power of play in contemporary culture January 10, 2025 Duration: 1:22:21

On this guest episode, Emma is joined by Dr Peter Grey, a research professor of psychology and neuroscience at Boston College and author of internationally acclaimed introductory psychology textbook- Psychology, Worth Publishers, which views all of psychology from an evolutionary perspective. His recent research focuses on the role of play in human evolution and how children educate themselves through play and exploration, when they are free to do so. He has expanded on these ideas in his book, Free to Learn: Why Unleashing the Instinct to Play Will Make Our Children Happier,More Self-Reliant, and Better Students for Life (Basic Books). Dr Grey also authors a regular blog called Freedom to Learn, for Psychology Today magazine and is one of the founders of the nonprofit Alliance for Self-Directed Education and of the nonprofit Let Grow, the mission of which is to renew children’s freedom to play and explore independently of adult control. Read Dr Grey's blog discussed in this episode Play Out, Don't Work Out: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/freedom-learn/202108/play-out-don-t-work-out



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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…