Playgrounding Podcast shares Play Tips

Kara, as a young child in red glasses, who is the founder of Playgrounding Podcast
Kara, from the days she first loved to play

There was a time Kara woke up every morning in a panic, overwhelmed with feeling lost and going through her “dark night of the soul.” A friend suggested she remember what she loved to do as a kid. How did she play? This led her to thinking about why she didn’t enjoy having fun, feel joy and wonder, as she did when she was young. Intent on distracting herself from downward-spiraling thoughts, she intently started to research play. She started the PlayGrounding Podcast to share this knowledge.

As life (or the Universe, or magical coincidence) would have it, Kara and I met during a Burning Man Leader Conference. We immediately knew that our visions meshed, but didn’t know then how we would combine them. Have you ever met someone and instantly recognized a kinship? Kara has taken my courses, and uses the free ebook “Finding Fun: the Play Book to move from ‘Woe is Me’ to ‘WOW is Me’ – in 10 Liberating Steps” (which you can get when you sign up through the pop-up on this site…if not, hit reply on any email I send you and ask for it – I’m happy to send it!) Kara has also interviewed me on her podcast in the past (Everyday Adventures: Learning to Love the Unknown).

This summer, Kara is incorporating our recorded discussions from each section of the Finding Fun Play Book into her podcasts. She finds interesting “play” experts to interview, and adds tidbits from our conversations. I strongly believe play is a key element in developing a sense of adventure. Check out her podcasts and be inspired to play more!

The Courage to Embrace Adventure

Where can courage take us? title from playgrounding podcast featuring woman looking at rainbow over mountains
Episode 46, May 16th, 2020

From Playgrounding’s show notes:

It’s said that courage isn’t the absence of fear. Courage requires fear. So if that’s the case, we’re entering a time in history with massive potential for courage – because everyone is afraid.

On this episode of the PlayGrounding Podcast, you’ll hear one of a series of interviews with Stacey Newman Weldon, Founder of Adventure Wednesdays. Each of the ten “mini-interviews” you’ll hear woven into upcoming PlayGrounding episodes are reflections on her free ebook, Finding Fun, with ten steps to help you discover your “adventure mindset.” Step one is “Embrace Courage.”  

We often think of courage as taking on big, often overwhelming endeavors. Stacey teaches that it’s usually through baby steps that our courage can blossom and expand. The road to jumping out of a plane can start with taking a different way home from work. You never know what you’re capable of until you try!

Game On …Line!

Playgrounding podcast episode 48 showing hand rolling dice and image of Mary Cantazaro
Episode 48, May 29th 2020

In this episode of Playgrounding, Kara interviews Mary Catanzaro, Founder of POGO Events in New York City. She left her career in the corporate world to bring people together for scavenger hunts and game nights throughout the city. But now, instead of in-person events, she’s taken the fun online.

ABC – Always Be Curious

After Mary’s interview, I share about tip #2 for how to develop your adventure mindset – ABC, Always Be Curious! 

“Ask yourself, is this something you really enjoy, or are you doing it because someone else likes it?”

-Stacey Newman Weldon
Founder of Adventure Wednesdays

Who Gives You Permission to Play?

Playgrounding podcast's episode 52 with an image showing a fairy over a book
Episode 52, July 30th 2020

Kara interviews Andrew Walsh, a National Teaching Fellow in the UK. They discuss how adults can cross over from embarrassment about play, to being able to playing with childlike abandon.

Start Small & “I Wonder”

For this episode Kara writes that my “work is also dedicated to teaching adults to discover their playful, adventure mindset.” She includes two topics from the ebook covering advice to “Start Small” and then my favorite game for learning intuition and being present called “I Wonder.”

What’s Next For Playgrounding Podcast?

Kara has featured four of my ten tips so far. She finds very interesting, playful, and play filled, people to interview. She manages to find ways to tie in one of my ten principles – reinforcing the concept that Adventure + Play = life is fun! We both hope that you, too, find more ways to incorporate play into your every day!

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Curiosity sparked is key for your adventure mindset.  Learn all sorts of new things in these posts – and use them to inspire your own adventures!

Into chocolate, and want to try this yummy familiar food in new ways? Check out these blog posts

Self Care is not selfish! When it comes to learning to play and have fun, taking care of you in different ways makes you, and life, more joyful

Be inspired by these guest bloggers who have created their adventure attitudes and transformations in their unique ways.

Sometimes to shift your outlook on life, you need to shift your perspective by traveling somewhere unfamiliar, or seeing familiar places in new ways.  It was while I was in another country that I realized – everywhere is someone’s backyard!  I’ve also become a big fan of traveling to one place that is wildly different each year – an event in the Nevada desert called “Burning Man”

Are you dreaming of tiny house adventures?  Start here.  I’ve worked at a tiny house builder, and am renovating a 1975 Airstream to be my home for my digital nomad life.

Your Adventure Mindset Mentor

Stacey Newman Weldon You need more fun & spontaneity in your life, and aren’t sure of next steps or the path to follow.  Let’s connect! You could choose a free 15 minute chat, various courses, or even select one-to-one coaching.

Learn more here:

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