Play People
There are so many phenomenal people and communities making an impact in this world through their PLAY work, yet I could not find one place where they are highlighted. So, I created the Play People List as a way of sharing their work in the world, so that more people can utilize their services. If you find that I'm missing someone, an organization, or a community from this list, feel free to send me some of your suggestions.
Play Directory
(Click Directly To The Category)
Play Thought Leaders
These authors, professors, and activists are redefining the way we think about play. They see play as important as breathing, eating, sleeping, and even love. Their advocacy work is the main reason play is only now being taken more seriously in the workplace as a vital tool for innovation.
I am aspiring to one day be able to make the impact that these phenomenal leaders have had in the world of play.
Partners In Play
Jeff Harry of Rediscover Your Play is currently collaborating with these partners in mischief to create unique workshops that explore a future where fun is, where toxicity in the workplace can be eradicated, and where startup founders can be called to do better in this post-MeToo environment.
Check Out These Workshops Here
Play Podcasts
With so many podcasts available nowadays, you would think there would be more that explore the concept of play and the importance of it in our lives. There aren't though, except for these phenomenal podcasts, that not only delve deep into the idea of play but also capture the stories of individuals that have found a way to play for a living. Definitely subscribe if your podcast playlist is missing a dose of playful fun to it.
Play Creatives
Many companies speak of wanting to be innovative, agile, and disruptive, yet their work environments do not foster this type of creative risk-taking. These experts have the ability to infuse a creative spark into teams and companies, so they can see their challenges as opportunities to reinvent themselves and prevent themselves from becoming the Blockbuster Video of tomorrow.
Melissa Dinwiddie
Creative Sandbox Way
Denise Jacobs
Banish Your Inner Critic
Kathy Klotz-Guest
Keeping It Human
Karen Ward
Curiosity Global
Gary Hirsch
On Your Feet & Botjoy
Play Improvisers &
Laughing Yoga Facilitators
The amount of laughter you see within a team communicates the level of trust staff have for one another...and being that "you learn more about someone in an hour of play than in a year of conversation," having your team experience a virtual improv and/or laughter yoga session may be exactly what they need. These practitioners are the best at what they do and help create unique memories that help staff to see each other as their childlike selves.
Annie Goglia
LifeFire Laughter Yoga
Amy Angelilli
Adventure Project
Jessica Brustad
The Funny Yogi
Gary Ware
Breakthrough Play
Stefan Bramble
Facilitation & Training
Play Team Building Facilitators & Coaches
Teams, especially right now, are struggling for connection and companies are asking themselves how can we sustain our culture in this virtual environment. These Team Building Facilitators have mastered how to breakdown workplace barriers so that staff can have trust, empathy, and understanding for each other in this new normal. If your team needs a jolt of positivity right now that will bring them together, these facilitators will deliver.
Kirsten Anderson
Integrate Play Solutions
Jen Ables
You've Got Gifts
Jan Keck
Ask Deep Questions
Play Educators
These educators not only know the importance of play, but are able to incorporate play into their teaching in a way that makes their curriculum tremendously engaging for their participants.
Cobilynn Rogers
CTR Connects
Delfina Newton
Mind For Play
Ben Pfister
Beyond The Toolbox
Play Movement Facilitators
Play is synomymous with movement. These facilitators, coaches, and instructors find ways to utilize dance, parkour, fitness, and primal movements to help people tap back into that playful spirit that makes them feel alive.
Farrah Zweig
Student Fitness Experts
Rona Lewis
The Playful Way
Caitlin Pontrella
Parkour Educator
Darryl Edwards
Primal Play
Play Consultants
These dynamic individuals infuse play into their consulting work to help companies address some of their most pressing issues and pain points in a play-oriented, innovative way. If you have grown tired of normal consultants providing you the same 'tired' solutions, consider these talented people.
Paul Lopushinsky
Playficient
Isaac Waring
Play As Democracy
Daniel Teitelbaum
Playful Thinking
Play Social Media Influencers
These are the social media influencers that are advocating for more play in the world and inspiring tens of thousands of people, including families to do it.
Meredith Sinclair
Meredith Plays
Emma Martin
The Playful Den
Experiential Play Creators
These individuals are creating unique experiences that are playful, introspective, life-affirming, and perspective-altering. Much of their work has been recognized by the press as something extremely out of the ordinary that somehow still works. Check out the impact they are making in the world.
Jessica Encell Coleman
The Magic of
Human Connection
Kyle Kaminsky
Make Life Play
Brady Gill
Custom Camps
With so many phenomenal play practitioners in the world, we couldn't add them all to this list. So, we created this Play People Community Database to share the impactful, powerful, dope work they are doing in the world:
PLAY PEOPLE COMMUNITY DATABASE
If there is play people missing from this list, please let us know.
Play Communities
There are many different types of play communities around the world that are advocating for a more playful world. Here are just a few of these communities, spanning academia that study play, play practitioners, improv, laughter yoga, dance, as well as gatherings of play thought leaders.
Find a community that fits your play style below.
US Play Coalition
Global Play Brigade
Playful Creative Summit
Applied Improvisation
Network
Play Conferences & Camps
There are so many different types of conferences and camps that celebrate play in a dynamic, unique, and impactful way. Here are a few of these events.
Play Books
Here's a list of some of the top books breaking down the benefits of play, exploring creativity, curiosity through play, as well as figuring out how to build community and rediscover whom you are all by playing.
For an even more comprehensive list of books about PLAY, check out: