Shows
Lead with a dash of PlaySeason 4: The Play of Appreciative InquiryJackie Stavros and Cheri Torres, authors of “Conversations Worth Having: Using Appreciative Inquiry to Fuel Productive and Meaningful Engagement,” draw connections between the practice of Appreciative Inquiry (AI), and approaching work - and conversations - with a sense of play. This type of AI invites curiosity, storytelling, imagination, and a tuning in to those around us. That’s a lot of play!Explore the book and course here: https://www.conversationsworthhaving.today/ And the game, Shift This!, here: https://www.conversationsworthhaving.today/shift-this Guest Bio: Jackie StavrosJackie Stavros...2025-07-2834 minLead with a dash of PlaySeason 4: Creating PlaygroundsHow do you know who is ready to play? With Lee Kim, we discuss the creation of playgrounds for adults - within corporate and civic spaces. Blending design thinking and “a space of yes,” playgrounds invite meaningful co-creation. Explore more about the ideas and playgrounds Lee mentions:Inyeon meaning: https://www.kinfolk.com/stories/word-inyeon/ Wearable Tracy - Short Documentary on the New Yorker Documentary Platform: https://youtu.be/c0Xu25ZmFg8 Community built before Covid: www.designdreamlab.orgCommunity built after Covid: www.designthinkingzeal.comGUEST: Lee KimLee is a designer thinker...2025-07-1442 minLead with a dash of PlaySeason 4: A Playful Approach in Serious TimesIs there space for playfulness in the most serious of moments? Liz Vogel is a leader in the preservation of American democracy - and in intentional gathering. It’s easy to challenge whether play has a space with the stakes are high and the content serious, but Liz embodies a playful spirit even when confronting the toughest of issues. We discuss democracy, end-of-life, vintage clothes, and more.Resources mentioned:Priya Parker - The Art of GatheringDay Schildkret - Ritual and Morning AltarsEboo Patel at American University, We Need to Build: Field Notes for Diverse Democracy Friends ho...2025-06-3032 minLead with a dash of PlaySeason 4: Play as StrategyRetired Colonel Jason M. Trew -"TOGA" - studied at the Air Force school for strategists (earning a PhD) and came out with some fascinating insights on play. Introducing the concept of “warped play,” TOGA shares insights on the power of play for strategy development - providing opportunity to practice before we are in the highest pressure situations.GUEST: Col Jason “TOGA” Trew, PhD (USAF Retired)At the time of our conversation, Colonel Jason M. Trew, who goes by the callsign "TOGA," was serving as the Commandant and Dean of the premier strategy course in the Depa...2025-06-2344 min
Lead with a dash of PlaySeason 4 Trailer: the Moment for PlayIn a world filled with uncertainty, urgency, and division, what happens when leaders show up with a playful mindset? Lead with a Dash of Play returns to explore how play can help us navigate serious challenges with connection, imagination, creativity and courage. Maybe play is exactly what is needed in this moment.2025-05-2101 min
Are You Bogged Mate?Ep.11 - Peter FrazerPeter Frazer, or Fraze... is a lifelong mate of Marys. They worked together in the DPI for a number of years.Fraze was pivotal in the TB eradication program working as a Stock Inspector, testing up to 1000 cattle a day on properties where thosecattle could be spread across 3/4 of a Million acres.His career was nothing short of a steep learning curve having to work on diseases from the Hendra Virus to the Equine Flu... even Prawn Spot.He shares a passion for Bush Poetry with Mary, who wraps...2024-09-301h 10
Historical HomosKing James & His George: Part Two (feat. Guy Branum)"And it is well-known that the King of England f*cks the Duke of Buckingham." – Theophile de Viau (1628)If you've been watching Mary & George on STARZ, then you must be desperate to know how much of it is true. And the answer, my curious queers, is: a lot!George Villiers, the scheming twink who dominated King James I's court, was hot and 100% DTF. He won titles, land, and money for himself by sacrificing these gay virtues at the altar of the king's pleasure.But who was George the ma...2024-05-0151 minLead with a dash of PlaySummer Session Bash: Pushing Into CuriosityThe final bash of summer should give inspiration and release - and in the case of play, we find that with curiosity and one of its most passionate advocates, Scott Shigeoka. Even beyond play in professional spaces, Scott seeks to make the curiosity that transforms political structures more accessible, more playful, more joyful.Scott Shigeoka is an internationally recognized curiosity expert, speaker, and the author of SEEK: How Curiosity Can Transform Your Life and Change the World. He is known for translating research into strategies that promote positive well-being and connected relationships around the globe, including at...2023-09-0428 minLead with a dash of PlaySummer Session: Keeping Play AccessibleHow do you keep play accessible? It can be through physically keeping something close, through the questions we ask ourselves, or through verbal and visual cues we notice during the work day.Featuring Past Guests:Garry RidgeKathy Klotz-GuestRuksana HussainNeville Billimoria2023-08-2809 minLead with a dash of PlaySummer Session: Making Meetings BetterMeetings are such a ubiquitous part of work - and often one of the spaces that can feel energy-draining. What if that wasn’t the case? The clips in this episode of “Summer Session” specifically highlight ways to make meetings better. After all, there is so much potential when people gather. Why waste that time and space?Featuring past guests (along with the offerings they share): Natalie Nixon - a free chapter of her book The Creativity LeapJocelyn Brady - Tiny Tips on YouTubeMark Collard - a database of ideas on Playmeo Amy Climer - 30d free tri...2023-08-2113 minLead with a dash of PlaySummer Session: ConnectionA recurring theme on Lead with a dash of Play is how play can build connections. In the second episode of this summer session on how to play, hear highlights from guests’ suggestions on how to build connection with play in small ways that can be incorporated every day. Featuring past guests: Paul SanbarJay GuilfordAnnette MasonMichelle Li Bridget QuiggCheck out their full episodes for more inspiration.2023-08-1409 minLead with a dash of PlaySummer Session: Discover Your PlayPlay helps us be authentic - to actually be seen more truly by others. That’s one of the reasons why it’s so important to play. In the first of this summer session on play, we listen to some entry ways to start to play for yourself - storytelling, physically moving, giving yourself a challenge or creating the space for others to problem-solve. Featuring past guests (in this order): Jeff Harry Van Lai Du-Mone Neel Doshi Mike Ganino Gary WareCheck out their full episodes from Season Two.2023-08-0709 minLead with a dash of PlaySeason 2: What have I Learned about Leading with Play?A second bonus episode for season two. I’ve had the pleasure of being a guest on several podcasts myself during this season, sharing in part what I’ve learned doing the Lead with a dash of Play podcast. This bonus episode shares some clips from the Ways We Learn podcast in which I was interviewed by Sean Dagony-Clark and Joe BurgessListen to the full conversation on the Ways We Learn podcast, episode here.2023-07-0622 min
thinkfuture: technology, philosophy and the future793 Fostering Creativity in the Midst of Automation: Mary Hendra's Pursuit of Enriched Communities
https://thinkfuture.com | https://maryhendra.com | In this illuminating episode, Chris is joined by Mary Hendra, a passionate advocate for better communities and creative spaces. They delve into Mary's innovative strategies for fostering effective teamwork and creativity, highlighting the importance of understanding individual needs in a learning environment.
The conversation navigates the essentiality of providing a safe, equal space for all participants in a meeting or session. They share the concept of a "worry tree," a tool designed to help individuals leave their concerns at the door and stay present in the moment.
They also explore the significance of...2023-06-0730 minLead with a dash of PlaySeason 2 TL;DL: Play as a Force for ChangeWe rarely have as much time as we want these days, so for leaders who want a taste of my brilliant guests this season - or listeners who want a quick reminder of some of the ideas - here it is. Some of the themes that emerged in our discussions this season include: identity, creativity, agency, joy, and getting rid of our outdated notion of work being “serious.” Whether you're looking for individual professional development, inspiration to change the structures in your organization, or a change in the world, take a listen! And then listen to the full episode from...2023-05-1534 minLead with a dash of PlaySeason 2: Why We Need Narrative PlayIt’s easy to forget that kids play to sort things out, to discover boundaries, to problem-solve. So why do we think adult play is wholly different? Mike Ganino shares ways narrative play helps us identify what is possible and inspire change - individually and systemically. And it all starts with learning to see.GUEST: Mike GaninoMike Ganino is a storytelling + communication expert who hosts The Mike Drop Moment podcast. He’s been named a Top 10 Public Speaking Coach by Yahoo Finance, and California’s Best Speaking and Communication Coach by Corporate Vision Magazine. He is...2023-05-0130 minLead with a dash of PlaySeason 2: Toggle Between Wonder and RigorPlay can both build a sense of awe - a practice of wonder - and the flow of committed, rigorous thought. And that combination contributes to audacity. Natalie Nixon invites us to design our space and time for wonder, give ourselves permission to daydream, and lead our teams to play and productivity.GUEST: Natalie NixonNatalie Nixon, PhD is the creativity whisperer for the C-Suite. She is a creativity strategist, global keynote speaker and author. As CEO of Figure 8 Thinking, LLC she advises leaders on transformation and helps them amplify growth and business value...2023-04-2433 minLead with a dash of PlaySeason 2: Intentional, Designed ExperiencesIn pursuit of the best structure and mindset for leadership development, Annette Mason co-constructs sabbaticals. These aren’t just for those in academia. To the contrary, individuals can use sabbaticals to learn and recover; businesses can use them to create space for transition and growth. What could you do with an intentionally constructed space for curiosity, play, and learning?"Travel is never a matter of money but of courage." – Paolo CoelhoGUEST: Annette MasonAnnette Mason is a lifelong traveler, learner, and child of the world.Annette's inner drivers areFait...2023-04-1732 minLead with a dash of PlaySeason 2: The Antidote to BurnoutHow do you cultivate a playground of possibilities? Gary Ware found improv, and it changed the way he worked. Now he helps others incorporate play, building to a “playful rebellion” that can reshape organizational culture. “Play is the cheat code to business success, and leaders who are serious about leading need to cultivate play for themselves and their employees.” (Gary Ware, from The Playful Rebellion)GUEST: Gary WareGary Ware, the Founder of Breakthrough Play is a corporate facilitator, keynote speaker, certified coach, and author of the book Playful Rebellion: Maximize Workplace Success Through...2023-04-1036 minLead with a dash of PlaySeason 2: The Petri Dish of Organizational CultureShifting our notion of “failure” to “learning moments” gives us the opportunity to be more human. Garry Ridge led the global company WD40 for 25 years, with a playful streak that is still apparent in the stories he shares and the way he talks about the company. Can you be CEO and play?“Businesses and leaders have not only the opportunity but a real responsibility to create cultures that are engaging and where people really know they are making a difference in the world.” (Garry Ridge)According to Gallup's 2022 “State of the Global Workplace” report, only 21% of employees glo...2023-04-0329 minLead with a dash of PlaySeason 2: Level the Playing FieldIn her Tedx Talk, Van Lai-DuMone shares the story of how fueling curiosity gave birth to an $8.3 billion industry. We talk about the intersection of creativity and curiosity, as well as the power of building simultaneously and together to hear all voices and create something collaboratively. From art supplies to LEGO® bricks, Van engages corporate leaders to think with their hands.GUEST: Van Lai-DuMoneVan invites clients to think with their hands and use creative tools to disrupt traditional training methods. As the founder of worksmart, a progressive team and leadership development company; Van proposes th...2023-03-2732 minLead with a dash of PlaySeason 2: Interactive, Dynamic FunWhat if we didn’t call it “play”? Jay Guilford has been guiding the growth of leadership and teams for over 20 years. And yet, like so many before me, I was first curious about his roots in the circus. Does “play” have a branding problem? We talk about play in the DEI space as well as the legacy of the circus.GUEST: Jay GuilfordJay Guilford once worked with a bunch of clowns. Literally. Long ago in a land far far away, Jay ran away with Cirque du Soleil. There, Jay created Cirque’s corporate training prog...2023-03-2033 minLead with a dash of PlaySeason 2: A Little Less GuiltIs there a place for playfulness within the very serious issues of our day? Michelle Li identifies it as critical. When creating Clever Carbon, Michelle deliberately developed a cheeky, hip, playful tone to the teaching of climate footprint. Creating joyful spaces of learning may be a different approach than many in the climate industry, but it just may help us adopt new habits.GUEST: Michelle LiMichelle is the founder of clever carbon. She launched her career in Silicon Valley where she worked for some of the biggest names in tech including Salesforce and DocuSign...2023-03-0630 minLead with a dash of PlaySeason 2: Play as DisruptionCan play help us collectively build an innovative economy? Neville Billimoria, SVP for Mission Federal Credit Union, shares the ways play supports his creativity and well-being. In the process, we see how play can be a pattern interrupt, a useful intentional disruption when something is not working - whether that is a meeting at work or a bigger initiative.GUEST: Neville BillimoriaNeville Billimoria is an effective communications and values leader, growing organizations through external marketing, media, and sales effectiveness, as well as internal organizational alignment, corporate communications, and leadership development. He brings experience, energy...2023-02-2729 minLead with a dash of PlaySeason 2: What are Your Levers as a Leader?In the research and the book he co-authored (Primed to Perform), Neel Doshi identifies play as the number one motivating factor for performance. He argues that we need to change how we motivate performance. We discuss how forward-looking CEOs are restructuring, the not-so-distant future of our jobs, and ways to make team leadership at any level fun.“Curiosity and experimentation are at the heart of play. People intrinsically enjoy learning and adapting. We instinctively seek out opportunities to play.” (Primed to Perform)GUEST: Neel DoshiNeel is the co-founder of Vega Factor and co-au...2023-02-2032 minLead with a dash of PlaySeason 2: Cultivating CreativityWhat can happen when we remember that creativity is a process? Amy Climer studies and teaches creativity, including how to lead in a way that explicitly supports creativity and the creative process. Hear what Sir Ernest Shackleton understood about leadership, how imagery can unlock better connections, and what nobel prize winners do that the rest of us can emulate.GUEST: Amy ClimerDr. Amy Climer teaches teams and organizations how to increase their creativity so they can maximize innovation. She works with forward-thinking organizations such as the Mayo Clinic, Stanford University, and the U.S...2023-02-1330 minLead with a dash of PlaySeason 2: Leaning in to CuriosityRuksana Hussain brings together the play personalities of explorer and storyteller in her work as a travel journalist, publisher, and speaker. Seeing the world with a mindset of “wow,” keeping open to learning something new even in her home town and from people she meets with regularly, starting the day with a crossword puzzle - Ruksana has a lot to teach us all about the place of play in “work.”“Generally speaking, play is something that’s imaginative, self-directed, intrinsically motivated and guided by rules that leave room for creativity.” Kristin Wong, New York Times How Do You Add Play T...2023-02-0629 min
Inside-Out Career Design PodcastHow to Use Curiosity and Play to Find Your Way with Mary HendraDo you think play is only for children? This feeling of awe when you see something amazing or realize that you just discovered “gold”? Would you like to learn more about how to invite play into your life? Join us in this conversation with Mary Hendra to see why having a non-linear career and stepping aside is not suspicious but can lead to you having agency in your own life. Learn how to invite curiosity into your life so you can arrive at more ideas that will result in choice for your life and career.
For show...2023-02-0259 minLead with a dash of PlaySeason 2: Toxic Masculinity v the Divine FeminineWant to foster a creative, innovative environment? Jeff Harry describes the essential nature of play in order to create psychological safety. In the process he argues that the world needs to stop the model of leadership which stemmed from toxic masculinity, instead embracing the divine feminine and a healthy blend of masculine and feminine leadership.“You’ll find the future where people are having the most fun.” Kevin CarrollGUEST: Jeff HarryJeff Harry combines positive psychology and play to heal workplaces, help teams build psychological safety and assist individuals in addressing their bigges...2023-01-3034 minLead with a dash of PlaySeason 2: Humility, Vulnerability, Joy - Play Cannot be FakedAs a rare woman leader in tech, Kathy Klotz-Guest had to deliberately choose joy. Told many times to be more serious, to change the way she dressed, to lead differently, Kathy chose instead to forge her own path in leadership, and now she teaches others how to grow in owning their identity and joy in order to bring more authenticity into their leadership.GUEST: Kathy Klotz-GuestFrom Silicon Valley to Second City, Kathy Klotz-Guest, MA, MBA, is on a mission to help people and companies be bolder, happier, healthier and way more human. That means...2023-01-2332 minLead with a dash of PlayLeaders to Listen ToThe Lead with a dash of Play is back for season 2!More CEOs, Executive Leaders, Researchers, Authors and Coaches on the vital role of play in the workplace. Guest clips from: Neville Billimoria, Neel Doshi, Kathy Klotz-Guest, Jeff Harry, Ruksana Hussain, and Michelle Li.2023-01-0502 minLead with a dash of PlaySeason 1 TL;DL: Play RedefinedCuriosity, compassion, innovation, and community - why is play not considered essential leadership development? Mary Hendra, Executive Leader and Founder of Move with Grace, shares thoughts on the connection between leadership and play, as well as the impetus for this podcast series.Was the podcast series “too long, didn’t listen”? This is your summary of a great season of guests exploring the tension between play and work.“When people know their core truths and live in accord with what I call their play personality, the result is always a life of incredible power and grace.”...2022-09-1231 minLead with a dash of PlaySeason 1: Safe to be “all in”What would it mean to shift from “I need to be heard” to “I know I will be seen”? Wendy Horng Brawer incorporates play in the work she does with CEOs and teams, and describes that shift in sharing the impact of play. Team alignment, DEI initiatives, navigating through failure… Wendy shows us how vital play really is in the workplace.“The opposite of play is not work - the opposite of play is depression.” Stuart Brown, MD, author of Play.Wendy Horng BrawerSenior Facilitator, Experience Designer, Inclusion Consultant and Coach, Somatic-Based Executive and...2022-08-2931 minLead with a dash of PlaySeason 1: It’s So Much More than LEGO®When did you last build with bricks? Paul Sanbar found a way to make playing with LEGO® his job when he became a LEGO® Serious Play® facilitator, but his roots in psychotherapy are equally foundational. Building and breaking things apart - externally and internally - that’s serious play!“Play has the power to change lives.” LEGO®An Ingenuity + Executive Coach, coaching supervisor, and hands-on visual thinking facilitator, Paul Sanbar's life and career has been dedicated to the field of self-development and to effecting positive change through purposeful play, storytelling, and powerful conversations initially as a psychoth...2022-08-2233 min
Lead with a dash of PlaySeason 1: Help People ConnectOpt in. Mark Collard created an entire database of games for Playmeo, but key to all is the invitation to choose to participate. Once we make that choice, we enter in to a different type of connection with others.Mark Twain is said to have observed “work consists of whatever a body is obliged to do, and that play consists of whatever a body is not obliged to do.” Mark Collard is an experiential trainer, author and founder of playmeo.com, a popular online platform that is best known for hosting the largest online database of gr...2022-08-1534 min
The Aligned Leader ShowEp. 035 - Leaning Into Your Natural Strengths to Lead Others Effectively w/ Mary HendraHow do you invest in yourself and utilize your unique skills to become a successful leader? Leading from a unique, curious, and compassionate perspective allows you to create a work environment where everyone in your team feels supported, protected, and advocated for.On this episode of the She Leads Now Podcast, we’re joined by Mary Hendra. Mary is an executive leader and entrepreneur bringing curiosity, creativity, and compassion back into the workplace and our spaces of adult learning. She works with individuals and teams to create these spaces of curiosity and innovation.Listen in to...2022-08-1034 min
Lead with a dash of PlaySeason 1: Play with Your BrainWhat are the stories you tell yourself? Do they serve you? Jocelyn Brady, Brain Coach, shares the importance of play in breaking you out of your own resistance. It doesn’t have to include a penguin suit, but it could. We talk about giving yourself permission for “Vitamin Play.” ”Play is the highest form of research.” Albert Einstein, nobel-prize winning Physicist.Jocelyn Brady is a writer, edutainer and professional brain jostler who thrives at the intersection of comedy, storytelling and unraveling the mysteries of the human brain. When she’s not being the Bill Nye of the brain...2022-08-0829 min
Lead with a dash of PlaySeason 1: The Structure of GamesDave Mastronardi doesn’t consider himself a “playful” person, but he runs games for a living. We talk about the power of structure in play and why the term “play” itself is problematic. “Serious games help organizations solve complex problems through collaborative play.” Luke Hohmann, Founder and CEO of The Innovation Games Company, in the Foreword to Gamestorming, The Playbook for Innovators, Rulebreakers, and Changemakers.Dave Mastronardi helps companies rethink and reshape the way they work. As CEO of The Gamestorming Group, Dave helps you, your team and your company clarify, align and move towards your goals. Bas...2022-08-0230 min
Lead with a dash of PlaySeason 1: Yes, And…Could play be as simple as solving puzzles? Bridget Quigg brings her experience with tech, marketing, and improv to support each of us recognizing our own creative genius. She shares stories of construction workers, military, tech industry and nurses engaging with play, and I make a connection to the “temporary alternative universe” identified by Priya Parker in The Art of Gathering.“When we play, we are engaged in the purest expression of our humanity, the truest expression of our individuality.” Stuart Brown, MD, author of Play.Bridget Quigg is a graduate of Stanford University and has work...2022-08-0131 minLead with a dash of PlayPlay is a Leadership Skill?Could play be the most underrated leadership skill? A new podcast exploring the power of play in professional spaces, and redefining “play” in the process.2022-07-2102 min
PodtalkPlay with Mary HendraWhat role does play have in professional spaces, and how can podcasting facilitate conversations about it?
Podcasting serves as a gateway to deeper dialogue about human connection and creativity.
"I wanted to talk with people who brought play into their professional spaces in part because of the tension between the fun of play and the resistance from others saying, 'If you want to succeed professionally, you have to be more serious.'" ~ Mary Hendra (3:28)
The conversation centers around podcasting as a medium for creating meaningful dialogue and exploring deeper themes, particularly the concept...2022-07-0121 min
Life After Corporate67. Transformational Journaling with Mary HendraWelcome back to another episode of Life After Corporate! Today, we are sitting down with my friend and one of the graduates of Launch Lab, Mary Hendra. Mary is someone who inspires me with her heartfelt vision and way of working with clients. If there’s one thing that you can takeaway from this episode, it’s that no matter what path you choose with your business journey, what you choose to focus on and how you deliver your services can be creative and fun while delivering great value to the people who work with you. Tune in a...2021-09-1430 min
Weekly WomanThat time she was in the Soviet Union & Civic Fabric with Mary HendraMary Hendra is a Los Angeles based program director at Facing History in Ourselves where she serves over a thousand schools reaching five hundred thousand students each year in Southern California. She recently started move with Grace a unique Master Class designed to find Clarity and regain power in our world Through Stillness creativity and community. She is also a part of the leadership team of elevate LA and active facilitator for a next big idea book group and runs an amazing podcast book club where we first met and she also spent time in what was then the...2020-11-1839 min
Total Movie RecallTMR 038 – Babe: Pig in the City This week on Total Movie Recall, we watched the Sophie’s Choice of talking pig movies — Babe: Pig in the City. You might remember it as a sweet children’s fantasy movie about cute talking animals, but that’s just your brain trying to protect you from the harrowing nightmare that is this film. Dogs are hung from chains and drowned in front of us. Crippled Jack Russell Terriers are killed and teased with the sweet release from their worldly limitations, only to be cruelly pulled back into their wheelchair prison. Ryan and Steve started this movie as boys...2020-09-1400 min
The Tudor History & Travel ShowBolton Castle: The Yorkshire Prison of a Scottish QueenIn February’s episode of the Tudor Travel Show, we travel first to the hauntingly austere Bolton Castle in North Yorkshire, one-time prison of Mary, Queen of Scots. Sarah tours the castle with our guide, Elizabeth Carter, and learns about the castle’s history and its association with Mary. There is also a blog about Bolton Castle and the Vengeful Prisoner of Wensleydale which you can access here.
Continuing our Mary, Queen of Scots theme, in the second half of the podcast, Sarah is in the studio and talking to Lawrence Hendra from the Philip Mould...2020-02-151h 16