Jonathan H. Liu, a writer for the GeekDad blog and board game enthusiast, joins Amy and Kevin for a discussion of considerations when starting, playing, and ending a gaming session. We revisit some of the How to Play guidelines gleaned from an interview a decade ago. Jonathan will join us again on Friday, September 6 for a panel discussion on play …

In this conversation, Amy and Kevin explore the benefits of remembering and recalling connecting moments in past play, by intentionally cultivating a repository of positive relational moments. Some resources mentioned in this episode: "Dave's Mad Monkey Tea Party" (video) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MVA6Spl7PQ "Wired to Connect" (book) by Amy …

In this conversation, Amy and Kevin explore playful ways to healthy conflict, identifying the conditions for tension and how play can help keep us engaged with others long enough to help us move to new understanding together. Some resources mentioned in this episode: Positive Discipline https://www.positivediscipline.com/ Playful Parenting https://…

In this conversation, Megan Clendening joins Amy and Kevin to recap the latest session of the Relational Cadre with a follow-up discussion of the importance of open spaces for making mistakes, embracing uncertainty, and the transformative power of metaphors that can help us view the world differently. Some resources mentioned in this episode: "A Pe…

In this conversation, Amy and Kevin preview the next session of the Relational Cadre with a discussion of metaphors, memes, and the need to understand each other in order to invite each other into a playful space. Some resources mentioned in this episode: "The Selfish Gene" (Wikipedia) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Selfish_Gene Empire Carpets c…

In a conversation taking place after the second Relational Cadre session of 2024, Amy and Kevin reflect on the discussions and playful activity of the group around the topic of Imagining Together, part of the year-long focus on Playful Connections. They talk about some insights and questions that arose from the session, and try to connect play to s…

In advance of the second Relational Cadre session, Amy and Kevin dive into another topic in the Playful Connections theme for 2024 ... Imagining Together. When we imagine together, we have to hold two things in our heads at once: Play is purposeless, and the purpose of play is to connect. Play can use accessible activities like improv, storytelling…

Amy and Kevin dive into the first topic in the Playful Connections theme for 2024 ... Worldbuilding: Co-creating Context. We use worldbuilding to connect in many ways, from our pretend play as kids or adults to conversations with friends in which we imagine our futures together and apart. Worldbuilding is a symbolic creation for healing and growth.…

Amy and Kevin introduce the theme for the 2024 Relational Cadre and Summit hosted by the Bloomington Center For Connection. Playful Connections is an examination of play as a creative process of transformative connection. Play includes engaging in activities out of curiosity, and helps us develop clarity about ourselves and others and build stronge…