In this episode of The PlayFull Podcast, Kristine Michie speaks with Don Howard, President and CEO of the James Irvine Foundation, about the future of work and the role of philanthropy in an AI-driven economy. Together, they explore how economic empowerment, trust-based giving, and worker inclusion can create more equitable opportunities for low-income communities. Drawing from Don’s journey into philanthropy and his commitment to inclusive leadership, the conversation highlights how empathy, adaptability, and even playfulness can sustain leaders and drive community-led change in a rapidly evolving world.

In this episode of The PlayFull Podcast, Kristine Michie sits down with longtime policy strategist and justice advocate Robert Raben for a deeply human conversation about sustaining meaningful work in complex times. Together, they explore how humor, faith, strategic clarity, and emotional grounding help leaders navigate cultural and political pushback without losing their joy. Touching on burnout, inclusion, rest, and the power of play, the conversation reframes resilience as a practice rooted in connection, purpose, and principled action.

In this episode of The PlayFull Podcast, Kristine Michie talks with Mia Sundstrom, CEO of the National Institute for Play (NIFP), and Lauren Sundstrom, NIFP Board Member, about the science, practice, and impact of play. They explore how play is essential not just for individual well-being but for workplaces, education, and societal health. From neuroscience and character development to organizational culture and philanthropy, the conversation reframes play as a foundational human and public health necessity.

In this episode of The PlayFull Podcast, Kristine Michie sits down with spiritual leader, author, and Unity San Francisco Senior Minister Ken Daigle to explore how play, faith, vulnerability, and imagination fuel personal transformation and social change. Drawing from Ken’s journey through Catholicism, queerness, theater, an HIV diagnosis, recovery, and ministry, they examine play as a sacred practice—one that invites discomfort, honest dialogue, and moral imagination. Together, they reflect on interfaith connection, polarization, unapologetic desire, and the courage to imagine lives and systems shaped not by fear or limitation, but by possibility.

In this episode of The PlayFull Podcast, Kristine Michie sits down with activist and strategist Scot Nakagawa and organizer Zev Mishell to explore how joy, play, faith, and ritual sustain people and movements through long struggles for justice. Drawing from decades of organizing, interfaith work, and personal history, they reflect on why burnout is a structural risk, how symbols and embodied practices build belonging, and why faith and politics are never truly separate. Together, they invite listeners to reimagine resistance as not only strategic but cultural and emotional—showing how imagination, care, and playful protest help movements endure, communicate meaning at scale, and keep showing up when the work feels heavy.

In this episode of The PlayFull Podcast, Kristine Michie sits down with poet, lawyer, and MacArthur Fellow Reginald Dwayne Betts to explore how joy, language, and access to stories sustain liberation and resilience in social justice work. Reflecting on his writing, his nonprofit Freedom Reads, and his lived experience, Betts invites listeners to reconsider how beauty, imagination, and serious work coexist—showing how words, books, and thoughtfully designed spaces can reshape systems, nurture hope, and sustain long-term movement building.

In this episode of The PlayFull Podcast, Kristine Michie talks with Jenan Mohajir, an educator, storyteller, and Vice President of External Affairs at Interfaith America, about the beauty and power of pluralism. They explore how local communities become sites of healing, how faith-based service shapes civic leadership, and how trust, humility, and storytelling sustain long-term work for the common good.

In this episode of The PlayFull Podcast, Kristine Michie talks with Rev. Naomi Washington-Leapheart, a Black queer preacher, teacher, and justice advocate, about integrating faith, politics, and joy into social change. They explore how voting and civic engagement can be expressions of faith, how reclaiming spiritual language fuels imagination and action, and how play and creativity sustain resilience in long-term justice work.

In this episode of The PlayFull Podcast, Kristine Michie talks with Rev. Jennifer Butler, founder of Faith in Democracy, about infusing joy, faith, and community into social change and exploring how spiritual language, humor, and compassion can renew resilience and help bridge divided communities.

In this episode of The PlayFull Podcast, Kristine Michie talks with filmmaker Nicholas Ma about using creative storytelling and sustained in-person conversations to bridge divides, spark empathy, and strengthen community.

In this episode of The PlayFull Podcast, Kristine Michie talks with Michelle Sobel and Harry Gottlieb—co-founders of Unify America—about reducing polarization, rebuilding civic trust, and helping people collaborate across differences with curiosity and play.

In this episode of The PlayFull Podcast, Kristine Michie talks with Shantel Suárez Ávila and Claire Groebner about centering lived experience, embracing play, and leading an abundance-minded approach to equity while building resilience, trust, and community impact.

In this episode, Host Kristine Michie talks with Samra Haider, CEO of the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, about reimagining philanthropy and using play, imagination, and local leadership to close New Jersey’s vast racial wealth gap.

In this episode, Bob Dalton joins The PlayFull Podcast to share how LOCL uses technology to spark real-world connection, proving that mission-driven entrepreneurship and people-centered design can turn digital spaces into thriving local communities.

In this episode, Don Howard joins Kristine Michie to discuss how empathy, equity, and innovation in philanthropy can shape a more inclusive future of work in an AI-driven world.

In this episode of The PlayFull Podcast, host Kristine Michie talks with Lorna Olivia McCormack, founder of Wool in School and a former Irish presidential candidate. Together, they explore how creativity, sustainability, and empathy can transform leadership and learning.

Join us as Dr. Stuart Brown, often hailed as the father of play, delves into the profound significance of play across human history and its pivotal role in shaping our world, with insights spanning from Aristotle to modern research and practical applications for today's changemakers.

Embark on a journey with Jean Oelwang, CEO of Virgin Unite, as she reveals the transformative power of joy, play, and purpose in tackling the world's challenges alongside luminaries like Richard Branson and global icons.

Discover how Latanya Mapp's blend of playfulness and purpose propels her as CEO of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, as she shares anecdotes of music, clarinet passion, and Play-Doh, demonstrating that play is a cornerstone of her impactful leadership journey.

Join Kristine and David in a lively conversation exploring the intersection of playfulness and leadership at Lyft, the surprising impact of ridesharing statistics, and the importance of doing the right thing for the world.