The PlayFull Podcast
Whether you’re ladling soup at a local shelter or attending a UN Peace Conference, those who devote their lives to the service of others are often exhausted and in need of a little break.
Welcome to the PlayFull Podcast, where host Kristine Michie and her guests bring fun to the serious work of changing the world.
Trabian Shorters: Narrative Change is Culture Change
In this episode, Kristine sits down with social entrepreneur Trabian Shorters to explore how shifting from deficit-framing to asset-framing changes culture, perception, and equity, while revealing the powerful role that narratives play in how we see ourselves and others.
Charisse Conanan Johnson: Shared Prosperity and A Playful Approach to Addressing Racism
Join Kristine as she engages with Charisse Conanan Johnson to explore a playful approach to addressing racism, emphasizing the importance of anti-racism, redefining wealth as a collective pursuit, and empowering the next generation of changemakers through creativity and deep conversations.
Ali Noorani: Confronting America’s Identity Crisis
Join Kristine and Ali Noorani as they navigate America's identity crisis, exploring how to craft narratives that serve everyone, reduce polarization, and strengthen our democratic institutions.
Joe Goldman: Democracy Needs Philanthropy and Vice Versa
Kristine and Joe Goldman discuss the urgent need to protect democracy through proactive funding for voting rights, political engagement by philanthropists, fostering team connections, and combining serious efforts with community-building activities, emphasizing that a healthy democracy is crucial for addressing broader philanthropic goals.
Palika Makam: How a Beloved Product Can Pave the Way for Riskier Activism
Dive into this episode as Kristine and guest Palika Makam explore how the power of ice cream can fuel activism, the intertwining of joy and justice at Ben & Jerry's, and the impact of a community organizer's journey from Cape Town to Ferguson on social change and corporate responsibility.
Jeanine Abrams McLean: Bringing Joy to Bring About Change
Join Kristine and her guest, Dr. Jeanine Abrams McLean, as they explore the power of play, the importance of positivity in challenging times, and the essential role of joy in both personal well-being and community organizing.
Taharka Brothers…Impact, Ice Cream & Employee-Ownership
Get the scoop on Taharka Brothers Ice Cream as Kristine sits down with employee-owners "Cousin" Vinny Green and Mike Prokop at their Baltimore factory to discuss the power of community, the magic behind their unique flavors, and how employee ownership fuels their mission-driven success.
LaTosha Brown: Joy is the New… Everything
Get ready to be inspired as LaTosha Brown joins Kristine to explore how joy and hope are revolutionizing democracy and reshaping the future of American politics.
Yordanos Eyoel: Democracy is a Verb – Launching into Vigorous Action
Yordanos Eyoel, an Ethiopian-American democracy entrepreneur and founder of Keseb, shares her journey from growing up amidst Ethiopia's civil war to leading a transnational platform that innovates and protects democracy, emphasizing the importance of active participation and global citizenship.
Merle McGee: The Promise, Practice, and Purpose of Everyday Democracy
Join Kristine in a dynamic discussion with guest Merle McGee as they explore how we can cultivate everyday democracy through collaboration, well-being, and community engagement.
Gigi Pedraza: Why Georgia Matters
Join Kristine and Gigi Pedraza as they delve into harnessing political energy, Georgia's dynamic political landscape, and the personal journey that ignited Gigi's passion for democracy.
Edward Bice: Live a Life Worthy of Telling Stories
Join Kristine and Edward Bice as they explore the transformative power of play and connection in society's most crucial moments, how to handle the word "truth," and envision a future where communities reclaim control over their data to build a better world.
Becca Hartman-Pickerill: Hold Up a Mirror to America’s Beauty
Discover America's 'civic genius' as Becca Hartman-Pickerill shares how embracing our diverse faith traditions strengthens community bonds, with practical insights from Interfaith’s Faith in Elections Playbook to foster unity and civic engagement.
Bacilia Angel: Political Parties - Reaching Voters through Music, Fun & Games
Join Kristine and Bacilia Angel as they explore how to make voting an engaging and fun experience through music, food, and culturally significant activities, while empowering Latine artists to inspire democratic participation.
Josh Lerner: Democracy is a Verb - Participate and Make It Fun
Join Kristine and Josh Lerner as they explore the essence of democracy beyond elections, emphasizing the importance of everyday participation and community engagement, and the role of play in fostering active involvement, as discussed in Josh's book, "Making Democracy Fun."
D'Seanté Parks: 1000 MORE - A Platform of Possibilities
Discover how D'Seanté Parks, founder and CEO of 1000 MORE, uses her political insights and personal experiences to inspire civic engagement and challenge societal constructs, all while sharing the unique influence of Oreos and the importance of dreaming, reading, and traveling for transformative social change.
Live in Oxford, UK: PlayFull at Skoll World Forum (Part 2)
Join us for the concluding part of this special at the Marmalade Festival where Kristine explores the relationship between play and productivity with guests including Emma Belcher, Taddy Blecher, Shauna Carey, and Sharyanne McSwain, emphasizing the importance of incorporating play into work environments to unlock potential and foster innovation.
Live in Oxford, UK: PlayFull at Skoll World Forum (Part 1)
Join Kristine and her four incredible guests on stage at the Marmalade Festival, where they delve into the transformative power of play, the pursuit of purpose-driven work, and the essence of creativity intertwined with impactful leadership and global change.
Lisa Truong: Changing the Lives of Families Through Diapers
This Mother’s Day special features Lisa Truong, whose small act of donating diapers in 2009 evolved into Help A Mother Out, now a leading mom-focused agency in the U.S., advocating for systemic change to ensure every baby has access to a healthy supply of diapers.
Amy Javaid: Unpacking Furniture Poverty – Why a Roof Overhead is Just the Start
In this week's episode of The PlayFull Podcast, we explore Amy Javaid's inspirational journey as CEO of A Wider Circle, where she leads a national movement to alleviate furniture poverty with innovative initiatives like hiding rubber ducks throughout their warehouse, infusing play, compassion, and dignity into the process to not only delight clients and staff but also to make a game out of filling empty homes with "donations with dignity".
How We Help
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BALANCE & JOY
Meaningful meetings and retreats for transformative team experiences.
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BOARD DEVELOPMENT & DELIGHT
Form joyful covenants with your board.
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BETTER TOGETHER
Giving Circles that center transparency, humility, and humanity.
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PLAYFULL LIVE
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