Finding Fun Experiment. Cracking your Code to Health and Wellness.

How to Have more Fun? Go Play! Adult Play Isn’t Silly—It’s a Health Strategy (with Toni Christopher + Sarah McMahon)In this episode, I’m on a mission:To help you have an aha about adult play—and stop treating it like it’s frivolous, childish, or a waste of time.Because play isn’t extra.Play is necessary.To help us get there, I brought in the forces (yes, the forces!):Toni Christopher — Executive Director of the National Institute for Play, a nonprofit advocating for society’s understanding and application of play. Toni shares research, play science, and why play matters far more than we’ve been taught.Sarah McMahon — Actress, improv educator, relationship coach (Playful Partnerships), and creator of the Playdate Deck, a card deck designed to help adults bring play into relationships in real-life ways.The opposite of play isn’t work… it’s depression.Yep. Toni drops that truth—and backs it with what research says happens when adults stop playing:increased stress impactless flexibility (emotionally and mentally)more rigiditymore pessimismmore risk of depressionAnd the beautiful news?Play is retrainable. If you’ve lost it—you can get it back.Play lives in older brain systems (with emotion)As we age, our cortex (“the general”) gets wired with rules, responsibility, and filtersWe start filtering out play with “not now” thinking: time, money, mess, fear, what people thinkPlus—many adults didn’t grow up with much free play, which makes it harder to access naturally later.👫 What Play Changes in RelationshipsSarah shares what she sees in couples: play is intimate. And when it disappears, connection fades.Fear of rejection (initiating play feels vulnerable)Digital distractionsMismatched timingMental load + stressDifferent “cultures of play” (you and your partner may have learned play differently)Sarah teaches improv skills that strengthen relationships.🎴 The Playdate Deck Game We PlayedGame 1: That’s Awesome (Appetizer)Say something true (small or big).Everyone responds: “That’s awesome!” + fist bump.Why it works: It builds trust, acceptance, and relational safety—and creates a playful container.Give your partner a playful “award,” accept it, then say:“I couldn’t have done it without you…”…and continue with playful praise (or let it get heartfelt if it naturally does).Create a shared “remember when” story—about something you never actually did.Each person adds a detail (“yes, and…”).Why it works: You’re building a positive memory on purpose—and your brain starts wiring play + connection together.***If this episode sparked something in you — or reminded you of someone who could use more fun, joy, and aliveness — send it to them today. Join the Global Fun Movement on my email list and get monthly tools, stories, and psychology-backed ways to spark joy and live lively:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.minddoodles.ca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠🎵 Music by Allstar musicians Per Hoffman and David Hilton Clark👉 Follow and subscribe to this podcast for more weekly guests and stories to help you crack the code to health, wellness, and FUN.Treena Innes, Your Life Fun Expertwww.minddoodles.ca [email protected] ***Thank you to our special guests: National Institute for Play website www.nifplay.org Subscribe to our newsletter or, more generally, follow the institute https://nifplay.org/subscribe/ Instagram  https://www.instagram.com/playinstitute/ Linkedin  https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-national-institute-for-play/ https://www.saradelighted.com/playfulpartnersThe Playdate Deckhttps://www.saradelighted.com/the-playdate-deckAnyone local to Seattle, here is the link for upcoming couple's workshophttps://www.eventbrite.com/e/improv-date-night-registration-1608081267359?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

🎧 Make 2026 Your Year of FunWhat would it look like to make fun, laughter, and play a must-have—not a nice-to-have?The Year of Fun isn’t a resolution that fizzles by February.It’s a practice.A necessity.A health strategy.Fun is good for your body, your mind, and your performance at work and in life.It builds energy, resilience, and vibrancy—so when life gets hard (and it will), your cup is already full.We talk about physical health.We talk about mental health.It’s time we start normalizing Fun Health.And the truth is—fun looks different for everyone, and it changes with every stage of life.Your Year of Fun isn’t about doing more.It’s about feeling more alive in the life you already have.No guilt.No judgment.No Instagram fun comparisons.Because you deserve to feel alive, passionate, and vibrant—and so do the people you impact.Fun is a lifelong experiment.It evolves with you.Thanks for being a Fun Fan and helping grow the Global FUN Movement.Now let’s make this year YOUR Year of Fun 🎉***If this episode sparked something in you — or reminded you of someone who could use more fun, joy, and aliveness — send it to them today. Join the Global Fun Movement on my email list and get monthly tools, stories, and psychology-backed ways to spark joy and live lively:⁠⁠⁠⁠www.minddoodles.ca⁠⁠⁠⁠🎵 Music by Allstar musicians Per Hoffman and David Hilton Clark👉 Follow and subscribe to this podcast for more weekly guests and stories to help you crack the code to health, wellness, and FUN.Treena Innes, Your Life Fun Expertwww.minddoodles.ca [email protected] Helping people and organizations find more fun in their lives or workplaces to improve their health, wellness and performance.

How to have more fun---even as a workaholic. Do you ever catch yourself saying things like. "I don’t have time for fun.”“Work is my fun.”“I’ll relax once things settle down.”“Fun can wait… maybe when I retire.”If that sounds familiar, this episode is for you.Today, we’re digging into the W word: workaholic.And the truth might surprise you…Research shows 15–30% of adults display workaholic tendencies—and the impact is real.• 30% report sleep problems and chronic exhaustion• Workaholics are 3x more likely to burn out• Higher rates of anxiety, headaches, stomach issues, and muscle tension• And… 56% say they simply “don’t have time for fun”Fun friend, that breaks my heart—because fun isn’t optional. It’s fuel.🎧 Meet Today’s Guest: Marc MawhinneyMy guest today is Marc Mawhinney: • Coach, business mentor, and longtime host of the Natural Born Coaches podcast• Self-proclaimed workaholic (his own words!)Marc joins me for a deeply honest conversation about his own work habits, guilt patterns, mindset loops, and the challenge of letting fun back into life when work feels all-consuming.🧠 What We Explore in This Episode:• The real definition of workaholismAnd why it’s not just about hours worked—it’s the mental inability to turn off.• How guilt, productivity pressure, and “I should be working” loops sabotage funMarc shares how even reading a book at 7pm triggers an internal “lazy” alarm.***If this episode sparked something in you — or reminded you of someone who could use more fun, joy, and aliveness — send it to them today. Join the Global Fun Movement on my email list and get monthly tools, stories, and psychology-backed ways to spark joy and live lively:⁠⁠⁠⁠www.minddoodles.ca⁠⁠⁠⁠🎵 Music by Allstar musicians Per Hoffman and David Hilton Clark👉 Follow and subscribe to this podcast for more weekly guests and stories to help you crack the code to health, wellness, and FUN.

How to have fun?  Kick getting judged to the curb! Are you holding yourself back from fun because you worry about feeling awkward, embarrassed, or judged?You’re not alone — almost 70% of adults avoid fun because they’re afraid of what other people will think.In this episode, we dig into why judgement is the #1 fun killer (hint: it’s not lack of time)…and 3 simple tools you can use to kick that judgie feeling to the curb so you can get back to your FUN.You’ll learn 3 game-changing habits:✨ The Two-Second Rule✨ The “Say It Out Loud” fear-shrinker✨ Describing yourself differently Try just one this week and watch your confidence grow.If this episode sparked something in you, share it with a friend who needs more fun, less fear, and a lot less judgement.Take the Just How Lively Are You? Quiz at https://form.typeform.com/to/cHJJtiOM***If this episode sparked something in you — or reminded you of someone who could use more fun, joy, and aliveness — send it to them today. Join the Global Fun Movement on my email list and get monthly tools, stories, and psychology-backed ways to spark joy and live lively:⁠⁠⁠www.minddoodles.ca⁠⁠⁠🎵 Music by Allstar musicians Per Hoffman and David Hilton Clark👉 Follow and subscribe to this podcast for more weekly guests and stories to help you crack the code to health, wellness, and FUN.

The Doctor’s Prescription: More Fun, Less Stress.Knowing that FUN has a mountain of health rewards like: * Managing Stress* Reducing Burnout * Improving Digestion... and even sleep! 💊 If fun could be prescribed in a pill, would you take it every day? What would the side effects be? *improved resilience*anti-aging, improved vitality *reduction of anxiety Doctors know the science of health, but how do they manage stress and burnout themselves? And what happens when they prescribe fun, laughter, and play to their patients?🎧 In this must-listen episode, real physicians open up about:✅ Fun is being overlooked in wellness. ✅ Moral dilemmas hinder prioritizing fun.✅ Why fun is essential(not optional!) for stress reliefScience-backed fact: Fun can lower blood pressure, improve immunity, and even reduce pain. So why aren’t we prioritizing it?Be the first to listen & don’t miss this game-changing episode to benefit your health and wellness. ***If this episode sparked something in you — or reminded you of someone who could use more fun, joy, and aliveness — send it to them today. Join the Global Fun Movement on my email list and get monthly tools, stories, and psychology-backed ways to spark joy and live lively:⁠⁠www.minddoodles.ca⁠⁠🎵 Music by Allstar musicians Per Hoffman and David Hilton Clark👉 Follow and subscribe to this podcast for more weekly guests and stories to help you crack the code to health, wellness, and FUN.