Playing with myself - exploring play
Tue Feb 03 2026
What is play, really—and why does it seem to disappear as we get older?
In this episode, I explore where play comes from, why it feels so essential when we’re young, and what happens when adulthood slowly pushes it aside. We look at how play shapes curiosity, creativity, connection, and even identity—and why so many of us feel disconnected from it later in life.
But play isn’t automatically good. So we also ask the harder questions:Is play always healthy? Is it truly natural? Can play become escapism, avoidance, or even destructive?
This is a reflective conversation about joy, seriousness, culture, and what we lose—and maybe can reclaim—when we stop playing.
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What is play, really—and why does it seem to disappear as we get older? In this episode, I explore where play comes from, why it feels so essential when we’re young, and what happens when adulthood slowly pushes it aside. We look at how play shapes curiosity, creativity, connection, and even identity—and why so many of us feel disconnected from it later in life. But play isn’t automatically good. So we also ask the harder questions:Is play always healthy? Is it truly natural? Can play become escapism, avoidance, or even destructive? This is a reflective conversation about joy, seriousness, culture, and what we lose—and maybe can reclaim—when we stop playing.