The Being Playful Podcast

S1E13: Playfulness Fuels Strategic Thinking with Stephen Matini

Ever wondered how playfulness emerges in the creative process and strategic thinking? In this episode, Chris talks with Stephen Matini, a multifaceted professional who wears many hats as a business coach, podcast host, professor, and aspiring fiction writer. Stephen shares how his approach to leadership development and personal creativity is deeply intertwined with playfulness and cognitive flexibility.
Stephen offers a compelling perspective on problem-solving, revealing how solutions often come to him in the most unexpected ways: "I do my homework, I get all the data and then I let it go. I cannot keep thinking about it. I have to really, it's almost like a voice that has to come to me." Through his varied professional experiences, he demonstrates how staying mentally "loose" while maintaining focus leads to better creative outcomes and business solutions.
The conversation explores the deep connection between playfulness, creative thinking, and professional development, with Chris and Stephen diving deep into:
How playfulness manifests as cognitive flexibility and "staying loose"
The distinction between operational (linear) thinking and strategic (divergent) thinking
Why creating space for abstract thinking is crucial for creativity
How playfulness naturally emerges when we're in a low-stress state
The importance of defending your authentic way of working
Key insights include:
The neuroscience behind why stress inhibits playful thinking
How early morning can be an optimal time for creative thinking
The value of cross-pollination between different domains of expertise
Why workplace environments often stifle the very creativity they seek
The importance of being less transactional and more human in business relationships
The discussion takes fascinating turns into how both creative processes and business challenges require similar traits: the ability to gather information methodically, then step back and allow insights to emerge organically. Chris and Stephen explore how maintaining intellectual curiosity while having robust foundations leads to more effective problem-solving and better outcomes.
A particularly powerful moment comes when Stephen describes his creative process as "mostly listening," explaining how different it feels from forced logical thinking: "It's never wrong. It's never wrong. It just has this 'this is it'. This is the thing. There's something so sharp and clear about it."
Want to learn more about Stephen's work? You can find him at:
Pitty Party Over (podcast)
LinkedIn
This episode offers valuable insights for business professionals, creatives, and anyone interested in how playfulness can transform both personal and professional challenges.

S1E12: The Playful Side of Risk with Adam Rackley

Ever wondered how intellectual playfulness shapes high-stakes decision making? In this episode, Chris talks with Adam Rackley, a fund manager whose unique approach to investment combines rigorous analysis with the ability to embrace uncertainty. From rowing across the Atlantic to managing investment portfolios, Adam's experiences offer fascinating insights into how playfulness emerges in seemingly unlikely places.
Adam shares his compelling perspective on investment management, revealing how the ability to make decisions under uncertainty requires both structured processes and intellectual flexibility. Through his work in value investing, he demonstrates how being comfortable with ambiguity while maintaining analytical rigour leads to better investment outcomes.
The conversation explores the deep connection between playfulness, decision-making, and performance, with Chris and Adam diving deep into:
How intellectual playfulness manifests in investment management
Why being comfortable with uncertainty is crucial for effective decision-making
The importance of balancing process with intuition
How playfulness naturally emerges even in extreme situations
The role of collaboration in overcoming cognitive biases
Key insights include:
The distinction between analysis and decision-making in investment management
How structured processes enable intellectual flexibility
The importance of managing behavioural biases
Why collaborative relationships enhance decision-making
The power of maintaining curiosity in professional settings
The discussion takes fascinating turns into how both physical challenges and professional decisions require similar traits: the ability to sit with discomfort, maintain perspective, and find engagement in seemingly monotonous situations. Chris and Adam explore how maintaining intellectual curiosity while having robust processes leads to more effective decision-making and better outcomes.
A particularly powerful moment comes when Adam discusses the nature of investment decisions, explaining how you can never have complete information and must become comfortable making decisions under uncertainty - a perspective that offers valuable insights for any professional dealing with complex decisions.
Want to learn more about Adam's work? You can find him at:
Cape Wrath Capital
Dowgate
This episode offers valuable insights for investment professionals, decision-makers, and anyone interested in how intellectual playfulness can transform both personal and professional challenges.

S1E11: Being Playful with Lisa Lloyd

Ever wondered how playfulness and authentic communication could revolutionise workplace culture and transform leadership? In this episode, Chris talks with Lisa Lloyd, a psychologist whose journey from traditional corporate environments to pioneering human-centred approaches offers fascinating insights into how creating the right environment enables both people and businesses to flourish.
Lisa shares her compelling perspective on workplace dynamics, revealing how understanding and responding to human needs creates environments where creativity, innovation, and authentic connection can thrive. Through her work with organisations across various sectors, she demonstrates how focusing on the human side of business leads to better performance and engagement.
The conversation explores the deep connection between environment, emotional awareness, and performance, with Chris and Lisa diving deep into:
How creating psychologically safe environments enables peak performance
Why pausing and self-awareness are crucial for effective leadership
The importance of normalising emotional responses in professional settings
How playfulness naturally emerges when stress levels decrease
The role of curiosity in fostering innovation and connection
Key insights include:
The distinction between controlling performance and creating conditions for excellence
How acknowledging emotions can transform team dynamics
The importance of leaders modelling authentic behaviour
Why collective intelligence trumps individual brilliance
The power of understanding and working with our natural stress responses
The discussion takes fascinating turns into how both playfulness and emotional awareness can help manage uncertainty, foster genuine connections, and create environments where innovation flourishes. Chris and Lisa explore how maintaining self-awareness and encouraging authentic expression leads to more effective leadership and deeper workplace relationships.
A particularly powerful moment comes when Lisa shares her experience working with a managing director who acknowledged his discomfort with one-to-one interactions, leading to a compelling exploration of how owning our strengths and weaknesses enables more authentic and effective leadership.
Want to learn more about Lisa's work? You can find her at:
Website: Its Time for Change
LinkedIn: Lisa Lloyd
This episode offers valuable insights for leaders, consultants, and anyone interested in how creating the right environment through playfulness and authentic communication can transform both personal and organisational growth journeys.

S1E10: Playfulness and Values with Erika Clegg

Ever wondered how our values and playfulness intertwine to shape authentic leadership and organisational culture? In this episode, Chris talks with Erika Clegg, a values consultant whose journey from creative agency founder to transformational leadership expert offers fascinating insights into how embracing our authentic selves can revolutionise both personal growth and business success.
Erika shares her evolution from working in traditional corporate structures to developing her own values-based approach, revealing how understanding and living by our core values enables us to access a natural state of playfulness and authenticity. Through her work with organisations ranging from corporations to emergency services, she demonstrates how values can transform workplace culture when they're genuine rather than merely fashionable.
The conversation explores the deep connection between values and playfulness, with Chris and Erika diving deep into:
How values provide a framework for authentic self-expression
Why playfulness emerges naturally when we're aligned with our true values
The importance of values being genuine rather than following trends
How perspective-shifting helps manage challenging situations
The role of values in building resilient leadership
Key insights include:
The distinction between organisational and personal values
How values can eliminate imposter syndrome
The importance of values being potentially divisive rather than universally appealing
Why playfulness helps create psychological safety in professional settings
The power of "knowing what matters" in both strategic and day-to-day decisions
The discussion takes fascinating turns into how both values and playfulness can help manage overwhelming situations, foster authentic connections, and create environments where innovation thrives. Chris and Erika explore how maintaining awareness and staying true to our values can lead to more effective leadership and deeper human connections.
A particularly powerful moment comes when Erika shares her experience of recognising value misalignment in her early career, describing the discomfort of having to consider "what would my boss say?" rather than trusting her own judgment. This leads to a compelling exploration of how understanding our values frees us to be more playful and authentic in our professional lives.
Want to learn more about Erika's work? You can find her at:
Website: erikaclegg.com
This episode offers valuable insights for leaders, consultants, and anyone interested in how aligning values with playfulness can transform both personal and organisational growth journeys.

S1E9 Embracing Change with Minola Jac

Ever wondered how playfulness can transform our approach to organizational change and personal growth? In this episode, Chris talks with Minola Jac, a self-described "change enthusiast" whose journey offers fascinating insights into the power of playfulness in driving meaningful transformation.
Minola shares her compelling story of growing up in an environment that valued conformity, and how she discovered that "they couldn't educate the rebel out of me." Through her evolution from journalist to change professional, she reveals how embracing her natural curiosity and creativity led to a more authentic and effective approach to change management.
The conversation explores how playfulness manifests in unexpected ways in professional settings, with Chris and Minola diving deep into:
The relationship between playfulness and organizational innovation
Why being a "change enthusiast" differs fundamentally from being a change manager
How embracing multiple passions and perspectives can lead to better problem-solving
The importance of challenging traditional boundaries in professional development
The role of playfulness in building resilience and fostering growth
Key insights include:
The distinction between work, leisure, and play in professional settings
How playfulness can help overcome self-rejection and foster creativity
The value of bringing one's whole self to work
Why diverse experiences and perspectives enhance change leadership
The importance of "bouncing forward" rather than just bouncing back
The discussion takes fascinating turns into how playfulness can transform organizational culture, foster authentic connections, and create environments where innovation thrives. Chris and Minola explore how maintaining curiosity and openness can lead to more effective change initiatives and deeper human connections.
Want to learn more about Minola's work? You can find her on:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/minolajac/
Her Book: "Everyday Inspiration for Change" available on Amazon platforms
This episode offers valuable insights for change practitioners, leaders, and anyone interested in how playfulness can transform both personal and organizational growth journeys.

S1E8 Connecting Dots, Creating Narratives with Tobin Trevarthen

Ever wondered how playfulness can transform business narratives and foster deeper connections? In this episode, Chris chats with Tobin Trevarthen, a strategic narrative expert who reveals how his journey from nightclub DJ to corporate storyteller has shaped his unique approach to helping businesses and executives find their voice.
Tobin shares his fascinating career path, which includes roles at major media organizations and the creation of innovative narrative frameworks. He explains how his experience as a DJ taught him to "read the room" and facilitate emotional connections - skills that would later prove invaluable in his corporate work. Through his company Spatial Shift, he now helps brands and executives craft their strategic narratives, drawing from what he calls his "cookbook of recipes" built over 30 years of experience.
In this engaging conversation, Chris and Tobin explore how playfulness manifests in unexpected ways - from creating corporate narratives to fostering generational understanding in the workplace. Tobin shares powerful insights about staying relevant in a changing world, including his creation of the "narrative playbook" during COVID-19 to help executives navigate uncertainty.
The discussion takes fascinating turns into:
How making mosaics became a metaphor for Tobin's work in connecting disparate pieces into coherent narratives
The power of playfulness in breaking down barriers between different generations in the workplace
The importance of creating safe spaces for creativity and authentic connection in corporate settings
How neurodiversity has influenced Tobin's understanding of communication and led to innovative projects in neuro-universal language
Chris and Tobin wrap up by discussing the transformative power of playfulness in fostering connection and understanding across different perspectives, whether generational, neurological, or cultural. Their conversation reveals how maintaining curiosity and openness can lead to unexpected innovations and deeper human connections.
Want to learn more about Tobin's work? You can find him on:
LinkedIn: Tobin Trevarthen
Website: spatialshift.com
Newsletter: "Now New Next" on Substack
This episode offers valuable insights for anyone interested in strategic narratives, organizational culture, and the power of playfulness in professional settings.

S1E7: Finding opportunity in uncertainty with Mike Clements

Ever wondered how successful investors navigate market uncertainty? In this episode, Chris chats with Mike Clements, a European equity portfolio manager at Downing Fund Managers, who reveals how embracing uncertainty through playful thinking and emotional awareness can lead to unique investment opportunities!
Mike takes us through his journey in investment management, starting just before the dot-com bubble, and shares how this formative experience shaped his understanding of market psychology. He explains his contrarian approach - how thinking differently from the crowd requires both emotional resilience and the ability to stay curious and creative when others are fearful.
In this fascinating conversation, Chris and Mike explore how traditional views of rational market behavior often clash with the emotional reality of decision-making. Mike shares insights on how maintaining curiosity and cognitive flexibility helps him spot opportunities in volatile markets that others might miss.
We also get a peek into Mike's thoughts on workplace culture, where he emphasizes the importance of having an environment that allows for creative thinking and exploration of new ideas. He discusses why he values working in an environment that encourages freedom of thought and the ability to pursue unconventional opportunities.
Chris and Mike wrap up by discussing the importance of being a "jack of all trades" in modern investing - how curiosity about diverse industries and technologies helps spot unique opportunities. They explore how this manifests through cognitive flexibility, imagination, and the ability to see potential where others see uncertainty.
Want to learn more about Mike's approach to investment management? You can find out more about his work at Downing Fund Managers 

S1E6 Collaboration, Vulnerability and Playfulness with Dona Amelia

Ever wondered how vulnerability and playfulness can transform leadership and foster innovation? In this episode, Chris chats with Dona Amelia, co-founder of Executive Global Network (EGN) in Singapore, Indonesia, and Malaysia, who's on a mission to create safe spaces for leaders to share knowledge and grow together!
Dona takes us on a journey through her diverse career, from her roots in entertainment as a professional singer and actress to her current role facilitating peer-to-peer networking for senior executives. She shares insights on the power of vulnerability in leadership and how it can lead to more authentic and effective collaboration.
In this engaging conversation filled with personal anecdotes, Chris and Dona explore how playfulness can transform challenges into opportunities, using marathon running as a metaphor for tackling big goals. They discuss the importance of creating safe environments for leaders to be vulnerable and share their experiences, and the shift from traditional, hierarchical leadership styles to more collaborative, curiosity-driven approaches.
We also get a glimpse into Dona's thoughts on the future of leadership, where embracing peer networks fosters collective intelligence and innovation. Dona shares her perspective on the interconnectedness of curiosity, creativity, and connectedness in personal and professional growth.
Chris and Dona wrap up by chatting about the transformative power of playfulness in finding new possibilities and maintaining a positive outlook. We also hear a heartwarming story about Dona's father, whose kindness and playful approach to life and teaching has left a lasting impact on her.
Want to connect with Dona and learn more about her work with EGN? You can find her on LinkedIn as Dona Amelia, on Facebook as Dona Amelia, and on Instagram @MissDonaAmelia.

S1E5 Emotions at work with Susan Ni Chriodain

Ever wondered how emotions and playfulness can transform our approach to work and leadership? In this episode, Chris chats with Susan Nechriathan, author of "Leading Beyond the Numbers," who's on a mission to bring emotions back into the workplace!
Susan takes us on a journey through her career, revealing how her background in accounting led her to recognise the importance of emotional intelligence in our increasingly rational business world. She shares insights on the evolving nature of leadership and how traditional management styles are being challenged by the need for more human-centric approaches.
In this beautiful conversation filled with laughter, Chris and Susan explore  how emotions, humour and playfulness play crucial roles in diffusing tense situations and fostering creativity. 
We also get a peek into Susan's thoughts on the future of work, where embracing our whole selves - both personal and professional - leads to more innovative and productive workplaces. 
Chris and Susan wrap up by chatting about the multifaceted nature of human identity and the importance of recognising our complexity beyond our professional personas. They explore how playfulness can help us navigate this complexity and foster deeper connections in the workplace.
Want to keep up with Susan's work on bringing emotions into leadership? You can find her on LinkedIn and check out her book "Leading Beyond the Numbers" and her podcast "Life Beyond the Numbers" via her website https://www.beyond-thenumbers.com

S1E4: Humanizing the Workplace with Stela Lupushor

Ever wondered how humanizing the workplace and embracing playfulness can transform our work experience? In this episode, Chris chats with Stela Lupushor, who's on a mission to bring humanity back to the workplace!
Stela takes us on a journey through her career, revealing how her background in math and computer science led her to recognize the importance of human-centric approaches in our increasingly digital world. She shares insights on the evolving nature of work and how traditional management styles are being challenged by new generations and technological advancements.
But it's not all about serious HR talk - Stela dives deep into how curiosity and creativity play crucial roles in adapting to new technologies like AI. She spills the beans on how playful experimentation can lead to innovative solutions and personalized learning experiences.
We also get a peek into Stela's thoughts on the future of work, where AI co-pilots might help preserve organizational culture while freeing up humans to focus on truly meaningful activities. She reminds us how crucial it is to maintain our human touch in an increasingly digital world.
Chris and Stela wrap up by chatting about the multifaceted nature of human identity and the importance of recognizing our complexity beyond our professional personas. They explore how playfulness can help us navigate this complexity and foster deeper connections.
Want to keep up with Stela's work on humanizing the workplace? You can find her at reframe.work, on LinkedIn