Vertical Playpen

This conversation explores the importance of culture in organizations and how it contributes to staff appreciation, retention, and overall success. Phil and Jim discuss the role of culture in creating conditions suitable for growth and how it impacts relationships, trust, and collaboration. They share examples of modeling good culture and the impact it has on individuals and the organization as a whole. The conversation emphasizes the importance of building connections, fostering a sense of community, and creating an environment that supports growth and development. It also highlights the challenges and tests that organizations may face in maintaining a strong culture. Overall, the conversation emphasizes the value of intentional culture and human connection in organizations.   Takeaways; Culture plays a crucial role in staff appreciation, retention, and overall success in organizations. Creating conditions suitable for growth is essential for fostering a positive culture. Modeling good culture and building connections are key strategies for cultivating a strong organizational culture. An intentional focus on culture and human connection can lead to a sense of community, growth, and development. Music and sound effects - epidemicsound.com  

In this short conversation, Ella Brown discusses her experiences learning and performing scary activities like skiing and circus skills. Ella also talks about managing nervousness and self-doubt, performing with an audience, and the importance of encouragement and support. She reflects on her own fears and how she overcomes them, as well as the role of empathy in understanding others' nervousness. Ella discusses her dreams for future challenges and the joy of learning new tricks.   Takeaways; Adults can be helpful when teaching and supporting children in scary activities by providing encouragement and support. Managing nervousness and self-doubt is important for performing well in challenging activities. Performing with an audience can be scarier, but the support and encouragement from the audience can also be motivating. Empathy and understanding for others' nervousness can help in providing support and encouragement. Overcoming fear and facing challenges can lead to a sense of worth and accomplishment. Learning new tricks and taking on new challenges can be exciting and rewarding. Music and Sound Effects - epidemicsound.com

In this conversation, Phil interviews Greg Kettner about the power of laughter and its role in creating connections and positive work environments. Greg shares his experience with standup comedy and how laughter can alleviate anxiety and stress. They discuss the decline of laughter in adulthood and the importance of incorporating laughter into daily life. Greg emphasizes the importance of finding a balance between mockery and positivity when using humor. They also explore the impact of laughter on mental health and the challenges of separating work and home. The conversation concludes with a discussion on embracing laughter and creating a work happy environment.   Takeaways; Laughter is a universal language that connects people and creates bonds. In adulthood, the frequency of laughter decreases significantly, but incorporating laughter into daily life can alleviate stress and anxiety. Finding a balance between mockery and positivity is crucial when using humor in serious topics. Laughter has healing properties and can improve mental health. Creating a work happy environment involves incorporating laughter and humor into the workplace. Connect with Greg - greg@gregkettner.com Check out his Ted Talk - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5uVBePSXGSc Learn more about WorkHappy - https://www.gregkettner.com/workhappy Humor Lab Facebook group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thehumorlab Music and Sound effects - epidemicsound.com  

In this conversation, Phil and Lisa discuss the concept of free play and its benefits and challenges. They explore the pressure to maximize leisure time and the potential stress it can cause. They also delve into the difficulties of open-ended free play in group settings and the importance of finding the right balance and structure. The conversation highlights the risk and stress of complete open-endedness and the dilemma of providing examples in open-ended questions. They also discuss the benefits of open-ended play in decreasing facilitator dependence and share successful examples of structured free play. The conversation concludes with a call to seek participant perspectives on open-ended play. Have thoughts on this particular topic? Please let us know; Email - podcast@high5adventure.org Instagram - @verticalplaypen Music and sound effects - epidemicsound.com  

In this episode, Phil sits down with Mark Collard (playmeo.com) to discuss; His introduction to the world of adventure education How Playmeo came to be That adventure education is a methodology and not an educational subject His hopes for the future of the industry Several answers to increasingly bizarre "would you rather" questions *Note - this is a re-production and edited version of a conversation recording in early 2019, back when I recorded episodes in my car. Learn more about Mark and Playmeo - playmeo.com Connect with Mark - hello@playmeo.com Music and sound effects - epidemicsound.com    

HIGH 5 RETREAT EPISODE In this episode of the podcast Phil and Rich host a game show "Two Truths, No Lies" for the High 5 staff as they make their way to this years all-staff retreat. The task - listen to all 23 pairs of truths and try to guess which pair belongs to which High 5 staff member. Start of the game - 3:25 For those listening who do not work at High 5, I both apologize and equally welcome you to enjoy listening to the varied and diverse experiences that are team share. This episode also attempts to highlight 2 things; An example of an activity you can do with your intact teams That we are a fun (and interesting) bunch of humans! GIVEAWAY - Play along at home and if you believe you know how 2+ correct pairings then message me on Instagram @verticalplaypen or email me and depending on how many you get correct you will be entered into a drawing to win a sticker pack! Email - podcast@high5adventure.org Instagram - @verticalplaypen Music and sound effects - epidemicsound.com  

In this episode, members of the training team (Phil, Lisa, Chris and Rich) sit down to discuss an often used theme of this podcast - What is something you were taught that you now disagree with? Topics covered; Everyone joining in Eye contact Activity Sequencing Do Low elements have much lead-in to High elements Group goals Submit your questions to the team - Email - podcast@high5adventure.org Instagram - @verticalplaypen Music and Sound Effects - epidemicsound.com  

Join Phil in a conversation with Chris Wiley, from The Story School, as they delve into the world of Live Action Role-Playing (LARPing) and how Chris has seen growth in the campers that attend. Chris passionately shares the many social and educational benefits hidden within this unique and immersive experience. From fostering creativity and problem-solving to building strong communities, LARPing has much to offer for both participants and educators. Learn more about The Story School - https://www.thestoryschool.org/ Connect with Chris - cwiley@thestoryschool.org Music and sound effects - epidemicsound.com  

In this episode, Phil sits down with JJ Stapleton from The Adventure Park at Sandy Spring to dive into the world of facilitating guides and the ripple effect of investing in employee training and development. Together, they explore the benefits of teaching facilitation techniques to guides and how it enhances the overall guest experience. Discover how investing in your team's growth can lead to a workforce that's not only highly skilled but also fiercely loyal. If you're interested in the secrets behind successful employee development and creating exceptional guest interactions, this podcast is a must-listen. Learn more about The Adventure Park at Sandy Spring - https://sandyspringadventurepark.org/ Employment opportunities - https://sandyspringadventurepark.org/employment/ Music and Sound effects - epidemicsound.com  

We made it! Episode 200! 4 years ago we decided to start recording conversations with the aim of supporting adventure educators and we are so proud of where we are now. 200 episodes, 100+ educators interviewed, magazine articles written, live audience recordings made, 25+ countries listening, and countless lessons learned. This episode is a giant THANK YOU to you all. So thanks for listening. If you know someone who should be interviewed, or you have a topic for us to discuss, let us know; Email - podcast@high5adventure.org Instagram - @verticalplaypen Music and sound effects - epidemicsound.org