Play Saves the World

The meaning of play for human flourishing

About the show

Daniel and Kevin explore the meaning of play for human flourishing – what it is, what it means, and how people create and maintain playful lives. We explore books, people, places, and ideas committed to engendering play in the midst of busy, working lives.

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Episodes

  • Episode 49: Book Club: 4,000 Weeks

    February 25th, 2024  |  1 hr 2 mins
    book club, happiness, mortality

    Oliver Burkeman's 4,000 Weeks argues that human flourishing is rooted in our relationship to time. True happiness is found not in completing tasks but living with incompletion, a sense of our mortality, and a healthy place for obsessions, hobbies, and … play.

  • Episode 48: Death in Gaming

    February 11th, 2024  |  58 mins 3 secs
    game theory, legacy games

    This episode explores how death is represented in games – through abstraction, themes, stories, characters, and legacy games. As humans we grieve the loss of particular, detailed humans and (and some animals), and we mourn characters in games that are particular or we have seen them grow and develop with time. We name some games that explore this theme and think through how memory, death, and grief can function in games and human experience.

  • Episode 47: A/V Club: Roleplaying the End of the World

    January 25th, 2024  |  56 mins 16 secs
    a/v club

    We discuss the concept of surviving in a post-apocalyptic world and how it relates to games and life. YouTube's @PeopleMakeGames explored Wasteland Weekend, a unique event where thousands of people role-play life in a post-apocalyptic setting. We delve into the idea of playing the wrong game and the importance of being present in the moment, the point of a game, and the cost of community.

  • Episode 46: The Enneagram and Board Games part 2

    January 14th, 2024  |  1 hr 1 min
    game recommendations, game theory

    What does the Enneagram reveal about you as a board gamer, and what does it reveal about others? Are you an investigator, loyalist, enthusiast, or challenger? We discuss types 5-8, with some game recommendations.

  • Episode 45: Holidays and Games!

    December 17th, 2023  |  47 mins 28 secs
    game recommendations

    Holidays and games are great together – they provide an opportunity for social interaction and enjoyment. Board games can be a great addition to holiday celebrations, offering a break from work and a chance to connect with loved ones. Games can also serve as a reminder of the grace and unnecessary gifts in life. We discuss some recommended games for the holidays.

  • BONUS: Christmas Funsongtime

    December 17th, 2023  |  5 mins 53 secs

    We have a bit of parody fun by singing a fun song written by Daniel, just to say, thanks to you!

  • Episode 44: The Enneagram, for Board Gamers!

    December 3rd, 2023  |  1 hr 4 mins
    enneagram, spirituality

    We trek to new frontiers as we connect up the Enneagram (a typology of personalities) to game types and mechanics. What do your game interests say about you as a person? What motivates you, and what repels you, in life and in games?

  • Episode 43: Moltmann's A Theology of Play (part 3) – Christ the New Creation

    November 19th, 2023  |  1 hr 5 mins
    book club, moltmann, resurrection, theology

    We continue to discuss the seminal work A Theology of Play by Moltmann, who argues that play and games celebrate Christ's resurrection and God's new promised reality. Play is therefore not a distraction from suffering or a trivializing of life but a living out of our true identity.

  • Episode 42: Faith, religion and board game design with Shem Phillips

    November 5th, 2023  |  46 mins 13 secs
    design, garphill, guest

    Shem Phillips of Garphill Games discusses his use of trilogies in game design, the place of music and lyrics, facing personal tragedies, game design, and his religious faith.

  • Episode 41: Board Game Rulebooks, with Jordan Ault

    October 22nd, 2023  |  1 hr 10 mins
    board games, rules, special guest

    BGF contest winner Jordan Ault joins us for this special episode to discuss game rulebooks and rules in general, and how rules in games and religion can enlighten one another. Jordan brings his lawyerly acumen to the conversation. Plus … the return of the skit??

  • Episode 40: Personal Growth through Solo Board Games, with Liz Davidson

    October 8th, 2023  |  1 hr 7 mins
    historical games, history, solo gaming

    Liz Davidson of @BeyondSolitaire joins us to discuss the joys of solo gaming, historical games, and teaching.

  • Episode 39: The 7 Deadly Sins of Board Gaming

    September 24th, 2023  |  1 hr 1 min
    game theory, gaming, lists, theology

    The 7 deadly sins (or vices) in the Christian tradition are pride, greed, wrath, envy, lust, gluttony and sloth. How do they relate to board gaming?