In serious times, play can be one of our most powerful tools.

In this episode of How We Future, Lisa talks with Jill Vialet, social entrepreneur, author of Why Play Works, and founder of Playworks, about why play belongs at the center of how we lead, learn, and navigate complexity. Jill covers her journey to building an organization that transformed recess into a source of connection, trust, and resilience for millions of kids.

Their conversation explores how play helps people regulate their nervous systems, build relationships across differences, and see new possibilities when problems feel stuck. Jill shares lessons from Playworks, why trust is a prerequisite for learning, how unstructured play supports emotional growth, and what leaders can borrow from playgrounds.

You’ll hear about:

• How play helps us navigate chaos and uncertainty
• The connection between play, trust, and feeling safe
• How small, unexpected tweaks can unlock entirely new futures

This episode proves that creativity, empathy, and experimentation often emerge when people feel safe enough to engage. If you are leading through uncertainty or looking for new ways to bring people together, Jill offers practical insight and hopeful perspectives on how play can help us move forward.

Links from the episode:

Jill Vialet personal site

Jill’s Substack, “Workswell”

Jill’s Tee’s Shop

Why Play Works by Jill Vialet

Play: How it Shapes the Brain, Opens the Imagination, and Invigorates the Soul by Stuart Brown