The Recess Life with Louise Wo

Dec 23 2021 8

The Recess Life with Louise Wo Podcast artwork

The Recess Life podcast explores lifelong play and creativity and how we can create a world with more joy. Host Louise Wo will remind you that being an adult doesn't mean that you stop playing. On The Recess Life she interviews entrepreneurs, entertainers, thought leaders and artists to help you connect with your creative, playful spirit again (we promise it's still in there somewhere!). Signup for the newsletter at louisepanwo.com/subscribe and follow @therecesslife to stay connected.

Subscribe on Podcast Addict

S4 E9 | An End of the Year Life Update

Dec 23 2021 22 mins

Holy moly, where has the year gone? I jump on the mic to say hello and share a quick life update. I talk about what I am learning in this season of life and what this might mean for the future of the podcast. (Hint: the topics of lifelong play and creativity isn’t going anywhere!) Have an amazing end of 2021 and happy new year! For the shownotes from this episode visit http://lou

S4 E8 | Play for our Shared Humanity with Jeff Harry

Jan 14 2021 55 mins

We are starting 2021 with more tensions than ever. What is it going to take to bring us together from all across the different spectrums? Could play be the answer? In this episode I speak with Jeff Harry, positive psychology coach, speaker, workshop facilitator and my favorite person to collaborate with on TikTok! We discuss the choice between understanding and being right and the

S4E7 | Embodiment and Play with Shawnrey Notto

Dec 10 2020 79 mins

When Shawnrey Notto describes embodiment, it sounds like it has a lot in common with play: engaging the senses, feeling fully alive, savoring every moment. Yet most of us understand play as a concept way more than embodiment. In this episode, I speak with Shawnrey, a sex and intimacy coach and dancer about how embodiment and play are interconnected and how both are key to feelin

S4 E6 | Playing with Gratitude (solo episode)

Nov 24 2020 20 mins

Thanksgiving is upon us and some of us are having trouble finding gratitude this year. I don't blame you AT ALL. It would be easy to brush off finding gratitude as a silly tradition and one that is unnecessary this year but I want to offer a different perspective. In this episode I share some science and studies on the importance of gratitude and a different way to approach it tha

S4 E5 | Conditions for Play with Gwen Gordon

Nov 05 2020 68 mins

Right now it's easy to look around and wonder if our country can get to a place of collective joy. In this expansive conversation with Emmy award-winning creative director, author and speaker, Gwen Gordon, we talk about how play and joy is the foundation for the world we want to create. The transformation starts with a belief of safety, love and connection. Get ready for a heart-wa

S4 E4 | Beyond American Idol with William Hung

Oct 22 2020 54 mins

In 2004, William Hung was thrust into the limelight with the American Idol audition heard around the world. His famous rendition of "She Bangs" by Ricky Martin received attention that ranged from praise to ridicule. I talked to William about his journey from his American Idol audition and beyond and how he has maintained a positive playful spirit in the process. We discuss embrac

S4 E3 | Never Leave the Playground with Stephen Jepson

Oct 01 2020 54 mins

Falls are the leading cause of death for seniors aged 65+. Of those seniors that survive a fall a majority of them will never live independently. That is a scary statistic that Stephen Jepson decided he would do something about. Stephen is the creator of Never Leave the Playground, where he teaches his philosophy of lifetime activity and play. At 80 years old he can juggle, tight r

S4 E2 | Walk Run Reinvention with Laura Nix

Sep 17 2020 66 mins

As an immigrant and refugee the last thing on your mind would likely be anything creative and playful. For Chinese-Vietnamese immigrants Paul and Millie Cao, this was their story until a few years ago. The documentary short Walk Run Cha Cha explores their story of fleeing Vietnam and how they are reinventing themselves now through ballroom dance. In this episode, I spoke with Laura

S4E1 | Born to Dance with Peter Lovatt

Sep 10 2020 73 mins

You are born to dance. Yes, you. Think about it. As babies we wiggle about and giggle when we hear music that piques our curiosity. No one teaches us how to do that - we just know! So why do we grow up and become balls of anxiety when we see a dance floor? Dr. Peter Lovatt's work in dance and psychology explores that question. He is a former professional dancer, psychologist, autho

Special Series E8 | Christianity, COVID and Reconnecting after 20 Years

Jul 16 2020 72 mins

We are back with part two of the conversation with Alison Calhoun. In this episode we tackle our perspectives on coronavirus and break down her Facebook post: "When you stand up for something you believe in and people don't like it you've officially detached yourself from the chains of approval. Feels darn good. Keeping abortion clinics open as an essential business during a pandem