Vertical Playpen

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Loneliness and the Power of Connection Feb 13, 2024

Show notes

Inspired by a New York Times article, this conversation explores the topic of loneliness and the importance of connection in adventure education. Jim shares his personal experience with loneliness during his hospital stay and highlights the power of connection in sustaining him. The conversation emphasizes the need for intentional community building in workshops and the adventure education industry. It also discusses the importance of creating a supportive community for newcomers in the field through mentorship programs and scholarships. The conversation highlights the importance of reaching out and connecting with others. It emphasizes the power of simple gestures and how they can create a positive reaction in the other person. Takeaways;

Loneliness can have detrimental effects on physical and mental health.
Connection and community building are essential in adventure education.
Creating intentional moments for connection in workshops can enhance the overall experience.
The adventure education industry should prioritize community building and support for newcomers.

NYT Article on Loneliness - https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/06/opinion/loneliness-epidemic-solutions.html

NYT Loneliness video - https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/21/opinion/loneliness-epidemic-mental-health.html

Music and sound effects - epidemicsound.com

Client-focused Training, Collaboration and Cutaway Rescues | Andrew Bogue Jan 30, 2024

Show notes

In this conversation, Phil interviews Andrew Bogue (Challenge Quest) about his love for training and teaching in the ropes course industry. Bogue shares his passion for sharing knowledge and helping others learn. He emphasizes the importance of allowing trainees to make mistakes and providing a supportive and fun training environment. Bogue also discusses the need for collaboration and the negative impact of ego in the training industry. He shares his opinion on cutaway rescues and expresses his dislike for butt belays. Bogue encourages trainers to normalize mistakes and shares personal experiences of learning from mistakes. He concludes by highlighting the importance of knowing why you do what you do in training. Takeaways;

Create a supportive and fun training environment that allows trainees to make mistakes and learn from them.
Collaborate with other trainers and organizations in the industry instead of viewing them as competitors.
Normalize mistakes and emphasize the importance of learning from them.
Know why you do what you do in training and focus on client needs rather than personal ego.

Learn more about Challenge Quest - https://www.challengequest.com/

Bogue's email - bogue@challengequest.com

Bogue's Instagram - @bogue_sunshine

VOTE FOR VERTICAL PLAYPEN - https://www.facebook.com/groups/outdoormediaawards/permalink/1023821898848554/

Submit a workshop for the High 5 Symposium -

TO SUBMIT A PROPOSAL, PLEASE INCLUDE: Workshop Title - Be captivating in a few words! Workshop Description - Craft a compelling 50-word summary. Audience - Identify who will benefit from your workshop. Outcomes - Outline what attendees will gain or achieve. Short Bio - Introduce yourself in 30 words or less. High-Resolution Photo/Headshot - Put a face to your name! All workshop sessions are 90 minutes. Email your proposal to amartino@high5adventure.org with "2024 Symposium Presentation" in the subject line. Submission Deadline: February 9, 2024. Music and sound effects - epidemicsound.com

Presenting at Conferences Jan 23, 2024

Show notes

In this episode, Phil and Rich provide advice on how to present at conferences. They discuss the process of preparing and submitting a presentation, including choosing a title and solving a problem. They also emphasize the importance of co-presenting and structuring workshops with experiential activities. They suggest submitting workshop ideas multiple times and highlight the benefits of presenting at smaller conferences for emerging professionals. They also discuss the challenges of presenting to a large audience and the value of vulnerability in presenting. They encourage listeners to practice and test their workshops with smaller groups and provide actionable steps for developing workshop ideas. Takeaways;

Everyone has something to present on at conferences.
Choose a title that solves a problem and grabs the audiences attention.
You don't need to have the full workshop figured out before submitting.
Consider co-presenting for your first few workshops.
Practice and test your workshops with smaller groups before presenting to a large audience.

VOTE FOR VERTICAL PLAYPEN - https://www.facebook.com/groups/outdoormediaawards/permalink/1023821898848554/

Submit a workshop for the High 5 Symposium -

Let us know what you would like us to discuss in future episodes.

Email - podcast@high5adventure.org

Instagram - @verticalplaypen

Music and sound effects - epidemicsound.com

Ruby Finds a Worry | Tom Percival Jan 16, 2024

Show notes

Tom Percival, author and illustrator, discusses the importance of emotions in children's books and the power of vulnerability and empathy. He shares his personal experiences and how they influence his storytelling. Tom emphasizes the need for authenticity and creating a safe space for emotional expression. He also discusses breaking gender stereotypes and embracing all emotions. Tom explores the value of 'bad' emotions and the importance of feeling not alone in one's emotions. He concludes by sharing his future projects and his hope for readers to find solace and resilience in his books. Takeaways;

Emotions play a crucial role in children's books, helping young readers understand and navigate their feelings.
Vulnerability and empathy are powerful tools for connecting with children and creating a safe space for emotional expression.
Breaking gender stereotypes and embracing all emotions is essential for promoting emotional well-being.
'Bad' emotions have value and can be used as a guide for personal growth and understanding.
Feeling not alone in one's emotions is comforting and reassuring, emphasizing the importance of community and support.
Authenticity and honesty are key in both personal and professional relationships, fostering trust and understanding.
Creating multi-layered stories that resonate with both children and adults allows for deeper engagement and shared experiences.
Challenges and obstacles in life provide opportunities for growth and resilience.
Children's books have the power to inspire and empower readers, offering hope and solutions to life's problems.

This episode was originally published - 9/14/2021

Check out our newest product - Emotions by High 5 - https://store.high5adventure.org/products/emotions-by-high-5

Music and sound effects - epidemicsound.com

Intentional Culture | Jim Grout Jan 09, 2024

Show notes

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

Overcoming Fear | Ella Brown (2nd Grade) Jan 02, 2024

Show notes

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

The Gift of Laughter | Greg Kettner Dec 26, 2023

Show notes

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

Free Play and When It Doesn't Work Dec 19, 2023

Show notes

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

Adventure Education is a Methodology | Mark Collard Dec 12, 2023

Show notes

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

Two Truths, No Lies Dec 05, 2023

Show notes

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

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