Ryan Jenkins defines himself as a constructionist educator, a term we will define further in our conversation. After working for more than 10 years at the Exploratorium, the fantastic science museum in San Francisco, he co-founded Wonderful Idea Co. with Nicole Catrett to support the exploration of art, science, and technology through making and tinkering.

For many years, Ryan has been advocating for educators to explore a tinkering-based education philosophy through professional development workshops, keynote talks, mentorship, and written guides and resources. In fact, this October, he will release his first book, The Tinkering Workshop. This book will help kids and adults get started with everyday materials, build personally meaningful projects, and explore ideas related to art, science, and technology. I personally can’t wait to get my hands on it!

In this episode, we dive into the world of making and tinkering to understand its values and benefits for learning, and we learn more about Ryan’s personal journey as an educator, entrepreneur, and writer.

Find more about Ryan's work:

- wonderfulidea.co/blog

- www.thetinkeringworkshop.com

Elaine Chung is the Founder and Chief Play Officer of My Play Type, a company she launched in 2020 to educate and inspire organizations on how to integrate a Playful Practice as a foundational approach to work and life, leveraging play neuroscience to create cultures with strong cross-collaboration, innovative solutions, and even happier, more fulfilled employees.

I’ve known Elaine for a few years and I’ve always been fascinated by her passion and approach to play. When we first met, she was developing a framework to identify play types in children and provide experiences that best match their individual preferences in terms of play styles.

Elaine also participated recently in TEDx Asheville where she gave a wonderful talk on people’s struggle to navigate complex identities, something that I know everyone can relate to. I certainly did. And she’s also in the process of writing a book on this topic!

In this episode, we learn more about Elaine’s passion for play and her approach to play types. Then, we discuss the role of play in companies and organizations and understand what impact it can have in a work environment.

Find more about Elaine's work:

- https://www.myplaytype.com/

- https://www.linkedin.com/in/elaine-chen-chung/

Danny Joe LaBrecque is a preschool teacher, early childhood specialist, and the creator and host of the amazing children's show Danny Joe's Tree House.

Danny Joe uses play-based therapies including puppetry to help children, teachers and parents process complex social issues. He created Danny Joe’s Tree House to invite families to slow down and engage with characters and stories that provide valuable opportunities for social-emotional learning.

The series features a diverse community of real-life caregivers, plus a lively cast of puppets, working together to explore strategies for self-regulation, communication, caring for oneself, and acceptance of others.

In this episode, we discuss his journey towards becoming a content creator, the risks and benefits of using different media for children’s content, the impact of social-emotional learning through play-based stories, and more.

Find more about Danny Joe's work:

- Danny Joe's website
- Danny Joe's Tree House: Youtube and Sensical TV
- Cookies for Breakfast (podcast)