On this episode of the Playful Creative, we welcome Jacqueline Lloyd Smith, founder and owner of Strategic Play. Jacquie is a certified Art and Play Therapist (ATR), Visual Coach, Creative Problem Solver (CPSI), Author, and Keynote speaker. One of only 4 original global LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® Master Trainers, Jacquie has had a long-time partnership with the LEGO Group in Denmark. As a certified facilitator, and trainer of facilitators in LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® methods, Jacquie helps companies and governments solve some of their biggest problems by tapping into their teams’ innate creativity through play. Today, I’ll ask her to share her background, what it was like pioneering a creative facilitation method before it was “cool”, and her new play personality assessment, “Playsonality.” Along the way, Jacquie drops knowledge around keeping employees engaged, setting up a workshop for success, building trust with clients, and ways to market a service that is different from the status quo.

On this very first episode of the Playful Creative, we welcome Gary Ware, of Breakthrough Play. Gary Ware is a creative and strategic Play Consultant. By day, Gary helps companies and professionals level up their skills. By night he is an improve comedian. In between all of Gary’s passions, his most desirous one is helping people become the best versions of themselves through fun and entertainment. His first book, the Playful Rebellion, which was released in fall 2022, is part autobiography, part guidebook to living a playful, curious life.

Today, I’ll ask him to share his story, a little bit about his book, and we’ll talk about the importance of play for innovation, life balance, and resilience.