25/05/2026
Denise Chapman Weston is a Playologist, therapist, inventor, and deeply imaginative thinker whose work invites us to look again at one of the most misunderstood parts of being human: play.
In Part 2 of this conversation, Denise takes us beyond the story of her own childhood promise and into the deeper question of what play actually is. Not just fun. Not just recreation. Not just something children do before they grow up. For Denise, play is one of the clearest ways we can understand who we are, what comes naturally to us, and how we find our way back to ourselves.
She shares a simple but powerful exercise: remember how you played when you were around seven. What did you love doing before you were trying to be impressive, productive, sensible, or useful? Maybe you built things, made up stories, climbed trees, dressed up, organised objects, created worlds, or found joy in something no one else quite understood. Denise believes those memories are not random. They hold clues about your natural skills, your instincts, and the way you were already learning to belong in the world.
This conversation moves through so many unexpected places: Tupperware lids, Disney Imagineers, bone flutes, punch cards, theme parks, magic wands, technology, imagination, and what Denise calls the “arm pretzel” — the person who is physically present, but not yet ready to join in.
Through it all, Denise returns to a beautiful idea: play is not separate from life. It is woven through how we invent, connect, create, remember, and become more fully human.
At its heart, this episode is about play as wisdom. It is an invitation to look back at what once delighted you, not with nostalgia, but with curiosity. Because the way you played may still have something to teach you.
Listen to the full episode Play is the Compass with Denise Chapman Weston on your favorite podcast platform, and watch over on YouTube.