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Podcast: The 1000 Hours Outside Podcast
Episode: 1KHO 709: Play Is Practice for the Future | Lauren and Mia Sundstrom, National Institute for Play
Description: Play isn’t a break from learning — it is learning. In this powerful conversation with Lauren and Mia Sundstrom — daughter and granddaughter of renowned play researcher Dr. Stuart Brown — we explore why play is practice for the future in a world that feels increasingly uncertain. From rough-and-tumble childhood experiences to teenage burnout, adult loneliness, brain health, and even leadership, this episode makes a compelling case that unstructured, self-directed play builds resilience, creativity, emotional regulation, and adaptability — the exact skills our kids (and we) will need in an AI-shaped world. If you’ve ever wondered whether play is “productive,” this conversation wil...