Welcome back to Energetic Radio! In this inspiring episode, Dale Sidebottom and Paul Campbell dive into the simple rituals that spark joy, learning, and genuine connection, all amid the holiday season.

You'll hear stories about cricket, golf, and the infectious anticipation of Christmas. More importantly, our hosts share practical strategies on:

• The power of play to regulate emotions, especially for kids (and grown-ups!).
• The transformational effects of "microplay" and why you should never label activities (hint: it works wonders in classrooms and family rooms).
• Real-life experiments with gratitude games that reframe challenging moments into laughter and connection.
• Advent calendars with a twist: moving from chocolate to kindness challenges, and how your family can build this habit year-round.

Plus, there's honest advice on starting passion projects or businesses, why the safest route is to build while still working, and how to carve out time even in a busy life realistically.

You'll discover:

• How regulated brains are ready brains, and why play is the secret sauce for everyone, including neurodiverse learners.
• Simple mindfulness and meditation studies (science-backed!) prove you can improve your memory, sleep, and mood with daily practice.
• The surprising benefits of reducing screen time, embracing creativity, and starting each morning with intention.

There's lots of laughter and rapid-fire trivia along the way, including memorable failures (Uranus, really?) and random sports knowledge.

As we wrap up the year, Dale and Paul challenge you: What's something you want to learn in 2026? How will you use play and mindfulness to regulate, grow, and create meaning in your life, long after the holidays are over?

Don't miss these practical tips, real talk, and a healthy dose of encouragement to keep you energised into the new year.

Topics covered:

• The joy and value of sporting traditions
• Using play to manage emotions in children and adults
• Kindness advent calendars and gamified daily challenges
• Starting a business: The practical path vs. passion pitfalls
• Mindfulness and meditation for everyday Aussies
• The importance of reducing screen time
• Book recommendations and the power of nightly reading
• Setting intentional goals for personal growth

Links & Resources:

• The School of Play Daily Mission Cards
• Kindness advent calendar creators
• Memory coach Tanzel Ali's podcast episodes
• Phil Jackson's book on leadership

Listen in, take action, and let's energise life together, because there's always something new to create, learn, and celebrate.

Welcome back to the Energetic Radio Podcast episode 375! Hosts Dale Sidebottom and Paul Campbell dive deep into the power of vulnerability, authentic leadership, and the importance of play in life and business.

Episode Highlights:

• Raw and Real Vulnerability: Dale shares the overwhelming response to his emotional openness in last week's episode, discussing how being vulnerable sparked meaningful conversations and helped listeners feel less alone.
• Mental Health and Societal Pressure: Open discussion around "dad guilt", societal taboos, and why sharing our struggles can liberate not just ourselves but those around us.
• Letting Go of Perceptions: The hosts reflect on valuing reality over perception. Paul explores how people often maintain a facade, and the freedom that comes with dropping it.
• Play-Based Leadership in Action: Dale and Paul recap a surprising and energising corporate workshop with 240 electricians, illustrating how connection and gratitude can thrive in any setting.
• Grit Stories: A nod to ultra-athletes and Aussie legend Cliff Young, celebrating perseverance, grit, and the attitude that power extraordinary achievements.
• Mindset Matters: Thought-provoking banter on what’s more important: having more positive thoughts, or fewer negative ones? The hosts lean into neuroscience and personal experience, sharing strategies for cultivating presence and reducing negativity.
• Family Traditions: Delightful exchange about memorable family moments, from musical car rides to tickle fights and holiday adventures, underscoring the significance of simple rituals.
• Exciting Announcements: The launch of the Play-Based Leadership platform and the upcoming School of Play Academy are revealed, including details on their new leadership book co-authored by Nick Haywood.
• Looking Ahead & Gratitude: The hosts share what they’re most looking forward to this summer, from personal holidays to industry keynotes and meaningful breaks.

Resources & Mentions:

• Play-Based Leadership Website now live: playbasedleadership.com
• The School of Play Academy Coming in 2026!
• "Play Profile" Quiz, Find out your leadership style and practical ways to improve - https://playbasedleadership.com/play-profiles

Key Takeaways:

• Vulnerability is contagious and healing, share your truth!
• Presence is a gift: stop focusing on the negative, and live in the moment.
• Leadership is for everyone, and it can be fun, find your play profile.
• Cherish the small family traditions, they matter more than you think.

In Episode 374 of the Energetic Radio podcast, hosts Dale Sidebottom and co-host Paul Campbell return after a busy fortnight, sharing heartfelt stories and powerful lessons learned from their recent experiences. The duo opens up about the emotional impact of running a workshop for Very Special Kids, a Melbourne-based organisation supporting children in palliative care and their families. Both hosts discuss the transformative effect this experience had on their perspectives, especially as parents, and the importance of cherishing everyday moments with loved ones.

The conversation dives deep into personal growth, with Dale reflecting on his journey of self-discovery around ADHD and the determination to become a better parent and person. Paul shares practical strategies for supporting children's emotional well-being, including actionable advice for parents to help kids handle nerves and build healthy emotional habits.

The episode also features insights from their recent international trip to Singapore, where Dale headlined the PHASE Asia Conference attended by delegates from 42 countries. Both hosts celebrate the power of global connection, community, and professional growth, while also spotlighting the simple joys and quirky adventures of travel.

Key themes include:

• The importance of emotional regulation and education
• Creating supportive home environments for children
• Honest communication in friendships and families
• Alarming statistics on screen time and children's health
• Easy, actionable tips for parents to improve connection and well-being (like the "phone-in-the-drawer" challenge)
• Inspiration from Scandinavian teaching methods and why emotional education matters for lifelong resilience

Whether you're a parent, educator, or simply seeking practical wisdom on happiness and well-being, this episode delivers a mix of laughs, real talk, and strategies you can apply right away.