What is the podcast about?
This podcast is hosted by two experienced professionals, who explore learning, well-being and education through the lens of play, creativity and connection.
Gillian Corbally (The Glitter & Coffee Teacher) – Primary Teacher; Author of CPD courses & articles including our very own “Learning to Play; Playing to Learn” and “The Inclusive Classroom“.; Webinar presenter for Ed Centres & INTO; NCCA associate.
Helena Walsh (Experiential Well‐being) – Primary Teacher; Play Therapist; Creative Psychotherapist; Academic Tutor with Hibernia; Lecturer with Maynooth University; CPD Facilitator and Author of the Summer Course ‘Experiential Wellbeing: The Power of Relationships & Play”.
Why is it beneficial for teachers?
• It frames play and playfulness not as “extra time” but as meaningful components of learning and development.
• It links theory to practical classroom and school-life contexts, including topics like parental involvement, new curriculum changes and teacher wellbeing.
• It supports teacher growth from a reflective, relational and creative angle — thinking about how teaching happens and why it matters, not just what to do.
How can teachers make the most of it?
• Listen during commute or planning time: Given it’s a conversational format, you can absorb ideas without requiring dedicated “PD day” time.
• Pick one meaningful insight per episode: After listening, note one idea you might try in the next week, and one question you’ll keep exploring.
• Use it for team meetings or professional learning groups: Choose an episode, share it with staff, then discuss: “How does this apply to our classroom/school?” Could your school host a podcast hour as a Croke Park hour?
Here are three standout episodes from the podcast The Playful Lens:
1. “Play in the New Curriculum: A Game Changer” with Dr. Jacqueline Fallon
In this episode, Jacqueline Fallon discusses how play is integral in the newly-redeveloped primary curriculum and not just for younger children. The conversation covers child agency, different types of play, how play supports resilience and wellbeing, and how to integrate play even in older year groups.
Podcast link: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5wfOf7elxhdJkprIwuMF13?si=08dc8b952a504471
3 Key Takeaways:
• Review your current planning: Identify one lesson per fortnight where you can replace a more “traditional” input with a play-based exploration (e.g., topic work, science investigation).
• Foster child agency: Allow students to choose or design the “play station” in that lesson—what materials, how to organise it, what questions they’ll explore.
• Link to wellbeing: Use the play-based lesson to open a short class reflection on how the activity felt for students—did they feel more motivated, more confident to take risks?
2. “Learning Through Laughter and Play” with Tina McLaughlin
Tina McLaughlin, a primary teacher and play advocate, shares how play is much more than “free time” or “fun”-time. She talks about trusting children’s instincts, the role of professional dialogue among teachers to sustain playful learning, and challenges around planning and structure. She reminds us that we don’t know what it is like to be a child in 2025 and to consider things from the child’s perspective.
Podcast link: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6Wv0RXnRqfLTPsDTak7d3h?si=5339cc625f1b49fc
3 Key Takeaways:
• Try a short “play-warm-up” at the start of the week: e.g., 10 mins of open-ended materials for students to explore, then link into your lesson. Notice how this sets the tone for the week.
• Encourage teacher dialogue: Share this episode with a partner teacher and after listening, meet to discuss: “What barriers do we face in our setting to making time for play? → How might we overcome them?”
• Link to planning: For the next two weeks, build into your planning a “play extension” for each major topic—how might students show their learning through creative play?
3. “Play-Based Learning and Parental Involvement” with Michelle Mannix
Michelle Mannix talks about her teaching experience and research into how parental involvement can support play-based learning. She emphasises shifting perceptions among parents (that play = not learning) and working to engage parents meaningfully in the learning process.
Podcast link: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5UJH3KEJ1zbZmgnGy89op7?si=d8f61958c3364d64
3 Key Takeaways:
• Send home a “Play Tip” newsletter section: after listening, draft a short note to parents: “This week we played X; you can try Y at home together.”
• Host a mini-session for parents: Use a 15-minute slot at a meeting or open evening to share why you value play in the classroom and how parents can support it (based on insights from the episode).
• Evaluate your parent-communication: What do your current homework or home-learning tasks ask? Could you build in a “play friendly” alternative?
