431. The Psychology of Play and Why it Matters episode artwork

EPISODE · May 25, 2026 · 50 MIN

431. The Psychology of Play and Why it Matters

from The New Evangelicals Podcast · host Hosted by Tim Whitaker

In this episode, Tim Whitaker engages in an insightful interview with Paul Hoard. Together they explore the profound importance of play for adults, its psychological roots, and how it fosters joy, creativity, and community. This conversation challenges societal norms about maturity and highlights play as a vital tool for mental health and resistance. Chapters 03:09 Understanding Play: A Psychological Perspective 08:54 Societal Views on Play and Adult Engagement 14:54 The Chase: Motivation and Meaning in Play 17:48 Subjective vs. Objective Value in Games 30:46 The Power of Joy in Community 46:39 Joy as a Path to Thriving ____________________________________________________ TNE Podcast hosts thought-provoking conversations at the intersection of faith, politics, and justice. We’re part of the New Evangelical’s 501c3 nonprofit that rejects Christian Nationalism and builds a better path forward, rooted in Jesus and centered on justice.  If ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠you'd like to support our work or get involved, visit our website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.thenewevangelicals.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  Follow Us On Instagram @thenewevangelicals  Subscribe On YouTube @thenewevangelicals This show is produced by Josh Gilbert Media | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Joshgilbertmedia.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Tim Whitaker engages in an insightful interview with Paul Hoard. Together they explore the profound importance of play for adults, its psychological roots, and how it fosters joy, creativity, and community. This conversation challenges societal norms about maturity and highlights play as a vital tool for mental health and resistance. Chapters 03:09 Understanding Play: A Psychological Perspective 08:54 Societal Views on Play and Adult Engagement 14:54 The Chase: Motivation and Meaning in Play 17:48 Subjective vs. Objective Value in Games 30:46 The Power of Joy in Community 46:39 Joy as a Path to Thriving ____________________________________________________ TNE Podcast hosts thought-provoking conversations at the intersection of faith, politics, and justice. We’re part of the New Evangelical’s 501c3 nonprofit that rejects Christian Nationalism and builds a better path forward, rooted in Jesus and centered on justice.  If ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠you'd like to support our work or get involved, visit our website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.thenewevangelicals.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  Follow Us On Instagram @thenewevangelicals  Subscribe On YouTube @thenewevangelicals This show is produced by Josh Gilbert Media | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Joshgilbertmedia.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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431. The Psychology of Play and Why it Matters

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This episode is 50 minutes long.

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This episode was published on May 25, 2026.

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In this episode, Tim Whitaker engages in an insightful interview with Paul Hoard. Together they explore the profound importance of play for adults, its psychological roots, and how it fosters joy, creativity, and community. This conversation...

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