Playing It Forward with Stephen Conway

Joe and James welcome Stephen Conway of The Spiel and the Spiel Foundation for a conversation about how games bring people together—and how a love of play can become a way to give back. Stephen traces his journey from family card games in rural Indiana to launching The Spiel with Dave Coleson in 2006. He explains how visits to relatives in hospitals inspired the foundation’s game donations, and why every donated game is unpacked, organized, and ready to play. The discussion explores a potential volunteer network to teach those games and help them become part of everyday life in recipient organizations. The conversation then broadens to the foundation’s United Nations of Play initiative, showcasing games from Brazil, Nigeria, and South Africa at Essen; Bernie De Koven’s influence; and plans for the De Koven Center for Play in Indianapolis. Stephen also explains the Major Fun and Spiel of Approval awards before turning the questions on Joe and James, who share how games rekindled their friendship and inspired this podcast. The central theme is the group’s belief that play lowers barriers, eases anxiety, and helps people see one another as people.