GET KIDS TO PLAY - powered by SportzVillage

What if the greatest lessons in life were never taught in a classroom?Join Vijay and Saumil on the Get Kids to Play podcast as Hall of Famer and Stanford psychologist Dr. George Selleck and award-winning author Dr. Alan Gregerman make the case for a world where every child gets to play, grow, and discover who they truly are — and why adults might be the ones standing in the way.0:00 - Introduction1:45 - Reimagining sport: The idea and why now2:07 - The Thomas More quote that started it all4:04 - We need to listen to kids, not just talk at them5:43 - Why adults are the ones messing kids up6:03 - What adults need to do differently8:13 - Why good ideas alone aren't enough: The capitalism problem10:07 - Stop chasing elite athletes: Sport belongs to everyone11:13 - Redefining competition: Compete against yourself12:26 - Don't tie your identity to your performance12:42 - Fun is the outcome, not a bonus13:43 - The Wisdom of Ignorance: Skills that never go out of date16:03 - What happens when kids who didn't play enter the workforce17:12 - Work vs play: Why we got it backwards18:45 - Pickleball, badminton and rediscovering joy in adulthood19:42 - What school leaders can do to get more kids playing22:31 - Finding ways to play in busy urban lives24:08 - Learning to think about the way you think24:25 - Dr. Selleck's NBA draft story and the cost of lacking self-awareness26:08 - Closing thoughts: Sport is about humans first27:52 - Adults are just grown-up kidsAbout Dr. George Selleckhttps://lead2play.sportzvillage.com/about-us/About Dr. Alan Gregermanhttps://alangregerman.com/https://venture-works.com/about/About Get-Kids-To-Playhttps://sportzvillage.com/get-kids-to-play/

What if a childhood fear of water could transform into an Olympic dream?Join Vijay and Saumil on the Get Kids to Play podcast as they dive deep with Nisha Millet, India's first woman swimmer to qualify for the Olympics. From nearly drowning at age five to standing poolside in Sydney at eighteen, Nisha shares how patience, play, and parental support turned hydrophobia into a lifelong love affair with water. Now training everyone from toddlers to senior citizens, she's proof that the right approach to sport can change lives.0:00 - Introduction1:21 - From near-drowning to hydrophobia: The five-year-old's accident2:09 - Thrown in the deep end: The old-fashioned way of teaching swimming4:36 - School vs. sport: Finding the balance with realistic expectations8:32 - Should only rich kids play sports? Unpacking the funding debate10:51 - Meet the 63-year-old team captain who outruns twenty-somethings14:53 - The 22-year gap: Why no Indian woman has qualified for Olympic swimming since 200418:53 - What's holding Indian swimmers back from Olympic cutoffs?23:33 - The only sport you can do for life: Swimming's therapeutic power26:39 - Final advice: Don't pass your fears onto your kidsAbout Nisha Millethttps://nishamillet.com/About Get-Kids-To-Playhttps://sportzvillage.com/get-kids-to-play/

What if football could break the cycle of poverty?Join Vijay and Parminder on the Get Kids to Play podcast as they sit down with Ashok Rathod, founder of Oscar Foundation and CNN IBN Real Hero Award recipient. From starting with just 18 children in Mumbai's low-income communities to impacting 17,000 kids across five states, Ashok shares how his "No School, No Football" campaign transformed lives through the power of sport.0:00 - Introduction1:18 - Oscar Foundation's 15-year journey2:13 - Growing up in Mumbai: What sparked the mission5:46 - From 18 kids to 600 overnight8:08 - Why "Oscar"? The story behind the name10:16 - Why football became the tool for change12:52 - The challenge: Convincing people sports can educate15:07 - Impact: From 55% dropouts to 91% pass rates17:08 - Sustainability through young community leaders21:31 - Why play isn't happening in schools24:02 - Partnerships for employability skills25:17 - Measuring impact: Proving sport works28:46 - Closing: Be a friend to children, not just a parentAbout Ashok Rathodhttps://www.oscar-foundation.org/About Get-Kids-To-Playhttps://sportzvillage.com/get-kids-to-play/

What if childhood was about play, not performance?Join Vijay and Saumil on the Get Kids to Play podcast as they explore this with Ravi Kallayil , who walked away from his dream job at Nike Innovation to transform children's footwear in India. From measuring 800 Indian feet to partnering with Rahul Dravid, Ravi shares how Plaeto is making play accessible, joyful, and purposeful for every child.0:00 - Introduction1:03 - Ravi's 18-year journey at Nike2:57 - From elite sport to grassroots: What's the difference?6:04 - Why competitive sport kills fun8:43 - The multiplay revolution: One shoe for everything11:10 - Scanning 800 Indian feet: Building shoes for growing kids15:06 - How Rahul Dravid came on board16:43 - Top solutions to get kids playing18:36 - Making PE teachers ambassadors of play21:26 - Can we change India's academic-first mindset?24:19 - Plaeto's vision: Impact a million lives26:08 - The PE teacher who taught swimming in a village well28:02 - ClosingAbout Ravi Kallayilhttps://plaeto.in/pages/our-story-1About Get-Kids-To-Playhttps://sportzvillage.com/get-kids-to-play/

Can CSR be the Game Changer for Grassroots Sports in India?Join Vijay and Parminder on the Get Kids to Play podcast as they explore this with Nikhil Pant, CSR law pioneer and sports enthusiast. From crafting India's 2% CSR mandate to advocating for sports at the grassroots level, Nikhil shares how corporate funding can transform youth sports across schools and communities.00:01 - Introduction and welcome02:43 - India's 2013 CSR mandate: A watershed moment07:19 - Why sports deserves more CSR funding12:20 - How CSR can transform grassroots sports16:33 - Sports for Change roundtables: Shaping policy for impact19:50 - Where CSR should land: Schools and communities23:46 - New CSR policies favor sports transparency and measurement27:57 - Sports' unique advantage: Visibility and measurable impact33:47 - Cross-training: Using sports to improve academic performance35:12 - Teaching math through sports: Real classroom examples38:37 - Final thoughts: Everyone should play one sport deeplyAbout Nikhil Panthttps://www.lakshyaa.co.in/aboutAbout Get-Kids-To-Playhttps://sportzvillage.com/get-kids-to-play/

Can we reclaim the joy of play in youth sports?Join Vijay and Saumil on the Get Kids to Play podcast as they explore this with Dr. George Selleck, sports psychologist, author, and lifelong advocate for youth sports. From playing basketball in 1940s California to coaching at Stanford and writing about the magic of sports, Dr. Selleck shares why the journey matters more than the scoreboard.0:00 - Introduction2:00 - Dr. George Selleck's journey7:42 - Why kids drop out of sport10:34 - Sporting ecosystem in America11:45 - Choice between sports and academics17:35 - The Complete Athlete (new book)23:40 - How can schools prioritize physical education26:03 - ClosingAbout Dr. George Selleckhttps://lead2play.sportzvillage.com/about-us/About Get-Kids-To-Playhttps://sportzvillage.com/get-kids-to-play/

Can sports policy really get kids moving again?Join Vijay and Saumil on the Get Kids to Play podcast as they explore this with Nandan Kamath, lawyer, former state cricket captain, and founder of Sports & Society Accelerator. From playing street cricket to shaping national sports policy, Nandan shares how India can reconnect excellence with participation—and why getting kids to play is just the beginning of keeping them active for life.0:00 - Introduction 1:15 - Nandan Kamath's sports journey 4:06 - Balance between academics vs sport 5:10 - Importance of unstructured play 7:34 - Are sports competitions healthy? 10:07 - How to restore health and well-being? 14:05 - About Sports and Society Accelerator (SSA)19:30 - Can sports policy get kids to play? 22:37 - How school sports system has changed 24:53 - Need for urban planning to enable play 27:07 - Closing About Nandan Kamathhttps://sports-society.org/nandan/About Get-Kids-To-Play https://sportzvillage.com/get-kids-to-play/

From South Africa to USA, how can we Get Kids To Play? Join Vijay and Saumil on the Get Kids to Play podcast as they explore Prof. Michael Goldman's journey from South Africa to USA, bridging academia and real-world sports marketing through work with San Francisco Giants and several other global corporations.0'00 : Introduction1'30" : Prof. Michael Goldman's journey into sports management6'02" : Global Challenges on getting kids to play8'05" : Pros and Cons of junior sports competitions 10'21" : How to balance academics and sports 14'09" : Policy, Business, and Society working together 19'32" : Sport as a catalyst for health and well-being 22'16" : US University Sports Scholarship Model 25'18" : Parent-School-Kid Triangle 29'55" : Closing About Get-Kids-To-Play https://sportzvillage.com/get-kids-to-play/About Prof. Michael Goldmanhttps://www.usfca.edu/faculty/michael-goldman#chapter=field_bio

Can a Non-Profit Sports Foundation's mission re-define how we develop Olympic and Paralympic champions? Join Vijay and Saumil on the Get Kids to Play podcast as they dive deep with Deepthi Bopaiah, CEO of GoSports Foundation, who spent over a decade transforming India's sporting landscape from behind the scenes. 0'00" - Introduction 1'30" - Deepthi's journey at GoSports Foundation9'50" - Get Girls To Play17'51" - How can Athletes give back?22'00" - Can Olympics get kids to play?29'10" - Career options in sport34'30" - Closing About GKTP https://sportzvillage.com/get-kids-to-play/About GoSports Foundationhttps://gosports.in/about-us/

Can a Professor's fitness journey elevate the health and well-being at educational institutes? What if every student had to play a sport to graduate?Join Vijay and Saumil on the Get Kids to Play podcast as they chat with Prof. Sourav Mukherji from IIM Bangalore, a marathoner, coach, and Dean of Alumni Relations who's passionate about integrating sports and fitness into education. From his corporate background at IBM, Oracle, and Boston Consulting Group to his current mission of promoting health and wellbeing on campus, Prof. Mukherji shares insights on why sports should be fundamental to education.00:01 - Introduction 01:48 – Prof. Mukherji’s athletic journey 05:17 – Sporting culture and the barriers faced by kids 10:02 – Can sport be mandated in college curriculum?13:18 – How employers view graduates playing sport 18:38 – The need for systemic solutions  23:10 - Get Parents to Play26:00 – Closing For more information, please visit:Get Kids To Play (Book): https://amzn.in/d/5vGci1oAbout Prof. Sourav Mukherji : https://www.iimb.ac.in/user/106/sourav-mukherji

Can a single poster spark a child's lifelong passion for playing? What if the stories we share about athletes could be the spark to get more kids to play?Tune in to the Get Kids to Play podcast as Vijay Krishnamurthy and Saumil Majmudar chat with Ayon Sengupta, Editor of Sportstar/The Hindu. With Sportstar celebrating its 47th year, Ayon shares how sports media has evolved and its crucial role in inspiring the next generation.00:00 - Introduction03:03 - Why school sports get ignored by media09:30 - "School Sports Star" - kids as reporters11:59 - India's sports economy reality check13:23 - IIT Madras athlete scholarships19:53 - Balancing criticism in sports journalism23:15 - "Gen Next" - spotting young talent early25:21 - PE teacher shortage crisis26:55 - Parents as sports role models28:07 - Learning from Jamaica's parent participation29:15 - Closing thoughtsFor more information, please visit the following websites. Get Kids To Play (Book)https://amzn.in/d/5vGci1oSportstar Magazinehttps://sportstar.thehindu.com/

Ever wonder if it’s possible to be a top-notch athlete and a brilliant student? Can we dream of an Olympian coming from an IIT?Join us for a truly inspiring chat on the Get Kids to Play podcast! This week, Vijay Krishnamurthy and Saumil Majmudar sit down with Professor Mahesh Panchagnula, the visionary head of IIT Madras's Centre for Excellence in Sports Science and Sports Analytics (CESSA)00:00  Introduction02:10  About IIT Madras (Centre for Excellence in Sports Science and Sports Analytics) 10:00  Student admissions through sporting excellence  17:00  How to balance academics and sports 23:50  Vision "Olympian IITian"  28:18  How to prevent athlete drop-out 31:15  Need for "Sports Sahi Hai" campaign 32:56  Closing  --For more information, please visit the following websites. Get Kids To Play (Book)https://amzn.in/d/5vGci1oAbout IIT Madras (Centre for Excellence in Sports Science and Sports Analytics)https://cessa.iitm.ac.in/

What if one story could inspire kids to play for life and to chase their dreams in sports?Join Vijay Krishnamurthy and Saumil Majmudar on the Get Kids to Play podcast as they sit down with Pullela Gopichand – the man who turned Indian badminton from a hobby into a world-conquering force,  the mastermind behind champions like P.V. Sindhu, Saina Nehwal, and Kidambi Srikanth.00:00  Introduction02:00  Importance of Play 05:20  Gopichand's sporting journey  08:00  How to prevent early specialization   11.30  How to balance sports and academics 15:15  How can educational institutes support athletes22:05  How can parent support their kids 25:20  ClosingGet in touch with us:Get Kids To Play (Book)https://amzn.in/d/5vGci1oAbout Pullela Gopichand https://www.olympics.com/en/athletes/gopichand-pullela

What if this one story could inspire you to help more girls chase their dreams in sports?Join Vijay Krishnamurthy and Saumil Majmudar on the Get Kids to Play podcast as they sit down with Aditi Mutatkar, the Programme Head of Athlete and Women Initiatives at Simply Sport Foundation. Aditi opens up about her incredible journey from being an international badminton player to leading programs that help more women step onto the sports field.In this lively conversation, Aditi shares the ups and downs of her own sporting career and talks about what it really takes to empower women athletes. She dives into why support systems matter, how to break old stereotypes, and what we can all do to make sports more welcoming for girls and women. Whether you’re a parent, teacher, coach, or just someone who believes in the power of sports, you’ll find plenty of food for thought.Tune in to hear Aditi’s practical tips and heartfelt stories about building a more inclusive sports community and why starting at the grassroots can change lives. If you care about getting more girls to play, supporting women in sports, or just love a good story about overcoming challenges, this episode is for you.Get in touch with us:Get Kids To Play (Book)https://amzn.in/d/5vGci1oGet Kids To Play (Summit) https://sportzvillage.com/get-kids-to-play-summit/Simply Sport Foundation https://www.simplysport.in/

In the latest episode of the Get Kids to Play podcast hosted by Vijay Krishnamurthy and Saumil Majmudar, the guest is, Anil Kumar—Founder-MD of Great SportsTech. Anil shares his groundbreaking journey of revolutionizing sports infrastructure. What began as a passion for sports has now become a pioneering force that champions innovation, quality, and community engagement. In this inspiring story, Anil opens up about the need for cutting-edge sports facilities that empower athletes and foster connection. From delivering prestigious projects across South Asia to nurturing a team that thrives on innovation and excellence, his journey is a testament to what's possible when vision meets action. Whether you're a sports enthusiast, entrepreneur, or just someone curious about the future of sports tech, this story is a must-hear. Dive in and get inspired to elevate—not just the game, but the impact.

 In the latest episode of the Get Kids to Play podcast, Swetha Subbiah—Nike coach, performance trainer, and co-founder of Sisters in Sweat—joins the conversation to share her powerful journey of building a community that empowers women through sport and movement. What began as a casual group of women coming together to play football has now become a transformative wellness collective that champions fitness, mental health, and connection. In this deeply inspiring episode, Shwetha opens up about the need for safe, inclusive spaces where women can reclaim their time, strength, and joy through physical activity. From overcoming societal barriers to nurturing a tribe that thrives on sweat and sisterhood, her story is a testament to what’s possible when purpose meets action. Whether you’re a parent, coach, athlete, or just someone curious about how to create impact through play, this episode is a must-listen. Tap the link, tune in, and get inspired to move—not just your body, but your mindset.