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.