In this episode, we welcome Lisa Wiltz and Eric Youngquist, who explore the essential role of play, simulation, and gamification in supporting gifted learners of all ages. This episode reframes play—not as downtime, but as developmentally essential, academically rich, and socially transformative.
Lisa Wiltz - With 39 years of experience, Lisa has taught preschool through early elementary and specializes in early childhood development and gifted education. She holds degrees from Illinois State University and National Louis University, has presented nationally on play-based learning, and currently teaches Pre-K 3 and Pre-K 4. Her passion: helping young learners build the social-emotional and cognitive skills that form the bedrock of future learning.
Eric Youngquist - Eric is in his 22nd year of teaching middle school social studies. With degrees from NIU and St. Xavier University, he brings learning to life through strategy, debate, and simulation. He coaches both a strategic gaming club and a debate team and is committed to using games to build communication, reasoning, negotiation, and empathy.
Listeners will explore:
Why play is the foundation of learning
How games and playful learning support creativity, problem-solving, cognitive flexibility, and emotional development
What empathy development really looks like from preschool through middle school
How educators can balance academic demands with meaningful play
Real examples of simulations and games that deepen learning, engagement, and rigor
Host: Meghan McCarthy
Co-Producers: Adam Metcalf and Jeff Westbrook
Original Music by Adam G-F
How you can be involved:
Subscribe to The Gifted Ed Podcast
Email us at: thegiftededpodcast@averycoonley.org
Submit a feedback form to the podcast team to let us know of any topics that you would like discussed. Additionally, you can use this form to let us know that you would like to appear on an episode as a guest and what topic(s) you would like to discuss.