CounterPlay is a playful festival and global community that invites adults to reclaim play as a way of living, learning, and being together. In this episode, founder Mathias Poulsen shares how building a “play commons” gives us the courage to unhide play in everyday life – from libraries and design schools to horses, soap bubbles, and serious work.

Jussi Galla and Wiro Kuipers join Julian to unpack Topaasia® – a card-based gamified dialogue tool that gets any group to the one thing that actually matters, in just 75 minutes. No dominant voices. No endless stickies. Just one rule, one topic, and the "alibi" as built-in design feature, which gives people permission to raise the topics they have always been too cautious to name. If you've ever left a meeting wondering why nothing got decided, this episode is for you.

Lucy Chambers joins Julian to explore how playful word games like Poetry for Neanderthals can help teams break down jargon, foster empathy, and create more inclusive communication. Drawing on her journey from “word nerd” outsider in tech to facilitation expert, Lucy shares practical ways to make language accessible, fun, and meaningful for everyone at work.

Pen & Paper is more than just a game for Irmi. In this episode she reveals how the magic of tabletop roleplaying games can spark trust, creativity, and genuine transformation in teams. Experience how storytelling and playful immersion break down barriers, ignite emotional connection, and inspire teams to grow beyond their comfort zones.

Moonshot transforms innovation from a rigid, post-it-laden process into a playful, immersive experience. Co-creator Till Hasbach reveals how this “innovation lab in a box” helps teams break out of their routines, embrace chaos, and generate truly groundbreaking ideas. Through game mechanics, creative constraints, and collaborative prototyping, Moonshot empowers participants to think bigger, laugh harder, and own their ideas – making innovation culture tangible and fun.

Strategy Knotworking is a playful, inclusive approach to strategy development rooted in Liberating Structures. Christian explains how this method transcends rigid planning by involving all stakeholders to co-create a meaningful North Star, adapt to multiple possible futures, and facilitate genuinely participatory workshops.

ScrumTale is a serious game that uses collaborative crime story writing to teach Scrum principles. Co-creator Przemek Witka explains how this simulation mirrors software development challenges (like integration and quality assurance) making it a one-of-its-kind engaging learning experience.

Edu-LARPing immerses adults in role-play to learn, practice boundaries, confront triggers, and explore emotions. Hear from Consultant Meghan Gardner on why it's the pinnacle of experiential learning and knowledge transfer.

Eine antarktische Forschungsstation, 12 Teammitglieder a Board und jede Menge Forschungsaufgaben sowie Herausforderungen - das ist “Eternal Ice”, das kooperative Online-Serious-Game für Teams.

T-Shaping in Teams spielerisch sichtbar machen – das ist das "House von Santa Claus". Teilnehmende erleben wie sich spezifische Skills, Urlaub und die ungeübte Hand auf Ergebnisse, Dynamik und Fokus auswirken.