You've heard a lot from me about reclaiming your right to play. But what does it look like from the other side — from the person in your corner who makes that space possible?

Today I'm welcoming my husband of 26-plus years, known around here as Dr. J, to his very first Play Date. Paul (as people call him IRL) is a professor, an eternally optimistic human, a lover of the outdoors, and the person who has quietly — and not so quietly — been one of the biggest reasons I've been able to keep creativity and play at the center of my life.

We talk about what it actually means to protect your partner's right to play, how to find the Venn diagram overlap where both of your cups get filled, and why play doesn't have to be an all-or-nothing, 78 RPM kind of commitment. (Sometimes 33 is exactly right.)

Paul also answers the question I've been dying to ask on mic: what does it look like when I haven't had enough play in my life? Spoiler: he's very kind about it. And I am... less kind about myself.

If you've ever wondered how to ask for more play in your relationship — or how to be the person who shows up for someone you love — this one's for you.

In this episode:

• Why Paul defines play as a feeling and attitude before it's ever an action
• How Lego, yarn arts, and five-gallon buckets of nostalgia are doing a lot of heavy lifting in our marriage
• The "kidney question" we use to de-escalate way-too-serious moments
• Why invitations (not demands) are the secret to protecting play in a partnership
• What to ask your partner if they can't easily access joy — and how to come at it from the side

Also in the episode, the link to grab The Wonder Project: www.annmarieboyle.com/thewonderproject

www.annmarieboyle.com

Music from Uppbeat (https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/to-the-top), License code BC9SEN3G6PMABOA

When was the last time you genuinely felt sharp? Not caffeinated sharp — actually sharp? In this Nudge episode, Annmarie digs into why rest is not an earned reward, but a vital input -- and why play might be the most underrated form of rest there is.

Show links: https://annmarieboyle.com/the-wonder-project/

www.annmarieboyle.com

Music from Uppbeat (https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/to-the-top), License code BC9SEN3G6PMABOA

Kristen Tate is my book editor, a self-described introvert, and someone who has intentionally built play back into her life more than once. Which means this conversation felt a little like sitting down with someone who understands how easy it is to forget fun isn’t supposed to require a permission slip.

We talk about why live music might secretly be the perfect introvert activity, how camping dramatically lowers your expectations in the best possible way, and the oddly liberating experience of going alone to the things you love.

We also chat about the blurry line between work and play, how to recognize when something you once loved has quietly turned into another obligation, and why Kristen spent part of COVID writing a historical mystery longhand… only to deliberately tuck it away in a drawer afterward.

Plus: Kristen shares how she’s able to still read for fun when books are literally her profession and a few low-cost ways to add a little more play to your own life this week.

Find out more about Kristen at: https://www.thebluegarret.com/

Find the show notes at: https://annmarieboyle.com/i-used-to-be-fun-podcast/

Music from Uppbeat (https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/to-the-top), License code BC9SEN3G6PMABOA

www.annmarieboyle.com

Music from Uppbeat (https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/to-the-top), License code BC9SEN3G6PMABOA