Rephonic
Artwork for Vertical Playpen
Adventure Education
Experiential Education
Facilitation
Experiential Learning
Education
Outdoor Education
High 5 Adventure Learning Center
Team Building
Leadership
Risk Management
Resilience
Mental Health
Navigating Challenging Dialogue
Communication Skills
Emotional Intelligence
Psychological Safety
Facilitation Skills
Wavelength
Parenting
Challenge Courses

Want to learn more about Adventure and Experiential Education? Then this podcast is for you! Listeners of this podcast will get; - Adventure Programming Theory - Facilitation Tips - Activity Ideas - Industry Career Advice - Interviews from Industry Professionals High 5 Adventure Learning Center is a non-profit educational organization dedicated to helping individuals, teams, schools, communities a... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes324Founded7 years ago
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How ToEducation

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Artwork for Vertical Playpen

Latest Episodes

In this episode, we explore the powerful concept of 'sweeping the shed' from James Kerr's book 'Legacy,' emphasizing humility, leadership by example, and the importance of small acts in building strong teams and cultures. • The concept of 'sweeping ... more

In this interview, organizational development facilitator Mike Cardus shares insights on experiential learning, facilitation wisdom, and adapting activities to different contexts. Discover how to enhance your facilitation skills, innovate activities,... more

In this episode, Jill Vialet, founder of Playworks, shares insights on the importance of play in childhood development, the science behind play, and practical activities to incorporate play into daily life. She discusses her journey, stories from her... more

In this interview, Danny Bauer, aka The Ruckus Maker, shares his journey from student to educator, emphasizing the importance of disruption, joy, and authenticity in schools. Discover how making a ruckus can transform education by fostering impact, c... more

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Recent Guests

Mike Cardus
Organizational development consultant
Episode: Facilitation: Wisdom, Adaptation, and Innovation | Mike Cardus
Jill Vialet
Founder of Playworks
Playworks
Episode: How Playworks Is Changing Education Through Play | Jill Vialet
Danny Bauer
Ruckus Maker, Better Leaders, Better Schools
Ruckus Makers / Better Leaders, Better Schools
Episode: Making a Ruckus: Reimagining Schools | Danny Bauer
Rebecca Courtney
Facilitator, educator, and advocate of play-based learning; bringing play to adult facilitation and education
Rebecca Courtney (independent)
Episode: Embracing Play | Rebecca Courtney
Lisa Riegel
Educator, author, and expert discussing neuroscience in education
Episode: How Neuroscience Can Transform Schools | Lisa Riegel
Beth Cougler Blom
Author, podcast host of Facilitating on Purpose
Self-published author
Episode: Everyday Acts of Facilitation | Beth Cougler Blom
Robb Armstrong
Adventure education professional
High Five Adventure Learning Center
Episode: Authentic Connection and Neurodivergent Facilitation | Robb Armstrong
Chris Ortiz
Guest on the show discussing group dynamics in education and facilitation
High Five Adventure Learning Center
Episode: Group Dynamics | Chris Ortiz
Steve Smith
Safety scientist and author focusing on safety science in outdoor education
Experiential Consulting
Episode: Safety Science | Steve Smith

Host

Phil
Host of Vertical Playpen / Host of the show

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 87 ratings
  • Great for the challenge course industry!

    This podcast is full of great ideas and has enhanced my challenge course programming. Thank you Phil!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    joewyldwalker
    United Statesa year ago
  • Love It!

    This podcast is on my constant rotation. I’be been working at camps for about 9 years and I lean new things when I listen to this podcast and I get reminders of things I forgot or haven’t given much thought to- valuable listening experience

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    bailey_noelle
    United States4 years ago
  • I loved high-5!!

    Hi I’m leah and me and my school/grade went to high-5 last week! They might not remeber me but I over-came my fear about hights! And they also got my teacher to do it! Loved the podcast Phil!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    LittleLeaxh
    United States5 years ago
  • Accessible and Professional

    Such great teambuilding and challenge course content regularly delivered into my feed for free!? This podcast is an exceptional service to the industry, and fun to listen to!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Visions of Johanna
    United States5 years ago
  • Great content for all!

    Regardless if you are new to the field or have been immersed in it for awhile there is content knowledge with some raw organic humor (thanks Phil) for all professionals to benefit from. Love recommending it to our students as a great outside resource to learn from.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    amveatch
    United States5 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners praise the show for practical, real-world tips and industry-specific knowledge.
The podcast is regarded as a valuable resource for both newcomers and seasoned practitioners in experiential education.
Episodes are described as professional and entertaining, with high-quality guests.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#23
Norway/Education/How To
Apple Podcasts
#39
Netherlands/Education/How To
Apple Podcasts
#62
Mexico/Education/How To
Apple Podcasts
#119
Sweden/Education/How To
Apple Podcasts
#180
Taiwan/Education/How To
Apple Podcasts
#192
Denmark/Education/How To

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Embracing Play | Rebecca Courtney
Q: What makes a play-based activity successful in a corporate setting?
The facilitator's passion and energy, the relevance of the activity to the work, and a clear reflection that connects the experience to real-world applications are key to creating buy-in and lasting impact.
Embracing Play | Rebecca Courtney
Q: How do you introduce play to adults who are skeptical about its value?
I invite participants into the activity first and use a brief reflection afterwards to surface what they noticed, which helps them see the benefits without feeling like they're being lectured about play.
Everyday Acts of Facilitation | Beth Cougler Blom
Q: Define the word facilitation.
Beth defines facilitation as crafting moments through strong communication skills, emphasizing micro-moments and the human aspects of leading and engaging with others.
Safety Science | Steve Smith
Q: If you want to reframe accident reporting, how should organizations approach debriefing and documentation to promote learning rather than blame?
Debriefing should focus on learning, context, and what was in place that kept things from being worse, not just what went wrong. It's about understanding the conditions that allowed the event and recognizing what went well, regardless of outcome, to continuously improve.
Group Dynamics | Chris Ortiz
Q: Can you break down Kurt Lewin's formula and how it applies to a facilitator's work in real-world sessions?
Lewin's formula shows that behavior is a function of the person and the environment. In practice, this means shaping the session—room setup, activities, and facilitator presence—in a way that aligns with the desired learning outcomes while accounting for who is in the room and their backgrounds. It's a guide for designing experiences that gently steer behavior by changing context rather than merely trying to change people.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
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Frequently Asked Questions About Vertical Playpen

What is Vertical Playpen about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show centers on adventure and experiential education, featuring hosts from a prominent outdoor education nonprofit and a team of practitioners. Discussions span facilitation best practices, safety, group dynamics, and inclusive programming, with many episodes spotlighting real-world techniques, lesson design, and professional development for facilitators, coaches, and educators. A recurring strength is blending practical activities and theory with candid stories from the field, making it valuable for anyone running or supporting challenge courses, camps, or outdoor programs. The format regularly includes expert guests and in-house voices, delivering actionable takeaways for improving engagement, safety, and learning outcomes.

Where can I find podcast stats for Vertical Playpen?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Vertical Playpen. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Vertical Playpen and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Vertical Playpen get?

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What are the audience demographics for Vertical Playpen?

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How many subscribers and views does Vertical Playpen have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Vertical Playpen has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Vertical Playpen?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Vertical Playpen:

1. 99% Invisible
2. Freakonomics Radio
3. Stuff You Should Know
4. the memory palace
5. It’s In the Experience

How many episodes of Vertical Playpen are there?

Vertical Playpen launched 7 years ago and published 324 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Vertical Playpen?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Vertical Playpen?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Vertical Playpen from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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What guests have appeared on Vertical Playpen?

Recent guests on Vertical Playpen include:

1. Mike Cardus
2. Jill Vialet
3. Danny Bauer
4. Rebecca Courtney
5. Lisa Riegel
6. Beth Cougler Blom
7. Robb Armstrong
8. Chris Ortiz

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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