# Have we forgotten how to play?

An episode of [TED Radio Hour](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/523121474), 16 Oct 2026, 50 min.

Audio: https://prfx.byspotify.com/e/play.podtrac.com/npr-510298/npr.simplecastaudio.com/e19460b8-b905-4bd2-9062-cea3c0ab9405/episodes/f5fee0c8-3954-426f-aa1e-f71315973eb5/audio/128/default.mp3?awCollectionId=e19460b8-b905-4bd2-9062-cea3c0ab9405&awEpisodeId=f5fee0c8-3954-426f-aa1e-f71315973eb5&feed=gGUt_fS1&t=podcast&e=nx-s1-6001767&p=510298&d=2979&size=47666199

Play is how we evolved to learn, solve problems, and navigate the world. So why do we treat it as optional? This hour, the science of play — and what happens when we don’t get enough of it. Guests include psychology researcher Peter Gray, sailor and social activist Tracy Edwards and photographer Stefen Chow. Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

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