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"Our children have to hear our stories in our own voices."

In Conversation with Jay Laga'aia – Actor, Children's Entertainer and Singer

In the third episode of For the Love of Play's third season, we chat with actor and musician Jay Laga'aia.

Jay discusses the joy and fun of a large family, the lessons he's learnt as a parent and the bittersweet moment of pushing a child's 'canoe' out into the open sea.

Beloved for his hosting role on the legendary Australian children's show Play School, Jay tells us how performing for children has taught him valuable life lessons.

The conversation also covers the wisdom of older family members, the importance of local television programming, the universal nature of music and much more.

About Our Guest

Jay is a proud Polynesian man who spent his youth in New Zealand before crossing the Tasman to begin his career in Australia as a performer. He started out acting in the primetime television program Water Rats, before starring in Hollywood blockbuster Star Wars, as well as Australian TV classics Home and Away and Play School. Alongside his time performing for early years audiences, he has played Mufasa in The Lion King musical, Vince Fontaine in Grease the musical and Shrek in the popular stage show.

• Jay's Instagram
• Jay on Spotify

Show Links

• Website: For the Love of Play
• Listen to all episodes: Buzzsprout
• Follow us on Instagram: @fortheloveofplaypodcast

Learn More About Playgroup Victoria

• Website: playgroup.org.au
• Instagram: @playgroupvicofficial
• Facebook: Playgroup Victoria
• LinkedIn: Playgroup Victoria

Episode Credits

Hosted by Mylie Nauendorf and Sinead Halliday.

Interview conducted by Sinead Halliday.

Edited by Jonathan Rivett.

Mastering by James North Productions.

Music by Selina Byrne.

And thanks to our little friends Laddy, Lucy, Toby, Andie and Adelaide for voicing the intro.

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"I think gardening teaches you resilience. And awareness that things go on."

In Conversation with Jane Edmanson – Gardener, Horticulturalist and TV Host

It's the third season of For the Love of Play and in our second episode, we have a chinwag with gardener and TV personality, Jane Edmanson.

Jane discusses her early years travelling overseas, her experiences in England, "the home of horticulture", and her start in nurseries at a time when women rarely pursued a career in the area.

She talks about overcoming her natural shyness to begin working on TV as a gardening expert, which turned into a 35-year stint on Gardening Australia.

Jane mentions the many reasons she loves plants, gardens and the great outdoors, including her interest in the Japanese concept of forest bathing. She suggests "garden bathing" as a way of slowing down in a world that asks us to constantly go fast.

About Our Guest

Jane Edmanson has wandered down thousands of garden paths in her time - and forged many of her own. At a time when it was unheard of for women to work in nurseries, Jane prevailed, knowing that there was something in the career worth pursuing. Getting her hands in the soil prepared her for what was to come. She has been part of the team at Gardening Australia for 35 years, only recently stepping back from the camera, but not from the communities of gardeners across Australia.

• Jane's Gardening Australia profile
• Jane's Instagram

Show Links

• Website: For the Love of Play
• Listen to all episodes: Buzzsprout
• Follow us on Instagram: @fortheloveofplaypodcast

Learn More About Playgroup Victoria

• Website: playgroup.org.au
• Instagram: @playgroupvicofficial
• Facebook: Playgroup Victoria
• LinkedIn: Playgroup Victoria

Episode Credits

Hosted by Mylie Nauendorf and Sinead Halliday.

Interview conducted by Sinead Halliday.

Edited by Jonathan Rivett.

Mastering by James North Productions.

Music by Selina Byrne.

And thanks to our little friends Laddy, Lucy, Toby, Andie and Adelaide for voicing the intro.

Enjoyed This Episode?

Subscribe to the podcast so you never miss a conversation. If this episode resonated with you, please share it with friends and family.

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

"I just feel compelled to tell the truth."

In Conversation with Jacinta Parsons – Broadcaster, Writer and Public Speaker

To kick off season three of For the Love of Play, we welcome broadcaster, writer and speaker Jacinta Parsons into the studio. She brings warmth, wit and depth to our conversation on play.

Known for her radio work on ABC Melbourne and her books Unseen and A Question of Age, Jacinta reflects on curiosity, creativity and living with chronic illness. We explore how play can coexist with hardship, how asking bigger questions shapes our lives and why staying true to yourself matters.

This episode is a thoughtful and uplifting look at what it means to live playfully, even through life’s challenges.

About Our Guest

Jacinta Parsons began her career in radio more than 20 years ago at Triple R and has been speaking with Victorians across the airwaves ever since. Today she is the co-host of The Friday Revue with Brian Nankervis. She has published a memoir about living with Crohn's disease, a condition she has lived with for more than half of her life. A Melburnian through and through, she had the distinction of finishing top of the class in tram conductor training.

• Jacinta's website
• Jacinta's ABC Listen profile

Show Links

• Website: For the Love of Play
• Listen to all episodes: Buzzsprout
• Follow us on Instagram: @fortheloveofplaypodcast

Learn More About Playgroup Victoria

• Website: playgroup.org.au
• Instagram: @playgroupvicofficial
• Facebook: Playgroup Victoria
• LinkedIn: Playgroup Victoria

Episode Credits

Hosted by Mylie Nauendorf and Sinead Halliday.

Interview conducted by Sinead Halliday.

Edited by Jonathan Rivett.

Mastering by James North Productions.

Music by Selina Byrne.

And thanks to our little friends Laddy, Lucy, Toby, Andie and Adelaide for voicing the intro.

Enjoyed This Episode?

Subscribe to the podcast so you never miss a conversation. If this episode resonated with you, please share it with friends and family.

Support the show