Public Health Disrupted25 Sep 2025

Ageing Playfully: Transforming perspectives on growing older

In this episode of Public Health Disrupted, host Rochelle Burgess is flying solo, and dives into the transformative power of play in the context of ageing.

Joined by Rachel Colles, a professional performer and ‘Elderflower’ with Hearts and Minds, and Dr Carrie Ryan, a lecturer in Creative Health at UCL, the discussion explores how playfulness can disrupt conventional narratives surrounding ageing.

Rochelle, Rachel, and Carrie challenge the societal tendency to associate play solely with childhood, revealing how embracing play in later life can foster joy, creativity, and meaningful connections. They share insights from their experiences, including engaging with people living with dementia and the profound impact of playful interactions (and bingo!) in care settings.

The conversation highlights the importance of validating emotions, and how play serves as a vital public health intervention, encouraging a shift in perspective on ageing. This episode also touches on the significance of fostering genuine connections, ultimately advocating for a more playful approach to public health.

Host: Rochelle Burgess – Community Health Psychologist and Professor at the UCL Institute for Global Health

With special thanks to our guests:

Rachel Colles - Professional Performer and Elderflower, Hearts and Minds
Dr Carrie Ryan - Lecturer in Creative Health, UCL Department of Arts and Sciences

Resources and mentions:

‘Extravagant Acts for Mature People' by Phoebe Davies (as mentioned at the end of this episode by Dr Carrie Ryan!)

Denne episoden er hentet fra en åpen RSS-feed og er ikke publisert av Podme. Den kan derfor inneholde annonser.

Episoder(31)

Global Mental Health: Rights, Care and the Global Landscape

Global Mental Health: Rights, Care and the Global Landscape In this episode, Xand and Rochelle discuss the intricate relationship between geography and global mental health. Alongside guests Parth Sha...

11 Jun 48min

Why are younger generations drinking less?

In the first episode of Season 6 of Public Health Disrupted, Dr Xand van Tulleken and Professor Rochelle Burgess explore why younger generations are drinking less, and what that shift means for public...

21 Apr 47min

The Future of Work: Rethinking the 9 to 5

What if the key to better mental health, stronger families, and a more sustainable society was working less?In this episode, Xand van Tulleken and Rochelle Burgess explore how reducing the working wee...

27 Aug 202537min

Beyond the neglectful state: unpacking the intersection of public health and personal freedom

In this episode of Public Health Disrupted, hosts Xand van Tulleken and Professor Rochelle Burgess tackle the concept of the "nanny state". Alongside guests Dr Adam Briggs and Professor James Wilson, ...

15 Jul 202543min

Listening to connect: how understanding beliefs can transform public health

Hosts Xand van Tulleken and Rochelle Burgess dive into how we form beliefs, and how they shape our understanding of critical public health issues. From vaccination hesitancy to climate change, the epi...

27 Mai 202542min

Running together: Parkrun & the transformative power of grassroots community fitness

Welcome back to a brand new season of Public Health Disrupted!As Rochelle makes her return to the podcast following maternity leave, we’re excited to present the very first episode of Season 5: a fasc...

1 Apr 202540min

Smoke-Free Future: Tackling tobacco and vaping for the health of the public

The World Health Organisation highlights the tobacco epidemic as one of the greatest public health crises in history, claiming over 8 million lives annually. Over 7 million of these deaths stem from d...

19 Aug 202442min