Plus-Plus USA's new podcast debuted September 9 and is already four episodes in, with a guest list you won't want to miss. Make the Connection: A Parenting Podcast by Plus-Plus USA brings together educators, therapists, toy makers, retailers, and fellow parents for weekly conversations about how kids play, learn, and grow. Past guests include Ava Simmons of Team Genius Squad, and the latest episode features Hilary Key of The Toy Chest in Indiana. Upcoming conversations include Jason Hsieh of Toy Launch and LakiKid, Aaron Muderick of Crazy Aaron's, and Robbie Fitzwater of MKTG Rhythm.

The podcast actually started with our customer reviews. When we dug into more than 1,200 of them, the word parents used most wasn't "creative" or "educational." It was "hours." Families kept telling us that what they love most about Plus-Plus is the time it gives them: kids getting completely lost in a build, and parents getting a few real minutes back in their day. That made us ask a bigger question. If time is what parents value most, how could we give them something worth their time beyond the pieces themselves?

Our answer was two connected projects. Time Well Played is our weekly YouTube show, built for families to watch together on the living room TV, with build challenges, behind-the-scenes stories, and spotlights on creations from the Plus-Plus community. Make the Connection is the parent-focused side of that conversation, with new episodes every Wednesday.

The name comes from something we hear from parents all the time. They want to connect with their kids, and they want to understand what's actually happening when their child sits down and gets absorbed in something. Our guests help make that connection, and Hilary's episode is a perfect example. Specialty toy retailers like The Toy Chest are where so many parents first discover the toys their kids end up loving, and Hilary has a front-row seat to what families need. Sharing that kind of wisdom directly with parents is exactly why we started this.

We also wanted the podcast to feel like a real conversation, not a commercial. In fact, we barely mention Plus-Plus at all, and that's on purpose. Our goal is to be a trusted, helpful voice for parents and to shine a light on the people across the toy community who make play better for kids. If a parent walks away from an episode with one new idea or a little more confidence, that's time well played.

Listen to every episode on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBIrMeTxtx5M

Learn more about the Time Well Played show: https://www.plusplususa.com/pages/time-well-played