Living In Crescendo
What if the second half of life could be louder, braver, and more generous than the first? We sit down with longtime friend and educator Pete Swanberg to trace a path from elementary classrooms and adapted PE to founding an international special needs sports collective that brings inclusion to life through play.
This is a story about living in crescendo...choosing purpose, relationship, and flow...while turning grief and transition into fuel for service.
Pete shares the moments that shaped him: the joy of working with students with multiple disabilities, the freedom he found in adapted PE, and the research that reframed his plans for retirement. Then we get practical. Adaptive Play Collective runs five-day camps with buddies for every child, sensory-rich stations, take-home equipment, and a collective of specialists who train and consult so local teams can keep the work going long after the trip ends.
Board member and educator Aubrey Colton joins us from Jordan to paint a vivid picture of the need and the hope. She shares what families face—stigma, scarce resources, and kids who rarely leave home—and the transformation that happens when a room is designed for access and joy.
If you’re curious about midlife pivots, this conversation delivers heart and how-to.
Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs courage for their next chapter, and leave a review so more people can find these stories. Then tell us: what small step will help your live in crescendo today?
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Guest Information
Pete Swanberg is a husband of 40 years to Beth, and a father of 5 young adults. He retired in 2025 after a 37-year career in education. He’s the chief dreamer behind PlayAbility Camps, bringing movement, laughter, and belonging to kids with disabilities around the world.
When he’s not planning adapted sports camps, you can find him taking long walks with Beth, browsing the shelves at a local library, or having coffee with interesting people. Like Fletch!
Aubree Colton has been married for 17 years to Ben, her high school crush. She Is a mother of 3 amazing girls who have been her greatest joy and also greatest opportunity of growth to trust in God. She has a special education degree and has had the privilege of working with the special needs community in Jordan for 11 years.
Aubree’s definition of fun is playing card games at any opportunity, hanging at a coffee shop with a friend, hiking canyons in Jordan, and finding any excuse to wear a dumb looking costume.
Resources and Links
Adapted Play Collective
Venn Diagram - Purpose
Play Ability Camps
Pete's Daily Resolution: Resolved. By the power of the Holy Spirit, I will live in crescendo. I will value relationship, pursue meaning, and maximize flow. I will let go, live fully, and move on.
Music used in this episode:
All music in this episode is licensed for use through Epidemic Sound.
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Quietly making noise,
Fletch
