IDEO U 155d ago

In this live 2026 kickoff episode of the Creative Confidence Podcast, host Mina Seetharaman talks with play experts Cas Holman and Michelle Lee about why play isn’t frivolous—it’s a serious advantage at work. They explore how playful thinking helps leaders ask better questions, navigate uncertainty, and create the conditions for creativity, safety, and better outcomes. Key Takeaways Play reframes problems: Shifting from “design a clock” to “measure time” unlocks broader, more creative solutions. Questions shape outcomes: “How might we” and “what would have to be true” open possibility instead of shutting it down. Play needs conditions, not mandates: Safety, agency, and purposeful friction invite experimentation and better work. Timestaps 00:00 Welcome + why play matters at work 00:34 Introducing guests: Cas Holman + Michelle Lee 01:55 Play as a leadership advantage (not “just for kids”) 05:36 Warm-up: “Name by Function” explained 06:40 Prompt: Design a way to measure time 10:49 Form vs function: how prompts change thinking 14:32 Why better questions matter as much as answers 17:49 “How might we” and reframing client work 21:23 Play as a mindset, not a mandate 23:04 Modeling play + psychological safety at work 25:33 Why forced fun fails (and what helps) 29:46 Redefining play beyond childhood associations 31:00 Adult voice vs play voice (and getting unstuck) 34:55 When was the last time you played? 35:18 Cas’s 8 adult play types overview 41:57 Friction as an essential part of play 43:52 Purposeful friction vs efficiency (AI context) 48:23 Audience Q&A: ROI of play in corporate life 55:08 Personal practices: how Cass + Michelle play 1:00:08 Wrap-up + where to learn more Helpful Links Additional IDEO U Resources on Leadership: https://www.ideou.com/blogs/inspiration/leadership-mindset-journey https://www.ideou.com/blogs/inspiration/tagged/leadership IDEO U Courses: https://www.ideou.com/products/leading-for-creativity https://www.ideou.com/products/leading-complex-projects Check Out Cas Holman's Book: https://casholman.com/book Follow IDEO U on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ideo-u/ IDEO U’s Creative Confidence Podcast Series: https://www.ideou.com/pages/creative-confidence-podcast If you're enrolled in one of our classes or courses, or have general questions or feedback please email us at hello@ideou.com #Leadership #Innovation #CreativeThinking #DesignThinking #WorkCulture