Planting Seeds Without Knowing What Will Grow: Three Experiments in Play

Planting Seeds Without Knowing What Will Grow: Three Experiments in Play

From Almost Grown...Up by Lucie Lincoln

April 10, 2026 · 28 min · Season 6 · Episode 99

About this episode

In this episode, Lucie Lincoln explores the importance of creating conditions for play and self-expression through three personal experiments.

What if we stopped trying to control outcomes and instead focused on creating conditions for play, wonder, and silliness to grow? This spring, I ran three experiments: daily silliness, returning to stop-frame animation from childhood, and exploring personal style without fear of "trying too hard." I had no idea what would grow from any of them, and that was exactly the point. In this episode: Why gardening is the perfect metaphor for creativity, parenthood, and life Three spring experiments: silliness, stop-frame animation, and style exploration What happened when I carried a tiny figure in my pocket and skipped down city streets The patience required for frame-by-frame animation and what it teaches about creative work How the fear of "trying too hard" keeps us from self-expression Dropping the performance and showing up honestly Creating conditions for hope when the world feels heavy Why we can nurture the seeds but can't control what blooms Mentioned: "Art and Fear" by David Bayles and Ted Orland, childhood talismans, Polly Pockets, stop-frame animation What seeds are you planting this spring? Let's me know! Instagram → @lucie.lincoln Website → www.lucielincoln.com YouTube → /…

People in this episode

Host: Lucie Lincoln

Topics covered

  • creativity
  • play
  • self-expression
  • silliness
  • animation
  • personal style
  • hope

Keywords

  • creativity
  • silliness
  • stop-frame animation
  • personal style
  • self-expression
  • gardening metaphor
  • hope

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Art and Fear

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