In this episode of Straight Talking Sustainability, Emma welcomes Lucy Hawthorne, founder of Climate Play, to unpack how play—especially using LEGO—can be a powerful tool in making sustainability engagement more effective and enjoyable. They discuss the neuroscience of play, overcoming cynicism, and practical facilitation techniques to unlock creativity and connection in sustainability journeys.

• Lucy Hawthorne's journey from environmental campaigning to play-based sustainability facilitation 02:11
• The limitations of traditional moralistic and fear-based sustainability approaches 02:46
• Introduction to LEGO Serious Play as a facilitation method 06:45
• How using LEGO unlocks new ways of thinking, connection, and imagination 08:52
• The science: neuroscience of play and embodied cognition 08:56, 19:51
• Overcoming organizational resistance to play-based methods 12:34, 14:50
• A live micro LEGO exercise exploring the "Three Horizons" future-thinking tool 19:24
• How facilitation via play can level hierarchies and increase inclusive participation 26:36
• The importance of imagination and creating positive, strengths-based visions of the future in sustainability work 31:03
• Expanding play-based facilitation across sectors—business, academia, coaching, and more 35:09
• Playfulness as a mindset: responding to uncertainty and experimenting beyond the status quo 38:21

• "What if sustainability wasn’t so miserable?" — Lucy Hawthorne 13:56
• "The LEGO is the method, but the mindset is about being willing to experiment and see opportunities." — Lucy Hawthorne 38:21

• Website: climateplay.org

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