When did we start believing that growing up meant leaving playfulness behind?
Join Daniel Lucas on Abstract Essay, part of Universal Podcast Network, for a thoughtful conversation with Tina O Hoang about rediscovering joy, expressing ourselves authentically, and loosening the grip of people pleasing.
Together, we explore how cultural expectations, fear of judgment, and the pressure to please others can shape our relationship with play. Tina shares her perspective as a disabled Vietnamese woman, inviting us to consider what playful living can look like across different bodies, backgrounds, and experiences.
From dancing freely to trying small acts of self-expression, this conversation asks: What becomes possible when we give ourselves permission to enjoy being ourselves?
Being an adult can include responsibility, courage—and room to play.