Confession: I’m Bringing Puppetry Back in 2026

As always, I recommend you listen to the podcast version here or wherever you listen to podcasts! It’s more fun, human and filled with inspirational context…sometimes! It’s also less than 20 minutes which is really short on 1.5x.It’s the end of the year, and if you’re anything like me, you might be feeling that strange combination of gratitude, exhaustion, and “wait… what just happened?”This year brought its share of ups and downs — in business, life, and everything in between. As an entrepreneur, it often feels like I’m working all the time. Even when I’m not at my desk, my brain’s still in work mode. And yet, underneath all that productive energy, something important has been missing.That missing piece was my why. Not the polished, professional why about “helping humans reclaim their time and joy.” That’s true — but it’s not the whole story. Underneath that lives an older, stranger, more playful why that I tucked away years ago.Confession: I’m a PuppeteerHere’s the truth — a huge part of my creative heart has always belonged to puppetry.Specifically, shadow puppetry.Somewhere online, there are traces of my past life — the shadow puppet shows I once created with friends, full of light and paper and silhouette. It was weird and whimsical and wonderful. It was also where I felt most alive.Then life got louder. I shifted into work that felt more “practical.” I started dividing myself: the 9-5 side here, the art side there. They didn’t always belong at the same table.But recently, that division has stopped feeling acceptable. So, I made a decision: I’m bringing puppetry back.An Impractical Decision (On Purpose)Let’s be honest — bringing puppetry back is wildly impractical. It’s time-consuming, messy, unscalable, and absolutely not something a strategist (or AI) would recommend.But here’s what I know to be true:* The impractical things are often the most essential to our aliveness.* Play feeds courage.* And courage feeds the so-called practical parts of business.Part of this is for my kids. I want them to see all of me — not just the mom who works, cooks, and coordinates, but the artist and performer who cut tiny shapes and made them move across a glowing screen. I want them to believe it’s normal to follow what lights you up, even if it doesn’t fit into a business plan.The Experiment: Puppets in The Meeting KitchenSo here’s the experiment I’m playing with:What if I literally brought a shadow puppet booth into my facilitation work? (and no, I wouldn’t bring the puppets from the Justin Bieber show!)Imagine a small, portable world of light and story beside the flip charts and sticky notes. How would it change the way people engage? What new conversations might open up?Puppetry, after all, has always been about story, metaphor, and seeing ourselves in another shape — just like the innovation I foster with individual and teams. My job isn’t just to run effective meetings and workshops; it’s to invite people to bring their whole selves into the room. And if that’s what I want for others, I have to do it first.Where Art Meets The Meeting KitchenI’ve also been thinking about how my daily papercutting fits into all this. Some of you might know that I once had an Etsy store where I sold papercuts — mostly fruits and veggies. It feels like that creative thread wants to return in a new form.My business name, The Meeting Kitchen, comes from the idea that meetings are like meals we prepare together. So lately, I’ve been imagining a future version of that kitchen — a place where meeting-inspired art, playful tools, and maybe even my papercut veggies all live under one roof.Not “serious business” over here and “side art” over there — but one whole, coherent system. Because how we gather, the tools we use, and the art we surround ourselves with all shape how we think and feel in a room.An Invitation for YouNow I’m curious — what’s the impractical part of you that’s asking to come back?Maybe it’s a forgotten hobby, a small ritual, or an illogical joy that doesn’t fit neatly into your schedule. Maybe that’s the missing nutrient your work has been craving.Consider this your permission slip to experiment. Let that creative piece stand beside your strategy decks, your boards, your plans — and see what kind of new magic appears.Next week, I’ll be sharing something big that I am working on to help you reclaim your time and joy in 2026!Until then, may your days be a little more human, a little more playful, and a little more magical.And…here’s my mysterious Puppet Shows* How to Make Vegan Cupcakes - This is less weird but the video is not great so I am linking to an old blog for additional context. * 12 Degrees of Justin Bieber - The Puppet Show - This is very weird and I am linking to an old blog so you have some context if desired. Get full access to Confessions of a Creative Leader at creativeleaderconfessions.substack.com/subscribe