The 21st Century Creative

**How I Created, Funded and Launched My New Podcast (while the World Was in Meltdown)** Sep 12, 2022
In this special episode, I share how the pandemic prompted me to create, fund and launch my new poetry podcast, *A Mouthful of Air*.

First, I reflect on my own journey through Covid disruptions – from coaching creatives to writing poetry – and then my friend Joanna Penn interviews me about the inspiration, funding and production behind the show.

UPDATE, 2025: A Mouthful of Air is still going, and has been selected by *The Guardian* in a list of ‘five of the best’ poetry podcasts, and by *Podcast Review* for three years running as one of the 11 best podcasts for poetry lovers. So it feels like it was worth the effort to get it started, back in the tense days of the pandemic.

‘For me personally, poetry is the bedrock – it’s the foundation of who I am in everything that I do.’ – listen to my story and Joanna Penn’s interview about launching a podcast amid global upheaval.

Episode summary

Mark McGuinness

Mark McGuinness is an award-winning poet and creative coach whose podcast *The 21st Century Creative* has guided thousands of creatives. In this episode he unveils how he launched his new poetry show, *A Mouthful of Air*, against the backdrop of the pandemic.

Big ideas in this conversation

**Poetry as foundation** – personal art can anchor and enrich professional work.

**‘Throw them in the deep end, then give them a lifejacket’** – my approach to poetry podcasting.

**Diverse funding strategies** – combine coaching revenue, grants and independence to support creative ventures.

Advice worth hearing in full

**Seize disruption** – crises can spur new passion projects and opportunities.

**Play multiple games** – pursue both traditional and independent routes to find the best platform for each project.

Where next?

Listen to *A Mouthful of Air* at amouthfulofair.fm to hear how classic and contemporary poems are made.

About *The 21st Century Creative* podcast

Hosted by creative coach and award-winning poet Mark McGuinness, *The 21st Century Creative* podcast helps you succeed as a creative professional amid the demands, distractions and opportunities of the 21st century.

Each episode features insights from Mark and interviews with outstanding creators – including artists, writers, performers, commercial creatives, directors, producers, entrepreneurs and other creative thought-leaders.

Make sure you receive every episode by subscribing in Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen.

Join the mailing list to have every episode delivered to your inbox, along with the free *21st Century Creative Foundation Course*.

The post How I Created, Funded and Launched My New Podcast (while the World Was in Meltdown) appeared first on Creative Coach | Mark McGuinness.
Click the icon below to listen.
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Mark McGuinness with 'Elegy for Moss' sculpture — **How I Created, Funded and Launched My New Podcast (while the World Was in Meltdown)** Sep 12, 2022
In this special episode, I share how the pandemic prompted me to create, fund and launch my new poetry podcast, *A Mouthful of Air*.

First, I reflect on my own journey through Covid disruptions – from coaching creatives to writing poetry – and then my friend Joanna Penn interviews me about the inspiration, funding and production behind the show.

UPDATE, 2025: A Mouthful of Air is still going, and has been selected by *The Guardian* in a list of ‘five of the best’ poetry podcasts, and by *Podcast Review* for three years running as one of the 11 best podcasts for poetry lovers. So it feels like it was worth the effort to get it started, back in the tense days of the pandemic.

‘For me personally, poetry is the bedrock – it’s the foundation of who I am in everything that I do.’ – listen to my story and Joanna Penn’s interview about launching a podcast amid global upheaval.

Episode summary

Mark McGuinness

Mark McGuinness is an award-winning poet and creative coach whose podcast *The 21st Century Creative* has guided thousands of creatives. In this episode he unveils how he launched his new poetry show, *A Mouthful of Air*, against the backdrop of the pandemic.

Big ideas in this conversation

**Poetry as foundation** – personal art can anchor and enrich professional work.

**‘Throw them in the deep end, then give them a lifejacket’** – my approach to poetry podcasting.

**Diverse funding strategies** – combine coaching revenue, grants and independence to support creative ventures.

Advice worth hearing in full

**Seize disruption** – crises can spur new passion projects and opportunities.

**Play multiple games** – pursue both traditional and independent routes to find the best platform for each project.

Where next?

Listen to *A Mouthful of Air* at amouthfulofair.fm to hear how classic and contemporary poems are made.

About *The 21st Century Creative* podcast

Hosted by creative coach and award-winning poet Mark McGuinness, *The 21st Century Creative* podcast helps you succeed as a creative professional amid the demands, distractions and opportunities of the 21st century.

Each episode features insights from Mark and interviews with outstanding creators – including artists, writers, performers, commercial creatives, directors, producers, entrepreneurs and other creative thought-leaders.

Make sure you receive every episode by subscribing in Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen.

Join the mailing list to have every episode delivered to your inbox, along with the free *21st Century Creative Foundation Course*.

The post How I Created, Funded and Launched My New Podcast (while the World Was in Meltdown) appeared first on Creative Coach | Mark McGuinness.
Click the icon below to listen.
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Portrait of Ichi Hatano — **From Tattoos to NFT Art with Ichi Hatano** Sep 05, 2022
When Covid closed his bustling Tokyo studio, Ichi Hatano turned to his ink wash paintings and digital art to stay inspired.

From crowdfunding a sumi dragon book to renovating a countryside house and launching NFT art, he reinvented his creative practice.

‘Challenging yourself is very important’ – discover how Ichi reinvented his art across mediums.

Episode summary

Ichi Hatano

Ichi Hatano is a Tokyo-based tattoo artist and Suiboku-ga painter whose work honours centuries-old Japanese traditions. When the pandemic emptied his studio, he published a Kickstarter-funded dragon painting book, restored a rural house via YouTube, and exhibited his digital art at CrypTOKYO, Japan’s first in-person NFT show.

Big ideas in this conversation

**Embrace disruption** – unexpected challenges can lead to new creative paths.

**Blend old and new** – update traditional forms with modern technology.

**Diversify projects** – pursue multiple ventures to sustain momentum.

Advice worth hearing in full

**Trial and error is vital** – experiment boldly with new mediums to keep your practice alive.

Where next?

Explore Ichi’s sumi ink paintings, digital art and his crowdfunded book at ichihatano.com, and follow his studio on Instagram at @ichi_hatano.

About *The 21st Century Creative* podcast

Hosted by creative coach and award-winning poet Mark McGuinness, *The 21st Century Creative* podcast helps you succeed as a creative professional amid the demands, distractions and opportunities of the 21st century.

Each episode features insights from Mark and interviews with outstanding creators – including artists, writers, performers, commercial creatives, directors, producers, entrepreneurs and other creative thought-leaders.

Make sure you receive every episode by subscribing in Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen.

Join the mailing list to have every episode delivered to your inbox, along with the free *21st Century Creative Foundation Course*.

The post From Tattoos to NFT Art with Ichi Hatano appeared first on Creative Coach | Mark McGuinness.
Click the icon below to listen.
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Listen on Apple Podcasts — **From Tattoos to NFT Art with Ichi Hatano** Sep 05, 2022
When Covid closed his bustling Tokyo studio, Ichi Hatano turned to his ink wash paintings and digital art to stay inspired.

From crowdfunding a sumi dragon book to renovating a countryside house and launching NFT art, he reinvented his creative practice.

‘Challenging yourself is very important’ – discover how Ichi reinvented his art across mediums.

Episode summary

Ichi Hatano

Ichi Hatano is a Tokyo-based tattoo artist and Suiboku-ga painter whose work honours centuries-old Japanese traditions. When the pandemic emptied his studio, he published a Kickstarter-funded dragon painting book, restored a rural house via YouTube, and exhibited his digital art at CrypTOKYO, Japan’s first in-person NFT show.

Big ideas in this conversation

**Embrace disruption** – unexpected challenges can lead to new creative paths.

**Blend old and new** – update traditional forms with modern technology.

**Diversify projects** – pursue multiple ventures to sustain momentum.

Advice worth hearing in full

**Trial and error is vital** – experiment boldly with new mediums to keep your practice alive.

Where next?

Explore Ichi’s sumi ink paintings, digital art and his crowdfunded book at ichihatano.com, and follow his studio on Instagram at @ichi_hatano.

About *The 21st Century Creative* podcast

Hosted by creative coach and award-winning poet Mark McGuinness, *The 21st Century Creative* podcast helps you succeed as a creative professional amid the demands, distractions and opportunities of the 21st century.

Each episode features insights from Mark and interviews with outstanding creators – including artists, writers, performers, commercial creatives, directors, producers, entrepreneurs and other creative thought-leaders.

Make sure you receive every episode by subscribing in Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen.

Join the mailing list to have every episode delivered to your inbox, along with the free *21st Century Creative Foundation Course*.

The post From Tattoos to NFT Art with Ichi Hatano appeared first on Creative Coach | Mark McGuinness.
Click the icon below to listen.
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Portrait of Laura Davis — **Taking Deep Work Online with Laura Davis** Aug 22, 2022
When lockdown cancelled her in-person writing retreats, bestselling author Laura Davis faced a choice: let her teaching career stall or reinvent it online.

Laura, famed for *The Courage to Heal* and her new memoir *The Burning Light of Two Stars*, challenged her own beliefs about digital learning – and discovered it could be just as transformative.

‘I didn’t think online teaching could match an in-person retreat – but I was pleasantly surprised’ – listen to Laura’s story of creative reinvention.

Episode summary

Laura Davis

Laura Davis is the co-author of the classic guide *The Courage to Heal* and author of the memoir *The Burning Light of Two Stars*. Her work has sold millions of copies in eleven languages and pioneered a pathway to healing for survivors of trauma.

For the past 25 years she has taught writing and personal transformation at retreats worldwide. When the pandemic struck, Laura boldly took her deep, intimate workshops online – proving that virtual spaces can host genuine healing.

Big ideas in this conversation

**Pivoting to virtual teaching** – how to adapt deep healing work to online classes.

**The power of writing practice** – using unfiltered writing and reading out loud for transformation.

**Creating and sustaining community** – building intimacy and support in both in-person and online settings.

**Courage to reveal** – the creative bravery required to write one’s most vulnerable truth.

Advice worth hearing in full

**Embrace the closed door** – write for 20 minutes without stopping on prompt and read your words out loud.

**Create your container** – establish clear guidelines for safety and self-care in online workshops.

Where next?

You can read the opening chapters of *The Burning Light of Two Stars* here.

And you can find out more about the book and where to buy it here.

Laura is now back to teaching in-person retreats again, as well as online classes – you can learn about all of thes at her website LauraDavis.net.

About *The 21st Century Creative* podcast

Hosted by creative coach and award-winning poet Mark McGuinness, *The 21st Century Creative* podcast helps you succeed as a creative professional amid the demands, distractions and opportunities of the 21st century.

Each episode features insights from Mark and interviews with outstanding creators – including artists, writers, performers, commercial creatives, directors, producers, entrepreneurs and other creative thought-leaders.

Make sure you receive every episode by subscribing in Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen.

Join the mailing list to have every episode delivered to your inbox, along with the free *21st Century Creative Foundation Course*.

The post Taking Deep Work Online with Laura Davis appeared first on Creative Coach | Mark McGuinness.
Click the icon below to listen.
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**Helping Musicians Through Lockdown with Charlotte Abroms** Aug 15, 2022
When the pandemic brought live music to a halt, artists lost their gigs, their incomes and the vital connection with fans.

Charlotte Abroms, a Melbourne-based music manager, used the enforced shutdown to pioneer new ways to help her roster thrive – from virtual gigs to mentoring emerging talent.

‘If an artist doesn’t have cash flow, the manager usually works on a commission basis – so the manager doesn’t have cash flow either.’ – hear how Charlotte innovated to keep musicians afloat.

Episode summary

Charlotte Abroms

Charlotte Abroms is a Melbourne-based music manager whose roster includes Ainslie Wills, Haarlo and producers Jonathan Steer and John Castle. With a background in digital strategy and as co-founder of the live-music blog Large Noises, she has won the Lighthouse Award, Fast Track Fellowship and Outstanding Woman in Music Award.

When COVID-19 cancelled tours and cut off artist incomes, Charlotte responded by creating virtual gigs, fundraising campaigns and bespoke mentoring for emerging musicians and young managers – showing how resourceful creativity can sustain an entire industry.

Big ideas in this conversation

**Creative resilience** – pivoting to virtual concerts and on-demand streams to generate income when live shows were impossible.

**Audience-first marketing** – scouting talent and engaging fans online using digital-strategy skills.

**Flexible management models** – offering short-term mentoring and consulting instead of long contracts.

**Enhanced accessibility** – using high-quality streams and seated events to reach fans unable to attend in person.

Advice worth hearing in full

**Use enforced downtime** – invest in virtual projects, mentoring programmes or skill-building when tours are halted.

**Maintain audience connection** – produce professional online events and digital content to keep fans engaged and support revenue.

Where next?

Discover Charlotte’s mentoring and music-management services at hearheargroup.com and follow her insights on Instagram at @charlotteabroms.

About *The 21st Century Creative* podcast

Hosted by creative coach and award-winning poet Mark McGuinness, *The 21st Century Creative* podcast helps you succeed as a creative professional amid the demands, distractions and opportunities of the 21st century.

Each episode features insights from Mark and interviews with outstanding creators – including artists, writers, performers, commercial creatives, directors, producers, entrepreneurs and other creative thought-leaders.

Make sure you receive every episode by subscribing in Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen.

Join the mailing list to have every episode delivered to your inbox, along with the free *21st Century Creative Foundation Course*.

The post Helping Musicians Through Lockdown with Charlotte Abroms appeared first on Creative Coach | Mark McGuinness.
Click the icon below to listen.
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**Parenting for Creatives with Kay Lock Kolp** Aug 08, 2022
Lockdown threw parents into a frenzy of juggling childcare, homeschooling and work – with creativity often sidelined.

Kay Lock Kolp shows how even in crisis you can nurture your artistic spark alongside parenting demands.

‘Each of the next seven nights, take a few moments to look at yourself in the mirror.’ – hear Kay’s nightly ritual for nourishing creativity as a parent.

Episode summary

Kay Lock Kolp

Kay Lock Kolp is a coach, podcaster and author who helps creatives balance parenting and their inner lives. Through her Practical Intuition podcast and one-to-one coaching she guides parents to reclaim self-care, preserve creativity and thrive under pressure.

Big ideas in this conversation

**Creativity and parenting coexist** – tiny daily acts sustain your artistic life alongside childcare.

**Self-care fuels resilience** – filling your own cup enables better parenting and creative work.

**Permission frees expression** – give yourself the right to create and dispel self-doubt.

Advice worth hearing in full

**Think small** – even five minutes of creative focus moves you forward.

**Set micro-boundaries** – use short timers to balance child care and concentrated work.

Where next?

Connect with Kay at kaylockkolp.com and subscribe to her weekly insights at kaylockkolp.com/weekly.

About *The 21st Century Creative* podcast

Hosted by creative coach and award-winning poet Mark McGuinness, *The 21st Century Creative* podcast helps you succeed as a creative professional amid the demands, distractions and opportunities of the 21st century.

Each episode features insights from Mark and interviews with outstanding creators – including artists, writers, performers, commercial creatives, directors, producers, entrepreneurs and other creative thought-leaders.

Make sure you receive every episode by subscribing in Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen.

Join the mailing list to have every episode delivered to your inbox, along with the free *21st Century Creative Foundation Course*.

The post Parenting for Creatives with Kay Lock Kolp appeared first on Creative Coach | Mark McGuinness.
Click the icon below to listen.
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**Launching a New Business in the Pandemic with Amrita Kumar** Aug 01, 2022
The experiential marketing world in India was shattered overnight when lockdown forbade face-to-face campaigns.

Amrita Kumar turned the crisis into opportunity by launching Mojo Box – a subscription discovery platform that kept her business alive and engaged 240,000 consumers.

‘Going slow is okay’ – learn how patience became Amrita’s secret weapon.

Episode summary

Amrita Kumar

Amrita Kumar is co-founder and CEO of Candid Marketing, one of India’s most awarded experiential agencies. When in-person activations ground to a halt in 2020, she launched Mojo Box – a home-delivery sampling service that now reaches over 240,000 registered consumers across India.

Big ideas in this conversation

**Reinvent under pressure** – turn a long-held idea into a lifeline when your core business stalls.

**Design for all stakeholders** – create value for brands, consumers and micro-influencers alike.

**Embrace slow experimentation** – launch quickly, gather real feedback and refine as you go.

**Consumer insight drives innovation** – real-time feedback sparks better products and services.

Advice worth hearing in full

**Going slow is okay** – give yourself permission to build at a sustainable pace.

**Push imperfect launches** – if you’re not embarrassed by your first version, you launched too late.

**Charge for commitment** – a small fee ensures engaged participants and richer data.

Where next?

Explore sample boxes and join Mojo Box via @iwantamojobox.

About *The 21st Century Creative* podcast

Hosted by creative coach and award-winning poet Mark McGuinness, *The 21st Century Creative* podcast helps you succeed as a creative professional amid the demands, distractions and opportunities of the 21st century.

Each episode features insights from Mark and interviews with outstanding creators – including artists, writers, performers, commercial creatives, directors, producers, entrepreneurs and other creative thought-leaders.

Make sure you receive every episode by subscribing in Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen.

Join the mailing list to have every episode delivered to your inbox, along with the free *21st Century Creative Foundation Course*.

The post Launching a New Business in the Pandemic with Amrita Kumar appeared first on Creative Coach | Mark McGuinness.
Click the icon below to listen.
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**Rebooting Global Filming with Hometeam** Jul 25, 2022
The world of film and TV production ground to a halt in early 2020, leaving studios, agencies and freelancers stranded by travel bans and lockdowns.

Hometeam Productions turned that crisis into opportunity by tapping a global network of local filmmakers to keep content flowing for brands and broadcasters.

Brandon Bloch

Harrison Winter

Lagan Sebert

‘When the rest of the industry went dark, we already had the solution’ – tune in to discover how Hometeam rewrote the rules of production.

Episode summary

Hometeam

Hometeam is a global content-production network founded by Harrison Winter, Brandon Bloch and Lagan Sebert. They leverage over 500 filmmakers in more than 150 countries to deliver remote shoots for clients such as NBC’s *The Voice*, HBO Max’s *Legendary* and Google’s *No Easy Answers*, keeping projects rolling when travel was impossible.

Big ideas in this conversation

**Remote production as necessity** – a pre-existing global model became essential overnight.

**Local talent unlocks authenticity** – filmmakers on the ground deliver richer, more vibrant stories.

**Constraints spark creativity** – limitations inspire innovative solutions and new possibilities.

**Community over competition** – sharing resources builds opportunity for all.

Advice worth hearing in full

**Turn disadvantages into advantages** – seek the opportunity in every constraint.

**Stop asking permission** – pick up your camera (or pen) and start creating.

**Anticipate reinvention** – look proactively for your next creative pivot.

Where next?

Discover how Hometeam can reboot your productions at wearehometeam.com, and explore their case studies of global shoots.

About *The 21st Century Creative* podcast

Hosted by creative coach and award-winning poet Mark McGuinness, *The 21st Century Creative* podcast helps you succeed as a creative professional amid the demands, distractions and opportunities of the 21st century.

Each episode features insights from Mark and interviews with outstanding creators – including artists, writers, performers, commercial creatives, directors, producers, entrepreneurs and other creative thought-leaders.

Make sure you receive every episode by subscribing in Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen.

Join the mailing list to have every episode delivered to your inbox, along with the free *21st Century Creative Foundation Course*.

The post Rebooting Global Filming with Hometeam appeared first on Creative Coach | Mark McGuinness.
Click the icon below to listen.
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**Rebooting Global Filming with Hometeam** Jul 25, 2022
The world of film and TV production ground to a halt in early 2020, leaving studios, agencies and freelancers stranded by travel bans and lockdowns.

Hometeam Productions turned that crisis into opportunity by tapping a global network of local filmmakers to keep content flowing for brands and broadcasters.

Brandon Bloch

Harrison Winter

Lagan Sebert

‘When the rest of the industry went dark, we already had the solution’ – tune in to discover how Hometeam rewrote the rules of production.

Episode summary

Hometeam

Hometeam is a global content-production network founded by Harrison Winter, Brandon Bloch and Lagan Sebert. They leverage over 500 filmmakers in more than 150 countries to deliver remote shoots for clients such as NBC’s *The Voice*, HBO Max’s *Legendary* and Google’s *No Easy Answers*, keeping projects rolling when travel was impossible.

Big ideas in this conversation

**Remote production as necessity** – a pre-existing global model became essential overnight.

**Local talent unlocks authenticity** – filmmakers on the ground deliver richer, more vibrant stories.

**Constraints spark creativity** – limitations inspire innovative solutions and new possibilities.

**Community over competition** – sharing resources builds opportunity for all.

Advice worth hearing in full

**Turn disadvantages into advantages** – seek the opportunity in every constraint.

**Stop asking permission** – pick up your camera (or pen) and start creating.

**Anticipate reinvention** – look proactively for your next creative pivot.

Where next?

Discover how Hometeam can reboot your productions at wearehometeam.com, and explore their case studies of global shoots.

About *The 21st Century Creative* podcast

Hosted by creative coach and award-winning poet Mark McGuinness, *The 21st Century Creative* podcast helps you succeed as a creative professional amid the demands, distractions and opportunities of the 21st century.

Each episode features insights from Mark and interviews with outstanding creators – including artists, writers, performers, commercial creatives, directors, producers, entrepreneurs and other creative thought-leaders.

Make sure you receive every episode by subscribing in Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen.

Join the mailing list to have every episode delivered to your inbox, along with the free *21st Century Creative Foundation Course*.

The post Rebooting Global Filming with Hometeam appeared first on Creative Coach | Mark McGuinness.
Click the icon below to listen.
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**Lockdown Series: Windows on a Changed World with Earl Abrahams** Jul 18, 2022
Earl Abrahams is a Johannesburg-based lens-based artist whose films and photographs animate the city’s streets until lockdown confined him to his apartment block.

Under strict restrictions he turned his camera into a window on the world, creating his Lockdown Series to reimagine confinement as a source of solace and invention.

‘Photography became my place of solace and kept me grounded at a time of uncertainty’ – listen to Earl’s inspiring story.

Episode summary

Earl Abrahams

Earl Abrahams is a South African photographer and filmmaker whose practice investigates race, identity and social mobility through dynamic, movement-based imagery. His Lockdown Series documented life from his apartment block, earning global recognition and new income streams.

Big ideas in this conversation

**Solace through creativity** – daily photographic practice provided emotional grounding in lockdown.

**Resourceful vision** – a confined field of view became a source of inventive abstraction and storytelling.

**Digital community** – sharing work online opened new audiences and sustained him financially.

**Play as practice** – gifting himself time to play each day sharpened his eye and unlocked new projects.

Advice worth hearing in full

**Follow the bread crumbs** – trust the next intuitive step, even when the path is unclear.

**Gift yourself play** – carve out daily time to experiment without expectation.

Where next?

Explore Earl’s Lockdown Series and other work at his website – Lockdown Series and more at earl-abrahams.com.

About *The 21st Century Creative* podcast

Hosted by creative coach and award-winning poet Mark McGuinness, *The 21st Century Creative* podcast helps you succeed as a creative professional amid the demands, distractions and opportunities of the 21st century.

Each episode features insights from Mark and interviews with outstanding creators – including artists, writers, performers, commercial creatives, directors, producers, entrepreneurs and other creative thought-leaders.

Make sure you receive every episode by subscribing in Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen.

Join the mailing list to have every episode delivered to your inbox, along with the free *21st Century Creative Foundation Course*.

The post Lockdown Series: Windows on a Changed World with Earl Abrahams appeared first on Creative Coach | Mark McGuinness.
Click the icon below to listen.
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Steven Kunis portrait photo — **The Rocky Road for Theatre through the Pandemic with Steven Kunis** Jul 11, 2022
Steven Kunis is a Greek-American theatre director based in London who founded Panorama Productions to create international collaborations in theatre and music.

When his acclaimed production of Young Jean Lee’s *Straight White Men* was halted by the pandemic, he responded by inventing *Rocky Road*, a hybrid theatrical-cinematic thriller that reimagined live performance for the Covid era.

‘I aim to make theatre that allows us to feel closer to one another and to collectively imagine better possibilities for how we might all get along.’

Episode summary

Steven Kunis

Steven Kunis is the founding artistic director of Panorama Productions. His work spans theatre, opera and experimental performance, and his UK premiere of *Straight White Men* earned multiple award nominations and rave reviews.

Big ideas in this conversation

**Creative disruption** – Constraints can spark entirely new forms, as Steven’s pivot from stage to screen demonstrates.

**Collective creativity** – Theatre thrives on shared experiences and the communal imagination it fosters.

**Embrace your limitations** – Your perceived obstacles can become the very fuel for inventive solutions.

**Hybrid storytelling** – Blending cinematic techniques with live performance can create fresh, immersive experiences.

Advice worth hearing in full

**List your constraints** – Spend six minutes writing down everything that feels like a limitation, then choose one or two and ask how they might become advantages.

**Lean into collaboration** – Use the collective intelligence in your rehearsal room or team to uncover ideas beyond your own.

Where next?

For more on Steven Kunis’s work and to stay updated on upcoming projects, visit his LinkedIn page.

About *The 21st Century Creative* podcast

Hosted by creative coach and award-winning poet Mark McGuinness, *The 21st Century Creative* podcast helps you succeed as a creative professional amid the demands, distractions and opportunities of the 21st century.

Each episode features insights from Mark and interviews with outstanding creators – including artists, writers, performers, commercial creatives, directors, producers, entrepreneurs and other creative thought-leaders.

Make sure you receive every episode by subscribing in Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen.

Join the mailing list to have every episode delivered to your inbox, along with the free *21st Century Creative Foundation Course*.

The post The Rocky Road for Theatre through the Pandemic with Steven Kunis appeared first on Creative Coach | Mark McGuinness.
Click the icon below to listen.
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**Avoiding the Advice Trap with Michael Bungay Stanier** Aug 24, 2020
Michael Bungay Stanier is a leadership coach and bestselling author whose earlier work, *The Coaching Habit*, has sold over three quarters of a million copies and helped leaders use coaching to unleash creativity in their teams.

In this final episode of Season 5—Episode 50—Michael returns with his new book, *The Advice Trap*, to show you how to tame your inner Advice Monster and transform the way you lead and communicate.

‘Our advice is not nearly as good as we think it is.’ – listen to the full conversation.

Episode summary

Michael Bungay Stanier

Michael Bungay Stanier is a coach and author who teaches leaders how to move from rushing to solutions towards being curious a little longer. His first book, *The Coaching Habit*, became a modern management classic, and his new follow-up, *The Advice Trap*, tackles the hidden costs of our default advice-giving habit.

Big ideas in this conversation

**The advice-giving habit** – defaulting to solutions can target the wrong problem, disempower others and exhaust you.

**The Advice Monster** – your urge to tell, save or control undermines autonomy and creativity in your team.

**Stay curious a little longer** – delaying advice invites deeper insights and reveals the real challenge.

**Questions over answers** – asking ‘What’s the real challenge?’ and ‘What else?’ surfaces better solutions.

Advice worth hearing in full

**‘What’s the real challenge here for you?’** – a four-step script to uncover the true issue before advising.

**‘What’s your first idea? And what else?’** – a habit to slow the Advice Monster and empower your team.

**Frame advice as possibilities** – offer suggestions tentatively and check if they’re useful.

Where next?

Explore the Advice Monster questionnaire at theadvicetrap.com and find Michael’s free resources, including The Year of Living Brilliantly course, at mbs.works.

About *The 21st Century Creative* podcast

Hosted by creative coach and award-winning poet Mark McGuinness, *The 21st Century Creative* podcast helps you succeed as a creative professional amid the demands, distractions and opportunities of the 21st century.

Each episode features insights from Mark and interviews with outstanding creators – including artists, writers, performers, commercial creatives, directors, producers, entrepreneurs and other creative thought-leaders.

Make sure you receive every episode by subscribing in Avoiding the Advice Trap with Michael Bungay Stanier appeared first on Creative Coach | Mark McGuinness.
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**The 21st Century Illustrator with Krystal Lauk** Aug 17, 2020
Krystal Lauk is the founder of Krystal Lauk Studios in San Francisco, where her illustrative work brings humanity and playfulness to tech interfaces for clients such as Google, Uber, Facebook and *The New York Times*.

In this episode, Krystal shares her journey from analogue artist to leading a studio at ‘the intersection of delight and clarity through illustration’, and reveals how persistent outreach and smart hat-switching turbocharge a creative business.

‘I really think that it’s big online because this is a way to bring humanity, to bring that expression onto the interface.’ – listen to the full conversation.

Episode summary

Krystal Lauk

Krystal Lauk is an illustrator whose studio crafts engaging visuals that help tech companies humanise their products and tell complex stories with clarity and charm. Her clients range from Google Play and Uber to editorial features in *The New York Times*, and her work has been recognised by American Illustration and the Society of Illustrators.

Big ideas in this conversation

**Illustration as a humanising interface** – use metaphorical visuals to make technology feel approachable and engaging.

**The intersection of delight and clarity** – balance playful style with clear communication to guide users.

**Proactive outreach builds opportunity** – persistently signal availability and follow up to land big-name clients.

**Hat-switching as entrepreneur** – allocate dedicated time for focused creation and for extroverted networking.

Advice worth hearing in full

**Signal you’re open for business** – send concise, personalised outreach emails and follow up until you get a response.

**Batch uncomfortable tasks** – set aside specific blocks for outreach to build momentum.

**Embrace both introvert and extrovert roles** – schedule time for deep creative flow and separate time for client-facing activities.

Where next?

Explore Krystal’s portfolio at KrystalLauk.com and learn more about her studio’s work at LaukHaus.com . Follow her on Twitter or Instagram.

About *The 21st Century Creative* podcast

Hosted by creative coach and award-winning poet Mark McGuinness, *The 21st Century Creative* podcast helps you succeed as a creative professional amid the demands, distractions and opportunities of the 21st century.

Each episode features insights from Mark and interviews with outstanding creators – including artists, writers, performers, commercial creatives, directors, producers, entrepreneurs and other creative thought-leaders.

Make sure you receive every episode by subscribing in Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen.

Join the mailing list to have every episode delivered to your inbox, along with the free *21st Century Creative Foundation Course*.

The post The 21st Century Illustrator with Krystal Lauk appeared first on Creative Coach | Mark McGuinness.
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The Busy Woman’s Guide to Writing a World-Changing Book cover — **Writing a World-Changing Book with Cynthia Morris** Aug 10, 2020
Cynthia Morris is a veteran creative coach and author of *The Busy Woman’s Guide to Writing a World-Changing Book*, with over two decades of experience helping writers and entrepreneurs bring their ideas to life.

In this episode, Cynthia reveals practical strategies—from mindset shifts to time-management hacks—to guide busy creatives through every stage of the book-writing journey.

‘Writing a book is hard! It’s not an easy thing.’ – Cynthia Morris on why commitment and curiosity are your best allies. Listen to the episode.

Episode summary

Cynthia Morris

Cynthia Morris is an author and creative coach who has helped countless writers overcome self-doubt and launch projects since 1999. Her latest book, *The Busy Woman’s Guide to Writing a World-Changing Book*, offers a step-by-step roadmap for carving out time, managing mindsets and sustaining momentum—no matter how hectic your schedule.

Big ideas in this conversation

**Treat your book as a relationship** – schedule ‘writing dates’, show up daily and engage in a creative dialogue with your deeper self.

**Balance Inner Critic with Inner Champion** – use free-writing to surface self-doubt, then let your own encouragement emerge in response.

**Capture promotion ideas while writing** – note ‘tweetables’, pull-out quotes and themes to streamline marketing later.

**Embrace curiosity over doubt** – reframe the question ‘Can I do this?’ into ‘I can’t wait to see what happens.’

Advice worth hearing in full

**Learn free-writing** – set a timer, choose a prompt and write without stopping to unlock flow and clarify ideas.

**Write a manifesto** – distil your book’s purpose into a rallying cry that reminds you why this project matters.

**Commit monogamously** – treat your manuscript like a cherished relationship you nurture each day.

Where next?

Explore *The Busy Woman’s Guide to Writing a World-Changing Book* and discover Cynthia’s coaching programmes and resources at originalimpulse.com.

About *The 21st Century Creative* podcast

Hosted by creative coach and award-winning poet Mark McGuinness, *The 21st Century Creative* podcast helps you succeed as a creative professional amid the demands, distractions and opportunities of the 21st century.

Each episode features insights from Mark and interviews with outstanding creators – including artists, writers, performers, commercial creatives, directors, producers, entrepreneurs and other creative thought-leaders.

Make sure you receive every episode by subscribing in Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen.

Join the mailing list to have every episode delivered to your inbox, along with the free *21st Century Creative Foundation Course*.

The post Writing a World-Changing Book with Cynthia Morris appeared first on Creative Coach | Mark McGuinness.
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Emily Kimelman portrait — **The Adventure of Writing with Emily Kimelman** Aug 03, 2020
Emily Kimelman is a bestselling thriller author whose Sydney Rye series has sold hundreds of thousands of copies worldwide.

Her adventurous spirit shines through both her writing and her life – from sailing the seas on a houseboat to roaming the US in an Airstream trailer while building a thriving author‐entrepreneur business.

‘I could do better than that’ – Emily Kimelman on the moment she decided to become a writer (and it turned out she could).

Episode summary

Emily Kimelman

Travel writer turned thriller author, Emily Kimelman has crafted a global career by writing from India’s beaches, Costa Rica’s jungles and even her own Airstream trailer. Her Sydney Rye novels pair unflinching heroines with exotic locales for pulse-pounding adventure.

After overcoming childhood dyslexia, Emily embraced self-publishing on Kindle, leveraged ebook marketing tactics to build a loyal readership and later scaled her operation by delegating business tasks – all while embracing a life of travel.

Big ideas in this conversation

**Write the books you want to read** – creating fiction driven by your own passions ensures your work remains fresh and authentic.

**Embrace self-publishing** – Kindle’s early algorithms and promotional tools let authors connect directly with voracious readers and build sustainable income.

**Blend travel and writing** – working from boats, jungles or trailers can feed both your creativity and your narrative detail.

**Delegate to protect your art** – bringing on a business partner frees you to focus on writing while keeping the enterprise moving forward.

**Treat obstacles as adventures** – view every interruption as a creative challenge rather than a barrier to your work.

Advice worth hearing in full

**Learn to dictate** – training yourself to speak your first drafts makes it possible to write anywhere through headphones or handheld recorder.

**Create Plan Bs for every excuse** – list each condition you think you need to write and devise an alternative method to keep going when it fails.

**Forgive your stumbles** – a graceful mindset shift from self-criticism to self-compassion helps you bounce back faster.

Where next?

Discover Emily’s globe-spanning thriller adventures and dive into her Sydney Rye series at emilykimelman.com – the perfect gateway to kickstart your own creative expedition.

About *The 21st Century Creative* podcast

Hosted by creative coach and award-winning poet Mark McGuinness, *The 21st Century Creative* podcast helps you succeed as a creative professional amid the demands, distractions and opportunities of the 21st century.

Each episode features insights from Mark and interviews with outstanding creators – including artists, writers, performers, commercial creatives, directors, producers, entrepreneurs and other creative thought-leaders.

Make sure you receive every episode by subscribing in Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen.

Join the mailing list to have every episode delivered to your inbox, along with the free *21st Century Creative Foundation Course*.

The post The Adventure of Writing with Emily Kimelman appeared first on Creative Coach | Mark McGuinness.
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Listen on Spotify — **Naomi Dunford on Marketing for Creatives** Jul 27, 2020
Naomi Dunford has been helping unconventional business owners sell their work online since 2006, long before content marketing was a household term.

In this episode she shares her contrarian approach to marketing for creatives – from reframing disempowering beliefs to spotting creativity in the world around you.

‘Creative people are the *only* people who are good at marketing’ – Naomi Dunford explains why marketing and creativity are inseparable. Listen to the episode.

Episode summary

Naomi Dunford

Founder of IttyBiz and author of irreverent marketing advice for solopreneurs, Naomi rewrote the rulebook on content marketing for small and unusual businesses. She recently retired and passed the baton to her long-time assistant, but generously returned from retirement to share the insights she’s gathered in over 14 years of helping ‘weirdos sell things on the internet’.

Big ideas in this conversation

**Marketing is creativity** – advertising and content are fundamentally creative pursuits, and artists already have the essential skills.

**Recondition your beliefs** – replace self-defeating narratives about marketing with empowering ones to build confidence and momentum.

**Content shock is opportunity** – in a crowded media landscape, doing something truly odd or extreme helps you stand out and build a loyal audience.

**Reverse-engineer your strategy** – look at what the most successful examples do, then work backwards to create your own version step by step.

**People still matter most** – genuine relationships and reputation are the single most evergreen element of any marketing effort.

Advice worth hearing in full

**Collect creative marketing moments** – for seven days, note 25 ads, subject lines or sales pages that strike you as especially inventive, to prove that creativity and marketing live in the same house.

**Embrace normcore marketing** – following simple, proven rules isn’t a betrayal of your artistry, it’s the engine that amplifies your unique voice.

Where next?

Explore Naomi’s complete body of work in the IttyBiz Karma Store on pay-what-you-can terms, with proceeds funding micro-loans via Kiva. Dive into her books, courses and audio programmes – all designed to turn your marketing doubts into creative superpowers.

About *The 21st Century Creative* podcast

Hosted by creative coach and award-winning poet Mark McGuinness, *The 21st Century Creative* podcast helps you succeed as a creative professional amid the demand

The post Naomi Dunford on Marketing for Creatives appeared first on Creative Coach | Mark McGuinness.
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Steve Lawson performing with his six-string bass — **Making Music Sustainable with Steve Lawson** Jul 20, 2020
How do you build a thriving music career when you make ‘wonky electronica’ on a six-string bass and refuse to stream on Spotify? British solo-bass pioneer Steve Lawson has spent two decades answering that question – and his solution turns the usual music-business logic on its head.

This week he explains why smaller can be smarter, how a Bandcamp subscription funds his art, and what the rest of us can learn about making creativity sustainable for the long haul.

‘My priority is twenty years of meaningful creative practice – everything else serves that.’ – listen in to discover Steve’s contrarian blueprint.

Episode summary

Steve Lawson

Steve Lawson is hailed by *Bass Guitar* magazine as ‘Britain’s most innovative bassist’. Eschewing bands, he layers melodic, ambient textures live with loop pedals and a MIDI controller, creating expansive soundscapes from a single instrument. Beyond the stage he is equally radical: shunning mainstream streaming services, he releases several albums a year through ‘Steve’s Ever-Expanding Digital Box-Set’ on Bandcamp, where a modest annual fee gives fans his entire back-catalogue plus every new release.

The result is a tight-knit community whose support pays his rent and frees him to make music – and teach – entirely on his own terms. In this conversation Steve unpacks the thinking behind the model and offers a refreshing alternative to the ‘million streams or bust’ narrative.

Big ideas in this conversation

**Sustainability first** – measure success by how long you can keep creating, not by viral numbers.

**Curate a micro-audience** – a few hundred committed supporters can outperform mass indifference.

**Story beats algorithm** – invite listeners into an unfolding journey instead of chasing playlists.

**Value through abundance** – frequent releases make a subscription feel like a bargain and fund future work.

Advice worth hearing in full

**Retrain your listeners** – explain why your new platform benefits them and give them time to move.

**Hold your nerve** – early indifference is normal; persistence turns a good model into a livelihood.

**Lead with curiosity** – let ‘I wonder what happens if…’ drive both art and business experiments.

Where next?

Immerse yourself in Steve’s music – and explore the subscription – at music.stevelawson.net. His main site stevelawson.net hosts essays on creativity, tech and the changing music economy.

About *The 21st Century Creative* podcast

Hosted by creative coach and award-winning poet Mark McGuinness, *The 21st Century Creative* podcast helps you succeed as a creative professional amid the demands, distractions and opportunities of the 21st century.

Each episode features insights from Mark and interviews with outstanding creators – including artists, writers, performers, commercial creatives, directors, producers, entrepreneurs and other creative thought-leaders.

Make sure you receive every episode by subscribing in Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen.

Join the mailing list to have every episode delivered to your inbox, along with the free *21st Century Creative Foundation Course*.

The post Making Music Sustainable with Steve Lawson appeared first on Creative Coach | Mark McGuinness.
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Joanna Penn holding her book ‘Productivity for Authors’ — **Joanna Penn on Productivity and Audio for Creatives** Jul 13, 2020
What does it take to write thirty-plus books, host a weekly show with millions of downloads and still find time to experiment with the latest tech? Best-selling thriller author and creative entrepreneur Joanna Penn believes it all comes down to smart routines and an unquenchable curiosity.

In this episode we dig into two of Joanna’s freshest obsessions – razor-sharp productivity and the fast-moving world of audio – and discover why both matter more than ever in an era of lockdowns, online everything and voice-first gadgets.

‘If you can change a writing habit you’ve had for years, what else might be possible?’ – tune in to hear Joanna’s toolkit for reinvention.

Episode summary

Joanna Penn

Joanna Penn is a New York Times and USA Today best-selling thriller writer (as J.F. Penn) and the host of *The Creative Penn* podcast, a fixture of the indie-publishing world since 2009. She has turned her fascination with the business – and neuroscience – of creativity into a series of practical handbooks that help writers thrive in the 21st century.

Her latest titles, *Productivity for Authors* and *Audio for Authors*, arrived just as the pandemic pushed millions of creatives to master new routines and new media. In this conversation Joanna shares field-tested tactics for getting work done at home, plus a tour of the audio landscape from podcasts and smart speakers to AI-generated voices.

Big ideas in this conversation

**Redefine ‘busy’** – separate meaningful creative work from background noise, then guard it with clear boundaries.

**Build an audio ecosystem** – podcasts, audiobooks and voice assistants let you reach listeners far beyond the page or studio.

**Experiment with AI narration** – synthetic voices will slash production costs and open fresh formats for storytellers.

**Use crisis as catalyst** – forced change can reveal new habits, skills and business models you might never have tried.

Advice worth hearing in full

**Start with your body** – ergonomic tweaks and movement breaks are the hidden engine of long-term productivity.

**Think ‘one creative groove’ ahead** – if a ritual stops working, change the soundtrack, the venue or the method and keep writing.

**Record your voice today** – the quickest way to overcome mic fear is to hit ‘record’, answer one question and listen back.

Where next?

Dive deeper at The Creative Penn where you’ll find Joanna’s podcasts, courses and a library of free resources for writers. Fiction fans can explore her thrillers at jfpenn.com, and anyone curious about voice tech can test a sample of Joanna’s AI-generated voice on her site.

About *The 21st Century Creative* podcast

Hosted by creative coach and award-winning poet Mark McGuinness, *The 21st Century Creative* podcast helps you succeed as a creative professional amid the demands, distractions and opportunities of the 21st century.

Each episode features insights from Mark and interviews with outstanding creators – including artists, writers, performers, commercial creatives, directors, producers, entrepreneurs and other creative thought-leaders.

Make sure you receive every episode by subscribing in Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen.

Join the mailing list to have every episode delivered to your inbox, along with the free *21st Century Creative Foundation Course*.

The post Joanna Penn on Productivity and Audio for Creatives appeared first on Creative Coach | Mark McGuinness.
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Albion press in Nick Hand’s Bristol workshop — **Traditional Crafts in the 21st Century with Nick Hand** Jul 06, 2020
Letterpress printer Nick Hand greets each working day in an Aladdin’s cave of cast-iron presses, wooden type and the rich scent of ink – a world away from the glow of a laptop screen.

From this Victorian workshop in the heart of Bristol, Nick runs the Letterpress Collective and The Department of Small Works, reviving endangered printing skills while collaborating with poets, musicians and designers on fresh-as-today posters, books and playing cards.

‘If you are a wizard, these are the materials you make magic from.’ – discover the spell of antique presses and modern creativity in this episode.

Episode summary

Nick Hand

Designer-turned-printer Nick Hand founded The Department of Small Works and the Letterpress Collective to safeguard Bristol’s last working presses and type. He produces fine letterpress prints, teaches workshops and documents British craft through cycling expeditions that have become three celebrated books of maker interviews.

Big ideas in this conversation

**‘Own the means of production’** – keeping historic presses working lets creatives control every stage from idea to finished object.

**Slow technology** – setting type by hand invites reflection, precision and a deeper relationship with words.

**Old tools, new twists** – laser-cut plates and modern design sensibilities keep letterpress fresh and relevant.

**Cycling for stories** – Nick’s trips round Britain, Ireland and the Hudson River capture endangered crafts before they disappear.

Advice worth hearing in full

**Start small** – a lino block, a spoon and kitchen-table ink can launch a lifelong love of print.

**Embrace accidents** – ‘printer’s pie’ and worn type add character no digital font can match.

**Seek out workshops** – pottery, sewing, printing or tailoring: hands-on craft restores balance after too much screen time.

Where next?

Browse Nick’s prints and book a workshop at the Department of Small Works, or explore press history and events – including the annual ‘wayzgoose’ – at the Letterpress Collective.

About *The 21st Century Creative* podcast

Hosted by creative coach and award-winning poet Mark McGuinness, *The 21st Century Creative* podcast helps you succeed as a creative professional amid the demands, distractions and opportunities of the 21st century.

Each episode features insights from Mark and interviews with outstanding creators – including artists, writers, performers, commercial creatives, directors, producers, entrepreneurs and other creative thought-leaders.

Make sure you receive every episode by subscribing in Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen.

Join the mailing list to have every episode delivered to your inbox, along with the free *21st Century Creative Foundation Course*.

The post Traditional Crafts in the 21st Century with Nick Hand appeared first on Creative Coach | Mark McGuinness.
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**Marcus du Sautoy on AI and the Future of Creativity** Jun 29, 2020
What happens when a mathematician peers into the circuitry of artificial intelligence and discovers the stirrings of imagination? In this week’s episode, Oxford professor Marcus du Sautoy explains why he believes machines can already surprise us – and how their digital ‘dreams’ might soon expand human creativity.

Du Sautoy’s latest book, *The Creativity Code*, asks whether algorithms can compose music, paint pictures or write poetry that genuinely moves an audience. Our conversation ranges from AlphaGo’s famous ‘move 37’ to the jazz-improv powers of Sony’s Continuator, shedding light on the opportunities – and limitations – of AI art.

‘Mathematics is a highly creative subject.’ – listen in as Marcus reveals how numbers, patterns and neural nets could reshape the arts.

Episode summary

Marcus du Sautoy

Professor Marcus du Sautoy holds Oxford’s prestigious Simonyi Chair for the Public Understanding of Science. Renowned for demystifying mathematics on television, radio and in seven books, he now turns his attention to algorithms and art. *The Creativity Code* explores how machine learning is rewriting the rule-book of games, music, painting and storytelling – and what that means for human ingenuity.

Big ideas in this conversation

**AI as collaborator** – algorithms can act as creative partners rather than competitors.

**Surprise plus value** – true originality lies in moves like AlphaGo’s ‘37’, which shock experts yet still win the game.

**Embodiment matters** – code may compose dazzling passages that prove unplayable by human hands.

**Tools and telescopes** – today’s systems help artists see further, even if they have no inner world of their own – yet.

Advice worth hearing in full

**Use constraints creatively** – like poets and composers, impose rules to push work in unexpected directions.

**Shine a light on bias** – DeepDream and other visualisers reveal when training data skews an algorithm’s vision.

**Treat AI as a sketchbook** – harvest its outputs for riffs, motifs and patterns you would never invent alone.

Where next?

Experiment with Marcus’s recommended tool at deepdreamgenerator.com, explore his research and media projects via the Simonyi Professorship website, and pick up *The Creativity Code* for a deeper dive into AI’s creative frontier.

About *The 21st Century Creative* podcast

Hosted by creative coach and award-winning poet Mark McGuinness, *The 21st Century Creative* podcast helps you succeed as a creative professional amid the demands, distractions and opportunities of the 21st century.

Each episode features insights from Mark and interviews with outstanding creators – including artists, writers, performers, commercial creatives, directors, producers, entrepreneurs and other creative thought-leaders.

Make sure you receive every episode by subscribing in Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen.

Join the mailing list to have every episode delivered to your inbox, along with the free *21st Century Creative Foundation Course*.

The post Marcus du Sautoy on AI and the Future of Creativity appeared first on Creative Coach | Mark McGuinness.
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Life-size anatomy mosaic by Rachael Que Vargas — **John T. Unger (Rachael Que Vargas): 21st Century Artist** Jun 22, 2020
The 21st Century Creative returns with an extraordinary tale of reinvention – meet sculptor-mosaicist Rachael Que Vargas, formerly known as John T. Unger, whose fire-and-stone artworks have travelled far beyond her Hudson, New York studio.

From cutting scrap steel with a 45,000 °F plasma torch to painstakingly shaping gemstones for life-size anatomical mosaics, Vargas shows how audacity, craft and a good story can ignite a global audience for handmade art.

‘I’ve always made things since I was a wee little kid.’ – dive into the episode to hear how that childhood spark became a blazing career.

Episode summary

Rachael Que Vargas (formerly John T. Unger)

Vargas is a 21st-century artist who forged her reputation with *Sculptural Firebowls* – recycled-steel fire-pits collected by Calvin Klein, hotels and public spaces on four continents. Now presenting publicly as Rachael, she is tackling her most ambitious work yet: *Anatomy Set in Stone*, a touring suite of fourteen seven-foot marble mosaics after 16th-century anatomist Bartolomeo Eustachi.

Her story weaves poetry slams at Lollapalooza, bartering mosaics for a mortgage, and harnessing early blogging and e-commerce to sell more than 2,000 firebowls worldwide.

Big ideas in this conversation

**Art as narrative fuel** – memorable stories propel sculptures into magazines, museums and music festivals.

**Internet-age craftsmanship** – blogging and social media let a self-taught artist bypass galleries and sell direct.

**Turning scrap into luxury** – recycled steel and bottle-caps become heirloom objects through design and grit.

**Scale and ambition** – investing firebowl profits into a museum-grade marble project aimed at immortality.

Advice worth hearing in full

**Raise the bar on what you already do well** – stretch strengths rather than fixating on weaknesses.

**Think centuries, not seasons** – choose materials and formats that can outlast trends, even outlast us.

**Seek offline stages** – digital buzz matters, but nothing matches the impact of encountering work in the real world.

Where next?

Explore Rachael’s firebowls and mosaics at rachaelquevargas.com, watch her working on projects on her YouTube channel.

About *The 21st Century Creative* podcast

Hosted by creative coach and award-winning poet Mark McGuinness, *The 21st Century Creative* podcast helps you succeed as a creative professional amid the demands, distractions and opportunities of the 21st century.

Each episode features insights from Mark and interviews with outstanding creators – including artists, writers, performers, commercial creatives, directors, producers, entrepreneurs and other creative thought-leaders.

Make sure you receive every episode by subscribing in Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen.

Join the mailing list to have every episode delivered to your inbox, along with the free *21st Century Creative Foundation Course*.

The post John T. Unger (Rachael Que Vargas): 21st Century Artist appeared first on Creative Coach | Mark McGuinness.
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Album cover – The Sovereign One by Monique DeBose — **Voicing Your Truth with Monique DeBose** Sep 02, 2019
What would happen if you stopped hiding the most uncomfortable parts of yourself – and sang them out instead? Jazz-soul artist and playwright Monique DeBose did exactly that after a life-changing health scare, turning fear into songs, a hit one-woman show and a mission to help others voice their truth.

In this episode she talks candidly about writing her chart-topping album *The Sovereign One*, creating the award-winning show *Mulatto Math* and why improvising with your body’s wisdom can change everything.

‘You were born exactly the way you were supposed to be’ – hear how Monique turns that conviction into music and theatre that heals.

Episode summary

Monique DeBose

Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter, playwright and coach, Monique’s third album *The Sovereign One* debuted at No. 2 on the iTunes Jazz Chart. Her one-woman show *Mulatto Math: Summing Up the Race Equation in America* weaves stand-up, storytelling and original songs to spark honest conversations about identity and belonging. Off-stage she helps clients live ‘fully expressed, clear and unapologetic’.

Big ideas in this conversation

**Tumour as teacher** – a medical diagnosis became the catalyst for radical self-expression.

**Improvisation for healing** – letting the body ‘sing’ uncovers hidden emotions and creative fuel.

**Owning every facet** – integrating the parts we’re told to hide makes art – and life – magnetic.

Advice worth hearing in full

**Voice your body** – daily, ask one body part to make a sound and let it out without judgement.

**Use family stories** – personal truth can open universal dialogue when shared bravely.

**Integration beats perfection** – stop chasing an ideal and channel the voice you already have.

Where next?

Stream the album on Spotify, catch clips from *Mulatto Math* and future tour dates at mulattomath.com, or explore Monique’s music and coaching work at moniquedebosemusic.com.

About *The 21st Century Creative* podcast

Hosted by creative coach and award-winning poet Mark McGuinness, *The 21st Century Creative* podcast helps you succeed as a creative professional amid the demands, distractions and opportunities of the 21st century.

Each episode features insights from Mark and interviews with outstanding creators – including artists, writers, performers, commercial creatives, directors, producers, entrepreneurs and other creative thought-leaders.

Make sure you receive every episode by subscribing in Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen.

Join the mailing list to have every episode delivered to your inbox, along with the free *21st Century Creative Foundation Course*.

The post Voicing Your Truth with Monique DeBose appeared first on Creative Coach | Mark McGuinness.
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Ilise Benun – Marketing Mentor portrait — **Bat-Signal Marketing for Creatives with Ilise Benun** Aug 26, 2019
However brilliant your craft, it will languish in obscurity if the right people never discover it. Yet marketing can feel baffling – or downright distasteful – to many creatives.

Enter Ilise Benun, the ‘Marketing Mentor’ who has spent three decades helping designers, writers and artists promote their work with the same imagination they pour into it.

‘Generosity and curiosity are under-used marketing tools’ – listen in to learn how Ilise turns them into a practical plan.

Episode summary

Ilise Benun

Founder of *Marketing-Mentor*, Ilise coaches ‘the creatively self-employed’ to earn what their talent deserves. A HOW Design Live programme curator, conference speaker and host of more than 300 podcast episodes, she specialises in turning marketing from dreaded chore into rewarding habit.

Big ideas in this conversation

**Bat-signal content** – create material that lights up the exact clients you seek and nobody else.

**Three-tool toolkit** – strategic networking, targeted outreach and pain-point content work best in concert.

**Marketing is creative work** – apply the same curiosity and experimentation you use in the studio.

Advice worth hearing in full

**Commit 30 minutes a day** – make business development a non-negotiable creative practice.

**Let the market speak first** – identify the clients who value you most, then tailor your message to them.

**Use generosity & curiosity** – ask smart questions, share useful insights, and trust that visibility will follow.

Where next?

Explore Ilise’s free Quick Tips, her downloadable Marketing Planner and details of one-to-one mentoring at marketing-mentor.com.

About *The 21st Century Creative* podcast

Hosted by creative coach and award-winning poet Mark McGuinness, *The 21st Century Creative* podcast helps you succeed as a creative professional amid the demands, distractions and opportunities of the 21st century.

Each episode features insights from Mark and interviews with outstanding creators – including artists, writers, performers, commercial creatives, directors, producers, entrepreneurs and other creative thought-leaders.

Make sure you receive every episode by subscribing in Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen.

Join the mailing list to have every episode delivered to your inbox, along with the free *21st Century Creative Foundation Course*.

The post Bat-Signal Marketing for Creatives with Ilise Benun appeared first on Creative Coach | Mark McGuinness.
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Book cover: ‘What’s Your Excuse for Not Succeeding as an Artist?’ by Deborah Henry-Pollard — **What’s Your Excuse for Not Succeeding as a Creative? with Deborah Henry-Pollard** Aug 19, 2019
However talented we are, most of us can recite a personal anthology of reasons why our artistic dreams must wait until ‘someday’. Creative coach Deborah Henry-Pollard has heard them all – and written the field-guide to dismantling them.

In this lively episode the London-based author of *What’s Your Excuse for Not Succeeding as an Artist?* explains why excuses feel protective yet keep us small, and shares practical ways to turn fear into forward momentum.

‘I wanted the book to be a hug on a shelf’ – listen to hear Deborah’s no-nonsense compassion in action.

Episode summary

Deborah Henry-Pollard

Deborah is the founder of Catching Fireworks, a coaching practice dedicated to helping creatives turn big ideas into finished work. Her clients range from West End theatre companies to independent artists and writers. In her debut book she lists the most common self-sabotaging stories – then offers quick, coach-tested antidotes for each one.

Big ideas in this conversation

**Excuses are over-protective friends** – they arise to keep us safe, but ultimately fence us in.

**Confidence is renewable** – a personal ‘success list’ can reboot self-belief on demand.

**Success is self-defined** – knowing what achievement looks and feels like *to you* is a daily compass, not a distant milestone.

Advice worth hearing in full

**Create an anchor** – a physical object or phrase that drops you instantly into your ‘bigger self’ before pitches, launches or shows.

**Compile a ten-item confidence list** – record wins large and small; revisit it whenever ‘not good enough’ strikes.

**Reframe self-promotion** – sharing work isn’t indulgent, it’s a public service: ‘Your country needs you!’

Where next?

Dive into more excuse-busting tips, coaching options and Deborah’s tango-inspired short film at CatchingFireworks.co.uk.

About *The 21st Century Creative* podcast

Hosted by creative coach and award-winning poet Mark McGuinness, *The 21st Century Creative* podcast helps you succeed as a creative professional amid the demands, distractions and opportunities of the 21st century.

Each episode features insights from Mark and interviews with outstanding creators – including artists, writers, performers, commercial creatives, directors, producers, entrepreneurs and other creative thought-leaders.

Make sure you receive every episode by subscribing in Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen.

Join the mailing list to have every episode delivered to your inbox, along with the free *21st Century Creative Foundation Course*.

The post What’s Your Excuse for Not Succeeding as a Creative? with Deborah Henry-Pollard appeared first on Creative Coach | Mark McGuinness.
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Robert Vlach standing in front of a graffiti-covered wall — **The Freelance Way with Robert Vlach** Aug 12, 2019
What does it really take to thrive as a one-person business? Czech business consultant Robert Vlach has spent two decades answering that question for thousands of independent professionals across Europe.

In this conversation Robert draws on his bestselling manual *The Freelance Way* and his experience founding one of Europe’s largest freelance communities to share battle-tested advice on money, pricing and reputation management – the essentials he believes every creative needs to master.

‘Freelancing is a way to do business on an individual level without big capital or huge risks’ – listen in for Robert’s roadmap to sustainable independence.

Episode summary

Robert Vlach

Robert is the founder of *Na Volné Noze*, a 150,000-strong network of Czech and Slovak freelancers, and runs a Prague-based think-tank exploring the future of independent work. His English-language book *The Freelance Way* distils interviews with hundreds of freelancers, plus insights from thought-leaders such as David Allen and Austin Kleon, into a practical playbook for anyone who works for themselves.

Robert’s own journey – from burnt-out coder to vineyard hand to consultant – fuels a pragmatic approach: freedom is the prize, but solid business systems are the price of admission.

Big ideas in this conversation

**You are your capital** – skills, reputation and networks replace factories and funding.

**Price is a signalling device** – raising rates filters clients *and* pushes you to raise your game.

**Finance is self-management** – cash-flow tracking and reserves turn feast-and-famine into stability.

Advice worth hearing in full

**Record every penny** – monthly income and spending data reveal patterns (and anxieties) at a glance.

**Adjust rates several times a year** – stay aligned with demand, capacity and growing expertise.

**Craft a coherent story** – a clear narrative of your career helps others spread your ‘good name’.

Where next?

Explore the book, download free resources or contact Robert for consulting at FreelanceWay.eu – the hub for tools, strategies and community events built around *The Freelance Way*.

About *The 21st Century Creative* podcast

Hosted by creative coach and award-winning poet Mark McGuinness, *The 21st Century Creative* podcast helps you succeed as a creative professional amid the demands, distractions and opportunities of the 21st century.

Each episode features insights from Mark and interviews with outstanding creators – including artists, writers, performers, commercial creatives, directors, producers, entrepreneurs and other creative thought-leaders.

Make sure you receive every episode by subscribing in Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen.

Join the mailing list to have every episode delivered to your inbox, along with the free *21st Century Creative Foundation Course*.

The post The Freelance Way with Robert Vlach appeared first on Creative Coach | Mark McGuinness.
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Cover of Erik Bork’s book ‘The Idea’ — **The Essential Elements of a Successful Story with Erik Bork** Aug 05, 2019
What separates the handful of screenplays that spark bidding wars from the mountain of scripts that never leave the slush pile? Two-time Emmy-winning writer–producer Erik Bork argues it all starts with one thing: the core idea.

In this episode Erik – whose credits include HBO’s *Band of Brothers* and *From the Earth to the Moon* – explains the seven-part test he uses to decide whether a story concept is truly worth months (or years) of drafting.

‘If the writer doesn’t start with a rock-solid idea, they’re building a house on sand’ – listen for Erik’s blueprint for the foundations of success.

Episode summary

Erik Bork

Erik is an award-winning screenwriter, producer and script consultant best known for helping Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg turn epic true stories into acclaimed HBO mini-series. His book *The Idea* distils decades of industry experience into a practical checklist that shows writers – for screen, stage or page – how to tell at a glance whether their concept could capture a mass audience.

In this conversation Erik recalls breaking into Hollywood from an assistant’s desk, writing under the pressure of multi-million-dollar productions and why he now believes 60 per cent of a project’s success is decided *before* you outline a single scene.

Big ideas in this conversation

**The 60/30/10 rule** – why the logline matters more than structure or dialogue.

**Seven tests of a viable story** – a PROBLEM must be Punishing, Relatable, Original, Believable, Life-altering, Entertaining and Meaningful.

**Iterate before you write** – refining the premise saves months of futile drafting.

**Borrow and twist** – how to generate fresh concepts by tweaking one element of a favourite classic.

Advice worth hearing in full

**Slow down at the start** – spend more time thinking, less time typing.

**Pitch early, pitch often** – test the temperature of your idea with trusted readers before diving into pages.

**Emotional stakes are king** – audiences invest when a dilemma feels life-changing.

Where next?

Pick up *The Idea: The Seven Elements of a Viable Story for Screen, Stage or Fiction* on Amazon, read Erik’s blog and explore his coaching services at FlyingWrestler.com.

About *The 21st Century Creative* podcast

Hosted by creative coach and award-winning poet Mark McGuinness, *The 21st Century Creative* podcast helps you succeed as a creative professional amid the demands, distractions and opportunities of the 21st century.

Each episode features insights from Mark and interviews with outstanding creators – including artists, writers, performers, commercial creatives, directors, producers, entrepreneurs and other creative thought-leaders.

Make sure you receive every episode by subscribing in Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen.

Join the mailing list to have every episode delivered to your inbox, along with the free *21st Century Creative Foundation Course*.

The post The Essential Elements of a Successful Story with Erik Bork appeared first on Creative Coach | Mark McGuinness.
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Maria Bovin de Labbé with frame drum — **Mindful Drumming with Maria Bovin de Labbé** Jul 29, 2019
Drummer and composer Maria Bovin de Labbé swapped Stockholm’s rock clubs for a quiet Norwegian peninsula, where she explores rhythm as meditation rather than machismo.

Her ‘mindful drumming’ blends frame drums, clay darbuka and classic kit work into melodic soundscapes that invite listeners to breathe, slow down and feel every beat.

‘When I first sat behind a drum kit it felt like coming home’ – join Maria to hear how that moment sparked a lifelong journey into mindful rhythm.

Episode summary

Maria Bovin de Labbé

Maria is a Swedish drummer, artist and teacher whose ‘mindful drumming’ prioritises presence, lightness and melody over volume and speed. Trained in styles ranging from hard rock to Middle-Eastern hand drums, she now performs solo, with her trio *Sweet Like Time* and at intimate events, using rhythm to create contemplative space.

In this interview she explains how drumming aided her recovery from anorexia, why silence is as important as sound and what she learned by drumming with pregnant women for a music-therapy research project.

Big ideas in this conversation

**Mindful drumming** – connecting body, mind and spirit through rhythm rather than raw power.

**Silence as music** – spacious pauses give each beat its emotional weight.

**Art as healing** – the drum became Maria’s refuge during illness and stillness remains central to her practice.

**Finding your own voice** – abandoning ‘play like a guy’ expectations unlocked her distinctive melodic style.

Advice worth hearing in full

**Practise awareness first** – notice your intentions before you strike a note.

**Drop the wrong battles** – work on weaknesses that matter, let go of those that do not suit your nature.

**Anchor creativity in the body** – listening to your heartbeat is a daily reminder of rhythm at its most fundamental.

Where next?

Experience more of Maria’s music, videos and teaching at BovinDeLabbe.com, and follow her rhythmic experiments on Instagram or YouTube.

About *The 21st Century Creative* podcast

Hosted by creative coach and award-winning poet Mark McGuinness, *The 21st Century Creative* podcast helps you succeed as a creative professional amid the demands, distractions and opportunities of the 21st century.

Each episode features insights from Mark and interviews with outstanding creators – including artists, writers, performers, commercial creatives, directors, producers, entrepreneurs and other creative thought-leaders.

Make sure you receive every episode by subscribing in Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen.

Join the mailing list to have every episode delivered to your inbox, along with the free *21st Century Creative Foundation Course*.

The post Mindful Drumming with Maria Bovin de Labbé appeared first on Creative Coach | Mark McGuinness.
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Drawing by Peleg Top — **Peleg Top on Fear, Love, Money and Creativity** Jul 22, 2019
Peleg Top built a thriving Los Angeles design agency creating album covers for the likes of Capitol Records – then walked away to discover what success really means.

In this conversation he traces a journey from graphic designer to globetrotting seeker, artist and coach, sharing hard-won insights into fear, love, money and the creative spirit.

‘We only have two choices – we can come from fear or we can come from love’ – hear why that distinction matters for every creator in this episode.

Episode summary

Peleg Top

Peleg Top is an Israeli-born artist, writer and speaker who spent eighteen years running Top Design, producing more than two hundred album covers and branding for The Grammy Awards and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Hitting every external marker of success, he realised fulfilment was still missing and embarked on a decade-long exploration of personal growth, spirituality and creativity.

Today he lives in Santa Fe, painters’ apron on one day, coaching hat on the next, guiding creative professionals to balance prosperity with self-awareness and to lead from love rather than fear.

Big ideas in this conversation

**Fear versus love** – every decision comes from one or the other; only love unlocks real creativity.

**The ladder on the wrong wall** – outward success can conceal deep misalignment until we pause to look inside.

**Money as creative energy** – financial freedom arises when you trust your ability to create value and serve.

**Pure service** – moving from pleasing clients to truly serving them transforms both relationships and revenue.

Advice worth hearing in full

**Slow the dial** – practise daily self-observation to notice whether fear is steering the wheel.

**Give to receive** – cultivate abundance by intentionally giving money away with joy, as in Peleg’s Creative Challenge.

**Nourish the free-spirit** – engage in non-commercial play (for Peleg it was culinary school) to reignite artistic fire.

Where next?

See Peleg’s latest artwork at ArtbyTop.com, follow his creative adventures on Instagram or explore coaching opportunities at PelegTop.com.

About *The 21st Century Creative* podcast

Hosted by creative coach and award-winning poet Mark McGuinness, *The 21st Century Creative* podcast helps you succeed as a creative professional amid the demands, distractions and opportunities of the 21st century.

Each episode features insights from Mark and interviews with outstanding creators – including artists, writers, performers, commercial creatives, directors, producers, entrepreneurs and other creative thought-leaders.

Make sure you receive every episode by subscribing in Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen.

Join the mailing list to have every episode delivered to your inbox, along with the free *21st Century Creative Foundation Course*.

The post Peleg Top on Fear, Love, Money and Creativity appeared first on Creative Coach | Mark McGuinness.
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Author-illustrator Nadia Shireen — **Good Little Wolf and Other Stories with Nadia Shireen** Jul 15, 2019
From a kitchen-table sketchbook to bestseller status, children’s author-illustrator Nadia Shireen has turned playful doodles into stories that families read on repeat.

In this episode Nadia opens her toolbox – revealing why a strict 32-page format, a perfectly timed page-turn and the odd shocking punchline are all part of the magic of a picture book.

‘I’m on the side of my reader before anyone else. I am on the kids’ side.’ – listen to discover what that means for every page.’

Episode summary

Nadia Shireen

Nadia Shireen is an award-winning British children’s author and illustrator whose hit titles include *Good Little Wolf*, *The Bumblebear*, *The Cow Who Fell to Earth* and the bestselling *Billy* series. Her bold artwork, mischievous humour and refusal to patronise young readers have earned her a devoted following among children, parents and booksellers alike.

In conversation with Mark McGuinness, Nadia explains how she balances words and pictures, respects the emotional intelligence of her audience and squeezes maximum impact from every spread.

Big ideas in this conversation

**Two stories at once** – text and image should complement, not duplicate, opening a ‘gap’ the reader joyfully fills.

**The 32-page constraint** – a fixed length forces clarity, pace and inventive page-turns.

**Respecting children’s feelings** – young readers can handle surprise, tension and nuance if you trust them.

**Pacing through design** – intricate artwork slows the reader; white space accelerates action.

**Self-amusement keeps the work fresh** – in-jokes (a Bowie-inspired cow, for instance) sustain creative joy.

Advice worth hearing in full

**Research your market** – know whether you’re writing a picture book, middle-grade or YA before you pitch.

**Use limits as levers** – constraints such as page count or trim size can spark originality instead of stifling it.

**Re-discover play** – spend 30 minutes doodling with no goal to loosen up a tense creative mind.

Where next?

Explore more of Nadia’s work at nadiashireen.org, follow her lively commentary on Twitter or browse limited-edition prints in her Etsy shop.

About *The 21st Century Creative* podcast

Hosted by creative coach and award-winning poet Mark McGuinness, *The 21st Century Creative* podcast helps you succeed as a creative professional amid the demands, distractions and opportunities of the 21st century.

Each episode features insights from Mark and interviews with outstanding creators – including artists, writers, performers, commercial creatives, directors, producers, entrepreneurs and other creative thought-leaders.

Make sure you receive every episode by subscribing in Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen.

Join the mailing list to have every episode delivered to your inbox, along with the free *21st Century Creative Foundation Course*.

The post Good Little Wolf and Other Stories with Nadia Shireen appeared first on Creative Coach | Mark McGuinness.
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Alastair Humphreys busking in a Spanish square — **What Creators Can Learn from Adventurers with Alastair Humphreys** Jul 08, 2019
What can a life of cycling round the world, rowing the Atlantic and busking penniless across Spain teach you about your own creative journey? British adventurer Alastair Humphreys has plenty of answers – and they’re as practical as they are inspiring.

In this episode Alastair joins Mark McGuinness to explore the surprising overlap between epic expeditions and artistic ambition, from conquering impostor syndrome to squeezing big dreams into the margins of a busy family life.

‘Replace ‘can’t’ with ‘choose not to’ and see where that takes your thought process’ – join the episode to discover how.

Episode summary

Alastair Humphreys

Named National Geographic Adventurer of the Year, Alastair has cycled 46,000 miles through 60 countries, rowed an ocean, trekked deserts and pioneered the global ‘microadventure’ movement. His latest book *My Midsummer Morning* chronicles a month-long journey across Spain with no money, relying on a beginner’s violin to earn each meal – a feat that reframes adventure as a state of mind rather than a postcode on a map.

Big ideas in this conversation

**Microadventures** – short, local escapades that deliver the thrill of exploration without the airfare.

**Rewriting excuses** – swap ‘I can’t’ for ‘I choose not to’ to expose self-imposed limits.

**The inner journey** – why the mental game of adventure mirrors the creative process, from fear to flow.

**Five-to-nine thinking** – carving out 16 off-duty hours for bold experiments when the nine-to-five feels immovable.

Advice worth hearing in full

**Begin before you’re ready** – the first pedal-stroke or sentence is harder than the next ten miles or pages.

**Make constraints your ally** – time and money limits can spark ingenuity rather than kill ambition.

**Go public for accountability** – sharing work (or a wobbly violin recital) raises the stakes and the learning curve.

Where next?

Pick up Alastair’s latest book, explore his website for microadventure ideas, or follow his day-to-day escapades on Instagram and YouTube.

About *The 21st Century Creative* podcast

Hosted by creative coach and award-winning poet Mark McGuinness, *The 21st Century Creative* podcast helps you succeed as a creative professional amid the demands, distractions and opportunities of the 21st century.

Each episode features insights from Mark and interviews with outstanding creators – including artists, writers, performers, commercial creatives, directors, producers, entrepreneurs and other creative thought-leaders.

Make sure you receive every episode by subscribing in Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen.

Join the mailing list to have every episode delivered to your inbox, along with the free *21st Century Creative Foundation Course*.

The post What Creators Can Learn from Adventurers with Alastair Humphreys appeared first on Creative Coach | Mark McGuinness.
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Thriller author CJ Lyons smiling against a blurred outdoor background — **Storytelling: a Matter of Life and Death with CJ Lyons** Feb 18, 2019
A former paediatric ER doctor turned blockbuster novelist, **CJ Lyons** writes thrillers steeped in the life-and-death realities she once faced on the hospital floor.

With more than 2.5 million books sold and awards ranging from the ITW Thriller Award to USA Today bestseller medals, CJ joins the show to reveal how true stories of courage, trauma and hope power her fiction – and how she built a resilient career when traditional publishing almost derailed her debut.

According to CJ, ‘The six most important words in the English language are: “Let me tell you a story.”’ – and she tells some great ones in this episode.

Episode summary

CJ Lyons

CJ describes her work as ‘thrillers with heart’. After seventeen years in emergency medicine she swapped the trauma bay for the keyboard, translating real-world heroism and horror into page-turning fiction. When her first publishing deal collapsed she self-published, built a direct relationship with readers and hit the *New York Times* list – proof that a doctor’s determination can also save an author’s career.

Big ideas in this conversation

**Stories are survival tools** – humans have used narrative to make sense of danger for at least 50,000 years.

**‘Thrillers with heart’** – honest emotion matters as much as explosions and car chases.

**Know yourself, your story – and your audience** – CJ’s three-part formula for creative success.

**Failures can be springboards** – the cancelled debut that became a self-publishing triumph.

Advice worth hearing in full

**Delight your readers first** – every business decision starts with ‘What will make them dance with joy?’.

**Give something away** – a gift builds trust faster than any advert.

**Create your own definition of success** – money, impact or mastery – decide what really counts for you.

Where next?

Download *Snake Skin* free, discover CJ’s other series and join her ‘Thrillers with Heart’ newsletter at CJLyons.net – you’ll also find links to her young-adult suspense, writing resources and live appearances.

About *The 21st Century Creative* podcast

Hosted by creative coach and award-winning poet Mark McGuinness, *The 21st Century Creative* podcast helps you succeed as a creative professional amid the demands, distractions and opportunities of the 21st century.

Each episode features insights from Mark and interviews with outstanding creators – including artists, writers, performers, commercial creatives, directors, producers, entrepreneurs and other creative thought-leaders.

Make sure you receive every episode by subscribing in Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen.

Join the mailing list to have every episode delivered to your inbox, along with the free *21st Century Creative Foundation Course*.

The post Storytelling: a Matter of Life and Death with CJ Lyons appeared first on Creative Coach | Mark McGuinness.
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Consultant and author Emily Cohen smiling at camera — **Brutally Honest Advice for Your Creative Business with Emily Cohen** Feb 11, 2019
‘Brutally honest’ is not just a catch-phrase for US consultant **Emily Cohen** – it is the red thread that runs through her advice to creative-studio owners.

In this episode Emily shares the no-nonsense principles behind her acclaimed book *Brutally Honest: No-Bullshit Strategies to Evolve Your Creative Business* – from firing a client a year to telling over-helpful customers to back off.

‘Parent your clients, prune your portfolio and specialise to survive – tune in for Emily’s trademark tough love.’

Episode summary

Emily Cohen

Based in New York, Emily has spent three decades advising design-studio principals on pricing, positioning, staffing and new-business strategy. Her straight-talking style has made her a sought-after speaker at HOW Design Live and AIGA events, while her self-published tome *Brutally Honest* has become a cult manual for creative entrepreneurs.

Big ideas in this conversation

**Parent your practice** – staff and clients thrive when you set clear rules, praise good behaviour and enforce consequences.

**Choose a specialism** – industry, deliverable or process expertise makes you memorable and raises your fees.

**Referrals are not a strategy** – proactive outreach keeps you in control of the work you win.

**Executional vs strategic** – decide whether you sell labour or insight, then build systems (and prices) accordingly.

**The five silent roles** – business vision, operational leadership, creative leadership, business development and financial management all need an owner.

Advice worth hearing in full

**Fire one client a year** – dropping the weakest account frees capacity for better opportunities.

**Say ‘no’ to create space** – every refusal is an invitation to a more valuable ‘yes’.

**Build your village** – curating external allies (lawyers, accountants, suppliers) is as vital as hiring staff.

Where next?

Explore more of Emily’s resources – including her downloadable proposal template – at CasaDavka.com, and order a copy of *Brutally Honest* (complete with neon ink and fold-out infographics).

About *The 21st Century Creative* podcast

Hosted by creative coach and award-winning poet Mark McGuinness, *The 21st Century Creative* podcast helps you succeed as a creative professional amid the demands, distractions and opportunities of the 21st century.

Each episode features insights from Mark and interviews with outstanding creators – including artists, writers, performers, commercial creatives, directors, producers, entrepreneurs and other creative thought-leaders.

Make sure you receive every episode by subscribing in Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen.

Join the mailing list to have every episode delivered to your inbox, along with the free *21st Century Creative Foundation Course*.

The post Brutally Honest Advice for Your Creative Business with Emily Cohen appeared first on Creative Coach | Mark McGuinness.
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Author and podcaster David Kadavy — **How to Find the Heart to Start with David Kadavy** Feb 04, 2019
Staring down a blank page can feel like free-fall – yet writer and podcaster **David Kadavy** has turned that terror into fuel for bestselling books and a life of creative freedom.

In this episode he explains how a single sloppy blog post catapulted him from a cubicle in Nebraska to the cafés of Silicon Valley, and on to Medellín where he now writes, codes and records his hit show *Love Your Work*.

‘Motivational judo, fortress fallacies and typing before you open your eyes – press play to find the heart to start.’

Episode summary

David Kadavy

David is the author of the Amazon-top-20 hit *Design for Hackers* and, more recently, *The Heart to Start*. Through his weekly podcast he interviews creators, entrepreneurs and scientists to uncover practical tactics for thriving in the idea economy. His own journey – from Apache-filled all-nighters in the Midwest to a location-independent writing life in Colombia – proves his methods in real time.

Big ideas in this conversation

**Motivational judo** – use your perfectionism against itself by ‘barfing’ out a messy first draft.

**The fortress fallacy** – grand visions paralyse; shrink the project until action feels inevitable.

**Curiosity convergence** – combine seemingly random interests to occupy a niche no rival can reach.

**Listen to ‘the voice’** – capture half-formed thoughts before the critical mind shuts them down.

Advice worth hearing in full

**Type before you wake** – tap out 100 words with your eyes still closed to mine dream-state insights.

**Ship, then sharpen** – publishing something imperfect today creates momentum – and material – to improve tomorrow.

**Question every rule** – when Jason Fried sliced 30-page proposals to one page, clients said yes faster.

Where next?

Download Kadavy’s free *Self-Published Sunday* email mini-course and explore his books, blog and podcast at kadavy.net.

About *The 21st Century Creative* podcast

Hosted by creative coach and award-winning poet Mark McGuinness, *The 21st Century Creative* podcast helps you succeed as a creative professional amid the demands, distractions and opportunities of the 21st century.

Each episode features insights from Mark and interviews with outstanding creators – including artists, writers, performers, commercial creatives, directors, producers, entrepreneurs and other creative thought-leaders.

Make sure you receive every episode by subscribing in Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen.

Join the mailing list to have every episode delivered to your inbox, along with the free *21st Century Creative Foundation Course*.

The post How to Find the Heart to Start with David Kadavy appeared first on Creative Coach | Mark McGuinness.
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Vicki Saunders – founder of SheEO — **SheEO: Women Transforming Entrepreneurship with Vicki Saunders** Jan 28, 2019
Entrepreneur and investor **Vicki Saunders** believes the future belongs to businesses that combine profit with purpose – and she’s built a global funding network to prove it.

Fed up with a system where only 4 per cent of venture capital backs female founders, Vicki created *SheEO* (now *Coralus*) – an ecosystem where women lend money, expertise and market access to game-changing ventures on radically generous terms.

‘What if capital kept circulating in a perpetual fund – and every loan came with 500 mentors?’ Listen below to find out.

Episode summary

Vicki Saunders

Canadian serial entrepreneur, mentor and author, Vicki has floated a company on the Toronto Stock Exchange and advised governments on innovation. Through SheEO she invites cohorts of 500 ‘Activators’ to contribute $1,100 each, creating zero-interest loans and a powerhouse network for women-led, impact-driven businesses.

Big ideas in this conversation

**Radical Generosity** – crowdfund capital *and* community, then recycle the money for ever.

**The perpetual fund** – repayments from one venture bankroll the next, generation after generation.

**Collaboration beats competition** – ventures divide the pot themselves and share skills to multiply impact.

**Post-hero leadership** – step aside from winner-takes-all and design systems where everyone rises.

**‘Everything’s broken – hooray!’** – when old structures crumble, creativity gets room to rebuild.

Advice worth hearing in full

**Clean your people closets** – curate a circle that lifts you up and ditch voices that drag you down.

**Follow flow, not force** – ease is often the sign you’ve found the right solution.

**Profit ＋ purpose** – measure success in both finance *and* social impact.

**Start with what feels simple** – solving the ‘easy’ part can unlock a market-changing idea.

Where next?

Discover how to become an Activator – or apply for a zero-interest loan – at sheeo.world (rebranding to Coralus).

About *The 21st Century Creative* podcast

Hosted by creative coach and award-winning poet Mark McGuinness, *The 21st Century Creative* podcast helps you succeed as a creative professional amid the demands, distractions and opportunities of the 21st century.

Each episode features insights from Mark and interviews with outstanding creators – including artists, writers, performers, commercial creatives, directors, producers, entrepreneurs and other creative thought-leaders.

Make sure you receive every episode by subscribing in Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen.

Join the mailing list to have every episode delivered to your inbox, along with the free *21st Century Creative Foundation Course*.

The post SheEO: Women Transforming Entrepreneurship with Vicki Saunders appeared first on Creative Coach | Mark McGuinness.
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Rich Litvin – high-performance coach — **The Price of Being a High Performer with Rich Litvin** Jan 21, 2019
High-performance coach **Rich Litvin** helps Olympic athletes, Special Forces veterans and Fortune 500 founders push past the limits of their own success – and survive the loneliness that often comes with it.

In this conversation Rich reveals the hidden costs of excellence, why the world’s top 4 per cent focus on 4 per cent gains, and how collecting ‘no’s can be the fastest route to a life-changing ‘yes’.

‘Your next breakthrough lives just outside your comfort zone’ – listen below (or on your favourite app) to learn the real price of playing at the highest level.

Episode summary

Rich Litvin

Author of the coaching bestseller *The Prosperous Coach*, Rich works exclusively with elite performers – from Hollywood directors to Presidential candidates. He also founded 4PC, a mastermind that brings the top 4 per cent of coaches, entrepreneurs and creatives together so they can multiply each other’s impact.

Big ideas in this conversation

**The 4 per cent rule** – world-class growth comes from stretching just 4 per cent beyond today’s limit.

**Achievement ≠ fulfilment** – chasing titles and trophies won’t satisfy a deeper calling.

**Collecting ‘no’s** – reframing rejection as a scoreboard for bold action.

**The loneliness of leadership** – why the view from the top can feel empty without the right allies.

**Zone of genius laziness** – when work feels effortless, you’re probably on the right track.

Advice worth hearing in full

**Dream bigger – step smaller** – pair audacious visions with tiny daily moves.

**Say ‘no’ to rise higher** – the next level demands ruthless focus.

**Find your 5 uncomfortable conversations** – progress hides behind what you’re avoiding.

**Play at intersections** – creativity sparks when different worlds collide.

Where next?

Learn more about Rich’s work at at richlitvin.com.

About *The 21st Century Creative* podcast

Hosted by creative coach and award-winning poet Mark McGuinness, *The 21st Century Creative* podcast helps you succeed as a creative professional amid the demands, distractions and opportunities of the 21st century.

Each episode features insights from Mark and interviews with outstanding creators – including artists, writers, performers, commercial creatives, directors, producers, entrepreneurs and other creative thought-leaders.

Make sure you receive every episode by subscribing in Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen.

Join the mailing list to have every episode delivered to your inbox, along with the free *21st Century Creative Foundation Course*.

The post The Price of Being a High Performer with Rich Litvin appeared first on Creative Coach | Mark McGuinness.
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Book cover – The Art of Not Falling Apart — **The Art of Not Falling Apart with Christina Patterson** Jan 14, 2019
Writer and broadcaster **Christina Patterson** has survived redundancy, illness and heartbreak, yet still radiates optimism and wit. In her acclaimed book *The Art of Not Falling Apart* she turns personal catastrophe into a manual for resilience.

In this episode we discuss Christina’s unusual route into journalism, why she believes kindness beats cleverness, and how the crisps-and-fizzy-wine philosophy can lift even the darkest day.

‘When everything falls apart, the story you tell yourself will decide what happens next’ – listen below (or on your favourite app) to learn Christina’s art of staying upright.

Episode summary

Christina Patterson

Christina wrote a much-loved column for *The Independent*, interviewed figures from Gordon Brown to Boy George, and now contributes to *The Sunday Times* and *The Guardian*. Her memoir-cum-survival-guide *The Art of Not Falling Apart* distils the lessons of loss, illness and joblessness into hard-won wisdom for anyone on a precarious creative path.

Big ideas in this conversation

**Failure as material** – turning personal disaster into a story that helps others.

**The columnist’s pulpit** – writing to move hearts as well as change minds.

**Deceptive simplicity** – why short words often land the hardest punch.

**Kindness over cleverness** – success is hollow without compassion.

**Everyday joy** – coffee, cake, crisps and fizz as creative fuel.

Advice worth hearing in full

**Feel it first** – if the writer laughs or cries, the reader will too.

**Write 1,200 tight words** – precision breeds power.

**Let curiosity steer the story** – discovery happens on the page, not before.

**Simplify relentlessly** – aim for Matisse-level clarity, one cut-out at a time.

Where next?

Dive deeper into Christina’s writing, interviews and speaking events at ChristinaPatterson.co.uk.

About *The 21st Century Creative* podcast

Hosted by creative coach and award-winning poet Mark McGuinness, *The 21st Century Creative* podcast helps you succeed as a creative professional amid the demands, distractions and opportunities of the 21st century.

Each episode features insights from Mark and interviews with outstanding creators – including artists, writers, performers, commercial creatives, directors, producers, entrepreneurs and other creative thought-leaders.

Make sure you receive every episode by subscribing in Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen.

Join the mailing list to have every episode delivered to your inbox, along with the free *21st Century Creative Foundation Course*.

The post The Art of Not Falling Apart with Christina Patterson appeared first on Creative Coach | Mark McGuinness.
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Book cover – ‘Do Purpose: Why brands with a purpose do better and matter more’ by David Hieatt — **Don’t Just Sell Something: Do Something! with David Hieatt** Jan 07, 2019
**David Hieatt** co-founded cult clothing brand Howies, revived a derelict Welsh jeans factory as Hiut Denim, and created the globally-admired ideas festival The Do Lectures. Along the way he has addressed Apple, Google and Patagonia and written several punchy business books, including *Do Purpose*.

In this episode David explains why brands with a purpose ‘do better and matter more’, how storytelling rescued 400 skilled makers in Cardigan, and why every creative should seek hard problems, not easy wins.

‘A brand’s power,’ David says, ‘is the 18-inch journey from head to heart.’ Listen below (or on your favourite app) to discover how he makes that leap — and how you can too.

Episode summary

David Hieatt

Entrepreneur, author and speaker, David champions businesses that fix problems rather than chase margins. With Hiut Denim he reignited Britain’s largest jeans workforce; with The Do Lectures he inspires others to marry profit with purpose.

Big ideas in this conversation

**Purpose first** – brands rooted in a mission spark loyalty far beyond a simple transaction.

**The power of questions** – great companies (and careers) begin with asking something original.

**Content factory + product factory** – world-class storytelling is as vital as world-class making.

**Reframing competition** – stop fighting to be cheapest; aim to be best.

**Hard dreams** – choose challenges that stretch you; easy ones rarely change anything.

Advice worth hearing in full

Lobby for love, not attention — make customers feel something.

Paint the floor — small symbolic acts unite a team against mediocrity.

Measure growth in community, not just turnover.

Ask one great question every day for a week and watch your perspective shift.

Where next?

Read *Do Purpose* — David’s manifesto for mission-led business — via The Do Book Co.

Explore Hiut Denim and the Cardigan factory revival at hiutdenim.co.uk, and watch hundreds of free talks at TheDoLectures.com.

About *The 21st Century Creative* podcast

Hosted by creative coach and award-winning poet Mark McGuinness, *The 21st Century Creative* podcast helps you succeed as a creative professional amid the demands, distractions and opportunities of the 21st century.

Each episode features insights from Mark and interviews with outstanding creators – including artists, writers, performers, commercial creatives, directors, producers, entrepreneurs and other creative thought-leaders.

Make sure you receive every episode by subscribing in Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen.

Join the mailing list to have every episode delivered to your inbox, along with the free 21st Century Creative Foundation Course.

The post Don’t Just Sell Something: Do Something! with David Hieatt appeared first on Creative Coach | Mark McGuinness.
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Book cover – ‘The Healthy Writer’ by Joanna Penn and Dr Euan Lawson — **The Healthy Creative with Joanna Penn** Dec 31, 2018
**Joanna Penn** writes New York Times and USA Today-bestselling thrillers as J.F. Penn — and, under her own name, runs one of the most respected resources for authors on the web. Between fiction, non-fiction and courses she has released 28 books, sold over half a million copies in 84 countries and five languages, and been named Digital Book World’s Publishing Commentator of the Year.

Her latest guide, *The Healthy Writer* (co-authored with Dr Euan Lawson), tackles an awkward truth: long hours at a screen can wreck a creative’s body and mind. In this conversation Joanna explains how she swapped painkillers for yoga, loneliness for community and “exercise” for joyful movement — lessons that apply to every creative discipline, not just writing.

‘Creation is therapy,’ Joanna says. ‘But you need a body that will carry you the distance.’ Listen below (or on your favourite app) for a practical, myth-busting guide to becoming a healthy creative.

Episode summary

Joanna Penn

Author-entrepreneur, podcaster and speaker, Joanna bridges commercial success with candid talk about the physical and mental toll of a creative life. Her collaboration with Dr Lawson distils medical research and personal experience into a survival manual for anyone who works at a screen.

Big ideas in this conversation

**Creation as therapy** – writing heals trauma and boosts mood, but only if the body is cared for too.

**From discipline to pleasure** – swap ‘exercise’ for enjoyable movement and ‘diet’ for mindful food.

**The ergonomics upgrade** – desks, laptop stands and voice dictation can prevent years of pain.

**Combatting isolation** – online communities, conferences and group activities reverse the health risks of loneliness.

**Myth-busting the tortured artist** – you can be prolific, ambitious and well-rested; suffering is optional.

Advice worth hearing in full

**Scan your body** – notice tension or aches before they become injuries.

**Schedule movement** – morning writing; mid-morning yoga; afternoons for admin.

**Reframe rest** – evenings and weekends off aren’t indulgent, they’re fuel.

**Find the right teacher** – a supportive instructor can turn exercise hatred into lifelong joy.

Where next?

Explore *The Healthy Writer* — packed with medical insights and practical tips — at TheCreativePenn.com/healthy-writer or your preferred retailer.

Follow Joanna’s weekly articles and *The Creative Penn Podcast* at TheCreativePenn.com for advice on writing, publishing and making a living from your craft.

About *The 21st Century Creative* podcast

Hosted by creative coach and award-winning poet Mark McGuinness, *The 21st Century Creative* podcast helps you succeed as a creative professional amid the demands, distractions and opportunities of the 21st century.

Each episode features insights from Mark and interviews with outstanding creators — including artists, writers, performers, commercial creatives, directors, producers, entrepreneurs and other creative thought-leaders.

Make sure you receive every episode by subscribing in Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen.

Join the mailing list to have every episode delivered to your inbox, along with the free 21st Century Creative Foundation Course.

The post The Healthy Creative with Joanna Penn appeared first on Creative Coach | Mark McGuinness.
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Tyler Hobbs – generative artist — **Tyler Hobbs: the Artist Who Paints with Code** Dec 24, 2018
Generative artist **Tyler Hobbs** creates his canvases line-by-line in a text editor, then presses ‘run’ to watch the code produce a unique image. The results — futuristic yet strangely soulful — have won collectors and critics alike.

In this episode we explore how Tyler blends randomness with precision, why he ships each print with the very algorithm that made it, and what generative art might reveal about the future of creativity.

‘When I surrender control to the programme, it surprises me — and that surprise is where the art lives,’ Tyler says. Listen below (or on your favourite app) to hear how he turns code into colour.

Episode summary

Tyler Hobbs

Tyler is a leading voice in **generative art**, a discipline that uses algorithms to produce images. Collectors buy single-edition prints — each accompanied by the code that generated it — and his essays on process have become required reading for artists and programmers alike.

Big ideas in this conversation

**Painting with code** – why Tyler swapped brushes for algorithms to create one-off artworks.

**Randomness as collaborator** – giving up control lets unexpected forms (and new ideas) emerge.

**Emotion in the machine** – how to move viewers with lines of JavaScript, not brush-strokes.

**Collecting the programme** – each purchase includes the source code, turning buyers into curators of the creative process.

**Future horizons** – from pen-plotter paintings to AI and VR sculpture, where generative art may lead next.

Advice worth hearing in full

**Trust your reaction** – judge success by the emotional jolt the image gives you, not technical cleverness.

**Use constraints creatively** – tight rules (or a Fibonacci sequence) can unlock startling results.

**Embrace surprise** – the ‘aha’ moment often arrives when the programme misbehaves.

**Let curiosity drive iteration** – small code tweaks, run repeatedly, can reveal whole new series.

Where next?

Explore and collect Tyler’s generative artworks — and read his essays — at TylerXHobbs.com.

About *The 21st Century Creative* podcast

Hosted by creative coach and award-winning poet Mark McGuinness, *The 21st Century Creative* podcast helps you succeed as a creative professional amid the demands, distractions and opportunities of the 21st century.

Each episode features insights from Mark and interviews with outstanding creators — including artists, writers, performers, commercial creatives, directors, producers, entrepreneurs and other creative thought-leaders.

Make sure you receive every episode by subscribing in Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen.

Join the mailing list to have every episode delivered to your inbox, along with the free 21st Century Creative Foundation Course.

The post Tyler Hobbs: the Artist Who Paints with Code appeared first on Creative Coach | Mark McGuinness.
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Steven Pressfield – guest on The 21st Century Creative — **Steven Pressfield on The Artist’s Journey** Dec 17, 2018
Season 3 opens with a Steven Pressfield interview about his latest creative manifesto, *The Artist’s Journey*. If you know Steve only as the author of *The War of Art* or the novelist behind *The Legend of Bagger Vance*, this episode reveals the larger pattern that links his fiction, his non-fiction and — crucially — your own creative path.

This conversation explores why the celebrated *Hero’s Journey* is just Act One. The real work begins afterwards, when a creator confronts their gift, turns professional and learns to shuttle — hour by hour — between inspiration and logistics. If you feel you’re resisting a call, or wonder how to balance mystique with mundane discipline, you’ll find Steve’s insights bracing, practical and reassuring.

‘Every book I’ve written surprised me,’ Steve says. ‘The works themselves tell you who you are.’ Listen below (or on your favourite app) and decide whether you’re still questing on your Hero’s Journey or already walking the artist’s road.

Episode summary

Steven Pressfield

An ex-advertising copywriter turned historical novelist, Steve has written nineteen books across two intertwined careers. His Ancient-Greek battle epics such as *Gates of Fire* inspire the US Marines; his creative handbooks — *The War of Art*, *Turning Pro*, *Do the Work* — pepper studio walls from Hollywood to Hackney. *The Artist’s Journey* distils forty years of that experience into a field-guide for anyone who feels called to make meaningful work.

Big ideas in this conversation

**From Hero to Artist** – Campbell’s template is only Act One; the artist’s real apprenticeship starts when you answer your gift. (Think of *Good Will Hunting* — the film ends where the Artist’s Journey begins.)

**A universal pattern** – Luke Skywalker, Odysseus and Dorothy follow the same twelve beats because those beats are coded in us. George Lucas even pinned Campbell’s checklist above his desk while drafting *Star Wars*.

**Mysticism + mechanics** – Rosanne Cash’s late-night epiphany led to athlete-style training and militant diary-keeping. Great art is forged in that daily oscillation between the ether and the calendar.

**Creative bottoming-out** – Burn-out, boredom or addiction often precede the decision to turn pro — Steve’s favourite business example is the guilt-stricken Vietnam veteran who founded FedEx.

**The Creative Challenge** – Map yourself: are you mid-quest, or have you crossed the threshold into your own Artist’s Journey?

Advice worth hearing in full

**Practise the shuttle** – Cultivate the rapid movement between intuition and technique, dozens of times an hour.

**Spot the threshold** – Life simplifies the moment you accept the Call and stop running.

**Design your day** – Discipline isn’t swagger; it’s the scaffolding that lets inspiration land safely.

**Ask a sharper question** – Not ‘How can I be original?’ but ‘What gift am I withholding from the world?’

Where next?

Explore *The Artist’s Journey* in e-book, print or audio at BlackIrishBooks.com or your preferred retailer.

Read Steve’s weekly ‘Writing Wednesdays’ essays at StevenPressfield.com.

About *The 21st Century Creative* podcast

Hosted by creative coach and award-winning poet Mark McGuinness, *The 21st Century Creative* podcast helps you succeed as a creative professional amid the demands, distractions and opportunities of the 21st century.

Each episode features insights from Mark and interviews with outstanding creators — including artists, writers, performers, commercial creatives, directors, producers, entrepreneurs and other creative thought-leaders.

Make sure you receive every episode by subscribing in Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen.

Join the mailing list to have every episode delivered to your inbox, along with the free 21st Century Creative Foundation Course.

The post Steven Pressfield on The Artist’s Journey appeared first on Creative Coach | Mark McGuinness.
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Patricia van den Akker portrait photo — **Creating a Business You Are Proud of with Patricia van den Akker** Aug 13, 2018
This week’s guest on The 21st Century Creative podcast is Patricia van den Akker, the Director of The Design Trust, an organisation based in London with a mission to help designers and makers ‘create a business they are proud of’.

Patricia is also the author of Dream Plan Do, an annual planner journal to help creative entrepreneurs reflect, plan and take action throughout the year.

One of the themes of The 21st Century Creative is ‘something old, something new’ and Patricia is a fantastic example of this – many of the creatives she helps are living in remote areas, using traditional craft skills that go back generations, and they are often working in super-specialised niches.

Patricia helps them thrive by reinventing their business model and their marketing communications so that they can reach their customers wherever they are in the world.

I’ve known Patricia for years and worked with her on several occasions, running workshops or speaking at her events. It’s always fun to go to a Design Trust event, because you’re guaranteed to find yourself in a room full of talented and enthusiastic people who spend their lives creating all kinds of beautiful and useful things.

In this interview Patricia gives us the benefit of her experience of working with hundreds of creatives, about what it really takes to succeed in a small creative business. She has a lot of interesting things to say about the intersection of artistic tradition and our modern connected society.

If you run a creative business of any kind, you’ll find plenty of practical inspiration in this interview. And if you see yourself as good at your creative work but clueless at business, I recommend you listen right to the end, where Patricia points out how your artistic skills could actually be the key to unlocking your success as a creative entrepreneur.

The 2019 edition of Patricia’s Dream Plan Do planner journal for creative entrepreneurs will be available to pre-order in October – if you want to know when it’s available, sign up for updates at Dream-Plan-Do.com.

About The 21st Century Creative podcast

Each episode of The 21st Century Creative podcast features an interview with an outstanding creator in the arts or creative industries.

At the end of the interview, I ask my guest to set you a **Creative Challenge** that will help you put the ideas from the interview in to practice in your own work.

And in the first part of the show, I share insights and practical guidance based on my experience as a Creative Coach since 1996.

Make sure you receive every episode of The 21st Century Creative by subscribing to the show in iTunes.

The post Creating a Business You Are Proud of with Patricia van den Akker appeared first on Creative Coach | Mark McGuinness.
Click the icon below to listen.

Dream Plan Do diary on a desk — **Creating a Business You Are Proud of with Patricia van den Akker** Aug 13, 2018
This week’s guest on The 21st Century Creative podcast is Patricia van den Akker, the Director of The Design Trust, an organisation based in London with a mission to help designers and makers ‘create a business they are proud of’.

Patricia is also the author of Dream Plan Do, an annual planner journal to help creative entrepreneurs reflect, plan and take action throughout the year.

One of the themes of The 21st Century Creative is ‘something old, something new’ and Patricia is a fantastic example of this – many of the creatives she helps are living in remote areas, using traditional craft skills that go back generations, and they are often working in super-specialised niches.

Patricia helps them thrive by reinventing their business model and their marketing communications so that they can reach their customers wherever they are in the world.

I’ve known Patricia for years and worked with her on several occasions, running workshops or speaking at her events. It’s always fun to go to a Design Trust event, because you’re guaranteed to find yourself in a room full of talented and enthusiastic people who spend their lives creating all kinds of beautiful and useful things.

In this interview Patricia gives us the benefit of her experience of working with hundreds of creatives, about what it really takes to succeed in a small creative business. She has a lot of interesting things to say about the intersection of artistic tradition and our modern connected society.

If you run a creative business of any kind, you’ll find plenty of practical inspiration in this interview. And if you see yourself as good at your creative work but clueless at business, I recommend you listen right to the end, where Patricia points out how your artistic skills could actually be the key to unlocking your success as a creative entrepreneur.

The 2019 edition of Patricia’s Dream Plan Do planner journal for creative entrepreneurs will be available to pre-order in October – if you want to know when it’s available, sign up for updates at Dream-Plan-Do.com.

About The 21st Century Creative podcast

Each episode of The 21st Century Creative podcast features an interview with an outstanding creator in the arts or creative industries.

At the end of the interview, I ask my guest to set you a **Creative Challenge** that will help you put the ideas from the interview in to practice in your own work.

And in the first part of the show, I share insights and practical guidance based on my experience as a Creative Coach since 1996.

Make sure you receive every episode of The 21st Century Creative by subscribing to the show in iTunes.

The post Creating a Business You Are Proud of with Patricia van den Akker appeared first on Creative Coach | Mark McGuinness.
Click the icon below to listen.

Sara Milne Rowe portrait photo — **Making Better Choices When it Matters with Sara Milne Rowe** Aug 06, 2018
This week’s guest on The 21st Century Creative podcast is Sara Milne Rowe, one of the leading performance coaches in the UK and the founder of the company Coaching Impact, and the author of *The SHED Method: Making Better Choices When It Matters*.

She works with senior leaders and teams in the creative and media industries, education, startups, and female entrepreneurs. In *The SHED Method* she shares the principles and techniques she uses to help her clients perform at their best under pressure.

Like all top coaches, Sara enlists the help of other coaches to help her reach her own goals. So when she signed a publishing deal for *The SHED Method*, she came to me for help in getting the book written, and also with making the transition from coach to writer, as she saw that, as a coach who writes books, I had been through the same process myself.

As I worked with Sara and read the successive drafts of her book, I was struck by the down-to-earth nature of a lot of her advice, for top performers. Things like getting a good night’s sleep, staying hydrated, watching your diet and taking time out to exercise – especially when you’re busy.

The kind of things it’s easy to overlook while you’re pursuing your ambitions – especially if you’re a working on a computer, or creating imaginary storytelling worlds, or on a punishing schedule of live performances.

Reading the draft, I got a few flashbacks to my own experience, and times where I hadn’t taken care of myself very well, and had paid the penalty. So I thought it would be helpful to invite Sara on the show to share some of the ideas from the book with you.

In this interview Sara invites you to ‘become a scientist on your own behaviour’ by observing what works and what doesn’t work for you, and experimenting with new ways of doing things.

As well as the foundation of SHED practices, she gives you a new and user-friendly way of looking at your brain, and working with it rather than against it, when you’re trying to achieve or create something extraordinary.

She also talks about her experience of going from a creative practitioner towards becoming a thought leader with a public profile in her industry. So if you’re on a similar journey, from working alone in your studio or with clients, to stepping into the public eye in print, online, in media of any kind, Sara offers a great example of how to find the inspiration and the courage to go for it.

You can get tips and updates about The SHED Method on Facebook and Instagram.

About The 21st Century Creative podcast

Each episode of The 21st Century Creative podcast features an interview with an outstanding creator in the arts or creative industries.

At the end of the interview, I ask my guest to set you a **Creative Challenge** that will help you put the ideas from the interview in to practice in your own work.

And in the first part of the show, I share insights and practical guidance based on my experience as a Creative Coach since 1996.

Make sure you receive every episode of The 21st Century Creative by subscribing to the show in iTunes.

The post Making Better Choices When it Matters with Sara Milne Rowe appeared first on Creative Coach | Mark McGuinness.
Click the icon below to listen.

The SHED Method book shot — **Making Better Choices When it Matters with Sara Milne Rowe** Aug 06, 2018
This week’s guest on The 21st Century Creative podcast is Sara Milne Rowe, one of the leading performance coaches in the UK and the founder of the company Coaching Impact, and the author of *The SHED Method: Making Better Choices When It Matters*.

She works with senior leaders and teams in the creative and media industries, education, startups, and female entrepreneurs. In *The SHED Method* she shares the principles and techniques she uses to help her clients perform at their best under pressure.

Like all top coaches, Sara enlists the help of other coaches to help her reach her own goals. So when she signed a publishing deal for *The SHED Method*, she came to me for help in getting the book written, and also with making the transition from coach to writer, as she saw that, as a coach who writes books, I had been through the same process myself.

As I worked with Sara and read the successive drafts of her book, I was struck by the down-to-earth nature of a lot of her advice, for top performers. Things like getting a good night’s sleep, staying hydrated, watching your diet and taking time out to exercise – especially when you’re busy.

The kind of things it’s easy to overlook while you’re pursuing your ambitions – especially if you’re a working on a computer, or creating imaginary storytelling worlds, or on a punishing schedule of live performances.

Reading the draft, I got a few flashbacks to my own experience, and times where I hadn’t taken care of myself very well, and had paid the penalty. So I thought it would be helpful to invite Sara on the show to share some of the ideas from the book with you.

In this interview Sara invites you to ‘become a scientist on your own behaviour’ by observing what works and what doesn’t work for you, and experimenting with new ways of doing things.

As well as the foundation of SHED practices, she gives you a new and user-friendly way of looking at your brain, and working with it rather than against it, when you’re trying to achieve or create something extraordinary.

She also talks about her experience of going from a creative practitioner towards becoming a thought leader with a public profile in her industry. So if you’re on a similar journey, from working alone in your studio or with clients, to stepping into the public eye in print, online, in media of any kind, Sara offers a great example of how to find the inspiration and the courage to go for it.

You can get tips and updates about The SHED Method on Facebook and Instagram.

About The 21st Century Creative podcast

Each episode of The 21st Century Creative podcast features an interview with an outstanding creator in the arts or creative industries.

At the end of the interview, I ask my guest to set you a **Creative Challenge** that will help you put the ideas from the interview in to practice in your own work.

And in the first part of the show, I share insights and practical guidance based on my experience as a Creative Coach since 1996.

Make sure you receive every episode of The 21st Century Creative by subscribing to the show in iTunes.

The post Making Better Choices When it Matters with Sara Milne Rowe appeared first on Creative Coach | Mark McGuinness.
Click the icon below to listen.

Josh Szeps on 21st Century Media: TV, Radio, Podcasting and Beyond Jul 30, 2018

This week’s guest on The 21st Century Creative podcast is Josh Szeps, a TV and radio host, political commentator and comedian, and creator of the podcast #WeThePeople LIVE.

Josh hails from Australia and has spent the last few years living and working in the United States. He was one of the founding hosts of HuffPost Live, the innovative online TV network run by the Huffington Post. There he interviewed guests including Russell Brand, Jeremy Irons, Michael Moore, Liz Hurley and Jesse Jackson.

Josh is currently hosting a radio show for ABC, the Australian national broadcaster.

Many of you will know of him through his podcast, #WeThePeople LIVE. The show’s tagline is ‘make debate healthy again’, and it features live panel discussions in front of an audience Josh describes as ‘as wise as it is drunk’, as well as in-depth interviews and very lively discussions with guests including Scott Adams, Richard Dawkins, Joe Rogan and Louis Theroux.

Josh is never afraid to speak his own mind, but one of the hallmarks of his podcast is his willingness to invite people with radically different viewpoints to his own, and to attempt to engage them in a respectful and productive debate. The results are sometimes considered controversial, but never boring.

Logo of Josh's podcast We the People Live #WeThePeople LIVE has hit the No.1 Position in the iTunes comedy podcast charts on numerous occasions. And Twitter explodes with outrage on a regular basis.

In this interview Josh talks about his own path to success, and tackles some of the big questions about old and new media and how they relate to each other. He also has some great advice for those of you who want to carve out a career in the media.

Listen to #WeThePeople LIVE on iTunes or get the raw audio feed here. You can follow Josh on Twitter here and get updates about the podcast here.

In the course of the interview Josh mentions a feisty encounter between Madonna and David Letterman, which you can watch on YouTube here.

Episodes of #WeThePeople LIVE he references in today’s interview are his conversations with Ben Shapiro, Scott Adams and Andy Kindler. He also talks about his interview with Jeremy Irons, some of which you can see here (at 2m 8s).

N.b. Josh used to spell his name phonetically as “Zepps” earlier in his career. But as he modestly explains, ‘Now that I’ve become the world’s most successful broadcaster, the original spelling of “Szeps” will do’.

About The 21st Century Creative podcast

Each episode of The 21st Century Creative podcast features an interview with an outstanding creator in the arts or creative industries.

At the end of the interview, I ask my guest to set you a Creative Challenge that will help you put the ideas from the interview in to practice in your own work.

And in the first part of the show, I share insights and practical guidance based on my experience as a Creative Coach since 1996.

Make sure you receive every episode of The 21st Century Creative by subscribing to the show in iTunes.

The post Josh Szeps on 21st Century Media: TV, Radio, Podcasting and Beyond appeared first on Creative Coach | Mark McGuinness.

Click the icon below to listen.