Stay ConnectedThe Creative Boom Podcast is a weekly interview show for designers, illustrators, animators, and creative professionals. Host Katy Cowan talks to artists, entrepreneurs and creative thinkers about the realities of building a creative career – confidence, burnout, money, failure, reinvention, and imposter syndrome – in honest, warm conversations that don’t dress anything up.
Part of Creative Boom, the independent magazine for the creative community established in 2009.
Copyright: © 2023 Creative Boom
After a pretty emotional main episode, we ease things up a bit with Natty Harris in this week's Spark. And yes, there's still depth, but there's also plenty of laughs.
We get into the creative trends Natty's quietly over (sorry, sans serif lovers), the tiny things that can instantly improve your day, and why a really good pen might be one of life's greatest underrated joys. There's also a very relatable chat about overthinking, writing, and that awkward gap between what's in your head and what actually makes it onto the page.
Natty shares her creative hero, Frida Kahlo, and why being unapologetically yourself is harder than it sounds but absolutely worth striving for. Plus, we build the ultimate dinner party guest list, talk Netflix obsessions, and get into the kind of questions that are somehow both silly and weirdly revealing.
And of course, we end on a high note with possibly the best question we've ever had for a future guest. It involves pasta. You've been warned.
This week, Katy sits down with senior designer Natty Harris for a deeply honest and emotional conversation about grief, loss, and rebuilding your life when everything changes. At the heart of the episode is Natty's brother Thomas, who died suddenly at 24, and the profound impact he had on shaping who she is today.
Together, they explore the many forms grief can take, from losing a loved one to navigating life changes that quietly alter who we are. Natty shares what it was like growing up as a young carer, the complicated mix of love, responsibility and identity that came with it, and how those experiences continue to influence her work as a designer and storyteller.
The conversation gently moves through the realities of grief. The chaos, the stillness, the strange moments of laughter, and the importance of allowing yourself to feel everything rather than pushing it down. Natty reflects on therapy, timing, and how doing the work before loss changed the way she was able to process it when it came.
There's also a wider thread here about creativity. What it means to show up when your emotional tank is empty, how grief shifts your perspective on work, and why so many creatives are feeling exhausted right now. This is an episode about humanity as much as it is about loss.
Ultimately, it's a conversation full of hope. About carrying the people we've lost with us. About finding courage in the hardest moments. And about learning, slowly, who you are on the other side.
n this Spark episode, things get a bit looser and a bit more revealing. Katy puts David Airey on the spot with a mix of quick-fire questions, unexpected tangents, and the kind of prompts that lead to surprisingly honest answers.
They get into David's most controversial creative opinion, why he's wary of social media and the way it shapes design, and the one thing he'd quietly challenge about how we're all told to build a creative career. There's also a brilliant moment on discipline versus passion that flips the usual advice on its head.
Along the way, there are stories from early career missteps, thoughts on saying yes to everything, and a few nostalgic detours that remind you how different things used to be. It's lighter in tone, but still full of insight. And then it lands on something bigger. What you'd wish you'd done more of. What actually matters. The kind of question that lingers long after the episode ends.
A relaxed, honest, and quietly thought-provoking finish to the conversation.
Katy sits down with legendary graphic designer and author David Airey to talk about two decades in the industry, but this isn't just a conversation about logos, books, and client work. It quickly becomes something deeper. A reflection on time, family, creativity, and what actually matters when you strip everything else away.
They explore what it means to build a long, sustainable creative career in a world that's constantly shifting. From growing up in that in-between analogue-to-digital era to navigating today's AI-fuelled uncertainty, David shares how he's managed to stay grounded, focused, and still in love with the work. His approach is simple but powerful: focus on the client in front of you, don't look too far ahead, and protect your attention at all costs.
There's also a refreshingly honest take on success. David opens up about the moment priorities shifted, particularly after becoming a parent, and how that changed his relationship with work. Less hustle, more intention. Fewer projects, better balance. And a growing awareness that time, not money or recognition, is the most valuable thing we've got.
Katy and David also get into the realities of the creative industry. The pressure, the comparison, the impact of social media, and why it's so easy to lose yourself in it all. David offers a quietly radical perspective here: discipline matters more than passion. Not the kind of advice that shouts, but the kind that sticks.
Along the way, there are stories of early-career missteps, reflections on regret (or the lack of it), and a shared nostalgia for a slower, pre-Internet world that shaped how they both approach life and work today. It's thoughtful, funny, and at times unexpectedly emotional.
If you've ever questioned your pace, your priorities, or what you're actually aiming for, this episode will land.
Photographer Liz Seabrook is back for The Spark. Slightly subdued, a little chaotic, but still brilliantly honest.
What starts as a playful chat about matcha and East London fashion quickly becomes more reflective. There's talk of cycling rage, parachute pants, and the strange freedom of dressing however you want. But underneath it all is a deeper thread about identity, confidence and finding your place in the world.
Liz shares the small things that make a big difference to her day. Quiet time. Space to think. No distractions. A reminder that creativity often needs stillness, not noise. There's also a refreshingly direct take on side hustles. If you're serious about building something, she says, at some point you have to go all in—no half measures.
She talks about the skill she envies most. The patience to experiment, to sit with ideas, to not rush straight to the outcome. Something she's actively trying to learn.
And then the conversation shifts. Asked what she wants to be remembered for, Liz reflects on the recent loss of a friend. What follows is a quiet, powerful moment about kindness, presence and showing up for others, not just in life, but in her work as a photographer.
Because for Liz, it's never just about taking a picture. It's about creating a space where people feel safe enough to be themselves.
A gentle, thoughtful end to the episode. And a reminder that, in a world that often feels anything but, being seen and being kind still matter most.
What happens when everything starts to look the same? In this episode, Katy sits down with photographer Liz Seabrook to talk about image-making in a world that feels increasingly artificial. From AI-generated campaigns to face-tuned portraits, they explore what's being lost as perfection becomes the default.
They begin with AI, because it's impossible not to. But the conversation quickly moves into something deeper. The strange overlap between technology and beauty standards, and how both are pushing us towards a kind of visual sameness that feels unsettling.
Liz shares what she's seeing behind the scenes as a working photographer: Clients arriving with AI-generated mockups; expectations shaped before a shoot has even begun, and a growing disconnect between the people making the work and the outcome.
There's also an honest conversation about how we see ourselves and why so many people feel uncomfortable in front of the camera. How years of filters, retouching and social media have quietly shifted our idea of what's normal. And the subtle pressure to look a certain way, even when we think we're immune to it.
Katy reflects on her own recent experience stepping back in front of the lens. The vulnerability of it. The surprise of seeing yourself through someone else's eyes. And the reminder that behind every great image is a team of skilled creatives working together to make something real.
They also touch on what's happening across the wider industry. The rise of AI in creative workflows, the loss of entry-level roles, and the increasing demand for more content, faster, often for the same budgets. It paints a picture of an industry in flux, trying to keep up with technology that's moving faster than anyone can regulate. And yet, there's still optimism.
Liz leaves us with a simple but powerful thought. To be creative is to be optimistic. Because why make anything at all if you don't believe it might be seen, felt or make a difference?
A timely conversation about authenticity, pressure and where creativity goes next.
essie McGuire returns for The Spark, where things get a little looser and a lot more revealing.
She shares what she's tired of seeing in the creative world right now, including the obsession with speed and the pressure to react instantly to everything. It's a thoughtful take on why creativity needs time and space to breathe.
There's a brilliant moment on imposter syndrome, too. Jessie challenges the idea entirely, arguing that it's often something placed on people from the outside rather than something we truly feel within ourselves. It's a refreshing and empowering perspective.
The conversation drifts into social media, cringe culture and the pressure to present a perfect life. Jessie talks about the importance of stepping away from screens and reconnecting with your own thoughts, your own pace and your own voice.
We also get a glimpse into her personal side. From her love of notebooks and stickers to her dream dinner party with Elton John and Bad Bunny, it's full of charm and personality.
And then there's a genuinely touching moment. Asked what she'd do with $150, Jessie chooses to spend it on a meal with her mum. Simple, heartfelt and a reminder of what really matters.
She leaves us with a question for the next guest that lingers long after the episode ends. What do you want to be remembered for?
What if design isn't neutral at all? In this episode, Katy sits down with Jessie McGuire, partner at New York design studio Thought Matter, to explore the real power of creativity and why it comes with responsibility.
Jessie shares her 10-year story at Thought Matter, working closely with founder Tom Jaffe to shape a studio built on experimentation, curiosity and big ideas. From those early days to recently winning the prestigious National Design Award, this is a conversation about commitment, belief and staying the course, even when the path isn't always clear.
They talk about imagination as more than a creative spark. It's a tool for shaping culture, influencing behaviour and questioning power. Jessie explains why she firmly believes design is never neutral and how every decision we make as creatives affects the world around us.
There's also an honest look at the past decade. From the shock of the 2016 election to the stillness of the pandemic, Jessie reflects on how those moments forced her and her team to pause, rethink and reconnect with what really matters. That shift led to more purposeful work, deeper questions and a stronger sense of direction.
Katy and Jessie explore what it means to do work that matters, how to support emerging designers, and why the industry needs more openness and collaboration. They also touch on the importance of discomfort and why pushing through uncertainty is often where the most meaningful work happens.
Jessie's perspective is grounded, thoughtful and quietly powerful. This is a chat about backing yourself, trusting your ideas and recognising that creativity isn't just about making things look good; it's about making things count.
n this week's Spark, Adam J. Kurtz gets refreshingly honest about creativity, identity, and letting go of perfection.
From why "good enough" is often more than enough, to the surprising power of putting on a pair of socks, Adam shares the small shifts that can make a big difference to your day. He reflects on trusting your instincts, embracing imperfection, and why chasing "cool" might be the very thing holding you back.
There's humour, a bit of chaos, and some genuinely thoughtful moments along the way, including a simple question about what you'd do with $150 that reveals more than you might expect about priorities, creativity, and how we choose to live.
It's a short one, but it might just stay with you.
In this week's episode, Katy sits down with artist, author and beautifully honest human Adam J. Kurtz to talk about what happens when you reach the thing you thought you wanted… and realise it's not the whole story.
Dialling in from Hawaii, Adam shares how leaving New York forced him to untangle his identity from his work, his city, and the version of success he'd been chasing for years. What followed wasn't a dramatic reinvention, but something quieter and more meaningful—a shift towards simplicity, honesty, and figuring things out in real time.
They talk about burnout, creative cycles, and the uncomfortable question so many of us are sitting with right now: what next? Adam reflects on how his work has evolved alongside his life, moving from hopeful striving to something more grounded, self-aware, and forgiving.
There's also a glimpse into his upcoming book, Now What?, a project shaped by uncertainty, growth, and the reality that none of us ever really have it all figured out.
It's a conversation about letting go of perfection, embracing change, and finding a version of success that actually feels good to live with. Funny, candid, and quietly reassuring, you'll realise that you're allowed to change your mind, path, and pace... no matter where you are right now.
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