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.
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We're back with another instalment of The Spark, Creative Boom's bonus episode that gets under the skin of each week's guest. This time, host Katy Cowan is joined by Claire Blyth, founder of Red Setter and a passionate advocate for design PR.
In this light-hearted after-show, Claire shares the rituals that keep her grounded, the superstition she secretly (or not so secretly) follows, and the teenage scents that instantly take her back. She reminisces about nights out at the legendary Hacienda, admits the last time she felt out of her depth, and reveals the music icon she'll always worship.
It's fun, personal and full of surprises – the perfect companion to her full conversation with Katy, released earlier this week.
In this episode of The Creative Boom Podcast, Katy Cowan chats with Claire Blyth, founder of Red Setter, the PR agency championing design.
Claire reflects on how the industry has transformed since she started out – from mornings spent clipping newspapers to today's reality of AI search and zero-click content. She shares why human connection still matters more than ever, how design needs a stronger voice in business, and why many agencies are asking the same hard question: what's the point of PR anymore?
Their conversation ranges from the decline of traditional media and the rise of generative AI, to the new skills agencies need to survive. Claire also speaks candidly about her own journey... from overcoming a fear of public speaking to building confidence as a leader, and why being direct is often the kindest approach.
It's a thoughtful, optimistic episode that explores the future of PR and marketing, the resilience of creativity, and how to find clarity in a world full of noise.
We're back with another instalment of The Spark, Creative Boom's bonus episode that gets under the skin of each week's guest. This time, host Katy Cowan is joined by Brian Collins – legendary designer and co-founder of COLLINS.
In this playful after-show, Brian reveals the piece of creative advice he always ignores, the guilty pleasure he'll defend to the death, and the oddest compliment he's ever received. He talks about the colour that has defined his life, the mythical creature that best sums up his creativity, and why Oreos are basically the design equivalent of a perfect steak.
He also shares the question he'd rather not ask but knows he should, who he'd invite to a dream dinner party, and the medium he secretly wishes he'd mastered.
It's cheeky, candid and full of Brian's trademark humour – the perfect companion to his full conversation with Katy, released earlier this week.
In this episode of The Creative Boom Podcast, Katy Cowan sits down with Brian Collins – the legendary co-founder of COLLINS, the design company behind work for Spotify, Dropbox and Mailchimp – for a conversation that's part masterclass, part storytelling, and entirely unforgettable.
Brian reveals how a childhood moment involving a bright orange tie taught him the importance of standing out, persistence and courage. He explains his idea of the "second dragon" — why every creative challenge hides a deeper problem beneath the obvious one – and how this philosophy has shaped COLLINS' approach to some of the world's biggest brands.
He also shares a health scare that forced him to confront what really mattered, his unflinching take on AI as an "alien intelligence" that creatives must learn to work with, and why he gave up chasing happiness in favour of something far more powerful.
It's a big, generous episode with lessons on resilience, imagination and the future of design... all told with Brian's trademark humour, wit and energy.
We're back with another instalment of The Spark, Creative Boom's bonus episode that gets under the skin of each week's guest. Host Katy Cowan is joined this time by Haraldur 'Halli' Thorleifsson – designer, entrepreneur, philanthropist and founder of Ramp Up Reykjavik.
In this playful after-show, Halli reflects on the first book that changed him, the moments he's felt out of his depth, and the creative hill he'd happily die on. He opens up about the small rituals that keep him going, the impulsive adventures that shaped him, and even lets slip who he'd invite to his dream dinner party.
It's thoughtful, funny and full of surprises – the perfect companion to his full conversation with Katy, released earlier this week.
In this episode of the Creative Boom Podcast, Katy Cowan chats with Haraldur 'Halli' Thorleifsson – designer, entrepreneur, philanthropist and now podcaster – about what it really means to lead with kindness.
Halli opens up about the personal challenges that shaped his outlook, from losing his mother to living with muscular dystrophy. He talks candidly about how pain, addiction and loss have fuelled both his creativity and his compassion. Katy explores his journey from building Ueno, the celebrated design agency later sold to Twitter, to founding Ramp Up Reykjavik, a project that built thousands of wheelchair ramps across Iceland and beyond.
Their conversation ranges from the thrill of creative success and the burnout that follows, to why giving back is not just an act of generosity but a way to survive. Halli reflects on the importance of purpose, his belief in resilience as a daily choice, and how friendships and small rituals help him navigate life.
It's a moving episode about finding meaning, challenging yourself, and embracing kindness as a superpower in both work and life.
We're back with a brand-new season of The Spark, Creative Boom's bonus episode that gets under the skin of each week's guest. Host Katy Cowan is joined once again by Paul Benney – co-founder of Jockey Slut, Bugged Out! and the biannual magazine Disco Pogo.
In this episode, Paul reveals the discipline he secretly wishes he was good at, admits who has sparked a little creative envy, and shares the small rituals that make his days brighter. He talks about the scents that instantly take him back to childhood, the historical figure he'd love to swap lives with, and the one thing he wishes he could believe in.
From emojis to dream dinner guests, it's a playful and candid conversation that lets us see another side to one of electronic music's most enduring publishers.
Kicking off the new season of The Creative Boom Podcast, host Katy Cowan sits down with Paul Benney – co-founder of the cult dance magazine Jockey Slut, the legendary club night Bugged Out! and, today, the beautifully crafted biannual Disco Pogo.
Paul looks back at the golden days of music magazines and club culture in the '90s, sharing stories of launching a fanzine on a shoestring, running sell-out nights that booked Daft Punk, and building a magazine that captured the spirit of electronic music.
He also talks candidly about burnout, the collapse of Jockey Slut, and what it took to start again. With Disco Pogo, Paul has found a way to honour the past while creating something fresh for today – a print magazine rooted in authenticity, community, and the stories behind the music. This is a conversation about resilience, reinvention and keeping the magic alive in a changing industry.
Are you just as curious about the people behind the work as you are about the work itself? The Creative Boom Podcast goes beyond the portfolio to uncover what really drives creative minds.
Join host Katy Cowan for warm, candid conversations with fascinating guests – from celebrated names like Paula Scher, Gail Anderson, and Stefan Sagmeister to emerging talents making waves in their own unique ways.
Every Monday, you’ll hear honest stories of personal breakthroughs, creative frustrations, and the messy, human side of making things. Then stick around for The Spark, a fun bonus episode every Thursday where each week’s guest answers unexpected questions and reveals the quirks you don’t always hear in a regular interview.
Whether you’re after a deep, inspiring chat or a playful behind-the-scenes peek, The Creative Boom Podcast has you covered. Subscribe now and join the conversation.
In this bonus episode of The Spark, Koto CEO and founder James Greenfield returns for a lighter, weirder, and more wonderfully random chat. From his most controversial creative opinion (spoiler: it involves Apple) to dreams featuring Mr Bingo demanding to be called 'The Way', nothing is off-limits.
We chat about parenting, drum and bass, the strange comfort of Marcus Aurelius audiobooks, and the surprisingly joyful art of reading mean internet comments. James also reveals the creative outlet he's rubbish at (but would love to master), the most embarrassing pitch moment of his career, and the one thing he wishes Apple TV would sort out immediately.
This one's for the curious, the creative, and anyone who's ever planted a hydrangea in the shade and called it therapy.
And that's Season Nine wrapped up. It's been an absolute blast. We've loved every minute. Thank you to all our guests for joining us on the show, and a big thank you to the School of Communication Arts for making this season possible.
We'll be back in the autumn with fresh guests, new and exciting themes, and more fun and games. Until then, have a great summer.
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