Podcast · 54 episodes
The Creative Boom Podcast, page 2
by Creative Boom · English
The 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.
All episodes, page 2
The Spark: Chris Wilson on Confidence, Chaos and Keeping Your Creativity AliveChris Wilson (Scotland) discusses confidence under pressure, staying creative as an “eclectic generalist,” and managing an inner critic, plus personal stories about fatherhood, creative work habits,…15 Jan 2026 · 27 min · 14 chapters
From Trauma to Triumph with Chris Wilson: Creativity, Resilience & the Courage to Keep GoingChris Wilson’s journey from working-class Glasgow to building Stickman, a one-man design studio, after surviving a knife attack, coping with family trauma, burnout, grief, and financial stress—using…12 Jan 2026 · 1 h 7 min · 22 chapters
The Spark: Joy Nazzari on Fish and Chips, Street Art Dreams and Friday Studio NostalgiaJoy Nazzari (DNCO) discusses creative work principles, client-commercial success, branding/signage tradeoffs (fish-and-chips example), street art ambitions, major public-sector naming work for London…8 Jan 2026 · 30 min · 17 chapters
Building Belonging: Joy Nazzari on 20 Years of DNCO, Saying No and Staying SaneJoy Nazari, founder of DNCO, reflects on DNCO’s 20-year origin and growth, emphasizing “saying no,” staying small/sane, bias for action, and critical thinking.5 Jan 2026 · 1 h 11 min · 27 chapters
The Spark: Matt Baxter on Mistakes, Motörhead and the Magic of Play-DohMatt Baxter discusses creative self-doubt, mistakes that paid off, de-influencing, and the nostalgia power of sensory design—especially Play-Doh—plus his karaoke and “three R’s” framework for…18 Dec 2025 · 35 min · 15 chapters
Matt Baxter on What The Design Laundry Reveals About CreativesMatt Baxter (Baxter & Bailey) discusses “The Design Laundry,” a theatrical project that collects designers’ real creative mishaps—typos, rogue email chains, pitch carnage, and other near-disasters—so…15 Dec 2025 · 51 min · 21 chapters
The Spark: Pum Lefebure on Rituals, Awkward Beauty and a Unicorn-mermaid ImaginationPum Lefebure (Design Army) discusses creativity “sparks” through work-life integration, solo travel inspiration, learning new tech (AI prompting), sensory rituals (tea, showering, scented…11 Dec 2025 · 30 min · 14 chapters
Pum Lefebure on Yard Sales, Ballets and Building a Dream Design ArmyBuilding a dream creative career as a designer/creative director—setting a 5-year goal, choosing clients with intent, balancing “paid work” vs “passion work,” leading under pressure, and staying…8 Dec 2025 · 54 min · 17 chapters
The Spark: Jeff Staple on Inner Critics, Creative Habits and UFOsJeff Staple discusses inner critics (his mom’s voice), creative habits (journaling vs jumping into Illustrator, morning routines), handling creative jealousy via social media, and his…4 Dec 2025 · 24 min · 11 chapters
Jeff Staple on Near-Death Moments, Big Risks and One Sneaker That Changed EverythingJeff Staple, streetwear designer and brand builder, discusses how near-death experiences reshaped his risk-taking, creativity, and mental clarity; how he turned sneaker culture mainstream via Nike’s…1 Dec 2025 · 53 min · 21 chapters
The Spark: Ashley Johnson on Impulsive Adventures, Inner Critics and the Joy of Not KnowingA relaxed, reflective conversation with Ashley Johnson (Pentagram, London) about creative work, feeling out of depth, impulsive decisions, inner critics, and brand language authenticity.27 Nov 2025 · 18 min · 12 chapters
Ashley Johnson on Breaking Into Pentagram, Owning Your Voice and Leading with BraveryAshley Johnson, head of brand narrative at Pentagram London, discusses “squiggly” career paths from journalism to PR/branding; how copy and design must express one powerful idea in two languages; and…24 Nov 2025 · 41 min · 15 chapters
The Spark: Zoë Thompson on Turning Creative Jealousy into Fuel and Dancing Your Way to Big IdeasZoë Thompson discusses turning creative jealousy into motivation, rejecting 24/7 creation and hustle culture, and using small rituals (especially dance) to regulate emotions and spark big ideas.20 Nov 2025 · 23 min · 11 chapters
Zoë Thompson on the Power of Zines and Keeping Print AliveZoë Thompson discusses the power of zines and why print still matters, focusing on Sweet Thang’s eight-year journey, grassroots publishing logistics, and zine culture’s embrace of imperfection.17 Nov 2025 · 48 min · 27 chapters
The Spark: Emily Penny on Kate Winslet, Fairies and Deputy PennyA playful interview with Emily Penny about creativity, design strategy, celebrity encounters, travel, and her “sweet-salty” worldview—plus her belief in a better future and fairies.13 Nov 2025 · 25 min · 10 chapters
Emily Penny on the Secrets Behind Standing Out as a Design StudioBranding agencies “look and sound the same,” driven by fear, copycat mentality, and portfolio-first mindset; how studios can stand out with authentic, unmissable positioning using Emily Penny’s Brand…10 Nov 2025 · 40 min · 7 chapters
The Spark: Claire Blyth on Madonna, Magpies and the HaciendaClaire Blyth (Red Setter) discusses clubbing nostalgia and dance-music memories (Orbital, VR “In Pursuit of Repetitive Beats”), then pivots into midlife confidence, rewiring fear of public speaking…6 Nov 2025 · 39 min · 16 chapters
Claire Blyth on Why PR Still Matters in the Age of AIWhy PR still matters as traditional media declines and AI changes how stories are discovered; how creatives/agencies adapt through human trust, niche communities, and “zero-click” shifts away from…3 Nov 2025 · 50 min · 16 chapters
The Spark: Brian Collins on Poetry, Playfulness and the Perfect CookieBrian Collins discusses creative courage and curiosity, how to present ideas to “rehearse futures,” the value of imperfection, and staying useful rather than chasing happiness; he also shares playful…30 Oct 2025 · 23 min · 13 chapters
Brian Collins on Fighting Second Dragons, the Power of Orange Ties and the Future of CreativityBrian Collins (Collins) discusses courage and curiosity in creativity and branding, “fighting second dragons” by finding the real problem under the brief, and how to keep asking better questions.27 Oct 2025 · 59 min · 22 chapters
The Spark: Haraldur Thorleifsson on Impulsive Adventures, Inner Critics & Dream GuestsHallie Thorleifsson discusses impulsive adventures, quitting creative projects, designing for how people feel, managing an inner critic, meditation rituals, and mortality—ending with a “how do you…22 Oct 2025 · 21 min · 13 chapters
From Twitter to Ramps & Resilience: Haraldur Thorleifsson on Building with KindnessKindness as a “superpower,” shaped by pain, disability, burnout, and purpose; building accessible cities and sustainable creative careers.19 Oct 2025 · 38 min · 15 chapters
The Spark: Paul Benney on Creative Envy, Childhood Freedom & a Dream Dinner with Tony WilsonPaul Benney (Disco Pogo, Bugged Out) discusses creative focus, creative envy, and why he never “retired” from music-adjacent publishing.15 Oct 2025 · 34 min · 13 chapters
From Rave Culture to Print Revival: Paul Benney on Jockey Sl*t, Bugged Out! & Disco PogoPaul Benney discusses the evolution of UK dance culture and independent music publishing, from co-founding Jockey Slut (Manchester early 1990s) and running the long-running club night Bugged Out to…12 Oct 2025 · 1 h 6 min · 24 chapters