Managing Creative Studios – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

Technical and general information from the podcast's RSS feed.

Managing Creative Studios

Susan Mann

Arts

Business

Leisure

Frequency: 1 episode/14d. Total Eps: 15

Managing Creative Studios is your go-to podcast for the people behind the pixels, pens, and production schedules. Whether you're leading a creative team or just getting started, we explore what really goes into running a creative studio—from workflows and leadership to tools, tech, and studio culture. Featuring conversations with industry pros across New Zealand, Australia, and the Pacific, this podcast is here to inform, support, and inspire anyone working in the creative sector.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Recent rankings

Latest chart positions across Apple Podcasts and Spotify rankings.

Apple Podcasts

🇨🇦 Canada - design
08/04/2026
#80
🇨🇦 Canada - design
07/04/2026
#59
🇨🇦 Canada - design
06/04/2026
#44
🇨🇦 Canada - design
05/04/2026
#39
🇨🇦 Canada - design
04/04/2026
#25
🇬🇧 Great Britain - design
07/02/2026
#94
🇬🇧 Great Britain - design
06/02/2026
#71
🇬🇧 Great Britain - design
05/02/2026
#59
🇬🇧 Great Britain - design
04/02/2026
#41
🇩🇪 Germany - design
03/02/2026
#88

Spotify

No recent rankings available

Shared links between episodes and podcasts

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https://www.instagram.com/awkward.animations
1 share
https://www.instagram.com/thememorybotanist
1 share
https://www.instagram.com/struanmacdonaldartist
1 share

RSS feed quality and score

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RSS feed quality

Good

Score global : 79%

Publication history

Monthly episode publishing history over the past years.

Year

Latest published episodes

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21 Years of Building Better Renders: The Story of Arch Viz Studio OTOH

Season 1 · Episode 2

Monday, July 21, 2025 • Duration 01:21:03

In this episode, we talk with David and Jamie, the co-founders of One to One Hundred (OTOH), a leading architectural visualisation studio. From their first meeting at architecture school to moonlighting as grad architects and launching a startup from a dilapidated office, their journey is a story of grit, experimentation, and creative evolution.

They reflect on early career missteps, the value of artistic intuition in hiring, the changing landscape of 3D rendering, and lessons learned from side ventures like Little Lot and offplan.kiwi. The duo also open up about maintaining passion over two decades, the challenges of scaling a niche business, and the rise of AI in ArchViz. With candour and humour, they discuss leadership, workaholism, creative ownership, and what really makes a great render.

This episode is a must-listen for any 3D artists, aspiring founders, or those curious about what it takes to build and sustain a purpose-driven studio in a constantly evolving field.

This episode is proudly sponsored by 5 Digital. Check out the talented team at https://5digital.co.nz/ for all your digital printing needs!

You can also find out more about OTOH on their website: https://www.otoh.studio/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Disney vs Desk Job: Claire deZoete on Craft, Leadership & Creative Longevity

Season 1 · Episode 1

Monday, July 7, 2025 • Duration 01:19:11

In this episode we sit down with the incredibly talented Claire deZoete—animator, illustrator, and now studio manager at SkyCity Entertainment Group. Claire takes us through her journey from hand-animating Belle for Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas to leading one of New Zealand’s busiest in-house design teams. We chat about finding your creative voice, navigating career pivots, motherhood, imposter syndrome, and how to keep the spark alive in a high-output studio environment. This one’s for the dreamers and the doers.

This episode is proudly sponsored by the amazing team at 5 Digital! Check them out at 5digital.co.nz for all digital print jobs!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Making Advertising Fun Again: The Lean, Bold, All-Female Creative Agency, ANTI

Season 1 · Episode 3

Monday, August 4, 2025 • Duration 01:16:33

In this episode Amanda Chambers takes us on a rich journey through her remarkable career in advertising and production—from her early days at Flux Animation working with her brother Brent, to executive roles at Saatchi & Saatchi, Assembly, and True. Amanda shares heartfelt stories about building creative teams, navigating agency life, and balancing compassion with leadership in high-pressure environments.

She opens up about the joys and challenges of working with family, launching her agency ANTI alongside her daughter Nico and creative partner Jane Langley, and what it means to build a female-founded business doing things completely differently with a 'no douchebags' approach.

We explore how she’s making advertising fun again, integrating AI into creative workflows, and fostering a culture of collaboration, fairness, and shared success. It’s a conversation filled with humour, industry gossip, and genuine inspiration for anyone navigating the advertising game.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Cartoons, Comedy & Creative Storytelling with Alex Leighton of Mukpuddy Animation

Season 1 · Episode 10

Monday, November 10, 2025 • Duration 01:34:55

In this episode of Managing Creative Studios, Susan Mann talks with Alex Leighton, co-founder and creative director of Mukpuddy Animation, one of New Zealand’s most recognisable and enduring animation studios.

Alex shares the incredible story of how Mukpuddy began over two decades ago in a small basement in Pakuranga and grew into a thriving studio creating shows like The Barefoot Bandits, Jandal Burn, Badjelly the Witch, and Night Eyes. He reflects on the persistence and passion that kept the team going through tough years, their focus on original IP, and how they’ve built a creative culture rooted in humour, collaboration, and heart.

The conversation also explores the realities of running an independent animation studio in New Zealand, from funding and production challenges to the joy of seeing homegrown stories connect with audiences both locally and overseas.

Check out Mukpuddy's website here: https://mukpuddy.com/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Masters of Reality: The Kiwi Studio Behind Some Of Hollywood’s Darkest Scenes

Season 1 · Episode 9

Monday, October 27, 2025 • Duration 01:19:22

In this episode of Managing Creative Studios, Susan Mann chats with Caleb Thompson, award-winning visual effects artist and founder of Masters of Reality, a leading New Zealand VFX studio.

Caleb shares his journey from studying at Media Design School to working on blockbuster productions such as Mad Max: Fury Road, Game of Thrones, Jumanji, Spartacus, and M3GAN. He talks about what inspired him to start his own studio, how Masters of Reality has grown to a 20-person team, and the importance of building a supportive, healthy studio culture that avoids crunch time.

The conversation also touches on the challenges facing New Zealand’s visual effects industry, including tax incentives and international competition, winning an award for his Game of Thrones episode “Battle of the Bastards,” and the exciting ways AI and machine learning are shaping the future of visual effects.

Master of Reality Website: https://morvfx.com/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Storyboarding A Minecraft Movie & LOTR: The Rings of Power With Dylan Coburn

Season 1 · Episode 8

Monday, October 13, 2025 • Duration 01:37:47

In this episode of Managing Creative Studios, Susan Mann talks with Dylan Coburn, a veteran storyboard artist, animator, and director whose career spans three decades in film, television, and animation.

Dylan shares how he began in hand-drawn animation at Toonz in the 1990s, went on to found his own studio Karactaz, and led projects for global clients including Marvel, Cartoon Network, and Warner Bros. He opens up about the realities of running a creative business, the challenges of scaling and eventually closing a studio, and how those experiences shaped his approach to collaboration and artistry.

Now one of New Zealand’s most in-demand storyboard artists, Dylan reflects on working on major productions like Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, Equalizer 3, A Minecraft Movie and Chief of War, and offers advice for emerging artists about persistence, mentorship, and knowing your worth in a fast-changing creative landscape.

Check out Dylan's website here: https://www.idrawandwrite.com/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Why Mistakes Matter: Lessons in Creativity and Mentorship with Raymond McGrath

Season 1 · Episode 7

Monday, September 29, 2025 • Duration 02:13:40

In this episode, Susan Mann speaks with Raymond McGrath — writer, illustrator, director, musician, and educator — about his diverse creative journey. Raymond shares how he moved from hand-drawn animation into digital pipelines, and why adaptability and a willingness to learn new tools have sustained his career.

They explore the role of mentorship in creative industries, the importance of mistakes as part of the learning process, and the challenges facing graduates entering animation today. Raymond also reflects on developing his own storytelling style, which centres on relationships and the natural world, and the creative process behind his beloved children’s books Big Little Blue and Kenneth and Queenie.

The conversation extends to publishing, the realities of advances and royalties, the risks of self-publishing, and how authentic storytelling differs from generic content. Raymond also discusses turning Big Little Blue from songs into a graphic novel series and then into an animated TV production, sharing his philosophy on creating work that is unique, truthful, and rooted in personal experience rather than industry convention.

This is an inspiring and insightful discussion for anyone navigating the creative industries, from students and emerging artists to seasoned studio leaders.

Find out more about Raymond McGarth here: https://www.raymondmcgrath.org/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Building the Impossible with Carl Moody of Bootleg Design

Season 1 · Episode 6

Monday, September 15, 2025 • Duration 01:28:26

In this episode of Managing Creative Studios, I sit down with Carl Moody, co-founder of Bootleg Design, the workshop behind some of New Zealand’s most iconic large-scale builds. From restoring Auckland’s infamous “Creepy Santa” to transporting a giant Shaun the Sheep across the country, or building a 5 tonne lolly jar for Air NZ, Carl shares how his team brings wild ideas to life.

We talk about the balance between creativity and practicality, the constant challenge of budgets and timelines, and why the best projects start with early collaboration. Carl also opens up about the artistry behind making things by hand, the technical problem-solving that goes into massive structures, and the satisfaction his team gets from transforming concepts into reality.

With over 36 years in the industry, Carl’s stories offer valuable lessons on planning, design thinking, and the magic of execution.

If you want to get in touch with Bootleg Design, find them here: https://bootleg.co.nz/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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From Studio Life to Being Your Own Boss: Fraser Munro on Freelance Motion Design

Season 1 · Episode 5

Monday, September 1, 2025 • Duration 01:29:43

In this episode, I sit down with animator Fraser Munro to trace his journey from a latchkey kid watching cartoons to becoming a seasoned animator and freelancer. Fraser shares how his early love of animation led him to train at Freelance Animation School, his 13-year stint in NZ animation studios, and eventually his transition to freelancing from Foxton Beach.

We talk about the realities of shifting from studio life to working independently, and what it truly means to be your own boss — from managing stress and health, to shouldering full responsibility for clients, projects, and business growth. Fraser reflects on how freelancing pushed him to expand his skills, build stronger client relationships, and rediscover his creativity. He also opens up about working alongside his partner, adapting to industry changes like social media content and AI, and why “making things look cool” still has a place in animation. We also chat about the amazing connections he has made by being a part of the Motion Designers Guild Aotearoa!

This is an inspiring and practical conversation for anyone navigating the creative industry, whether you’re in a studio or carving out your own path as a freelancer.

Check out Frasers work here: https://character.ninja/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Designing Outdoor Spaces for People… and Bats: Landscape Architecture with Lisa Jack

Season 1 · Episode 4

Monday, August 18, 2025 • Duration 01:00:07

When you think “landscape architect,” you might picture someone planting a back lawn—but as Lisa reveals in this episode of Managing Creative Studios, the work goes far deeper (and sometimes even involves creating hotels for bats!).

Lisa, Studio Manager at Harrison Grierson, takes us inside the world of large-scale design where ecology, culture, and community all intersect. She shares how she worked with conservationists and ecologists to design a Hamilton project that doubled as accommodation and a buffet for native bat populations—proving that good design can support both people and wildlife.

We also get a peek behind the curtain of the profession, including the surprising “dirty little secret” that many landscape architects like to deny: deep down, they really do love flowers. In fact, Lisa’s passion project, The Memory Botanist, transforms special-occasion blooms into art that lasts a lifetime.

This episode blends ecology, leadership, and creativity—showing how landscape architecture shapes the spaces we live in, while quietly influencing how we connect with nature (and each other).

Find out more about Lisa's workplace here: https://www.harrisongrierson.com/

Check out Lisa's side hustle The Memory Botanist here: https://www.instagram.com/thememorybotanist/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Managing Creative Studios – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

Recent rankings

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Shared links between episodes and podcasts

RSS feed quality and score

Publication history

Latest published episodes

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Managing Creative Studios – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

Recent rankings

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Shared links between episodes and podcasts

Other22

Youtube10

Instagram3

RSS feed quality and score

Publication history

Latest published episodes

Similar podcasts and content

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Other22

Youtube10

Instagram3