Explore every episode of the podcast Your World of Creativity

What if creativity isn't something you're born with? What if it's something you can actually practice, strengthen, and learn?

On this episode of YOUR WORLD OF CREATIVITY, host Mark Stinson talks with Grammy-winning producer and mix engineer Dom Morley about what 30 years in recording studios with some of the world's most accomplished musicians have taught him about how creativity really works.

Dom learned his craft at London's legendary Metropolis Studios and went on to engineer Amy Winehouse's Back to Black, earning a Grammy for Record of the Year. Across his career, he's worked with artists including Adele, Sting, Mark Ronson, Richard Ashcroft, Shakira, Underworld, and Jeff Beck.

But after decades around extraordinarily creative people, Dom came to an important conclusion: creativity isn't a mysterious gift reserved for a select few. It's a skill we can develop.

His forthcoming book brings together lessons from the recording studio with research into flow, play, constraints, generalism, collaboration, and the conditions that help better ideas emerge.

• Creativity as a learned skill. What separates people who consistently generate ideas from those waiting for inspiration—and the habits Dom has observed among highly successful creative people.
• The advantage of being a generalist. Dom has deliberately worked across pop, rock, folk, electronic, and orchestral music. While conventional career advice says “pick a lane,” he explains why crossing disciplines can become a creative advantage.
• Why outsiders sometimes have the breakthrough. Deep expertise is valuable, but it can also narrow how we see a problem. Dom explores why ideas imported from another field can sometimes unlock solutions the experts overlook.
• Less freedom can mean more creativity. Unlimited time, tools, and possibilities sound ideal—but they can also become paralyzing. Mark and Dom discuss how deadlines, limitations, and deliberately designed constraints can push us toward more inventive solutions.
• Flow, play, and getting creatively unstuck. Is creative block really a lack of ideas, or are we failing to create the right conditions for ideas to emerge? Dom shares why experimentation and play remain essential even when creativity becomes your profession.
• Human creativity in the age of AI. As AI makes it increasingly easy to generate music, writing, images, and other creative outputs, what becomes more valuable about the human creator? Dom and Mark consider the growing importance of curiosity, experience, judgment, taste, and knowing which ideas are worth pursuing.

Dom's experience offers an encouraging challenge to the mythology of the “creative genius.”

You don't need to wait for inspiration. You don't have to stay in one lane. And you don't need unlimited freedom or resources to produce original work.

Instead, creativity can be cultivated by expanding your influences, creating useful constraints, making room for play, developing your judgment, and practicing the process of generating and recognizing good ideas.

Whether you're a musician, writer, designer, filmmaker, entrepreneur, scientist—or someone who has never considered yourself particularly creative—the question isn't simply “Am I creative?”

A more useful question might be: “What can I do today to become more creative?”

Website: https://www.dommorley.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dommorleyauthor/

Follow Dom on Instagram for practical tips and ideas for becoming more creative—and to be among the first to hear about the release of his forthcoming book.

If this conversation sparks an idea, share the episode with another creative person. And wherever you listen, be sure to follow YOUR WORLD OF CREATIVITY, rate and review the podcast, and join Mark Stinson for more conversations with creative practitioners from around the world.

Until next time, keep exploring, keep experimenting, and keep unlocking YOUR WORLD OF CREATIVITY.

What happens when you reach what looks like the finish line at the very beginning of your career?

On this episode of YOUR WORLD OF CREATIVITY, host Mark Stinson talks with musician, songwriter, sound designer, professor, and author Michael Flannery about what happens after the big break—and why building a sustainable creative practice may ultimately matter more than chasing a single creative breakthrough.

Michael's Website

@thepracticeofsongwriting on Instagram

https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelsflannery/

Michael was signed to LAVA/Atlantic Records and toured opening for Outkast on the Stankonia tour in 2001. Since then, he has followed a simple mantra: “Make a living with sound.”

And that's exactly what he's done.

Over the past 25 years, Michael has worked as a musician, songwriter, producer, film composer, sound designer, and children's music performer. Today, he teaches sound recording, audio post-production, and songwriting at Stevens Institute of Technology, helping the next generation of musicians develop both their craft and their creative practice.

His songs have been recognized by the John Lennon Songwriting Contest, Parents' Choice Awards, American Library Association, and International Songwriting Competition. His new book, The Practice of Songwriting, will be published by Bloomsbury this November.

• Creating “a playground with a fence.” Why complete creative freedom isn't always freeing—and how boundaries and constraints can actually give creators more room to experiment.
• Practice over outcome. Michael reflects on starting his career with what many musicians consider the ultimate goal—a major-label record deal—and then discovering how to build a creative life that could last for decades.
• Building creative habits that stick. Why writing regularly matters even if you're only trying to create one great song, and how consistency helps turn occasional inspiration into a genuine creative practice.
• The science and craft of a great hook. What music theory, rhythm, melody, repetition, language, psychology, and psychoacoustics can teach us about creating the elusive “earworm.”
• Making music theory less intimidating. Michael shares how musicians can begin understanding the mechanics behind music without allowing theory to overwhelm their creative instincts.
• Condensing a five-act story into a three-minute song. How songwriters can communicate character, emotion, conflict, and story when they have only a few minutes—and sometimes just seconds—to capture the listener.
• Writing for children versus adults. Michael draws on his experience to explore how simplicity, clarity, and storytelling change depending on the audience.
• Teaching as a creative practice. After years of teaching songwriting, recording, and production, Michael explains what his students have taught him about creativity and communicating ideas effectively.
• The next generation of hitmakers. Today's musicians have access to recording and production technology that would have been unimaginable at the beginning of Michael's career. What does that accessibility mean for creativity?
• Songwriting in the age of AI. Michael and Mark discuss AI-generated music platforms such as Suno, whether easier production actually leads to better songs, and which parts of the creative process still need to remain deeply human.

While this conversation begins with songwriting, Michael's approach applies far beyond music.

Whether you're a writer, designer, filmmaker, entrepreneur, artist, or another kind of creative professional, the challenge is similar: How do you create enough structure to support your creativity without constraining it—and develop a practice that keeps you creating long after the initial inspiration disappears?

Michael's career offers an important reminder that a creative life isn't built around one hit, one big break, or one finished project. It's built through the practice of continuing to make the work.

Visit thepracticeofsongwriting.com to learn more about Michael and The Practice of Songwriting.

Listeners can also:

• Download the first few chapters of the book for free
• Access bonus songwriting content
• Learn about upcoming songwriting workshops
• Explore resources for developing a stronger and more consistent songwriting practice

If this conversation sparked an idea, share the episode with another songwriter, musician, or creative person who could use some inspiration to strengthen their own creative practice.

Be sure to follow YOUR WORLD OF CREATIVITY, rate and review the podcast on your favorite listening app, and join Mark Stinson for more conversations with creative practitioners from around the world.

Keep exploring, keep practicing, and keep unlocking YOUR WORLD OF CREATIVITY.

What if where we create matters just as much as how we create?

In this episode of YOUR WORLD OF CREATIVITY, host Mark Stinson talks with Myles Wakeham, founder of Troubled Clef Studios in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico — an extraordinary destination recording studio created from an abandoned matador school and full-sized bullfighting ring.

During the pandemic, Myles and his wife Sandra saw possibility in a property that had sat unused for years. Inspired by Sir George Martin's legendary AIR Studios Montserrat, they set out to create more than another recording facility. Their vision was a place where world-class artists would want to travel, disconnect from their everyday surroundings, collaborate, and create something remarkable.

Myles recreated the famous Montserrat live room down to the millimeter, consulted people connected to the original studio, and even tracked down a vintage Neve 8232 console in a New Jersey storage facility and brought it to Mexico.

Troubled Clef officially opened in February 2026 and has already welcomed Grammy-winning artists, commercial production companies, film studios, video game developers, and broadcast projects.

• Seeing possibility where others see limitations — how an abandoned bullring became the foundation for an ambitious creative vision.
• Designing environments for creativity — what AIR Studios Montserrat taught Myles about the influence of place, isolation, acoustics, and atmosphere on creative work.
• The value of obsession and craftsmanship — why seemingly invisible details can make the difference between something good and something extraordinary.
• Believing before there's proof — confronting the entrepreneurial question, “If we build it, will they come?”
• Creating a legacy — Myles' hopes for what artists will create at Troubled Clef and what the studio might represent 20 years from now.

Myles' story is a reminder that our creative environment isn't merely a backdrop — it can become an active part of the creative process. And sometimes creativity means looking at something everyone else has overlooked and imagining what it could become.

Learn more about Troubled Clef Studios, its story, facilities, and recording opportunities at troubledclef.com.

Myles on YouTube

@troubledclefstudios on Instagram

Myles's Facebook page

https://www.linkedin.com/in/myles-wakeham-a0a1b430a/

If you enjoyed this conversation, follow, rate, and review YOUR WORLD OF CREATIVITY on your favorite podcast platform — and share the episode with someone pursuing an ambitious creative idea.

Keep unlocking YOUR WORLD OF CREATIVITY.

What happens when an accomplished creative deliberately becomes a beginner again?

On this episode of YOUR WORLD OF CREATIVITY, Mark talks with Seth Panitch, an award-winning actor, playwright, screenwriter, filmmaker, director, and theatre educator who has added a new creative identity to his 30-year career: novelist.

Seth's Website

Seth on YouTube

@sethpanitchauthor on Instagram

Seth's Facebook page

https://www.amazon.com/Antique-Novel-Seth-Panitch-ebook/dp/B0FBLVCVPD

Seth's debut novel, Antique, published by Grand Central Publishing in February 2026, follows Grace Schaffer, a once-celebrated antique appraiser whose career, marriage, and sense of identity have fallen apart. When she encounters a mysterious necklace that appears to give her an uncanny ability to predict the value of objects, her journey raises a deeper question: What's the difference between what something is worth—and what we are worth?

• Becoming a beginner again — What writing a novel offered Seth that acting, theatre, screenwriting, and filmmaking couldn't, and what he had to learn—or unlearn—to embrace a new creative form.
• Finding the story behind Antique — How antiques, appraisal, mystery, and magic became the setting for a larger exploration of value, identity, and self-worth.
• Balancing magic with emotional truth — How Seth uses mystery and the unexplained without losing sight of the very human story at the center of the novel.
• From stage and screen to the page — How decades of experience with dialogue, pacing, character, and performance shaped Seth's approach to fiction.
• The artist and the teacher — How leading the MFA Acting Program at the University of Alabama influences Seth's creative practice—and how remaining an active artist shapes the way he teaches.
• Feedback, rejection, and creative risk — Knowing when outside feedback strengthens the work and when an artist needs to trust their own instincts.
• Appraising our own creative worth — Separating reviews, sales, awards, rankings, and other external measures from our deeper sense of value as creative people.

Seth's journey is a reminder that a creative career doesn't have to be defined by a single medium. Sometimes the next chapter requires stepping away from what we already know, embracing uncertainty, and giving ourselves permission to become beginners again.

And perhaps Antique offers a question every creative person can consider: Who gets to determine what our work—and ultimately we ourselves—are worth?

Learn more about Seth Panitch and Antique at sethpanitch.com. Antique is available from Grand Central Publishing and wherever books are sold.

If you enjoyed this conversation, follow YOUR WORLD OF CREATIVITY on your favorite podcast app, and please rate and review the show. It helps more creative professionals discover these conversations.

Until next time, keep unlocking YOUR WORLD OF CREATIVITY.

Creative people love ideas. We love the sketch, the concept, the big vision, the possibility of something that doesn’t exist yet.

But eventually, somebody has to build it.

And that’s where creativity runs into budgets, materials, clients, regulations, deadlines, economic downturns—and all the other realities that can either sharpen an idea or stop it altogether.

My guest today knows that intersection especially well.

Lance Cayko has worked with his hands in the construction trades, studied environmental design and architecture, built an award-winning architecture and design-build firm, taught the next generation of architects, developed real estate, launched community projects, and even built a successful podcast around the business of architecture.

Lance's Website

Lance on YouTube

@F9Productions on Instagram

Lance's Facebook page

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lance-cayko-1227031a/

He co-founded F9 Productions with Alex Gore in 2009—right in the middle of the Great Recession—with about $1,000 and the willingness to find a way forward. Since then, the firm has grown dramatically and produced projects ranging from custom homes and multifamily developments to the internationally recognized Atlas Tiny House and Eastwatch retreat.

1. CREATING WHEN THE CONDITIONS ARE TERRIBLE: Sometimes constraints don’t kill creativity—they force us to become more creative.

2. THE HAMMER AND THE BLUEPRINT: How actually building things with your hands changes the way you think creatively as an architect

3. INNOVATION THAT EARNS ATTENTION: creating something genuinely better versus simply creating something different

4. SCALING CREATIVITY WITHOUT LOSING IT: extending the definition of “building”

5. BUILDING SOMETHING BIGGER THAN YOURSELF: sharing knowledge and creating community.

Lance leaves listeners with something they can put into practice this week.

You can learn more about Lance, explore his work, and listen to Inside the Firm at InsideTheFirmPodcast.com.

And wherever you’re listening today, be sure to follow, rate, and review YOUR WORLD OF CREATIVITY. Share this episode with another creative professional, entrepreneur, architect, designer—or anyone who has an idea they’re ready to move from blueprint to reality.

Until next time, we’ll keep traveling around the world, talking with creative people about how they get inspired, organize their ideas, and gain the confidence to make them real.

Keep unlocking YOUR WORLD OF CREATIVITY.

KNOWING YOUR NUMBERS: HOW METRICS CAN STRENGTHEN CREATIVITY

What if numbers aren't the enemy of creativity—but one of its greatest allies?

In this special YOUR WORLD OF CREATIVITY roundtable, host Mark Stinson sits down with Alisa Sparks, Andrea Carter, and Rei Vardi to explore why creative people need to become more comfortable with numbers—not just financial numbers, but also data, activity, customer behavior, performance, relationships, belonging, and impact.

Together, the panelists discuss how meaningful metrics can guide better decisions, sharpen intuition, reveal hidden opportunities, strengthen customer experiences, and help creative ideas grow.

• Alisa Sparks grew Linden Creek from a garage startup into a nationally recognized home staging franchise. With a background in finance, she uses numbers to guide creative decisions, optimize client ROI, and help franchise owners build sustainable businesses. linden-creek.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/alisasparkslc/
• Andrea Carter is an organizational scientist and researcher whose work measures belonging, trust, culture, and human performance. Her research challenges leaders to look beyond averages and uncover the hidden stories within the data. www.belongingfirst.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/andreadcarter/ (https://theconversation.com/the-price-of-belonging-is-inconvenience-are-we-still-willing-to-pay-it-270778) https://substack.com/@andreadcarter https://www.adler.edu/faculty-engagement/faculty-directory/carter-andrea-d/
• Rei Vardi is the founder of EON Rides, an electric car-sharing and rental platform connecting underutilized vehicles with drivers through a frictionless digital experience. He focuses heavily on customer retention as a key measure of whether the experience truly works. eonrides.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/reivardi/

Rei suggests that numbers don't limit creativity—they define the problem. Data might reveal that customer retention is falling, outreach is too low, or a process isn't working. Creativity comes into play when we ask: How do we solve it?

Alisa agrees. Her background in finance became a competitive advantage in the creative world of home staging because she learned to start with the numbers and then ask: How do we create? How do we solve? How do we build?

The answer depends on what you're trying to improve:

• Alisa tracks activity, especially how many new relationships and meaningful connections are being developed each week.
• Rei watches customer retention because repeat business is one of the clearest signs that people genuinely value the experience.
• Andrea looks beneath averages to uncover gaps in belonging, participation, engagement, and performance.

As Andrea explains: "The average score is the story that the leaders want. The distribution is the story employees and customers are living."

Numbers don't always tell us what we want to hear. A campaign may underperform. A hire may not work out. A business model may need to change. An idea may not gain traction. But avoiding the numbers doesn't change reality.

Andrea encourages creative people to look directly at the metric they've been avoiding and treat it not as a verdict, but as the beginning of a conversation. Alisa adds that intuition can be useful as a hypothesis—but it still needs to be tested.

Measurement can help a creative idea travel. Andrea's research on belonging began with 3,508 participants in the mining industry and eventually expanded across manufacturing, healthcare, finance, government, and nonprofits, impacting more than 150,000 employees.

Her perspective: "Unmeasured creativity is something that keeps us small. Measured creativity is what becomes repeatable by others."

Metrics can turn a creative insight into a system, methodology, or infrastructure that others can use.

Not every meaningful number appears on a financial dashboard. Andrea challenges listeners to observe their next meeting, dinner party, or gathering and count:

• Who speaks?
• Who gets interrupted?
• Who receives credit?
• Who gets remembered?
• Who hasn't spoken at all?

Her insight is simple but powerful: "Counting makes you notice, which makes you kinder."

Alisa shares a similar lesson from her first home staging project. The home sold for $30,000 over asking, which initially looked like a great business case study. But when the homeowner explained what that additional money would mean for his family, the number became something more.

The numbers may show us how we're making an impact. People remind us why the impact matters.

• Numbers can provide a frame for creativity rather than restrict it.
• The most useful metrics aren't always revenue or profit. Activity, retention, participation, belonging, customer behavior, and impact can be equally important.
• Intuition is valuable, but it becomes stronger when informed by experience and tested against evidence.
• Averages can hide important differences. Sometimes the real story lives underneath the headline number.
• Measurement helps creative ideas become repeatable, scalable, and transferable.
• Sometimes the number you've been avoiding is the one that has the most to teach you.

• Rei Vardi: Start tracking something. Whatever you're trying to improve, write down where you are now and begin measuring progress.
• Alisa Sparks: Measure activity before results. Instead of focusing only on whether you made the sale, count how many calls you made, relationships you developed, or actions you completed.
• Andrea Carter: Look at what you've been avoiding. Choose one number and review it every week at the same time. Don't judge it—study it. Look at the best moment, the worst moment, and what happened in between.

Knowing your numbers doesn't mean becoming an accountant or a data geek. It means becoming a better creative leader.

The right numbers can help us understand our customers, test our intuition, strengthen our organizations, build better relationships, scale our ideas, and measure the impact we're truly making.

Numbers aren't the enemy of creativity. They may be one of its greatest allies.

Connect with Alisa Sparks, Andrea Carter, and Rei Vardi to learn more about their work. And if you enjoyed this roundtable, subscribe, follow, rate, and review YOUR WORLD OF CREATIVITY on your favorite podcast platform. Every review helps more creative leaders discover these conversations.

Stay tuned for more discussions inspired by the principles explored in Mark Stinson's book, UNLOCK YOUR WORLD OF CREATIVITY.

Until next time, keep asking better questions, keep learning, keep measuring what matters — and together, let's keep unlocking ... your world of creativity.

What if the stories that have captivated humanity for thousands of years are actually teaching us how to navigate our own lives?

In this special episode of Your World of Creativity, host Mark Stinson tries out a new podcast format: Creative Book Reviews — exploring influential books that have shaped the way creative people think, lead, and make an impact.

For this review, Mark turns to one of the most influential books on storytelling: The Power of Myth by Joseph Campbell and Bill Moyers.

Even more unique, the book discussion is presented as an audio overview created with NotebookLM, offering listeners both timeless ideas and a firsthand experience of an emerging AI learning tool.

• Why myths continue to shape our thinking in the modern world
• Joseph Campbell's groundbreaking concept of The Hero's Journey
• How George Lucas used Campbell's work to build the story architecture of Star Wars
• Why the most memorable stories share universal psychological patterns
• How myths provide a framework for navigating change, uncertainty, and personal transformation
• Why your own career, business, and creative life may be following a hero's journey right now
• How shared cultural stories influence leadership, innovation, and even the future of society
• What today's AI tools can teach us about learning, research, and communicating complex ideas

Campbell's timeless framework reveals that great stories—and great lives—follow recognizable stages:

• The Call to Adventure
• Leaving the Ordinary World
• Trials and Transformation
• Returning with New Wisdom

The conversation explores how this pattern appears not only in mythology and literature, but in entrepreneurship, career transitions, creative work, and personal growth.

Rather than viewing myths as ancient stories disconnected from modern life, Campbell argues they help us:

• Make sense of uncertainty
• Find purpose during difficult seasons
• Build resilience
• Better understand ourselves and our place in the world

The episode examines how George Lucas intentionally built Luke Skywalker's journey around Campbell's research, demonstrating why audiences instinctively connect with stories rooted in universal human experience.

Listeners also experience NotebookLM's conversational audio format — an example of how AI can help synthesize ideas, review books, and support lifelong learning while preserving the richness of great source material.

• The Power of Myth — Joseph Campbell & Bill Moyers
• The Hero with a Thousand Faces — Joseph Campbell
• The Masks of God — Joseph Campbell
• Star Wars and the influence of Campbell's Hero's Journey
• NotebookLM as an AI-powered research and audio learning platform

This episode complements our interviews with creative professionals from around the world. Alongside conversations with artists, entrepreneurs, designers, musicians, scientists, and innovators, we'll occasionally explore books whose ideas continue to inspire creative thinking across disciplines.

I'd love your feedback.

Did you enjoy this AI-generated book review format? Should we continue reviewing influential books alongside our guest interviews?

Let me know on LinkedIn or through the podcast website.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review Your World of Creativity. Every review helps more creative thinkers discover the show.

Until next time…

Keep reading. Keep learning. Keep asking better questions.

And together, we'll keep Unlocking Your World of Creativity.

On Your World of Creativity, we explore how innovators, entrepreneurs, artists, scientists, and thought leaders transform ideas into impact.

Today's guest has spent three decades helping some of the world's most sophisticated science and healthcare companies answer a deceptively simple question:

How do you persuade people who pride themselves on not being persuaded?

Hamid Ghanadan is the founder and CEO of LINUS, a commercial strategy consultancy serving life science and healthcare innovators. A former biochemist turned strategist, Hamid has guided organizations including Twist Bioscience, Thermo Fisher Scientific, and 10x Genomics through product launches, market development, and growth initiatives.

His new book, Not Buying It: The Art of Selling to Scientists, Doctors, and Other Professional Skeptics, challenges conventional thinking by arguing that even the most technical buying decisions are ultimately driven by psychology, empathy, and human behavior—not just data.

Hamid 's Website

Hamid on YouTube

Hamid LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hghanadan/

Let's explore creativity, persuasion, science, and what it takes to influence skeptical minds.

Guest Bio

Hamid Ghanadan is the Founder and CEO of LINUS, a commercial strategy consultancy focused on life sciences, healthcare, diagnostics, medical devices, and biotechnology.

Originally trained as a biochemist, Hamid became fascinated with a question that would shape his entire career:

How do scientists make decisions?

That curiosity led him from the laboratory into marketing, strategy, and behavioral psychology. Over the past 30 years, he has developed what he calls an Insights-Led Commercial Strategy, helping science and healthcare organizations better understand customer decision-making and create meaningful demand.

His new book, Not Buying It, explores how technical professionals evaluate information, why traditional marketing often fails with scientific audiences, and how empathy becomes a competitive advantage in high-stakes commercial environments.

1: From Biochemist to Behavioral Strategist

Hamid, one of the stories I found fascinating is that your career began in a biochemistry laboratory.

You describe an early encounter watching a salesperson struggle to connect with scientists, which sparked a question that changed your professional trajectory: How do you sell to such a skeptical audience? What was it about that moment that stayed with you, and how did it eventually lead you from science into strategy?

2: The Psychology Behind Technical Decisions

One of the central themes of your book is that commercial strategy is fundamentally a game of psychology. That can sound counterintuitive in industries built on evidence, data, peer review, and rigorous analysis. Yet you argue that scientists, doctors, engineers, and other technical professionals are still human beings first. What do most companies misunderstand about how highly educated professionals actually make decisions? Why isn't more data necessarily more persuasive?

3: The Soul of the Brand

Let's apply my favorite framework—the Soul of the Brand. Thinking about LINUS:

• What is your focus?
• What work are you really doing?
• Who are you serving?
• What gives you credibility?
• What industry assumptions are you challenging?
• And what larger mission drives the organization?

4: Persuasion, Creativity, and the Age of AI

In the book, you make an interesting observation. AI is making it easier than ever to create content, automate outreach, and scale communications. But you suggest that simply producing more content creates more noise—not more influence. As someone who studies persuasion and decision-making, what concerns you most about how organizations are currently using AI? What human skills become more valuable in an AI-enabled world?

5: Unlocking Influence Through Empathy

One of the ideas that really resonated with me is your belief that the key ingredient of an effective strategy is a unique insight into audience psychology—and that finding that insight requires empathy. For leaders, marketers, entrepreneurs, healthcare innovators, and creative professionals listening today: How can they become better observers of human behavior and uncover those insights that others miss?

If you enjoyed today's episode, please subscribe, rate, and review the podcast.

What keeps creative people moving forward when life doesn't go according to plan?

In this special roundtable episode of Your World of Creativity, host Mark Stinson brings together four entrepreneurs, authors, coaches, and mentors to explore one of the six key lessons from his new book, UNLOCK Your World of Creativity: Resilience.

Every creative person encounters obstacles. Rejection. Uncertainty. Financial pressure. Health challenges. Unexpected detours. Yet some people find a way to continue creating, leading, and growing despite adversity.

In this conversation, our panelists share personal stories and practical insights about navigating setbacks, adapting to change, maintaining momentum, and discovering how resilience often becomes the foundation for creativity and success. The discussion explores leadership, entrepreneurship, personal growth, life transitions, and sustainable achievement in a rapidly changing world. The episode is inspired by the Resilience chapter from UNLOCK Your World of Creativity.

In This Episode

• Why resilience is built through experience, not inherited

• How adversity becomes a teacher and catalyst for growth

• The connection between resilience and creativity

• Sustainable success versus burnout

• Leading through uncertainty and change

• Practical habits for staying grounded and adaptable

• How setbacks often become the experiences that shape our purpose

Featured Guests

Ashley Jablow

Founder of Wayfinders Collective, coach, facilitator, author, and artist. Ashley helps people redesign their lives through intentional change, creativity, and self-discovery.

Website: https://www.wayfinderscollective.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleyjablow

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashleyjablow

Doug Katz

Disabled veteran, entrepreneur, CEO, and resilience advocate. Doug combines lessons from military service, leadership, and entrepreneurship to help others overcome adversity and lead with purpose.

Website: https://nuluventures.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/doug-katz

Mike Foster

Entrepreneur mentor, business growth advisor, and leadership coach helping founders navigate challenges, scale businesses, and build sustainable success.

Website: https://entrepreneursmentor.co.uk

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-foster-entrepreneurs-mentor

Kate Kayaian

Author, coach, and advocate for sustainable success. Kate helps ambitious professionals achieve meaningful goals while protecting wellbeing and avoiding burnout.

Website: https://www.katekayaian.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katekayaian

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katekayaian

About UNLOCK Your World of Creativity

This roundtable was inspired by Mark Stinson's new book:

UNLOCK Your World of Creativity: 6 Key Lessons Learned from More Than 250 Creatives Worldwide

Drawing from hundreds of interviews with artists, entrepreneurs, authors, musicians, designers, innovators, and leaders around the globe, the book explores six recurring themes that help people transform ideas into impact.

Connect with Mark

Website: https://www.mark-stinson.com

Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/your-world-of-creativity/id1529812538

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stinsonmark/

Enjoying the Show?

Please subscribe, rate, and review Your World of Creativity on your favorite podcast platform.

Your support helps us continue bringing conversations with creative thinkers, leaders, and innovators from around the world.

Until next time, keep unlocking...Your World of Creativity.

On Your World of Creativity, we travel around the world talking with creative practitioners, entrepreneurs, artists, and innovators about how they get inspired, organize ideas, and turn imagination into impact.

Today's guest didn't just build a successful business—he helped create an entirely new category within the entertainment industry.

Richard Foos was the co-founder of Rhino Records and most recently of Shout! Factory, two companies that transformed the way music, television, and film archives are valued, distributed, and monetized. What began as a passion for out-of-print records became a movement that helped define today's streaming culture, vinyl resurgence, and the growing importance of content libraries.

Richard's Website

Richard's Facebook page

We'll explore creativity, entrepreneurship, cultural preservation, and what happens when you discover opportunity hiding in plain sight.

Guest Bio

Richard Foos is the co-founder of Rhino Records, one of the most influential reissue labels in music history, and later Shout! Factory, a pioneering company focused on television and film distribution.

Beginning with a small record store on Santa Monica Boulevard, Richard and his partner Harold Bronson built Rhino into a globally respected brand known for preserving, restoring, and reintroducing forgotten and out-of-print music to new generations of listeners.

The success of Rhino helped establish what many now call reissue culture—a model that transformed entertainment economics by demonstrating the long-term value of existing catalogs. Rhino was eventually acquired by Time Warner and became the catalog development and marketing division of Warner Music Group.

Richard later co-founded Shout! Factory, bringing similar innovation to television and film archives. Today he continues advising the entertainment industry while focusing on social impact through organizations including The Narrative Method, Volunteer Collective, Cedars Sinai, and other nonprofit initiatives.

His career sits at the intersection of creativity, commerce, culture, memory, and preservation.

1: Seeing Opportunity Where Others Saw Obsolescence

Richard, one of the themes we explore on this podcast is creative vision—the ability to see possibilities that others overlook.

Back in the 1970s, most of the entertainment industry was focused almost exclusively on the next release, the next hit, the next trend.

What led you to recognize value in out-of-print recordings and forgotten catalogs when much of the industry considered them yesterday's news? Was there a specific artist, album, or moment that convinced you this could become a business? How much of that insight came from being a fan versus being an entrepreneur?

2: The Soul of the Rhino Brand

Looking back at Rhino Records and now Shout! Factory:

• What was your focus?
• What work were you really doing beyond selling records and media?
• Who were you serving?
• What gave you credibility?
• What industry assumptions were you challenging?
• And what larger mission connected all of it?

3: Reissue Culture Changed Everything

Today we take streaming libraries, catalog recommendations, and rediscovered classics for granted. But Rhino helped create the blueprint.

How did the process of licensing, restoring, packaging, and reintroducing older content evolve into what has now become one of the dominant business models in entertainment? What resistance did you encounter from record labels and rights holders in the early days? When did you realize the model was bigger than a niche collector audience?

4: What Audiences Teach Us About Creativity

One of the fascinating aspects of your career is that you've spent decades observing how audiences reconnect with older creative work. What patterns have you seen in how people rediscover music, television, and film from previous generations? And what does that tell us about human creativity, nostalgia, storytelling, and cultural memory?

5: The Future of Creativity, Archives, and Cultural Legacy

Today, entertainment companies increasingly view their catalogs as some of their most valuable assets.

Streaming platforms are built on libraries. Vinyl sales continue to grow. Legacy content often outperforms new releases. What does this shift tell us about the future of creativity and content consumption? And what advice would you give today's creators about building work that remains valuable decades from now?

If you enjoyed today's conversation, please subscribe, rate, and review the podcast.

On Your World of Creativity, we travel the world talking with creative practitioners about how they get inspired, organize ideas, and turn imagination into impact.

Today's guest believes that imagination isn't just a creative skill—it's infrastructure.

Adelia Schleusz has built a career at the intersection of commercial interior design, behavioral psychology, sensory design, research, and strategic foresight. As the founder of What If LAB, she helps organizations use creativity, science, and cross-disciplinary thinking to design better experiences, better environments, and perhaps even better futures.

Adelia 's Website

@adeliapcs on Instagram

Connect on LInkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/adelia-c-schleusz-rid-ncidq-iida-195b116/

If you've ever wondered how curiosity becomes innovation—or how asking "What if?" can transform the way we work, create, and collaborate—this conversation is for you.

Guest Bio

Adelia C. Schleusz is the Founder of What If LAB, LLC, a creative consultancy operating at the intersection of interior environments, human experiences, strategy, and science.

A licensed and registered interior designer, Adelia has spent her career exploring how creativity, behavioral psychology, research, and sensory design can work together to shape meaningful experiences. Her work has earned numerous industry honors, including the prestigious Interior Design 2023 HiP Award, recognizing the most innovative people in commercial design.

Adelia is a public speaker, SXSW workshop facilitator, and recipient of the IIDA 2025 Kimball International Makers of a Better Future Fund Award. Through What If LAB, she helps organizations cultivate curiosity, challenge assumptions, and design solutions that bridge imagination and practical impact.

Her philosophy is simple: stay curious, ask better questions, and never stop exploring the possibilities hidden inside "What if?"

1: Imagination as Infrastructure

One phrase that immediately caught my attention is your description of using "imagination as infrastructure."

Many people think of imagination as something abstract or artistic, but you see it as foundational to innovation and problem-solving.

What does "imagination as infrastructure" mean to you, and how has that philosophy shaped your career journey from interior design into strategy, research, and future-focused thinking?

Are organizations doing enough to nurture imagination—or are they unintentionally designing it out of the workplace?

2: The Soul of Your Brand

When I look at What If LAB, I don't see an interior design firm. I see a curiosity engine. A place where diverse disciplines collide to create new possibilities.

How has your mission evolved as you've gained experience working across industries and disciplines?

3: Designing for Human Experience

You've worked extensively in commercial interiors, behavioral psychology, sensory design, and research. Many people think design is about aesthetics. But your work suggests it's really about human behavior and experience.

What have you learned about how environments influence the way people think, collaborate, create, and even feel?

• What are some simple design principles listeners could apply in their own workspaces or creative environments?
• Have you seen examples where changing a space transformed the outcomes of a team or organization?

4: The Power of Cross-Disciplinary Thinking

A recurring theme on this podcast is that creativity often happens at the intersection of disciplines. You've intentionally built a career that connects design, psychology, research, science, business strategy, and innovation.

Why do breakthroughs so often emerge when we bring together people with different perspectives, and how can leaders create environments where that kind of collaboration thrives?

5: Living in the "What If?"

In a world increasingly focused on efficiency, certainty, and immediate results, curiosity can sometimes feel like a luxury. If listeners wanted to strengthen their own curiosity muscle this week, what's one question they should begin asking themselves?

If you enjoyed today's conversation, please subscribe, rate, and review the podcast.

Welcome back to Your World of Creativity. We travel around the world talking with creative practitioners about how they get inspired, organize ideas, gain confidence, and turn imagination into impact.

Today, we’re doing something special — a roundtable conversation around one of the six themes from my new book, UNLOCK Your World of Creativity — Developing Your Brand with a Signature Method.

We’ve gathered creative leaders from different parts of the country — and a world of different industries — to explore how unique methods become memorable brands.

Joining us today:

Ela Thier, filmmaker, educator, and author joining us from New York City, where she’s built an award-winning film career and mentored thousands of artists through The Independent Film School. Website: theindependentfilmschool.com IG: @elathier LI: linkedin.com/in/elathier Book: amazon.com/How-Fail-Artist-Best-Tips/dp/B0GWQGLF9K

Jessica and Damien Zouaoui, founders of Oakwell Beer Spa in Denver, Colorado, who transformed inspiration from travels across 25 countries into one of America’s most innovative wellness hospitality experiences. Websites: oakwell.com and oakwellfranchise.com IG: @oakwellbeerspa LI: linkedin.com/in/jfrench10 and linkedin.com/in/damienzouaoui

Jodi Koch, interior designer, CEO of Elizabeth Erin Designs, and host of Designing in 5D, joining us from Florida, where she helps clients transform homes through her signature 5D Process. Website: elizabetherindesigns.com IG: @elizabetherindesigns LI: linkedin.com/in/jodipeterman

Today’s guests represent filmmaking, wellness hospitality, and interior design — a rich mix of perspectives on how a distinctive method becomes a meaningful brand. Here are some of the key questions we explored:

1. What is your signature method?
2. How did your creative philosophy become something distinctly you?
3. How did you know it wasn’t just a business idea — but a signature brand concept worth building?
4. How does someone take what feels intuitive or artistic and turn it into a repeatable signature method that clients can understand and trust?
5. Behind the scenes your brand requires systems and consistency. How do you systematize without losing the surprise and delight?
6. What’s the biggest mistake creative people make when trying to define themselves or their brand?
7. How do you stay true to your signature approach while adapting to client realities?
8. How do you evolve your brand while staying true to what made it special?

Closing Question: What’s one thing listeners can do this week to begin developing a signature method of their own?

Summary

Today we explored how signature methods don’t appear overnight — they emerge through experimentation, setbacks, systems, lived experience, and the courage to lean into what makes you different.

Huge thanks to Ela, Jessica and Damien, and Jodi for sharing their insights and stories.

And if today’s conversation sparked something for you, this is exactly the kind of idea explored in my new book:

UNLOCK Your World of Creativity: 6 Key Lessons Learned from More Than 250 Creatives Worldwide. This roundtable was inspired by Chapter One: Developing Your Signature Method. You can order UNLOCK now on Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/UNLOCK-Your-World-Creativity-Creatives/dp/B0GJZF4N2P/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0

And if you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to follow, rate, and review the podcast. It helps more creative professionals discover these conversations.

Today, we enter the world of classical music and artistic perseverance — a conversation about resilience, mastery, identity, and what it takes to stay devoted to your craft over a lifetime.

Our guest is David Singer, internationally acclaimed clarinetist, educator, chamber musician, and author of the memoir From Cab Driver to Carnegie Hall.

David's Website

David's Facebook page

David’s extraordinary career has included performances at the White House for Presidents Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton, appearances at Carnegie Hall with Yehudi Menuhin, performances alongside Yo-Yo Ma and Rudolf Serkin, and years as co-Principal Clarinetist with the Grammy Award-winning Orpheus Chamber Orchestra.

But behind those accomplishments is another story — one of overcoming an abusive childhood, struggling financially as a young musician, driving a cab to support his family, and refusing to let go of his calling.

1. The Journey from Survival to Calling

David, your memoir title alone — From Cab Driver to Carnegie Hall — tells a powerful story of perseverance.

Take us back to those early years. Despite difficult circumstances growing up and the instability of life as a young musician, what kept pulling you back toward music? At what point did you realize this wasn’t simply something you loved — it was something you were willing to sacrifice for?

1. The Influence of Rudolf Jettel and Musical Obsession

You’ve described Rudolf Jettel, Principal Clarinetist of the Vienna Philharmonic, as your “musical father.”

You first studied with him as a 12-year-old boy and even sat beside him during Vienna Philharmonic performances. What did those experiences awaken in you creatively and emotionally? And how did that mentorship shape not only your musicianship, but your standards for excellence?

1. Performing at the Highest Level

Your career has brought you into some of the world’s most prestigious musical environments — from Carnegie Hall to collaborations with artists like Yehudi Menuhin, Yo-Yo Ma, and Rudolf Serkin.

When performing at that level, what separates technical mastery from true artistic expression? What have you learned about communication, emotion, and presence through music?

1. Reinvention, Teaching, and Giving Back

In addition to performing, you’ve spent decades mentoring young musicians and building chamber music programs at institutions like Montclair State University, Yale, and Princeton.

What do you believe young artists today most need to understand about building a sustainable creative life? And how has teaching deepened your own understanding of creativity and performance?

1. Writing the Memoir: From Musician to Author

This book marks your debut as an author, and it goes far beyond music. It’s about resilience, identity, family, and survival.

What inspired you to finally tell this story now? And during the writing and audiobook process, what did you discover about yourself that surprised you?

David, after a lifetime devoted to music, performance, and teaching, what advice would you give to someone who feels deeply called to a creative path — but is struggling to hold onto belief in

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe, share it with someone who loves music and creativity, and leave us a review.

Welcome back to Your World of Creativity, where we travel the globe talking with creative professionals who turn ideas into impact.

Today, we’re stamping our creative passport in Geneva, Switzerland to talk about the power of story — specifically, how organizations can transform their messaging when they stop talking about themselves and start seeing the world through the eyes of their customers.

Our guest is John Elbing, business storytelling consultant, founder of Standpoint, and creator of the Storybuilding method.

https://standpoint.ch

https://linkedin.com/in/elbing

John helps organizations flip the script by building brand stories from the customer’s perspective rather than from inside the organization. His work helps leadership and marketing teams sharpen positioning, align messaging, and simplify marketing decisions.

He’s also the author of the international bestselling book Storybuilding.

1. Why Most Brand Stories Miss the Mark

John, many companies think they already have a strong story — but often that story is centered on themselves instead of the customer.

What’s the biggest mistake organizations make when they build their messaging from the inside out instead of from the customer’s perspective?

And how does that shift in perspective change the way a brand connects emotionally with people?

1. The Storybuilding Method

You created the Storybuilding method as a practical framework for organizations.

Walk us through the core idea behind Storybuilding.

How do you help leadership and marketing teams move from simply “telling a story” to actually building one that shapes alignment, positioning, and growth?

1. Story as a Tool for Team Alignment

One thing I find fascinating in your work is that storytelling isn’t just external marketing — it becomes an internal alignment tool.

How does a shared story help teams make clearer decisions about branding, marketing, and even company direction?

Have you seen organizations transform simply because they finally got everyone speaking the same narrative language?

1. Emotion, Perception, and Being Remembered

You often talk about how brands should focus not only on what they do, but how they are seen and felt by their audience.

Why is emotional perception such an important part of storytelling today? (You’ll enjoy the personal story about the artwork on John’s wall.)

And what can businesses do to create stories that people actually remember — and respond to?

1. Flipping the Script on Your Own Story

For entrepreneurs, consultants, and creatives listening today, many are deeply attached to their own story and expertise.

What advice would you give someone who needs to flip the script and start seeing their brand from the audience’s standpoint instead of their own? John shares an idea he calls “trigger moments.” And what tends to happen when they finally make that shift?

John, if listeners walk away with just one insight about storytelling and brand positioning, what would you most want them to remember?

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe, share it with a colleague or creative friend, and leave us a review.

And remember: sometimes the most powerful shift in creativity happens when you stop asking, “What do we want to say?” and start asking, “What does our audience need to feel?”

Welcome back to Your World of Creativity, where we travel the globe talking with creative professionals who turn ideas into impact.

In recent episodes, we’ve explored creativity through design, dance, music, and innovation—how ideas come to life across disciplines.

Today, we’re taking that conversation inside the organization. Because creativity isn’t just about what you make—it’s about how you lead, how you adapt, and how you bring people with you.

We’re focusing on what it really means to perform at your very best, especially during moments of transition, uncertainty, and transformation.

Our guest is Stephen Frenkel, a coach and consultant with more than 25 years of experience in leadership development, team optimization, conflict resolution, and change management. He brings a systems-thinking approach to help organizations clarify where they’re going, what’s getting in the way, and how to move forward with purpose.

Stephen is also a contributing author to Lives Lost and Leadership Found, a powerful collection exploring how grief and loss shape leadership.

Stephen's Website

https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephen-frenkel-voyager/

1. Defining “At Their Very Best”

Stephen, you help leaders and teams “be their very best.” That’s a powerful phrase—but it can mean different things to different people.

How do you help leaders define what “their very best” actually looks like—and why is that clarity so critical before any real progress can happen?

2. What Gets in the Way

Once that vision is clear, the next step is identifying what’s getting in the way.

From your experience, what are the most common obstacles—whether at the individual, team, or organizational level—that prevent people from performing at their best?

And how do you begin to surface those issues in a way that people are willing to address?

3. Systems Thinking + Team Performance

You take a systems-thinking approach, which I find really compelling.

How does looking at the whole system—instead of just individuals or isolated problems—change the way leaders approach team effectiveness, culture, and performance?

Can you share an example where that shift in perspective made a meaningful difference?

4. Conflict, Change, and Creative Tension

You’ve spent a lot of your career working in conflict resolution and change management.

Many leaders try to avoid conflict—but I suspect you see it differently.

How can leaders reframe conflict as something productive—or even creative—and what are some practical ways to navigate tension during periods of change? Stephen says he often refers to the book, Getting To Yes by Roger Fisher and William L. Ury.

https://www.amazon.com/Getting-Yes-Negotiating-Agreement-Without/dp/0143118757

5. Leadership, Loss, and Perspective

You contributed to a recent book, Lives Lost and Leadership Found, where leaders reflect on how loss shapes their leadership.

What inspired you to share your story—and what did that process unlock for you, personally or professionally?

And how has that experience influenced how you show up today as a coach, advisor, and leader?

Closing Question

Stephen, for leaders listening today—especially those navigating change or uncertainty—what’s one question they should be asking themselves right now to move closer to being “at their very best”?

Thanks for joining us on Your World of Creativity.

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, share, and leave a review.

And remember — creativity isn’t just about ideas. It’s about how you lead, adapt, and move forward.

On Your World of Creativity, we travel around the world talking with creative practitioners who turn ideas into impact.

In just the past few episodes, we’ve been (virtually) exploring creative centers like London, Sydney, and Las Vegas — along with vibrant hubs like Pittsburgh and Austin. Today, we’re in New York City… and even making a stop in Times Square ... with a guest who has quite literally taken her voice global.

I’m joined by Kneet — a Thai Sikh Punjabi independent artist blending Bollywood glam with hip-hop swagger. Her music explores identity, resilience, cultural fusion, and creative reinvention.

Her breakout single “RISE” hit #1 on Apple Music video charts and appeared on Times Square billboards — marking a defining moment in her independent journey. She’s continued that momentum with her latest release, “My Man.”

But beyond the music, Kneet brings a powerful lived experience — navigating motherhood, advocacy, and systemic challenges — while completing her Master’s in Developmental Psychology.

Today, we’re talking about Creative Cultural Expression… and the Power of Voice.

Kneet is a global independent artist whose sound blends pop, hip-hop, soul/R&B, and cinematic storytelling — shaped by a life lived across cultures.

Her work is rooted in truth — transforming personal experience into universal expression. Whether through music, advocacy, or storytelling, she is reclaiming voice, honoring identity, and creating space for authenticity.

1 — Identity as Creative Fuel

Kneet, your music feels deeply rooted in identity — cultural, personal, and emotional. What first inspired you to use music as a way to express who you are and what you’ve lived through?

How has your Thai Sikh Punjabi background shaped your sound, your storytelling, and the way you show up as an artist?

2 — The Power of Voice

This episode is really centered on the idea of “the power of voice.” What does that mean to you — both as an artist and as a person navigating real-life challenges?

Was there a moment in your life where you realized you had to stop surviving… and start choosing your voice?

3 — Creativity as Healing & Transformation

Your work carries emotional depth — it feels like more than performance, it feels like processing and transformation. How does music become a tool for healing when words alone aren’t enough?

You’re navigating intense personal experiences while continuing to create. How do you stay grounded and protect your creative energy during those times?

4 — Turning Personal Story into Universal Connection

One of the most powerful things about your music is how personal stories become something universal. How do you translate your lived experience into songs that resonate across cultures and audiences?

Why do you think so many strong voices — especially women — are often misunderstood, and how does reclaiming your voice shift that narrative?

5 — Rising as an Independent Artist

Your single “RISE” hitting #1 and appearing in Times Square is an incredible milestone — especially as an independent artist. What did that moment represent for you?

For other artists listening, what are some practical ways they can unlock their voice, build confidence, and create opportunities without waiting for permission?

Summary

Today we explored what it means to create from identity, to reclaim your voice, and to use creativity not just as expression — but as transformation.

From blending cultures into a unique artistic sound…

to turning personal challenges into global connection…

to rising as an independent artist on your own terms…

Kneet's story reminds us that our voice is not something we’re given — it’s something we claim.

If you enjoyed this episode, take a moment to subscribe, rate, and review Your World of Creativity on your favorite podcast app.

It helps more creative voices like Kneet’s be heard around the world.

And come back next time, as we continue our journey… unlocking… Your World of Creativity.

On Your World of Creativity, we travel around the world talking with creative leaders who turn ideas into impact.

Last time Aurora Winter joined us, we explored her book Turn Words Into Wealth. Now she’s back with a bold new message: 2026 is “do or die” for experts and entrepreneurs. Today we’re diving into her newest release, Brand Strategy in the Age of AI — and what it takes to build a valuable, future-proof brand in an AI-powered world.

Aurora Winter is a bestselling author, brand strategist, and former TV executive producer who helps experts and entrepreneurs turn their message into money. With a background in storytelling and showrunning, she’s guided thousands of leaders to create influential, scalable brands.

Aurora's Website

Aurora on YouTube

@aurorawintermba on Instagram

Her new book, Brand Strategy in the Age of AI, tackles one urgent question: Will AI replace you — or amplify you?

1 — Why 2026 Is “Do or Die”

Aurora, last time we spoke about turning words into wealth. Now you’re saying that 2026 is a “do or die” moment for experts and entrepreneurs. That’s strong language. What’s happening right now that makes this moment so critical?

What are you seeing that most leaders are underestimating about AI’s impact on branding and visibility?

2 — Catching the AI Wave (Without Being Replaced)

There’s a lot of fear in the market right now — will AI replace writers, coaches, strategists, consultants? From your perspective, how can entrepreneurs catch the AI wave and profit rather than get wiped out by it?

You talk about four human superpowers that AI can’t replicate. What are they — and how do they translate into a valuable brand? Your story; your presence; your sense of style; your leadership approach.

3 — The Visibility Imperative (Why Video Matters)

You’ve said leaders who skip video are training the market to ignore them. That’s provocative. Why is video so essential in the AI era?

How does the “movie trailer mindset” help leaders grab attention in a crowded digital landscape?

4 — Think Like a Showrunner

You come from television and production, and now you’re applying what you call the “Netflix Framework” — thinking like a showrunner to build binge-worthy content. What does that mean for a founder or expert building a brand?

You also mention leveraging a “fractional Showrunner.” What is that role, and why might it be the missing piece for scaling a powerful personal brand?

5 — Early Adopters Win (How to Be One)

You’ve said that early adopters with the right brand strategy are going to crush it in 2026. What does “the right strategy” actually look like?

If someone listening feels behind, what’s one move they can make this month to position themselves as an amplified expert rather than an invisible one?

We explored all these themes:

• AI as amplifier, not enemy

• Human superpowers as differentiator

• Showrunner thinking for strategic visibility

• Brand as intellectual property

• Early adoption as leverage

On Your World of Creativity, we travel around the world talking with creative professionals who turn ideas into impact. Today we’re diving into music and business with Don Rodriguez — a former general contractor who left a 20-year career to pursue his passion for music… and ended up redesigning the record label model itself.

Don's Website

Don on YouTube

Don's Facebook page

Introduction

Don Rodriguez is an 18-year entrepreneur and general contractor who walked away from a successful construction career after becoming burned out and disillusioned. He pivoted into music — not just as a creative outlet, but as a producer and founder of The I&I Music Studio, a recording studio, record label, and music publisher for independent artists.

Drawing on two decades of business and contract experience, Don created a radically different label structure: one where artists own their masters and publishing, while the label generates its own revenue streams and collects points — flipping the traditional industry model on its head.

Today, he’s here to talk music, ownership, contracts, publishing, and how independent artists can thrive without giving away their future.

1 — From Construction to Creation

Don, you spent nearly two decades as a general contractor before pivoting into music full-time. What happened internally that made you leave that career — and how did music pull you into a new chapter? When you entered the music industry, what did you immediately see that didn’t sit right with you?

2 — Why Artists Still Need a Label

There’s a strong narrative right now that independent artists don’t need record labels anymore. From your perspective, why is it still necessary for independent artists to have a label structure around them? What’s the difference between an artist trying to build alone versus having the right kind of team behind them? • Spotlight on Lexsey (emerging pop star)

3 — Flipping the Contract Model

You’ve created what you describe as a complete 180 from how record contracts have operated for the last 70 years. Walk us through how your contract works — and why artist ownership of masters and publishing is so critical. How are traditional big-label contracts typically structured — and where do artists lose leverage? • Spotlight on the classical-to-fantasy-grunge artist

4 — Publishing, Production & Revenue

You’ve said that music publishing is the key to making money in music. For listeners who aren’t deep in the industry, what exactly is publishing — and why does it matter so much? In today’s world of home studios and DIY production, why does an artist still need a producer and professional studio environment?

5 — Building a Sustainable Ecosystem

One of the most interesting parts of your model is that your label generates its own revenue instead of relying solely on artists’ music. How does that work — and how does that change the power dynamic between label and artist?

If an artist has already released music under a different structure, can they pivot into a more ownership-driven future? What’s possible?

We tie together all these themes:

• Creative reinvention

• Ownership vs exploitation

• Entrepreneurship in music

• Designing a better ecosystem

• Artists as business partners

On Your World of Creativity, we travel around the world talking with creative practitioners who turn ideas into impact. Today we’re exploring the intersection of soul, storytelling, and strategy with Luna Battalia — a leadership mentor and business strategist who helps founders build Brand Universes people don’t want to leave. Luna blends buyer psychology, artistry, and deep purpose to help entrepreneurs communicate with bold, unignorable confidence.

Luna Battalia is the founder of Caru Creative, a full-service brand studio supporting mission-driven leaders and personal brands. She’s also the creator of Animist Branding™, a psychology-driven approach shaped by more than 15 years at the intersection of digital marketing and buyer behavior.

Luna's Website

@lunabattalia on Instagram

Luna believes branding is storytelling, entrepreneurship is soul work, and business should be built as a generative ecosystem — not a carbon-copy strategy. With a background in design and marketing, plus years guiding thousands of founders, she helps entrepreneurs transform their voice, build legacies (not just businesses), and create brands rooted in authenticity, beauty, and impact.

1 — From Strategy to Soul: Your Creative Path

Luna, you describe yourself not just as a brand strategist, but as an artist, poet, and devotee of the mystery. Can you walk us through your own creative journey — and how you arrived at this intersection of leadership, branding, and soul-centered business?

What was the moment you realized that traditional branding frameworks weren’t enough — and that something deeper was calling you into this work?

2 — Animist Branding™ & Building Brand Universes

You created something called Animist Branding™ — a psychology-driven approach that treats brands almost like living entities. What does that mean in practice?

You talk about helping founders build a “Brand Universe people don’t want to leave.” What are the core elements that make a brand feel magnetic rather than transactional?

3 — Entrepreneurship as Soul Work

You’ve said that entrepreneurship is soul work — not just a business strategy. For founders who are multi-passionate creatives holding big visions, what does it really take to stand confidently in purpose and share their gifts without burning out or shrinking back?

How do you help clients move beyond polished feeds and surface-level messaging into something more embodied and honest?

4 — Storytelling, Psychology & Creative Leadership

You believe the core of branding is storytelling — and that your gift is asking the right questions to draw out someone’s true story. What kinds of questions unlock the most powerful shifts for leaders?

From your experience working with thousands of brands, how does authenticity actually drive growth — especially when paired with buyer psychology and strategic clarity?

5 — The Soul of Your Brand

On this show, we talk a lot about the soul of your brand — aligning inner clarity with outer work. When you look at a founder or creative entrepreneur, how do you help them translate who they are into how they show up in the world?

For listeners who feel the call to expand into their next level, what’s one small but meaningful step they can take this week to begin building a legacy-driven brand?

Today’s guest lives at the intersection of music, media, and the side hustle. If you’ve ever wondered how local scenes get discovered, how independent artists break through, or how creatives build meaningful work alongside a day job—this conversation pulls back the curtain.

Allen Halas is a music writer, radio host, and podcaster based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He currently works for OnMilwaukee, the city’s largest digital media outlet, where he covers arts, culture, and music. He was previously heard on FM 102.1 as the host of Love Local Radio, championing homegrown talent and community voices.

Allen's Website

@AllenHalas on Instagram

Allen's Facebook page

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allenhalas/

Allen is also the founder of Breaking And Entering, a music platform he launched in 2014 that produces daily content spotlighting independent artists in the Milwaukee music scene. In addition, he co-hosts the Hustling Sideways podcast with Jim Love, where they explore the passion projects and side hustles of entrepreneurs balancing creative work with a traditional 9-to-5.

1) Falling in Love With the Local Scene

Allen, you’ve built much of your career around spotlighting local and independent music. What first drew you to covering the Milwaukee music scene, and what keeps you invested in telling these stories year after year?

2) Breaking And Entering: Building a Platform From the Ground Up

You founded Breaking And Entering in 2014 and have produced daily content ever since—no small feat. What did you learn early on about consistency, credibility, and community when building a media platform focused on independent artists?

3) From Radio Waves to Digital Media

You’ve worked across radio, digital publishing, and podcasting. How has the shift from traditional radio to online media changed the way artists are discovered—and what do you think still matters most, regardless of platform?

4) Hustling Sideways: Passion Projects After the 9-to-5

On Hustling Sideways, you explore how people pursue meaningful creative work alongside full-time jobs. What patterns do you see among those who successfully sustain side hustles—and what advice would you give creatives who feel stretched thin?

5) The Future of Local Music and Independent Media

Looking ahead, what excites you most about the future of local music scenes and independent media? And where do you think creators need to be more intentional to thrive in an increasingly crowded landscape?

For creatives listening who feel invisible or unsure if their work matters—what would you tell them about the power of showing up, supporting their scene, and staying local while thinking big?

On Your World of Creativity, we travel around the world talking with creative practitioners who turn ideas into impact. Today we’re stepping into the studio with a guest to explore what it really means to trust yourself, dismantle habits, and make braver, more embodied art. Welcome choreographer, director, educator and author … Alexandra Beller.

Alexandra's Website

@alexandrabellerdances on Instagram

Alexandra on YouTube

Alexandra's Facebook page

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/alexandra-beller-0a56a57

A former member of the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company, she is now the Artistic Director of Alexandra Beller/Dances, having created more than 40 dance theater works internationally.

Her teaching spans Princeton University, the Laban Institute, and residencies around the globe. In theater, she’s worked Off-Broadway and regionally, with credits including Lincoln Center and A.R.T.

Alexandra is currently writing two books:

The Embodied Conductor (Meredith Music, 2025) and

The Anatomy of Art (Bloomsbury, 2026).

Her work blends somatic practice, rigorous inquiry, and creative freedom to help artists deepen their process and unlock new possibilities.

1 — The Creative Process as a Living Practice

Alexandra, you’ve spent decades inside the creative process — as performer, choreographer, director, and educator. What inspired you to write a book about the creative process now, and what do you hope artists take away from it?

Follow-up:

The Anatomy of Art reads like a field guide for creative life — part poetic meditation, part practical workbook — with chapters on Time, Space, Meaning, Relationship, Process, Material, and more. Each section offers inquiry prompts, embodiment exercises, and devising practices that help artists reconnect to their sensory intelligence and personal voice.

You also weave in contributions from seminal voices like Anne Bogart and Deborah Hay, folding perspectives from across disciplines and generations into the book.

Can you share how you designed The Anatomy of Art to live at that intersection of instinct and analysis — and why it felt important to create something that offers rigorous tools while still honoring the mystery of making?

2 — Trust, Doubt, and Creative Courage

You speak often about trusting yourself in the creative process. That sounds simple — but it’s incredibly difficult in practice.

What does it really mean to trust yourself as an artist — and how do creatives actually begin to do that?

Optional follow-up:

What role does doubt play? Is it something to eliminate — or something to work with?

3 — Structure and Freedom

You work with systems like Laban and Bartenieff — which are rigorous, structured methodologies — yet your approach is also deeply poetic and personal.

How do you balance structure and freedom in your work?

And more broadly, how can artists use structure without becoming constrained by it?

4 — Dismantling Habits & Artistic Reinvention

You talk about dismantling habits — creatively and personally.

Why is breaking creative habits so essential for growth?

What happens if we don’t?

Follow-up:

Is there a connection between the parts of ourselves we hide and the habits we form in our art?

5 — Joy, Burnout & Staying Porous

Artists often struggle with burnout, pressure, comparison, and the fear of not being “enough.”

How can artists stay porous and brave without becoming overwhelmed?

And how do we create conditions for joy — especially in careers that can feel filled with struggle?

Key themes:

• The body as intelligence

• Trust as a practice, not a personality trait

• Structure as a container for freedom

• Dismantling habits to create braver work

• Joy as a discipline

On Your World of Creativity, we travel around the world talking with creative practitioners, healers, founders, and changemakers. And today, we’re stamping our creative passport in Brisbane, Australia, to talk with someone who’s helping millions reconnect with the wisdom of their bodies. If you’ve ever felt stuck, depleted, or disconnected from your inner clarity, today’s conversation may open a powerful new door.

Inna Segal is a pioneer in energy medicine and human consciousness, and the internationally bestselling author of The Secret Language of Your Body, translated into 26 languages with more than a million copies sold worldwide. Her work has been praised by leading physicians including Bernie Siegel, Christiane Northrup, and more for its practical, compassionate, and deeply transformative approach to healing.

https://www.innasegal.com/masterclass

Inna’s journey began as a young immigrant from Belarus to Australia, where emotional isolation and trauma manifested as chronic illness. At age 20, following the stillbirth of her baby and a profound personal collapse, she experienced a spontaneous healing breakthrough that revealed the emotional, ancestral, and energetic roots of her suffering.

That moment became the foundation of her life’s work.

For more than 25 years, Inna has helped people worldwide—doctors, creatives, trauma survivors, and leaders—understand the deeper messages of the body and activate their own healing abilities. She has taught internationally, created multiple healing decks and programs, and developed a non-linear approach to healing that integrates emotions, archetypes, energy systems, and ancestral patterns.

Today, she supports people globally through courses, masterclasses, and intuitive healing work—helping them reconnect with the wisdom of their bodies and the timing of their souls.

1) From Personal Crisis to Life’s Work

Inna, your journey into healing began through profound personal loss and physical pain—from chronic illness to the stillbirth of your baby. Can you share that pivotal moment when you decided to listen to your body differently, and how that experience became the foundation of everything you do today?

2) The Secret Language of the Body

You teach that illness is rarely just physical—and that symptoms often appear far from where the real issue began. What do you mean by the “secret language of the body,” and how can someone begin to understand what their own body is trying to communicate?

3) Healing Beyond Symptoms: Emotions, Ancestry, and Archetypes

Your work explores emotional patterns, inherited trauma, masculine and feminine dynamics, and archetypes. From your experience, what deeper layers are most often overlooked in healing—and why can trying to “fix” symptoms too quickly actually be harmful?

Inna, where can listeners find your books, courses, and the Awaken the Healer Within masterclass?

4) The Soul of Your Brand

Inna, I want to shift for a moment to what I call the soul of your brand. Using my brand model—clarity of purpose, lived experience, emotional truth, and practical impact—you didn’t just build a business, you embodied your message.

How would you describe the soul of your work today?

What values guide it?

And how do you translate something so intuitive and spiritual into grounded books, programs, and experiences that genuinely help people?

5) Where to Begin When You Feel Overwhelmed

Many listeners may be dealing with emotional stress, physical symptoms, or simply feeling disconnected. When someone feels overwhelmed by everything they’re experiencing, where do you recommend they begin? What’s one simple way they can start reconnecting with their body and inner healer today?

“If someone listening today feels broken, stuck, or disconnected from their body—what would you want them to remember about their own capacity to heal?”

Today’s guest lives at the intersection of craft, sound, and story. If you’ve ever wondered what happens when making the instrument becomes part of the art — and when music leads before meaning — this conversation will invite you to slow down, listen deeply, and sit inside the mystery.

Martin Maudal is a renowned luthier, songwriter, and producer, and a graduate of Berklee College of Music. Raised in Claremont, California at the foot of Mount Baldy, and shaped by years in the New York music scene, Martin blends West Coast soul with East Coast grit.

He is the founder of Maudal Musical Machines, where he hand-builds electric resonator guitars—functional sculptures and vessels of sound that he also performs and records with. What began as a way to showcase these instruments evolved into Baldy Crawlers, a deeply expressive musical collective blending Folk, Americana, Jazz, and social commentary.

Martin on YouTube

@maudalmusicalmachines on Instagram

Martin's Facebook page

Following critical acclaim for “Bring Me a Flower,” Baldy Crawlers return with the haunting new single Boy, released January 9, 2026—an intuitive, open-ended work that invites listeners not to solve the song, but to sit inside it.

1) When Craft Becomes the Muse

Martin, Baldy Crawlers began as a way to showcase your handmade guitars—and then became something much bigger. At what point did you realize this wasn’t just a marketing project, but a true artistic calling of its own?

2) Music Before Meaning

Your new single “Boy” started not with a concept, but with a feeling. You’ve said, “This one was music before it was words.” What happens creatively when you let sound lead before meaning—and how do you know when not to force interpretation?

3) Instruments as Storytellers

You build the very instruments you record and perform with. How does handcrafting a guitar—its materials, weight, resonance—shape the stories that come out of it? In what ways does the instrument itself become a collaborator?

4) Leaving Space for Mystery

“Boy” lives in a dreamlike space where silence speaks as loudly as sound. In a world that pushes clarity, content, and explanation, how do you protect ambiguity—and why do you think listeners crave that space now?

5) Empathy, Myth, and the Human Pulse

From “Bring Me a Flower” to “Boy,” Baldy Crawlers’ music feels rooted in empathy and shared humanity. What themes keep returning in your work—and what do you hope listeners discover about themselves when they sit with these songs?

“Before we wrap up, Martin, where can listeners explore Baldy Crawlers’ music, your instruments at Maudal Musical Machines, and keep up with upcoming releases?”

For creatives listening who feel pressure to explain, optimize, or over-define their work—what would you say about trusting intuition and letting the art reveal itself in its own time?

Music tracks are copyrighted, provided by the artist, and used with permission.

"Bedlam"

"Boy"

"Bring Me A Flower"

"Orbelin"

Today’s guest proves that a creative career doesn’t have to rely on algorithms, going viral, or luck. If you’ve ever wondered how to strategize your creativity like a real profession—and build a living from your work—this conversation is for you.

Kern Carter is a former indie and current traditionally published author writing books for Penguin and Scholastic. He writes essays at the intersection of publishing and pop culture, offering candid insight into what it actually takes to make a living as an author and creative entrepreneur.

www.kerncarter.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerncarter/

In the past year alone, Kern has sold approximately 15,000 books—without being popular on any social media platform—by intentionally building and leveraging community. His journey includes dropping out of high school at 18 when he became a father, earning a full athletic scholarship, self-publishing his first books, securing an agent, and signing multiple traditional publishing deals beginning in 2021.

Beyond books, Kern runs a thriving creative business spanning film production (with a film on Amazon Prime Video), ghostwriting, and platforms that support emerging writers. His story is one of perseverance, planning, and playing the long game.

1) Designing a Creative Career on Purpose

Kern, you’ve said you’re living the life you told yourself you’d live at eight years old—and that it didn’t happen by accident. How did you approach building a creative career the way someone might approach a traditional profession, with strategy, planning, and long-term vision?

2) Prioritizing Yourself While Raising a Child

You became a father very young, yet you still prioritized your creative ambitions. That’s a difficult balance for many people. How did you navigate that tension—and what impact did that decision have on both your career and your relationship with your daughter?

3) Selling Books Without Social Media Fame

You’ve sold roughly 15,000 books in the last year without being popular on social media, which goes against most advice writers hear today. What role has community building played in your success, and how can writers start building real relationships instead of chasing followers?

4) Playing the Long Game

Your journey took 15 years to reach what many would call “overnight success.” How did you stay motivated through the slower seasons, and what mindset shifts helped you keep going when results weren’t immediate?

5) Education, Income, and the Future of Creative Work

You’ve been outspoken about what formal education gets wrong when it comes to preparing writers to earn a living. What do you think aspiring authors really need to learn—and how are you personally adapting to changes like AI entering creative industries?

For creatives listening who feel behind, discouraged, or unsure if their plan is working—what’s one thing you want them to remember about patience, strategy, and belief in themselves?

Cathleen Ireland is an award-winning singer, songwriter, and producer whose work blends warm pop, soul, and coastal R&B with emotional depth and authenticity.

Throughout this conversation, we’ll be playing excerpts from four of Cathleen’s songs:

“Coastin’”

“Golden Sienna”

“In the City”

“Do You Care”

A longtime fixture in Pittsburgh’s music scene, she has earned international recognition for both her music and visual storytelling, with songwriting honors from the USA Songwriting Competition, the UK Songwriting Competition, and the International Acoustic Music Awards, along with more than 70 film festival selections for her music videos worldwide.

In 2024, Cathleen was awarded Best Adult Contemporary Song by The Artists Forum Music Competition in New York City for “DRIVE,” a track she co-wrote and co-produced with multi-platinum producer Ryan M. Tedder.

She kicked off this year with the release of an uplifting new single “Coastin’,” from her latest album In The City — a sunlit, groove-driven anthem rooted in gratitude, presence, and self-acceptance.

As both a songwriter and producer, Cathleen remains deeply hands-on in shaping a sound that feels modern yet personal—polished yet unmistakably human. She is also the founder and lead vocalist of the Pittsburgh-based band Hot Weather Holiday.

Cathleen's Website

Cathleen on YouTube

@cathleenireland on Instagram

Cathleen's Facebook page

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cathleen-ireland-68513550/

1) “Coastin’” and the Moment After the Climb

Cathleen, “Coastin’” feels like a deep exhale — a moment of calm after pushing through uncertainty. What season of life were you in when you wrote this song, and what did “coastin’” represent for you personally?

2) Gratitude Without Platitudes

The lyrics celebrate gratitude, presence, and self-acceptance—but in a way that feels earned, not glossy. How do you write about gratitude without it sounding cliché, and how has lived experience shaped the honesty in your songwriting?

3) From “DRIVE” to In The City: Crafting Songs That Move People

Your song “DRIVE,” co-written and produced with Ryan M. Tedder, earned major recognition and clearly resonated with listeners. What did that collaboration teach you about songwriting, production, and trusting your creative instincts — and how did that experience influence the music you’re making now?

4) Creative Momentum and Collaboration

You’ve collaborated with a wide range of musicians and producers over the years. How do collaboration and trust influence your creative process—and what have you learned about your own voice through working closely with others?

5) Presence, Peace, and the Creative Life

“Coastin’” reminds us that fulfillment doesn’t always come from chasing what’s next. For creatives who feel pressure to constantly produce, perform, or prove themselves, what does it look like to slow down and still stay creatively alive?

If someone listening today is in the middle of their own climb, what’s one thing you’d want them to remember about joy, patience, and trusting the process?

Today’s conversation might change the way you think about your home. What if the spaces you live in are quietly shaping your energy, relationships, and sense of purpose—every single day? Whether you own or rent, this episode will show you how to put the mind–body–environment connection to work for you.”

Talor Stewart is a licensed architect with more than 25 years of experience and the author of the #1 bestselling book Conscious Home Design, which has reached the top of the charts in seven countries. An award-winning architect, Talor specializes in single- and multi-family homes as well as intentional communities, working with clients across the United States and select international locations.

Talor's Website

@conscioushomedesign on Instagram

Talor's Facebook page

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/talorstewart/

Over the past two decades, Talor has developed the Conscious Home Design (CHD) philosophy and system—an approach that helps people understand how their homes can actively support wellbeing, relationships, and personal growth. In addition to his design practice, he teaches and certifies other designers and architects in the CHD method, empowering them to bring these life-changing principles to clients everywhere.

Talor’s work expands the familiar mind-body connection to include the built environment, helping people—whether they own or rent—make simple, meaningful changes that uplift daily life.

1) What Really Makes a Good Life?

Talor, you often reference long-term research on happiness. What does the research—especially the Harvard Study on Adult Happiness—tell us about what actually helps people thrive as they age, and how did that insight influence your approach to home design?

2) Relationships, By Design

One of the exercises in your workbook is about three different types of relationships that are essential to our wellbeing. Can you break those down for us—and explain how the bones of our homes can either support or undermine those relationships?

3) From Maslow to the Floor Plan

When you’re thinking about what a home truly needs to provide, what framework do you use? How does Maslow’s hierarchy of needs translate into your concept of the nine essential spaces, and why does that matter whether someone lives in a house or a small apartment?

4) The “Sunny Window Effect”

You’ve coined the term sunny window effect. What is it, and why does access to sunlight have such a powerful influence on motivation, mood, and daily behavior?

5) Small Shifts, Big Impact

For listeners who may not be building a new home—or who rent—what are a few small, practical changes they can make right now to shift their environment and, in turn, shift their life?

If someone listening today wants to start living more intentionally—but feels overwhelmed—what’s one simple step they can take this week to let their home support them more fully?

What could we do to start making a “Creative Room: Express Yourself! Making Room for Creativity”?

Today’s guest is going to help you answer a question every creative wrestles with: How do I show up with confidence, clarity, and purpose—especially when the stakes are high? If you’ve ever felt stuck, underestimated, or like you’re holding back your best work… this conversation will help you lead with more intention—and live with fewer regrets.

Pallavi Ridout is an executive leadership coach, keynote speaker, facilitator, and emcee who helps leaders unlock confidence, clarity, and purpose. After a 20-year corporate career, she stepped into her calling full-time—guiding individuals and teams through her signature work, Leading a Life of No Regrets.

And outside of leadership development, Pallavi is a global traveler who has visited 30 countries—including an “Around the World in 80 Days” adventure with her son—and she even competes in pool championships.

Pallavi's Website

https://www.linkedin.com/in/pallaviridout

Book: https://a.co/d/2FcPIoy

1) The Pivot: From Corporate Success to No Regrets

Pallavi, you had a 20-year corporate career across global industries—entertainment, internet, aerospace—and then made the bold decision to build your own path. What was the moment—or season—that made you decide: “I’m going to lead a life of no regrets”?

2) Confidence + Clarity: The Foundation of Creative Leadership

A lot of creatives struggle with visibility—speaking up, owning their value, pitching ideas, asking for opportunities. When you coach leaders, what are the most common confidence blockers you see… and what’s one practical way people can start building confidence quickly?

3) Executive Presence Without “Performing”

You specialize in executive presence, emotional intelligence, and communication. How do you help leaders develop executive presence in a way that feels authentic—especially for thoughtful, introverted, or highly creative people who don’t want to feel like they’re “acting” in professional settings?

4) Turning Loss Into Leadership: Your Chapter in Lives Lost and Leadership Found

You’re a contributing author to Lives Lost and Leadership Found, a powerful collection where leaders reflect on how grief, loss, and “special somebodies” shape our capacity to lead. What inspired you to contribute your story—and what did the writing process unlock for you personally or professionally? And what was it like being part of a multi-author collection where so many voices are transforming loss into leadership wisdom?

5) Purpose, Courage, and Community Impact

You devote 25% of your work to purpose-driven efforts that strengthen communities and amplify unheard voices. How do you personally stay grounded in purpose while also growing a business—and what does “living with no regrets” look like in real life, not just as a keynote theme?

If someone listening today is ready to lead with more courage—but they’ve been hesitating—what’s one small step they can take in the next 24 hours to move toward a life of no regrets?

Have you ever walked out of a meeting feeling misunderstood, over-explained, or like your best ideas never landed the way you intended? Today’s episode is all about the hidden power of conversation—and how better listening, clearer communication, and stronger trust can unlock creativity, alignment, and real momentum inside any team or organization.

Today, I’m joined by Adrienne Shoch, Founder of 5 to 1 Consulting. Adrienne brings more than 25 years of global experience in communication-focused leadership and team development. Her work blends communication science, positive leadership, neuroscience, and awareness practices to help leaders and teams create meaningful, lasting change.

Adrienne's Website

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adrienne-shoch/

Book: https://a.co/d/be0u3kH

Adrienne has led Thales University North America, managed HR across Europe as an expatriate for CGI/AMS, consulted for the World Bank, facilitated at Wharton Executive Education, and guest lectured at Salisbury University and UNC Asheville.

She’s authored a business case quantifying something staggering: the $1.2 trillion annual cost of poor communication in U.S. businesses.

She also recently contributed a chapter to the new book Lives Lost and Leadership Found

https://www.linkedin.com/in/adrienne-shoch/

1) Why Conversation Quality Is a Competitive Advantage

Adrienne, you’ve made a bold claim that conversational excellence isn’t a “soft skill”—it’s a hard business driver with measurable impact.

Where do most organizations underestimate the cost of poor communication, and what’s the most surprising consequence you’ve seen play out in the real world?

2) The $1.2 Trillion Problem

You quantified the annual cost of poor workplace communication at $1.2 trillion in the U.S.—that’s not a rounding error, that’s a national business crisis.

What are the biggest “hidden drains” that create that number—misalignment, rework, turnover, conflict, decision delays—and what do leaders need to start measuring differently?

3) Trust, Awareness, and Generative Conversations

A lot of leaders think communication means: “I said it clearly.”

But your work focuses on trust, verbal awareness, and high-quality generative conversations.

What are the key ingredients of a truly great conversation inside a team—and what habits immediately kill trust and connection?

4) The Human Side: Loss, Compassion, and Leadership Growth

You also wrote a chapter in Lives Lost and Leadership Found called:

“A Journey through Compassion, Transformation, and the Practice of Letting Go.”

How does loss reshape a leader’s ability to listen, relate, and communicate—and what does it look like to lead with compassion without losing performance and accountability?

5) A Practical Path Forward for Leaders and Teams

If a leader is listening right now thinking, “This is us—we’ve got meetings, we’ve got Slack, we’ve got email… but we don’t have real conversations,” where should they start?

What are 2–3 simple practices teams can implement this week to improve conversational competence and build a healthier culture—fast?

Adrienne, what’s one reminder you want every leader to carry into their next conversation—something simple, practical, and transformative?

Today we’re joined by Dr. Matthew Harmody — a retired emergency physician, living kidney donor, and one of the leading advocates for kidney donation in the United States. Matthew donated a kidney to a stranger, then dedicated his post-medical career to eliminating the national kidney waitlist through education, mentorship, and policy reform.

Matt's Website

@5k50ss on Instagram

Matt's Facebook page

Matt's Facebook group

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-harmody-97988311/

He currently serves as Board Chair of the National Kidney Donation Organization, is a founding member of the Coalition to Modify NOTA, and has just released a remarkable new book, Ascending America: Five Kidney Donors, Fifty States, One Record-Breaking Journey. The book chronicles an extraordinary feat—summiting the highest point in all fifty states in record time—while carrying a much bigger message about courage, health, and the power of giving.

1. From the ER to Altruism in Action
2. Matt, you spent years as an emergency physician—trained to assess risk, act fast, and save lives under pressure. What first inspired you to donate a kidney to a stranger, and how did that single decision redirect the course of your life?
3. Donor Myths vs. Reality
4. Many people believe kidney donation is dangerous, permanently limiting, or something only done for family. What surprised you most—physically and emotionally—about living with one kidney, and what do you wish the public understood about life after donation?
5. Climbing for a Cause
6. Ascending America documents your team’s Guinness World Record journey summiting the highest point in every state. How did this extreme physical challenge become a platform for kidney donation advocacy—and what moments on that journey stayed with you the most?
7. The Science of Selflessness
8. You’ve spoken about the neuroscience behind altruism. From your perspective, what does science tell us about why people give so selflessly—and how might understanding that help normalize and expand living kidney donation?
9. Changing the System, Not Just the Story
10. Beyond individual donors, you’re working to change federal policy through efforts to modify the National Organ Transplant Act. What needs to change to eliminate the kidney waitlist—and how can everyday people support this mission?

Matt, after everything you’ve experienced—as a physician, a donor, an athlete, and an advocate—what do you hope people take away about courage, health, and the power of giving?

Today, we welcome Dr. Greg Giuliano, advisor and executive coach to senior leaders and teams around the world, and founder of GA | Ultra Leadership. Greg is the author of three #1 Amazon Bestsellers, including his newest book, Coaching for (a) Change: How to Engage, Empower, and Activate People.

Greg's Website

Greg on YouTube

@ultraleadership on Instagram

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/greggiuliano/

In this book, Greg challenges traditional command-and-control leadership and offers a practical alternative: coaching. Drawing on more than two decades of experience, he introduces the GR8 Coaching Framework, a set of eight powerful questions designed to help leaders shift from being expert problem-solvers to facilitators of ownership, engagement, and real change.

1. Why This Book, and Why Now?
2. Greg, let’s start at the beginning. What experiences or patterns in your leadership and coaching work prompted you to write Coaching for (a) Change? What problem were you seeing leaders struggle with most?
3. From Manager to Coach
4. You talk about the need for leaders to shift from “manager” to “coach.” What does that shift really mean in day-to-day leadership—and why does the old command-and-control model fall short?
5. Ultra Leadership vs. Traditional Leadership
6. You distinguish between traditional leadership and what you call Ultra Leadership. How are they different, and what behaviors separate leaders who engage and empower people from those who unintentionally shut them down?
7. The Power of Coaching (and the Misconceptions)
8. Many leaders say they don’t have time to coach—or that coaching is soft or optional. Why is coaching actually a critical leadership skill today, and what are the biggest misconceptions leaders have about it?
9. The GR8 Coaching Framework
10. Let’s get practical. Walk us through the GR8 Coaching questions. How do these questions help leaders kick the “expert problem-solver” habit and activate ownership, accountability, and change?

For leaders listening right now who want to start coaching for change—but don’t know where to begin—what’s one question they can ask this week that would immediately shift how their people show up?

Thanks to our sponsor, White Cloud Coffee — fueling creative conversations everywhere. Listeners, enjoy 10% off your first order at whitecloudcoffee.com.

And before you go, you can download a free copy of my e-book A World of Creativity when you visit mark-stinson.com.

Today we’re joined by Sophia Kristjansson, Founder and CEO of Lexicon Lens, a boutique consulting firm that helps leaders close the persistent gap between strategy and execution—so plans don’t just look good on paper, they actually turn into results.

Sophia's Website

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sophiakristjansson/

With more than 25 years of experience guiding organizations through growth, change, and transformation, Sophia works closely with leadership teams to restore clarity, align people and process, and build traction when momentum starts to stall. She also teaches graduate courses in business strategy and organizational transformation at the University of Denver

She’s a contributing author to Lives Lost and Leadership Found, edited by Ian Ziskin—who joined us a few episodes back.

1. Why Strategy Fails at the Finish Line
2. Sophia, many organizations have smart strategies—but struggle with execution. From your experience, where do things most often break down between intention and action?
3. Closing the Strategy–Execution Gap
4. At Lexicon Lens, your work centers on alignment, collaboration, and leadership development. What are the first signs you look for that tell you a team is losing traction—and how do you help them regain momentum? Sophia shares these six signs:
5. Misaligned success signals – Leaders focus on the wrong metrics, missing what truly indicates performance or risk.
6. Organizational silos – Limited cross-functional visibility creates blind spots that hide emerging problems.
7. Communication mistaken for clarity – Sending emails or memos is assumed to solve issues, without ensuring understanding or follow-through.
8. Execution problems misdiagnosed – Symptoms are addressed instead of root causes, leading to recurring issues.
9. Outdated mental models – Leaders rely on old assumptions and ways of thinking without realizing they no longer fit current realities.
10. Human risk ignored – The people impact (capacity, morale, alignment, burnout) is not surfaced or discussed openly.
11. These six signals indicate leaders may not be seeing the real problem. Bringing leaders together to surface these blind spots enables shared understanding, innovation, and collaboration—often prompting the realization that the issue isn’t execution alone, but perception and alignment.
12. Turning Ideas into Action in Complex Environments
13. Leaders today are navigating constant change, competing priorities, and growing complexity. What practical frameworks or habits help leaders move from analysis paralysis to decisive action?
14. Lessons from “Lives Lost and Leadership Found”
15. You contributed to Lives Lost and Leadership Found, a book that explores how personal loss and reflection can deepen leadership capacity. How did that experience shape—or reinforce—your perspective on leadership, resilience, and execution?
16. Teaching the Next Generation of Leaders
17. You teach graduate students in business strategy and organizational transformation. What do you see emerging leaders getting right—and where do they most need to develop skills to lead effectively in today’s organizations?

For leaders listening right now who feel stuck between a clear vision and uneven execution—what’s one small, meaningful step they can take this week to move forward?

Today, we’re welcoming Bob Campana, a California-based serial entrepreneur with more than 40 years of experience building businesses across hospitality, travel, real estate, and aviation.

ROBERT's Website

ROBERT on YouTube

From hot tub manufacturing to founding the beloved Redwood Café in Modesto, to leading Redwood Café Tours across Europe, Asia, and Oceania, Bob’s career is a living case study in adaptability, optimism, and grit.

He’s also the author of the book Don’t Look Down! The Improbable Adventures and Battle-Tested Lessons of a Serial Entrepreneur, where he shares candid lessons learned from a lifetime of figuring it out as he went. Bob has his own entrepreneurship podcast, continuing his mission to share what really happens behind the scenes of business building.

1. A Lifetime of Reinvention

Bob, you’ve built businesses in very different industries—from manufacturing to hospitality to aviation. Looking back over 40 years, what allowed you to keep reinventing yourself rather than getting stuck in one version of success?

2. Risk, Fear, and the Title “Don’t Look Down!”

Your book title says a lot. Don’t Look Down! suggests both courage and consequence. How have you learned to take risks without being reckless—and what’s one moment when looking down might have stopped you if you’d let it?

3. Building Places That Connect People

Redwood Café became more than a restaurant—it became a community hub, and now it’s evolved into Redwood Café Tours around the world. What do you think makes an experience or a business truly memorable to people? (Bob recommends two books. “Moments of Truth: How the SAS President and CEO Adapted to the New Customer-Driven Economy” by Jan Carlzon. “Setting the Table: The Transforming Power of Hospitality in Business” by Danny Meyer.)

4. Lessons Earned the Hard Way

Your book promises “battle-tested lessons,” not theory. What are one or two hard-earned truths about entrepreneurship that you wish more people understood before they start their first venture?

5. What’s Next—and Why Keep Going?

You’re still expanding into real estate and aircraft leasing, writing books, and launching a podcast. What keeps you energized at this stage—and what advice would you give to entrepreneurs who wonder if it’s too late to start something new?

Bob, if you could leave our listeners with one mindset or principle that’s helped you navigate uncertainty over four decades, what would it be?

On Your World of Creativity, we travel around the world talking with creative practitioners who turn ideas into impact. In this special roundtable episode, Mark brings together leaders from film, animation, hospitality, consumer brands, immersive experiences, and big-tech UX to explore one powerful theme:

Teamwork.

When creative outcomes depend on dozens—or even hundreds—of contributors, how do you align vision, manage complexity, and still leave room for magic?

Today’s Panelists

1. Michael Robinson — Hotel & Hospitality Operations Leader
2. Diego Pulido — Lead UX Designer, Amazon (formerly Google, Walmart, Adobe, JPMorganChase)
3. Matt McLean — Organic Consumer Juice Brand Founder
4. Tom Bairstow — Event, Concert Production & Immersive Visual Experiences
5. Rich Magallanes — Children’s & Animated Content Producer
6. Steven Puri — Focus app creator, ex-studio exec/producer Fox, DreamWorks, Sony

Together, they share real-world lessons from film sets, animation studios, hospitality teams, live events, consumer brands, and product design at scale.

In This Episode, We Explore:

1. Creativity as a Team Sport. What great collaboration actually looks like across industries—and why creativity doesn’t happen in isolation.
2. Aligning Vision Across Many Contributors. How leaders communicate creative direction clearly when working with writers, designers, engineers, performers, vendors, and operational teams.
3. Conflict, Constraints & Creative Breakthroughs. How budget limits, timelines, technical requirements, and differing opinions can either block creativity—or unlock it.
4. Leadership in Collaborative Environments. What it means to lead when you’re not the only decision-maker, how to build trust quickly, and why delegation is essential for scale.
5. Practical Takeaways for Better Collaboration. From film crews to UX teams, each panelist shares what actually helps teams work better together—and what listeners can apply immediately.

Final Lightning Round

Each panelist shares one simple action listeners can take this week to become a better collaborator.

Huge thanks to our panelists. Be sure to connect with them.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-robinson-a6985735/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/diegopulido/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-mclean-5507733/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/tombairstownorthhouse/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/rich-magallanes-executive-producer-15290776/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/steven-puri/

If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to subscribe, rate, and review Your World of Creativity. It helps more creative leaders discover the show.

And come back next time, when we’ll sit down with another creative professional to explore how they get inspired, organize ideas, and turn imagination into impact.

New Book Announcement

Mark’s new book is coming soon.

UNLOCK Your World of Creativity: 6 Key Lessons Learned from More Than 250 Creatives Worldwide

Built from the first 250 conversations on the podcast, this book distills practical insights from founders, artists, designers, musicians, healers, strategists, and innovators around the globe.

Inside you’ll discover:

• how creative people get inspired

• how they organize ideas into action

• how they move through doubt, burnout, and uncertainty

• how they turn creativity into meaningful work and real-world impact

It’s designed to be practical, reflective, and encouraging—whether you’re leading a business, building a creative practice, or bringing a new idea into the world.

UNLOCK Your World of Creativity coming on Amazon.

Just search the full title or look for Mark Stinson.

Thanks for being part of this creative journey—and for supporting the podcast and the book.

Today I’m joined by Leslie Schover, clinical psychologist turned novelist and author of Fission: A Novel of Atomic Heartbreak.

Set during the Manhattan Project in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, Fission explores love, ambition, secrecy, identity, and moral conflict at a moment when the world was being reshaped—both scientifically and emotionally.

Drawing on her parents’ lived experiences and her own deep understanding of relationships, Leslie brings a uniquely human lens to one of history’s most consequential chapters.

1. From Family Stories to Historical Fiction
2. Fission is rooted in the stories your parents told about life in Oak Ridge during the Manhattan Project. When did you first realize these personal memories could become a novel—and what shifted for you in turning family history into fiction?
3. Atomic Power and Emotional Fission
4. The title Fission works on so many levels—scientific, emotional, relational. How did you think about the parallel between splitting the atom and the fractures within marriage, identity, and moral responsibility?
5. Doris Friedman: Ambition, Identity, and Constraint
6. Doris is such a complex character—a young mother, a frustrated artist, a woman navigating marriage, ambition, antisemitism, and gender expectations in the 1940s. What drew you to tell the story through her eyes, and what does she represent to you?
7. Psychology, Secrecy, and Relationships Under Pressure
8. As a clinical psychologist, you’ve spent decades studying relationships, sexuality, and identity under stress. How did that background shape the way you portrayed marriage, desire, betrayal, and resilience in a world defined by secrecy and existential fear?
9. Moral Ambivalence and Legacy
10. By the end of the novel, Doris and Rob are left with pride, guilt, love, and doubt—having helped save the world and also put it at risk. What questions do you hope readers sit with after finishing Fission, especially as we think about scientific progress and ethical responsibility today?

As someone who returned to fiction after a long and impactful career in psychology and healthcare, what would you say to creatives who feel it may be ‘too late’ to return to an earlier calling?

Today we’re welcoming T. Christian Helms, Founder and Creative Director of Helms Workshop, an award-winning branding agency known for building brands that truly connect.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/tchristianhelms/

T. Christian's Website

Over the past 15 years, Christian has led creative strategy for beloved names like Jack Daniel’s, Hershey, Austin Beerworks, and Howler Brothers—helping them clarify their voice, tell authentic stories, and bring creative visions to life.

But what makes Christian’s creative journey especially powerful is the transformation behind the work. After years struggling with an undiagnosed illness, he rebuilt his life and his business using the same creative tools he teaches—clarity, storytelling, curiosity, and purpose. Today he helps companies and creators alike rediscover their creative spark and turn ideas into meaningful impact.

1. Rebuilding Through Creativity
2. Christian, your story includes a long period of illness and recovery—and ultimately a complete personal and creative reset. How did those challenges shape the way you think about creativity, purpose, and your role as a storyteller and brand builder?
3. The Spark of Curiosity and Play
4. You often talk about the importance of curiosity and play in breaking out of creative ruts. How do you intentionally bring curiosity into your process, both for yourself and for the brands you help shape?
5. Storytelling as Strategy
6. Your agency is known for helping brands find their soul and voice. What’s your approach to uncovering an authentic story—whether you're working with a global brand like Jack Daniel’s or an emerging creative business?
7. Rebuilding Creativity After Burnout
8. Many of our listeners have faced burnout, adversity, or seasons where their creative energy felt depleted. From your own journey, what have you learned about restoring creativity when the tank feels empty?
9. Creating Meaningful Impact
10. You’ve said that great design connects—and great stories endure. What does “impact” look like to you now? And how can today’s creators translate their ideas into work that actually makes a difference for others?

Christian, for creatives who are listening and may be at a crossroads—professionally, personally, or creatively—what’s one small step they can take today to reconnect with their creative spark?”

Thanks to our sponsor, White Cloud Coffee Roasters, fueling creative conversations everywhere. Listeners, enjoy 10% off your first order with the code CREATIVITY at checkout. Visit whitecloudcoffee.com.

And before you go, download your free e-book A World of Creativity, featuring insights and interviews from the podcast. Visit mark-stinson.com

Today, we welcome Dennis Welch — a lifelong songwriter and creative force who is now experiencing a remarkable musical renaissance in his sixties. Dennis has written more than 500 songs, published two books, played concerts far and wide, and built a body of work anchored in one central identity: storyteller.

Dennis's Website

Dennis on YouTube

@Poo_Welch on Instagram

Dennis's Facebook page

After recording an album in 2000, Dennis continued writing but went 18 years without releasing new music… until a single moment changed everything. When his longtime friend, Little River Band guitarist Rich Herring, heard one of Dennis’s songs, he offered to produce a single — which turned into an album, and then another, all landing on the first Grammy ballot in multiple categories.

His newest album, Strong, released this July, continues this extraordinary creative chapter. Dennis’s message is simple but powerful: Never give up. Keep creating. You never know what’s around the next corner.

1. A Renaissance at Sixty: Why Now?
2. Dennis, your story is such a powerful example of perseverance. After releasing an album in 2000, you kept writing but didn’t return to the studio for nearly two decades. What was happening creatively during those years — and what made this the right moment to reemerge?
3. The Song That Changed Everything
4. When Rich Herring heard one of your songs and offered to produce a single, it sparked an entire new era of your career. Tell us about that moment. What did you feel when you realized this might be the beginning of something big?
5. Storytelling as Your Legacy
6. You’ve said that if you could be remembered for just one word, it would be storyteller. How does storytelling show up in your songwriting today, and how has your perspective evolved across 500+ songs?
7. Three Albums, Two Grammy Ballots, and a Creative Surge
8. What Love Makes Us Do and If I Live to Be a Hundred both made the first Grammy ballot in five categories — and now you’ve released Strong. What themes, emotions, or experiences shaped this newest album?
9. Advice for Creatives Who Feel “It’s Too Late”
10. Your message is incredibly encouraging: Don’t ever give up. Tune out the naysayers. Do what you’re here for. What do you want other artists — especially those who feel their creative window is closing — to understand from your journey?

Dennis, if you could leave our listeners with one thought about sustaining creativity across a lifetime — what would it be?

Thanks to our sponsor, White Cloud Coffee Roasters. Listeners can enjoy 10% off your first order — just use the code CREATIVITY at checkout at whitecloudcoffee.com.

And don’t forget to download your free e-book, A World of Creativity — a collection of inspiring interviews from the podcast. Visit mark-stinson.com to get your copy.

Today, we welcome Greig Watts, a powerhouse in songwriting, publishing, and music development. Greig is one-third of the internationally successful songwriting and publishing team DWB, known for selling millions of units worldwide and for pioneering early breakthroughs in markets like Japan and South Korea long before the global rise of J-Pop and K-Pop.

Greig's Website

@greigwatts on Instagram

Greig's Facebook page

Greig's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/greigwatts/

For songwriters who feel stuck, discouraged, or tired of rejection, his mission: help creators overcome setbacks, rediscover joy, and keep fighting for the dream that first sparked their love of music. Greig has captured decades of experience—and the heart of his creative philosophy—in his bestselling book, Keeping the Dream Alive. It’s part memoir, part guide, and part rallying cry.

He’s overseen 16 Eurovision entries in 10 consecutive years, coached dozens of successful writers, spoken at industry conferences from Moscow to Taiwan to Amsterdam, served as a BBC Music Consultant, and mentored songwriters around the world.

1. From Almost Quitting to International Success

• Greig, your book opens with a vulnerable story—by 2003 you almost walked away from music entirely. What helped you turn rejection into fuel instead of failure, and how did that turning point shape the book Keeping the Dream Alive?

1. The Mindset of Persistence

• You say showing up matters more than talent. What does “showing up” actually look like for songwriters—and how can creatives overcome procrastination, self-doubt, and the belief that they’re not good enough?
• What’s the secret to finishing songs instead of endlessly rewriting them?

1. Protecting Creativity While Treating Music as a Business

• You’re very honest that loving music isn’t enough—you also have to monetize it to keep going. How can songwriters protect their creativity from burnout while still building a viable career in an intensely competitive industry?

1. Finding Success in Unexpected Places

• You and DWB broke into Japan and Korea long before most UK or US writers even knew those markets existed. You also helped make Eurovision songwriting camps what they are today. How has seeking out “the niche” shaped your creative and business success?

1. Mentorship, Neurodiversity & Keeping the Dream Alive

• You’ve launched courses supporting songwriters—including neurodiverse creatives—and you speak often about defending the underdog. How do you help writers identify their strengths, build a supportive team, and keep the dream alive even when people around them doubt them?
• Greig, for any songwriter listening who feels like their dream is slipping away—what’s the one thing you want them to hear today?”

Book link for listeners:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Keeping-Dream-Alive-Songwriters-Overcoming/dp/195725551X

Thanks to our sponsor, White Cloud Coffee—fueling creative conversations everywhere. Listeners, enjoy 10% off your first order at whitecloudcoffee.com

And before you go, be sure to grab your free e-book A World of Creativity when you visit mark-stinson.com

Today’s guest is Aurora Winter — an award-winning bestselling author; TV producer; media coach; ghostwriter; and successful serial entrepreneur. Aurora is founder of SamePagePublishing.com and the creator of the Spoken Author™ method, helping experts craft award-winning books that expand their impact and income.

Her book Turn Words Into Wealth: Blueprint for Your Business, Brand, and Book to Create Multiple Streams of Income & Impact won Outstanding Non-Fiction Book of the Year in 2022 and many other awards since then.

Aurora's Website

@aurorawintermba on Instagram

Aurora on YouTube

Aurora left a lucrative career as a TV executive to pursue a life built on storytelling, creativity, and contribution. Today she empowers entrepreneurs, authors, and speakers to turn their words — and their wisdom — into wealth.

1. Turning Words Into Wealth

• Aurora, you help entrepreneurs and experts use books as a centerpiece for their brand and business. What are the most powerful ways someone can turn their words into multiple streams of income today?

1. The Neuroscience of Memorable Messages

• You’re known for blending filmmaking, storytelling, and neuroscience. What does science tell us about why certain messages stick — and how can listeners apply this to their own communication, branding, or writing?

1. The 27X Power of Story

• You talk about the “27X value of a story.” What does that mean — and why is story still the most persuasive, profitable, and memorable tool in business?

1. New Ways to Market — AI, Kickstarter, and Beyond

• The landscape for authors and entrepreneurs is shifting fast. What new marketing approaches should people be paying attention to — including AI, Kickstarter, or other platforms?

1. Pivoting From Business to Award-Winning Fantasy

• You’ve recently stepped into writing fantasy — and winning awards for it. How has writing fiction influenced your creative life? And in your view, how can fiction shape or illuminate real-world issues.
•  “Seven Ways to Make 7 Figures”: Could you share one or two of your favorite strategies that listeners could begin applying today?

· Gift for Our Audience - Includes your Turn Words-to-Wealth starter library and a video masterclass on how to attract capital, clients, and media coverage.: https://turnwordsintowealth.com

· Marketing Fastrack: The Little Book That Launched a New Business by Aurora Winter- on Amazon: https://a.co/d/8xrIglK

· Turn Words Into Wealth: Blueprint for Your Business, Brand and Book by Aurora Winter - on Amazon: https://a.co/d/7RRkVYb

· Magic, Mystery, and the Multiverse Book 1 Amazon: https://a.co/d/5cmA6Um

· LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/AuroraWinter

Thanks to our sponsor, White Cloud Coffee — fueling creative conversations everywhere. Listeners, enjoy 10% off your first order at whitecloudcoffee.com.

And before you go, you can download a free copy of my e-book A World of Creativity when you visit mark-stinson.com.

Episode 400 – and the start of our 8th year of the podcast!

We welcome Matt Ross — entrepreneur, media executive, and author of the book Grow or Fold: Transform Yourself in Midlife & Beyond.

Matt's Website

Matt's Facebook page

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-ross-entrepreneur/

Matt has spent nearly 30 years building businesses at the intersection of creativity and leadership. He led New York’s legendary rock station Q104.3 and hip-hop station Hot 97, helped scale School of Rock from a struggling startup into a global franchise, and later founded One River School, a first-of-its-kind art education company now with fifteen schools across six states.

1. Grow or Fold — Why This Book, and Why Now?
2. Matt, you’ve spent decades building creative organizations—from School of Rock to One River School. What inspired you to write Grow or Fold, and what does that title mean to you personally?
3. From Rock Stages to Art Studios

o Throughout his career, Matt has made creativity the core of every organization he’s led, whether inspiring musicians, mentoring young artists, or empowering educators to think like innovators.

1. What lessons carried over from building School of Rock that helped you launch One River School—and how did those experiences change your view of what creativity really means?
2. Building Communities Through Art
3. One of your core beliefs is that creative spaces are essential for wellbeing and connection. How have you seen art schools, studios, and community programs transform the lives of students and adults alike?
4. Creative Growth and Leadership at Every Age
5. You’ve said that creativity isn’t just for the young—it’s the key to staying sharp as we age. How can leaders, educators, and professionals rediscover their creative edge during midlife transitions or after major life changes?
6. The CEO as Creative — and the Creative as CEO
7. You’ve lived in both worlds—the creative studio and the C-suite. What can business leaders learn from artists about innovation, and what can artists learn from CEOs about sustainable growth?
8. You write about nurturing originality and trust in teams. What are the most effective ways leaders can foster that kind of environment?
9. You’ve described Grow or Fold as a mindset for sustainable creativity and leadership. How can people apply that mindset to their daily lives, especially in times of uncertainty or change?

Matt, for listeners who might be standing at a crossroads in their own careers or creative paths — what’s one action they can take today to start ‘growing’ rather than folding?

Thanks to our sponsor, White Cloud Coffee — fueling creative conversations everywhere. Listeners, enjoy 10% off your first order at whitecloudcoffee.com

And before you go, be sure to download your free e-book of A World of Creativity when you visit mark-stinson.com.

Today, as we wrap up our seventh year and 399th episode of Your World of Creativity, it’s fitting that we welcome a guest who perfectly captures the essence of transformation and growth — Rachel Burr.

Rachel's Website

@Catamentum on Instagram

Rachel's Facebook page

Rachel is an executive coach and leadership consultant with more than 20 years of experience helping leaders navigate the complex, unpredictable world of human dynamics. She knows that leadership can be messy — because people are unpredictable — and most leaders are promoted for technical excellence, not people skills.

Rachel specializes in human-centered leadership, guiding executives to build self-awareness, empathy, and relational intelligence. Her book Butterfly Goo beautifully compares leadership growth to a caterpillar’s transformation — messy, nonlinear, and deeply transformative.

1.    From Caterpillar to Leader — Why “Butterfly Goo”?

• Rachel, your metaphor of transformation is so vivid — comparing leadership development to the chaos of metamorphosis. What does that “goo” stage represent for leaders, and why do you think so many get stuck there instead of breaking through?

1. Human-Centered Leadership in a Technical World

• You often say leaders are promoted for technical excellence, not people skills. What are some of the most common people-dynamic challenges leaders face — and how can they start to build emotional and relational intelligence?

1. Overcoming Fear and Finding Fulfillment

• Many of your clients struggle with fear — of failure, of being vulnerable, of not being enough. How do you help leaders confront those fears and replace them with a sense of purpose and fulfillment?

1. Navigating Complex Workplace Dynamics

• With your background in organizational development and clinical psychology, what practical tools or exercises do you use to help leaders manage interpersonal challenges and organizational change — especially in high-pressure environments?

1. Humor, Humanity, and Real Change

• You use humor and practical exercises to make deep transformation approachable. Why is it important for leaders to lighten up — and how can humor actually support growth, empathy, and connection?

Rachel, as we wrap up this milestone episode and our seventh year of Your World of Creativity, what’s one piece of advice you’d offer to leaders — or anyone listening — who’s ready to embrace their own transformation and move from stuck to unstoppable?

Thanks to our sponsor, White Cloud Coffee — fueling creative conversations everywhere. Listeners, enjoy 10% off your first order at whitecloudcoffee.com

And before you go, be sure to download your free e-book A World of Creativity when you visit mark-stinson.com.

Then come back for our next episode — as we begin our eighth year of creative conversations — where we’ll continue to travel around the world to talk with creatives about how they get inspired, how they organize ideas, and most of all, how they gain the confidence and connections to launch their work out into the world.

Today is Episode: 398 as we near the end of our 7th year of Your World of Creativity

I’m thrilled to welcome Amani Roberts — an award-winning music business professor, international keynote speaker, and global DJ performer.

He’s a USA Today bestselling author, and his upcoming book, The Quiet Storm: A Historical and Cultural Analysis of the Power, Passion, and Pain of R&B Groups, offers a powerful deep dive into how Black R&B groups shaped music, identity, and community.

Amani's Website

@amaniexperience on Instagram

Amani on YouTube

1. From DJ Booth to Classroom — The Creative Journey

• Amani, your career bridges music, business, and education. How did your early experiences as a DJ evolve into this mission of helping others unlock their creativity and confidence?

1. The Quiet Storm — Why This Story Matters Now

• Your new book, The Quiet Storm, is a cultural and historical analysis of Black R&B groups — from The Temptations to TLC. What inspired you to take on this topic, and why do you think it’s so important to tell this story today?

1. Beyond Entertainment — R&B as Social Commentary

• You write that R&B groups didn’t just make music — they moved culture. How did these artists influence identity, social change, and even the civil rights movement through their art and community presence?

1. Resilience, Reinvention, and Relevance

o  With over 30 years in hospitality and 17 years in the music industry, Amani has collaborated with brands like Marriott, 7-11, Calendly, and Chartmetric, generating millions in revenue while inspiring professionals to unlock their creativity, take risks, and stay resilient.

o  You’ve led in corporate settings, creative spaces, and classrooms. What are the biggest lessons you’ve learned about staying relevant and resilient — whether you’re spinning records, teaching students, or advising executives?

o  Amani’s leadership extends beyond the stage — he was the first African American President of Meeting Professionals International’s Southern California Chapter in 45 years and is co-host of the podcast Adventures in Business. His work has been featured in Forbes, People Magazine, NBC, and Yahoo! Finance.

1. The Future of R&B and Creative Leadership

• As we look forward, how can today’s creatives — musicians, entrepreneurs, or educators — apply the lessons from R&B’s rise, dominance, and decline to keep their work meaningful, collaborative, and authentic?

Thanks to our sponsor, White Cloud Coffee — fueling creative conversations everywhere. Listeners, enjoy 10% off your first order at whitecloudcoffee.com.

And as we close out this special 7th anniversary episode of Your World of Creativity, remember to grab your free e-book, A World of Creativity, when you visit mark-stinson.com.

Join us next time as we continue our round-the-world journey, talking with creative people about how they get inspired, how they organize ideas, and how they build the confidence and connections to launch their work into the world.

Today we’re honored to welcome Stan Lai, one of the world’s most celebrated playwrights and theatre directors. He has been called by one critic ‘the major contemporary Asian playwright of his time, perhaps of all time’ and by the BBC ‘the best Chinese-language playwright and director in the world’.

Stan's Website

@Stanlai99 on Instagram

Stan on YouTube

Born in the U.S. and raised in both America and Taiwan, Stan earned his PhD from UC Berkeley before launching a groundbreaking career in Taiwan that now spans over 40 acclaimed plays, including masterpieces like A Dream Like a Dream and Secret Love in Peach Blossom Land. He’s also the co-founder of the Wuzhen Theatre Festival and Huichang Theatre Village in China, and his Shanghai venue, Theatre Above, is dedicated entirely to his work.

Stan joins us today to discuss his new book, CreativitRy: Asia’s Iconic Playwright Reveals the Art of Creativity, coming in November 2025 from Anthem Press — a transformative guide that blends memoir, Buddhist philosophy, and practical methods for unlocking the creative potential that lives within each of us. https://a.co/d/56PRqeG

5 Questions

1. The Source of Creativity

• Stan, you’ve said that CreativitRy explores “where creativity lives — within each and every one of us.” How did your own creative process as a playwright and director lead you to this realization, and what inspired you to put these ideas into book form?

1. From Stage to Page — Translating Art into Insight

• Your plays are known for their emotional depth and philosophical reach. How was writing about creativity — in prose rather than in performance — a different kind of creative act for you?

1. Buddhist Wisdom and Creative Flow

• You describe the book as rooted in Buddhist thought, guiding readers to unlock creativity through introspection rather than productivity hacks. How do mindfulness and spiritual awareness shape your own approach to artistic creation?

1. Creativity as Education — A New Frontier

• CreativitRy is being adopted as the foundational text for a new Department of Creative Studies at major Chinese universities. How did that initiative come about, and what does it say about the growing importance of creativity in education and society today?

1. The Universality of the Creative Journey

• You’ve been praised by artists like Ang Lee and Jack Ma for bridging the arts, business, and human growth. What do you hope readers — whether they’re artists, entrepreneurs, or students — will take away from CreativitRy about living a truly creative life?

Stan, as we close, what’s one piece of advice you’d offer to someone who feels disconnected from their creativity — someone who wants to rediscover that creative energy in everyday life?

Thanks to our sponsor, White Cloud Coffee — fueling creative conversations everywhere. Listeners, enjoy 10% off your first order at whitecloudcoffee.com.

And be sure to download your free e-book of Your World of Creativity when you visit mark-stinson.com

Today, we welcome Oswald Newbold, a certified mediator, conflict resolution specialist, and contributing author to the new book Breaking Chains, Building Futures: Pathways to Redemption, Education, and Excellence, edited by Dr. Stanley Andrisse and published by Wiley.

Oswald's Website

Oswald's Facebook page

This powerful collection features first-hand stories from individuals impacted by incarceration — stories of struggle, triumph, and transformation. Oswald’s own journey is especially compelling: sentenced to life at 20, he has emerged as a leader in mediation, education, and criminal justice reform.

Through Breaking Chains, Building Futures, Oswald and his co-authors shed light on how redemption, education, and empathy can create real pathways toward healing and social change.

1. Breaking Chains — Finding Purpose in Pain

• Oswald, your story in Breaking Chains, Building Futures is both raw and inspiring. What led you to share such a personal journey in this book, and what do you hope readers take away from it?

1. From Lived Experience to Leadership

• You were sentenced to life at 20, and yet you’ve turned that experience into a lifelong mission to mediate conflict and help others rebuild their lives. What inspired you to take on a leadership role in reentry services and criminal justice reform?

1. The Power of Education and Mediation

• Your background in mediation and conflict resolution is remarkable — with a 90% success rate and now a youth program training young people as certified mediators. How did your own access to education, both formal and informal, shape your path toward healing and leadership?

1. Collaboration and Creative Process

• This book brings together deeply personal stories from many voices, under Dr. Stanley Andrisse’s vision. What was it like to collaborate with other contributors on such emotionally charged material, and how did that creative process affect you?

1. Building Futures — From Systemic Change to Personal Hope

• In your view, what are the biggest barriers people face when reentering society after incarceration? And what gives you hope that we can create more equitable and effective pathways to redemption?
• You’ve built a career around conflict resolution — from prisons to communities to youth programs. What lessons from your time mediating behind the wall still guide you today?
• How do you maintain your own sense of balance, hope, and self-care while doing such emotionally demanding work?
• What does redemption mean to you now, both personally and professionally?
• For listeners who may be navigating their own second chances, or trying to turn pain into purpose — what’s one message you’d like them to carry forward from your story?

Thanks to our sponsor, White Cloud Coffee — fueling creative conversations everywhere. Listeners, enjoy 10% off your first order at whitecloudcoffee.com

And before you go, remember to download your free e-book of A World of Creativity when you visit mark-stinson.com

Today, we’re welcoming Robin Landa back to the show. I first interviewed Robin in February 2023 about her book The New Art of Ideas, and I’m thrilled to continue that conversation.

Robin is a distinguished professor at Kean University and a globally recognized expert in creativity and branding. She received the 2024 Gold Design Education Recognition Award, was named by the Carnegie Foundation among the ‘Great Teachers of Our Time,’ and will be inducted into the New Jersey Advertising Hall of Fame in 2025.

Robin 's Website

@proflanda on Instagram

Robin 's Facebook page

Robin on YouTube

Author of 25 books—including Graphic Design Solutions, Strategic Creativity, Advertising by Design, and Shareworthy (with Greg Braun)—Robin now turns to her new release: Branding as a Cultural Force: Purpose, Responsibility, and Resonance

1. From The New Art of Ideas to Cultural Force

• Robin, when we talked in February 2023, you laid out a practical pathway for generating and shaping ideas. What’s evolved in your thinking since then—and how did that trajectory lead to Branding as a Cultural Force?

1. Branding as a Vehicle for Systemic Change

• Your new book argues that branding can—and should—shape culture, not just reflect it. What catalyzed this call to action, and how does it challenge conventional brand playbooks?

1. From Product Stories to Cultural Movements

• Which brands or campaigns today truly function as cultural forces? What makes them work—and what can creative teams learn about purpose, responsibility, and resonance?

1. Authenticity, Accountability, and Risk

• When brands take a stand, what’s the right balance between authentic purpose and measurable responsibility? How should leaders navigate backlash, skepticism, and “purpose-washing”?

1. Teaching Creative Courage

• You’ve shaped thousands of careers through teaching, mentoring, judging, and writing. What practices help people move from safe, incremental ideas to bold, world-shaping concepts—without losing strategic clarity?

1. The Next Generation of Brand Leaders

• With AI, rapid cultural shifts, and fragmentation of attention, what skills—and mindsets—will define tomorrow’s most effective brand leaders?

Thanks to our sponsor, White Cloud Coffee—fueling creative conversations everywhere. Listeners, enjoy 10% off your first order at whitecloudcoffee.com.

And before you go, remember to download your free e-book of Your World of Creativity when you visit mark-stinson.com.

Today, we welcome Rand Selig — an accomplished investment banker, entrepreneur, coach, Scoutmaster, board member, and hands-on conservationist. Rand brings a unique balance of analytical insight and human understanding to everything he does.

For more than 35 years, he’s led The Selig Capital Group, named the Best Sustainable Investment Banking Firm in the San Francisco Bay Area in 2024 by Wealth and Finance International. Rand is also the author of the award-winning book Thriving! How to Create a Healthier, Happier, and More Prosperous Life — a 333-page guide that’s been inspiring readers around the world since its release through selfpublishing.com.

Rand's Website

@Rmsinstat on Instagram

Rand on YouTube

Rand's Facebook page

Thriving! resonate with readers seeking practical guidance for designing a life filled with purpose, vitality, and joy.

1. The Power of Choice — Why “Thriving” Matters

• Rand, your book is built on the idea that intentional choices can completely reshape our lives. What inspired you to write Thriving! and how do you define what it truly means to “thrive” in today’s fast-paced world?

1. Overcoming Setbacks and Building Resilience

• You write about turning obstacles into opportunities — something you’ve clearly practiced in your own entrepreneurial and personal journey. What are some of your favorite tools or mindset shifts for building resilience through life’s challenges?

1. The Science of Thriving

• With your background in both psychology and mathematics, you take a unique, evidence-based approach to personal growth. How do you bridge scientific insights — like self-awareness and behavioral psychology — with practical, everyday tools your readers can apply right now?

1. Designing Your Life — Becoming the Architect of Your Future

• You often say we can design our own lives. What does that process look like in practice? Could you share a few of the most powerful exercises or decisions that help people move from drifting through life to actively creating it?

1. The Ten Keys to Aging Well and Living with Vitality

• One of my favorite parts of the book is your section on “The 10 Keys to Aging Well.” You emphasize that aging well is about vitality, not longevity. What are some of the key choices we can make today — psychologically, emotionally, and physically — to keep thriving as we age?
• You talk about defining success on your own terms. How can people begin that process when society tends to equate success with money or status?

Thanks to our sponsor, White Cloud Coffee — fueling creative conversations everywhere. Listeners, enjoy 10% off your first order at whitecloudcoffee.com.

And before you go, remember to download your free e-book of Your World of Creativity when you visit mark-stinson.com.

Today, we’re welcoming back Ian Ziskin, President of EXec EXcel Group, a leader with more than 40 years of experience as a business executive, board advisor, coach, consultant, and author. Ian has held senior leadership and Chief Human Resources Officer roles at three Fortune 100 companies, written extensively about the future of work, HR, and leadership, and continues to influence how organizations develop people and purpose.

Ian's Website

Ian first joined us on Your World of Creativity back in 2022, when he shared insights from another collaborative anthology project that brought together diverse voices in leadership. Today, he returns to discuss his new book, Lives Lost and Leadership Found, just released by Routledge. The book blends neuroscience, survey insights from 150 professionals, and deeply personal essays from dozens of contributors to explore how grief, loss, and connection can actually deepen our leadership capacity — and how our ‘special somebodies’ may be our most powerful teachers.

1. Why This Book, and Why Now?

• Ian, you’ve written and spoken extensively about leadership and HR — but Lives Lost and Leadership Found takes a much more personal and emotional turn. What inspired you to write this book, and why was now the right time?

1. Neuroscience, Grief, and Growth

• The book explores how neuroscience rewires our leadership capacity through experiences of loss. What did you discover about the connection between grief, empathy, and leadership resilience?

1. Collaborative Creativity, Round Two

• You were last on the podcast in 2022 discussing another anthology you co-created. How has that collaborative creative process worked for you over the years — and what lessons did you carry forward into this new project?

1. Leading Together — The Power of Many Voices

• In Lives Lost and Leadership Found, you serve as the lead author but included essays from dozens of contributors. What were the benefits — and maybe the challenges — of weaving so many perspectives into a single narrative?

1. Lessons from the Data and the Stories

• You surveyed 150 professionals and featured essays from leaders and coaches across industries. What key lessons or themes emerged — and were there any surprises in how people transformed loss into growth?

1. Music, Reflection, and Renewal

• You even wrote and recorded a song for the book, “Here and Gone,” to honor your parents and brother. Tell us about the story behind that song — and why you encourage readers to write their own essays about their “Special Somebodies.

Thanks to our sponsor, White Cloud Coffee — fueling creative conversations everywhere. Listeners, enjoy 10% off your first order at whitecloudcoffee.com.

And before you go, remember to download your free e-book of Your World of Creativity when you visit mark-stinson.com.

Today we’re joined by Steven Puri, Founder and CEO of The Sukha Company based in Austin, Texas, whose mission is to help millions of people find their focus, achieve more, and build a healthy work life. His latest creation, the Sukha Focus App, integrates science and soul to help people achieve deep, sustainable focus in a distracted world.

Steven's Website

The Journey from Hollywood to Happiness

• Steven, you’ve had such an eclectic career—from film production and tech startups to founding a company devoted to focus and balance. Steven’s creative journey spans journalism, film, technology, and now mindfulness. He began as a newscaster for the #1 youth news show in the DC/Baltimore market, then went on to work as a software engineer and Thomas J. Watson Scholar at IBM.
• From there, he entered the film world—producing computer-generated visual effects for Independence Day and 13 other movies, launching his first company, Centropolis Effects, which he later sold to German media conglomerate Das Werk. He went on to senior leadership roles at 20th Century Fox and DreamWorks, developing hit franchises like Die Hard, Wolverine, Transformers, and Star Trek.
• What turning point inspired you to create The Sukha Company?

Creative Systems and Science

• You’ve led creative and technical teams at the highest levels—from Independence Day to Transformers. What lessons from those high-pressure creative environments have shaped how you now think about productivity, empathy, and well-being at work?

Defining “Sukha” in Modern Work

• The Sanskrit word sukha means happiness through self-fulfillment. How does that philosophy show up in your company’s products—and in your own daily focus habits?

Focus in the Age of Overload

• You’ve built an app to help people stay focused in a world of constant distraction. What are the biggest focus challenges you see today, and how does The Sukha help users navigate them?

The Future of Work and Well-Being

• You talk about “healthy productivity.” What do you see as the next evolution for creative professionals and organizations who want to get more done without burning out?

Steven, what’s one piece of advice you’d give to creatives and leaders who are trying to find focus, fulfillment, and flow in their daily work?

Thanks to our sponsor, White Cloud Coffee—fueling creative conversations everywhere. Listeners, enjoy 10% off your first order at whitecloudcoffee.com.

And before you go, don’t forget to download your free e-book of Your World of Creativity when you visit mark-stinson.com.

Today, we’re talking with Dave Lee, the creative engineer and co-creator of Cardboard Sessions, the viral series where paper becomes possibility. In each episode, top-tier artists step into the studio to create unrehearsed sonic magic using fully playable instruments made entirely out of cardboard.

Dave on YouTube

@cardboardsessions on Instagram

From cardboard Stratocasters and Telecasters to full drum kits, Dave and his team turn imagination into reality, documenting the process in stunning behind-the-scenes videos that blend art, science, and pure creative courage.

The Spark of Cardboard Chaos

• Dave, where did this idea begin—what first made you look at cardboard and think, “let’s make a snowboard, a guitar, or a pair of Vans out of this”? What was the creative leap from Cardboard Chaos to Cardboard Sessions?

Engineering Meets Art

• You’ve built fully playable instruments out of cardboard—something that sounds impossible until people see and hear it. If you’ve ever looked at an everyday object and thought, ‘What if we made this out of cardboard?’—Dave’s probably already done it. Your creative journey—from Cardboard Chaos experiments to collaborations with icons like Tony Hawk, Marcus King, and Keanu Reeves—proves that true innovation often starts with the simplest materials and the boldest questions. I was watching the Cardboard Session with Peter Yorn -- How do you and your team balance the technical precision of engineering with the spontaneity of creative experimentation?

The Magic of Unrehearsed Music

• Each Cardboard Session is unrehearsed, unfiltered, and full of creative risk. What do you think happens to artists when the normal studio structure disappears and they’re just responding to the moment—with instruments made of paper?

Collaboration and Creative Flow

• You’ve brought in everyone from ZZ Top to Marcus King to Keanu Reeves. What have you learned about collaboration from these sessions—and how do you create an environment that invites trust, play, and genuine creativity?

The Lesson for Creatives Everywhere

• Your work embodies the idea that creativity thrives on limits and curiosity. What’s your advice for listeners who want to tap into that “build it anyway” mindset—especially when they’re facing doubt or resistance?

What’s one takeaway you hope creators remember from your work—about staying inventive, curious, and hands-on in a digital world?

Thanks to our sponsor, White Cloud Coffee—fueling creative conversations everywhere. Listeners, enjoy 10% off your first order at whitecloudcoffee.com.

And before you go, don’t forget to download your free e-book of Your World of Creativity when you visit mark-stinson.com.

Today, we’re heading to Australia to welcome Duncan Toombs—one of the country’s powerhouse vocalists and storytellers. Duncan’s music reconnects us to our humanity and reminds us of the importance of love, life, and family. I first heard Duncan live this summer when I visited Sydney and stopped into Jolene’s country bar and I was blown away by his performance.

Then, I learned Duncan appeared on Channel Seven’s The Voice, where his raw, powerful vocals won over the hearts of millions. His original song, Steel on Steel, went viral with nearly 3 million viewers tuning in, and it has since reached audiences worldwide on TikTok and Instagram.

Duncan is also a nine-time Golden Guitar Award winner, an ARIA #1 album artist with Steel on Steel, and a Hands of Fame inductee.

Duncan's Website

@duncantoombs on Instagram

Duncan's Facebook page

Duncan on YouTube

Here is an overview of our conversation, plus you'll hear samples from 3 of Duncan's songs:

The Voice & Viral Breakthrough

• Duncan, your performance of Steel on Steel on The Voice captivated millions and went viral globally. What was that moment like for you—and how did it change the way people connect with your music?

Storytelling Through Song

• Your songs are deeply rooted in love, life, and family. How do you translate personal experiences into stories that resonate so universally with listeners?

Crafting an Album

• Your album Steel on Steel reached ARIA #1. What was your creative process in pulling that project together, and what makes it different from your earlier work?

Sustaining a Career in Music

• With nine Golden Guitars and a Hand of Fame induction, you’ve already built an incredible legacy. What has kept you inspired to keep writing, performing, and pushing your artistry forward?

The Other Creative Pursuit: Filmmaking & Content Creation

• Many of our listeners are creatives themselves—writers, musicians, makers—trying to find their voice. What advice would you share about staying true to your craft while navigating other creative pursuits and an ever-changing industry?

Duncan, what’s one message you’d like to leave with listeners about the role of music in keeping us connected to each other and to what really matters in life?

Thanks to our sponsor, White Cloud Coffee—fueling creative conversations everywhere. Listeners, enjoy 10% off your first order at whitecloudcoffee.com

And before you go, don’t forget to download your free e-book of Your World of Creativity when you visit mark-stinson.com

Today, we welcome Kay Smith-Blum, an author whose journey has taken her from the world of fashion to education leadership and now to award-winning historical fiction.

Kay's Website

@discerningKSB on Instagram

Kay's Facebook page

A longtime Seattle resident, Kay has recently been honored with multiple awards for her debut novel TANGLES, including Best Historical Mystery/Suspense at the 2025 American Fiction Awards, Best Debut Fiction by the American Writing Awards, Best Regional Fiction/West by the National Indie Excellence Awards, and Book of the Year by the Literary Global Book Awards.

Inspired by the mid-20th century and the haunting realities of leaking radioactive waste tanks at the Hanford Nuclear Site, Kay brings history, suspense, and humanity together in her storytelling.

The Spark for TANGLES

• You’ve said that the recent controversies around radioactive waste tanks at Hanford compelled you to write this story. What was the moment or piece of history that made you say: this has to become a novel?

From Fashion to Fiction

• Your background includes running a successful fashion business and serving as Seattle School Board President. How did those experiences shape your perspective as a writer—and ultimately lead you to TANGLES?

Historical Suspense & Craft

• TANGLES blends mystery, suspense, and historical detail. How did you balance historical accuracy with narrative drive? What were the biggest challenges in weaving fact with fiction?

Writing Process & Rituals

• You describe yourself as a sunrise writer who works out writer’s block in gardens and lap pools. Could you share more about your creative process—and how these routines fuel your storytelling?

Recognition & Next Steps

• With TANGLES winning so many awards—including Book of the Year—what has this recognition meant for you personally and professionally? And what’s next on your creative horizon?

What’s one piece of advice you’d offer to aspiring authors who feel drawn to tackle historical or regional stories, but maybe hesitate to take the leap?

Thanks to our sponsor, White Cloud Coffee—fueling creative conversations everywhere. Listeners, enjoy 10% off your first order at whitecloudcoffee.com.

Also, as a thanks to you for listening, I’d like to offer you a free download of my e-book of Your World of Creativity when you visit mark-stinson.com.