The Creative Condition podcast

Ep 215: Community’s role in the creative process with Birmingham Design Festival’s Dan and Luke

Community. We saw it rise again during COVID, despite the fact we were all indoors. Yet on the other side of the pandemic, many of us have struggled to return to our former social glories. Positive social relationships are critical to our wellbeing, so I caught up with Daniel Alcorn and Luke Tonge, founders of the fantastic Birmingham Design Festival to talk about why in-person community events and the relationships they tend to spark are so critical in the creative process.As ever the show is supported by founding sponsor Illustration X: https://illustrationx.comand the Ukrainian Institute. You can help a wonderful organisation by supporting the Ukrainian creative community as they struggle to keep making during the horrific war: https://ui.org.ua/https://birminghamdesignfestival.org.uk/https://birminghamdesign.shop/https://bentallon.comThe Creative Condition book pre-order: https://www.bentallonwriter.com/shop/p/the-creative-condition-understanding-and-embracing-human-creativity-signed-paperback-pre-order-april-11th-release

Ep 214: The comedian, psychedelics, mental health, and creativity with Negin Farsad

The science increasingly points to a very positive link between (responsibly and professionally administered) psilocybin - or 'magic mushrooms' - and mental health. After reading American-Iranian comedian, writer, and actor Negin Farsad's experience on a Jamaican psychedelic retreat, written for AFAR, I talked to both Negin, and CEO/Head-facilitator of Mycomeditations, Justin Townsend about psychedelics, mental health, and creativity.This is a warm, deep, intriguing insight into the world of fungi and the human experience, which touches upon Jungian depth psychology, the default mode network, and the things that hold us back from our optimal creativity.As ever the show is supported by founding sponsor Illustration X: https://illustrationx.comand the Ukrainian Institute. You can help a wonderful organisation by supporting the Ukrainian creative community as they struggle to keep making during the horrific war: https://ui.org.ua/http://neginfarsad.com/https://www.instagram.com/neginfarsad/https://www.mycomeditations.com/

Ep 213: Gush Mundae, Bulletproof agency founder on violence, adversity, hustling and heart

Gush Mundae moved to a racially divided UK from Delhi, India and experienced more than his fair share of discrimination and abuse. Through hip hop and street art culture, he found belonging, and would later use £2k of his savings to start Bulletproof, a creative agency that is 25 years old, and now spans 8 countries.We get into Gush's response to the challenges he and his family faced in those early years, the power of art, the values he continues to run Bulletproof on today, and his desire to contribute to positive changes in education.The show is supported by founding sponsor Illustration X: https://illustrationx.comHosted by Ben Tallon: https://bentallon.comhttps://www.wearebulletproof.com/about/Support the Ukrainian creative community: https://ui.org.ua/en/mission-2/

Creative stories #4: The Hockney Soldier. How art and design books tell our story

'The Hockney Soldier' is a short story pondering how art and design books are symbolic in bringing us closer to the horrors of war, that can feel removed from our reality. But also, the way creativity bonds us.Supported by Illustration X: https://illustrationx.comand the Ukrainian Institute. Connect with and champion Ukrainian art and culture now at: https://ui.org.ua/Written, presented, and produced by Ben Tallon https://bentallon.com and https://bentallonwriter.comMusic by Dirty Freud: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2c5NcXidirDDqL3sc3vW8S

Ep 212: Creativity in times of war with Ukrainian design community activist Olha Protasova

Almost two years after Russia invaded Ukraine, I'm joined by Ukrainian illustrator, designer, and design community activist Olha Protasova to talk about creativity in times of war.This episode contains sensitive topics, but I hope you'll stay with us to be inspired by the bravery, resilience, and hope Olha shows.The show is supported by https://illustrationx.com and below are a series of links from Olha, via which you can help the Ukrainian cause:Olha's insta: https://www.instagram.com/olha_protasova_illustration Projector school: https://prjctr.com/ (Ukrainian)Yurko Gutsulyak: https://gutsulyak.studioMykola Kovalenko:https://mykolakovalenko.euA book about Trident, downloadable:https://drive.google.com/file/d/1SD7nyGHyxo0JCnAw7gcS8BZ8eCEhq2Tr/view?usp=drivesdk(Language is Ukrainian, but the content is amazing)Meaning of trident: https://www.weareukraine.info/special/what-does-the-ukrainian-coat-of-arms-mean/Few articles about Ukrainian illustrators: https://ukraine.ua/stories/ukrainian-illustrators/https://theaoi.com/2022/05/13/drawing-strength-in-conversation-with-ukrainian-illustrators/Big article about type design and designers: https://eugenesadko.medium.com/21st-century-ukrainian-society-and-fonts-c61f6152ff19#:~:text=Among%20these%20type%20designers%20who,Lukian%20Turetsky%2C%20and%20Bohdan%20Hdal.https://bentallon.comhttps://bentallonwriter.com

Creative Stories #3: Simon Schrödinger. A cat story for overthinkers.

Simon is missing. The posters are up, and it sets in motion a bout of gross overthinking. A hypothetical thought experiment for the fellow sensitive people.Supported by founding sponsor https://illustrationx.comMusic by Dirty Freud https://open.spotify.com/artist/2c5NcXidirDDqL3sc3vW8SPresented and written by Ben Tallon https://bentallon.comhttps://bentallonwriter.com

Ep 211: The artist’s way of life with Chris Pyrate, Washington DC-based artist

Washington DC-based artist and all-round creative human Chris Pyrate reflects on the role of early travels to New Mexico and LA, challenges for young people growing up in Washington DC, and why being an artist is a way of life, and not merely a profession.His big brand collaborations with the Washinton Wizards and Nike are secondary to a bigger philosophy.We get deep into all of it with a man vastly wiser than his years.The show is supported by Illustration X: https://illustrationx.comhttps://ahumanfly.squarespace.com/bentallon.combentallonwriter.com

Ep 210: The creativity checklist part 2 - structure for optimal creativity

Part 2 of the creativity checklist.Part 1 can be heard on episode 208. Distilled from the forthcoming 'The Creative Condition' book. Out March 28th 2024.The show is supported by Illustration X: https://illustrationx.combentallon.combentallonwriter.com

Ep 209: Sarah Boris. From the Barbican & Phaidon to setting up her own art & design studio

Sarah Boris is a multi-disciplinary artist and designer at the top of her game. We discuss the challenges of change in early years, along with the upsides, her early career roles designing for The Barbican and Phaidon, and her current art and design studio practice. The challenges of staying disciplined, but not overworking are covered, as well as activism, and what Sarah refers to as 'the care bear phase' in which she needs to create bright, happy work to decompress from heavy subject matter.A fascinating glimpse of the mind and ways of one of the most dynamic creators in the game.https://www.instagram.com/sarahboris_ldn/?hl=enThe show is supported by Illustration X: https://illustrationx.comhttps://bentallon.comhttps://bentallonwriter.com

Ep 208: The creativity checklist part 1 - optimal creativity for the new year

Part 1 of a list of considerations for maximising your creativity, distilled from the forthcoming 'The Creative Condition' book. Out March 28th 2024.The show is supported by Illustration X: https://illustrationx.comhttps://bentallon.comhttps://bentallonwriter.com