The Creative Condition podcast

Who else wakes up with a sense of existential dread? Maybe it's just my midlife crisis, but it's also nothing new. How can we channel thoughts bigger than us, that wrestle with the nature of existence into something interesting and cathartic?
Covered in this show:
Mortality and creativity
Existential dread and anxiety
Storytelling, purpose and meaning
As ever supported by the show's founding sponsor https://illustrationx.com
Support the Ukrainian Institute here: https://ui.org.ua
Coach with The Creative Condition Founder Ben Tallon now
See Ben's art here

The Fax Club Experiment was an idea by the Founder of The Do Lectures, David Hieatt. Once a week for 52 weeks, anonymous members would receive a question via fax. A question that insists on deep introspection, time with inner parts of ourselves that tend to be forgotten in the fever pitch of modern life in the information age. Four of the 32 who saw the project through, Adam, Claire, Judy, and Grace, join me to discuss the project, the book, and slowing down, thinking, and listening for greater life fulfilment and creativity.
Covered in this show:
Technology and hectic, stressful lives
Anxiety, creativity, hearing, and being heard
Deeper thinking, meaning, and intentionality in our lives
The joys of anonymous, positive discourse
Get the book: https://thefaxclubexperiment.com/
As ever supported by the show's founding sponsor https://illustrationx.com
Support the Ukrainian Institute here: https://ui.org.ua
Coach with The Creative Condition Founder Ben Tallon now
See Ben's art here

Reflections about the opportunity for better creativity and joy in our lives if we learn how to slow down and communicate properly.
Covered in this show:
Technology's sweet spot
Anxiety and mental illness in the information age
Creativity and communication
As ever supported by the show's founding sponsor https://illustrationx.com
Support the Ukrainian Institute here: https://ui.org.ua
Coach with The Creative Condition Founder Ben Tallon now
See Ben's art here

We reach for the destructive object in our pockets without conscious awareness.
We know the damage it does to our minds and our souls, but we're too far gone.
It keeps us from our peace and our creativity.
Are you Gollum?
Supported as ever by the founding show sponsor, Illustration X. https://illustrationx.com
Support The Ukrainian Institute, fighting for the Ukrainian creative community during a horrific time of war. https://ui.org.ua
Coach with The Creative Condition Founder Ben Tallon at https://thecreativecondition.com/coach

Kevin Murphy taught himself to be an artist. By breaking down the craft into systemic steps, he earned himself a career as an illustrator and artist working with The Rolling Stones, Barnes & Noble, National Geographic, and LucasArts before he started Evolve Artist.
We discuss why the program proves time and time again that talent is a lie, and the story behind it.
Learn more about Evolve Artist here
As ever supported by the show's founding sponsor https://illustrationx.com
Support the Ukrainian Institute here: https://ui.org.ua
Coach with The Creative Condition Founder Ben Tallon now
See Ben's art here

The Gravedigger's Theory is a term in journalism that refers to the story of Jimmy Breslin, a journalist who, when offered the chance to cover JFK's funeral along with the world's media, chose to interview Clifton Pollard, the man tasked with digging the grave.
Creativity depends on thinking differently, and I reflect on this, and a career made of parts for which I wasn't trained.
Supported by The Creative Condition's founding sponsor, Illustration X. 
Consider supporting the Ukrainian Institute's creative community at https://ui.org.ua
For coaching, more podcasts, and other opportunities, head to https://thecreativecondition.com
For my art: https://bentallon.com
 

Overthinking can be second nature to creative thinkers. A classic downside to empathy and sensitivity. I've battled with anxiety in recent years, and my overthinking has been out of control. Constant rumination, wild and unmanaged responses to news headlines, and an uncharacteristically gloomy outlook leading to sleepless nights and worry spirals.
I'm slowly getting a handle on it, and I want to help others suffering the same barriers to a calmer, more optimistic basis for their creativity.
Nikki Emerton, a therapist, trainer, and coach, joins me to discuss the brain, the patterns of thought and traps we fall into, and how we can help ourselves break this destructive cycle.
As ever supported by Illustration X https://illustrationx.com
Work with me through the 'PIT STOP' one-stop creativity foundational coaching session, or work with me to write your story in the brand new 'The Internal' story coaching program now at https://thecreativecondition.com (https://thecreativecondition.com/)
Access creativity resources, including books, a reading list, and 300+ podcasts at https://thecreativecondition.com
Help the Ukrainian Institute's brave creative community during a horrific time of war at https://ui.org.ua

In this entry of The Creativity Diary:
Understanding the self over job titles and skills
The need for space to avoid overwhelm and nervous system activation
Stoicism as a tool for managing uncertain times
As ever supported by Illustration X https://illustrationx.com
Work with me through the 'PIT STOP' one-stop creativity foundational coaching session now at https://thecreativecondition.com (https://thecreativecondition.com/)
See the Pit Stop flagship coaching session and an illustrator-specific coaching offer now. Access creativity resources, including books, a reading list, and 300+ podcasts at https://thecreativecondition.com
Help the Ukrainian Institute's brave creative community during a horrific time of war at https://ui.org.ua

Journaling was one of several tools I used to tackle a tough year of anxiety. While reflecting upon a previous entry, I noticed that the list of helpful habits to support my mental well-being was more or less interchangeable with core components of healthy creativity, so I wanted to explore that idea a little more.
I'd love to hear your take on this, so get in touch about it, or anything else at ben@bentallon.com
As ever The Creative Condition podcast is supported by founding sponsor Illustration X.
https://www.basedesign.com/about/min-lew
For more creativity resources, including coaching opportunities, reading lists and articles, head to the official The Creative Condition site.
Please consider supporting The Ukrainian Institute, who champion the brave and inspiring Ukrainian creative community during this awful time of war.
 
 

'Lived data' is how Min Lew, head of Base Design in New York City, described intuition. I loved this. Min has quite the story, and she joins me to discuss her work overseeing the creative output and business of Base.
We discuss why moodboards have their place, but often stifle thinking big and differently in the creative process, travel, cultural lessons, the future of branding, and much more in an inspiring conversation with a bona fide creative industry leader.
As ever The Creative Condition podcast is supported by founding sponsor Illustration X.
https://www.basedesign.com/about/min-lew
For more creativity resources, including coaching opportunities, reading lists and articles, head to the official The Creative Condition site.
Please consider supporting The Ukrainian Institute, who champion the brave and inspiring Ukrainian creative community during this awful time of war.