Radim Malinic returns 103 episodes after we talked on episode 119 of the podcast. Now he is back with not one, but two new books: Mindful Creative and Creativity for Sale. The two books are designed to work as a set of two and delve into the way we work, all the way from our evolutionary tendencies, to our perceptions of creativity, the way it functions, and how we can be happy while making money, producing the work we always wanted to. We cover it all. This is a deep, candid chat, the only way Radim knows how. The show is supported by founding sponsor Illustration X: https://illustrationx.com ..read more

Too many people are downbeat. The heaviness of 24-hour news cycles are locking people's creativity and spirit away in dank, lightless basements. Here are five tips to turn the tide, and find a baseline of excitement and optimism from which to contribute to solutions for the problems that make us feel like the world has gone to sh1t. As ever the show is supported by founding sponsor Illustration X: illustrationx.com and 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: ui.org.ua ..read more

Today is the release day for 'The Creative Condition' - my 2nd non-fiction book. This time out I chose to publish independently. Here's how, why, what to consider if you want to do this too. Supported by founding sponsor: https://illustrationx.com and the Ukrainian Institute https://ui.org.ua The Creative Condition is out now at: https://www.bentallonwriter.com/shop/p/the-creative-condition-understanding-and-embracing-human-creativity-signed-paperback-pre-order-april-11th-release ..read more

Arizona State University professor in psychology Athena Atkipis joins me as her new book 'A Field Guide to the Apocalypse' hits the bookshelves. Athena's smart and fun zombie apocalypse approach to encouraging and supporting us in facing our fears during wild times carves out her beautiful niche in the field of psychology. We discuss why we've always felt like we're on the brink as a species, and, whether the worst happens, or a pipe simply bursts and floods your house, preparing for greater resilience in wild times can be fun, exciting, and a great route to happiness and optimal creativity. I ..read more

At a formative age, Tye Glover was told he'd better look at careers that required physical activity because his brain wasn't up to much. This couldn't have been more wrong. Through his 'neural creative programming' model, Tye helps others join their dots. He explains why patterns are everything, and how we can take control and eliminate the negative loops in our lives to find our optimal way. As ever the show is supported by founding sponsor Illustration X: illustrationx.com and the Ukrainian Institute. You can help a wonderful organisation by supporting the Ukrainian creative community as the ..read more

Manchester creative agency LOVE Creative Senior Creative Eve Warren joins me in conversation to discuss the damaging trend of excessive job demands for entry-level and junior roles in the arts. We discuss the responsibilities of both industry and education to ensure creativity is not damaged when trying to remain viable in times of economic struggle, and our own experiences and ideas. As ever the show is supported by founding sponsor Illustration X: illustrationx.com and the Ukrainian Institute. You can help a wonderful organisation by supporting the Ukrainian creative community as they strugg ..read more

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.com and the Ukrainian Institute ..read more

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 ..read more

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 ..read more

'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.com and 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.com Music by Dirty Freud: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2c5NcXidirDDqL3sc3vW8S ..read more