Returning guest Simon Dixon, co-founder of global brand and design agency DixonBaxi, sits down with Radim as the studio approaches its 25th birthday to talk about what actually holds up over a quarter of a century. ~ 

This is a conversation about comfort without complacency ? how a body of work lets you meet the world with strength instead of fear, why Simon has never asked permission or had a mentor, and how "access" quietly determines who gets to be daring in the first place. 

They trace the throughline from permission to curiosity to gratitude, unpack the real difference between fear and doubt, and land on why taste, judgment, and care will matter more than ever in a world being reshaped by AI.

Takeaways

Twenty-five years in, real confidence isn't settled or atrophied ? it's comfort earned through scar tissue and decision-makingIt's easy to be daring once you can pay the rent ? access and infrastructure quietly gatekeep who gets to take creative risksThere's no such thing as a dead end or a mistake; there's only information about what you've won or haven'tFear and doubt aren't the same thing ? doubt is the ache of growth, not a threat to surviveGenerosity and mentoring don't wait for success; Simon took on interns from day one of his careerGrowth happens in layers, not stages ? self-focus, collaboration, and generosity all coexist rather than replacing one anotherTaste isn't universal ? it's conviction applied to your own work, which is why Hemingway and Jane Austen can both be rightAI won't be a tool bolted onto creativity ? it will be the infrastructure everything else runs through

Daring Creativity. Podcast with Radim Malinic

daringcreativity.com |  [email protected]

Books by Radim Malinic Paperback and Kindle > https://amzn.to/4biTwFc
Free audiobook (with Audible trial) > https://geni.us/free-audiobook
Book bundles  https://novemberuniverse.co.uk

Lux Coffee Co. https://luxcoffee.co.uk/  (Use: PODCAST for 15% off)
November Universe https://novemberuniverse.co.uk (Use: PODCAST for 10% off)

A short bonus episode showcasing a few standout moments from this week's guest interview with Paloma Rincón  ~

Daring Creativity. Podcast with Radim Malinic

daringcreativity.com |  [email protected]

Books by Radim Malinic Paperback and Kindle > https://amzn.to/4biTwFc
Free audiobook (with Audible trial) > https://geni.us/free-audiobook
Book bundles  https://novemberuniverse.co.uk

Lux Coffee Co. https://luxcoffee.co.uk/  (Use: PODCAST for 15% off)
November Universe https://novemberuniverse.co.uk (Use: PODCAST for 10% off)

Visual artist and photographer Paloma Rincón joins Radim to trace a creative life built on colour, contrast, and control. Raised in Mexico City and surrounded by handcraft, tactile materials, and a graphic designer uncle, Paloma fell first for the analog darkroom, then for the still-life sets she builds entirely by hand. ~ 

She talks candidly about the shock of moving to a "monochrome" Madrid at a young age, the disciplined self-reliance it forced on her, and how a chance pairing of a disco ball and a melon became one of her most iconic images. 

The conversation moves from personal projects and happy accidents to the realities of commercial work, retouching, and surrendering control to a trusted team ? closing on why she believes a distinct creative voice, not AI, will always be the thing that carries an artist through.

Takeaways

Childhood surroundings shape creative instinct long before you recognise it ? Paloma's love of colour, handcraft, and building spaces (rather than playing with dolls) runs through all her work todayMoving somewhere "greyer" doesn't just change your surroundings ? it can force a self-reliance and discipline that becomes a lifelong assetA signature style often lives in tension: Paloma's geometric precision sits deliberately against organic, fluid elementsAnalog training builds a physical, technical understanding of light and process that digital immediacy doesn't automatically teachThe best juxtapositions ? like the disco melon ? often arrive as happy accidents inside a loosely defined creative "box," not a rigid planPersonal projects and commercial projects demand different relationships with control; knowing when to hold on and when to surrender is a craft in itselfRetouching your own work can be meditative, but stepping back and handing it to others often produces a better resultIn an AI-saturated landscape, a distinctive creative voice ? not the tool ? remains the real differentiator

Daring Creativity. Podcast with Radim Malinic

daringcreativity.com |  [email protected]

Books by Radim Malinic Paperback and Kindle > https://amzn.to/4biTwFc
Free audiobook (with Audible trial) > https://geni.us/free-audiobook
Book bundles  https://novemberuniverse.co.uk

Lux Coffee Co. https://luxcoffee.co.uk/  (Use: PODCAST for 15% off)
November Universe https://novemberuniverse.co.uk (Use: PODCAST for 10% off)

A short bonus episode showcasing a few standout moments from this week's guest interview with Freddie Ost and Erick Kockrum from Snask  ~

Daring Creativity. Podcast with Radim Malinic

daringcreativity.com |  [email protected]

Books by Radim Malinic Paperback and Kindle > https://amzn.to/4biTwFc
Free audiobook (with Audible trial) > https://geni.us/free-audiobook
Book bundles  https://novemberuniverse.co.uk

Lux Coffee Co. https://luxcoffee.co.uk/  (Use: PODCAST for 15% off)
November Universe https://novemberuniverse.co.uk (Use: PODCAST for 10% off)

Radim is joined by Freddie and Erik from SNASK ? the Stockholm-based studio that has spent nearly two decades building one of the most distinctive, daring creative brands on the planet. ~ What begins as a conversation about music, inspiration, and origins unfolds into a masterclass in conviction, values-led work, and why making enemies is the most logical brand strategy there is. From their refusal to enter awards to a client who fainted getting a tattoo at a wrap party, this episode is a full-blooded reminder of what it actually looks like to stand for something ? and never apologise for it.

Takeaways

Build your brand like a rock band ? with mythology, a manifesto, and the confidence to always play lastStanding for your values creates both enemies and fans ? and that is precisely the pointHumour is far more universal than people believe; the fear of it not landing is bigger than the realityMaking enemies isn't risky ? having no position at all is the true creative catastropheGreat creative partnerships work by lifting each other's ideas further than either could reach alone"Fuck-off capital" isn't money ? it's the courage to operate entirely on your own termsHolding clients through unfamiliar territory requires conviction and patience, not retreatThe design industry desperately needs voices ? neutral, inoffensive work doesn't just underperform, it disappears

Daring Creativity. Podcast with Radim Malinic

daringcreativity.com |  [email protected]

Books by Radim Malinic Paperback and Kindle > https://amzn.to/4biTwFc
Free audiobook (with Audible trial) > https://geni.us/free-audiobook
Book bundles  https://novemberuniverse.co.uk

Lux Coffee Co. https://luxcoffee.co.uk/  (Use: PODCAST for 15% off)
November Universe https://novemberuniverse.co.uk (Use: PODCAST for 10% off)

Rob Draper is an artist, designer, lettering artist, and collage maker whose career has been shaped by an extraordinary sequence of reinventions. Growing up in Worcester in the 1980s, Rob was captivated by American culture, graffiti, and the visual energy of films like E.T. and Tron. ~

That early love of making things became the thread connecting every chapter that followed ? from graphic design student to art director, from redundancy to sign writing, from teaching in prisons to painting coffee cups that went viral. In this conversation, recorded live at All Flows  Festival, Rob talks about the courage it takes to start over, the strange peace that comes from creating without knowing the outcome, and why being a "creative" ? without further definition ? might be the most honest title of all.

Takeaways:

There is now space to simply be a creative ? no single specialisation required ? as long as there is a genuine thread running through your workRob's graffiti beginnings in Worcester gave him confidence, community, and a visual language that quietly shaped everything that came afterRedundancy forced a reinvention that included sign writing, teaching, prison workshops, and eventually coffee cups painted with messages that were ? by his own admission ? mostly aimed at himselfThe coffee cup project was never designed to go viral; it was a shop window that became a movement, built on consistency, authenticity, and small acts of showing upCollage was the most controversial and most creatively liberating pivot of Rob's career ? uncomfortable precisely because he couldn't predict the outcomeCreativity served as escapism at every stage of Rob's life, in both the dark chapters and the bright onesRob's approach to education is rooted in simplicity: you are on one side, your dreams are on the other, and the middle is just workMaking universally pleasing work produces the blandest possible result ? finding a specific voice and committing to it is always the better pathThe greatest insight Rob carries from his career is simply gratitude ? for having creativity as a tool to process, express, and survive whatever life brings

Daring Creativity. Podcast with Radim Malinic

daringcreativity.com |  [email protected]

Books by Radim Malinic Paperback and Kindle > https://amzn.to/4biTwFc
Free audiobook (with Audible trial) > https://geni.us/free-audiobook
Book bundles  https://novemberuniverse.co.uk

Lux Coffee Co. https://luxcoffee.co.uk/  (Use: PODCAST for 15% off)
November Universe https://novemberuniverse.co.uk (Use: PODCAST for 10% off)

Nada Hesham is the founder and Chief Creative Officer of 40Mustaqel, an independent design studio born and based in Cairo, Egypt. Recorded live at All Flows Festival, this conversation moves between identity, rebellion, methodology, and the deep craft of building a studio that refuses to be a factory. ~

Nada grew up in Cairo ? an intense, visually chaotic city she describes as a continuous love-hate relationship ? in a family of doctors and engineers. She found her way into graphic design not through natural talent, but through the logic of typography: a discipline where obsession and method matter more than innate spark. That belief ? that creativity is earned through rigour rather than gifted from above ? has shaped everything from how she builds her team to how she approaches a client brief.

Over five years, 40Mustaqel became the go-to studio for Arabic script-led design across the region. But Nada is already restless with that success, pushing her studio into new territory: sculptures, exhibitions, publishing, and a deeper interrogation of what it means to decolonise design beyond the script's surface.

Key takeaways:

Creativity built on method and obsession outlasts creativity built on talentCairo's visual chaos is not a limitation ? it is a creative inheritance worth claimingThe research phase is where regional and cultural influence truly lives in a projectHiring small and intentionally protects the intimacy and quality that makes boutique studios thriveLeadership is orchestration ? knowing who in your team holds which genius is the real skillDecolonising design is a process question, not just a visual oneBeing known for something is the first milestone; outgrowing it is the secondThe Trojan horse strategy ? delivering what a client expects while quietly changing what they believe ? is how cultural shifts happen

Daring Creativity. Podcast with Radim Malinic

daringcreativity.com |  [email protected]

Books by Radim Malinic Paperback and Kindle > https://amzn.to/4biTwFc
Free audiobook (with Audible trial) > https://geni.us/free-audiobook
Book bundles  https://novemberuniverse.co.uk

Lux Coffee Co. https://luxcoffee.co.uk/  (Use: PODCAST for 15% off)
November Universe https://novemberuniverse.co.uk (Use: PODCAST for 10% off)

A short bonus episode showcasing a few standout moments from this week's guest interview with Mat Voyce ~

Daring Creativity. Podcast with Radim Malinic

daringcreativity.com |  [email protected]

Books by Radim Malinic Paperback and Kindle > https://amzn.to/4biTwFc
Free audiobook (with Audible trial) > https://geni.us/free-audiobook
Book bundles  https://novemberuniverse.co.uk

Lux Coffee Co. https://luxcoffee.co.uk/  (Use: PODCAST for 15% off)
November Universe https://novemberuniverse.co.uk (Use: PODCAST for 10% off)

In Episode 50, Radim sits down with Mat Voyce ? type animator whose kinetic, character-driven lettering has earned him a devoted following and a client list most freelancers would dream about. What starts as a conversation about craft quickly becomes something more personal: how a self-described jack-of-all-trades with middle-of-the-pack grades found his calling through animated type, and how the pressure of building something real collided with the weight of anxiety that nobody could see from the outside.

Mat traces his journey from childhood TV binges and PlayStation nights to architecture illustrations sold as wall art, to the type pieces he built in the evenings while still holding down a day job ? quietly constructing the career he wanted, frame by frame. He talks about the boss who saw it coming and gave him the conversation he needed to leave, the freelance runway he built before making the leap, and the daily discipline of stepping up his personal work each year so clients keep finding him.

But the episode's most powerful shift comes when the conversation turns to anxiety ? and Mat's decision to go public about it. What he got back wasn't what he expected: an outpouring from designers and creatives who'd been quietly carrying the same thing. His honesty didn't just help him. It opened a dialogue that changed how he understood himself, his community, and what it means to show up fully in creative work.

Takeaways:

Being a jack of all trades isn't a weakness ? it's a toolkit in progress. Every skill you collect compounds into something no single-track path could build.The evening sofa session matters. Doing your own work after a full day's work is how you invent the future version of your career.Building freelance backing before you quit creates both security and clarity. When it lines up, the leap isn't reckless ? it's ready.Knowing what jobs to say no to is as important as being good at the jobs you say yes to. Staying in your lane protects your quality and your passion.Personal projects are the engine of growth. Each year Mat steps his own work up ? new formats, new layers, new challenges ? and clients follow.Sharing your struggles in public can unlock the real information that therapy and Google can't give you. Community is the most underrated resource a creative has.Anxiety is gradual, cumulative, and often invisible from the outside. Recognising it early ? especially with a supportive partner ? is what makes it manageable.Medication isn't failure. For Mat, it was the first thing that actually worked ? and the honesty about it helped more people than any type animation ever had.

Daring Creativity. Podcast with Radim Malinic

daringcreativity.com |  [email protected]

Books by Radim Malinic Paperback and Kindle > https://amzn.to/4biTwFc
Free audiobook (with Audible trial) > https://geni.us/free-audiobook
Book bundles  https://novemberuniverse.co.uk

Lux Coffee Co. https://luxcoffee.co.uk/  (Use: PODCAST for 15% off)
November Universe https://novemberuniverse.co.uk (Use: PODCAST for 10% off)

A short bonus episode showcasing a few standout moments from this week's guest interview with Elana Rudick ~

Daring Creativity. Podcast with Radim Malinic

daringcreativity.com |  [email protected]

Books by Radim Malinic Paperback and Kindle > https://amzn.to/4biTwFc
Free audiobook (with Audible trial) > https://geni.us/free-audiobook
Book bundles  https://novemberuniverse.co.uk

Lux Coffee Co. https://luxcoffee.co.uk/  (Use: PODCAST for 15% off)
November Universe https://novemberuniverse.co.uk (Use: PODCAST for 10% off)

Montreal-based creative director and founder of Design is Yummy, Elana Rudick, returns to the podcast for the first time since season one. With twenty years in the industry and a new talk on the horizon, Elana joins Radim to explore what it really means to make design human ? from the studio floor to the stage. 

They cover the rollercoaster of running a creative studio post-pandemic, why slowing down your thinking is the new competitive advantage in an age of rapid AI execution, and what happens when a chocolate bar becomes your CV. 

Elana's new keynote, "The Shift to Human: Reconnecting with What Matters," gives this conversation its spine ? a call to bring soft skills, relationship-building, and radical accountability back to the centre of creative work.

Takeaways

Post-pandemic unpredictability has forced creative studios to diversify and pivot ? and that pressure, uncomfortable as it is, makes you betterThinking and execution are separate skills; as AI speeds up making, the quality of your thinking matters more than ever, not lessSitting with work before presenting it ? resisting the rush ? is a discipline that consistently produces better outcomes and deeper client trustAccessible tools haven't removed the need for designers; they've changed the conversation that happens before a brief even arrivesSoft skills ? communication, empathy, relationship-building, curiosity ? are the most transferable assets any creative can carry into an uncertain futureCalling three people a day throughout the pandemic built some of Elana's most enduring and trusted professional relationshipsDaring doesn't need to be loud or gimmicky ? it just means stepping outside your own comfort zone, whatever that looks like for youShowing up as your best self is the foundation; the work, in whatever form the future demands, will follow from that

Daring Creativity. Podcast with Radim Malinic

daringcreativity.com |  [email protected]

Books by Radim Malinic Paperback and Kindle > https://amzn.to/4biTwFc
Free audiobook (with Audible trial) > https://geni.us/free-audiobook
Book bundles  https://novemberuniverse.co.uk

Lux Coffee Co. https://luxcoffee.co.uk/  (Use: PODCAST for 15% off)
November Universe https://novemberuniverse.co.uk (Use: PODCAST for 10% off)

A short bonus episode showcasing a few standout moments from this week's guest interview with Murugiah ~

Daring Creativity. Podcast with Radim Malinic

daringcreativity.com |  [email protected]

Books by Radim Malinic Paperback and Kindle > https://amzn.to/4biTwFc
Free audiobook (with Audible trial) > https://geni.us/free-audiobook
Book bundles  https://novemberuniverse.co.uk

Lux Coffee Co. https://luxcoffee.co.uk/  (Use: PODCAST for 15% off)
November Universe https://novemberuniverse.co.uk (Use: PODCAST for 10% off)

Murugiah returns to Daring Creativity for a conversation that feels like watching someone step fully into who they were always meant to be. 

A multidisciplinary artist trained in architecture, living and working in London, Murugiah has spent the years since his last appearance developing a deeply personal body of work ? acrylic paintings that fuse his digital aesthetic with a new emotional rawness, rooted in his Sri Lankan heritage and shaped by a decade of intentional craft. ~

 One email to the Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration led, against all expectations, to an invitation to open the entire centre with his debut solo exhibition.

This is a conversation about patience, pursuit and the quiet power of just doing the work ? without waiting for permission, without chasing the outcome, and without needing the world to show up before you get started.

Key takeaways:

Creating your own opportunity is not a strategy ? it's a mindset. One email sent from a place of genuine excitement changed the entire trajectory of Murugiah's careerEmotional heft takes time. The years spent developing a visual aesthetic were necessary before the personal, introspective work could emergeFollowing the fun keeps you present. When imposter syndrome strips you of the now, curiosity and play bring you backTactility is a response, not nostalgia. Moving into acrylic painting was a deliberate turn towards what AI cannot replicate ? intuitive, human, physical decision-makingThe journey is the reward. The hours at the table, the meetings, the exchanges ? those are what you carry. The response to the work is secondaryRadical empathy fuels introspection. Putting yourself in someone else's shoes ? even a bus driver's ? creates the internal awareness that feeds deeply personal workA debut doesn't need to come early to matter. Coming to it at 38, with a full life behind him, made Murugiah's show richer and more resonant than speed could ever have allowed

Daring Creativity. Podcast with Radim Malinic

daringcreativity.com |  [email protected]

Books by Radim Malinic Paperback and Kindle > https://amzn.to/4biTwFc
Free audiobook (with Audible trial) > https://geni.us/free-audiobook
Book bundles  https://novemberuniverse.co.uk

Lux Coffee Co. https://luxcoffee.co.uk/  (Use: PODCAST for 15% off)
November Universe https://novemberuniverse.co.uk (Use: PODCAST for 10% off)

A short bonus episode showcasing a few standout moments from this week's guest interview with George Wu and Malika Favre (icantaffordthisbutmaybeshecan) ~

Daring Creativity. Podcast with Radim Malinic

daringcreativity.com |  [email protected]

Books by Radim Malinic Paperback and Kindle > https://amzn.to/4biTwFc
Free audiobook (with Audible trial) > https://geni.us/free-audiobook
Book bundles  https://novemberuniverse.co.uk

Lux Coffee Co. https://luxcoffee.co.uk/  (Use: PODCAST for 15% off)
November Universe https://novemberuniverse.co.uk (Use: PODCAST for 10% off)

Malika Favre is one of the most recognisable illustrators working today ? a master of bold geometry, reduced palettes, and images you feel before you decode. George Wu is a graphic designer, event director, product creator, and by her own admission, a jack of all trades. Together, they created I Can't Afford This But Maybe She Can ? a curation account that started as a private joke between two best friends and grew into a 350,000-follower community, a newsletter with a 70%+ open rate, and a full concept store with over 300 products from 90 independent brands worldwide.

This conversation captures why that happened ? and what it actually takes to build something meaningful without a business plan, a marketing budget, or any intention of selling out.

Key Takeaways

Friendship is a creative force. Malika and George's decade-long friendship is the foundation of everything ? the trust, the honesty, and the courage to post without approval-seeking.Curation is care made visible. Their process ? going down rabbit holes, translating Japanese craft websites, following follower trails ? shows the difference between sharing and truly giving a damn.Ego is the first thing to go. George's journey from curating for approval to posting freely mirrors a shift every creative needs to make at some point.Innovation vs. perfection isn't a conflict ? it's a team. George chases the new; Malika pursues the perfect. Their output is both.Building outside the algorithm is an act of resistance. No reels, no faces, no sponsored clutter ? and 350k people followed anyway because the care was unmistakable.Monetising without compromising is the hardest part. The shop, the newsletter, the auction house commission ? each step has been deliberate, values-led, and brutally honest about what isn't working yet.The last mile is rarely crowded. Their willingness to go further ? to find the fourth-generation kite maker in Japan, to contact every one of 90 brands individually ? is exactly why their audience trusts them.

Daring Creativity. Podcast with Radim Malinic

daringcreativity.com |  [email protected]

Books by Radim Malinic Paperback and Kindle > https://amzn.to/4biTwFc
Free audiobook (with Audible trial) > https://geni.us/free-audiobook
Book bundles  https://novemberuniverse.co.uk

Lux Coffee Co. https://luxcoffee.co.uk/  (Use: PODCAST for 15% off)
November Universe https://novemberuniverse.co.uk (Use: PODCAST for 10% off)

A short bonus episode showcasing a few standout moments from this week's guest interview with PJ Richardson from Laundry Studio ~

Daring Creativity. Podcast with Radim Malinic

daringcreativity.com |  [email protected]

Books by Radim Malinic Paperback and Kindle > https://amzn.to/4biTwFc
Free audiobook (with Audible trial) > https://geni.us/free-audiobook
Book bundles  https://novemberuniverse.co.uk

Lux Coffee Co. https://luxcoffee.co.uk/  (Use: PODCAST for 15% off)
November Universe https://novemberuniverse.co.uk (Use: PODCAST for 10% off)

In this special live episode recorded in front of an audience at OFFF Barcelona 2026, Radim sits down with PJ Richardson ? ECD and co-founder of Laundry, a motion design studio based in LA and San Francisco ? to pull back the curtain on one of the most ambitious creative projects of the festival: the OFFF 2026 opening titles, the nine-and-a-half-minute projection mapping piece that lit up an entire building and stopped the crowd in their tracks. 

PJ Richardson takes us inside the full arc of that creative journey ? from the initial spark of ambition, through the chaos of experimentation, to the emotional moment of standing outside watching it play with his friends and peers.

This conversation is about far more than motion design. It's about daring to ask, the courage to collaborate, the willingness to sit with discomfort, and the decision ? every single day ? to challenge the status quo with joy.

Takeaways:

Asking is its own creative act ? PJ emailed Pep for three consecutive years before the timing aligned. Persistence without pressure eventually becomes a possibility.Say yes, then figure it out ? Laundry's working philosophy of committing first and problem-solving second is what makes ambitious work happen at all.The process is the art ? PJ's conceptual framework for the titles treated the journey of creativity itself as the subject matter, not just the output.Failure is the raw material ? every experiment that didn't work became the foundation for the one that did. A thousand failed attempts led to one defining idea.Collaboration is a cheat code ? bringing in friends like Alex Liou, Alejandro R. Meija, and Josh Pierce wasn't a compromise; it was the creative multiplier that made the whole thing possible.Challenge the status quo with joy ? PJ's guiding theme for the titles, and for his creative life: the hard work is worth doing, but the intention to enjoy it matters deeply.Community is the celebration ? the moment the piece felt truly finished wasn't in the edit suite. It was standing outside in Barcelona with peers, watching it on the building together. .

Daring Creativity. Podcast with Radim Malinic

daringcreativity.com |  [email protected]

Books by Radim Malinic Paperback and Kindle > https://amzn.to/4biTwFc
Free audiobook (with Audible trial) > https://geni.us/free-audiobook
Book bundles  https://novemberuniverse.co.uk

Lux Coffee Co. https://luxcoffee.co.uk/  (Use: PODCAST for 15% off)
November Universe https://novemberuniverse.co.uk (Use: PODCAST for 10% off)

A short bonus episode showcasing a few standout moments from this week's guest interview with Dora Drimalas from Hybrid Design ~

Daring Creativity. Podcast with Radim Malinic

daringcreativity.com |  [email protected]

Books by Radim Malinic Paperback and Kindle > https://amzn.to/4biTwFc
Free audiobook (with Audible trial) > https://geni.us/free-audiobook
Book bundles  https://novemberuniverse.co.uk

Lux Coffee Co. https://luxcoffee.co.uk/  (Use: PODCAST for 15% off)
November Universe https://novemberuniverse.co.uk (Use: PODCAST for 10% off)

Dora Drimalas, co-founder of San Francisco design studio Hybrid, joins Radim to explore what it really means to build a creative practice grounded in genuine, unfiltered curiosity. ~ 

Over 24 years, Hybrid has refused to specialise ? working instead across branding, campaigns, books, and environments for clients from Nike to Lego ? and Dora explains why that deliberate refusal to narrow down has been the studio's greatest creative strength. 

From their formative years at Nike, where fearlessness was the culture, to the making of their debut monograph Curiosity in All Things ? a 650-page love letter to design, process, and inspiration ? this is a conversation about building the conditions for great work, asking bigger questions, and creating without fear.

Takeaways

Specialising might be better for business, but diversifying is better for creativity ? and Hybrid chose creativity every timeFertile conditions for good work require a mix of personalities, backgrounds, disciplines, and points of view ? creative biodiversity is non-negotiableClients often lock down possibilities before the conversation has even started ? a great creative's job is to reopen themThe Nike years were grad school for design: fearlessness, cross-medium storytelling, and throwing people into projects they weren't yet qualified forBeing on the outside as an agency lets you cross-pollinate ideas across industries ? that is an advantage in-house work can never fully replicateA monograph is not just a portfolio ? it's a record of thinking, process, relationships, and the inspiration that makes the work possibleYou can make beautiful work on small budgets; it costs exactly the same to print ugly as it does to print beautifulStepping back as a leader ? and letting others grow into their roles ? is its own form of creative satisfaction

Daring Creativity. Podcast with Radim Malinic

daringcreativity.com |  [email protected]

Books by Radim Malinic Paperback and Kindle > https://amzn.to/4biTwFc
Free audiobook (with Audible trial) > https://geni.us/free-audiobook
Book bundles  https://novemberuniverse.co.uk

Lux Coffee Co. https://luxcoffee.co.uk/  (Use: PODCAST for 15% off)
November Universe https://novemberuniverse.co.uk (Use: PODCAST for 10% off)

A short bonus episode showcasing a few standout moments from this week's guest interview with Pablo Juncadella from Mucho ~

Daring Creativity. Podcast with Radim Malinic

daringcreativity.com |  [email protected]

Books by Radim Malinic Paperback and Kindle > https://amzn.to/4biTwFc
Free audiobook (with Audible trial) > https://geni.us/free-audiobook
Book bundles  https://novemberuniverse.co.uk

Lux Coffee Co. https://luxcoffee.co.uk/  (Use: PODCAST for 15% off)
November Universe https://novemberuniverse.co.uk (Use: PODCAST for 10% off)

Pablo Juncadella is co-founder and partner at Mucho, the Barcelona-based branding and identity studio approaching its 25th year. In this conversation, Pablo traces a career built on unlikely advantages ? dyslexia, collective thinking, and an editorial background that taught him to treat brands as stories told in headlines. ~

From working on El País at 22 through Pentagram London, to becoming creative director of The Observer at 25, to building a studio with offices across Europe and the US, his path has been one of constant curiosity, deliberate humility, and a refusal to lower the standard of what design can do.

Takeaways:

Creativity is not visualisation ? it's the ability to see from a different perspective and bring others thereDyslexia, and conditions like it, place you naturally outside the majority ? that position is the seed of creative advantageIdeas are preludes, not destinations ? falling too in love with one prevents the better version from arrivingThe best early careers involve challenges larger than your current capability ? that gap is exactly where you growCollective intelligence outlasts individual ambition; a studio with its own identity can evolve beyond any one person's needs or energyClient satisfaction is a baseline, not a ceiling ? the real job is to hold higher standards than anyone asked forFrustration is not a sign of failure ? it's the engine that keeps the standard from quietly droppingVisual language is the most universal language; use it to bridge cultures, industries, and disciplinesDesign builds on what came before ? your job is to contribute to the wheel, not just spin itLongevity comes from curiosity, adaptability, and the willingness to learn from the person sitting across the table

Daring Creativity. Podcast with Radim Malinic

daringcreativity.com |  [email protected]

Books by Radim Malinic Paperback and Kindle > https://amzn.to/4biTwFc
Free audiobook (with Audible trial) > https://geni.us/free-audiobook
Book bundles  https://novemberuniverse.co.uk

Lux Coffee Co. https://luxcoffee.co.uk/  (Use: PODCAST for 15% off)
November Universe https://novemberuniverse.co.uk (Use: PODCAST for 10% off)

A short bonus episode showcasing a few standout moments from this week's guest interview with Caroline Hobkinson ~

Daring Creativity. Podcast with Radim Malinic

daringcreativity.com |  [email protected]

Books by Radim Malinic Paperback and Kindle > https://amzn.to/4biTwFc
Free audiobook (with Audible trial) > https://geni.us/free-audiobook
Book bundles  https://novemberuniverse.co.uk

Lux Coffee Co. https://luxcoffee.co.uk/  (Use: PODCAST for 15% off)
November Universe https://novemberuniverse.co.uk (Use: PODCAST for 10% off)

Caroline Hopkinson is a food artist and food anthropologist whose work sits at the collision of neuroscience, performance, ritual and sensory design. In this conversation she reframes everything we think we know about eating ? not as sustenance or even pleasure, but as our most intimate, politically charged and deeply human act. 

From the communion of a morning coffee order to immersive dining experiences in Berlin and Paris, Caroline reveals why food is the one domain where algorithms have no jurisdiction.

Food is our most intimate ritual ? more so than sex, because what we eat literally becomes us and can be read in our bodies months laterIn a world of algorithmic content, food remains the last bastion of radical agency ? the one thing we can fully control and consciously chooseChildren have more taste buds than adults, which is why they reject certain flavours ? it's sensitivity, not fussiness, and it diminishes as we ageBitterness in flavour signals evolutionary danger, but those who override it tend to be risk takers and thrill seekers ? your taste palette reveals your personality archetypeSound is the fastest sense ? high frequencies amplify sweetness, low frequencies bring out bitterness, and a designed soundscape can transform the experience of a meal entirelyThe meals we prepare are the punctuation of our lives; every celebration, transition and gathering is anchored by food, making it the definitive marker of intentionalitySurrender is not giving up control ? it requires trust, and when onboarded properly, it allows people to move beyond hyperactive choice into genuinely transformative experienceCapturing a memory and creating one are fundamentally different acts ? the most powerful dining moments resist documentation and live only in the bodyIntermittent fasting and mindful eating aren't new trends ? they mirror ancient religious cycles of feast and fast that humanity followed for millenniaFood is the last domain untouched by VR, AI or the metaverse ? its irreducible physical reality makes communal dining more valuable and culturally significant than ever

Daring Creativity. Podcast with Radim Malinic

daringcreativity.com |  [email protected]

Books by Radim Malinic Paperback and Kindle > https://amzn.to/4biTwFc
Free audiobook (with Audible trial) > https://geni.us/free-audiobook
Book bundles  https://novemberuniverse.co.uk

Lux Coffee Co. https://luxcoffee.co.uk/  (Use: PODCAST for 15% off)
November Universe https://novemberuniverse.co.uk (Use: PODCAST for 10% off)

A short bonus episode showcasing a few standout moments from this week's guest interview with Sam Mensah-Bonsu ~

Daring Creativity. Podcast with Radim Malinic

daringcreativity.com |  [email protected]

Books by Radim Malinic Paperback and Kindle > https://amzn.to/4biTwFc
Free audiobook (with Audible trial) > https://geni.us/free-audiobook
Book bundles  https://novemberuniverse.co.uk

Lux Coffee Co. https://luxcoffee.co.uk/  (Use: PODCAST for 15% off)
November Universe https://novemberuniverse.co.uk (Use: PODCAST for 10% off)

Sam Mensah Bonsu is a Creative Director and Experience Designer at Microsoft, part of a small team shaping how millions of people interact with AI through Copilot. ~

From tracing Dragon Ball Z printouts borrowed from his brother's college library, to creating a candy typeface that went viral in 2013, to landing at AKQA on the Nike Football account and later advising C-suite executives at McKinsey. 

Sam's career has been a masterclass in following curiosity with full commitment. He founded Youth Worldwide to mentor underrepresented emerging talent and champion design education at a time when it was being defunded from schools. Now at the forefront of AI experience design, Sam reflects on what it means to make things that not only look good but genuinely change lives.

Takeaways:

Creativity is a give-and-take system ? inspiration received must become inspiration returnedThe entry point defines who gets in; lowering barriers is itself a form of creative leadershipSpeaking multiple creative languages ? design, strategy, business ? builds longevity and lasting influenceGoing to McKinsey wasn't selling out; it was learning to communicate value and impact at the highest levelYouth Worldwide was built to mentor underrepresented talent and make design education feel possibleAI doesn't replace creativity ? it eliminates the gap between thinking and makingThe most powerful shift AI offers creatives is the freedom to think bigger, not just work fasterBeing at the forefront of change requires constant adaptation and the courage to occupy unfamiliar roomsYour power lies not in fitting in, but in standing out purposefully and communicating value on your own termsOne poster influences thousands; one great AI experience has the potential to shape billions

Daring Creativity. Podcast with Radim Malinic

daringcreativity.com |  [email protected]

Books by Radim Malinic Paperback and Kindle > https://amzn.to/4biTwFc
Free audiobook (with Audible trial) > https://geni.us/free-audiobook
Book bundles  https://novemberuniverse.co.uk

Lux Coffee Co. https://luxcoffee.co.uk/  (Use: PODCAST for 15% off)
November Universe https://novemberuniverse.co.uk (Use: PODCAST for 10% off)

A short bonus episode showcasing a few standout moments from this week's guest interview with Danielle Weber ~

Daring Creativity. Podcast with Radim Malinic

daringcreativity.com |  [email protected]

Books by Radim Malinic Paperback and Kindle > https://amzn.to/4biTwFc
Free audiobook (with Audible trial) > https://geni.us/free-audiobook
Book bundles  https://novemberuniverse.co.uk

Lux Coffee Co. https://luxcoffee.co.uk/  (Use: PODCAST for 15% off)
November Universe https://novemberuniverse.co.uk (Use: PODCAST for 10% off)

Australian muralist Danielle Weber, joins Radim to explore the invisible layers behind a creative life ? from a teenage detour that almost derailed her entirely, to the streets where brilliant and bruising human encounters shape every project. ~

Danielle shares how curiosity has been both her compass and her chaos, why she'd choose fifteen years of slow growth over a single moment of overnight success, and how building a community became an act of creative necessity. 

This is a conversation about learning to trust your intuition, protecting your energy, and finding genuine beauty in the chapters that don't always look like progress.

Key Takeaways

Exploring many styles and approaches isn't wasted time ? it's how you discover what truly belongs to youCuriosity that isn't channelled creatively will find other, often self-destructive, outletsAuthentic presence online means sharing the day-to-day reality, not just the polished resultMural work is a full-body, full-mind endurance test ? managing your energy matters as much as managing your craftSaying no to the wrong people and projects takes years of practice and builds through every single conversation you haveSlow growth is sustainable growth; overnight success is a dangerous and fragile place to landYou don't need to be at 100% to mentor others ? honesty about your own struggles is exactly what makes you credibleThere is no expiration date on creativity; embracing the fact that you have time changes everything

Daring Creativity. Podcast with Radim Malinic

daringcreativity.com |  [email protected]

Books by Radim Malinic Paperback and Kindle > https://amzn.to/4biTwFc
Free audiobook (with Audible trial) > https://geni.us/free-audiobook
Book bundles  https://novemberuniverse.co.uk

Lux Coffee Co. https://luxcoffee.co.uk/  (Use: PODCAST for 15% off)
November Universe https://novemberuniverse.co.uk (Use: PODCAST for 10% off)

A short bonus episode showcasing a few standout moments from this week's guest interview with Rik Oostenbroek ~

Daring Creativity. Podcast with Radim Malinic

daringcreativity.com |  [email protected]

Books by Radim Malinic Paperback and Kindle > https://amzn.to/4biTwFc
Free audiobook (with Audible trial) > https://geni.us/free-audiobook
Book bundles  https://novemberuniverse.co.uk

Lux Coffee Co. https://luxcoffee.co.uk/  (Use: PODCAST for 15% off)
November Universe https://novemberuniverse.co.uk (Use: PODCAST for 10% off)

In this episode, Radim sits down with Rik Oostenbroek ? Dutch visual artist, digital pioneer, and restless creative explorer ? for a wide-ranging conversation that moves between nostalgia, grief, identity, and the strange beauty of not knowing what comes next. 

Rik reflects on two decades of carving his own path through commercial illustration, abstract digital art, the NFT world, and now the physical realm of screenprinting and sculpture, always guided by the same curiosity that drove him as a 14-year-old discovering DeviantArt.

The conversation is also a tribute to their mutual friend and creative force, Rutger Rutger Paulusse, who passed away recently, and whose influence on Rik's move toward physical making is one of the episode's most moving threads.

Key Takeaways

Staying connected to the version of yourself that first fell in love with the work is not nostalgia ? it's a survival strategy for sustaining a long creative careerThe early internet art community thrived precisely because there were no tutorials; being forced to ask another person built deeper connections than any algorithm can replicateCommercial success and artistic authenticity require constant, conscious negotiation ? comfort can arrive too soon and pull you away from what truly makes your work feel like yoursThe NFT movement gave digital artists something the agency world rarely did: the experience of being seen as artists rather than production toolsTranslating digital work into physical form is an act of surrender and discovery ? CMYK will never match RGB, and that limitation can become a new creative constraint worth embracingProtecting a separate personal life from creative identity is not avoidance ? it is how some artists sustain the passion and playfulness their work depends onThe people who push you hardest toward your best self leave the deepest mark; honouring their legacy means doing the very things they dared you to do

Daring Creativity. Podcast with Radim Malinic

daringcreativity.com |  [email protected]

Books by Radim Malinic Paperback and Kindle > https://amzn.to/4biTwFc
Free audiobook (with Audible trial) > https://geni.us/free-audiobook
Book bundles  https://novemberuniverse.co.uk

Lux Coffee Co. https://luxcoffee.co.uk/  (Use: PODCAST for 15% off)
November Universe https://novemberuniverse.co.uk (Use: PODCAST for 10% off)

A short bonus episode showcasing a few standout moments from this week's guest interview with Sarah Ellen Masters ~

Daring Creativity. Podcast with Radim Malinic

daringcreativity.com |  [email protected]

Books by Radim Malinic Paperback and Kindle > https://amzn.to/4biTwFc
Free audiobook (with Audible trial) > https://geni.us/free-audiobook
Book bundles  https://novemberuniverse.co.uk

Lux Coffee Co. https://luxcoffee.co.uk/  (Use: PODCAST for 15% off)
November Universe https://novemberuniverse.co.uk (Use: PODCAST for 10% off)

Sarah Ellen Masters is a collage artist, workshop facilitator, and founder of Colle ? a creative business born from her own healing journey. In this deeply personal conversation, Sarah traces how dyslexia, public shame at school, and years of emotional isolation led her, unexpectedly, to the transformative power of collage. ~

What began as a master's project questioning her own bias against the medium evolved into a daily practice, a business, and a mission to bring accessible, hands-on creativity back into communities, schools, and organisations. 

Sarah shares how she turned Julia Cameron's morning pages into a visual ritual, why she sources materials from charity shops and her grandmother's belongings, and how sitting side-by-side with workshop participants ? not above them ? defines her entire philosophy of creative empowerment.

Key Takeaways

Creativity can be suppressed from a very young age ? for Sarah, dyslexia and an unsupportive school system created decades of shame and self-doubt before she found her creative identity in her late twenties.Collage has a uniquely low barrier to entry because, unlike drawing or painting, it was never formally graded at school ? meaning most people carry no negative conditioning around it.Sarah developed a daily practice of writing diary entries, distilling each into three words, then translating those words into imagery ? a powerful visual alternative to traditional journalling.Being present over perfect is the core principle behind her workshops. The process matters far more than the finished image, making it genuinely accessible to everyone.The labels we carry ? "shy", "stupid", "black sheep" ? are rarely accurate. Sarah unpacks how misdiagnosed shyness was actually years of learned isolation, and how collage helped her reclaim her organic self.Sources and materials matter philosophically: charity shops, inherited pieces from her grandmother, and printing offcuts all tie into her values of renewal, recycling, and honouring the past.People are physically starving for analog connection. The moment participants put their phones down and work with their hands, real human connection ? not just connectivity ? takes over.Starting with people she knew and slowly widening her audience has helped Sarah build confidence through accumulated reps, not overnight transformation.Her collage practice has trained her to respond to life's situations rather than be absorbed by them ? a profound shift in emotional resilience.What Sarah offers her workshop participants is the exact safe, supported environment she desperately needed but never had growing up.

Daring Creativity. Podcast with Radim Malinic

daringcreativity.com |  [email protected]

Books by Radim Malinic Paperback and Kindle > https://amzn.to/4biTwFc
Free audiobook (with Audible trial) > https://geni.us/free-audiobook
Book bundles  https://novemberuniverse.co.uk

Lux Coffee Co. https://luxcoffee.co.uk/  (Use: PODCAST for 15% off)
November Universe https://novemberuniverse.co.uk (Use: PODCAST for 10% off)

A short bonus episode showcasing a few standout moments from this week's guest interview with Mike Perry (Tavern Agency) ~

Daring Creativity. Podcast with Radim Malinic

daringcreativity.com |  [email protected]

Books by Radim Malinic Paperback and Kindle > https://amzn.to/4biTwFc
Free audiobook (with Audible trial) > https://geni.us/free-audiobook
Book bundles  https://novemberuniverse.co.uk

Lux Coffee Co. https://luxcoffee.co.uk/  (Use: PODCAST for 15% off)
November Universe https://novemberuniverse.co.uk (Use: PODCAST for 10% off)

Mike Perry is the founder and chief creative officer of Tavern, a branding and packaging agency based in Brooklyn focused on food, beverage, hospitality, and sports. ~ With over 15 years cutting across NBC Sports, Hendricks Gin, Budweiser, TikTok, and beyond, Mike has developed a philosophy as richly layered as the brands he works on ? one rooted in subculture, source material, and a relentless pursuit of what he calls "modern heritage."

In this episode, Radim and Mike explore what it truly means to build something timeless in an industry obsessed with trends. From his punk-poster origins to floating an inflatable pigeon down the Hudson River for New York City Football Club, Mike reveals how chaos, curiosity, and hospitality form the connective tissue of great brand work.

Key Takeaways:

Subculture is the source of all icons. You need the chaos of punk rock, the feral physicality of real-world experience, to fuel brand work that actually resonates, and Pinterest boards will never replace it.Modern heritage is a philosophy built on tension. Holding heritage and modernity in productive conflict ? never resolving it too neatly ? is what creates brand work that lasts beyond the next trend cycle.The MAYA principle (Most Advanced Yet Acceptable) applies to branding as much as architecture. Push far enough to surprise, but stay grounded enough to be understood.Designers are the true brand guardians. Brand managers rotate every two to three years; agencies stay for decades. That longevity is a responsibility, not just a relationship.If you're chasing trends, you're already late. By the time an activation is built around a trend, the trend is usually over, leaving brands looking worse than if they'd never tried.Brand worlds should become universes. The goal isn't a rebrand every two years. It's a platform so strong that every new person who touches it can only build outward, never backwards.Three equities and a truth. Not trends. Find what the brand genuinely owns, ground it in something real, and build from there.

Daring Creativity. Podcast with Radim Malinic

daringcreativity.com |  [email protected]

Books by Radim Malinic Paperback and Kindle > https://amzn.to/4biTwFc
Free audiobook (with Audible trial) > https://geni.us/free-audiobook
Book bundles  https://novemberuniverse.co.uk

Lux Coffee Co. https://luxcoffee.co.uk/  (Use: PODCAST for 15% off)
November Universe https://novemberuniverse.co.uk (Use: PODCAST for 10% off)

A short bonus episode showcasing a few standout moments from this week's guest interview with Catharine Pitt ~ 

Daring Creativity. Podcast with Radim Malinic

daringcreativity.com |  [email protected]

Books by Radim Malinic Paperback and Kindle > https://amzn.to/4biTwFc
Free audiobook (with Audible trial) > https://geni.us/free-audiobook
Book bundles  https://novemberuniverse.co.uk

Lux Coffee Co. https://luxcoffee.co.uk/  (Use: PODCAST for 15% off)
November Universe https://novemberuniverse.co.uk (Use: PODCAST for 10% off)

Catharine Pitt, co-founder of Brighton-based animation duo Form Play, joins the podcast to talk about what happens when you burn out, start over, and finally build something worth protecting. ~

Catharine and her partner Mark spent years running a full-service design studio doing ad campaigns and seasonal retail work ? ticking every box and feeling none of it. In their mid-forties, they walked away. What followed was two years of gradual reinvention: evenings spent relearning, slowly phasing out old clients, and rediscovering the joy of drawing. They emerged with a hyper-focused studio specialising in 2D frame animation, character design, and short-form storytelling ? working with brands like Google, Patreon, and Comedy Central, while building their reputation with growth-stage startups who are still finding their voice.

The conversation covers their creative manifesto, how COVID gave them the space to develop their micro-story framework, and why they use AI only as a "stress-testing knowledge base" ? never for the creative work itself. Most compellingly, Catharine explains how they license rather than sell their characters, borrowing principles from the music and illustration industries to build longer-term client relationships and a more sustainable creative business.

Key Takeaways

The mid-forties crossroads is more common than you think ? Catharine and Radim discover a shared experience: reaching the peak of what they'd worked for, and realising it wasn't who they wanted to be nextBurning out is data ? A previous studio that depleted rather than fuelled them became the compass for everything Form Play stands for: client work must energise, not exhaustIncremental change beats big leaps ? Their transition took two years, running old and new in parallel, until the new was strong enough to stand alonePlay is the methodology, not just the name ? Form Play's approach to creation ? sketch, iterate, test, publish, move on ? is how they stay resilient, stay fresh, and avoid creative paralysisMicro stories have a formula ? Start in the middle of the action; use humor, empathy, and surprise; condense time to exaggerate emotion. Their Instagram playground became their client frameworkAI as untrusted advisor ? They use AI to challenge assumptions and explore unfamiliar territory in business, but keep it entirely out of their visual creative processLicensing changes everything ? Influenced by the music and illustration industries, they separate creation fees from usage fees, giving clients flexibility and protecting the studio's long-term incomeThe risk of not changing ? Rory Sutherland's overlooked point resonates here: staying the same carries its own risk; creative people need to stop treating change as the dangerous optionDistinction will be the premium ? As AI floods the world with average output, work with imperfection, humanity, and emotional depth will become more valuable, not less

Daring Creativity. Podcast with Radim Malinic

daringcreativity.com |  [email protected]

Books by Radim Malinic Paperback and Kindle > https://amzn.to/4biTwFc
Free audiobook (with Audible trial) > https://geni.us/free-audiobook
Book bundles  https://novemberuniverse.co.uk

Lux Coffee Co. https://luxcoffee.co.uk/  (Use: PODCAST for 15% off)
November Universe https://novemberuniverse.co.uk (Use: PODCAST for 10% off)

A short bonus episode showcasing a few standout moments from this week's guest interview with Kelly Anna ~ 

Daring Creativity. Podcast with Radim Malinic

daringcreativity.com |  [email protected]

Books by Radim Malinic Paperback and Kindle > https://amzn.to/4biTwFc
Free audiobook (with Audible trial) > https://geni.us/free-audiobook
Book bundles  https://novemberuniverse.co.uk

Lux Coffee Co. https://luxcoffee.co.uk/  (Use: PODCAST for 15% off)
November Universe https://novemberuniverse.co.uk (Use: PODCAST for 10% off)

Kelly Anna is a London-based artist, illustrator and designer known for her vibrant, movement-driven work for brands including Nike, Adidas and Rapha. 

In this episode, she traces the creative foundations behind her unmistakable style: a father who was both an artist and a Latin dance teacher, childhood sketchbooks filled with dancers at ballroom competitions, years of keeping break-dancing hidden from her art school peers, and a long, patient process of building a visual language entirely her own. 

Kelly talks candidly about the emotional rollercoaster of freelance life, the relationship between personal work and commercial confidence, and why colour has always been her first language.

Takeaways

Confidence in freelance life is cyclical ? the work is learning to accept that ride, not fight itReturning to personal projects during slow periods is what restores creative confidence and generates new commercial workBuilding a clear style within a niche (sport, movement, female empowerment) makes it easier for the right brands to find youSaying no to misaligned work is a privilege you build toward ? and it protects both your style and your energyTrying new mediums (oils, charcoal, collage) isn't a distraction ? it feeds back into your main practice in unexpected waysYour biography is your aesthetic: Kelly's love of dance, movement and sport didn't disappear when she chose art ? it became her entire visual languageHuman connection remains irreplaceable ? even in an AI era, the value of making something with another person, with all its surprises and happy mistakes, endures

Daring Creativity. Podcast with Radim Malinic

daringcreativity.com |  [email protected]

Books by Radim Malinic Paperback and Kindle > https://amzn.to/4biTwFc
Free audiobook (with Audible trial) > https://geni.us/free-audiobook
Book bundles  https://novemberuniverse.co.uk

Lux Coffee Co. https://luxcoffee.co.uk/  (Use: PODCAST for 15% off)
November Universe https://novemberuniverse.co.uk (Use: PODCAST for 10% off)

A short bonus episode showcasing a few standout moments from this week's guest interview with Ryan Luse ~ 

Daring Creativity. Podcast with Radim Malinic

daringcreativity.com |  [email protected]

Books by Radim Malinic Paperback and Kindle > https://amzn.to/4biTwFc
Free audiobook (with Audible trial) > https://geni.us/free-audiobook
Book bundles  https://novemberuniverse.co.uk

Lux Coffee Co. https://luxcoffee.co.uk/  (Use: PODCAST for 15% off)
November Universe https://novemberuniverse.co.uk (Use: PODCAST for 10% off)

Ryan Luse is a motion designer and art director who has spent 25 years mountain biking and 15 years creating at the intersection of graphic design, motion, and art direction. 

After being let go from a four-year position, Ryan chose stillness over security?a decision that led him through depression, meditation, coaching and ultimately a complete creative transformation. 

Now creating concert visuals, Ryan shares how pushing past comfort zones on the bike mirrors pushing creative boundaries, how intuition trumps logic, and why the most uncomfortable moments often lead to the most authentic work. This conversation explores truth-seeking, scarcity as clarity, and the courage to contribute to culture rather than just commerce.

Key Takeaways:

The comfort zone principle ? Whether mountain biking or creating, growth happens just past your comfort zone. If you're always comfortable, you're not learning much and might even get boredStillness as strategy ? When faced with crisis, Ryan chose not to distract himself with more work but to dedicate time to stillness, meditation, and figuring out his authentic pathIntuition vs validation ? Rational intelligence seeks external validation and checks boxes. Intuition lives in the present moment and often completely defies logic?but it's where the truth livesMeditation reveals truth ? The goal isn't to reach a mindless state, but to observe thoughts without attaching reactions. Random revelations that pop up during meditation are often where the most authentic insights emergeScarcity creates clarity ? Going through a year-long period of financial scarcity kept Ryan in an alert state that, when balanced with self-care, provided remarkable clarity about his pathCreative therapy matters ? Working with coach Ben Tallen provided the creative-specific support that traditional therapy couldn't offer, helping Ryan discover he was both "rambunctious and personable"The leap of faith moment ? When intuition overrides rational thinking and something in you knows you have to do it anyway, even if it feels dangerous and uncertain?that's growthAuthenticity over template ? Rather than picking a Squarespace template, Ryan is creating stylized handwriting and hand-done lettering for his website because it feels authentic, even if it's unconventional for a motion designerFrom corporate to culture ? Transitioning from tech/corporate work to music industry visuals allowed Ryan to turn up his weirdness instead of taming it back, creating work that amplifies energy and contributes to cultureProcess as discovery ? Whether creating a website or working on a project, the process itself helps you discover what something is and what you authentically want to say

Daring Creativity. Podcast with Radim Malinic

daringcreativity.com |  [email protected]

Books by Radim Malinic Paperback and Kindle > https://amzn.to/4biTwFc
Free audiobook (with Audible trial) > https://geni.us/free-audiobook
Book bundles  https://novemberuniverse.co.uk

Lux Coffee Co. https://luxcoffee.co.uk/  (Use: PODCAST for 15% off)
November Universe https://novemberuniverse.co.uk (Use: PODCAST for 10% off)

A short bonus episode showcasing a few standout moments from this week's guest interview with Johanna Augustin ~ 

Daring Creativity. Podcast with Radim Malinic

daringcreativity.com |  [email protected]

Books by Radim Malinic Paperback and Kindle > https://amzn.to/4biTwFc
Free audiobook (with Audible trial) > https://geni.us/free-audiobook
Book bundles  https://novemberuniverse.co.uk

Lux Coffee Co. https://luxcoffee.co.uk/  (Use: PODCAST for 15% off)
November Universe https://novemberuniverse.co.uk (Use: PODCAST for 10% off)

Johanna Augustin is the CEO of Pond Design, one of Stockholm's leading packaging design studios, with over 20 years of experience shaping how we experience everyday products. But her journey to becoming a packaging design innovator began in the most unexpected place: Stockholm School of Economics.

This conversation examines what occurs when you dare to follow your creative soul rather than the conventional path. Johanna explains how she left microeconomics and stock markets at 21, found her calling at the crossroads of strategy and creativity, and established a practice that is helping major brands shape the future of sustainable packaging.

Johanna reveals how great design emerges at the intersection of data and passion, of business rigour and creative rebellion.

This is a masterclass in discovering your place in the world, trusting your instincts rather than spreadsheets, and recognising that small details?the tactile feel of a box, the surprise copy inside a lid?can genuinely brighten someone's day.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

The creative soul knows: At 21, studying economics, Johanna asked herself "is this life?" and trusted that feeling enough to pivot toward creativity, even without knowing exactly where it would leadPassion beats data: When choosing between someone who says "this is best because I say so" versus someone with all the data, Johanna chooses passion and confidence every time?that's where true innovation livesThe intersection is your superpower: Johanna found her space at the crossroads of strategy, growth, and creativity?not being a designer herself became her unique advantage in leading design teamsGeneration Alpha changes everything: Young people doing unboxing rituals, reading romantic copy on packaging, caring deeply about sustainability?they're not just consumers, they're co-creators of the futureSustainability requires proactivity: The worst scenario is reactive compliance with regulations that creates solutions everyone hates; brands need to dare to be proactive and push boundaries before they're forced toThe loop must close: Creating sustainable packaging isn't just about production?it's about understanding the entire journey from source to bin and back again, with equal complexity on both endsSmall details create joy: Packaging isn't shallow?it's about making someone's breakfast happier, adding surprise and delight to everyday moments, creating tactile experiences that matterAI amplifies creativity: Rather than being threatened by AI, embrace it as a tool for execution; like Adobe revolutionised design before, AI enables more creativity, more experimentation, more boundary-pushingCategories can bloom: When micro-breweries challenged traditional beer design language, the entire category blossomed; the same revolution is happening in beauty, spirits, and food?design innovation drives product innovation

Daring Creativity. Podcast with Radim Malinic

daringcreativity.com |  [email protected]

Books by Radim Malinic Paperback and Kindle > https://amzn.to/4biTwFc
Free audiobook (with Audible trial) > https://geni.us/free-audiobook
Book bundles  https://novemberuniverse.co.uk

Lux Coffee Co. https://luxcoffee.co.uk/  (Use: PODCAST for 15% off)
November Universe https://novemberuniverse.co.uk (Use: PODCAST for 10% off)

A short bonus episode showcasing a few standout moments from this week's guest interview with David Newman ~ 

Daring Creativity. Podcast with Radim Malinic

daringcreativity.com |  [email protected]

Books by Radim Malinic Paperback and Kindle > https://amzn.to/4biTwFc
Free audiobook (with Audible trial) > https://geni.us/free-audiobook
Book bundles  https://novemberuniverse.co.uk

Lux Coffee Co. https://luxcoffee.co.uk/  (Use: PODCAST for 15% off)
November Universe https://novemberuniverse.co.uk (Use: PODCAST for 10% off)

Sales expert and author David Newman reveals how to transform your business through market eminence ? the art of becoming so distinctively positioned that hiring anyone else becomes risky, dangerous, and dumb. Drawing from his journey of making every mistake possible in his early years to building a thriving consultancy, David shares why being a better person matters more than being a better salesperson, how treating prospects like clients changes everything, and why the conventional wisdom of casting wide nets actually keeps you stuck in mediocrity.

David introduces the concept of building an electromagnetic fence around your business that pulls in ideal clients while repelling nightmare prospects, explains why how-to content is dead in the age of AI, and outlines the three types of human-centered content that actually matter: teaching people how to think strategically, revealing harsh truths your industry won't acknowledge, and helping clients prepare for what's coming next. 

He challenges creatives and consultants to stop apologizing for their perspectives, embrace being polarizing and contrarian, and recognize that wasting zero time trying to please everyone is the fastest path to meaningful success and impact.

Key Takeaways

The secret to sales success isn't becoming a better salesperson ? it's becoming a better person who listens with empathy, kindness, and genuine curiosity about prospects' real problemsTreat prospects like clients before they're hired by delivering the same care, attention, and strategic thinking in initial conversations that you'd provide in your first post-contract meetingMarket eminence combines three elements: visibility (being seen), credibility (being trusted for getting people on a deep level), and brand preference (making alternatives feel risky)AI has killed how-to content forever ? focus instead on three human advantages: teaching how to think strategically, revealing what to believe and not believe, and future-casting what's coming nextBeing contrarian isn't a marketing gimmick ? it's uncovering beliefs you already hold, harsh truths clients desperately need acknowledged, and strong viewpoints that resonate with ideal clients while making competitors uncomfortableBuild an electromagnetic fence around your business that attracts best-fit prospects, talent, and partners while actively repelling nightmare clients, bad hires, and misaligned relationshipsStop wasting time trying to be everything to everyone doing mediocre work for mediocre fees ? jump immediately into the deep end of distinctive positioning and authentic differentiationPolarization is productive when it turns the wrong people off and the right people on ? embrace making some people uncomfortable because they're not your people anywayThe three contrarian questions: What conventional wisdom do you secretly think is wrong? What harsh industry truth needs acknowledging? What strong viewpoint do you hold that competitors fear?

Daring Creativity. Podcast with Radim Malinic

daringcreativity.com |  [email protected]

Books by Radim Malinic Paperback and Kindle > https://amzn.to/4biTwFc
Free audiobook (with Audible trial) > https://geni.us/free-audiobook
Book bundles  https://novemberuniverse.co.uk

Lux Coffee Co. https://luxcoffee.co.uk/  (Use: PODCAST for 15% off)
November Universe https://novemberuniverse.co.uk (Use: PODCAST for 10% off)

A short bonus episode showcasing a few stand out moments from this week's guest interview with Jessie McGuire ~ 

Daring Creativity. Podcast with Radim Malinic

daringcreativity.com |  [email protected]

Books by Radim Malinic Paperback and Kindle > https://amzn.to/4biTwFc
Free audiobook (with Audible trial) > https://geni.us/free-audiobook
Book bundles  https://novemberuniverse.co.uk

Lux Coffee Co. https://luxcoffee.co.uk/  (Use: PODCAST for 15% off)
November Universe https://novemberuniverse.co.uk (Use: PODCAST for 10% off)

Jessie McGuire is a designer, educator, and managing partner at Thought Matter, a design studio exploring civic imagination and creative participation. In this powerful conversation, Jessie shares her journey from being adopted from El Salvador to becoming a voice for designers who don't fit traditional molds. She discusses teaching entrepreneurship at Pratt Institute, where she transforms creative students into confident public speakers who can talk about money and value. 

Jessie reveals how Thought Matter redesigned the US Constitution to make democracy more accessible, and why she believes designers must use their seat at the table to design the world they want to live in?not just the next unicorn startup. 

This is a conversation about belonging, asking better questions, getting off the benches, and building creative economies that generate more for communities rather than extracting from them.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Designer as a title you grow into ? It took Jessie into her forties to confidently introduce herself as a designer, realizing it's about designing conditions for creativity, not just moving pixelsThe rice and beans moment ? Sometimes our assumptions about identity prevent us from truly understanding who someone is; we must ask questions and wait to hear the answersTeaching is public speaking about money ? Jessie's entrepreneurship class at Pratt focuses on getting creative students comfortable discussing funding, salary, and value without whisperingCivic imagination over commercialization ? After working on mass consumer brands, Jessie found her purpose in helping people participate in the world around them through designRedesigning democracy ? Thought Matter's US Constitution redesign project showed how design can make civic participation more accessible by simply improving typography and presentationGet off the benches ? If you haven't seen yourself in the mainstream narrative, you must step up and change it?fear cannot override the opportunity to create changeCommunity over scale ? We don't need more Amazon-sized businesses; we need creative practices that care for communities, support families, and deliver intrinsic valueDesigners have the power now ? Design has moved beyond asking for a seat at the table; designers have literally designed the world we live inCreative economies beyond extraction ? The future requires moving from extractive business models to generative ones that create more for more peopleUse your hot takes locally ? Instead of rage-baiting on LinkedIn about logos, take that creative energy and redesign something in your community that actually helps people

Daring Creativity. Podcast with Radim Malinic

daringcreativity.com |  [email protected]

Books by Radim Malinic Paperback and Kindle > https://amzn.to/4biTwFc
Free audiobook (with Audible trial) > https://geni.us/free-audiobook
Book bundles  https://novemberuniverse.co.uk

Lux Coffee Co. https://luxcoffee.co.uk/  (Use: PODCAST for 15% off)
November Universe https://novemberuniverse.co.uk (Use: PODCAST for 10% off)

A short bonus episode showcasing a few stand out moments from this week's guest interview with Robert Hodgin ~ 

Daring Creativity. Podcast with Radim Malinic

daringcreativity.com |  [email protected]

Books by Radim Malinic Paperback and Kindle > https://amzn.to/4biTwFc
Free audiobook (with Audible trial) > https://geni.us/free-audiobook
Book bundles  https://novemberuniverse.co.uk

Lux Coffee Co. https://luxcoffee.co.uk/  (Use: PODCAST for 15% off)
November Universe https://novemberuniverse.co.uk (Use: PODCAST for 10% off)

Robert Hodgin is an artist and head of research and development at Rare Volume, a design and tech company specialising in large-scale installations that blend technology with artistry. 

His journey began at a science and math boarding school in North Carolina, where he quickly realized his heart belonged to art rather than physics. After attending RISD, Robert discovered a unique space where his dual interests could coexist by visualizing data in artistic ways. His work combines cutting-edge technology with human-scale aesthetics, creating immersive experiences for venues. 

Robert shares candid insights about the challenges of client work, the importance of staying true to creative vision, and why following the flock of birds sometimes requires more courage than jumping out of a plane. He reminds us that even at the highest levels of creative practice, the struggle for artistic integrity remains universal

Key takeaways

Find your intersection: Robert thrives at the crossroads of art and science, proving that seemingly opposite interests can create unique opportunities for innovation and creative expressionQuestion traditional paths: Despite parental expectations and aptitude in science and math, Robert chose art, demonstrating that conventional career paths aren't always the right answerHuman-scale technology: When working with cutting-edge tech, Robert prioritizes creating experiences that feel human and accessible rather than overwhelming or intimidatingData can be beautiful: There's tremendous opportunity to present data in art-forward ways rather than just functional graphs, opening new creative territories for visual storytellingCreative integrity is challenging: Even successful artists working on prestigious projects face clients who say they want artistic freedom but ultimately impose their own visionVulnerability creates connection: Speaking authentically about failures, fears, and challenges resonates more deeply with audiences than polished perfection ever couldNot every project is a win: Robert acknowledges that some client projects get "butchered" and you have to accept that sometimes you take the money and move onEmbrace failure as learning: Dropping out of astrophysics twice became part of Robert's story rather than a source of shame, showing how setbacks shape our eventual pathScale matters: Robert's most satisfying projects like the Samsung three-story video wall and Barcelona installation demonstrate how working at impressive scales can amplify creative impactStay curious about tools: Robert's approach to technology is playful exploration, testing what feels human about new tools rather than chasing trends for their own sake

Daring Creativity. Podcast with Radim Malinic

daringcreativity.com |  [email protected]

Books by Radim Malinic Paperback and Kindle > https://amzn.to/4biTwFc
Free audiobook (with Audible trial) > https://geni.us/free-audiobook
Book bundles  https://novemberuniverse.co.uk

Lux Coffee Co. https://luxcoffee.co.uk/  (Use: PODCAST for 15% off)
November Universe https://novemberuniverse.co.uk (Use: PODCAST for 10% off)

A short bonus episode showcasing a few stand out moments from this week's guest interview with Kyle Wilkison ~ 

Daring Creativity. Podcast with Radim Malinic

daringcreativity.com |  [email protected]

Books by Radim Malinic Paperback and Kindle > https://amzn.to/4biTwFc
Free audiobook (with Audible trial) > https://geni.us/free-audiobook
Book bundles  https://novemberuniverse.co.uk

Lux Coffee Co. https://luxcoffee.co.uk/  (Use: PODCAST for 15% off)
November Universe https://novemberuniverse.co.uk (Use: PODCAST for 10% off)

Kyle Wilkinson shares the extraordinary story of creating Haus of Thrills' first major popup exhibition, The Clinic, in just 90 days, building his own creative universe under extreme time and financial pressure with no client brief and no guaranteed outcome.

He reveals the reality of watching his budget double, choosing 24-carat gold over fake materials, and creating an alternative to traditional gallery spaces where dopamine-fueled social commentary meets immersive experience. 

Kyle's insights on the beauty of naivety, the privilege of pressure, and why knowing too much can be creativity's greatest enemy offer a masterclass in building momentum through action rather than perfection.

Key Takeaways

Create urgency for yourself ? The industry is full of ideas that never happen because there's no deadline. Setting constraints forces execution and prevents endless postponement.Sit in the unknown to grow ? Like a plant in a crowded rainforest, you must be willing to exist in dark, uncomfortable spaces before breaking through to the light above.Choose your own problems ? When you select your own constraints and challenges, you halve the stress because you're dealing with problems you've chosen rather than ones imposed on you.The beauty of naivety protects creation ? Like Noel Gallagher writing "Don't Look Back in Anger," not knowing the enormity of what you're creating allows you to just do it without crushing pressure.Budget realism hits differently with your own money ? Understanding what it's like when clients spend their money creates empathy, especially when materials like 24-carat gold cost significantly more than anticipated.Do it right or don't do it at all ? The world doesn't need more mediocre work. If you're going to create something, commit to making it the best it can possibly be.Play at the level you want to reach ? Using framers who work with Julian Opie and Bella Freud from day one means you're already operating at the standard you aspire to achieve.Pressure is a privilege ? Being in a position where you can create a show in London under your own steam, doing exactly what you want, is an incredible situation despite the stress.If you know the answer at the start, you're doing it wrong ? True creativity means not knowing the outcome. If you do, you're just replicating rather than creating something new.Create for yourself first, then apply strategy ? You've got to want to pick up the guitar for yourself and sing the song before thinking about the broader audience or business implications.Build emotional resilience through pressure ? The growth that comes from surviving extreme creative challenges prepares you for future projects with greater confidence and capability.

Daring Creativity. Podcast with Radim Malinic

daringcreativity.com |  [email protected]

Books by Radim Malinic Paperback and Kindle > https://amzn.to/4biTwFc
Free audiobook (with Audible trial) > https://geni.us/free-audiobook
Book bundles  https://novemberuniverse.co.uk

Lux Coffee Co. https://luxcoffee.co.uk/  (Use: PODCAST for 15% off)
November Universe https://novemberuniverse.co.uk (Use: PODCAST for 10% off)

A short bonus episode showcasing a few stand out moments from this week's guest interview with Rachel Gogel ~ 

Daring Creativity. Podcast with Radim Malinic

daringcreativity.com |  [email protected]

Books by Radim Malinic Paperback and Kindle > https://amzn.to/4biTwFc
Free audiobook (with Audible trial) > https://geni.us/free-audiobook
Book bundles  https://novemberuniverse.co.uk

Lux Coffee Co. https://luxcoffee.co.uk/  (Use: PODCAST for 15% off)
November Universe https://novemberuniverse.co.uk (Use: PODCAST for 10% off)