Margaret Heffernan, an award-winning author and entrepreneur, discusses how uncertainty can be a creative ally rather than a foe. She shares insights from her journey through TV and tech, highlighting the unique value of human imagination that AI cannot replicate. The conversation explores how wandering and embracing chaos can fuel artistic resilience. Heffernan also reflects on the challenges writers face, striking a balance between creativity and financial stability, while emphasizing community support in the writing process.
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insights INSIGHT
Art as History's Memory
People primarily remember art and cultural artifacts rather than social media or gossip.
Art captures the meaning of life and holds lasting value across human history.
insights INSIGHT
Data Isn't Truth
The tech industry wrongly equates measurable data with truth and everything that matters.
Creativity often relies on the absence of data, plan, or efficiency to reveal what matters most.
insights INSIGHT
Uncertainty Fuels Creativity
Uncertainty has always been present and is a driver of creativity and discovery.
Opportunities and joy are found in the unknown spaces between certainties, not in rigid plans.
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In 'Willful Blindness', Margaret Heffernan delves into the psychology behind why people and institutions often choose to ignore or overlook evident, harmful information or truths. The book uses real-world examples such as the Enron scandal, the Catholic Church sexual abuse cases, and the BP oil spill to explain how willful blindness develops and its consequences. Heffernan discusses various factors contributing to this phenomenon, including cognitive dissonance, obedience to authority, love, fear, and the need for social acceptance. She argues that while willful blindness is a natural human tendency, it is possible to overcome it through intention and attention, and by challenging biases and encouraging debate.
Little Women
Louisa May Alcott
Written by Louisa May Alcott, 'Little Women' is a semi-autobiographical novel that details the lives of the March sisters in 1860s Massachusetts. The story is loosely based on Alcott's own childhood and that of her three sisters. It explores themes of domesticity, work, and true love, and is known for its portrayal of the sisters' distinct personalities and their struggles with societal expectations. The novel follows their experiences with poverty, illness, and personal growth, and it has been praised for its realistic and empathetic depiction of family life and the challenges faced by women during that era.
What if uncertainty wasn’t something to fear, but your greatest creative ally?
Dr. Margaret Heffernan—author, entrepreneur, and TED speaker—on how artists and writers thrive in chaotic times. We also talk about embracing the unknown, navigating AI-driven anxiety, and staying creatively resilient in a world that rewards certainty.
We discuss:
Margaret’s early creative life and career across TV, tech & writing
What artists can teach us about navigating uncertainty
Why AI can’t replicate the human imagination
How writers manage doubt, income & purpose
The danger of over-planning and the value of wandering
Lessons from writing Embracing Uncertainty under deadline
Making peace with the chapter that always fights back
The creative power of soft focus & soaking up the world
About Margaret Heffernan
Margaret Heffernan is an award-winning author, entrepreneur, and former BBC producer. She has written seven books, including Willful Blindness—named one of the most important business books of the decade by the Financial Times—and her latest, Embracing Uncertainty. Her TED Talks have over 15 million views, and she writes regularly for the Financial Times and BBC Radio 4. She is Professor of Practice at the University of Bath and mentors leaders around the world.
London Writers' Salon 
