
Meet the Creatives
I'm Rob Johnston, a designer and photographer based in New York City. I am also the founder of Meet the Creatives - a podcast that seeks to bridge the gap between entry-level creative professionals and the industry's best. Through the podcast, live events and various social platforms, I am building a community that connects thousands of entry-level creatives from around the world.
The show has featured guests from companies like Facebook, Google, Snapchat, Twitter, Disney, Nike, Huge, Sesame Street, 20th Century Fox, Pentagram and more.
Learn more: www.Linktr.ee/MeettheCreativesNY
Latest episodes

Apr 19, 2025 • 1h 16min
Best of MTC: Brian Collins x Chris Do Q&A Session – Recorded at COLLINS: in Brooklyn, New York
Best of MTC: Brian Collins x Chris Do Q&A Session – Recorded at COLLINS: in Brooklyn, New York
🎙️ Connect with Rob Johnston and Explore Meet the Creatives!🌐 Dive into the world of creativity and inspiration with Meet the Creatives and its founder, Rob Johnston! Here's how you can stay connected:🖥️ Meet the Creatives Website: www.MeettheCreatives.org📸 Rob Johnston's Instagram: Follow @_robjohnston🌐 Meet the Creatives Linktree: Explore Linktree🎥 Meet the Creatives YouTube Channel: Watch on YouTube👔 Rob Johnston's LinkedIn: Connect on LinkedIn✍️ Meet the Creatives Medium Page: Read on Medium🔗 Click the links above to discover a wealth of creative insights, interviews, and more.

Apr 15, 2025 • 9min
'Looking Back on the Early Days of The Handmaid's Tale' with Burton LeBlanc – Makeup Artist | Dept Head | Designer for The Handmaid's Tale
'Looking Back on the Early Days of The Handmaid's Tale' with Burton LeBlanc – Makeup Artist | Dept Head | Designer for The Handmaid's Tale
🎙️ Connect with Rob Johnston and Explore Meet the Creatives!🌐 Dive into the world of creativity and inspiration with Meet the Creatives and its founder, Rob Johnston! Here's how you can stay connected:🖥️ Meet the Creatives Website: www.MeettheCreatives.org📸 Rob Johnston's Instagram: Follow @_robjohnston🌐 Meet the Creatives Linktree: Explore Linktree🎥 Meet the Creatives YouTube Channel: Watch on YouTube👔 Rob Johnston's LinkedIn: Connect on LinkedIn✍️ Meet the Creatives Medium Page: Read on Medium🔗 Click the links above to discover a wealth of creative insights, interviews, and more.

Apr 15, 2025 • 6min
'How a Film Set Actually Works' with Colin Watkinson, Director of Photography on The Handmaid's Tale
'How a Film Set Actually Works' with Colin Watkinson, Director of Photography on The Handmaid's Tale
🎙️ Connect with Rob Johnston and Explore Meet the Creatives!🌐 Dive into the world of creativity and inspiration with Meet the Creatives and its founder, Rob Johnston! Here's how you can stay connected:🖥️ Meet the Creatives Website: www.MeettheCreatives.org📸 Rob Johnston's Instagram: Follow @_robjohnston🌐 Meet the Creatives Linktree: Explore Linktree🎥 Meet the Creatives YouTube Channel: Watch on YouTube👔 Rob Johnston's LinkedIn: Connect on LinkedIn✍️ Meet the Creatives Medium Page: Read on Medium🔗 Click the links above to discover a wealth of creative insights, interviews, and more.

Apr 15, 2025 • 6min
'Shooting Some of The Handmaid's Tale's Most Iconic Scenes' with Colin Watkinson, Director of Photography on The Handmaid's Tale
'Shooting Some of The Handmaid's Tale's Most Iconic Scenes' with Colin Watkinson, Director of Photography on The Handmaid's Tale
🎙️ Connect with Rob Johnston and Explore Meet the Creatives!🌐 Dive into the world of creativity and inspiration with Meet the Creatives and its founder, Rob Johnston! Here's how you can stay connected:🖥️ Meet the Creatives Website: www.MeettheCreatives.org📸 Rob Johnston's Instagram: Follow @_robjohnston🌐 Meet the Creatives Linktree: Explore Linktree🎥 Meet the Creatives YouTube Channel: Watch on YouTube👔 Rob Johnston's LinkedIn: Connect on LinkedIn✍️ Meet the Creatives Medium Page: Read on Medium🔗 Click the links above to discover a wealth of creative insights, interviews, and more.

Apr 15, 2025 • 6min
'The Reality of Being First on Set for The Handmaid's Tale' with Burton LeBlanc – 3X Emmy | 4X Guild | MET Fashion Award Nominated Makeup Artist | Dept Head | Designer for The Handmaid's Tale
'The Reality of Being First on Set for The Handmaid's Tale' with Burton LeBlanc – 3X Emmy | 4X Guild | MET Fashion Award Nominated Makeup Artist | Dept Head | Designer for The Handmaid's Tale
🎙️ Connect with Rob Johnston and Explore Meet the Creatives!🌐 Dive into the world of creativity and inspiration with Meet the Creatives and its founder, Rob Johnston! Here's how you can stay connected:🖥️ Meet the Creatives Website: www.MeettheCreatives.org📸 Rob Johnston's Instagram: Follow @_robjohnston🌐 Meet the Creatives Linktree: Explore Linktree🎥 Meet the Creatives YouTube Channel: Watch on YouTube👔 Rob Johnston's LinkedIn: Connect on LinkedIn✍️ Meet the Creatives Medium Page: Read on Medium🔗 Click the links above to discover a wealth of creative insights, interviews, and more.

Feb 12, 2025 • 6min
🚀 MTC Season Premiere: Can ChatGPT Give Good Career Advice for Entry-Level Creatives? 🤔 | With Rob Johnston
Hey everyone, welcome back to Meet the Creatives! I’m Rob, and after a bit of a break, we’re back in action. Today, I’m keeping it real and breaking down five pieces of career advice for entry-level creatives—straight from ChatGPT. Some of it’s solid, some of it’s questionable, and some of it makes me wonder if AI is coming for our jobs (spoiler: it’s not).
Plus, I’m sharing personal stories, networking fails, and why deleting TikTok might’ve been a huge mistake. Let’s get into it!
What’s in This Episode?
Why networking is really just making friends (and why that’s better).
The right way (and the absolute wrong way) to slide into someone’s DMs.
Why hyping up others can help your career—but don’t be that person.
How showing up at creative events changed my career (and can change yours too).
The importance of following up without being weird or pushy.
Life updates—fatherhood, getting back into the creative scene, and the TikTok saga.
Key Takeaways:
✅ Connections help, but if you’re not good at your job, you’ll get exposed.
✅ Never, ever say, "Can I pick your brain?"—trust me.
✅ Support other creatives and they’ll support you back.
✅ Go to industry events, introduce yourself, and act like you belong.
✅ Follow up naturally—no pressure, no awkward sales pitches.
Let’s Connect!
If you found this episode helpful, let me know! I always appreciate hearing from you.
Subscribe & Follow:
🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts (Spotify coming soon!)
📲 Follow Meet the Creatives on Instagram & Reels for subclips.
🔥 Still locked out of TikTok, but working on it… stay tuned!
👶 P.S. The baby was sleeping, so I had to keep this one short. But we’re back, baby! 🚀 - make this better🎙️ Connect with Rob Johnston and Explore Meet the Creatives!
🌐 Dive into the world of creativity and inspiration with Meet the
Creatives and its founder, Rob Johnston! Here's how you can stay
connected:
- 🖥️ Meet the Creatives Website: www.MeettheCreatives.org
- 📸 Rob Johnston's Instagram: Follow @_robjohnston
- 🌐 Meet the Creatives Linktree: Explore Linktree
- 🎥 Meet the Creatives YouTube Channel: Watch on YouTube
- 👔 Rob Johnston's LinkedIn: Connect on LinkedIn
- ✍️ Meet the Creatives Medium Page: Read on Medium
🔗 Click the links above to discover a wealth of creative insights,
interviews, and more.

Jan 30, 2025 • 5min
What I WISH I Did in College with Rob Johnston
In this solo episode from 2018, Rob Johnston—then 27 years old—reflects on the lessons he wishes he had learned in college. Looking back, he shares the skills and knowledge he overlooked, from networking to creative exploration, and what he would do differently if he could go back. Whether you're in school or years out, this candid take on personal growth and lifelong learning is one you won’t want to miss.🎙️ Connect with Rob Johnston and Explore Meet the Creatives!
🌐 Dive into the world of creativity and inspiration with Meet the
Creatives and its founder, Rob Johnston! Here's how you can stay
connected:
- 🖥️ Meet the Creatives Website: www.MeettheCreatives.org
- 📸 Rob Johnston's Instagram: Follow @_robjohnston
- 🌐 Meet the Creatives Linktree: Explore Linktree
- 🎥 Meet the Creatives YouTube Channel: Watch on YouTube
- 👔 Rob Johnston's LinkedIn: Connect on LinkedIn
- ✍️ Meet the Creatives Medium Page: Read on Medium
🔗 Click the links above to discover a wealth of creative insights,
interviews, and more.

Jan 29, 2025 • 39min
Best of MTC: Michael Bierut, Partner at Pentagram
🎉 Meet the Creatives is BACK on 2.1.2025 with a brand-new season! To kick things off, we’re revisiting one of the most legendary episodes with Michael Bierut, Partner at Pentagram and one of the most influential designers of our time.
Originally the Season 8 Premiere, this episode dives into Michael’s incredible career—from his early days at Vignelli Associates to leading major branding projects for The New York Times, Mastercard, MIT Media Lab, Saks Fifth Avenue, and even Hillary Clinton’s 2016 campaign logo. He also shares insights on his work with AIGA, teaching at Yale, and his must-read books on design.
🎧 Start the new season with this Best of MTC episode, and get ready for even more inspiring conversations ahead!🎙️ Connect with Rob Johnston and Explore Meet the Creatives!
🌐 Dive into the world of creativity and inspiration with Meet the
Creatives and its founder, Rob Johnston! Here's how you can stay
connected:
- 🖥️ Meet the Creatives Website: www.MeettheCreatives.org
- 📸 Rob Johnston's Instagram: Follow @_robjohnston
- 🌐 Meet the Creatives Linktree: Explore Linktree
- 🎥 Meet the Creatives YouTube Channel: Watch on YouTube
- 👔 Rob Johnston's LinkedIn: Connect on LinkedIn
- ✍️ Meet the Creatives Medium Page: Read on Medium
🔗 Click the links above to discover a wealth of creative insights,
interviews, and more.

Jan 28, 2025 • 41min
Best of MTC: Sarah Rebar, llustrator/Writer RETURNS!!!! 🤩
🎉 The new season of Meet the Creatives is ALMOST HERE, and we’re kicking it off by revisiting one of our most beloved episodes with Sarah Rebar!
Originally aired in 2024, this fan-favorite conversation highlights Sarah’s inspiring career as an illustrator and writer. From her nine years at Sesame Street (including creating muppets for Ahlan Sim Sim, a show for Syrian refugees) to illustrating books for Michelle Obama’s Netflix series Waffles + Mochi, and leading creative projects as Art Director for Nickelodeon’s Noggin, Sarah’s journey is packed with creativity and heart.
Celebrate the return of Meet the Creatives with this unforgettable episode, and get ready for even more inspiring conversations in the new season. Tune in February 1, 2025! 🎧✨🎙️ Connect with Rob Johnston and Explore Meet the Creatives!
🌐 Dive into the world of creativity and inspiration with Meet the
Creatives and its founder, Rob Johnston! Here's how you can stay
connected:
- 🖥️ Meet the Creatives Website: www.MeettheCreatives.org
- 📸 Rob Johnston's Instagram: Follow @_robjohnston
- 🌐 Meet the Creatives Linktree: Explore Linktree
- 🎥 Meet the Creatives YouTube Channel: Watch on YouTube
- 👔 Rob Johnston's LinkedIn: Connect on LinkedIn
- ✍️ Meet the Creatives Medium Page: Read on Medium
🔗 Click the links above to discover a wealth of creative insights,
interviews, and more.

Jan 28, 2025 • 26min
Best of MTC: Unmesh Dinda, Founder, PiXimperfect
On this episode of Meet the Creatives, Rob Johnston revisits his conversation with Unmesh Dinda, founder of PiXimperfect. Known for his approachable teaching style and expertise in Photoshop, Unmesh shares his journey to becoming a leader in digital artistry and building a global creative community. He offers practical advice for mastering Photoshop, fostering creativity, and overcoming challenges.
This episode marks the official return of Meet the Creatives for a brand-new season, starting February 1, 2025. Tune in for fresh insights and inspiring conversations with industry leaders!🎙️ Connect with Rob Johnston and Explore Meet the Creatives!
🌐 Dive into the world of creativity and inspiration with Meet the
Creatives and its founder, Rob Johnston! Here's how you can stay
connected:
- 🖥️ Meet the Creatives Website: www.MeettheCreatives.org
- 📸 Rob Johnston's Instagram: Follow @_robjohnston
- 🌐 Meet the Creatives Linktree: Explore Linktree
- 🎥 Meet the Creatives YouTube Channel: Watch on YouTube
- 👔 Rob Johnston's LinkedIn: Connect on LinkedIn
- ✍️ Meet the Creatives Medium Page: Read on Medium
🔗 Click the links above to discover a wealth of creative insights,
interviews, and more.
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