Daily Creative with Todd Henry
Todd Henry
Formerly The Accidental Creative.
Being a creative professional should be the greatest job in the world. You get to solve problems, express yourself, bring something new into the world and you get paid to do it. What's not to love. Yet every day, creative pros face, tremendous pressure and uncertainty. The temptation is just to play it safe, surrender to distraction and settle for less than your best daily creative is about making sure that's not your story.
Each episode focuses on a topic relevant to creative pros, like how to come up with ideas under pressure, or how the collaborate when you're overwhelmed, or how to lead your team and help them discover motivation.
It's time to fall back in love with your work.
Listen to Daily Creative wherever you get your podcasts or subscribe in the Daily Creative app at dailycreative.app.
Being a creative professional should be the greatest job in the world. You get to solve problems, express yourself, bring something new into the world and you get paid to do it. What's not to love. Yet every day, creative pros face, tremendous pressure and uncertainty. The temptation is just to play it safe, surrender to distraction and settle for less than your best daily creative is about making sure that's not your story.
Each episode focuses on a topic relevant to creative pros, like how to come up with ideas under pressure, or how the collaborate when you're overwhelmed, or how to lead your team and help them discover motivation.
It's time to fall back in love with your work.
Listen to Daily Creative wherever you get your podcasts or subscribe in the Daily Creative app at dailycreative.app.
Episodes
Mentioned books
74 snips
Jan 27, 2026 • 38min
The Compounding Advantage: Leveraging AI for Smarter Creative Work
Aden Bahadori and Brett Granstaff, creators of Tachi AI who build film-editing tools to automate rough cuts. Christopher Mims, technology journalist and author exploring practical limits of AI. Vasant Dhar, AI researcher and author focused on decision-making with machines. They discuss how AI streamlines tedious creative work, the compounding advantage of consistent AI use, and why human framing and expertise remain essential.
19 snips
Jan 20, 2026 • 27min
Stop Renting Your Creative Process
Greg Hawks, an author and speaker on workplace ownership, shares insights from his book, *Act Like an Owner*. He explores the nuanced differences between 'owners', 'renters', and 'vandals' in organizations. Hawks discusses the dangers of offloading creative processes to technology and how that can dilute our unique voice. He highlights the importance of emotional logic in decision-making and offers strategies to cultivate a more engaged and accountable work environment. Reducing toxic behaviors is critical to enable all team members to reclaim their ownership.
63 snips
Jan 13, 2026 • 27min
The Drive To Create
In a fascinating discussion, psychologist George Newman and philosopher Rebecca Newberger Goldstein unravel the depths of human creativity. Newman debunks the myth of the 'lone genius,' emphasizing that collaboration fuels the best ideas. He introduces practical frameworks like gridding and transplanting ideas to overcome creative blocks. Goldstein delves into the 'mattering instinct,' exploring how our urge to create is tied to our need for meaning and validation in life and work. Together, they highlight how creativity combats chaos and fosters significance.
37 snips
Jan 6, 2026 • 39min
Seeing The Invisible: How Beats By Dre Became Iconic, and How Pioneers Build Businesses That Last
Robert Brunner, a top industrial designer and the creative mind behind Beats by Dre, shares his journey from Apple to creating iconic wearables. He emphasizes the importance of intuition shaped by empathy in design. Neri Kara-Silliman, a scholar focused on immigrant entrepreneurship, reveals how resilience and community engagement help these businesses thrive. She outlines principles of longevity and self-sufficiency crucial for enduring success. Together, they uncover the invisible threads connecting great design and lasting enterprises.
Dec 23, 2025 • 22min
Dog Catches Car: What Happens After You Achieve Your Life's Goal?
Lionel Cartwright, a former country music star, shares an introspective journey from top-chart success to seeking deeper fulfillment. After achieving his dream, he faced the unsettling question, 'Is this it?' This led to a critical reevaluation of his identity and creative purpose. Lionel discusses the pitfalls of momentum and industry pressures while emphasizing the importance of alignment over applause. He also reveals his transition to scoring for TV, prioritizing craft and family, and encourages listeners to heed their inner prompts for true satisfaction.
47 snips
Dec 16, 2025 • 22min
20 Years In 20 Minutes
A milestone celebration unfolds as Todd reflects on two decades of creativity and community. He candidly shares early struggles with burnout while navigating the pressures of leading creative teams. The discovery of podcasting as a platform transformed his journey, unveiling a surprising audience and sparking consultancy opportunities. Insightful stories about influential books reveal key lessons, like the importance of trusting your work and finding the right audience. Gratitude fills the air, as Todd expresses commitment to helping creatives thrive.
10 snips
Dec 9, 2025 • 13min
Daily Creative
Celebrate twenty years of creative exploration with insights that inspire growth. Delve into the importance of starting imperfectly to unlock potential. Learn to protect fragile elements of life, like relationships and health. Embrace a beginner's mindset to ignite curiosity in every project. Discover the power of beginning with what you know and distinguishing between busyness and meaningful work. This episode is a treasure trove of prompts to help refresh your creative pursuits as the year comes to a close.
8 snips
Dec 2, 2025 • 18min
What Are Your Escape Hatches?
Avoiding commitment? You're not alone! Discover how 'escape hatches'—like procrastination and divided focus—masquerade as wisdom, keeping you from true potential. Learn actionable strategies like time blocking and setting step goals for creative success. Todd emphasizes the importance of narrowing your focus and defining success metrics to combat backward rationalization. Ready to get braver and more intentional? Identify one escape hatch this week and take a concrete step to close it!
31 snips
Nov 18, 2025 • 18min
5 Questions Every Creative Pro Should Be Asking
Creative leaders face a unique challenge: the risk of losing purpose amidst apparent success. Key topics include the danger of echo chambers and the need for honest feedback to encourage genuine dialogue. Todd highlights how fear of embarrassment can stifle innovation and creates a tension between ego-driven systems and mission-driven work. He also discusses the delicate balance between providing stability and fostering a challenging environment for teams. Ultimately, listeners are urged to reflect on their leadership practices and motivations.
26 snips
Nov 11, 2025 • 25min
Dirtbag Billionaire: Why Calling Isn't "Found", It's Uncovered
David Gelles, a New York Times journalist and author of Dirtbag Billionaire, shares the fascinating journey of Yvon Chouinard, the founder of Patagonia. They discuss Chouinard's shift from climber to entrepreneur and his commitment to environmental stewardship. Gelles highlights how meaningful work often emerges from awareness, emphasizing the tension between principles and profit. Listeners learn about Patagonia's challenges, including decisions like divesting equity for conservation. Gelles encourages leaders to embrace values-driven actions for a lasting legacy.
