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
32 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.
29 snips
Nov 4, 2025 • 20min
Super Chickens vs. Super Coops: The Power of Team Intelligence
Jon Levy, author of Team Intelligence and an expert on team dynamics, joins the discussion to debunk the myth of the 'super chicken' approach. He reveals that prioritizing individual stars can hinder team performance, while collective emotional intelligence is key. Levy introduces the concept of 'glue players'—those who enhance team synergy through selflessness. The conversation dives into surprising research findings on effective communication and leadership, emphasizing cooperation over competition for true organizational excellence.
119 snips
Oct 28, 2025 • 31min
Slow Down To Go Fast (Why Optimizing Isn't the Answer)
Dr. James Hewitt, a human performance scientist and author, and Jim Murphy, a coach and author of Inner Excellence, share insights on sustaining high performance. They discuss the pitfalls of hyper-optimization and advocate for a rhythm of intense focus paired with intentional recovery. James highlights the importance of effective breaks and nature's role in enhancing creativity and well-being. Jim emphasizes the significance of training the heart, cultivating peace under pressure, and choosing long-term purpose over instant gratification to achieve true excellence.
23 snips
Oct 21, 2025 • 30min
Safe Danger: Why Play Is Serious Business
Ben Swire, a former IDEO design lead and author of 'Safe Danger', and Cass Holman, designer and author of 'Playful', explore the vital intersection of safety and risk in fostering creativity. They discuss how psychological safety allows teams to innovate and challenge norms, while play can lower the cost of risk and enhance collaboration. Cass emphasizes that constraints can spark creativity and that adults should embrace playful exploration to overcome their fear of failure. Both guests advocate for integrating play into work to drive resilience and trust.
