Creative Control

We all know brainstorming is an essential part of the creative process, but what do you do when your mind is too foggy to welcome the storm? Brain fog, brain farts, mental fatigue...call it what you will, it can be a major roadblock to creativity. But is there a way to use that hazy state of mind to your creative advantage? On this episode of Creative Conversation, KC Ifeanyi unpacks exactly what brain fog is and why you shouldn't be in such a rush to clear your mind.Subscribe to Creative Conversation on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, Spotify, RadioPublic, or wherever you get your podcasts. 

As an editor and writer for Fast Company magazine, Kc Ifeanyi covers some of the most creative minds in film, television, business and beyond. In this podcast, he unpacks the most frustrating parts of the creative process by talking to psychologists, scholars, and experts who are on the forefront of understanding creativity. New episodes will be released this month. You can subscribe to Creative Conversation on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Play, Radio Public, and wherever you get your podcasts. 

Any creative content from RCA's roster of artists goes through Camille Yorrick. From music videos to visuals and more, Yorrick has helped shaped the creative visions of everyone from Pink to Childish Gambino. The longtime music industry vet has been nominated for a Grammy for her work on "Beyoncé's I Am...World Tour" documentary and has cut her teeth in music videos with the legendary director Diane Martel. In our conversation, Yorrick explains how she tempers her opinions with an artists' intuition and takes us back to the golden age of music videos (and what we can learn from them today.)

Jean Elie got his big break playing Issa Rae's younger brother Ahmal on HBO's Insecure. Although landing on a hit show can lead to other more high-profile roles, Jean is wasting no time in creating lanes of his own. In addition to acting, Jean is producing and writing his own projects including several shorts and the series Send Help, which is being co-produced by Rainn Wilson's entertainment company SoulPancake. He's also been getting writing room experience on Netflix's Magic for Humans, which is paving the way for even more projects down the line. But as a young actor still trying to establish himself in that field, is he spreading himself too thin in other areas? In our conversation, Jean explains his stance on straight actors playing gay characters, the power of being the only black voice in a white room, and the rules of being a creative hustler. 

Paul Scheer's résumé is a dizzying display of creative output: when he's not acting in shows like Black Monday, Veep, or Fresh Off the Boat, he's busy hosting two wildly successful podcasts (How Did This Get Made? and Unspooled), writing comic books for Marvel, and rebooting the 1999 cult classic Galaxy Quest. But for someone who seems like a wellspring of creativity, Scheer admits his biggest hurdle is still pushing past that first draft. In our conversation, Scheer explains how to accept that you will suck at what you're working on (hopefully, temporarily), how he juggles such a random, career, and why it's ok not to finish your to-do list.

Give Jemaine Clement a platform, and he'll spin it into something comical. The New Zealander is best known as one half of the musical comedy duo Flight of the Conchords but his work in comedy stretches across radio, film, stage, and TV. And his latest project, a TV series adaptation of his 2014 mockumentary What We Do in the Shadows, is an exercise in how to mine your past ideas and make them fresh again. In our conversation, Jemaine also explains how to overcome creative differences (without punching your partner in the face) and the importance of editing improv. 

Greetings from the 9th annual Fast Company Grill! We had some amazing panel discussions down in Austin, but this one in particular was a personal favorite. I had the chance to sit down with Oprah Winfrey Network president Tina Perry, the legendary Phylicia Rashad, and famed playwright Tarell Alvin McCraney to discuss David Makes Man, Tarell’s new show on OWN. David Makes Man explores childhood trauma, the black experience, drug abuse, and much more through a surreal lens. In our discussion, Tarell talks about his first foray into TV and pitching the show directly to Oprah Winfrey herself. Phylicia gives awe-inspiring lessons in creativity. And Tina lays out OWN’s vision for more diverse storytelling.

For Sasha Velour, all roads led to drag. Being a Fulbright scholar, Vassar grad, graphic artist, and illustrator, were all primers for the trailblazing work she does now as a performer, public speaker, and advocate for the LGBTQIA+ community. But even after winning season 9 of RuPaul’s Drag Race, landing brand ambassador deals, and selling out shows, Sasha is still riddled with creative self-doubt. In our conversation, she explains how leaning into the fantasy of drag helps to cope with reality, the creative process behind her legendary lip syncs, and how she’s elevating drag by empowering its performers.

This episode is pretty much going to be a love letter to all the 80s and 90s kids out there. You probably know E.G. Daily best as the voice of Tommy Pickles in Rugrats, Buttercup in The Powerpuff Girls, or as Pee-wee Herman’s love interest in Pee-wee’s Big Adventure. Those iconic roles would be enough for a lifetime of bragging rights, but Daily has been working non stop in film, TV, music, and stage for more than four decades. In our conversation, Daily explains the process behind crafting a voice and why it’s so important to listen to your inner “hell yeahs” and “hell nos.”

Nicholas Britell has become one of Hollywood’s most sought after composers--and for good reason. His scores for films including Moonlight, The Big Short, Vice, and If Beale Street Could Talk aren’t your average film scores. Nicholas experiments with unconventional techniques in order to capture abstract themes like finance, love...or Dick Cheney’s life. In this episode, Nicholas explains how he went from managing hedge funds on Wall Street to being an Oscar nominated composer, and he explains how "breaking" music led to one of the most powerful scenes in If Beale Street Could Talk.