
The Creative Condition podcast
Welcome to 'The Creative Condition' podcast: an ongoing exploration of human creativity to help you understand and maximise yours.The show is hosted by creativity coach, Founder of The Creative Condition, and The New York Times, Adidas, and Premier League illustrator Ben Tallon.Creativity is an often misunderstood pillar of human happiness, something far bigger than artistic talent and crucial for fulfilling lives and careers. Featuring exclusive interviews with experts and thought leaders, including illustrators, rock stars, artists, sensitivity experts, designers, emergency service workers, Olympic gold medal winners, comedians, microbiologists, photographers, fighters, and many others.Supported by founding sponsor illustrationx.comAlso supported by the Ukrainian Institute https://ui.org.ua
Latest episodes

Jun 4, 2025 • 1h 10min
Ep 265: Choosing to be Creative with Zorana Pringle, Yale University Centre for Emotional Intelligence Senior Research Scientist
In 2025 the perception of creativity is still rooted in artistic talent. There are assumptions that our passions are already in us, waiting to be activated, and people continue to quit at the first hurdle when it comes to creating.I'm joined by Zorana Pringle, the Yale University Centre for Emotional Intelligence Senior Research Scientist and author of The Creativity Choice in which she challenges these damaging misunderstandings. We discuss creativity as a choice, something available to us all, and the differences between those who do and those who don't in a deep conversation!As ever, The Creative Condition podcast is supported by Illustration X https://illustrationx.comToday's guest, Zorana Pringle is here https://www.zorana-ivcevic-pringle.com/Work with me through the 'PIT STOP' one-stop creativity foundational coaching session or my 'The Creative Condition' workshop now at https://thecreativecondition.com/coachAccess creativity resources, including books, a reading list, and 300+ podcasts at https://thecreativecondition.comHelp the Ukrainian Institute's brave creative community during a horrific time of war at https://ui.org.ua

Jun 2, 2025 • 14min
Brew Brain Dump 6: Cowboys and Illustrators? And some thoughts on the productivity trap
A moment with The Creative Condition founder Ben Tallon as he shares creativity-led thoughts, insights, lessons, feelings, and observations for the duration of one brew (hot beverage).Today, join me as I explore shared themes between the Yellowstone cowboys and illustrators and challenge the productivity trap.As ever supported by Illustration X https://illustrationx.comWork with me through the 'PIT STOP' one-stop creativity foundational coaching session or my 'The Creative Condition' workshop now at https://thecreativecondition.com/coachAccess creativity resources including books, a reading list, and 300+ podcasts at https://thecreativecondition.comHelp the Ukrainian Institute's brave creative community during a horrific time of war at https://ui.org.ua

May 28, 2025 • 18min
The Creativity Diary Entry 13: Learnings from a lollipop lady, a cheap watch and me, a burst ball and productivity conditioning
Covered in this week's instalment of 'The Creativity Diary':Learnings from a lollipop ladyA burst basketball and productivity guilt as a learned behaviourMy beautiful cheap watch and proud identityAn unexpected meeting with the local councilAs ever supported by Illustration X https://illustrationx.comWork with me through the 'PIT STOP' one-stop creativity foundational coaching session now at https://thecreativecondition.comAccess creativity resources, including books, a reading list, and 300+ podcasts at https://thecreativecondition.comHelp the Ukrainian Institute's brave creative community during a horrific time of war at https://ui.org.ua

May 21, 2025 • 38min
Ep 264: Jessica Hische and Timothy Goodman on the PERSONAL in work live at Paradiso
Personal. Work. Personal work. What does any of it mean, and is there a rule about how personal work needs to be, or whether work and personal are best separate? Of course not! In creativity, there are no rules.I had the delight of chairing a conversation about all this between lettering artist and author Jessica Hische, and artist Timothy Goodman live at the inaugural Paradiso festival in Mérida, Yucatan, Mexico, and you can hear it now.A huge thank you to the co-founders of Paradiso Héctor Ayuso and Marko Pfann for their efforts, and the permission to share this conversation with The Creative Condition listeners. Check out their 2026 lineup and get your tickets here.As ever, The Creative Condition podcast is supported by Illustration X https://illustrationx.comToday's guests, Tala's can be seen here: https://jessicahische.is/https://www.tgoodman.com/Work with me through the 'PIT STOP' one-stop creativity foundational coaching session or my 'The Creative Condition' workshop now at https://thecreativecondition.com/coachAccess creativity resources, including books, a reading list, and 300+ podcasts at https://thecreativecondition.comHelp the Ukrainian Institute's brave creative community during a horrific time of war at https://ui.org.ua

May 19, 2025 • 11min
Brew Brain Dump 5: What Timothy Goodman said to me about the emotion in his art
A moment with The Creative Condition founder Ben Tallon as he shares creativity-led thoughts, insights, lessons, feelings, and observations for the duration of one brew (hot beverage).Today, join me as I reflect on something Timothy Goodman said to me in Mexico about emotion in our art and the trappings of disciplines.As ever supported by Illustration X https://illustrationx.comWork with me through the 'PIT STOP' one-stop creativity foundational coaching session or my 'The Creative Condition' workshop now at https://thecreativecondition.com/coachAccess creativity resources including books, a reading list, and 300+ podcasts at https://thecreativecondition.comHelp the Ukrainian Institute's brave creative community during a horrific time of war at https://ui.org.ua

May 14, 2025 • 14min
The Creativity Diary Entry 12: Existential night panics, reverting to beginner's fear, the joy of straight shooters
Covered in this week's instalment of 'The Creativity Diary':Existential night panicsReverting to beginner's fearThe joy of straight shootersReappraising my relationship with social media and peopleAs ever supported by Illustration X https://illustrationx.comWork with me through the 'PIT STOP' one-stop creativity foundational coaching session now at https://thecreativecondition.comAccess creativity resources, including books, a reading list, and 300+ podcasts at https://thecreativecondition.comHelp the Ukrainian Institute's brave creative community during a horrific time of war at https://ui.org.ua

May 12, 2025 • 12min
Brew Brain Dump 4: Natalie's garden and the importance of environment and cathartic creativity
A moment with The Creative Condition founder Ben Tallon as he shares creativity-led thoughts, insights, lessons, feelings, and observations for the duration of one brew (hot beverage).Today, join me as I listen into the soothing environment that is my neighbour's garden, and consider the importance of catharsis and our environments for creativity.As ever supported by Illustration X https://illustrationx.comWork with me through the 'PIT STOP' one-stop creativity foundational coaching session or my 'The Creative Condition' workshop now at https://thecreativecondition.com/coachAccess creativity resources including books, a reading list, and 300+ podcasts at https://thecreativecondition.comHelp the Ukrainian Institute's brave creative community during a horrific time of war at https://ui.org.ua

May 7, 2025 • 1h 17min
Ep 263: Tala Schlossberg on why being nice and making art is an act of counter culture in a turbulent world
Within minutes of meeting artist Tala Schlossberg ahead of our discussion panel with photographer Owen Harvey at the inaugural Paradiso in Mérida, Mexico, we were into the deep stuff.Tala is a visual artist known primarily for her fantastic animation work, but a pure artist in every sense.We covered human connection during the discussion panel, but there was so much more to be said. So, we caught up a few weeks later and got into the ongoing battle to stay mentally balanced, as a sensitive person, in a turbulent world. Do we live at a time when it's a radical act of counterculture to be genuinely nice to people and make art?As ever, The Creative Condition podcast is supported by Illustration X https://illustrationx.comToday's guest, Tala's world is here: https://www.talaschlossberg.com/Work with me through the 'PIT STOP' one-stop creativity foundational coaching session or my 'The Creative Condition' workshop now at https://thecreativecondition.com/coachAccess creativity resources, including books, a reading list, and 300+ podcasts at https://thecreativecondition.comHelp the Ukrainian Institute's brave creative community during a horrific time of war at https://ui.org.ua

May 1, 2025 • 13min
Brew Brain Dump 3: Thoughts on fear and unpredictability in creative work, and what can help
A moment with The Creative Condition founder Ben Tallon as he shares creativity-led thoughts, insights, lessons, feelings, and observations for the duration of one brew (hot beverage).Today, thoughts on what's changed after two tough freelancing years and a slightly better start to this year. Talking creative self-efficacy, unpredictability, joy in the unknown, and the need to be out having conversations around passions, attuned with our environment.As ever supported by Illustration X https://illustrationx.comWork with me through the 'PIT STOP' one-stop creativity foundational coaching session or my 'The Creative Condition' workshop now at https://thecreativecondition.com/coachAccess creativity resources including books, a reading list, and 300+ podcasts at https://thecreativecondition.comHelp the Ukrainian Institute's brave creative community during a horrific time of war at https://ui.org.ua

Apr 30, 2025 • 24min
The Creativity Diary Entry 11: Sharing a life through art, little houses of Mérida, and designing a career
Covered in this week's instalment of 'The Creativity Diary':Designing a careerLittle houses in Mérida, MexicoMy love of teaching creativitySharing a life through artAs ever supported by Illustration X https://illustrationx.comWork with me through the 'PIT STOP' one-stop creativity foundational coaching session now at https://thecreativecondition.comAccess creativity resources, including books, a reading list, and 300+ podcasts at https://thecreativecondition.comHelp the Ukrainian Institute's brave creative community during a horrific time of war at https://ui.org.ua