The Creative Condition podcast

Washington DC-based artist and all-round creative human Chris Pyrate reflects on the role of early travels to New Mexico and LA, challenges for young people growing up in Washington DC, and why being an artist is a way of life, and not merely a profession.His big brand collaborations with the Washinton Wizards and Nike are secondary to a bigger philosophy.We get deep into all of it with a man vastly wiser than his years.The show is supported by Illustration X: https://illustrationx.comhttps://ahumanfly.squarespace.com/bentallon.combentallonwriter.com

Part 2 of the creativity checklist.Part 1 can be heard on episode 208. Distilled from the forthcoming 'The Creative Condition' book. Out March 28th 2024.The show is supported by Illustration X: https://illustrationx.combentallon.combentallonwriter.com

Sarah Boris is a multi-disciplinary artist and designer at the top of her game. We discuss the challenges of change in early years, along with the upsides, her early career roles designing for The Barbican and Phaidon, and her current art and design studio practice. The challenges of staying disciplined, but not overworking are covered, as well as activism, and what Sarah refers to as 'the care bear phase' in which she needs to create bright, happy work to decompress from heavy subject matter.A fascinating glimpse of the mind and ways of one of the most dynamic creators in the game.https://www.instagram.com/sarahboris_ldn/?hl=enThe show is supported by Illustration X: https://illustrationx.comhttps://bentallon.comhttps://bentallonwriter.com

Part 1 of a list of considerations for maximising your creativity, distilled from the forthcoming 'The Creative Condition' book. Out March 28th 2024.The show is supported by Illustration X: https://illustrationx.comhttps://bentallon.comhttps://bentallonwriter.com

Tom Hodkinson, founder of 'Idler' magazine promoting a slower, more wholesome way of life, discusses modern life, creativity, and idling. Topics include living an idle lifestyle, avoiding negative spirals and finding flow, honest conversation, cancel culture, the influence of Socrates on ancient philosophy, pushing boundaries in creativity and journalism, productivity and creativity as a twin father, misconceptions of 'Idler' magazine, and the impact of technology on creativity and work.

The first in a series of audience question-focused episodes of the podcast. This one is from designer Steve Cardwell, wondering about the validity of a portfolio comprised of personal work when starting afresh, or changing direction in an arts career.Any further responses to the question, questions for future episodes, or opinions on the question-based format are most welcome!Supported by Illustration X, who represent the best of global illustrators and animators at https://illustrationx.comHosted by Ben Tallon, https://bentallon.comThe Creative Condition book will be out in March 2024https://defaultica.com/

In 2018 I met Murugiah for episode 102 of The Creative Condition Podcast. He had results, and he was freelancing successfully as an illustrator and artist, but there was a fragility about him. The earliest seeds of his current, flourishing art style were starting to flower, but they were mere dots in the soil.In 2020, on 'Cabin Cast 5', bright green buds had emerged, and spots of colour were trying to push out.Now as we stare down both barrels of 2024, he returns and things are in full bloom. And yet, he says he's been talking utter h0rseshit this entire time. I disagree, and we get deep into how it all feels, why we can never truly feel satisfied, and how we go about juggling all the parts of a freelance career in the creative industry.Please consider subscribing and reviewing The Creative Condition podcast on your preferred platform. The show is supported by founding sponsor Illustration X. Indulge yourself in their global range of artists, illustrators, and animators now at https://illustrationx.comHosted and produced by Ben Tallon. Https://bentallon.comToday's guest can be found at: https://murugiah.com/https://bentallonwriter.comhttps://instagram.com/bentallon

Designit is home to 700+ designers, analysts, brainstormers, creators, doers, dreamers, explorers, geeks, leaders, learners, lovers, mamas, papas, renegades, strategists, marketers, tree-huggers, visionaries, question-askers with diverse expertise and perspectives working together to solve complex problems.I'm joined by their head of design and creative in the Americas, Christine Pizzo as we get into large-scale design for positive change, design leadership, motorcycles, and the role of tech in our lives in the 21st century.As ever, the show is supported by the founding sponsor, illustration and animation agency, and b-corp Illustration X. illustrationx.comhttps://www.designit.com/aboutbentallon.combentallonwriter.comMusic by Dirty Freud:open.spotify.com/artist/2c5NcXidirDDqL3sc3vW8S

An excerpt from 'The Creative Condition' book about creativity in education, including the story of stealing a child's drawing.You can back the book on Kickstarter here with just 4 days left to get your advance, contributor copy: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/creativecondition/the-creative-condition-bookAs ever, the show is supported by the founding sponsor, illustration and animation agency, and b-corp Illustration X. https://illustrationx.comhttps://bentallon.comhttps://bentallonwriter.comMusic by Dirty Freud https://open.spotify.com/artist/2c5NcXidirDDqL3sc3vW8S

We hear it all the time, 'You are what you eat!' - but how seriously do we take our diet when it comes to our mental health? For the longest time, for me, the answer was 'not very.'We identify a raft of other aggressors when it comes to our moods, but we are living organisms and we require constant good nutrition to operate at our best.As part of the November mental health special episodes, following on from Kimberley Wilson on ep 202, I'm joined by microbiologist Zuzanna Karwowska. Zuzanna works with machine learning to study the gut microbiome. She lays out just how critical gut health is to our mood, our brain health, and therefore, our creativity, and gives us a snapshot of the life of a microbiologist!As ever, the show is supported by the founding sponsor, illustration and animation agency, and b-corp Illustration X. https://illustrationx.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/zuzanna-karwowska-768967a5/To back 'The Creative Condition' book Kickstarter, head here. https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/creativecondition/the-creative-condition-bookhttps://bentallon.comhttps://bentallonwriter.com