The Creative Boom Podcast
Creative Boom
Real talk for creatives – without the corporate fluff.
Every week, host Katy Cowan sits down with designers, illustrators, animators, entrepreneurs and creative thinkers for the kind of honest, warm, slightly unpredictable conversations that remind you why you got into this in the first place.
We go to the real places – confidence, burnout, reinvention, money, failure, imposter syndrome – and we don't dress them up. But we also laugh a lot. And occasionally reference the '90s more than is strictly necessary.
Each guest brings their own story. What connects them is a willingness to be genuinely open about the creative life – the brilliant parts and the brutal ones.
The Creative Boom Podcast has been part of Creative Boom, the independent magazine for the creative community, since 2009. New episodes every week.
Every week, host Katy Cowan sits down with designers, illustrators, animators, entrepreneurs and creative thinkers for the kind of honest, warm, slightly unpredictable conversations that remind you why you got into this in the first place.
We go to the real places – confidence, burnout, reinvention, money, failure, imposter syndrome – and we don't dress them up. But we also laugh a lot. And occasionally reference the '90s more than is strictly necessary.
Each guest brings their own story. What connects them is a willingness to be genuinely open about the creative life – the brilliant parts and the brutal ones.
The Creative Boom Podcast has been part of Creative Boom, the independent magazine for the creative community, since 2009. New episodes every week.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Jun 13, 2021 • 50min
The joy of community as a creative professional, with Katie Chappell
Katie Chappell is a freelance illustrator specialising in 'live event' illustration for brands such as Google, Facebook and Apple. She's also one of the founders of The Good Ship Illustration, helping other artists to navigate a creative career. Here, we talk about how Katie found her niche. And she explains why there's no shame in a part-time job when you're trying to make illustration a full-time career. We also discuss productivity tips, business planning and why having your own creative community is everything.
Jun 6, 2021 • 55min
Life after freelancing and growing an agency, with William Seabrook
Brand consultant William Seabrook began his career in 2002 when he graduated with a degree in Visual Communication from Birmingham City University. He then spent three years working as a fashion illustrator but later ventured into design, launching his own branding consultancy. Here, we chat about growing businesses, the lessons we learn, the mistakes we make – all leading to something bigger and better. It's a very honest chat about surviving and thriving in the creative industries.
May 30, 2021 • 50min
How to be a happy creative, with Greg McIndoe
Glasgow-based illustrator and design writer, Greg McIndoe, otherwise known as Headless Greg, graduated in 2020, during the height of the global pandemic, and has immediately gone freelance. Here, we chat about the pandemic and how it's affected us. We also talk of slowing down, distancing ourselves from social media and why it's ok to share the things we all suffer from. That we're all the same. We also talk of overcoming rejection, finding our creative paths and why we don't have to worry about being stuck creatively.
May 23, 2021 • 52min
Finding unexpected opportunities through connections, with Monique Henry-Hudson
Filmmaker, blogger and podcaster, Monique Henry-Hudson, is currently working at Netflix Animation, runs her own podcast, and is behind Diverse Toons, a travelling animation panel series that highlights the importance of diversity in the animation industry. Here, we chat about growing up in Queens, finding opportunities to get into animation and discovering unexpected paths. We talk about the power of networking and making valuable connections. And we delve into recent movie releases (Disney/Pixar's Soul and Onward) and how the industry is evolving after the events of last summer – not to mention how we, as an audience, are demanding more from creators and why there are lots of things to be excited about, particularly from Netflix.
May 16, 2021 • 1h 7min
Diversity and the creative industries, with Harkiran Kalsi
London-based graphic designer and illustrator, Harkiran Kalsi has worked for the likes of Comic Relief and BBC Children in Need. She also creates gorgeous murals, in her signature hand-lettering style and uses her art to spread positive and important messages. Here, we find out from Harky how she got to where she is now – despite a few setbacks. We discuss that famous artwork she created last summer for Black Lives Matter and how the movement affected her. And we share some laughs (and much respect) for Lewis Hamilton, Will Smith and Richard, the street cat.
May 9, 2021 • 1h 10min
How to run your own design conference, with Luke Tonge
Luke Tonge is a freelance graphic designer and art director based in Birmingham and also one of the co-founders of Birmingham Design Festival. Here, we talk about the last decade or so, as we share similar paths in publishing and how we survived the global economic crisis and found a whole creative community online. We also talk of how times have changed, why the design industry still has some way to go, but how Luke is hopeful for people entering the working world today.
May 2, 2021 • 51min
Making higher education accessible for everyone, with Stacie Woolsey
Anthropological Future Designer Stacie Woolsey is the founder of Make Your Own Masters – an alternative post-graduate learning experiment that she began to address the lack of access and diversity within the creative industries. Here, we discuss the problems with higher education, unusual job titles and the power of shaping our own careers however we want. So if you like a rebel with a cause, and you're looking to progress in your own life and work, Stacie is just the inspiration you need.
Apr 25, 2021 • 1h 1min
Sparking a more diverse creative industry, with Shanti Sparrow
Award-winning graphic designer and illustrator Shanti Sparrow is also Global Head of Teaching at Shillington, which teaches the next generation of graphic designers. Here, we talk about her background, we find out why she gives her illustrated animals names (and why they're so traditionally British), and we talk of how the world is changing fast and for the better.
Apr 18, 2021 • 1h 16min
The life of an in-house graphic designer over 25 years, with Damian Graham
Graphic designer Damian Graham has spent the last 25 years becoming a specialist in his field, creating entire collections for names such as Speedo, Mitre Football and Berghaus. Here, we talk about Damian’s career and uncover excellent tips for aspiring designers hoping to enjoy a similar path to his own. Our conversation with Damian reminded us that we all find our way in the end – even though it might often involve some twists and turns. And that no experience is ever wasted.
Apr 11, 2021 • 46min
Reflecting on a year of change and embracing a slower pace, with Oliver Jeffers
Visual artist and author, Oliver Jeffers chats about how the events of last year affected him, putting a family round-the-world trip on hold. We also talk about how his practice has developed over the years, where he gets his ideas from, and what he has in store next. We discover, too, the sense of optimism and hope Oliver has for the future and why we all could benefit from slowing down.
