Creative Space with Jennifer Logue

This was a tough episode to do. After years of keeping silent about what it’s like living with epilepsy, I finally feel brave enough to talk about it.

There’s so much to be said and this podcast episode doesn’t even scratch the surface.

But I thought a nice way in would be to talk about how getting diagnosed with epilepsy as an adult changed the trajectory of my creative journey.

As John Lennon sang, “Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.”

To learn more about epilepsy,  check out the Epilepsy Foundation website at: epilepsy.com.

To read a recent article I wrote about my experience with epilepsy, click here.

To become a patron of the Creative Space Podcast, visit: https://bit.ly/3ECD2Kr.

SHOW NOTES:

0:10—Introduction

1:58—How epilepsy derailed my original creative path

3:44—Living in the new normal

5:56—Managing medication side effects

8:15—You can’t be selectively vulnerable

You may have noticed that we didn’t have any episodes of Creative Space the last few Sundays, so today, I wanted to pop in to give you guys an update: I’ve been sick with Covid the last few weeks.

I appreciate you all reaching out and for supporting the podcast as much as you have so far. It means the world to me.

New episodes of Creative Space will resume on Sunday, April 16th.

Now it's time for some tea! :)

To connect with me, visit: jenniferlogue.com.

To sign up for the weekly Creative Space newsletter, visit: eepurl.com/h8SJ9b.

To become a patron of the Creative Space Podcast, visit: https://bit.ly/3ECD2Kr.

SHOW NOTES:

0:00—Introduction

0:30—Sick with Covid

0:53—Taking some time to rest

1:25—Our bodies are our instrument

2:30—New episodes resume 4/16

On today’s episode of Creative Space, we have the pleasure of speaking with the incredibly talented stand-up comedian Pat House.  A Philly native, Pat has been a regular performer at comedy clubs, casinos and theaters all over the country. He’s also opened for Sebastian Maniscalco, Tom Segura and most recently, Dan Cummins and Brad Williams. His second album, I Heard Enough Yesterday reached #1 on iTunes and his third album, I’m Here peaked at #2 and you can hear both of them on Sirius XM. 

On the podcast, we talk about Pat’s journey from doing his first open mic in 2004 to touring the country performing standup professionally. We also dig into his creative process, and how much of it comes down to a daily writing practice which has culminated in over 100 notebooks of material so far. But the other half of it is getting that material in front of an audience as much as possible. Whether you’re an aspiring comedian or not, there’s a ton to be learned from Pat when it comes to craft, putting in the work, and loving what you do.

For more information on Pat House, visit: pathousecomedy.com.

To sign up for the weekly Creative Space newsletter, visit: eepurl.com/h8SJ9b.

To become a patron of the Creative Space Podcast, visit: https://bit.ly/3ECD2Kr.

SHOW NOTES:

0:00—Introduction

2:10—How we met 

3:58—Growing up watching SNL, Letterman and Leno

4:48—Pat’s first time doing standup 

6:30—Looking up to Dave Atell, Steven Wright and Chris Rock

8:16—The only way to work on new material in comedy

9:30—On standup becoming more and more fun

10:17—Pat’s definition of creativity

11:00—The comedian’s creative process

11:45—Finding the humor in everything, even sadness

15:00—Pat’s journey to to doing comedy professionally

17:00—On finding inspiration from bartending, his parents, and life

18:30—”Nothing to me is funny without me being angry, annoyed or mad first.”

19:00—On the joys of writing in notebooks 

21:30—Pat’s writing routine

23:30—A big misconception about standup comedy 

24:44—Throwback to that time we saw Woody Harrelson 

25:40—Keep writing and gold strikes

27:15—It took Bill Maher 10 years to get his first hour

28:49—What makes a great set for Pat  

30:00—The challenge of the Friday late show

31:37—The worst thing that ever happened on stage

34:42—The rise of internet comedians 

38:28—What’s something a non-comedian wouldn’t understand?

40:32—Pat’s top three moments from touring in the last year

43:36—What goes into creating a comedy album? 

45:35—Advice for aspiring comedians 

46:16—What’s next for Pat

On today’s episode of Creative Space, we have the pleasure of speaking with the super talented visual artist Krissy Whiski. Her work is described as “painting the spaces between dreams,” and Krissy creates as a meditative and cathartic means of reflecting on life and what it means to be human. Her bright color palette and line work is informed by her experiences of synesthesia.

We cover so much ground in our conversation, including Krissy’s artistic beginnings growing up in Hamilton, NJ and frequenting Grounds for Sculpture as a kid. We also get a glimpse into what it’s like to see the world from the perspective of a visual artist like Krissy, and how she blends her inner world with the outer world through her painting.

For more on Krissy Whiski, visit: www.krissywhiski.com.

To sign up for the weekly Creative Space newsletter, visit: eepurl.com/h8SJ9b.

To become a patron of the Creative Space Podcast, visit: https://bit.ly/3ECD2Kr.

SHOW NOTES:

0:00—Introduction

1:16—How we met

3:30—Playing at Grounds for Sculpture as a kid

6:02—The journey to getting to paint her bedroom walls

10:50—Being the weird kid and seeing the world as an artist

13:45—Synesthesia, the Fibonacci Spiral, and Tool’s “Lateralus”

16:06—How sunglasses help Krissy filter signal and noise

18:50—On wanting to become an artist professionally

20:36—Losing her stepdad and the move to Florida

23:00—Learning the art of selling art by working at a gallery

24:45—Moving to Savannah, figure drawing class, and photography

30:21—Krissy’s definition of creativity

33:30—Forget balance: the creative life is a mosaic

34:30—The creative advantage of a disorganized sketchbook

38:55—The genius of Krissy’s burn pile 

43:36—Her greatest challenge so far

44:24—Artists: do not measure yourself by clicks and likes

46:45—Breaking down her painting, ‘Gas Mask Kids’

49:51—Krissy’s 2016 short film, ‘Plague Doctors’

52:00—Breaking down her painting, ‘Rhiannon’

54:52—Krissy’s delivery experience for her art

57:54—Advice for aspiring visual artists

58:49—What’s next for Krissy?

On today’s episode of Creative Space, we have the pleasure of speaking with international pop star, SHAB. A product of three continents, she first gained attention in the Western Hemisphere during late 2020 as a "breakout star of the global pandemic," with three of her consecutive singles reaching #2 on the U.K. Commercial Pop Charts. This included her debut single, “Spell On Me,” which SHAB co-wrote with the award-winning production duo, Damon Sharpe and Eric Sanicola. 

SHAB recently finished a tour with Anastacia and her latest single, “Sexual” just reached #2 on the U.K. Commercial Pop Chart.

We did this interview while SHAB was still on tour with Anastacia and had a really thought-provoking and inspiring conversation that covers SHAB growing up in Iran and how it shaped her relationship with creativity. We also talk about the healing power of creativity and how SHAB feels called to advocate for those who don’t have a voice.

For more on SHAB, visit: shabofficial.com and you can check out her stunning video for “Sexual” here.

To sign up for the weekly Creative Space newsletter, visit: eepurl.com/h8SJ9b.

To become a patron of the Creative Space Podcast, visit: https://bit.ly/3ECD2Kr.

SHOW NOTES:

0:00—Introduction

1:43—Being born in Iran

2:00—The video for “Sexual” and honoring our feminine energy

3:19—Advocating for those who don’t have a voice

4:25—Being accepted as a refugee and immigrant

5:00—It’s never too late to start anything

6:06—First discovering love for music

10:30—How growing up in Iran shaped her relationship with creativity

12:15—The love story that never ends

14:30—SHAB’s musical inspirations

17:00—SHAB’s definition of creativity 

20:30—If you find the child within in, you’ll never grow old

21:13—Working with producer Damon Sharpe

23:15—The beginnings of “Spell on Me”

26:30—Growing up really fast

28:56—SHAB’s songwriting process 

33:00—SHAB on opening for Anastacia 

35:12—The key to manifestation 

36:00—Why SHAB stopped singing for many years

39:36—Working with Eli Socan on music videos

41:00—Shab’s vision for future concerts

43:00—SHAB’s life in Dallas

47:14—What’s next?

BONUS:

49:41—Advice for artists going through a trying time

On today’s episode of Creative Space, we have the pleasure of chatting with Yusuf Muhammad of Veteran Freshman—an entrepreneur, event curator and talent buyer who’s worked around the globe on music festivals, branded experiences and more. He’s also an artist manager and currently manages the super talented comedian and actor, Desi Banks. 

Yuie’s creative journey is so organic and as he tells his story, he drops a ton of valuable wisdom on how to create a life doing what you love. From  developing his Veteran Freshman brand to managing talent like Distortedd, Christian "King" Combs, JIDENNA, and Desi Banks, Yuie’s work is fueled by a passion for creating joy and memorable experiences for others.

For more on Yuie, visit: instagram.com/yusufyuie.

To sign up for the weekly Creative Space newsletter, visit: eepurl.com/h8SJ9b.

To become a patron of the Creative Space Podcast, visit: https://bit.ly/3ECD2Kr.


SHOW NOTES:

0:00—Introduction

1:00—How we first met

2:41—Growing up in Philly in the early 90s

5:10—The “control alt delete” to life

8:19—Yuie’s early passions: electronics and filmmaking

10:54—Going to the Art Institute of Philadelphia for film at 14

12:24—Yuie’s favorite filmmakers

13:45—Networking at the Student Affairs office 

18:00—How becoming an RA led to his first event

20:10—Buying the first Canon TS1

24:56—”My career in concerts started with one event getting shut down.” 

26:50—Coming up with the name Veteran Freshman

28:17—Yuie on the organic flow of creativity and success

31:33—The road to artist management

37:41—Being a manager should be a partnership with the artist

39:30—Managers are not miracle workers

41:00—Yuie’s definition of creativity

45:48—The things that you enjoy doing can be your life

47:50—A no just means I have to find a different yes

48:53—Being a jack of all trades as long as it’s fun

50:50—A lesson from Christian "King" Combs

54:09—Yuie on working with Desi Banks

55:45—Events and creativity

58:59—Teaching his children how to create for a living

1:02:00—Yuie’s greatest challenge so far 

1:06:00—The importance of giving ourselves grace

1:07:00—Yuie’s advice for aspiring creators

1:13:00—Before social media, who were you comparing yourself to? 

1:15:00—What’s next for Yuie

On today’s episode of Creative Space, we have the pleasure of chatting with Kate Marlys, the powerhouse behind the celebrated Philadelphia public relations firm, Philly PR Girl. Since 2013, she’s grown her company from a successful special events blog to the full service PR firm it is today, built on a foundation of networking, relationship building, and an unmatched passion for the city of Philadelphia. Kate has been honored as a 2021 Power Player by Philadelphia Style Magazine, A Who’s Next in Communications Award by Billy Penn, and an ‘I Am Born to Make History’ Award by Influencing Action. On top of all of this, Kate also launched a second business, Photo Pop Philly in 2018 and in 2023, she celebrates 10 years of Philly PR Girl.

We cover a lot of ground in this episode, including the organic beginnings of Philly PR Girl and how Kate was completely self taught, having never taken a PR course in college. We also talk about overcoming imposter syndrome, the fear that everyone experiences before taking a leap of faith into entrepreneurship, and how influencers are changing the media landscape

SHOW NOTES:

0:00—Introduction

1:30—How we first met

2:22—Twitter chats and ‘On the Stoop’ in South Philly

3:10—Kate’s early inspirations, live music, and Jimmy Buffet

5:30—On never taking a PR class and being self taught

7:00—The beginnings of Philly PR Girl

8:40—Leaving a secure job to work for herself

10:00—People see the success and not the sacrifice

11:30—Seven years of Turkey Tailgate

12:07—Caffeine reduction segue

12:45—Coming up with the Philly PR Girl name

15:00—Kate’s definition of creativity 

16:15—Creativity in public relations

17:47—How to decide if a project (or client) is right for you

18:59—How Kate stays balanced running her own business

20:03—Overcoming imposter syndrome

22:00—Even the fun stuff is hard work

23:43—How influencers are changing the media landscape

28:25—The key to figuring out what’s next

29:00—Underscores in TikTok handles

29:56—Kate’s top three Philly PR Girl moments so far

32:45—Getting to work with Philly sports teams

33:16—Advice for entrepreneurs starting from scratch

34:42—How Kate is celebrating her 10-year anniversary

36:08—The importance of celebrating your successes

37:45—What’s next for Kate

BONUS: 

38:30—Launching Photo Pop Philly and the magic of collaboration

On today’s episode of Creative Space, we have the pleasure of chatting with Shivantha Wijesinha, an actor, musician, and old friend of mine with an incredible career so far. He’s got a long list of credits but recently, he played the role of Jegan in Oscar nominee Deepa Metha’s film, Funny Boy, which is available on Netflix. He was also nominated for most outstanding performance in the 39th Annual Green Room Awards for his portrayal of Duke Senior and Duke Frederick in Melbourne Theatre Company’s production of As You Like It. In 2022, he was selected to narrate The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida by author Shehan Karunatilaka, which won the 2022 Booker Prize and he also has a speaking role in George Miller’s upcoming Mad Max film, Furiosa.

Shivantha has had such an inspiring creative journey so far, from growing up in Sri Lanka and discovering his passion for music to giving up a career in law to study acting at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City. We talk about his creative process as an actor, his love for Sanford Meisner, and what it was like to work with directors like Deepa Mehta and George Miller.

For more information on Shivantha, visit: shivantha.com.

To sign up for the weekly Creative Space newsletter, visit: eepurl.com/h8SJ9b.

To become a patron of the Creative Space Podcast, visit: https://bit.ly/3ECD2Kr.

SHOW NOTES:

0:00—Intro

1:09—How we first met

2:30—Growing up in Sri Lanka

4:00—The innocence of life before the internet

5:17—Following the sound of the drums

9:05—Leaving law behind for acting

13:00—Trusting even when you’re terrified

14:03— Studying at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts

16:54—Shivantha’s definition of creativity

19:20—Imagining a world without art

20:56—The creative process of an actor

23:30—It’s not about the words 

26:00—You have to move with the moment

27:20—What he learned from working with Deepa Mehta

29:18—The beauty of Sanford Meisner’s repetition exercise

31:30—Becoming a better actor by teaching

32:40—The greatest challenge in day-to-day work

33:30—Finding joy in the small things

36:31—Narrating ‘The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida’

40:20—The myth of overnight success

42:22—The civil war in Sri Lanka

43:55—Working on the latest Mad Max film, ‘Furiosa’

45:05—Your next role is your best role 

45:23—Advice for actors just starting out

47:00—What’s next for Shivantha

On today's episode of Creative Space, we have the pleasure of chatting with Christine Ng, a New York-based cinematographer who works on everything from commercials to music videos to documentaries to TV. The first commercial she ever shot aired during Super Bowl XLVI, her first full-length documentary was the Emmy nominated  Everything is Copy  for HBO, and she just wrapped Rian Johnson’s TV series, Poker Face, for Peacock. On top of all of this, Christine was also named a Rising Star of Cinematography by American Cinematographer in 2022.

We talk about how creativity manifests as a cinematographer and how Christine prepares for a project.  We also talk about what she learned from working with director Rian Johnson on the soon-to-be-released series, Poker Face.

For more on Christine, visit: christineng.com.

To sign up for the weekly Creative Space newsletter, visit: eepurl.com/h8SJ9b.

To become a patron of the Creative Space Podcast, visit: https://bit.ly/3ECD2Kr.

SHOW NOTES:

0:00—Introduction
1:06—Sam Jones shoutout
2:50—Growing up in Queens and Hong Kong
4:50—The impact of ‘Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind’
6:43—Being inspired by Ellen Kuras
8:28—The film shoot that found her at 9 years old
10:00—Meeting her favorite Cantonese pop star
11:19—Christine’s definition of creativity
11:55—Working on ‘When They See Us’
12:00—Expressing emotion through the lens
14:14—How leadership influences creativity
16:50—Creativity is everywhere but are you open to receive it?
17:30—How Christine prepares for a film project
20:20—The double-edged sword of mood boards
22:00—Being intentional about what’s in the frame 
23:10—If you aren’t fluid, you won’t be happy
24:50—Preparing for ‘Poker Face’
27:00—Things will always go wrong but have the right mindset
29:07—The role of AD’s (assistant directors)
31:00—Building collaborative bonds quickly
34:33—What Christine learned starting out on the crew side
36:00—Making crazy camera movements happen on ‘Poker Face’
41:30—Where Christine sees film and TV going 
45:30—What Christine learned from ‘Poker Face’
50:00—Come grow over here
53:00—The importance of being kind
53:40—Advice for aspiring cinematographers
58:00—What’s next for Christine

On today’s episode of Creative Space, we have the pleasure of chatting with Shiraz Baboo. He’s an award-winning author, international speaker, and reality interventionist. He coaches people to get out of what he calls “reality addiction” and his book, ‘How to Rewrite Reality’ has changed lives around the globe. Shiraz helps people  annihilate their unconscious addiction to stories of struggle and lack, resulting in an abundance of free time, money, and energy.

We cover a lot of ground in this episode, starting off  with Shiraz's 18-year battle with arthritis and how overcoming it led to his career as a life coach and energy healer. We talk about the power of belief and how we can change our lives by rewriting the stories we tell ourselves. We also dig into the nature of creative energy and how artists tap into it, overcoming writer's block, and what keeps us from following through on our New Year's resolutions.

For more on Shiraz Baboo, visit: energeticmagic.com.

To sign up for the Creative Space newsletter, visit: eepurl.com/h8SJ9b.

To become a patron of the Creative Space Podcast, visit: https://bit.ly/3ECD2Kr.

SHOW NOTES:

0:00—Introduction

1:00—How we met

1:50—Moving from South Africa to Canada

3:52—Creating his first computer game at 14

4:50—Those aren’t shoulder pads

5:30—Getting debilitating arthritis at 22

8:40—Discovering combined therapy in India

11:15—Arthritis is better than guilt

16:55—Some people are sick because they want to be taken care of

17:45—The beginnings of Energetic Magic

20:00—The big influence of Buckaroo Banzai

22:42—What does “energetic magic” mean?

26:00—Shiraz’ definition of creativity

26:43—The invention of the shopping cart

28:35—Don’t quit three feet from gold

29:00—The full ‘three feet from gold’ story

31:00—Don’t be afraid to ask for help

32:40—How is creative energy different?

33:12—It’s humanly impossible to stay positive all the time

36:15—Prince was constantly in that creative space

37:30—How can we overcome writer’s block?

40:40—How do we know if a project is right for us?

43:15—90% of people try to figure out the how

45:46—What keeps us from our New Year’s resolutions?

49:00—Tips for pushing through challenges

52:30—How some artists push people away

55:30—What’s next for you?

On this episode of Creative Space, I wanted to share a little holiday gift with you all in the form of affirmations, namely affirmations for creativity. Did you know that according to the National Science Foundation, 80% of our thoughts are negative and 95% of our thoughts are repetitive? This negativity loop isn’t good for our creativity and that’s where affirmations have helped me. 

I’ve put a few of my favorite creativity affirmations in this episode for you to listen to and use. I hope they help you unlock new levels of creativity and happiness in 2022, 2023 and beyond.

To sign up for the weekly Creative Space newsletter, visit: eepurl.com/h8SJ9b.

To become a patron of the Creative Space Podcast, visit: https://bit.ly/3ECD2Kr.

SHOW NOTES—

0:00—Introduction

0:30—Why I use affirmations

1:20—The percentage of negative thoughts we think

2:00—My gift to you: Creativity Affirmations

6:40—Outro

On this episode of Creative Space, we discuss the importance of patience in creativity and in life. It’s something I’ve struggled with a lot and continue to struggle with. I hope that what I’ve learned so far can help you find the patience to keep going and enjoy the journey more than the destination. 

To sign up for the weekly Creative Space newsletter, visit: eepurl.com/h8SJ9b.

To become a patron of the Creative Space Podcast, visit: https://bit.ly/3ECD2Kr.

SHOW NOTES:

0:00—Introduction

0:30—Why patience is hard

1:30—Patience and growth

2:30—Patience and trust

3:40—The problem with avoiding pain

4:30—Patience and creativity

6:45—Quotes on patience (and impatience)

7:33—Closing

On today’s episode of Creative Space, we have the pleasure of speaking with Academy Award-winning songwriter and producer John DeNicola. Without a doubt, you know his work, as he co-wrote the iconic song, “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life” from the iconic film that we all know and love, Dirty Dancing. Through his record label, Omad Records, he’s also nurtured the careers of up and coming artists, like Kara’s Flowers, who would go on to become Maroon 5.

John goes into depth about his creative journey that led him to team up with Franke Previte and Donald Markowitz to write the iconic song from Dirty Dancing. We also discuss the art of collaboration and how John has never felt more creative than now. 

For more on John DeNicola visit: john-denicola.com.

To sign up for the weekly Creative Space newsletter, visit: eepurl.com/h8SJ9b.

To become a patron of the Creative Space Podcast, visit: https://bit.ly/3ECD2Kr.

SHOW NOTES:

0:00—Introduction

2:00—Growing up in a creative Italian-American family

3:00—”He sounds like he’d be good on guitar…”

4:15— I never had a question that I was going to do music 

6:30—Picking three LPs from his cousin’s one-stop 

7:35—Working with Peter Lewis of Moby Grape

8:30—Getting signed to Motown as the bassist in Flight

9:26—Rehearsing 6 days a week, 6 hours a day 

10:20—John’s songwriting beginnings 

11:00—Teaming up with Franke Previte on “Hungry Eyes”

11:50—Dirty Dancing and co-writing “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life”

17:06—The most important lessons about songwriting collaboration

20:50—If you’re an artist and it’s your calling, nothing is going to stop you

24:45—John’s definition of creativity

27:37—Shakespeare in the Valley and letting it flow 

30:50—Drawing inspiration from Tame Impala and Alex G

32:45—John’s first experience recording as an artist

40:14—The fear and/or excitement of the blank page 

41:36—Why “(I’ve Had)The Time of My Life” is so uplifting musically

44:10—Taking off the blindfold and seeing the world as it is

47:32—Why records are a better experience for the listener

49:53—What’s next

BONUS:

51:34—Discovering Kara's Flowers (soon to become Maroon 5)

On today’s episode of Creative Space, we have the pleasure of speaking with Calvin the II, aka Calvin Winbush,  a musician, actor and dear friend of mine with quite an inspiring journey. Originally from Detroit, he started playing music at a young age and followed that passion to intern at Atlantic Records where he learned the ins and outs of the music business, working on Lupe Fiasco’s Food & Liquor album. He eventually moved to Los Angeles, where his acting career took off. You may have seen Calvin playing guitar in the beginning of Childish Gambino’s iconic music video, “This is America,” or guest starring on the hit TV show Nashville.

We cover a lot of ground in this episode, especially given that Calvin is a talented actor, musician, and music producer. We learn about his upbringing in Detroit and how he got inspired to be an entertainer while still in high school. We learn how Calvin went from working in craft services on the set of shows like Lipstick Jungle to soon becoming a working actor himself. He even shares many of his secrets when it comes to the creative process as well as learning multiple instruments. 

For more on Calvin the II, visit: calvintheii.com.

To sign up for the weekly Creative Space newsletter, visit: eepurl.com/h8SJ9b.

To become a patron of the Creative Space Podcast, visit: https://bit.ly/3ECD2Kr.

Show Notes—

0:00—Intro

1:11— We go way back

2:19—Relearning how to be in contact with people post pandemic

4:20—Office culture and the creative process

5:30—Being a Navy Brat and life in Detroit

8:50—The secret to learning multiple instruments

11:53—From Guitar Hero to the real guitar 

12:25—Early musical inspirations

13:00—Remember getting CDs from Columbia House?

16:20—How acting and stand up made him a better musician

20:00—Not every song has to be about me

21:30—Calvin’s definition of creativity

24:15—Don’t create and edit at the same time

27:21—Why you’re never not creative

34:55—The art of creating musical moments

36:43—The moment Calvin decided to be a full-time artist

39:02—The impact of his high school music teacher

41:20—Why acting is so much easier to make a living at than music

43:00—From craft services to being a working actor

47:22—Find out quickly if you could be good at something

48:48—What I do is less than 1% of humans do 

49:40—Outro

On this solo episode of "Creative Space," we recap creativity definitions we've explored so far in past interviews and I share my own core beliefs about creativity, which can be found in this blog post as well—although my perspective has already expanded a bit.

We also dive into a 1968  longitudinal study by researcher George Land that evaluated creative genius in 1,600 school children at age 5, age 10, and at age 15. The results may surprise you.

Finally, we explore an idea that crossed my mind about creativity over the course of  interviews conducted so far: could there be distinct stages to creativity?

Would love to know your thoughts. And if you have suggestions for interview subjects, feel free to reach out via my website or social media.

To sign up for the weekly Creative Space newsletter, visit: eepurl.com/h8SJ9b.

To become a patron of the Creative Space Podcast, visit: https://bit.ly/3ECD2Kr.

0:00—Intro

0:28—A Recap on “Creativity” Definitions

1:36—My Definition of Creativity

2:00—The Creativity Study

4:00—Faith and Creativity

5:12—Our ideas don’t begin and end with us

5:50—Creativity breaks down to choice

6:30—Creativity as survival

7:00—Creativity as a healing tool

7:24—Creativity as play

On today’s episode of Creative Space, we have the pleasure of speaking with screenwriter Brian Clark. He has quite the inspiring creative journey so far, getting his start as a publicist in New York City for films like Rachel Getting Married, Coco Before Chanel, and the Runaways. He then moved to Paris where he worked as a film correspondent for websites like Movieline. Today he resides in LA where he co-founded the film series Projections and is busy as a screenwriter. His latest film, Vesper, which he co-wrote with Bruno Samper and Kristina Buozyte, was just released on September 30 through IFC films. 

We talk about his career beginnings and the importance of building healthy collaborative relationships, as well as debunk a myth or two about what it really takes to get a script made. 

For more on Vesper, visit: vespermovie.com.

To sign up for the weekly Creative Space newsletter, visit: eepurl.com/h8SJ9b.

To become a patron of the Creative Space Podcast, visit: https://bit.ly/3ECD2Kr.

SHOW NOTES:

00:00—Introduction

01:44—What drew Brian to screenwriting

03:26—The allure of movies he wasn’t allowed to see

04:28—Play is the best case scenario of what creativity can be

05:06—Why horror films inspired him in his early days

08:30—Working as a film publicist in NYC

11:08—Why writing movie reviews was second nature

13:26—Following his future wife to Paris

15:45—How life in Paris shaped his perspective

17:30—Learning contentment

18:30—Brian’s definition of creativity

20:30—Why it’s now in the “bin of meaningless words”

22:42—The discipline of creativity

23:00—What is it actually like being a screenwriter?

25:10—The myth of spec scripts

26:00—Tips for getting a movie made now

27:20—Choosing which idea to pursue

30:20—Why ideas are overrated

31:40—Working with his collaborators on Vesper

35:14—How he met Bruno and Kristina

36:46—What inspired Vesper

42:00—Writing the script for Vesper

43:30—Collaboration without ego

45:00—Dialogue tips

46:00—Knowing what will work on screen

46:44—What Brian wishes he knew 10 years ago

48:15—What’s next 

On this episode of Creative Space, we have the pleasure of speaking with writer, director, comedian, and my absolute favorite person to follow on social media—Sam Jones. She’s written and directed branded spots for I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter, Under Armour, Dollar Beard Club, Cricket Wireless, Pepsi, Samsung, Coca Cola and many more. Sam is currently a Creative Director at Paramount, writing spots across networks like Comedy Central, MTV, and VH1. 

She’s also the star of the hilarious comedy series, At Home with Sam Jones, which she produces with long-time collaborator Mathew Brian Makar. 

There’s so much to take in on this episode, but one particularly interesting theme Sam brought up was the idea of creative resistance and how we can waltz with it to avoid putting off our own creative projects.

For more on Sam Jones, visit: therealsamjones.com and follow her on social media at @therealsamjones.

Also, be sure to check out the spot she just did for Wendy’s starring Matt Cutshall.

To sign up for the weekly Creative Space newsletter, visit: eepurl.com/h8SJ9b.

To become a patron of the Creative Space Podcast, visit: https://bit.ly/3ECD2Kr.
 
SHOW NOTES:

0:00—Introduction

1:11—Put a little LOL in your heart

2:00—What is creative resistance

5:00—Sam’s childhood and early influences

6:43—Sleepaway camp and Doritos

10:00—Sam’s first creative pursuit 

11:30—Making art with her best friends

15:15—The difference between a sellout and a “soul out”

17:50—The journey from Libra Leather to becoming the “Brand-Aid” 

20:38—A man who never took a chance never had a chance

21:00—From Julie Maclowe to getting Revlon as a client independently 

24:30—What is creativity? 

27:00—Climb through the window and open your own door

30:00—Yetta the Sasquatch and her upcoming short film

35:56—How Sam wants to change advertising

39:35—What Sam wish she knew 5 years ago

44:00—Sam’s creative process

51:00—How our subconscious picks up everything

53:20—Sam’s gratitude practices

56:05—What drives Sam to create

58:00—What’s next for Sam

On today’s episode of Creative Space,  we have the pleasure of chatting with Steve Addabbo. He’s a music producer, songwriter, audio engineer and Grammy winner who’s helped launch the careers of artists like Suzanne Vega and Shawn Colvin. He’s also owned Shelter Island Sound in New York City for over 30 years, where he’s produced and engineered for artists like Bob Dylan, Bobby McFerrin, Jeff Buckley, Olivia Newton John and many, many more. 

His incredible musical journey is a testament to where creativity can take you when you “sit down and get it done.” All we have control over is following inspiration and doing the work. We never know where our creation will land, but sometimes, like in Steve’s case, it could resurface 45 years later in a major feature film or play a major role in the development of a technology that changes the world.

Steve has a lot of new projects you can check out, including Jim & Sasha Allen’s debut EP, 16 Borders, which he produced.

He just finished producing Tribute to a Songpoet, a 42-song tribute album to Eric Andersen featuring artists like Bob Dylan, Linda Ronstadt, and Steve himself covering Andersen’s songs.

And to hear Steve’s own music, definitely check out his album, Out of Nothing, which is  available anywhere you stream music.

For more information on Steve Addabbo, you can visit: steveaddabbo.com and for more on his studio, Shelter Island Sound, visit: shelterislandsound.com.

To sign up for the weekly Creative Space newsletter, visit: eepurl.com/h8SJ9b.

To become a patron of the Creative Space Podcast, visit: https://bit.ly/3ECD2Kr.

SHOW NOTES:

0:00—Intro

1:09—How did we meet?

2:17—The magic of “Hot Diggity (Dog Ziggity Boom)” for a 5 year old

3:44—Singing for the bus driver

4:45—The guitar player next door

6:02—Wanting to do music professionally

6:45—How music literally saved Steve’s life (The Vietnam Draft Lottery)

8:42—How do you define creativity?

13:40—The true artist sits down and gets it done

15:50—How do you know when a work is complete?

20:32—The beginnings of Arbuckle 

23:45—Opening for Bruce Springsteen in Philly

25:20—A major music placement 45 years in the making

30:10—Steve and Suzanne’s role in the birth of the mp3

35:00—The ”Tom’s Diner” remix

36:00—Writing “Left of Center” for the iconic film, ‘Pretty in Pink’

43:00—Working on Jim & Sasha Allen’s debut EP

50:00—Mixing Bob Dylan 

51:16—Working on a 42-song tribute record for Eric Andersen

53:00—What’s next for Steve

On today’s episode of Creative Space, we have the pleasure of speaking with Jezabel Careaga. She’s an entrepreneur, designer, chef and maker from Jujuy Argentina, who moved to Philadelphia in 2010 to open her cafe, Jezabel’s, in Fitler Square. Over the last 12 years, her empanadas, alfajores and other Argentine delicacies have become a staple in Philly. In 2019, she relocated to a larger space in Spruce Hill where she expanded her offerings to include cooking classes and special events. Her latest venture is L’Atelier, her collection of custom furniture and artisan home goods. 

Jezabel defies categories as an entrepreneur and creative, having started out as a chef and cafe owner and now making the transition into a career as a furniture designer with L’Atelier.

If you’re a creative with a lot of different interests, Jezabel has a lot of sound advice and perspective on making it all work.

For more information on Jezabel, follow her on Instagram @jezabelcareaga.

To sign up for the weekly Creative Space newsletter, visit: eepurl.com/h8SJ9b.

To become a patron of the Creative Space Podcast, visit: https://bit.ly/3ECD2Kr.

SHOW NOTES:

0:00—Introduction

1:35—How we met

2:34—There’s no greater equalizer than being human

4:38—Having a lot of creative outlets

5:09—Time is finite, so be economical 

6:14—Growing up in Jujuy, Argentina

7:00—How being the oldest sibling affected her

8:42—The education system in Argentina

9:47—Looking up to her father

11:45—Crafts at school and cooking with Julia

13:25—If you want to do something, just get it done

16:05—Be loving but also have boundaries

17:27—What is creativity?

19:30—When she first wanted to be a business owner

20:30—Opening her first cafe at 26

21:00—What brought Jezabel to Philly

21:40—How to choose between ideas

23:38—Her greatest challenge as an entrepreneur

26:48—The inspiration behind L’Atelier

29:00—What’s next? A career in design

31:00—How architects inspire Jezabel’s furniture designs

32:25—How to make time for many creative outlets

On today's episode of Creative Space, we have the pleasure of chatting with dear friends of mine, Americk Lewis and Nick Sosin, who have extraordinary creative journeys. Their production company, Am Media Group, has directed and produced videos for The United Nations, Atlantic Records, Warner Music Group, Samsung and American Airlines. They’re also  talented artists and in addition to recording and performing, they are the co-founders of the All My Friends Are Stars Music Festival in Gothenburg, Sweden.

There are a lot of good nuggets in this interview, one of my favorites being a lesson from the late Chadwick Boseman that took Americk 10 years to learn. We also discuss what can happen when you do work you're not passionate about in addition to the joys and challenges of building a music festival overseas.

For more information on the All My Friends Are Stars Music Festival, visit:  https://bit.ly/3TrpEgo.

To sign up for the weekly Creative Space newsletter, visit: eepurl.com/h8SJ9b.

To become a patron of the Creative Space Podcast, visit: https://bit.ly/3ECD2Kr.

SHOW NOTES:

0:00—Intro 

1:12—How did we meet?

3:12—Our many collabs

4:17—What did you want to be as a kid?

4:30—Million dollar scribbles at the Guggenheim

6:14—Jumping onstage at three years old

6:45—The master plan to be an actor

7:44 —Who inspired you?

8:21—Teachers made all the difference

9:06—Growing up in a musical household

10:29—Being turned off by the creative life at first

11:41—Pursuing a degree in engineering

13:22—How Americk got his start in the entertainment industry 

16:24—A lesson from Chadwick Boseman

19:49—How do you define creativity?

22:34—How mental health labels can affect our output

24:21—Creativity as an outlet to cope with sadness

25:22—Each of us is one of God’s ideas

26:59—How did you die? You died going to Target. 

30:42—What can happen when you don’t love what you do 

32:18—How Nick met Americk

33:16—Why start a festival in Sweden?

34:38—Every business card in NYC says CEO

35:47—What to expect from the festival 

39:09—The greatest challenges building a music festival

41:54—The greatest joys doing the music festival

44:39—Impacting one person is everything

45:26—What’s next?