Exploring Creativity

In this week's episode, Christian Wheeler interviews me!He and I discuss lessons from my many years of collaboration, playing and making cool shit, my relationship to process over time, curating my environment, appreciating your work, the many takeaways from the past 27 Instagram Lives, and more…Our Guest: Christian Wheeler https://www.instagram.com/christianwheeler/Hosted by: Michael J. Morgan https://www.instagram.com/michaelj.morgan/Learn more at: http://mjm.earthIntro Music by: Karl Remus https://www.instagram.com/karlremus/Episode Music by: Christian Wheeler https://www.instagram.com/christianwheeler/Mixed and Edited by: Moon Studios https://www.moon.nyc

Musician & Writer Christian Wheeler and I discuss “Feedback languages“, setting conditions and agreements with collaborators, overcommitting and saying no, having a point of view, the creative journey towards understanding concepts and dismantling them, waiting for inspiration vs. grinding for inspiration, why networking isn't as sleazy as it seems, wanting people to win, process orientation versus outcome orientation, burnout, and more…Our Guest: Christian Wheeler https://www.instagram.com/christianwheeler/Hosted by: Michael J. Morgan https://www.instagram.com/michaelj.morgan/Learn more at: http://mjm.earthIntro Music by: Karl Remus https://www.instagram.com/karlremus/Episode Music by: Christian Wheeler https://www.instagram.com/christianwheeler/Mixed and Edited by: Moon Studios https://www.moon.nyc

Mastering Engineer Ruairi O'Flaherty and I discuss what it looks like to be an awful collaborator, the burden of teams, the instructions around feedback, honesty, the toxicity and benefit of comparison, productizing creative work, the necessary conditions for play, discovering the self, reframing past narratives, and more…Our Guest: Ruairi O'Flaherty https://www.instagram.com/nonamemcnoname/Hosted by: Michael J. Morgan https://www.instagram.com/michaelj.morgan/Learn more at: http://mjm.earthIntro Music by: Karl Remus https://www.instagram.com/karlremus/Episode Music by: Christian Wheeler https://www.instagram.com/christianwheeler/Mixed and Edited by: Moon Studios https://www.moon.nyc

Violinist, Composer, Touring & Recording Artist Molly Fletcher and I discuss How giving yourself a title can limit you, multipotentiality, the Macarena, viewing yourself as a business and a creative, The various forms of practice, collaboration, The ebb and flow of creative work, and more…Our Guest: Molly Fletcher https://www.instagram.com/molfizzle/Hosted by: Michael J. Morgan https://www.instagram.com/michaelj.morgan/Learn more at: http://mjm.earthIntro Music by: Karl Remus https://www.instagram.com/karlremus/Episode Music by: Christian Wheeler https://www.instagram.com/christianwheeler/Mixed and Edited by: Moon Studios https://www.moon.nyc

SPECIAL EPISODEI have recently released a clothing collection called MERCHHHTo give you some background on the line and introduce you to one of my favorite collaborators on the project, I spoke with Hybrid Creative and Fashion Architect, Lord Landon Michael.We discuss the inspiration for MERCHHH, what makes an excellent collaborator, fashion and its relationship with our identity, and so much more...⁠Listen until the end for a special coupon code.⁠ ;-)Our Guest: Lord Landon Michael https://www.instagram.com/lordlandonmichael/Hosted by: Michael J. Morgan https://www.instagram.com/michaelj.morgan/Learn more at: http://mjm.earth https://www.merchhh.com

Photographer & Creative Director Elmer Quintero and I discuss inspiration and intimidation, the rabbit holes of self-doubt, validation versus feedback, finding friends who elevate you and help you grow, the definitions of success, the importance of practice, motivation and goal-setting, insecurity and impatience, falling out of love with the craft, self-love, and more…Our Guest: Elmer Quintero https://www.instagram.com/elmzqphotos/ Hosted by: Michael J. Morgan https://www.instagram.com/michaelj.morgan/Learn more at: http://mjm.earthIntro Music by: Karl Remus https://www.instagram.com/karlremus/ Episode Music by: Christian Wheeler https://www.instagram.com/christianwheeler/ Mixed and Edited by: Moon Studios https://www.moon.nyc

Interior Designer Ébru Kuyak and I discuss decision making, managing time and schedule, how the environment affects creative work, helping people through the creative process, taste, perfectionism, making decisions in subjective space, learning to appreciate things you don't like, the pros and cons of openness in the creative process, and more…Our Guest: Ébru Kuyak https://www.instagram.com/ebrukuyak/Hosted by: Michael J. Morgan https://www.instagram.com/michaelj.morgan/Learn more at: http://mjm.earth

This week on the podcast is Professor, Designer, Researcher, and Entrepreneur, Kinza Kasher.⁠She and I discuss our biggest takeaways of teaching this semester, how people can enhance their creativity, finding a mentor and so much more...⁠Our Guest: Kinza Kasher https://www.linkedin.com/in/kinzakasher/Hosted by: Michael J. Morgan https://www.instagram.com/michaelj.morgan/Learn more at: http://mjm.earth

Singer-songwriter, Musician, and Producer, Death By Fireworks (aka Jake Russo) and I discuss experimentation, his unique creative process, his collaboration with our dear friend Evan Yoshino, and his new EP, "333".Our Guest: Death By Fireworks https://www.instagram.com/deathbyfireworks/Hosted by: Michael J. Morgan https://www.instagram.com/michaelj.morgan/Learn more at: http://mjm.earth

Director, Producer, & Editor Matthew John Stubstad and I discuss the benefits of getting older, the seasons of creativity, deep work, the myth of the starving artist, diving into the deep end, the unintentional judgment that creatives carry, art scars, falling out of love with the work, imposter syndrome, cultivating and discovering your purpose, and more…Hosted by: Michael J. MorganIntro Music by: Karl RemusEpisode Music by: Christian WheelerMixed by: João MartinsEdited by: Christian Wheeler and João MartinsProduced By: Nate Frary, João Martins, Christian Wheeler, and Michael J. Morgancreattte.com

Artist & Producer Addison Scott and I discuss how we talk to ourselves, comparison, showing up every day, pivoting around limitations, embracing intuition while questioning it as well, developing false identities, fear and near-death experiences, long term vs. short term desperation, when the ego gets involved in collaboration, how to navigate feedback, the illusion of change influencing our perception, and more… he also does an excellent Tom DeLonge impression that is worth sitting through the whole interview to hear.Hosted by: Michael J. MorganIntro Music by: Karl RemusEpisode Music by: Christian WheelerMixed by: João MartinsEdited by: Christian Wheeler and João MartinsProduced By: Nate Frary, João Martins, Christian Wheeler, and Michael J. Morgancreattte.com

Teacher, Artist, & Athlete Lauren Karp and I discuss children's relationship with art, abstraction, making mistakes, the benefits of simple creative exercises, developing taste, the purpose of art, and more…Hosted by: Michael J. MorganIntro Music by: Karl RemusEpisode Music by: Christian WheelerMixed by: João MartinsEdited by: Christian Wheeler and João MartinsProduced By: Nate Frary, João Martins, Christian Wheeler, and Michael J. Morgancreattte.com

Producer & Songwriter Tyler Johnson and I discuss resolving disagreements in the creative process, how the ego fits into collaboration, different forms of play, the purpose of art, broadening your perspective on time, how an idea starts, “the only truth of the creative process”, what he learned from Harry Styles and more…Hosted by: Michael J. MorganIntro Music by: Karl RemusEpisode Music by: Christian WheelerMixed by: João MartinsEdited by: Christian Wheeler and João MartinsProduced By: Nate Frary, João Martins, Christian Wheeler, and Michael J. Morgancreattte.com

Poet & Author Joaquin Capehart and I discuss navigating the highs and lows of life, rebuilding your life after you've hit your lowest point, letting go of things, identifying as a poet, maturing in your process, pressure in the creative process, what qualifies someone to give feedback, nervousness in the creative process, the best environments for creativity, and more… He also reads a poem from his new book, Coffee ClockHosted by: Michael J. MorganIntro Music by: Karl RemusEpisode Music by: Christian WheelerMixed by: João MartinsEdited by: Christian Wheeler and João MartinsProduced By: Nate Frary, João Martins, Christian Wheeler, and Michael J. Morgancreattte.com

Artist & Songwriter Rae Epstein and I discuss fear, trusting the process, setting conditions, disconnecting your value from your identity, our many selves, play, how to give and receive good feedback, perfectionism, balancing relaxation with getting shit done, staying present, reevaluating the conditions you've set, and more…Hosted by: Michael J. MorganIntro Music by: Karl RemusEpisode Music by: Christian WheelerMixed by: João MartinsEdited by: Christian Wheeler and João MartinsProduced By: Nate Frary, João Martins, Christian Wheeler, and Michael J. Morgancreattte.com

Producer & Songwriter Matthew Genovese and I discuss the feedback as a collaborative tool, creating a shared language, waiting for feedback, preparing for collaboration, understanding your collaborators, first impressions, business savviness, recognizing what you're not good at, how perfectionism affects art, the various types of creative people, and more…Hosted by: Michael J. MorganIntro Music by: Karl RemusEpisode Music by: Christian WheelerMixed by: João MartinsEdited by: Christian Wheeler and João MartinsProduced By: Nate Frary, João Martins, Christian Wheeler, and Michael J. Morgancreattte.com

Educator & Author Mike Kleba and I discuss recognizing people in public, taking the first step, where creativity dies, what it means to be creative, high school students in our culture, the inflection point of creativity, provoking agency, compliance, remembering your power, the price of curiosity, and more…Hosted by: Michael J. MorganIntro Music by: Karl RemusEpisode Music by: Christian WheelerMixed by: João MartinsEdited by: Christian Wheeler and João MartinsProduced By: Nate Frary, João Martins, Christian Wheeler, and Michael J. Morgancreattte.com

Mix Engineer & Producer Jon Graber and I discuss addiction, sobriety, boundaries, self-esteem, collaboration, being right, the downsides of being unique, creative limitations, feedback, encoding play inside of the work, and more…Hosted by: Michael J. MorganIntro Music by: Karl RemusEpisode Music by: Christian WheelerMixed by: João MartinsEdited by: Christian Wheeler and João MartinsProduced By: Nate Frary, João Martins, Christian Wheeler, and Michael J. Morgancreattte.com

Producer & Songwriter Alex Goose and I discuss what good and bad taste means, his history with feedback, how technology gets in the way of creativity, devices to improve creativity, finding good collaborators, healthy competition, avoiding becoming jaded, the responsibility that creatives have, chicken parm, and more…Hosted by: Michael J. MorganIntro Music by: Karl RemusEpisode Music by: Christian WheelerMixed by: João MartinsEdited by: Christian Wheeler and João MartinsProduced By: Nate Frary, João Martins, Christian Wheeler, and Michael J. Morgancreattte.com

Poet & Collage Artist Brian Geraghty and I discuss esteem, intuition, intention, taste, falling out of love with the craft, identity, language, competition, how far to take your art, and more…Hosted by: Michael J. MorganIntro Music by: Karl RemusEpisode Music by: Christian WheelerMixed by: João MartinsEdited by: Christian Wheeler and João MartinsProduced By: Nate Frary, João Martins, Christian Wheeler, and Michael J. Morgancreattte.com

Music Producer & Recording Artist Jared Masters and I discuss how his process has evolved over time, the many phases of his career, healthy competition, gathering inspiration, making time for the spark of creativity, allowing play to happen, shelving ideas, moving on from the work, encoding meaning into the work, ambiguity, legacy, and more…Hosted by: Michael J. MorganIntro Music by: Karl RemusEpisode Music by: Christian WheelerMixed by: João MartinsEdited by: Christian Wheeler and João MartinsProduced By: Nate Frary, João Martins, Christian Wheeler, and Michael J. Morgancreattte.com

Creative Director Spider Entwistle and I discuss play, The art of surrendering, the importance of groups, trusting others, the importance of history, language and listening for meaning, thinking as a group activity, the myths surrounding self-esteem, and more…Hosted by: Michael J. MorganIntro Music by: Karl RemusEpisode Music by: Christian WheelerMixed by: João MartinsEdited by: Christian Wheeler and João MartinsProduced By: Nate Frary, João Martins, Christian Wheeler, and Michael J. Morgancreattte.com

Music Producer Ainjel Emme and I discuss imposter syndrome, living and working with autism, fear, creative limits, familiarity, language, feedback, good faith, play, and more...Hosted by: Michael J. MorganIntro Music by: Karl RemusEpisode Music by: Christian WheelerMixed by: João MartinsEdited by: Christian Wheeler and João MartinsProduced By: Nate Frary, João Martins, Christian Wheeler, and Michael J. Morgancreattte.com

Music Producer Danny Klein and I discuss the problems with “self-esteem”, working with other people, not enjoying your work, assertion, bravery, leaning into your unique creative process, and more...Hosted by: Michael J. MorganIntro Music by: Karl RemusEpisode Music by: Christian WheelerMixed and Edited by: João MartinsProduced By: Nate Frary, João Martins, Christian Wheeler, and Michael J. Morgancreattte.com

Studio Owner & Music Producer Lane Banning and I discuss working with other people, presenting ideas, being assertive, reading the room, giving/receiving feedback, the function of language, and more...Hosted by: Michael J. MorganIntro Music by: Karl RemusEpisode Music by: Christian WheelerMixed and Edited by: João MartinsProduced By: Nate Frary, João Martins, Christian Wheeler, and Michael J. Morgancreattte.com

Recording Artist & Music Producer Greg Matthews (Yellow Shoots) and I discuss integrating our influences, slowness, embracing the mundane, our relationship with time, the self/others, creative limitations, collaboration, and more...Hosted by: Michael J. MorganIntro Music by: Karl RemusEpisode Music by: Christian WheelerMixed and Edited by: João MartinsProduced By: Nate Frary, João Martins, Christian Wheeler, and Michael J. Morgancreattte.com

Mix Engineer Jon Castelli and I discuss the nervous system, play, wielding inspiration, feedback, creative limits, and more...Hosted by: Michael J. MorganIntro Music by: Karl RemusEpisode Music by: Christian WheelerMixed and Edited by: João MartinsProduced By: Nate Frary, João Martins, Christian Wheeler, and Michael J. Morgancreattte.com

Studio Owner & Mastering Engineer Nathan Dantzler and I go deep on process, it's many forms, pros, cons, the creative process, the nervous system's role in process, play, and more...Hosted by: Michael J. MorganIntro Music by: Karl RemusEpisode Music by: Christian WheelerMixed and Edited by: João MartinsProduced By: Nate Frary, João Martins, Christian Wheeler, and Michael J. Morgancreattte.com

Musician & Writer Ruven (aka Brian Parker) and I discuss man vs nature, money, value, process, processing, novelty, hustle culture, how the creative process is much like flying and landing a plane, and more...Hosted by: Michael J. MorganIntro Music by: Karl RemusEpisode Music by: Christian WheelerMixed and Edited by: João MartinsProduced By: Nate Frary, João Martins, Christian Wheeler, and Michael J. Morgancreattte.com

Business Owner, Audio Engineer & Podcast Producer Dylan Seals and I discuss his background, branding, content creation, logos, collaboration, diverging, converging, being a team player, getting a guide, stttus, showing your work, knowing what you don't know, the perfect client, and more...Hosted by: Michael J. MorganIntro Music by: Karl RemusEpisode Music by: Christian WheelerMixed and Edited by: João MartinsProduced By: Nate Frary, João Martins, Christian Wheeler, and Michael J. Morgancreattte.com

Hosted by: Michael J. MorganEpisode Music by: Christian WheelerMixed and Edited by: Michael J. MorganProduced By: Nate Frary, João Martins, Christian Wheeler, and Michael J. Morgancreattte.com

Our goal is to inspire, educate and provide a community for creative people to help them do their best work.