Podcasts about Creative Leadership

In this episode of Hello Frances, Shantelle dives into the importance of clarity in creative leadership. She explains why it's crucial for an agency to clearly define what it does (and doesn't) want to do, and how great work is developed through time and intention, not quick fixes. Shantelle also discusses the value of aligning core principles across the team and with clients, emphasizing consistency over speed and the pitfalls of taking shortcuts. When leadership is grounded in clarity, consistency, and shared values, it creates the foundation for authentic creativity to thrive.

Join us in Episode 239 of TCE as we sit down with trail-blazing creative director Kori Pennypacker. From groundbreaking design strategies to real-world insights into building brand narratives, Kori shares how she transforms ideas into high-impact visual stories. Kori Pennypacker is passionate about the Word of God and how it can greatly impact the children in our lives. She serves as Bible2School's CEO. Kori speaks widely on the topic of children in schools. She and her husband, Blaine, have three adult sons and adore their grandchildren. Learn more about Kori and Bible2School. To register for Summit Student Conferences, visit: Summit.org/students/ For additional free resources from Summit, go to: Summit.org/resources

In this episode of Creative Leaders Unplugged, Morgan Duta and Arne van Oosterom speak with Dara Douglas, who leads the Co-Design Lab at PwC in the UK. Dara describes her work as a kind of corporate therapy, helping senior leaders align, make decisions, and connect beyond their roles. Listening to her, it's clear this comes from somewhere deeper: growing up as one of nine siblings, learning early how to mediate, listen, and bring people together. What stands out most is her view on stories. Dara reminds us that stories are not just how we communicate, they're how we connect, learn, and reframe the world around us. Science shows that when we listen to stories, our brains sync with the storyteller's; we literally align. It's what makes empathy possible. In a time when technology is everywhere, she believes real lived experiences and authentic stories are what separate us from machines. We also spoke about learning, creativity, and the importance of making the process enjoyable. Dara told us how she's learning piano with her father—not for perfection, but for the joy of learning together. It's a reminder that growth happens when we slow down, make space for curiosity, and find meaning in the process, not just the outcome. Finally, we explored bravery in conversation, especially in today's polarized world. Dara shared her approach to diversity and inclusion: be curious, be forgiving, be brave. These simple principles open the door to understanding perspectives that challenge our own, and they're just as vital in design, leadership, and everyday life. If there's one thread through all of this, it's that creativity and empathy begin with stories, our own and those of others. As Dara puts it, “We can't always change what happened, but we can change the story we tell about it.”

The Unlearning Framework: Your Foundation for AI Executive Productivity Barry O'Reilly's revolutionary approach to AI productivity starts with an unexpected premise: forget about tools and start with yourself. This unlearning framework is critical because success with executive AI productivity hinges less on the technology itself than on leadership transformation and behavioral change. Step 1: Map Your Personal Productivity Traits Before implementing any AI productivity system, understand how you naturally generate and process information. Essential Self-Assessment Questions: How do I do my best thinking—through conversation, writing, visualization, or movement? When during my day do I generate the most valuable strategic insights? Which repetitive tasks drain my energy without adding leadership value? Where am I losing critical information that should be captured and leveraged? Common Executive Productivity Profiles: Verbal Processors: Thrive in coaching calls, strategy sessions, and team discussions Written Processors: Need documentation, outlines, and structured note-taking Visual Processors: Create diagrams, whiteboard sessions, and visual frameworks Kinesthetic Processors: Walk while thinking, use physical gestures, or need movement Understanding your profile is the foundation of effective AI executive productivity implementation. Step 2: Identify What's Holding Back Your AI Productivity The biggest barriers to AI executive productivity aren't technical—they're behavioral patterns that must be unlearned. Critical Mindset Shifts for Executive AI Productivity: OLD: "Meetings are just for talking" ? NEW: Meetings are data-generation sessions that AI can capture and optimize OLD: "I must remember everything important myself" ? NEW: AI copilots capture every detail with perfect accuracy OLD: "Administrative work is simply part of leadership" ? NEW: Routine work should be automated to maximize strategic impact OLD: "I should be able to handle this workload" ? NEW: Leveraging AI executive productivity is strategic leadership OLD: "Learning AI requires technical expertise" ? NEW: You learn AI productivity by doing, not reading The 3-Level Executive AI  Productivity Framework Level 1: Individual Task Enhancement (Beginner) Foundation: Build confidence with immediate AI productivity wins Quick-Start Applications: Refine email communications for clarity and executive presence Generate comprehensive meeting agendas in minutes Summarize lengthy documents and extract key insights Create first drafts of routine communications Brainstorm solutions when strategically stuck Time Investment: 15-30 minutes weekly Productivity ROI: 1-2 hours saved weekly Confidence Boost: Immediate validation of AI capabilities Level 2: Executive Workflow Transformation (Intermediate) The Meeting Revolution: Where executive AI productivity creates breakthrough results Barry O'Reilly's game-changing approach combines AI copilots (like Otter.ai) with large language models to revolutionize meeting follow-up—the single biggest time drain for executives. The 2-Minute AI Executive Productivity Process: Step 1: Let an AI copilot transcribe your meeting automatically (zero active time) Step 2: Download the transcript immediately after (30 seconds) Step 3: Upload to ChatGPT with your pre-written prompt template (30 seconds) Step 4: Review AI-generated output for alignment with your leadership voice (60 seconds) Step 5: Send perfectly formatted, comprehensive follow-up (30 seconds) Traditional Approach: 20-25 minutes per meeting Executive AI  Productivity Approach: 2-3 minutes per meeting Time Saved per Meeting: 18-22 minutes Calculate Your Personal AI Executive Productivity ROI: Stop Drowning in Routine Tasks, Start Doing the Best Work of Your Life with AI Executive Productivity Tips.

Welcome to ⁠Madang⁠. Madang is the outdoor living room of the world. Here, we invite you to sit and tune into unreserved, remarkable conversations with renowned authors, leaders, public figures, and scholars on religion, culture, and everything in between.This is the 53rd episode, featuring Rev. Dr. Jacqui Lewis and Rev. Dr. Shannon Daley-Harris. Jacqui Lewis is senior minister and public theologian at Middle Church in New York City. In her activism, preaching, speaking, writing, and teaching, Jacqui advocates for racial equality, gun control, economic justice, and equal rights for people of all sexual orientations and genders. Shannon Daley-Harris is the Associate Dean of Auburn Theological Seminary. Previously, she was the director of Just Love Families and worked with Middle Church to develop its Just Love Families initiative.On this episode of Madang Podcast hosted by Faith and Reason, Lewis, Daley-Harris, and I talk about their book, The Just Love Story Bible. We discuss storytelling, sacred texts, God's love, justice, and much more.I am grateful to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Homebrewed Christianity⁠, Central Seminary⁠, and Broadleaf Books for sponsoring this episode. Please join Homebrewed Christianity's ⁠Theology Beer Camp hosted by ⁠Tripp Fuller⁠ this October. ⁠Theology Beer Camp⁠ is a unique three-day conference that brings together theology nerds and craft beer for a blend of intellectual engagement, community building, and fun. This episode is presented by Central Seminary⁠—a historic and accredited seminary leading with the values of community, empathy, growth, and tenacity. Central offers numerous graduate degrees and certificates, including a Doctor of Ministry degree in Creative Leadership which is now offered 100 percent online. The next Doctor of Ministry cohort begins in January 2026. Broadleaf Books publishes important works for the church and society. Please visit ⁠Broadleaf Books⁠ to view all of Broadleaf's important, powerful, and exciting books.Please reach out to me if you would like to sponsor the next episode of the Madang podcast⁠. Or simply ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠support me on my Substack: Loving Life⁠.

Send us a textJonathan Reams, PhD, is currently doing action research projects exploring how to scale micro-skill development for habituating core leadership practices. He approaches this work drawing on experiences from holding a position at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) from 2007 until 2024, serving as editor-in-chief of Integral Review from 2005 to 2023, and being chief creative officer at the Center for Transformative Leadership and Adeptify.A  Few Quotes From This Episode"Leadership isn't about position—it's about behavior in the moment.”“We need proprioception of thought—awareness of our thinking as it arises.”“The feeling of being time-starved is an interpretation, not a fact.”“It's not about a thousand skills to master; it's about cultivating processes for clean thinking and wise action.”Resources Mentioned in This EpisodeArticle: Amal and Berndt's paper on the knowing–doing gapCenter for Creative Leadership's DAC modelDynamic Skill Theory – Kurt FischerDavid Bohm's work on the proprioception of thoughtDavid Wagoner's poem LostBook: BJ Fogg's Tiny HabitsBook: James Clear's Atomic HabitsBook: Robert Kegan and Lisa Lahey's Immunity to ChangeBook: Daniel Coyle's The Talent CodeAbout The International Leadership Association (ILA)The ILA was created in 1999 to bring together professionals interested in studying, practicing, and teaching leadership. Plan for Prague - October 15-18, 2025!About  Scott J. AllenWebsiteWeekly Newsletter: Practical Wisdom for LeadersBlogMy Approach to HostingThe views of my guests do not constitute "truth." Nor do they reflect my personal views in some instances. However, they are views to consider, and I hope they help you clarify your perspective. Nothing can replace your reflection, research, and exploration of the topic. ♻️ Please share with others and follow/subscribe to the podcast!⭐️ Please leave a review on Apple, Spotify, or your platform of choice.➡️ Follow me on LinkedIn for more on leadership, communication, and tech.

In this episode of Building Better Managers, we explore one of the most essential tools in every leader's toolkit: giving effective feedback. We introduce the SBI Model — Situation, Behavior, Impact, a practical, repeatable framework adapted from the Center for Creative Leadership. Whether you're delivering constructive feedback or reinforcing great work, SBI helps managers communicate with clarity, build trust, and foster real growth. Through examples, breakdowns, and practical coaching tips, this episode guides leaders in creating feedback conversations that are consistent, specific, and authentic — the foundation of high-performing teams. Key Takeaways: Feedback is not about correction — it's about raising awareness. The SBI Model offers a simple structure: Situation, Behavior, Impact. Composure is critical — never deliver feedback when emotional. Constructive feedback should be two-way and solution-focused. Positive feedback builds trust and rewires the brain for success. Managers should spend more time reinforcing what's working than correcting mistakes. Effective feedback drives performance, culture, and leadership growth. Learn More: For leadership coaching, development programs, or AI-enhanced learning tools to support your managers, visit newlevelwork.com. Like what you hear? Do you enjoy our show? One of the best ways to help us out is leave a 5-star review on your platform of choice! It's easy - just go here: https://www.newlevelwork.com/review For more information, please visit the New Level Work website. https://www.newlevelwork.com/category/podcast

Guest: Dr. Sylvia Rohde-Liebenau — ENCC-accredited senior executive coach; founder, Smart Power Method; author of Who's in Charge? Lead with Real Power and Creative Impact in the Echo-Chaotic World.Links:Website: smartpowermethod.com The Book: smartpowermethod.com/the-book LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/sylvia-rohde-liebenau-phd-b51b0328/In this episode:The Smart Power Method: authentic, service-driven leadership for complex systems Clarity > force: purpose, intent, and clean communication Stubbornness vs. relentless purpose (and how to know which one you're in) Vulnerability that strengthens trust (CEO case example) Artistic intelligence at work: trusting the creative process in leadership Energy management: physical, emotional, mental, spiritual levers Three quick practices for emotion regulation and presence Career design: aligning with values now, not “someday” Timestamps (approx.):00:00 – Why “smart power” beats “old power” 05:09 – Who Sylvia serves (C-suite, founders, change-makers) 06:40 – Attraction vs. chasing: how she builds trust and clients 10:26 – Common pre-coaching pitfalls (purpose, clarity, communication) 14:20 – Arts → leadership: trust the process 16:47 – Embodied presence & authentic power 20:34 – A CEO's vulnerable pivot that built credibility 20:44 – Resilience & energy: the four dimensions 23:14 – Instant practices for emotional awareness 25:43 – Best advice received: “As a leader, it's no longer about you.” 27:20 – Best advice given: “Start loving yourself.” 29:19 – Career/life alignment with values 31:27 – Where to find SylviaCTA:Explore the Smart Power Method and Sylvia's book: smartpowermethod.comKey Questions(01:55) Can you explain a little bit more to us about how you ended up where you are today?(05:01) Who do you serve today?(07:48) You do stuff on social media then to gain that more like and trust aspect?(08:51) What are some big goals that you have in the next year?(10:26) Is there a common I don't know if I want to use the word mistake, but a common thing that your clients do just before you start to work with them?(13:57) You have a lot of artistic background, like if you're dancing, being an artist, and singer, and all of that other stuff, how have you found that integrating all of that art into the workplace has been a positive outcome?(16:20) Taking the... I'm going to say holistic in the sense of all aspects, let's say well-rounded. We have bringing in our artistic self, this spiritual aspect, and embracing those, how does that help to support the leaders that want to increase their power?(20:34) Can you touch a little bit on the art of resilience and energy management for effective leaders?(23:06) Do you have any examples that we might be able to implement right away?(25:26) What is the best advice that you have ever received?(27:16) What's the best advice you've ever given?(29:08) Is there something that we haven't touched on yet that you would like to talk about?(31:27) Where can we learn more about you and what you do.Sylvia Rohde-Liebenauhttps://smartpowermethod.comhttps://www.smartpowermethod.com/the-bookhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/sylvia-rohde-liebenau-phd-b51b0328/Virginia PurnellFunnel & Visibility SpecialistDistinct Digital Marketing(833) 762-5336virginia@distinctdigitalmarketing.comwww.distinctdigitalmarketing.com

This week on Skip the Queue, we're stepping into the turret and turning up the tension, as we explore one of the UK's most talked-about immersive experiences.Our guest is Neil Connolly, Creative Director at The Everywhere Group, who have brought The Traitors Live Experience to life. With over 10 million viewers watching every betrayal, backstab and banishment on the BBC show, expectations for the live version were nothing short of murderous.So, how do you even begin to transform a TV juggernaut into a thrilling, guest-led experience? Let's find out who's playing the game… and who's about to be banished…Skip the Queue is brought to you by Rubber Cheese, a digital agency that builds remarkable systems and websites for attractions that helps them increase their visitor numbers. Your host is Paul Marden.If you like what you hear, you can subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, and all the usual channels by searching Skip the Queue or visit our website SkiptheQueue.fm.If you've enjoyed this podcast, please leave us a five star review, it really helps others find us. And remember to follow us on LinkedIn. Show references: The Traitors Live website: https://www.thetraitorslive.co.uk/Neil's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/neil-connolly-499054110/Neil Connolly is a creative leader of design and production teams focused on development, production and installation of live theatre, entertainment, multi-media and attractions for the themed entertainment industry worldwide.Neil began his career as a performer, writer, producer & artist in Londons alternative theatre/art scene. It was during this time Neil developed a love and passion for story telling through the platform of interactive playable immersive theatre.Having been at the vanguard of playable & immersive theatre since 2007, Neil had a career defining opportunity in 2019 when he devised, wrote & directed an immersive experience as part of Sainsbury's 150th Birthday Celebrations. Making him the only immersive theatre & game maker in the world to have HRH Elizabeth Regina attend one of their experiences.In a distinguished career spanning 20 years, Neil has brought that passion to every facet of themed entertainment in the creative direction and production of attractions such as; Handels Messiah, Snowman & The Snowdog, Peppa Pig Surprise Party, Traitors Live, The Crystal Maze Live Experience, Tomb Raider Live Experience & Chaos Karts, an AR go-kart real life battle. Other clients and activations include: Harrods, Sainsbury's, Camelot/The National Lottery, Samsung, Blenheim Palace, Land Rover and Warner Brothers.Neil has worked across 4 continents for many years with private individuals; designing, producing and delivering live entertainment on land, sea & air. A world without boundaries requires freethinking.Neil is currently working with Immersive Everywhere on creative development of show and attraction content for projects across U.K, Europe, North America & Asia. Transcriptions:  Paul Marden: This week on Skip the Queue, we're stepping into the turret and turning up the tension as we explore one of the UK's most talked about immersive experiences.Paul Marden: Our guest is Neil Connolly, Creative Director at The Everywhere Group, who've brought The Traitor's live experience to life. With over 10 million viewers watching every betrayal, backstab and banishment on the BBC show, expectations for the live version were nothing short of murderous. So how do you even begin to transform a TV juggernaut into a thrilling guest-led experience? Let's find out who's playing the game and who's about to be banished.Paul Marden: So, we're underground. Lots of groups running currently, aren't they? How did you make that happenNeil Connolly: Yeah, so now we're two floors under us. There's a lower basement and some other basement. So the building that we are in, there's a family in the 1890s who owned all of the land around Covent Garden and specifically the Adelphi Theatre.Paul Marden: Right.Neil Connolly: And they wanted their theatre to be the first theatre in the UK to have its lights powered by electricity. So they built their own private power station in this building. Like, literally like, all this, this is a power station. But unfortunately for these the Savoy had taken to that moniker, so they quickly built their important institution. The family had this building until the 1980s when the establishment was assumed through the important UK network.Neil Connolly: And then it was sat there empty, doing nothing for 40 years. And so the landlord that is now started redeveloping the building 10 years ago, added two floors onto the top of the building. So now what we're in is an eight-storey structure and we've basically got the bottom four floors. Two of which are ground and mezzanine, which is our hospitality area. And the lower two floors, which are all in the basement, are our experience floors. What we're looking at right now is, if you look off down this way to the right, not you people on audio, but me here.Neil Connolly: Off this side is five of the round table rooms. There's another one behind me and there's two more upstairs. And then I've got some Tretters Towers off to the left and I've got my show control system down there.Neil Connolly: On the floor above me, we've got the lounges. So each lounge is connected to one of the round table rooms. Because when you get murdered or banished, one of the biggest challenges that I faced was what happens to people when they get murdered or banished? Because you get kicked out of the game. It's not a lot of fun, is it? Therefore, for me, you also get kicked out of the round table room. So this is a huge challenge I face. But I built these lounge concepts where you go— it's the lounge of the dead— and you can see and hear the round table room that you've just left. We'll go walk into the room in a while. There's lots of interactivity. But yeah, super fun. Neil Connolly: But unfortunately for these the Savoy had taken to that moniker, so they quickly built their important institution. The family had this establishment until the 1980s when the establishment was considered through the important UK network.Paul Marden: Yeah. So we've got 10 million people tuning in to Traitors per episode. So this must be a lot of pressure for you to get it right. Tell us about the experience and what challenges you faced along the way, from, you know, that initial text message through to the final creation that we're stood in now.Neil Connolly: So many challenges, but to quote Scroobius Pip on this, do you know Scroobius Pip? Paul Marden: No. Neil Connolly: Great, he's amazing. UK rapper from Essex.Neil Connolly: Some people see a mousetrap and think death. I see free cheese and a challenge.Neil Connolly: There's never any problems in my logic, in my thinking. There's always just challenges to overcome. So one of the biggest challenges was what happens to people when they get murdered or banished. The truth of the matter is I had to design a whole other show, which happens after this show. It is one big show. But you go to the Lounge of the Dead, there's more interactivity. And navigating that with the former controller, which is O3 Media and IDTV, who created the original format in the Netherlands, and basically designing a game that is in the world and follows the rules of their game with some reasonable adjustments, because TV and live are not the same thing.Neil Connolly: It takes 14 days to film 12 episodes of The Traitors. Paul Marden: Really? Okay. Neil Connolly: So I was like, how do I truncate 14 days of somebody's life down into a two-hour experience and still deliver that same impact, that same power, that same punch?Paul Marden: Yep.Neil Connolly: But I knew from the beginning of this that it wasn't about time. There is a magic triangle when it comes to the traitors, which is time, space, atmosphere. And time was the thing that I always struggled with. I don't have a Scottish cattle show, and I don't have two weeks. No. So I'm like, 'Cool, I've got to do it in two hours.' So our format follows exactly the same format. We do a breakfast scene, then a mission, then a roundtable banishment, then there's a conclave where the traitors meet and they murder somebody. And I do that in a seven-day structure, a seven-day cycle. But it all happens within two hours around this round table.Neil Connolly: I'm the creative director for Immersive Everywhere. We're a vertically integrated structure in the sense that we take on our own venues. So we're now standing in Shorts Gardens in the middle of Covent Garden. So we've leased this building. We've got a lease that is for a number of years and we have built the show into it. But we also identify the IP, go after that ourselves, we capitalise the projects ourselves. We seek strategic partners, promoters, other people to kind of come involved in that journey. But because we're also the team that are licensing the product, we are also the producers and I'm the creative director for that company. So I developed the creative in line with while also getting the deal done. This is incredibly unusual because other producers will be like, 'Hey, I've identified this IP and I've got it.' Now I'm going to approach a creative agency and I'm going to get them to develop the product. And now I've done all of that, I'm going to find someone else to operationally put it on, or I'm going to find a venue to put it on in, and then I'm going to find my ticketing partner.  But we don't do that. We have our own ticketing platform, and we have our own database, so we mark our own shoulders.Neil Connolly: As well as other experiences too. Back, we have our own creative industry, we are the producers, we are the female workers. So we cast it, we hire all the front of house team, we run the food and beverage, we run the bars. The operations team is our operations team because they run the venue as well as the show at the same time. So that's what I mean. We're a vertically integrated structure, which means we do it, which makes us a very unusual proposition within... certainly within the UK market, possibly the world. It makes us incredibly agile as a company and makes us to be able to be adaptive and proactive and reactive to the product, to the show, to the market that we're operating in, because it's all under one roof.Neil Connolly: This show started January 24th, 2023. Right. It's very specific because I was sitting on my sofa drinking a lovely glass of Merlot and I had just watched... UK Traitors, Season One. Yep. Because it came out that Christmas. Immediately I was like, 'Oh my God, this is insane.' And then I got a text message that particular night from our head of licensing, a guy named Tom Rowe, lovely man. And he was like, Neil, I'm at a licensing event with some friends of mine and everyone's talking about this thing called Traitors. I've not watched it. Have you watched it? Sounds like it might be a good thing. And so I sat back and drank my Merlot. And about five minutes later, I text him back and I was like, Tom, get us that license.Neil Connolly: And then I sent him a bunch of other details of how the show in my head would work, both from a commercial standpoint, but also from a creative standpoint, because I'm a commercially minded creative. Right. So I instantly took out my notebook and I started writing down exactly how I thought the show was going to do, the challenges that we would face and being able to translate this into a live thing. But I literally started writing it that night. And then he watched the first episode on the train on the way home. And then he texted me the next morning and he was like, 'I love it.' What do we need to do? And I was like, 'Get us in the room.' Two days later, we were in the room with all three media who own the format globally.Paul Marden: Okay.Neil Connolly: So we sat down and then they came to see one of our other shows and they were like, 'Okay, we get it now.' And then that was like two and a half years of just building the show, getting the deal done and facing the myriad of challenges. But yeah, sometimes it just starts with the text message.Paul Marden: So they get to experience all the key parts of the TV.Neil Connolly: All the key beats. Like right now, I'm holding one of the slates. They're not chalkboard slates. Again, this is... Oh, actually, this is a good challenge. So in the TV show, they've got a piece of slate and they write on it with a chalkboard pen. This seems so innocuous and I can't believe I'm talking about this on a podcast.Neil Connolly: Slategate was like six months of my life. Not in its entirety, but it was a six month long conversation about how we do the slates correctly. Because we do... 48 shows a day, six days a week. And those slates will crack. They will bash. And they're kind of a bit health and safety standards. I was like, can't have them. Also, they write on them with chalk pens, white ink chalk pens. But in the TV show, you only do it once a night. Yeah.Paul Marden: And then you have a producer and a runner.Neil Connolly: They just clean them very, very leisurely and set them back for the next day. And I was like, no, I've got to do a whole bunch of roundtable banishments in two hours. So we talked a lot about material, about style, literal viewership, because if you take a seat at the table. Yeah. If you're sitting at the table here, you'll notice that we've got a raised bit in the middle. If I turn mine around, the other person on the other side can't see it. So I was like, 'Okay, cool.' So we had to do a whole bunch of choreography. But also, the room's quite dark. Yes. At times, atmospheric. Yeah. In that magic triangle time-space atmosphere. So anything that was darker, or even that black slate, you just couldn't read it. And then there was, and then I had to— this is the level of detail that we have to go into when we're designing this kind of stuff. I was like, 'Yeah, but I can't clean off these slates with the white ink because everyone will have to have like a wet cloth chamois. Then I've just got loads of chamois around my venue that I just don't need.' And so then we're like, 'Oh, let's use real slates with real chalk.' And I was like, 'No, because dust will get everywhere.' I'll get chalk just all over my table. It'll just ruin everything. It'll ruin the technology that's inside the table because there's lots of hidden tricks inside of it. Paul Marden: Is there really? Yeah, yeah, yeah.  Neil Connolly: There's loads of hidden tricks inside the table. So after a while, going through many different permutations, I sat down with Christian Elenis, who's my set designer and my art director. And we were, the two of us were nearly in tears because we were like, 'We need,' and this only happened like.Neil Connolly: I would say two, three weeks before we opened. We still hadn't solved how to do the slate, which is a big thing in the show. Anybody who's seen the show and loves the show knows that they want to come in, they want to write somebody's name on the slate, and they want to spell the name incorrectly.Neil Connolly: Everyone does it on purpose. But I wanted to give people that opportunity. So then eventually we sat down and we were like, Christian, Neil. And the two of us in conversation went, why don't we just get a clear piece of Perspex, back it with a light coloured vinyl. And then Christian was like, 'Ooh,' and I'll make it nice and soft and put some felt on the back of it, which is what I'm holding. And then why don't we get a black pen? And we were like, 'Yeah,' like a whiteboard marker. And then we can just write on it. And then A, I can see it from the other side of the table. Thing one achieved. Two. Every marker pen's got an eraser on the top of it. I don't know why everyone thinks this is important, but it is. That you can just rub out like that, and I'm like, 'There's no dirt, there's no mess, and I can reuse this multiple times, like dozens of times in the same show.' And I know that sounds really weird, but that's the level of design I'm going to need.Paul Marden: I was just about to say, and that is just for the chalkboard. Yeah. Now you need to multiply that. How many decisions?Neil Connolly: How many decisions in each game. But also remember that there are eight round tables in this building. Each round table seats 14 people. And we do six sessions a day. So first ones at 10 a. m. Then we do 12, 2, 4, 6, and 8 p. m. So we do 48 shows a day, six days a week.Paul Marden: I love the concept that these are shows. This is not this is not visitor attraction. This is theater repeated multiple times a day for multi audience is concurrently.Neil Connolly: And I've just spent five minutes describing a slate to you. Yeah. But like, I haven't even got— it's like the sheer amount of technology that is in the show. And again, theatrical, like, look above our heads. Yeah. You've got this ring light above every seat. It's got a pin light. There's also microphones which are picking up all the audio in the room, which again is translating to the lounge of the dead. Every single one of the round table rooms has four CCTV cameras. Can you see that one in the corner? Each one of them is 4K resolution. It's quite high spec, which is aimed at the opposite side of the table to give you the resolution in the TV. In the other room. Then you've got these video contents. This is constantly displaying secret information through the course of the show to the traitors when they're in Conclave because everyone's in blindfolds and they took them off. They get secret instructions from that. There's also a live actor in the room. A live actor who is Claudia? They're not Claudia. They're not pastiches of Claudia. They are characters that we have created and they are the host of The Traitor's Game. Right. They only exist inside this building. We never have them portrayed outside of this building in any way whatsoever.Neil Connolly: They are characters, but they live, they breathe— the game of Traitors, the world of Traitors, and the building that we have designed and constructed here. And they facilitate the game for the people. And they facilitate the game for the people. One actor to 14 people. There are no plants, even though everyone tries to tell me. Members of the public will be convinced that they are the only person that's in that show and that everyone else is a plant. And I'm like, no, because that would be insane.Neil Connolly: The only actor in the room is the host.Paul Marden: 14 people that can sit around this table. How many of them are in the same group? Are you with your friends or is it put together where there are other people that you won't know in the room? If you book together, you play together.Neil Connolly: Yes. Okay, so if you don't book 14 people... Ah, we also capped the number of tickets that you can purchase to eight. Right. So you can only purchase a maximum of eight tickets unless you do want a full table of 14, at which point you have to then purchase a VIP package because you are booking out a whole table for yourselves. The game doesn't work if there's less than 10 people at the table. So there has to be 10, 11, 12, 13 or 14 people sat at a round table for the show to actually happen, for it to work. By capping the number of tickets that you book for eight, then that guarantees that strangers will be playing together. And that is the basis of strangers. Yeah, yeah. Like, you need to be sat around a table with people you know, you don't know, that you trust and you don't trust. Yeah. Fact of the matter. And do you see people turning on the others in their own group? Every single time. People think genuinely, and I love this from the public, you would think that if you're turning up as a group of eight and a group of four and a group of two, that the bigger group would just pick everybody off to make sure that someone in their group gets through to the end game.Neil Connolly: I'm sure they think that and they probably plot and plan that before they arrive on site. As soon as this game starts, gloves are off and everyone just starts going for each other. We've been open nearly two months now. I have seen, like, children murdered of their mothers.Neil Connolly: Husbands murder their wives, wives murder their husbands. I've seen, like, three generations—like, we get, because it's so intergenerational, like our lowest, the lowest age that you can play this is 12. Right. And then it's upwards. I've seen three generations of family come in and I've seen grandkids murder their own nan.Neil Connolly: Absolutely convinced that they're a traitor. Yeah, yeah, yeah. 100%. Or they banish them. Like, it's just mental. I've also seen nans, who are traitors, murder their grandkids.Neil Connolly: Like, and this is in a room full of strangers. They're just like, 'No, I'm not going to go for Barbara, who I met two hours ago in the bar. I'm going to go for my own grandson. It's mental.'Neil Connolly: The very, very first thing that I always think about whenever I'm creating an experience or whenever I'm designing a show is I put myself in the position of 'I'm a member of the public.' I have bought a ticketNeil Connolly: What's the coolest thing that I am going to do for my money? What is my perceived value of my ticket over actually what is the value of that ticket? I wanted to give people the experience of knowing what it was like to be sitting in one of these chairs at this table and feeling their heart. The pounding in their chest and I mean, the pounding in their chest, that rush of adrenaline from doing nothing— from sitting in a chair and all you were doing was sitting in a room talking to people and your heart is going.Neil Connolly: Because you're either being accused of being a liar. And trying to defend against it. And trying to defend against it. Or you actually are lying and you're trying to whittle your way out of it. And that feeling is the most alive that you will ever feel. Not ever. Like, I'm sure they're... No, no, no. But, like, give people that opportunity and that experience, as well as, like, access to the world of traitors and the law and everything else. But also, it's like any other theme park ride. People go on roller coasters because the imminent fear of death is always there. Yeah. And you feel alive. You're like, you've got such a buzz of adrenaline. Whereas, arguably, we do exactly the same thing as roller coasters, but in a much more longer-drawn format and multiple times. Yeah. And people do feel alive. When people walk out of the show, you see them go upstairs to the bar, and they are... Yeah.Paul Marden: You've said to me already that you don't use the word 'immersive,' but you know, I'm, I'm, I'm sat. The company is called 'immersive' everywhere. I'm sat behind the scenes. Okay. I'm sat in the room and the room is hugely convincing. It's like the highest fidelity escape room type experience that I've ever sat in. It feels like I'm on set, yeah, yeah. Um, I can totally believe that, in those two hours, you can slip. I sat on a game. It was only a two-minute game at iApple, but I was being filmed by one of the team. But within 30 seconds, I'd forgotten that they were there because I was completely immersed in the game. I can believe that, sitting in here right now, you could forget where you were and what you were doing, that you were completely submerged in the reality of the land that you're in.Neil Connolly: Yeah, 100%. Like, the world does not exist beyond these worlds. And for some people, like, I have my own definition. Everyone's got a different definition of what immersive is. I've got my own definition. But... I can tell you right now, as soon as people enter this building, they're in the bar, they're kind of slowly immersed in that world because the bar is a themed bar. It's done to the same, like we designed and built that bar as well. But as soon as they start descending that spiral staircase and coming into the gameplay floors, into the show floors, they just forget the rest of the world exists. And especially when they sit down at this table, it doesn't matter. I'm sat next to you here, but you could be sat at this table with your loved one, strangers, whatever. The gloves come off and just nothing exists apart from the game that you're about to go through.Paul Marden: You've been open now for a couple of months. More success than you were anticipating, I think. So pre-sales went through the roof? Yes. So you're very happy with the results?Neil Connolly: Yeah, yeah, we were. Yeah, well, we still are.Neil Connolly: We were very confident before we'd even started building the show, like the literal structural build, because we did very well. But then that set expectations quite high because I had a lot of people that had bought tickets and I was like, 'OK, I need to put on a good show for these people. And I need to make sure that they get satisfaction relative to the tickets that they bought.' But I don't feel pressure. I do feel anxiety quite a lot. Creatively? Yeah. I mean, I meditate every day.Paul Marden: But you've created this amazing world and you're inviting people into it. And as a creative, you're opening yourself up, aren't you? People are walking into the world that you've created.Neil Connolly: Yeah, this was said to me. This is not something that I came up with myself, and I do say this really humbly, but it was something that was said to me. It was on opening day, and a bunch of my friends came to playtest the show. And they were like, 'Oh, this is your brain in a building.'Neil Connolly: And I was like, 'Yeah, I hadn't thought about that.' But yeah, it is my brain in a building. But also that's terrifying, I think, for everybody else, because I know what happens inside my brain and it's really quite chaotic.Neil Connolly: But, you know, this I am. I'm so proud of this show. Like you could not believe how proud I am of this show. But also a huge part of my job is to find people that are smarter than me at the relative thing that they do, such as the rest of my creative team. They're all so much smarter than me. My job is vision and to be able to communicate that vision clearly and effectively so that they go, 'I understand.' The amount of times that people on the creative team turn around to me and go, 'Neil, that's a completely mental idea.' If people are saying to me, 'No one's ever done that before' or 'that's not the way things are done.'Neil Connolly: Or we can do that, but we're going to have to probably invent a whole new thing. If people are saying those things to me, I know I'm doing my job correctly. And I'm not doing that to challenge myself, but everything that I approach in terms of how I build shows is not about format. It's not about blueprints. It's not like, 'Hey, I've done this before, so I'm just going to do this again because I know that's a really neat trick.' I go back to, 'I made the show because I wanted people's heart to pound in their chest while they're sitting in a chair and make them feel alive.'Paul Marden: Is that the vision that you had in your head? So you're articulating that really, really clearly. Is that the vision that you sold to everybody on, not maybe day one, but within a couple of days of talking about this? No, it was day one.Neil Connolly: It was day one. Everyone went, that's a completely mental idea. But, you know, it's my job to try and communicate that as effectively and clearly as I can. But again, I am just one man. My job is vision. And, you know, there's lighting design, sound design, art direction, there's game logic. We haven't even gotten to the technology of how this show works yet, or how this room works.Neil Connolly: Actually, I'll wander down the corner. Yeah, let's do that. But, like, there's other, like, lots of hidden tricks. Like, this is one of the games, one of the missions. In the world and the lore of the show, the round table is sacrosanct.Paul Marden: Yes.Neil Connolly: Traitors is the game. The game is in other people. I can do so many missions and there's loads of missions and they're really fun in this show. But the game is in other people. It's in the people sat on the other side of the room. But also I wanted to do a thing where people could interact directly with the set. And so I designed one of the missions to be in the round table itself.Neil Connolly: So there's a course of these moon dials, which you basically have to align through the course of it. And there are sensors built into the table so that they know when they're in the correct position. How you find out the correct position is by solving a very, very simple puzzle and then communicating effectively to a bunch of strangers that you just met.Neil Connolly: And the sensors basically read it all. And when that all gets into position, the lights react, the sound reacts, the video content reacts, the whole room reacts to you. So I wanted to give people something tangible that they can touch and they make the room react to them. Yes, it's. I mean, I've designed, I've got background in escape rooms as well, right? Um, so I've done a lot of that kind of stuff as well. So I wanted people to feel in touch, same, but like, there's more tangible props over here. Um, yeah, that is a model box of the room that we are stood in, yeah. Also, there's an exact replica of it on the other side of it. There are very subtle differences between it, and that informs one of the missions. So that is two model boxes in this roundtable room. There's one of these in every single roundtable room. So there's 16 model boxes of the show that you're stood in on the set. And again, theatre. It's a show. But it's one of the missions, because I wanted people to kind of go, 'Oh, there's a live actor in front of me.' I'm having fun. Oh, look at all these lights and all the sound. Oh, there's a model box over here. That's in theatre land and blah, blah, blah. But that is also a really expensive joke. It's a really expensive joke. And there's other, like, lots of hidden tricks.Neil Connolly: Let's go look at backstage. Yeah, yeah, yeah, absolutely.Neil Connolly: I say backstage, like how we refer to it or how I always go. I use 'I' and 'we' very interchangeably. Like right now you're on the set. Like you're on the stage. Yes. We're just wandering around a long corridor. There are round table rooms off to either side. But like, you know, there's a green room upstairs where the actors get changed, where the front of house team are, where the bar team all are. But as soon as they go out onto the show floor, they're on stage—yes, completely. We'll very quickly have a look at the gallery—yes, show control. Hi, Robbo. Do you mind if I stand in your room for the purposes of the audio? I'm talking to the technical manager, Thomas Robson. We're recording a podcast.Paul Marden: Robbo, oh yeah, okay. My mind is absolutely blown. So you've got every single room up on screen.Neil Connolly: Yeah, so that's great. There's 164 cameras—something like that. But every roundtable room has four cameras in it. Each camera is 4K resolution. So we've got cameras on all of them. We've got audio into those rooms. That's two-way, so that if show control needs to talk directly to them, they just press a button here and they can talk directly to the room itself. Mainly just like, stop misbehaving, we're watching you.Neil Connolly: We've then got cameras into all of the lounges, all of the show spaces, all the front of house, all of the bar areas, the mezzanine and back of house. And then you've got QLab running across all of the different shows. We've got backups on all of these screens. So if one... of the computers goes down, we can very quickly swap it in for a backup that's already running. We've got show control, which is, there's a company called Clockwork Dog, who, they're an amazing company. What COGS, their show control system, is doing is pulling in all of the QLab from sound, all of the QLab from lighting, and also we built our own app. to be able to run the show. So there's a whole logic and decision tree based on the decisions that the public do through the course of the game. So yes, there is a beginning, a middle, and an end in terms of our narrative beats and the narrative story of the show that we're telling people. But also that narrative can go in. Hundreds of different directions depending on the actions and the gameplay that the people do during the course of the show. So, you haven't just learned one show— you have to learn like You have to learn a world, and you have to learn a whole game.Neil Connolly: Like, there's the server, stacks, which we had to build. You had to network and cable the entire building. So we have built an entire new attraction, which didn't exist before. And also we're pulling in information from the front of house system which is also going into the show itself because again, you put your name into the iPad when you arrive on site and then you tick a box very crucially to say, 'Do you want to be selected as a trader? Yes or No.' Because in the game, it's a fundamental rule. If you say no, you cannot be selected as a traitor by the host during traitor selection. That doesn't mean you can't be recruited.Paul Marden: By the traitors later on in the game. So you could come and do this multiple times and not experience the same story because there were so many different pathways that you could go down.Neil Connolly: But also, the game is in other people. Yes. The show is sat on the opposite side of the table to you because, like, Bob and Sandra don't know each other. They'll never see each other ever again. But Bob comes again and he's now playing against Laura. Who's Laura? She's an unknown quantity. That's a whole new game. That's a whole new show. There's a whole new dynamic. That's a whole new storyline that you have to develop. And so the actors are doing an incredible job of managing all of that.Paul Marden: Thanks, Robbo. Thank you. So you've worked with some really, really impressive leading IP, Traders, Peppa Pig, Doctor Who, Great Gatsby. What challenges do you face taking things from screen to the live experience?Paul Marden: Challenges do I face? We're wandering here.Neil Connolly: So we are in... Oh, we're in the tower.Neil Connolly: Excellent. Yep, so we're now in Traitor's Tower. Good time for you to ask me the question, what challenges do I face? Things like this. We're now stood in Traitor's Tower. Paul, let me ask you the question. Without the show lights being on, so we're just stood on a set under workers, what's your opinion of the room that we're stood in?Paul Marden: Oh, it's hugely impressive. It feels like, apart from the fact you've punched the fourth wall out of the telly, it does feel like you're on set.Neil Connolly: It's a really faithful reproduction of the set. So that's kind of one of the challenges is managing the public's expectations of what they see, do and feel on site. So that I don't change the show so that people come and play the game that they're expecting to play. But making reasonable adjustments within that, because TV and live are two very, very different things. So first and foremost was making sure that we get the format right. So the game that people play, which informs the narrative of the show and the narrative structure of the show. Breakfast, mission, round table, conclave. Breakfast, mission, round table, conclave. I've designed a whole bunch of new missions that are in this, taken some inspiration from missions that people know and love from the TV shows, whether that's the UK territory or other territories around the world. And also just other stuff is just clear out of my head. So there's original content in there. paying homage and respect to the world that they've built and allowing ourselves to also play and develop and build out that world at the same time. Other challenges.Neil Connolly: This is not a cheap project. No, no. I mean, the production quality of this is beautiful. Yeah, yeah, thank you. It is stunning. When people walk in here, they're like, 'Oh my God, this is... High end.' I am in a luxury event at a very affordable price.Paul Marden: Thank you. And then we're going back upstairs again. Yes. And in the stairwell, we've got the crossed out photos of all of those that have fallen before us.Neil Connolly: No, not quite. All of the people that are in this corridor, there's about 100 photos. These are all the people who built the show.Neil Connolly: So this is David Gregory. He's the sound designer. This is Kitty, who is Immersive Everywhere's office manager. She also works in ticketing. That is Tallulah and Alba, who work in the art department. Elliot, who's our lighting designer. So all of these people are the people who brought the show to life.Paul Marden: Amazing.Neil Connolly: And we wanted to pay homage to them because some of them gave years of their lives to building the show from literally the inception that I had in 2023. Through to now and others are the people who literally spent months of their life underground in these basements building hand-building this set and so we wanted to pay homage to them so we got all of their photos we did the iconic red cross through it yeah and we stuck them all up in the corridor just because we thought it'd be a nice thing to do.Paul Marden: You're in the business of trading and experiences and that ranges from art exhibitions to touring shows. There's always going to be a challenge of balancing innovation and profitability. What is the formula? What is the magic formula?Neil Connolly: I believe, first and foremost, going back to what I was telling you earlier about us being a collaborative organisation. We are not a creative crack that has been used for the show. We are also the producers of the show. And to make my point again, I'm a commercially minded creative. So I actually sit down with the producers and go, 'Okay, cool.' There are 112 seats in the show.Paul Marden: Yep.Neil Connolly: Therefore, how many shows do we need to do per day? How many shows do we need to do per week? How many shows do we need to do per year? Therefore, let's build out a P &L. And we build a whole business plan based around that.Paul Marden: By having everybody— that you need in the team— makes it much easier to talk about that sort of stuff. It makes it much easier for you to design things with the end result in mind. You don't have a creative in a creative agency going off— feeding their creative wants without really thinking about the practicalities of delivering on it.Neil Connolly: Exactly. So you've got to think like, literally, from the very, very beginning: you've got to think about guest flow. You've got to think about throughput. You've got to think about your capacities. Then you've got to basically build out a budget that you think— how much, hey, how much really is this going to cost? Yeah. Then you build out an entire business plan and then you go and start raising the money to try and put that on. And then you find a venue. I mean, like the other magic triangle, like the traitor's magic triangle is, you know, time, space, atmosphere. That's how you do a show. Like with my producer's hat on, the other magic triangle is show, money, venue.Neil Connolly: The truth of the matter, like I make no bones about it, I can design shows till the cows come home, but I'm always going to need money to put them on and a venue to put them in. Also, I want to stress this really important. I use the words 'I' and 'we' very interchangeably.Paul Marden: It's a team effort.Neil Connolly: You can see that in that corridor. I am not a one-man band. I am the creative director of a company. I am a cog that is in that machine, and everybody is doing... We are, as a team... I cannot stress this enough. Some of the best in the business are doing what we do. And everyone is so wildly talented. And that's just us on the producing side. That's immersive everywhere, limited. Then I've got a whole other creative team. Then we've got operations. Then we've got... It's just mad. It's just mad, isn't it? This is a job. Who would have thought, when you were at school, this was an opportunity? Not my principal or my maths teacher.Neil Connolly: So, sorry, just to balance the kind of economies of scale. That was the question, wasn't it?Paul Marden: Well, we were talking about what is the formula for making that an investment, but you know, the authority here is the effort you've put in to do this feels high, but at the same time, you have to find this thing. There is a lot of investment that goes into the front.Neil Connolly: But that comes back to creatives. Caring and I'm not saying the creatives don't, but I care. I care about building businesses. Yeah, not necessarily like building my own CV, like there's so many projects that across our desks. I'll be like, 'Yeah, that'd be really fun to work on.' But do I think that I can make that a touring product? Can it be a long-running location-based entertainment sit-down product? Can it be an art shop? Like you've kind of got a balance with what do you think is just creatively cool versus what can we do as a company that is a commercially viable and financially stable product? And so all that comes through in terms of the creative, but also in terms of the activities of how we run the building, how this model realizes. Because if you think about it, let's make Phantom of the Opera run in the West End. Yes. The show is very obvious, with many casts on a room, away, fruit team away, terrace, it's a big activity. If they haven't sold half that away, they have to use the whole show and play all those people.Neil Connolly: But if they haven't sold half that away from one of my shows... I only have to activate four of my rooms, not eight of them. Therefore, I don't have to call in four actors. I don't have to call in a bunch of the other front of house team and I can scale in the operations on the back. It's an entirely scalable process. Flexible, yeah, yeah, yeah. Oh, 100%. But also, like, we've got eight rooms here. If we decide to take this to another territory, and that territory demands a much higher throughput, then instead of eight rooms, I can do 20 rooms, 30 rooms. As long as we know that the market is there to be able to kind of get people through it.Neil Connolly: I love this show and I'm so proud of it. The main reason why I'm proud of it is when the show finishes, let's go into one of the lounges. Have you been into one of the lounges?Paul Marden: I've had a nose around a lounge.Neil Connolly: There are different shapes and sizes. We won't go into that one. We'll go into this one down here. That one, that one. It's always such a buzz when you're stood in the bar and the shows kick out, and you see tables and tables of 14 people going up into the bar.Neil Connolly: Area and before they've even gotten a drink, they will run straight over to their friends, families, strangers, whoever they were playing with in that table of 14, and instantly be like, 'Right, I need to know everything that was going on inside your head, your heart, and your soul over the last two hours of my life because this was my experience.'Neil Connolly: And they'll just go, and they'll be like, 'And this is what I was thinking.' And then I thought it was you because you did this and you touched your nose in a weird way. And then I thought you were sending secret signals. And then everyone's like, 'No, that's not what I was doing.' I was just trying to be a normal person. And they were like, 'Well, why did you say that thing?' It sounded super weird. And they're like, 'That's just what I do.' And it's just totally mental. And then they all get a drink from the bar. And we call it the bar tab chat.Neil Connolly: It's another revenue stream.Neil Connolly: I do talk about this like it's a show. And it is a show. You've walked around, do you think it's a show? Completely. I talk to established houses all the time. Like, you know, the big theatres of the land. Organisations that are national portfolio organisations who receive a lot of Arts Council funding. The thing that they want to talk to us about all the time is new audiences. They're like, 'How do I get new audiences through my door?' What can I do? And I'm like, 'Well, firstly, make a show that people want to go and see.'Neil Connolly: Again, they're like, 'But I've got this amazing writer and he's a really big name and everyone's going to come because it's that name.' And I'm like, 'Yeah, that's wicked. That's cool.' And they can all go pay reverence to that person. That's really wonderful. Whereas when you look at the attractions landscape or the immersive theatre landscape or like anything like... Squid Game, or The Elvis, Evolution, or War of the Worlds, which has also laid reality, or any of that kind of stuff, across the landscape, it is nothing but new audiences. Yeah, yeah, yeah. It is nothing but actual ticket-buying audiences.Neil Connolly: And they come from all different walks of life. And what I love is that they do come in to this experience and we hit them with this like secret theatre.Neil Connolly: And they're like, 'Oh my God.' And often it's a gateway to them being like, 'Oh, I didn't realise that.' Maybe I'll go see a Western show or maybe I will go to the National Theatre and see something. Because that's the level of archery. Because those organisations, I love them and I've worked in a few of them, but those buildings can be quite austere, even though they're open and porous, but it's still very difficult to walk through that threshold and feel a part of it.Paul Marden: Whereas coming in here, coming into an event like this, can feel like a thing that they do.Neil Connolly: Because it's the same demographic as theme park junkies. People who love going to theme parks love going to stuff like this because it's an experience, it's an otherness, it's an other nature kind of thing. Because modern audiences want to play and do, not sit and watch. But we all exist in the kind of same ecosystem. I'm not taking on the National Theatre.Paul Marden: Gosh, no. I always talk about that. I think the reason why so many attractions work together in the collaborative way that they do is they recognise that they're not competing with each other. They're competing with sitting on your backside and watching Netflix.Paul Marden: Yeah, yeah.Paul Marden: Our job for all of us is to drag people away from their screens and drag people off of their sofas to do something. And then that's the biggest challenge that we all face.Neil Connolly: I think then that kind of answers the question that you asked me earlier, which I didn't answer. And I'm very sorry.Neil Connolly: is about identifying different pieces of IP. Like, yes, we largely exist in the world of licensing IP. And how do we identify that kind of IP to be able to translate? Not just how do we do it, but like, actually, how do we identify the right thing that's going to... How do you spot the winner? Yeah, exactly. Yeah. And that is one of the biggest challenges to your point of we're talking directly to people who consume arts, culture and media and technology in a slightly more passive way, whether that's just at home and watching Netflix and then bringing that to life. In a very, very different way. If you have a very clear marketing campaign that tells people what it is that they're buying and what they're expected to see or do on their particular night out, because that's what modern people really care about, what they do with their money. Yeah. And they want to have a good night out. And I'm in the business of giving people a good night out. We also happen to be murdering a lot of people in the course of the show.Neil Connolly: Still a good night out. Still a good night out. But I'm in a place where the dead sit. Yeah, exactly. Lounge of the dead. And like, you know, this is a really cool space. Oh, it's just beautiful. You know, we've got the telephone really works. There's lots of information that comes through that. The radio works, that does different things. The TV screen on the wall, that has the actual live feed into the round table room that you've just left. And there's other little puzzles and hints and tricks in this room, which means that after you've been murdered or banished and you come to the Lounge of the Dead, you're still engaged with the game to a degree. You just don't directly influence the outcome of the game. But you're still involved in it. You're still involved in it. It's super fun. Oh, and you can have a drink in here.Paul Marden: I don't let people drink in the round table. Even more important. What's this?Neil Connolly: The dolls, the creepy dolls. What this is, this is the void. Creatively speaking, this is where all the gold goes when people win or lose it. And the creepy dolls are from the TV show. Ydyn nhw'r un gwirioneddol o'r sioe? Felly, gafodd studio Lambert, sy'n gwneud y sioe tebyg, llawer o brops o'r sioe tebyg i ni eu rhoi ar y ddispleiddio yma. Felly, mae gennych chi'r Dolls Creepy o'r lles 3 yno. Rydyn ni'n mynd i fyny. Yn ôl yma, mae'r peintiwch Deathmatch.Paul Marden: Which is from season three.Neil Connolly: And they get the quill and they write the names and got the quill upstairs. We've also got over here, the cards that they used to play the death match with. Excellent.Paul Marden: So you began your career in theatre. How did that evolve into the world of immersive live experiences?Neil Connolly: Life story. I am the son of a postman and a cook. And if you haven't noticed already, I'm from Ireland. There was no theatre in our lives, my life, when I was growing up. And I stumbled into a youth theatre. It's called Kildare Youth Theatre. And the reason why I joined that is because there was a girl that I really fancied.Neil Connolly: She had just joined this youth theatre and I was like, 'Oh, I'm gonna join that as well' and that kind of opened the world of theatre for me. At the same time, I then got spotted by this guy, his name's Vijay Baton, his real name's Om, but he converted to Hare Krishnanism in the 90s. And he set up a street theatre company in Ireland. He just taught me street theatre. So he taught me stilt walk, he taught me juggling, he taught me how to build puppets. And so I spent years building puppets with him and going around Ireland doing lots of different street theatre while I was a teenager. And doing street theatre and doing my youth theatre and then kind of all of that kind of came to a head when I had to decide what I was going to do with my life. I applied to go to drama school. And I applied to two drama schools. One was Radha. Didn't get in. Didn't even get an audition. And the other one was Rose Bruford. And they took me. And the reason why they took me— I probably wasn't even that good. But on the day that I was auditioning to get into Rose Bruford was the same day as my maths exam for my final exams at school. You call them your A-levels, we call them the leaving certificate.Neil Connolly: And while all of my friends were back in Ireland doing their maths exam, I was in an audition room pretending to be a tree or the colour black.Neil Connolly: Who knows? And they kind of went, 'Well, if I fail my maths exam, I don't get into university in Ireland.' Like, it's just a blanket thing. And so I was like, 'I literally sat across the panel' and I was like, 'eggs, basket.' And they were like, 'cool.' So they let me in based off of that. So I got a classical training. Then what happened is I came out of university. I was living with two of my friends, Natalie and Joe. And we had our own little production company called The Lab Collective. And we just started making shows. In weird ways, we joined a company called Theatre Delicatessen. Let's get away from this. Yeah, yeah, yeah.Neil Connolly: So Theatre Deli was a company set up to take over disused spaces in London and convert them into art spaces.Neil Connolly: Basically legalised squatting. It's the same as like a guardianship. But we weren't living in the buildings. We were just putting on shows and we put on art shows, we put on theatre shows. We did Shakespeare for a while. We wrote our own work and we just did lots of really, really cool stuff. And I worked in music festivals, classically trained actor. So I was trying to do shows. I did a lot of devising. I also joined an improvisation group. And kind of through all that mix, like those years at Delhi, which was making these weird shows in these weird buildings, were very, very formative years for us. The Arts Council wouldn't support the kind of work that we were making. We were like, 'Cool, how do we get space?Neil Connolly: How do we get or make money to support ourselves? And what are the shows? There's the magic triangle all over again. Space, show, money. And that's your apprenticeship, I guess, that brings you to here. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And like, again, I make no bones about it. 10 years ago, I was selling programs on the door of the Royal Festival Hall while doing all of that stuff. So in one of the Theatre Daily buildings, we did a show called Heist, which is you break into a building and steal stuff. That's what the public do.Neil Connolly: And a bunch of us did that. I mean, it's so much fun— kind of doing it. And off the back of that, somebody else basically tried to chase down the crystal maze. And then they went away, and then they called me up and they were like, 'Hey, I've got the rights. Do you want to make the crystal maze?' And I was like, 'Yeah, sounds like fun.' So I got involved with that, did that for a while. And then, from there, this is the end of a very long story. I'm so apologised. Yeah, from there, all of those different things that I've done through the course of my life in terms of operations, designing experiences, being a creative, understanding business.Neil Connolly: Building a P&L, building a budget, talking to investors, trying to convince them to give you money. All of that stuff kind of basically came together. And over the last few years, like the wildest ride is that pre-2020.Neil Connolly: We were just a bunch of people doing a bunch of weird things, making weird shows and weird attractions in kind of different ways. And then that year happened. And I don't know what happened, but literally every single major studio, film, TV production, game designer, licensor in the world, suddenly just went— brand extensions, world extensions, and they all just started calling us. And they were like, 'Hi, I've got this thing.' Can you develop it into a thing? Because I need to extend my brand or I want to build a world and extend that for the public. And we were like, 'Yeah, okay, cool.' And we were just lucky, serendipitously, to be in the right place at the right time. To be those people that people can approach. And we're always, we're very approachable.Neil Connolly: As you can tell, I talk a lot. And, you know, so the last five years, it's just been a mad ride.Paul Marden: So look, Neil, it's been amazing. I have had the most fun. Last question for you. What's next? Are you putting your feet up now because you finished this? Or on to the next? Neil Connolly: Very much on to the next thing. So we're already in production with our new show, which is called Peppa Pig Surprise Party. And that is opening at the Metro Centre in Gateshead next year. Oh, how exciting is that? It's very exciting.Paul Marden: So quite a different demographic.Neil Connolly: The demographic for Peppa Pig is two to five year olds. It's been a really fun show to design and create. To go back to a question that you asked me very early on, there is no blueprint, there is no format. I have embraced the chaos tattooed on my arm. And always when I approach things, any new show or any new creative, I am thinking of it from a ticket buying perspective: 'I have paid my money.' What is the coolest thing that I can possibly do with that money? And so therefore, I'm now looking at families and, like, what's the coolest thing that they can do for that ticket price in the world of Peppa Pig?Paul Marden: Let's come back in the new year, once you've opened Peppa Pig, let's go to Gateshead and see that. That sounds pretty awesome to me. I reckon there's a whole new episode of Designing Worlds for two to five-year-olds that we could fill an hour on.Neil Connolly: Oh yeah, 100%. It's a totally different beast. And super fun to design.Paul Marden: Oh mate. Neil, it has been so wonderful having a wander around the inside of your crazy mind.Paul Marden: If you've enjoyed today's episode, please like it and leave a comment in your podcast app. It really does make it so much easier for other people to find us. This episode was written by Emily Burrows from Plaster, edited by Steve Folland, and produced by Sami Entwistle from Plaster and Wenalyn Dionaldo. Thanks very much. See you next week.  The 2025 Visitor Attraction Website Survey is now LIVE! Dive into groundbreaking benchmarks for the industryGain a better understanding of how to achieve the highest conversion ratesExplore the "why" behind visitor attraction site performanceLearn the impact of website optimisation and visitor engagement on conversion ratesUncover key steps to enhance user experience for greater conversionsTake the Rubber Cheese Visitor Attraction Website Survey Report

Send us a textToday In the Den, we're diving into a conversation at the intersection of identity, belonging, and storytelling. Our guest, Ingrid Hu Dahl, is a writer, speaker, and leadership coach whose work explores the layers of what it means to be both mixed race, queer and finding feminism. Ingrid is the author of the newly released memoir Sun Shining on Morning Snow, a powerful and intimate exploration of identity, grief, resilience, and transformation.Special Guest: Ingrid Hu DahlIngrid Hu Dahl is an author, speaker, and leadership coach. She is the founder of a coaching and consulting business dedicated to empowering the next generation of leaders. With over two decades of experience in learning and development, she brings her expertise to a wide range of industries, from corporate and media to nonprofit and social justice organizations. A TEDx speaker and a founding member of the Willie Mae Rock Camp in Brooklyn, Ingrid has a lifelong passion for amplifying underrepresented voices. She has written, filmed, and directed two short films exploring identity, representation, and the mixed-race experience. She has toured in multiple rock bands, playing bass, guitar, synth, drums and singing. Ingrid is certified by the International Coaching Federation and the Center for Creative Leadership. She is a global lecturer and speaker, and an advisory board member for the Institute for Women's Leadership at Rutgers University. She lives in Sausalito, California, with her wife, Courtney, and their dog, Palo Santo.Links from the Show:Ingrid's website: www.IngridHuDahl.com Buy Ingrid's book here: https://bookshop.org/p/books/sun-shining-on-morning-snow-a-memoir-of-identity-loss-and-living-boldly-ingrid-hu-dahl/22618239?ean=9781774586174&next=tSun Shining on Morning Snow website: www.SunShiningonMorningSnow.com Find Ingrid on IG: https://www.instagram.com/ingridhudahl/ Find Ingrid on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ingridhudahl/Sun Shining on Morning Snow on IG: https://www.instagram.com/sunshiningonmorningsnowJoin Mama Dragons today: www.mamadragons.orgIn the Den is made possible by generous donors like you. Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today at www.mamadragons.org.  Support the showConnect with Mama Dragons:WebsiteInstagramFacebookDonate to this podcast

Times Square and The Sphere in Las Vegas will be lighting up this November as YouVersion celebrates “Beyond a Billion” downloads of its Bible app. Join Phil Cooke https://philcooke.com in this conversation with Bobby Gruenewald, founder and CEO of YouVersion to talk about the upcoming event and new features of the Bible app for churches and individuals. A free download, the Bible app provides 2,300 versions of the Bible in over 70 languages, daily inspiration with Bible verses for healing, anxiety, sleep, marriages, and more; plus devotional plans for women, devotionals for men, and even devotionals for kids.  With social sharing features built in and opportunities to work through a Bible plan with a friend or a small group, you're not alone when you use the Bible app. As Gruenewald states, “If you've got a felt need, an issue, or a topic to explore, we probably have a Bible plan for you.”  Download the free Bible app here: https://www.bible.com/app  Get Tickets! Beyond a Billion event, November 17, 2025 – Oklahoma City, OK at the Paycom Center. Get tickets here: https://www.ticketmaster.com/event/0C0062FDB1281C7F  Get my FREE DOWNLOAD when you sign up for my newsletter here: https://www.philcooke.com/subscribe/ 

On this episode of Schmidt List, host Kurt Schmidt sits down with Kevin Frank—creative leader, former Apple and LinkedIn director, and author of the new book Raising Creative Teams. Kevin shares his journey from hands-on creative to creative director, revealing the tough lessons, steep learning curves, and mindset shifts that shaped his approach to leadership.Kurt and Kevin delve into the challenges of managing creative individuals: how to provide meaningful feedback, set teams up for success, and foster a safe, supportive environment that empowers innovation. Kevin explains why regular one-on-ones are key (and how to make them more valuable), discusses the power of storytelling for both leaders and teams, and unpacks why a culture of honest, objective feedback helps creative work thrive.They also delve into remote work, maintaining intentionality as a manager, and striking a balance between structure and freedom in creative processes. Whether you're leading a team of designers, engineers, or any innovative professionals, you'll find actionable insights and real-world anecdotes in this engaging conversation.Grab Kevin's book, connect with him on LinkedIn, and take away practical tips for building happier, higher-performing creative teams!Visit https://schmidtconsulting.group for more podcasts!Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/schmidt-list-entrepreneurial-insights--2664825/support.

Welcome to Madang.Madang is the outdoor living room of the world. Here, weinvite you to sit and tune into unreserved, remarkable conversations with renowned authors, leaders, public figures, and scholars on religion, culture, and everything in between.This is the 52nd episode, featuring Brandan Robertson a noted author, activist, and public theologian, working at the intersections of spirituality, sexuality, and social renewal. He is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ, serving as the Pastor of Sunnyside Reformed Church in New York City and is the founder and Executive Director of DevOUT, a non-profit challenging far-right religious narratives in both digital and traditional media. He's widely known as the "TikTok Pastor", with a vast digital reach of nearly 300k followers and 10 millionviews engaging his inclusive theological content across social media. He is pursuing a Ph.D. in NT at Drew University. On this episode of Madang, Robertson and I talk about hisbook, Filled to be Emptied.We discuss privilege, Philippians 2, discipleship,kenosis, fear, love, hope and much more.I am grateful to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Homebrewed Christianity, Central Seminary and Westminster John Knox Press for sponsoring this episode.Please join Homebrewed Christianity's Theology Beer Camp hosted by ⁠Tripp Fuller⁠ this October. ⁠Theology Beer Camp⁠ is a unique three-day conference that brings together theology nerds and craft beer for a blend of intellectual engagement,community building, and fun.This episode is presented by Central Seminary – a historicand accredited seminary leading with the values of Community, Empathy, Growth and Tenacity. Central offer numerous graduate degrees and certificates including our Doctor of Ministry degree in Creative Leadership which is now offered 100% online. The next Doctor of Ministry cohort begins in January 2026.  Westminster John Knox Press publishes scholarly and popular books in religious studies. Advancing scholarship,stimulating conversation about today's issues, and inspiring faithful living. Check out all the books now at wjkbooks.com.Please reach out to me if you would like to sponsor thenext episode of the Madang podcast. Or simply ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠support me onmy Substack: Loving Life.

Today, on Notable Leaders' Radio, I speak with Lauren Cassidy, Founder/Executive Creative Director – LC Studio Productions. She unpacks how showing up as your best self, seizing opportunities, and evolving through every challenge leads to success and fulfillment. In today's episode, we discuss: Embrace a “greatness over perfection” mindset to fuel creativity and avoid stagnation. Lauren learned that seeking perfection sets ceilings and fosters disappointment, while aiming for personal greatness keeps you evolving; by shifting your mindset this way, you allow yourself room for growth, more creative output, and less self-judgment, which benefits anyone seeking fulfillment and innovation in any field. Align your work and life as closely as possible with what you love. Lauren insists on infusing her passion for music and creativity into her work, and when that's not possible, she finds ways outside of work to feel fulfilled; everyone benefits by seeking or creating alignment between their passions and daily activities, which boosts motivation and overall life satisfaction. Stay open to unexpected career forks and don't fear following your curiosity. Lauren's pivotal choice between a theater tour and an HBO job taught her to pursue new opportunities even without guarantees; you too can learn from serendipitous crossroads, as flexibility and openness often lead to bigger breaks and more satisfying work than rigid planning. Use pressure as a moment to pause and collaborate rather than panic. When faced with a high-stakes challenge with Joan Rivers, Lauren demonstrated the value of staying calm and working with her team. So, when you find yourself in a similar situation, remember that stressful moments are best met with composure, seeking help, and trusting your problem-solving skills. RESOURCES: Guest Bio Lauren Cassidy, the founder of LC Studio Productions, has spent her career staging productions that come to life both on-screen and in person, where strategy, storytelling, and execution meet. Picture a show where C-suite executives are the lead actors, the brand is the script, and the audience is everyone from consumers to business partners. Her role? Casting the right team, directing the production, making sure the lines land, and yes, reminding people that Post-its are not, in fact, a filing system. Lauren brings all the pieces together so that when the curtain rises, the story doesn't just play. It sticks. During her 17 years at AMC Networks, Lauren built and led an internal creative studio that doubled as a powerhouse production crew for five core brands and streaming platforms. She produced everything from record-breaking campaigns and B2B activations to all-hands meetings that looked suspiciously like late-night variety shows. (Think executives who never thought they'd sing suddenly nailing a parody number with surprising confidence.) Along the way, she earned a reputation as the connective tissue, linking strategy to execution, creativity to business goals, and vision to reality. Awards, industry recognition, and happy executives were part of the outcome, but the real thrill was watching teams she mentored flourish in the spotlight. When she's not orchestrating corporate blockbusters, Lauren borrows inspiration from theater, music, and pop culture while also fronting a rock band. For her, work has always been about building the right ensemble, setting the stage for success, and giving people a reason to lean in. Whether it's a breakthrough campaign, film festival, upfront, social impact PSA, or an executive keynote, Lauren believes the show must not just go on; it should leave an impression worth remembering. Website/Social Links: @laurenbcassidy  https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauren-cassidy/ www.lcstudio.io      Belinda's Bio: Belinda Pruyne is a renowned Leadership Advisor, Executive Coach, Consultant, and Keynote Speaker recognized for her ability to transform executives, professionals, and small business owners into highly respected, influential leaders. As the Founder of BelindaPruyne.com, she partners with top-tier organizations, including IBM, Booz Allen Hamilton, BBDO, Hilton, Leidos, Yale School of Medicine, Landis, Discovery Channel, and the Portland Trail Blazers. Recently, she led the redesign of two global internal advertising agencies for Cella, a leader in creative staffing and consulting. She is also a founding C-suite and executive management coach for Chief, the fastest-growing executive women's network. A thought leader in leadership development, Belinda is the creator and host of the Notable Leaders Radio podcast, where she has conducted 95+ interviews with top executives and business leaders, revealing the untold stories behind their success. Previously, as Executive Vice President, Global Director of Creative Management at Grey Advertising, she oversaw a global team of 500 professionals, gaining deep expertise in client services and executive leadership. With 25+ years of experience, Belinda is a trusted advisor to startups, turnarounds, acquisitions, and Fortune 500 companies, delivering strategic, high-impact solutions in today's fast-evolving business landscape. Website: Belindapruyne.com Email Address: hello@belindapruyne.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/belindapruyne  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NotableLeadersNetwork.BelindaPruyne/  Twitter: https://twitter.com/belindapruyne?lang=en  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/belindapruyne/   

David Holt, the Mayor of Oklahoma City, shares insights into his journey, the city's transformation, and the impact of the recent NBA Championship on the community. He discusses the importance of sports in shaping Oklahoma City's identity, the economic growth driven by major league sports, and the diversification of the local economy. Holt also highlights the evolution of the culinary scene, his community engagement initiatives, and the creative aspects of his leadership role. He reflects on his public service roots and the challenges of balancing multiple responsibilities while envisioning a bright future for Oklahoma City.David Holt:https://holtformayor.comhttps://www.instagram.com/mayordavidholthttps://www.facebook.com/MayorDavidHoltMaverick Podcast:

Join us as we sit down with Vincent Wanga, an international design thought leader, award-winning creative, and author of The Art of Direction. With over two decades of experience shaping brands, Vince has led creative strategies for one of North America's fastest-growing tech startups—helping it scale from pre-Series A to a billion-dollar “unicorn.”In this episode, we dive into:How to leverage creative leadership to drive business growthLessons from building brands in high-growth startupsGlobal design insights and inspiration from Vince's travelsThe future of creative innovation in branding and entrepreneurshipWhether you're a designer, entrepreneur, or business leader, this conversation is packed with actionable insights to elevate your creative and business game.Listen now for an inside look at mastering creativity, leadership, and brand innovation.

Peter is a facilitator, trainer, keynote speaker and coach who through presentations, workshops, seminars, coaching and consulting helps leaders, teams and organizations better engage and align staff to business drivers and the organization's mission. Peter helps leaders develop the self-awareness, self-mastery and interpersonal skills that enable sustainable high performance and high functioning teams. Through experiential learning and a practical down to earth style, clients learn to implement behaviors that lead to greater individual, team and organizational effectiveness. Peter's focus includes: preventing executive derailment, transformational leadership and creating high performing teams. His approach focuses on clients creating self reinforcing and sustainable positive movement leading towards personal and professional breakthroughs and sustainable organizational effectiveness. Peter is a certified Peoplemap™ Trainer. He is also Everything DISC and MBTI certified. He has served as Vice President of Client Relations and Program Development for The Leadership Trust. Before joining the Trust, he was employed by the Center for Creative Leadership, where he helped customize executive development and training programs for major businesses and corporations. Peter also taught Psychology at Vance Granville Community College. Currently Peter facilitates seminars on Leadership and High Performing Teams at UNC Chapel Hill, Duke University Medical Center and The International Coaching Federation. He has recently been the Keynote Speaker for the Georgia University System's Staff Council Conference.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-x-zone-radio-tv-show--1078348/support.Please note that all XZBN radio and/or television shows are Copyright © REL-MAR McConnell Meda Company, Niagara, Ontario, Canada – www.rel-mar.com. For more Episodes of this show and all shows produced, broadcasted and syndicated from REL-MAR McConell Media Company and The 'X' Zone Broadcast Network and the 'X' Zone TV Channell, visit www.xzbn.net. For programming, distribution, and syndication inquiries, email programming@xzbn.net.We are proud to announce the we have launched TWATNews.com, launched in August 2025.TWATNews.com is an independent online news platform dedicated to uncovering the truth about Donald Trump and his ongoing influence in politics, business, and society. Unlike mainstream outlets that often sanitize, soften, or ignore stories that challenge Trump and his allies, TWATNews digs deeper to deliver hard-hitting articles, investigative features, and sharp commentary that mainstream media won't touch.These are stories and articles that you will not read anywhere else.Our mission is simple: to expose corruption, lies, and authoritarian tendencies while giving voice to the perspectives and evidence that are often marginalized or buried by corporate-controlled media. 

If you're spending hours creating beautiful content that gets crickets for engagement, the problem isn't your design skills or your expertise. It's probably your content topics! This episode will show you exactly how to fix it. Today I'm breaking down the framework I use to evaluate every single content topic before it goes live. Here's the truth: a great content topic can make mediocre design and copy perform well, but even the most beautiful, expertly crafted content will flop if the topic doesn't land. I spend more time ideating content topics than I do on creative, editing, or scripting, because when you nail the topic, everything else becomes easier. I'm sharing the exact 5 filter system I use to test whether a content topic will actually stop the scroll and convert, or if it's destined to get lost in the noise. From understanding the difference between "specific" and "niche" (they're not the same thing) to making sure your topics showcase your unique expertise without being too broad, this framework will transform how you approach content creation. I'm giving you real examples from my own content, including posts that could have performed better and exactly how I would fix them using this system. Plus, I'm sharing how this process saves me time on caption writing because when your content topic is strong enough, you don't need to rely on heavy captions to carry the message. In today's episode, we're talking about: Why content topics matter more than design or copy  The difference between "specific" and "niche"  How to make content personal to your expertise without making it hyper niche The attention-grabbing formula that gets people to stop scrolling  Why trying to teach a "whole textbook" in one post is killing your engagement Connect with me:  Website Join our email list! Instagram Pinterest Related Episodes:  Ep 149 - The Art of Sublte Selling: Why Your Direct Marketing Isn't Working Anymore Get creative support to turn your content into sales before, during and after your launches. From content classes to learn new campaign marketing skills, to custom designed assets completely done for you, we've thought of it all inside Sales Studio. Join today: https://highflierpowerhouse.com/retainer  Get the photoshoot, website, and content strategy you need to increase your business revenue and reputation. Apply for The Rebrand Experience https://highflierpowerhouse.com/rebrand-experience  

Do you ever feel like you're chasing status, promotions, or recognition only to arrive and still feel unfulfilled? What if leadership wasn't about control, but about creative direction and truly designing a life and career that excites you?   In this inspiring episode of Legendary Leaders, host Cathleen sits down with Vincent Wanga, dynamic design thought leader, brand strategist, creative executive, and author of The Art of Direction. Vincent's story bridges cultures and continents: from a Kenyan childhood, to hustling through setbacks in America, to helping build a billion-dollar tech unicorn. Along the way, he's developed a philosophy of relentless adaptability, creative courage, and leadership that unlocks the best in others.   If you're craving more meaning, momentum, or creativity in your leadership journey, this episode will energise you to rethink what's possible.   Episode Timeline:   00:00 Introduction: Reframing creativity   02:45 Why chasing titles leaves us empty   07:02 From adversity to agency  13:04 Immigrant perspective: adaptability, onlyness and resilience   19:43 Building skills across industries & the power of pivoting   22:23 Embracing (and loving) imposter syndrome   33:47 Really listening and redefining expertise 41:28 The humility of leadership: paying yourself last   49:56 Nurturing leadership in teams and creating safe cultures   1:07:07 Vincent's leap into tech, loss, and building billion-dollar unicorns   1:13:43 Making adversity your rocket fuel (and what's next for Vincent)     Key Takeaways: Leadership is not about titles or control, but about creative direction and meaningful impact. Your darkest failures and detours are the rocket fuel for reinvention. If you want clients, teams, or work that truly excites you. Be both your boldest advocate and your most humble student.   About Vincent Wanga: Vincent Wanga is a dynamic international design thought leader, creative keynote speaker, award-winning creative and executive, author of The Art of Direction, serial entrepreneur, and experienced brand consultant with an exceptional range of expertise over a distinguished two-decade career.   Connect with Vincent: Website: https://www.vincentwanga.com  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vincent-wanga Book:https://www.amazon.com/Art-Direction-Personal-Perspectives-Leadership/dp/B0DWR3911D Connect: 
  Find | Cathleen O'Sullivan  Business: https://cathleenosullivan.com/  Email: cmc@cathleenmerkelcoaching.com  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cathleen-merkel/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/legendary_leaders_cathleenos/     FOLLOW LEGENDARY LEADERS ON APPLE, SPOTIFY OR WHEREVER YOU LISTEN TO YOUR PODCASTS

Welcome back to Your World of Creativity, the podcast where we explore creative insights from leaders across the arts, innovation, business, and beyond.Today's guest is John Pawlowski, a seasoned brand strategist and marketing executive with over a decade of experience leading innovation and growth in the consumer packaged goods industry.From household names like Marie Callender's and PF Chang's to the bold new frontier of premium pet food with Heckova, John brings a creative mindset to every stage of brand development.John's Website @heckovapet on Instagram linkedin.com/in/pawlowskijohn1: The Brand-Building MindsetYou've launched and revitalized iconic brands in the highly competitive world of frozen foods. What's your process for identifying the creative white space in a crowded category—and turning that into a compelling brand identity? What lessons from CPG branding did you find most transferable when you transitioned into pet food marketing?2: The 'Mega' MomentAt Conagra, you spearheaded the launch of a 'Mega' brand, which went on to surpass $200 million in sales. What was the creative spark behind that brand, and how did you translate that into product, messaging, and ultimately, consumer loyalty? Were there any big risks or bold decisions in that process that paid off?3: The Humanization of PetsThe humanization of pets is one of the biggest trends in the pet food industry. How do you creatively tap into the emotional connections people have with their pets when crafting messaging for Heckova? What role does storytelling play in gaining the trust of pet parents?4: Innovation in a Regulated SpaceCPG and pet food are both highly regulated, especially with claims and ingredients. How do you foster creativity within those constraints, especially when developing new products or campaigns? How do you balance the creative drive with the analytical, P&L-focused mindset required in your role?5: Creative Leadership in ActionFrom managing agency partners to internal teams, you're constantly leading others through the creative process. What's your approach to building a culture of innovation and alignment? What advice would you give to young brand marketers who want to lead with both strategy and imagination? John, this has been a great look into the creative strategies behind some of the most recognizable brands—and now, one of the most exciting in pet food. Thanks for joining us on Your World of Creativity.This episode was brought to you by White Cloud Coffee Roasters. Get 10% off your first order of freshly roasted, ethically sourced coffee with the code CREATIVITY at checkout. Visit WhiteCloudCoffee.com.If you enjoyed today's episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review us on your favorite podcast app—and come back next time for more conversations at the intersection of imagination and industry. John has classical training as a brand marketer and P&L manager and over a decade of experience leading brand growth in the consumer packaged goods (CPG) industry at Conagra Brands (Omaha and Chicago) and Bellisio Foods (Minneapolis). He led growth, turnaround, and new launch strategies on major brands such as Marie Callender's, Banquet, Kid Cuisine, PF Chang's, Boston Market, and Atkins. While at Conagra, John spearheaded the launch of a new “Mega” brand that surpassed $200MM in sales. With the humanization of pet food as the biggest...

Andy Riesmeyer is filling in for Mo Kelly and he is talking taco bell AI drama and we are talking to Bob “TV Bob” Boden about game shows and game show rules. We are also getting into his new book, The Creative Leader: What Every Leader Should Know About The Art & Science of Creative Intelligence. It's all on KFIAM-640!

You have all the strategies, all the frameworks, and all the tools, but you're still not implementing them. At this point, you know the problem isn't your lack of knowledge. Today I'm switching things up from my usual strategy heavy episodes to tackle the real issue that's keeping you stuck: your mindset around marketing and content creation. After being surrounded by entrepreneurs outside my direct industry, I've realized we're complaining about posting 3 times a week while others are treating content creation like the full-time job it actually is. The truth is, we're headed toward a future where you can't afford to be on just 1 platform anymore, and if you can't manage 2 posts now, you're going to struggle when the standard becomes 6 posts across multiple platforms just to crack six figures. This isn't about adding more to your to-do list, it's about fundamentally shifting how you think about content and marketing in your business. I'm walking you through the exact mindset shifts that have allowed me to expand my marketing platforms and treat content creation like what it actually is: the primary way I make money. From stopping the comparison trap with other niches to understanding why discomfort in content creation is actually data, these shifts will change how you approach your entire marketing strategy. In today's episode, we're talking about: How to reframe every post as a salesperson knocking on 1,000 doors The difference between teaching and selling through content  Why comparing your content to other niches is sabotaging your strategy How comfort in content creation is actually preventing your growth  The mindset shift from inspiration-based posting to systematic content creation  Connect with me:  Website Join our email list! Instagram Pinterest Get creative support to turn your content into sales before, during and after your launches. From content classes to learn new campaign marketing skills, to custom designed assets completely done for you, we've thought of it all inside Sales Studio. Join today: https://highflierpowerhouse.com/retainer  Get the photoshoot, website, and content strategy you need to increase your business revenue and reputation. Apply for The Rebrand Experience https://highflierpowerhouse.com/rebrand-experience

Want clarity on your leadership style? Take the quiz at www.bebrightlisa.com/quiz Stepping out of corporate and into coaching, thought leadership, or entrepreneurship can feel like walking around in shoes that don't quite fit yet. You're excited about what's next, but you can't shake the feeling that you're still “becoming” the person you want to be. In this episode, visionary business coach and personal branding expert Lisa Guillot shares the identity-shifting work behind confident visibility. You'll learn how to release the version of you that no longer serves your vision and step into the leadership presence that will attract your future clients.

In this heartfelt episode of "Strong Mind, Strong Body," host Angie Miller sits down with featured guest, Cynthia Flores—creative director at NASM and design leader at Future London Academy—to explore the powerful concept of “growing without a map.” If you've ever felt the pressure to meticulously plan your life or relied on vision boards to shape your future, this conversation will encourage you to rethink what it means to be present, let go, and embrace uncertainty. Angie and Cynthia dive into why letting go of rigid plans can open new doors and foster genuine creativity, joy, and connection. Cynthia shares vulnerable moments from her personal life, including profound challenges as a mother navigating her son's mental health journey. Together, they examine how true joy is often found not in grand achievements, but in the simplest daily acts—like having a glass of water or taking a walk—the very moments we tend to overlook when fixated on future outcomes. They also tackle the impact of stress and fight-or-flight mode on creativity, with practical advice for leaders, fitness professionals, and anyone feeling stuck or overwhelmed. By blending professional insights and real-life stories, Cynthia and Angie reveal how curiosity, granting yourself permission to slow down, and finding small moments of joy can transform the way we experience both work and life. Whether you're navigating uncertainty or just seeking inspiration to release the “shoulds” in your life, this discussion is a must-listen. Grab a coffee, relax, and discover the art of growing without a map. If you like what you just consumed, leave us a 5-star review, and share this episode with a friend to help grow our NASM health and wellness community! The content shared in this podcast is solely for educational and entertainment purposes. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek out the guidance of your healthcare provider or other qualified professional. Any opinions expressed by guests and hosts are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of NASM. Introducing NASM One, the membership for trainers and coaches. For just $35/mo, get unlimited access to over 300 continuing education courses, 50% off additional certifications and specializations, EDGE Trainer Pro all-in-one coaching app to grow your business, unlimited exam attempts and select waived fees. Stay on top of your game and ahead of the curve as a fitness professional with NASM One. Click here to learn more. : https://bit.ly/4ddsgrm

Send us a textThe Marshall Islands face dual threats from the legacy of U.S. nuclear testing and the advancing impacts of climate change, creating an urgent struggle for justice and survival.On this episode of Breaking Green we are going to speak with Shem Livai.Shem Livai is a Director at Marshalls Energy Company in the Marshall Islands. He is a Ph.D. candidate in Creative Leadership for Innovation and Change from the University of the Virgin Islands, he has an MBA from the University of the South Pacific, and a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Hawai‘i. Text GIVE to 17162574187 to support Breaking Green's work lifting up the voices of those protecting forests, defending human rights and exposing false solutions.Support the show

Join Phil Cooke as he interviews Leray Heyne, a visionary CEO and founder of Jesus Christ's CEOs, transforming the Christian Business landscape. https://philcooke.com This powerful conversation explores how Christian Entrepreneurs and business leaders can thrive in today's marketplace, influence culture, and lead with Kingdom values. Learn how to integrate faith and leadership, discover opportunities in the influencer marketplace, and turn your business into a true Kingdom business that impacts lives.  Whether you're an established CEO or just starting your entrepreneurial journey, this episode is packed with wisdom, strategy, and encouragement to help you succeed without compromising your faith. 

Feeling stuck in decision fatigue? Take the quiz at www.bebrightlisa.com/quiz Ever said yes to a freelance project, a job, or a client and felt that pit in your stomach right after? In this episode, visionary business coach and personal branding expert Lisa Guillot dives deep into the difference between a “yes” that lights you up and one that quietly depletes you. She shares the exact tool she uses with her coaching clients (and herself) to make aligned decisions in life, leadership, and brand building, especially in those pivotal moments of reinvention.  

It is critical that we, as coaches, strive for cultural awareness in our work. One of the most important aspects of coaching is the richness of our differences and perspectives, and often, the voices that are heard the least are those that can teach us the most—if we only listen. We are exploring this important topic in today's episode. Ingrid Hu Dahl is an author, speaker, and leadership coach. She has written, filmed, and directed two short films exploring identity, representation, and the mixed-race experience. Her advocacy for underrepresented voices and the importance of inclusive coaching are at the heart of her memoir, Sun Shining on Morning Snow, which focuses on leadership, coaching, and personal connection. Ingrid is a TEDx speaker and the founder of a coaching and consulting business for emerging leaders. Inspired by her mother's passing, her work emphasized the need for coaches to create space for clients' experiences, challenge biases, and promote curiosity in conversations while encouraging individuals to reclaim their power and live authentically. Certified by the International Coach Federation and the Center for Creative Leadership, Ingrid's body of work is centered on connection, kindness, and inclusivity. She lives in Sausalito, CA, with her wife and their dog. Show Highlights:The book-writing journey for IngridThe traumatic impetus for her next steps was the loss of her mom to cancer.Holding space for your unique story and experiencesIngrid's path to advocacy for underrepresented voicesUsing curiosity over judgment and assumptionsThe dangers of “righteousness”Ingrid's tips for coaching for inclusion: slow down, start with the basics, and listen to understandOperating within a social system of power and oppressionReclaiming your personal powerIngrid's key takeaway: “You have one life to live, so choose your truth and live it fully.”Resources:Connect with Ingrid Hu Dahl: Website, Instagram, and Sun Shining on Morning Snow book Connect with Meg:ENROLLING NOW FOR THE FALL MENTOR PROGRAM beginning in September. Click here!Explore past episodes and other resources at www.STaRcoachshow.com. Explore the STaR Coach Community and see what's available there for you!Visit the STaR Coach Show YouTube Channel! Subscribe today! Join our live show taping on the 3rd Thursday of every month at 1 pm CT.

Want to know your leadership type? Take the quiz at www.bebrightlisa.com/quiz Have you ever said, “I just need to figure it out first…” before making a bold move in your career or business? In this episode, transformational leadership coach and personal branding expert Lisa Guillot calls out the most common mindset block smart, capable women face and exactly how to move through it. She shares a real-life coaching moment that unlocked a client's Clear Vision in just 27 minutes, and walks you through one of the most powerful tools from her upcoming book, Build Your Clear Vision. Whether you're dreaming of your next business, a creative pivot, or a rebrand that finally feels like you, this episode will help you stop spinning and start building.  

Welcome back to Your World of Creativity, the podcast where we explore the creative process across industries, around the globe, and from the stage to the studio. Today, we're talking steaks, strategy, and storytelling with a guest whose creativity spans real estate, law, mixology—and Wagyu. Yes, you heard that right.Joining us is Steve Haddadin, an accomplished entrepreneur with a decade-long real estate career, a newly sworn-in attorney, and the founder of National Wagyu Day—celebrated every June 21st on his birthday.Steve's Website @stevehaddadin on Instagram Steve's Facebook page We'll hear how this idea came to life, and how Steve continues to blend innovation into every area of his career.1: THE BIRTH OF NATIONAL WAGYU DAYSteve, let's start with what makes this episode so delicious—National Wagyu Day. What inspired you to create this celebration of Wagyu beef, and how did you go about officially declaring it? You've said the day welcomes both seasoned connoisseurs and first-timers—why was that inclusive spirit important to you?Why June 21st—and how does the symbolism of the summer solstice add to the day's meaning?2: THE FLAVOR OF CREATIVITYYour creativity clearly doesn't stop at business—tell us about the Smokin' Steve Old Fashioned cocktail you developed. What sparked that idea, and how does a drink become an experience? What role does sensory experience play in your creative work?How did your travels—like Japan or the Whiskey and Bourbon trails—influence your flavor creativity?3: BUILDING BRANDS WITH BOLD IDEASLet's zoom out a bit. You've scaled a real estate brokerage, installed EV charging stations, and passed the bar exam—all while launching personal brands. What's your framework for bringing an idea to life? You've said, ‘The more something is looked at as crazy or impossible, the more excited I get.' How do you manage risk while staying excited about disruption?How do you decide when an idea is worth turning into a movement—like you did with Wagyu Day?4: CREATIVE LEADERSHIP & COMMUNITY IMPACT Your work with the CSUF Center for Real Estate and your student endowment shows a passion for giving back. How do you bring creativity into mentorship and leadership? What does legacy mean to you?5: WHAT'S NEXT ON YOUR CREATIVE MENU?You've accomplished so much already—and at such a young age. What's next for you creatively? More food ventures, legal advocacy, tech innovation?Steve, what a treat—literally and creatively. Thanks for sharing your journey and how you've brought bold, flavorful ideas to life across industries. And listeners, whether you're enjoying Wagyu or Old Fashioneds—or just building your next creative venture—we hope this episode inspired you.And a special thanks to our sponsor, White Cloud Coffee Roasters. You can enjoy 10% off your first order at WhiteCloudCoffee.com with the code CREATIVITY at checkout.Be sure to subscribe, rate, and review Your World of Creativity wherever you listen to podcasts—and come back again as we continue exploring how creative professionals around the world turn ideas into action.

Evolving Leadership in a Tech-Driven Region In this episode, Michael chats with Mohamed—an Egyptian leader based in Saudi Arabia with a wealth of experience across the Middle East and Europe. The conversation explores the region's tech-fueled transformation and how it's reshaping business and leadership. With a young, dynamic population and a high-growth environment, the demand for leadership coaching is on the rise. Mohamed shared that leaders are realizing that information alone doesn't drive transformation—coaching does. Michael added that resilient leadership thrives in spaces where people feel empowered to adapt and grow, especially in today's fast-changing world. Coaching as a Catalyst for Leadership Growth Michael and Mohamed dive into why coaching is no longer optional—it's essential. Michael emphasized the power of being coachable and how reaching out to mentors can elevate a leader's impact. Mohamed echoed this, noting that one of the biggest hurdles in leadership development is working with individuals unwilling to learn. Together, they highlighted how coaching unlocks personal clarity and drives sustainable leadership growth—though not everyone is ready to embrace the process. From Fear to the Front of the Room: A Nurse's Speaking Breakthrough Michael shared an inspiring story of a nurse educator he once hired who struggled with public speaking. With encouragement and support, she stepped out of her comfort zone, pursued speaking opportunities, and eventually landed a leadership role in the healthcare system. The takeaway? When we identify and support the unique passions of our team, we unlock potential that transforms careers—and organizations. The Human Side of AI in Leadership AI may be changing how we work, but as Michael and Mohamed discussed, it can't replace the human elements of leadership—empathy, coaching, and connection. Mohamed shared thoughtful insights on the evolving role of AI in the workplace and the need for leaders to remain adaptable. Michael noted that while AI can supercharge productivity and creativity, the true essence of leadership will always be rooted in relationships. Global Impact: Mercer's Role in Leadership Development The episode wraps with a look at the global work Mohamed is doing with Mercer, helping shape the next generation of leaders through innovative coaching and development programs. He encourages listeners to connect with him on LinkedIn for more on Mercer's approach to building resilient, future-ready leaders around the world.   Mohamed Hamza is a renowned authority on leadership assessment and development. As a certified executive coach, facilitator, and assessor, he has made significant impacts across the GCC, Europe, and Africa. Mohamed currently designs and delivers cutting-edge leadership solutions to top clients as Senior Client Success Director at Mercer. With over 15 years of experience, Mohamed has coached over 3,000 leaders from future talents to C-suite executives in over 60 multinational organizations like PepsiCo, Microsoft, and Saudi ministries. He has trained 200+ professional coaches and established corporate academies generating multi-million dollar revenues. Mohamed holds coaching credentials from the International Coach Federation (PCC), Center for Creative Leadership, and Ashridge-Hult. Mohamed can share invaluable insights into leadership development, coaching, and building high-performing teams. His diverse experiences assessing and developing leaders globally across cultures allow him to discuss a wide range of relevant topics. Podcast hosts and audiences can expect practical wisdom and real-world examples from Mohamed's extensive expertise in this field. LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/mohamed-hamza-b9a54b28/ Website:  https://thetalententerprise.com/  

Today, the Spotlight shines On someone we have not spoken to in a while…Over the years, we have periodically turned the tables by having friends and colleagues interview me, most notably in episode 100, or by airing talks and interviews I have done in other forums.Today is a little different. My longtime friend and colleague Jeremy Sirota is hosting a livestream series on LinkedIn called Creative Leadership. There, he interviews figures from the worlds of music, sports, business, and more to discuss their work in applying creativity to realms that are not often thought of as creative fields. I liked the idea and asked him to run his format on me. What follows is that talk.–Dig DeeperVisit Jeremy Sirota at jeremysirota.com and connect with him on LinkedInVisit Lawrence Peryer at lawrenceperyer.com and connect with him on LinkedInMerlin - Digital rights music licensing partner for independent record labelsJazz Journalist Association - Professional organization for jazz writers and criticsLateral Thinking - Edward de Bono's problem-solving methodologyBrian Eno Against Interpretation - The source of the quote that Jeremy referencesDig into this episode's complete show notes at spotlightonpodcast.com–• Did you enjoy this episode? Please share it with a friend! You can also rate Spotlight On ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.• Subscribe! Be the first to check out each new episode of Spotlight On in your podcast app of choice.• Looking for more? Visit spotlightonpodcast.com for bonus content, web-only interviews + features, and the Spotlight On email newsletter. You can also follow us on Bluesky, Mastodon, YouTube, and LinkedIn.• Be sure to bookmark our online magazine, The Tonearm! → thetonearm.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Over the last year and a half, I completely transformed my social media strategy from sales-first to brand-first marketing. The results have been incredible: increased reach, higher conversion rates, better engagement, and more qualified leads across every metric I track. In today's episode, I'm breaking down exactly how I made this shift and why it's been a game-changer for my seven-figure creative agency. If you're tired of your social media feeling like a constant sales pitch that's not converting, or if you notice your engagement drops every time you launch, this episode is for you. I'm sharing the 5 specific problems I discovered with sales-first marketing.  Plus, I'm walking you through my exact framework for transitioning your audience without confusing them or tanking your sales. You'll learn how to retrain both the platform algorithm and your audience to expect something different from you, why storytelling sells better than direct pitches, and how to make your social media feel exclusive while moving conversions to email, podcasts, or other channels where people are actually ready to buy. The best part? Social media gets to feel fun and creative again instead of something you have to do to make money. In this episode, we're chatting about: • The 5 problems with sales-first marketing • Brand-first marketing framework  • The transition strategy  • Platform exclusivity method  Connect with me:  Website Join our email list! Instagram Pinterest Get creative support to turn your content into sales before, during and after your launches. From content classes to learn new campaign marketing skills, to custom designed assets completely done for you, we've thought of it all inside Sales Studio. Join today: https://highflierpowerhouse.com/retainer  Get the photoshoot, website, and content strategy you need to increase your business revenue and reputation. Apply for The Rebrand Experience https://highflierpowerhouse.com/rebrand-experience

Today, the Spotlight shines On someone we have not spoken to in a while…Over the years, we have periodically turned the tables by having friends and colleagues interview me, most notably in episode 100, or by airing talks and interviews I have done in other forums.Today is a little different. My longtime friend and colleague Jeremy Sirota is hosting a livestream series on LinkedIn called Creative Leadership. There, he interviews figures from the worlds of music, sports, business, and more to discuss their work in applying creativity to realms that are not often thought of as creative fields. I liked the idea and asked him to run his format on me. What follows is that talk.–Dig DeeperVisit Jeremy Sirota at jeremysirota.com and connect with him on LinkedInVisit Lawrence Peryer at lawrenceperyer.com and connect with him on LinkedInMerlin - Digital rights music licensing partner for independent record labelsJazz Journalist Association - Professional organization for jazz writers and criticsLateral Thinking - Edward de Bono's problem-solving methodologyBrian Eno Against Interpretation - The source of the quote that Jeremy referencesDig into this episode's complete show notes at spotlightonpodcast.com–• Did you enjoy this episode? Please share it with a friend! You can also rate Spotlight On ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.• Subscribe! Be the first to check out each new episode of Spotlight On in your podcast app of choice.• Looking for more? Visit spotlightonpodcast.com for bonus content, web-only interviews + features, and the Spotlight On email newsletter. You can also follow us on Bluesky, Mastodon, YouTube, and LinkedIn.• Be sure to bookmark our online magazine, The Tonearm! → thetonearm.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Do you struggle with understanding the Bible? I've found that only when you start to understand the cultural context, will you start to understand scripture. In this video, as a producer and media executive with a PhD in Theology, https://philcooke.com I share the single greatest way I've found to study the Bible using a chronological Bible. Find out my recommendations that will revolutionize your Bible study and elevate your understanding of God's plan for your life and career.

Kassi Kincaid is a leading expert in creative leadership. She is a speaker, trainer, and author committed to helping people leverage their creativity to lead with greater impact and innovation. As the visionary behind Book Days — an international children's literacy initiative — Kassi has seen how creative thinking can turn small ideas into global movements. Her journey from building a grassroots literacy project to inspiring professionals across industries fuels her mission: to equip leaders and teams with practical creativity frameworks that spark innovation, increase engagement, and drive meaningful change. Mentioned on the ShowKassi Kincaid's website: https://www.kassikincaid.com/Learn more about Book Days: https://www.bookdays.org/Connect with Kassi on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kassi-kincaid-speakerThe Edge of Creativity by Kassi Kincaid: https://a.co/d/hSVLMqNListen to Kassi's podcast: https://pod.link/1714322040_______________________Connect with O'Brien McMahon on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/obrienmcmahon/Learn more about O'Brien: https://obrienmcmahon.com/________________________Timestamps(00:00) Welcome to People Business.(00:19) Meet Kassi Kincaid: Creative Leadership Expert(05:06) How do you define creativity?(10:15) How did the Book Days initiative come about?(14:55) Creativity in kids vs. adults.(19:06) Intrinsic vs. extrinsic motivation.(27:05) What role does rest play with creativity?(35:24) How do we bring creativity into our workplaces? (42:50) Is creativity something that can be learned?(52:55) How can creativity improve our work success?(55:05) Contacting Kassi and final thoughts on creativity.

In this episode of The Design Pop, Alexandra welcomes Jennifer Evans, VP of Design and Development at Hyphn, formerly BKM. With nearly two decades of experience rising through the same dealership, Jennifer shares her unique journey from project designer to leadership.She reveals how curiosity, problem-solving, and a passion for process led her upward. They explore how Hyphn's evolution—from rebranding to strategic acquisition—has strengthened its culture and diversified its services to meet the changing demands of today's workplace.Jennifer also talks about building strong design teams, empowering designers through live design sessions, incentivizing client engagement, and embracing the "uncomfortable" as a pathway to growth. Throughout this episode, Jennifer shares insights on capacity challenges, industry training gaps, and the mindset shift that's required to lead effectively.What if the key to elevating dealer design isn't just mastering tools, but learning how to create better conversations?Subscribe to The Design POP to access POP into Excellence recordings.Use this link for $75 off Configura's Experience in Orlando. Or use promo code TheDesignPOP75 at checkout.Follow us on social media to hear more about our upcoming launches on The Design POP. Instagram and LinkedIn.The Design Pop is an Imagine a Place Production (presented by OFS)Connect with Alexandra on LinkedInFollow The Design Pop on LinkedIn

Go behind the scenes of The Sphere in Las Vegas as Phil Cooke https://philcooke.com interviews Head of Physical Production, Ralph Winter. Proven to be one of Hollywood's most profitable assets with blockbusters including X-MEN, PLANET OF THE APES, and WOLVERINE, Ralph takes us inside the production process of The Sphere's cinematic experience, including award-winning director Darren Aronofsky's “Postcard from Earth” produced for the Las Vegas venue. Includes inside information on filming with the Big Sky Camera featuring a 165-degree wide field of view, produced for the world's largest high-definition LED screen with 164,000 speakers in the building. Filmmakers will appreciate the storytelling process in this unique medium and the career advice from this seasoned Hollywood producer!

Send us a textIn this deeply reflective episode recorded at Pax8 Beyond 2025, Joey Pinz chats with legal-tech leader, artist, and founder of Cloud Contracts 365, Kim Simmonds. From songwriting at the piano to transforming legal AI for MSPs, Kim opens up about the intersections of creativity, leadership, and transformation.The conversation begins in melody and moves into mission — how Kim's self-taught songwriting parallels her bold move to launch an AI-powered legal tool designed just for MSPs. She shares her views on the ethical risks of careless AI use (including lawyers being debarred for citing fake case law), and how her platform avoids hallucinations by not relying on LLMs.They explore differences between US and UK work culture, the undervaluation of MSP services in England, and why shifting from revenue-chasing to meaningful service is the ultimate mindset upgrade. 

In this episode of Daily Creative, we dive into the heart of what it means to be a purposeful leader—both in our creative work and our lives. We explore how easy it is to drift away from our core motivations as we advance in our careers, and what it really takes to stay anchored to what matters most.We're joined by Klaus Kleinfeld, the only Fortune 500 CEO to have led two companies on different continents and author of Leading To Thrive, and Eric Liedtke, former brand president at Adidas and current brand leader at Under Armour and Unless Collective. Together, they share powerful stories about leadership, self-awareness, and navigating the internal and external games of success.We explore themes like managing energy (not just time), the critical importance of integrating our personal and professional selves, and how true change starts from within. From a CEO who redefined performance to a creative leader who risked it all to align with his values, this episode is packed with actionable insights for anyone who wants to lead with soul and purpose.Five Key Learnings from This Episode:Leadership Drift Is Subtle: Progress in your career can often feel like success, but without anchoring to your core values, you may end up far from the person or leader you intended to be.Inner and Outer Games Matter: Success isn't just about external achievements—the “outer game”—but also about understanding who you are, what you want, and managing your energy (“inner game”) to have sustainable impact.Energy, Not Just Time, Is Key: True high performance comes from managing and recharging your energy, not just filling your calendar. Micro-habits and rest are not signs of weakness but essential for sustained creativity and leadership.Integration, Not Balance: We're not meant to keep work and life in separate silos. Thriving as leaders means integrating our professional ambitions with our deeper personal values.Purpose Fuels Action: Checking in with yourself about your true motivations isn't just self-care—it shapes your decisions, your team's culture, and your overall impact, whether you're leading a Fortune 500 company or launching a mission-driven startup.Get full interviews and bonus content for free! Just join the list at DailyCreative.app.Mentioned in this episode:To listen to the full interviews from today's episode, as well as receive bonus content and deep dive insights from the episode, visit DailyCreativePlus.com and join Daily Creative+.To listen to the full interviews from today's episode, as well as receive bonus content and deep dive insights from the episode, visit DailyCreativePlus.com and join Daily Creative+.The Brave Habit is available nowMy new book will help you make bravery a habit in your life, your leadership, and your work. Discover how to develop the two qualities that lead to brave action: Optimistic Vision and Agency. Buy The Brave Habit wherever books are sold, or learn more at TheBraveHabit.com.

Episode SummaryCreative teams have the potential to shape culture, drive innovation, and steer brand— but most companies still treat them like a service desk.Emma Sexton has spent over a decade building the one thing most creative leaders don't have: a roadmap to power.As founder of the Inside Out® Community and architect of the Inside Out® Pathway, she's helping in-house leaders move from overlooked execution to boardroom influence.In this episode, Emma joins us to reframe creative leadership as a business-critical multiplier— and reveal the zones of progression that help leaders claim their seat at the table.We talk brand ownership, creative ops evolution, the burnout of CMOs, and why organizations that ignore creative leadership might be leaving their most scalable advantage on the table.Key TakeawaysCreative leadership is a force multiplier—not a production function.The Inside Out® Pathway offers a clear map for in-house teams to grow from executional to visionary.Most teams are stuck in the middle—between delivery and strategy—without a language or framework to rise.Creative ops isn't the star—it's the system that helps leadership scale.AI shifts the baseline—creativity's value now lies in judgment, influence, and strategic decision-making.Passive Listening to Active ThinkingUse these prompts to reflect solo—or spark deep conversations with your team:What part of your identity or leadership style is keeping your team stuck in their current zone?If no one in your org believes creative work can shape business strategy—what have you done to prove them wrong?Are you spending more time defending creative value… or demonstrating it at the business level?If your team had total permission to lead, not just deliver—what would you stop doing first?Who benefits from you staying small?

If you've ever felt awkward sharing the gospel, join media executive Phil Cooke in this insightful and entertaining conversation with J.John, internationally known evangelist, speaker, and author, as they explore how to effectively share the Gospel and make disciples in a modern, digital world. In this interview, you'll gain actionable advice on: ·       How to share the Gospel without feeling awkward ·       Why many churches avoid evangelism—and how to change that ·       How to be intentional in witnessing: praying, caring, and sharing ·       What it means to live out your calling as an evangelist ·       How Jesus' conversation with the Samaritan woman teaches us to break barriers ·       Why every Christian is a witness—either good or bad For over four decades, J.John has preached the message of Jesus Christ across 69 countries, written bestselling books like “The Ten” and inspired millions through TV, podcasts, and live events. ➡️ Whether you're a church leader, new believer, or long-time Christian, this conversation will equip and inspire you to make disciples and fulfill the Great Commission.

Most high performers have mastered efficiency—they can knock out to-do lists like pros. But what if all that efficiency is just keeping you busy… not moving you forward? In this episode, Kate dives into one of the most transformative mindset shifts for ambitious professionals: the difference between being efficient and being effective. You'll learn: Why doing more isn't always doing better The truth about “rocking chair tasks” vs. real needle-movers How to audit your time for impact (not just activity) Why the true goal of time management is more life, not more work Packed with real-life examples, practical strategies, and Kate's signature blend of clarity and humor, this is a must-listen for anyone looking to shift out of overwork and into impact. Grab my free Quarterly Retreat Planning Guide to help you map your year and reclaim your calendar.  Want more great tips on how you can continue to pursue excellence without burning out?  Grab a copy of my new book, Beyond Potential: A Guide for Creatives Who Want to Re-Assess, Re-Define, and Re-Ignite Their Careers.  Let's Hang Out!  Follow me on Instagram: @kkayaian

In this soulful and energising episode, host Len May dives deep into the journey of Rajiv Nathan—also known as RajNATION—entrepreneur, storyteller, hip-hop artist, and founder of Startup Hype Man. From growing up as a first-gen Indian American in Chicago to building a brand that empowers startups to pitch with power, Rajiv shares how his upbringing, love for professional wrestling, and passion for music shaped his unique approach to business. Discover how storytelling isn't just a marketing buzzword but a legacy tool—and why discipline, identity, and authenticity are crucial ingredients for long-term success.EndoDNA: EndoDNA offers a tailored health and wellness experience through DNA analysis, empowering users with insights on nutrition, lifestyle, and supplement choices based on their genetic profile. The company has achieved rapid traction, serving over 7,000 customers across 16 countries, securing relationships with top wellness providers like BellaVitta HRT Clinics, and actively engaging in clinical studies with institutions such as Harvard Medical. Click here to check out to take control over your Personal Health & Wellness   Connect with EndoDNA on SOCIAL: IG | X | YOUTUBE | FB Connect with host, Len May, on IG    

Leslie Grandy is an author, speaker, and CEO advisor who guides companies, teams, and product leaders to expand their creative capacity to invent and innovate for customers, disrupt and grow their market opportunities, and maintain relevance in a fast-changing world. Organizations like Oracle, Starbucks, and Red Robin Gourmet Burgers turn to Leslie to ignite creativity across their workforce and empower everyone, regardless of role or level, to identify novel solutions and think expansively. Leslie's book, "Creative Velocity," debuts in early 2025.Leslie's career has taken her on a 25+ year journey, from a successful career in the film industry in Los Angeles as a member of the Directors Guild of America to iconic brands, such as Amazon, Best Buy, Discovery, T-Mobile, and Apple. She's built teams from the ground up and led multiple first-to-market products; she was on the front end of the earliest digital media subscription services from major content brands like Major League Baseball, NASCAR, CNN, and ABCNews and co-authored a patent currently held by Intel. Leslie has led internal innovation labs and is an IDEO-trained leader in Design Thinking. Leslie has educated product leaders and executives through The Product Guild, the University of Michigan College of Engineering's Center for Entrepreneurship, and as a guest lecturer at the University of Washington Foster School of Business.  She co-created and serves as the Lead Executive in Residence in the Product Management Leadership Accelerator, part of the Foster School's Executive Education program. She is a member of the Board of Advisors and Adjunct Faculty at Regis College's Marshall Sloane School of Business in Product Management and Service Design and West Virginia University's College of Creative Arts and Media.

In a recent Sales Pop Expert Insight Interview, John Golden spoke with international design thought leader Vincent Wanga about the crucial role of creatives within organizations. Wanga emphasized that creatives often feel misunderstood and isolated. He stressed the importance of humility, open communication, and for creative leaders to act as conduits, translating creative vision into business objectives. Key to this is creatives understanding business metrics, particularly in sales and marketing, to better advocate for their work and build collaborative relationships across departments. Wanga also highlighted that leadership is a sacrificial role, requiring a business mindset and strong interpersonal skills.

In this episode of Windowsill Chats, Margo is joined by the brilliant and multifaceted Vincent Wanga—an international design thought leader, award-winning creative executive, keynote speaker, and author of The Art of Direction. With a career spanning two decades, Vince has not only built brands but built pathways for creatives to rise into leadership, blending vision, empathy, and business acumen. Margo and Vince dive deep into the rarely talked about pivot from doing creative work to leading it—unpacking the realities behind creative direction and what it truly takes to thrive in high-impact leadership roles.   Margo and Vince discuss: What creative directors actually do—and why no one talks about it The soft skills that define strong leadership (spoiler: empathy leads the pack) Navigating the blurred line between creativity and strategy How to lead with integrity and inspiration in fast-paced, tech-forward industries Vince's personal journey from designer to executive at a billion-dollar startup The importance of mentorship and representation in creative leadership How creatives can stay grounded in their artistry while scaling their careers Actionable tips from The Art of Direction for moving beyond individual contributor roles Why AI won't replace the creative soul—but how we do need to adapt   Whether you're a designer, artist, or creative professional wondering what's next, this conversation will equip you with clarity, direction, and a renewed sense of purpose.   Connect with Vince: https://www.vincentwanga.com Book: The Art of Direction  LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/vincent-wanga   Connect with Margo: https://www.tantaustudio.com https://www.instagram.com/windowsillchats/ https://www.patreon.com/c/inthewindowsill https://www.yourtantaustudio.com/thefoundry  

Director and choreographer Sam Landa joins for his first appearance on the podcast to talk about reimagining what circus can be—and how LIQUID uses punk aesthetics, narrative, and high-stakes performance to deliver something unforgettable.As co-founder of New York Circus Project, Sam blends circus, theater, and dance to push creative boundaries. We recorded this at Union Market District in DC just after the premiere of LIQUID. Sam shares how his training as an aerialist, studies in computer science, and passion for problem-solving come together to shape a bold vision for contemporary circus.Why he launched New York Circus Project to elevate circus beyond noveltyWhat Hamlet taught him about fusing acrobatics with theatrical canonHow punk, aerial work, and cocktail menus collided in LIQUIDThoughts on audience risk, narrative grounding, and creative leadershipThe role of stakes and structure in multidisciplinary productions

In the ever-evolving landscape of art and technology, the fusion of creativity and artificial intelligence is opening new horizons for artists worldwide. In a recent episode of Creative Genius, host Kate Shepherd engages in a thought-provoking conversation with Troy Plota, the visionary behind Plotaverse, exploring how AI can serve as a powerful ally in the creative process.The Intersection of Art and Technology:Troy Plota's journey from a seasoned photographer to the founder of a groundbreaking digital platform exemplifies the transformative potential of embracing technological advancements. Plotaverse, his innovative app, brought motion to still images, captivating audiences and achieving remarkable success with over 10 million downloads. Democratizing Creativity:A central theme in the discussion is the democratization of art through AI. Troy emphasizes that AI tools can empower individuals with creative visions but limited resources, enabling them to bring their ideas to life without the need for substantial budgets or technical expertise.Spiritual Insights and Creative Inspiration:Beyond technology, the conversation delves into the spiritual dimensions of creativity. Troy shares a profound personal experience where he was inspired by a dream, awakening with a complete screenplay in mind. This narrative underscores the mysterious and often transcendent nature of artistic inspiration.Building Creative Communities:The episode also highlights the importance of community and service in the artistic journey. Troy discusses how platforms like Plotaverse can foster connections among artists, creating supportive environments that nurture creativity and innovation.The dialogue between Kate Shepherd and Troy Plota offers valuable insights into how embracing AI can enhance, rather than hinder, human creativity. By viewing technology as a collaborative partner, artists can unlock new realms of expression and contribute to a vibrant, inclusive creative landscape.To explore more about Troy Plota's work, visit PlotaverseKey Topics:The inception and impact of PlotaverseAI as a tool for creative empowermentBalancing technology with human artistrySpiritual insights and their influence on creativityBuilding communities through shared artistic endeavorsNotable Quotes:"Creativity is a universal calling.""AI can enhance creativity rather than replace it.""Community and service to others can help combat fear and anxiety."Resources:Plotaverse Official WebsiteTroy Plota's Personal SiteDor Brothers Video MentionedGuest Bio:Troy Plota is a seasoned photographer and digital artist with over 30 years of experience. He is the founder of Plotaverse, a platform that revolutionized digital art by animating still images, garnering over 10 million downloads and reaching #1 in the App Store. Troy's work has been featured in prominent publications like Vanity Fair, GQ, and Rolling Stone. Episode Highlights:Discussion on the role of AI in democratizing creativityInsights into the development and success of PlotaverseExploration of spiritual experiences influencing artistic endeavorsEmphasis on building supportive creative communitiesSubscribe to Creative Genius, leave a review, and support us on Patreon at patreon.com/creativegeniuspodcast.

What does it mean to truly let go? How do you know when it's time to move on, trust the journey, and step into a new chapter of your creative life? In this special episode, longtime Unleash producer, mentee, Emmy Award Winning journalist and dear friend, Rachel Fulton joins me to reflect on our three-year creative partnership as she graduates and moves into her new role as a TV reporter and anchor. We talk about the beauty and challenge of mentorship, navigating career transitions, and how leadership rooted in trust and love can change lives. From letting go to growing forward, this conversation is for any creative who's ready to honor their evolution, embrace new beginnings, and lead with love — both for themselves and the people they create with.From this episode, you'll learn:-How to build a mentorship that empowers true creative growth-What leadership looks like when it's rooted in trust and collaboration-Why letting go is an essential, and often overlooked, part of the creative process-How to stay connected to your creative calling even when your path evolves-How standing up for yourself with love and integrity strengthens every creative relationshipOn The Guest: Today's guest is Unleash Your Inner Creative Producer, Rachel Fulton. She's a three-time Emmy-nominated journalist who will be graduating from Michigan State University this week and will be pursuing a career as the weekend morning anchor and multi-media journalist for WILX, News 10, Lansing's NBC-affiliated news station. More on Rachel