The Creative Boom Podcast

The Spark: Rob Draper on Old-School Electro, Portrait-a-Day and Nike Dreams

In this bonus episode, Katy Cowan and Rob Draper swap the big career questions for something a lot more daft – a quickfire ramble through nostalgia, confessions and very

Why Starting From Scratch Might Be the Best Thing That Ever Happens to You, with Rob Draper

Lettering artist, designer and University of Worcester fellow Rob Draper joins Katy Cowan to close out the season with a warm, philosophical conversation about starting o

The Spark: Katy Ennis-Hargreaves on croc hatred, accidental shoplifting and Vivienne Westwood

In the second, faster, slightly more feral half of the recording this week, Katy Ennis-Hargreaves of BOLDISM stays in the chair for The Spark – the rapid-fire round where

Why Being Yourself Is Your Biggest Creative Advantage, with Katy Ennis-Hargreaves of BOLDISM

Katy Ennis-Hargreaves of design studio BOLDISM joins Katy Cowan for an honest conversation about what happens when you stop watering yourself down and start living as you

The Spark: Malika Favre on Coffee, Dinner Party Dreams and a Cheeky Confession

It's time for the Spark – our weekly bonus episode where we step away from the work and get to know our guest a little better through a round of quick, fun questions. No

Building a Career in Illustration on Your Own Terms, with Malika Favre

Artist and illustrator Malika Favre joins host Katy Cowan for a wide-ranging conversation about building a creative career on your own terms. They talk about why Malika l

The Spark: Jimmy Turrell on Snails, Rave Culture and Creative Chaos

Artist Jimmy Turrell returns for The Spark, where things get a little weirder and a lot more chaotic. This week, we talk about the creative power of curiosity, the music

Creativity, AI and the Truth About Staying Original, with Jimmy Turrell

Jimmy Turrell joins host Katy Cowan for a sprawling, funny and unexpectedly moving conversation about creativity, working-class roots, growing up in the North East, and s

The Spark: James Martin on Pasta, Pet Peeves and a Few Unfiltered Truths

Right, this is where things get a bit more… unhinged. In this bonus episode, Katy and James Martin ditch the big topics and just have a proper chat. It's looser, more pla

Personal Branding, Visibility and the Truth No One Tells You, with James Martin

What does "personal branding" actually mean anymore? And do we really need to be visible all the time to build a successful creative career? In this episode, Katy sits d

The Spark: Natty Harris on Good Pens, Big Feelings and Pasta Personalities

After a pretty emotional main episode, we ease things up a bit with Natty Harris in this week's Spark. And yes, there's still depth, but there's also plenty of laughs. W

Grief, Growth and Rebuilding a Creative Life, with Natty Harris

This week, Katy sits down with senior designer Natty Harris for a deeply honest and emotional conversation about grief, loss, and rebuilding your life when everything cha

The Spark: David Airey on Hot Takes, Bad Habits, and Big Life Questions

n this Spark episode, things get a bit looser and a bit more revealing. Katy puts David Airey on the spot with a mix of quick-fire questions, unexpected tangents, and the

On 20 Years in Design, Letting Go of 'More', and Why Discipline Beats Passion, with David Airey

Katy sits down with legendary graphic designer and author David Airey to talk about two decades in the industry, but this isn't just a conversation about logos, books, an

The Spark: Liz Seabrook on Matcha, Side Hustles and Being Seen

Photographer Liz Seabrook is back for The Spark. Slightly subdued, a little chaotic, but still brilliantly honest. What starts as a playful chat about matcha and East Lo

AI, Beauty Standards and the Death of Realness, with Liz Seabrook

What happens when everything starts to look the same? In this episode, Katy sits down with photographer Liz Seabrook to talk about image-making in a world that feels incr

The Spark: Jessie McGuire on Why Fast Isn't Better, Imposter Syndrome and Dinner with Elton John

essie McGuire returns for The Spark, where things get a little looser and a lot more revealing. She shares what she's tired of seeing in the creative world right now, in

Imagination, Conviction and Design That Isn't Neutral, with Jessie McGuire

What if design isn't neutral at all? In this episode, Katy sits down with Jessie McGuire, partner at New York design studio Thought Matter, to explore the real power of c

The Spark: Adam J. Kurtz on Getting a Dog, Wearing Socks and Letting Go of Cool

n this week's Spark, Adam J. Kurtz gets refreshingly honest about creativity, identity, and letting go of perfection. From why "good enough" is often more than enough, t

From New York to 'Now What?': Starting Over on Your Own Terms, with Adam J. Kurtz

In this week's episode, Katy sits down with artist, author and beautifully honest human Adam J. Kurtz to talk about what happens when you reach the thing you thought you