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These podcasts about creativity will inspire you to think outside the box and try something new!
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I recently received an email from Lynn, who just discovered this blog and asked if I could recommend some good podcasts about creativity.
She didn't provide details, but I assume that (like most of us) Lynn has been at home for the last 4 or more weeks because of the global COVID-19 lockdown, and she feels the need to use her creative mind.
I totally know how Lynn feels, and I'm glad that she wrote to me, because I might have skipped this type of podcast recommendation otherwise.
Being creative during trying times seems counter intuitive. A crisis calls for being practical and level-headed, not dreaminess and artistry.
But I've decided that being creative takes many different forms.
There's the "resourceful" type of creativity that most of us have been forced into (like Zoom calls, backyard workouts, and pantry cooking).
Then there's the "proactive" type of creativity, like starting a side hustle to make more money, or finding new ways to cut back on spending. I think that the volunteers making face masks fall into this category.
And of course, there's the "artistic" creativity, that I think Lynn was actually asking me to help out with. Writing, drawing, making music, creating art, starting a podcast; all of those things can relieve stress and anxiety, as well as make you feel productive.
Try These Creativity Podcasts to Get Those Juices Flowing
With all of these types of creativity in mind, I searched my podcast player and came up with the following five podcasts to check out (plus a bonus for the ladies).
Whether you have all the time in the world right now, or you’re just trying to squeeze in some “me time” between all of your responsibilities, I hope these podcasts will inspire you and spark your creative juices.
How to Raise a Parent - Episode 2
This podcast only has three episodes total (not sure what happened there), but it’s episode 2 that I listened to last year and absolutely loved.
In this episode, you’ll be reminded what it was like to use your imagination and be creative back when you were a kid. Before your adult brain got all, “Oh, you can’t do it that way, there are rules”.
I think this is the perfect podcast about creativity to start with because it helps you shake off the chains of limitation and gives you permission to imagine freely and wildly.
Listen to How to Raise a Parent
Creativity School Podcast with Grace Chon
This podcast is all about getting out of your own way when it comes to creativity.
Grace Chon is a commercial and editorial animal photographer. She's well-known for her highly expressive portraits of animals. On this podcast, she talks a lot about creativity as “work” (like, if you’re going to start a side hustle, or write the next great novel), but you can totally put her advice to use for anxiety-relieving creativity, too.
Most of the episodes of this show are interviews with creative entrepreneurs, that run about an hour. Personally, I like the shorter (half hour) episodes that are just Grace talking right to you.
Be sure to listen to the episode about creativity and perfectionism (aka, how being a perfectionist can stunt your creativity!).
I also recommend the episode about creativity and the brain, which is Grace’s summary of the Netflix documentary The Creative Brain.
Books by Grace Chon
Grace Chon has a couple of books that make me smile, so I just have to recommend them here. They both feature portraits of dogs and they are a joy to look at.
You May Also Like: 5 Practical Photography Podcasts to Grow Your Business
Start With This Podcast
There are a ton of great writing podcasts out there, but this one is my favorite by far.
In every episode of Start With This, hosts Jeffrey Cranor and Joseph Fink (they're the cowriters of the wildly successful fiction podcast Welcome to Night Vale) talk about creative writing and how to actually just get your ideas out of your head and written down.
At the end of each episode, they give you homework assignments, which include a piece of writing (or sometimes music) to consume and something to create.
It’s often said that if you want to be great at something, you also have to consume a lot of it, which is why I think this podcast format is genius.
Listen to Start With This - Want to see the actual assignments for each episode? Check them out here.
Check Out the Welcome to Night Vale Books
Welcome to Night Vale is a podcast, but Jeffrey Cranor and Joseph Fink have translated that audio into book form, with several novels based on each podcast season. Be sure to check out all of the Welcome to Night Vale books (they're a combination of science fiction, fantasy, comedy, and horror, with LGBTQ+ inclusivity).
The Lazy Genius
This is one of my top recommendations for productivity podcasts, but it’s also one of my favorite shows for creative ideas.
Host Kendra Adachi is always coming up with creative ways to prioritize and organize everyday life. This is a different kind of creativity that I think we could all use, even when we're not dealing with a pandemic.
Kendra recently gave advice on how to add freshness to repetitive meals (because most of us are stuck making the same ol’ things right now).
Other great episodes that can spark creativity in your daily life:
#148 Making Memories Like a Lazy Genius
#132 Ten Steps To Creating Your Own Traditions
Companion Book: The Lazy Genius Way
Kendra wrote a book, titled The Lazy Genius Way, and it's one of my favorite books of all time. It takes what she does in the podcast and bumps it up a notch, teaching you 13 Lazy Genius Principles that you can use for just about any situation.
I waited to buy this book until it was on sale, and then I kicked myself for not buying it sooner! Get yourself a copy ASAP!
The Creativity Matters Podcast (CMP)
Here’s a fun and quirky show (with a HUGE backlog of episodes) that taps into artistic creativity.
Common episode topics include sketching, drawing, art journaling, bullet journaling, collage, and more. Host Amy Cowen even reviews books about those creative themes in some episodes.
I recently listened to episode #347, titled Walk Around, in which Amy tells the story of her recent stroll around town, the things she noticed, and how it sparked creativity.
Another fun episode is #309, titled Doodle Dots. When Amy starts describing doodles around the 10 minute mark, you’ll be mesmerized.
Bonus Episode (for female readers)
The Goal Digger Podcast
If you’re a woman and your body goes through a typical monthly cycle, you’ll want to listen to this episode of the Goal Digger podcast.
In the episode, host Jenna Kutcher interviews Claire Baker, a life coach with a focus on woman and their periods.
Claire explains how your creativity and productivity are directly linked to your cycle, and how you can adjust your schedule to tap into your creativity when your body is really ready for it.
I know a lot of women who were in their late 30s by the time they realized how their hormones work for and against them. Imagine how things might have been different if we'd all had this podcast episode sooner!
Your Turn to Recommend
What podcasts do you listen to in order to get your creative juices flowing? Leave a comment below to share with me and the rest of the podcast-loving readers!
