"I find myself being too comfortable. If it gets too easy, maybe something is wrong and I need to shake things up." - Danaé Gosset

In this captivating conversation, Danaé Gosset shares her remarkable transformation from a rebellious French student kicked out of multiple schools to becoming the founder of Pencil TV, a acclaimed mixed-media animation studio. Her journey reveals how embracing difficulty, trusting intuition, and finding the right mentors can turn chaos into creative gold. 

Danaé discusses her unique approach to stop-motion animation, the power of silent retreats for creative breakthroughs, and why she deliberately chooses the harder path in both her work and life decisions, including her upcoming move from Paris to Los Angeles.

Key takeaways:

• Embrace the difficult path - Choosing harder processes often leads to more distinctive and meaningful creative work that stands out commercially
• Trust your inner compass - Even during chaotic periods, maintaining faith that "things will be okay" can guide you toward the right opportunities
• Create space for purposeless play - Not everything needs to serve a business goal; creative experimentation without agenda often becomes the source of breakthrough work
• Build creative habits like fitness - Treat personal creative work as essential maintenance, like going to the gym, rather than a luxury
• Use silence as a creative tool - Regular retreats from digital noise and social media can unlock deep creative insights and major life decisions
• Work with obsessive dedication when you find your calling - When you discover your true medium, the intensity of focus that emerges can accelerate your career exponentially
• Separate personal and commercial work - Maintain clear boundaries between client projects and personal expression to preserve artistic integrity and business relationships
• Teachers appear when you're ready - Being open and prepared attracts the mentors and opportunities you need at exactly the right moments
• Use healing practices to enhance creativity - Meditation, mindfulness, and therapeutic work can transform rebellious energy into productive creative fuel
• Put out the work you want to be hired for - The most effective portfolio strategy is creating personal projects that demonstrate exactly what you want to do professionally

Mindful Creative: How to understand and deal with the highs and lows of creative life, career and business

Paperback and Kindle > https://amzn.to/4biTwFc
Free audiobook (with Audible trial) > https://geni.us/free-audiobook
Signed books https://novemberuniverse.co.uk

Lux Coffee Co. https://luxcoffee.co.uk/ (Use: PODCAST for 15% off)

November Universe https://novemberuniverse.co.uk (Use: PODCAST for 10% off)

Daring Creativity is the next season of my podcast sharing stories of small actions that sparked lifetime discoveries of people who decided to follow their path without regrets, knowing that even the smallest idea can change everything.

I'm Radim Malinic, and this is Daring Creativity—a podcast about the creative spark that lives inside every single one of us.

My reasoning for the title is rooted in the idea that the most daring thing you could do today... isn't jumping out of a plane or scaling a mountain? What if daring creativity is simply... picking up that pen you've been avoiding? Humming that melody in your head out loud? Taking one small step towards the thing that makes you feel most alive?

Over the coming episodes, we'll sit down with a broad range of guests: 
 artists, musicians, designers, actors, technologists, and entrepreneurs who've discovered something powerful: that creativity isn't about perfection. It's about showing up with all your doubts, insecurities, and imperfections—and making them count.

How crossing continents and moving cultures makes a multifaceted creative 
How showing up with no CV can get you a job in Hollywood.
How searching for rejection can become your superpower. 
How making mistakes became someone's greatest strength.
How to allow yourself to become get lost in your creativity. 

Because daring creativity isn't about becoming someone else. 
It's about becoming more of who you already are.

Daring Creativity. Daring Forever is also the title of my next book and I am using this podcast as my creative lab to show me views on creativity that I might not be aware of. 

Daring Creativity Podcast launches soon with full-length episodes every Monday followed by a short bonus episode every Thursday. 

Are you ready to discover what happens when you dare to create?

Mindful Creative: How to understand and deal with the highs and lows of creative life, career and business

Paperback and Kindle > https://amzn.to/4biTwFc
Free audiobook (with Audible trial) > https://geni.us/free-audiobook
Signed books https://novemberuniverse.co.uk

Lux Coffee Co. https://luxcoffee.co.uk/ (Use: PODCAST for 15% off)

November Universe https://novemberuniverse.co.uk (Use: PODCAST for 10% off)

Burton Rast shares his unconventional journey from punk rock kid in Chicago to design leader at Google and acclaimed photographer. Starting with pirated software on hotel computers, Burton built his first portfolio while working the night desk, teaching himself HTML, Flash, and Photoshop through stolen moments between guests. His story weaves through the dotcom era, agency burnout, and his transformative years at IDEO where he first experienced imposter syndrome among formally educated designers.

The conversation takes a deeply personal turn as Burton reveals how the death of his closest friend in 2016 unconsciously transformed his photography from vibrant color work to the stark black-and-white aesthetic that would define his artistic identity. This realization came six years later while preparing a lecture, highlighting how grief can reshape creative expression in ways we don't immediately recognize.

Burton discusses the evolution from "creating art" to "creating content," the ethical implications of AI training on artists' work, and his current role advising creative AI startups. The episode explores themes of addiction, obsession, creative authenticity, and the importance of personal narrative in an increasingly homogenized digital landscape.

Key Takeaways

• Embrace the generalist identity - Having diverse skills across design, code, and photography creates unique career opportunities and perspectives
• Create without permission - The punk ethos of just doing it, learning through necessity, and not waiting for formal approval or education
• Channel obsession productively - Replacing destructive addictions with creative obsessions can become a powerful force for building skills and career momentum
• Your trauma becomes your art - Personal hardships and loss often unconsciously shape artistic expression in profound and meaningful ways
• Stories differentiate us - In a world of similar portfolios and AI-generated content, personal narrative becomes the ultimate differentiator
• Imposter syndrome hits when you level up - Feeling inadequate often signals you're in the right room with people who can teach you
• Value comes from effort - Things that require no effort (like AI-generated content) are inherently difficult to value personally and professionally
• Language shapes perception - The shift from calling work "art" to "content" systematically devalues creative expression and should be resisted
• Grief changes creative output - Major life events can unconsciously alter artistic style and voice, sometimes creating signature work
• Pay it forward - Success comes with responsibility to mentor and open doors for the next generation of creative professionals

Mindful Creative: How to understand and deal with the highs and lows of creative life, career and business

Paperback and Kindle > https://amzn.to/4biTwFc
Free audiobook (with Audible trial) > https://geni.us/free-audiobook
Signed books https://novemberuniverse.co.uk

Lux Coffee Co. https://luxcoffee.co.uk/ (Use: PODCAST for 15% off)

November Universe https://novemberuniverse.co.uk (Use: PODCAST for 10% off)

This is the last five-minute magic episode from Mindful Creative Podcast. We are finishing the season with a reminder that a headwind is always guaranteed. And the reason why I use that phrase, and the reason why I wrote that chapter, and the reason why I use that phrase and wrote this subsection, is that as any fellow cyclist or runner or climber or ski or whatever.

The headwind is inevitable. It always happens and it's never fun. You want to avoid it. You want to go in the opposite direction and you can't, well, you can make a choice of going with the tailwind and make it easier for yourself. 

But I've been thinking about it recently. Would you rather run a downhill easily and not learn or get stronger, or would you rather run into the headwind and get stronger and learn?. We call it character building when things are really hard, you really want to give up. A headwind is always guaranteed. It's always gonna be there. It's growth, it's pushing, it's learning, it's strengthening. It is overcoming adversity.

This is the end of Season 2 and I want thank you for following this podcast season, for getting a copy of the book, and for listening to these episodes. It means a lot to me. It's been amazing to see how many people have resonated with these conversations and episodes. 

I greatly thank you for being here, and I'll see you with the next season very soon.

Mindful Creative: How to understand and deal with the highs and lows of creative life, career and business

Paperback and Kindle > https://amzn.to/4biTwFc
Free audiobook (with Audible trial) > https://geni.us/free-audiobook
Signed books https://novemberuniverse.co.uk

Lux Coffee Co. https://luxcoffee.co.uk/ (Use: PODCAST for 15% off)

November Universe https://novemberuniverse.co.uk (Use: PODCAST for 10% off)

Design leader Nicola Ryan takes us inside the world of premium digital storytelling at Conde Nast, where she oversees the digital experiences for iconic brands like Vogue, The New Yorker, and Wired. 

From her early days questioning whether to study German and Spanish to finding her calling in the fast-paced world of newspaper design, Nicola shares how the media industry is grappling with the tension between snackable content and deep, meaningful storytelling.

The conversation explores how newsrooms operate at breakneck speed, creating complete publications within 24 hours, and what other creative industries can learn from this approach to decision-making and collaboration. 

Nicola reveals the behind-the-scenes challenges of redesigning legacy publications while balancing editorial vision with commercial realities, and how her team is actively "cleaning up" digital experiences to help readers focus on what matters.

Key Takeaways

• The attention economy paradox: While bite-sized content dominates, there's a growing hunger for deep, immersive storytelling that requires time and focus
• Decision-making velocity: Newsrooms teach us that making imperfect decisions quickly is better than paralysis through perfectionism
• Quality curation over quantity: Success isn't about producing more content—it's about helping audiences find the one thing worth their time
• Cross-functional collaboration: Bringing together editorial, commercial, and design teams early prevents costly misalignment later in the process
• Digital experience hygiene: Removing intrusive advertising and distractions is essential for building loyal, returning audiences
• Legacy brand advantage: Established publications have built-in trust that new brands struggle to achieve in today's noisy landscape
• The power of constraints: Tight deadlines force crystallized thinking and prevent endless iteration that often makes work worse, not better
• Apps as focus sanctuaries: Mobile applications provide controlled environments where readers can engage deeply without external distractions
• Manufactured deadlines: Creating artificial time pressure helps maintain the creative momentum and decision-making clarity found in newsrooms
• Mindful consumption: Just as we choose healthy food for our bodies, we must consciously curate what we consume with our minds and attention

Mindful Creative: How to understand and deal with the highs and lows of creative life, career and business

Paperback and Kindle > https://amzn.to/4biTwFc
Free audiobook (with Audible trial) > https://geni.us/free-audiobook
Signed books https://novemberuniverse.co.uk

Lux Coffee Co. https://luxcoffee.co.uk/ (Use: PODCAST for 15% off)

November Universe https://novemberuniverse.co.uk (Use: PODCAST for 10% off)

Welcome to five-minute magic from Mindful Creative Podcast. A short bonus episode, sharing tips and insights from the book's pages of the same title. 

Every week I'll share one or two ideas that can give you an actionable takeaway for your creative process or work/business, or just the food for thought for the weekend ahead. 

These bonus episodes share content from the audio book, and you can find the link to the full version in the show notes.

Mindful Creative: How to understand and deal with the highs and lows of creative life, career and business

Paperback and Kindle > https://amzn.to/4biTwFc
Free audiobook (with Audible trial) > https://geni.us/free-audiobook
Signed books https://novemberuniverse.co.uk

Lux Coffee Co. https://luxcoffee.co.uk/ (Use: PODCAST for 15% off)

November Universe https://novemberuniverse.co.uk (Use: PODCAST for 10% off)

PJ Richardson, co-founder of motion design studio Laundry, shares his journey from graffiti artist in San Francisco to running a successful creative company. This episode explores how personal struggles and anxiety have shaped his creative approach and business philosophy. 

Richardson discusses his experience growing up in Chinatown with a single mother, finding creative escape through graffiti, and eventually transforming that hustler mindset into entrepreneurship. He reveals the insecurities that still plague him despite his success and how he's learned to harness chaos as a creative force rather than fighting against it.

This episode was produced in association with Paradiso 

Key Takeaways:

• Creative anxiety and perfectionism are common even among highly successful professionals
• Embracing chaos rather than trying to control it can lead to unexpected creative breakthroughs
• Personal experiences and trauma often fuel creative drive but require addressing for long-term wellbeing
• The parallels between graffiti art and marketing reveal how creative hustle translates to business success
• Creative leadership requires learning to delegate and set boundaries rather than doing everything yourself
• Making personal experimental work can lead to unexpected commercial opportunities
• The importance of not waiting for permission to create and try new approaches
• Creating "sandboxes" for discovery rather than rigid plans can yield the most innovative results
• Industry change is constant - studios must continuously evolve or risk becoming obsolete
• Working with people you enjoy collaborating with should be a priority metric for taking on projects

Mindful Creative: How to understand and deal with the highs and lows of creative life, career and business

Paperback and Kindle > https://amzn.to/4biTwFc
Free audiobook (with Audible trial) > https://geni.us/free-audiobook
Signed books https://novemberuniverse.co.uk

Lux Coffee Co. https://luxcoffee.co.uk/ (Use: PODCAST for 15% off)

November Universe https://novemberuniverse.co.uk (Use: PODCAST for 10% off)

Welcome to five-minute magic from Mindful Creative Podcast. A short bonus episode, sharing tips and insights from the book's pages of the same title. 

Every week I'll share one or two ideas that can give you an actionable takeaway for your creative process or work/business, or just the food for thought for the weekend ahead. 

These bonus episodes share content from the audio book, and you can find the link to the full version in the show notes.

Mindful Creative: How to understand and deal with the highs and lows of creative life, career and business

Paperback and Kindle > https://amzn.to/4biTwFc
Free audiobook (with Audible trial) > https://geni.us/free-audiobook
Signed books https://novemberuniverse.co.uk

Lux Coffee Co. https://luxcoffee.co.uk/ (Use: PODCAST for 15% off)

November Universe https://novemberuniverse.co.uk (Use: PODCAST for 10% off)

In this episode of Mindful Creative Podcast, host Radim Malinic speaks with Emily Cohen and her daughter Hunter Vargas of Casa Davka, business consultants for creative professionals. They discuss how creative businesses can evolve and grow, focusing on the critical importance of relationship building over traditional "selling." Emily shares her journey from designer to consultant, while Hunter explains how she naturally found her way to the family business despite initially carving her own path.

The conversation explores how creative business owners often struggle with business development, preferring to redesign websites or create marketing materials rather than building the personal relationships that truly drive business growth. Emily and Hunter emphasize that clients choose creative partners primarily because of relationships and trust ("building the love"), not just portfolios or pricing.

They challenge common myths in the creative industry, particularly the idea that hiring salespeople is effective (it rarely works) and that business development brings immediate results (it typically takes two years from first meeting to becoming a client). The pair discusses how to help introverted creatives approach relationship building in ways that feel natural and authentic.

Key takeaways 

• Creative business owners should position themselves as business people first, designers second
• Effective positioning requires identifying unique industry niches, services, and genuine differentiators
• "Building the love" through authentic relationships is more valuable than traditional sales approaches
• Business development is a daily habit that feeds the business engine continuously
• Patience is crucial - relationship building typically takes two years to convert contacts to clients
• Principles/founders must do their own relationship building; salespeople rarely succeed in creative businesses
• Creatives should stop comparing themselves to others and focus on their unique strengths
• Designers should capture and communicate metrics and results, not just creative decisions
• Being ready for change is essential for creative businesses looking to evolve
• Creative business consultants should practice what they preach in their own business approach

Mindful Creative: How to understand and deal with the highs and lows of creative life, career and business

Paperback and Kindle > https://amzn.to/4biTwFc
Free audiobook (with Audible trial) > https://geni.us/free-audiobook
Signed books https://novemberuniverse.co.uk

Lux Coffee Co. https://luxcoffee.co.uk/ (Use: PODCAST for 15% off)

November Universe https://novemberuniverse.co.uk (Use: PODCAST for 10% off)

Welcome to five-minute magic from Mindful Creative Podcast. A short bonus episode, sharing tips and insights from the book's pages of the same title. 

Every week I'll share one or two ideas that can give you an actionable takeaway for your creative process or work/business, or just the food for thought for the weekend ahead. 

These bonus episodes share content from the audio book, and you can find the link to the full version in the show notes.

Mindful Creative: How to understand and deal with the highs and lows of creative life, career and business

Paperback and Kindle > https://amzn.to/4biTwFc
Free audiobook (with Audible trial) > https://geni.us/free-audiobook
Signed books https://novemberuniverse.co.uk

Lux Coffee Co. https://luxcoffee.co.uk/ (Use: PODCAST for 15% off)

November Universe https://novemberuniverse.co.uk (Use: PODCAST for 10% off)