Steve Martin and Hayley Hayes are back with another edition of the radio promotions, marketing and production podcast. Only one of them has a cold: see if you can work out who.

This time, the Earshot podcast is all about creativity. Our two interview guests are experts in creative thinking and the processes that support it:

Earshot podcast: Dr Becky Spelman and John Vorhaus

(duration 33’18”, 192kb/s stereo mp3, file size 46.2 MB)

John Vorhaus is a writer and creative trainer. His work as an advertising copywriter and television sit-com developer has helped feed a string of books on creativity and comedy writing. We discuss The Comedy Toolbox: how to be funny even when you’re not in this show.

You’ll hear tips on overcoming the fear of not being funny and learn some great ways to work towards genuinely funny characters, situations and jokes. There’s something for writers, producers and on air personalities in John’s advice.

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Dr Becky Spelman DPsych Couns Psych, PG Dip Couns Psych, PG Dip (Cog Thp), BABCP (Accred), HPC Reg, B.Psych (Hons) is a London-based registered psychologist and cognitive behavioural therapist, specialising in psychodynamic therapy, eye movement desensitisation reprocessing, dialectical behaviour therapy and mindfulness. She has a very large business card.

Dr Becky explains what happens in our brains when we have an idea, how to overcome the temptation to procrastinate, how to activate the parts of your brain that will let creativity flow and shares lots of practical tips for making the most of your creative ability.

What is “Voice Fry” and does it annoy you? One Earshot listener takes issue with what he feels is an increasing prevalence of the effect on air.

And, since we’re recording in December, Aleksander Lilleøien provides a festive treat from his Christmas station in Norway, P7.

The station’s singalong Top of Hour ident became so popular with listeners that he and production company Wise Buddah have now turned it into a full length song.

Here’s a rough translation of the lyrics:

Christmas bells are ringing

The wait is over

Hello, hi everybody, it’s good to meet again

With children laughing, winter, snow

The radio’s playing P7 Klem

All the lights are lit and

Christmas food and a crackling fire place

Hello, hi everybody, it’s good to meet again

With children laughing, winter, snow

The radio’s playing P7 Klem

Hello, hi everybody, it’s good to meet again

With children laughing, winter, snow

The radio’s playing P7 Klem

If you’d like to get in touch or share your production just email us. We love to play audio from around the world – any station – any format, especially if it has an interesting story behind it.

Contributors: Dr Becky Spelman, John Vorhaus and Aleksander Lilleøien.

Research and audio editing: Hayley Hayes

Earshot Creative Review theme music by the Tiger Club Band. Voiceover is Elly Fairman at Hobsons.

From Earshot where views are personal and original writing is licensed under Creative Commons. Follow @earshotcreative and send story ideas and examples of great creative work to the editor @smartin