Sustaining Creativity Podcast

Creativity through the lens of an author, musician and creative force

"Creativity is an organic thing - a natural byproduct of humans trying to survive."

Antonio Michael Downing is an acclaimed author, broadcaster, and musician.
His memoir Saga Boy was praised by Kiese Laymon as "singularly dazzling"
and received critical acclaim from publications like Essence Magazine. His
novel Black Cherokee has been called "a triumph" by Giller Prize winner Ian
Williams. He has also won praise for his novella Molasses and children's book
Stars in My Crown. His works have been nominated for several awards,
including the Speaker's Book Prize and the Toronto Book Awards.

As a broadcaster, he hosts Canada's internationally recognized book show
The Next Chapter on CBC Radio, where he engages with celebrated authors,
literary critics, and cultural figures about must-read books while elevating
diverse voices in publishing. As a performer, he has released four albums as
his alter ego John Orpheus. As a speaker, he is known for his breadth of
literary knowledge, engaging storytelling, and entertaining approach to
conversations about identity, creativity, and belonging.

https://www.instagram.com/antoniomichaeldowning/

https://www.antoniomichaeldowning.com/

https://www.facebook.com/john.orpheus.3/

https://x.com/John_Orpheus

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Before you go: take our 5-question Creativity Archetype Quiz at https://sustainingcreativity.fillout.com/creativityarchetypequiz. It takes under a minute and reveals your dominant creative style, your superpowers, and the #1 bottleneck holding you back.

Thanks for listening!

Creativity through the lens of an Executive, author and professional public speaker

"Creativity: It's everything from doing things differently to saying No!"

Award winning executive leader, #1 best selling author, in demand professional public speaker, corporate executive, board director, entrepreneur, #1 social seller/public brand worldwide per LinkedIn for her F500 employers, sought out for discussions on motivation, Diversity Equity & Inclusion, women in leadership, culture, workforce and more.

Latest TEDx talk on Healthy Resilience: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFpknOCFMOg

"Unstoppable and Dynamic: Born to lead and not to be led."

Overcoming adversity and trauma at an early age built resilience. A trait that has remained with her throughout her life and has helped Victoria excel as a corporate executive, mentor and leader — for which she is often characterized as dynamic and unstoppable.

https://victoria-pelletier.com/

https://www.facebook.com/Victoria.Pelletier.Unstoppable/

https://www.instagram.com/victoria_pelletier_unstoppable/?hl=en

https://www.linkedin.com/in/victoriapelletier/

https://www.youtube.com/@VictoriaPelletierUnstoppable

https://www.espeakers.com/marketplace/profile/49372/victoria-pelletier

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Before you go: take our 5-question Creativity Archetype Quiz at https://sustainingcreativity.fillout.com/creativityarchetypequiz. It takes under a minute and reveals your dominant creative style, your superpowers, and the #1 bottleneck holding you back.

Thanks for listening!

Creativity through the lens of a DJ, business professor and author

"Creativity is about thinking outside the box, taking risks and not being afraid of hearing no."

Amani Roberts is a powerhouse in the world of music—an internationally recognized DJ, award-winning music professor, and passionate historian of R&B and Black music culture. With years of experience spinning records, educating future music industry leaders, and dissecting the impact of legendary R&B groups, Amani brings a dynamic and insightful voice to discussions on the intersection of music, culture, and history. His upcoming book, The Quiet Storm: A Historical and Cultural Analysis of the Power, Passion, and Pain of R&B Groups, offers a deep dive into the rise and influence of groups like Destiny’s Child, The Temptations, and TLC. Through his expertise, Amani unpacks how these artists shaped generations, influenced social movements, and left an indelible mark on the global music scene.

https://www.amaniexperience.com/

https://www.facebook.com/amaniexperience

https://www.instagram.com/amaniexperience/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/amaniroberts/

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Before you go: take our 5-question Creativity Archetype Quiz at https://sustainingcreativity.fillout.com/creativityarchetypequiz. It takes under a minute and reveals your dominant creative style, your superpowers, and the #1 bottleneck holding you back.

Thanks for listening!

Creativity through the lens of a Playwright and Director

"Creativity is about being able to make something out of nothing."

Stan Lai has been called ‘the major contemporary Asian playwright of his time, perhaps of all time’ (Robert Brustein), ‘the best Chinese-language playwright and director in the world’ (BBC), and ‘Asia’s top theatre director’ (Asiaweek). 

Born in the US and raised in America and Taiwan, Lai earned a PhD from UC Berkeley before launching a groundbreaking career in Taiwan. His 40+ plays are celebrated across the Chinese-speaking world, including masterpieces such as A Dream Like a Dream and Secret Love in Peach Blossom Land. He is co-founder of the Wuzhen Theatre Festival and Huichang Theatre Village in China. Theatre Above in Shanghai is a venue dedicated to his oeuvre.

https://anthempress.com/books/creativitry-pb

Send us Fan Mail

Before you go: take our 5-question Creativity Archetype Quiz at https://sustainingcreativity.fillout.com/creativityarchetypequiz. It takes under a minute and reveals your dominant creative style, your superpowers, and the #1 bottleneck holding you back.

Thanks for listening!

Creativity through the lens of a talent agent, college professor and performance mindset coach

"Coming up with more than one solution to a problem....embracing your full potential" 

Dr. Albert Bramante, a seasoned talent agent with more than two decades of experience in the entertainment industry, holds a Ph.D. in Psychology from Walden University. Additionally, he is a certified Hypnotist and NLP Practitioner, bringing a unique blend of psychological insight and practical expertise to his work. Driven by a passion for both the performing arts and the human psyche, he embarked on a mission to empower actors to overcome self-sabotage and unlock their full potential.
Throughout his impressive career, Dr. Bramante has achieved remarkable success as a talent agent, securing roles for actors in a wide array of productions including TV shows, films, commercials, Broadway, and Off-Broadway performances

https://albertbramante.com/

https://www.facebook.com/albert.bramante/

https://www.instagram.com/dralbramante

https://www.linkedin.com/in/albertbramante/

Send us Fan Mail

Before you go: take our 5-question Creativity Archetype Quiz at https://sustainingcreativity.fillout.com/creativityarchetypequiz. It takes under a minute and reveals your dominant creative style, your superpowers, and the #1 bottleneck holding you back.

Thanks for listening!

Creativity through the lens of an artist and collage storyteller 

"Being aware of my surroundings, and stop thinking about worries"

Based on Vancouver Island, Silvina Lanusse creates work from fragments: torn paper, vintage letters, sheet music, old maps, and pieces of memory. She often begins without a strict plan, letting each piece guide her as it evolves from chaos into quiet, layered harmony. She embraces imperfection, valuing the raw, unexpected turns that happen along the way.

Originally from Argentina, Silvina brings a bold sense of color and an intuitive approach to her work. Collage offers her freedom. Tearing becomes an act of release, while rebuilding serves as a means of understanding the world and our personal narratives. Her art often inhabits a space of “in-between”: between places, memories, and moments, all reflected in the colors and textures she chooses.

Her work speaks to those who feel deeply, who carry many stories and roles, and who recognize a bit of themselves in what they see. Silvina's paintings are known for their bold honesty. Many viewers find her work familiar, as if each piece has always been a part of their world.

An exhibiting member of the Federation of Canadian Artists, Silvina has also had her work featured as cover art for poetry collections, which she regards as meaningful collaborations between word and image. In her workshops, she shares this approach, inviting participants to explore collage, texture, and intuition to create work that tells their own story.

https://www.instagram.com/silvinalanusseart/

https://www.facebook.com/silvinalanusseart/

https://www.youtube.com/@silvinalanusseart

https://www.silvinalanusseart.ca/

Send us Fan Mail

Before you go: take our 5-question Creativity Archetype Quiz at https://sustainingcreativity.fillout.com/creativityarchetypequiz. It takes under a minute and reveals your dominant creative style, your superpowers, and the #1 bottleneck holding you back.

Thanks for listening!

Creativity through the lens of the Co-founder of Pennant Video

"You have to bring a sense of pride and ownership into what you're doing."

Tim Bradley is the Co-Founder of Pennant Video, a B2B-focused agency that has pioneered the Video Marketing Trifecta™ to power mid-funnel marketing strategies. With nearly two decades of experience in video marketing, Tim has partnered with leading B2B tech brands like Cisco, Hitachi, Philips and countless startups, bringing their stories to life with compelling video campaigns.

Before founding Pennant, Tim was the Executive Producer at a large communications agency. In his 12 years there, he built, managed and mentored a 25-person creative team, while growing the business in competitive sectors such as tough tech, cybersecurity, and healthcare. He believes in creating work that cuts through the noise—methodical yet bespoke, scalable yet unique. Beyond client projects, Tim mentors aspiring creatives through workshops and portfolio reviews, reinforcing his belief that elevating new talent fosters a more innovative and story-driven industry.

Tim has built an engaged following on LinkedIn by being relatable, authentic and authoritative, with equal parts actionable insights and compelling storytelling. (And the occasional dad joke.) He believes strongly in the power of community and mentoring, that connections mean more than just a numbers game, and that young creatives deserve the wisdom he’s gained over a long and ongoing creative career. His philosophy is simple: create meaningful connections through impactful stories that resonate and endure.

Outside the office, Tim draws inspiration from his love of snowboarding, family, and the outdoors, channeling the focus, adaptability, and persistence honed on the slopes into navigating today’s competitive marketing landscape.

https://www.pennant.video/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-bradley-pennant/

https://www.instagram.com/pennant.video

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0ele4VqgzHfNPvnyk-e0JQ

https://www.linkedin.com/company/pennantvideo/

Send us Fan Mail

Before you go: take our 5-question Creativity Archetype Quiz at https://sustainingcreativity.fillout.com/creativityarchetypequiz. It takes under a minute and reveals your dominant creative style, your superpowers, and the #1 bottleneck holding you back.

Thanks for listening!

Creativity through the lens of a dyslexic coach, girl Dad and podcast host

"I get to express myself out into the world in a way that makes me feel joy!"

Coach Willie Blake is the go-to high-performance coach for dyslexic professionals ready to trade self-doubt for confidence, clarity, and daily progress.

He equips entrepreneurs, career professionals, and creators with simple, powerful tools to stop overthinking, start showing up, and build consistent momentum toward their goals. With frameworks like the 2% Rule and GPS Goal Method, he helps people take real action even if they’ve felt behind their whole life.

As host of Light Beyond Limits and a dynamic speaker with over 500 stages and 100 podcast episodes, Willie blends heart, humor, and hard-earned wisdom to leave listeners feeling seen, fired up, and ready to move.

https://coachwillieblake.com/breakfree

https://www.facebook.com/WillieBlake.Light/

https://www.youtube.com/@DyslexicAchieversHub

https://www.instagram.com/willieblake_light/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/willieblake-light/

https://www.tiktok.com/@willieblake_light

Send us Fan Mail

Before you go: take our 5-question Creativity Archetype Quiz at https://sustainingcreativity.fillout.com/creativityarchetypequiz. It takes under a minute and reveals your dominant creative style, your superpowers, and the #1 bottleneck holding you back.

Thanks for listening!

Creativity through the lens of Santa for Nerds

"Human beings are creative. You don't have to be an artist to be creative."

Paul Eric Pape is a TEDx speaker, author, and creative business strategist known as “Santa for Nerds.” With over 20 years as a successful creative entrepreneur, Paul has designed custom collectibles for Disney, Universal, and Nickelodeon while building his own thriving design studio.
Paul is the creator of Gamify Business and author of “The Creative Player’s Handbook to Business” – a revolutionary approach that translates intimidating business concepts into language that creative minds actually understand. Using gaming principles and adventure mechanics, Paul helps artists, designers, and creative entrepreneurs build profitable businesses without sacrificing their artistic souls.
His mission is simple: to prove that you don’t have to be a “starving artist” to be a successful one. Paul shows creatives how to approach business as the creative adventure it truly is, helping them discover that running a business can actually be fun, engaging, and deeply fulfilling.

https://www.facebook.com/paulpapedesigns

https://www.pinterest.com/paulpapedesigns/?invite_code=9baf0299ff584497aa7273fa50b36ee5&sender=477803979124893288

https://www.youtube.com/@paulpapedesigns

https://www.instagram.com/paulpapedesigns/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulericpape/?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app

https://www.tiktok.com/@paulpapedesigns?_t=ZT-8yn7drw6Xxl&_r=1

https://www.gamifybusiness.com/

https://www.gamifybusiness.com/podcast

Send us Fan Mail

Before you go: take our 5-question Creativity Archetype Quiz at https://sustainingcreativity.fillout.com/creativityarchetypequiz. It takes under a minute and reveals your dominant creative style, your superpowers, and the #1 bottleneck holding you back.

Thanks for listening!

Creativity through the lens of CEO & Founder of Think-Partners,

"I believe creativity is one of the singular solutions to the worlds great tragedies." 

Bernie Youngblood is the founder of ThinkPartners, a boutique marketing firm dedicated to bridging the worlds of commerce, cause, and creativity. With a background spanning finance, entrepreneurship, and corporate consulting, Bernie brings a unique perspective to building partnerships that benefit for-profits, non-profits, and artist communities alike. His work focuses on creating shared-value programs that drive brand growth, deepen community impact, and elevate creative voices. By challenging traditional silos, Bernie helps organizations discover new ways to collaborate with purpose. His mission is simple: align business goals with human values—and prove that doing good and doing well are not mutually exclusive.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/bernieyoungblood/

https://www.facebook.com/bernie.youngblood.1/

https://www.instagram.com/bernieyoungblood/

https://www.tiktok.com/@bmyoungblood

https://x.com/YoungbloodBM

https://www.youtube.com/@bernieyoungblood

https://linktr.ee/bernieyoungblood

https://www.think-partners.com/

https://hotlogicappliances.com/

Send us Fan Mail

Before you go: take our 5-question Creativity Archetype Quiz at https://sustainingcreativity.fillout.com/creativityarchetypequiz. It takes under a minute and reveals your dominant creative style, your superpowers, and the #1 bottleneck holding you back.

Thanks for listening!