The 21st Century Creative

Remember the first time you realised you could never be happy clock-watching in someone else’s office? Brian Clark had the same epiphany – and turned it into a series of eight-figure ventures built on words, audiences and low-overhead tech.

Founder of Copyblogger, StudioPress, Further and the Unemployable podcast, Brian has spent two decades proving that a tiny, fiercely creative team can out-punch lumbering corporates – and live life on their own terms. In this opening episode of Season 4 he lays out a playbook for anyone who quietly suspects they are ‘proudly unemployable’ too.

‘You can build a very lucrative business out of just yourself or a very small team, or with the aid of freelancers.’

Brian is the writer-turned-entrepreneur who created Copyblogger – once dubbed ‘the bible of content marketing’. With zero outside investment he spun that blog into an eight-figure suite of digital businesses including StudioPress themes, Rainmaker software and two widely read newsletters (Copyblogger and Further). Today he hosts the Unemployable podcast, championing small, high-profit ventures that prioritise independence over headcount.

If Brian’s approach appeals, visit Further.net for practical guidance and real-world examples to help you shape a nimble, profitable practice on your own terms.

Hosted by creative coach and award-winning poet Mark McGuinness, The 21st Century Creative podcast helps you succeed as a creative professional amid the demands, distractions and opportunities of the 21st century.

Each episode features insights from Mark and interviews with outstanding creators – including artists, writers, performers, commercial creatives, directors, producers, entrepreneurs and other creative thought-leaders.

Make sure you receive every episode by subscribing in Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen.

Join the mailing list to have every episode delivered to your inbox, along with the free 21st Century Creative Foundation Course.

The post Brian Clark’s Career Advice for the Unemployable appeared first on Creative Coach | Mark McGuinness.

A former paediatric ER doctor turned blockbuster novelist, CJ Lyons writes thrillers steeped in the life-and-death realities she once faced on the hospital floor.

With more than 2.5 million books sold and awards ranging from the ITW Thriller Award to USA Today bestseller medals, CJ joins the show to reveal how true stories of courage, trauma and hope power her fiction – and how she built a resilient career when traditional publishing almost derailed her debut.

According to CJ, ‘The six most important words in the English language are: “Let me tell you a story.”’ – and she tells some great ones in this episode.

CJ describes her work as ‘thrillers with heart’. After seventeen years in emergency medicine she swapped the trauma bay for the keyboard, translating real-world heroism and horror into page-turning fiction. When her first publishing deal collapsed she self-published, built a direct relationship with readers and hit the New York Times list – proof that a doctor’s determination can also save an author’s career.

Download Snake Skin free, discover CJ’s other series and join her ‘Thrillers with Heart’ newsletter at CJLyons.net – you’ll also find links to her young-adult suspense, writing resources and live appearances.

Hosted by creative coach and award-winning poet Mark McGuinness, The 21st Century Creative podcast helps you succeed as a creative professional amid the demands, distractions and opportunities of the 21st century.

Each episode features insights from Mark and interviews with outstanding creators – including artists, writers, performers, commercial creatives, directors, producers, entrepreneurs and other creative thought-leaders.

Make sure you receive every episode by subscribing in Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen.

Join the mailing list to have every episode delivered to your inbox, along with the free 21st Century Creative Foundation Course.

The post Storytelling: a Matter of Life and Death with CJ Lyons appeared first on Creative Coach | Mark McGuinness.

‘Brutally honest’ is not just a catch-phrase for US consultant Emily Cohen – it is the red thread that runs through her advice to creative-studio owners.

In this episode Emily shares the no-nonsense principles behind her acclaimed book Brutally Honest: No-Bullshit Strategies to Evolve Your Creative Business – from firing a client a year to telling over-helpful customers to back off.

‘Parent your clients, prune your portfolio and specialise to survive – tune in for Emily’s trademark tough love.’

Based in New York, Emily has spent three decades advising design-studio principals on pricing, positioning, staffing and new-business strategy. Her straight-talking style has made her a sought-after speaker at HOW Design Live and AIGA events, while her self-published tome Brutally Honest has become a cult manual for creative entrepreneurs.

Explore more of Emily’s resources – including her downloadable proposal template – at CasaDavka.com, and order a copy of Brutally Honest (complete with neon ink and fold-out infographics).

Hosted by creative coach and award-winning poet Mark McGuinness, The 21st Century Creative podcast helps you succeed as a creative professional amid the demands, distractions and opportunities of the 21st century.

Each episode features insights from Mark and interviews with outstanding creators – including artists, writers, performers, commercial creatives, directors, producers, entrepreneurs and other creative thought-leaders.

Make sure you receive every episode by subscribing in Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen.

Join the mailing list to have every episode delivered to your inbox, along with the free 21st Century Creative Foundation Course.

The post Brutally Honest Advice for Your Creative Business with Emily Cohen appeared first on Creative Coach | Mark McGuinness.

Staring down a blank page can feel like free-fall – yet writer and podcaster David Kadavy has turned that terror into fuel for bestselling books and a life of creative freedom.

In this episode he explains how a single sloppy blog post catapulted him from a cubicle in Nebraska to the cafés of Silicon Valley, and on to Medellín where he now writes, codes and records his hit show Love Your Work.

‘Motivational judo, fortress fallacies and typing before you open your eyes – press play to find the heart to start.’

David is the author of the Amazon-top-20 hit Design for Hackers and, more recently, The Heart to Start. Through his weekly podcast he interviews creators, entrepreneurs and scientists to uncover practical tactics for thriving in the idea economy. His own journey – from Apache-filled all-nighters in the Midwest to a location-independent writing life in Colombia – proves his methods in real time.

Download Kadavy’s free Self-Published Sunday email mini-course and explore his books, blog and podcast at kadavy.net.

Each episode features insights from Mark and interviews with outstanding creators – including artists, writers, performers, commercial creatives, directors, producers, entrepreneurs and other creative thought-leaders.

Make sure you receive every episode by subscribing in Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen.

Join the mailing list to have every episode delivered to your inbox, along with the free 21st Century Creative Foundation Course.

The post How to Find the Heart to Start with David Kadavy appeared first on Creative Coach | Mark McGuinness.

Entrepreneur and investor Vicki Saunders believes the future belongs to businesses that combine profit with purpose – and she’s built a global funding network to prove it.

Fed up with a system where only 4 per cent of venture capital backs female founders, Vicki created SheEO (now Coralus) – an ecosystem where women lend money, expertise and market access to game-changing ventures on radically generous terms.

‘What if capital kept circulating in a perpetual fund – and every loan came with 500 mentors?’ Listen below to find out.

Canadian serial entrepreneur, mentor and author, Vicki has floated a company on the Toronto Stock Exchange and advised governments on innovation. Through SheEO she invites cohorts of 500 ‘Activators’ to contribute $1,100 each, creating zero-interest loans and a powerhouse network for women-led, impact-driven businesses.

Discover how to become an Activator – or apply for a zero-interest loan – at sheeo.world (rebranding to Coralus).

Each episode features insights from Mark and interviews with outstanding creators – including artists, writers, performers, commercial creatives, directors, producers, entrepreneurs and other creative thought-leaders.

Make sure you receive every episode by subscribing in Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen.

Join the mailing list to have every episode delivered to your inbox, along with the free 21st Century Creative Foundation Course.

The post SheEO: Women Transforming Entrepreneurship with Vicki Saunders appeared first on Creative Coach | Mark McGuinness.

High-performance coach Rich Litvin helps Olympic athletes, Special Forces veterans and Fortune 500 founders push past the limits of their own success – and survive the loneliness that often comes with it.

In this conversation Rich reveals the hidden costs of excellence, why the world’s top 4 per cent focus on 4 per cent gains, and how collecting ‘no’s can be the fastest route to a life-changing ‘yes’.

‘Your next breakthrough lives just outside your comfort zone’ – listen below (or on your favourite app) to learn the real price of playing at the highest level.

Author of the coaching bestseller The Prosperous Coach, Rich works exclusively with elite performers – from Hollywood directors to Presidential candidates. He also founded 4PC, a mastermind that brings the top 4 per cent of coaches, entrepreneurs and creatives together so they can multiply each other’s impact.

Learn more about Rich’s work at at richlitvin.com.

Each episode features insights from Mark and interviews with outstanding creators – including artists, writers, performers, commercial creatives, directors, producers, entrepreneurs and other creative thought-leaders.

Make sure you receive every episode by subscribing in Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen.

Join the mailing list to have every episode delivered to your inbox, along with the free 21st Century Creative Foundation Course.

The post The Price of Being a High Performer with Rich Litvin appeared first on Creative Coach | Mark McGuinness.

Writer and broadcaster Christina Patterson has survived redundancy, illness and heartbreak, yet still radiates optimism and wit. In her acclaimed book The Art of Not Falling Apart she turns personal catastrophe into a manual for resilience.

In this episode we discuss Christina’s unusual route into journalism, why she believes kindness beats cleverness, and how the crisps-and-fizzy-wine philosophy can lift even the darkest day.

‘When everything falls apart, the story you tell yourself will decide what happens next’ – listen below (or on your favourite app) to learn Christina’s art of staying upright.

Christina wrote a much-loved column for The Independent, interviewed figures from Gordon Brown to Boy George, and now contributes to The Sunday Times and The Guardian. Her memoir-cum-survival-guide The Art of Not Falling Apart distils the lessons of loss, illness and joblessness into hard-won wisdom for anyone on a precarious creative path.

Dive deeper into Christina’s writing, interviews and speaking events at ChristinaPatterson.co.uk.

Each episode features insights from Mark and interviews with outstanding creators – including artists, writers, performers, commercial creatives, directors, producers, entrepreneurs and other creative thought-leaders.

Make sure you receive every episode by subscribing in Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen.

Join the mailing list to have every episode delivered to your inbox, along with the free 21st Century Creative Foundation Course.

The post The Art of Not Falling Apart with Christina Patterson appeared first on Creative Coach | Mark McGuinness.

David Hieatt co-founded cult clothing brand Howies, revived a derelict Welsh jeans factory as Hiut Denim, and created the globally-admired ideas festival The Do Lectures. Along the way he has addressed Apple, Google and Patagonia and written several punchy business books, including Do Purpose.

In this episode David explains why brands with a purpose ‘do better and matter more’, how storytelling rescued 400 skilled makers in Cardigan, and why every creative should seek hard problems, not easy wins.

‘A brand’s power,’ David says, ‘is the 18-inch journey from head to heart.’ Listen below (or on your favourite app) to discover how he makes that leap — and how you can too.

Entrepreneur, author and speaker, David champions businesses that fix problems rather than chase margins. With Hiut Denim he reignited Britain’s largest jeans workforce; with The Do Lectures he inspires others to marry profit with purpose.

Read Do Purpose — David’s manifesto for mission-led business — via The Do Book Co.

Explore Hiut Denim and the Cardigan factory revival at hiutdenim.co.uk, and watch hundreds of free talks at TheDoLectures.com.

Each episode features insights from Mark and interviews with outstanding creators – including artists, writers, performers, commercial creatives, directors, producers, entrepreneurs and other creative thought-leaders.

Make sure you receive every episode by subscribing in Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen.

Join the mailing list to have every episode delivered to your inbox, along with the free 21st Century Creative Foundation Course.

The post Don’t Just Sell Something: Do Something! with David Hieatt appeared first on Creative Coach | Mark McGuinness.

Joanna Penn writes New York Times and USA Today-bestselling thrillers as J.F. Penn — and, under her own name, runs one of the most respected resources for authors on the web. Between fiction, non-fiction and courses she has released 28 books, sold over half a million copies in 84 countries and five languages, and been named Digital Book World’s Publishing Commentator of the Year.

Her latest guide, The Healthy Writer (co-authored with Dr Euan Lawson), tackles an awkward truth: long hours at a screen can wreck a creative’s body and mind. In this conversation Joanna explains how she swapped painkillers for yoga, loneliness for community and “exercise” for joyful movement — lessons that apply to every creative discipline, not just writing.

‘Creation is therapy,’ Joanna says. ‘But you need a body that will carry you the distance.’ Listen below (or on your favourite app) for a practical, myth-busting guide to becoming a healthy creative.

Author-entrepreneur, podcaster and speaker, Joanna bridges commercial success with candid talk about the physical and mental toll of a creative life. Her collaboration with Dr Lawson distils medical research and personal experience into a survival manual for anyone who works at a screen.

Explore The Healthy Writer — packed with medical insights and practical tips — at TheCreativePenn.com/healthy-writer or your preferred retailer.

Follow Joanna’s weekly articles and The Creative Penn Podcast at TheCreativePenn.com for advice on writing, publishing and making a living from your craft.

Each episode features insights from Mark and interviews with outstanding creators — including artists, writers, performers, commercial creatives, directors, producers, entrepreneurs and other creative thought-leaders.

Make sure you receive every episode by subscribing in Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen.

Join the mailing list to have every episode delivered to your inbox, along with the free 21st Century Creative Foundation Course.

The post The Healthy Creative with Joanna Penn appeared first on Creative Coach | Mark McGuinness.

Generative artist Tyler Hobbs creates his canvases line-by-line in a text editor, then presses ‘run’ to watch the code produce a unique image. The results — futuristic yet strangely soulful — have won collectors and critics alike.

In this episode we explore how Tyler blends randomness with precision, why he ships each print with the very algorithm that made it, and what generative art might reveal about the future of creativity.

‘When I surrender control to the programme, it surprises me — and that surprise is where the art lives,’ Tyler says. Listen below (or on your favourite app) to hear how he turns code into colour.

Tyler is a leading voice in generative art, a discipline that uses algorithms to produce images. Collectors buy single-edition prints — each accompanied by the code that generated it — and his essays on process have become required reading for artists and programmers alike.

Explore and collect Tyler’s generative artworks — and read his essays — at TylerXHobbs.com.

Each episode features insights from Mark and interviews with outstanding creators — including artists, writers, performers, commercial creatives, directors, producers, entrepreneurs and other creative thought-leaders.

Make sure you receive every episode by subscribing in Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen.

Join the mailing list to have every episode delivered to your inbox, along with the free 21st Century Creative Foundation Course.

The post Tyler Hobbs: the Artist Who Paints with Code appeared first on Creative Coach | Mark McGuinness.