The Creative Muscle

This week we pause our usual programming to consider the events of the world around us. In light of recent events in Charlottesville, the hosts discuss ways the creative community can respond to rage culture, racism, and ignorance. What happens when your perspective is suddenly no longer your greatest asset, but rather your biggest blind spot? How can we grow the muscle of empathy? Where do we even start? Featuring a special performance by Praytell and a bonus feature with Shakirah Simley, a food activist, educator, and co-founder of the multi-racial organizing collaborative Nourish|Resist.

Maybe you have a creative side hustle and you aren't sure if you should tell your employer about it. Well, this week's guest won't hire you if you DON'T have a side hustle. Jason Peterson is the Chief Creative Officer of Havas, an award-winning global advertising company. He has over a million followers on Instagram, and he thinks you should listen to millennials.

Does it pay to be popular? What can your audience buy you? This week we are joined by Corbett Drummey, the co-founder of Popular Pays, for a fascinating crash course on the changing landscape of advertising and the intersection of art and business. Learn how to pivot, learn how to be flexible, learn how to add value to people's lives, and get ready to ask yourself the ultimate question: "Is this worth sharing?"

From her childhood in the Caribbean island of Trinidad to gracing the stages of Broadway, the West End and the White House, Tony Award and Grammy Award-winning performer Heather Headley keeps delivering versatility, humility, and vocal agility year after year, song after song, show after show. After originating the role of Nala in The Lion King musical, Heather won the praise of critics and audiences alike in the title role of Elton John's Aida. She has won multiple accolades for her R&B, soul and gospel albums, frequently tours the world with Andrea Bocelli, and recently completed a run of The Color Purple on Broadway. Heather is still trying to figure out if she's a good singer, and she has some advice for those of us just getting started in our creative careers.

Winner of MTV's Chicago Breakout Artist of the Year, local singer-songwriter Andrew Belle has been awarded a John Lennon Songwriting Contest trophy, released critically-acclaimed albums, has more than 100 film and televisions licenses to date (including Grey's Anatomy, One Tree Hill, Pretty Little Liars), and garnered a worldwide fanbase --  all without signing to a major label. A fascinating combination of artist and entrepreneur, Belle's highly anticipated third album Dive Deep is slated to drop in Fall 2017. We talked to Andrew about his workflow processes, jumping between left and right sides of the brain, telling the truth, how to get started in low-stakes environments, and much more.

Ainsley Arment is the trailblazing leader of a counter-cultural collective of hip parents who have made bold choices about raising their children in non-traditional ways that foster creativity and imagination. This interview is not just for people who have kids! Far from a mere parenting manual, Ainsley's principles for unstructured time, cultivating wonder, brushing up against nature and allowing the wild to rough you up are meaningful endeavors that extend to people in all walks of life.

What, exactly, is an apartment therapist? Is that a thing? This week, in a surprisingly moving interview with Maxwell Ryan, the founder and CEO of Apartment Therapy and The Kitchn, we learn about the definition of home, the effect of warm and cool colors on your psyche, how to adjust your living space to suit your life stage, how to manage clutter, and just how many light sources you need in each room. Everyone wants to know how to transform their space without breaking the bank, and it can take a lot creativity to figure it out how to do that. We're here to help guide you through it!

Time for a drink! This week on The Creative Muscle, we turn our focus to the two most popular and in-demand beverages in the world. Sip on some sweet words from Good Beer Hunting's Michael Kiser and the Specialty Coffee Association of America's Stephen Morrissey who carry us deep into the hoppy, malty world of craft beer, then to the earthy, aromatic realm of coffee, and finally to the dreamy convergence of the two at their annual Chicago event "Uppers and Downers." 

Do plumbers get plumber's block? Is a banana hemp shake with cashew milk the key to creativity? In Part 2 of our discussion with extraordinary author and entrepreneur Seth Godin, he cracks open a few more mysteries of the universe, such as the definition of emotional labor and the difference between a job and a vocation. Plus he includes some incredible anecdotes about Stephen King, Aaron Sorkin, Elizabeth Gilbert, and Isaac Asimov. Take a listen!

In this week's episode, author, entrepreneur and marketer Seth Godin exposes the cultural systems and societal pressures that keep everyday people from being creative. Godin draws upon decades of experience and critical thinking to unspool the power and possibility of the connection economy, offering exciting advice for habits and useful practices to overcome the resistance so many would-be creators feel when setting out to make something new. Don't miss this opportunity to hear one of the most influential voices of our time discuss technology, generosity, emotional labor, and so much more. We were floored, and know that you will be, too!