Creativity requires boldness. To create is to take a risk—and that boldness exists on a continuum from benevolent to malevolent. History shows us that creativity is often misunderstood at first: artistic breakthroughs like Cubism were rejected and ridiculed before becoming celebrated anchors in art history. What society labels as “good” or “bad” creativity is largely shaped by cultural and historical context, and original ideas may serve the creator long before they serve the collective.

This raises an important question: to what end is creativity used? Creativity is not limited to the arts, nor is it inherently ethical. Original ideas can help or harm, serve society or serve the self. While we tend to assume creativity is benevolent, its impact depends on intention, fairness, and consequence. As new technologies expand our creative power, the ethical stakes grow higher—especially as innovation can be used to mislead, exploit, or cause harm as easily as it can solve problems.

Creativity is best understood as ideas that are both original and appropriate, grounded in human judgment and moral awareness. Being creative means being bold enough to take risks, but reflective enough to consider impact. 

Tips for becoming more creative - 

Be Bold: Go for it. It is what the artists do. 

Go for a walk. Let your mind wander.   

Try it out. Give it a go. Learn, ponder and try again. 

Hansika Kapoor 

Dr Hansika Kapoor 

The Global Creativity Initiative Podcast is a scholarly commitment to sharing creativity and specifically creative process for problem solving (aka life) with all of humanity. Visit our website to learn more about The Global Creativity Initiative. Write to us at [email protected]

Creativity is abstract until we give it a lens. In this conversation with Dr. Robert Cleve, we explore how creativity becomes tangible through what is uniquely meaningful to each of us: art, language, movement, systems, relationships. These lenses don’t limit creativity. They reveal it.

At the heart of creativity is a productive tension: freedom and structure, the unlimited and the bound. Language often becomes the container, shaping the moment when something new emerges—the “I hadn’t thought of this before” spark. Drawing on neuroscience, lived experience, and collective practice, we examine creativity not as a luxury, but as a survival to thrival skill, one that sustains many of us through isolation, uncertainty, and change.

This episode moves beyond individual expression to consider collective creativity: how creativity lives between us, how it’s shaped by social and cultural contexts, and how engaging with others expands our perspective and sense of possibility. When we honor our own creative essence and learn to recognize it in others creativity becomes relational, empowering, and life-giving.

Creativity adds depth, joy, and optimism to our lives. It helps us survive, connect, and imagine what might be.

So how do we become more creative, starting now?

1. Get curious like a student.
   Pay attention to what draws you in. What’s something you’ve always wanted to learn, explore, or understand? Start journaling to notice patterns, questions, and sparks of interest.
2. Embrace imperfection and failure.
   Creativity requires risk. Let go of needing to get it right. In Japanese philosophy, wabi-sabi reminds us that imperfection isn’t something to fix. It’s something to value.
3. Change your environment and notice.
   Step outside. Become aware of your surroundings. New insights often emerge when we give ourselves space to see differently.

Creativity is something we practice. By honoring what’s unique in ourselves and in others, we allow creativity to unfold naturally, individually and collectively in a fabric that weaves relational connection for a self styled verb that conveys an energy and medium for our being

References 

Your Brain on Art 

Neuroartsblueprint.org 

The Interpersonal World of the Infant 

The Crealectic Method

Dr. Robert Cleve 

The Global Creativity Initiative Podcast is a scholarly commitment to sharing creativity and specifically creative process for problem solving (aka life) with all of humanity. Visit our website to learn more about The Global Creativity Initiative. Write to us at [email protected]

This podcast explores creativity as a fundamental human capacity and a way of engaging with possibility in everyday life. More than an individual trait, creativity is a social and cultural process shaped by traditions, language, values, and shared practices. The conversation highlights how creativity depends on not-knowing, curiosity, and the ability to connect imagination with action.

Vlad also addresses common misconceptions such as the Romantic-era notion of the “mad genius” and reframes creativity as an ordinary, accessible, and transformative force. It looks at how creative work emerges from difference and gaps between perspectives, and how embracing these gaps can foster communication, play, humility, and care.

Cultivating creativity through playfulness, psychological safety, experimentation, and openness to multiple viewpoints is key. Creativity is both a mindset and a way of being that helps individuals and communities navigate complexity and expand what becomes possible. 

If we were all a bit more creative..? We'd care more for each other. And if we're not creative, we'd be harming ourselves in not helping others.  

Tips on becoming more creative include

• Be more playful and fun. Add flavor and color to life. 
• Provide the safety for something to go wrong. 
• Black belt for creatives- listen and role play with those who are marginalized 

Dr. Vlad Glaveanu

Full Professor of Psychology, Business School, Dublin City University

Director, DCU Centre for Possibility Studies

Adjunct Professor, Centre for the Science of Learning and Technology, University of Bergen

Possibility Studies Network, President

Possibility Studies and Society, Journal Editor
The Palgrave Encyclopedia of the Possible, Editor
Possibility Studies: A Manifesto, Author

The Global Creativity Initiative Podcast is a scholarly commitment to sharing creativity and specifically creative process for problem solving (aka life) with all of humanity. Visit our website to learn more about The Global Creativity Initiative. Write to us at [email protected]

Creativity is a Catalyst: Reimagining Capitalism with Purpose

Guest: Chris Grivas Ed.D.

Bottom-line-first is a sure way to lose out. 

What if creativity could help reshape capitalism? In this episode, creativity expert Chris Grivas explores how imagination and purpose can drive a paradigm shift from a shareholder model—focused only on profit—to a stakeholder model that values people, planet, and performance.

Chris shares why creativity is permission to play—and how play, curiosity, and compassion can spark real business transformation with deeper values. We discuss why purpose-driven companies often outperform profit-only ones, and how creative thinking helps leaders overcome resistance to novelty. 

Key Takeaways:

• Creativity as the foundation for meaningful, purpose-driven work
• How purpose fuels innovation and long-term success
• Why “bottom-line-first” thinking limits progress
• Practical ways to embed social responsibility into business strategy

Tips for Becoming more Creative:

1. Play. Seriously, give yourself permission to play - with ideas and something new - safely of course. 

2. Break routine. Walk on the different side of the street. Try something new. 

Chris Grivas 

The Innovative Team 

Do More Good Movement 

The ROI of Why 

The Global Creativity Initiative Podcast is a scholarly commitment to sharing creativity and specifically creative process for problem solving (aka life) with all of humanity. Visit our website to learn more about The Global Creativity Initiative. Write to us at [email protected]

Follow this link to register  12 pm Central Standard Time November 6 

The Global Creativity Initiative Podcast is a scholarly commitment to sharing creativity and specifically creative process for problem solving (aka life) with all of humanity. Visit our website to learn more about The Global Creativity Initiative. Write to us at [email protected]

Creative Mindset: Unlocking Possibility Through Curiosity and Courage

What if the thing holding you back from being creative… is simply the belief that you aren’t?

In this episode, we sit down with Laura Barbaro Switalski, who, for the first time in her 30s, began to consciously explore what it means to live with a creative mindset. Like many, Laura once believed creativity belonged only to the “artistic”—painters, writers, musicians. But something shifted when she realized creativity isn’t about talent; it’s about thinking differently, seeing differently, being different.

Laura shares how she started by deferring judgment, both of herself and others. Not eliminating it, but gently suspending it. That space of non-judgment opened up a door to new ways of thinking. “I’m not creative” turned into a question: What if I am, and I’ve just been telling myself otherwise?

We talk about the mindset needed to access creativity: the willingness to reframe problems, to challenge your own assumptions, to stay curious rather than cling to certainty. Creative thinking isn’t just about ideas, it’s about letting go of the self-censorship and fear that shut ideas down before they can even form.

Laura also speaks to how leadership plays a role in shaping creative environments how the way we lead can either create safety or reinforce fear. When people feel psychologically safe, they collaborate more, take more initiative, and feel more connected. Creativity, it turns out, isn’t just an individual act. It’s a cultural one.

And here’s the deeper truth: creativity is emotional intelligence. It’s courage. It’s curiosity. It’s leadership.

So how can you become more creative?

It starts with small, intentional shifts:

1. Seek diversity. Talk to people who think differently than you. Sit in rooms where you're not the expert.
2. Be curious. Not just about what you know, but especially about what you don’t.
3. Take small risks. Say the unpolished idea. Try the new approach.
4. Ask better questions. Creativity thrives in inquiry more than in answers.

By the end of this conversation, you’ll see that creativity isn’t something you have or don’t have. It’s something you practice. And when you do, it changes how you lead, how you connect, and how you see the world.

If you’ve ever felt like creativity was for someone else, this episode is for you. It’s time to take your power back one curious question at a time.

Laura Barbaro-Switalski

CREA Conference April 15-19 2026

The Global Creativity Initiative Podcast is a scholarly commitment to sharing creativity and specifically creative process for problem solving (aka life) with all of humanity. Visit our website to learn more about The Global Creativity Initiative. Write to us at [email protected]

Whether you're in a boardroom or a dance studio, creativity isn’t an add-on. 

It’s the through-line.

In this episode, Janet Stormes dives deep into the powerful intersection of dance and business, revealing how the creative process serves as the bridge between two seemingly different worlds. Drawing from her unique experience in both the performing arts and finance, Janet uncovers the universal principles that make creativity not just an artistic pursuit, but a way of learning and leading for life. 

Janet emphasizes that creativity is not reserved for geniuses or artists. It's a mindset, a method, and a muscle that anyone can develop. Whether choreographing a dance piece or training federal employees, the process remains surprisingly consistent: it requires trust, openness, collaboration, and persistence.

At the heart of both dance and business lies the same creative framework:

1. Psychological safety – creating a space where ideas can emerge without fear.
2. Understanding the creative process – using structured tools to clarify challenges, identify gaps, and think imaginatively.
3. Movement – not just in the studio, but in life. Even walking can activate creative thinking and enhance business functionality.

Janet challenges the narrow definition of creativity and calls for an expanded understanding—one that values communication, exploration, and strategic problem-solving. Through workshops that incorporate movement and creative principles, she helps individuals and organizations tap into their full creative potential.

The key takeaway? The creative process is natural. It’s happening whether we acknowledge it or not. By engaging with it intentionally, we can learn, teach, and lead more effectively in every space we occupy.

Janet Stormes 

Learning on the Verge

Buffalo State College Center for Applied Imagination 

The Global Creativity Initiative Podcast is a scholarly commitment to sharing creativity and specifically creative process for problem solving (aka life) with all of humanity. Visit our website to learn more about The Global Creativity Initiative. Write to us at [email protected]

In this thought-provoking episode, we’re joined by Dr. Terry Marks-Tarlow,  clinician, author, independent scholar, and expert in nonlinear dynamics and creativity. Based in Santa Monica, Dr. Marks-Tarlow bridges cutting-edge science and deep clinical insight, offering a fascinating lens on the power of intuition, fractal geometry, and the art of being fully human.

We explore how creativity is essential to transformation, why it's rooted in both culture and biology, and how reconnecting with intuition is key to navigating change in a chaotic world.

Some key points-

•  Every human, not just the "geniuses" is inherently creative. 
• Intuition in creativity is key for psychological healing.
• Culture shapes, and sometimes limits, creative expression.
• There's a natural science to creativity in nonlinear systems, fractals, and chaos theory.
• Systems and people are slow to change. Creativity catalyzes transformation.
• The importance of inner space and spontaneous emergence.
• How we orient in social space shapes self-expression.

Practical Takeaways:

1. For Parents: Don’t over-structure your child’s time. Free, symbolic play is vital for development and creativity.
2. For Adults: Everyone is creative. Find your flow and discover how creativity shows up uniquely in your life.
3. For All: Plan for unstructured time. Let spontaneity guide you — the brain’s play circuits are crucial for well-being and innovation.

Mirrors of the Mind
Dr Terry Marks-Marlow

The Global Creativity Initiative Podcast is a scholarly commitment to sharing creativity and specifically creative process for problem solving (aka life) with all of humanity. Visit our website to learn more about The Global Creativity Initiative. Write to us at [email protected]

In this episode, Pauliina Valpas, co-founder of Yellow Method AI in Finland, explores how creativity fuels innovation especially as a problem-solving process. From identifying the right challenge to implementing solutions, creativity is present at every step. And if that sounds a bit abstract, Pauliina invites you to rethink what creativity looks like. Sometimes it happens on the fly, or even on a bus.

She shares a formative childhood story of solo travel that helped her develop a comfort with complexity and the unknown, skills that would later feed into her passion for creative work. Combining this with a deep love for the arts, Pauliina has built a career that marries intuition, adaptability, and structured creative thinking.

Pauliina’s Pro Tips for Boosting Your Creativity:

1. Recognize Your Own Creativity
   Everyone is creative. It just shows up differently depending on the context. Whether you're solving a work problem or navigating daily life, creativity is there.
2. Start a Positive Circle
    Use journaling for reflection and creating a positive feedback loop. This practice not only strengthens your creative thinking, but also builds confidence and momentum to keep going.

Pauliina Valpas  

YellowMethodAI

The Global Creativity Initiative Podcast is a scholarly commitment to sharing creativity and specifically creative process for problem solving (aka life) with all of humanity. Visit our website to learn more about The Global Creativity Initiative. Write to us at [email protected]

Season Three kicks off with an inspiring conversation featuring Dr. Teresa Lawrence, Program Director for the Creative Leadership and Innovation for Change PhD program in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Dr. Lawrence brings a wealth of insight into how Creative Problem Solving, CPS, adds value across education, research, and business.

Dr. Lawrence invites us to rethink creativity as the ability to generate options and possibilities. "Creativity," she says, "leans into decision-making and implementation." To be clear, idea generation and idea evaluation are the two key aspects of being creative when problem solving.  This dynamic balance is what sets creative thinking apart from regular thinking. 

Creativity, as a problem-solving process, can and should be learned. Just as we study subjects like accounting or cooking, we must also intentionally learn how to solve problems. According to Dr. Lawrence, the key is knowing where you are in the problem-solving process and applying the right skills to move forward and a truly inclusive "get behind."  

Dr. Lawrence’s Top Tips for Practicing Creative Problem Solving:

1. Learn the tools of Creative Problem Solving – Explore any (or all) aspects of the process. At the very least master the balance between divergent and convergent thinking.
2. Work with a buddy – Collaboration matters.
3. Practice makes permanent – Like feng shui, a little bit goes a long way.

Dr Teresa Lawrence is the Director of the Creative Leadership for Innovation and Change, CLIC, at the University of the Virgin Islands. Dr Lawrence is also a master facilitator for Creative Problem Solving, a domain-general complex problem problem solving model that equally acknowledges all aspects of problems, to include clarification, transformation implementation. 

CLIC PhD Program, University of the Virgin Islands 

Dr Teresa Lawrence 

The Global Creativity Initiative Podcast is a scholarly commitment to sharing creativity and specifically creative process for problem solving (aka life) with all of humanity. Visit our website to learn more about The Global Creativity Initiative. Write to us at [email protected]