Do you sometimes feel like your creative well has run dry? In a world increasingly dominated by AI and efficiency, how do we protect and cultivate our unique human spark?

This week on Amplify, Jess sits down with Natalie Nixon, PhD, a renowned creativity expert, innovation strategist, and author, famously dubbed the "Creativity Whisperer to the C-Suite." Natalie shares profound insights on how to reclaim your inherent creativity, understand its real-world ROI, and navigate the evolving relationship between human ingenuity and artificial intelligence.

Drawing inspiration from childhood wonder, Natalie and Jess explore how our natural creative impulses often get "disciplined" by traditional education and societal norms. You'll learn why "getting lost on purpose" can be a powerful catalyst for new ideas and how leveraging AI can actually amplify, rather than stifle, your human creativity.

We tackle:

• Why children are the ultimate "wonder mentors," modeling the pure, uninhibited creativity we often lose.
• The profound impact of educational systems on stifling or cultivating creativity, drawing from Natalie's diverse schooling experiences.
• The importance of striking a balance between "wonder" and "rigor" in fostering creative thinking.
• Natalie's pragmatic and optimistic view on the relationship between AI and human creativity.
• Why intentionally "getting lost" (literally and figuratively) can unlock serendipity and new ideas.
• The concept of a "human revolution," not just a tech revolution, and how AI creates "spaciousness" for deeper human connection and thought.
• The value of liminal space and embracing ambiguity—just like artists do.
• How to use AI to ask better questions and prompt deeper reflection.
• The power of incorporating "daydream breaks" into your daily routine to activate your brain's default mode network.
• Why allowing for boredom (especially for kids!) is an invitation to imagination.
• A brilliant hack for overcoming creative blocks when the "stakes" of getting paid influence your work: "role-playing with your past self."
• Why "plenty of ideas end up on the cutting floor" is not failure, but "flow."

About Natalie Nixon, PhD:

Natalie Nixon, PhD, is a global expert in creativity, innovation, and the future of work. She advises leaders on how to make their organizations more nimble and innovative through her unique approach to applied creativity. As a speaker, strategist, and author of The Creativity Leap, Natalie empowers individuals and teams to unlock their creative potential and drive tangible results. She is also launching her new book, Move, Think, Rest, in 2025.

Resources & Links:

• Pre-order Move, Think, Rest by Natalie Nixon: https://www.amazon.com/Move-Think-Rest-Productivity-Relationship/dp/0306835584
• Download Natalie's Wonder-Rigor Tip Sheet: https://www.figure8thinking.com/wonderrigor-tip-sheet/
• Figure 8 Thinking: figure8thinking.com
• Follow Natalie Nixon on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalienixonphd/
• Follow Natalie Nixon on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/natwnixon/

Amplify with Jess is produced by Walk West and brought to you by Mic Drop Workshop.