Creative Adventures - An accidental podcast

In this episode I talk about the importance of breaking routines whilst breaking my own routine, reflect on how the biological process of synaptic pruning might be a useful metaphor for creative practice and consider whether the accidental pursuit of consistency could ruin my relationship with this podcast. TL;DL 0:18 Breaking the routine of making this podcast 06:39 From “grope” to “rote” 13:58 T...

In this episode I realise how important meaning is as a way of organising my attention, reflect on the value of starting before I am ready in any creative endeavour and try to understand why human beings seek out quiet and stillness in nature only to fill it with noise. TL;DL 1:14 “The River Thames Project” and organising my attention to find flow 11:56 On humans and making noise in nature 19:15 A...

In this episode, encountering some midges on a run gets me reflecting on nuclear terror in the 1980s, I contemplate how therapeutic art works brilliantly in the gaps between words, and explore why acts of carnival are vital for weirdos trying to make a meaningful difference in the world.  TL;DL 02’ 06” A chain of thought from midges to 1980s nuclear terror 10’25”  The microtonal power of therapeut...

In this episode I investigate a strange fact I was sent about crows being rainbow coloured, explore impermanence and the art of ending projects at their peak, and lament the redevelopment of Battersea Power Station and what that can teach us about the dangers of “golf-course creativity.” TL;DL 04’ 32”  I got sent a weird book about Rooks 08’ 36”  Are crows in fact rainbow coloured? 12’ 43”  The ar...

In this episode I try to resist doing anything special for episode ten but end up going down a decenary rabbit hole, I reflect on the difference between aloneness and loneliness and rethink the brain’s role in creativity through getting to know a primitive sea creature. TL;DL 3’ 12”     Why does the number 10 feel so significant anyway? 9 ’42”     A story of transforming lonliness into solitude on...

In this episode I express my love of the River Thames through the metaphor of a storybook with the bridges as the chapters, explore the difference between art culture and meme culture, and reflect on boredom as a powerful indicator of living a meaningful life. TL;DL 2’ 41”     A trip to St Leonards and the Hong Kong  valley of the spiders 6 ’02”     A love affair with the Thames 15’ 16”   The exis...

In this episode I reflect on the cyclical emotional process of making this podcast, tumble down a fascinating eel rabbit hole, ponder the excruciating greyness of “normal”, and explore my love of the brilliant weirdo. TL;DL 1’ 15”     Running in the dark and the peril of head-torches 6’ 34”   The repeated process of making this podcast 8’ 55”   The excruciating greyness of normal 10’ 53”  Patterns...

In this episode I talk about how discovering a bizarre mural has helped me approach the festive season with a little more resilience, reflect on ego ideals as the posters my inner critic keeps on its bedroom wall and tell the story of the man who loved dragons as a way of exploring the phenomenon of aboutism. TL;DL 6’ 17”    The Kingstonymus Bosch mural 15’ 38”  The ghostly posters on the inner cr...

In this episode I reflect on how much I love autumn, tell the story of a crow reunion, play a weird song I wrote and performed in assembly age 8, experiment with less censored/more eccentric social interaction and talk about the power of masks that help reveal more of who we already are. TL;DL 2’ 15”    I really love autumn 4’ 36”    A crow reunion 14’ 27”  The open studio/welcome to my world 22&a...

In this episode I tell the story of how getting trapped on an exposed beach in a lightning storm became the highlight of a disastrous snorkelling trip, explore how dreams can be a scary, intense but ultimately helpful healing process and reflect on the beauty and power of inexpertise through the lens of the Portsmouth Sinfonia. TL;DL 3’ 32”   The disastrous snorkelling trip 13’ 13”   Live from &qu...

In this episode I reflect on the big creative slump I found myself in August, explore how learning to see the world as strange can help us experience wonder and share the story of a beach trip with Poppy the dog that inspired me to make a little zine entitled “Be kind to crabs”. TL;DL 4’ 08”   Kindness for crabs 12’ 11”   Thoughts on the creative slump 24’ 20”  Learning to see the world as strange...

In this episode I talk about The Windowsill Gang and how they bring me joy but also steal my crab shells, all about Arnie Mindell's beautiful concept of Quantum Flirting and share the story of how I have ended up inviting strangers to play Backgammon with me. And an exciting moment (for me anyway) when I witness a crow/spider skirmish right outside my window. TL;DL 1' 50"   The Wind...

In this episode I enjoy following the random gifts of a dyslexic mind and reflect on some of the comments that people made about my "create windows into your world" philosophy in episode one. I also explore the idea of "niche environments" and "reasonable adjustments" as important considerations for anyone wanting to nurture their own spontaneous self-expression. TL;D...

In this episode I realise that in attempting to make an accessible audio version of my Substack that I have accidentally created a podcast. Maybe. I also consider the idea that all apps and digital platforms are evolving to eventually become the same thing (a bit like the evolutionary theory of carcinisation where everything becomes a crab) and I share my " Four lightly held philosophies for...