Creative Chats with Mike Brennan

"What's the most impactful leader style? It's balance of credibility and authority and warmth, and how do you bring up your warmth if you're overly rational in terms of perception from others? It's by story. It's by asking questions. It's by stoking those human creative moments that you might still have when you're off hours and bringing it in to the workday." — Gina London   Are you ready to unlo...

As creatives, stepping into the public eye (and ear) can be a game-changer for your brand and exposure. In our latest episode, we delve into the art of being an exceptional podcast guest. Whether you're an artist, writer, or any creative professional, this episode is packed with invaluable tips on how to amplify your message through podcasts. I drops some serious tips, including why crafting a "on...

Ever wonder if FUN has a place in the workplace? Or how creativity really benefits a company? I had an amazing opportunity being a special guest on the Life Upgrade podcast with Fulfillment Obi. We delved into the power of creativity and fun, and how it can impact our personal and professional lives. It was such an insightful converdsation I decided to reshare on Creative Chats podacst. Here are t...

In today's episode, I shared strategies for managing impostor syndrome. We discussed challenging negative thoughts, reframing internal validation, and connecting with others to combat this common struggle. I also shared my personal experience with impostor syndrome and offered tips for creators. Join our free community for creators and let's navigate through impostor syndrome together. Remember, y...

Get ready to be inspired and motivated to create from a place of compassion and purpose! In this episode of Creative Chats, Ali Horriyat shares his transformative journey from the world of finance to founding the Compassivist movement. Discover how Ali challenges the societal emphasis on money and advocates for a healthier relationship with wealth. From personal experiences to global activism, Ali...

In the latest episode of Creative Chats, host Mike Brennan engages in a conversation with Jason Frazell about the nuances of creativity, collaboration, and resilience in the creative process. Jason, an executive coach, training facilitator, and podcaster, shares his journey of embracing creativity and applying it to various aspects of his life and work. We delved deep into the topic of collaborati...

In this episode, we explored the power of creative affirmations in nurturing and enhancing our creative mindset. 🌟 Key takeaways: 1️⃣ Affirmations as Mental Workouts: Affirmations act as a compass guiding us through the labyrinth of our minds, reshaping neural pathways and challenging self-doubt to foster a positive creative mindset. 2️⃣ Consistency is Key: Incorporating affirmations into our dai...

In today's episode, host Mike Brennan and guest Sean Osborn explore the profound connection between creativity and success. They delve into the power of intuition, the science behind creativity, and the impact of personal experiences on one's creative journey. Sean shares his inspiring story of resilience and resourcefulness, underscoring the importance of defying limitations and embracing creativ...

In this week's podcast episode, guest Dr. Amy Climer, a creativity consultant and innovator, shared her inspiring journey of rediscovering her passion for art and integrating it into her professional work. She discussed the misconceptions around creativity and the transformative power it holds in team development. Key Takeaways: - Creativity is not limited to art: Amy emphasized the broader defini...

In this episode of Creative Chats, host Mike Brennan reflects on the end of the year and the importance of pausing to assess creative goals. He shares insights on the necessity of celebrating accomplishments, setting realistic goals using the SMART criteria, and visualizing success. Additionally, Mike unveils an exciting 30-day creative challenge designed to help listeners cultivate a daily creati...

In this episode, our host Mike Brennan delves into a topic that many creative individuals can relate to - seasonal depression. He shares his personal experiences and discusses the challenges of navigating mental health issues as a creative person, especially during the holiday season. This episode is a candid and empathetic exploration of the complexities of mental health and the importance of see...

Episode 217 of Creative Chats is an insightful one with guest Tammy Fink, a seasoned 'Wowologist' with over 30 years of experience in marketing and design. Our conversation delved into the evolving nature of creativity and the art of wowing clients to build lasting connections. Here are the top 3 takeaways from our chat: 1. Create Unforgettable Experiences: Going beyond basic client interactions i...

Welcome back to another episode of Creative Chats!  I am beyond excited to have a special guest joining us, Diane Strand.  Diane is an award-winning serial entrepreneur, marketer, speaker, and coach who helps entrepreneurs turn their creative passions into profitable businesses — as she did with her own business JDS Productions, a seven-figure media company creating engaging video content for orga...

The Importance of Self-Reflection: "I think it is probably one of the most important things ever because if you don't know yourself, you're going to spend a lot of time, energy, and effort in places, doing things that are not aligned. And you're going to be frustrated, and you're going to have this sense of wandering your whole life and not really being able to put your finger on why." — Mike Bren...

"If you wanna be known for something, go find those communities, find where those people are, and be there consistently, show up and participate and comment, ask questions, provide value to people." — James Quick  Are you someone who welcomes change with open arms or someone who struggles with it?  In the latest episode of Creative Chats, I had the pleasure of speaking with James Quick, a develope...

The Importance of Confidence in the Creative Process: "Invite someone else into your process. Have someone else that you can use as a sounding board who can help bring their taste to match your taste or maybe not even sometimes match it, but sometimes to challenge it. So that you can really be clear on what it is that you are aiming at, what quality you consider to be the standard and what you're...

The Emotional Rollercoaster of Entrepreneurship: "Many times you feel the high highs of the mountains and the low lows of the valley minutes, in between each other, days in between each other." — Rob Jelinski  I had the pleasure of having Rob Jelinski as a guest on this episode of Creative Chats podcast, where we discussed taking risks, embracing opportunities, and the power of mentorship in the c...

"Everything slows down when you're at an event sometimes. If it's a well-run event, there can be this moment where nothing else matters except what is happening right in this space." — Phil Mershon   In this episode, Phil shares his insights and experiences from creating new and unforgettable experiences for over 25 years, with experiences as a worship pastor and as the director of experience for...

In this episode of Creative Chats, host Mike Brennan finds himself in the hot seat as guest Kabrina Ashely turns the tables and delves into his new book, Make Fun A Habit . The conversation focuses on the concept of infusing more fun and intentionality into our lives and work. As Kabrina asks Mike deeper questions about his book, they explore how to unlock the power of fun, find meaning in work, a...

Importance of Self-Identity in Personal Growth: "No one operates beyond the boundaries of their own self-image." — K-Rahn Vallatine In this episode of Creative Chats, I am thrilled to have K-Rahn Vallatine joining me. K-Rahn is a passionate communicator and advocate for empowering and inspiring people to fulfill their potential. He believes in the power of mindset and self-identity to create posit...

The Power of the Whiteboard: "So for me, as non-creative as it sounds, there is something magical that can happen at a whiteboard." — Ryan Holck  In this episode, I had the pleasure of hosting my good friend Ryan Holck, a talented marketer and brand message strategist. Join us as Ryan shares invaluable insights on storytelling, messaging clarity, and the creative process. ✨ Here are 3 key takeawa...

Finding Fun in Life: "This is an important message of making fun a habit of looking for those places in our lives, discovering and rediscovering those places in our lives where we can have fun again, where things don't have to be so heavy." — Mike Brennan In episode 207. Embracing Your Inner Author: Making Book Writing Feasible for Creatives, I take you behind the scenes of my book-writing process...

"Experience produces confidence": Confidence and self-assurance are not inherent traits but are developed through lived experiences and self-reflection. — Mike Brennan   In this episode, I dive into the power of experience, challenges, and mindset when it comes to building confidence as a creator. Here are three key takeaways to remember: 1️⃣ Experience Produces Confidence: Embrace challenging mom...

The Importance of Investing in Community: "You know, everybody looks at the cost of going to a conference or going to an event or the cost of hiring a coach, the cost of joining a community. But no one considers the cost of what it would be like if you were the same person a year from now." — Terry Weaver I'm thrilled to announce that the latest episode of the Creative Chats podcast is a mashup wi...

The Power of Recyclable Innovation:  "Keep your old workaround, recycle some things, use it as a springboard for building on top of cannibalized parts of it for new things, because there's no sense in trying to always reinvent something from scratch, especially when you've put a lot of work and effort into something."   — Mike Brennan I had the incredible opportunity to visit Dan Klitsner's studio...