Rebel, Reject, Create!

In this episode of Rebel, Reject, Create, David Chislett speaks with Michael Brian Lee, creative breakthrough catalyst and author of World Innovators Cup. Michael’s new book reimagines famous innovators as World Cup football stars, using the playful format of trading cards and sporting mythology to ask a serious question: why do we celebrate athletes more passionately than the people whose ideas a...

In this episode of Rebel, Reject, Create, David Chislett speaks with Professor Mark Deuze, Professor of Media Studies at the University of Amsterdam and author of a book exploring how creative work can be both deeply meaningful and damaging to people’s health. The conversation looks at the hidden cost of turning creativity into a career. Mark explains why people in creative industries often feel g...

In this episode of Rebel, Reject, Create, David Chislett speaks with creative director and designer Rakesh Kanhai about psychedelics, creativity, mental health, and the growing pressure placed on creatives in modern society. After organising an event in Amsterdam exploring the relationship between psychedelics and artistic practice, Rakesh shares his own deeply personal experiences with ayahuasca,...

In this episode of Rebel, Reject, Create, I chat with Dr. Michael Bloomfield — cognitive anthropologist, creativity researcher, and founder of the Komanu Creativity System. Michael shares how his early obsession with music, originality, and genius led him into a lifelong exploration of creativity through anthropology, psychology, and human evolution. Together, we unpack why creativity is not the s...

Christina Hammond-Aziz is the CEO of Rainmaker Solutions, a firm that helps governments and companies deliver meaningful change by enabling the people inside organisations to design and drive it themselves. In this conversation, Christina challenges the traditional “consultancy” model and dismantles common assumptions about change management — especially the belief that people naturally resist cha...

Cyriel Kortleven is a keynote speaker and long-time trainer in creativity, innovation, and—more recently—change mindset. In this conversation , Cyriel explains why people resist change (fear, control, cognitive overload), how modern media amplifies that resistance, and what leaders can do instead: notice “idea killers” like yes, but…, deliberately widen perspective, and run small, safe experiments...

In this episode of Rebel Reject Create, I speak with Sofie Marin, founder and CEO of Arts Dynamics in Stockholm, about why creativity matters now more than ever. Together we explore creativity as a source of agency, resilience, and human meaning in a world shaped by crisis, distraction, and rapid technological change. Sofie argues that while organisations often say they want innovation, they frequ...

My guest this episode is Joshua Baumgarten — American-born, Dutch-based poet, performer, musician, and founder of The Irrational Library, a long-running Haarlem creative project that’s been a shop, a stage, a band, and a platform for other misfits. He’s played in bands, released albums, hosted spoken-word nights, and given countless artists a first stage. We talk about creativity as a lived practi...

My guest today is Dr. Myriam Hadnes — a Amsterdam-based facilitator, podcaster, and “facilitation evangelist” on a mission to make the world more collaborative. She hosts the workshops.work podcast, designs and leads workshops around psychological safety, feedback culture and collaboration, and champions what she calls “unprofessionalism” at work — dropping the mask so humans can actually work tog...

In this episode my guest is Claudia Thompson — leadership coach and author helping small and mid-sized business owners get out of firefighting and back to purpose. In our conversation, Claudia reframes creativity as everyday problem-solving, shows how to dismantle assumptions, and uses group workshops (with “no stupid ideas”) to grant permission and surface honest insights. We talk reverse brainst...

My guest this episode is Anton Marshall, a Cape Town–based creator, musician, presenter, and all-round maverick. Anton has spent decades on stages and in studios, crafting music, hosting shows, and building projects that put joy and honesty front-and-center. In this episode, he argues that creativity is a daily rebellion against the status quo, unpacks why fear (not effort) blocks opportunities, a...

My guest this episode is Hanne Kristiansen — a people-obsessed corporate innovator; ex-Head of Innovation for Kellogg Europe (London, New York, Dublin. She is also the founder of Creative ID, a research-backed framework (with University of Sheffield, since 2008) that maps how creativity actually shows up at work. In this episode: Hanne reframes “rebellion” for big organizations, replacing noisy di...

This episode's guest, Arne van Oosterom is the founder of Future Skills Academy, renowned design thinker and facilitator. A self-described school dropout with dyslexia who never stopped learning, Arne has worked across art, music, theatre, design, and strategy. He sees creativity not as a personality type but as a supported behavior. In this conversation, Arne unpacks how psychological safety...

We don’t have a creativity problem at work. We have a compliance problem. In this episode of Rebel, Reject, Create , creativity trainer and ex-PR creative director Claire Bridges (Now Go Create) drops some uncomfortable truths: Her invitation: Stop waiting for permission or “purpose”. Start asking: What do I actually want? Then decide what you’ll stop , start , and continue to getthere. Maybe the...

In this episode of Rebel, Reject, Create, we explore how creativity actually emerges between people: through psychosocial safety, visible listening, and experiential practice. My guest, Simo Routarinne is an interaction designer and culture shaper, contrasts individual vs. team creativity (“cathedrals” vs. blocks), shows why culture is behavior (not slogans), and shares practical micro-moves (nodd...

In this episode of Rebel, Reject, Create, I sit down with Liora Kern, communication strategist, brand builder, and founderof The Think Room, to explore what it really means to stay visible, credible, and human in the AI era. From fighting the “tsunami of sameness” to rediscovering an organization’s soul, Liora shares how she helps clients uncover their unique DNA (their “why”) before scaling conte...

In this episode of Rebel, Reject, Create, host Dave talks with Jan Joubert, London-based tech entrepreneur and founder of Rainmaker Solutions. We discuss the powerful intersection of creativity, courage, and leadership in business. From the realities of startup life to the pitfalls of corporate complacency, Jan unpacks why creativity isn’t optional but essential. He shares insights on how fear of...

This episode’s guest is Lisa Van Wyk. For the past decade and a bit she’s been leading storytelling, communication and content strategy and creative campaigning for international human rights and relief NGOs and non-profits. She specializes in developing ethical, creative and relevant communications in diverse (and sometimes dangerous or difficult) cultural and social/economic contexts. This has i...

My guest for this episode is Sean Hayes. After an award-winning career in advertising spanning 40 years and 5 countries, Sean has been promoted to a stay-at-home remote worker where his duties include – in between writing conceptual copy for clients - collecting Amazon deliveries for wife and kids and being the official ‘door opener/closer’ for the family cat called O’Brien. Living the dream. Find...

This episode's guest is Fiona Passantino, a speaker, trainer and coach, helping to empower working Humans with AI integration and strategy. The aim is to maximize communication and connection, engagement and creativity and bring joy and inspiration into the workplace. She is a passionate content producer, and the UK Business Book Award-winning author of the "Comic Books for Executives" series and...

This episode's guest is Nicky P Clarke, a seasoned expert with over 25 years of experience in regulated ecosystems, blending strategic management consulting with a focus on purpose-driven portfolio management and innovative thought leadership. They have architected platforms serving millions of users and led critical turnarounds during the 2008 financial crisis at Deloitte. With a unique approach...

This episode's guest is Sofie Marin, Founder & CEO Arts Dynamics, Creative / Tech Business Strategist, Board Member, Fuglesang Space Center Sofie Marin is a force to be reckoned with as a senior cultural affairs and business strategist, consultant and startup mentor in the intersection of creativity, tech, innovation and entrepreneurship for impact. "On Earth and in Space", as she words it. Sh...

Fredrik Haren wants to know all there is to know about creativity. He is a global professional keynote speaker and author on Business Creativity, Change and Global Mindset. He has delivered more than 2,000 speeches in over 75 countries on six continents. IN this interview, he shares some of the insights into creativity that his work and travels have revealed to him. Find Fredrik online: LinkedIn:...

Sarai is a teacher of art and philosophy as well as an artist, speaker and author. She has just released a fantastic book about Art and creativity entitled 'Off Track - Art and Philosophy as triggers for system change' So I read the book and HAD to talk to her about her approach, her knowledge and the book. You can read more about the book AND order it directly from Sarai (in the original...

In this episode of the Rebel, reject, Create podcast I talk to Scott Homan about his new film, The Witness Underground and his kickstart initiative to help fund its launch. He's got some awesome stuff to say about the power of creativity and really deserves YOUR support for this film. Check out the Kickstarter HERE!