The Creative Boom Podcast

This final episode of the season closes on a note that feels right for a new year. Honest. Hopeful. A little raw and full of heart. Chris Wilson, the multi-disciplinary force behind Glasgow’s one-man studio  Stckmn , joins Katy for a conversation about surviving life's sharpest edges and still choosing to create something good. Chris grew up working class in Clydebank, a kid who took things apart...

Joy Nazzari of  DNCO  is back for The Spark, and this time we're keeping things short, sharp and delightfully unhinged. In this bonus episode, she opens up about the creative hill she'll die on, the medium she secretly wishes she could master, and the project that left her thinking, oh god… this is huge. There's talk of graffiti, guilty pleasures, strange compliments in Japan, and the emoji she ov...

DNCO  just turned 20, and founder Joy Nazzari is not done yet. In this episode of The Creative Boom Podcast, Joy joins Katy to talk honestly about building a place brand studio from two slightly rebellious thirty-somethings with no clients, to a 33-strong team working on cities and even a whole US state. Joy shares why she and co-founder Ben walked out of permanent jobs with nothing lined up, how...

We're back with the wonderful Matt Baxter of  Baxter & Bailey  for The Spark, our fun bonus episode with each week's guest. We talk about orange hats, forgotten skills, and the power of liking what you do. There's nostalgia, karaoke, and a bit of Play-Doh. Matt shares what he wishes he were good at, how he handles creative jealousy, and a few stories that reveal the lighter side of life. There...

Designer, writer and hat connoisseur Matt Baxter of  Baxter & Bailey  joins us on The Creative Boom Podcast this week to talk about imperfection, community, and the creative life. Matt's been in the game for three decades – from Trickett & Webb and 300million to co-founding his Brighton studio with Dom Bailey in 2012. Since then, they've built thoughtful, human brands for Oxford University...

In this bonus episode, Pum Lefebure of  Design Army  opens the studio door and lets us peek at the small rituals that keep her sharp, the mindset that replaces work–life "balance", and the travel habits that refill her creative well. We talk about fear, firsts, and learning new tools the hard way. She shares the single phrase a client used to define Design Army's signature. It's a good one. There'...

Pum Lefebure is the cofounder and chief creative officer of  Design Army , the award-winning Washington DC studio behind bold campaigns for clients like The Washington Ballet, Bloomingdale's, and Hong Kong Ballet. Known for her clarity of vision, Pum set her sights on fashion, performing arts, and culture from the very beginning, building a portfolio that attracted exactly the clients she wanted....

Jeff Staple is back for The Spark – our quickfire after-hours chat where we dig beneath the surface and have a little fun. In this shorter episode, Jeff opens up about the small rituals that keep him grounded, how to turn jealousy into fuel, and why getting sunlight on your face at 6 a.m. can change your whole day. We talk about his inner critic (which sounds suspiciously like his mum), the smell...

Jeff Staple  is a designer, brand strategist and cultural icon who helped turn sneaker culture into a global movement. In this conversation, he opens up about growing up as an only child in New Jersey, how loneliness built his imagination, and how two near-death experiences changed the way he looks at risk, success and creativity. We talk about the making of Nike's  Pigeon Dunk , the sneaker that...

In this episode of The Spark, Katy welcomes back Ashley Johnson, Head of Brand Narrative at  Pentagram  in London, for a playful, after-hours chat that reveals a more mischievous side to the celebrated writer and strategist. After their in-depth Creative Boom interview, this follow-up is all about quick-fire questions, impulsive stories and surprising confessions that shine a light on the person b...

n this episode of The Creative Boom Podcast, Katy chats with  Ashley Johnson , Head of Brand Narrative at  Pentagram  in London, about the winding path that took her from Canadian TV journalism to one of the world's most respected design studios. Ashley shares how early experiences with online harassment pushed her out of the newsroom, why she calls her career "squiggly", and how she discovered a...

In this playful bonus of The Spark, Katy Cowan welcomes back Zoë Thompson, founder of  Sweet Thang  and proud zine entrepreneur, for a quick-fire round of joy-filled questions. After sharing her creative journey in Monday's episode, Zoë returns to talk about creative jealousy and how she reframes it with her "love it for you, want it for me" list. She makes a strong case for anti-hustle creativity...

For The Creative Boom Podcast this week, Katy Cowan chats with  Zoë Thompson , the founder of Sweet Thang, an independent arts and literary zine that champions black creatives around the world. Zoë launched the publication when she was just 18, driven by a love of magazines and a desire to create a platform where underrepresented voices could shine. What began as a scrappy DIY project has grown in...

We're back with another instalment of The Spark, Creative Boom's bonus episode that gets under the skin of each week's guest. This time, host Katy Cowan is joined by Emily Penny – brand strategist, writer and founder of  Be Colourful . In this after-show, Emily reveals the actress she's convinced should play her in the movie of her life, the hill she'd happily die on when it comes to creative work...

In this episode of The Creative Boom Podcast, Katy Cowan chats with Emily Penny – brand strategist, writer and founder of  Be Colourful  – about why so many design studios blend into the crowd, and the secrets to finally breaking free. Emily shares findings from her new report, Fully Saturated, which analysed over 150 UK branding agencies. The results reveal a sector drowning in sameness – studios...

We're back with another instalment of The Spark, Creative Boom's bonus episode that gets under the skin of each week's guest. This time, host Katy Cowan is joined by Claire Blyth, founder of  Red Setter  and a passionate advocate for design PR. In this light-hearted after-show, Claire shares the rituals that keep her grounded, the superstition she secretly (or not so secretly) follows, and the tee...

In this episode of The Creative Boom Podcast, Katy Cowan chats with Claire Blyth, founder of  Red Setter , the PR agency championing design. Claire reflects on how the industry has transformed since she started out – from mornings spent clipping newspapers to today's reality of AI search and zero-click content. She shares why human connection still matters more than ever, how design needs a strong...

We're back with another instalment of The Spark, Creative Boom's bonus episode that gets under the skin of each week's guest. This time, host Katy Cowan is joined by Brian Collins – legendary designer and co-founder of  COLLINS . In this playful after-show, Brian reveals the piece of creative advice he always ignores, the guilty pleasure he'll defend to the death, and the oddest compliment he's ev...

In this episode of The Creative Boom Podcast, Katy Cowan sits down with Brian Collins – the legendary co-founder of  COLLINS , the design company behind work for Spotify, Dropbox and Mailchimp – for a conversation that's part masterclass, part storytelling, and entirely unforgettable. Brian reveals how a childhood moment involving a bright orange tie taught him the importance of standing out, pers...

We're back with another instalment of The Spark, Creative Boom's bonus episode that gets under the skin of each week's guest. Host Katy Cowan is joined this time by  Haraldur 'Halli' Thorleifsson  – designer, entrepreneur, philanthropist and founder of Ramp Up Reykjavik. In this playful after-show, Halli reflects on the first book that changed him, the moments he's felt out of his depth, and the c...

In this episode of the Creative Boom Podcast, Katy Cowan chats with  Haraldur 'Halli' Thorleifsson  – designer, entrepreneur, philanthropist and now podcaster – about what it really means to lead with kindness. Halli opens up about the personal challenges that shaped his outlook, from losing his mother to living with muscular dystrophy. He talks candidly about how pain, addiction and loss have fue...

We're back with a brand-new season of The Spark, Creative Boom's bonus episode that gets under the skin of each week's guest. Host Katy Cowan is joined once again by  Paul Benney  – co-founder of Jockey Slut, Bugged Out! and the biannual magazine  Disco Pogo . In this episode, Paul reveals the discipline he secretly wishes he was good at, admits who has sparked a little creative envy, and shares t...

Kicking off the new season of The Creative Boom Podcast, host Katy Cowan sits down with  Paul Benney  – co-founder of the cult dance magazine Jockey Slut, the legendary club night Bugged Out! and, today, the beautifully crafted biannual  Disco Pogo . Paul looks back at the golden days of music magazines and club culture in the '90s, sharing stories of launching a fanzine on a shoestring, running s...

Are you just as curious about the people behind the work as you are about the work itself? The Creative Boom Podcast goes beyond the portfolio to uncover what really drives creative minds. Join host Katy Cowan for warm, candid conversations with fascinating guests – from celebrated names like Paula Scher, Gail Anderson, and Stefan Sagmeister to emerging talents making waves in their own unique way...

In this bonus episode of The Spark,  Koto  CEO and founder James Greenfield returns for a lighter, weirder, and more wonderfully random chat. From his most controversial creative opinion (spoiler: it involves Apple) to dreams featuring Mr Bingo demanding to be called 'The Way', nothing is off-limits. We chat about parenting, drum and bass, the strange comfort of Marcus Aurelius audiobooks, and the...