The Creative Condition podcast

Aaron Becker, Seth Kleinberg, and Troy James Miller from Los Angeles-based Filmograph join me to take us inside their brilliant studio. Their output is insane and inspiring, from The Penguin to Mission Impossible via Aquaman, a visit to their portfolio is a must for any serious film fan. We cover: The importance of respect for the concept over trends Filmograph's origins The importance of time off...

Covered in this instalment of 'The Creativity Diary': Golden hour comfort Learning through humour  Burning bridges Gallows humour As ever supported by Illustration X https://illustrationx.com Work with me through the 'PIT STOP' one-stop creativity foundational coaching session now at https://thecreativecondition.com Access creativity resources, including books, a reading list, and 300+ podcasts at...

After reading a beautiful piece of writing about Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke's football strike partnership in 1999 by Matt Dickinson, I was reminded of the vital importance of our creative partners in life. To help you recognise and value yours, I work through some that spring to mind in my life, how they vary, and why they matter for our creativity. I dig into: Why partners matter for our creativi...

Covered in this instalment of 'The Creativity Diary': Three nice things after a bad night's sleep A tiny assault on my peace  Telling an authentic story As ever supported by Illustration X https://illustrationx.com Work with me through the 'PIT STOP' one-stop creativity foundational coaching session now at https://thecreativecondition.com Access creativity resources, including books, a reading lis...

The world is heavy. It always was. But today, we're slammed by a constant wall of white noise, and the vast majority of what we're told is negative. Anxiety is heightened perhaps more than ever before as a by-product of our hyper-connected digital way of life. Too many people spend their days exhausted and locked in a state of fear. It's damaging our ability to create, to feel hopeful, optimistic,...

A responsive instalment of The Creativity Diary as I drive under a motorway bridge and struggle to get past the graffiti message painted on it. As ever supported by Illustration X https://illustrationx.com Work with me through the 'PIT STOP' one-stop creativity foundational coaching session now at https://thecreativecondition.com Access creativity resources, including books, a reading list, and 30...

PJ Richardson discovered graffiti. It brought him fulfilment when chaos was present in his early life. The chaos hasn't gone away; it has only changed shape and form. We discuss his journey from painting walls to leading a Los Angeles-based motion and design studio, what today's chaos looks like, and how he finds the space to create great art within it in the commercial world. We discuss: Trauma a...

Covered in this instalment of 'The Creativity Diary': The perfect nap Porn magazine reflections and the importance of accepting our roots and creativity context Parenting lessons and humans encountering their element As ever supported by Illustration X https://illustrationx.com Work with me through the 'PIT STOP' one-stop creativity foundational coaching session now at https://thecreativecondition...

As awareness of both the shiny clock towers and the most hidden caves of mental health grows, it's become increasingly common to self- or misdiagnose.  'Burnout' can be tossed around too lightly. I've done it myself. I came to understand what I felt was overwhelm.  I'm joined by Cognitive Performance Strategist and burnout coach Emily Herird to discuss a condition intertwined with the crazed pace...

A moment with The Creative Condition founder Ben Tallon as he shares creativity-led thoughts, insights, lessons, feelings, and observations for the duration of one brew (hot beverage). Today, join me as I interrogate the word creativity to see if it's doing my ambitions to see it better understood more harm than good. As ever supported by Illustration X https://illustrationx.com Work with me throu...

Covered in this instalment of 'The Creativity Diary': Outraged by outrage The people on the roadside A simple comment reminds me of something key about creativity As ever supported by Illustration X https://illustrationx.com Work with me through the 'PIT STOP' one-stop creativity foundational coaching session now at https://thecreativecondition.com Access creativity resources, including books, a r...

Was there ever a good time to start a business? Jamhot and I both entered the creative industry during the financial crash of 2008. Do we now look back and make a distorted comparison to the insanity of today? Or do we recognise that there was never a good time to throw ourselves into this creative life? We discuss: Storytelling and surviving Receiving reckless emails Being open to change Lunch cl...

A moment with The Creative Condition founder Ben Tallon as he shares creativity-led thoughts, insights, lessons, feelings, and observations for the duration of one brew (hot beverage). Today, join me as I share my Eureka! moment as I recognised a big lacking part of my dream job puzzle, and ask you to assess yours. As ever supported by Illustration X https://illustrationx.com Work with me through...

Covered in this week's instalment of 'The Creativity Diary': AI and the need for mental healthcare A moment of connection under the station stairs  Lessons from a doctor The joys of getting lost As ever supported by Illustration X https://illustrationx.com Work with me through the 'PIT STOP' one-stop creativity foundational coaching session now at https://thecreativecondition.com Access creativity...

Reclaim the Throne is The Creative Condition’s campaign to recognise the need for a downtime revolution.  The resistance to the big tech coup of our minds starts with our arses.  From there, we will reclaim the bus stop, the park bench, the underground train, the taxi, waiting rooms, receptions, and the good old walk from A to B.  These clutches of two, five, and ten-minute windows add up to a val...

In 2025 the perception of creativity is still rooted in artistic talent. There are assumptions that our passions are already in us, waiting to be activated, and people continue to quit at the first hurdle when it comes to creating. I'm joined by Zorana Pringle, the Yale University Centre for Emotional Intelligence Senior Research Scientist and author of The Creativity Choice in which she challenge...

A moment with The Creative Condition founder Ben Tallon as he shares creativity-led thoughts, insights, lessons, feelings, and observations for the duration of one brew (hot beverage). Today, join me as I explore shared themes between the Yellowstone cowboys and illustrators and challenge the productivity trap. As ever supported by Illustration X https://illustrationx.com Work with me through the...

Covered in this week's instalment of 'The Creativity Diary': Learnings from a lollipop lady A burst basketball and productivity guilt as a learned behaviour My beautiful cheap watch and proud identity An unexpected meeting with the local council As ever supported by Illustration X https://illustrationx.com Work with me through the 'PIT STOP' one-stop creativity foundational coaching session now at...

Personal. Work. Personal work. What does any of it mean, and is there a rule about how personal work needs to be, or whether work and personal are best separate?  Of course not! In creativity, there are no rules. I had the delight of chairing a conversation about all this between lettering artist and author Jessica Hische, and artist Timothy Goodman live at the inaugural Paradiso festival in Mérid...

A moment with The Creative Condition founder Ben Tallon as he shares creativity-led thoughts, insights, lessons, feelings, and observations for the duration of one brew (hot beverage). Today, join me as I reflect on something Timothy Goodman said to me in Mexico about emotion in our art and the trappings of disciplines. As ever supported by Illustration X https://illustrationx.com Work with me thr...

Covered in this week's instalment of 'The Creativity Diary': Existential night panics Reverting to beginner's fear The joy of straight shooters Reappraising my relationship with social media and people As ever supported by Illustration X https://illustrationx.com Work with me through the 'PIT STOP' one-stop creativity foundational coaching session now at https://thecreativecondition.com Access cre...

A moment with The Creative Condition founder Ben Tallon as he shares creativity-led thoughts, insights, lessons, feelings, and observations for the duration of one brew (hot beverage). Today, join me as I listen into the soothing environment that is my neighbour's garden, and consider the importance of catharsis and our environments for creativity. As ever supported by Illustration X https://illus...

Within minutes of meeting artist Tala Schlossberg ahead of our discussion panel with photographer Owen Harvey at the inaugural Paradiso in Mérida, Mexico, we were into the deep stuff. Tala is a visual artist known primarily for her fantastic animation work, but a pure artist in every sense. We covered human connection during the discussion panel, but there was so much more to be said. So, we caugh...

A moment with The Creative Condition founder Ben Tallon as he shares creativity-led thoughts, insights, lessons, feelings, and observations for the duration of one brew (hot beverage). Today, thoughts on what's changed after two tough freelancing years and a slightly better start to this year. Talking creative self-efficacy, unpredictability, joy in the unknown, and the need to be out having conve...

Covered in this week's instalment of 'The Creativity Diary': Designing a career Little houses in Mérida, Mexico My love of teaching creativity Sharing a life through art As ever supported by Illustration X https://illustrationx.com Work with me through the 'PIT STOP' one-stop creativity foundational coaching session now at https://thecreativecondition.com Access creativity resources, including boo...