How Does Art Shape Our Lives? Musicians, Writers, Filmmakers & Actors Share Their Stories

How do the arts help us find purpose and meaning? What role do stories play in helping us preserve memories, connect us to each other, and answer life’s big questions?MAX RICHTER (Award-winning Composer & Pianist) reflects on the importance of creativity and how art offers windows into other people’s experiences, fostering connection.ETGAR KERET (Cannes Film Festival Award-winning Director & Author) remembers how his mother told him stories to show her love.ANTHONY JOSEPH (T.S. Eliot Prize-winning Poet, Novelist, Singer-songwriter) on piecing together the fragmented documentation of Caribbean life through poetry.CLAUDIA FORESTIERI (Emmy Award-winning Writer/Creator of HBOMax’s Gordita Chronicles) talks about the crucial role of immigrants in building and revitalizing America.BRIGITTE MUNOZ-LIEBOWITZ (Showrunner Gordita Chronicles · One Day at a Time) on how adversity fosters growth and the importance of a positive outlook.JOHNJOE McFADDEN (Author of Life is Simple: How Occam’s Razor Set Science Free and Shapes the Universe · Molecular Genetics Professor) explores how art communicates complex ideas holistically.SHEHAN KARUNATILAKA (Booker Prize-winning Author, The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida) on writing in the 2nd person to explore spiritual dimensions.CATHERINE CURTIN (Actress · Stranger Things · Orange Is the New Black) reflects on creative freedom and in theater, film, and television.KATE MUETH (Founder/Artistic Director, The Neo-Political Cowgirls) emphasizes the importance of authenticity and personal fulfillment in the creative process.To hear more from each guest, listen to their full interviews.Episode Websitewww.creativeprocess.info/podIG:@creativeprocesspodcast

What can we learn from whales, the ways they communicate, and how their life cycle affects whole ecosystems, absorbing carbon and helping cool the planet? How have we contributed to the ecological degradation of the environment? How does language influence perception and our relationship to the more than human world?NAN HAUSER (Whale Researcher; President, Center for Cetacean Research & Conservation) describes how a whale protected her from a tiger shark during an underwater filming session and reflects on their emotional connection.DAVID FARRIER (Author of Footprints: In Search of Future Fossils) explores the long-term impacts humans have on the environment and the material legacies we leave behind for future generations.DANA FISHER (Director, Center for Environment, Community, & Equity; Author of Saving Ourselves: From Climate Shocks to Climate Action) discusses her "apocalyptic optimism," Significant change is likely to occur in response to extreme risk events that drive mass mobilization.SIR GEOFF MULGAN Author of Another World is Possible: How to Reignite Social & Political Imagination; Professor of Collective Intelligence, Public Policy & Social Innovation, University College London) on the circular economy and how reusing and recycling can drastically reduce waste and consumption.LEAH THOMAS (Author of The Intersectional Environmentalist: How to Dismantle Systems of Oppression to Protect People + Planet;) on addressing the environmental injustices faced by marginalized communities.MAYA VAN ROSSUM (Founder of Green Amendments For The Generations; Author of The Green Amendment: The People's Fight for a Clean, Safe, and Healthy Environment) on the impact of pollution and environmental degradation on human lives.MICHAEL CRONIN (Author of Eco-Travel: Journeying in the Age of the Anthropocene) argues for horizontal relationships with the environment and the need to recognize the non-human world.To hear more from each guest, listen to their full interviews.Episode Websitewww.creativeprocess.info/podInstagram:@creativeprocesspodcast

How can we be more engaged global citizens? How do we fight for truth and protect democracy in a post-truth world? What influence do billionaires have on politics, journalism, and the technology that shapes our lives?Lee McIntyre (Philosopher · Author of On Disinformation: How To Fight For Truth and Protect Democracy) examines democracy and how continuous disinformation campaigns not only promote falsehoods but ultimately aim to demoralize the public by making them doubtful about the existence of truth.Darryl Cunningham (Cartoonist · Author of Elon Musk: Investigation into a New Master of the World) on the problematic nature of extreme wealth concentration among billionaires and the political power they wield.Debora Cahn (Emmy-nominated Showrunner & Creator of Netflix’s The Diplomat) on how being a child of Holocaust survivors sparked her interest in moral questions and complex characters.Julian Lennon (Singer-songwriter, doc filmmaker, founder of The White Feather Foundation) on the need for supporting education and safety for girls in Kenya.Arash Abizadeh (Philosopher · Assoc. Editor of Free & Equal) on wealth inequality and how economic disparities create social unrest and political manipulation, suggesting that tackling inequality is essential for the healthy functioning of democratic societies.Daniel Susskind (Economist · Author of Growth: A Reckoning) explores how involving ordinary citizens in deliberation processes in mini-publics and citizen assemblies can help resolve complex political issues like nuclear policy and climate change.Carlos Moreno (Originator of the 15-Minute City concept) emphasizes the importance of proximity and social interaction in urban design, highlighting how it counteracts social isolation, reduces radicalization, and helps foster more inclusive, tolerant communities.To hear more from each guest, listen to their full interviews.Episode Websitewww.creativeprocess.info/podIG:@creativeprocesspodcast

How can we learn to speak the language of the Earth and cultivate our intuitive intelligence?  What lessons can we learn from non-human animals about living in greater harmony with nature?COLIN STEEN (CEO, Legacy Agripartners) on how growing up on a Saskatchewan farm shaped his sense of responsibility and success.JILL HEINERTH (cave diver, writer, filmmaker): Shares lessons from exploring underwater caves and our interconnected planet.NOAH WILSON-RICH (Co-Founder/CEO, The Best Bees Company) on bees' significance to society and the lessons they offer.INGRID NEWKIRK (Founder/President, PETA) explores animal communication and the complexity of their languages.NEIL GRIMMER (Brand President, SOURCE Hydropanel) on global water insecurity and the need for innovation.CARL SAFINA (Ecologist, Author) examines human recklessness and its severe impact on the planet.RICHARD VEVERS (Founder, The Ocean Agency) stresses coral reefs' vital role in marine ecosystems.WALTER STAHEL (Founding Father of the Circular Economy) advocates for a low-waste, circular economy.JOELLE GERGIS (IPCC Lead Author, Author of Humanity’s Moment: A Climate Scientist’s Case for Hope) on coping with the emotional burden of climate change.JAMES BROWNING (Founder, F Minus) explains fossil fuel lobbyists' conflicting roles.PAULA PINHO (European Commission, DG for Energy) on nurturing values of peace, democracy and sustainability.To hear more from each guest, listen to their full interviews.Episode Websitewww.creativeprocess.info/pod

What influence do billionaires have on politics, journalism, and the technology that shapes our lives? What drives people to seek absolute power, and how can we hold them accountable?Darryl  Cunningham is a cartoonist and author of Science Tales, Psychiatric Tales, The Age of Selfishness, and Billionaires: The Lives of the Rich and Powerful. Cunningham is also well-known for his comic strips, which have been featured on the websites Forbidden Planet and Act-i-vate collective, among others. others. His more recent work includes a graphic novel on Elon Musk, titled Elon Musk: Investigation into a New Master of the World.“No one should be a billionaire because it's damaging. There's a certain level of wealth that's damaging to a country. Billionaires have so much wealth that they have enormous political power, which is undemocratic. There should be a ceiling on wealth. I have nothing against people becoming millionaires or even multi-millionaires. But multi-billionaires are incredibly bad for all of us. If you have so much money that you can buy an entire political party, that's a thing that shouldn't exist.”Episode Website with Feature Articlewww.creativeprocess.info/podInstagram:@creativeprocesspodcast

Where does our intuition come from? How are lifelong creative partnerships formed and what role do friendship and personal connection play? How do our personal lives influence the art we make?Erland Cooper (Scottish composer, producer & multi-instrumentalist) explores the emotional and transformative effects of music and visual arts. He underscores how music can transport individuals to different places.Debora Cahn (television creator, writer, Emmy-nominated showrunner & exec. producer of Netflix’s The Diplomat) discusses the craft of long-form storytelling in television. She highlights the process of building immersive worlds and the challenge of integrating ideas into narratives that resonate with audiences on a universal level.Julian Lennon (singer-songwriter, doc filmmaker, photographer/author of Life’s Fragile Moments) reflects on the influence of his heroes and teachers and remembers what mother taught him about the importance of empathy and respect.Ed Zwick (Oscar-winning writer, director, producer & author of Hits, Flops & Other Illusions) analyzes the elusive nature of talent, the art of directing and the magical moments in casting.Chris Blackwell (Founder of Island Records, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductee) highlights the importance of instinct in recognizing and nurturing talent. He recounts signing Cat Stevens and shares how artistic partnerships grow out of friendship.Joy Gorman Wettels (Exec. producer of UnPrisoned & founder of Joy Coalition) on how humanizing stigmatized social issues by creating relatable, empathetic characters can lead to real-world change and understanding.Rick Carnes (Songwriter & President, Songwriters Guild of America) discusses the fundamental elements of songwriting and how music marks significant moments in people’s lives. He elaborates on his creative process and the importance of mindfulness and emotional awareness in writing meaningful songs.To hear more, listen to their full interviews.Episode Websitewww.creativeprocess.info/podIG :@creativeprocesspodcast

How can we shape technology’s impact on society? How do social media algorithms influence our democratic processes and personal well-being? Can AI truly emulate human creativity? And how will its pursuit of perfection change the art we create?Daniel Susskind (Economist · Oxford & King’s College London · Author of Growth: A Reckoning · A World Without Work) shares insights on the nature of growth driven by technological progress. He contends that while technology can accelerate growth, its impacts can be consciously directed to reduce environmental damage and social inequalities. The current trajectory of technological progress needs reevaluation to mitigate potential adverse effects on future working lives.Arash Abizadeh (Professor of Political Science · McGill University) explores the ethical tensions between democratic needs and commercial imperatives of social media platforms. He highlights how algorithms designed to maximize engagement often foster outrage and fear, contrasting these commercial objectives with the requirements for a healthy democratic public sphere.Debora Cahn (Creator & Executive Producer of Netflix’s The Diplomat starring Keri Russell & Rufus Sewell · Exec. Producer Homeland · Grey’s Anatomy · Vinyl · Co-Producer The West Wing) toggles between apprehension and optimism about emerging technologies like AI. She reflects on her father's experience with nuclear technology and ponders the unpredictable impacts of AI.Julia F. Christensen (Neuroscientist - Author of The Pathway To Flow) examines the rise of AI and its influence on aesthetics in the arts. She argues that technology drives creators towards superficial beauty conforming to popular standards, thereby cluttering the mind and fostering an obsession with perfection fueled by dopamine signals.Julian Lennon (Singer-songwriter · Photographer · Doc Filmmaker · Founder of The White Feather Foundation) discusses AI's potential in the medical field, highlighting recent advancements that are paving the way for novel treatments and cures.Brian David Johnson (Futurist · Author of The Future You: How to Create the Life You Always Wanted) emphasizes the importance of maintaining a human-centric approach to technology. He questions the purpose behind technological advancements, urging developers to always consider the human impact and clarify their objectives.To hear more from each guest, listen to their full interviews.Episode Websitewww.creativeprocess.info/podInstagram:@creativeprocesspodcast

How does art change the way we see and experience the world? Art has the power to offer transformative experiences, but what about the lives of artists who give so much of themselves? How can we balance creativity and personal well-being while still making work that is true and meaningful?David Rubin (President of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences 2019-2022 · Casting Director) discusses the importance of fostering an international presence for the Motion Picture Academy. He highlights how inviting filmmakers from around the world has enriched the community and emphasizes the power of collaboration in the filmmaking industry.Later, he reflects on his journey in casting, the challenges younger people face in finding their niche, and the importance of patience and open-mindedness in discovering one's career path. Rubin highlights how negative experiences can also be valuable learning points.Jericho Brown (Pulitzer Prize-winning Poet: The Tradition · Editor of How We Do It: Black Writers on Craft, Practice, and Skill) shares his process of writing poetry, emphasizing the element of discovery and the unexpected directions a poem can take. He shares his advice to young poets, how they should aim to create original works that could become lasting cultural touchstones.Julian Lennon (Singer-songwriter · Documentary Filmmaker · Founder of The White Feather Foundation · Photographer/Author of Life’s Fragile Moments) reflects on the emotional highs and lows experienced by creatives. He discusses the significance of finding balance and happiness through artistic and charitable expression.Sam Levy (Award-winning Cinematographer of Lady Bird · Frances Ha · While We’re Young) explores the art of cinematography. Levy underscores the importance of intention in every scene, whether it’s to highlight a character’s emotions or to convey the unspoken elements of the story.Julia F. Christensen (Neuroscientist - Author of The Pathway To Flow: The New Science of Harnessing Creativity to Heal and Unwind the Body & Mind) discusses transformative experiences through art and literature. She explains how aesthetic emotions can lead to profound changes in perception and understanding, drawing from both personal and scientific insights.To hear more from each guest, listen to their full interviews.Episode Websitewww.creativeprocess.info/podInstagram:@creativeprocesspodcast

This episode explores the enduring power of storytelling to shape our world and illuminate the human experience. Writers Neil Gaiman, Ada Limón, Jericho Brown, E.J. Koh, Marge Piercy, and Max Stossel discuss creativity, resilience, and the power of words to heal and bring people together.Neil Gaiman (Writer, Producer, Showrunner · The Sandman, American Gods, Good Omens, Coraline) explores the secret lives of writers, reflecting on the masks they wear in the pursuit of truth and beauty.Jericho Brown (Pulitzer Prize-winning Poet: The Tradition · Editor of How We Do It: Black Writers on Craft, Practice, and Skill) shares “Foreday in the Morning”, highlighting the hard work and resilience in Black America. He examines the vernacular of his poetry and how it intertwines themes of race, nationality, and familial love.Ada Limón (U.S. Poet Laureate · The Hurting Kind, The Carrying) presents an "apocalyptic love poem" that questions the intersection of despair and hope in today's changing world. She reflects deeply on the personal and universal struggles of finding beauty amidst environmental and existential crises.Marge Piercy (Award-winning Novelist, Poet & Activist) delves into the emotional weight of words and memories, the terror of child separation, and the impending doom facing our world due to environmental destruction and political negligence.E.J. Koh (Award-Winning Memoirist & Poet · The Magical Language of Others · A Lesser Love) recounts a haunting family history from Jeju Island in Korea, emphasizing the lasting impacts of trauma and the collective memory of ancestral sufferings.Max Stossel (Award-winning Poet, Filmmaker, Speaker, Creator of Words That Move) uses the metaphor of a boxing ring to discuss the complexities of human conflict and connection, encouraging a shift from adversarial relationships to collaborative problem-solving.To hear more from each guest, listen to their full interviews.Episode Websitewww.creativeprocess.info/podInstagram:@creativeprocesspodcast

“The question of who's good and who's bad is always front of mind for me because my basic goal is to get to the place where no one is good or bad; everybody is in an unspeakably complicated situation. From the very beginning of the series, this event happens. We believe that it was perpetrated by Iran. Fairly quickly, we learn through the relationships that have been built over time between our heroes, Kate and Hal, and people in other countries that they’ve negotiated with that the assumptions we're making are completely incorrect. In fact, the people we assume have some sort of malintent toward us are being falsely accused. Someone else is playing on the stereotypes we have of those people in order to send us off in the wrong direction.I feel very fortunate that the medium I’m in is television, which is a very long form of storytelling. You're not telling a single story; you're telling a world. You're inviting people into a world and asking them to live there with you and these characters for a period of time. The best I can do is build a world where people grapple with these important questions and try their best. All I can expect from people and from myself is that we're trying to do something larger than ourselves.”Debora Cahn is the Emmy-nominated showrunner and executive producer of Netflix’s The Diplomat, a political thriller series starring Keri Russell and Rufus Sewell. She’s worked with television’s leading showrunners, including Shonda Rhymes, Terence Winter, Steven Levinson, and Howard Gordon. Her career began working on Aaron Sorkin’s The West Wing which has led to projects such as the hit Showtime series Homeland, ABC’s long-running medical drama Grey’s Anatomy, and HBO’s Vinyl, which was co-created by Martin Scorsese. She’s the winner of two Writers Guild of America Awards for The West Wing and FX’s limited series Fosse/Verdon and the 2023 Quincy Award for Responsible Statecraft.Dive Deeper with Feature Article & Story Highlightswww.creativeprocess.info/podInstagram:@creativeprocesspodcastimage credit: Alex Bailey / Netflix