Love in a F*cked-Up World: DEAN SPADE on How to Build Relationships, Hook Up, and Raise Hell Together

Why is it that we find the courage to boldly confront mainstream societal norms and structures, yet are so often unable to treat romantic partners with care and generosity? Why do we lose our principles when we become insecure, disappointed, or jealous? Why do we act our worst in sexual and romantic relationships? And why do we prioritize romantic connection above other types of relationships, like friendship?Dean Spade is an organizer, speaker, author, and professor at Seattle University's School of Law, where he teaches courses on policing, imprisonment, gender, race, and social movements. He is the author of Mutual Aid: Building Solidarity During this Crisis (and the next) and Normal Life: Administrative Violence, Critical Trans Politics and the Limits of Law. His latest book is Love in a F*cked-Up World: How to Build Relationships, Hook Up, and Raise Hell Together.“This book has a lot of the wisdom of things that feminists and queers have learned in the community about sexuality, but the book is really for anybody who is political, even those just starting out and beginning to realize that there is something wrong with the systems they live under. I want to be in movements. Our movements are made of relationships. So, if you're just getting into our movements, or if you've been here for years and have been watching the ways we hurt each other and fall apart relationally, this book is about identifying these common patterns.”Episode Websitewww.creativeprocess.info/podInstagram:@creativeprocesspodcast

“I think the show conveys to the women watching that their lives matter. They don't have to be some gorgeous aspirational person, although Sloane absolutely fits that mold. But for others living in the Midwest, struggling and feeling unseen, hopefully, the mirrors of Lina and Maggie will help them not feel so alone and remind them that their stories are important and matter.”Laura Eason is an Emmy-nominated producer, screenwriter, and playwright. Currently, she is the executive producer and showrunner of the Starz drama series Three Women. Based on a book by Lisa Taddeo, the series stars Shailene Woodley, DeWanda Wise, Betty Gilpin and Gabrielle Creevy. Laura’s writing and producing credits for television include The Loudest Voice and four seasons of House of Cards. Laura's many plays include the critically acclaimed Sex with Strangers. She has also adapted many classic novels for the stage, including a highly successful version of Around the World in 80 Days. She has served as Artistic Director of Lookingglass Theatre Company in Chicago, where she also acted, directed, and produced in upwards of 20 shows.Episode Websitewww.creativeprocess.info/podInstagram:@creativeprocesspodcast

What is love? How do the narratives we internalize shape our understanding of relationships, intimacy, and family?Laura Eason is an Emmy-nominated producer, screenwriter, and playwright. Currently, she is the executive producer and showrunner of the Starz drama series Three Women. Based on a book by Lisa Taddeo, the series stars Shailene Woodley, DeWanda Wise, Betty Gilpin and Gabrielle Creevy. Laura’s writing and producing credits for television include The Loudest Voice and four seasons of House of Cards. Laura's many plays include the critically acclaimed Sex with Strangers. She has also adapted many classic novels for the stage, including a highly successful version of Around the World in 80 Days. She has served as Artistic Director of Lookingglass Theatre Company in Chicago, where she also acted, directed, and produced in upwards of 20 shows.“I think the show conveys to the women watching that their lives matter. They don't have to be some gorgeous aspirational person, although Sloane absolutely fits that mold. But for others living in the Midwest, struggling and feeling unseen, hopefully, the mirrors of Lina and Maggie will help them not feel so alone and remind them that their stories are important and matter.”Episode Websitewww.creativeprocess.info/podInstagram:@creativeprocesspodcast

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