The podcast that helps you thrive as a creative professional

The 21st Century Creative podcast

Hosted by poet and creative coach Mark McGuinness, The 21st Century Creative podcast helps you succeed as a creative professional amid the demands, distractions, and opportunities of the 21st century.

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Each episode features insights from Mark and interviews with outstanding creators – including artists, writers, performers, commercial creatives, directors, producers, entrepreneurs and other creative thought leaders.

Mark McGuinnessYou can also take part in the Creative Challenge set by Mark’s guest at the end of every episode.

The show is released in seasons of 10 episodes – and every season is carefully composed, with a balance of topics including creativity, personal and professional development, and creative entrepreneurship, as well as guests drawn from a range of creative fields.

Never miss an episode

You can subscribe to The 21st Century Creative in iTunes, Spotify, Android, Stitcher Radio, SoundCloud and TuneIn.

And if you want every episode sent to you via email, plus the free 21st Century Creative Foundation Course, you can join the mailing list.

Get more help in the Patreon Group

Become a Patron!

New for Season 5 of the podcast is The 21st Century Creative Patreon Group, where you can get more help from Mark via Goal-setting and Accountability Videos, Members’ Q&A Sessions and other insights and tips not featured on the podcast.

In the light of the pandemic situation, Membership is currently on a pay-what-you-want basis.

As well as giving you access to the exclusive Members’ content, your Membership fee will also support the podcast and help to make it sustainable. Thank you!

Season Five

21st Century Creative logo

Episode 1: John T. Unger: 21st Century Artist

Episode 2: Marcus du Sautoy on AI and the Future of Creativity

Episode 3: Traditional Crafts in the 21st Century with Nick Hand

Episode 4: Joanna Penn on Productivity and Audio for Creatives

Episode 5: Making Music Sustainable with Steve Lawson

Episode 6: Naomi Dunford on Marketing for Creatives

Episode 7: The Adventure of Writing with Emily Kimelman

Episode 8: Writing a World-Changing Book with Cynthia Morris

Episode 9: The 21st Century Illustrator with Krystal Lauk

Episode 10: Avoiding the Advice Trap with Michael Bungay Stanier

Season Four

21st Century Creative logoEpisode 1: Brian Clark’s Career Advice for the Unemployable

Episode 2: What Creators Can Learn from Adventurers with Alastair Humphreys

Episode 3: Good Little Wolf and Other Stories with Nadia Shireen

Episode 4: Peleg Top on Fear, Love, Money and Creativity

Episode 5: Mindful Drumming with Maria Bovin de Labbé

Episode 6: The Essential Elements of a Successful Story with Erik Bork

Episode 7: The Freelance Way with Robert Vlach

Episode 8: What’s Your Excuse for Not Succeeding as a Creative? with Deborah Henry-Pollard

Episode 9: Bat-Signal Marketing for Creatives with Ilise Benun

Episode 10: Voicing Your Truth with Monique
DeBose

Season Three

21st Century Creative logoEpisode 1: Steven Pressfield on The Artist’s Journey

Episode 2: Tyler Hobbs – an Artist Who Paints with Code

Episode 3: The Healthy Creative with Joanna Penn

Episode 4: Don’t Just Sell Something: Do Something! with David Hieatt

Episode 5: The Art of Not Falling Apart with Christina Patterson

Episode 6: The Price of Being a High Performer with Rich Litvin

Episode 7: SheEO: Women Transforming Entrepreneurship with Vicki Saunders

Episode 8: How to Find the Heart to Start with David Kadavy

Episode 9: Brutally Honest Advice for Your Creative Business with Emily Cohen

Episode 10: Storytelling – a Matter of Life and Death with CJ Lyons

Season Two

21st Century Creative logoEpisode 1: Tina Roth Eisenberg’s Labours of Love

Episode 2: Javier Weyler: A Journey into Sound

Episode 3: Todd Henry: Leading Creatives Is Like Herding Tigers

Episode 4: Poetry as Discovery with Mimi Khalvati

Episode 5: The Entrepreneur Ethos with Jarie Bolander

Episode 6: The Business of Sharing Joy with Daniel Boettcher

Episode 7: DIY Professional Development for Creatives with Gabriela Pereira

Episode 8: Josh Szeps on 21st Century Media: TV, Radio, Podcasting and Beyond

Episode 9: Making Better Choices When it Matters with Sara Milne Rowe

Episode 10: Creating a Business You Are Proud of with Patricia van den Akker

Season One

In which we identify the big challenges and opportunities for 21st century creatives, discover that fiction is often truer than truth, explore the virtual worlds of the future, resist the seductions of email, and reconnect with our authentic voices.

21st Century Creative logoEpisode 1: The Power of Community for Creative Professionals with Scott Belsky

Episode 2: Truth and Fiction with Steven Pressfield

Episode 3: How Virtual Reality Will Shape Our Future with Fabrice Bourrelly

Episode 4: Designing a Global Small Business with Laurie Millotte

Episode 5: The Successful Creative Mindset with Joanna Penn

Episode 6: Say Less, Ask More and Communicate Better with Michael Bungay Stanier

Episode 7: Kill Email Anxiety and Do More Meaningful Work with Jocelyn K. Glei

Episode 8: The Floatation Tank – a Short Cut to Your Superpower? with Nick Dunin

Episode 9: Freeing the Natural Voice with Kristin Linklater

Episode 10: Creating a Job that Doesn’t Exist with Aileen Bennett

Contact Mark

You can use the form below to send Mark feedback on the show and suggest questions or topics for future episodes.

For coaching enquiries, please use the coaching page.

Mark McGuinness

Mark McGuinnessThe 21st Century Creative podcast is hosted by Mark McGuinness – an award-winning poet, and a coach for creative professionals. Mark is also the author of Productivity for Creative People, Motivation for Creative People, and Resilience: Facing Down Rejection and Criticism on the Road to Success. For bite-sized inspiration follow Mark on Twitter and Facebook.

Become a Patron!