Working as a creative is my absolute dream and I love the sunny mornings in the studio with just my own thoughts and ideas, but therein also lies one of my biggest downfalls, I often find I get sucked into a rabbit hole of creative doubt!

There is a great online community that is incredibly supportive and regular meet ups with other creatives help keep me focused and on track, but for those long days alone in the studio, stuck in my own head of creative criticism and feeling like I don’t know where I am going with all this, I turn to podcasts.

These just started as a background distraction which kept me entertained whilst I pondered compositions and colours. I started with (guilty secret but hooked) The Archers, Desert Island Disks and some interesting Woman's Hour interviews. However, I exhausted these fairly quickly and stumbled across ‘Design Matters’ by Debbie Milman, it seriously opened a podcasting WORLD of creative support, inspiration and guidance, that I had no idea was available previously.  

So here, in no particular order, are a few of my favourites. When I need a shot of inspiration or some help focusing, I know I can go to these podcasts to help me stay on track.

Top favourites!

Design Matters – I love these interviews, they are all about 30mins long (give or take) with some poignant questioning from Debbie Milman. I have discovered a whole list of other creatives to look up and read their blogs through Debbie’s podcast. At some point during every episode I find myself suspended, totally still, entranced by the personal insight and life experience of the interviewee and how they overcame their obstacles.

Creative Pep Talk – I’ve found it really helped me find my way as a freelancer as Andy openly shares tips and guidance from his own personal creative experience. I have serious light bulb moments during every episode! It quite simply is AMAZING. I’ve even changed my 15 minute cycle commute to a 50 min walk just to give myself time in the day to listen with no interruptions. I ended up listening to episode 94, ‘10 Ways to find your unique artistic voice’,  three times in total!

After the Jump –  Hosted by Grace Bonny, author of Design Sponge (An amazing blog for all things creative, if you haven’t seen this you must!). Unfortunately the last one available for download on itunes was 2014, I am not aware of any more recent episodes but you can still download the old episodes which are very worthwhile. After the Jump is a series of interviews, with a multitude of creatives from all areas of business sharing their experiences and providing advice from their journey.

Elise gets Crafty – These are short episodes, but Elise makes me feel like I’m at a creative meet up with my mates. I love the quick fire questions at the end of each interview and I have discovered a new list of podcasts to listen to and books to read through Elise’s recommendations.

Craft Sanity – Loaded with interviews from all people crafty, the host Jennifer Ackerman-Haywood is a textile artist, but the interviews cover everything from origami and patchwork, to pottery and sculpture. Jennifer finds the cream of the crop to interview and I have loved them all!

While she naps with Abby Glass – I don’t remember how I stumbled across this one, but not long after I started listening I very quickly subscribed. It’s a whole host of guests that share trials and tribulations of starting and running successful creative businesses.

99% Invisible –  I listened to episode 226  ‘On average’ and was addicted! These I just find fun, I generally have a ‘Ha! Who knew?!’ moment in mosts episodes, then relay the facts to anyone who will listen. They are roughly 20 minutes long and are enjoyable snippets of thoughts and information. They also did a great episode on trends and WSGN, a leading trend forecaster.  

The Accidental creative – I’ve only listened to a few of these, so I’m not sure they are in my ‘can’t live without’ list just yet, but the ones I have heard I really like. They seem particularly good for all round business advice, with a series of interviews from a variety of business leaders, authors and artists.

Yet to try

The Lively Show – I heard an interview with Jess Lively and really liked her creative approach, so have bookmarked the blog and podcast to listen to.

Typerradio – More graphic design focused I think, but if you love font and lettering then this will be right up your street.

Design Details - In the last few days a friend recommended this. According to iTunes "A show about the people who design our favourite products. Hosted by Bryn Jackson and Brain Lovin.

Great singular episodes

Adventures in Design, The fresh rag show, Local Masters, Let’s make mistakes, Above the Fold and Resourceful Designer

If anyone has any others they want to recommend or add to the list then please head over to my facebook page and let me know! Always looking for fresh new inspiration to listen to.

https://www.facebook.com/TORIAbyVictoriaJowett/