Daily Creative with Todd Henry

In today’s episode, we explore what it means to create work that lasts not just for the next trend cycle, but for generations. We dive deep into the interplay of intuition, identity, and intentionality that underpins creative longevity, and how these often-invisible forces guide great design, resilient businesses, and enduring cultural impact.We sit down with two very different thinkers whose experiences mirror this theme. First, we hear from Robert Brunner, renowned industrial designer and founder of Ammunition Design Group, whose work includes designing Beats by Dre headphones and pioneering shifts at Apple. He shares stories of working with some of the world’s most creative—and opinionated—collaborators, and how intuition fused with empathy leads to breakthrough products.Next, we talk with Neri Karra Sillaman, a scholar and author of Pioneers: Eight Principles of Business Longevity from Immigrant Entrepreneurs. Her research unpacks why immigrant-founded companies tend to outlast their peers—not simply due to external market factors, but because of internal clarity, community orientation, and the reframing of adversity.We broaden the lens from iconic objects to enduring enterprises, discovering through-lines that shape both remarkable products and resilient organizations.Five Key Learnings from the Episode:Intuition is Earned, Not Mystical: We learn that intuition isn’t some innate gift—it’s the result of deep attention, lived experience, and empathy, brought to bear at critical moments of creation.Identity Drives Longevity: Durable work starts internally, rooted in a clear understanding of who we are and what matters to us. This self-knowledge—tempered by adversity or migration—shapes everything from product design to business models.Collaboration Requires Respect and Empathy: Great breakthroughs often emerge from teams with diverse perspectives. Navigating strong personalities and creative differences means honoring others’ ideas and creating environments where bold work can thrive.Community and Shared Value Matter: We see how leaders build enterprises to last by weaving strong communities and ecosystems, deliberately involving employees and stakeholders, and focusing on shared value over short-term profit.Resilience is Built Through Reframing Rejection: Successful creators and entrepreneurs don’t see setbacks as verdicts on their worth—instead, rejection is information and an invitation to try again, often with even more clarity and resolve.Get full interviews and bonus content for free! Just join the list at DailyCreativePlus.com.Mentioned in this episode:The Brave Habit is available nowMy new book will help you make bravery a habit in your life, your leadership, and your work. Discover how to develop the two qualities that lead to brave action: Optimistic Vision and Agency. Buy The Brave Habit wherever books are sold, or learn more at TheBraveHabit.com.Apply for Creative Leader Roundtable Leading creative people is rewarding, but it can also feel isolating. That's why I've started Creative...

What happens when the chase is over and the dream is finally caught? In this episode, we sit down with Lionel Cartwright—whose career soared to the top of the country music charts—to explore the rarely discussed crossroads of success. After years of relentless pursuit, Lionel achieved all the milestones he’d imagined: record deals, number one hits, and recognition. Yet, in those quiet moments away from the spotlight, he was confronted with the unexpected question: Is this it?We follow Lionel’s journey from cover band beginnings and publishing deals, to Nashville stardom and the unexpected tug to redesign his life. Along the way, we unpack the paradox of ambition, the need for alignment over applause, and the courage required to leave "success" behind for something more sustainable.Together, we challenge leaders and creative pros to pause, reassess whether momentum is driving their choices, and listen for the subtle signs that realignment might be overdue.Five Key Learnings from the Episode:Chasing the Dream Isn’t the Finish Line: Pursuing success provides meaning and adrenaline, but catching it brings new questions about fulfillment and sustainability.Beware of Momentum’s Seduction: Success often leads to expectations and obligations that can detach us from what truly sustains us.Alignment Beats Applause: True creative bravery lies in pursuing work that fits who we are, rather than playing roles imposed by past ambitions or industry pressures.Listen to Your Inner Voice: Quiet whispers of misalignment are worth investigating, no matter how much time or energy you’ve invested in the chase.Redirection Isn’t Failure: Leaving a high-profile path to redesign your work around life—rather than vice versa—is one of the bravest moves a creative professional can make.Get full interviews and bonus content for free! Just join the list at DailyCreativePlus.com.Listen to Todd's interview on Lionel's podcast Off The Charts: Spotify - Apple Podcasts

This week, we celebrate a major milestone... 20 years of the podcast! The first episode of The Accidental Creative launched in December 2005. While this is episode 88 of the re-branded version, Daily Creative, this is something like episode 1,398 of the podcast. We take a reflective journey back to where it all began, unpacking the origin story of the show and the creative work that continues to shape everything we do.Todd shares the challenges of being a young creative director attempting to help a team thrive under relentless pressure, while also confronting his own ambitions and the ever-present risk of burnout. He digs into the early days of creative community-building (over coffee in Cincinnati), the revelation that healthy, productive creativity was possible, and the pivotal experiments that inspired him to share our ideas through the newly emerging medium of podcasting.We revisit the genesis of “The Accidental Creative,” recounting the surprise of discovering a growing audience, and how the podcast became a launching pad—not just for a community, but for books, company invitations, and interviews with creativity legends.Todd also breaks down crucial moments behind his most influential books, including how a single candid conversation with a publisher unlocked the process for Die Empty, and why Louder Than Words remains a favorite despite modest sales. Through it all, Todd highlights the non-obvious lessons that define a creative career: trusting the work, letting your audience find you, and embracing friction as an ally rather than an obstacle.To the listeners, supporters, and creative pros who have joined us week after week—thank you. Here’s to the past 20 years, and the decades to come.Five Key Learnings from This Episode:Success Is Layered, Not Linear: The “big deal”—whether it’s a book contract or viral moment—is only the true starting line. Real creative progress builds in stages and unexpected iterations.Experimentation Unlocks Opportunity: Sharing what we were learning (even when unsure or new) was the secret to resonance and growth. Community comes from honest experimentation.Outside Perspective Is Essential: Creative pros often get stuck in their own heads. Inviting editors, mentors, or collaborators can break patterns and unlock genuine progress.Let the Work Find Its Audience: Not every project will land where we expect, and that’s okay. Sometimes our work will deeply impact people we never predicted—and that’s its own success.Friction Fuels Growth: Instead of removing all obstacles, thoughtful creators learn to leverage friction—slow down, synthesize, and let intuition do its work.Get full interviews and bonus content for free! Just join the list at DailyCreativePlus.com.

In December 2025, we celebrate something special—twenty years of this podcast, which first launched as Accidental Creative in December 2005. We reflect on how starting, even with imperfect beginnings, is an essential part of a creative journey. In this episode, we draw insights from the book Daily Creative, sharing a series of thought-provoking essays designed for creative professionals navigating the end of the year.We explore themes from balance and priorities (Rubber and Glass Balls), beginner’s mindset (Just One Song), the power of working from what’s known (The Edge Pieces), and the importance of knowing what “actual work” is (When You’re Working). Each essay comes with a practical application question to help leaders and creative pros pause, reflect, and reset for the coming year.If you’re looking for a ritual or rhythm to keep your creative juices flowing and your mindset sharp, this episode is packed with reminders and prompts to help you refocus and get ready for fresh challenges ahead.Five Key Learnings:Starting Imperfectly Is Essential: Early creative work will rarely be polished, but the act of beginning is what opens the door to growth and excellence.Protect the Fragile Elements of Life: Not everything rebounds after a setback; relationships, health, friendships, and spirit deserve proactive care and attention.Approach Work Like a Beginner: Tackling each project with fresh enthusiasm and curiosity ignites new insights, regardless of past experience.Solve Problems Starting With What You Know: Like edge pieces in a puzzle, letting your certainties frame the unknowns brings clarity to complex creative challenges.Distinguish Busyness from True Work: Knowing which activities actually create value helps redirect energy away from distraction and toward your core genius.Get full interviews and bonus content for free! Just join the list at DailyCreativePlus.com.Mentioned in this episode:Apply for Creative Leader Roundtable Every creative team needs a leader who's brave, focused, and brilliant, but none of us get there alone. The Creative Leader Roundtable is your place to connect with peers, sharpen your leadership craft, and stay inspired for the long haul. We're about to launch with a brand new group of leaders. So, if you're interested, visit CreativeLeader.net to learn more and to apply. Great leadership is a practice, not an accident.

In this episode of Daily Creative, Todd Henry explores the subtle ways in which we avoid true commitment to our creative and professional ambitions. Todd discusses the concept of "escape hatches"—the backup plans, excuses, and rationalizations that prevent us from risking real vulnerability and discovering what we’re truly capable of. Drawing from personal stories and practical frameworks, we unpack three common escape hatches that undermine creative and leadership excellence: procrastination and last-minute work, dilution and divided attention, and backward rationalization of success.Todd also digs into actionable strategies to help you spot these patterns in your work, close escape hatches, and move forward with greater intentionality. Whether you lead teams, dream of launching a business, or simply want your creative efforts to have more impact, this episode offers practical, non-obvious guidance for getting braver, more focused, and brilliant every day.Five Key Learnings from the Episode:Escape hatches often feel like wisdom, but are usually just disguised fear. We tend to rationalize delay or avoid commitment under the guise of being "prudent," when in reality it is keeping us from meaningful progress.Procrastination and last-minute work protect us from knowing what our best effort truly looks like. Setting step goals and using time blocking can counter the urge to push everything to the last minute and drive more consistent creative output.Dilution and divided attention dilute impact. By focusing on your "Big Three" priorities and carving out protected space to pursue them, you ensure that your energy is devoted to what matters most—and can actually achieve excellence.Backward rationalization undermines growth. Defining what success looks like in advance and creating external accountability removes the temptation to justify poor outcomes, fostering honest self-assessment and improvement.Real creative progress requires closing escape hatches, even though they seem safe. The real safety comes from confidence in your ability to adapt, not from having endless backup plans.Get full interviews and bonus content for free! Just join the list at DailyCreativePlus.com.Mentioned in this episode:Apply for Creative Leader Roundtable What if you had a space every month to sharpen your leadership edge without the fluff? The Creative Leader Roundtable is where smart, driven, creative leaders gather to exchange ideas, solve real challenges, and grow together. So if you lead a team of thinkers, makers, or dreamers, this is your lab. We're launching soon with a new group of leaders. So, if you're interested, check it out and apply at CreativeLeader.net.