Hack Circus is a weekly podcast analysing the art and craft of creativity. hackcircuspodcast.com This podcast goes behind the scenes with individuals who lead extraordinary creative lives. Whether you're a professional creative or just looking for inspiration from highly creative minds, you should enjoy the insights of the guests on our show each week. If you enjoy the show, please give it a rating and/or a review, and don't forget to subscribe! The show is hosted by artist, writer and publi ...
…
continue reading
This Week: The Musical - Topical comedy tech news podcast featuring songs, sketches, silliness and special guests. Brought to you by LJ Rich and Leila Johnston.
…
continue reading
1
Jonas Antonsson – emotional video games
1:13:31
1:13:31
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:13:31
Can games be art? We're back from a long hiatus with our first Hack Circus podcast interview about videogames! Introducing Jonas Antonsson, founder of Sweden-based games publisher Raw Fury. Raw Fury turns out games that make you feel, and Jonas believes the quest for emotion is just as important as the quest for knowledge. Find out what makes him a…
…
continue reading
…
continue reading
What is creativity? How does it relate to things like problem-solving, risk-taking, impulsiveness and excitement? I talk to some highly creative individuals in this special episode, part of a series of three 'Mastering' documentaries. This little documentary, part of the Mastering Creativity strand of the HC Masterclass series (hcmasterclass.com), …
…
continue reading
Is empathy important in business? Is it possible to have too much empathy to be successful? What's the connection between empathy and power? This little documentary, part of the Mastering Empathy strand of the HC Masterclass series, introduces three successful, creative individuals taking very different paths in life, and tackles these questions – …
…
continue reading
1
Alex McLean – creating communities and interference patterns
52:39
52:39
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
52:39
Alex McLean is a well-known artist, musician, researcher, and coder based in Sheffield. He is the creator of Tidal Cycles, free software for writing music, and is one of founders of live coding and the algorave phenomenon. Alex actively builds communities in the areas that interest him, and in this episode we talk about some of the events, festival…
…
continue reading
1
Creativity Clinic 21: Four ways to keep motivated in an age of freelancing, procrastination and the gig economy
15:03
15:03
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
15:03
The world has changed since I last talked about motivation. More than ever, we're addicted to devices, addicted to YouTube, addicted to interrupting and derailing our thoughts – addicted scuppering our plans in favour of a quick hit! For those in a motivational rut, here I lay out four simple ways to get you back on track. 1) Pretend you've got a b…
…
continue reading
1
Creativity Clinic 20: One creative branding tip, and how I'm rebranding this podcast!
17:01
17:01
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
17:01
I used to think that branding was about coming up with the story we'd like to tell, but now I think it's more about uncovering the story that's already there. In this special extra-long Creativity Clinic, I talk about a practical technique that has helped me to work on the Hack Circus podcast brand in the run-up to the next series of this show, and…
…
continue reading
1
Nathan Geering – accessibility innovation through beatboxing and b-boy dancing
44:04
44:04
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
44:04
Nathan Geering is a dancer, teacher and innovator known for his work with visually impaired people. He has created dance that's accessible for visually impaired people to both watch and participate in, and has begun to develop a beatbox shorthand system as an alternative form of audio description for movement. Nathan was the Artistic Director for t…
…
continue reading
1
Creativity Clinic 19: The value of paying attention in an attention scarce world!
10:23
10:23
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
10:23
The world is a rough place at the moment. One easy way we can improve it for ourselves and those around us is by upping the quality of our interactions with people. If we really listen, if we really read emails, if we really look for the meaning in the messages we receive from the people who communicate with us, we will set ourselves apart from mos…
…
continue reading
1
Creativity Clinic 18: The waiting game – gambling on the big gigs
11:26
11:26
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
11:26
It's the summer... no one's replying to email, everyone's busier – or more on-holiday – than I am. In this episode, I talk about my current situation, which right now is all about waiting. If you've had some success in the past, it's not because you kept gambling on high stakes gigs, it's because you kept producing quality stuff. If you find yourse…
…
continue reading
1
Maggie Nolan – 'Applied Improv' for consultancy and corporate workshops
46:16
46:16
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
46:16
Maggie Nolan is a consultant and trainer, bringing techniques from improvisation practice into businesses. She launched her agency Start With A Yes over a year ago, combining years of experience of teaching and performing and applying them in a fresh context – to business. In this chat we discuss the improv scene in the UK, how long-form improv wor…
…
continue reading
This week I take on a listener's question about prioritising ideas: how do we decide what's most important? Is it better to do dig into one big thing or skim lots of little ones? In this short episode, I suggest it might be all about values, explain why I'm not really an artist, and consider how long-term working can be complimented by 'slight' eph…
…
continue reading
Sara Green is a dancer, choreographer, movement director and film-maker. She's collaborated with artists and other performers across theatre, film, fashion and dance. Her recent work includes Richard Ayoade’s vignette for Radiohead, short film The Entertainer starring Toby Jones, and Anita & Me, a world premiere for the Birmingham Rep. In this chat…
…
continue reading
This week's question was about how artists deal with time: do we let the available time decide how 'big' a project is; is that a valid constraint? How do we understand the value we place on time, outside of the monetary value our society attaches to it? And what about our lifespan, health-span and energy-span? How do these incredibly persuasive inf…
…
continue reading
1
Ben Moor – clever and funny storytelling in one-man shows
43:52
43:52
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
43:52
Ben Moor is a seasoned and innovative storyteller with multiple Edinburgh shows under his belt – mostly one-man shows. Ben's work is sensitive and often surreal, as he challenges the audience to follow him on journeys through worlds peppered with delightful ideas. We chat about Ben's shows, the benefits of doing Edinburgh runs, how the Fringe has c…
…
continue reading
1
Creativity Clinic 15: Wellbeing and Making
12:06
12:06
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
12:06
Making and wellbeing are linked. While it's known that making things improves your mood, I argue here (entirely unscientifically) that you can't make yourself make stuff until you feel like you have some energy to spend. So: getting creative can improve an already OK mood, but it's hard to get off that first block, especially if you've been battlin…
…
continue reading
1
Sophie Rochester – digital storytelling and the welldoing movement
38:54
38:54
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
38:54
Sophie Rochester is a creative entrepreneur of significant standing, appearing on numerous lists of top business people in her industry. She is known for always being one step ahead of industry trends, and taking her ideas in bold and ambitious directions. Sophie has a background in publishing, and founded The Literary Platform: a consultancy and o…
…
continue reading
Katie Day is the Director of Birmingham-based theatre company, The Other Way Works. She creates exciting and innovative experiences for small, highly-engaged audiences, and often deploys technology in interesting ways. Her work often uses the real world as the set, with productions set in hotel rooms, car parks and even the audience member's home. …
…
continue reading
What kinds of books give us ideas? Do we even get much emotional inspiration from books at all? This first Creativity Clinic of the new series is a personal reflection on some of the things I've read that I've have influenced my work, and which, sometimes many years after reading, I still draw strength and inspiration from today. Please send in you…
…
continue reading
1
Adam Tandy – making TV: the Detectorists; Inside Number 9; the League of Gentlemen
36:55
36:55
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
36:55
Adam Tandy is a TV producer, director, writer and much more, working on some of the best shows and with some of the top stars of our era. We discuss some of the joys and challenges of making the hugely successful Reece Sheersmith/Steve Pemberton series Inside Number 9, as well as The Detectorists and the League of Gentlemen anniversary episodes. We…
…
continue reading
1
Luke Jennings – Killing Eve author, dance critic, former dancer
51:12
51:12
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
51:12
Luke Jennings is the creator of the hit TV series Killing Eve, about the mutual obsession between an MI6 agent and a female assassin. He was also, until recently, the dance critic for The Observer newspaper, and worked as a professional dancer in his youth. We discuss the process of writing Killing Eve, sexism and bias in the dance world, and how s…
…
continue reading
1
Hazel Findlay – elite rock climber and coach
54:51
54:51
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
54:51
Hazel Findlay is a top professional climber, constantly touring the world in search of new adventures and breaking records. In recent years she has been working as a coach, helping climbers of all abilities to overcome their fears and progress to the next level. Some of the subjects covered in this chat include idea of mastery (as opposed to compet…
…
continue reading
The Hack Circus podcast is back with a bang after an enormous break of two years! The star guest this episode is Tom Tobia – a creative entrepreneur based in Sheffield. We cover the origins of an organisation he helped to found, Makerversity, his principled drive, and the way he approaches consulting with the range of businesses he works with. We a…
…
continue reading
1
Singing Drones, Ancient Clickbait, The CES Tech Expo in 39 seconds, Smartphone life choices
19:09
19:09
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
19:09
Welcome to This Week: The Musical - #ThisWeekTM - the topical tech and social media news show enhanced with songs and comedy sketches. Let us help you get 2019 sorted! You’ll be up to speed in less than a minute with our consumer tech roundup from Las Vegas’ giant tech conference CES. And for those of us too tired to make New Years resolutions, we’…
…
continue reading
1
Christmas Special: Oversharing, Real Life Phasers, Songs and a talking Reindeer
22:43
22:43
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
22:43
Welcome to This Week: The Musical, the topical show where The 2 LJs musically enhance tech news and social media stories. We've a feast of festive songs to tuck into, whether you're stuck behind a screen, shopping for high-tech gifts, or remembering departed science-fiction heroes. Includes lighthearted analysis, Santa's answering machine, and agai…
…
continue reading
1
Trailer: a funny festive parody song about late capitalism's retail crisis and online shopping binges at Christmas
2:00
2:00
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
2:00
At this time of year, many of us turn our backs on local shopkeepers, and opt for online retail giants instead. But no crime goes unpunished, and without a heavy basket weighing us down and wielding money that may as well be pretend, it's all too easy to get carried away. Welcome to our online shopping late capitalism retail crisis song. For this a…
…
continue reading
1
Robot Spice Girl Apocalypse and AI Revolution
18:40
18:40
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
18:40
Welcome to the first ever episode of This Week: The Musical, a new show where The 2 LJs musically enhance the week’s tech news and social media stories in song. Ever wonder how the Spice Girls would sound if Victoria Beckham was replaced by an android? Or what Pikachu *really* sounds like, when no one’s listening? Plus lighthearted analysis and aga…
…
continue reading
1
Creativity Clinic 13 – How to make things frequently
8:20
8:20
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
8:20
If you want to get stuff made regularly, get your duty on and work out who you're doing it for. In this episode, Leila addresses the common misconception that creative work always has to follow on from an urge, or desire. She explains why you can never put your hopes in motivation – it won't stick around. Get a routine, and do it for someone else, …
…
continue reading
1
Creativity Clinic 12 – How can you be creative on the road?
10:59
10:59
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
10:59
How do you get inspired in the least inspiring circumstances? I answer a listener's question about staying creative even when exhausted and miles from home, this week – bringing in a mixture of my own experience and reading, as ever. If you enjoy Hack Circus, don’t forget to rate or review on iTunes, or just tell a friend about it! In between episo…
…
continue reading
Emma Bearman founded Playful Leeds – now Playful Anywhere, and is the proud proprietor of the Playbox, a shipping container full of surprises, entertainment and imaginative potential that turns up in public spaces all over Yorkshire. Emma also founded The Culture Vulture, the very successful magazine site rounding up the best of the Leeds arts scen…
…
continue reading
1
Creativity Clinic 11 – Why you should create experiences, not just have them
11:17
11:17
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
11:17
A short but packed episode where I explain why you should create, rather than simply drink up experiences; why you may not be using your community to the full (but feel like you are) and why our constraints really do set us free. To discuss any of these ideas and more, get in touch via editor@hackcircus.com, or on social media (@hackcircus and hack…
…
continue reading
1
National Fairground and Circus Archive – meeting the showmen
47:46
47:46
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
47:46
This week I meet showmen and fairground archivists at the National Fairground & Circus Archive in Sheffield, and learn about the fascinating and community-minded history of travelling show people of the UK. https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/nfca Lionel Bathe's photos of fairgrounds https://patcollinsfunfairs.co.uk/ Anthony Harris (Youngest wall of death …
…
continue reading
We need to look closely at what we're trying to protect, about ourselves, whenever we feel fearful of making big steps in our creative lives. When we really examine the anxiety, it often turns out to be a case of building a wall around a part of us that is in fact, totally dispensable. There's plenty more of us where that came from! We can take a f…
…
continue reading
1
Neil Mullarkey – Improv for everyday life
40:36
40:36
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
40:36
Neil Mullarkey is known as one of the Comedy Store Players – the famous long-running improv troupe with their own theatre in central London. He also works with brands and businesses, helping the corporate environment to benefit from the agility of improvisational thought. In this fun chat we discuss (among other things) Neil's creative background, …
…
continue reading
1
Creativity Clinic 9 – Why you cant care and share
7:47
7:47
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
7:47
To share your work and reach a wider audience, you have to be prepared to relinquish some of it. Leila explains the problem and suggests some ways to do this more effectively, in this short episode. If you enjoy Hack Circus, don’t forget to rate or review on iTunes, or just tell a friend about it! In between episodes (uploaded every Thursday) you c…
…
continue reading
Mike is a mindfulness teacher based on the Isle of Man. Mindfulness and meditation are portrayed as serene but it can also be a serious confrontation with the self which brings a raw, often brutal, truth to the surface. We discuss the reality of mindfulness – processing negative emotions that rise up, the positive breaking down of the self, how to …
…
continue reading
We all have our dreams – run a gallery, open a cafe, do a Masters degree, learn a language... Most of us are lazy and distracted and never quite seem to get off the blocks, but serial entrepreneur, curator and marketing guru Valentina Fois has made all these dreams come true, and more. Valentina's new cafe, Lele's (in Clapton, East London) is open …
…
continue reading
1
Creativity Clinic 8 – too many ideas and notebooks
14:12
14:12
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
14:12
Sometimes it seems like we have the wrong number of ideas: too many or not enough, and the flow is totally beyond our control. This week Leila has some tips for keeping your neverending stream of brain gunk in check, and answers a listener question about notebooks and sketchbooks. How do you use yours? If you enjoy Hack Circus, don’t forget to rate…
…
continue reading
Rhodri Marsden has his finger in many creative and media pies. A journalist for publications including The Independent, writer of talks and books, keyboardist in Scritti Politti and Dream Themes, musical saw player, and prolific and entertaining tweeter with a huge following, he's constantly generating new material and surrounded by creative people…
…
continue reading
1
Creativity Clinic 7 – Going pro and defining failure
12:22
12:22
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
12:22
This week we tackle some issues around turning your hobby into a more serious enterprise. How to think about 'turning professional' in a way that will prepare you for the realities of it, plus the most important skill you'll need to learn when trying to get into full time creative work. Plus a note on failure and confidence as applied to your busin…
…
continue reading
1
Alexandra Heminsley – The Female George Plimpton
36:55
36:55
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
36:55
This week we meet Alex Heminsley, or "Hemmo" – author, reviewer, wit and champion of women in sports. We discuss a life of challenges, sportiness, glamour, creativity and humour in this entertaining chat. Alex is incredibly inspiring; she sets herself goals and goes for them. She is the author of the best-selling Running Like A Girl, the true story…
…
continue reading
1
Creativity Clinic 6 – Overcoming self-consciousness and self doubt
8:30
8:30
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
8:30
Self doubt is one of the most common things I get asked about, and it comes in all kinds of disguises. I think anxiety about presenting your work to the public is often about self-consciousness, and getting rid of thoughts of oneself is often the key to overcoming nerves. If you enjoy Hack Circus, don’t forget to rate or review on iTunes, or just t…
…
continue reading
This week we meet Simon Munnery, who you've probably come across on TV, radio or the live circuit doing his characters The League Against Tedium or Alan Parker Urban Warrior, or one of his experimental shows. Simon is a distinguished comic, highly acclaimed for his original wit and outlandish performances. He's also a maker, a fixer and a former co…
…
continue reading
1
Creativity Clinic 5 - Positive thinking paradoxes
11:54
11:54
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
11:54
Leila addresses a couple of positivity paradoxes this week. When it comes to getting on with a creative project, we might have been trained rather unhelpfully to think about our audiences, and think about ourselves. These tips are intended to help you get something done this week. If you enjoy Hack Circus, don’t forget to rate or review on iTunes, …
…
continue reading
1
Part 2 Mary Turner Thomson I married a psychopath
32:09
32:09
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
32:09
This is the second half of a long chat I had with the incredibly inspiring Mary Turner Thomson; check out part 1 first, if you haven't already. Mary’s tale of living with a sociopathic liar is unlike anything you've heard before – but the way she has overcome this appalling experience makes her the true star of the story. Raising children without t…
…
continue reading
1
Creativity Clinic 4 - Own your story and your failures
10:08
10:08
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
10:08
This week's Creativity Clinic looks at the importance of telling your own story and occupying your own space, and explains why failing big is an important rite of passage for any creative. hackcircuspodcast.com Tune in again on Thursday for the interview episode! And remember you can subscribe to the Creativity Clinic newsletter, here: leilajohnsto…
…
continue reading
1
Mary Turner Thomson – I married a psychopath
40:44
40:44
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
40:44
This is the first half of a long chat I had with the incredibly inspiring Mary Turner Thomson; tune in next week for the second episode. Mary’s story of living with a psychopathic con artist is truly extraordinary, but not as extraordinary as the way she has overcome this appalling experience. She emanates positivity and dignity, determined to help…
…
continue reading
Most of us are experts at blaming things, people or situations for our misfortunes. Sometimes this is justifiable, but just because it sometimes proves true, Leila argues, doesn't mean that we shouldn't suspect every argument against our creative progress for being a potential excuse. Additionally, one of the reasons we are so quick to blame is bec…
…
continue reading
1
Creativity Clinic 2: Creativity and Energy
11:26
11:26
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
11:26
Does making stuff all the time feed your energy or sap it? In this week's Creativity Clinic, Leila takes a question about the Hack Circus project itself, and talks publicly for the first time about some of the joys and drawbacks of taking on something so ambitious over the last three years. If you're enjoying these episodes, please rate or review o…
…
continue reading
Sarah Smizz is an artist, medic and PhD student, based in Sheffield. Sarah was recently awarded Radiography Student of the Year, and has just begun a PhD all about creative practice in medical care. Sarah is a creative across the board, with experience as a writer, rapper, graffiti artist, cartoonist, comedian and poet. She has an amazing work ethi…
…
continue reading