17 episodes

Season Two is here!

Welcome to the Unlocking Creativity podcast - a show that's all about ideas. How to have more of them, how to have better ones and how they can change our lives.

My name’s Daniel Brookes and by day I’m a Television Producer whose job it is to come up with brand new shows and generally obsess about all things creative.

Join me as I speak to trailblazers from the creative business worlds of design, film, fashion, TV, music, art, performance, tech, business, food and more. Together we'll talk about the thoughts that changed their lives, their creative processes and their tips and tricks for how they come up with their best ideas.

Daniel Brookes | Host of Unlocking Creativity
Twitter: @danielrbrookes
Instagram: @danielrbrookes


Email: info@unlockingcreativitypodcast.com
Website: www.unlockingcreativitypodcast.com

Unlocking Creativity Daniel Brookes | Unlocking Creativity

    • Arts
    • 5.0 • 101 Ratings

Season Two is here!

Welcome to the Unlocking Creativity podcast - a show that's all about ideas. How to have more of them, how to have better ones and how they can change our lives.

My name’s Daniel Brookes and by day I’m a Television Producer whose job it is to come up with brand new shows and generally obsess about all things creative.

Join me as I speak to trailblazers from the creative business worlds of design, film, fashion, TV, music, art, performance, tech, business, food and more. Together we'll talk about the thoughts that changed their lives, their creative processes and their tips and tricks for how they come up with their best ideas.

Daniel Brookes | Host of Unlocking Creativity
Twitter: @danielrbrookes
Instagram: @danielrbrookes


Email: info@unlockingcreativitypodcast.com
Website: www.unlockingcreativitypodcast.com

    Tamara Mellon OBE | Founder, Jimmy Choo | High Risk, High Reward

    Tamara Mellon OBE | Founder, Jimmy Choo | High Risk, High Reward

    Season Two has landed! We’re certainly kicking off in style with leading creative and Jimmy Choo founder, Tamara Mellon. Not only an incredible businesswoman but also a leader in the world of fashion design, whose innovations continually push the industry forward. 
    With a fierce and hardened attitude to risk, Tamara’s choices are often ambitious but never fail to create trends that many then proceed to follow. From her designs to how she runs her businesses, the results are always distinct, bold and noteworthy. Tamara has an abundance of wisdom and life experience that led to an interview that’s compelling regardless of whether you consider yourself a creative, an entrepreneur or a balance of both. 
     

    Three Takeaways From This Episode Include:  Why being a daydreamer is a good thing and why we should all be encouraged to do it more. What ‘first movers disadvantage’ is and why the most original of ideas often fail spectacularly before going on to succeed. And the mantra that Tamara instils in all of those that work for her — “the risky way is the safe way, and the safe way is the risky way.  
    Tamara's Recommendations:  Originals - Adam Grant
    Grit - Angela Duckworth
    Ralph Lauren Documentary
     
    Daniel Brookes | Host of the Unlocking Creativity Podcast: 
    Twitter: @danielrbrookes
    Instagram: @danielrbrookes
    Email: info@unlockingcreativitypodcast.com
     
    Unlocking Creativity Website:
    www.unlockingcreativitypodcast.com

    • 42 min
    Dylan Jones OBE | Editor-in-Chief | Gut Instinct

    Dylan Jones OBE | Editor-in-Chief | Gut Instinct

    The stylish start to the season continues with British GQ’s Editor-in-Chief, Dylan Jones. Not only one of the most inspiring people who I’ve ever had the pleasure to interview but also a man of many creative talents. When he’s not running the monthly bible of all things cutting edge, Dylan is also an accomplished author, a strong advocate for Britain’s creative industries and the Chair of London Fashion Week Men's. He’s won countless awards for his work and in 2011 was granted an OBE for his services to publishing. 
     
    Three Takeaways From This Episode Include: 
    An insight into the reinvention of British GQ that Dylan implemented - including hiring Boris Johnson as a car correspondent and the advice that Dylan gives to new interns at the magazine.
    How even though Dylan grew up not knowing what he wanted to do and going as far to describe himself as ‘not particularly ambitious’, still managed to go on to reach the levels of success that he has.
    The reason why your gut instinct is fundamentally the most important thing when making decisions.
     
    Dylan's Recommendation:
    Podcast - Talking Politics
     
    Daniel Brookes | Host of the Unlocking Creativity Podcast: 
    Twitter: @danielrbrookes
    Instagram: @danielrbrookes
    Email: info@unlockingcreativitypodcast.com
     
    Unlocking Creativity Website:
    www.unlockingcreativitypodcast.com

    • 35 min
    Jeremy Irvine | Actor | Mindset

    Jeremy Irvine | Actor | Mindset

    As the first actor to make an appearance on the show, Jeremy Irvine certainly didn’t disappoint. Many may know Jeremy for his past roles on the likes of the blockbuster movie War Horse, the giant musical franchise that is Mamma Mia and his latest project, Treadstone. The mammoth Amazon Prime Video series is an action-packed thriller set in the world of Jason Bourne amidst a backdrop of spies, assassins and espionage.

    Jeremy’s credits from film, television and stage have been widely varied and so too has his experience. In this episode, Jeremy provides a brilliantly truthful and honest insight into what it’s really like to be an actor. Sharing the creative challenges that are often faced, the process of getting into a role and the inspiring story of how he got his break in the first place - a perfect case of creating his own luck and which ultimately led to him being cast for his debut role by Steven Spielberg.
     
    THREE TAKEAWAYS FROM THIS EPISODE INCLUDE:
    The lessons and advice that Jeremy has been given by the likes of Steven Spielberg and Colin Firth.
    Why Jeremy finds the term ‘method acting’ ridiculous, despite in his own words "having been accused of it” in the past.
    How emotion can impact output - a transferrable skill from the world of acting that could be applied to any industry.
     
    JEREMY’S RECOMMENDATION:
    Succession
     
    Daniel Brookes | Host of the Unlocking Creativity Podcast: 
    Twitter: @danielrbrookes
    Instagram: @danielrbrookes
    Email: info@unlockingcreativitypodcast.com
     
    Unlocking Creativity Website:
    www.unlockingcreativitypodcast.com
     

    • 1 hr 5 min
    Nettie Wakefield | Artist | Developing A Signature Style

    Nettie Wakefield | Artist | Developing A Signature Style

    Nettie Wakefield is one of the most exciting artists around right now. Her distinct style has led to her works being snapped up by collectors and galleries across the globe, as well as being scouted by Banksy. Nettie is the first-ever artist to ever appear on the podcast and she provides some truly unique insights into what goes into making her own pieces, along with all the highs and lows that can come with it.
     
    Three takeaways from this episode include:
    Why it’s important to develop an individual style and have consistency in your work. 
    How working in solitude can impact your creativity and how to avoid going crazy in your own company!.
    And if you’ve ever wondered how to turn a blow-up doll into a bronze sculpture, you’re about to find out... 
     
    Nettie’s Recommendation:
    Grayson Perry - Playing to the Gallery
     
    Daniel Brookes | Host of the Unlocking Creativity Podcast: 
    Twitter: @danielrbrookes
    Instagram: @danielrbrookes
    Email: info@unlockingcreativitypodcast.com
     
    Unlocking Creativity Website:
    www.unlockingcreativitypodcast.com
     
     
     
     

    • 39 min
    Derren Brown | Mentalist & Illusionist | Original Thinking

    Derren Brown | Mentalist & Illusionist | Original Thinking

    Derren Brown is best known for his mind-altering stage shows and Netflix TV specials. By mixing mentalism, magic, illusion, suggestion, hypnotism and suggestion, Derren’s performances are always innovative, distinct and continually push boundaries. So often surrounded in secrecy, what you're about to find out is the creative process that goes into developing some of his most famous stage shows and effects. Most people ask Derren Brown how his performances are done but what you’re about to discover is even better - how he creates them in the first place. This episode of Unlocking Creativity is packed full of revelation and actionable advice that could be applied to everyone’s life.
     
    Three takeaways from this episode include:
    How to find meaning at different stages of our life and why a creative endeavour is a great way to do it. 
    Why becoming who you are is forgetting about who you are supposed to be. 
    And why we should all be finding something of meaning that’s bigger than ourselves and putting everything into it. 
     
    Derren’s Recommendations:
    Susan Cain - Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking
    Laurence Scott - Picnic Comma Lightning: In Search of a New Reality
    John Kaag - Hiking With Nietzsche
     
    Daniel Brookes | Host of the Unlocking Creativity Podcast: 
    Twitter: @danielrbrookes
    Instagram: @danielrbrookes
    Email: info@unlockingcreativitypodcast.com
     
    Unlocking Creativity Website:
    www.unlockingcreativitypodcast.com

    • 1 hr 12 min
    Special Q&A | How To Be Creative Whilst in Lockdown

    Special Q&A | How To Be Creative Whilst in Lockdown

    On this special edition of the Unlocking Creativity podcast, listeners of the show send in their questions about how to be creative and stay creative whilst in lockdown and living in these socially distant times.
     
    Three of the many questions we’ll be answering in this episode include:
    How to find new inspiration whilst locked down and working in isolation. What to do with all those projects we were planning on doing before the pandemic began. And how creativity can make an impact in the world around us, regardless of the industry.   
     
    Thank you to special guest contributions from:
    Elika Gibbs - Stylist. IG: @PracticalPrincess
    Dan Shipton - Creative Director. IG: @WeAreBlackSkull
    Nicola Larder - Creator, Marcella (Netflix) and Cobra (Sky)
     
    Thank you for listener questions from:
    Alexis Strum
    Vicky Matthews
    Alex White
    Andrea Hope
    Sydney Ling
    Andrey Psyché
    Y’all Y’all
    Christoper Stanley
    Ebony Arwen
    Emily Gunawan
     
    Daniel Brookes - Host of Unlocking Creativity
    Twitter: @danielrbrookes
    Instagram: @danielrbrookes
    Website: www.unlockingcreativitypodcast.com

    • 28 min

Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5
101 Ratings

101 Ratings

bearwitchproject ,

Claire Valentine Artist

What a great episode with Derren.

Daniel, I really like your style of podcast, you deliver lots of content from the interviewee. You really make it so much about them and not very much about you yet you throw in some insightful pieces so people get the best takeaways.

I’ve been a massive fan of Derren for many many years not only for his skills as a mentalist also for his insight into human behaviour and psychology.

I should be a regular listener to your podcasts.

andrecxptures ,

Fantastic podcast

I recently came across the podcast during the lockdown as I wanted 2021 to be the year in which I unlock my creative potential. It’s been really insightful to hear from a range of guests, hearing about their journeys and advice. As someone who just graduated from university, the future looks very uncertain so it’s really refreshing to listen to new ideas and concepts that I wasn’t aware of.

Keep up the good work

Jimmyyy 123 ,

Amazing Podcast

10/10 Podcast - really interesting and insightful. Great guests and an even better host!

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