Your World of Creativity

• Robin Landa, Professor and Author, Branding as a Cultural Force

  Today, we’re welcoming Robin Landa back to the show. I first interviewed Robin in February 2023 about her book The New Art of Ideas, and I’m thrilled to continue that conversation.Robin is a distinguished professor at Kean University and a globally recognized expert in creativity and branding. She received the 2024 Gold Design Education Recognition Award, was named by the Carnegie Foundation among the ‘Great Teachers of Our Time,’ and will be inducted into the New Jersey Advertising Hall of Fame in 2025.Robin 's Website @proflanda on Instagram Robin 's Facebook page Robin on YouTube Author of 25 books—including Graphic Design Solutions, Strategic Creativity, Advertising by Design, and Shareworthy (with Greg Braun)—Robin now turns to her new release: Branding as a Cultural Force: Purpose, Responsibility, and ResonanceFrom The New Art of Ideas to Cultural ForceRobin, when we talked in February 2023, you laid out a practical pathway for generating and shaping ideas. What’s evolved in your thinking since then—and how did that trajectory lead to Branding as a Cultural Force?Branding as a Vehicle for Systemic ChangeYour new book argues that branding can—and should—shape culture, not just reflect it. What catalyzed this call to action, and how does it challenge conventional brand playbooks?From Product Stories to Cultural MovementsWhich brands or campaigns today truly function as cultural forces? What makes them work—and what can creative teams learn about purpose, responsibility, and resonance?Authenticity, Accountability, and RiskWhen brands take a stand, what’s the right balance between authentic purpose and measurable responsibility? How should leaders navigate backlash, skepticism, and “purpose-washing”?Teaching Creative CourageYou’ve shaped thousands of careers through teaching, mentoring, judging, and writing. What practices help people move from safe, incremental ideas to bold, world-shaping concepts—without losing strategic clarity?The Next Generation of Brand LeadersWith AI, rapid cultural shifts, and fragmentation of attention, what skills—and mindsets—will define tomorrow’s most effective brand leaders?Thanks to our sponsor, White Cloud Coffee—fueling creative conversations everywhere. Listeners, enjoy 10% off your first order at whitecloudcoffee.com.And before you go, remember to download your free e-book of Your World of Creativity when you visit mark-stinson.com.

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• Rand Selig, Author of Thriving!

  Today, we welcome Rand Selig — an accomplished investment banker, entrepreneur, coach, Scoutmaster, board member, and hands-on conservationist. Rand brings a unique balance of analytical insight and human understanding to everything he does.For more than 35 years, he’s led The Selig Capital Group, named the Best Sustainable Investment Banking Firm in the San Francisco Bay Area in 2024 by Wealth and Finance International. Rand is also the author of the award-winning book Thriving! How to Create a Healthier, Happier, and More Prosperous Life — a 333-page guide that’s been inspiring readers around the world since its release through selfpublishing.com.Rand's Website @Rmsinstat on Instagram Rand on YouTube Rand's Facebook page Thriving! resonate with readers seeking practical guidance for designing a life filled with purpose, vitality, and joy.The Power of Choice — Why “Thriving” MattersRand, your book is built on the idea that intentional choices can completely reshape our lives. What inspired you to write Thriving! and how do you define what it truly means to “thrive” in today’s fast-paced world?Overcoming Setbacks and Building ResilienceYou write about turning obstacles into opportunities — something you’ve clearly practiced in your own entrepreneurial and personal journey. What are some of your favorite tools or mindset shifts for building resilience through life’s challenges?The Science of ThrivingWith your background in both psychology and mathematics, you take a unique, evidence-based approach to personal growth. How do you bridge scientific insights — like self-awareness and behavioral psychology — with practical, everyday tools your readers can apply right now?Designing Your Life — Becoming the Architect of Your FutureYou often say we can design our own lives. What does that process look like in practice? Could you share a few of the most powerful exercises or decisions that help people move from drifting through life to actively creating it?The Ten Keys to Aging Well and Living with VitalityOne of my favorite parts of the book is your section on “The 10 Keys to Aging Well.” You emphasize that aging well is about vitality, not longevity. What are some of the key choices we can make today — psychologically, emotionally, and physically — to keep thriving as we age?You talk about defining success on your own terms. How can people begin that process when society tends to equate success with money or status?Thanks to our sponsor, White Cloud Coffee — fueling creative conversations everywhere. Listeners, enjoy 10% off your first order at whitecloudcoffee.com.And before you go, remember to download your free e-book of Your World of Creativity when you visit mark-stinson.com.

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• Ian Ziskin, Author, Lives Lost and Leadership Found

  Today, we’re welcoming back Ian Ziskin, President of EXec EXcel Group, a leader with more than 40 years of experience as a business executive, board advisor, coach, consultant, and author. Ian has held senior leadership and Chief Human Resources Officer roles at three Fortune 100 companies, written extensively about the future of work, HR, and leadership, and continues to influence how organizations develop people and purpose.Ian's Website Ian first joined us on Your World of Creativity back in 2022, when he shared insights from another collaborative anthology project that brought together diverse voices in leadership. Today, he returns to discuss his new book, Lives Lost and Leadership Found, just released by Routledge. The book blends neuroscience, survey insights from 150 professionals, and deeply personal essays from dozens of contributors to explore how grief, loss, and connection can actually deepen our leadership capacity — and how our ‘special somebodies’ may be our most powerful teachers.Why This Book, and Why Now?Ian, you’ve written and spoken extensively about leadership and HR — but Lives Lost and Leadership Found takes a much more personal and emotional turn. What inspired you to write this book, and why was now the right time?Neuroscience, Grief, and GrowthThe book explores how neuroscience rewires our leadership capacity through experiences of loss. What did you discover about the connection between grief, empathy, and leadership resilience?Collaborative Creativity, Round TwoYou were last on the podcast in 2022 discussing another anthology you co-created. How has that collaborative creative process worked for you over the years — and what lessons did you carry forward into this new project?Leading Together — The Power of Many VoicesIn Lives Lost and Leadership Found, you serve as the lead author but included essays from dozens of contributors. What were the benefits — and maybe the challenges — of weaving so many perspectives into a single narrative?Lessons from the Data and the StoriesYou surveyed 150 professionals and featured essays from leaders and coaches across industries. What key lessons or themes emerged — and were there any surprises in how people transformed loss into growth?Music, Reflection, and RenewalYou even wrote and recorded a song for the book, “Here and Gone,” to honor your parents and brother. Tell us about the story behind that song — and why you encourage readers to write their own essays about their “Special Somebodies.Thanks to our sponsor, White Cloud Coffee — fueling creative conversations everywhere. Listeners, enjoy 10% off your first order at whitecloudcoffee.com.And before you go, remember to download your free e-book of Your World of Creativity when you visit mark-stinson.com.

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• Steven Puri, ex-studio exec & producer, Creator, Sukha Focus App

  Today we’re joined by Steven Puri, Founder and CEO of The Sukha Company based in Austin, Texas, whose mission is to help millions of people find their focus, achieve more, and build a healthy work life. His latest creation, the Sukha Focus App, integrates science and soul to help people achieve deep, sustainable focus in a distracted world.Steven's Website The Journey from Hollywood to HappinessSteven, you’ve had such an eclectic career—from film production and tech startups to founding a company devoted to focus and balance. Steven’s creative journey spans journalism, film, technology, and now mindfulness. He began as a newscaster for the #1 youth news show in the DC/Baltimore market, then went on to work as a software engineer and Thomas J. Watson Scholar at IBM.From there, he entered the film world—producing computer-generated visual effects for Independence Day and 13 other movies, launching his first company, Centropolis Effects, which he later sold to German media conglomerate Das Werk. He went on to senior leadership roles at 20th Century Fox and DreamWorks, developing hit franchises like Die Hard, Wolverine, Transformers, and Star Trek.What turning point inspired you to create The Sukha Company?Creative Systems and ScienceYou’ve led creative and technical teams at the highest levels—from Independence Day to Transformers. What lessons from those high-pressure creative environments have shaped how you now think about productivity, empathy, and well-being at work?Defining “Sukha” in Modern WorkThe Sanskrit word sukha means happiness through self-fulfillment. How does that philosophy show up in your company’s products—and in your own daily focus habits?Focus in the Age of OverloadYou’ve built an app to help people stay focused in a world of constant distraction. What are the biggest focus challenges you see today, and how does The Sukha help users navigate them?The Future of Work and Well-BeingYou talk about “healthy productivity.” What do you see as the next evolution for creative professionals and organizations who want to get more done without burning out?Steven, what’s one piece of advice you’d give to creatives and leaders who are trying to find focus, fulfillment, and flow in their daily work?Thanks to our sponsor, White Cloud Coffee—fueling creative conversations everywhere. Listeners, enjoy 10% off your first order at whitecloudcoffee.com.And before you go, don’t forget to download your free e-book of Your World of Creativity when you visit mark-stinson.com.

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• Dave Lee, Co-creator of Cardboard Sessions

  Today, we’re talking with Dave Lee, the creative engineer and co-creator of Cardboard Sessions, the viral series where paper becomes possibility. In each episode, top-tier artists step into the studio to create unrehearsed sonic magic using fully playable instruments made entirely out of cardboard.Dave on YouTube @cardboardsessions on Instagram From cardboard Stratocasters and Telecasters to full drum kits, Dave and his team turn imagination into reality, documenting the process in stunning behind-the-scenes videos that blend art, science, and pure creative courage.The Spark of Cardboard ChaosDave, where did this idea begin—what first made you look at cardboard and think, “let’s make a snowboard, a guitar, or a pair of Vans out of this”? What was the creative leap from Cardboard Chaos to Cardboard Sessions?Engineering Meets ArtYou’ve built fully playable instruments out of cardboard—something that sounds impossible until people see and hear it. If you’ve ever looked at an everyday object and thought, ‘What if we made this out of cardboard?’—Dave’s probably already done it. Your creative journey—from Cardboard Chaos experiments to collaborations with icons like Tony Hawk, Marcus King, and Keanu Reeves—proves that true innovation often starts with the simplest materials and the boldest questions. I was watching the Cardboard Session with Peter Yorn -- How do you and your team balance the technical precision of engineering with the spontaneity of creative experimentation?The Magic of Unrehearsed MusicEach Cardboard Session is unrehearsed, unfiltered, and full of creative risk. What do you think happens to artists when the normal studio structure disappears and they’re just responding to the moment—with instruments made of paper?Collaboration and Creative FlowYou’ve brought in everyone from ZZ Top to Marcus King to Keanu Reeves. What have you learned about collaboration from these sessions—and how do you create an environment that invites trust, play, and genuine creativity?The Lesson for Creatives EverywhereYour work embodies the idea that creativity thrives on limits and curiosity. What’s your advice for listeners who want to tap into that “build it anyway” mindset—especially when they’re facing doubt or resistance?What’s one takeaway you hope creators remember from your work—about staying inventive, curious, and hands-on in a digital world?Thanks to our sponsor, White Cloud Coffee—fueling creative conversations everywhere. Listeners, enjoy 10% off your first order at whitecloudcoffee.com.And before you go, don’t forget to download your free e-book of Your World of Creativity when you visit mark-stinson.com.

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