The Creative Boom Podcast

essie McGuire returns for The Spark, where things get a little looser and a lot more revealing.

She shares what she's tired of seeing in the creative world right now, including the obsession with speed and the pressure to react instantly to everything. It's a thoughtful take on why creativity needs time and space to breathe.

There's a brilliant moment on imposter syndrome, too. Jessie challenges the idea entirely, arguing that it's often something placed on people from the outside rather than something we truly feel within ourselves. It's a refreshing and empowering perspective.

The conversation drifts into social media, cringe culture and the pressure to present a perfect life. Jessie talks about the importance of stepping away from screens and reconnecting with your own thoughts, your own pace and your own voice.

We also get a glimpse into her personal side. From her love of notebooks and stickers to her dream dinner party with Elton John and Bad Bunny, it's full of charm and personality.

And then there's a genuinely touching moment. Asked what she'd do with $150, Jessie chooses to spend it on a meal with her mum. Simple, heartfelt and a reminder of what really matters.

She leaves us with a question for the next guest that lingers long after the episode ends. What do you want to be remembered for?

What if design isn't neutral at all? In this episode, Katy sits down with Jessie McGuire, partner at New York design studio Thought Matter, to explore the real power of creativity and why it comes with responsibility.

Jessie shares her 10-year story at Thought Matter, working closely with founder Tom Jaffe to shape a studio built on experimentation, curiosity and big ideas. From those early days to recently winning the prestigious National Design Award, this is a conversation about commitment, belief and staying the course, even when the path isn't always clear.

They talk about imagination as more than a creative spark. It's a tool for shaping culture, influencing behaviour and questioning power. Jessie explains why she firmly believes design is never neutral and how every decision we make as creatives affects the world around us.

There's also an honest look at the past decade. From the shock of the 2016 election to the stillness of the pandemic, Jessie reflects on how those moments forced her and her team to pause, rethink and reconnect with what really matters. That shift led to more purposeful work, deeper questions and a stronger sense of direction.

Katy and Jessie explore what it means to do work that matters, how to support emerging designers, and why the industry needs more openness and collaboration. They also touch on the importance of discomfort and why pushing through uncertainty is often where the most meaningful work happens.

Jessie's perspective is grounded, thoughtful and quietly powerful. This is a chat about backing yourself, trusting your ideas and recognising that creativity isn't just about making things look good; it's about making things count.

n this week's Spark, Adam J. Kurtz gets refreshingly honest about creativity, identity, and letting go of perfection.

From why "good enough" is often more than enough, to the surprising power of putting on a pair of socks, Adam shares the small shifts that can make a big difference to your day. He reflects on trusting your instincts, embracing imperfection, and why chasing "cool" might be the very thing holding you back.

There's humour, a bit of chaos, and some genuinely thoughtful moments along the way, including a simple question about what you'd do with $150 that reveals more than you might expect about priorities, creativity, and how we choose to live.

It's a short one, but it might just stay with you.

In this week's episode, Katy sits down with artist, author and beautifully honest human Adam J. Kurtz to talk about what happens when you reach the thing you thought you wanted… and realise it's not the whole story.

Dialling in from Hawaii, Adam shares how leaving New York forced him to untangle his identity from his work, his city, and the version of success he'd been chasing for years. What followed wasn't a dramatic reinvention, but something quieter and more meaningful—a shift towards simplicity, honesty, and figuring things out in real time.

They talk about burnout, creative cycles, and the uncomfortable question so many of us are sitting with right now: what next? Adam reflects on how his work has evolved alongside his life, moving from hopeful striving to something more grounded, self-aware, and forgiving.

There's also a glimpse into his upcoming book, Now What?, a project shaped by uncertainty, growth, and the reality that none of us ever really have it all figured out.

It's a conversation about letting go of perfection, embracing change, and finding a version of success that actually feels good to live with. Funny, candid, and quietly reassuring, you'll realise that you're allowed to change your mind, path, and pace... no matter where you are right now.

In this week's bonus episode of The Spark, we get to know Aporva Baxi a little better. From photographing shadows and beams of light to whispering ideas into his phone in the supermarket, Aporva shares the small habits that shape his creative life.

We chat about music that fuels his thinking (hello Aphex Twin), the films that have stayed with him (Kubrick, of course), and why noticing the everyday might be the most important creative skill of all.

There's also talk of creative heroes, strange rituals, and the kind of dinner party that would properly stretch your mind. Yes, it's a lighter, more personal conversation. But as always, there's plenty in there to take away.