Creative or Dead

Aleesha Callahan and David Constantine

5.0 (8)
DESIGN

Hosted by industry pals Aleesha Callahan and David Constantine, this interview-style show features conversations with creatives to unravel their process, and get a glimpse into each guests unique way of thinking – all with equal parts levity and depth. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

3 DAYS AGO

Unknown gnomes with Richard Walzer – Design Director, Breakthrough Innovation at PepsiCo

“Innovation” is one of those words that gets overused so much it’s starting feel devoid of meaning. Richard Walzer isn’t interested in new for the sake of it. As Design Director of Breakthrough Innovation at PepsiCo (Europe), he works in the uncomfortable space most businesses avoid – the unknown unknowns. The problems no one has defined yet, let alone solved. In this episode, Richard pulls apart what real innovation actually looks like when there’s money, scale and risk on the line. And we hate to break it to all the light bulb moment die-hards out there, but true innovation (at least for Richard) is not about eureka moments or big creative swings. It’s rigour, it’s watching what people actually do, not what they say. It’s spending most of your time making sure you’re solving the right problem, before you even think about the solution. One of the biggest creative lessons to glean from this episode is that most teams aren’t failing at execution, they’re just designing the wrong thing. We also get into the discipline behind design thinking, the myth of differentiation, and why “distinctive” is the only thing worth chasing. From sacrificial prototypes to future consumers, Richard maps out how ideas move from vague hypothesis to something that can survive the real world. This is creativity with true commerciality at its core. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

52 min
8 MAR

Home as a living installation with Susannah Holmberg

What if a home was composed like a work of art? In this ep of Creative or Dead, we speak with interior designer Susannah Holmberg, founder of Susannah Holmberg Studios (www.susannahholmberg.com) in Salt Lake City, Utah. Susannah approaches interior as immersive installations – spaces where art, architecture and materials intersect. We talk about her unconventional path into design, the idea that beauty might actually be a form of function, and how her studio develops personal interiors by drawing on unexpected references – from favourite films and books to travel and landscape. The conversation also explores creative process: why blocking time for deep work matters, how tension between contrasting elements can spark originality, and why handmade pieces and craftsmanship remain central to her projects. And, in our usual Creative or Dead fashion, we finish with our final question: if you could design your own death, what would it look like? Susannah’s cinematic vision involves black veils, oversized florals and a rainy green landscape. Hosted by Aleesha Callahan and David Constantine, this is a conversation about creativity, craft and designing spaces that feel like living works of art. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

58 min
25 FEB

Mermaids, mulch and making with Ty Symonds

In this episode of Creative or Dead, we chat to Ty Symonds – a designer who thinks like an artist. Ty’s creative origin story starts in Far North Queensland, where rainforest and lace-like fungi created an unforgettable impression on his psyche. This early education in the art of observation has underpinned everything that followed: from designing textiles at Peter Alexander, to navigating big-box retail, to reshaping Country Road Homewares through collaboration and long-term thinking. This is a conversation about trusting your intuition versus over-analysing, and building impactful collaborations with a commercial mindset – all without losing your soul. We get into leadership as a creative practice, the importance of making (not just designing on screens), and why nature doesn’t believe in waste. We also jump into flow states, mermaids, and a manifesto for slowing the hell down. It’s an episode about listening to materials, to place, to your gut, and trusting that creativity will surface when you make enough space for it. Follow Ty on Instagram to stay up to date with what he's up to next. Creative or Dead is hosted by David Constantine and Aleesha Callahan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

1h 2m
17 FEB

Art as an act of love with Golnar Roshan (Rive Roshan)

In this ep, we sit down with Golnar Roshan, co-founder of Amsterdam-based studio Rive Roshan, to talk art, design and what it really means to build a creative life on your own terms. Golnar traces her journey from Sydney to Europe, from visual communication student to working at Marcel Wanders, and into a sincerely collaborative practice that sits somewhere between art, design and technology. We talk about creativity as a lived practice (not just a job title), and power for work to be coupled with emotional intelligence. This episode digs into creative partnerships, making work with integrity, and holding onto empathy in a noisy, commercialised world. There’s Milan Design Week, experimental materials and politics layered with beauty. If you’re searching for conversations about creative careers, art and design practice, creativity with substance, or how to build a career without flattening yourself in the process – start with this conversation. Rive Roshan is being presented by Gallery Sally Dan-Cuthbert at Melbourne Art Fair (19-22 Feb 2026). Links See more about Rive Roshan at riveroshan.com Sub Catcher riveroshan.com/projects/sun-catcher-rive-roshan-alcova-milan-2025 Shifting Perspectives riveroshan.com/projects/shifting-perspectives Gallery Sally Dan-Cuthbert gallerysallydancuthbert.com Melbourne Art Fair melbourneartfair.com.au Creative or Dead is hosted by David Constantine and Aleesha Callahan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

1h 6m
10 FEB

Nasha Gallery is sorry for the late reply

In this episode (hello season three!), we chat with Viktor and James, the founders of Nasha Gallery in Sydney (Eora) to learn about building a gallery without following the rules. The guys talk about their leap from artists to gallerists, what it actually takes to run a commercial gallery and why they back emerging Australian artists who can stand shoulder-to-shoulder alongside global talent. Expect unfiltered takes on being “brave”, how they choose artists (studio visits, taste, trust), and why transparency in the art world shouldn’t be radical – but still is. If you’re into contemporary art, creativity, art careers, gallery life, art management, collecting, or the messy reality of making a project survive, this one’s for you. Plus: there's road trip stories, a near-illegal mega-show, and two very different death designs. Check out Nasha Gallery and all their upcoming shows at nasha.com.au. Nasha Gallery is presenting James Little at Melbourne Art Fair 2026. Creative or Dead is hosted by David Constantine and Aleesha Callahan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

1h 1m
28/09/2025

Todd Anthony and the non-linear guide to a dream career

Head of Fashion Programming at Melbourne Fashion Festival Todd Anthony joins us for a zig-zagging chat about creativity with substance. Todd traces a wonderfully non-linear path from professional Latin ballroom dancer to studying fashion design, to teaching and mentoring, to his current dream job at Melbourne Fashion Festival. Along the way we unpack a process grounded in purpose, reflection and the ever-useful post-its. He explains why the runway is very much alive, how AI can actually slow teams down in the best way, and why relationships (and kindness) are the real engine of creative work. We also talk burnout prevention, the power of daily observation rituals (including a documentary with breakfast), and the small, thoughtful easter eggs that keep personal voice in in work. Stay to the end for Todd’s delightfully dramatic, Elizabethan-tinged answer to our signature 'curate your own death' question. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

54 min
10/08/2025

Ship more widgets with Christopher Boots

Not enough people are making work with the intention of it still being around in 200 years. But Christopher Boots isn’t like anyone else. In this wide-ranging, thought-provoking conversation, we hear from lighting and object designer Christopher Boots, where he sprinkles us with a bit of his magic dust creativity. And spoiler: he proves that the best ideas are marinated and well-seasoned. From scavenging childhood treasures in the backyard to sculpting monumental crystal-and-bronze chandeliers, Christopher shares how time, process and materials shape his work. Along the way, we dive into material literacy, the psychology of objects, running a creative business without losing your soul, and how there’s no shortcut for quality, time and contemplation. Show notes: Look up Christopher Boots' work here https://christopherboots.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

1h 8m
03/08/2025

Immersive brand-building with Ren Kimber

What happens when sharp strategy meets boundless creativity? Ren Kimber. In this episode, we sit down with the entrepreneurial powerhouse and strategic half of menswear label Christian Kimber to talk about creative partnerships, crafting a brand world and the art of taking calculated risks. Ren shares her knack for blending business smarts with creative intuition – expect insights on brand storytelling, immersive retail design and travel-fuelled inspirations. Relevant links Christian Kimber website https://christiankimber.com InteriorsAU design write-up on the new store https://architectureau.com/articles/christian-kimber-store-by-brahman-perera/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

43 min

5

out of 5

8 Ratings

Hosted by industry pals Aleesha Callahan and David Constantine, this interview-style show features conversations with creatives to unravel their process, and get a glimpse into each guests unique way of thinking – all with equal parts levity and depth. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Creator

Aleesha Callahan and David Constantine
Years Active

2024 - 2026
Episodes

19
Rating

Explicit
Copyright

© Creative or Dead
Show Website

Creative or Dead

Design

Design

Updated Weekly
Society & Culture

Society & Culture

Updated 2 days ago
Philosophy

Philosophy

Updated Weekly
Comedy

Comedy

Updated 4 days ago