Creative Flow: Thinkers and Change Agents

Kim Marie McKernan

5.0 (3)
SOCIAL SCIENCES
UPDATED MONTHLY

Hosted by Anthony Billoni and Kim Marie McKernan, the Creative Flow Podcast Series features discussions with thinkers and change agents important to the Science of Creativity. We invite you to tune into the series to hear experts who are actively applying creativity, creative problem solving (CPS), innovation, and more to help change the world.

JAN 21

Helene Cahen - Balancing Creativity with Structure

The 55th episode of The Creative Flow: Thinkers and Change Agents Podcast features Helene Cahen, an innovation strategist, trainer, and author with over 30 years of experience helping companies navigate innovation challenges. At Kinetic Consulting, she supports Fortune 500 companies and nonprofits in developing new products, building effective teams, and fostering user-centered cultures. Helene holds an MS in Creativity and Change Leadership from the Center for Applied Imagination and is the author of "Fire Up Innovation," making her an expert in balancing creativity with structure for real-world results. The conversation offers key takeaways on applying creative frameworks to real-world business challenges. Helene shares success stories, including how team profiles and tools like the Business Model Canvas can reveal gaps and empower organizations to innovate more effectively. She also offers her perspective on the evolving role of AI, highlighting that while it can be a powerful tool, the human element remains essential for making strategic choices and navigating the market. Listeners will learn practical ways to balance the dynamic nature with structured processes. This episode offers valuable insights into staying relevant in a rapidly changing world, the importance of a clear innovation framework, and how practices like improv can help you stay in a state of creative flow. Tune in for an inspiring discussion on how to systematically build and apply creative thinking for transformative results.

25 min
12/01/2025

David Eyman – Teaching Creative Confidence

The 54th episode of The Creative Flow: Thinkers and Change Agents Podcast features David Eyman, an entrepreneur, innovation leader, product designer, and educator at Miami University. With over 30 years of creative experience and a Master’s in Creative Studies from the Center for Applied Imagination, David shares his journey from industrial design to his current role as Director of Innovation. He believes that shifting from doing what we're supposed to do to what we're capable of can lead to greater happiness and satisfaction. The key takeaways from this conversation focus on the critical importance of developing creative confidence in students. David discusses how adaptable thinking skills are essential for navigating a world of complex problems. He provides his insights on the changes he's seen in students, particularly "digital natives," and the challenge of them outsourcing their critical and creative thinking skills while remaining happy, collaborative, and fast learners. Listeners will learn why creative confidence is an essential outcome of creative mindsets like curiosity, tolerance for ambiguity, and resilience. David offers practical ideas for adapting creative problem-solving processes for a new generation of thinkers. Don’t miss David’s perspective on using AI not as a replacement, but as a thinking partner to augment our own creative abilities, providing a framework for students to engage with technology responsibly.

35 min
11/11/2025

Susan Robertson - The Neuroscience of Creative Thinking

The 53rd episode of The Creative Flow: Thinkers and Change Agents Podcast features Susan Robertson, a possibility architect who empowers teams and organizations to navigate change by embracing creative thinking. As an instructor at Harvard, Susan combines the neuroscience of creativity with over 20 years of experience coaching Fortune 500 companies. She brings a scientific foundation and a dose of fun to help make behavior change stick. Discover key takeaways about the neuroscience behind our thinking habits. Susan explains the "negativity bias" and why our brains instinctively resist uncertainty and new ideas. You'll gain insights into the power of shifting from a "Yes, but" to a "Yes, and" mindset, fostering true creative collaboration and innovative solutions in both your professional and personal life. Don't miss the 3-minute Lab: Decoy video she recommends at https://youtu.be/F-TyPfYMDK8?si=HhdjVRYzzsO31Tpc. Listeners will learn practical, science-backed methods for unlocking creativity and making a significant mindset shift. This episode offers practical guidance on overcoming mental blocks, cultivating a culture of possibility, and applying neuroscience principles to drive innovation. Tune in to learn how to build new habits that will change the way you see the world.

29 min
10/01/2025

Marysia Czarski – The Human Side of Corporate Creativity

The 52nd episode of The Creative Flow: Thinkers and Change Agents Podcast features Marysia Czarski, CEO and founder of Ignition Creativity in Toronto, Canada. With over twenty years of experience, she transforms organizations by replacing outdated operational approaches with agile, human-centered frameworks. Marysia has an MS in Creativity and Change Leadership from Buffalo State University and an HBA from the Ivey Business School, combining deep academic knowledge with extensive corporate experience at companies like Ralston Purina and Cadbury. Discover key takeaways from Marysia's journey, from her early career in consumer packaged goods to her current work in corporate innovation. She shares how integrating human-centered design, Creative Problem Solving (CPS), and agile methodologies helps solve complex problems. Listen to her insights on why understanding people is the most critical component of unleashing creativity and driving impactful results within any organization. Listeners will learn practical tips for developing their own creative abilities and applying these skills in professional settings. This episode provides valuable lessons on navigating ambiguity, challenging the status quo, and using creative processes to foster innovation. Tune in to find inspiration and learn how to leverage the creative potential within yourself and your teams.

26 min
07/31/2025

Sue Parnes and Bill Hartwell: The Parnes Legacy

The 51st episode of the Creative Flow: Thinkers and Change Agents Podcast features husband and wife Sue Parnes and Bill Hartwell celebrating the legacy of Dr. Sidney J. and Bea Parnes. As world-renowned pioneers in creativity, innovation, and creative problem solving, Sid and Bea's work has inspired many across generations, transforming the way we understand and nurture creative potential. Their legacy lives on through our guests, their daughter, Sue, and son-in-law, Bill, who both embody the values and inspiration passed down by Sid and Bea in their lives and communities. Listen to reflections from Sue and Bill on how their parents’ dedication to creativity has had a lasting influence on their work and family life. The stories and memories they share about the global impact of their parents’ work fighting apartheid in South Africa highlight the ripple effects of Sid and Bea’s vision. Tune in for highlights of their remarkable partnership, unique perspective, and a special musical tribute celebrating the spirit of creativity they brought to the world. Listeners will discover practical insights into creativity and innovation, hear personal stories of how Sid and Bea inspired those around them, and gain a deeper appreciation for the power of creative thinking in families in everyday life.

32 min
06/16/2025

John Osborn - Creativity as Higher Consciousness

The 50th episode of the Creative Flow: Thinkers and Change Agents Podcast features an inspiring conversation with John R. Osborn, an advertising veteran and long-time supporter of creative problem solving. With a legacy steeped in innovation, John is the co-founder and CMO of ad tech startup Turnstīl, a former Senior VP at BBDO, and grandson of creativity pioneer Alex Osborn, the inventor of brainstorming and founder of the Creative Problem Solving Institute (CPSI). This episode explores John’s incredible insights on creativity as a higher state of consciousness and its transformative role in business, education, and personal growth. You'll discover: How creativity shaped John’s career in advertising and entrepreneurship Lessons from his time with the Creative Education Foundation Practical applications of deliberate creative problem solving Whether you’re a seasoned professional looking to elevate your creative potential or someone curious about the science of creativity, this episode offers stories about how creativity can drive positive change. Tune in and be inspired to harness creativity at a higher level.

35 min
05/08/2025

Kristen Peterson – Creativity and Community

The 49th episode of the Creative Flow Podcast features Kristen Peterson, a master facilitator, trainer, and organizational development consultant with over 20 years of experience working with global giants like Disney, Google, and Starbucks. She’s an alumna and adjunct faculty member of the Center for Applied Imagination at SUNY Buffalo State University and co-founder of Mindcamp Canada. Kristen has spent her career enabling creativity to thrive in organizations and communities. From her personal story of discovering creativity through the Creative Problem Solving Institute (CPSI) to creating an international space for experimentation at Mindcamp Canada for over twenty years, she is passionate about community. She advocates for teaching creativity in schools and providing people from all walks of life with tools to solve problems creatively. Don’t miss this episode, where we learn about her work building impactful programs, such as Facilitators Without Borders, and mentoring professionals worldwide. Tune in to hear Kristen’s insight into developing creative communities and the power of deliberate creativity to build connections through creativity.

30 min
03/26/2025

Molly Holinger, Ph.D. and Melodi Özyaprak Ph.D. - The Transformative Potential of Creativity

The 48th episode of the Creative Flow Podcast features Drs. Molly Holinger and Melodi Özyaprak, esteemed faculty members at the Center for Applied Imagination at SUNY Buffalo State. Molly, an assistant professor with a PhD in educational psychology, researches positive outcomes of creativity. Melodi specializes in creativity in mathematics and gifted education, having founded the first magnet school for gifted students in Turkey. Their careers span roles in institutions like Miami University, the University of Connecticut, and Johns Hopkins, making them pioneers in creativity education and gifted learning. The episode reveals critical insights into creativity education, emphasizing that creativity is not just a skill but a comprehensive approach to understanding and engaging with the world. Molly and Melodi emphasize the importance of experiential learning, structured creativity models, and integrating both cognitive and non-cognitive aspects of creativity. They also discuss the growing recognition of creativity as a fundamental skill by institutions like the World Economic Forum. Together, they offer actionable strategies for incorporating creativity into curriculum development and differentiated learning approaches. Don’t miss this episode, which offers a unique blend of personal creativity journeys, academic insights, and passionate discussions about creativity's transformative potential. The conversation provides a deep understanding of how creativity can be systematically learned, applied across disciplines, and used for personal and professional growth.

34 min

5

out of 5

3 Ratings

Hosted by Anthony Billoni and Kim Marie McKernan, the Creative Flow Podcast Series features discussions with thinkers and change agents important to the Science of Creativity. We invite you to tune into the series to hear experts who are actively applying creativity, creative problem solving (CPS), innovation, and more to help change the world.

Creator

Kim Marie McKernan
Years Active

2020 - 2026
Episodes

55
Rating

Clean
Copyright

© Kim Marie McKernan
Show Website

Creative Flow: Thinkers and Change Agents