Creativity Jijiji

Chris Mchale

Creativity Jijiji: "Conversations about creativity" This podcast amplifies the voices of our true leaders—the artists. Writers, composers, producers, singers, actors, and poets show us new ways to see ourselves and the world around us. They illuminate the invisible threads that connect us, revealing the deep ties of our shared humanity. At a time when we must come together as citizens of a small and fragile planet, the voices of artists matter more than ever. Creativity Jijiji goes beyond the spotlight to explore the mysteries of creativity—where it comes from, why it moves us, and how it shapes our world. Join us as we listen, learn, and celebrate the creative minds guiding us into the future.

  1. Day 6: The Gift of Listening

    12/11/2025

    Day 6: The Gift of Listening

    Today's Creativity Jijiji opens with a story about the first printed Advent calendar, and we use that small door as a metaphor for a bigger one: how intentional listening opens the space between us. We move from the reflex of hearing to the craft of listening, exploring why attention is an act of love and how silence, safety, and subtext shape honest conversation. Patty and Chris get candid about their own habits—interrupting, noisy minds, and the work of waiting. We break down the difference between passive hearing and active listening, then dig into the skills that make connection possible: holding space, noticing the rhythm in every voice, and letting pauses do part of the storytelling. As a composer and writer, Chris shares how cadence, breath, and rests reveal character, while Patty reframes listening as the greatest gift of love, the moment we choose presence over performance. You’ll leave with practical ways to listen better today. Slow the pace so truth can show up. Summarize what you heard and ask if you got it right. When your mind races for the next line, drop from head to heart and let curiosity lead. Hear the stories wrapped in silence, the meaning under the words, and the door you open when you choose attention on purpose. Walk this audio advent with us and practice the gift we all need. If the conversation resonates, subscribe, share with a friend who values deep dialogue, and leave a review telling us one habit you’ll try this week. Thanks for listening.

    7 min
  2. Day Three: The Gift of Curiosity

    12/06/2025

    Day Three: The Gift of Curiosity

    What if one small question could change the way you see the day ahead? Day three of our audio advent unwraps curiosity as a living, breathing gift—something you can choose, practice, and carry into each corner of your life. We explore how a gentle tug to look closer becomes the spark behind invention, melody, and story, and why the most daring creative moves often begin with a what-if that feels just a little scary. Together, we trade certainty for experiment and show how curiosity banishes the mundane. From swapping your usual breakfast to walking one block farther than planned, we share simple prompts that turn routine into an invitation to wonder. You’ll hear street-level stories—like stumbling upon a hidden museum—that prove serendipity is less about luck and more about the lens you bring to ordinary places. Along the way, we talk about choosing the question that stretches you just enough, and how these tiny acts compound into a path, then a way of being. This conversation is a companion for creatives, storytellers, and anyone stuck on autopilot. You’ll learn a practical daily practice: ask one real question and let it lead you. Whether you’re shaping a character, designing a product, or planning your morning, this simple habit opens new vistas and gives momentum without demanding perfect answers. Wander long enough, and you’ll wander into wonder. Subscribe to walk with us through the full audio advent, share your boldest what-if, and leave a review to help others find the show. If today’s question led you somewhere unexpected, tell us where it took you. Thanks for listening.

    7 min
  3. Day 4: The Gift of Memory

    12/06/2025

    Day 4: The Gift of Memory

    What if memory’s real job isn’t to file perfect details, but to light the meaning underneath them? We open day four of our audio advent by reframing memory as a lantern, not a ledger, and everything changes from there. Instead of debating whether our recollections are accurate, we ask what they’re trying to teach—about love, fear, risk, and the choices that shaped us. We talk about how blurred memories still carry a deeper truth that creative people can trust. Chris shares how working on a memoir revealed that instinct and feeling are often more reliable than timestamps, and Patty builds on that idea with a practical lens: context shifts with time, and when a moment resurfaces, it’s often because we’re finally ready to learn from it. Together we map out how to translate those felt truths into craft—turning emotional palettes into scenes on the page, colors on a canvas, and melodies that hold what words can’t. You’ll hear simple prompts for using memory in your work: start with the sensation that won’t let go, name the lesson rather than the date, and let the silence after a moment carry as much weight as the dialogue within it. We also look at how embracing imperfect recall frees us from perfectionism, invites honesty, and builds connection with audiences who recognize themselves in the feelings we name. The gift of memory isn’t a flawless archive; it’s a guiding light that helps us make sense of who we were and who we’re becoming. If this perspective resonates, follow the song lines with us all month. Subscribe to stay close as we open more gifts of creativity, share the episode with a friend who’s building their story, and leave a quick review to tell us what recent memory has been trying to teach you. Thanks for listening.

    3 min
  4. Day Two: The Gift of Play

    12/02/2025

    Day Two: The Gift of Play

    The world gets softer when we remember how to play. Day two of our Audio Advent Calendar unwraps a gift adults often misplace: the light, curious state that melts pressure and lets imagination breathe. We share the small rituals that turn tightness into ease, from short walks to scrappy tennis rallies to the humble magic of a jigsaw puzzle. Along the way, Buddy—our senior dog and unlikely coach—reminds us that joy isn’t a phase; it’s a practice. We explore why play is not childish but catalytic. Perfectionism narrows your choices, while play widens them. Think of athletes who move better when they remember it’s a game, or artists who find a new color by embracing a happy mistake. When work gets too heavy, play resets the nervous system and opens the door to flow. You don’t have to vanish for a weekend retreat; five minutes of playful presence can unstick a paragraph, unlock a melody, or soften a hard conversation. We also get practical about how to use play as a creative tool. If the page stalls, put the pen down and bounce a ball. If the meeting grinds, shift the energy with a quick reset that invites laughter. Treat your collaborator as a playmate, not an opponent. That mindset turns performance into presence and effort into momentum. Our simple challenge: do one thing today purely for the fun of it, no metrics attached. Toss a ball with your dog, color outside the lines, or rally a few shots without keeping score. If the ideas here help, tap follow, share this with someone stuck in their head, and leave a quick review. Your note helps more curious minds find a little lightness—and maybe their best work—through the gift of play. Thanks for listening to our Audio Advent Calendar. Thanks for listening.

    7 min
  5. Day One: The Gift of Attention

    12/01/2025

    Day One: The Gift of Attention

    The first window opens not with chocolate, but with a spark: attention. We kick off our audio advent calendar by reclaiming the simple act that powers every idea, every brushstroke, every lyric and insight. In a world that trains us to rush, we make the case for slowing down long enough to actually see, hear, and feel what is present—and to let the world whisper back. We reflect on the way children catch everything adults miss: ants on the sidewalk, rabbits in the clouds, the tiny dramas that make a day feel alive. Then we map that childlike noticing onto creative practice. Artists are expert noticers; they linger on a slant of light, a half-heard line of dialogue, a crack in the cup that suggests a story. By studying how they give attention, we uncover a practical method for anyone: widen your aperture, follow what tugs at you, and let those details shape your work. From there, we look at identity. What you pay attention to, consistently and honestly, reveals who you are. Your tastes, your values, your emotional weather—they surface in the details you select and the meanings you assign. When you honor those signals, your ideas become specific and alive; when you ignore them, your work blurs. We close with a grounded invitation: notice one thing today you usually overlook. Give it a full breath, name what you see, and write it down. It’s a small act with outsized effects, building a quiet reservoir of images, lines, and sensations you can draw from tomorrow. Join us as we trade speed for presence and give this first gift to ourselves. If this journey speaks to you, subscribe, share with a friend who needs a pause, and leave a short review so others can find their way to the next window. Thanks for listening.

    9 min
  6. Why Human Rhythm Outruns AI Every Time

    11/27/2025

    Why Human Rhythm Outruns AI Every Time

    Ever felt a room change when the band locks in and the audience leans forward at the same time? That’s the moment we chase today—where pulse becomes conversation, risk becomes texture, and four people in a room make something no algorithm has learned to feel. We open with the pull of the orchestra’s shared breath, then trace that energy through jazz, theater pits, and the grit of writing a song the slow way. Chris lays out what the trained ear hears in seconds: microtiming, phrasing, and the subtle drift that turns rhythm into story. We point to A Love Supreme as a compass for interplay—how shifting centers and unexpected turns make a recording feel alive decades later. From 942 performances of Jesus Christ Superstar to late‑night lyric notebooks, we unpack how process, not just outcome, shapes meaning. The room always matters; the audience is not a backdrop but a co‑author in the loop. We also zoom out to the tools. AI can predict chords, follow tempo, and trade motifs, and that can be useful for drafts or experiments. But anticipation is not intention. Music is a sacred exchange built on empathy mapped onto time, and that exchange resists being boxed into neat probabilities. We question the rush to monetize human knowledge, ask who benefits when models are trained on our collective past, and argue for the irreplaceable value of collaboration—the invisible trust and timing that make teams, bands, and studios greater than any one contributor. If you care about feel, about why some nights fly and others don’t, and about what we stand to lose when we trade presence for prediction, this conversation is for you. Subscribe, share with a friend who loves live music, and leave a review with your take: can AI ever have “feel,” or does the beat’s real intelligence only emerge between us? Thanks for listening.

    20 min

About

Creativity Jijiji: "Conversations about creativity" This podcast amplifies the voices of our true leaders—the artists. Writers, composers, producers, singers, actors, and poets show us new ways to see ourselves and the world around us. They illuminate the invisible threads that connect us, revealing the deep ties of our shared humanity. At a time when we must come together as citizens of a small and fragile planet, the voices of artists matter more than ever. Creativity Jijiji goes beyond the spotlight to explore the mysteries of creativity—where it comes from, why it moves us, and how it shapes our world. Join us as we listen, learn, and celebrate the creative minds guiding us into the future.