Creativity Jijiji

Chris Mchale
  • 5.0 (1)
  • ARTS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

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. Get Wild

    OCT 25

    Get Wild

    What if the map is the problem? We trade tidy outlines for living curiosity and show how “getting wild” can rescue a flat draft, reroute a stuck project, and even clarify the self that’s been hiding behind a careful plan. Wildness here isn’t chaos. It’s the deeper order you notice when you pause the algorithm, walk into unfamiliar streets, and let the work speak first. We start with light and shadow—the inner contradiction that powers real art—and a coffee shop moment that reframed preparation as playful wandering. From there, we unpack Song in Space as a jigsaw without a box image, exploring how to avoid predictable escapes by spinning the dial, shifting rhythm, and throwing new spices into the creative stew. You’ll hear practical moves: switch mediums when you stall, change environments to rewire attention, follow a string of “what ifs” until a dead end turns into a hidden door. Travel stories—riding subways you can’t read, surfacing in neighborhoods you didn’t plan to visit—become a metaphor for building work that breathes. We also tackle the pressure to fit inside digital conformity while sounding original. The answer isn’t louder rebellion; it’s permission to dismantle old temples and rebuild them in strange, honest forms. Wildness lets you see your shadow without flinching, and that meeting often reveals the voice your audience has been waiting for: not the expected perspective, but the unexpected one only you can offer. If you’re craving a path back to freshness, come wander with us. Subscribe, share this with a friend who’s stuck in a box canyon, and leave a review telling us the rule you’re breaking this week. Then put away the compass and see what the work wants from you. Thanks for listening.

    16 min
  2. The Art of the Call

    OCT 24

    The Art of the Call

    Ever stared down a project while your brain begged for one more option, one more draft, one more “thinking walk”? We’ve been there—on an opera stage with eighty Vikings, in ad studios racing against dawn, and inside a passion project that ballooned into overwhelm. Today we pull those threads together to show how decisive action turns chaos into creative momentum. We start with the high-stakes story: a dress rehearsal, an expectant cast, and a conductor waiting. That pressure cooker reveals a quiet truth about the creative process—every piece advances one choice at a time. From the writer’s room in New York to production pits and pitch decks, we unpack why “writer’s block” is often decision block, and how simplifying low-stakes calls preserves energy for the art. Wardrobe shortcuts, default tools, and tight constraints aren’t boring; they’re safeguards for your best ideas. When a month of fundraising, casting, and platform choices for Song in Space tipped into noise, we chose an intentional pause: a road trip across Appalachia, history-soaked detours, and fresh air that reset the compass. Distance wasn’t avoidance; it was a decision to restore flow. Back at the desk, a cleaner pitch and a realistic plan snapped into place. We lay out the three-step framework that made it possible: recognize the decision point, define the choices—including the “impossible” one—and make the call. Along the way, we challenge the perfection myth and share a Miles Davis insight on turning a “wrong note” into the right one through commitment. If you’re stuck cycling options or fearing the imperfect, this conversation offers practical tools, sharp language, and a friendly push to move. The universe doesn’t respond to maybe—it responds to motion. Hit play, then tell us the choice you’re making today. And if this resonated, subscribe, share with a friend, and leave a review to help more creatives make the call. Thanks for listening.

    17 min
  3. Dark Night of the Creative Soul

    SEP 25

    Dark Night of the Creative Soul

    The haunting vulnerability of 3AM self-doubt is a universal experience, but for creatives, it takes on an almost mythic quality. This raw, unfiltered exploration of the "dark night of the soul" reveals how these moments of paralyzing uncertainty aren't failures but essential initiations into deeper artistry. What happens when you wake in darkness convinced you're a fraud? When you question every creative choice and wonder if you should abandon your art entirely? I recently endured such a dark night that left me barely able to move, contemplating throwing in the towel on everything I've built. But through this experience, I discovered something profound: the dark night isn't the enemy of creativity—it's the forge where our most authentic work is shaped. My current project "Song in Space" features an 11-year-old violinist whose journey mirrors this creative struggle. Like her character, I face moments when the song seems gone, when fundraising feels impossible, when self-doubt whispers that I should quit. The wisdom I've gained? Small acts break the spell. Whether it's my midnight prayers with rosary beads or my late brother's ritual of eating Cheerios in darkness, these tiny movements bend the night away from despair. The dark night isn't where creativity dies—it's the hinge point where transformation begins. Something must crack before light can enter. Join me in embracing both the darkness and the breakfast cereal that gets us through it. Share your own dark night survival tactics or just take comfort knowing we're all facing these demons together. The real music begins precisely when we decide to move forward despite the voice that tells us we can't. Thanks for listening.

    12 min
  4. The Galactic Songsprite Contest: The Stars Listen

    SEP 18

    The Galactic Songsprite Contest: The Stars Listen

    Have you ever wondered if the sounds we make might journey forever through the vastness of space? According to Chris McHale, they do exactly that—traveling as "songsprites" that leave permanent marks on the cosmos. The Galactic Songsprite Contest emerges as a vibrant community-building initiative where sound becomes something far more profound than entertainment. McHale shares his childhood belief that songs lived inside his shortwave radio, voices and vibrations he pulled down from the sky with his dial. This poetic notion has evolved into the foundation of the Studio Jijiji audio drama Song in Space, where music isn't merely heard but exists as living guides—cosmic companions for wandering souls. What makes this contest unique is its genuine commitment to creators. Musicians, poets, rappers, producers, and sonic storytellers are invited to submit their vibrations, with winners receiving $500 while retaining their copyright and writer's share. It's a rare approach in today's exploitative landscape. The submission process is simple: create your song sprite (ideally short), share it at songinspace.com/songsprite-leaderboard, and tag it with #SongSpriteContest. At its heart, this is a vibration revolution—an invitation to participate in something both personal and cosmic. As McHale eloquently puts it, "We're casting seeds into cosmic soil," creating a catalog of human experience that might just make a red dwarf star "a little less red" as it passes by. Ready to have your creation echo through eternity? The stars are waiting to hear what you have to say. Submit your song sprite today and discover what happens when the universe listens back. Creativity Jijiji dives into the Galactic Songsprite Contest — imagine Eurovision in outer space, but with cosmic hip hop, star songs, wormhole beats, and space poetry guiding travelers across the galaxy. Songsprites are born from vibration, created by True Music, and they just might be the cosmic guide dogs of the universe. Join us on the quest for True Music with #CreativityJijiji and #SongInSpaceShow. Enter the contest, share your voice, and help bring Songsprites to life Thanks for listening.

    18 min
  5. The Algorithym Made Me Do It: Song in Space Goes Social

    JUL 17

    The Algorithym Made Me Do It: Song in Space Goes Social

    What happens when a seasoned creative who's spent decades in traditional marketing dives headfirst into the bewildering world of social media algorithms? Join Chris McHale on this raw, unfiltered journey as he documents the creation of "Song in Space" – an epic space opera for kids being developed with a global team of passionate creators. The digital landscape has transformed how creative content comes to life. Gone are the days when you needed strategy teams, account executives, creative directors, and producers to launch successful campaigns. Today's creative battlefield is fought with memes, trending audio, and algorithmic strategy. For Chris – a self-described introvert who'd rather walk a cold winter beach than attend a party – this transition has been equal parts hilarious, frustrating, and occasionally soul-crushing. But beneath this digital transformation lies something revolutionary: creators now have the power to build original IP without traditional gatekeepers. Inspired by how video game companies cultivate communities, Chris and his team are attempting to create something truly independent – owned by its creators and supported directly by its audience. As Chris puts it, "Artists are willing to die on ownership." It's about reclaiming creative control in a world that has historically demanded artists surrender their work to corporate interests. Subscribe to follow this bold, messy, honest journey from concept to creation. Whether they succeed gloriously or fail spectacularly, you'll witness every step of building a creative universe from the ground up. Ready to join the adventure? Visit StudioGGio, sign up to become an Audionaut, and become part of a community where creative independence isn't just a hashtag – it's the mission. Thanks for listening.

    11 min
  6. The Sonic Humanist

    JUL 16

    The Sonic Humanist

    What does music reveal about our humanity in an age where machines can sing? Chris McHale, composer and Studio GGG founder, unveils his life's work: The Sonic Humanist Project—a four-part creative odyssey exploring sound's power to shape identity, heal divisions, and unite us. The project begins with "Sound Strategies," McHale's field guide to vibration's future drawn from creating over 30,000 soundtracks. Next, his upcoming TED talk deconstructs how a simple four-note melody became the billion-dollar T-Mobile sonic logo. The third element, "The Diplomat Son," traces McHale's journey following his father across continents, discovering how sound transcends cultural boundaries and becomes a universal language. Most exciting is "Song in Space," launching soon with a Kickstarter campaign. This transmedia experience follows an 11-year-old music prodigy fleeing a glitchy robot queen across the galaxy. Beginning as an immersive audio drama, it expands into an AR game where listeners create music, culminating in an animated series. The art and vision behind this project sparkle with possibility for audiences of all ages. Throughout the episode, McHale passionately advocates for independent artistry in a digital landscape that often exploits creative talent. He argues that while platforms like Spotify have been "a knife in the heart of music," artists can thrive through direct community engagement. His mission resonates beyond entertainment—it's a call to listen more deeply to the vibrations connecting us all. Want to join this sonic revolution? Visit StudioGGG.io to become an audionaut on the Song in Space mission. Support the upcoming Kickstarter, share with friends who love creative storytelling, and help prove that in a world of algorithms, human creativity still makes the most beautiful music. Thanks for listening.

    10 min
  7. 3 Artists vs AI

    MAY 15

    3 Artists vs AI

    What happens when the algorithms come for our art? As AI promises to dominate the world by 2027, we're left wondering what remains uniquely human in our creative landscape. The answer lies not in what we create, but why we create it, and who we become through the process. This episode dives into three essential sparks of humanity that AI can never truly replicate: kindness, shared culture, and resilience. Through the gentle revolution of Fred Rogers, who changed policy with nothing more than a cardigan and a heartfelt poem; the cultural remix magic of Lin-Manuel Miranda, who retold American history through the voices once left out; and the raw resilience of Frida Kahlo, who transformed her shattered body's pain into visual autobiography – we discover the true power of human creativity. While technology races forward, promising everything from wealth redistribution to unprecedented productivity, the authentic creative experience remains stubbornly, gloriously human. The transformation that occurs when a person puts brush to canvas or fingers to keyboard isn't just about producing content – it's about becoming. That's something no algorithm, however sophisticated, can experience. So brew that cuppa, lower your expectations slightly (as we suggest), and join us for a journey through the mildly unhinged world of artistic inspiration. Because at the end of the day, creativity might just be our most powerful tool in maintaining our humanity in an increasingly automated world. Subscribe to hear more conversations with artists, musicians, makers, and the occasional accidental genius as we unpack that most mysterious force: the creative spark. Thanks for listening.

    10 min
  8. The Infinite Diamond. Baseball By Ear.

    MAY 6

    The Infinite Diamond. Baseball By Ear.

    What if the most vivid way to experience America's pastime isn't through your eyes, but through your ears? Baseball transcends the boundaries of visual media in a way no other sport can match. When the crack of the bat echoes through radio waves, something magical happens – the game transforms into pure theater of the mind. Your imagination paints the outfield greener than any high-definition broadcast, the players larger than life, and that fly ball might just never come down. The voices who guide us through this audio landscape become more than commentators – they're companions and storytellers. From Vin Scully's poetic descriptions to John Sterling's signature calls, these broadcasters don't merely relay information; they craft narratives that weave together statistics, historical context, and the unfolding drama on the field. The pregnant pause before the cheer (or the collective groan) carries more tension than any visual could capture. There's something uniquely American about driving on a highway at night with baseball flowing through your speakers – the dark landscape outside contrasting with the vivid ballpark constructed entirely in your mind. It's in these moments that baseball reveals itself as more than sport – it's ritual, connecting generations through sound waves rather than screens. The timeless echo of "play ball" resonates from grandparent to parent to child, an audio tradition that remains unchanged despite technological revolutions. Ready to experience baseball as it was meant to be enjoyed? Turn on the radio, open your favorite audio app, close your eyes, and let America's game unfold in the boundless theater of your imagination. The most vivid baseball experience might be waiting just beyond what you can see. Thanks for listening.

    4 min
See All (22)

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.

Information

  • Creator
    Chris Mchale
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2025
  • Episodes
    22
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 studiojijiji
  • Show Website
    Creativity Jijiji