The CREO Show CREO

Today we’re speaking with Lauren OConnell. Lauren is a singer, a songwriter, and a creator. They’re originally from New York, spent many years in the bay-area, and now they’ve put down creative roots in Los Angeles. I had the opportunity to see Lauren perform at the queer-forward house concert series they produce called Their Lair. It was a beautiful evening with good vibes and great music. Lauren has a unique perspective owing to 20 years of songwriting, finding viral success in the early aughts of Youtube, and wrestling with the complexities of gender-identity as a public-facing person. In this episode we talk about the unexpected benefits of collaboration, the value of an audience, and how coming out has liberated Lauren’s creativity. 
 
Discover Lauren's albums, merch, and more: https://www.laurenoconnell.com/Watch "I Wanna Be Your Man" (Live) - Deep End Sessions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7Js9k-blGE
 
00:00:00 Intro 00:03:17 Finding an audience early 00:14:54 Moving to SF & finding collaborators 00:24:18 Discovering a community 00:36:18 Gender identity in childhood 00:43:27 Queerness & songwriting 01:03:09 Lauren's creative process 01:14:04 Finding & sustaining adult friendships

Today we’re talking with my longtime friend and colleague Valentina. She’s both a philanthropist and a creator. She is the managing director at Investors Philanthropic (a 501c3 donor advised fund), she produces the Joy of Giving video series, and she created the dance barre fitness program at my very first business.
I’ve known Val since 2011 and she’s always exuded both generosity and creativity. We’ve shared countless thoughtful conversations over the years, and I’m grateful that we had the opportunity to turn the microphones on and record one. In this episode we talk about today’s evolving opinions on religion, finding your own path, and the nitty-gritty of parenting.

Kyle Armstrong is an entrepreneur, an amateur historian, and one of my closest friends for over 20 years now. This is the third time Kyle's been on the podcast and in this episode we talk about: man's need for purpose, how art shapes societies, and why musicians have a type of power that no amount of money can buy.
00:00:00 Intro & believing in Santa Claus 00:08:49 The value of art in our society 00:20:02 Finding purpose & the value of structure 00:35:08 Gen-Z slang vs prison slang 00:47:33 High vs low culture 00:59:39 Monarchy vs democracy 01:23:54 Twitter, Google, & Amazon business models today 01:39:57 How to design a board game

Steph Tonneson is a creator based in Los Angeles. On her instagram and on her podcast she tells stories with a disarming sincerity. In this episode we talk about the many forms of creativity, overcoming resistance, and the lessons we both learned from losing our fathers in our 20s.
00:00:00 Intro 00:01:38 Being too intense at parties 00:09:28 Content formats & what makes a good story 00:16:24 Being present & finding flow 00:21:03 Love & losing a father 00:30:40 Insecurity & bucket crabs 00:41:39 The fear of being defined 00:50:39 The clarifying power of death 00:58:41 Creating as an act of service 01:09:08 Artistic integrity & growth goals

Shaheen Sadeghi is the creator behind award-winning retail projects such as The Lab Anti-Mall, The Camp, and the Anaheim Packing District. Before his career in real estate Shaheen was the President of Quiksilver Apparel. His unique developments have been featured in the New York Times, the LA Times, and the Wall Street Journal. In this episode recorded at Shaheen's house in Laguna Beach we discuss his approach to development, the value of authenticity, and how culture can shift the economy.
00:00:00 Intro 00:01:17 The one thing God doesn't tell us 00:12:58 Vision vs compromises in real estate development 00:23:46 Historical preservation vs new development 00:34:40 Key ingredients for successful developments 00:45:12 Mass production vs locally crafted 01:00:56 Fostering community & protecting culture 01:14:15 Fear of failure & the importance of a plan

Chris Guglielmo is a musician, entrepreneur, cyclist, and he's the drummer in a band I grew up listening to called Bayside. We talk about mental health, the perils of perfectionism, and the unspoken rules of the dog park.
00:00:00 Intro & New York vs LA Culture 00:04:29 1st vs 2nd reactions & SSRIs00:11:04 Diagnoses as an excuse, Meditation benefits00:22:43 Tempering ego, The benefits of journaling00:32:57 Pretending to be tough00:38:38 Dog park life lessons00:46:33 Making friends as an adult00:56:37 Vulnerability, Finding a therapist01:02:39 The importance of alone-time01:08:13 Losing and rediscovering creative passion01:20:38 Perfectionism, Manifestation01:27:57 Guilt from feeling unproductive
 
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