Rebel, Reject, Create

David Chislett

Rebel, Reject, Create: Because creativity isn’t owned by the arts This podcast explores creativity, conformity, systems and the hidden forces shaping how we think and work. Through conversations with artists, thinkers, leaders and outsiders, the show challenges the myths of innovation and asks what it really takes to stay original in a world obsessed with certainty.”

  1. Creativity requires presence, not escape

    2d ago

    Creativity requires presence, not escape

    In this episode of Rebel, Reject, Create, David Chislett speaks with creative director and designer Rakesh Kanhai about psychedelics, creativity, mental health, and the growing pressure placed on creatives in modern society.After organising an event in Amsterdam exploring the relationship between psychedelics and artistic practice, Rakesh shares his own deeply personal experiences with ayahuasca, LSD, psilocybin, and cannabis — including the dangers of dependency, the importance of integration, and why he believes these substances should never become mere productivity tools.The conversation explores spirituality, addiction, self-reflection, creativity, consumer culture, indigenous knowledge, and what it really means to grow as a human being and artist.This is not a conversation glorifying drugs.It’s a conversation about consciousness, coping, healing, and responsibility.Follow Rakesh on Instagram for more info:https://www.instagram.com/dj_kesh

    20 min
  2. Wanting to be brilliant can make you less creative

    May 18

    Wanting to be brilliant can make you less creative

    In this episode of Rebel, Reject, Create, I chat with Dr. Michael Bloomfield — cognitive anthropologist, creativity researcher, and founder of the Komanu Creativity System. Michael shares how his early obsession with music, originality, and genius led him into a lifelong exploration of creativity through anthropology, psychology, and human evolution. Together, we unpack why creativity is not the same as intelligence, why the myth of genius holds so many people back, and why everyday acts of problem-solving may be more creative than we think. Michael also shares practical ways to strengthen creative thinking, from practice and movement to relaxation, and introduces his creativity card system designed to help people unlock fresh ideas and work more intentionally with their own minds.Find more on Michael:https://www.michaelbloomfield.uk/More on David:https://davidchislett.com

    23 min
  3. Modern change should be continuous, not episodic

    Apr 28

    Modern change should be continuous, not episodic

    Christina Hammond-Aziz is the CEO of Rainmaker Solutions, a firm that helps governments and companies deliver meaningful change by enabling the people inside organisations to design and drive it themselves. In this conversation, Christina challenges the traditional “consultancy” model and dismantles common assumptions about change management — especially the belief that people naturally resist change. Instead, she argues resistance is often created by top-down change approaches that devalue employees’ expertise and contributions. Together, Christina and host David Chislett explore why transformation programmes fail even with great technology, how to reframe change around purpose and impact, and why the future belongs to organisations that build continuous learning, experimentation, and human-centred leadership into their culture.More about Rainmaker Solutions:https://rainmaker.solutions/More about David Chislett:https://davidchislett.com

    19 min
  4. Small experiments beat big change programs

    Apr 20

    Small experiments beat big change programs

    Cyriel Kortleven is a keynote speaker and long-time trainer in creativity, innovation, and—more recently—change mindset. In this conversation , Cyriel explains why people resist change (fear, control, cognitive overload), how modern media amplifies that resistance, and what leaders can do instead: notice “idea killers” like yes, but…, deliberately widen perspective, and run small, safe experiments that build momentum. The episode connects change to creativity and innovation, and argues that action—not perfect plans—is the real gateway to progress.Find Cyriel online:https://www.cyrielkortleven.com/More on David Chislett:https://davidchislett.com

    21 min
  5. Creativity is part of societal resilience

    Mar 30

    Creativity is part of societal resilience

    In this episode of Rebel Reject Create, I speak with Sofie Marin, founder and CEO of Arts Dynamics in Stockholm, about why creativity matters now more than ever. Together we explore creativity as a source of agency, resilience, and human meaning in a world shaped by crisis, distraction, and rapid technological change. Sofie argues that while organisations often say they want innovation, they frequently struggle to make room for the people who actually think differently. The conversation moves from cultural stereotypes about creatives, to intentionality, leadership, embodiment, and the importance of grounding yourself physically in order to stay imaginative and effective. It is a thoughtful and wide-ranging discussion about what it means to remain human, creative, and purposeful in unstable times.Find Sofie Online:LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/sofiemarin/Arts Dynamics:https://www.artsdynamics.com/ More about David Chislett:https://davidchislett.com

    24 min
  6. Thank you for making me dance and think at the same time

    Mar 23

    Thank you for making me dance and think at the same time

    My guest this episode is Joshua Baumgarten — American-born, Dutch-based poet, performer, musician, and founder of The Irrational Library, a long-running Haarlem creative project that’s been a shop, a stage, a band, and a platform for other misfits. He’s played in bands, released albums, hosted spoken-word nights, and given countless artists a first stage.We talk about creativity as a lived practice, not a brand. Joshua explains why he makes work first for himself, why the cult of celebrity actually scares people away from expressing themselves, and why DIY publishing and small gigs still matter. He shares how he built community around poetry and music in Haarlem, why he doesn’t chase social-media vanity metrics, and why one honest reaction from the right person can power you through months of silence. It’s a love letter to people who create because they can’t not.Check out Joshua's work here:Audio | The Irrational Libraryhttps://theirrationallibrary.bandcamp.com/https://open.spotify.com/artist/0X3j5iteqa7amL7MDcGawb?si=IgRw6cYuRhmJrMt1eyVZ3gInstagram Irrational Libraryhttps://www.instagram.com/theirrationallibraryband/Instagram Joshuahttps://www.instagram.com/joshuabaumgarten/More about David Chislett:https://davidchislett.com

    23 min
  7. Psychological safety = permission not to know

    Mar 9

    Psychological safety = permission not to know

    My guest today is Dr. Myriam Hadnes — a Amsterdam-based facilitator, podcaster, and “facilitation evangelist” on a mission to make the world more collaborative. She hosts the workshops.work podcast, designs and leads workshops around psychological safety, feedback culture and collaboration, and champions what she calls “unprofessionalism” at work — dropping the mask so humans can actually work together.In this episode:Myriam and I explore facilitation as a creative act: prepared yet improvisational, grounded yet open to the unknown. We dig into psychological safety, not as a buzzword, but as the practical ability for people (including the facilitator) to admit “I don’t know” without going into defence mode. Myriam explains why creativity collapses when our nervous systems are in survival mode, and why nervous system regulation might be the critical skill for today’s workplaces. She challenges common facilitation myths about “bad ideas,” reframes them as prompt and safety issues, and shares simple practices — breathing, stretching, slowing down — that open the door to real collaboration. The conversation ends with her call for “unprofessionalism”: showing what’s behind the professional mask so we can see, and use, each other’s complementary talents.Find Myriam Online:https://www.linkedin.com/in/myriam-hadneshttps://www.youtube.com/c/workshopsworkhttps://www.instagram.com/myriamhadnes/https://substack.com/@myriamhadnes

    24 min
  8. Permission unlocks teams

    Feb 23

    Permission unlocks teams

    In this episode my guest is Claudia Thompson — leadership coach and author helping small and mid-sized business owners get out of firefighting and back to purpose. In our conversation, Claudia reframes creativity as everyday problem-solving, shows how to dismantle assumptions, and uses group workshops (with “no stupid ideas”) to grant permission and surface honest insights. We talk reverse brainstorming, the cost of zombie processes, how AI/delegation can return focus, and why many leaders don’t get what they want—because they haven’t decided what they want.Find out more about Claudia here:www.linkedin.com/in/claudiadthompsonwww.instagram.com/claudiadthompsonwww.thebusinessfabrik.comFind out more about David Chislett here:https://davidchislett.com

    21 min
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About

Rebel, Reject, Create: Because creativity isn’t owned by the arts This podcast explores creativity, conformity, systems and the hidden forces shaping how we think and work. Through conversations with artists, thinkers, leaders and outsiders, the show challenges the myths of innovation and asks what it really takes to stay original in a world obsessed with certainty.”

Information

  • Creator
    David Chislett
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    59
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © David Chislett
  • Show Website
    Rebel, Reject, Create