Creative Flow: Thinkers and Change Agents

Kim Marie McKernan
  • 5.0 (3)
  • 社会科学
  • 一月一更

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.

  1. 2天前

    Kristin Fields - Creativity That Solves Complex Problems

    Kristin Fields serves as Associate Vice President of Extended Learning at Buffalo State University, bringing more than 20 years of experience supporting adult learners. She holds a BS in Speech-Language Pathology and an MS in Creativity and Change Leadership, both from Buffalo State. Her work has already reshaped access to education: she created the Thrive Reentry Education Program and expanded Buffalo State's dual credit program from 48 students to more than 1,500. In this episode, Kristin traces her path to deliberate creativity, which began with a single undergraduate course and evolved into a lifelong calling. She shares the story of the Thrive culinary reentry program at the Erie County Correctional Facility, where curiosity, persistence, and strong partnerships opened new doors for participants. She also describes her collaboration with the Center for Applied Imagination on New York State's Portrait of a Graduate "Creative Innovator" initiative, explains how micro-credentials meet today's learners' needs, and makes a clear case for creativity as a core skill for workforce readiness. Kristin shows how creativity turns limits into momentum, and how structure can open doors to bold, practical change. If you care about the Science of Creativity, lifelong learning, or the future of education and work, this episode will leave you with ideas you can use right away. Follow Creative Flow and listen now.

    Kristin Fields - Creativity That Solves Complex Problems

  2. 7月21日

    Dr. William David Yates – Technology Meets Imagination

    Dr. William David Yates has taught for more than 51 years and continues to view teaching as a creative act. He serves as Adjunct Professor, Instructional Designer, and Technology Coach in SUNY Buffalo State's Department of Creativity Studies and Change Leadership, where he explores how AI and emerging technologies can deepen creative learning. Named an Apple Distinguished Educator in 2007, David holds an EdD in Education Leadership with a specialization in educational technology. In this episode, David traces his path to deliberate creativity and examines how AI is reshaping education. He shares the instructional design frameworks that guide his work, describes how he coaches educators to drive real change, and explains why human creativity remains essential as AI evolves. Five decades in the classroom ground every idea in practice. This conversation places creativity and human ingenuity at the heart of teaching in an AI-driven world. If you want to think more clearly about technology's role in education and leave with practical tools you can use right away, follow Creative Flow and listen now.

    Dr. William David Yates – Technology Meets Imagination

  3. 6月14日

    Joe Todaro – Creativity Meets AI

    Our guest on episode 59, Joe Todaro, founded and leads research at Silk Verse AI Labs in Buffalo, where he studies how artificial intelligence can expand rather than diminish human work. He earned his master's in Creativity and Change Leadership from the Center for Applied Imagination at SUNY Buffalo State and is a signatory of the Network First manifesto. Today, he designs new roles, industries, and institutional structures for an AI-driven economy. In this episode, Joe explains how he brought deliberate creativity into the IT world and how fellow professionals embraced it. He unpacks his Mighty C model, which maps creative problem-solving onto the software development life cycle and adds meaningfulness and review to the process. He argues that creativity is an intrinsically human faculty, shows how it can partner with AI, and explains why it matters more than ever in the future of work. This episode celebrates human ingenuity at the heart of technological change. If you value creative problem solving, collaborative freedom, and practical guidance for working alongside AI, this conversation will intrigue you. Follow Creative Flow and listen now.

    Joe Todaro – Creativity Meets AI

  4. 5月16日

    Beth Miller and Gerard Puccio Ph.D. - Shaping the Future of Creative Education

    Meet Beth Miller and Gerard Puccio Ph.D., two pioneers driving the global movement for creativity education. Beth serves as Executive Director of the Creative Education Foundation, expanding creative problem-solving in communities worldwide. Gerard is a distinguished professor at SUNY Buffalo State University and Chair of the Center for Applied Imagination, where he shapes the future of creative leadership. In this special edition, Gerard and Beth highlight the dynamic collaboration between their organizations, working together to preserve creativity’s powerful legacy while advancing new frontiers in research and practice. Tune in for an inside look at the major event happening on June 15 at the Creative Problem Solving Institute (CPSI) 2026, a milestone gathering featuring an academic panel, a keynote on AI and metacognition, and the dedication of the Dr. Sidney and Beatrice Parnes creativity collection at Buffalo State University’s Innovation Center. Dive into the episode to hear how this partnership is helping build a global network of creative practice and discover why this event marks a pivotal moment for the creative community. In this episode, you will discover the rich evolution of creativity education and how it applies to our modern world. Beth and Gerard explain why creative thinking remains a critical skill for navigating complex issues, especially as artificial intelligence reshapes how we work. You will learn how deliberate creativity offers a powerful framework to build human connection, foster mental resilience, and address pressing global challenges with confidence. Episode 58 featuring Beth Miller and Gerard Puccio gives you an inside look at the institutions championing the science of applied imagination. If you care about education, innovation, and how human ingenuity can thrive alongside new technology, you need to hear this inspiring conversation. Listen now to uncover how you can adopt a more creative mindset and apply these proven problem-solving methods to your own life and work.

    Beth Miller and Gerard Puccio Ph.D. - Shaping the Future of Creative Education

  5. 5月3日

    Tahira Endean - Designing Events that Spark Joy

    Our guest on the 57th episode is Tahira Endean, an innovative event designer, educator, and creativity expert. With an MSc in Creativity and Change Leadership, she serves as the Head of Program at IMEX and Chief Experience Officer at Strategy Table. Tahira brings decades of expertise to her craft, blending a deep passion for intentional event design with smart technology integration to elevate the human experience. As an educator in event strategy, she shows the next generation how to build environments that spark joy, drive engagement, and foster lasting memories. In this episode, you will discover how deliberate creativity transforms event design. Tahira explains why we must move beyond basic logistics to design spaces that encourage both genuine connection and vital quiet reflection. We explore the delicate balance between structured programming and serendipity, the value of nature in event spaces, and the critical role of open feedback loops in a successful creative process. Tune in to this episode for a fascinating look at the mechanics of meaningful gatherings. If you care about creativity, community building, or event strategy, you need to hear this conversation. Tahira offers practical frameworks to help you turn ordinary meetings into transformative experiences. Listen now to learn how to make joy a measurable outcome in your next project.

    Tahira Endean - Designing Events that Spark Joy

  6. 2月19日

    Janice Francisco – Creativity is Dancing with the Universe

    Janice Francisco, a partner at Touchpoints Learning andInnovation and an advisor to Signal 49 Research, helps leaders and teams build organizational capacity for change. Based in Toronto, she holds an MS in Creativity and Change Leadership from SUNY Buffalo State and developed both the ThinkUP Framework™ and the Innovative Instructional Systems Design method. In this episode, Janice reveals how a shared process and language can unite teams, even in crisis. She shares real-world stories from international event safety and remote mining, showing how clear direction, creative problem-solving, andconscious leadership unlock team potential. She explains that adopting a mindset of total responsibility for what we create is essential and describes experiencing creativity as dancing with the Universe. You’ll learn to reduce ambiguity in innovation, empower teams to tackle tough problems, and maintain a human touch as AIevolves. Janice also explores the value of creative flow and staying attuned to what matters most while leading change.

    Janice Francisco – Creativity is Dancing with the Universe

  7. 1月21日

    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.

    Helene Cahen - Balancing Creativity with Structure

  8. 2025/12/01

    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.

    David Eyman – Teaching Creative Confidence
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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.

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