The Creative Mindset

PitPa Podcast
  • 5.0 (5)
  • BUSINESS
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

I&CO founding partner Rei Inamoto speaks with the world’s leading practitioners of creativity from industries such as art, design, architecture, cuisine, and much more, to offer a glimpse into the minds of what it takes to build a successful career. In each episode, these creative luminaries share their beginnings, intimate moments of success and failure, and pieces of advice for work and life. ◆Instagram https://www.instagram.com/reiinamoto/ ◆Twitter https://twitter.com/reiinamoto

  1. Bonus Track: Lightning Questions with Oli Walsh - E73

    2D AGO

    Bonus Track: Lightning Questions with Oli Walsh - E73

    Alternative career choices? Next travel destinations? Favorite food? We welcome back Oli Walsh for a fun round of lightning questions. Invisible Dynamics helps the world’s most ambitious Brands accelerate growth through harnessing creativity, culture, and commerce to drive revenue and relevance. Changing times require a new kind of support, and their programs, products, and platforms uniquely deliver the tools needed for impactful brand transformation. Episode References: Oli Walsh | LinkedInInvisible Dynamics | WebsiteInvisible Dynamics | Finalists at the 2025 Digiday AwardsInvisible Dynamics | Creativepool’s Small Agency of the YearInvisible Dynamics | Adweek’s Creative 100Invisible Dynamics | WWD: Meet Oli WalshInvisible Dynamics | Forbes: Why Gap’s ‘Better In Denim’ Ad Struck The Right ChordRei Inamoto | InstagramI&CO | Corporate SiteSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    14 min
  2. Small Habits, Non-Binary Thinking, Big Impact - E72

    DEC 18

    Small Habits, Non-Binary Thinking, Big Impact - E72

    Making small changes in decision-making can lead to significant life impacts. In this episode, Rei welcomes back Oli Walsh, the visionary CEO of Invisible Dynamics, to discuss how Oli’s professional methodologies and personal habits contribute to his success. Oli emphasizes the importance of cultural curiosity and staying connected with emerging cultural trends for brand evolution. He highlights the value of collaboration with his culturally diverse team across different continents. Additionally, he introduces the concept of “non-binary decision-making” as an effective strategy for gaining a competitive edge both personally and in business. Invisible Dynamics helps the world’s most ambitious Brands accelerate growth through harnessing creativity, culture, and commerce to drive revenue and relevance. Changing times require a new kind of support, and their programs, products, and platforms uniquely deliver the tools needed for impactful brand transformation. Timestamps: 0:03 Cultural Curiosity and Daily Habits Fuel Creative Success4:17 The Power of Networking and Building Relationships8:39 Non Binary Decision Making for Health and Efficiency13:48 Building Systems and Networks for Personal and Professional Growth16:51 Key Takeaway Episode References: Oli Walsh | LinkedInInvisible Dynamics | WebsiteInvisible Dynamics | Finalists at the 2025 Digiday AwardsInvisible Dynamics | Creativepool’s Small Agency of the YearInvisible Dynamics | Adweek’s Creative 100Invisible Dynamics | WWD: Meet Oli WalshInvisible Dynamics | Forbes: Why Gap’s ‘Better In Denim’ Ad Struck The Right ChordRei Inamoto | InstagramI&CO | Corporate SiteSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    21 min
  3. How Gap Won Culture Back - E71

    DEC 11

    How Gap Won Culture Back - E71

    What does it mean for brands to participate in culture? In this episode, Rei sits down with Oli Walsh, the visionary CEO of Invisible Dynamics, to discuss cultural relevance in branding, and take us behind the scenes of the electrifying Gap campaign that became a global sensation. In defining cultural relevance, Rei and Oli discuss how brands can authentically integrate into the cultural fabric without becoming mere spectators. Discover how the campaign “Better in Denim,” starring the global girl group KATSEYE, catapulted Gap back into the cultural spotlight, generating over 400 million views. Invisible Dynamics helps the world's most ambitious Brands accelerate growth through harnessing creativity, culture, and commerce to drive revenue and relevance. Changing times require a new kind of support, and their programs, products, and platforms uniquely deliver the tools needed for impactful brand transformation. Timestamps: 0:03 Behind the Scenes of Gap's Viral Betting Denim Campaign4:28 Cultural Relevance and Brand Participation in Modern Culture13:59 Gap's Brand Transformation Through Strategic Leadership and Collaborations29:52 Reviving Gap's Legacy Through Intentional Fashion Storytelling37:42 The Impact of a Positive Message in Global Campaigns43:50 Balancing Brand Identity with Humanistic and Competitive Enemies53:25 Key Takeaways Episode References: Oli Walsh | LinkedInInvisible Dynamics | WebsiteInvisible Dynamics | Finalists at the 2025 Digiday AwardsInvisible Dynamics | Creativepool’s Small Agency of the YearInvisible Dynamics | Adweek’s Creative 100Invisible Dynamics | WWD: Meet Oli WalshInvisible Dynamics | Forbes: Why Gap’s ‘Better In Denim’ Ad Struck The Right ChordRei Inamoto | InstagramI&CO | Corporate SiteSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    1h 1m
  4. Bonus Track: Lightning Questions with Haruka Aoki - E70

    NOV 27

    Bonus Track: Lightning Questions with Haruka Aoki - E70

    Alternative career choices? Next travel destinations? Favorite food? We welcome back Haruka Aoki for a fun round of lightning questions. Haruka Aoki is a queer Japanese poet-illustrator and hope bender. They write and illustrate a regular narrative art column in The New York Times. Their picture book about a square navigating a world of circles, "Fitting In," was published in 2022 by Sky Pony Press / Simon & Schuster. Haruka’s narrative artwork aims to inspire individuals with both wit and sincerity as their hand-drawn characters engage the world around them. Growing up often unsure of where “home” would be next, Haruka has befriended the abundant imagination found in nature and community, a constant starting point in their work. By foraging inspiration from ancestral and metaphysical realms to nurture their artistic practice, they hope to grow and provide an accessible space for collective healing. Haruka often feels deeply grateful to be an earthling. Episode References: Haruka Aoki | WebsiteHaruka Aoki | NewsletterHaruka Aoki | InstagramRei Inamoto | InstagramI&CO | Corporate SiteSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    6 min
  5. The Discipline Behind the Art - E69

    NOV 13

    The Discipline Behind the Art - E69

    From meditation to meal sharing, daily rituals and habits have the power to bring out the best in your talent. Rei welcomes back Haruka Aoki, a Japanese poet and illustrator, to discuss Haruka's unique creative processes, aspirations to expand into various mediums, and day-to-day specifics of how they make a living as an artist. Haruka’s artistic process combines writing and illustrating with deeper emotional connections and cultural expressions. Through detailed anecdotes and personal reflections, they share how a structured routine—consisting of activities like meditation, stretching, and maintaining a consistent work attire—fuels creativity and productivity. Haruka Aoki is a queer Japanese poet-illustrator and hope bender. They write and illustrate a regular narrative art column in The New York Times. Their picture book about a square navigating a world of circles, "Fitting In," was published in 2022 by Sky Pony Press / Simon & Schuster. Haruka’s narrative artwork aims to inspire individuals with both wit and sincerity as their hand-drawn characters engage the world around them. Growing up often unsure of where “home” would be next, Haruka has befriended the abundant imagination found in nature and community, a constant starting point in their work. By foraging inspiration from ancestral and metaphysical realms to nurture their artistic practice, they hope to grow and provide an accessible space for collective healing. Haruka often feels deeply grateful to be an earthling. Timestamps: 0:03 Haruka Aoki's Artistic Journey and Future Aspirations8:08 The Joy of Sharing Life's Simple Pleasures Through Art9:40 Creating Art Through Rituals and Structured Work Habits14:23 Empowerment and Assurance in Career and Personal Growth17:04 Habits and Rituals That Enhance Artistic Creativity17:36 Key Takeaway Episode References: Haruka Aoki | WebsiteHaruka Aoki | NewsletterHaruka Aoki | InstagramRei Inamoto | InstagramI&CO | Corporate SiteSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    23 min
  6. A Corporate Art Director’s Journey to Artistic Freedom - E68

    OCT 30

    A Corporate Art Director’s Journey to Artistic Freedom - E68

    If you’re tired of conforming to "rules of society", it might be time to reconnect with your childhood dreams. Rei welcomes Haruka Aoki, a Japanese poet and illustrator, who made the bold transition from the corporate ladder to the vibrant world of art. Haruka details their journey from working as an art director in a healthcare company to becoming an acclaimed artist with works featured in publications like the New York Times and the Washington Post. The conversation highlights Haruka's tailored approach to pitching their unique, visually rich narrative stories, addressing cultural themes like AAPI heritage and the universal love of public libraries. Haruka Aoki is a queer Japanese poet-illustrator and hope bender. They write and illustrate a regular narrative art column in The New York Times. Their picture book about a square navigating a world of circles, "Fitting In," was published in 2022 by Sky Pony Press / Simon & Schuster. Haruka’s narrative artwork aims to inspire individuals with both wit and sincerity as their hand-drawn characters engage the world around them. Growing up often unsure of where “home” would be next, Haruka has befriended the abundant imagination found in nature and community, a constant starting point in their work. By foraging inspiration from ancestral and metaphysical realms to nurture their artistic practice, they hope to grow and provide an accessible space for collective healing. Haruka often feels deeply grateful to be an earthling. Timestamps: 0:03 Finding Your Place in the World Through Creativity2:36 Haruka Aoki's Journey From Corporate Life to Artistic Freedom7:14 Haruka Aoki's Journey From Corporate to Narrative Artist14:43 An Ode to Public Libraries and Their Cultural Impact17:28 Embracing Their Artistic Career21:40 Rediscovering Inner Child Through Creative Freedom26:30 Becoming a Full-Time Artist27:58 Key Takeaway Episode References: Haruka Aoki | WebsiteHaruka Aoki | NewsletterHaruka Aoki | InstagramRei Inamoto | InstagramI&CO | Corporate SiteSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    33 min
  7. The Intersection: Purpose v. Growth - V7

    OCT 16

    The Intersection: Purpose v. Growth - V7

    Rei Inamoto dives into how brand purpose lost its plot and why it’s up to CEOs, not CMOs, to fix it. The Intersection is Rei’s free newsletter, exploring what the future holds at the intersection of creativity and technology. Subscribe to The Intersection to receive his latest editions directly in your inbox. Episode References: Purpose v. Growth | ArticleRei Inamoto | LinkedInRei Inamoto | InstagramI&CO | Corporate SiteSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    9 min
  8. Bonus Track: Lightning Questions with BREAKFAST - E67

    OCT 3

    Bonus Track: Lightning Questions with BREAKFAST - E67

    Alternative career choices? Next travel destinations? Favorite food? We welcome back BREAKFAST for a fun round of lightning questions. Andrew Zolty, known professionally as BREAKFAST, is a data and kinetic artist whose work centers on transforming real-time data from the natural world into digitally controlled kinetic artworks that tell stories. From the waves crashing on the beaches of Normandy to solar activity on the sun’s surface, BREAKFAST’s pieces draw this data from the web and transform these fluctuations into mesmerizing, undulating sculptures, creating a profound connection between the viewer and distant places. BREAKFAST's passion for art, electronics, and computers, which began in his childhood, has led him to merge these elements throughout his adult life. Developing skills in art, coding, interaction design, and mechanical and electrical engineering, he became fascinated by the vast streams of data constantly generated around us. This fascination drives his work, as he finds ways to translate data into physical experiences that tell stories of real-time events. Over the past 15 years, BREAKFAST has grown his studio into an engineering powerhouse, allowing for the complete in-house production of his works. This capability pushes creativity and quality to their furthest limits, with ideas inspiring engineering and engineering enabling new artistic expressions. Episode References: BREAKFAST | InstagramBREAKFAST | WebsiteRei Inamoto | LinkedInRei Inamoto | InstagramI&CO | Corporate SiteSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    18 min
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5 Ratings

About

I&CO founding partner Rei Inamoto speaks with the world’s leading practitioners of creativity from industries such as art, design, architecture, cuisine, and much more, to offer a glimpse into the minds of what it takes to build a successful career. In each episode, these creative luminaries share their beginnings, intimate moments of success and failure, and pieces of advice for work and life. ◆Instagram https://www.instagram.com/reiinamoto/ ◆Twitter https://twitter.com/reiinamoto

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