Daring Creativity. Daring Forever.

• Dare to never be the same again - Luke Woodhouse (RaggedEdge)

  Luke Woodhouse, Executive Creative Director at Ragged Edge, shares his 15-year journey from a four-person studio to a 40-person powerhouse creating category-defining brands. This conversation explores the evolution of branding from nice websites to transformative digital ecosystems, revealing what it takes to create work that generates immediate business impact. Luke discusses major projects including Wise's global rebrand and Solflare's bold cryptocurrency positioning, explaining how Ragged Edge works with clients who are "confident in the unknown" to create brands that users adopt and celebrate. He shares practical insights on keeping concepts loose while opinions stay strong, collaborating deeply with in-house teams, and why getting comfortable with uncomfortable is essential for breakthrough creative work.Key takeawaysSelf-selecting clients are the best clients—when you stand for something bold, people who share your mindset will seek you out rather than needing convincingKeep early concepts rough and loose to invite client collaboration, which prevents teams from becoming too precious while helping clients feel ownership of the directionThe concept should be the creative director, not personal opinions—focus on communicating the core idea in the strongest way possible rather than aesthetic preferencesTesting for distinctiveness matters more than testing for likability—brands need to stand out, and uncomfortable feelings toward something new are often positive signalsBuild real-life relationships at project kickoff and during initial concepts when ideas are most delicate and nuanced conversations determine directionDeep collaboration with product and in-house design teams three-quarters through the project helps stress-test brand elements and find the balance between disruption and usabilityCase studies that explain why and how, not just pretty pictures, are crucial for winning new work because people love ideas and storiesSeparation of self-worth from work is essential—celebrate talented people pushing hard while maintaining a "no ego" approach where the work is what mattersDifferent means new, new means unfamiliar, and unfamiliar is uncomfortable—getting comfortable with this discomfort is where breakthrough creativity livesThe trend toward agency and in-house teams working as one unified team will continue growing, leveraging client expertise on their business to get great work launched Daring Creativity. Daring Forever. Podcast with Radim Malinic Show questions or suggestions to [email protected] Latest books by Radim MalinicMindful Creative: How to understand and deal with the highs and lows of creative life, career and business Paperback and Kindle > https://amzn.to/4biTwFcFree audiobook (with Audible trial) > https://geni.us/free-audiobookSigned books https://novemberuniverse.co.ukLux Coffee Co. https://luxcoffee.co.uk/ (Use: PODCAST for 15% off)November Universe https://novemberuniverse.co.uk (Use: PODCAST for 10% off)

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• "Set clear expectations to avoid problems later." (Alison Black bonus episode)

  A short bonus episode showcasing a few stand out moments from this week's guest interview with Alison Black of Studio Craig Black ~ Daring Creativity. Daring Forever. Podcast with Radim Malinic Show questions or suggestions to [email protected] Latest books by Radim MalinicMindful Creative: How to understand and deal with the highs and lows of creative life, career and business Paperback and Kindle > https://amzn.to/4biTwFcFree audiobook (with Audible trial) > https://geni.us/free-audiobookSigned books https://novemberuniverse.co.ukLux Coffee Co. https://luxcoffee.co.uk/ (Use: PODCAST for 15% off)November Universe https://novemberuniverse.co.uk (Use: PODCAST for 10% off)

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• Dare to bring compassion to business - Alison Black

  Alison Black traded her career as a mental health nurse in a Scottish prison to become Managing Director of Craig Black Studio, joining her husband in building one of the world's most distinctive visual art businesses. In this revealing conversation, Alison shares how she overcame self-doubt to bring her unique skillset—from deescalating challenging situations to delivering difficult news with grace—into the creative industry. She discusses the realities behind the glossy brand collaborations, the intensity of running a family business where perfection is non-negotiable, and how working with prisoners taught her perspective that stress in the creative world pales in comparison to real-world problems. From art Nashville residencies to Disney collaborations, Alison offers an honest look at what it takes to support creative excellence whilst maintaining boundaries, raising their daughter Olivia in the studio, and proving that sometimes the best person for the job comes from the most unexpected background.Key TakeawaysTransferable skills from intense environments like mental health nursing—including interpersonal communication, deescalation, and giving difficult feedback—can be invaluable in creative business managementSetting clear expectations from the start prevents problems later; being honest about what's achievable builds trust more than overpromisingSelf-doubt often stems from feeling like an outsider, but the creative community's welcoming nature and willingness to help can quickly transform imposter syndrome into confidenceRunning a family business requires strict boundaries between work and family time, though the flexibility to travel together and be present for children makes the challenges worthwhilePerspective matters; asking "did anyone die?" helps recalibrate stress levels and reminds us that creative challenges, whilst real, aren't life-threateningWorking as a husband-wife team succeeds when roles are clearly defined and each partner plays to their strengths rather than trying to do everythingBrands value confidence and expertise; suggesting better ideas outside the brief often wins trust rather than just delivering what's requestedBuilding a support network including mentors and peers who genuinely want you to succeed is essential when entering a new industryPerfectionism drives quality; refusing to compromise on standards or miss deadlines, whilst demanding, creates the reputation that attracts premium opportunitiesExposing children to creative possibilities from a young age, from studio craft days to major brand collaborations, shows them what's possible without forcing a particular path Daring Creativity. Daring Forever. Podcast with Radim Malinic Show questions or suggestions to [email protected] Latest books by Radim MalinicMindful Creative: How to understand and deal with the highs and lows of creative life, career and business Paperback and Kindle > https://amzn.to/4biTwFcFree audiobook (with Audible trial) > https://geni.us/free-audiobookSigned books https://novemberuniverse.co.ukLux Coffee Co. https://luxcoffee.co.uk/ (Use: PODCAST for 15% off)November Universe https://novemberuniverse.co.uk (Use: PODCAST for 10% off)

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• "I don't have a plan B, I have to make it work" (Jono McCleery bonus episode)

  A short bonus episode showcasing a few stand out moments from this week's guest interview with Jono McCleery ~Daring Creativity. Daring Forever. Podcast with Radim Malinic Show questions or suggestions to [email protected] Latest books by Radim MalinicMindful Creative: How to understand and deal with the highs and lows of creative life, career and business Paperback and Kindle > https://amzn.to/4biTwFcFree audiobook (with Audible trial) > https://geni.us/free-audiobookSigned books https://novemberuniverse.co.ukLux Coffee Co. https://luxcoffee.co.uk/ (Use: PODCAST for 15% off)November Universe https://novemberuniverse.co.uk (Use: PODCAST for 10% off)

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• Dare to trust the puzzle - Jono McCleery

  Singer-songwriter Jono McCleery shares his journey from falling asleep to his jazz pianist stepfather's music to becoming an acclaimed artist bridging folk, jazz, and electronic dance music. Raised with music after regaining his hearing around age five, Jono taught himself guitar at seventeen and began writing deeply personal songs influenced by John Martyn and Nick Drake. He discusses his collaborative approach with producers like Five One and his philosophy of working within limitations—preferring standard guitar tuning to explore endless creative possibilities. Jono reveals his process of recording improvisations first, letting melodies dictate lyrics, and protecting creative space from social media noise. With no plan B beyond music, he maintains an "endless fire" of creativity while navigating label expectations, album production challenges, and the evolution from acoustic folk to electronic collaborations that expand his audience across genres.Key TakeawaysFinding freedom within limitations creates deeper creativity than constantly changing instruments or approachesRecording improvisations unconsciously allows themes and melodies to emerge naturally before structuring lyricsCollaboration works best with people who already understand your music and bring unexpected creative surprisesProtecting creative space from social media noise and external pressures is essential for authentic artistic expressionHaving no plan B strengthens commitment and resilience when pursuing creative careers through difficult periodsWorking across genres through collaboration bridges different musical worlds while maintaining artistic integrity and personal voiceValidation comes from individual connections with listeners rather than streaming numbers or social media metricsDiscipline develops through working with analog limitations before digital technology makes everything instantly accessible and overwhelmingLive music needs more alternative spaces including family-friendly environments to strengthen human connection beyond screensFinishing albums requires setting firm deadlines and accepting that creative work evolves through compromise without losing core integrity Daring Creativity. Daring Forever. Podcast with Radim Malinic Show questions or suggestions to [email protected] Latest books by Radim MalinicMindful Creative: How to understand and deal with the highs and lows of creative life, career and business Paperback and Kindle > https://amzn.to/4biTwFcFree audiobook (with Audible trial) > https://geni.us/free-audiobookSigned books https://novemberuniverse.co.ukLux Coffee Co. https://luxcoffee.co.uk/ (Use: PODCAST for 15% off)November Universe https://novemberuniverse.co.uk (Use: PODCAST for 10% off)

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