Creative Adventures - An accidental podcast

In this episode I investigate a strange fact I was sent about crows being rainbow coloured, explore impermanence and the art of ending projects at their peak, and lament the redevelopment of Battersea Power Station and what that can teach us about the dangers of “golf-course creativity.”TL;DL 04’ 32”  I got sent a weird book about Rooks 08’ 36”  Are crows in fact rainbow coloured? 12’ 43”  The art of the intentional ending 25’ 04”  The lost soul of Battersea Power Station 34’ 33”  The Creatively Eccentric Podcast 35’ 37”  Details about forthcoming Open Studio events Links to things I mentioned Fred Deakin on Instagram Lemon JellyTalking Jim Reilly on the Glen Dye Podcast The Creatively Eccentric Podcast Details about Open Studios Buy stuff in my shop Buy me a coffee (support this podcast)The written substack version of this episode can be read on my Substack. If you're wondering why this is an accidental podcast then listen to the first 5 minutes of episode one.  Comments, questions, requests and stuff to [email protected]  (Total listening time 36’ 49”)

In this episode I try to resist doing anything special for episode ten but end up going down a decenary rabbit hole, I reflect on the difference between aloneness and loneliness and rethink the brain’s role in creativity through getting to know a primitive sea creature.TL;DL3’ 12”     Why does the number 10 feel so significant anyway?9 ’42”     A story of transforming lonliness into solitude on a remote island26 ’20”  The human brain and the happy little stomach on a stick32’ 35”  Come hang out in my brain33’ 22”  Bad crow biologyLinks to things I mentionedThe Ocracoke Art AdventureThe article about "The British artists" in the Ocracoke Observer7 ½ lessons about the brain book"Towards a social psychology of loneliness" paperUpcoming workshops (Masks, musical improv, paper cutting)Details about my forthcoming Open StudioThe written substack version of this episode can be read on my Substack.If you're wondering why this is an accidental podcast then listen to the first 5 minutes of episode one.Comments, questions, requests and stuff to [email protected](Total listening time 34' 26”)

In this episode I express my love of the River Thames through the metaphor of a storybook with the bridges as the chapters, explore the difference between art culture and meme culture, and reflect on boredom as a powerful indicator of living a meaningful life.TL;DL2’ 41”     A trip to St Leonards and the Hong Kong  valley of the spiders6 ’02”     A love affair with the Thames15’ 16”   The existential importance of boredom17’ 33”   Readings from my old school reports27’ 07”   Memes vs art37’ 26”   Support the show and a soabox bit about podcasts39’ 44”   Jim the Podcast SherpaLinks to things I mentionedSeething Wells10 Year plan printsMy shopPodcast with Jim the Podcast SherpaMy next mask workshopSuper Secret Musical Improv WorkshopMy online shopBecome a patron of my studioBuy me a coffee (from £1) The written substack version of this episode can be read on my Substack.If you're wondering why this is an accidental podcast then listen to the first 5 minutes of episode one.Comments, questions, requests and stuff to [email protected](Total listening time 41’ 46”)

In this episode I reflect on the cyclical emotional process of making this podcast, tumble down a fascinating eel rabbit hole, ponder the excruciating greyness of “normal”, and explore my love of the brilliant weirdo.TL;DL1’ 15”     Running in the dark and the peril of head-torches6’ 34”   The repeated process of making this podcast8’ 55”   The excruciating greyness of normal10’ 53”  Patterns of stuckness12’ 54”  Tumbling down an eel rabbit hole18’ 22”   My love of the brilliant weirdo32’ 20”  Making little zines that you can buy33’ 02”  Mask workshop promo33’ 24”  Spread the wordLinks to things I mentionedSound of Silence podcastPavement’s “Type Slowly”Michael Malay’s “Late Light”Watzlavick et al on stucknessDaniel Johnston: “Walking the cow”Lucia Pamela: “Walking on the moon”Wesley Willis: “Rock and roll McDonalds”The Shaggs: “Philosophy of the world”Connie Converse: “I have considered the Lillies”The Legendary Stardust Cowboy on Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-inShooby Taylor live at The ApolloDaniel Johnston’s first live TV appearanceBuy my zinesMy next mask workshopMy online shop Become a patron of my studioBuy me a coffee (from £1)The written substack version of this episode: Stevexoh’s substack thing.If you're wondering why this is an accidental podcast then listen to the first 5 minutes of episode one.Comments, questions, requests and stuff to [email protected](Total listening time 34’42”)

In this episode I talk about how discovering a bizarre mural has helped me approach the festive season with a little more resilience, reflect on ego ideals as the posters my inner critic keeps on its bedroom wall and tell the story of the man who loved dragons as a way of exploring the phenomenon of aboutism.TL;DL6’ 17”    The Kingstonymus Bosch mural15’ 38”  The ghostly posters on the inner critic's bedroom wall24’ 05”  All about aboutism24' 45”  The man who loved dragons30'56”  The imperfect portrait experiment36'25"   Plug for my 20% off sale in my shop and mask workshopLinks to things I mentionedLondon's horrific AI mural (Evening Standard article)My talk about learning to dance with my inner criticThe Inexpert 2018 conference experimentDrawing portraits in Trafalgar SquareJohn Luke Robert’s telling the story of the person who hated his gigMy online shopMy next mask workshopBecome a patron of my studioBuy me a coffee (from £1)The written substack version of this episode: Stevexoh’s substack thing.If you're wondering why this is an accidental podcast then listen to the first 5 minutes of episode one.Comments, questions, requests and stuff to [email protected](Total listening time 38'00")

In this episode I reflect on how much I love autumn, tell the story of a crow reunion, play a weird song I wrote and performed in assembly age 8, experiment with less censored/more eccentric social interaction and talk about the power of masks that help reveal more of who we already are.TL;DL2’ 15”    I really love autumn4’ 36”    A crow reunion14’ 27”  The open studio/welcome to my world22' 02”  The bizarre assembly performance remembered26’ 51”  Experiments in social interaction31’ 01”  Reflections on masks that reveal44’ 32”  Plugs for festive markets I’m doing46’ 06”  Weird greetings cards available in my shopLinks to things I mentionedBuy a print of "Crow Therapy" Feelings are Real exhibition at Barbican (Feb 25) My studio Partners zine Keith JohnstoneLen Dancing My mask workshops My shop The written substack version of this episode: Stevexoh’s substack thing.If you're wondering why this is an accidental podcast then listen to the first 5 minutes of episode one.Comments, questions, requests and stuff to [email protected](Total listening time 47’ 12”)

In this episode I tell the story of how getting trapped on an exposed beach in a lightning storm became the highlight of a disastrous snorkelling trip, explore how dreams can be a scary, intense but ultimately helpful healing process and reflect on the beauty and power of inexpertise through the lens of the Portsmouth Sinfonia.TL;DL3’ 32”   The disastrous snorkelling trip13’ 13”   Live from "lightning beach" (contains swears!)25’ 10”  The fish that makes dreams36’ 53”  Reflections on beautiful inexpertise50' 29”  Plug for (Not a) Lost Cat prints and open studioLinks to things I mentionedMy One Track Minds "LSD" talk about Daniel JohnstoneThe Portsmouth Sinfonia play Also sprach zarathustraMy One Track Minds talk on the Portsmouth SinfoniaThe One Track Minds websiteThe Inexpert 2018 websiteThe Back Gaemen projectBuy (Not a) Lost Cat limited edition printsCome to my open studioThe written substack version of this episode: Stevexoh’s substack thingComments, questions, requests and stuff to [email protected](Total listening time 53’ 01”)

In this episode I reflect on the big creative slump I found myself in August, explore how learning to see the world as strange can help us experience wonder and share the story of a beach trip with Poppy the dog that inspired me to make a little zine entitled “Be kind to crabs”.TL;DL4’ 08”   Kindness for crabs12’ 11”   Thoughts on the creative slump24’ 20”  Learning to see the world as strange34’ 36”  What the February?! Book, backgammon invitation and About Time podcastLinks to things I mentionedA video of my “Be Kind to Crabs” zinePrint off a copy of my “Be Kind to Crabs” zineWhat the February?! BookThe Back Gaemen projectThe “About Time” podcastThe written substack version of this episode: Stevexoh’s substack thingComments, questions, requests and stuff to [email protected](Total listening time 40’ 30”)

In this episode I talk about The Windowsill Gang and how they bring me joy but also steal my crab shells, all about Arnie Mindell's beautiful concept of Quantum Flirting and share the story of how I have ended up inviting strangers to play Backgammon with me.And an exciting moment (for me anyway) when I witness a crow/spider skirmish right outside my window.TL;DL 1' 50"   The Windowsill Gang9' 09"   Quantum Flirting14' 55"  The Back Gaemen project15' 27"  Spider/crow skirmish31' 51" New t-shirts and upcoming workshopsLinks to things I mentionThe Windowsill gangT-shirtsWorkshopsThe written Substack version of all of this: Stevexoh's Substack thingComments, questions, requests and stuff to [email protected](Total listening time 36 mins and 57 secs)

In this episode I enjoy following the random gifts of a dyslexic mind and reflect on some of the comments that people made about my "create windows into your world" philosophy in episode one.I also explore the idea of "niche environments" and "reasonable adjustments" as important considerations for anyone wanting to nurture their own spontaneous self-expression.TL;DL3' 42"  The union of onions6' 10" More thoughts on "windows into your world"16' 35"  Niche environments and reasonable adjustmentsLinks I mentionThe origin story of "XOH"The "Dog trolley"Thoughts about opening windows four-box-gridThe (Not a) Lost cat projectWorkshopsFramed original drawingsThe written Substack version of all of this: Stevexoh's Substack thingComments, questions, requests and stuff to [email protected](Total listening time 37 mins and 37 secs)

In this episode I realise that in attempting to make an accessible audio version of my Substack that I have accidentally created a podcast. Maybe.I also consider the idea that all apps and digital platforms are evolving to eventually become the same thing (a bit like the evolutionary theory of carcinisation where everything becomes a crab) and I share my "Four lightly held philosophies for living a creative life" from an article I forgot I wrote a number of years back. TL;DL1' 01"  The carcinisation of tech2' 23" The accidental podcast11' 07" Four lightly held philosophiesLinks I mentionThe written Substack version of all of this: Stevexoh's Substack thingThe Sound of Silence podcast: www.soundofsilence.org.ukFor Creative People podcast: Listen on SpotifyMy website: www.canscorpionssmoke.comMy shop: The Amazing Emporium of EverythingComments, questions, requests and stuff to [email protected](Total listening time 33 mins and 34 secs)