Sometimes unlocking your own creativity and getting your creative juices flowing again takes some inspiration.
Which can be hard to come by these days, so we hear.
So, for the times when you need it most, we want to offer a source of inspiration for creatives from creatives.
And we want to offer that inspiration in the form of podcasts.
Whether you’re an aspiring artist or an experienced creative professional, today’s blog is giving you a list of our favorite creative podcasts to ignite your imagination, help you wind down after a busy day, and help you along on your artistic journey.
What is a Creative Podcast?
So, what exactly goes on in a creative podcast?
Creative podcasts are programs that explore and discuss everything creative, from harnessing your creativity to your artistic endeavors to your own creative process.
These podcasts often feature interviews with creative professionals, artists, designers, writers, and other innovators who provide insight into their work, experiences, and the strategies they use to nurture and express their creativity.
So, if that sounds like just the dose of inspiration and advice you need, read on for our pick of the best 30 podcasts for creative minds!
The 30 Best Podcasts for Creatives to Listen to
You’ve waited long enough.
In no particular order, here are our top 30 creative podcasts for you to listen to while you work, during your commute, or just to wind down after a long day of creating!
1. After the Jump
After the Jump is a design-focused podcast hosted by Grace Bonney, author of Design*Sponge at Home.
Though it concluded its run way back in 2018, you can still listen to episodes online if you’re in need of a creative boost or just want to hear some insight about the lives and experiences of entrepreneurs, designers, and artists, and listen to some very interesting guest interviews!
Check out After the Jump for everything from business strategies, career challenges, and personal stories from artists just like you!
2. Creative Rebels
Hosted by David Speed and Adam Brazier, Creative Rebels explores the journeys of creatives, entrepreneurs, and challenges faced by those in the creative industry.
If you’re looking for inspiring interviews with creative people like you who have rebelled against the 9–5, then this is the podcast for you!
The last episode premiered in Feb of 2022, and you can check it (and other episodes) here on the Creative Rebels Spotify.
3. A Beautiful Anarchy
A Beautiful Anarchy describes itself as “a heart-felt kick-in-the-pants podcast for everyday creators and anyone who’s ever mud-wrestled with their muse.”
Hosted by David duChmin, this program features 15-minute podcasts that explore the joy and struggles that come with creative careers and the creative life in general.
Though duChimm stopped production of his podcast after the pandemic, there are still 80 episodes out there and you can listen to them here on A Beautiful Anarchy’s episode guide!
4. TED Radio Hour
The TED Radio Hour aims to “explore the biggest questions of our time with the help of the world’s greatest thinkers.”
It’s hosted by Guy Raz and covers a huge range of topics, everything from science, technology, creativity, innovation, and personal development. So, if you’re looking for a dose of inspiration and some thought-provoking discussions, TED Radio Hour is a current program with its latest episode dropping on November 10th, so expect more to come!
You can listen to the newest episode and all others here on NPR’s TED radio hour site.
5. The Unmistakable Creative
If it’s inspiration and life lessons you crave, then The Unmistakable Creative may be your jam.
Hosted by Srinivas Rao, The Unmistakable Creative shares inspiring stories from the most creative minds and offers practical advice to its listeners from sources like other creatives, entrepreneurs, change-makers, and self-described misfits.
There are over 1,000 episodes with more coming out consistently, so if this podcast sounds like something you’d enjoy, you can check out episodes on the Unmistakable Creative’s website.
6. Never Not Creative
The Never Not Creative podcast is hosted by Andy Wright and Sara Nguyen and aims to be a community that supports creatives across the globe.
According to their website, Never Not Creative is “dedicated to improving the mental wellbeing of people working in creative businesses, teams, and alongside the creative industry."
They interview creatives, mental health experts, and consultants to share stories and advice linked to bettering mental health across the creative community.
So, if your creative mind could use some soothing, you can listen to all episodes here on the Never Not Creative website.
7. Accidental Creative
Accidental Creative, hosted by Todd Henry, is a hugely popular weekly podcast that provides tips and interviews with top thinkers, leaders, and artists.
This podcast has been going strong since 2005 and there are tons of episodes to listen to with plenty more on the way (the latest as of this writing dropped on November 13th).
You can give them a listen here on the Accidental Creative website.
8. Magic Lessons
Hosted by Elizabeth Gilbert (bestselling author of Eat, Pray, Love), Magic Lessons is a hit podcast designed to help aspiring artists overcome their fears and create more joyfully!
There are over 200 episodes of Magic Lessons for you to listen to, featuring conversations with a variety of guests, including artists, writers, and creative thinkers.
If it’s advice and guidance aimed at a creative person like you that you need, then head over to Magic Lesson’s website for access to all past episodes!
9. Meet the Creatives
Meet the Creatives is a podcast that “seeks to bridge the gap between entry-level creative professionals and the industry’s best.”
Host Rob Johnston aims to use his podcast as a platform to help build a creative community that connects thousands of entry-level creatives from around the world, featuring guests from companies like Facebook, Sesame Street, Nike, and more.
If you’re new to creative work and looking for a solid source of inspiration, advice, and wisdom, you can check out all of Rob’s episodes on Meet the Creative’s episode guide!
10. Being Freelance
Designed with the freelancer in mind, Being Freelance offers its listeners tips, business advice, and life hacks from freelancer to freelancer.
The program, hosted by Steve Folland, features insightful interviews with freelancers from a variety of industries and explores their experiences, challenges, and any advice they have about succeeding in the freelance world.
So, whether you’re new to freelancing or just looking for additional insight and advice, you can check out Being Freelance on its website at that link. It’s been going strong since 2015, so there are plenty of episodes for you to catch up on!
11. On Design
On Design strives to bring its listeners “insightful conversations with design’s most inspiring figures, from designers and artists to creative directors, entrepreneurs and everybody in between.”
Hosted by Justyna Green, this podcast features down-to-earth interviews with inspiring figures in art and design, connecting guests with listeners by finding common ground between them.
It’s been featured in the top ten design podcasts in the UK for four years running, so it’s a popular program! Check out all of its episodes here on On Design’s episode site.
12. The 21st Century Creative
Creative Coach and poet Mark McGuinness hosts The 21st Century Creative to help you succeed as a creative professional amid the demands, distractions, and opportunities of the 21st century.
Each episode of The 21st Century Creative features insight from Mark and the guests that he interviews, including artists, writers, performers, commercial creatives, directors, and other creative thought leaders.
And if you like to get involved in your podcast, each episode also features a Creative Challenge issued by one of Mark’s guests at the end of each episode!
The program is currently in its 5th season so there are plenty of episodes to enjoy! Find them here on The 21st Century Creative’s website.
13. The Creative Condition
The Creative Condition is a podcast that tackles the real-world challenges that creative people face.
Host Ben Tallon invites a variety of guests in the creative industry to his show to have open and honest conversations about the industry, their creative process, mental health, and more.
If you’re looking for valuable stories, experiences, and advice to help you maximize your creativity, you can check it out here on The Creative Condition’s Soundcloud page.
There are over 200 episodes available with more to come, so there’s plenty to keep you busy!
14. The Creative Introvert
Like to work solo?
The Creative Introvert might just be for you.
As suggested by its name, this program, hosted by Cat Rose, is designed for creatives, makers, artists, and entrepreneurs who prefer to work alone.
The Creative Introvert tackles everyday relatable topics like battling fear, increasing your confidence, self-promotion without feeling sleazy, and overcoming procrastination.
Sound like you? Check out Cat’s podcast on The Creative Introvert’s Frolic website.
15. James Taylor’s SuperCreativity Podcast Show
The SuperCreativity Podcast Show is a weekly podcast where host, James Taylor, brings on guests to discuss all aspects of creativity, innovation, and the world of ideas.
So, if you enjoy listening to conversations with creative thinkers, innovators, entrepreneurs, artists, authors, educators, and more, this is the podcast for you.
The latest episode dropped in 2022, but there are still over 300 episodes to enjoy. You can find them here on SuperCreativity’s Spotify page.
16. 99% Invisible
99% Invisible is a sound-rich narrative podcast hosted by Roman Mars.
Its goal is to put the focus on “the thought that goes into the things we don’t think about —the architecture and design that shape our world.”
If you’re curious about exploring the differences between how you view the world and how Roman’s guests, including architects, designers, engineers, and more view the world, then this could be an enlightening podcast for you!
There are over 430 episodes with more dropping every week. You can listen to them here on 99% Invisible’s episode archive.
17. Art for Your Ear by The Jealous Curator
Art For Your Ear is a creative podcast bringing you stories from host Danielle Krysa’s (aka The Jealous Curator) favorite contemporary artists.
If you have a love for gossip, then this is the podcast for you. Art For Your Ear brings you the inside-scoop, behind-the-scenes details, and hilarious stories from the “artiest” people The Jealous Curator can find, including full-time artists, designers, entrepreneurs, and more.
It’s been going on since 2018 and shows no sign of stopping, so check out the latest episodes here on the Art for Your Ear preview site.
18. How to Fail
If you’re a creative, you know from experience that things don’t always go the way you think they will.
Luckily for you, How to Fail, with host Elizabeth Day, is a podcast that “celebrates the things that haven’t gone right.”
This weekly program features an interview with creative minds like artists, musicians, designers, Jane Goodall (no, really!), and others who explore the lessons they learned from their failures and how failing taught them how to better succeed.
Bottom line: Don’t be afraid to fail.
If this is a lesson you need to learn, then check out the newest episode and all previous ones here on How to Fail’s episode preview site.
19. Make It Then Tell Everybody
If comics are your thing, then you’ll love Make It Then Tell Everybody, hosted by Dan Berry.
This podcast focuses on comic artists and illustrators, what they do, and how they do it. It wrapped up its run in March of 2023, but there are still plenty of episodes to keep you busy.
Check them out here on Make it Then Tell Everybody’s episode archive.
20. Adventures in Design
Adventures in Design is a daily talk show that “explores people who have designed happiness into their creative professional lives.”
Hosted by Mark Brickey, it aims to keep its listeners entertained, educated, and inspired while they “create a better designed world” for themselves.
So, if you’re looking for a daily morning talk show for creative minds, this is the one for you! Each episode is about an hour long and there are tons available to keep you listening for months.
Check them out on Adventures in Design’s Soundcloud page!
21. The Collective Podcast
The Collective Podcast brings you weekly episodes of “informative and honest discussions with creative industry leaders from around the world.”
Host Ash Thorp aims to explore common creative struggles like work/life balance and share the experiences of influential creatives like designers, visual effects artists, writers, painters, programmers, and more!
If this sounds like your jam, you can check out all 240 plus episodes on The Collective Podcast’s website.
22. Chasing Creative
“It’s about chasing what makes you feel alive.”
So says The Chasing Creative Podcast, designed to speak to creatives who are struggling to find the time to do their art and inspire them to make creativity a priority in their everyday lives.
Hosted by Ashley Brooks, this program talks to regular creatives just like you who have insights and actions into steps you can take today to make your creative plans happen.
If you’re looking for a creative pep talk to start getting back to what makes you feel alive, then you can check out all of Chasing Creative’s seven seasons (and counting) in this episode archive here.
23. Creative Pep Talk
Speaking of creative pep talks …
Creative Pep Talk, with host Andy J. Pizza, is a podcast designed to give you just that! The show features monologues and conversations with creative powerhouses including artists, actors, designers, and more!
Because, according to their website, “on the creative journey it’s easy to get lost … sometimes you just need a creative pep talk.”
If that resonates with you and your busy life, you can check out all 400 plus episodes on the Creative Pep Talk’s episode page and get the inspiration and reassurance you need!
24. Scratching the Surface
Scratching the Surface, with host Jarrett Fuller, is a podcast all about design, theory, and creative practice.
Each episode features in-depth conversations with creative minds, such as designers, architects, writers, academics, artists, and theorists about how design shapes culture.
If you’re craving some intellectual and thought-provoking conversations, you can check out all 200 plus episodes here on Scratching the Surface’s episode guide with new episodes releasing every other Wednesday!
25. We Can Rebuild Her
… we have the technology.
No, really, we do. We Can Rebuild Her, hosted by writer and comedian Viv Groskop, is a podcast for those looking to reinvent themselves in the wake of the pandemic.
The program features intimate conversations with a variety of guests with discussions ranging from everything about managing change, assessing risk, switching jobs, changing habits, and anything else about reshaping your life.
If you could use some insight and wisdom about recent changes in your life, then learn where to listen on the We Can Rebuild Her website!
Viv also hosts a podcast called Own the Room where she speaks with inspirational women about tips and tricks to brilliant speaking and getting the attention you deserve!
26. The Creative Penn
The Creative Penn is a website from Joanna Penn (could there be a more perfect name for a writer?) that teaches aspiring authors how to write, publish, and market their books like champs — and make a living doing it!
She also hosts a podcast including interviews, inspiration, and other valuable bits of information about writing and creativity, publishing options that are out there, creative entrepreneurship, and more.
There are over 700 episodes with new ones dropping every Monday. You can check them out here on The Creative Penn’s website!
27. You’re Booked
Another podcast aimed at aspiring authors, You’re Booked is a program for “literary nosy parkers who would like the chance to snoop around their favorite author’s bookshelves.”
Hosted by Daisy Buchanan, this podcast features intimate conversations with guest writers and discusses everything from the books they read under the covers to their favorite reading memories.
If you’re a writer looking for some inspiration and entertaining literary conversation, you can check out all 150 plus episodes here on the You’re Booked episode guide.
28. The Creative Boom Podcast
The Creative Boom Podcast is a program focusing on helping creatives like you to build a “booming” creative career!
Hosted by Kat Cowan, this podcast features candid conversations with creatives from all walks of life to uncover the secrets to their success as well as hear their advice, funny stories, and honest wisdom.
There are 100 episodes even available for you to listen to as of this writing, so check them out here on The Creative Boom’s website.
29. Conversations of Inspiration
Looking for some inspiration for those days when it feels like there’s just no point?
Conversations of Inspiration is just the breath of fresh air you need. This program features powerfully honest and soulful stories of those who were brave enough to make the break and start doing what they love.
Hosted by Holly Tucker, Conversations of Inspiration gives its listeners insight and motivation from a wide variety of entrepreneurs and creatives. If they can do it, so can you, friend.
There are plenty of episodes available to get you started and you can listen to them here on Holly & Co’s website.
30. Design Matters
Design Matters, hosted by Debbie Millman, is a podcast that has been going strong since 2005.
According to its website, Design Matters is “the world’s first podcast about design and an inquiry into the broader world of creative culture through wide-ranging conversations with designers, writers, artists, curators, musicians, and other luminaries of contemporary thought.”
It’s been a prominent voice in the design community and features interviews with notable figures in the design industry and beyond discussing everything from creativity, culture, professional experiences, creative processes, and more!
There are tons of episodes to listen to so if you’re eager to get into fellow creative’s heads, you can listen here on the Design Matters website.
<div class="c-blog_comp-cta cc-component-2"><div class="c-blog_comp-cta-left"><div class="c-blog_comp-cta-left-wrap"><img src="https://global-uploads.webflow.com/61cdf3c5e0b8155f19e0105b/63695243d096983691046ac3_Potential-Creative.png" loading="lazy" alt="" class="c-blog_comp-cta-left-img"></div></div><div class="c-blog_comp-cta-right cc-dark"><div class="c-blog_comp-content"><div class="c-text-wrapper cc-mb-32"><div class="c-title-4 cc-bold"><strong>Like to work as a freelancer with consistent income?</strong></div></div><div class="c-text-wrapper"><div class="c-text-2">Designity's collaborative model is designed to give you all of the perks of being a freelancer without the income instability.<br></div></div></div><div class="c-blog_comp-wrapper"><a href="http://designity.com/creatives" target="_blank" class="c-button w-button"><strong>Join Our Creative Community</strong></a></div></div></div>
Looking for a Creative Community of Your Own?
Did we miss any of your favorite podcasts?
Let us know!
And if talking about all of these creative podcasts has inspired you to take on more work with more clients from all types of different industries, then we have a suggestion for you.
Why not consider joining us at Designity?
Designity is made up of the top 3% of US-based talent and we’re always looking for talented new creatives to join our community.
As a Designity Creative, you’d enjoy competitive pay, a consistent workload with a variety of different clients, and the freedom to work remotely from anywhere with WiFi access.
In fact, the only downside we can think of is that you won’t have a morning commute to spend listening to all of your favorite podcasts.
Is that a tradeoff you can live with? If so, why not put your skills to the test and apply today?
We can’t wait to see what the future brings.
