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Todd Henry

Formerly The Accidental Creative.
Being a creative professional should be the greatest job in the world. You get to solve problems, express yourself, bring something new into the world and you get paid to do it. What's not to love.  Yet every day, creative pros face, tremendous pressure and uncertainty. The temptation is just to play it safe, surrender to distraction and settle for less than your best daily creative is about making sure that's not your story. 

Each episode focuses on a topic relevant to creative pros, like how to come up with ideas under pressure, or how the collaborate when you're overwhelmed, or how to lead your team and help them discover motivation. 

It's time to fall back in love with your work.

Listen to Daily Creative wherever you get your podcasts or subscribe in the Daily Creative app at dailycreative.app.

Daily Creative with Todd Henry

In this episode of Daily Creative, we sit down with Jesse Cole, the founder of the Savannah Bananas—a phenomenon that's redefining what it means to have fun at a baseball game. We share Jesse’s incredible journey from feeling uninspired in a “dream job” to igniting a revolution in sports entertainment. Bored with the traditional, slow-moving experience of baseball, Jesse asked the pivotal question: “How could we make this fun every time?”

We explore how Jesse leaned into bold ideas, ditched the predictable playbook, and replaced blandness with pure creative energy. Drawing inspiration from visionaries like Walt Disney and P.T. Barnum, Jesse made it his mission to build a show fans couldn’t stop talking about—complete with dancing staff, wild rules, and a sense of spectacle that makes every moment count. From the struggles of his early days as a young general manager, turning around a failing team with empty stadiums, to the sold-out, wildly viral success of the Savannah Bananas, Jesse reveals how continuous innovation and fan-first thinking can transform not only an experience, but an entire industry.

We go behind the scenes to unearth the Bananas’ creative process, from weekly idea pitching sessions inspired by Saturday Night Live to relentless experimentation and audience feedback. Jesse shares how his commitment to fun, learning from outside his industry, and obsession with new ideas keeps the Bananas experience fresh, exciting, and unforgettable night after night.

Five Key Learnings from This Episode:

Create What You Love: 1. The most remarkable creators, like Jesse, build experiences that they themselves would truly enjoy. If it doesn’t excite you, it’s unlikely to excite your fans.
Embrace the “What If” Question: 2. Growth and innovation come from questioning industry assumptions and daring to envision something completely different, even if it sounds “too much” at first.
Learn Across Industries: 3. Pull the best ideas from outside your field. Parallel thinking and adaptation of concepts (from Disney to the circus to WWE) helped make Banana Ball truly unique.
Prioritize Experience Over Promotion: 4. People must experience your difference—not just hear about it. The Bananas invest in the fan experience, letting viral moments and word-of-mouth do the marketing.
Iterate Fast and Learn Relentlessly: 5. The Bananas test new ideas every night, seek feedback, and adjust constantly to create moments audiences will remember and want to relive.

Get full interviews and bonus content for free! Just join the list at DailyCreative.app.

Mentioned in this episode:

The Brave Habit is available now

My new book will help you make bravery a habit in your life, your leadership, and your work. Discover how to develop the two qualities that lead to brave action: Optimistic Vision and Agency. 

Buy The Brave Habit wherever books are sold, or learn more at TheBraveHabit.com.

To listen to the full interviews from today's episode, as well as receive bonus content and deep dive insights from the episode, visit DailyCreativePlus.com and join Daily Creative+.

To listen to the full interviews from today's episode, as well as receive bonus content and deep dive insights from the episode, visit DailyCreativePlus.com and join Daily Creative+.

Banana Ball

Ever fantasized about sending a scorched-earth resignation email or confronting that “complicated” colleague head-on? In this episode, we explore the messy realities and hidden costs of revenge in the workplace—and uncover healthier, more powerful strategies for navigating conflict and difficult people.

We kick off with a viral real-life resignation email—an employee’s “digital declaration of war”—and ask: Is revenge ever the right answer, or just a tempting fantasy? To help us dig deeper, we welcome leadership expert and executive coach Ryan Leak, who shares research and tactics from his new book How to Work with Complicated People. Ryan challenges us to recognize that “complicated” is in the eye of the beholder, and often, the growth opportunity in conflict lies with us.

Then, conflict resolution specialist James Kimmel takes us into the neuroscience of revenge. We learn just how a grudge can hijack our brain like a drug—triggering temporary pleasure but lasting destruction. James shares practical, evidence-based steps for breaking the cycle and explains why forgiveness isn’t just a virtue but a neurological “wonder drug” for our own well-being. His new book is called The Science of Revenge.

Whether you’re dreaming of a Jerry Maguire exit or just tired of that one messy team dynamic, this episode will help you turn revenge fantasies into opportunities for learning, integrity, and genuine professional growth.
Five Key Learnings:“Complicated” Is Subjective: 1. What you find difficult in a colleague, someone else might find easy—meaning anyone (including ourselves) can be “complicated” to work with.
People Over Job Description: 2. Job satisfaction is far more influenced by the people you work with than by the actual work you do.
Honest Conversation Heals: 3. Growth and resolution often require stepping into vulnerable, authentic dialogue with colleagues—even if it’s uncomfortable.
Revenge Is Addictive—And Costly: 4. Neuroscience shows that seeking revenge lights up our reward centers like an addiction, but leaves us feeling worse and traps us in a cycle of pain.
Forgiveness as Self-Healing: 5. Quiet, internal forgiveness—without any big announcements—switches off our brain’s pain and reward loops, empowering us to make clearer, healthier decisions.

Mentioned in this episode:

To listen to the full interviews from today's episode, as well as receive bonus content and deep dive insights from the episode, visit DailyCreativePlus.com and join Daily Creative+.

NEW BOOK! The Brave Habit is available now

Rise to important moments in your life and work by developing the habit of bravery. Available in paperback, ebook, or audiobook wherever books are sold.

Learn more

Complicated People

In this episode of Daily Creative, we discuss how to make yourself stand out in a competitive job market by reversing the traditional job search approach. We highlight the inspiring story of Nina Mufleh, who broke through the job market noise with her innovative product listing resume, showcasing the exact qualities employers seek: creativity, problem-solving, and calculated risk-taking. 

Madeline Mann, our guest and author of the book Reverse the Search, shares insights on transitioning from being a job seeker to a job shopper, a mindset that attracts opportunities rather than chasing them. We explore the importance of focusing on connections during interviews, demonstrating authenticity, and shifting the narrative from telling your story to solving the company's challenges.

Key learnings from the episode:

 1. Job shoppers focus on presenting their value, creating opportunities for companies to sell them a position.
 2. Effective differentiation is key to catching an employer's attention in today's competitive job market.
 3. Avoid autobiography syndrome by focusing on how you can solve the company's needs instead of just sharing your story.
 4. Reduce perceived risk for employers by being transparent about your strengths and weaknesses.
 5. Approach interviews as conversations, emphasizing connection over perfection.

Get full interviews and daily content in the Daily Creative app at DailyCreative.app.

Reverse The Search

Chances are, you're probably not taking enough shots.

In this episode, we explore the importance of starting more and letting go of the pressure to finish everything. We discuss how embracing parallel creation and being unafraid to repeat ourselves can lead to brilliant work. We also hear from Becky Blades, Austin Kleon, Andy J. Pizza, and Ozan Varol about the significance of taking action on our ideas without being paralyzed by the fear of public perception.

Key Insights:

1. Overthinking can hinder creativity, so it's important to move from imagination to action swiftly.

2. Embracing the process of starting multiple ideas can help identify the ones worth persevering for.

3. Pay attention to the ideas that won't leave you alone, as they may be the keepers.

4. Life is more of a jungle gym than a ladder; sometimes the road ahead only becomes clear as you take each step.

5. Taking action on the ideas that resonate with you is crucial, as the world often lights the path ahead only a few steps at a time.

Get full interviews and daily content in the Daily Creative app at DailyCreative.app

Bambino (replay)

In this episode, we dive into the fascinating story of Fred Cox, a former NFL kicker for the Minnesota Vikings, who transitioned from the football field to becoming the inventor of the Nerf football. His story showcases how innovation can emerge from unexpected places and how outsiders with fresh perspectives often lead to groundbreaking changes.

We are also joined by Kim Christfort, chief innovation leader and national managing director at the Deloitte Greenhouse Experience and co-author of The Breakthrough Manifesto. She discusses the concepts of overcoming resistance to change, distinguishing between critical thinking and cynicism, and fostering innovation by maintaining a beginner’s mindset. Kim enlightens us on dealing with internal and external skepticism, optimizing team dynamics to promote innovation, and leveraging the language of your organization to advocate for new ideas.

Key Learnings:

Outsider Innovation:

Fred Cox’s journey from NFL kicker to the inventor of the Nerf football exemplifies how fresh perspectives can lead to groundbreaking innovations.

Critical Thinking vs. Cynicism:

Critical thinking involves asking provocative questions and seeking truth, while cynicism is a toxic presence that shuts down new ideas.

Beginner’s Mindset:

Adopting a beginner’s mindset helps strip away preconceived notions and encourages openness to new possibilities, crucial for fostering innovation.

Dealing with Skepticism:

Logical explanations and creating structured environments for discussion can help mitigate the impact of skepticism and keep innovation efforts on track.

Leveraging Organizational Language:

Framing innovation opportunities in the language of the company (e.g., ROI, culture) can make them more convincing and increase the likelihood of buy-in.

Get full interviews and daily content in the Daily Creative app at DailyCreative.app

Mentioned in this episode:

NEW BOOK! The Brave Habit is available now

Rise to important moments in your life and work by developing the habit of bravery. Available in paperback, ebook, or audiobook wherever books are sold.

Learn more

Outsiders

In today's episode of Daily Creative, we dive into the subtle yet powerful dynamics that can undermine our creative potential. Imagine you're driving down a familiar road, and your car begins to pull to one side, requiring constant correction just to stay on track. This metaphor perfectly encapsulates how certain hidden forces can slowly erode our creative output and lead us astray from our best work. These stealthy saboteurs are what we call the "Assassins of Creativity".

We'll explore how these assassins—Dissonance, Fear, and Expectation Escalation—work quietly behind the scenes to hinder our productivity and innovation. Through a recent keynote from Todd Henry, we break down these assassins and provide actionable insights on how to counteract them. From aligning tactics with strategy and purpose, to taking calculated risks in the face of fear, and managing expectations to maintain creative white space, this episode is packed with valuable lessons on sustaining creative excellence.

Five Key Learnings from this Episode:

Dissonance 1. - A gap between what we are doing and why we are doing it can create tension and zap our creative energy.
Fear 2. - When the perceived consequences of failure outweigh the perceived benefits of success, it prevents us from taking necessary creative risks.
Expectation Escalation 3. - Constantly increasing expectations can squeeze out the white space needed for creativity and innovation.
Unnecessary Complexity 4. - Overcomplicating problems can introduce dissonance and hinder a creative team's progress.
Opacity Phenomenon 5. - A lack of clear reasoning behind tasks can lead to dissonance and reduced engagement from creative professionals.

Get full interviews and daily content in the Daily Creative app at DailyCreative.app

Mentioned in this episode:

NEW BOOK! The Brave Habit is available now

Rise to important moments in your life and work by developing the habit of bravery. Available in paperback, ebook, or audiobook wherever books are sold.

Learn more

Assassins

In this episode we explore the importance of remaining open to unexpected detours and serendipitous moments in our creative and personal lives.

Our guest, Bernadette Jiwa, a recognized authority on storytelling in business innovation and the author of the book Hunch, offers deep insights into how curiosity, empathy, and imagination are vital traits for spotting transformative opportunities. Jiwa explains the crucial difference between ideas and opportunities, emphasizing the importance of addressing real problems rather than merely generating ideas.

We explore the concept that sometimes our objectives and goals can act as blinders, preventing us from recognizing valuable peripheral discoveries. Jiwa shares practical strategies for developing better awareness and tapping into serendipity, fostering the kind of curiosity and attention that can lead to breakthrough innovations.

Throughout the episode, Jiwa provides examples of how successful entrepreneurs have turned seemingly mundane observations into impactful solutions, reinforcing the value of remaining curious and empathetic in our pursuits.

Key Learnings:

Unexpected Discoveries: 1. Often, the most significant breakthroughs come from being open to accidents and unexpected findings, as demonstrated by Alexander Fleming's discovery of penicillin.
Curiosity, Empathy, Imagination: 2. These three qualities are common traits among individuals who consistently generate great ideas and can be cultivated by anyone.
Opportunities vs. Ideas: 3. True innovation addresses opportunities (problems begging for solutions) rather than just coming up with ideas.
The Limitation of Objectives: 4. Strict adherence to goals can limit our ability to see valuable opportunities in our surroundings.
The Power of Noticing: 5. Paying attention to the world around us, asking pertinent questions, and listening to our environment can lead to significant insights and innovations.

Get full interviews and daily content in the Daily Creative app at DailyCreative.app.

Hunch

Show Notes: Daily Creative - "So Emotional"

In this episode of Daily Creative, we explore the profound impact of emotion in our creative processes. We begin with a captivating story about Walt Disney and how his emotional response to rundown amusement parks sparked the creation of Disneyland—revolutionizing family entertainment forever.

We sit down with Greg Hoffman, former Chief Marketing Officer of Nike and author of "Emotion by Design," to delve into the power of creativity and emotion in brand building. Greg shares insights from nearly three decades at Nike, emphasizing that the most successful brands are those that form deep emotional connections with their audiences. He highlights the essential balance between analytical precision and the ineffable qualities of art, urging brands to respect the craft of storytelling rather than just producing content for distribution.

We also dive into a memorable story featuring legendary basketball coach, Mike Krzyzewski (Coach K), and how his advice to Nike’s marketing team parallels the creative journey—seeing what others don’t and transforming deep insights into iconic work. Greg discusses fostering a culture of risk-taking and empathy, which is vital in generating innovative and emotionally resonant work.

Five Key Learnings from This Episode:

Emotional Connection is Key: 1. Emotional responses to everyday problems can lead to groundbreaking solutions and innovations.
Balancing Art and Science: 2. Effective brand building requires a balance between analytical strategies and creative, human-centric storytelling.
Empathy as a Starting Point: 3. Successful creativity often begins with empathy, unpacking layers beyond simple observations to deeply understand the audience's needs.
Encouraging Risk-Taking: 4. Incentivizing risk-taking within your team can lead to more innovative and emotionally engaging outcomes.
Vision Advantage: 5. Developing a unique vision allows creatives to see opportunities others might miss, turning potential failures into compelling successes.

Get full interviews and daily episodes in the Daily Creative app at DailyCreative.app.

Mentioned in this episode:

NEW BOOK! The Brave Habit is available now

Rise to important moments in your life and work by developing the habit of bravery. Available in paperback, ebook, or audiobook wherever books are sold.

Learn more

So Emotional

In this episode, we delve into the question of whether it's better to be first to market... or second. Safi Bahcall, author of "Loonshots," discusses the importance of nurturing big ideas and differentiates between product-type (P-type) and strategy-type (S-type) innovators. Through historical anecdotes and industry examples, we explore whether it's more advantageous to be first or second to market, and how to leverage your strengths for lasting success.

Five Key Learnings:

First vs. Second to Market: 1. Being first isn't always an advantage. Sometimes being second allows you to learn from the first mover's experiences and refine your approach.
Importance of Storytelling: 2. Transformers succeeded partly due to a compelling narrative and superior marketing, emphasizing the power of storytelling in connecting with audiences.
Innovative Blind Spots: 3. P-type innovators can miss strategic market shifts, while S-type innovators might overlook technological advancements.
Ambidexterity in Innovation: 4. Combining product innovation with strategic innovation can significantly enhance the sustainability and reach of your ideas.
Self-Awareness: 5. Understanding your strengths and compensating for your weaknesses through complementary skills is crucial in navigating competitive markets.

Get full interviews, daily episodes, guides, Q&A segments, and more at DailyCreative.app.

Mentioned in this episode:

NEW BOOK! The Brave Habit is available now

Rise to important moments in your life and work by developing the habit of bravery. Available in paperback, ebook, or audiobook wherever books are sold.

Learn more

Early Bird, Second Mouse

In this episode, we reflect on the importance of vulnerability and kindness in fostering meaningful relationships, both personal and professional. Our guest, James Rhee, author of Red Helicopter, recounts an impactful kindergarten experience that taught him the value of goodwill and sharing. He likens the power of kindness to the magical world of "Harold in the Purple Crayon," emphasizing our ability to create goodwill through our actions.

We then delve into a conversation with Eric Barker, renowned for his book Plays well with Others. Eric reveals surprising insights about our relationships, especially how "frenemies" tend to cause more stress than outright enemies. He discusses ways to engage with difficult people empathetically, and he underscores the importance of vulnerability in building strong, supportive communities.

The episode wraps up with actionable advice from Todd’s latest book, The Brave Habit, focusing on how to cultivate brave teams through healthy conflict, protection of teammates, and the giving and receiving of feedback.
Key Learnings:Vulnerability is Crucial: 1. Being open and honest, even when it's difficult, is key to forming genuine relationships.
Goodwill is Powerful 2. : Small acts of kindness can create lasting positive impacts.
Manage Ambivalent Relationships 3. : "Frenemies" can be more stressful than outright enemies, so it’s vital to manage those relationships carefully.
Engage in Healthy Conflict 4. : Effective teams don't avoid conflict—they engage in it healthily and constructively.
Empathy and Community 5. : Building communities requires patience, empathy, and a focus on face-to-face interactions rather than digital ones.

Get full interviews and daily content in the Daily Creative app at DailyCreative.app

Mentioned in this episode:

NEW BOOK! The Brave Habit is available now

Rise to important moments in your life and work by developing the habit of bravery. Available in paperback, ebook, or audiobook wherever books are sold.

Learn more

Early Bird, Second Mouse

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