From Science Kits to Strategy Games: The Story Behind Thames & Kosmos with Andy Quartin and Ted McGuire Ted McGuire (President) and Andy Quartin (CEO) of Thames and Kosmos What if playing games could make you smarter, more creative, and a better collaborator? In this special Toy Fair 2025 episode, I sit down with Andy…
The Secret to Better Communication? Play More Games Can a card game make you a better communicator? John Cooper thinks so. A retired NASA engineer turned game designer, John created The Gang, a cooperative twist on poker that reveals how we think, trust, and strategize under pressure. In this episode, we break down the psychology…
The missing ingredient in your creative process. What’s more important—saying it how you want or making sure your message is understood? In this episode of Your Creative Mind, Izolda Trakhtenberg challenges us to rethink communication and clarity. Through engaging storytelling, she explores the way we express ourselves, the importance of adapting to our audience, and…
Writing with Grit: Kathleen Marple Kalb Tackles Big Issues in Cozy Mysteries Women in media, publishing, and storytelling—breaking barriers and writing fearlessly How do you balance a high-pressure career, a thriving creative passion, and real-life challenges—all without losing yourself in the chaos? Kathleen Marple Kalb knows. As a top-of-the-hour radio anchor and an award-winning mystery…
What Makes an Idea Stick? Secrets from Two Creative Powerhouses What if your next big idea wasn’t just creative—but also wildly successful? In this episode of Your Creative Mind, I talk with Gavin Lawler and Neal Hoffman, two brilliant minds who have turned their creative visions into real-world wins. From innovative storytelling to building brands…
Why Fresh Hell Works: Dialogue that Sizzles and Makes You Laugh This week’s Your Creative Table Read with Playwright Brian Cern and Actors Julie Brandon, Barry Wallace, and Izolda Trakhtenberg. Brian Cern, Playwright Brian Cern is a Twin Cities-based actor and playwright whose work has won numerous awards and contests throughout North America. A member of…
What happens when history, activism, and theater collide? The producers of The Return of Benjamin Lay break it down. What happens when a story refuses to be forgotten? The Return of Benjamin Lay isn’t just a play—it’s a powerful lesson in courage, creativity, and using your voice for change. In this episode of Your Creative…
Mindfulness Isn’t What You Think—It’s How You Think Do your thoughts ever feel like they’re running the show—pulling you in a hundred directions at once? In this episode of Your Creative Mind, we’re exploring what it truly means to have a mindful mind. Mindfulness isn’t just about stress relief—it’s a game-changer for creativity, focus, and…
What if the choices you make today echo beyond this life? In this episode of Your Creative Mind, we bring you a live table read of Expiration Date, a play that explores love, memory, and second chances in a way that will stick with you long after you listen. You’ll hear an engaging, thought-provoking performance…
The trilling drills into your brain. “Alexa, shut up,” you shout. She huffs a boing but simmers down. You burrow deeper into comfy covers while the dawn light meanders across the wall of your sparse Brooklyn bedroom. Is it OK to languish and swallow the thousand nagging doubts and “what the hell were you thinking?”…