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What’s really sabotaging group brainstorms, and how can we create space for better ideas? In this episode of Now Go Create, Claire Bridges digs into why classic brainstorming often disappoints and lays out practical steps to get more from your next creative session. This episode unpacks the default pitfalls of group ideation: lack of facilitation, untrained listening, and a tendency for ideas to circle the drain instead of sparking breakthroughs. Drawing from research, personal experience, and tried-and-tested exercises, creativity trainer Claire offers actionable alternatives and fresh thinking tools to upgrade any creative meeting. Key Takeaways: Listening is the missing ingredient. Most people wait for airtime; the real magic happens when you’re willing to be changed by what you hear, not just waiting to speak.Group brainstorming is flawed by “collaborative fixation.” After hearing the first ideas, teams unconsciously cluster around those, limiting originality.Silent brainstorming works. Start every session with a few minutes of silent individual idea generation to unlock more diverse contributions and include quieter voices.The best ideas rarely arrive in the room. Real insights often show up unexpectedly after the session; on a walk, in the shower, or in a stray conversation. Bias in capturing ideas is real. Who gets heard and whose ideas make it to the whiteboard is often about volume, not value. Counter this by capturing every idea and, where possible, co-facilitating.Change how you listen. Bring frameworks, creative triggers, and make listening a conscious team habit. The more you notice, the stronger your ideas become. Something to Try In your next meeting, do two minutes of silent brainstorming before anyone shares an idea. Try “filling in the blanks” prompts (“If this goes brilliantly, what happens…?”) during group discussion. After the brainstorm, ask team members to write down the one question or open idea still on their mind, and leave it visible for the days that follow; you’ll be amazed what turns up in that quiet afterwards. About Claire Bridges: Claire Bridges is Chief Spark and Founder of leading creative training consultancy Now Go Create, whose philosophy is that everyone can be creative. Claire worked as a PR agency Managing Director and Creative Director working with global brands including Starbucks, Kellogg’s, Unilever, P&G and Danone in her previous PR career. Upskilling individuals, teams and organisations with practical creativity tools is Claire’s mission. She’s one of only 250 people globally to hold an MSc in Creativity, Leadership & Innovation, and authored an Amazon best-selling creative handbook In Your Creative Element based on her academic studies. Claire and her hand-picked team of experts have worked on thousands of creative projects and trained over 50,000 people around the world since starting Now Go Create in 2011. Connect with Claire: Website: https://nowgocreate.co.uk/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nowgocreate/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NowGoCreate LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/claire-bridges-b6205b14 Produced by winteraudio.co.uk

What do you do when you want to get more creative but there's no classroom, no team workshop, and no facilitator in sight? In this hands-on episode of Now Go Create, Claire Bridges hands you a solo toolkit to supercharge your creative thinking, just you, a notebook, and twenty minutes. The episode was sparked by a call from an ambitious agency professional itching to sharpen her creative skills on her own terms. So Claire maps out a self-guided journey built from the exact moves, mindset, and exercises she teaches in her acclaimed Creative Ninja courses, drawing on research, real-world examples, and the anniversary of her book In Your Creative Element. Across the episode, she walks you through five creative practices designed for immediate use on live briefs and real business challenges. Each one comes loaded with coaching questions, reflection points, and techniques you can put to work straight away, so grab a pen and follow along as you listen. You'll discover why creativity is a muscle anyone can build, and learn how to challenge your assumptions, ask sharper questions, borrow from unexpected worlds, fuel creative incubation, and evaluate ideas without killing them too soon. With nods to thinkers like Carol Dweck, Alan Alda, and Julia Cameron, this is your invitation to turn creativity into a daily, repeatable habit. Key Takeaways Creativity is a skill and a mindset, not a lottery win - swap your fixed beliefs for a growth mindset.Surface and challenge your hidden assumptions to unlock fresh solutions.Try "question storming" before you brainstorm, so you understand the real problem first.Steal inspiration from unrelated fields (related worlds) to break out of your rut.Feed your creativity with new experiences, fresh input, and deliberate incubation time; try some Julia Cameron-style ‘artist dates.Separate generating ideas from judging them, and give fragile ideas room to grow before you critique.Make creative thinking a repeatable habit; practice always beats perfection. Something to Try Take a real business challenge and run it through Claire's five moves: list and challenge every assumption, question storm around the problem, hunt for inspiration in a completely different field, deliberately step away to let your subconscious do the work, and only then start evaluating your ideas. Treat it like a creative workout, twenty minutes at a time and watch your confidence and creative muscle build. About Claire Bridges: Claire Bridges is Chief Spark and Founder of leading creative training consultancy Now Go Create, whose philosophy is that everyone can be creative. Claire worked as a PR agency Managing Director and Creative Director working with global brands including Starbucks, Kellogg’s, Unilever, P&G and Danone in her previous PR career. Upskilling individuals, teams and organisations with practical creativity tools is Claire’s mission. She’s one of only 250 people globally to hold an MSc in Creativity, Leadership & Innovation, and authored an Amazon best-selling creative handbook In Your Creative Element based on her academic studies. Claire and her hand-picked team of experts have worked on thousands of creative projects and trained over 50,000 people around the world since starting Now Go Create in 2011. Connect with Claire: Website: https://nowgocreate.co.uk/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nowgocreate/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NowGoCreate LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/claire-bridges-b6205b14 Produced by winteraudio.co.uk

In this toolkit episode of Now Go Create, Claire Bridges dives into the power of asking better questions at work and introduces the concept of a "question storm." Instead of jumping straight into brainstorming solutions, Claire Bridges explains how focusing on generating well-aimed questions can unlock true creative and problem-solving potential. Drawing on real-world insights and her years of experience helping teams boost creative thinking, she shares why curiosity and challenging the status quo are essential for innovation. Claire takes inspiration from experts and researchers, offering practical steps to facilitate effective question storming solo or in groups. She touches on how assumptions can stifle creativity, using cautionary tales from companies like Nokia and Kodak. She also shares techniques from influential books such as Daniel Kahneman's Thinking Fast and Slow and Michael Michalko's ThinkerToys. You’ll pick up question-based prompts to spark fresh thinking, learn why slowing down to ask the "right" questions matters, and discover creative confidence isn’t about having all the answers, but about challenging what needs to be asked. Key Takeaways: Creative progress thrives on curiosity, not certainty - be a "learn-it-all," not a "know-it-all."Rushing to brainstorm solutions often means tackling the wrong problem; question storming realigns your efforts.The Question Formulation Technique (QFT) sets four rules: ask as many questions as possible, don’t judge or answer yet, document questions exactly as stated, and reframe statements as questions.Spotting and challenging assumptions can break automatic, potentially faulty group thinking.“What if the opposite were true?” and “What would a beginner do?” are just two examples of powerful disruptive questions to use.Creating a safe space for questions, no matter how obvious or ‘silly’ they seem, unlocks creative confidence and uncovers hidden insights. Something to Try: At your next team meeting, run a "question storm." Set a timer and challenge everyone to write down as many questions about your current challenge as possible, without answering them. Afterwards, review them for new perspectives, assumptions to challenge, and better-framed problems to solve. Notice how it shifts the group’s thinking and the quality of ideas that follow. About Claire Bridges: Claire Bridges is Chief Spark and Founder of leading creative training consultancy Now Go Create, whose philosophy is that everyone can be creative. Claire worked as a PR agency Managing Director and Creative Director working with global brands including Starbucks, Kellogg’s, Unilever, P&G and Danone in her previous PR career. Upskilling individuals, teams and organisations with practical creativity tools is Claire’s mission. She’s one of only 250 people globally to hold an MSc in Creativity, Leadership & Innovation, and authored an Amazon best-selling creative handbook In Your Creative Element based on her academic studies. Claire and her hand-picked team of experts have worked on thousands of creative projects and trained over 50,000 people around the world since starting Now Go Create in 2011. Connect with Claire: Website: https://nowgocreate.co.uk/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nowgocreate/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NowGoCreate LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/claire-bridges-b6205b14 Produced by winteraudio.co.uk

In this episode of Now Go Create, host Claire Bridges welcomes facilitator, connector, and author Jan Keck, who is on a mission to make meetings more meaningful by moving beyond cringey icebreakers. Drawing from his own experiences with the anxiety and dread of the standard “go around the room and share a fun fact” activities, Jan reveals how these methods often backfire, leaving participants feeling disconnected, anxious, or locked in competition rather than genuine connection. Instead, he introduces us to "ice melters," a concept that reframes how we help groups bond, collaborate, and take creative risks together. Using stories from his forthcoming book Ice Melters and real-world examples, he shares practical tips for facilitators, leaders, and anyone eager to empower their team whether you’re leading an in-person workshop, training session, or Zoom call. Key Takeaways: Traditional icebreakers often ask participants to take bigger risks than they’re ready for, undermining true connectionThe physical environment matters, think more “campfire” and less “boardroom” when designing group experiencesA thoughtful, layered approach (like customising name tags) creates authentic inclusion from the moment people walk inGreat facilitators adjust to the group’s energy and needs like a thermostat, not a fixed agendaBuilding trust is a gradual process; creative breakthroughs happen when people feel safeManaging your own energy and creating flexible structures is as important for facilitators as for participants. Something to Try: At your next meeting or workshop, replace your standard “let’s go around and introduce ourselves” with a low-risk “ice melter.” Give everyone a choice like picking a sticker for their name badge or answering a simple visual and let conversation flow naturally. Notice how this shifts the room’s energy and paves the way for deeper, more creative collaboration. About Claire Bridges: Claire Bridges is Chief Spark and Founder of leading creative training consultancy Now Go Create, whose philosophy is that everyone can be creative. Claire worked as a PR agency Managing Director and Creative Director working with global brands including Starbucks, Kellogg’s, Unilever, P&G and Danone in her previous PR career. Upskilling individuals, teams and organisations with practical creativity tools is Claire’s mission. She’s one of only 250 people globally to hold an MSc in Creativity, Leadership & Innovation, and authored an Amazon best-selling creative handbook In Your Creative Element based on her academic studies. Claire and her hand-picked team of experts have worked on thousands of creative projects and trained over 50,000 people around the world since starting Now Go Create in 2011. Connect with Claire: Website: https://nowgocreate.co.uk/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nowgocreate/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NowGoCreate LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/claire-bridges-b6205b14 About Jan Keck: Jan Keck is a trainer, facilitator and experience designer. He is driven by a simple belief: real, deep connection beats small talk, every single time. During the pandemic, Jan has taught thousands of trainers, facilitators and educators how to recreate the “magic” of in-person gatherings online There’s nothing that breaks his heart more than witnessing individuals trapped in awkward icebreakers, feeling more isolated despite being in a group. This is why he is currently dedicating his time and energy into writing his first book “Ice Melters”, where he advocates ditching traditional Ice Breakers and shares his framework to increase engagement, build trust and foster deep connections - without making people cringe. Connect with Jan: Website: https://www.jankeck.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jankeck YouTube: https://youtube.com/c/mrjankeck Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrjankeck Produced by winteraudio.co.uk

If you’ve ever found yourself in a frustrating, awkward, or downright pointless meeting, this latest episode of the Now Go Create podcast is for you. Host Claire Bridges explores facilitation mishaps she’s encountered over her decades working as a creative director and professional workshop lead and facilitator. Drawing from real (anonymised) stories in client brainstorms and workshops, Claire Bridges reveals why even the most seasoned facilitators still get it wrong sometimes, and what they’ve learned through every’“facilitation mess-up.’ She dives into 7 common, messy realities that can derail great ideas: unclear briefs, unspoken criteria, resistant participants, hierarchy issues, tricky personalities, and windowless rooms that kill creativity. You’ll walk away with practical fixes, honest advice, and the confidence that if things go sideways, you’re definitely not alone. Key Takeaways: Preparation is everything. If the brief is fuzzy, your session will flounder. No amount of facilitation magic can save a dishonest or incomplete brief.Agree on criteria upfront, always clarify what “good” looks like and the non-negotiables before diving into idea generation.When people don’t want to be there, whether due to politics, lack of context, or simple resistance, find ways to regroup and reset the room (which can be as simple as a coffee/tea break).The loudest or most senior voice shouldn’t dictate outcomes. Try silent brainstorms, the 1-2-4-all method, and clear ground rules to support psychological safety and equal participation.Set and share “rules of engagement”. Use frameworks, brainstorming rules to keep sessions on-track, encourage wild ideas, and create safety for experimentation.Don’t take resistance personally. Participants’ attitudes often have nothing to do with you - focus on maintaining your energy, professionalism, and supportive “scaffolding.”Physical space matters, the venue, environment, and even the coffee can impact a workshop. Acknowledge discomfort, adapt on the fly, and prioritise participant wellbeing. Something to Try: Before your next workshop, spend extra time sharpening the brief and agreeing success criteria with the group. Make your brainstorming rules visible – print them, write them up, and refer back to them to reinforce psychological safety. If resistance surfaces, call a break. Step away, regroup, adjust. And if you’re stuck in a windowless room with bad coffee and low energy, let people get some air or grab a proper coffee. Ten minutes of goodwill can unlock far more creativity than forcing another half hour of effort. It could be the difference between ideas that land and ideas that never take off. For more ideas and practical tips, follow @NowGoCreate on social media, and don’t forget to follow or subscribe for future episodes focused on unleashing creativity at work. Now go create! About Claire Bridges: Claire Bridges is Chief Spark and Founder of leading creative training consultancy Now Go Create, whose philosophy is that everyone can be creative. Claire worked as a PR agency Managing Director and Creative Director working with global brands including Starbucks, Kellogg’s, Unilever, P&G and Danone in her previous PR career. Upskilling individuals, teams and organisations with practical creativity tools is Claire’s mission. She’s one of only 250 people globally to hold an MSc in Creativity, Leadership & Innovation, and authored an Amazon best-selling creative handbook In Your Creative Element based on her academic studies. Claire and her hand-picked team of experts have worked on thousands of creative projects and trained over 50,000 people around the world since starting Now Go Create in 2011. Connect with Claire: Website: https://nowgocreate.co.uk/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nowgocreate/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NowGoCreate LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/claire-bridges-b6205b14 Produced by winteraudio.co.uk

In this toolkit episode of Now Go Create, Claire Bridges introduces the concept of the premortem, a powerful technique for anticipating project pitfalls before they derail your ideas. Drawing from her extensive experience in creative thinking and strategy development, Claire demonstrates how asking the right questions early can transform uncertainty into opportunity and help teams avoid costly missteps. Clare shares real-world examples from organisations including Google, Stripe, Pixar, and Netflix, illustrating how pre-mortems foster honest feedback and more robust creative outcomes. You’ll learn practical steps to run your own pre-mortem, alongside insights into building resilience and healthy collaboration in creative projects. Key Takeaways: Many projects fail from overlooked risks, not the initial idea.Premortems give permission to voice concerns without negativity.Run premortems when ideas are solid, not in their early stages.The process helps surface hidden assumptions and blind spots.Use individual reflection before group discussion for unbiased input.Pixar and Netflix embed radical candour and continuous feedback in their cultures.Brain trusts provide expert peer feedback, helping refine ideas without hierarchy. Something to Try: Before your next project goes live, gather your team and run a pre-mortem. Imagine your project has failed six months down the line, and ask everyone to individually list reasons why it might have happened. Then, share and discuss the risks together, prioritise the most serious ones, and brainstorm ways to prevent them. Finish with a reflection on what you learned. This could be the critical step that takes your idea from good to great. About Claire Bridges: Claire Bridges is Chief Spark and Founder of leading creative training consultancy Now Go Create, whose philosophy is that everyone can be creative. Claire worked as a PR agency Managing Director and Creative Director working with global brands including Starbucks, Kellogg’s, Unilever, P&G and Danone in her previous PR career. Upskilling individuals, teams and organisations with practical creativity tools is Claire’s mission. She’s one of only 250 people globally to hold an MSc in Creativity, Leadership & Innovation, and authored an Amazon best-selling creative handbook In Your Creative Element based on her academic studies. Claire and her hand-picked team of experts have worked on thousands of creative projects and trained over 50,000 people around the world since starting Now Go Create in 2011. Connect with Claire: Website: https://nowgocreate.co.uk/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nowgocreate/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NowGoCreate LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/claire-bridges-b6205b14 Produced by winteraudio.co.uk

How do you turn a frustrating workshop into a creative, inclusive space where everyone feels heard without reinventing the wheel each time? In this enlightening episode of Now Go Create, host Claire Bridges sits down with Robert Cserti, co-founder of SessionLab, the go-to platform for workshop and meeting design loved by facilitators worldwide. Claire and Robert get honest about the art and science of facilitation, what makes a meeting truly work, and why embracing both introverts and extroverts is the secret sauce to group creativity. If you ever find yourself leading meetings, brainstorming sessions, or workshops (even with a little dread), this episode is packed with practical tools, stories, and mindset shifts plus a few laughs around “the dreaded icebreaker.” Here are this week’s highlights: Robert Cserti shares the story behind creating SessionLabWhat are the most popular workshop templates?The debate around icebreakers: cringe or crucial? Designing sessions for every kind of thinkerWhat to do when your agenda goes out the windowIncorporating movement and mental breaks: Claire’s “cloud walk” and other playful ideas to reignite energy and imaginationThe rise of facilitation as a professional superpower Behind the scenes at SessionLabThe challenge (and chaos) of hybrid meetingsManaging your energy as a facilitator. Try this week: Next time you plan a meeting or workshop, pick one new tool or method this episode or a simple silent reflection exercise. Notice how it pulls in different voices and improves the outcome. About Claire Bridges: Claire Bridges is Chief Spark and Founder of leading creative training consultancy Now Go Create, whose philosophy is that everyone can be creative. Claire worked as a PR agency Managing Director and Creative Director working with global brands including Starbucks, Kellogg’s, Unilever, P&G and Danone in her previous PR career. Upskilling individuals, teams and organisations with practical creativity tools is Claire’s mission. She’s one of only 250 people globally to hold an MSc in Creativity, Leadership & Innovation, and authored an Amazon best-selling creative handbook In Your Creative Element based on her academic studies. Claire and her hand-picked team of experts have worked on thousands of creative projects and trained over 50,000 people around the world since starting Now Go Create in 2011. Connect with Claire: Website: https://nowgocreate.co.uk/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nowgocreate/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NowGoCreate LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/claire-bridges-b6205b14 About Robert Cserti: I'm fascinated by the art and science of facilitation. Since taking my first facilitation training in 2009, I've been captivated by how thoughtfully designed workshops transform the way people collaborate and learn together. This passion led me to co-found SessionLab. After years of designing and facilitating workshops myself, I grew frustrated with the lack of tools that truly supported the creative process behind effective group experiences. I wanted to create something better – not just for myself, but for all the facilitators in the field. Today, SessionLab has grown into a platform that helps thousands of facilitators, L&D and OD professionals design thoughtful group experiences. While building our company, I continue to facilitate workshops whenever possible – these hands-on experiences keep me connected to the challenges and joys of bringing people together for meaningful collaboration. Connect with Robert: Website: https://www.sessionlab.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertcserti/ Produced by winteraudio.co.uk

What if your best creative breakthroughs aren’t sitting on your laptop, but waiting for you outside? In this episode of the Now Go Create podcast, Claire Bridges invites you to step away from your desk and into a more embodied creative practice. Claire draws on her own experience running creative workshops, her creative director roots, and insights from psychology to explore how movement, the world around us, and even a simple walk can spark fresh ideas and deeper creative thinking. Inspired by John Cleese’s quote, “We don’t know where we get our ideas from, but we know we don’t get them from our laptops,” Claire challenges the default habit of expecting ideas to emerge from our teams when they’re glued to screens and instead encourages everyone to embrace a Creative Safari as a way of working and generating new perspectives. In this episode: The science behind why staying glued to your screen actually blocks great ideasHow embodied cognition thinking with your whole body can help generate creative breakthroughsWhy “thought walks” and creative safaris are Claire’s go-to approach for teams and individuals to unlock new perspectivesPractical exercises you can try: from tuning into your senses on a walk, to noticing new things through your peripheral visionHow giving your mind and body space (even just 10 minutes outdoors) enriches your creative processWhy noticing, not forcing, is key: letting curiosity and observation lead you to new insightsUsing themes (Claire plays with the idea of “abundance” in the podcast) to subconsciously expand what you see, notice, and connect withTools for working alone or with teams including photographing what sparks your interest during your creative safariHow the principles of incubation, permission, and curiosity nurture original thinking and help fight creative blocks Try this week: Don’t force your next idea. Instead, take Claire’s advice and go on your own creative safari, or take your team on one. Leave your desk, walk with a loose prompt or question, and see what you notice.When you return, ask yourself how your fresh observations might connect to your creative challenge or simply enjoy the wider perspective it brings. About Claire Bridges: Claire Bridges is Chief Spark and Founder of leading creative training consultancy Now Go Create, whose philosophy is that everyone can be creative. Claire worked as a PR agency Managing Director and Creative Director working with global brands including Starbucks, Kellogg’s, Unilever, P&G and Danone in her previous PR career. Upskilling individuals, teams and organisations with practical creativity tools is Claire’s mission. She’s one of only 250 people globally to hold an MSc in Creativity, Leadership & Innovation, and authored an Amazon best-selling creative handbook In Your Creative Element based on her academic studies. Claire and her hand-picked team of experts have worked on thousands of creative projects and trained over 50,000 people around the world since starting Now Go Create in 2011. Connect with Claire: Website: https://nowgocreate.co.uk/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nowgocreate/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NowGoCreate LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/claire-bridges-b6205b14 Produced by winteraudio.co.uk

In this short, slightly, scrappy, 10-minute bonus episode, the strategist’s strategist Julian Cole joins me again - this time for a real-time riff on how to devise a usable strategy brief… when you don’t actually have one. Julian has worked with Uber, Apple, Facebook, Disney and more, and is known for demystifying strategy and making it accessible. In our previous full-length episode, we got so deep into strategy chat that my producer gently told me off for going way over time. So here’s the fun bit we couldn’t bear to delete. What we cover in this mini-episode:Where to start when no usable brief exists Julian shares his “brief audit” approach — the mandatories, the nice-to-knows, and how to avoid reinventing the wheel. Live strategy development: The Dog Teeth Whitening Brief Yes, really. We take a fictional vet chain launching a dog teeth-whitening service and unpack:The business problem vs the consumer problemHow to explore audience motivations, goals and fearsWhy aesthetics is never really about aestheticsHow social connection, status and even loneliness show up in strategic thinking Inside Julian’s strategic process We walk through:Defining goals and problemsUsing goal/fear dynamics to find emotional territorySpotting potential insightsBuilding three “strategy napkins” — quick, rough territories you can test with clients or creatives Why messy thinking is part of the process Strategy rarely arrives fully formed. This episode shows the real-world expansion phase — the part most people never see. Why listen to this bonus?If you ever need to develop a strategy without a proper brief (which, let’s be honest… is more often than we may like), this episode gives you a practical, human, and transparent look at how a top strategist begins to approach the problem. About Claire Bridges Claire Bridges is Chief Spark and Founder of leading creative training consultancy Now Go Create, whose philosophy is that everyone can be creative. Claire worked as Managing Director and Creative Director working with global brands including Starbucks, Kellogg’s, Unilever, P&G and Danone in her previous PR career. Upskilling individuals, teams and organisations with practical creativity tools is Claire’s mission. She’s one of only 250 people globally to hold an MSc in Creativity, Leadership & Innovation, and authored an Amazon best-selling creative handbook In Your Creative Element based on her academic studies. Claire and her hand-picked team of experts have worked on thousands of creative projects and trained over 40,000 people around the world since starting Now Go Create in 2011. Join our weekly email for free resources and worksheets to go with the podcast. Connect with Claire: Website: https://nowgocreate.co.uk/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nowgocreate/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NowGoCreate LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/claire-bridges-b6205b14 About Julian Cole: Julian Cole is a strategy consultant to leading brands including Uber, Apple, Facebook, and Disney. Previously he was Head of Comms Planning at BBDO New York, where he oversaw a team of 15+ strategists who created award-winning work for Bacardi, Footlocker, Mountain Dew, GE, Snickers, M&Ms, Lowes, Interscope Records, Bombay Sapphire and the Sandy Hook Foundation. Prior to that he was Head of Communications Planning at BBH New York, helping to launch the PlayStation 4 to be the highest selling console launch in gaming history. With a void of practical strategy education, in 2019 Julian started the Strategy Finishing School and he has taken his world class experience and taught it to over 4,000 strategists. Connect with Julian: Website: https://strategyfinishingschool.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliancole/ Produced by winteraudio.co.uk

What does it take to turn an idea into a brand new industry? In this lively episode of Now Go Create, host Claire Bridges sits down with Daisy Amodio, creative dynamo, founder of The Proposers, a royal wedding planner, and visionary behind 5,000 unforgettable marriage proposals. Claire and Daisy dig into how an impromptu treasure hunt for her brother kickstarted Daisy’s journey from advertising account manager to “queen of proposals,” defying doubters, inventing her own playbook, and genuinely creating a category from scratch. If you’ve ever been told your ideas are ‘rubbish’ Daisy’s story will inspire you to trust your gut, experiment, and persist despite the naysayers. Listen in for Daisy’s take on creating bespoke experiences for an audience of one, and turning Pinterest boards into live events, including dressing up cats and negotiating to have your face on the Eiffel Tower! Here are the highlights: Daisy turned her brother’s proposal into a creative business idea and, despite scepticism, pioneered the proposal planning industryEven after surveying 500 men who dismissed her idea as “rubbish,” Daisy trusted her gut and pushed forwardHow to get personal for an audience of one - Daisy and her team dive deep into clients’ lives, stalking Pinterest boards, social media, and moreSpectacular proposals: From a fake drug arrest in Barcelona to 50 cats dressed as waitersDaisy and Claire discuss the unique challenges of balancing spectacular creative ideas with seamless executionDaisy often says yes first taking on wild requests and figuring out solutions laterDealing with burnout and Daisy’s journey to a more sustainable work-life balance.Daisy urges aspiring entrepreneurs to be determined, trust themselves, and “fake it till you make it” Try this week: Got a “rubbish” idea you can’t shake? Take a small action toward it research, pitch, or share it with someone you trust. Explore your creative niche: What’s your unique story, and how could you double down on it, even in the face of scepticism? About Claire Bridges: Claire Bridges is Chief Spark and Founder of leading creative training consultancy Now Go Create, whose philosophy is that everyone can be creative. Claire worked as a PR agency Managing Director and Creative Director working with global brands including Starbucks, Kellogg’s, Unilever, P&G and Danone in her previous PR career. Upskilling individuals, teams and organisations with practical creativity tools is Claire’s mission. She’s one of only 250 people globally to hold an MSc in Creativity, Leadership & Innovation, and authored an Amazon best-selling creative handbook In Your Creative Element based on her academic studies. Claire and her hand-picked team of experts have worked on thousands of creative projects and trained over 50,000 people around the world since starting Now Go Create in 2011. Connect with Claire: Website: https://nowgocreate.co.uk/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nowgocreate/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NowGoCreate LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/claire-bridges-b6205b14 About Daisy Amodio: Daisy Amodio is the trail-blazing Founder & CEO of The Proposers, the first-ever marriage proposal planning company, and the global pioneer of romantic event planning. Recognised as the No. 1 Proposal Planner in the World, Daisy transformed a heartfelt idea into a thriving industry, planning over 6,000 unique proposals with an unparalleled 100% “YES” success rate. Operating from her office at the top of her game in The Shard London, Daisy leads a dedicated team of seven planners who bring the magic to life for international clients; including royalty, sports stars, actors, and many high-net-worth individuals. Their work is celebrated across international newspaper press and radio and frequently by the BBC. Daisy is no stranger to TV either from her first Sky TV show in 2011, famously called The Proposers, to her most recent Channel 4 “Will You Marry Me” show. Daisy is a confident presenter and keynote speaker at business industry conferences and the global stage. Connect with Daisy: [email protected] The Proposers https://www.theproposers.co.uk/ Will You Marry Me Channel 4 https://www.channel4.com/programmes/will-you-marry-me https://www.linkedin.com/in/daisy-amodio-9845ba48/ Produced by winteraudio.co.uk

Are you feeling flat, uninspired, or stuck in a rut with your creative work? You’re not alone and you don’t have to go it alone either. Following on from last week’s episode of Now Go Create Claire Bridges chats to improv specialist and storytelling coach Maria Peters for a lively, practical deep-dive into getting yourself out of a creative slump (and why it’s actually normal to have one!) Claire and Maria open up about the telltale signs of a slump, the difference between external and internal validation, why creative flow is so elusive, and how helpful constraints, a dash of play, and some improv magic can get you unstuck fast. Plus, they explore tools including the ‘artist date’ and an eye-opening exercise they call the ‘jealousy map’, a fresh way of using envy as a creative compass. If you’ve ever compared yourself to others, felt your creativity wane, or simply wondered how to nudge yourself back toward inspiration, this episode is packed with stories, and practical micro-actions you can try right away. Here are the highlights: Spotting a slump: Why comparison and self-doubt are classic signalsInternal vs. external validation and how to recentre on your own creative compassThe magic (and science) of flowHow limits can jumpstart your ideas (and why improv isn’t as wild as you think)“Yes, and”: Using the improv mindset with your own ideasMorning pages, artist dates, and creative ‘micro-doses’The jealousy map, playful exercise to use envy or jealousy as a signpost for your own creative desiresRefilling your creative well, why pleasure, play, and tiny nudges matter as much as big breakthroughsHow to shake yourself out of autopilot (and what to try if you’re in a rut today!). Try this week: Schedule an ‘artist date’ with yourself - two hours (or whatever you can manage) doing something just for fun, no output required. Do your own jealousy/creative envy check: Whose work, life, or output do you wish was yours? What is it specifically you want? Let that guide your next small creative move. Do you have a creative challenge or dilemma for a future episode? Email [email protected] or join our weekly email for free creativity resources and worksheets at nowgocreate.co.uk About Claire Bridges: Claire Bridges is Chief Spark and Founder of leading creative training consultancy Now Go Create, whose philosophy is that everyone can be creative. Claire worked as a PR agency Managing Director and Creative Director working with global brands including Starbucks, Kellogg’s, Unilever, P&G and Danone in her previous PR career. Upskilling individuals, teams and organisations with practical creativity tools is Claire’s mission. She’s one of only 250 people globally to hold an MSc in Creativity, Leadership & Innovation, and authored an Amazon best-selling creative handbook In Your Creative Element based on her academic studies. Claire and her hand-picked team of experts have worked on thousands of creative projects and trained over 40,000 people around the world since starting Now Go Create in 2011. Connect with Claire: Website: https://nowgocreate.co.uk/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nowgocreate/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NowGoCreate LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/claire-bridges-b6205b14 About Maria Peters: You might have seen her at The Comedy Store in Leicester Square, guesting with Paul Merton & Suki Webster's Impro Show. Or as a member of the Yes Queens London West End's first female lead improv comedy group. As a performer and co-creator of The Playground one of London’s most popular nights. Or improvising musicals in Bristol with This is Your Musical. You might know her from her critically acclaimed solo show, The Science of Cringe, that played to sell-out audiences at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. On BBC One or heard her writing on BBC Radio Comedy. Maria has collaborated with Now Go Create to run our storytelling workshops and With her diverse background in comedy, writing, and performance with the BBC, UKTV and at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Maria brings a unique and valuable perspective to all of her workshops. ​ Connect with Maria: Website: https://www.mariapeters.co.uk/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mariapetersimprov/ Produced by winteraudio.co.uk

What do you do when the creative ideas stop flowing? In this episode of Now Go Create, host Claire Bridges gets real about a topic we don’t talk about enough: the creative slump. She shares her own recent experience, and explores why slumps might happen, how they differ from creative burnout or “block,” and why we shouldn’t panic when the creative tide is out. Introducing her practical “Creative CAT Scan” self-check-in, designed to help listeners get curious about their own moods, take micro-actions, and approach themselves with genuine tenacity and compassion. If you’ve ever found yourself staring at a blank page feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or just plain flat even though creativity is part of your job, this is the episode for you. Here are the highlights: Why creative slumps are different from burnout or creative blockWhat’s really happening in our brains during a slump and why rest helpsClaire’s go-to tactics for an immediate energy boost (walks, smoothies, noodling, and more)The “Creative CAT Scan”, a self-diagnosis exercise for Curiosity, Action, and TenacityExpert insights: practical suggestions from Claire’s creative networkWhy self-compassion (not criticism) can help you out of a holeInspiration from past guests and listeners on resilience under creative pressure Do you have a creative challenge or dilemma for a future episode? Email [email protected] or join our weekly email for free creativity resources and worksheets at nowgocreate.co.uk About Claire Bridges: Claire Bridges is Chief Spark and Founder of leading creative training consultancy Now Go Create, whose philosophy is that everyone can be creative. Claire worked as a PR agency Managing Director and Creative Director working with global brands including Starbucks, Kellogg’s, Unilever, P&G and Danone in her previous PR career. Upskilling individuals, teams and organisations with practical creativity tools is Claire’s mission. She’s one of only 250 people globally to hold an MSc in Creativity, Leadership & Innovation, and authored an Amazon best-selling creative handbook In Your Creative Element based on her academic studies. Claire and her hand-picked team of experts have worked on thousands of creative projects and trained over 40,000 people around the world since starting Now Go Create in 2011. Connect with Claire: Website: https://nowgocreate.co.uk/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nowgocreate/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NowGoCreate LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/claire-bridges-b6205b14 Produced by winteraudio.co.uk

In this episode, Claire Bridges sits down with Jody Orsborn Medina, experiential creative director and founder of Recess, a global creative community and incredible resource hub. Jody shares her journey from in-house and agency life to freelancing, and how the need for authentic connections inspired her to start Recess. What began as monthly internal inspiration sessions has blossomed into a worldwide network and the must-have Creative Playbook, championing collaboration and open access to creative resources. Jody and Claire discuss the realities of creative life: battling “inspiration overload,” embracing your nontraditional path, and how everyone from producers to designers to strategists can lay claim to creativity. They dive into global creative trends from the Playbook, practical hacks for working smarter, battling imposter syndrome, and the importance of breaking down gatekeeping in the creative industries. This episode is packed with actionable insights for anyone looking to stay inspired and build a creative community, whatever your job title. Here are the highlights: Introduction: Why Jody started Recess Anatomy of a Recess session and what makes them work The Creative Playbook: How it came about, what’s inside & who it’s for Favourite creative hacks, daily tools & tips from the Playbook How Jody curates the playbook, and why diversity of resource matters How freelancers can beat isolation & build community The creative power of producers and challenging creative ‘gatekeeping’ Nonlinear creative careers: permission to claim creativity Imposter syndrome: lessons from creative leaders What Jody’s experimenting with next, making space for personal creative work Quickfire: Jody’s two top suggestions to spark creativity right now. Do you have a creative challenge or dilemma for a future episode? Email [email protected] or join our weekly email for free creativity resources and worksheets at nowgocreate.co.uk About Claire Bridges: Claire Bridges is Chief Spark and Founder of leading creative training consultancy Now Go Create, whose philosophy is that everyone can be creative. Claire worked as a PR agency Managing Director and Creative Director working with global brands including Starbucks, Kellogg’s, Unilever, P&G and Danone in her previous PR career. Upskilling individuals, teams and organisations with practical creativity tools is Claire’s mission. She’s one of only 250 people globally to hold an MSc in Creativity, Leadership & Innovation, and authored an Amazon best-selling creative handbook In Your Creative Element based on her academic studies. Claire and her hand-picked team of experts have worked on thousands of creative projects and trained over 40,000 people around the world since starting Now Go Create in 2011. Connect with Claire: Website: https://nowgocreate.co.uk/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nowgocreate/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NowGoCreate LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/claire-bridges-b6205b14 About Jody Orsborn Medina: Jody Orsborn Medina is an Experiential Creative Director who has worked on projects for Shopify, Canva, Vice, Live Nation, Intel, Google and more. As a freelancer, she missed having a time in the day to connect with other creatives and share inspiration. So she created one and RECESS was born - an online gathering bringing creatives, designers and strategists together to share what’s currently inspiring them in the world. She also releases a yearly free-to-download Creative Playbook featuring tips, tricks and insights from global creatives. Get the playbook: https://www.cometorecess.com/playbook2025 Connect with Jody: Website: www.cometorecess.com (download the Playbook for free!) Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cometorecess/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jodyorsborn/ Produced by winteraudio.co.uk

Congratulations, you’ve made it to the end of Summer School! In this special wrap-up episode, host Claire Bridges recaps the five creative nudges you experimented with over the summer, and brings them together into a practical, personalised toolkit to help you approach September (and beyond!) with confidence and curiosity. As you say goodbye to summer, Claire shares the three most powerful coaching questions she uses with clients and in her own life, designed to unlock possibility, shift your thinking, and build creative momentum, whatever challenges you’re facing next. Highlights: Claire recaps all five Creative Nudge tools covered this summerHow to treat your everyday environment as a “creative safari” and source fresh inspiration without traveling farInsights from previous podcast guests Tom Oldham (perspective shifts) and James Mallinson (managing your self-talk and inner critic)Why recognising and addressing your internal dialogue is crucial for creative growth and what to do if self-doubt is holding you backThe ultimate Creative Toolkit: Five approaches to use whenever you’re stuck, plus three game-changing coaching questions:What creative habit will you commit to keeping?Wouldn’t it be amazing if...?What if the opposite were true?Practical examples and tips for applying these questions to real work and life challenges.Encouragement to use curiosity not perfection as your guiding star.How to download all the Creative Nudge tools, worksheets, and prompts in one handy Creative Nudge Toolkit. Your Creative Challenge: As summer ends, reflect on the creative habits or tools that felt most energising. Which will you keep up as you head into September? Try using the three coaching questions to reframe your next problem or project, journal your answers, and notice what new possibilities arise. Invite your teammates or friends to play along! Bonus: Want all the tools and exercises in one place? Download your Creative Nudge Toolkit here: [Need Link] About Claire Bridges Claire Bridges is the founder of Now Go Create. She’s helped over 50,000 people across the globe unlock their creative potential, and her mission is to show that creativity genuinely is for everyone. Claire’s background includes leading creative strategies for big-name brands and authoring the best-selling “In Your Creative Element.” She holds an MSc in Creativity, Leadership, and Innovation, and thrives on equipping individuals and teams with tools to tackle challenges and grow creative confidence. Get more creativity resources, worksheets, and podcast updates by joining the Now Go Create mailing list. Get in touch with Claire: [email protected] Connect with Claire: Website: https://nowgocreate.co.uk/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nowgocreate/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NowGoCreate LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/claire-bridges-b6205b14

How loud is the voice in your head that tells you you’re not good enough, or worries you’re about to mess things up? Welcome to week five of Now Go Create’s Summer School with Claire Bridges. This week’s creative nudge is all about noticing your self-talk and learning how to shift that critical inner voice into something much kinder (and more helpful for your creativity). The short voice note podcast this week is from hypnotherapist James Mallinson. Whether you’re poolside or taking a break from work, this nudge is designed to help you identify negative self-talk and transform it into something that better serves you. Highlights: Claire introduces summer’s fifth “Creative Nudge” and explains the value of tuning into your internal dialogueSpecial guest James Mallinson shares why your inner critic is often “dripping poison in your head” and what to do about itStep-by-step guidance on recognising negative self-talk (including not just the words, but the harsh tone and speed)Tips for crafting your own punchy, positive alternativeSmart ideas to reinforce your new voiceWhy research supports this approach: shifting your internal voice boosts resilience and creativityBonus encouragement to practice this nudge all week, and share your experience with Claire. Your Creative Challenge: Next time you catch yourself ‘talking down’ to yourself, pause. Write down what you said, note how and when it showed up, then fight fire with fire. Create a new phrase that’s as punchy and personal as your negativity, but positive and constructive. Repeat it until it sticks! As James says: “Start talking in your head with that new voice. Say it again and again and again.” Bonus: Interested in going deeper? Listen back to the full Inner Critic episode 18 with James Mallinson. What is the Creative Nudge Summer School: A free, six-week email series dropping into your in-box each week, get a simple creative tool or tip from ClaireA partner podcast episode to help you go deeper and learn on the moveA practical worksheet or prompt to instantly apply the nudge to real work or life projectsAn optional “buddy system” to check in and share learnings boosting accountability and connectionA short, snappy WhatsApp-style audio note from Claire with bonus stories and inspirationAll the resources and worksheets are yours to download for your own use or for running creative sessions with your team. Claire’s approach is all about building creative agility and confidence through small, consistent habits so you finish the summer with a toolkit you can actually use. At the end, you’ll receive a creative habit map to guide your next steps. Interested? The first email drops July 16th, and you can join any time for the full six-week journey. Sign up for the weekly email nudges and workbook: https://mailchi.mp/nowgocreate.co.uk/creative-nudge About Claire Bridges Claire Bridges is the founder of Now Go Create. She’s helped over 50,000 people across the globe unlock their creative potential, and her mission is to show that creativity genuinely is for everyone. Claire’s background includes leading creative strategies for big-name brands and authoring the best-selling “In Your Creative Element.” She holds an MSc in Creativity, Leadership, and Innovation, and thrives on equipping individuals and teams with tools to tackle challenges and grow creative confidence. Get more creativity resources, worksheets, and podcast updates by joining the Now Go Create mailing list. Get in touch with Claire: [email protected] Connect with Claire: Website: https://nowgocreate.co.uk/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nowgocreate/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NowGoCreate LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/claire-bridges-b6205b14