Creative Rebels

Gabriel DeSanti is building the world’s longest resume. He has worked as a mural painter, a delivery driver, a dog walker, a wedding dress designer, a wiener-man and lots more.Each week he goes to work with someone new, films it and the resulting videos have had millions of views.We talk about the people he’s met, content creation and how long it took to finally ‘make it’. Get full access to Creative Rebels at creativerebels.substack.com/subscribe

Bee was an elite swimmer as a child. They bring the determination and resiliance to their art career as they share their ups and downs through the work they make.This episode covers; approaching creativity as an athlete approaches sport, the behind the scenes studio struggles that no one sees and why you should work like you’re ‘peckish’.As always, when I have a visual artist on the show, it’s my pleasure to share some images of their work. Here are some of Bee’s illustrations :) Get full access to Creative Rebels at creativerebels.substack.com/subscribe

This podcast has helped me so much over the last year. I hope it’s helped you too!This week we speak to the legend, Alex Brychta, the illustrator who drew over 600 Biff, Chip and Kipper kid’s books. You can check out his work here: https://www.instagram.com/alexbrychtacreative/If you enjoy this episode - tell someone. Get full access to Creative Rebels at creativerebels.substack.com/subscribe

JOY! Collective is a creative production house from London, who specialise in huge public art projects. They describe themselves as an ‘outsource-able art department’.They began as mural painters in 2010 and focused on painting for many years. They still create murals but they also bring ideas to life in various creative ways that don’t always involve paint. In this episode we discussed finding the perfect business partner, getting clients and then once you have clients, getting them to trust you to deliver big projects.If you enjoyed this episode phone your gran on christmas day and tell her about it xx Get full access to Creative Rebels at creativerebels.substack.com/subscribe

This is one of my favourite discussions, with one of the most iconic designers of all time - Peter Yee We discuss how pain tolerance is essential in a creative career in fact, the path of the creative is one of the most uncomfortable you can take.Most people give up at the first sign of pain.Peter didn’t give up and as a result, 90% of the planet has seen his work at some point. From the Oakley ‘O’ logo, to his the over-the-top eyewear design, Peter’s designs have become timeless.It was an honour to interview such a legend and I’m really excited to share this conversation with you!Follow Peter Yee here: https://www.instagram.com/peteryeedesign Get full access to Creative Rebels at creativerebels.substack.com/subscribe

There have been three episodes of this show this year that have had a real impact on the art I’m making - podcasts with Luisa Omielan, Oliver Jeffers and this week’s episode with Alex Chinneck.Alex makes huge, incredible sculptures that deconstruct the world and put it back together. His work is surreal, it breaks the rules of gravity and physics.“There are more artists than opportunities” it’s time to become one of the artists that is getting the opportunities.Alex’s website - https://www.alexchinneck.com/Alex’s insta - https://www.instagram.com/alexchinneck/?hl=enIf you like this episode, tell everyone you’ve ever met, please. Get full access to Creative Rebels at creativerebels.substack.com/subscribe

This week you’re going to feel like you’re in the studio, listening in. I chatted to Frisbie about the realities of being an artist, from pouring time into big pieces to the pressures of posting on social. If you’ve not seen it, I’m excited to show you some of his hand made artworks!Frisbie’s website:www.byefrisbie.comOr search for byefrisbie on socials :)If you love this episode, maybe tell your friends and get a creative rebels tattoo x Get full access to Creative Rebels at creativerebels.substack.com/subscribe

Lava La Rue is the definition of a multi-hyphenate, they are a musician, a director, a designer and artist.In this episode we spoke about DIY culture and the idea that if you’re obsessed with what you do, you can build your own thing, even if you have no support. Build something, get people excited, create your own scene.If you enjoyed this episode, call everyone you know and tell them xLava’s new single ‘Easy Come Easy Go’ is OUT NOWLava on Insta : https://www.instagram.com/lavalarue Get full access to Creative Rebels at creativerebels.substack.com/subscribe

I was sitting at my kitchen table. Beans, my tiny cavapoo, was asleep on my lap. 4.29pm. 1 minute until the podcast is due to start. I go through the usual checks - mic is connected. Camera is on. My hat isn’t crooked. Internet is connected.Suddenly, my screen goes blank and a pop up appears.. “something something updates restart” Beans stirs as loud shutdown music plays. I hate being late. I start to panic. It’s so embarrassing to have a guest left in an online waiting room.It’s 4.33pm. I manage to get back online and luckily, my guest isn’t there yet.I quickly check my emails in case she came and went. Nothing, I’m in the clear.Six minutes later, Marsha logs in.“Sorry I’m late” she says, “I’ve been listening to your podcast so much that I feel like I know you. I was getting ready, thinking ‘it’s only David, he won’t mind’”I didn’t mind at all.This weeks guest is Yes Yes Marsha - she’s a storytelling expert.You won’t want to miss this one.***Marsha’s secret web page for you with EVERYTHING she mentioned - yesyesmarsha.com/creativerebels@yesyesmarsha on all socials too Get full access to Creative Rebels at creativerebels.substack.com/subscribe

I started a podcast as a hack. I wanted to speak to my heroes. If you email Seth Godin, Debbie Millman or Oliver Jeffers and ask for an hour of their time, the answer will probably be no.A podcast is the cheat code to having a conversation you never imagined you’d have and this week I get to tick another hero off of my list and share it with you.Oliver Jeffers has sold 18million books. But the first thing I asked about was his dip paintings. Because, it’s one of my all time favourite art projects.We spoke about Oliver’s long career as an author, illustrator and artist and navigating between them. This will be an episode I come back to many times. I hope you enjoy it. If you do - tell a stranger on the bus about it.Oliver’s links:Website - oliverjeffers.comInsta - @oliverjeffers Get full access to Creative Rebels at creativerebels.substack.com/subscribe

Jason Naylor is an artist, a designer and muralist known in New York for his bright colour palette and messages of positivity. He and I are both visual artists, our art carries similar messages of kindness and hope and our career ethos is similar too. This episode covers breaking up from a corporate 9-5, pitching brands and destroying trolls and haters with loveAs always, if you enjoy this episode, take out an ad in your local paper, thx.Jason’s website - https://jasonnaylor.nyc/Jason’s Insta: https://www.instagram.com/jasonnaylor/?hl=enOr just google Jason Naylor Get full access to Creative Rebels at creativerebels.substack.com/subscribe

Dr Rebecca Marks jokes that we shouldn’t listen to what critics and art historians say, but some of her unique takes in this interview, have been rattling around my brain since our discussion. Rebecca is an art historian, writer, and social media creator which is an interesting and pretty unique Ven diagram. In this episode we discussed some big topics, like the purpose of art and the ‘starving artist’ cliche. If you’re a long-time listener, you’ll know I’m always struggling with the tension of making art for yourself vs making it for an audience. My biggest take away from talking to Rebecca was her opinion that when an artist expresses their individual experience, it becomes an “expression of universal experience” that can resonate with a huge number of people.I hope you enjoy this one :) Get full access to Creative Rebels at creativerebels.substack.com/subscribe

It’s time to take yourself seriously.It’s time to give those silly little drawings or that silly little writing the respect it truly deserves.No longer will we be delusional. We are going to stop running from the villain and find the truth that is keeping our creative voice small.This week’s guest is the incredible Vanessa Aldrich.Vanessa’s Tiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/@vanessadomslifeVanessa’s substack - https://vanessaaldrich.substack.com/Vanessa’s website - https://www.anotefromself.com/ Get full access to Creative Rebels at creativerebels.substack.com/subscribe

This week I sit down with Quyen Dinh aka The Parlor WorkshopThe TikTok algo served me up one of Quyen’s incredible creations and I knew I had to try and get some time with this wonderland creator!We spoke about Quyen’s wiggly path to get where she is today. Growing up in a strict Vietnamese family, Quyen’s dad told her that art was selfish and that she needed to get a proper job.It’s something I see with so many creatives, the pressure of not ‘letting down’ your family can be really intense. At the end of it all though, you must follow your curiosity and live your own life. I’ve met countless people who have buried their creativity to please others and they always have huge regrets.In this episode we discuss;* The philosophy of pain and growth* Overcoming fear to create* Sacrificing income for creative freedom* Whether you need to post frequently on social media to be successful* And much more!If you like this episode, take out an ad in your local paper and let everyone know. THX xQuyen’s insta / tiktok - @the_parlor_workshop Get full access to Creative Rebels at creativerebels.substack.com/subscribe

Creatives can learn so much from comedians.If a painting, a piece of writing or a sculpture goes wrong for us at least it doesn’t go wrong on stage in front of 100 people. All artists are bearing their soul to an audience in one way or another but I believe comedians are the bravest, to do it so publicly.It’s always a pleasure to bring you an episode with the brilliant Liz Miele.In this episode we discuss;* Pay what you want platforms for creatives.* Being demonetized on YouTube and shadowbanned on Insta* Staying true to your craft as a creative and ignoring trends* The ‘fans’ that don’t deserve your workIf you enjoy this episode, please share it. Keep creating <3 Get full access to Creative Rebels at creativerebels.substack.com/subscribe

I’m excited to let you into the room to hear a discussion I was lucky enough to be a part of recently.I’ve just completed an artist residence at the University of Warwick, called ‘Retreat to Create’ as well as creating a mural and giving a keynote to the students, I hosted the panel talk you’re about to hear! My guests were; Doreen Foster who is the director of the Warwick Arts Centre, Jonothan Neelands the professor of creative education at UoW and Denisha Anderson who is an artist, filmmaker, photographer and documentary producer. We spoke about a big topic - the state of creativity in 2025. Get full access to Creative Rebels at creativerebels.substack.com/subscribe

Choosing the creative path isn’t for everyone.In fact, if you do, you’re purposely choosing an incredibly challenging life.But when you realise that everything is made up and you can choose to do whatever you want in life, things get easier.My favourite quote from this week’s guest, Erin Nystrom, is ‘if you don’t know yourself the world will tell you who to be’.I let the world tell me who I should be for the longest time. It takes a lot of courage to stand up and say, ‘I’m an Artist’ ( or writer/sculptor/poet/dressmaker/etc)You’re about to listen to a podcast that will make standing up 1% easier, because it will always be hard but maybe that 1% is what you’ve been waiting for.I hope this episode resonates with you like it did with me.Erin’s substack: Get full access to Creative Rebels at creativerebels.substack.com/subscribe

I’ll try and get Soph back again, because this podcast is a masterclass!We spoke about everything arty in this episode but one of the stand outs to me was our discussion on Sophie’s now famous ‘Charity Shop’ series. Sophie goes to a charity shop, buys an item, paints on it, returns it to the shop and the item is then resold. It has catapulted the already well known artist into another stratosphere. Soph knew she wanted to create an episodic series and we dive into everything it takes to make it. I’m currently seeing that the creators that are smashing it at the moment are making content in public. I wrote about it HEREHopefully this sparks something for you and your art!The article I reference during this episode is by the excellent The Black Hoody and can be found HEREFind Sophie on all channels by searching SOPHIE TEA ART Get full access to Creative Rebels at creativerebels.substack.com/subscribe

I know a lot of brilliant creatives who make incredible work. They don’t get many jobs, however, because they’re unprofessional. Missing deadlines, not delivering what was promised, being inconsistent - these are not the traits of the professional creative.Christoph Niemann is a successful artist, author, animator and illustrator. He has over a million followers on social, he has produced dozens of covers for the New Yorker and the New York Times. There’s even a Netflix doc about him.I was so lucky to sit down and pick his brain and to dissect his success - much of it comes from his professionalism. This episode will help you decide to treat the your creativity with the professionalism it deserves. To show up consistently to create. To find your artistic voice and to develop a portfolio that sells you.Christoph’s Insta - https://www.instagram.com/abstractsunday/?hl=enWebsite - christophniemann.com Get full access to Creative Rebels at creativerebels.substack.com/subscribe

The right answer is never the fun answer. Over the years of this podcast we’ve always said - you must choose consistent, daily creative work over the allure of virality. Jami Attenberg is evidence that it works. She uses writing to explore other worlds and connect with a wider audience but it’s her consistency that has made the difference. In this episode you’ll learn how an accountability pact with a friend, turned into tweet which grew into "1000 Words of Summer". A project, which now has a global community of over 50,000 people, helping countless individuals finish projects and even secure book deals. Jamie emphasises that true success comes from relentless dedication and self-accountability, not waiting for external permission or allowing projects to "abandon ship". If you can commit to 1000 words a day, your life could change.I’m so excited to share this episode with the powerhouse Jami Attenberg, with you all!Let me know what you think :)Jami’s substack - Website - https://www.jamiattenberg.com/1000wordsInsta - https://www.instagram.com/jamiattenberg/ Get full access to Creative Rebels at creativerebels.substack.com/subscribe