In this episode of the SuperCreativity Podcast, James Taylor speaks with Professor Masud Husain, neurologist, neuroscientist, essayist, and author of Our Brains, Ourselves: What a Neurologist's Patients Tell Him About the Brain. A leading researcher at the University of Oxford, Husain explores how the brain constructs our sense of self—and what happens when that system breaks down.

Through remarkable patient stories—from a man who loses his motivation after a stroke to a woman whose hand acts with a mind of its own—Husain shows how identity, motivation, and consciousness emerge from the fragile architecture of the brain. Together, they discuss the neuroscience of apathy and addiction, the role of dopamine in behavior, the intersection of AI and neurobiology, and what it truly means to be human.

If you've ever wondered how much of "you" is shaped by your brain—and how much you can change—this conversation offers profound insights into the science of the self.

• The brain builds identity — Selfhood arises from multiple interacting functions: memory, motivation, attention, and perception.
  
  

• Apathy and addiction share the same circuitry — Dopamine links motivational cues to action; too little or too much disrupts balance.
  
  

• Motivation can be restored — Dopaminergic treatments show promise for patients whose "will to act" has vanished after brain injury.
  
  

• Attention is selective and limited — The brain filters vast sensory input, sustaining focus through the right hemisphere's networks.
  
  

• We remain flexible — Even in adulthood, the brain's plasticity allows for self-directed change in habits, motivation, and mindset.
  
  

"Our brains create our identities—ourselves. And when a part of that function fails, so does a piece of who we are." – Prof. Masud Husain

"Motivation is not just psychological—it's biological. It lives in deep circuits that connect desire to action." – Prof. Masud Husain

"Apathy and addiction are two sides of the same coin—they both involve the brain's motivation system gone wrong." – Prof. Masud Husain

"We can still learn and reshape who we are. Even in adulthood, the brain remains astonishingly flexible." – Prof. Masud Husain

• 00:00 – Introduction to Professor Masud Husain and Our Brains, Ourselves
  
  

• 01:24 – How neurological patients reveal the building blocks of identity
  
  

• 03:18 – Why the self is a neuro function, not a philosophical abstraction
  
  

• 05:24 – The brain as a "controlled hallucination" machine
  
  

• 06:57 – Case study: David, apathy, and the basal ganglia
  
  

• 09:54 – Dopamine, motivation, and recovery through treatment
  
  

• 14:35 – Oxford study on apathy and brain activation differences
  
  

• 16:23 – Apathy vs. addiction: the same motivation circuitry at work
  
  

• 19:02 – Dopamine as the "wanting" transmitter, not the pleasure chemical
  
  

• 21:52 – Attention, distraction, and why focus is so difficult to sustain
  
  

• 24:50 – How Marvin Minsky's "society of mind" shaped modern neuroscience
  
  

• 27:55 – The illusion of self: from Descartes to Buddhist philosophy
  
  

• 30:12 – Case study: Anna's "alien hand" and body representation in the brain
  
  

• 33:38 – Phantom limbs, body maps, and how tools become part of us
  
  

• 36:01 – When machines become extensions of the self
  
  

• 37:41 – How adults can retrain motivation and change behavior
  
  

• 39:26 – Why the brain's plasticity offers lifelong potential for growth
  
  

• 40:05 – Book recommendation: Principles of Neuroscience by Eric Kandel
  
  

• 40:46 – Where to learn more: masudhusain.org
  
  

• Book: Our Brains, Ourselves
  
  

• Website: masudhusain.org
  
  

• Recommended Read: Principles of Neuroscience by Eric Kandel and James Schwartz

In this episode of the SuperCreativity Podcast, James Taylor interviews Dr. Anna Abraham, neuroscientist, educator, and author of The Creative Brain: Myths and Truths. As the E. Paul Torrance Professor at the University of Georgia and director of the Creativity and Imagination Lab, Dr. Abraham has spent decades exploring the science behind creativity and imagination.

Together, they dive deep into some of the most persistent myths about creativity—from the supposed link between creativity and mental illness to the popular idea that creativity is only a "right brain" activity. Along the way, Dr. Abraham explains how creativity actually works in the brain, what makes myths so sticky, and why everyday creativity is just as important as exceptional genius.

If you've ever doubted your creative potential because of stereotypes or wanted to understand what science really says about imagination, this conversation will change how you think about creativity forever.

• Creativity & mental illness — There are links, but they are complex, nuanced, and shaped by vulnerability and environment, not destiny.
  
  

• Right brain vs. left brain — Both hemispheres play a role; the metaphor is useful, but the science is more complicated.
  
  

• Everyday creativity matters — Creativity isn't just about lone geniuses; it's about building your own creative "fitness."
  
  

• Precarity fuels vulnerability — From writers working alone to creative industries hit hardest by crises, uncertainty impacts mental health.
  
  

• Creativity is a skill — Like fitness, it can be measured, trained, and improved with the right practices and tools.
  
  

"Every myth has a kernel of truth—it's the way the story gets told that flattens it into something misleading." – Dr. Anna Abraham

"Creativity is less like magic and more like fitness—it improves with practice." – Dr. Anna Abraham

"We like outlandish explanations for creativity more than the truth, because they make a better story." – Dr. Anna Abraham

"The unglamorous part of creativity is the real truth: it's a craft, and you have to keep working at it." – Dr. Anna Abraham

• 00:00 – Introduction to Dr. Anna Abraham and The Creative Brain
  
  

• 01:17 – Myth #1: Creativity and mental illness
  
  

• 06:32 – Why myths about creativity persist in culture
  
  

• 11:46 – Myth #2: The right brain is the seat of creativity
  
  

• 16:35 – The metaphorical power (and limits) of right vs. left brain
  
  

• 18:17 – Creativity and dementia: de novo creativity explained
  
  

• 21:56 – Improvisation, jazz, comedy, and breaking the path of least resistance
  
  

• 25:57 – Training yourself to disrupt automatic thinking patterns
  
  

• 29:02 – Defining creativity for business audiences: creativity vs. innovation
  
  

• 30:12 – The Torrance Test and measuring creativity in children and adults
  
  

• 34:55 – Myth of the lone creative genius: why context matters
  
  

• 39:42 – The most pervasive myths about creativity today
  
  

• 42:50 – Practice makes the performance look "natural"
  
  

• 44:25 – Book recommendations: Rick Rubin's The Creative Act and Bill Bryson's The Body
  
  

• 47:51 – Where to learn more about Dr. Abraham's work
  
  

• Book: The Creative Brain: Myths and Truths
  
  

• Website: anna-abraham.com
  
  

• Recommended Reads:
  
  

• • The Creative Act by Rick Rubin
    
    

  • The Body by Bill Bryson
    
    

In this episode of the SuperCreativity Podcast, James Taylor speaks with Anne-Laure Le Cunff — neuroscientist, entrepreneur, founder of Ness Labs, and author of Tiny Experiments: How to Live Freely in a Goal-Obsessed World.

Anne-Laure shares her personal journey from Google's hustle culture to a health crisis that sparked a radical rethinking of success. Instead of chasing fixed goals and rigid outcomes, she advocates for a mindset of tiny experiments—low-risk, curiosity-driven trials that build resilience, creativity, and self-knowledge.

We explore her insights on neuroscience, neurodiversity, and how curiosity paired with ambition leads to growth. Whether you're an entrepreneur, leader, or recovering goal-setter, this conversation will help you embrace uncertainty, cultivate creativity, and design a life built on exploration rather than obsession.

• Goals can trap us — shifting to tiny experiments fosters learning, joy, and freedom.

• Curiosity + ambition = experimental mindset — a healthier alternative to perfectionism or cynicism.

• Neurodiversity as strength — ADHD and nonlinear thinking can be powerful in the right environments.

• Failure ≠ failure — experiments reframe outcomes as data and opportunities to learn.

• Practical tools — "Plus, Minus, Next" weekly review and stop-doing lists can spark creativity and focus.

"Success is not reaching a goal. Success is learning something new." – Anne-Laure Le Cunff

"A tiny experiment has no fixed outcome. Your only goal is to show up and explore." – Anne-Laure Le Cunff

"Curiosity without ambition is escapism. Ambition without curiosity is perfectionism. An experimental mindset is both." – Anne-Laure Le Cunff

"We don't need to fix brains. We need to design environments that fit different brains." – Anne-Laure Le Cunff

• 00:00 – Introduction to Anne-Laure Le Cunff and Tiny Experiments

• 01:18 – A health crisis at Google that changed everything

• 04:08 – Hustle culture, identity, and immigrant family expectations

• 05:57 – Leaving Google and family reactions

• 07:34 – Startup life: why uncertainty felt scarier than overwork

• 09:27 – When startup failure became freedom

• 10:50 – Returning to study neuroscience out of curiosity

• 12:40 – Curiosity, ADHD, and neurodiversity as superpowers

• 14:57 – The first "tiny experiment" and the generation effect

• 17:42 – Recall, connections, and building a personal knowledge network

• 21:27 – Systems vs. goals and how tiny experiments bridge the gap

• 26:09 – Redefining success: not binary, but data and learning

• 28:53 – OKRs, KPIs, and where experiments fit in business

• 30:53 – Non-attachment, curiosity, and Buddhist parallels

• 31:57 – Curiosity + ambition: the experimental mindset matrix

• 35:32 – The dangers of "one true purpose"

• 39:54 – How to start your first tiny experiment today

• 40:47 – The "Plus, Minus, Next" weekly review ritual

• 42:03 – Recommended book: How to Change Your Mind by Michael Pollan

• 43:21 – Where to find Anne-Laure's work and newsletter

• Book: Tiny Experiments (Penguin)

• Website & Newsletter: Ness Labs

• Recommended Read: How to Change Your Mind by Michael Pollan

In this episode of the SuperCreativity Podcast, James Taylor speaks with Dr. Leidy Klotz, engineer, designer, behavioral scientist, and author of Subtract: The Untapped Science of Less. Klotz reveals why our brains are biased toward adding complexity—and why the smartest solution is often to remove, reduce, or simplify.

From Lego bridges and Jenga-inspired problem solving to organizational strategy and sustainability, Klotz shows how subtraction can fuel innovation, improve decision-making, and create more meaningful lives. Learn why leaders struggle to showcase competence by doing less, how subtraction improves team morale, and why sustainability, education, and design sectors are embracing the power of removal.

If you've ever felt overwhelmed by too many meetings, endless features, or bloated systems, this conversation will inspire you to see less as progress, not sacrifice.

• Our brains default to adding, not subtracting — but subtractive thinking can create elegant and effective solutions.

• Visible subtraction matters — leaders must model it for teams to feel empowered to simplify.

• Sustainability thrives on subtraction — less packaging, less waste, less complexity equals more progress.

• Subtraction boosts morale — removing tasks or meetings frees up mental energy and creativity.

• Simple rituals help — swap to-do lists for stop-doing lists, or remove one recurring meeting to reclaim focus.

• 00:00 – Introduction to Dr. Leidy Klotz and Subtract

• 01:49 – Why addition isn't always the answer

• 04:08 – The Lego bridge story: A child's insight into subtraction

• 07:00 – Why subtraction feels harder than addition

• 09:54 – The visibility problem: How leaders can model subtraction

• 13:39 – Subtraction in leadership: examples from Steve Jobs and Capital One

• 16:14 – Maya Lin's Vietnam Veterans Memorial as a powerful subtractive design

• 19:56 – Marie Kondo, "omit needless words," and joyful subtractions

• 21:47 – Innovation vs. exnovation: why patents rarely focus on subtraction

• 23:30 – Sustainability as subtraction: packaging, waste, and planetary limits

• 26:30 – Rituals: stop-doing lists, subtractive AI prompts, and meeting-free time

• 28:15 – How subtraction improves morale and team performance

• 31:59 – From marginal gains to subtractive culture in organizations

• 34:20 – Airlines, hotels, and small subtractions that save costs and resources

• 36:22 – Quotes, notebooks, and tools for creativity

• 38:22 – Book recommendations: Soccer in Sun and Shadow & The Extended Mind

• 39:45 – Where to learn more about Leidy Klotz and his upcoming work

• Book: Subtract: The Untapped Science of Less

• Website: Leidy Klotz

• Recommended Reads:

  • Soccer in Sun and Shadow by Eduardo Galeano

  • The Extended Mind by Annie Murphy Paul

In this episode of the SuperCreativity Podcast, James Taylor sits down with Dr. James C. Kaufman, one of the world's leading creativity researchers and a professor of educational psychology at the University of Connecticut. Known for groundbreaking concepts like the 4C Model of Creativity and the Sylvia Plath Effect, Kaufman's latest book, The Creativity Advantage, explores how creativity impacts our lives far beyond innovation—enhancing our emotional well-being, self-insight, relationships, and sense of meaning.

Together, they explore:

• The science-backed benefits of creativity and how they apply to everyone.

• Why process matters more than outcomes in creative work.

• How AI is reshaping creativity—both its opportunities and risks.

• Practical steps to unlock your creative potential and cultivate openness in everyday life.

Whether you're an artist, leader, educator, or someone just beginning your creative journey, this conversation will inspire you to see creativity as a powerful tool for growth, connection, and resilience.

• Creativity benefits everyone — You don't have to be a professional artist or innovator to gain its emotional and cognitive rewards.

• Process over product — The act of creating often matters more than the final outcome.

• Openness is key — Trying one new thing a week can significantly expand your creative mindset.

• AI is a collaborator, not a replacement — Use it to augment, not replace, your creative processes.

• Creativity fosters well-being — From journaling to micro-creative habits, small practices can have profound effects on mental health and self-awareness.

• 00:00 – Introduction to Dr. James C. Kaufman and his work

• 01:08 – How a personal family experience inspired his research on meaning and creativity

• 02:58 – Why focusing on process over outcomes changes everything

• 05:49 – Writing as a tool for self-insight and healing

• 06:43 – Balancing solo and collaborative creative work

• 08:47 – The power of creative partnerships

• 10:34 – Discovering a passion for creativity research at Yale

• 13:15 – The origins of the Sylvia Plath Effect and its widespread misinterpretation

• 18:04 – Creativity, neurodivergence, and misunderstood narratives

• 20:34 – Audience responses to The Creativity Advantage

• 22:22 – AI, creativity, and the importance of human engagement

• 23:05 – The next generation of creativity researchers

• 25:50 – How attitudes toward creativity have shifted in business and education

• 28:14 – Creativity's role in healing and well-being in an "always-on" world

• 30:42 – The risks and opportunities of AI as a creative collaborator

• 35:41 – Simple habits to nurture creativity: Openness and trying new things

• 37:25 – A personal mantra for staying grounded

• 38:03 – Finding your optimal time of day for creative flow

• 38:57 – Recommended reads for exploring creativity

• 39:54 – Closing thoughts

• Dr. James C. Kaufman's Website: creativityandmadness.com

• Book: The Creativity Advantage

• Book: Cambridge Handbook of Creativity

• Recommended Reads:

  • Wired to Create by Scott Barry Kaufman

  • The Creativity Choice by Zorana Ivcevic Pringle

  • The Art of Insubordination by Todd Kashdan

In this episode of the SuperCreativity Podcast, James Taylor interviews Dr. Joseph Jebelli, neuroscientist and author of The Brain at Rest and In Pursuit of Memory. Together, they explore how rest isn't laziness but a neural necessity that unlocks creativity, productivity, and mental clarity.

Discover the neuroscience behind the brain's default mode network (DMN), why overwork accelerates aging and burnout, and practical strategies for harnessing rest to spark creative insights. Dr. Jebelli also shares actionable tips on micro-rest practices, the surprising cognitive power of nature, and why doing "nothing" could be the most productive thing you do today.

Perfect for entrepreneurs, creatives, leaders, and anyone looking to work smarter—not harder.

• Rest is a productivity tool: Rest activates the brain's default mode network, boosting intelligence, memory, and creativity.

• Burnout rewires the brain: Chronic overwork shrinks the hippocampus, enlarges the amygdala, and accelerates cognitive aging.

• Micro-rest techniques work: Short breaks, naps, and even just staring into space can enhance problem-solving and creative thinking.

• Nature fuels creativity: Spending as little as 20 minutes in green or blue spaces significantly improves creativity, memory, and immune health.

• Cultural mindset shift needed: From hustle culture to embracing rest as a key driver of performance and well-being.

"People often succeed in life not despite their inactivity but because of it." – Dr. Joseph Jebelli

"Rest isn't powering down; it's your brain switching states and forming new connections." – Dr. Joseph Jebelli

"Nature is full of what psychologists call soft fascinations—things that hold your attention effortlessly and calm the brain." – Dr. Joseph Jebelli

"The more you rest, the sharper and more creative your brain becomes." – Dr. Joseph Jebelli

• 00:00 – Introduction to Dr. Joseph Jebelli and his work

• 01:32 – Personal story: How overwork led to insights about rest

• 05:07 – The statistics behind burnout and its neurological effects

• 08:29 – The cultural roots of overwork and the Protestant work ethic

• 13:36 – The brain's default mode network explained

• 17:31 – Why naps grow your brain (literally)

• 20:27 – Creativity, the shower effect, and hypnopompic states

• 24:26 – The importance of green and blue spaces for brain health

• 28:49 – Micro-rest practices for everyday life

• 33:22 – The connection between place, nature, and creativity

• 41:24 – Favorite quotes and reflections on solitude

• 44:09 – Why boredom sparks creativity

• 45:46 – Rituals vs. apps for better rest and productivity

• 47:27 – Book recommendation: The Expectation Effect by David Robson

• 49:00 – How to connect with Dr. Jebelli

• Dr. Joseph Jebelli's Website: drjosephjebelli.com

• Book: The Brain at Rest

• Book: In Pursuit of Memory

• Recommended Read: The Expectation Effect by David Robson

In this solo episode, James Taylor shares his favorite listening game—Only Questions—and shows how strategic curiosity can unlock trust, insight, and innovation. You'll learn the science of the curiosity gap (why a good question makes the brain restless until it gets an answer), the three reasons leaders suppress curiosity (ego, speed, fear), and a practical playbook for asking better follow-ups, spotting surprises, and building a personal "question bank." Includes a Zurich-to-Dubai story where one question turned into a keynote-worthy insight.

• Play "Only Questions." Make it your mission to learn as much as possible about the other person—without talking about yourself. It sharpens listening and builds trust fast.

• Use the Curiosity Gap. As behavioral economist George Loewenstein described, the gap between what we know and what we want to know pulls attention like gravity—great communicators open that gap on purpose.

• Why curiosity gets suppressed: Ego (signal expertise), speed (rush to ship), and fear (looking uninformed). Naming these helps you counter them.

• Questions change rooms. "What problem are we actually trying to solve?" and "What if we flipped the approach?" surface constraints and reveal blind spots.

• Follow-up is where the gold is. Ask "Why is that important to you?" or "What's been the biggest challenge so far?" to go deeper.

• Train your curiosity muscle. Listen for surprises, keep a running list of great questions, and practice in low-stakes settings (planes, breaks, 1:1s).

• Pro travel tip: Bring chocolates for cabin crew—they often know the stories behind the seats.

• "Only Questions is a deliberate exercise in curiosity."

• "In leadership, innovation, and creativity, curiosity is a superpower—and it's massively underused."

• "Some of the biggest breakthroughs didn't come from the right answers; they came from better questions."

• "The most valuable insight you hear this month might come at 35,000 feet—starting with two words: What's interesting?"

• 00:09 — The game: How Only Questions works and why James plays it on long-haul flights.

• 01:xx — Outcomes: Building trust, mapping context, and collecting insight—while revealing almost nothing about yourself.

• 03:xx — The Curiosity Gap: Why questions hook attention and keep people engaged.

• 04:xx — The blockers: Ego, speed, and fear—how they shut down inquiry in business.

• 05:xx — Questions that shift strategy: "What problem are we actually solving?" and "What if we flipped it?"

• 06:xx — Zurich→Dubai story: A finance conversation that became a keynote-level case study.

• 07:xx — The practice plan: Follow-ups, listening for surprises, and keeping a question bank.

• 08:xx — Travel tip: Chocolates for crew = social intel.

• 09:xx — Closing prompt: Open a curiosity gap—start with, "What's interesting?"

If this episode sparked better questions, like, follow, and subscribe to the SuperCreativity Podcast—and share it with a teammate who leads innovation.
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