Podcast
CREATIVITY is the JOB of the FUTURE
Hosted by Doreen Lorenzo and Michael Baker · EN
Let's Talk About the Real Job Skill of the Future: Creativity. According to the World Economic Forum, creativity is one of the most essential skills for the future of work. As technology and life move faster than ever, how do we keep up—and stand out? One word: CREATIVITY. Creative thinking isn't just for artists. It's about seeing new possibilities, challenging assumptions, and reimagining what's possible. In each episode, Doreen Lorenzo and Michael Baker explore how people unlock their creative thinking superpowers to tackle complex challenges, uncover unexpected paths to success, and adapt to rapid change. You'll hear from an inspiring mix of guests: experienced designers, storytelling architects, ultramarathoners, chess club pioneers, culture shapers, tech recruiters, and more. Join our community of curious minds and discover how creative thinking can reshape your work—and your life.
12episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Hartmut Esslinger & Patricia Roller: The Head and the Heart of Creativity
4w ago01:04:20Tap to summarizeIn this expansive conversation, we explore what it really means to build something true and why honesty, passion, and the courage to be seen matter more in creative work than ever. Hartmut Esslinger, founder of frog design and the industrial designer behind Apple's iconic Snow White design language, and Patricia Roller, frog's longtime co-CEO and founder of Vidlet, join Doreen and Michael to challenge comfortable assumptions about creativity, talent, and what society owes to the people who have it. From Hartmut navigating a political minefield inside Apple to Patricia's admission that she felt like an imposter among designers for decades, only discovering her own creativity when she built Vidlet from the ground up, both guests share hard-won wisdom about what it takes to do meaningful work. Hartmut argues that if you're talented and not diligent enough to deserve it, that's a crime. Patricia shares that recognizing your own form of creativity may take a lifetime and look nothing like what you expect. They dig into the corporate chaos behind the Snow White years at Apple, why AI keeps recycling the past instead of imagining the future, how Vidlet is forcing companies to face the unedited truth of their customers' real experiences, and what design education dangerously gets wrong. Whether you work in a creative field or lead one, this episode challenges you to ask: are you being honest about what you can do — and what you owe the world for being able to do it? Topics covered: creativity vs. talent, the Apple years and Snow White design language, design education, AI and design, customer research and truth-telling, frog design culture, Vidlet, industrial design vs. art, and the obligation of passion. More about Hartmut and Patricia: Vidlet: https://www.vidlet.com frog design: https://www.frog.co frog50 Munich – A Conversation with Hartmut Esslinger and Patricia Roller: https://www.frog.co/designmind/frog50-munich-conversation-hartmut-esslinger-patrica-roller Hartmut Esslinger on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hartmut_Esslinger Patricia Roller, Authority Magazine: https://medium.com/authority-magazine/inspirational-women-leaders-of-tech-patricia-roller-of-vidlet-on-the-five-things-you-need-to-know-6c89dc1c9b6b A Fine Line by Hartmut Esslinger (Jossey-Bass, 2009) Keep It Simple by Hartmut Esslinger (Arnoldsche, 2014) Learn more about the show: https://www.cjfpodcast.com Learn more about the show: https://www.cjfpodcast.com/ Follow us: Creativity is the Job of the Future on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/creativity-is-the-job-of-the-future/ Doreen Lorenzo LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/doreenlorenzo/ Michael Baker LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mlchaelbaker/ Rebecca McInroy LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebeccamcinroy
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Harper Reed: Identity and Purpose in the Age of Artificial Intelligence
May 701:01:40Tap to summarizeIn this wide-ranging conversation, we explore what happens when AI accelerates everything, including our doubts about the future. Harper Reed, entrepreneur and technologist from Chicago, joins us to discuss how AI is fundamentally changing the nature of work, creativity, and identity. From his early days learning to code at five years old to founding companies in the age of large language models, Harper shares his unconventional philosophy on building products, the importance of taste and discernment, and why the real threat to our future isn't AI, it's the lack of social infrastructure. We dig into the "conviction collapse" of rapid AI iteration, the role of creativity in solving existential problems, and what it really means to be human in a world where machines can generate code, art, and even humor. Whether you're worried about AI taking your job or excited about what's possible, this episode challenges you to look inward at what you're really afraid of losing. Topics covered: AI and coding, entrepreneurship, creativity vs. automation, social safety nets, environmental concerns, generational perspectives on the future, and finding joy in uncertain times. More about Harper: Harper's Website: https://harperreed.com/Harper's Blog: https://harper.blog/Harper on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/harperreed Harper on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harper_Reed Learn more about the show: https://www.cjfpodcast.com/ Follow us: Creativity is the Job of the Future on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/creativity-is-the-job-of-the-future/ Doreen Lorenzo LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/doreenlorenzo/ Michael Baker LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mlchaelbaker/ Rebecca McInroy LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebeccamcinroy
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Season 1 Wrap: Harnessing the Power of Creativity
Jan 100:35:53Tap to summarizeWhat connects an international experience designer, competitive ultra-marathoner, NASA storytelling architect, joyful culture change agents, creative recovery coaches, celebrated design educator, nursing innovation researcher, and an Emmy-nominated storyteller? In this Season 1 wrap-up episode, hosts Doreen Lorenzo, Michael Baker, and Executive Producer Rebecca McInroy revisit the most powerful moments from their first season, exploring how creativity serves as an essential tool for solving problems and navigating change. More about our Season 1 guests: Fri Forjindam: Fri on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/friforjindam/ Mycotoo: https://mycotoo.com/ Ed Shelton:Ed on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edshelton/ Ed's blog: https://fox-runner.com/Ed's running stats: https://ultrasignup.com/m_results_participant.aspx?fname=Ed&lname=Shelton Paul Propster:Paul on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-propster/ Luna Malbroux:Luna on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luna-malbroux-03062110/ Luna's website: https://www.lunaisamerica.com/ A.J. Haynes:A.J. on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/a-j-haynes/ A.J. on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/a.j.haynes/ A.J. and The Seratones: https://www.seratones.com/bio Sky Hilton:Skye on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/skye-hilton-6240a6bb/ Troy Whittington:Troy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/troy-whittington-36847b14/ Gray Garmon:Gray on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/graygarmon/ Marion Leary:Marion on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marionleary/ Marion's Website: https://marionleary.mystrikingly.com/ Marion on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marion_Leary Baratunde Thurston:Baratunde's Website: https://www.baratunde.com/ Baratunde on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/baratunde/ Baratunde on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/baratunde Baratunde on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/baratunde Baratunde on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@baratunde Baratune's Newsletter: https://newsletter.baratunde.com/ Episode website: Learn more about the show: https://www.cjfpodcast.com/ Follow us:Creativity is the Job of the Future on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/creativity-is-the-job-of-the-future/ Doreen Lorenzo LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/doreenlorenzo/ Michael Baker LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mlchaelbaker/ Rebecca McInroy LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebeccamcinroy
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Baratunde Thurston: Creative Connection
Nov 300:56:56Tap to summarizeIn this conversation with hosts Doreen Lorenzo and Michael Baker, Baratunde Thurston, creator of the Life with Machines podcast and host of PBS's America Outdoors, explains why creativity is the antidote to AI's "planet of averageness" and why the real danger isn't that robots will take over, it's that people will become robots through the industrialization of creative thought. More about Baratunde:Baratunde's Website: https://www.baratunde.com/ Baratunde on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/baratunde/ Baratunde on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/baratunde Baratunde on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/baratunde Baratunde on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@baratunde Baratune's Newsletter: https://newsletter.baratunde.com/ Episode website: Learn more about the show: https://www.cjfpodcast.com/ Follow us:Creativity is the Job of the Future on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/creativity-is-the-job-of-the-future/ Doreen Lorenzo LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/doreenlorenzo/ Michael Baker LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mlchaelbaker/ Rebecca McInroy LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebeccamcinroy
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Marion Leary: The Creative Future of Nursing
Sep 2900:43:14Tap to summarizeWhen Marion Leary had her breakthrough moment at the Philadelphia Science Festival, staring at a virtual reality booth, she realized something that would reshape her entire career: the creative tools from design and technology could revolutionize how we teach people to save lives. In this conversation with Marion explains that what nurses call "workarounds" are actually a creative thinking in disguise, and why bringing human-centered design into nursing education is transforming healthcare from the inside out. More about Marion:Marion on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marionleary/ Marion's Website: https://marionleary.mystrikingly.com/ Marion on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marion_Leary Episode website: https://www.cjfpodcast.com/episodes/marion-leary Learn more about the show: https://www.cjfpodcast.com/ Follow us:Doreen Lorenzo LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/doreenlorenzo/ Michael Baker LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mlchaelbaker/ Rebecca McInroy LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebeccamcinroy
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Gray Garmon: Playing with Creativity
Sep 100:38:54Tap to summarizeHow can a board game teach the fundamentals of design and creativity? Gray Garmon, founding director of UT Austin's Center for Integrated Design joins us to explore how creativity becomes a powerful tool for solving everyday problems, and how his collaborative approach is democratizing design education. More about Gray:Gray on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/graygarmon/ TWOxTWO Studio: https://www.twoxtwo.co/ Dream Up Game: https://www.dreamupgame.com/ Episode website: https://www.cjfpodcast.com/episodes/gray-garmon Learn more about the show: https://www.cjfpodcast.com/ Follow us:Doreen Lorenzo LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/doreenlorenzo/ Michael Baker LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mlchaelbaker/ Rebecca McInroy LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebeccamcinroy
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Skye Hilton and Troy Whittington: Creative Recovery
Aug 400:34:34Tap to summarizeIn this episode, we meet Skye Hilton, founder and owner of New Obsession, and Troy Whittington, Creative Recovery Facilitator, who are pioneering the use of creativity as a pathway to recovery from substance use disorder. Both are artists in recovery who discovered that creativity could serve as both map and compass for navigating the uncharted territories of sobriety. More about Sky:Skye on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/skye-hilton-6240a6bb/ More about Troy:Troy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/troy-whittington-36847b14/ New Obsession: https://www.newobsessionatx.com/ Episode website: https://www.cjfpodcast.com/episodes/skye-troy-creative-reovery Learn more about the show: https://www.cjfpodcast.com/ Follow us:Doreen Lorenzo LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/doreenlorenzo/ Michael Baker LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mlchaelbaker/ Rebecca McInroy LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebeccamcinroy
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Luna Malbroux and A.J. Haynes: Channeling Joy
Jul 1400:30:51Tap to summarizeIn this episode, Doreen Lorenzo and Michael Baker speak with comedian, writer, musician and playwright Luna Malbroux, founder of Joy Channel, and AJ Haynes, Creative Doula for Joy Channel and lead singer of the internationally acclaimed band, Seratones. Both are multidisciplinary artists and activists who use creativity to help organizations transform their cultures through play, connection, storytelling, and possibility. They share how their Southern Louisiana roots shaped their understanding of storytelling as a tool for connection and transformation, why they believe play is essential for organizational change, and how they define joy not as surface-level happiness but as accessing our full humanity. They also discuss the challenges of doing equity work in an increasingly hostile environment and how they're adapting their approach while staying true to their mission of building cultures where everyone can thrive. More about Luna:Luna on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luna-malbroux-03062110/ Luna's website: https://www.lunaisamerica.com/ More about A.J.:A.J. on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/a-j-haynes/ A.J. on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/a.j.haynes/ A.J. and The Seratones: https://www.seratones.com/bio Joy Channel: https://www.joychannel.org/ Episode website: https://www.cjfpodcast.com/episodes/luna-malbroux-aj-haynes Learn more about the show: https://www.cjfpodcast.com/ Follow us:Doreen Lorenzo LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/doreenlorenzo/ Michael Baker LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mlchaelbaker/ Rebecca McInroy LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebeccamcinroy
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Paul Propster: The Story of a Story Architect
Jun 2, 202500:33:26Tap to summarizeIn this episode, we speak with Paul Propster, a strategic storyteller best known for his transformative work as Chief Story Architect at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). Paul has helped teams across science, technology, and innovation bring clarity, emotion, and purpose to their work. He shares how narrative thinking, when done right, can turn complex ideas into powerful, human-centered stories that win support, inspire action, and drive change. More about Paul:Paul on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-propster/ Episode website: https://www.cjfpodcast.com/episodes/paul-propster Learn more about the show: https://www.cjfpodcast.com/ Follow us:Doreen Lorenzo LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/doreenlorenzo/ Michael Baker LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mlchaelbaker/ Rebecca McInroy LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebeccamcinroy
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Ed Shelton: Death Races and Monday Problems
May 19, 202500:36:28Tap to summarizeUltramarathon runner Ed Shelton talks with us about running over 200-mile races without a support crew, embracing discomfort, and using creativity as a survival skill. A business analyst by day and ultra-endurance athlete by passion, Ed shares how his early love of patterns, comfort with solitude, and commitment fuel his ability to adapt under extreme conditions. From hallucinations to hypothermia to blindness, Ed breaks down how staying calm and trusting yourself can carry you through the toughest challenges. More about Ed Shelton:Ed on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edshelton/ Ed's blog: https://fox-runner.com/Ed's running stats: https://ultrasignup.com/m_results_participant.aspx?fname=Ed&lname=Shelton Episode website: https://www.cjfpodcast.com/episodes/ed-shelton Learn more about the show: https://www.cjfpodcast.com/ Follow us:Doreen Lorenzo LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/doreenlorenzo/ Michael Baker LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mlchaelbaker/ Rebecca McInroy LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebeccamcinroy
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