Podcast Summary:

The Creative Boom Podcast

Episode: The Spark: Paul Benney on Creative Envy, Childhood Freedom & a Dream Dinner with Tony Wilson
Host: Katy Cowan
Date: October 15, 2025
Guest: Paul Benney (Disco Pogo, Bugged Out)

Episode Overview

This lively episode features Paul Benney, an influential music journalist and magazine founder, in a candid conversation with host Katy Cowan. The discussion explores the person behind the brand, delving into themes of creative envy, childhood freedom, daily rituals, risk-taking, and Paul’s admiration for legendary music figures. Brimming with nostalgia, humour, and honest reflection, the episode offers inspiration and relatable moments for creatives at any stage of their journey.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Wishing for Another Creative Discipline

• Musical Aspirations
  • Paul admits he wishes he was a musician:

    “I'd love to be able... I'd love to be a musician.” (01:01, Paul)

  • Though embedded in music—through journalism, running labels, and signing artists—Paul has never created music himself.
  • During lockdown, he briefly tried learning guitar but found focus challenging:

    "What you need to make music is focus. You need to turn all that off and spend an hour every day..." (02:09, Paul)

  • Dream: To dedicate Mondays to learning guitar and possibly play for fun in a covers band one day.

Creative Envy and Inspiration

• Admiring Richard Russell (XL Recordings)
  • Paul discusses feeling envious rather than jealous of Richard Russell, an executive who transitioned back into music-making:

    "I don't like the word jealous, but envious...of someone who can, on the business side of things, create the best independent record label in the world and then decide to put all that on one side and just make music..." (05:27, Paul)

  • Paul is inspired by someone who relinquishes control to focus on personal passion, reminding himself and listeners to chase what truly excites them.
• Both Katy and Paul share the sentiment that if money were no issue, they’d still pursue their creative projects—Creative Boom and Disco Pogo, respectively.

Small Rituals and Daily Habits

• Morning Smoothies & Cycling
  • Paul’s non-negotiable ritual: making a (loud) protein smoothie every morning (09:07).
  • He regularly cycles, often with the “Lee Riders,” fitting rides before work:

    “On a Tuesday and a Thursday morning at 8:15...we go out for hour and a half, bike ride, ride about 25 miles, coffee afterwards and then I'm back at my desk for 10.” (09:51, Paul)

  • Cycling serves as a joy, form of achievement, and connection to childhood freedom.

Nostalgia: Childhood Freedom & Its Impact

• Scent Memories & Independence
  • The smell of freshly cut grass instantly takes Paul back to carefree days on a "wimpy estate" in Bletchley, Milton Keynes:

    “That smell of freshly cut grass and being with your mates, you know, when you're that young...football under your arm, playing football all day, nipping home for some orange squash.” (11:59, Paul)

  • Reminisces about outdoor childhoods, communal neighbourhoods, and building dens—contrasted with his children’s indoor-centric lives.
  • Explores if such unsupervised freedom contributed to his entrepreneurial risk-taking:

    “That growing up with that freedom...could very well have led to people of that generation being less risk averse. Definitely.” (14:55, Paul)

  • Katy and Paul fondly recall the community spirit and neighborly support of their upbringings.

If You Could Swap Lives With a Historical Figure...

• Malcolm McLaren at the Height of Punk
  • Paul chooses Malcolm McLaren during the Sex Pistols' heyday, drawn by the chaos and freedom:

    “If I could swap places with anyone for a week, Malcolm McLaren at the height of the Sex Pistols fame would be...that would be the one.” (18:01, Paul)

  • Expresses fascination with music’s unpredictability and the liberation it represented.

Big Questions & Beliefs

• Life After Death
  • Paul expresses a hope—even if faint—for something beyond:

    “I'd love to think there was something...I was brought up Catholics. I was brought up to believe in heaven. I don't believe in heaven.” (20:10, Paul)

  • Reflects on personal and societal comfort in the unknowable, ultimately deciding that perhaps not knowing is best:

    “Maybe it's fine the way it is. We don't know. Maybe that's the best way.” (23:13, Paul)

Dream Dinner Guest

• Tony Wilson (“Mr. Manchester”)
  • Paul reminisces about Tony Wilson’s openness and mentorship:

    “He always had time for us...He was someone who was happy to take risks if he was passionate about something, didn't matter about the money.” (24:03–27:22, Paul)

  • Shares a story about walking through the Hacienda with Wilson before the bailiffs arrived, emphasizing Wilson’s approach to making history over money.
  • Would relish the chance for one last dinner to thank Wilson for his inspiration.

Emoji Habits

• Which Emoji Do You Overuse?
  • Paul: The “prayer” emoji (which Katy jokes is actually a high-five), classic smiley, and recently, the melting face—his “emoji for 2025”:

    “...it just feels like...if there was an emoji for 2025, that would...that should be the emoji of the year.” (28:32, Paul)

  • Katy shares her use of the eyes emoji—then learns of its risqué meaning among younger users.

Surprising Personal Fact

• Born American
  • Paul reveals he was born in Atlanta, Georgia, lived in Seattle as a child, and still holds dual citizenship:

    “I'm American, I'm not born in the UK, I'm born in the USA.” (31:08, Paul)

  • He embraced American culture as a child before returning to the UK—an adaptation he found challenging in his early teens.

Paul’s Question for the Next Guest

“What is the first book that you read that you feel really changed you?” (33:35, Paul)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Following Your Passion:

  “If you could do anything out in the world, you win the lottery tomorrow, you don't have to do it anymore. Would you still do it? And with the publishing books and magazines, I think, I think I would.” (07:10, Paul)

• On Childhood Independence:

  “No mobile phones...But also you're, you know, no one, you know, really worried about that. You know, you. You're just out all day. That’s what kids did.” (12:44, Paul)

• On Creative Influence:

  “Some people make money, others make history.” (Imparted from Tony Wilson, 26:34, Paul)

• On the Unknowable:

  “Maybe it’s fine the way it is. We don’t know. Maybe that’s the best way.” (23:13, Paul)

Important Timestamps

• [01:01] – Paul’s musical aspirations
• [03:29] – Creative envy for Richard Russell
• [09:07] – Morning smoothie ritual
• [09:51] – Cycling with the Lee Riders
• [11:12] – Scents & childhood nostalgia
• [14:55] – Childhood risk-taking & entrepreneurship
• [18:01] – Swapping lives with McLaren
• [20:10] – Musings on life after death
• [24:28] – Story of the Hacienda with Tony Wilson
• [28:32] – Emoji discussion
• [31:08] – Paul’s American roots
• [33:35] – Question for the next guest

Tone & Takeaways

With warmth and wit, this episode celebrates the messiness and magic of creative careers. Both host and guest reflect on privilege, perseverance, community, and never losing curiosity or a sense of adventure. The conversation is peppered with personal stories, shared experiences, and playful banter, offering reassurance to fellow creatives that none of us truly have it all figured out.

For more inspiring interviews and stories from the creative community, visit creativeboom.com.