• Cal Newport's Digital Minimalism (Book Review)

    [Rebroadcast of Ep. 14]

    In this episode, Carter asks Colby about what he learned from reading Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World by Cal Newport.

    Be sure to check out Newport's latest book, Slow Productivity: The Lost Art of Accomplishment Without Burnout.

    33m | Mar 7, 2024
  • 52 | The Theory of Creativity

    Do legitimate common denominators exists across creative disciplines? If so, can we clearly identify these parallels and unify our thoughts about the creative process? 

    In this episode of The Craft, Carter and Colby wrestle with these questions. They begin to sketch (tentatively) a unifying “theory of creativity.” Such theory might help us, they hope, navigate a broad swath of tools and techniques that vie for our attention.  

    ----

    Chapters:

    0:00 Introduction 

    2:22 Theory of Creativity 

    9:48 Theoretical layers 

    14:08 Marketing example

    21:32 More trees and metaphors 

    28:40 Intermediary tiers

    36:26 Conclusion 

    ----

    Support The Craft:

    Subscribe to Dwelling - https://carterdavisjohnson.substack.com

    Send feedback or ideas - heycraftpodcast@gmail.com

    ----

    Cover art by Elizabeth Newell. Learn more about her work at elizabethnewell.work or on Instagram @elizabethisadesigner.

    39m | Feb 21, 2024
  • 51 | How John Steinbeck Reinvented His Craft

    Why did John Steinbeck almost give up writing novels? 

    In this episode of The Craft, Carter and Colby inaugurate a new series, Creative Case Studies. Their first installment is a story about American writer John Steinbeck. Specifically, Carter recounts Steinbeck’s creative collapse after writing The Grapes of Wrath. In the midst of personal and professional tumult, Steinbeck attempted to reinvent his craft and develop a new way of thinking. Carter and Colby discuss this creative transformation, considering how we might learn from Steinbeck’s crisis. 

    ----

    Chapters: 

    0:00 Introduction 

    2:55 Steinbeck bio

    4:11 Crisis and reinvention 

    14:28 Takeaways 

    ----

    Support The Craft:

    Subscribe to Dwelling - https://carterdavisjohnson.substack.com

    Send feedback or ideas - heycraftpodcast@gmail.com

    ----

    Cover art by Elizabeth Newell. Learn more about her work at elizabethnewell.work or on Instagram @elizabethisadesigner.

    26m | Feb 7, 2024
  • 50 | Tracking Creative Growth

    Is my work improving? This is a crucial — yet difficult — question to answer.

    In this episode of The Craft, Carter and Colby discuss how to track creative growth, the difference between lead and lag metrics, and an interesting phenomenon they've seen unfold in many artistic careers.

    ----

    Chapters:

    0:00 Introduction 

    2:15 Lead and lag metrics

    11:38 Evaluating growth 

    23:19 Refinement or reinvention

    31:11 Tracking growth 

    33:27 Comparing work

    38:38 Conclusion 

    ----

    Support The Craft:

    Subscribe to Dwelling (Weekly writing from Carter)

    Send feedback or ideas to heycraftpodcast@gmail.com

    ----

    Cover art by Elizabeth Newell. Learn more about her work at elizabethnewell.work or on Instagram @elizabethisadesigner.

    40m | Jan 24, 2024
  • 49 | 11 Protocols for Revising Creative Work

    You have probably heard the phrase “writing is revision,” but how do you actually revise? What does good revision — practically speaking — look like? 

    In this episode of The Craft, Carter and Colby discus the central protocols that drive their revision processes. The conversation includes both paradigmatic approaches and practical tactics. 

    ----

    Chapters:

    0:00 Introduction

    1:59 Protocol 1: Separate creation and revision

    2:28 Protocol 2: Accept the iterative process

    6:24 Protocol 3: What is the work actually doing?

    9:20 Protocol 4: Find root problems

    11:40 Protocol 5: Movement

    13:29 Protocol 6: The Car Test

    16:22 Protocol 7: Transitions

    20:44 Protocol 8: Necessity

    27:01 Protocol 9: References

    29:35 Protocol 10: Work Destructively

    33:32 Protocol 11: Collaborate

    39:35 Conclusion 

    ---

    Support The Craft:

    Subscribe to Dwelling (Weekly writing from Carter)

    Send feedback or ideas to heycraftpodcast@gmail.com

    Cover art by Elizabeth Newell. Learn more about her work at elizabethnewell.work or on Instagram @elizabethisadesigner.

    41m | Jan 10, 2024
  • 48 | Creative Review of 2023

    In this episode of The Craft, Carter and Colby do a year-end review for 2023. They survey the year’s successes, shortcomings, and lessons, reflecting on moments of inspiration and the second year of the podcast. 

    ----

    Chapters:

    0:00 Introduction 

    1:19 What went well?

    7:16 What went poorly?

    13:51 What did you learn?

    24:26 What inspired you?

    30:10 Favorites

    37:02 Year Two

    ----

    Support The Craft:

    Subscribe to Dwelling (Weekly writing from Carter)

    Send feedback or ideas to heycraftpodcast@gmail.com

    Cover art by Elizabeth Newell. Learn more about her work at elizabethnewell.work or on Instagram @elizabethisadesigner.

    39m | Dec 27, 2023
  • 47 | Exploring Category Design

    Do I need to create a category of one? 

    In this episode of The Craft, Carter and Colby explore the role of category design in creative pursuits. Their conversation addresses a root problem: How do you avoid being “just another voice” in your craft? In addressing this challenge, they wrestle with multiple potential solutions and the consequent tensions. Do categories wrongly fetishize novelty? Are categories equally pertinent in business and creative endeavors? Their conversation is a general introduction to the subject of category, which will — no doubt — reemerge in later episodes. 

    ----

    Chapters:

    0:00 Introduction and creative exigence 

    6:10 Should novelty be our goal? 

    12:22 Alternative ways to individualize

    15:40 Category size and limit 

    18:58 Innovation and functionality 

    24:48 Shifting definitions of category 

    28:00 The law of division 

    31:00 What to prioritize? 

    35:59 Concluding distinctions 

    ----

    Links:

    The 22 Immutable Laws of Marketing

    Category Pirates

    Dada and the Pre-Raphaelites (Carter's Substack)

    ----

    Support The Craft:

    Subscribe to Dwelling (Weekly writing from Carter)

    Send feedback or ideas to heycraftpodcast@gmail.com

    ----

    Cover art by Elizabeth Newell. Learn more about her work at elizabethnewell.work or on Instagram @elizabethisadesigner.

    41m | Dec 13, 2023
  • 46 | Writing a PhD Dissertation, and How to Manage Big Creative Projects

    How do you write a dissertation? We’re not sure, but Carter is about to find out. 

    In this episode of The Craft, Carter and Colby discuss Carter’s recent benchmark in his doctoral program. He shares some advice he received during his last exam and thoughts about embarking on his largest project to date.

    ----

    Chapters:

    0:00 Introduction 

    3:42 Setting parameters for daily work 

    12:07 Just typing

    16:29 Identifying themes 

    21:24 Trusting your voice 

    26:19 Stepping away

    30:06 Leaving a little in the tank 

    32:22 Conclusion

    ----

    Links:

    Steven Pressfield

    Greg Mckeown, Effortless

    Paul Jarvis, Company of One

    Cal Newport 

    ----

    Support The Craft:

    Subscribe to Dwelling (Weekly writing from Carter)

    Send feedback or ideas to heycraftpodcast@gmail.com

    Cover art by Elizabeth Newell. Learn more about her work at elizabethnewell.work or on Instagram @elizabethisadesigner.

    34m | Nov 29, 2023
  • 45 | 6 Quotes on the Creative Process from Annie Dillard

    Are you looking for sage creative advice from a master writer? Look no further. 

    In this episode of The Craft, Carter and Colby discuss a number of quotes on the creative process from Annie Dillard. Their conversation, following Dillard, cuts across the Craft’s four creative first principles: create, revise, share, and sustain. 

    ----

    Chapters:

    0:00 Introduction 

    2:05 #1 Live a life

    7:13 #2 Cut ruthlessly 

    18:08 #3 Spend it now

    29:23 #4 Return to the concrete 

    36:38 #5 Write as if you were dying 

    38:22 #6 Embrace the idiosyncratic 

    42:18 Conclusion 

    ----

    Links:

    “Write as if you were dying.” Read Annie Dillard’s greatest writing advice

    Why an English Degree? (Dwelling)

    Annie Dillard’s Books

    ----

    Support The Craft:

    Subscribe to Dwelling (Weekly writing from Carter)

    Send feedback or ideas to heycraftpodcast@gmail.com

    ----

    Cover art by Elizabeth Newell. Learn more about her work at elizabethnewell.work or on Instagram @elizabethisadesigner.

    43m | Nov 15, 2023
  • 44 | Keep Showing Up: Overcoming 3 Creative Roadblocks

    I feel uninspired. What now? 

    In this episode of The Craft, Carter and Colby discuss different types of creative roadblocks. They explore the phenomenon of “stuckness” in regard to artistic identity, specific projects, and skill development. They also share a list of actions/ideas that can help reinvigorate and reinspire. 

    -----

    Chapters:

    0:00 Introduction

    2:03 Pressfield and showing up

    5:32 What now?

    10:09 Types of creative roadblocks 

    12:29 Identity 

    17:37 Shoutout: Negative Space 

    20:23 Projects

    27:49 Skills

    34:42 Conclusion 

    35:05 Bonus: Freewrite Reaction 

    ----

    Links:

    ----

    Support The Craft:

    Subscribe to Dwelling (Weekly writing from Carter)

    Send feedback or ideas to heycraftpodcast@gmail.com

    ----

    Cover art by Elizabeth Newell. Learn more about her work at elizabethnewell.work or on Instagram @elizabethisadesigner.

    41m | Nov 1, 2023
  • 43 | Reflections on a Conversation With Warwick Saint

    In this episode of The Craft, Carter and Colby elaborate on their recent conversation with painter, photographer, and mixed-media artist Warwick Saint. They share their favorite moments and lessons from the interview

    -----

    Chapters:

    0:00 Introduction 

    4:33 Cardboard boxes and creativity 

    7:39 The artistic edge

    10:03 Reinvention and renewal 

    18:50 Point of view  

    31:58 Categories and juxtaposition 

    34:42 Routine and telos

    37:30 Conclusion

    -----

    Links:

    Listen to the full interview with Warwick Saint

    Colgate Lasagna

    Learn more about Saint's work

    -----

    Support The Craft:

    Subscribe to Dwelling (Weekly writing from Carter)

    Send feedback or ideas to heycraftpodcast@gmail.com

    -----

    Cover art by Elizabeth Newell. Learn more about her work at elizabethnewell.work or on Instagram @elizabethisadesigner.

    39m | Oct 18, 2023
  • 42 | Warwick Saint (Painter, Photographer, & Mixed Media Artist)

    In this episode of The Craft, Carter and Colby sit down with Warwick Saint. He is a prolific and award-winning artist who has photographed some of the most iconic actors/actresses, athletes, musicians, and brands, such as Ryan Gosling, Harrison Ford, Zendaya, Miley Cyrus, Lebron James, John Legend, DJ Khaled, Beyoncé, Daniel Craig, Jamie Foxx, Nike, Puma, and many others. 

    However, in 2018, Saint began a new chapter of his career. He started transforming his photography through painting, producing entirely new works of mixed-media art. In this interview, Carter and Colby talk with Saint about his creative evolution, focusing on the deep veins of continuity between mediums and processes. Saint also shares about his current routine, philosophy of art, and approach to overcoming creative fatigue.  

    -----

    Chapters: 

    0:00 Trailer

    0:38 Introduction 

    4:23 Saint’s new chapter

    10:16 Comparing mediums

    15:33 Painting as tactile presence 

    18:47 Layers and creative process 

    23:40 Capturing emotion 

    27:45 Revision process

    33:06 Routine and embodied creativity 

    41:46 Approaching a career in art

    47:10 Navigating commissioned work

    52:16 Creative fatigue and bravery 

    1:00:22 Recent inspiration and receptivity 

    1:05:37 Conclusion 

    -----

    Links:

    See Saint's work at WarwickSaint.com

    Follow Saint on Instagram @warwicksaint

    -----

    Support The Craft:

    Subscribe to Dwelling (Weekly writing from Carter)

    Send feedback or ideas to heycraftpodcast@gmail.com

    -----

    Cover art by Elizabeth Newell. Learn more about her work at elizabethnewell.work or on Instagram @elizabethisadesigner.

    1h 8m | Oct 4, 2023
  • 41 | “The Creative Process” by James Baldwin

    What can we learn from James Baldwin about the creative process? 

    In this episode of The Craft, Carter and Colby discuss Baldwin's essay “The Creative Process," exploring how art is connected to self-knowledge and truth. Additionally, they explore the tumultuous yet crucial relationship between the artist and society. 

    -----

    Chapters:

    0:00 Introduction

    2:04 Overview

    3:33 Individual and Society

    7:20 Being "alone"

    11:59 Art and the Big Questions

    15:12 Artist's Journey

    20:13 The Artist and Society

    21:46 Takeaways

    -----

    Links:

    Read The Creative Process by James Baldwin

    Listen to 16 | The Artist's Journey and the Hero's Journey

    Read The Artist's Journey by Steven Pressfield

    -----

    Support The Craft:

    Subscribe to Dwelling (Weekly writing from Carter)

    Send feedback or ideas to heycraftpodcast@gmail.com

    -----

    Cover art by Elizabeth Newell. Learn more about her work at elizabethnewell.work or on Instagram @elizabethisadesigner.

    27m | Sep 20, 2023
  • 40 | When Should I Quit My Creative Project?

    Should you stop making the EP, stop writing the novel, or stop building the YouTube channel? Or, do you need to commit to going through the Dip and reaching the summit on the other side?

    In this episode of The Craft, Carter and Colby discuss this often fraught question. They apply two heuristic mental models that can help inform our decision to quit: Seth Godin’s book The Dip and Shreyas Doshi's LNO Framework. The resultant conversation explores key metrics and questions that can prepare us to launch, endure, and even quit a project. 

    -----

    Chapters:

    0:00 Introduction

    1:43 The Dip overview

    10:59 Being in the Dip

    14:00 LNO schema 

    19:18 Hierarchy of values 

    27:58 Key metrics and questions 

    32:20 Case study: Songmaps 

    34:55 Conclusion 

    -----

    Links:

    Read The Dip by Seth Godin

    LNO Framework

    -----

    Support The Craft:

    Subscribe to Dwelling (Weekly writing from Carter)

    Send feedback or ideas to heycraftpodcast@gmail.com

    -----

    Cover art by Elizabeth Newell. Learn more about her work at elizabethnewell.work or on Instagram @elizabethisadesigner.

    39m | Sep 6, 2023
  • 39 | Why Do We Love Beautiful Products?

    Why spend $25 on a pencil sharpener when a $.99 one will get the job done? Why spend $300 on a raincoat when you could spend $25?

    In this episode of The Craft, Carter and Colby explore the craft of beautiful products. What makes a product special or beautiful? Why are we drawn to certain products, even when they cost more money? Their conversation digs into these questions and explores the relationships we build with the products we love. Carter and Colby share some of their favorites, both physical and digital, and try to articulate how these products curate our experiences and cultivate personal values.

    -----

    Chapters:

    0:00 Introduction (Aesthetics, Utility, and Identity)

    8:32 LAMY Safari Fountain Pen

    12:35 Blackwing Sharpener

    19:00 Scrivener

    27:00 Colby’s Big 4 

    28:25 Proton 

    35:22 Arc and Simplicity 

    42:13 Taste and Expertise 

    -----

    Links:

    -----

    Support The Craft:

    Subscribe to Dwelling (Weekly writing from Carter)

    Send feedback or ideas to heycraftpodcast@gmail.com

    -----

    Cover art by Elizabeth Newell. Learn more about her work at elizabethnewell.work or on Instagram @elizabethisadesigner.

    54m | Aug 23, 2023
  • 38 | Will Mason (Singer-Songwriter)

    In this episode of The Craft, Carter and Colby sit down with Will Mason to talk about his creative process as a songwriter. They discuss his upcoming EP, Freedom, and break down two tracks from the project. The conversation covers topics ranging from crafting lyrics to finding your voice to facing creative roadblocks. Listen to Freedom here.

    -----

    Chapters:

    0:00 Introduction 

    3:13 Interview begins 

    4:50 Background as an artist

    8:40 Development as a singer

    10:42 Finding your voice 

    12:20 Musical development 

    15:34 First song and breakthrough 

    17:50 Songwriting process 

    22:26 Lyrics 

    32:32 Dragonflies (song breakdown) 

    50:41 Freedom (song breakdown)

    1:03:00 Conclusion

    -----

    Links:

    Listen to Will's EP Freedom (released on August 18, 2023)

    Listen and follow Will on Spotify

    Listen and follow Will on Apple Music

    Follow Will on Instagram @_will_mason

    -----

    Support The Craft:

    Subscribe to Dwelling (Weekly writing from Carter)

    Send feedback or ideas to heycraftpodcast@gmail.com

    -----

    Cover art by Elizabeth Newell. Learn more about her work at elizabethnewell.work or on Instagram @elizabethisadesigner.

    1h 9m | Aug 9, 2023
  • 37 | Can You Grow Your Audience Without Selling Out?

    Can you grow your audience without “selling out”? 

    In this episode of The Craft, Carter and Colby discuss creative growth, outlining its healthy and malignant forms. They begin the conversation by defining growth and then identify two specific problems: 1) sleazy growth 2) personal vulnerability. They explore principles for healthy growth and discuss ways that creatives can mitigate the fear of increased publicity. They conclude by discussing marketing models that can help direct your efforts toward creating meaningful engagement with an ideal audience.

    -----

    Chapters:

    0:00 Introduction 

    1:34 Defining growth 

    4:23 Two problems of growth 

    7:37 Marketing funnel 

    10:41 1st principle: Put growth in its place

    13:47 2nd principle: Prioritize the product

    23:40 Metrics for growth 

    27:30 Growing in good faith 

    33:00 The vulnerability of growth

    37:13 Marketing models for growth

    -----

    Links:

    The Personal MBA by Josh Kaufman

    Chapter 2 of The Personal MBA: Marketing

    -----

    Support The Craft:

    Subscribe to Dwelling (Weekly writing from Carter)

    Send feedback or ideas to heycraftpodcast@gmail.com

    -----

    Cover art by Elizabeth Newell. Learn more about her work at elizabethnewell.work or on Instagram @elizabethisadesigner.

    47m | Jul 26, 2023
  • 36 | Introducing Dwelling: Launching a Substack, the Future of Publishing, and the Power of Newsletters

    Should you create a Substack publication? And why did Carter start one? 

    In this episode of The Craft, Carter and Colby discuss “Dwelling: Exploring the non-identical in life and art,” Carter’s new publication. They explore the origins of the project and the future of publishing in general. In addition to discussing Dwelling, their conversation expands to the power of newsletters as creative mediums. They end the conversation by sketching how (and why) to launch your own Substack publication.  

    -----

    Chapters:

    0:00 Introduction

    1:30 Why start a Substack? 

    5:07 What is the non-identical? 

    9:10 Seven Lamps of Prose

    12:31 New creative economy on Substack 

    15:09 Writing process

    16:45 Carter's inspirations on Substack

    19:42 Tactics

    22:33 Newsletters and the O.R.B. marketing model  

    32:16 The challenge of growth 

    33:52 How do you start a Substack?  

    38:37 Should you start a Substack? 

    -----

    Links:

    Subscribe to Carter’s Substack Dwelling at carterdavisjohnson.substack.com

    The Night Does Not End by Aaron Gwyn

    The Contender by David Coggins

    The WM Brown Weekly

    The Lost Object by Joe Neary

    Over the Field by Hadden Turner

    -----

    Support The Craft:

    Subscribe to Dwelling (Carter's Newsletter)

    Send feedback or ideas to heycraftpodcast@gmail.com

    -----

    Cover art by Elizabeth Newell. Learn more about her work at elizabethnewell.work or on Instagram @elizabethisadesigner.

    45m | Jul 12, 2023
  • 35 | What is Your Creative Strategy?

    “You need a strategy.” We hear this mantra from all disciplines, but what does it mean? 

    In this episode of The Craft, Carter and Colby work to define strategy and understand how strategic thinking manifests in creative pursuits. The discussion explores the difficulty of diagnosing the root problem and imposing proximate objectives. They conclude by noting how artistic taste is crucial in developing good strategy. 

    Chapters:

    0:00 Introduction to Rumelt's Good Strategy Bad Strategy

    6:30 Strategy and values

    10:45 Honest evaluation and the creative process

    15:16 Contrasting strategy in business and creative pursuits  

    22:38 What’s missing in creative practices

    27:48 Imposed coordinated action 

    29:45 Developing proximate objectives

    35:04 Diagnosing the “true” problem

    38:07 Artistic taste as a tool for diagnosis 


    Links:

    Richard Rumelt's Good Strategy Bad Strategy: The Difference and Why It Matters

    Send feedback or topic ideas to heycraftpodcast@gmail.com.

    ·

    ·

    Cover art was designed by Elizabeth Newell. Learn more about her work at elizabethnewelldesign.com or on Instagram @elizabethisadesigner.

    49m | Jun 28, 2023
  • 34 | Tyler Johnson (Cofounder of KING ZEHN)

    In this episode of The Craft, Colby and Carter sit down with Tyler Johnson. Tyler is a filmmaker and creator from Roanoke, Virginia who is currently working out of Nashville, Tennesee. He is the co-founder of KING ZEHN Entertainment. Focusing primarily on real-time comedy sketches, King Zehn has established a large presence in the realm of short-form, creative content. They currently have over 174 million views on YouTube and 900k followers on TikTok. 

    Their conversation explores Tyler’s creative process and revision strategy. They also discuss the business aspects of King Zehn, exploring the differences between platforms and monetization avenues. 

    Chapters:

    0:00 - Introduction 

    3:00 - Generating new ideas

    5:20 - Dealing with creative constraints 

    7:44 - Finding his craft

    8:49 - Framing and shot design 

    10:10 - Editing process and revision 

    12:00 - Developing a YouTube presence

    14:13 - Understanding audiences across platforms 

    18:00 - Developing King Zehn into a viable business 

    20:56 - Exploring the future of King Zehn

    25:19 - Appreciating creative influences 

    26:27 - Explaining the usual workday

    30:38 - Thinking through algorithms 

    34:14 - Considering the “subscriber” model 

    35:13 - Developing products 

    36:40 - Sustaining as a creative

    41:17 - Working through creative burnout 

    43:15 - Knowing how to get started 

    45:44 - Supporting their work 


    King Zehn 

    Youtube

    Instagram

    TikTok


    Send feedback or topic ideas to heycraftpodcast@gmail.com.

    ·

    ·

    Cover art was designed by Elizabeth Newell. Learn more about her work at elizabethnewelldesign.com or on Instagram @elizabethisadesigner.

    47m | Jun 14, 2023
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The Craft: Exploring the Creative Process
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