This first interview of the season is very, very special. It’s not everyday that you get the chance to chat with one of your favorite authors. Let alone when that author is foreign and has sold over a million books. 

My guest in this episode is Austin Kleon, the author of a fantastic trilogy on creativity, which started with “Steal Like An Artist”, continued with “Show Your Work”, and concluded, at least for now, with “Keep Going”. All three are small, square-format books that blend text and illustration. Austin describes himself as a writer who draws. They’re books that can be read in just over half an hour, but are worth revisiting multiple times. They’re packed with nuggets of wisdom on how to find your own style, develop creative habits, expose yourself to criticism, or persevere when things get tough. Many of these ideas, moreover, go far beyond the world of creativity: they’re useful for life in general.

But Austin isn’t just a great author, something I already knew; he’s also a delightful person. Kind, accommodating, and a good conversationalist. We talked, of course, about creativity, but also about parenting, Don Quixote, video games, and even how to visit museums. I thoroughly enjoyed our chat, and I think it shows. Now, I hope you also enjoy this conversation with Austin Kleon!

SHOWNOTES:

About Austin:

• His website, books & newsletter
• Follow him on twitter and instagram

Books mentioned:

• Miguel de Cervantes – Don Quixote (in Spanish: Don Quijote de la Mancha)
• The Creative Habit – Twyla Tharp
• The War of Art – Steven Pressfield
• The Art of Noticing – Rob Walker

People:

• The Ramones
• Wire (band)
• Wes Anderson
• Cyril Connolly
• Pablo Picasso
• Paul Cézanne
• Malcolm Gladwell
• Beth Pickens
• Mary Karr
• Twyla Tharp
• Rodrigo Cortés
• Ryan Reynolds
• Jack White
• Jean Cocteau
• Sidney Lumet
• Pauline Kael
• Rob Walker
• Corita Kent
• Depeche Mode

Movies:

• Buried
• Network

Music Albums:

• Depeche Mode – Violator
• Cocteau Twins – Heaven or Las Vegas

Videogames:

• Zelda – Breath of the Wild
• Zelda – Tears of the Kingdom

This episode was brought to you by Informa.es/esgintelligence

Austin’s picture credit Clayton Cubitt