033: John Cleese & Rory Sutherland on creativity and play

Since launching this podcast, it's been my ambition to interview John Cleese, in part because he has plenty of no BS clear thinking on what it means to be creative and in part because he is my comedy hero.

But instead of just interviewing John, I thought I'd add an extra shot of brandy to the conversation and invite behavioural science's very own flame throwing alchemist Rory Sutherland, who also knows a thing or two about creativity.

Show notes
5.45 mins: understanding creativity and its conditions
6.45: money people vs. creative people
7.45: being childlike and playful
8.50: embracing confusion
9.30: why business decisions become boring
11.00: be prepared to make mistakes 
11.15: how John found his own creative style
12.15: influence of Fawlty Towers on me
14.20: the power of the unconscious
17.00: how do you access the unconscious?
18.40: dilettante bees and random exploration
23.50: creativity in teams or solo
24.15: origin of the Dead Parrot sketch
26.10: Graham Chapman’s funeral
27:00: Dave Trott and the love of the obvious
28.05: John’s view on woke people
34.45: Rudolf Hess and Rory’s Mum
36.05: Iain McGilchrist & right/left brain hemisphere thinking
38.00: making fun of Hitler
39.45: commonalities between advertising and films
43.05: Life of Brian backlash
44.40: Brexit & Remainer certainty obsession

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Creativity: A Short and Cheerful Guide, by John Cleese
Alchemy: The Surprising Power of Ideas That Don't Make Sense, by Rory Sutherland

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• Podcast music: Tamsin Waley-Cohen's Mendelssohn's violin concerto