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June 9, 2025 38 mins
Ep.108 Rick Rubin and the Creative Act

John and Simon explore the creative wisdom of music producer Rick Rubin and what it means to bring creativity into everyday work and life

What does it really mean to be creative? In this Inbetweener episode, The Occupational Philosophers explore the insights of legendary music producer Rick Rubin, whose work spans from the Beastie Boys to Adele. Drawing on his book The Creative Act: A Way of Being, John and Simon unpack practical ways anyone can bring more creativity, curiosity and openness into their life and work.

In this episode, Simon and John chat about

  • Why creativity is not a job title or output, but a way of being
  • The artist as a vessel, and how great ideas often come from creating the space for them to arrive
  • Detaching from outcomes and letting the creative process unfold
  • Why constraints and rituals are powerful tools to spark creativity
  • Why originality is overrated. Everything is a remix
  • Sensitivity as a superpower. How tuning in helps you see what others miss

Along the way, they cover Sistine Chapel replicas, rugby league fandom, urban sketching, and how sensitivity and curiosity are deeply linked.

Links and references

Say Hello

www.occupationalphilosophers.com

Their day jobs

JOHN Bowland Consulting SIMON www.simonbanks.com.au SIMON SHOWREEL

 

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