Jad Abumrad at CreativeMornings/NYC

What a gift! This talk! Wow!

Last Friday, the remarkable Jad Abumrad unwrapped a gift on stage, in talk from, in front of our CreativeMornigns/NYC community.

It’s a talk about wandering and wondering. Thoughtful. Thought provoking. Beautiful. Well worth 20 min of your time.

Now is Better

The conversation starts at 16:47

We closed out our CreativeMornings/NYC year with a conversation between two design legends, Debbie Millman and Stefan Sagmeister. I love Stefan’s orientation towards optimism and urging us to think longterm. Jump to the start of their conversation by clicking here and skipping over all the intros. You can buy Now Is Better Book here.

We Are All Artists

Last Friday’s CreativeMornings/NYC was deeply moving. (And almost didn’t happen as our 1,000 people venue fell through the night before because of technical issues.) Thank you Deb Bubb, Keith Yamashita and Joshua Roman.

Life as a Creative Act

I am EXCITED for this Friday’s CreativeMornings/NYC, happening on September 22nd at 8:30am. (Fun fact: It will be the largest CreativeMornings in history, hosted at the stunning 1026 seat City Tech Auditorium in Downtown Brooklyn.)

Keith Yamashita and Deb Bubb will take us on an immersive journey, celebrating creativity. Just like me, they see creativity as a birth right, a life skill. You can join us IRL by signing up, or tune in via Livestream. Oh, and as always, the event is free.

Debbie Millman Interviewing Jad Abumrad

I just learned that the remarkable Debbie Millman is interviewing radio pioneer Jad Abumard this coming Monday, September 18th in Brooklyn. We can all sit in and listen, live! Jad created one of my all-time favorite podcast called Radiolab! I wouldn’t be surprised if galaxies shift a tiny bit with these two master storytelling humans in conversation. The dollop of whipped cream on top of all of this goodness is the fact that Joan As A Police Woman will be the musical guest. I am ded. Get your tickets here.

The Art of Asking

Not a new talk. Amanda Palmer is a force. Worth rewatching.

How to Find a Wonderful Idea

How does OK Go come up with their unique ideas for their music videos?

(via Tobias Günther in Dense Discovery)

The World Wide Wander

CreativeMornings is doing something a bit wild this Thursday/Friday (9/22-23) in collaboration with the remarkable London based organization called StreetWisdom.



We are celebrating 24h of waking up, around the world, with 1h sensory-tuning WalkShops. (Walking workshops) It’s free. It’s fun.

We are kicking off the 24h bonanza at 8:30am NYC Time on Thursday 9/22 as an official virtual NYC chapter event. Join us, from anywhere in the world. (If that time slot doesn’t work for you, you have 15 more to choose from, because you know, 24h!) 

All you need, is your phone, headphones, shoes and be ready to walk and wander. 



Learn more over on the The World Wide Wander! Sign up! 2,000 other kind creative humans already have!

The World Wide Wander

Mark your calendars! Next Thursday, September 22, at 8:30AM ET, CreativeMornings/NYC is shooting the starting gun of a 24-hour global wander marathon!

Time travel with us for a moment. Last November, CM/NYC took to the streets for the first time under the guidance of creative nonprofit Street Wisdom’s founder David Pearl. Together we unlocked our minds and unblocked our creativity with every step.

So when our friends at Street Wisdom asked to join forces for a 24-hour around-the-world relay of their magical walkshops (i.e., walking workshops), we said YES. Best of all, we’re starting the marathon off in New York City! Join us for the first-leg of the World Wide Wander. You can partcipate from anywhere in the world. There are 16 timezone slots to choose from. Sign up and then join us from your phone and walk the streets with us, wherever you are.

The World Wide Wander. It’s free. it’s time. it’s fun.

(ps: In case you don’t know: I am the founder of CreativeMornings, the community I wish existed when I moved to NYC 23 years ago.)

How to Do Nothing

I enjoyed this talk. In her first book, How to Do Nothing: Resisting the Attention Economy, multi-disciplinary artist and writer Jenny Odell argues that taking control of our attention from the capitalist forces determined to monetize it and reconnecting with the world around us is a critical form of resistance.

Take A Breath

Always coming back to this one.

Street Wisdom This Friday

CreativeMornings/NYC is hosting a super special free event this Friday:

David Pearl from London will guide us through an experience he calls Street Wisdom.

I did one. It changed me.

David is PURE MAGIC!

Join us, anywhere in the world, and wander with us, collectively alone!

How to Stop Languishing and Start Finding Flow

Finding Your Hammer

Adam Robinson shares some wonderful nuggets of wisdom in this DO Lectures talk from 2017. My favorite: “In any interaction, create fun and delight for the other person with enthusiasm!” And the notion of ‘rehearsing your best self’ every day.

In this beautiful CreativeMornings/Ottawa talk singer-songwriter Kellylee Evans talks about the importance of exercising courage in everyday life.

Where are the Black Designers?

This digital conference called Where are the Black Designers, which happened two days ago, is nothing short of incredibly impressive. Huge congrats to Mitzi Oku, the organizer.

Yancey Strickler: A Framework for Your Ultimate Self

Loving this talk by former Kickstarter CEO Yancey Strickler. With a simple four-square grid Yancey shifted his entire perspective on decision-making, his sense of self, and his relationship to the world. His concept of “Bentoism”, inspired by the Japanese bento box, is a way of framing your choices with an eye to the future, beyond your own self-interest, and with consideration for your community and the next generation. I’ll definitely be applying this to my life. Grateful.

(One of many talks of 99u’s virtual 2020 conference)

My DO Lectures Talk from 2018

Exactly a year ago I gave my most personal talk, sharing my spiritual journey as an entrepreneur and as a mom. I writing this from the DO Lectures 2019. I came back to this magical place, to just attend and soak it all in. No other event has ever touched me as much as DO.

Sleep Is Your Superpower

I need no convincing to sleep.

The Anti-CEO Playbook

SO MUCH YES! This talk by Chobani founder Hamdi Ulukaya resonates so deeply.

Amy Padnani: Overlooked Obituaries

New York Times digital editor Amy Padnani talked about Overlooked, a series telling the stories of remarkable people who never received an obit in their publication.

People > Craft

I keep coming back to this brief talk by Larry Legend. Reminding me that People > Craft.

The History of Human Emotions

This talk by Tiffany Watt Smith is a beautiful insight into the history of human emotions.

People Matter, Real Life Matters

This vulnerable talk by Grace Bonney hit me in the heart. In it she speaks on the last 15 years of running Design*Sponge and why 2019 will be her final year. She unpacks the noteworthy lessons she’s learned along the way and what truly matters even in this digital age.