Head of Fashion Programming at Melbourne Fashion Festival Todd Anthony joins us for a zig-zagging chat about creativity with substance. Todd traces a wonderfully non-linear path from professional Latin ballroom dancer to studying fashion design, to teaching and mentoring, to his current dream job at Melbourne Fashion Festival. Along the way we unpack a process grounded in purpose, reflection and the ever-useful post-its. He explains why the runway is very much alive, how AI can actually slow teams down in the best way, and why relationships (and kindness) are the real engine of creative work.

We also talk burnout prevention, the power of daily observation rituals (including a documentary with breakfast), and the small, thoughtful easter eggs that keep personal voice in in work. Stay to the end for Todd’s delightfully dramatic, Elizabethan-tinged answer to our signature 'curate your own death' question.

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Not enough people are making work with the intention of it still being around in 200 years. But Christopher Boots isn’t like anyone else.

In this wide-ranging, thought-provoking conversation, we hear from lighting and object designer Christopher Boots, where he sprinkles us with a bit of his magic dust creativity. And spoiler: he proves that the best ideas are marinated and well-seasoned.

From scavenging childhood treasures in the backyard to sculpting monumental crystal-and-bronze chandeliers, Christopher shares how time, process and materials shape his work. Along the way, we dive into material literacy, the psychology of objects, running a creative business without losing your soul, and how there’s no shortcut for quality, time and contemplation.

Show notes:

Look up Christopher Boots' work here https://christopherboots.com

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What happens when sharp strategy meets boundless creativity? Ren Kimber. In this episode, we sit down with the entrepreneurial powerhouse and strategic half of menswear label Christian Kimber to talk about creative partnerships, crafting a brand world and the art of taking calculated risks.

Ren shares her knack for blending business smarts with creative intuition – expect insights on brand storytelling, immersive retail design and travel-fuelled inspirations.

Relevant links

Christian Kimber website https://christiankimber.com

InteriorsAU design write-up on the new store https://architectureau.com/articles/christian-kimber-store-by-brahman-perera/

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Nicole Durling has never followed the rules, which might be why she’s helped reshape some of Australia’s most exciting cultural and creative spaces. In this episode, we dive deep into the role of the maker in a world hungry for meaning, the tension between art and commerce, and why craft (with a little ‘c’) is having a very big moment.

Nicole reflects on the tactile joy of materials, the heft of handmade objects, and what it means to support creative practice from the inside out. She’s sharp and generous, sharing the winding path that has led her to her current role as Executive Director of Craft Victoria.

We talk slow making, fast change and the very human urge to leave something behind.

Links

Craft Victoria: https://craft.org.au/

Artist Edmund de Waal: https://www.edmunddewaal.com/

Daniel Mudie Cunningham's Curating Grief https://danmudcun.com/criticism/curating-grief

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Dr Emma Luke is a designer, jeweller, academic and accidental VJ. She’s the head of RMIT’s Master of Design Innovation and Technology, and her work skirts at the edge of wearables, speculative tech and fine art jewellery. In this episode, we talk about designing talismans for the future, the role of intention in craft, and what it means to make magic matter – literally.

Emma's story spans industrial design, the post-digital, trail running, and building community through the rave and research scenes alike. Expect philosophical tangents, a touch of techno, and plenty of thought-provoking moments on the creative process.

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What do rave fashion, a small Scottish village and limestone stone masonry have in common? Steven John Clark.

In this episode, sculptor, furniture stonemason and founder of denHolm, Steven takes us on the winding path from sewing rave outfits on his gran’s machine to crafting heavyweight stone sculptures that can be found in galleries around the world. We talk early creative impulses, the madness of running a growing studio, the weird poetry of materials and the fuel that helps him keep pushing into unknown territory.

There are stories of missed plumbing jobs, tidiness as a mantra, and the kind of 3D thinking that turns limestone into language.

Pull up a chair and listen in.

Links

https://www.den-holm.com

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Interior designer Beck Trenorden has spent two decades working at some of Melbourne’s most well-known design studios. But it wasn’t until she stepped out on her own – launching Versa, a studio grounded in adaptive reuse and sustainability – that she fully rewrote the rules of how she wanted to work.

In this episode, Beck joins David and Aleesha to chat about building a values-led practice from the ground up. She shares the creative thinking behind Versa’s streamlined systems, the surprising power of sketching in real time, and how implementing a four-day work week reshaped both culture and output. Along the way, Beck reflects on formative experiences, growing up in a hands-on family and learning in a science shed.

It’s a generous, honest and deeply human episode from a designer who sees creativity not just in the work, but in how we live.

Find Versa at versastudio.com.au

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In this special bonus episode, Creative or Dead hosts Aleesha Callahan and David Constantine turn the mic on themselves. The friends and collaborators reflect on their own creative journeys – from childhood instincts to circuitous career paths – and how they’ve each found space for expression, experimentation and impact across disciplines.

Aleesha opens up about her accidental pivot from interior design to editorship, the vulnerability of writing, and the slow-burn joy of a long-term creative project. David shares insights from his multidisciplinary practice as a creative consultant and Chief Creative Officer, including his enduring belief in curiosity, reflection, and the value of being an astute observer.

Together, they touch on themes that run through the podcast’s DNA: trusting your instincts, making space for creative percolation, the messiness of opinion, and how to build a meaningful life by connecting what you're good at, what brings joy, what pays the bills – and what the world needs.

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