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Introducing John Cleese & Rory Sutherland
Today is a very special episode, and one that I've been looking forward to recording and sharing for months. 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 - you would have thought so for the man who co-wrote Monty Python and Fawlty Towers - and in part because he is my comedy hero; which is a bit gushing I know, but since I'm the host of this podcast, I'll say what I like.
John's writing of Basil Fawlty in particular has had me enraptured since I first watched it in the 1980s. And if you ask anyone who knows me well, they will tell you, possibly with an air of resignation, that I am rather obsessed both by the brilliance of the writing and the panoply of characters but also the excess of Basil, his fire, his fury and his rage.
Please try to understand before one of us dies
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. So here we have John Cleese and Rory Sutherland talking about creativity and play; and me holding onto the reins with a fairly relaxed grip.
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 FT 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
I hope you enjoy it!
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Next time with Chris Rawlinson
Next time, I’ll be talking with 42 Courses founder, educationalist, creative spark and all round lovely human being, Chris Rawlinson.
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Be well and till next time,
Daniel
John Cleese & Rory Sutherland on creativity and play