Rebel, Reject, Create

In this episode of Rebel, Reject, Create, I speak with Monique Pelser, a South African artist based in the Cape who works with people of all ages to reconnect with creative practice. Monique has worked with tiny children, teenagers, adults, university-level art students and older learners, helping them explore drawing, play, experimentation and the emotional blocks that stop people from making.The conversation moves quickly beyond “art” and into the deeper mechanics of creativity. Monique talks about shame, the inner critic, fear of error, the pressure to imitate, and the way people begin to censor themselves when they feel watched or judged. She argues that creativity is much more accessible than people think, and that the act of making something — however small, rough or imperfect — can restore agency.This is a warm, sharp and very human conversation about why creativity gets buried, how we can begin again, and why mess, play and uncertainty may be exactly where the good stuff starts.Photo by Martin ParrFind Monique Online:https://moniquepelser.comhttps://www.instagram.com/moniquepelserstudiohttps://www.instagram.com/canister_communityhttps://www.youtube.com/@moniquepelserstudiohttps://www.linkedin.com/in/monique-pelser-550b5627https://www.facebook.com/monique.pelser.94

In this episode of Rebel, Reject, Create, David Chislett speaks with Michael Brian Lee, creative breakthrough catalyst and author of World Innovators Cup.
Michael’s new book reimagines famous innovators as World Cup football stars, using the playful format of trading cards and sporting mythology to ask a serious question: why do we celebrate athletes more passionately than the people whose ideas actually change the world?

The conversation moves from Nikola Tesla as a Serbian striker to Michael’s own creative journey through writing, television, film education and corporate creativity training.

David and Michael also explore why creativity matters in an age of AI, what machines can and cannot do creatively, and why human instinct, taste and unpredictability still matter.

https://worldinnovatorscup.com/

The episode closes with a simple creativity exercise using a pen, revealing how quickly people look for the “right” answer — and how creativity begins when we push beyond the obvious.

In this episode of Rebel, Reject, Create, David Chislett speaks with Professor Mark Deuze, Professor of Media Studies at the University of Amsterdam and author of a book exploring how creative work can be both deeply meaningful and damaging to people’s health.The conversation looks at the hidden cost of turning creativity into a career. Mark explains why people in creative industries often feel grateful to do the work while also suffering because of it. He challenges the romantic myth of the tortured creative, arguing instead that the real problem lies in the structure of the industries themselves.David and Mark discuss burnout, autonomy, unfair decision-making, fear-driven leadership, discrimination, bullying, mental health literacy, psychosocial safety and the urgent need for sustainable creative careers. This is a sharp, necessary conversation for anyone working in media, culture, journalism, music, film, games, advertising, design or the arts.Find the book here:https://intellectdiscover.com/content/books/9781835951934More about David Chislett here:https://davidchislett.com

In this episode of Rebel, Reject, Create, David Chislett speaks with creative director and designer Rakesh Kanhai about psychedelics, creativity, mental health, and the growing pressure placed on creatives in modern society.After organising an event in Amsterdam exploring the relationship between psychedelics and artistic practice, Rakesh shares his own deeply personal experiences with ayahuasca, LSD, psilocybin, and cannabis — including the dangers of dependency, the importance of integration, and why he believes these substances should never become mere productivity tools.The conversation explores spirituality, addiction, self-reflection, creativity, consumer culture, indigenous knowledge, and what it really means to grow as a human being and artist.This is not a conversation glorifying drugs.It’s a conversation about consciousness, coping, healing, and responsibility.Follow Rakesh on Instagram for more info:https://www.instagram.com/dj_kesh

In this episode of Rebel, Reject, Create, I chat with Dr. Michael Bloomfield — cognitive anthropologist, creativity researcher, and founder of the Komanu Creativity System. Michael shares how his early obsession with music, originality, and genius led him into a lifelong exploration of creativity through anthropology, psychology, and human evolution. Together, we unpack why creativity is not the same as intelligence, why the myth of genius holds so many people back, and why everyday acts of problem-solving may be more creative than we think. Michael also shares practical ways to strengthen creative thinking, from practice and movement to relaxation, and introduces his creativity card system designed to help people unlock fresh ideas and work more intentionally with their own minds.Find more on Michael:https://www.michaelbloomfield.uk/More on David:https://davidchislett.com