Best Creative Podcasts For Design Inspiration

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In the fast-paced world of design, staying inspired while sharpening your creative edge is essential.

One of the most efficient, engaging, and enriching ways to fuel your creative mind is by tuning into podcasts.

Whether you are sketching wireframes, crafting the next user interface, or iterating branding elements, best creative podcasts allow you to learn from design legends, understand emerging trends, and keep your creative spark alive while multitasking.

This Design Journal guide on the best creative podcasts will walk you through carefully curated shows that cater to designers, creators, and artists looking to push their craft to the next level.

We have selected each podcast not just for its popularity but for its depth, actionable insights, and the real-world perspectives it brings to creative professionals.

If you are searching for creative podcasts to accompany your coffee breaks or looking for a podcast for creators to binge during your design sprints, this article will help you discover gems worth subscribing to.

15 best creative podcasts

Whether you’re a designer, illustrator, writer, or entrepreneur, these 15 creative podcasts are perfect to queue up during your commute, your evening walk, or while sketching your next idea.

1. Creative Pep Talk

Creative Pep Talk, hosted by illustrator Andy J. Pizza, is like having a warm, brutally honest creative friend in your ear every week.

The podcast blends practical business strategies for artists with deep psychological insights into the creative process.

Andy often breaks down challenges like imposter syndrome, pricing your work, or handling creative ruts, making the show actionable and personal.

What makes it stand out from other podcasts for creators is its energy and humor, paired with Andy’s ability to interview industry leaders like Lisa Congdon and Jessica Hische while making their advice feel practical for freelancers and in-house creatives alike.

If you’re looking for a motivational yet real talk that lights a fire under your sketchbook, Creative Pep Talk is your go-to.

2. Never Not Creative

Never Not Creative, founded by Andy Wright, is a podcast and community exploring mental health, the business of creativity, and the evolving nature of design work.

Through insightful interviews and panel discussions, it challenges the pressures creatives face while offering guidance on building healthier, more sustainable creative practices.

The podcast is known for addressing burnout and self-worth while navigating the realities of working in creative industries.

What’s refreshing about Never Not Creative is its honesty around topics most creators hesitate to discuss, such as undercharging, agency toxicity, or the fear of stagnation.

It feels like a collective therapy session for creatives who need to know they aren’t alone, making it one of the best creative podcasts to add to your weekly listening rotation.

3. The Creative Boom Podcast

Hosted by Katy Cowan, The Creative Boom Podcast brings you conversations with designers, photographers, illustrators, and creative entrepreneurs worldwide.

Each episode dives into their creative journeys, challenges faced, and advice on sustaining creativity in a demanding industry.

Katy’s warm, engaging style helps guests open up, making the podcast feel like an inspiring coffee chat.

Whether you’re interested in creative career paths or want to understand the mindset behind enduring creativity, The Creative Boom Podcast offers practical and heartfelt insights for listeners at all career stages.

It is an excellent podcast for creators looking to hear real stories of resilience and creative growth. If you are an expert designer or creator, listen to these best design podcasts that are trending around.

4. How I Built This

How I Built This, hosted by Guy Raz, explores the stories of entrepreneurs and creators behind some of the world’s most successful companies.

While not exclusively for creatives, it is one of the best creative podcasts for those who wish to learn how founders built ideas from scratch, overcame failures, and scaled their visions globally.

Each story is a lesson in resilience, innovation, and the emotional journey behind creativity turned into a business.

Episodes feature brands like Airbnb, Patagonia, and Warby Parker, and often explore the intersection between creativity and entrepreneurship, showcasing how product design, branding, and storytelling impact business success.

Listening to How I Built This will remind you that creativity, strategy, and persistence are deeply intertwined.

5. TED Radio Hour

TED Radio Hour, produced by NPR, distills TED Talks into thematic audio journeys, exploring creativity, innovation, human behavior, and the future of work.

It’s an intellectual playground for those who want to expand their perspectives and challenge their thinking while working on creative projects.

With episodes on the science of creativity, design thinking, and the art of storytelling, it is a go-to podcast for creators seeking cross-disciplinary inspiration.

The podcast’s thoughtful curation of TED Talks, expert commentary, and engaging narration makes complex ideas accessible, leaving you with fresh insights to apply to your design, writing, or entrepreneurial pursuits.

It’s perfect for anyone who wants to merge creativity with big-picture thinking.

6. On Design with Justyna Green

On Design with Justyna Green offers in-depth interviews with some of the most innovative designers, artists, and creative thinkers shaping today’s world.

The podcast explores what design means across disciplines, how it impacts communities, and how designers can maintain creativity while managing practical constraints.

Justyna’s approach allows guests to share their personal journeys, challenges, and the philosophies behind their work.

Listeners get a glimpse into the realities of working in design, from the process of building a sustainable practice to handling creative challenges in different industries.

It’s a valuable listen for anyone seeking practical and philosophical insights on how to keep their design practice aligned with their values, making it one of the best creative podcasts for designers at any stage.

7. Meet The Creatives

Meet The Creatives, hosted by Rob Johnston, is a practical and refreshingly honest podcast for creators looking to hear directly from industry leaders.

The show features candid conversations with top designers, creative directors, photographers, and entrepreneurs about their career journeys, portfolio-building, and creative processes.

Rob’s approachable style encourages guests to share actionable advice while keeping the energy engaging and personal.

Episodes often cover behind-the-scenes realities of working in high-profile creative environments, offering valuable insights for those wanting to break into the industry or level up their creative careers.

It’s one of the best creative podcasts for students, freelancers, and professionals who want to learn from people at the top of their fields without the fluff.

8. Conversations of Inspiration

Hosted by Holly Tucker, founder of Notonthehighstreet, Conversations of Inspiration is a storytelling-rich podcast spotlighting founders, artists, and creators who have built meaningful businesses and creative lives.

Holly brings warmth and curiosity to each conversation, allowing guests to share their personal stories, challenges, and philosophies around creativity, entrepreneurship, and resilience.

Whether you’re looking to build a creative business or seeking inspiration to reconnect with your purpose, this podcast blends emotional depth with practical wisdom.

It is a creative podcast that encourages listeners to embrace their journey and believe in their ideas, reminding you that your path doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s.

9. SuperCreativity Podcast with James Taylor

The SuperCreativity Podcast with James Taylor explores how creativity can drive innovation, business growth, and personal fulfillment.

James, a globally recognized creativity and innovation keynote speaker, interviews thought leaders, artists, and entrepreneurs, diving deep into topics like artificial intelligence, design thinking, and building creative habits for long-term success.

Unlike many other podcasts for creators, SuperCreativity combines insights on technology and human creativity, making it ideal for designers and founders who want to understand how future trends impact their work.

Each episode leaves listeners with practical strategies to supercharge their creative output while navigating the demands of the modern world.

10. Make It Then Tell Everybody

Make It Then Tell Everybody, hosted by comics artist Dan Berry, is a cozy yet insightful podcast focused on the creative processes of illustrators, comic artists, and designers.

Each conversation feels approachable as Dan speaks with guests about their workflow, inspiration, and the challenges they face while creating and sharing their work.

Listeners get a behind-the-scenes look into the realities of a creative practice, from dealing with rejection to managing time and creative blocks.

It’s one of the best creative podcasts for those who want to hear practical discussions on balancing creativity with the realities of deadlines and client work, making you feel less alone in your creative struggles.

11. The Moment with Brian Koppelman

The Moment with Brian Koppelman is a podcast that dives deep into the pivotal moments that shape creative careers.

Brian, a screenwriter and filmmaker, brings on guests from various creative disciplines—authors, musicians, directors, and entrepreneurs—exploring the mindset shifts and challenges that led them to breakthrough moments in their careers.

The conversations often touch on topics like self-doubt, the pressure to succeed, and the emotional resilience needed to pursue creative work.

It’s a creative podcast that offers both inspiration and a realistic look into the struggles and joys of living a creative life, making it valuable for designers, writers, and anyone navigating their creative journey.

12. The Collective Podcast

The Collective Podcast, hosted by Ash Thorp, brings deep-dive conversations with artists, designers, and filmmakers worldwide.

Known for its in-depth discussions on process, creativity, and the evolving design landscape, the podcast offers practical advice while also exploring the mindset required to sustain a creative career in demanding industries.

What sets it apart from other best creative podcasts is its raw honesty around freelancing, burnout, and the mental discipline needed to grow creatively while maintaining a high standard of work.

It’s an ideal listen for motion designers, illustrators, and digital artists seeking nuanced insights from some of the most talented creatives globally.

13. The Illustration Department Podcast

The Illustration Department Podcast, hosted by Giuseppe Castellano, is a niche but deeply insightful podcast focusing on the illustration world.

Giuseppe, a seasoned art director, brings on illustrators, art directors, and editors to discuss their career paths, portfolio development, and the nuances of working in illustration professionally.

Episodes often provide honest advice on building a freelance illustration career, negotiating contracts, and developing a sustainable creative process while handling the business side of art.

For illustrators and visual storytellers, this is one of the best creative podcasts to understand the industry’s inner workings and learn how to thrive.

14. ArtCurious Podcast

ArtCurious Podcast, hosted by Jennifer Dasal, takes a storytelling approach to uncover the unexpected, strange, and fascinating stories in art history.

It is perfect for creatives seeking inspiration beyond design and wanting to understand how historical art movements, artists’ lives, and cultural shifts can influence modern creative practices.

The podcast covers topics like art heists, mysteries behind famous artworks, and lesser-known artists who changed art history.

It’s a creative podcast that expands your perspective while adding a layer of intellectual curiosity to your creative routine, ideal for designers who appreciate the context behind visual culture.

15. Beyond The Studio

Beyond The Studio, hosted by artists Amanda Adams and Nicole Mueller, offers practical conversations with contemporary artists about how they sustain their creative practices while managing the realities of life and business.

It explores the unglamorous side of being a working artist, including finances, marketing, and balancing multiple projects.

Unlike many podcasts for creators that focus only on inspiration, Beyond The Studio emphasizes actionable insights and transparent conversations that prepare artists and designers for the realities of building a creative career.

It’s ideal for those looking to turn their passion into a sustainable practice while staying true to their artistic goals.

Conclusion

These best creative podcasts aren’t just background noise; they’re your on-demand mentors, pushing you to think differently, refine your craft, and sustain your creative practice.

Whether you’re sketching a new logo, building a design system, illustrating your next book, or growing a creative business, these podcasts will keep your mind sharp and your motivation high.

Creativity can be isolating, but you don’t have to walk the path alone.

Make these creative podcasts part of your routine—during your commute, while tidying your workspace, or on your morning walks—and let each episode fill your day with practical insights and inspiration that fuel your next big idea.

Start exploring these podcasts for creators today and find the voices that resonate with your journey.

Frequently asked questions

Are creative podcasts worth listening to?

Yes, creative podcasts are worth listening to if you want to learn from industry leaders, gain fresh perspectives, and stay motivated while building your creative practice.

They offer real-life insights, actionable advice, and behind-the-scenes stories that can help you improve your skills and navigate challenges in your creative journey.

What is the best creative podcast for designers?

While it depends on your goals, The Creative Boom Podcast, Creative Pep Talk, and On Design with Justyna Green are among the best creative podcasts specifically for designers, offering practical advice, career guidance, and deep dives into the creative process.

Can podcasts help boost creativity?

Yes, listening to podcasts for creators can boost your creativity by exposing you to new ideas, success stories, and diverse perspectives.

They often share practical exercises, mindset shifts, and inspiration that can help you overcome creative blocks and push your thinking further.

How do I choose a creative podcast to follow?

Start by identifying what you want: business insights, creative mindset tips, or industry-specific knowledge.

Then, pick a creative podcast that aligns with your goals. For example, listen to How I Built This for creative entrepreneurship stories or The Illustration Department Podcast if you’re focused on illustration as your main craft.