Creative Adventures - An accidental podcast

Episode #17: Badly named boats, existential Instagram and the Fisher Protocol (plus other ethical interrupts)

Fri, 02 Oct 2026 06:00:00 +0100

In this episode, having no phone signal makes me contemplate my existence, I come up with some ethical thought experiments inspired by a macabre Cold War idea and wonder why boats have such bad names.

TL;DL
00:48 Analogue friction
05:42 Existential ponderings in Cornwall
15:08 Badly named boats
19:18 The Fisher Protocol (and other ethical interrupts)
28:01 Details about open studio, exhibitions and workshops

Links to things I mentioned
What the February?! 108 weird creative challenges for humans
Autumn Open Studio
Folklore exhibition at Hackney Gallery
Brighton Illustration Festival
2 day Dancing with the Inner Critic Workshop
Mask Workshop
Buy an analogue copy of this podcast on C90 cassette
My shop

The written substack version of this episode can be read on my Substack.

If you're wondering why this is an accidental podcast then listen to the first 5 minutes of episode one.

Comments, questions, requests and stuff to stevexoh@gmail.com

(Total listening time 30’ 25")

Episode #16: Analogious joy, the invention of memory and the mysterious crested arse-foot bird

Fri, 04 Sep 2026 06:00:00 +0100

In this episode I discover that a bird I see regularly is actually a very weird creature, make my head explode by going down a rabbit hole asking myself what memory actually is, and come up with a stupid idea to offer analogue versions of all of this.

TL;DL
01:26 Old Father Jackdaw update
02:31 Analogious joy
08:10 The mysterious crested arse foot bird
13:37 The invention of memory
19:37 Events and workshops
21:11 A confusing ending

Links to things I mentioned
Buy an analogue copy of this podcast on C90 cassette
Grebo guru by Pop Will Eat Itself
Video of a grebe walking
Buy prints and cards of my grebe painting
Lighting Little Fires event in Cornwall
Brighton Illustration Festival
2 day Dancing with the Inner Critic Workshop
Mask Workshop
My shop

(Total listening time 21’ 40")

Episode #15: Digital marginalia, the paradoxical grief of completion and becoming Connie Cyclonic

Fri, 07 Aug 2026 06:00:00 +0100

In this episode I try to find ways of bringing the art of marginalia to a podcast, realise I may be somewhat addicted to the psychological tension created by an incomplete project and reflect on a profound experience that began with the discovery that a water bottle would fit on my head.

TL;DL
01:05 Old Father Jackdaw
05:23 On digital marginalia
09:34 Mouhamadodou Lo and his Children
11:00 Becoming Connie Cyclonic
19:26 Generic Existential Distraction
20:27 The paradoxical grief of completion and the art of potential space
26:08 Richmond Lock and Weir
27:42 Silent interview, workshops and EELS ARE COOL t-shirts

Links to things I mentioned
Mouhamadodou Lo and his Children on Spotify
Video of the making of Connie Cyclonic
Video story of Connie and the Creature at Samphire Hoe
Silent interview with Joe Lycett
Mask Workshop
Dancing with the Inner Critic Workshop
EELS ARE COOL T-SHIRT

(Total listening time 30’ 21")

Episode #14: From grope to rote, the inelegant art of synaptic pruning and the hobgoblin of little minds

Fri, 10 Jul 2026 06:00:00 +0100

In this episode I talk about the importance of breaking routines whilst breaking my own routine, reflect on how the biological process of synaptic pruning might be a useful metaphor for creative practice and consider whether the accidental pursuit of consistency could ruin my relationship with this podcast.

TL;DL
0:18 Breaking the routine of making this podcast
06:39 From “grope” to “rote”
13:58 The importance of the body in spontaneous self-expression
18:58 My fears of breaking this routine
22:13 Synaptic pruning
28:46 Consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds
31:12 My paradoxical fear of being misunderstood and totally understood
35:06 Form is emptiness and emptiness is form
37:00 The importance of meeting the stranger

Links to things I mentioned
“Orbiting the giant hairball” by Gordon MacKenzie
James Traeger’s tennis talk at Inexpert 2018
Norman the sunken boat
Juvenile wood duck joins me on the kayak

(Total listening time 40' 41")

Episode #13: Start before you are ready, the scaffolding of meaning, and the existential habit of commoditising nature

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 06:00:00 +0100

In this episode I realise how important meaning is as a way of organising my attention, reflect on the value of starting before I am ready in any creative endeavour and try to understand why human beings seek out quiet and stillness in nature only to fill it with noise.

TL;DL
1:14 “The River Thames Project” and organising my attention to find flow
11:56 On humans and making noise in nature
19:15 A trip to Canada and the importance of starting before you are ready to start
29:04 The mysterious world of Connie Cyclonic

Links to things I mentioned
The paper on flow that I mention
Sound of Silence podcast
The imperfect portrait experiment
Two day Inner Critic Workshop
Mask Workshop
Solstice Festival at Samphire Hoe

The written substack version of this episode can be read on my Substack.

If you're wondering why this is an accidental podcast then listen to the first 5 minutes of episode one.

Comments, questions, requests and stuff to stevexoh@gmail.com

(Total listening time 30’ 44”)

Episode #12: From midges to nuclear terror, the microtonal power of therapeutic art and the performative solemnity of the consummate professional

Fri, 15 May 2026 06:00:00 +0100

In this episode, encountering some midges on a run gets me reflecting on nuclear terror in the 1980s, I contemplate how therapeutic art works brilliantly in the gaps between words, and explore why acts of carnival are vital for weirdos trying to make a meaningful difference in the world.

TL;DL
02’ 06” A chain of thought from midges to 1980s nuclear terror
10’25” The microtonal power of therapeutic art
18’ 18” The performative solemnity of the consummate professional
26’ 47” Jackdaw invasion!
35’ 24” Upcoming workshops and Samphire Hoe Solstice Festival

Links to things I mentioned
Jonno Hanafin’s Percieved Weirdness Index
Unhurried moments podcast where I tell the story of that moment
Playing at the Edge Inner Critic Workshop
Paper Cutting Workshop in Guildford
Mask workshop
Samphire Hoe Solstice Festival

The written substack version of this episode can be read on my Substack.

If you're wondering why this is an accidental podcast then listen to the first 5 minutes of episode one.

Comments, questions, requests and stuff to stevexoh@gmail.com

(Total listening time 37’ 53”)

Episode #11: Iridescent corvid secrets, the lost soul of Battersea and the art of the intentional ending

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 06:00:00 +0100

In this episode I investigate a strange fact I was sent about crows being rainbow coloured, explore impermanence and the art of ending projects at their peak, and lament the redevelopment of Battersea Power Station and what that can teach us about the dangers of “golf-course creativity.”

TL;DL
04’ 32” I got sent a weird book about Rooks
08’ 36” Are crows in fact rainbow coloured?
12’ 43” The art of the intentional ending
25’ 04” The lost soul of Battersea Power Station
34’ 33” The Creatively Eccentric Podcast
35’ 37” Details about forthcoming Open Studio events

Links to things I mentioned
Fred Deakin on Instagram
Lemon Jelly
Talking Jim Reilly on the Glen Dye Podcast
The Creatively Eccentric Podcast
Details about Open Studios
Buy stuff in my shop
Buy me a coffee (support this podcast)

Episode #10: Decenary threshold guardians, the totem of aloneness and my distant uncle who was a happy little stomach on a stick

Fri, 20 Mar 2026 06:00:00 +0000

In this episode I try to resist doing anything special for episode ten but end up going down a decenary rabbit hole, I reflect on the difference between aloneness and loneliness and rethink the brain’s role in creativity through getting to know a primitive sea creature.

TL;DL
3’ 12” Why does the number 10 feel so significant anyway?
9 ’42” A story of transforming lonliness into solitude on a remote island
26 ’20” The human brain and the happy little stomach on a stick
32’ 35” Come hang out in my brain
33’ 22” Bad crow biology

Links to things I mentioned
The Ocracoke Art Adventure
The article about "The British artists" in the Ocracoke Observer
7 ½ lessons about the brain book
"Towards a social psychology of loneliness" paper
Upcoming workshops (Masks, musical improv, paper cutting)
Details about my forthcoming Open Studio

The written substack version of this episode can be read on my Substack.

If you're wondering why this is an accidental podcast then listen to the first 5 minutes of episode one.

Comments, questions, requests and stuff to stevexoh@gmail.com

(Total listening time 34' 26”)

Episode #9: Memes vs art, a love affair with the Thames and the existential importance of being bored

Fri, 20 Feb 2026 08:00:00 +0000

In this episode I express my love of the River Thames through the metaphor of a storybook with the bridges as the chapters, explore the difference between art culture and meme culture, and reflect on boredom as a powerful indicator of living a meaningful life.

TL;DL
2’ 41” A trip to St Leonards and the Hong Kong valley of the spiders
6 ’02” A love affair with the Thames
15’ 16” The existential importance of boredom
17’ 33” Readings from my old school reports
27’ 07” Memes vs art
37’ 26” Support the show and a soabox bit about podcasts
39’ 44” Jim the Podcast Sherpa

Links to things I mentioned
Seething Wells
10 Year plan prints
My shop
Podcast with Jim the Podcast Sherpa
My next mask workshop
Super Secret Musical Improv Workshop
My online shop
Become a patron of my studio
Buy me a coffee (from £1)

The written substack version of this episode can be read on my Substack.

If you're wondering why this is an accidental podcast then listen to the first 5 minutes of episode one.

Comments, questions, requests and stuff to stevexoh@gmail.com

(Total listening time 41’ 46”)

Episode #8: Eels, outsiders and the excruciating greyness of normal

Fri, 23 Jan 2026 07:00:00 +0000

In this episode I reflect on the cyclical emotional process of making this podcast, tumble down a fascinating eel rabbit hole, ponder the excruciating greyness of “normal”, and explore my love of the brilliant weirdo.

TL;DL
1’ 15” Running in the dark and the peril of head-torches
6’ 34” The repeated process of making this podcast
8’ 55” The excruciating greyness of normal
10’ 53” Patterns of stuckness
12’ 54” Tumbling down an eel rabbit hole
18’ 22” My love of the brilliant weirdo
32’ 20” Making little zines that you can buy
33’ 02” Mask workshop promo
33’ 24” Spread the word

Links to things I mentioned
Sound of Silence podcast
Pavement’s “Type Slowly”
Michael Malay’s “Late Light”
Watzlavick et al on stuckness
Daniel Johnston: “Walking the cow”
Lucia Pamela: “Walking on the moon”
Wesley Willis: “Rock and roll McDonalds”
The Shaggs: “Philosophy of the world”
Connie Converse: “I have considered the Lillies”
The Legendary Stardust Cowboy on Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-in
Shooby Taylor live at The Apollo
Daniel Johnston’s first live TV appearance
Buy my zines
My next mask workshop
My online shop
Become a patron of my studio
Buy me a coffee (from £1)

The written substack version of this episode: Stevexoh’s substack thing.

If you're wondering why this is an accidental podcast then listen to the first 5 minutes of episode one.

Comments, questions, requests and stuff to stevexoh@gmail.com

(Total listening time 34’42”)

Episode #7: Kingstonymus Bosch, the man who loved dragons and the ghostly posters on the super-ego's bedroom wall

Fri, 26 Dec 2025 08:00:00 +0000

In this episode I talk about how discovering a bizarre mural has helped me approach the festive season with a little more resilience, reflect on ego ideals as the posters my inner critic keeps on its bedroom wall and tell the story of the man who loved dragons as a way of exploring the phenomenon of aboutism.

TL;DL
6’ 17” The Kingstonymus Bosch mural
15’ 38” The ghostly posters on the inner critic's bedroom wall
24’ 05” All about aboutism
24' 45” The man who loved dragons
30'56” The imperfect portrait experiment
36'25" Plug for my 20% off sale in my shop and mask workshop

Links to things I mentioned
London's horrific AI mural (Evening Standard article)
My talk about learning to dance with my inner critic
The Inexpert 2018 conference experiment
Drawing portraits in Trafalgar Square
John Luke Robert’s telling the story of the person who hated his gig
My online shop
My next mask workshop
Become a patron of my studio
Buy me a coffee (from £1)

The written substack version of this episode: Stevexoh’s substack thing.

If you're wondering why this is an accidental podcast then listen to the first 5 minutes of episode one.

Comments, questions, requests and stuff to stevexoh@gmail.com

(Total listening time 38'00")

Episode #6: Welcome to my world, a love letter to autumn and reflections on masks that reveal

Fri, 28 Nov 2025 08:00:00 +0000

In this episode I reflect on how much I love autumn, tell the story of a crow reunion, play a weird song I wrote and performed in assembly age 8, experiment with less censored/more eccentric social interaction and talk about the power of masks that help reveal more of who we already are.

TL;DL
2’ 15” I really love autumn
4’ 36” A crow reunion
14’ 27” The open studio/welcome to my world
22' 02” The bizarre assembly performance remembered
26’ 51” Experiments in social interaction
31’ 01” Reflections on masks that reveal
44’ 32” Plugs for festive markets I’m doing
46’ 06” Weird greetings cards available in my shop

Links to things I mentioned
Buy a print of "Crow Therapy"
Feelings are Real exhibition at Barbican (Feb 25)
My studio
Partners zine
Keith Johnstone
Len Dancing
My mask workshops
My shop

The written substack version of this episode: Stevexoh’s substack thing.

If you're wondering why this is an accidental podcast then listen to the first 5 minutes of episode one.

Comments, questions, requests and stuff to stevexoh@gmail.com

(Total listening time 47’ 12”)

Episode #5: Learning about lightning, the fish that makes dreams and reflections on beautiful inexpertise

Fri, 31 Oct 2025 08:00:00 +0000

In this episode I tell the story of how getting trapped on an exposed beach in a lightning storm became the highlight of a disastrous snorkelling trip, explore how dreams can be a scary, intense but ultimately helpful healing process and reflect on the beauty and power of inexpertise through the lens of the Portsmouth Sinfonia.

TL;DL
3’ 32” The disastrous snorkelling trip
13’ 13” Live from "lightning beach" (contains swears!)
25’ 10” The fish that makes dreams
36’ 53” Reflections on beautiful inexpertise
50' 29” Plug for (Not a) Lost Cat prints and open studio

Links to things I mentioned

My One Track Minds "LSD" talk about Daniel Johnstone
The Portsmouth Sinfonia play Also sprach zarathustra
My One Track Minds talk on the Portsmouth Sinfonia
The One Track Minds website
The Inexpert 2018 website
The Back Gaemen project
Buy (Not a) Lost Cat limited edition prints
Come to my open studio

The written substack version of this episode: Stevexoh’s substack thing

Comments, questions, requests and stuff to stevexoh@gmail.com

(Total listening time 53’ 01”)

Episode #4: Kindness for crabs, thoughts on the creative slump and learning to see the world as strange

Fri, 03 Oct 2025 08:00:00 +0100

In this episode I reflect on the big creative slump I found myself in August, explore how learning to see the world as strange can help us experience wonder and share the story of a beach trip with Poppy the dog that inspired me to make a little zine entitled “Be kind to crabs”.

TL;DL
4’ 08” Kindness for crabs
12’ 11” Thoughts on the creative slump
24’ 20” Learning to see the world as strange
34’ 36” What the February?! Book, backgammon invitation and About Time podcast

Links to things I mentioned

A video of my “Be Kind to Crabs” zine
Print off a copy of my “Be Kind to Crabs” zine
What the February?! Book
The Back Gaemen project
The “About Time” podcast

The written substack version of this episode: Stevexoh’s substack thing

Comments, questions, requests and stuff to stevexoh@gmail.com

(Total listening time 40’ 30”)

Episode #3: Quantum flirting, Back Gaemen and a live crow/spider skirmish

Fri, 05 Sep 2025 09:00:00 +0100

In this episode I talk about The Windowsill Gang and how they bring me joy but also steal my crab shells, all about Arnie Mindell's beautiful concept of Quantum Flirting and share the story of how I have ended up inviting strangers to play Backgammon with me.

And an exciting moment (for me anyway) when I witness a crow/spider skirmish right outside my window.

TL;DL
1' 50" The Windowsill Gang
9' 09" Quantum Flirting
14' 55" The Back Gaemen project
15' 27" Spider/crow skirmish
31' 51" New t-shirts and upcoming workshops

Links to things I mention

The Windowsill gang

T-shirts

Workshops

The written Substack version of all of this: Stevexoh's Substack thing

Comments, questions, requests and stuff to stevexoh@gmail.com

(Total listening time 36 mins and 57 secs)

Episode #2: The union of onions, the trouble with windows and the importance of niche environments and reasonable adjustments

Sat, 30 Aug 2025 08:00:00 +0100

In this episode I enjoy following the random gifts of a dyslexic mind and reflect on some of the comments that people made about my "create windows into your world" philosophy in episode one.

I also explore the idea of "niche environments" and "reasonable adjustments" as important considerations for anyone wanting to nurture their own spontaneous self-expression.

TL;DL
3' 42" The union of onions
6' 10" More thoughts on "windows into your world"
16' 35" Niche environments and reasonable adjustments

Links I mention

The origin story of "XOH"

The "Dog trolley"

Thoughts about opening windows four-box-grid

The (Not a) Lost cat project

Workshops

Framed original drawings

The written Substack version of all of this: Stevexoh's Substack thing

Comments, questions, requests and stuff to stevexoh@gmail.com

(Total listening time 37 mins and 37 secs)

Episode #1: An accidental podcast, the carcinisation of tech and four lightly held philosophies for living a creative life

Sat, 23 Aug 2025 13:00:00 +0100

In this episode I realise that in attempting to make an accessible audio version of my Substack that I have accidentally created a podcast. Maybe.

I also consider the idea that all apps and digital platforms are evolving to eventually become the same thing (a bit like the evolutionary theory of carcinisation where everything becomes a crab) and I share my "Four lightly held philosophies for living a creative life" from an article I forgot I wrote a number of years back.

TL;DL
1' 01" The carcinisation of tech
2' 23" The accidental podcast
11' 07" Four lightly held philosophies

Links I mention

The written Substack version of all of this: Stevexoh's Substack thing

The Sound of Silence podcast: www.soundofsilence.org.uk

For Creative People podcast: Listen on Spotify

My website: www.canscorpionssmoke.com

My shop: The Amazing Emporium of Everything

Comments, questions, requests and stuff to stevexoh@gmail.com

(Total listening time 33 mins and 34 secs)