A SELECTION OF TALKS, INTERVIEWS AND PODCASTS
I speak regularly on creativity and the human condition at public conferences, in house events, podcasts and to anyone who is interested in exploring what it means to be human. I’ve given talks on subjects such as: creativity, shame and self-doubt, imperfection, not knowing/inexpertise, creative practice, creative philosophy, culture change, innovation, the perils of ‘thingification’, spontaneity, mental and creative wellbeing, neuro-diversity, wonkiness, the importance of weirdness, the rise of the outsider, letting go, not knowing/an exitential take on being human and artful practice as a force for good.
I love being on stage with an audience in front of me but have also developed a love of doing similar things online.
If you’d like to inquire about me speaking at an event then drop me an e-mail.
TALKS
Not many talks I do are recorded but here’s a few that were
9 WONKY PROJECTS (OCT 2023)
The legendary “bingo machine” talk in which I tell stories of weird and wonderful projects interspersed with thoughts on creativity and the human condition. A talk that can never be done the same way twice due to the randomness of the bingo machine.
Dancing with my Inner Critic (TEDx JUN 2017)
The art of creative resilience (JAN 2021)
An online talk on the importance of creative practice for our own mental, physical and spiritual wellbeing.
Beyond Success and Failure - The Rise of the Outsider (TEDx - JAN 2020)
A talk that explores the idea that success and failure is simply a game played by human beings in order to keep the “outsiders” silent.
Good life experience (SEPT 2019)
ONE TRACK MINDS (JAN 2022)
Steve returns to the stage at Wilton’s Music Hall to tell the story of another life-changing song for the brilliant One Track Minds.
(AUDIO ONLY)
PODCASTS/INTERVIEWS
Here’s a selection of podcasts I’ve appeared on or interviews I’ve done over the years. They’re in chronological order so scroll down for some older stuff.
Why Play Works (June 2023)
Steve and Lucy chat about restoring the world as a strange place of wonder.
Alternative London podcast (March 2023)
Steve and Gary chat about pointless art projects, being different, worrying less about what others think about our art and much more.
Leaders in conversation podcast (Jan 2023)
Steve and Annie chat about freedom, spontaneity and being playful with not knowing.
BE MORE PIRATE (NOV 2021)
Steve and Alex talk about provocative absence, quantum flirting, the legacy of the lost cat poster and how this is rocket fuel for the aspiring pirate.
DOING EPIC STUFF PODCAST (DEC 2021)
Steve and Mike speak from opposite sides of the planet about creativity, detuning from the traditional “successful adult” experience of the world and much more.
TRAVEL ZOOM PODCAST (MARCH 2023)
Steve and Aga talk about living in and around London and the arts and culture scene in the city.
NEXT STAGE RADICALS PODCAST (NOV 2021)
Andy Brogan and I chat about the practice of not knowing and why it is important not only when we think about change but to generate more wonder in the world.
LIFE DONE DIFFERENTLY (JUNE 2022)
Steve, Neil and Ray talk about working in a factory, social loafing, our addiction to expertise, embodying ‘not knowing’, learning to live below our means and more.
Lifting the lid on coaching supervision (JULY 2021)
Steve talks with Steve Ridgely and Clare Norman about the importance of play, experimentation and not knowing in coaching, supervision and life in general.
Focus on what matters podcast (APR 2021)
Steve chats with Deborah and Fabrizio about being playful with not knowing, the perils of ever tightening loops of common sense and the importance of moving towards the unknown.
Laurence shorter's spiritual experience (April 2021)
Steve talks to Laurence about Life and Art in the online version of his spiritual chat show.
KATIE ELLIOTT'S LITTLE GATHERINGS (MARCH 2021)
Steve chats with Katie Elliott about what it means to be a creative human being and the importance of not knowing.
BETTER CONVERSATIONS PODCAST (MARCH 2021)
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People of Gestalt OD (JaN 2021)
Steve chats with Angelika and Frosina about a gestalt perspective on creativity and culture change.
the Mid life mentors podcast (DEC 2020)
Steve talks with Claire and James about learning to dance with the inner critic.
CLOWNING AROUND PODCAST (NOV 2020)
Steve chats with Emma Stroud (and her clown Barbara) about silence, neuro-diversity and much more.
How to make an adequate speech with JP Flintoff (NOV 2020)
JP Flintoff interviews Steve about his 2017 TEDx talk, the process of writing it, delivering it and what happened next as part of his online speaker training.
LIMINAL: ON THE EDGE PODCAST (NOV 2020)
Steve talks with Roland Harwood about silence, not knowing and the perils of implied concreteness.
WB-40 PODCAST (SEPT 2020)
Steve talks with Matt and Chris about the Sound of Silence podcast.
MOVE BEYOND WORDS PODCAST (AUG 2020)
Steve chats with Liz and Charlotte about education, neuro-diversity and the gift of dyslexia.
UNHURRIED MOMENTS PODCAST (OCT 2020)
Steve talks to Johnnie Moore about how a tragedy slowed down time in an eerie but magical way.
CITY LIT | CREATIVITY UNBOXED (OCT 2020)
Steve joins a panel to talk dyslexia, neuro-diversity and creativity at City Lit’s Mental Wealth Festival.
UNIVERSITY OF LIFE: CREATIVITY & CULTURE CONFERENCE (SEP 2020)
Steve talks with Dr Jesvir Mahil as part of the annual online creativity and culture conference.
ON THE WAY TO NEW WORK PODCAST (MAY 2020)
Steve talks with Michael Trautmann and Christoph Magnussen about creativity, not knowing, distraction and life during lockdown.
MARK SHAYLER’S MONDAY COMMUNION (AUG 2020)
Mark and Steve talk about growing up, growing old and silent podcasting.
.:: WATCH HERE ::.
ART ONLINE INTERVIEW (APRIL 2020)
Steve chats with Inspiring City’s Stuart Holdsworth about life (and art) during lockdown.
SOME GOOD MAVERICKS PODCAST (FEB 2020)
Steve chats with Charlie Gladstone about subversive creativity, the difference between cash and wealth and embracing wonkiness.
LAURENCE SHORTER’S SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE (OCT 2019)
Steve is a guest on Laurence’s live chat show that explores the amorphous, the undefinable and the taboo.
TINY GIANT PODCAST (JULY 2019)
Steve talks with Kerry about the importance of being weird if you want to make a difference in the world.
INSPIRING CITY PODCAST (JUN 2019)
Steve talks with Stuart Holdsworth about Outsider Art, the inner critic and art as therapy.
WB-40 PODCAST (JAN 2019)
Steve talks with Matt Ballantine about creativity, art, silence and wonkiness in the corporate world and day to day life.
DOING THINGS BETTER PODCAST (NOV 2018)
Steve chats with Mark Shayler about the importance of the outsider, the side-effects of school and how self-doubt is a wonderful employee retention tool.
LIGHTHOUSE LONDON PODCAST (APRIL 2018)
Steve talks with Tom Johnson about creativity, not knowing, culture change and the power of inexpertise.
SOME SPEAKING TESTIMONIALS
“Attending a Steve Chapman talk is like an annual dose of connecting with what it is to be human again. Amazing talk and a privilege”
“One of most innovative and inspiring speakers on creativity I’ve seen/heard”
“Steve is quite exceptional. His style of speaking and presenting in a simple and humorous way ensures everyone is able to absorb his message and leave with an abundant amount of food for thought.”
“Steve totally embodies his subject matter – creative, vulnerable, experimental, good humoured and, most importantly of all, human.”
“Steve has a very poetic way of speaking that is quite mesmerising”
“Steve is a rare creature – someone who has all the corporate credibility and status that you could wish for, but manages to retain his essential and creative self at the same time. He is a walking advertisement for what he espouses, which is the blending of process and systems with pure creativity and play. The energy he injects into the room with his persuasive good sense and infectious enjoyment of his subject lasts a long time in the memory. Worth seeking out!”
“An inspiring break from reality”
“Steve brings something very different to the subject of creativity and innovation – good humour, a genuine curiosity and, most importantly – human-ness”
“Once again, Steve’s talk was the highlight of the entire conference. Brilliant”
“Steve’s talk altered me in ways that I still haven’t fully made sense of. I found it inspirational and moving”
“As a speaker Steve is engaging, inspiring, funny and most of all really made me think about the constraints I have put on my imagination and creativity since I became a grown-up.“