Dr. Indre Viskontas is a woman of many talents: an opera singer and director, a neuroscientist, a professor, host of the Inquiring Minds podcast (and several others), and the current president of the Society for the Neuroscience of Creativity. She bridges the worlds of music, performance, neuroscience, and education, sharing her academic insights with the wider world through public speaking, including a TED Talk, her book, titled How Music Can Make You Better, and her podcasts. Our conversation explores Indre’s current research, as well as her own creative process, how she’s teaching her own kids about creativity, and more.

For our Creativity Pro-Tip, if you’re feeling stuck, whether it’s a creative project or business presentation, try introducing a plot twist. This is a narrative and storytelling device where instead of telling a story chronologically, you introduce a “but” or “therefore” to create interest or suspense, thus keeping your audience more engaged.

Credits: The Syncreate podcast is created and hosted by Melinda Rothouse, and produced at Record ATX studios with in collaboration Michael Osborne and 14th Street Studios in Austin, Texas. Syncreate logo design by Dreux Carpenter.

If you enjoy this episode and want to learn more about the creative process, you might also like our conversations in Episode 9: Music and Psychology: "The Pocket" Experience with Dr. Jeff Mims, Episode 25: Creativity, Neuroscience, and Psychedelics with Bradley Cooke, PhD, and Episode 48: Can You Learn Creativity? with Creative Director Chris McKenna

At Syncreate, we're here to support your creative endeavors. If you have an idea for a project or a new venture, and you’re not sure how to get it off the ground, find us at syncreate.org. Our book, also called Syncreate, walks you through the stages of the creative process so you can take action on your creative goals. We also offer resources, creative process tools, and coaching to help you bring your work to the world. You can find more information on our website, where you can also find all of our podcast episodes. Find and connect with us on social media and YouTube under Syncreate. If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and leave us a review! We’d love to hear your feedback as well, so drop us a line at info@syncreate.org.

Episode-specific hyperlinks:

Dr. Indre Viskontas’ Website

Inquiring Minds Podcast

Society for the Neuroscience of Creativity

YouTube Video Clip: “But” & “Therefore” with Matt Stone & Trey Parker

Show / permanent hyperlinks:

The Syncreate Podcast

Syncreate Website

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Syncreate YouTube