Rick Rubin in Conversation with Malcolm Gladwell

01/17/23 • 61 min

11 Listeners

Broken Record with Rick Rubin, Malcolm Gladwell, Bruce Headlam and Justin Richmond

Today the interviewer becomes the interviewee. In his nearly 40-year career as a producer, Rick Rubin has helped unlock creativity and inspire musical genius time and time again. The artists he’s worked with often say that one of Rick’s superpowers is his expert ability to listen deeply, and to help guide whoever he’s working with to find their deepest expression of truth.

This month Rick released his first book, called The Creative Act: A Way Of Being. In it he shares practical principles on how anyone can generate creative authenticity and ultimately find their voice.

On today’s episode Malcolm Gladwell talks to Rick about The Creative Act, and they explore the principles in the book that are applicable to feelings of stagnation beyond artistic life. Rick talks about why he believes creativity comes from external forces rather than internal ones, and he explains why he believes that self expression isn’t actually about you.

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Broken Record with Rick Rubin, Malcolm Gladwell, Bruce Headlam and Justin Richmond - Rick Rubin in Conversation with Malcolm Gladwell

Transcript Summary

In this episode, Rick Rubin engages in a conversation with Malcolm Gladwell, exploring the gap between what elite creators do and what is taught to beginners. They discuss the power of appreciation and imitation in driving legitimate innovation, using examples of artists building upon each other's work. The episode emphasizes creating art out of love rather than competition, embracing flaws and imperfections, and the concept of abundance in creativity. They also delve into Rick Rubin's first book, "The Creative Act, A Way of Being," which emphasizes generating creative authenticity, belief, and spirituality in the creative process. They talk about the importance of external inspiration, the impact of environment on creativity, and valuing individuality in art and writing. The episode touches on the significance of embracing the unknown, being patient with new experiences, and the language we use to express creativity and communicate with others. Overall, this thought-provoking conversation provides insights and inspiration for anyone interested in creativity, art, and self-expression.

Transcript

Speaker 100:00:15.435

Pushkin. Today, the interviewer becomes the interviewee and it's nearly forty years. As a producer, Rick Rubins helped unlock creativity and inspire musical genius time and again. The artist he's worked with often say one of Rick's superpowers is his expert ability to listen deeply. This month, Rick released his first book, called The Creative Act, A Way of Being. In it, he shares practical principles on how anyone can generate creative authentic

Rick Rubin in Conversation with Malcolm Gladwell Top Questions Answered

How can beginners bridge the gap between their skills and those of top performers in creativity?

The podcast explores the gap between what top performers in creativity do and what is taught to beginners, but the specific strategies for bridging that gap are not discussed in the information provided.

Is imitating someone else's voice or tradition beneficial for creative purposes?

Yes, the podcast explores the idea of imitating someone else's voice or tradition for creative purposes.

Who are some artists who were inspired by others and created something new?

The podcast provides examples of artists who were inspired by others and created something new, but specific names are not mentioned in the information provided.

What is meant by the concept of abundance mindset in creativity?

The podcast emphasizes the concept of abundance mindset in creativity, which likely refers to having a mindset of abundance and possibility rather than scarcity and limitation.

Why is love and inspiration more important than competition in art?

The podcast highlights the importance of love and inspiration over competition in art, emphasizing their role in the creative process, but it does not delve into specific reasons.

How does car design relate to the importance of love and inspiration in art?

The podcast touches upon car design as an example of how love and inspiration lead to innovation in the creative process.

Why do simultaneously emerging similar novel approaches in art occur?

The podcast mentions the notion of simultaneous emergence of similar novel approaches in art, but it does not provide a specific explanation.

How do imperfection and flaws play a role in creative work?

The podcast discusses the idea of imperfection and flaws in creative work, indicating their relevance in the creative process, but no specific details are provided.

Why is the Leaning Tower of Pisa a popular attraction?

The podcast suggests that the Leaning Tower of Pisa is a popular attraction because it was initially a mistake, but it does not provide further elaboration on its popularity.

How do handmade Persian rugs differ from machine-made rugs?

The podcast mentions that handmade Persian rugs have more humanity and authenticity compared to machine-made rugs, highlighting the distinction between the two but not providing additional details.

What is the significance of Rick Rubin's book "The Creative Act, A Way of Being"?

Rick Rubin's book "The Creative Act, A Way of Being" is discussed in the podcast, exploring principles on how to generate creative authenticity, find one's voice, and overcome obstacles. It is recommended as a book on creativity.

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