season 4
The Human Spark
This season, we’re stepping away from algorithms and turning back towards the people behind the ideas.
And because we find ourselves in a world where generative AI can spin out thousand of versions of anything—I keep wondering where do the truly original ideas come from?
So, in Season 4, we’re exploring what I’m calling The Human Spark.
I’ll be talking with designers, creators, and adjacent makers—people who’ve built things that are unique. And together, we’ll dig into the mindsets, the moments, and yes—the messy processes—that lead to something genuinely authentic.
It’s not about the perfect workflow or the most advanced tool. It’s about that strange little flicker between inspiration and action that all of us have the capacity for and many of us spend our days chasing.
So, if you’ve ever asked yourself how did they come up with that?—this season is for you.
A new season of A76—The Human Spark.
042: Writing on deadline with John L. Micek
In my latest episode of A76, I talk with long-time friend, veteran journalist, author, musician and politics editor for MassLive—John L. Micek. John reflects on three decades of reporting, storytelling, and understanding what makes communities tick plus he traces his winding path into journalism. He also shares how ideas spark from everyday observations, train rides, and simple curiosity. And the conversation explores knowing when to let an idea go, the value of teaching the next generation of storytellers, and the unseen labor behind his craft. Thoughtful, honest, and full of hard-earned wisdom, John offers insightful perspectives on creativity, discipline, and following the ideas that refuse to leave you alone. Hope you enjoy 🎧 📓 ✍🏼
041: Exploring serendipity with Andreas Refsgaard
I reconnect with Andreas Refsgaard, an artist and creative coder based in Copenhagen whose practice blends algorithms, interaction, and playful experimentation. Andreas shares what he’s been up to since his first appearance on A76—teaching workshops, building museum installations, and expanding his “weird AI art” practice (his words)—all the while reflecting on why surprise and interaction remain central to his work. He breaks down how new tech spark his ideas, how building (not brainstorming) unlocks breakthroughs and why testing half-baked concepts in front of real people shapes his direction. Check out his creative projects at the link above.
040: Ideas in motion with Cal Engel
I chat with Chicago-based videographer and creative Cal Engel to trace one of the more unconventional career journeys—from the early days crafting internal videos, the sudden leap to touring the world with the Jonas Brothers, and eventually starting his own production company, AV Collective. Along the way, he breaks down how constant visual consumption informs his ideas, and why unplugging often sparks his clearest ideas. Our conversation explores shifting projects, telling real people's stories and the chaos that can fuel great creative projects. The human spark on several layers. Hope you enjoy!
039: Human-centered ideas with Kevin McElroy
In the latest episode of A76, The Human Spark, I talk with Kevin McElroy, Executive Creative Director at Razorfish in Chicago, about designing with empathy and leading teams in a constantly shifting landscape. Kevin shares his amazing path from dreaming of Disney, to Detroit automotive to working with Benetton in Venice, culminating in global digital experiences today. He breaks down his human-centered design approach—immersing in products, focusing on real people, and using your senses to get unstuck. And the conversation dives into team-based ideation and leveraging folks outside the creative capability. It’s a look at intuition, collaboration, and keeping the approach fun for your creative team. If you care about nurturing an ideation culture and crafting ideas with impact, this one's for you.
038: Pixels to peaks with Chris Ward
In this latest epsiode, I chat with Chris Ward a Seattle-based VP of Account Management at Digitas about how his broad curiosity for design, calm approach, and love of the outdoors fuel his work. Chris shares his origin story, why account managers should aim to be second-best at every job, and how he uses design thinking to solve real user problems. We also explore his personal projects, where he transforms his photography into tangible creations—from coffee-table books to retro park-poster prints—and how being outside helps him recharge. The conversation touches on finishing versus abandoning projects, balancing work and life, and the belief that everyone has the ability to ideate.
037: Designing delight with Mick Champayne
In this episode of A76, The Human Spark, I sit down again with friend of the pod Mick Champayne, a staff designer on Google’s Delight Team—the group behind those joyful little surprises on Google Search. Mick shares how she channels curiosity, humor, and serendipity into her work, from designing easter eggs for billions of users to keeping her personal illustration practice fresh. We discuss idea generation, staying inspired, and how simple habits—like collecting digital ephemera or snapping photos on morning runs—fuel inspiration. The conversation explores burnout, momentum, and the power of simply starting. It’s a reflection on delight, discipline, finding meaning in motion and the weirdness of humans. Hope you enjoy.
036: The 13th Warrior with Adam Weil
In this episode I catch up with Adam Weil, Senior Director of Research at Shapiro + Raj to talk about where good ideas come from and what separates the great ones from the noise.
Adam’s career has spanned television networks to innovation agencies but what stands out most is his obsession with insightful storytelling. We talk about how he teaches younger researchers to transform data into stories that move people, how "iron sharpening iron” still sits at the center of his process and what The 13th Warrior taught him about ideating.
He also shares how GenAI has become a thought partner in his workflow, how he knows when he’s found a kernel worth chasing, and why surrounding yourself with smart, curious people is the best way to sharpen your own thinking. Adam leaves us with a reminder that creativity might look like play from the outside, but it’s deeply demanding work—equal parts curiosity, humility, and practice.
The Human Spark Playlist
I'm asking everyone who comes on the pod what song would be on their ideation soundtrack. l’ll update the playlist as we progress through the season and here’s the trick—I’ll do it as I talk with people often before the episode gets posted. More to come.