A deep dive into what makes a playful and creative mindset.
Join hosts Trudi Boatwright - a Playful Experience Designer and Matt Smolen - a Creative Video Director as they discuss all things play, creativity and how to implement this approach at an individual or organisational level.
Matt and Trudy's quarterly catch-up is back, and it covers a lot of ground. AI making feedback beige and impossible to act on, the magic of an analog co-working day, why the "space between us" feels more crowded than ever, Balloon Tree hitting 15 years, and the launch of Testimonial Engine. Warm, honest, a little chaotic. Just how it should be.
18 May 2026
Robots, Rituals, and the 5 AM Secret Weapon [Creative Consultants S04E02]
Ever feel like you’re fixing the car while driving 100km/h down the highway? Yeah, us too.
In our latest quarterly catch-up, Trudi and Matt are pulling over to look under the hood. We’re talking about Trudi’s massive win as an award-winning author and her new project, Improvising Care, which uses the magic of "Yes, and" to transform life for dementia carers.
Meanwhile, Matt's been leaning into his "mad scientist" era. He shares how he's using AI to kill the "beige" corporate stuff and why waking up at 5 a.m. to walk the dog is actually a strategic move for his mental health.
We also dive into a terrifying experiment: how many people are actually "imprinting" on your brain every day? Could that be why we're all so exhausted every day?
In this episode:
Why "play" is a secret weapon in high-stakes environments.
How to find "white space" in a calendar that’s bursting at the seams.
Using AI as a collaborator to get back to the work that actually matters.
The rise of the "Trust Economy" and why simplicity is the new loud.
Grab a brew and join us for a chat about creativity, robots, and why we’re all drowning in noise.
Join Matt & Trudi as they discuss what the heck has actually been going on! It's been a busy 2025 and in this quarterly review, the look at what worked, what didn't and why.🎙️ Join the conversation - what have you been up to this first quarter?_____________Get in touch with Matt Smolenwww.balloontreeproductions.comGet in touch with Trudi Boatwrightwww.trudiboatwright.com_____________We make cool stuff with a sense of fun, humour and wonder. And sometimes puns... 😉Balloon Tree Productions was founded in 2011 and has produced video content for national TVC campaigns, social media content and podcasts for some of Australia’s biggest and best companies. We’re driven by creativity and storytelling; fuelled by collaboration between the best people for the job.Check out more of our work at https://www.balloontreeproductions.com
1 Dec 2025
Burnt Out or Just Bored? How Play Can Save Your Creativity
Trudi Boatwright and Matt Smolen explore the surprising power of play to combat burnout and boost creativity by incorporating intentional white space and problem-solving techniques.
17 Nov 2025
Are Robots the New Creatives?
Hosts Trudi Boatwright and Matt Smolen explore the potential impact of artificial intelligence on creativity, debating whether it will enhance or diminish human artistic expression in this episode.
10 Nov 2025
Work-Life Balance or Work-Life BLEND?
Creative consultant Matt Smolen discusses blending life, creativity, business, and family into a cohesive story, revealing how collaboration and playful leadership foster growth in his creative studio in an interview with Trudi Boatwright.
20 Oct 2025
Politics Needs More Play? (with Cr Connie Boglis OAM)
Councillor Connie Boglis OAM discusses the need for imagination and creativity in advocacy, mental health reform, and co-design within politics with hosts Trudi Boatwright and Matt Smolen in an interview.
6 Oct 2025
Can Play Change Your Life? Trudi’s 48 Jobs & the Power of Play
Trudi Boatwright shares her unique career journey and discusses how incorporating playfulness and curiosity into work and life can unlock new possibilities in this interview with Matt Smolen.
11 Aug 2025
The art of winning budgets for L&D projects (with Danny Ginsberg)
Host Matt Smolen and Trudi Boatwright interview Danny Ginsberg about winning L&D project budgets and navigating AI's impact on creativity.
4 Aug 2025
How Theatre Kids can rule the workplace (with Danny Ginsberg)
Danny Ginsberg discusses how theater training cultivates essential workplace skills like leadership, creativity, and communication, highlighting the value of vulnerability and play-based learning in professional development in an interview with Matt Smolen and Trudi Boatwright.
28 Jul 2025
Deep Creativity & how slowing down sparks stronger ideas
Hosts Trudi Boatwright and Matt Smolen explore the value of slowing down to foster deeper creativity, revealing how daydreaming and mindful activities unlock innovative ideas and accelerate creative execution.
21 Jul 2025
Death to Death by PowerPoint
Hosts Matt Smolen and Trudi Boatwright discuss how to improve presentations by moving away from traditional PowerPoint slides and embracing more engaging techniques like storytelling and visuals.
14 Jul 2025
How Creativity Sparks Real Change (and Why You Should Play More at Work)
Hosts Matt Smolen and Trudi Boatwright explore the connection between creativity and change, highlighting the importance of play and safe failure in fostering innovation, in this interview episode.
16 Jun 2025
Should Every Company Have a Chief Happiness Officer? - Alyce Lampe
Alyce Lampe discusses the potential of a Chief Happiness Officer role within companies and the importance of emotional well-being as part of business strategy in an interview.
2 Jun 2025
Alyce Lampe on The Power of Play: Finding Creativity in the Everyday
Alyce Lampe explores injecting creativity into everyday life through small, playful shifts that foster connection and collaboration in this interview episode.
19 May 2025
Green Eggs, Storytelling & The Power to Change Minds
What does Green Eggs and Ham have to do with brand messaging? Everything.
In this episode, we crack open the real power of storytelling - why it matters, how it works, and what makes it essential for individuals and organisations trying to make meaningful change.
You’ll hear:
Why storytelling is not just fluff - but a tool for deep understanding
How simple language (like 50 words from Dr. Seuss) can unlock complex ideas
What happens when creativity and responsibility collide
Why resisting storytelling might mean missing out on something truly transformational
Whether you’re leading a team, building a brand, or just trying to be heard, this one’s a reminder: stories aren’t just nice - they’re necessary.
_____________
Get in touch with Matt Smolen
www.balloontreeproductions.com
Get in touch with Trudi Boatwright
www.trudiboatwright.com/
5 May 2025
What is the ROI on Playfulness?
What if the secret to better performance, more profit, and happier teams… was play?
In this episode, we tumble headfirst into the world of creative thinking at work - with a tip of the hat to Viola Spolin, the grandmother of improvisation.
Discover why setting playful boundaries can unlock serious innovation, how routine might be strangling your potential, and why embracing creativity isn’t just feel-good fluff - it’s a business strategy.
What you’ll hear in this episode:
Why creativity isn’t a luxury - it’s a productivity tool
How “rules of the game” create safety and spark innovation
The ROI of playful workflows (spoiler: it’s more than smiles)
What you’re missing if you never challenge the status quo
A case for joy, connection, and a little less doom-and-gloom in the office
Work doesn’t have to be a spreadsheet-shaped prison. Let’s break the mould, and maybe even have fun doing it.
_____________
Get in touch with Matt Smolen
www.balloontreeproductions.com
Get in touch with Trudi Boatwright
www.trudiboatwright.com/
21 Apr 2025
How Can You Afford Creativity?
Welcome to the very first convening of The Creative Consultants! In this inaugural episode, Matt (Chief Content Consultant) and Trudi (Chief Communication Consultant) dive deep into one deceptively simple question: How can you afford creativity? (Spoiler: The real question might be, how can you afford not to?)
From playful processes and conference parodies to champagne metaphors and radioactive bananas, Matt and Trudi explore why creativity isn’t just a nice-to-have - it’s a vital force for innovation, engagement, and impact in any organisation. They talk budgets, buy-in, ROI, and how creativity can sneakily become your most powerful tool for transformation.
It’s equal parts practical, philosophical, and slightly unhinged… in the best possible way.
You’ll hear about:
Why creativity often gets mistaken for “expensive fluff”
The power of play in problem-solving
How to Trojan Horse your way to genuine team buy-in
The ripple effect of creativity across culture, leadership, and engagement
The difference between painting a wineglass and creating meaningful momentum
💥 Whether you’re leading a team, shaping culture, or pitching big ideas - this episode is a must-listen for anyone who wants to make creativity work.
LINKS SHARED:
The importance of Creativity in the workplace:
https://hrdailyadvisor.blr.com/2024/09/13/the-importance-of-creativity-in-the-workplace/ (https://hrdailyadvisor.blr.com/2024/09/13/the-importance-of-creativity-in-the-workplace/)
Ideas are born in the field of play:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0191308506270035 (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0191308506270035)
Creativity’s bottom line:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0191308506270035 (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0191308506270035)
_____________
Get in touch with Matt Smolen
www.balloontreeproductions.com (www.balloontreeproductions.com)
Get in touch with Trudi Boatwright
www.trudiboatwright.com/ (www.trudiboatwright.com/)
30 Jan 2025
Creative Consultants Teaser Episode
A tease of what to expect from the upcoming Creative Consultants podcast!
Who has been a guest on Creative Consultants
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Cr Connie Boglis OAM
Danny Ginsberg
Alyce Lampe
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
268,914
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Spotify
5.0 / 5
2 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 35 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
36
Social presence
0
YouTube
86
Engagement
0
Contact Creative Consultants
Guest appearances
Books guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
Questions about Creative Consultants
Who hosts Creative Consultants?
Matt Smolen and Trudi Boatwright host the show. Published by Balloon Tree Productions.
How often do new episodes come out?
The show publishes bi-weekly, based on its RSS feed.
Does Creative Consultants take guests?
Yes. Guests have been identified in episode analyses.
Host of Creative Consultants?
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