This episode is sponsored by Focusaur — an AI-powered focus console built for deep work and daily habits. If your phone keeps pulling you away from your best work, Focusaur creates the physical friction that gives you your focus back. They're in the final days of their Kickstarter campaign. Visit mikevardy.com/focusaur to learn more. It was a real treat to reconnect with
Austin Kleon for this episode of A Productive Conversation. Before we got into the heart of the conversation, Austin gave us a quick update: his next book
Don’t Call It Art is in the works, inspired by the playful creativity he’s witnessed in his kids. He also mentioned that his once-weekly newsletter has now doubled in frequency—and it continues to be one of the best things I read online.
What followed was one of the most down-to-earth, real conversations I’ve had on the podcast. Austin and I explored how routines shape creative work, why space and time are both essential, and what it means to pay attention in a world that’s constantly pulling at you. His approach to creative living—one grounded in ritual, space, boundaries, and self-awareness—is something we can all learn from, whether we’re artists, entrepreneurs, or just trying to make a little more room for what matters.
Six Discussion Points
- Austin’s upcoming book Don’t Call It Art and how it was inspired by parenting
- The power of routine in a creative life—and how Austin structures his day
- Why boundaries (including physical signs on doors) help protect focus
- Using analog and digital “zones” for different types of work
- Paying attention to what you pay attention to—and why it matters
- The idea of a “bliss station” and how space (or time) supports creative flow
- Revisiting your own journaling and notes as a form of orientation and reflection
Three Connection Points
- Austin's website
- Keep Going: 10 Ways to Stay Creative in Good Times and Bad
- My "Bliss Station" (circa 2019)
Whether you’re deep into your own creative practice or trying to carve out more space for it, this conversation with Austin is a reminder that creativity isn’t about hustle—it’s about attention, boundaries, and giving yourself room to work and think. It’s always a joy to talk with Austin, and I hope this episode helps you reconnect with your own creative rhythm. (Originally released April 2019)
Episode 598