About This Episode

What if the collapse of old systems — the patriarchy, relentless productivity, and hollow doing — is really the birth pangs of something necessary and beautiful? In this conversation, I sit down with Leo Marrs, a writer, creative strategist, experience designer, and the author of the upcoming The New Creator: Rise of the Mindful Artist in the New Meaning Economy.

Leo’s story begins in the wilds of Alaska and weaves through entrepreneurship, breathwork, altered states of consciousness, and a deep remembering that we are it — the universe expressing itself creatively through us.

In this episode, we explore:

How the collapse of old systems can feel like existential fight-or-flight — and yet a creative rebirth.

Leo’s spontaneous awakening that revealed the creative intelligence suffusing everything.

The essential role of art, vision, and imagination in shaping futures worth living.

How to engage with technology — including AI — without losing our humanity.

Why presence might be our greatest creative “technology” yet.

How to drop the striving and become the mindful artist you already are.

If you feel called to make things that truly matter, this conversation is for you.

Listen Now

Apple Podcasts: [listen here]
Spotify: [Lissten here]

Links & Resources

Connect with Leo Marrs: https://www.leomarrs.com

Leo’s upcoming book: The New Creator: Rise of the Mindful Artist in the New Meaning Economy (sign up on Leo’s site for updates)

Referenced in this episode:

Integral Theory by Ken Wilber — https://integrallife.com/

The Image of the Future by Fred Polak — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_Polak

Moga Dot (AI & ethics)

The Telepathy Tapes podcast — https://thetelepathytapes.com/

Aphantasia resources — https://aphantasia.com

Timestamps

00:00 — Welcoming Leo and the collective moment we’re in
04:00 — Leo’s spontaneous awakening in the shower
12:00 — The power of image, vision, and art to shape the future
20:00 — Engaging with AI and collective intelligence mindfully
30:00 — Aphantasia, inner knowing, and hidden gifts of not seeing
42:00 — Why we must learn to trust uncertainty
50:00 — The billboard message: You’re it — becoming the mindful artist you already are

Go Deeper

Read my blog reflections on this episode inside Patreon

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Stay Connected

Follow me on Instagram: @kateshepherdcreative & @thecreativegeniuspodcast
Follow Leo: @theleomarrs
Reach out to me directly here

Thank you for listening — keep making things that matter.