
If you’re looking for creative inspiration and mindfulness skill building, you’ve come to the right place. This show brings you interviews with creative peak performers whether they’re bestselling authors, artists, entertainers, game designers, athletes, scientists, or entrepreneurs. You’ll get their insights on how and why they do what they do. You’ll learn their techniques and secrets, so you can do it too. In Izolda’s solo episodes, you’ll get techniques to infuse your life with mindfulness, creativity, and reap all the benefits of living in a state of possibility and imagination. Hear Interviews with Grammy and Tony winners and nominees, bestselling authors, actors, and creative leaders on how they stay motivated, inspired, and productive. Together, we explore their internal, uncharted waters about what inspires them to grow, achieve, and succeed. Get their up to the minute insights as we tease out answers to questions they’ve never pondered before. Remember, you can use creativity and mindfulness to build the life and career you’ll love. You’ll also learn how to supercharge your own creative drive, mindfulness, and communication skills. Guests have included bestselling authors, artists, marketing and pr pros, leadership experts, tech CEOs, technology futurists, professional speakers, communication coaches, public speakers, award-winning Broadway producers, musicians, lyricists, standup comedians, actors, performers, singers, writers, conservationists, non-profit executive directors, and many others. How can we use creativity to come up with the critical solutions we need in the world? Whether you’re trying to start your first novel, draw a picture, or solve the climate crisis, you need to approach the problem creatively. You have to think outside the norm, come up with ideas, and then act on them to solve the big problems we’re facing.
Episodes

Monday Apr 07, 2025
Trust, Psychology, and the Power of Play—John Cooper on The Gang
Monday Apr 07, 2025
Monday Apr 07, 2025
The Secret to Better Communication? Play More Games
Can a card game make you a better communicator? John Cooper thinks so. A retired NASA engineer turned game designer, John created The Gang, a cooperative twist on poker that reveals how we think, trust, and strategize under pressure. In this episode, we break down the psychology behind the game—how reading subtle cues can sharpen decision-making, why teamwork trumps individual genius, and what games teach us about real-life collaboration.
If you want to think faster, connect better, and spot patterns others miss, this conversation is for you. Join me, Izolda Trakhtenberg, as we explore creativity, curiosity, and the power of play in shaping how we work and interact. Tune in and get inspired to approach life with a sharper mind and a more open perspective.
Connect with John
https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/411567/the-gang
https://store.thamesandkosmos.com/products/the-gang
http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/10996/zarcana
https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamedesigner/123/john-cooper
https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/14634/homeworlds
https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/225/icehouse
Connect with Izolda
Website: https://IzoldaT.com
BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/izoldat.bsky.social.
Book Your Discovery Call: https://calendly.com/izoldat/discovery-call
New Play Exchange: https://newplayexchange.org/users/90481/izolda-trakhtenberg
Submit a Play to the Your Creative Table Read Podcast Series
One Minute Movies
Flip Your Inner Script to Stop Negative Thoughts From Ruining Your Day.
This episode is brought to you by Brain.fm. I love and use brain.fm! It combines music and neuroscience to help me focus, meditate, and even sleep! Because you listen to this show, you can get a free trial and 20% off with this exclusive coupon code: innovativemindset. (affiliate link)
URL: https://brain.fm/innovativemindset
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