This is a Patreon preview

In the current season of A76, The Human Spark, I’m stepping away from tools and trends to focus on the people behind the ideas. The conversations have been really refreshing and focused on where ideas come from, what everyone does to get unstuck, and how they decide which ideas are worth pursuing. So far, I’ve spoken with researchers, designers, creatives, journalists, artists, and brand leaders—and there’s much more still to come in the second half of the season.

Now I’m opening up my process for Season 5. Check out my preview episode and if you’re an A76 Patreon member, you can:

• Hear my working ideas for next season
• Submit your own idea for the theme
• Vote on which direction the podcast should take next

If you’ve been listening and thinking, “I’d love to influence where this goes,” this is your moment. The A76 community will help shape the show’s future.

Enjoy the holidays & I hope you have some time off. If you have a moment, catch up on Episodes 36–43 in the current season, check out the evolving ideation playlist on Spotify and consider joining the A76 Patreon to support the show. Thanks for being part of the conversation 🎧

A76 and its episodes are created by Noel Childs

Season 4 on the Human Spark is produced by Noel Childs
Season 3 on Scale is produced by Noel Childs
Season 2 on Change was produced by Noel Childs
Season 1 on AI was produced by Casey Hudetz and Noel Childs

Our theme music was composed and performed by Stella Solveig
and mixed and mastered by Abbey Nettleton

The outro was read by Trudie and Storey Childs

If you like what you hear, please give us a rating.
Or become a member of the A76 Patreon at patreon.com/A76designpod
Have a question or comment, email noel@A76pod.com
And follow us on Instagram

Frank EE Grubich co-founder and brand director of CX&V is back on the pod to talk Fun, Foam and other F-word frivolity. Among many topics, we chat about what it really takes to generate great ideas while battling time, constraints and real-world complexity. Frank shares how he starts by defining the box before thinking outside of it, why emotion matters as much as intellect and the three filters he uses to choose what to pursue. It's a great conversation as always. Hope you enjoy it.

Plus check out our ongoing ideation soundtrack on Spotify.

~ Noel

A76 and its episodes are created by Noel Childs

Season 4 on the Human Spark is produced by Noel Childs
Season 3 on Scale is produced by Noel Childs
Season 2 on Change was produced by Noel Childs
Season 1 on AI was produced by Casey Hudetz and Noel Childs

Our theme music was composed and performed by Stella Solveig
and mixed and mastered by Abbey Nettleton

The outro was read by Trudie and Storey Childs

If you like what you hear, please give us a rating.
Or become a member of the A76 Patreon at patreon.com/A76designpod
Have a question or comment, email noel@A76pod.com
And follow us on Instagram

In my latest episode of A76, I talk with veteran journalist, author, musician, politics editor for MassLive & friend—John L. Micek. John reflects on three decades of reporting, storytelling, and understanding what makes communities tick and 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 🎧 📓 ✍🏼

A76 and its episodes are created by Noel Childs

Season 4 on the Human Spark is produced by Noel Childs
Season 3 on Scale is produced by Noel Childs
Season 2 on Change was produced by Noel Childs
Season 1 on AI was produced by Casey Hudetz and Noel Childs

Our theme music was composed and performed by Stella Solveig
and mixed and mastered by Abbey Nettleton

The outro was read by Trudie and Storey Childs

If you like what you hear, please give us a rating.
Or become a member of the A76 Patreon at patreon.com/A76designpod
Have a question or comment, email noel@A76pod.com
And follow us on Instagram

I reconnect with Andreas Refsgaard, an artist and creative coder based in Copenhagen whose art 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.

~ Noel

A76 and its episodes are created by Noel Childs

Season 4 on the Human Spark is produced by Noel Childs
Season 3 on Scale is produced by Noel Childs
Season 2 on Change was produced by Noel Childs
Season 1 on AI was produced by Casey Hudetz and Noel Childs

Our theme music was composed and performed by Stella Solveig
and mixed and mastered by Abbey Nettleton

The outro was read by Trudie and Storey Childs

If you like what you hear, please give us a rating.
Or become a member of the A76 Patreon at patreon.com/A76designpod
Have a question or comment, email noel@A76pod.com
And follow us on Instagram

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!

~ Noel

Checkout the spotify playlist of ideation songs selected by everyone I've interviewed this season.

A76 and its episodes are created by Noel Childs

Season 4 on the Human Spark is produced by Noel Childs
Season 3 on Scale is produced by Noel Childs
Season 2 on Change was produced by Noel Childs
Season 1 on AI was produced by Casey Hudetz and Noel Childs

Our theme music was composed and performed by Stella Solveig
and mixed and mastered by Abbey Nettleton

The outro was read by Trudie and Storey Childs

If you like what you hear, please give us a rating.
Or become a member of the A76 Patreon at patreon.com/A76designpod
Have a question or comment, email noel@A76pod.com
And follow us on Instagram

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.

Plus a reminder—this season I'm asking everyone coming on the pod what song would be on their ideation soundtrack. Checkout the spotify playlist here.

~ Noel

A76 and its episodes are created by Noel Childs

Season 4 on the Human Spark is produced by Noel Childs
Season 3 on Scale is produced by Noel Childs
Season 2 on Change was produced by Noel Childs
Season 1 on AI was produced by Casey Hudetz and Noel Childs

Our theme music was composed and performed by Stella Solveig
and mixed and mastered by Abbey Nettleton

The outro was read by Trudie and Storey Childs

If you like what you hear, please give us a rating.
Or become a member of the A76 Patreon at patreon.com/A76designpod
Have a question or comment, email noel@A76pod.com
And follow us on Instagram

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.

Plus listen to our Human Spark Spotify Playlist

~ Noel

A76 and its episodes are created by Noel Childs

Season 4 on the Human Spark is produced by Noel Childs
Season 3 on Scale is produced by Noel Childs
Season 2 on Change was produced by Noel Childs
Season 1 on AI was produced by Casey Hudetz and Noel Childs

Our theme music was composed and performed by Stella Solveig
and mixed and mastered by Abbey Nettleton

The outro was read by Trudie and Storey Childs

If you like what you hear, please give us a rating.
Or become a member of the A76 Patreon at patreon.com/A76designpod
Have a question or comment, email noel@A76pod.com
And follow us on Instagram

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.

~ Noel

Plus this season I'm asking everyone who comes on the pod what song would be on their ideation soundtrack. Mick's has been added to our spotify playlist

A76 and its episodes are created by Noel Childs

Season 4 on the Human Spark is produced by Noel Childs
Season 3 on Scale is produced by Noel Childs
Season 2 on Change was produced by Noel Childs
Season 1 on AI was produced by Casey Hudetz and Noel Childs

Our theme music was composed and performed by Stella Solveig
and mixed and mastered by Abbey Nettleton

The outro was read by Trudie and Storey Childs

If you like what you hear, please give us a rating.
Or become a member of the A76 Patreon at patreon.com/A76designpod
Have a question or comment, email noel@A76pod.com
And follow us on Instagram