The Surprising Science of Creativity (with Dr. George Newman)
1/26/202631 min
We often think creativity comes from sudden flashes of genius within us. But what if ideas actually exist in the world around us — waiting to be discovered and shaped by anyone paying attention?
Creativity expert Dr. George Newman, author of How Great Ideas Happen, explains how anyone can become a creativity "archaeologist," uncovering innovative ideas while avoiding common myths about creativity that keep us stuck.
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First 90 secondsLaurie Santos· Host0:00
[intro music] Pushkin. [upbeat music] Hey, Happiness Lab listeners. Welcome back to our new season on How to Get Unstuck in 2026. Over the past few episodes, we've been exploring different ways to get back on track in the new year, rethinking how we spend our energy, learning how to deal with unexpected changes, and getting clearer on our values and what we really want in life. I hope these conversations have already given you a few new tools for the year ahead. But buckle up, because out of all the episodes we've had so far in this series, today's conversation has challenged my assumptions about getting unstuck the most. Today we're diving into the question of creativity and more specifically, the stories we tell ourselves about how creative ideas are supposed to happen.
George Newman· Guest0:52
Think inside the box. Use those constraints to your advantage.
Laurie Santos· Host0:57
Today's guest will argue that nearly everything we imagine about generating creative ideas is wrong.
George Newman· Guest1:02
My name's George Newman. I'm a professor of organizational behavior at the Rotman School of Management. It's at University of Toronto. My book is called How Great Ideas Happen: The Hidden Steps Behind Breakthrough Success.
Laurie Santos· Host1:16
George and I are about to unpack some of the most common myths we have about creativity, and we'll learn just how important rethinking these assumptions will be for getting unstuck. The Happiness Lab will be right back after some quick ads.