The Source of Creativity

After a nasty bout of writer's block that stretched on for nearly a decade, composer, singer-songwriter, actor, author and activist Sting found inspiration by channeling the stories of the shipyard workers he knew from his childhood. What happens in the brain during musical improv? Researcher Charles Limb scanned the brains of jazz musicians to find out. Sir Ken Robinson makes a case for creating an education system that nurtures — rather than stifles — creativity. Writer Elizabeth Gilbert muses on the impossible things we expect from artists and geniuses. She shares the radical idea that, instead of the rare person "being" a genius, all of us "have" a genius.

Learn more or listen again to this week's episode.

Photo: iStock