Creativity Squared: On the Power of Imagination to Envision that which Doesn't Exist

Dear Creativity Squared Member —

Hello, hello!! Thanks for being patient as I’ve been offline and MIA the last couple of weeks celebrating my 41st birthday and preparing for SXSW in monk mode. That said, the newsletter is back to our regular schedule AND I have some BIG SXSW NEWS to share.

First and foremost, I couldn’t be more excited to announce that…🥁 drumroll 🥁 …

🥳

I’ll be on stage with Time100 AI Most Influential Person in AI, Holly Herndon, for a special and intimate SXSW Featured Session: AI, Music & Creativity in the Imagination Age with Holly Herndon #ImaginationAge 🪄✨

🥳

❤️‍🔥 In other news: Yesterday, my social media agency, Sociality Squared, celebrated 15 years in business!! Thank you to everyone who’s been and will be part of the journey as we evolve, but never forget our core principles. We’re about people at the heart of everything we do. #ImaginationAge #UpUpAndAway 🎈

🥳 See below for ALL the amazing International Women’s Day events and SXSW #ImaginationAge happenings and activations — if you’re in Cincy on March 5 or Austin March 8-11 for SXSW, you won’t want to miss these!

🦄 FREE ACCESS TO PRIVATE SPEAKING ENGAGEMENT:  Here’s a great audio of a presentation I recently did for the Entrepreneurs Organization (EO) Cincinnati chapter. It encapsulates why I advocate for Responsible A.I. really well around the ~12:30 mark:   

🤓 This link has been circulating, so wanted to share SXSW tips from a panel nerd perspective that I put together years ago but which are still pretty applicable to SXSW this year aside from the ridesharing: 

🥳 Next week begins a bunch of exciting festivities:

🎉 Tuesday, March 4 from 3-5pm ET — CincyAI for Humans (CincyAI) March meetup will take place at the UC Digital Futures building: RSVP Today! Don’t forget about the UC Digital Futures tour beforehand!)

🗓️  Wednesday, March 5 —  💖 International Women's Day Events 💖

💃 8am - 11am ET — Together Digital Accelerate with AI, an IWD Event: Sign up today! 

🦄 7pm - 11pm ET — Creativity Squared x MidwestCon #ImaginationAge Underground Pre-SXSW IWD Party: Follow this Instagram account to get in! 

✈️  Friday, March 7 — SXSW: Press Jet for the "Midwest SXSW Takeover"

🗓️  Sunday, March 9 —  🤠 SXSW 🤠

🦾 10am - 11am CT — SXSW Pitch: Robotics, Web3, Voice & Extended Reality with Chris Lee of Airtrek Robotics: Learn more 

🎓 11:30am - 12:45pm CT — Mentor Session: Helen Todd (Creativity Squared): Sign up today! 

🦋 4-5pm CT — Featured Session: AI, Music & Creativity in the Imagination Age with Holly Herndon: Learn more 

🤤 6-8pm CT — #ImaginationAge Private Dinner 

❤️‍🔥 8-10pm CT — #ImaginationAge Invite-Only Reception with Surprise Performance

🦄 10pm CT+ — #ImatinationAge Underground Afterparty Downtown

 👊🏾 Monday, March 10 — 🤠 SXSW 🤠 6-8pm CT #ImaginationAge Private Dinner centered around Black Excellence

🥳 Tuesday, March 11 — 4-5pm CT SXSW "Farewell, Information Age — Welcome to the Imagination Age": Learn more 

Until next week, here’s to playing in the playground of possibility and manifesting more magic in 2025! 🪄✨

With love,
Helen (Human)

p.s. Our 2025 podcast season will kick off again in April, but we’ll keep the newsletter going between now and then, aside from the holidays.

Helen Todd (she/her)
Human behind Creativity Squared
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How creatives are collaborating with A.I.

💝 SUPPORT CREATIVITY SQUARED & ARTSWAVE

How can you support this show? I’m so glad you asked! ☺️

Here are a few ways you can contribute to this independent female voice’s platform who’s championing Responsible A.I. and a human-centered future where it’s Dolly Parton and Holly Herndon — protectors of dreams and generative in their generosity and work — ushering in the #ImaginationAge (not AI ushering in the Intelligence Age, where humans are erased, starting with the framing…but I digress!).

Please consider supporting Creativity Squared in whatever way you can and would like to:

✅ Subscribe to the Creativity Squared YouTube channel (one day in the near future, I’ll be making money from this channel!)

🎨 I want to live in a world where artists not only coexist with A.I., but thrive. And because it’s important to support artists, 10% of all revenue Creativity Squared generates goes to ArtsWave, a nationally recognized non-profit that supports over 150 arts organizations, projects, and independent artists. Consider becoming a Premium Member today or making a one-time tip!

🦋 I'm SUPER excited to share that my upcoming SXSW presentation, Farewell, Information Age — Welcome to the Imagination Age, is becoming a book! 📗 The conversations on my podcast Creativity Squared have informed many of the concepts, and I couldn’t be more excited to present them on stage in Austin in March and in print this year. Pre-order your copy today as a crowd-funded advance to support an independent female voice. Your support will enable me to bring this idea to life — and is greatly appreciated! 🥰💛

🎉 And as a reminder, when you support this show, you’re also supporting ArtsWave!

🥳 Because it’s important to support artists, 10% of all revenue Creativity Squared generates goes to ArtsWave, a nationally recognized non-profit that supports over 150 arts organizations, projects, and independent artists. For the third year in a row, we’re proud to partner with ArtsWave to also amplify the phenomenal artists selected for their 2025 Black and Brown Artist Program, elevating underrepresented voices and bridging cultural divides through art. You can get caught up on previous years’ ArtsWave interview series here!

🚀 Interested in becoming a sponsor of Creativity Squared? Reach out!

👍 AFFILIATE RECOMMENDATIONS 

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🐝 We use Beehiiv for this newsletter and are big fans! (If you’re not aware of Substack’s racist issues, this NYT article is for you.)

🎙 Riverside is the platform we use for recording podcast episodes, and recommend the web-based software!

🎶 Play Audio Agency, headquartered in Cincinnati, is home to the team that helps produce the show and are audio rock stars!

🖥 Need a new website or the slightest of help on your current site? Check out e9 Digital — they created, and help us host and manage Creativity Squared’s website! They know how to make accessible websites which I love. Mention Creativity Squared for 20% off too!

📆 EVENTS, A.I. CONFERENCES & MORE! 

🤝 MARCH 4 CincyAI for Humans (CincyAI, #CincyAI), March meetup, Cincinnati (Co-Host)
💖 MARCH 5 International Women's Day Events 💖
🎤  MARCH 5 Together Digital Accelerate with AI IWD event, Cincy (Speaker) [🎟
— Sign up today!] 
🦄 MARCH 5 Creativity Squared x MidwestCon #ImaginationAge Underground Pre-SXSW IWD Party: Follow this Instagram account to get in! (Host)
✈️ MARCH 7 — SXSW: Press Jet for the "Midwest SXSW Takeover"
 🦾 MARCH 9 — SXSW Pitch: Robotics, Web3, Voice & Extended Reality with Chris Lee of Airtrek Robotics: Learn more 
🎓 MARCH 9 SXSW Mentor Session: Helen Todd (Creativity Squared), Austin (Mentor) [🎟 SXSW March 7-15]
🦋 MARCH 9 Featured Session: AI, Music & Creativity in the Imagination Age with Holly Herndon, Austin (Speaker) [🎟 SXSW March 7-15]
🤤 MARCH 9 #ImaginationAge Private Dinner (Host)
❤️‍🔥 MARCH 9 #ImaginationAge VIP Reception with Surprise Performance (Host)
🦄 10pm CT+ #ImatinationAge Underground Afterparty Downtown (Host)
👊🏾 MARCH 10 #ImaginationAge Dinner centered around Black Excellence (Host)
 🥳 MARCH 11 SXSW "Farewell, Information Age — Welcome to the Imagination Age", Austin (Speaker) [🎟 SXSW March 7-15]
🤝 APRIL 1 CincyAI for Humans (CincyAI, #CincyAI), April meetup, Cincinnati (Co-Host)
👷‍♀️ APRIL 9 Cincinnati AI Catalyst (CaiC, #CincinnatiAICatalyst), April meeting, Cincinnati (Volunteer Marketing Leader - Apply to join)
📍 APRIL 9 OhioX GovTech Summit 
🤝 MAY 6 CincyAI for Humans (CincyAI, #CincyAI), May meetup, Cincinnati (Co-Host)
📍 MAY 8 OhioX 2025 Ohio Tech Summit (OhioX, #OhioX), Columbus (On radar to attend)
👷‍♀️ MAY 13 Cincinnati AI Catalyst (CaiC, #CincinnatiAICatalyst), May meeting, Cincinnati (Volunteer Marketing Leader - Apply to join)
🎤 MAY 16 Power to Pursue, Cincinnati (Speaker) 
🪑 JUNE 10-12 Cincy AI Week (#CincyAIWeek), Cincinnati (CincyAI Community Partner)
🤝 JUNE 17 CincyAI for Humans (CincyAI, #CincyAI), June meetup, Cincinnati (Co-Host)
🤝 JULY 1 CincyAI for Humans (CincyAI, #CincyAI), July meetup, Cincinnati (Co-Host)
👷‍♀️ JULY 8 Cincinnati AI Catalyst (CaiC, #CincinnatiAICatalyst), July meeting, Cincinnati (Volunteer Marketing Leader - Apply to join)
🎥 JULY 17-20 (Tentative dates) ArtsWave 2025 Black and Brown Artists Grant Program Showcase, Cincinnati (Media Partner)
🎥 JULY 16-18 Data 4 Public Good (D4PG, #D4PG), Minneapolis (Media Partner) 
🤝 AUGUST 5 CincyAI for Humans (CincyAI, #CincyAI), Aug meetup, Cincinnati (Co-Host)
👷‍♀️ AUGUST 13 Cincinnati AI Catalyst (CaiC, #CincinnatiAICatalyst), Aug meeting, Cincinnati (Volunteer Marketing Leader - Apply to join)
🤝 SEPTEMBER 2 CincyAI for Humans (CincyAI, #CincyAI), Sept meetup, Cincinnati (Co-Host)
👷‍♀️ SEPTEMBER 9 Cincinnati AI Catalyst (CaiC, #CincinnatiAICatalyst), Sept meeting, Cincinnati (Volunteer Marketing Leader - Apply to join)
🪑 SEPTEMBER 10-11 MidwestCon (#MidwestCon), Cincinnati (CincyAI Community Partner)
📍 SEPTEMBER 26 OhioX Ohio Tech Day (OhioX, #OhioX), Columbus (On radar to attend)
🤝 OCTOBER 7 CincyAI for Humans (CincyAI, #CincyAI), Oct meetup, Cincinnati (Co-Host) - 2 Year Anniversary! 🥳
👷‍♀️ OCTOBER 8 Cincinnati AI Catalyst (CaiC, #CincinnatiAICatalyst), October meeting, Cincinnati (Volunteer Marketing Leader - Apply)
🪑 OCTOBER 14-16 Marketing AI Conference (MAICON, #MAICON) Cleveland (Attendee)
🤝 NOVEMBER 4 CincyAI for Humans (CincyAI, #CincyAI), Nov meetup, Cincinnati (Co-Host)
👷‍♀️ NOVEMBER 11 Cincinnati AI Catalyst (CaiC, #CincinnatiAICatalyst), November meeting, Cincinnati (Volunteer Marketing Leader - Apply) - 2 Year Anniversary! 🥳
🪑 NOVEMBER 19 OhioX Ohio AI Summit (OhioX, #OhioX), Columbus (Attendee)
🤝 DECEMBER 2 CincyAI for Humans (CincyAI, #CincyAI), Dec meetup, Cincinnati (Co-Host)
🎥 DECEMBER 5-7 FilmGate Immersive Festival at Art Basel Miami Beach, Miami (Media Partner) [Art Basel Miami Beach Dec 5-7]
👷‍♀️ DECEMBER 10 Cincinnati AI Catalyst (CaiC, #CincinnatiAICatalyst), Dec meeting, Cincinnati (Volunteer Marketing Leader - - Apply to join) 🥳

✨❄️🎄 December 25 - January 7 Holiday Break 🥳❄️✨

Interested in having me speak at your event or host a workshop for your organization? Reach out!

🗞 PRESS & PODCAST INTERVIEWS

🖥 SXSW Conference Community Newsletter (December 5, 2024) — SXSW 2025 Speaker Helen Todd talks Digital Twins

🎙 AI Explored with Michael Stelzner of Social Media Examiner (November 5, 2024) — Using AI to Expand Your Ideas and Creativity 

🎙 Reflections with an Accent with Kike Calvo (October 18, 2024) — Unveiling AI's Creative Power with Helen Todd | Reflections with an Accent 

🏆 Aviatra Accelerators (September 5, 2024) — Woman Entrepreneur of the Year Award 

📖 Movers & Makers Magazine (October 1, 2024) Notables in AI + Print

Listen: Ep.75 BBL Drizzy, A.I. & Manifesting A.I.: Discover How Will Hatcher Manifested His Way to a Time100 A.I. 2024 Honoree

Apple | Spotify | YouTube | Pandora | Amazon | Google | SoundCloud | iHeart Radio

“If you're trying to play life safe, then I don't think you can fully experience life, you know. So you gotta go to places that you never been before, be in uncomfortable situations, because that's where the real growth is.” -King Willonius

Discover the magic of manifesting in a Creativity Squared exclusive interview from the ONLY comedian (and one of two artists!) who’s a Time100 AI 2024 honoree in the Innovators category: King Willonius. 👑 

His real name is Willonius Hatcher (his first name is pronounced “Will-OWN-ee-us,” and he also goes by Will). 2024 has been a breakout year for Will after his “BBL Drizzy” comedy song went viral — the first song made in collaboration with A.I. that became a cultural phenomenon, transcending genres and mediums!  

What do Burning Man, Dune 2, and the Frost Planetarium have to do with his story? Listen in to our 75th episode — and the last one for 2024! — to find out.

Creativity Squared interviewed Will live at the FilmGate Miami Interactive Festival XI, one of the top ten immersive festivals in the world! You’ll hear why it’s so special from the festival’s Head Curator, Co-Founder, and Executive Producer, Diliana Alexander. 

On opening night, the FilmGate Miami audience got a preview of the “BBL Drizzy Musical Dome Experience”. Next year, Creativity Squared will be back to see the full production and host another time capsule conversation with Will. 

Once you check out the interview, you’ll know that Will is just scratching the surface of what’s possible — he’s ahead of the entertainment industries, and is definitely one to follow!

Why did he make the Time100 AI 2024 Innovators list? 

For Creativity Squared Founder and Podcast Host, Helen Todd’s take, check out the dedicated blog post accompanying this episode (we recommend starting with this first 😉):

Our 2025 podcast season will kick off again in April, but we’ll keep the newsletter going between now and then, aside from the holidays.

Here’s to manifesting more magic in the new year — enjoy! 💝🪄✨

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