Creativity Squared: On Consenticorns and Artist Consent

Dear Creativity Squared Member —

Hope this finds you well today wherever you are in the world! Right after SXSW, I hopped back on a plane to Miami for Bryan Johnson’s Don’t Die Summit and then to shoot #ImaginationAge content during Miami Music Week. It was a busy but fabulous month to say the least! (And I may have been overly ambitious on getting out last week’s newsletter, sorry! ;)

As I’m eagerly awaiting for SXSW to publish my sessions’ video and audio files, today, I want to share more about consenticorns — a powerful but playful vehicle to discuss an important concept for the #ImaginationAge: consent, especially artist consent.

Before I dive into consenticorns, I’ve been so thrilled to see the interest in pre-ordering my forthcoming book based on my SXSW presentation, “Farewell, Information Age — Welcome to the Imagination Age” — thank you so much!!! 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! 🥰💛

Now onto consenticorns…

What’s the most important metric of the Information Age?

ATTENTION.

Personally, I’d rather have it be INTENTION. But maybe that’s just me. 🌈🦄🪄✨

I’m 41 years old. Just got offered my first modeling job while in Miami. I’ve never felt sexier, happier, or more confident. Still a hot mess too, don’t get me wrong — just ask my crew! ;)

But one willing to put on a unicorn outfit…to get your ATTENTION. 🦄

We’re still operating in the outdated Information Age after all.

I got the idea of the consenticorn from House of Yes — my favorite place on the planet to dance outside of Burning Man.

The House of Yes is a dance club in Brooklyn, NY that has aerialists, costume parties, and over-the-top performances. They also take inclusiveness, safety, and security very seriously.

When I bought tickets to House of Yes when I lived in NYC, you had to agree to their code of conduct at the point of purchase. Then when you arrive at the club, similar to being in an airplane emergency exit, you have to verbally agree to the house rules before being let in again, reinforcing that it’s a safe space.

Then once you get to the dance floor, their security guards wear lit-up unicorn horns on the dance floor so that they’re not only visible, but easily accessible if needed. House of Yes calls them consenticorns.

I LOVE the concept and am excited to share it with more people — the reactions have been great, especially when I say I’m a consenticorn because consent is sexy!

As a single female who enjoys dancing, it brings me comfort knowing that I can safely dance at the House of Yes — it’s why a lot of women go to gay clubs. To dance safely without unwanted non-consensual advances (which are unfortunately all too common).

Just like the consenticorns keep dance floors safe, we need similar respect and safeguards in the digital world — especially with GenAI and artist rights.

The internet could do a better job modelling gold standard consent by looking offline to spaces that uphold it well. While the House of Yes is just one club example, you can see different levels of security everywhere, from going to concerts to parades to more sensitive areas with higher levels of security.

When it comes to GenAI and artist consent, I know a few tech companies that could learn a thing or two about consent! 😉 

And that’s where the consenticorn comes in — I love it as a fantastic vehicle to talk about consent of all types, to all different age groups — whether it’s online and Responsible A.I. consent or interpersonal IRL relationship consent.

In addition to introducing new street style interviews, I’m also going to be playing with new characters through Creativity Squared. Shira Lazar’s skits have inspired me, and I’ll will be releasing some later on this year in addition to some web video content coming soon — stay tuned!

Naturally, one of my new characters is the consenticorn — because #ConsentIsSexy…no matter the context.

And in the #ImaginationAge, consent is always sexy! 😉😘

Check out my interviews with Cindy Gallop, the force behind Make Love Not Porn, who speaks to this on my show in Episode 35 and Episode 43.

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

Helen

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 and major conferences.

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

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🗞 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

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“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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