
The New Abnormal
#TheNewAbnormal podcast (which has over 250,000 downloads) focuses on understanding today and anticipating the future. Discussing these subjects via the viewpoints of my guests has led to some fascinating conversations with activists, creatives, writers, philosophers, strategists, psychologists, lecturers, futurists, etc. Re: my bio, I'm a strategist, author and speaker. My 1st book went to No1 in the business charts, whilst my 2nd was shortlisted for the 'Business Book of the Year' Awards. (The podcast partners with The Copenhagen Institute for Futures Studies, a global leader in applying futures studies to solve strategic challenges, helping clients to be #FuturesReady.) So, we hope you enjoy listening to the series - which was set up during the early days of Covid, and is divided into Series One [2020-21] Two [2022] Three [2023] Four [2024] and Five [2025]. All rights reserved. #TheNewAbnormal podcast series © Sean Pillot de Chenecey 2020. Please note that it's currently on hold, as I literally don’t have the time to record any episodes at the moment, but it’ll return in late summer...
The New Abnormal
Neil Boorman 'From the Shoreditch Twat to TikTok...and why creativity & joy are so vital'
Series One
In this episode of #TheNewAbnormal, I interview Neil Boorman, Head of Creative Lab Europe at TikTok.
He builds and leads their in-house creative service, dedicated to producing best in class work on the platform. Prior to TikTok, he was the Content Director at agencies including Wieden + Kennedy, Mother, Grey, and VCCP, before which he was a Content Strategist/Producer at Amnesty International.
He's also the author of books inc "It's all their fault" & "Bonfire of the Brands". And...he edited/published the satirical fanzine 'Shoreditch Twat'.
(Whose readership combined those who got what was going on, along with those who later watched Nathan Barley and hoped their neighbours were laughing with them, not at them. I'm increasingly concerned about my membership of the former).
So...Neil's been at the leading-edge of culture throughout his career, and in this episode discusses a range of contemporary issues that interest and/or appall him in equal measure.
As for the mighty TikTok, Neil explains why he thinks a platform that has 'honesty, humility and authenticity' at its heart is such a spectacular global success, regarding its ability to connect us all via creativity and joy.