Five Creativity Lessons You Missed in Movies and TV

A special series for World Creativity and Innovation Week

You know and love your favorite movies and TV shows… but did you know they were probably teaching you something about the creative process while you were cheering for the hero or munching on some popcorn?

Whether you’re a fan of science fiction series like Doctor Who 👋, Indiana Jones, Jurassic Park, Star Trek, Battlestar Galactica, or are more reality-based, like The West Wing, M*A*S*H, Ted Lasso, Downton Abbey, or Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, there’s a lesson to be found in almost every modern and classic fandom.

For this year’s World Creativity and Innovation Week, I’m going to look at five of these lessons, one per day, from April 20-24, 2026 here on Substack. Each evening at 7pm ET, I’ll be going live to share one lesson from one fandom with you, and I hope you’ll join me.

I’d love to hear your favorite shows and characters in the comments below, especially if you’re not sure what they might have to teach you! I can’t promise I’ll be able to tackle your favorite, but I’ll definitely take your input into account as I’m planning the week.

PS: I’m participating in World Creativity and Innovation Week with my friends and colleagues Deborah Edwards - GratefulOM and Sandy Parker Martinez. Check out their offerings for the week here. Everything we’re doing is free and open to the public. The more the merrier!