Hack Your Happiness10 Jul 2025

How to Think Like a Disney Imagineer - Hacks To Creativity: Former Disney Head of Innovation, Duncan Wardle

If you've ever said "I can't do this" or "I'm not smart enough" this conversation is for you! This week, Duncan Wardle sits with Mercedes and Anastasia. Duncan spent decades creating magic as the Head of Innovation and Creativity at Disney, leading teams at Imagineering, Pixar, Marvel, and more. Today, Duncan is a global speaker and author, helping people of all ages rediscover their creativity and curiosity. In this episode, he’s joining Mercedes and Anastasia for an eye-opening conversation about innovation, resilience, tapping into your inner child, and the future of our world in technology and creativity.

Duncan talks about:

How he landed his dream job at Disney and why he never stopped calling, even after hearing “no”.
What his time at Disney taught him about creativity, curiosity.
Why play is essential for happiness!
Why grades don’t define your potential (and what actually does).
Simple ways to build creativity and embrace more serendipity in everyday life.
The inspiration behind his new book, plus his favorite tangible prompts for sparking imagination!

If you’ve ever felt stuck, uninspired, or afraid to try something new, listen in. This conversation will remind you that your imagination isn’t gone. You just have to let it out. And, here's why letting it out will help you feel happier.

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Check out Duncan's website

Ready to Hack Your Happiness some more? Listen to our interview with New York Times Bestselling Author, Malcolm Gladwell. In this episode, Malcolm discusses the importance of diversity, being curious, and the dangers of monoculture. https://open.spotify.com/episode/5suW2909CQMKoFj5qJ1jHL?si=eL-uZzs8T4yJZ2l1Ndue5w

(00:00) Intro

(01:28) How Duncan Created A Book Unlike Any Other

(03:53) How Duncan Got Started

(05:36) Duncan's Time At Disney

(08:16) Education vs AI

(10:03) Tips To Bring Creativity & Imagination BACK

(14:37) Duncan Proves Diversity

(17:33) How Can I Start Thinking Different?

(20:33) Case Study: How Disney Saw The Challenge Differently

(22:24) The Hack That Works For EVERYONE

(24:34) Duncan's Hacks For Presenting

(27:17) Why Do We Need Fresh Stimulus?

(28:14) How Can I Get Fresh Stimulus & Ideas?

(30:39) The Importance of Play (even as teens & adults)

(34:01) Do THIS To Play

(37:03) The Future of University and Education

(38:55) AR vs VR

(43:00) Your Guide To Innovative Thinking

(44:40) Here's What You MUST AVOID

(45:22) Duncan's Greatest Contributions To Disney

(47:08) Product vs Experience

(47:52) Where Is The Intersection Between Human Thinking vs Modern Tools?

(50:55) Duncan To His Teen Self

(51:07) What Brings Duncan A Small Bit of Happiness?

(52:26) Duncan's Motivational Quote

(53:10) Looking Towards The Future

(53:13) Key Takeaways

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