James Victore on Being Weird

What's the most important thing we can all do to be happy? According to my guest on this episode, it's embracing the thing that made us weird as kids.


🎙️ Episode Summary
On this episode, I’m joined once again by the inimitable James Victore — artist, author, and creative provocateur — to explore the power of embracing your inner weirdo.

James has just published Hey Weirdo, an eBook that argues the very things that made us weird as kids are exactly what make us great as adults. We talk about where those quirks come from, how society teaches us to repress them, and why reclaiming them might just be the most important thing we do.

The book is based on a series of interviews with people that have succeeded by embracing their inner weirdo. In our conversation, James shares some of these powerful and deeply personal stories, including his personal memory of a melted crayon puddle that’s coloured his creative journey ever since. We reflect on how childhood experiences, especially the ones where we were scolded or told off for stepping out of line, often hold the keys to our authentic selves.

James also shares details of the other interviews from the book, revealing how other successful creatives found their voice by tuning into what made them “weird.” This episode is funny, raw, and honest. We talk about creative freedom, workplace conformity, artistic boundaries, and why our quirks are not only worth celebrating but essential for a fulfilling life.

It’s a call to arms for anyone who’s ever felt out of place, and a reminder that the world doesn’t need more normal — it needs more you.

👤 Guest Bio - James Victore
James Victore is an artist, lecturer, author, and self-described firestarter. He’s a creative provocateur whose work and teaching challenge people to trust their weirdness and embrace their unique voice.

James is the author of multiple books, including Feck Perfuction and his latest, Hey Weirdo, which builds on his belief that the things that made us weird as kids are the very things that can make us great as adults.

Beyond how he describes himself, James is also a celebrated designer and educator whose work has appeared in the Museum of Modern Art and who has taught at the School of Visual Arts in New York.

His Instagram feed (@jamesvictore) is a playground of raw creativity, insight, and bold truth-telling — a direct extension of his belief in living a life on your own terms.

🔗 Useful Links
James' new book: Hey Weirdo

His last book: Feck Perfuction

His first appearance on this show: talking about Creative Courage:

Social media: James on Instagram

The DO Book Company,the publisher for whom James designs covers

James' podcast The Right Questions

⏱️ AI-Generated Timestamped Summary
[00:00:00] Introduction to the episode and theme of being weird

[00:01:00] James joins and introduces his new eBook Hey Weirdo

[00:03:00] Exploring the etymology of "weird" and book origins

[00:05:00] Childhood norms, creativity, and self-love

[00:07:00] The melted crayon memory and its lifelong creative influence

[00:10:00] The emotional contrast between child and parent perspectives

[00:11:00] Interview with Suzy Batiz and floral wallpaper insight

[00:13:00] Lena Jensen’s story and discovery of her own weirdness

[00:15:00] Society’s role in normalising behaviour and stifling creativity

[00:17:00] The play, joy, and love that get trained out of us

[00:19:00] How weirdness becomes a superpower

[00:21:00] Workplace conformity and annual performance boxes

[00:23:00] Why truly creative people are disruptive — and that’s good

[00:24:00] Autonomy vs chaos: setting creative boundaries

[00:26:00] How to reconnect with childhood weirdness

[00:28:00] Workbook coming soon to help readers find their voice

[00:29:00] Reflecting on discomfort in adulthood as a weirdness clue

[00:30:00] Trauma from work, education, and criticism

[00:32:00] Tolerance and respecting other people’s weirdness

[00:33:00] The emotional resistance to following your voice

[00:35:00] Changing jobs vs changing yourself

[00:37:00] How Lena Jensen built a creative career by being herself

[00:39:00] Why commoditised paths are actually riskier

[00:41:00] The lie behind “brave” career choices

[00:43:00] The real sin: not using your voice or your gifts

[00:45:00] Memories are made from weirdness, not routine

[00:46:00] Green rooms, creative boundaries, and artistic standards

[00:48:00] How James negotiated creative freedom in client work

[00:50:00] Trusting your weirdness and finding your audience

[00:52:00] Negative feedback, criticism, and learning to accept it

[00:54:00] Why everything — good or bad — is a teacher

[00:56:00] The danger of chasing money over fulfilment

[00:57:00] Corporate incentives and “compensation”

[00:59:00] Where to find James and how to get Hey Weirdo