Creativity’s Edge: Skill Over Talent & the Case for Creating Before You Consume with Susan Riley

Feb 25, 2026

Margo Tantau is joined by educator, researcher, and national leader in creativity, arts integration, and STEAM education, Susan Riley. As the founder of the Institute for Arts Integration and STEAM and author of Creativity’s Edge, Susan brings a refreshing, deeply human perspective on creativity — not as an artistic gift or innovation buzzword, but as a decision-making skill essential for navigating uncertainty, complexity, and an increasingly AI-influenced world.

Susan shares her journey from growing up as a self-described “farm girl” in Pennsylvania to becoming a pioneer in arts integration. She reflects on the early creative influences that shaped her, the role of music in her life, and the challenges of forging a nontraditional career path.

Margo and Susan discuss:

• Why creativity is a cognitive skill rather than a personality trait or talent
• How uncertainty and complexity actually activate creative thinking
• The hidden cost of optimization, efficiency, and “best practices”
• What “Create Before You Consume” looks like in everyday life
• How curiosity becomes a uniquely human advantage in the age of AI
• The connection between creativity, judgment, and human agency
• Susan’s path from educator to national thought leader

 

Connect with Susan:
susanmriley.com

Connect with Margo:

• Website: www.windowsillchats.com
• Instagram: @windowsillchats
• www.patreon.com/inthewindowsill
• https://www.yourtantaustudio.com/thefoundry