My Gear

This is the gear I reach for every single day — to think clearly, to create, to run Cultivated, and to film Creative Soul Projects.

I don’t chase specs or trends. Everything here has earned a place by helping me do better work with less friction.

Stationery (for thinking in ink and on paper)

I’ve always believed that slowing down and putting pen to paper not only sharpens ideas, but it gives these ideas space and time to grow.

These are the notebooks, pens, and tools I use for thinking, planning, and capturing the messy middle, percolating ideas and expanding on concepts.

As many of you know, I also co-host a podcast called Stationery Freaks, so it's no surprise that I use a lot of stationery.

Paper

Notebooks, to me, are the foundation of an effective system and gear life. Different sizes offer different spaces for thinking, writing and planning. Some of the below are structured and "force" a system, some are re-purposed for my own needs (like the ledger) and some are just free space to be creative.

1. Concept A4 Yellow Legal Pad – perfect for brainstorming and writing drafts
2. NIMIRO journal – for my daily journaling - a game changer in terms of mental clarity
3. Collins Ledger – for capturing a neutral and factual log of the day - the journal is for reflecting, this ledger is merely for logging
4. Ottergami notebook – for doodling and drawing - perfect notebook for sketching ideas
5. Oxford Composition Notebooks – for planning Video Notes videos. Great size and love the colours these come in
6. To plan my week and house my editorial content plan I use this Smart Planner Pro by SmartPlanner.co
7. My true Every Day Carry notebook - this Dingbats daily reporter style notebook goes with my everywhere.
8. Oxford Black ‘n’ Red Notebook - these are superb for out and about. I use these at conferences and when travelling, when I don't want to risk losing the Dingbats.
9. I'm a big fan of Moleskine notebooks and have plenty of Moleskine A4 jotter around the studio.

Writing Tools

The perfect writing tool really can make a difference to the task, experience or activity. Below are my current "go to" writing implements.

1. A new edition - and my word, what a wonderful pen – the Sailor Fude De Mannen Caligraphy pen is magical. I use it for almost every task and activity. You can draw, sketch, colour and write with this. It's been a real game changer for sure.
2. The Penac Protti 0.5 and 0.7 mechanical pencils are superb. To be honest, between these and the Sailor Fountain Pen there isn't much room for other writing tools!
3. The rOtring Tikky 0.7 mechanical pencil is the mechanical pencil I reach for when sketching initial drafts.
4. I have boxes of Staedtler Noris school pencils - my three kids keep stealing these. Quite light in colour but durable, cheap and effective.
5. I have this lovely Parker fountain pen for writing the letters included in my books Zero to Keynote and Take a Day Off.
6. Waterman Fountain Pen - a gift from my wife. I don't tend to use it much as I don't want to damage it, but when I have used it....gold.
7. Art and Fly colouring pencils - these are brilliant for colouring - nice feel, great colour and a brilliant selection of tones and shades.
8. Pentel Brush Pens - these are superb for calligraphy and general writing. Push down to get a thicker stroke, lift off for the lighter stroke. Great for lettering.
9. Sharpies - Don't need to say much about these! These are my "Go To" pens for the Video Notes series.
10. These Sharpie Ultra-Fine pens are superb. I often use these for writing and sketching.
11. For everyday writing, I often have plenty of these Pental Energel 07 laying around.

Organisational Tools

Stationery is far more than just pens and paper. There are plenty of organisational tools too I use too.

1. Pen loop holders -- these are SO helpful for those notebooks that don't have a pen tag on them
2. RapEsco pencil sharpener -- those Staedtler pencils don't sharpen themselves. Classy, definately style over substance, but a joy to use.
3. Canvas bags - these are originally supposed to be for tools and trades people - but they make effective and useful stationery carriers.
4. Metal ruler - for straight lines 😀

Check out this video on my Stationery Essentials for more on how I use some of the above.

Media Production and Camera Gear

I am a Media Scientist by training and history – i.e. someone who studies how to use various publishing and media outputs to share complicated and complex messages. As such, media production tools are never far away.

1. Main Camera for talking heads and out and about, plus social. The Panasonic S9 is pretty awesome. With Open Gate, full frame sensor, built in LUTS and the ability to use their MP4 lite to sync to my phone in seconds, this camera is brilliant.
2. Second Camera – Sony ZV1 -- I use this when travelling. The hand grip remote is helpful and the size and weight is perfect for travelling. A word of note though, 4K seems to kill the memory cards, so I only ever use Full HD mode.
3. Third Camera – GoPro 10 - Used for those walking shots, weird angles, clipping to anything that will hold it, on car shots and general out and about. Great camera.
4. Microphone – Wireless Comica - allows me to wander and roam without needing to be near the camera. Good quality sound too!
5. Bag – Caden Shoulder - brown and roomy.
6. iPhone Gimbal – Zhiyun Smooth Q2 - it took me a few days to work out how to mount the phone to this without it randomly spinning around, but works a treat, charge lasts for days and easy to use (once you master the initial mount!)
7. Track Slider – Zecti Slider - I use this for those sliding, moving glossy shot. Easy to set up, manual operated so not as smooth as an electronic one, but does the job.
8. Camera Stabiliser Frame – Ulanzi Grip - I often use this when doing tracking shots or sometimes as a makeshift rig with lights and audio mounted.
9. Lights – ESDDI Lamp - my main lighting rig, one permanently set up for talking heads, the other bagged up for out and about shoot. Good quality and so far, no issues.

Everyday Carry - The Office

When I work on client site, I tend to carry many of the items above, plus a few extra pieces.

1. Osprey Quasar Rucksack - great quality rucksack with plenty of room for my carry. I use this same rucksack when travelling (assuming luggage this size is allowed).
2. Macbook Pro - works, looks good, does the job. My entire IT eco-system is Apple - and I'm very pleased with how it all works.
3. Anker Power Bank - very effective, and small, power bank that can do a couple of iPhone charges. Useful for when I run low - always take this when I travel.
4. Growing a Business by Paul Hawken - the book I re-read all the time. When I get stuck at work, in my own business, or when I want inspiration on growing my own business - I give this a read.

Everyday Carry (Studio Edition)

If you want to see how these tools help me to create systems like the Idea → Value course, then read the blog or check out the Creative Soul Projects YouTube channel.

And if you have questions about any of this gear, reach out — I love talking tools.

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