Episodes

“There’s never been a better time to be a creative person!” You’ve heard this before, but is it true? Is it your experience? Best Selling author William Deresiewicz decided to try and answer this question by interviewing hundreds of artists (spoiler: I was one of them!) and diving deep into research. All of his remarkable findings are in his new book “The Death of the Artist: How Creators Are Struggling to Survive in the Age of Billionaires and Big Tech”. In this episode we dive deep into this work and tease out the pitfalls to watch out for, as well as areas where it’s smart to invest yourself as a modern creative. This book and this interview is a gift to creatives and I hope you find it as cathartic and validating as I did. Listen on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/creative-pep-talk/id929743897 Listen on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/47vLbaJTqqLdeqnvjmyjaf?si=Z3mlMtLnTTqZwi8RqSGtcw

“There’s never been a better time to be a creative person!” You’ve heard this before, but is it true? Is it your experience? Best Selling author William Deresiewicz decided to try and answer this question by interviewing hundreds of artists (spoiler: I was one of them!) and diving deep into research. All of his remarkable findings are in his new book “The Death of the Artist: How Creators Are Struggling to Survive in the Age of Billionaires and Big Tech”. In this episode we dive deep into this work and tease out the pitfalls to watch out for, as well as areas where it’s smart to invest yourself as a modern creative. This book and this interview is a gift to creatives and I hope you find it as cathartic and validating as I did.

How could an archer improve their form if they never saw where their arrows hit the target? I spent the start of my career like an archer with a blindfold, afraid to look and see if I’d hit a bullseye, or even missed the target completely. I would try anything I could to avoid getting feedback on my creative work, but these days, finding the right kind of feedback is the LIFEBLOOD of my practice. What changed? I saw that having a robust relationship to feedback was the key to unlocking transcendent creative work and that started to mean more to me that protecting my vulnerabilities. In this episode I want to share a 4 step process for building feedback into your practice in a way that will help your creative work resonate on a much deeper level.

How could an archer improve their form if they never saw where their arrows hit the target? I spent the start of my career like an archer with a blindfold, afraid to look and see if I’d hit a bullseye, or even missed the target completely. I would try anything I could to avoid getting feedback on my creative work, but these days, finding the right kind of feedback is the LIFEBLOOD of my practice. What changed? I saw that having a robust relationship to feedback was the key to unlocking transcendent creative work and that started to mean more to me that protecting my vulnerabilities. In this episode I want to share a 4 step process for building feedback into your practice in a way that will help your creative work resonate on a much deeper level.

Lisa Congdon is back and is the first guest to do 4 episodes of our show! Shouldn’t be a surprise though, as our episodes with Lisa are some of the absolute best! AND this one is my favorite of the 4! In this episode we talk: - The power of sharing resources / abundance mindset - Staying Inspired - What to do About Copy Cats - Creative From the ‘YES TO LIFE’ Energy

Lisa Congdon is back and is the first guest to do 4 episodes of our show! Shouldn’t be a surprise though, as our episodes with Lisa are some of the absolute best! AND this one is my favorite of the 4! In this episode we talk: - The power of sharing resources / abundance mindset - Staying Inspired - What to do About Copy Cats - Creative From the ‘YES TO LIFE’ Energy

Do you ever compare yourself to others in your creative field and feel like you don’t measure up? Do you ever question whether you really have the talent or raw potential necessary to succeed? If these anxieties keep you from investing your all into your practice today, listen in to this episode! Creative breakthrough is often less about being the BEST at one thing, and more about being creative about how you combine your multiple resources. In this episode we will tell you the 3 areas that you can combine to create your own lane, and unlock new levels of progress today. Putting off your creative joy until you become a success is a dangerous practice because the most sure fire path to creative success is creating from a place of joy. If you aren’t enjoying your practice today, this episode will help you rekindle that flame. This is Part 2 in our Creative Target Practice Series.

Do you ever compare yourself to others in your creative field and feel like you don’t measure up? Do you ever question whether you really have the talent or raw potential necessary to succeed? If these anxieties keep you from investing your all into your practice today, listen in to this episode! Creative breakthrough is often less about being the BEST at one thing, and more about being creative about how you combine your multiple resources. In this episode we will tell you the 3 areas that you can combine to create your own lane, and unlock new levels of progress today. Putting off your creative joy until you become a success is a dangerous practice because the most sure fire path to creative success is creating from a place of joy. If you aren’t enjoying your practice today, this episode will help you rekindle that flame. This is Part 2 in our Creative Target Practice Series.

If you want your creative work to be super unique, you need to have super unique inspiration. Today on the show I chat with Watercolor Artist Yao Cheng and she embodies this principle in ways I’ve never seen! When you think of watercolor art, whatever images spring to mind are not what you see in Yao’s portfolio!! Why? Because there aren't many, if any, watercolor artists who are pulling their inspiration from quantum mechanics! This episode is a goodie bag of creative inspiration and a masterclass on how to approach getting inspired in a completely new and profound way. I left this conversation buzzing with motivation and curiosity… and you will too! Yao Cheng is an artist on the roster of our artist management agency Co-Loop. Find Out More at Co-Loop.co

If you want your creative work to be super unique, you need to have super unique inspiration. Today on the show I chat with Watercolor Artist Yao Cheng and she embodies this principle in ways I’ve never seen! When you think of watercolor art, whatever images spring to mind are not what you see in Yao’s portfolio!! Why? Because there aren't many, if any, watercolor artists who are pulling their inspiration from quantum mechanics! This episode is a goodie bag of creative inspiration and a masterclass on how to approach getting inspired in a completely new and profound way. I left this conversation buzzing with motivation and curiosity… and you will too!

Are you having a really hard time remembering why you make creative work lately? In these times, it feels especially hard to stay grounded and motivated to keep making. If you’re feeling lost and unable to find your true north in your creative work - this episode contains an exercise that will help you start connecting the dots again and find the thread through your work that will get you excited and determined to start making again. This is part 1 of our Creative Target Practice Series.

Are you having a really hard time remembering why you make creative work lately? In these times, it feels especially hard to stay grounded and motivated to keep making. If you’re feeling lost and unable to find your true north in your creative work - this episode contains an exercise that will help you start connecting the dots again and find the thread through your work that will get you excited and determined to start making again. This is part 1 of our Creative Target Practice Series.

Creatives have the super power of seeing infinite possibilities but this super power can easily become a confusing burden when it comes down to actually choosing a direction. In this episode we talk to Lulu Miller about how to navigate these decisions and so much more! Lulu is a master storyteller and this episode will help you reconnect with your inner creative compass! Lulu Miller is the cofounder of NPR's Invisibilia and now the co-host of Radiolab. She spends most of her time reporting science stories for NPR but dabbles in the art of print essays, fiction, and weird rants from time to time.

Creatives have the super power of seeing infinite possibilities but this super power can easily become a confusing burden when it comes down to actually choosing a direction. In this episode we talk to Lulu Miller about how to navigate these decisions and so much more! Lulu is a master storyteller and this episode will help you reconnect with your inner creative compass! Lulu Miller is the cofounder of NPR's Invisibilia and now the co-host of Radiolab. She spends most of her time reporting science stories for NPR but dabbles in the art of print essays, fiction, and weird rants from time to time.

When you’re working on a new creative project and things start to get complicated and confusing, the most natural impulse is to turn around and start over. But my guest Peter Hastings says that your most brilliant simple creative ideas aren’t around that complicated stuff, but through it. If you’re stuck in a confusing moment in your creative career (which let’s face it, who isn’t these days?) I urge you to listen in. In this episode we dive deep into the creative wisdom of 6 time Emmy award winner Peter Hastings who has played key roles in producing some of the most beloved work of our generation. Ya ever heard of Pinky and the Brain? Animaniacs? How to Train Your Dragon? Kung Fu Panda? Captain Underpants? Through writing, producing, acting and directing Peter has helped bring all these beloved properties alive.

When you’re working on a new creative project and things start to get complicated and confusing, the most natural impulse is to turn around and start over. But my guest Peter Hastings says that your most brilliant simple creative ideas aren’t around that complicated stuff, but through it. If you’re stuck in a confusing moment in your creative career (which let’s face it, who isn’t these days?) I urge you to listen in. In this episode we dive deep into the creative wisdom of 6 time Emmy award winner Peter Hastings who has played key roles in producing some of the most beloved work of our generation. Ya ever heard of Pinky and the Brain? Animaniacs? How to Train Your Dragon? Kung Fu Panda? Captain Underpants? Through writing, producing, acting and directing Peter has helped bring all these beloved properties alive.

Do you ever feel like you’re wandering on a weird side road in your creative journey, miles away from where your true potential lies? It’s so easy to get lost and distracted down some random rabbit hole and completely get yourself off course. In this episode we dive into how to get back to the pulse of your true sensibility and to the work that really matters to you. If you are struggling to keep motivated during these times and want to find how to relight your creative pilot light brighter than ever - do not miss this episode! THE DAY HAS COME! We JUST DROPPED our 2nd ever SKILLSHARE CLASS!! This episode is a celebration of that and acts as complementary / supplementary content to the class. We have never been so excited to share a project with you, this class contains all the heart and soul of the podcast and you are going to love it!! Sign up here: https://skl.sh/findyourstyle

Do you ever feel like you’re wandering on a weird side road in your creative journey, miles away from where your true potential lies? It’s so easy to get lost and distracted down some random rabbit hole and completely get yourself off course. In this episode we dive into how to get back to the pulse of your true sensibility and to the work that really matters to you. If you are struggling to keep motivated during these times and want to find how to relight your creative pilot light brighter than ever - do not miss this episode!

I spent the first part of my creative journey desperately hoping to be discovered. The only problem? I was hiding! Life isn’t a game of hide and seek. No one is out there desperately trying to discover you against your will. If you’re going to find the breakthrough you’re looking for you’re going to have to quit hiding and put yourself out there. In this episode my friend and agent Ryan Appleton and I dive into: - Why Hiding Your Way to The Top is a Terrible Plan - 3 Places Artists Hide - How to Show Yourself as an Artist

I spent the first part of my creative journey desperately hoping to be discovered. The only problem? I was hiding! Life isn’t a game of hide and seek. No one is out there desperately trying to discover you against your will. If you’re going to find the breakthrough you’re looking for you’re going to have to quit hiding and put yourself out there. In this episode my friend and agent Ryan Appleton and I dive into: - Why Hiding Your Way to The Top is a Terrible Plan - 3 Places Artists Hide - How to Show Yourself as an Artist

Nothing is more frustrating than when you’re giving something all you’ve got and it doesn’t seem to be making any difference. You do this long enough and sooner or later you’re going to feel like there’s no point in showing up at all. If all of your old methods aren’t getting you anywhere new, maybe it’s time to try something different? In this episode we explore 3 new tactics to try when things have come to a standstill in your creative journey.

Nothing is more frustrating than when you’re giving something all you’ve got and it doesn’t seem to be making any difference. You do this long enough and sooner or later you’re going to feel like there’s no point in showing up at all. If all of your old methods aren’t getting you anywhere new, maybe it’s time to try something different? In this episode we explore 3 new tactics to try when things have come to a standstill in your creative journey.

Today on the show we have Lalese Stamps, the ceramicist behind the beautiful mugs and pots of Lolly Lolly Ceramics! Lalese did the most incredible 100 day project posting a new mug everyday day for 100 days. This project put Lalese’s practice on the map and today she comes on the show to share everything that she learned in the process. Lalese’s work is gorgeous and the sensitivity behind the work that I discovered in this conversation was even more inspirational! If you’re thinking of starting a daily project or need some fresh fire to pour into a project you’re already in the middle of, this episode is for you! In this episode we cover: - How 100 Day Projects Unlock Deeper Inspirations - Why Detaching Yourself from Your Output Can Be Powerful - The Hidden Ability in Your Senses - MUCH MORE!

Today on the show we have Lalese Stamps, the ceramicist behind the beautiful mugs and pots of Lolly Lolly Ceramics! Lalese did the most incredible 100 day project posting a new mug everyday day for 100 days. This project put Lalese’s practice on the map and today she comes on the show to share everything that she learned in the process. Lalese’s work is gorgeous and the sensitivity behind the work that I discovered in this conversation was even more inspirational! If you’re thinking of starting a daily project or need some fresh fire to pour into a project you’re already in the middle of, this episode is for you! In this episode we cover: - How 100 Day Projects Unlock Deeper Inspirations - Why Detaching Yourself from Your Output Can Be Powerful - The Hidden Ability in Your Senses - MUCH MORE!