Episodes

Have you ever put something out into the world and were just devastated by the results? This is pretty much par for the course when it comes to posting a new piece, publishing a book, or launching really anything as …

Is there an area of your creative practice that you just can not seem to make progress in? Do you second guess every new piece and project to the point of doing nothing at all? In this episode we explore …

Sometimes the adventure chooses the hero and other times it’s the other way around! Both are valid. The only trouble? Most of us have a default that we get stuck in, it’s helpful to recognize when we need to switch …

We’re living through some hard times – but that doesn’t mean that they don’t have the opportunity to really, really matter. In this episode, we’re going back to THE CURSE OF ART ISLAND from Episode 202! For me, the creative …

Have you ever fallen out of love with your creative practice? Maybe you got stuck and couldn’t reach your goals. Maybe you reached your goals and they weren’t as fulfilling as you thought they’d be? Maybe the creative process itself …

Ya ever pour yourself into something and people essentially respond with “meh”? It’s so demoralizing! If you want a few ways to bake in more potent layers into your work that don’t necessarily just mean trying harder. This episode is …

At some point you may notice that putting more time and effort into your work isn’t making the work any better. This overworking results in the ceiling of diminishing returns. What do you do when you want to level up …

It’s very tempting to get obsessed with WHAT you’re making, but have you given much thought about the WHERE of your creative work? Where you make stuff. Where your head is when you’re making that stuff. Where you publish stuff! …

Today on the show we have two of my dream guests ON ONE EPISODE!! Welcome New York Times Best Selling author Mac Barnett and Caldecott Honor Winning author / illustrator Carson Ellis!! These two were both essential inspirations in my …

Do you ever fully “find your style” for good? I don’t think so. It’s a living document. I’ve done episodes on the topic. Taught whole classes on it. But, I’ve stayed on the hunt for over a decade, and I …

In this special episode, we make space to honor the memory of Adé Hogue, who we lost in October, 2021. Adé was a phenomenal lettering artist and designer with an incredible, authentic spirit. Adé cared so passionately about the communities …

First time listening? This trailer will tell you which episode to start with, explain what the show is all about and ultimately give you a little taste for whether Creative Pep Talk is gonna be your kinda thing.

It’s so easy to get carried away focusing so much on your work, that you neglect yourSELF! BUT the quality and depth of your work comes directly from YOU, so it’s a dangerous habit to get into! In this episode, …

NFTs, 3D, AR, VR, YR. Oh you haven’t heard of YR?! Ya know, like YR are you googling what YR is. Is it because you’re curious or is it that you’re just afraid of being left behind? It’s very easy …

The creative brain is amazing at coming up with infinite options and connections, but sorting through and choosing which options are best and should be focused on is a totally different skill. In this episode we talk to incredible Illustrator …

Why do doctors and pilots both need checklists? Because even life saving information is easy to forget! That’s why in this episode we establish the ten ideas that define this show and what we think staying on track in your …

Think back to a time in your creative journey where you felt right on the heels of your potential and you knew the exact way to spend your energy. Pretty much all of us have been thrown off this path …

Are you feeling like the world is leaving you behind? Do things feel so noisy and fast paced that you fear you don’t have a chance to ever really be seen as a creator? If you’ve been creating from a …

There’s nothing quite like that feeling of being exactly where you’re supposed to be on the creative path. You’re seeing 5 steps ahead. Things are coming together in your work with surprising serendipity and satisfying ease. Your progress is meaningful …

Are you finding it hard to get your hopes up about what comes next for you creatively? Does it ever feel like no matter what you do, the results are the same? In this end of the year episode, we …

Have you ever hit a wall where you really could not create ANYTHING whatsoever? Our guest Sha’an d’Anthes AKA Furry Little Peach REALLY HAS but she didn’t stay there. In this episode I want to share the 3 things that …

Your work is totally on point. You’re doing everything “right” but somehow it’s still falling short. Well in the words of Jack Black in the movie School of Rock - “Rock isn’t about getting an A”. So what is it …

Do you like your work better than ever but feel like people “get it” less? Have you ever made something that you were certain was your best work, but no one else seemed to notice? If you can’t figure out …

I have good news and bad news. Bad news first: It’s true most people are not creative. At least Aristotle wouldn’t think so. Most folks agree that the phrase “we are what we repeatedly do” is a good summary of …