Gifted Underachievers

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit giftedunderachievers.substack.com

A bright spark entered the Gifted Underachiever clubhouse and her name is Carrie McConkey. For many years, Carrie thought that her crazy career background made no sense. After working in the fields of interior design, fashion design, college recruiting, human resources, fundraising, image consulting, and many more, Carrie found her way to freelance writing—and everything finally fell into place. T...

In this segment, the Gifted Underachievers talk about taking the pause—not responding immediately with a yes or no to a project, an offer, or a trigger. If you’re not hard-wired to think carefully before you respond, what can you do? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit giftedunderachievers.substack.com

Pat and James dive into music and how it can help or hinder creative work. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit giftedunderachievers.substack.com

Pat dazzles with yet another 1920s style cloche headband while James goes full delusional. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit giftedunderachievers.substack.com

In any creative field, it can be tempting to compare our situation with that of our peers. We discuss whether comparisons can help you move forward. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit giftedunderachievers.substack.com

James gets news on a recent pitch and Pat reports on an email from Canada Council for the Arts This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit giftedunderachievers.substack.com

When your brand contains the word "underachievers," it's important to remember the "gifted" part. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit giftedunderachievers.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit giftedunderachievers.substack.com

Discover 3 weird obstacles to successfully applying for a creative grant. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit giftedunderachievers.substack.com

The Gifted Underachievers take a break from the creative life to discuss those five weeks between the US Thanksgiving and New Year's Eve. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit giftedunderachievers.substack.com

There’s no logical reason to listen to this segment—except to hear James’s Oscar-worthy impression of a barfly on her way to getting COPD. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit giftedunderachievers.substack.com

People say that cliché, stereotype, and platitudes have no place in any creative work in any creative domain. But is this always true even if it often is? Are there cliché and stereotype safe spaces? Are they subjective/ Context dependent? Do they, perhaps, honor the artists that came before us? Pat and James don’t really know but they have thoughts…and opinions…lots of opinions. Questions for You...

Sometimes, putting out a small book or creating something outside your usual field can reinvigorate you and maybe...just maybe!...make a little money on the side. James updates listeners on what’s happening with his resurrected book of writing advice, and Pat describes the ins and outs of her new and improved Pleasure Journal. WINK. Questions for You: * Do you have any side projects on the go? * I...

If you’ve ever seen the 2006 film Borat, by Sasha Baron Cohen, it’s likely that the infamous nude chase and wrestling scene will be forever seared into your eyeballs. James and Pat talk about that scene and the surprisingly urbane costar who made it unforgettable, and Pat talks about literary writer Vladimir Nabokov’s fight scene and why it’s so good. Questions for You: * What’s your favorite wres...

We explore personal reinvention, capsule wardrobes for book tours, and whether image matters. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit giftedunderachievers.substack.com

After delivering a big client project (or several), the post-gig blahs can strike. We discuss what to do. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit giftedunderachievers.substack.com

The deficit theory of communication is dead. Now what? Well, there’re the three truths of how people change their minds. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit giftedunderachievers.substack.com

Call it body doubling, silent co-working session—it works! Here’s how you can join other gifted underachievers as we do what we gotta do. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit giftedunderachievers.substack.com

There’s a lot to celebrate about being a midlevel creative, like knowing how to make stuff and having a body of work. So let’s celebrate together! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit giftedunderachievers.substack.com

We explore what it means to be in the "sandwich" generation—with kids below and parents above—and pursue creative work. WARNING TO ELDERLY PARENTS: DO NOT LISTEN TO THIS SEGMENT!!! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit giftedunderachievers.substack.com

Pat and James explore a new podcast delusion, bee costumes, a London opera house, and Pat’s Pleasure Journal outselling the Bible. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit giftedunderachievers.substack.com

When your creative (or creative-adjacent) work dries up, it’s easy to panic and either lowball yourself or break out whistling as you avoid reality. But there are better ways to deal.   This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit giftedunderachievers.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit giftedunderachievers.substack.com

We all have to accept, navigate, and figure out how to thrive with a ton of subjectivity. How do we do that? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit giftedunderachievers.substack.com