Artists for Joy

Today on the podcast, a quick peek behind the door… Art's Open Door , my new show, which launches tomorrow! To celebrate, I'm dropping a short sample of Episode 1 right here today. (I'm giving you about half of the full-length episode!)  Take a listen to this short preview, and get ready for the full episode tomorrow. Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen on Spotify Listen on Substack I'd love to hear y...

Well, hello friends! I'm back from a summer hiatus with our quarterly roundup episode. I'm reflecting on our whirlwind summer book tour, unexpected moments of joy, and the big and small things making my life richer right now. For all the photos and links mentioned, plus a full read-along version of today's show, click here to read on Substack. Other Resources Mentioned: Join our updated Patreon Co...

Today on the podcast, I welcome author Sarah Westfall, a writer, perpetual question-asker, and contemplative at heart. Her work explores communal life, the intersection of faith, belonging, and, as she says, "being a human person."   Sarah and I talk about belonging, creativity, and the courage it takes to show up as your true self. Sarah shares her journey of moving from the broad, often noisy on...

Artist and writer Kristin Vanderlip joins me to explore the intersection of creativity, spirituality, and healing. Kristin shares her deeply personal journey of using journaling and oil pastels as tools for tending to the heavy, messy reality of loss, and why she believes the blank page can be a safe place to land when the world feels overwhelming. We discuss the importance of "quiet community" in...

My friend Ryan Webb is not a full-time creator, but that doesn't mean he's not creative. Ryan is a full-time marketer, husband, and father. He shares his journey of spending ten years writing his debut novel Saving Will, which was born out of loss and a hyper-realistic dream, using the writing process as a decade-long space for therapy, healing, and spiritual reflection. We discuss why you don't n...

Maria Bowler—author, coach, and host of the Make Human podcast–is back for the third time! This time our conversation focuses on creativity, embodiment, and the sacred work of becoming more fully human.  Maria shares her journey of launching a new medium, the transition from writing books to podcasting. She also reflects on the difference between creating from the mind and creating from a place of...

Heather Lanier is a writer, poet, memoirist, speaker, and professor. She is also my friend! Heather returns to the podcast to discuss the profound connection between creativity and spirituality.  From the meditative discipline of centering prayer to the "forgetting of self" that occurs in the flow state, Heather shares how writing can serve as both a craft and a spiritual practice. We explore the...

Literary agent Don Pape joins me for a conversation about a lifetime in the publishing industry, the sacred work of shaping stories, and how creativity shows up in both the books we write and the ordinary rhythms of our everyday lives. Don shares what it really looks like to walk alongside an author as they steward their message from a rough draft to a published work. We explore the tension betwee...

It's officially launch day! Art Is How God Loves Us: The Sacred Beauty of Created Things is finally out in the world today. To celebrate this milestone with you, I wanted to skip the usual book-launch chatter and invite you straight into the heart of the book itself. In this special bonus episode, I'm reading an excerpt from the introduction.  Whether you consider yourself an artist or simply some...

Lisa Kloskin is the Editorial Director at Broadleaf Books and the editor of Art Is How God Loves Us . Lisa  joined me for a delightful conversation about the sacred work of editing. She shares how walking alongside authors through the creative process has become a form of accompaniment, listening, and care.  We explore the vulnerability of writing, collaboration, the art of shaping a book, and the...

This week on the podcast, musician, songwriter, producer, and pastor David Gungor joins me for a conversation about creativity, spirituality, and the surprising relationship between craftsmanship and inspiration. Known for his work with The Brilliance and The Good Shepherd Music Collective, David reflects on art as a path of transformation, the role of play in the creative life, and why some of ou...

Writer, editor, book coach, and podcast host Mara Eller joins me to explore the spiritual dimensions of writing, self-reflection, and creative partnership.  As the developmental editor who walked alongside me through the drafting of Art Is How God Loves Us , Mara offers a unique perspective on the ways creativity can become a gateway to deeper self-knowledge, connection, and encounter with the div...

In the first installment of Through Art's Open Door,  I chatted with Broadway actress Jennafer Newberry Peery, who plays Glinda in Wicked on Broadway.  Jennafer shares what it's really like to perform in one of the most beloved musicals in the world while balancing family life, motherhood, and the demands of eight-show weeks. We explore art as a spiritual practice, the courage it takes to remain t...

In this episode, I share a personal look at the "gremlins of self-doubt" that arrive during a book launch. Inspired by Elizabeth Gilbert's Big Magic, let's discusses how to treat fear as a passenger rather than the driver, using a "Fear to Focus" framework to turn anxieties into actionable truths. Links: Joyster Monthly Meetup: Friday, June 12th. Topic: "Courage to share your work without losing y...

Life is moving fast! Today we are slowing down for our quarterly check-in on the big and small things saving our creative lives right now. From medical advocacy and fitness apps to custom book merch and the magic of a 3:00 PM dinner routine, we're celebrating the "professional confetti explosion" season in full force. The "OMG It's Happening" Meme My Friends by Fredrik Backman Follow Aileen Weber...

This week on the podcast, I'm sharing a story about a "no" that truly leveled me. As I head into the studio this Monday to record the audiobook for my new book, Art Is How God Loves Us , I couldn't help but think back to the moment I found out I wouldn't be narrating my first one. I was sitting in a middle seat on a cross-country flight when the email arrived, and I spent the rest of the trip quie...

In the middle of a busy season—like, say, launching a new book—it is so easy to view time as a resource to be earned rather than an experience to be felt. In this episode, I explore the "Workaholic Quiz" from Week 10 of The Artist's Way and ask: Is your busyness fueled by joy, or is it a shield against the vulnerability of being still? Using Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith's "7 Types of Rest" and the des...

Today on the podcast, Merideth chats with Winfield Bevins—author, artist, and founder of Creo Arts—to talk about his latest book, How Beauty Will Save the World . In a world that feels loud, fast, and fractured, Winfield invites us back to something slower and truer: beauty. Not the surface-level kind, but the kind that heals and reconnects us to God, ourselves, and each other. Links: *Read more a...

This week, I'm joined by Shannan Martin to talk about her new book, Counterweights and how we can hold hope when life feels unbearably heavy. Counterweights aren't about denying pain or replacing grief with surface-level happiness. It's a way of naming what steadies us: the ordinary, specific things that help us stay upright. We cannot counter what we won't weigh. In our conversation, we talk abou...

We all grapple with that hyper-sensitive, judgmental part of ourselves, the ego, which is an integral—yet often painful—aspect of being an artist. This week on the podcast, I've found a new, surprisingly visceral metaphor and a spiritual practice that is helping me embrace less defensiveness and find a much deeper resonance. Links: Join us for "The Art of 'Yes And'" with Sara McMahon on Patreon Be...

Have you ever felt like your creative self (your inner Maker) and your get-it-done, logistical self (your inner Manager) are constantly battling it out? We all need both of these energies to create a sustainable, joyful life—but getting them to play nicely together is the real trick. In this episode, I dive deep into the Maker vs. Manager dynamic, including my own recent creative block, and share...

This week we are diving into my quarterly practice of naming what's bringing me joy this season. It's a fun, unscripted (!) episode full of big and small things that are truly "saving my life right now."   Links: A question that's helping me take action (Read a Substack essay about this one next week!) A Cohort that I'm participating in this year New Writing Rhythm This item saved our sweaters Thi...

Are you struggling to focus and create when the world feels chaotic? This week: a much-needed pep talk. Four vital reasons why making art is not a luxury, but an essential act of perseverance, resilience, and hope. Links: Beauty will save the world: Substack Essay Burnout Book Burnout Podcast Episode Become a Joyster and join February 13th's Filling the Well Workshop Join The Artist's Way Creative...

We're back with our first new episode of 2026! I'm sharing a pep talk for anyone (including myself!) who is stepping into the new year with trepidation. This episode is especially for you if you're in the process of submitting your work to be judged or critiqued. Inspired by the "whiplash" I felt after submitting a major grant application this week, I encourage you to shift your focus from the out...

Links: Join our Word-of-the-year Art Party (or watch the replay!) Join the next Artist's Way Creative Cluster Pre-order Art Is How God Loves Us Original show notes:   Any other artists out there tired of thinking/talking/obsessing about marketing? This week, Merideth shares the first of a three-part series based on her words of the year. The first word—anti-hustle—calls her to a simpler, quieter,...