Artists for Joy

This week Merideth explores how our teachers affect our creative development. She'll offer practical take aways for how to rebound and heal from these interactions when they're painful, including how to create a community that is supportive and restorative. Mental Health Resources: https://bit.ly/2LR45YW Atlantic article: https://bit.ly/3GnJsM9 Submit mail to show: https://bit.ly/38bKMSF Coaching...

Self Coaching Questions: https://bit.ly/3wKDTTQ   More about today's musicians: https://artistsforjoy.org/pod  

Merideth offers three practical take-aways for how to love your artist-self well.  Ann Patchett Essay: https://amzn.to/3wmDoPv Join the Coaching Course: https://bit.ly/3xZkccY  

Self-Coaching Questions: What action do you need to take this week to find more confidence? Who can you invite into your process by sharing your experience and vulnerably opening up about your creative life? What might you be missing when you are not letting yourself be fully known? Look back at a work of art you made that you are really proud of: was there a coda, or a place towards the end where...

In celebration of 2 years of podcasting, Merideth reflects on 3 things she's been learning from that practice. Listen to this if you're feeling stuck and need a little creative pep talk. Spotify Playlist: https://spoti.fi/3fiXEIa   Register for our Coaching Course: https://bit.ly/3xZkccY    

Who are some of "the ones" you have created for in the past? Spend time being grateful for each of them.  Now flip it— think of someone you have been "the one" for. Spend time being grateful for those artists. Jonathan Jones said "…art's story is not a trajectory of ascent, but more of a looping spiral, constantly retracing its steps." Look at your current artistic practice and consider the overla...

How you answer this question may be the key overcoming feelings of discouragement or burn out. I don't know who needs to hear this, but this is for you. Brooklyn Classical https://bit.ly/364cPFM   Tour the Lascaux: https://bit.ly/3ughVIe   Artcurious Podcast https://bit.ly/3xbCxTC More about cave paintings: https://bit.ly/3JeWxXT The Artist's Oath Workshop: https://bit.ly/3iDFkwp

Reflection Questions: 1. What are some of the challenges that you face in your creative life? How is your current lens serving you? 2. How do want to show up to your creative life? Make a list of adjectives for how you'd like to be.  3. What do you believe to be true about creativity, and how is it springing you forward or holding you back? Dover Quartet: http:// https://bit.ly/3iOS0Ri Register fo...

Have you ever considered the code of conduct that's in play in your creative life? Have you ever taken the time to name and claim the ways you want to be with yourself as you go about your creative life? Merideth shares a story of a coaching client's breakthrough that was contagious. Plus, learn more about how you can join like-minded artists in community to craft an Artist's Oath of your own. Sub...

Reflection questions: What are 5 things you love about yourself as a child? What stories does your inner child believe about your creative life? (e.g. "I can't draw" or "if I do that, I'll fail.") What would you say if you could have a conversation with your younger self? What advice would you give them? What might your inner child being saying to you today? Music: https://bit.ly/364cPFM

The Inner Child is an artist. Merideth shares some truths she is learning about parenting and how it speaks deeply to that internal struggle toward healing and acceptance of our own inner artist child. Coaching Questions: https://bit.ly/3t3WREi Ukrainian Girl Sings: https://bit.ly/369pXc1 Leave a question: https://bit.ly/3kFNMLf Join my email list: https://bit.ly/3b6yTi6

This week Merideth interviews someone who makes her inner artist child jump for joy. Pianist Emile Pandolfi's music has been streamed half a billion times across all the platforms. His humor, authenticity, and joy radiate through this talk about his new book, "Play it Like you Mean it." Available now: https://bit.ly/3sFaSIj

Reflection Questions: Who is it safe to remove my bandages with? Healing takes a lot of energy. What can I say no to or cut back on that would allow me to conserve time and energy for my own healing? As new soft tissue forms, gently rubbing along a scar can help improve circulation and healing. As your creative wound is healing, what can you do to encourage that process? When you are triggered by...

This week on the podcast: creative wounds—the tender spots where we have been hurt or disappointed creatively and how we can heal them. Merideth shares some insights she garnered from her own journey with wound care. A brave creative life can leave a mark, but we aren't alone in our pursuit of healing and wholeness. Mental Health Resources for Artists: https://bit.ly/2LR45YW Submit Mail to the Sho...

As you listen and reflect this week, consider: 1. What obstacles stand in the way between you and creative permission? 2. What sounds fun at this moment? Try to make a list of as many things as you can that sound like fun to you, even if they are impossible for now.  3. Finally, I compared the creative impulse in Episode 2.16 to an underground river. Consider what action you can take to "break gro...

What if your best creative life was just a permission slip away? In celebration of Mozart's birthday, Merideth shares her true feelings about one of his most popular pieces for oboe. (Also a bonus story about the Bard!)  FREE Artist's Way small group starts Feb 15 Nepperhan (Saw Mill) River Facts Submit mail to the show

Second installment of our new series, featuring music of Claude Debussy.  1. "Pagodas" from Estampes , L. 100 performed by Jani Parsons 2. "Clair de Lune" from Suite Bergamasque performed by Amy Gustafson 3. "Beau Soir" transcribed and performed by Merideth Hite Estevez, oboe and Jani Parsons, piano While you listen: What stifles your artistic practice?  What spoken or unspoken laws are you adheri...

This week–worthiness. Merideth shares what she learned from having the same conversation twice in one week with two different friends. She'll also answer a listener's question about writing routines. FREE Artist's Way Group starts Feb 15 https://bit.ly/32pPZE8 Book Launch Group https://bit.ly/33s5k9P Submit a Q: https://bit.ly/3kFNMLf NY Times Article on Value in Art: https://nyti.ms/3FJ893F

This week we begin a new series entitled Musical Meditations. Every other week, while Merideth works on the book, she'll share an episode that puts the music front and center, featuring a piece or pieces that go along with a theme. This week you'll hear Bach's Prelude in C Major, BWV 846 and Chopin's Prelude No 4 in E Minor, both performed by pianist Gabriel Benton. While you listen consider:  Wha...

New year…but are you feeling new? This week, Merideth shares a story of a coaching client who gets unblocked. Plus she'll offer one way of viewing a well-known work of art and what it might teach us about how to change. Also EXCITING ANNOUNCEMENT about a new project and a change to the show schedule!  Join my list: https://bit.ly/3b6yTi6 Contact me: https://bit.ly/38bKMSF   Support the show: https...

This week on the podcast, a little holiday pep talk—I'll offer you some spiritual practices to try on your own or with others during this season. May they offer you space for peaceful contemplation, fun, and maybe some "re-joying" that we all so desperately need.  "Breath," Radiolab: https://bit.ly/3svI2dQ Leave us a voicemail: (302) 415-3407 Support the Show: https://bit.ly/3vdDjeN   Book Coachin...

This week on the podcast….jealousy.  Merideth offers a potent question to ask when you're struggling with comparative thinking. Plus an answer to a listener's question about maintaining a healthy sense of self around family. Find a therapist https://bit.ly/2LR45YW   Support the Show https://bit.ly/3vdDjeN   Join the Next Artist's Way Creative Cluster https://bit.ly/32pPZE8

Fresh out of quarantine, I'm offering some thoughts on embodiment. I'll give you 3 spiritual take-aways I garnered from the COVID experience at our house, with a few ideas on how our creative mindset can benefit from being present to the wisdom of our own body. Book a Coaching Session Now: https://bit.ly/3oGCSJi Support the Show: https://bit.ly/3vdDjeN Submit Listener Mail: https://bit.ly/38bKMSF...

Being a joyful artist means cultivating an attitude of gratitude. What art or artist(s) are you most grateful for? Merideth shares a brief gratitude meditation for exploring that question and more. Listen to Merideth and Jani's album: https://spoti.fi/2IxrGfz Support the show: https://bit.ly/3vdDjeN  

Process: naming, working, trusting it….is this week's focus. When we take a moment to examine the roller coaster that the creative process can be, we can gain key information and wisdom about our creative needs. Merideth offers some tips on how we can get more familiar with our unique creative rhythms, how to care for ourselves well throughout the process, and get better at trusting the ebb and fl...