The Creative Hustle With Anika Goyal

Friendship breakups can be just as painful as romantic ones, but they’re talked about far less. In this episode of The Creative Hustle , I’m sharing a personal story about a friendship that ended and how that experience shaped my mindset as a creative. I talk about the emotional side of losing a friend, how it affected my creative process, and the lessons I learned about boundaries, growth, and tr...

In this episode, I talk with author Amanda Sellet about her new book Flirting with Murder , her writing process, and the emotional psychology behind mystery and identity. We also discuss adolescence, romance, performance, and why stories about solving something can also be stories about finding yourself. This is a conversation about growing up, uncertainty, and the emotional truths fiction helps u...

In this episode, I’m spilling about how curiosity keeps your creativity alive and why experimenting is the ultimate glow-up for your art. I also share the story of finishing my very first full screenplay, a project inspired by the emotional intensity of Dear Evan Hansen, and what it taught me about showing up, trusting the process, and embracing the messy chaos of creating something completely new...

This week on The Creative Hustle , I’m joined by Tori Peyton for a conversation about the quiet power of letting go. We talk about what it really means to outgrow environments that once defined you, recognizing toxic workplace dynamics, and having the courage to walk away before you have the next step figured out. Tori opens up about redefining growth, not as constant achievement, but as alignment...

In this episode, I get raw about the loneliness, the self-doubt, and the heartache of constantly trying your hardest and still feeling overlooked. I share how I started to reclaim my worth, how I learned to show up for myself first, and why choosing yourself can be the most radical, powerful thing you ever do. This one’s for anyone who’s ever felt unseen, and who’s ready to finally be their own fi...

TW: This episode contains in-depth discussion of emotional and physical abuse and toxic relationships. These topics may be distressing for some listeners. Please prioritize your well-being and listen with care. In this episode, I’m joined by YA romance author Emily Charlotte to discuss her debut novel Heartcheck and the ongoing conversation around how love is portrayed in young adult romance. We c...

From late-night reading marathons to the chokehold of enemies to lovers, this episode is a love letter to stories that feel too much . I’m joined by BookTok creator @Landry_Reads to talk about reading habits, iconic book tropes, romance dynamics, and why storytelling makes us believe in love, even when it’s fictional. We get into why tension matters, how tropes shape emotional payoff, and what mak...

In this solo episode of The Creative Hustle , Anika explores the power of fully platonic connection: intense eye contact, deep conversations, and the kind of presence that makes ideas surface out of nowhere. Through a personal storytime and honest reflection, this episode breaks down why some conversations feel more electric than collaborations, how being truly listened to can unlock creative clar...

In this episode, I sit down with the high school senior, impeccable videographer, and founder of a video marketing agency, Vedant Tiwari whose campaigns have reached 3.7+ million views and helped 17+ nonprofits, youth-led organizations, and businesses grow through intentional storytelling. We talk about the moment creativity turns into leverage, why virality means nothing without strategy, and wha...

In this episode, I sit down with Riyan Parekh, a high school senior juggling life as a philosophy club president, Boy Scout, tennis player, and full-time thinker, to talk about what it actually means to live philosophically at 18. Riyan shares the philosophical motion he lives by, how leading discussions has reshaped the way he listens in his personal life, and what it’s like balancing ambition, r...

In this episode, I sit down with Colin Wilkes , the costume designer behind the film adaptation of Emily Henry’s People We Meet on Vacation , starring Emily Bader and Tom Blyth . We talk about what it means to feel too much, and how that emotional intensity shows up through clothing, color, and character dynamics. Colin breaks down how wardrobe helps tell a love story, shapes who characters are be...

In this episode, I sit down with Greg Kotis , the Tony Award–winning writer behind Urinetown the Musical , to unpack the power of satire, musical theatre as social commentary, and why the strangest ideas are often the most truthful. We talk about the creation and legacy of Urinetown , how Mr Kotis approaches storytelling that challenges audiences without alienating them, and what he’s been working...

In this episode, I sit down with singer-songwriter Georgia Parker to talk about her upcoming album, the duality that exists within her sound, and what it means to create without forcing yourself into a box. We get into the gray areas of music, the push and pull between vulnerability and confidence, softness and strength, who you were and who you’re becoming. This conversation is part creative diar...

In this episode, YA author, Andy Darcy Theo joins me to unpack why the genre hits so deeply. We talk about the tropes readers can’t get enough of (and why they work every time), what goes into crafting emotionally addictive fantasy worlds, and how writers know when a story is actually working . Andy also opens up about the journey from loving romantasy as a reader to creating it as an author, incl...

In this episode, I’m joined by YA romance author, Sujin Witherspoon to talk about writing emotionally honest love stories, creating chemistry that actually works, and why teenage feelings are never “too much.” We also discuss flawed characters, quiet vulnerability, hot rodent men , and the scenes authors fight editors over. Equal parts thoughtful and unhinged, this conversation is for readers who...

In this episode, I’m talking about the fear of wanting too much: why emotional investment gets labeled as neediness, how creatives learn to downplay their passion, and what it costs us to shrink our desires just to feel safe. We unpack the difference between healing and self-protection, softness and self-abandonment, and what it really means to want deeply in a world that rewards detachment. If yo...

In this episode, I’m sharing the five most important lessons I learned as a creator in 2025. From realizing follower count doesn’t equal quality content, to embracing change, avoiding creative boxes, redefining success, and making space for rest, this episode is a thoughtful recap of a year that changed how I create and why I do it.

There was a time when fame and money felt like the end goal: likes, numbers, proximity to power, and the illusion of “making it.” In this episode, I’m getting painfully honest about my past obsession with visibility and validation, and how I learned to unlearn it. We talk about redefining success, why quality work matters more than clout, and how chasing recognition can quietly ruin your relations...

In this episode, I sit down with author Ananya Devarajan to unpack her novel Sanskarí Sweetheart and the much bigger conversations it opens up around culture, romance, and representation. We talk about what “sanskarí” actually means today, how tradition and desire can coexist, and why South Asian love stories deserve more nuance than they’re often given. Our conversation dives into Desi representa...

I said what I said. In this episode, I go off on four creative hot takes I’ve been sitting on for way too long: why “last meeting theory” feels fake and often excuses a lack of effort in creative relationships, how the diamond paradox is wildly skewed when it comes to creative labor, and what it actually means to be betrayed in an industry that preaches collaboration while moving shady behind the...

This episode dives into the inner world of Nicole Han. Together, we unravel how she turns lived experience into art, how she navigates vulnerability, and what she’s discovering about herself through each new project. A thoughtful, atmospheric conversation for listeners who love understanding the heart of an artist!

In this solo deep-dive, Anika breaks down one of the internet’s favorite debates: what actually separates a “nepo baby” from someone who’s self-made and why the conversation is way more complicated than it looks. From unpacking privilege and access to reflecting on her own journey as a creator who built everything from scratch, she explores how background, opportunity, and luck shape who gets seen...

The internet is losing it over the Netflix–Spotify merger… and honestly, same. In this episode, I break down what this move actually means for listeners, creators, and the entire future of podcasting. From algorithm panic to global reach potential, I’m diving into the excitement, the chaos, and the very real questions this merger raises. Whether you’re a media nerd, a creator, or just someone who...

Look, we’ve all been there: coasting at a comfortable “6 or 7 out of 10” effort on everything. Not failing, not thriving… just vibing in that suspiciously safe middle zone. It feels nice, it feels manageable, it feels… meh but acceptable. But let’s be honest: You can’t 6–7 your way through life and expect 10/10 results. Life doesn’t hand out bonus points for vibes alone. At some point, you’ve gott...

In this episode, I sit down with the actress Anna Lea who embodies Penelope in EPIC: The Musical, a character known for her quiet strength, complex emotional landscape, and the kind of inner conflict that unfolds through breath, silence, and song. Together, we trace the artistry behind her performance: how she builds Penelope’s emotional duality, the choices she makes to portray someone torn betwe...