The Creative Impostor

Episode 133. Beginner's mind. That place where you don't know anything, where there's simply a desire to do. An inkling -- what a terrific word, inkling -- a slight knowledge or vague notion, it even implies curiosity. It's a good place to be, with infinite possibility. It's like the beginning of a new relationship with its flush of excitement and that nauseated uncertainty. Your senses are height...

While recording this episode, I wrote down the following equation: Communication + boundaries = freedom to explore and play So, yeah...we're talking about sex as self-care with Karen Yates, somatic sex educator as well as creator and host of Wild & Sublime , the live show and podcast that delivers a sexy spin on infotainment. Sex however is too narrow a term - at least by current, uniquely America...

Can a conversation with a rebel influencer, recorded mid-pandemic, inspire us toward greater self-love and trust as we emerge from the COVID cocoon? Jetty Nieuwenhuis (pronounced Yeti) is the rebel in question. It's an appropriate modifier to a term that absolutely conjures images of well-connected content creators seemingly unencumbered by life's petty worries. Also: young. Influencer is overwhel...

"Anti-racism work is not about saving the unfortunate; anti-racism work is about saving all of us, improving the lives of all of us." ~Lori L. Tharps One of the themes to emerge from the not your typical self-care series is connection . Specifically, the idea that pursuing practices that require greater inward focus or offer less obvious immediate gratification creates a ripple effect. Anti-racism...

"I don't want to be interacting with people on a day-to-day basis and have them feeling like, 'Andrea...she's just really collapsed.' That's terrible. That's not the energy that I want to be putting out into the world. That's not how I want to be perceived. And it's definitely not how I think of myself." ~Andrea Klunder I don't know about you, but at this moment, at the end of March 2021, moving i...

Episode 128. "Even a true, traditional guru — his only intention would be to introduce you to the teacher that exists within yourself." ~Mason Pain Throughout this entire pandemic (hello, first anniversary!), I've grown more keenly aware of my need for: A protective bubble for my mind, a metaphysical helmet if you like, to protect my synapses from the torrent of bad news and keyed-up discourse and...

Episode 127. "We really need routines, so our reptilian brain isn't on high alert/alarm mode all the time." ~Mira Binzen One of the throughlines to emerge from our exploration of not your typical self-care is the basic human need for routine, some sort of practical ritual that anchors us to calm even during life's daily chaos. Mira Binzen believes the power of practice lies in its rigor and discip...

Episode 126. "I think that a lot of Black people are waking up to our beauty and our majesty and looking at... we are not who we have been reported to be." ~Lisa Lackey The sun is setting a bit later these days (hurray!), so I thought I'd take Creative Impostor listeners back to an episode I recorded around the time of the winter solstice, those darkest days of the year. Hear me out. I promise thi...

Episode 125. "Being glued to your chair, to your computer, to your phone doesn't necessarily equal productivity. ~Pam Covarrubias Productivity and self-care may sound like contrary pursuits. Still, if anyone can combine these classic opposites into an uncommon but cohesive practice, it's podcaster, conscious productivity coach, and recovering procrastinator Pam Covarrubias . Heads up: This episode...

Episode 124. "In the midst of uncertainty, when there is this kind of situation of not knowing what to do, you realize that the majority of people aren't doing anything. So there's an opportunity there to do something. " ~Kate Sullivan Good conversation over a delicious meal with friends is the stuff of my pandemic daydreams. Emmy Award-winning journalist Kate Sullivan has found a distinctive way...

Episode 123. "I feel that self-care, sometimes, it's not just about you; it could be, like, community self-care. " ~Cassandre Dunbar What is self-care now? In the wake of last summer's peaceful protests against racial inequity? Alongside a presidential transition marred by threats of further violence? How can we support the collective while caring for ourselves - and vice versa? Challenging questi...

Episode 122. "It's not enough to just sit there and come to an awareness about it; you literally have to do something about it. " ~Rebecca Lefebvre After a year that's spanned 42-odd months, the first episode of 2021 is a conversation steeped in practical magic, the kind that can recenter individuals and rehabilitate entire social structures. That's a tall order, I know. Luckily, Rebecca Lefebvre...

Episode 121. "He told me to stay, that love was more important than visiting temples. " ~Andrea Klunder It came to my attention recently that I did a whole series on travel stories and had not recorded my own travel story to share with you. And while I have been recording these conversations for you with amazing guests about travel AND now self-care, Erica Courdae and India Jackson offered a theme...

Episode 120. "Perfection is not required. " ~Kelly Covert If your inbox is anything like mine (I feel for you), there's no end to the number of resolution-writing guides you've received; everything one needs to generate! improve! accomplish! To say nothing of the bad habits you're sure to (finally) crush. As aggressive well-meaning as they are, those articles promising more and better ultimately l...

Episode 119. " It's sort of like using frequency as a pharmacy." ~Shannon Harris ***All music in this episode (other than our theme music) is used with permission from Shannon Harris, and is composed, produced, and copyrighted by Shannon.*** It's not a stretch to say that travel is a form of self-care. As this series transitions from unusual travel paths to uncommon self-care, it's not a stretch t...

Episode 118. "I think we often overlook what's in our backyards. Like, it's ridiculous how many places that you can see if even if you just drive a few hours out and really appreciate what you have." ~Debbie Arcangeles Conversation with Debbie Arcangeles is a lot like spinning the giant prize wheel at a carnival: every topic is a winner. And since I'm terrible at choosing, Debbie obliged me with a...

Episode 117. "I think it's always kind of a struggle of not feeling like I'm fully fulfilling my purpose. As much as I love my business and I love the freedom, especially, that it gives me - I mean, what entrepreneur doesn't love that? - but I still feel that lack of purpose." ~Rebekah Read Listen to The Creative Impostor's current series, and you'll quickly pick up on a theme: travel as a love st...

Episode 115. "It can be done. You can bring the travel adventure home. " ~Lisette Austin Traveling is a state of mind - especially during a pandemic. And free access is awarded to those who think outside the box. Lisette Austin takes that axiom and spins it into COVID comfort for those suffering from acute wanderlust. Before she gifts us with her stay-put suggestions and addictive optimism, howeve...

Episode 114. "I think we should all strive to be a global citizen and to get past, you know, our immediate doorstep. " ~Sarah Mikutel Sarah Mikutel is back! This time, for her Creative Imposter close-up. If you haven't yet tuned in to our conversation over on Podcast Envy ...queue up that episode immediately. On it, you'll hear Sarah share her evolution from avid podcast listener to creator of two...

Episode 113. "I was incredibly romantic because all my ideas about working and becoming a professional and building my career, they were already a little bit torn apart by me quitting my first job. " ~Zselyke Kecskés This episode is a love story, an old-fashioned romance with a quirky meet-cute, all filtered through the lens of decidedly modern challenges: WhatsApp courtship, COVID complications,...

Episode 112. "Travel will humble you quickly. " ~Lisa James Mark this episode as your first dose of The Creative Impostor's cure for cabin fever, a prescription for passport blues and Instagram envy in the time of COVID. Lisa James kicks off a series of conversations with travel storytellers. The woman behind Adventurous Midlifer is challenging the rigid terms by which influencers are defined - an...

Episode 111. "In this phase of growth, it feels weird. It feels nebulous. It feels like this molting bird... Sometimes it takes as long as it takes, you know, it's not the enlightenment Olympics. " ~Tina Dietz This episode is for the birds. Or, rather, about birds. Or, more accurately, how much creative humans have in common with molting parrots. Hang with me; this episode isn't wall-to-wall ornit...

"Whenever there's a big shift in the world, those who have the most embedded power stand to lose the most. And those who have had little power, like small businesses, artists... they have an opportunity to seize that moment, pivot quickly in a way that most of these large institutions can't and take advantage of the new landscape. " ~Lucas Spivey By listener request, I am brining you this bonus ep...

Episode 110. "A lot of businesses aren't going to survive... even those that do are gonna look different on the other side of this. And that's okay. " ~Andrea Klunder I want to have a little heart to heart with you today about where we are right now, how we are right now. Moments ago, I completed a recording session with Pat Wetzel, founder of Cancer Road Trip ( from episode 109 .) We were recordi...

Episode 109. " Ultimately, it's up to you to craft your own life ." ~Pat Wetzel, author, traveler, founder & creator of CancerRoadTrip When I asked Pat Wetzel to imagine her life in the wildly uncertain future, the creator of CancerRoadTrip and the new podcast Bump In The Road , responded with complete certainty. But first… To understand Pat's optimistic attitude toward the personal and the profes...