The Daily Writer

On this episode, I answer a question sent in by Michael Rogers: What about juggling the act of creating with the business of creating. How do I live in that tension where I don't get so focused on one that I ignore the other? To read the full show notes, visit http://kentsanders.net/111 .

On today’s episode, I answer a question sent in by Erica Stevens: Does your creativity have to be in ministry or faith related form? Does anyone feel guilty for using their creative gifts in non-church/ministry related situations, and therefore stop being creative or abandon new projects? To read the full show notes, visit http://kentsanders.net/110 .

On this episode, I answer a question sent in by Mark Revisky: How do we incorporate creativity into a habit, as in, how often should I make it a habit: daily, twice a week, etc. How much time should I give to it each time I work at my creativity? To read the full show notes, visit http://kentsanders.net/109 .

When I talk about this podcast or about the materials I create, the phrase I use most often use to describe my audience is “creative entrepreneur.” It refers to someone who is building a business with their creative skills. For most of us, the “creative” part comes a lot easier than the “entrepreneur” part. Creating a viable business is pretty difficult, as pretty much any business owner can tell...

One of the reasons I do a podcast is to deliver value to my listeners. I love the opportunity to create content and help improve people’s lives, businesses, and creative work. But I have to be honest: there is also a selfish element to podcast. I love the fact that having a podcast gives me an excuse to reach out to people who are doing cool work and ask them to be on the show.  That is exactly th...

One of the many benefits of doing a podcast is that you get to talk to lots of amazing people. I learn something from every single guest. I come away from every interview grateful for having the chance to talk with that guest. However, I occasionally have a guest who not only teaches me something new, but inspires me in such a powerful way that I look at everything I’m doing in a new way. Today’s...

Today’s guest is here to help us slow down and find the center. His name is Chad Jarnagin, and he is an ordained priest in the Anglican Communion, as well as an artist and writer. He’s the author of the fantastic new book Learning to Be: Reconstructing Peace & Spiritual Health , which we reference in the conversation. He is also host of the “Learning to Be” podcast, which focuses on slowing do...

When I was a kid, I played with action figures all the times. It was mostly Star Wars figures and other superheroes. As an adult, and especially as a father of a boy who likes all that stuff as well, I have continued to enjoy those stories, characters, and movies.  I have a special interview today with a man who helps brings those characters to life in a very literal way. His name is Christopher H...

When I was in high school, I was heavily involved in school plays and musicals. Although I don’t talk about it much here on the show, I have always loved theater because it brings together so many of the arts into one performance art.  I’m thrilled today to bring you a conversation with someone who has had lots of success in theater, and I’m excited for the chance to learn from him. His name is Sc...

Have you ever looked around at the products you use in your everyday life and wondered, “How did this get created?” It’s a question many people ask, as evidenced by TV shows such as “How It’s Made,” and the many YouTube channels dedicated to showing the creative process behind the products we use. My guest today helps us explore this fascinating world of product development. His name is Chris Bray...

What do you think of when you hear the word “optimize”? Do you think of a robot or some kind of mechanical system? Does it bring to mind some kind of cold, impersonal approach to life?  My guest today shows us that optimizing your life is not only very personal—it’s necessary if we want to be more productive and creative. His name is Mitch Swergold, and he’ll show us how to optimize our performanc...

This episode marks a milestone for a couple of different reasons. First, it’s my longest episode ever! And second, it’s episode #100!  This is by far my longest episode, and for good reason: I was engrossed in a compelling conversation with the one and only Cliff Ravenscraft. Cliff is the host of the Cliff Ravenscraft Show podcast, as well as the founder of the Free the Dream conference. A couple...

When it comes to the creative arts, one of my favorite topics is color theory. Did you know that colors represent different ideas and themes? Understanding even a bit of color theory can help you unlock the riches of visual art and look at the world in a new way.  To help me explore this issue, I’ve invited my friend Melissa AuClair as a guest. Melissa is a talented author and artist, and I’ve adm...

Today I turn 45 years old. It’s hard to believe. I remember being a kid in the 1980’s and thinking, “I’ll be 26 years old in the year 2000!” I surpassed that long ago. So here I am, on my 45th birthday, reflecting on things that I have been learning. Since 45 seems like a halfway point of sorts, I settled on 22 lessons I’m learning, plus another half-lesson for good measure. In no particular order...

What does it mean to be “intelligent”? We typically define intelligence in terms of intellectual ability, as evidenced by grades, IQ, or other measurements. But today’s guest helps us understand the theory of multiple intelligences. This is a critical concept for those of us in creative fields because it’s a reminder that people can be smart in a variety of ways. My guest today is Carrie Naglak, w...

One of the most important skills you can develop is good communication. It doesn’t matter whether you are a writer, painter, dancer, videographer, or any of a hundred other areas of creative work. You will always need to present, create content, and work with customers, readers, or clients. I’m thrilled today to feature a conversation with my friend Nikomas Perez. He is a teaching pastor at Harves...

Have you ever wondered what true creative freedom looks like? People may define “freedom” differently, but for many of us, freedom means being able to do what you want to do, when you want to do it.  My guest today, Vincent Pugliese, will break down what true freedom means as a creative entrepreneur, and how freelancing can be a big part of that process. Vincent was a professional photojournalist...

Have you ever noticed that a high percentage of artists and creative types are passive and “too nice”? Maybe it’s because we don’t want to appear aggressive. Maybe it’s because we feel paralyzed by too many options. Maybe it’s because we don’t want to offend anyone. Whatever the reason, the fact remains that many creatives do not take charge of their destiny. I’m thrilled that my guest today, Ging...

When you hear the word “storyteller,” what do you think? Maybe the first image that comes to mind is a group of people sitting around a campfire, with a wise old sage telling an ancient tale. Maybe you think of a novelist, screenwriter, movie director, or someone giving a TED talk. My guest today is a gifted storyteller, but he’s also a theologian, college professor, writer, and speaker. His name...

Over the years, I’ve heard the statistic that 8 out of 10 people want to write a book. Based on many conversations about writing, it’s probably true. Nearly everybody feels they have a book in them, and many of those would like their book to be a novel. But how do you get it done? Where do you come up with story ideas? How do you ensure that your novel is structured well? What kind of writing habi...

Many of the episodes of this podcast are more light-hearted thematically. We often talk about writing, the arts, curiosity, and related topics. This episode is a little different because I decided to dive into the topic of diversity. I hope that doesn’t scare you away. In fact, I hope it does just the opposite because you absolutely do not want to miss the wisdom and insights that my guest, Heathe...

Sometimes we make creativity and personal growth more complicated than it needs to be. Although there are countless systems, courses, books, and other resources to help us reach our creative potential, it all begins with one simple concept: your mindset. Your mind controls everything else in your life. I’m thrilled that my guest today, Kenny Aronson, is here to help us grow and develop our mindset...

When you think about your creative output, do you ever wonder what is preventing you from producing more? For many of us, the #1 reason we would give consists of the short phrase, “I’m too tired.” Judging by the popularity of coffee, energy drinks, and all forms of caffeine, we are suffering from an energy crisis in our minds and bodies. My guest today, Julian Hayes, helps shed light on why we are...

As kids, we hear the word “No” constantly from other people. But when we become adults, it’s easy to get into the habit of “No” to ourselves. Why is that? It’s because we’re often afraid or stuck in a rut. I’m thrilled to have a guest today who will help you stop saying “No” to all life has to offer, and instead begin saying YES to the possibilities. Tricia Brouk is a choreographer, director, writ...

As a creative or artist, have you ever struggled with business? Do you love to create, but don’t like messing with the business side of things? Would you like to make more sales and put yourself in a better financial position? If you’ve answered “yes” to any of these questions, you’ll appreciate my guest today. His name is Dan McPherson, and he is a business leader and coach. He’ll share some of t...