The Moderately Tortured Artist

Why is it that we shudder at the word "artist" when it's about ourselves? Why do we struggle to label what it is we create as "art"? In this episode I'm unpacking the heaviness and the expectation and the rules we place around the words "art" and "artist" in the hope that you'll claim it for yourself. You will never be given a green light into owning the status or being accepted into the club. The...

How far down your list of priorities do you think Creativity lives? For many of us he's relegated to the "nice to have" category always trumped by his less fun, more pushy older brother Productivity. I wanted to share a little about what has unshackled my Creativity recently and how I think we can all get a slice. As always, it requires some bold questions, restless discomfort and a whole heap of...

This episode is a frank discussion about failure. Fun huh? I think one of the reasons we fear failing so much is because we consider it embarrassing, shameful and therefore want to bury it and never speak of it again. So in the hope that this gives you some sense of freedom around your own perceived failures, I'm going to divulge mine. Because surely the more we talk about failing, the less power...

One of the questions people lob my way most often is along the lines of "How do you get so much done or make so much happen?" My go-to excuses for not making magic in my life or diving into all the creations/projects I want to explore are just as wiley as yours. It's how I wrangle them (and how often) that makes all the difference. So let's go down that burrow shall we?

This episode is about disconnection and discontentment and how a few simple practices could be a beautiful and powerful answer. I wanted to share how tapping back into my body, intuition and the concept of embodiment has dramatically shifted how I feel in my life and how it could do the same for you. So are you willing to tune in, listen and act from a place of connection over analysis? Want more...

For the final episode of the year we're going to explore five juicy life lessons singing has taught me. The importance of doing the work to make magic, the beauty of vulnerability and the dance of fear and confidence make the cut as well as a couple of other gems. And my Getcha Belt On Program lives here: https://thatsweetroar.com/getcha-belt-on Have a beautiful end to 2019 and take care of yourse...

I know I know, we're all hiding at least a little because the fear of being judged by other people is crippling. But in this episode I ask the question "Is that at least partially influenced by the way we judge others?" How do you cheerlead or chainsaw other artists with your words? And can you see how all of this can either obliterate or perpetuate this notion that our industry is cut-throat, cat...

One of the weird "rules" we have in huge parts of our society is "don't play unless you're fabulous". You can't call yourself a singer unless you're at some elite level. You can't perform unless you can nail every note. You can't get out there and do the thing until it's EXTRAORDINARY. Now I'm not saying don't work hard at honing your skills, I'm saying don't hide yourself and your art in the mean...

Money. Feeling awkward yet? Well you might wanna buckle up for this one because most people (let alone artists who are also carrying the weight of the "starving artist" mentality) have serious baggage around moolah. If you've been buying into the "artists can't make money" or "only unicorns make money from music" stories, this podcast will challenge you. If you're a musician defeated by your lack...

Ever noticed that so many of your day to day moments and interactions are cloaked in a heaviness? Or seriousness? We take everything so seriously, rush from one thing to the next and wonder why anxiety is such an epidemic. What surprised me was how much I resisted doing the smallest things that could actually shift that and change my day for the better. The idea that we "don't have enough time" to...

This is a plea. A request that you stop kissing the feet of the artists you love and lauding them as some kind of extraterrestrial being. Adore their music, acknowledge their artists but please don't make them out to be a unicorn. It's doing you BOTH a disservice. This episode explores why I think we might be better off admiring them at eye level.

I know, you're thinking, "How could Kim get the title of this podcast so wrong? I most certainly DO have stage fright!" Hear me out. Because I want to talk about WHY your body goes into fight or flight mode the second you have to step on a stage. And why all the meditating, deep breathing, hours of practicing and yelling at your brain might not be working. Because unless we get brutally honest abo...

This is one of those kick-you-up-the-butt in a good way podcast episodes. Where I get you to take an honest look at how you're investing some of your most valuable resources - time, money and energy. Empires and legacies and great art and serious impact do not happen by accident. They happen because someone decides that they are going to bet on themselves and they go ALL IN. So will you run toward...

What can I do to build my confidence? How can I feel more confident on stage? How can I feel better about myself and my art? All phenomenal questions I get asked on the regular. And A) I don't have all the answers, and B) the part of the answer I DO have is way more complicated than I can write in this blurb. This episode dives into what I've learned about confidence, why it's born in the gutter (...

If there were ever a podcast episode for when someone has ripped apart your art or who you are as a person - this would be it. This is a call to arms. Making a stand against harsh, unfair and unconstructive criticism. A reminder for anyone who considers themselves a creative that nobody can rob you of your joy, your passion or your conviction unless you let them. And a nod to how bloody hard it is...

Why is it that it takes us being knocked out by sickness or having a near death experience for us to notice how damn beautiful life is? In this episode I share my experience after being hit by a flu virus and the rose coloured glasses I wore the day I was well enough to emerge from bed. We have access to these lenses at all times and yet often choose to wear a greyer, less interesting pair. I'm en...

This is for you if you cringe at the thought of diving into learning a new skill. If you avoid things you know you'll be bad at. If your insecurity reins supreme and means you run or hide rather than sticking with it. If you get really grumpy and frustrated when someone is trying to teach you something that you can't get right immediately. I hear you. Hi, I'm Kim and I'm a terrible beginner. This...

This podcast came out of the reason I didn't release an episode last week. The episodes I'd drafted didn't feel right or ready. Which led me down the rabbit hole of - how often do we rush our art? Or put things out into the world early for validation instead of trusting ourselves enough to know when its whole? And is the world of social media and feeling as though everyone's eyes are on you, addin...

How do you treat your relationship with Creativity? Do you keep in touch, give her your undivided attention and love her whether she "puts out" or not? Or do you smother her with expectation and then ignore her for months at a time? Creativity is one of the most important relationships in your life and demands that you treat her as such. Today's episode explores one way I like to woo her myself.

Today I get really honest about a dream I shrank to the size of a pea just to make myself feel more comfortable in the hope that you won't follow suit. This episode is all about big dreams and why they need to be protected and moved towards. If you want to listen to my song Molasses you can do that here: https://ampl.ink/WO1Ek And my second song Part Lost Part Found lives here: https://ampl.ink/gz...

I know, it's not an easy (or sexy) sell. You might want to roll your eyes or have PTSD flashbacks to those two times you tried to meditate and failed abysmally, but please hear me out. Making space and embracing the skin crawling discomfort of spending time in silence is CRUCIAL if you want to make art (and stay sane for that matter) - let me tell you why.

Are you being ruled by the "should's", the obligations and the "what if's" other people throw at you? Keeping yourself small and hiding out of fear of what someone else will say or think about it? Are you trying desperately to be a good person while keeping your head above water? Well I hope this is the sigh of relief you've been waiting for. Permission to use that two letter word you've been avoi...

This episode is for those of you who identify as perfectionists or are plagued with the notion of "I'll never be good enough". Whether you currently wear your perfectionism as a badge of honour or are frustrated that it keeps you small and stuck, this episode will bring you even more clarity. Read as a chapter from my book The Moderately Tortured Artist, it'll dive deep on this topic and give you...

Discomfort is a pretty hard sell, I know, but hear me out. In order to do anything creative, stretch yourself in any way or grow as a person, you're going to have to embrace it. And many of us feel uncomfortable or like we're "wasting our lives" if we stay in our own cozy little bubble anyway, so wouldn't you prefer to have something to show for it? Today's episode is all about reaching your poten...

Life as a musician unfortunately isn't all sunshine, rainbows, awards and opportunities. Bad stuff happens. Negative emotions run rampant. (I wish they didn't and that I could wrap you in cotton wool and glitter but I'm afraid it wouldn't help) But one thought, one idea most of us seem to latch onto can 10X the problem, making us feel even worse. In this episode we talk about how to get through di...