Your Creative Mind

Breaking Creative Barriers with Outrageous Ideas What makes a story both unforgettable and transformative? In this episode of Your Creative Mind, I sit down with author and playwright Susan Sloate, whose work spans novels, musicals, and autobiographical love stories. Susan shares why she believes happy endings carry lasting value, how outrageous creative choices often lead to the strongest storyte...

From brain science to heart truth. How storytelling is your most powerful tool. Ever wonder why you feel a pull to tell stories, even if you’ve never written a word? In this episode of Your Creative Mind, we explore the deep-rooted instinct to create and share stories, whether through books, plays, films, or everyday conversations. You’ll learn how storytelling strengthens emotional intelligence,...

Collaboration Lessons from Theatre Directors That Apply to Any Creative Project with Stacy Zuberi, Sara Ruiz, Basil Rodericks, and Andy Reiff. What can a directing class teach us about creativity, leadership, and the art of telling stories that connect? In this episode of Your Creative Mind, Izolda Trakhtenberg sits down with fellow directors Basil Rodericks, Andy Reiff, Sara Ruiz, and Stacy Zuber...

Doing Nothing as a Creative Reset: Simple Techniques to Reclaim Your Mind and Mood What if doing nothing was the most creative thing you could do? In this episode of Your Creative Mind, Izolda Trakhtenberg explores how intentional stillness restores your creativity, focus, and joy even when you only have five minutes. You’ll learn why pausing your productivity actually strengthens your imagination...

How tiny bursts of creativity during your day can help you feel calmer, more focused, and more yourself. Do you wish you had more time to be creative but feel like every minute is already spoken for? In this episode of Your Creative Mind, Izolda Trakhtenberg shares three simple, proven strategies to help you carve out a few minutes each day for creativity or your favorite hobby without overhauling...

Three actors, one enigmatic play, and surprising insights into collaboration, craft, and curiosity What can three actors teach you about memory, silence, and creativity? In this episode of Your Creative Mind, I sit down with Jaqui Shiel, Mark Cosby, and Lori Kee, three accomplished performers who brought Harold Pinter’s Old Times to life in a Zoom performance in Karen Kohlhaas’ directing class tha...

Itzhak Perlman at 80 reminds us: presence and connection matter most What happens when you’re on stage and suddenly feel your audience slip away? In this Creatives at Work episode of Your Creative Mind, Izolda Trakhtenberg shares why losing an audience isn’t a failure. It’s a normal part of creative life. And, more importantly, how you can bring people back with confidence and grace. Take the fear...

Why Self Trust and Telling the Truth in Your Art is the Most Radical Move You Can Make What happens when you stop asking for permission and start using your voice fully and unapologetically? In this powerful episode of Your Creative Mind, Grammy-nominated artist, poet, and activist Mary Lambert shares how creative self-trust, emotional truth, and artist activism fuel her work. You’ll hear how she...

A brand new segment/episode style of this podcast. When I see, do, or experience creatives at work in a way that highlights curiosity and using our brains and minds to create or change worlds, I'll do an episode like this one. On this one, I explore Playhouse Creatures' production of Tennessee Williams' Two Character Play starring Irene Glezos and Joseph Rodriguez directed by Anthony Biggs. I saw...

Josh Rogosin breaks down the magic behind music that moves people around the world. What does it take to truly hear creativity across cultures, genres, and geography? In this episode, Izolda sits down with Josh Rogosin, the sound mind behind over 800 NPR Tiny Desk Concerts and founder of Global Sound Concerts. You’ll hear how music becomes a bridge between people, how deep listening changes everyt...

How I spent my summer vacation ... Here are my lessons learned from taking time to work on myself, my art, my time management and many other facets of being me for these last four weeks. I hope these lessons learned will help you set boundaries, do your creative work, and discover how you work best. Cheers! Get exclusive content and bonus podcast episodes when you join my Patreon . Connect with me...

Finish What You Start: Techniques to Keep Judgment Out of Your Creative Process Ever start a project only to abandon it halfway through because you judged it too soon? You’re not alone. Millions of half-finished books, paintings, and songs aren’t abandoned because the ideas were bad. They’re abandoned because judgment crept in before the work was ready. In this episode of Your Creative Mind, Izold...

Want to Speak with More Confidence? Here’s the Daily Writing Habit That Helps Ever feel stuck staring at a blank page, unsure how to even start writing? In this episode of Your Creative Mind, I share how writing from simple prompts, just one word, can fire up your imagination and sharpen your ability to express yourself clearly, boldly, and confidently. You’ll learn how this technique builds real-...

What’s in your anxiety suitcase, and how can you finally put it down? What if your anxiety wasn’t a life sentence but instead a signal pointing you toward a more creative, confident way of living? In this episode of Your Creative Mind, I open up about my own struggles with anxiety how it shows up in my daily life, where it stems from, and how I’m learning to put down what I call my “anxiety suitca...

Feelin’ Cute and Creatively Connected with Hootenanny Games What if a single card game could spark laughter, connection, and creativity in your life? In this episode, Izolda sits down with the warm-hearted team from Hootenanny Games, the Nashville-based publisher behind Feelin’ Cute, their brand-new game of animal adorableness. You'll hear how this lighthearted game brings out big laughs, encourag...

Game designer, entrepreneur, visionary: Dominic’s guide to purpose-fueled growth Dominic Crapuchettes founded North Star Games in 2003 after several near death experiences as the captain of an Alaskan boat. His designs, which include Evolution, Oceans, Say Anything, and Wits & Wagers, have sold nearly 5 million copies and won countless awards. For the past five years, Dominic has been working...

You don’t need a trendy hook. You need a timeless one that still feels fresh. Here’s how. Are you pitching yourself to podcasts but not hearing back? You might be missing the sweet spot between timely and evergreen, and that’s what gets you booked. In this episode, I share 10 powerful themes that are always relevant and show you how to make each one personal, memorable, and pitch-perfect. You'll l...

Nicole Rank shares how poetry can reconnect you to purpose, peace, and power. What if your creativity was the key to living with more presence, purpose, and peace? In this episode of Your Creative Mind, Izolda sits down with Nicole Rank, author, intuitive guide, and creative mindfulness teacher, whose mission is to help people reconnect with Love through poetry and presence. You’ll hear how shifti...

The Bar Is Open and the Plot Just Thickened with Author Cathi Stoler What if your next big creative breakthrough came wrapped in a mystery and served with a side of bourbon? In this episode, award-winning author Cathi Stoler shares how she writes gripping suspense, unforgettable characters, and twisty plots that keep readers up all night. Plus, Cathi reveals what running a bar (on the page) can te...

Your Voice, Your Power: Why Storytelling Changes Everything What if the one thing holding you back from deeper connection, greater impact, or even your next opportunity is the story you’re not telling? In this episode of Your Creative Mind, Izolda shares why your personal story is one of your most powerful tools for building trust, aligning with your values, and inspiring action. You’ll hear how t...

Gary Morgenstein on Writing Stories That Challenge, Inspire, and Start Conversations What makes a story truly unforgettable? Is it the plot, the characters, or the way it challenges what we think we know? In this episode of Your Creative Mind, I sit down with Gary Morgenstein, a writer who doesn’t just tell stories. He shakes up perspectives. From dystopian worlds that feel eerily close to home to...

Learn How to Use Stories to Educate and Inspire Change with Danielle Wirsansky How can storytelling become a powerful tool for social change and education? In this episode of Your Creative Mind, I sit down with Danielle Wirsansky. She is a playwright, director, and Finance Director of White Mouse Productions. We  explore how she uses theatre to amplify marginalized voices and bring history to life...

Military Spouse. Mom. Actor. Filmmaker. Miranda Roldán Shares the Truth About Creative Leadership What if the most powerful parts of your résumé can’t be measured in bullet points? In this episode of Your Creative Mind, Izolda Trakhtenberg sits down with returning guest and dear friend Miranda Roldán, actor (most recently seen on Netflix’s Sirens), filmmaker, and military spouse, to explore how li...

Why You’re Bored (and What That Feeling Really Means) Boredom Is a Clue: Reframing Discomfort as a Path to Presence and Creativity What if boredom isn’t about having nothing to do but about not wanting to feel what’s right in front of you? When Izolda read Dr. Andrea Bonior’s quote, “Boredom is discomfort with being fully present in the current moment,” it stopped her cold. That one sentence crack...

Want to foster innovation and integrity in your business? Eric Burnik shares his secrets In this episode of the Your Creative Mind Podcast, we sit down with Eric Burnik, a dynamic serial entrepreneur and inspirational speaker renowned for his cross-cultural expertise and dedication to fostering resilience, innovation, and integrity. Eric's 'pay it forward' ethos has transformed countless lives and...