Creative Pep Talk

This is episode 3 of 4 in our Journey of The True Fan Series What’s the difference between a band whose music you love and a band t-shirt you’re proud to wear in public? In this episode we discuss a make-or-break element that is easy-to-miss. This piece transforms casual consumers into active ambassadors of your creative work, and yet it’s something most of us don’t think much about. We get into t...

What if your art was an invitation rather than a gift? What if this was an invite to a party that celebrated failures? A FAIL-A-BRATION!? What happens when we share our wins AND losses, happy accidents AND miserable mishaps? In this fun and inspiring chat with Brad and Kristi Montague, we discuss the origins and inspiration behind their newest picture book 'FAIL-A-BRATION' and how an idea generous...

When working on a project, do you carefully plot or fly by the seat of your pants? How do you switch gears between different projects or even different mediums? This episode is a conversation with Michael Dante DiMartino, the writer, producer and co-creator of the animated series 'Avatar: The Last Airbender' and 'Legend of Korra'. We discuss flipping genres, working on a variety of projects at a o...

How many people do you need to connect with to financially make or break your creative career? 1? 10? 100? 1000? In this episode we explore how you can figure out what it is that you're selling, so that trying to keep the lights on doesn't take all your creative energy. Part 2/4 of the Journey of the True Fan Series. Part 1 is episode 473 of Creative Pep Talk SQUARESPACE Head to https://www.square...

Why do we tell stories? What is my story? How and where do I even start? This episode is a conversation with award-winning screenwriter, director and author Brian McDonald about the why, what and how of telling stories. We dive deep into the process of finding substance, building structure and connecting with others. ---------------- Show Notes ---------------- Brian McDonald https://writeinvisibl...

How to step by step your way to a big goal, glide around obstacles and combine multiple mediums/passions into your masterpiece. This episode is an interview with 3D artist Julian Glander. We discuss his new full length animated feature film and the journey he took to get there. SHOW NOTES: Co-Writing / Editing: Sophie Miller sophiemiller.co Audio Editing / Sound Design: Conner Jones pendingbeautif...

Why aren’t more people discovering and embracing your work? It must not be good enough, right?  You’ve heard it a billion times: Just do the work. But what if obsessively overthinking and over-tinkering is just as dangerous of a distraction as procrastination?  What would it look like if you redirected some of your focus away from micro-creative improvements and towards developing a more intention...

When approaching creative projects- how do you express yourself, challenge yourself and be true to yourself? This episode is an interview with Grammy nominated musician Gallant. From the relatable moment when he snapped, to the joyful moment it all clicked, Gallant walks us through his creative process from intuitive mood-boards to finding the flow. Stick to the end for a fresh take on creating mo...

Check out Adobe Express' "In the Making" Podcast" here: https://link.chtbl.com/ZNKQZa97 In the Making - from Adobe Express - kicks off season two with Teresa Au interviewing Vanessa Rivera of The Life of AIVAX about her whimsical Photoshop art and how she balances a time-consuming creative career with a family as a working mom. Vanessa talks about creative tools that save her time in her work, how...

How do you create something both accessible and innovative? What do you draw inspiration from to make authentic and meaningful work? In this episode- animator, illustrator and author Sanjay Patel tells us about his life-changing journey back to his upbringing, we discuss his deep-dive into the well of inspiration he found and how it all came together into a playful preschool show. ------- SHOW NOT...

Do you have a box of treasured momentos, a drawer of unfinished artwork or a notebook of ideas you never quite started and definitely didn't finish? Author and illustrator Carson Ellis tells us how she uncovered a forgotten journal from her 20s and how it informed an entire series of work, with a little help along the way from some other past projects. This interview is creative inspiration for ho...

It’s difficult to know where to focus your creative energy. If you don’t know whether you should be learning a new skill, diving deep into a new project or marketing something you’ve already done, this episode is for you! -------- SHOW NOTES: Co-Writing / Editing: Sophie Miller sophiemiller.co Audio Editing / Sound Design: Conner Jones pendingbeautiful.co  Soundtrack / Theme Song: Yoni Wolf / WHY?...

This episode is for you if: -You keep giving up -You violently swing your focus from money-making, to never mixing money and creativity ever again -You need a method for staying true to your creative core and not getting swept away by all the shiny objects  SHOW NOTES: Co-Writing / Editing: Sophie Miller sophiemiller.co Audio Editing / Sound Design: Conner Jones pendingbeautiful.co  Soundtrack / T...

EPISODE DESCRIPTION: Everything changes. Platforms. The Economy. Seasons of Life.  What do you do when these changes block your path in such a way, that no matter how you look at it, you can’t seem to find a path forward? You need to get distance to find perspective, but you can’t always press pause and escape to a two week vacation anytime you get stuck. In this episode we talk about the research...

A chat with Yoni Wolf of the band WHY? - I have been a massive fan for YEARS and you've heard their music every week on the show! You may also have heard more of the the band in our Right Side Out Series. This episode is for you if you are sick and tired of waiting for someone to let you do the creative work you want to be making, if you need inspiration for how to put more of yourself into your w...

The creative brain is amazing at coming up with infinite options and connections, but sorting through and choosing which options are best and should be focused on is a totally different skill. In this episode we talk to incredible Illustrator and Youtuber Cheyenne Barton, right in the midst of working this stuff out for herself. At the time we talked, Cheyenne was feeling overwhelmed in her practi...

This episode is for you if you are: 1 - Tired of tracking the meaningless stats of likes and follows and want to find ways of tracking more meaningful progress 2 - Struggling to remember why you love making creative work and want to feel that spark again 3 - You need a more human way of being online as a creative person Riverside - The easiest way for you and your team to record, edit and share pr...

This episode is for you if: Your schedule is too full Your stress is too high You don't know how to change anything You've overwhelmed but don't know what to cut --------- Riverside - The easiest way for you and your team to record, edit and share professional grade Videos and Podcasts, from anywhere in the world. Use code PEPTALK 15% Off  https://creators.riverside.fm/creativepeptalk  --------- S...

This episode is for you if: You find yourself trying on hats as you try to figure out what you want to be and what you should be doing  You’re someone who loves the creative process, the behind the scenes, the supporting roles You’re in a creative career that has intense and exciting projects with weird down time between them This episode is a conversation with Mark Eshleman @reelbearmedia the cre...

This episode’s for you if: You’re tired of trying to do it all You feel like giving up You’re wondering how to pep talk yourself or a friend or loved one who’s struggling on the creative journey.  Stick to the end for some time travel and something new that I’m calling a CTIA ---------- Riverside - The easiest way for you and your team to record, edit and share professional grade Videos and Podcas...

We all want to make work that’s authentic and has our creative fingerprints on it. But it’s easier said than done. There’s lots to learn from folks who literally put themselves into the work. In this episode we chat with Ronald Young Jr. about his award winning audio memoir series “Weight for It” and glean what all of us can learn about injecting your DNA into your work. So whether you’re literall...

This episode is for you if: -You are exploring your voice and how you can insert it into your work in a more genuine way -You are exploring being seen, heard and understood through your creative work -You are considering or working on a collaboration  -You want to strengthen the connection between yourself and your audience SHOW NOTES: Co-Writing / Editing: Sophie Miller sophiemiller.co Audio Edit...

This episode is for you if: You’re stuck in the middle of a never ending project and you need a fresh perspective  You feel distracted by so many ideas You have felt discouraged by the response to your work/projects after putting so much time and effort in you’re interested in picture book making or storytelling  SHOW NOTES A Sundae with Everything On It https://smarturl.it/SundaewithEverythingOnI...

This episode is for you if: You’re overwhelmed by the demands of social media You feel pressure to MAKE IT BIG or give up trying You’re burnt out from trying to DO IT ALL You need an example and and an action plan on how to stay focused and get results -------- SHOW NOTES Rosalie Haizlett https://rosaliehaizlett.com/ instagram.com/rosaliehaizlett Books: Watercolor in Nature (2021) https://rosalieh...

This episode is for you if: Hustle culture and social media are destroying your creativity You’ve lost hope of ever being able to do enough You intuitively know the pace of the world and industry isn’t conducive to creative productivity but need language to understand why You need a map to more satisfying work life balance that improves both ------------- SHOW NOTES Cal Newport https://calnewport...