Creative Happy Hour

In this episode, explore the transformative journey of embracing vulnerability as a writer. Discover how vulnerability paradoxically can be the key to crafting stronger characters that resonate with readers. Embracing vulnerability is also one of the mindset secrets to building a successful writing career, but it's not comfortable or easy to do. Join us as we delve into the art of character development, the courage to share your authentic self, and the strategies for achieving writing success through the lens of vulnerability. Don't miss this insightful talk by PhD writing coach Karena Akhavein as she relates the stories of two of her clients- Sarah and  Paula, and herself, who were struggling with identity and vulnerability in their characterization, with their mindset, and in their author platform, specifically writing under a pseudonym. Whether it's the craft of storytelling, author mindset, or the business of being a successful writer, you'll find some valuable takeaways in this episode of the How to be an Author podcast.

What's the secret to being more creative and better at art? The answer might surprise you. In this uplifting episode, we talk about good art, bad art, and art that flies away. You'll also get to explore the repulsive candidates for the world's most disgusting cocktail and learn about the Museum of Bad art in Boston. Join us and get drunk on the creative possibilities.

Think Frida Kahlo. Karl Lagerfeld. Lady Gaga. Andy Warhol. Creatives whose work, life, style, and values are inextricably enmeshed, exponentially increasing their creative reach and impact. That is the power of the personal brand. A brand clearly communicates its values, goals, and value added to its ideal customers. But creating a brand is daunting, isn't it? And how do you achieve this clarity if you're a multipassionate creative, artist, or creative entrepreneur?

Love it or hate it, social media is the top way that most creatives, artists, writers, musicians and creative entrepreneurs can showcase  who they are and what they do. But at some point, many of us have perhaps felt frustrated: social media, or the algorithm, doesn't seem to be working for us anymore. Our old accounts are stale, with low engagement, or they show a version of ourselves that doesn't align with who we are, or who we want to be. Our feeds are clogged with uninspiring content from people we obligation-followed eons ago.  As multi passionate creatives, once we have determined our brand, clarity in our messaging is key, or maybe we've decided we would be better served by a few separate accounts. But starting over is daunting. Does it even make sense? Why and how does one wipe the slate clean on social media without losing everything? Join us as we get drunk on the creative possibilities of starting over.

You may have read The Secret and thought, "well that is a creatively crafted load of bullshit." That Ferrari from your vision board never materialized, you've tried repeating affirmations in the mirror, but your book is still not a bestseller and your paintings aren't being shown at Art Basel this year...so you decided that this manifesting stuff was ridiculous. Wait. Actual scientific research has proven that the principles of manifesting do work when you are trying to build your best creative life and work towards your creative dreams. We'll be chatting with Hallie Avolio, founder of Sassy Healthy Fit, who explains how it all works and has crafted an affirmation specifically for multi passionate creatives like you.

Everywhere you see the headlines touting new trends that we MUST adopt if we want to remain competitive in the artistic, creative, and entrepreneurial space. But what is a trend? How does it begin, peak, and fizzle out, and should we adopt trends or focus on being iconoclasts? What are some of the most egregious trends that have shaped the art and creative worlds, and what are some of the creative marketing trends we should be aware of as artists, creatives, and creative entrepreneurs? Get drunk on the creative possibilities of everything trendy in this episode of the Creative Happy Hour podcast.

When you're a multi passionate creative, having a podcast can be a great way to explore, express, and promote some of your many passions. Podcasting can give you newfound authority, hone your voice, and give you access to other extraordinarily inspiring creatives. But most busy creatives assume it's hard to do, or that it takes too much time or technical skills. In this episode of Creative Happy Hour, we'll be drinking Tide Pod shots and getting drunk on the creative possibilities of starting a creative podcast the right way.

When you're an artist, a creative or a creative entrepreneur, marketing your work is hard. It can feel too much like self-promotion, it can feel like it takes time out of our creative pursuits, and many of us wish it wasn't part of our job. The bad news is, marketing is very much part of your job, whether you're an artist, a writer, a musician, a crafter, or a creative entrepreneur. The good news is, creative marketing can really make a huge difference in your business, and most creatives are naturally pretty good at it- once they've broken through their initial resistance. In this episode, we'll talk about meeting Tom Bulleit of Bulleit Bourbon and how he revolutionized the world of marketing, and we'll be drinking a Mint Julep.  

Many multi-passionate creatives have tons of great ideas all the time. When they move on to the next idea without seeing one side through, some people assume that it's because they got bored or because of shiny object syndrome. But that's not the complete story. Often creative ideas and projects remain unfinished or even don't get started because fear makes us talk ourselves out of it. In this episode we discuss fear, fears that are common to creatives, such as fear of failure, fear of success, fear of rejection, and how fear impacts our creativity and creative success, and how creatives, artists, writers, and creative entrepreneurs can make their creative dreams come true despite the fear.

Imposter syndrome- that sinking feeling of being a fraud, of not being good enough, that certitude that you're going to get found out and exposed as a fake at any moment- affects a disproportionate number of high achieving creatives, actors, writers, artists, and creative entrepreneurs. In this episode we get drunk on the creative possibilities of how to reframe impostor syndrome to become your most authentic, fearless creative self.  

Multipassionate creatives and multipassionate entrepreneurs are people who tend to explore many passions. Often our careers and paychecks reflect that, and we feel that we are not taken seriously. Becoming an expert sounds like it doesn't gel with the personality of a multipassionate creative, but in fact expertise is the logical career path. In this episode we talk about why being an expert is important especially for a multi passionate creative, how to decide on an area of expertise, how to become an expert, and what to do with that expertise. We'll also talk about the fascinating life of Sir Isaac Newton, multi passionate, creative, and expert.  

Being lazy is equated to wasting your life. Our society rewards the overachievers, the productive people who manage to "get it all done." But it's never enough, it can lead to burnout, and that's not the way to foster the kind of creativity that leads to new inventions, innovation, and groundbreaking art. In this episode we discuss Dr Devon Price's book, "Laziness Does Not Exist," and explore how to be more, not less, lazy.

How do you make your creative concept stick? How do you reach an audience and inspire people to drink the creative KoolAid of whatever you're selling be it writing, art music, or products? The answer is simple: Effective storytelling. Storytelling has multiple educational, psychological, and creative benefits as well as being the centerpiece of any creative marketing strategy for artists, writers, and creative entrepreneurs, marketers, and PR executives. How can you leverage the creative power of storytelling as a creative, and what makes a good, effective story? Where do you start when you just have an idea but nothing else? Get drunk on the creative possibilities of storytelling. This episode will be useful for even experienced writers and storytellers.

If you're an artist, writer, musician, or creative thinking of entrepreneurship, consider this episode of Creative Happy Hour your accelerated Creative MBA. We'll be getting drunk on the creative possibilities of starting your own creative business, from ideation to analytics, in lingo that won't scare off creatives. We'll also be chatting with serial creative entrepreneur and creative biz owner Jill Cherry, the multi passionate creative behind Modern Quilt Co. about making money as a creative.

Too many people see a multi passionate creative and think “flighty,” "scattered," or, even worse, "Jack of all trades, master of none." But being a multi-passionate creative is a gift. In this episode of Creative Happy Hour, you'll learn different strategies for being productive while being multi-passionate and how to build your cohesive personal brand as a multi passionate creative entrepreneur. We'll be getting drunk on the creative possibilities with Passion Fruit Mules.

Some artists and creatives will have you believe that it is better to create a masterpiece or two and nothing else than it is to produce a huge body of work. Others argue that going for quantity will inevitably yield a few works of genius and also improve productivity and creative thinking. In this episode of the Creative Happy Hour podcast, get drunk on the creative possibilities of not taking yourself so seriously as a creative and engaging in creative play in order to ultimately get better results, artworks, and ideas. You'll also learn about effective brainstorming techniques and get recipes for 3 different drinks for a crowd.

Creative Happy Hour is starting a new adventure! Hell no, we’re not quitting! We’re taking a short two week hiatus before starting up again on season 5... and hopefully organizing live events in our new hometown of Santa Barbara CA!  In this episode we’ll be talking about creative breaks: -When to take a break. -Creative benefits of a break. -How to make the most of a break. -How to build breaks into your everyday life to boost creativity and productivity. We'll also be talking with Amanda and Bec, fellow book lovers and podcasters at Slide Between the Pages, about reading breaks and podcasting.

Authenticity is trending. You would think that authenticity comes naturally, but in a world where we're all building personal brands and making decisions on how to present ourselves on social media as an individual, a brand, or a company, that's not necessarily true! Still, marketing gurus tell us that being authentic is the only real way to set ourselves apart, break through the noise, and organically gain followers and clients. Today we’ll be talking about that seemingly elusive quality of authenticity. What is it? Why do we want it? How do creatives, artists, and creative entrepreneurs get it?  We'll also be talking about how to create a certificate of authenticity for your work.

Remember what you wanted to be when you grew up? There's a good chance that your childhood career dreams were a lot more creative- and, well, a lot more fun than your job prospects or your current job reality. Some of you went straight to the Plan B career. Others explored a job in the arts but never quite managed to get past the starving artist stage. Today, there are limitless opportunities for creatives to embark on careers that are rewarding both creatively and financially. On this week's episode of Creative Happy Hour, get drunk on the creative possibilities of creative careers including jobs in the tech sector. Tech companies are more and more turning to creatives to gain a competitive advantage. Tune in and learn how to get your creative dream job.

Your smartphone is designed to be addictive: with its bright colors, engaging apps, and the way it brings everything you could possibly want, from entertainment to social connection, to news, to productivity, right to your fingertips, it's no wonder we always have our phones within arm's reach. Yes, your phone can be a huge distraction. It can be the thing that prevents you from doing your work and getting into your creative zone, whether you're an artist, a writer, a musician, a creative biz owner, or a creative entrepreneur. However, your phone is also a technological miracle, the thing that can free you up to do more creative work. In this episode of Creative Happy Hour, we'll get drunk on the creative possibilities of your smart phone and discuss best practices for getting the most out of it. We'll also discuss how to organize your bar cart so it's just as user friendly as a smartphone while we drink an elderflower French 75.

What are you scared of? In this episode of Creative Happy Hour, we'll be discussing how fear negatively impacts creativity and creative output, different fears that are common to most creatives, the fear-vulnerability connection, and why creatives in particular are susceptible to being blocked by fear. We'll also give you step-by-step directions on how to push past fear in order to be your best creative self, whether you're an artist, a musician, a writer, a creative, or a creative entrepreneur.

There is no question that perfectionism can be what pushes artists, writers, creatives, and creative entrepreneurs to create in the first place. It can be what makes you strive to be better as a creative. But there is no question that perfectionism can negatively impact your creativity and stop your creative output in its tracks. In this episode, we’ll be discussing perfectionism. What perfectionism is, how it's linked to OCD and anxiety and procrastination, how it affects creatives, how it manifests itself and hurts your creativity and artistic production, and how to break free from the negative effects of perfectionism.

Now that some dude named Beeple sold some digital artworks for 69 million dollars and Elon Musk's girlfriend Grimes sold some videos of winged devil babies protecting Mars for several million, you have probably heard of NFT’s, non-fungible tokens... but if you have no idea what they are, you are not alone… … What the hell are NFT’s? And what do they mean for you as an artist, a creative, a creative entrepreneur, or a collector? Let’s get drunk on the creative possibilities of Kryptokitties, Nyan Cat, Gucci Ghosts, 85 dollar farts, Aether, Non Fungible Tokens, and what they may mean for the art world in the future. 

The neuroscientist and author Joseph LeDoux has called anxiety “the price we pay for an ability to imagine the future.” Anxiety is not your typical worry or fear that crosses your mind. Anxiety is… overwhelming. It can completely control of your brain, and if you're a creative who counts on your imagination, that can really suck. In this episode, we’ll be drinking CBD Gin & Tonic and talking about anxiety- whether creatives tend to be more anxious and why, which effects anxiety has on creativity, positive or negative, and how to both use your creativity to lessen anxiety and funnel your anxiety into positive things for your creativity, whether you’re an artist, a creative, a writer, a creative entrepreneur.      

There's a lot of noise out there. The best way to break through that and be heard as an artist, creative, writer, performer, or creative entrepreneur is to find and develop your own creative style, your unique creative voice. But how do you do that? In this episode of Creative Happy Hour, we explore how to find your unique talents, your unique style, and your own creative voice, and how to use that voice in the most creative, productive way. We'll also be chatting with Author Jason R. Lady, author of "Monster Problems," a creative book for young readers, about finding your voice as an author.

What is an influencer? Influencers range from those instagram chicks always on vacation to celebrity makeup artists to the Dalai Lama. on social media and have massive followings. What can influencers teach us about creativity? They aren’t always taken seriously by other creative professions but they are certainly more accepted as content creators, and yes, they influence so much of what happens in art, creativity, and business. This week on Creative Happy Hour, we'll be delving into what it means to be an influencer and seeing how to use influencer tactics to further your creative career.

Do creativity, creative output, and creative thinking decrease with age? This question has been the subject of scientific research for more than a century, with the first empirical study of this issue being published in 1835.  It seems that there are indeed certain ebbs and flows in different types of creativity over our lifetimes.  How can we work with this creative lifetime cycle to get the most happiness and success and achievement out of our creativity? It’s never too early to start thinking about this issue. Listen and learn so you can set yourself up for more creativity in your golden years.

Some claim that 10 minutes a day spent creating a to-do list adds an average of $4000 to people's incomes. That’s enough of a reason already, but how else can having a to-do list improve your work, creative and personal life? Some creatives are resistant to list making- do any of their arguments actually makes sense? And is there anything to know about how to make an effective to-do list, and how to use it properly to move forward in your creative career and in your creative happy life? If you’re a busy creative, artist, or creative entrepreneur juggling a ton of disparate tasks, you're going to want to check out the tips in this episode. We'll be drinking the Long Island Iced Tea. Join us and get drunk on the creative possibilities.

How do you design a creative happy life you love? It's all about being intentional. You define your ideal life, you design it, and then you create it. If this idea sounds simple, that’s because it is – but it’s far from easy. In this episode we look into the research of Ayse Birsel and use it as a jumping off point to give you all the thoughts and actions that go into creating a creative that will make you feel fulfilled, using creative skills you already have. Full of creative possibilities and actionable tips, this episode will inspire and motivate you. 

In this episode of Creative Happy Hour, we do a deep dive into interesting stuff…What is a fandom? What is an aesthetic? What is fan art and fan fiction? What in the world are fictosexuals? And what does all of this mean for creatives and creativity: How can being a superfan of something help you to express your creativity, and how can it hurt? How do you create work of your own that is fandom worthy? Been hoping to write or produce the next Twilight or Harry Potter? Listen to this and get drunk on the creative possibilities!

Victim mentality: it's a symptom ego messing with your mind, and it's also an acquired personality trait, often the result of early life conditioning and coping mechanisms. Though many of us go through some form of trauma as children or in our pasts, if we want to be creative, happy adults, we need to ditch the victim mentality in order to step into our power, take responsibility for our successes and failures,  and reclaim our own happiness. -What is victim mentality? -What are the signs of victim mentality? -How does victim mentality negatively impact creativity and success? -How do you get rid of victim mentality? We get drunk on the creative possibilities this week with the Pisco Sour.

Claude Monet kept painting even as he went blind. Vincent Van Gogh kept making art in the insane asylum and despite the fact that he never sold a painting while he was alive. Miguel de Cervantes wrote Don Quixote in jail. Rick Allen from Def Leppard kept drumming after his arm was amputated. Sir Richard Branson built a huge empire despite, or maybe because of, severe dyslexia.  But you- you’re making excuses for why you aren’t doing your creative work. -Some people pride themselves on coming up with truly creative excuses. But in reality, excuses are one of the worst things for your creativity. In this episode, we discuss excuses: what excuses are, why people make excuses, why excuses are bad, and how to stop making excuses and move forward in your creative project.  

By now, we’ve all seen a million perfectly curated morning routine videos and read numerous articles and blog posts about how if you don’t have the perfect morning routine you’re gonna be a loser for life. We all know that your average billionaire wakes up 3 hours earlier than us mere mortals, and that Oprah meditates for 20 minutes before taking an invigorating walk around her Montecito mansion and tucking into an organic meal prepared by her private chef. But really- why are we so obsessed with morning routines? To what extent do they work, or not work? Are there truly some things we should be doing in the morning to increase our creativity and productivity? We'll be getting drunk on the creative possibilities with a Bloody Mary- don't worry, not a lemon water in sight!

In a world where everyone is so focused on social media, many artists, writers, musicians, creatives, and creative entrepreneurs assume that they no longer need a good old fashioned website. But a good website is your creative secret weapon, and in this episode you'll find out exactly why a good website is one of the main determiners of creative success. You'll also find out common website mistakes, what makes a good website, and how to build your own website. You'll also get the single biggest piece of useful and actionable website advice. It will change your creative life!  Join me as we drink White Russians and get drunk on the creative possibilities.

As an artist, a writer, a creative, or a creative entrepreneur, it is so much easier to talk and dream about a creative project than it is to actually buckle down and do the work and see your project through to the end. But is it actually easier? It is really sad to be passionate about a creative idea or a creative project and then to realize that you have not let that idea be born and shared with the world out of your own laziness and procrastination.     This is why it’s so important for us to talk about MOTIVATION. The more you understand about motivation: what it is, why it’s so important,  what saps motivation, and how to harness unstoppable internal motivation to get your creative project done, the more chances you have to actually follow through on your creative project and encounter success in your creative career. Listen in for mindset-transforming insights and actionable tips that will fire up your internal motivation. And as always, we'll be getting drunk on the creative possibilities with a unique cocktail, Cameron's Kick.

One of the top Google searches for creativity is "Why are creatives depressed?" This got me thinking. Is there a real link between mental illness and creativity? Is there truth to the stereotype of the mad creative genius? Are most artists, writers, musicians, and dancers mentally ill? Who are some well-known artists and creatives who have struggled with- or owed their creative success to- mental illness? You'll also get concrete, actionable tips on how we can use creativity to improve mood, balance emotions, and generally enjoy better mental health and more creativity. Join us as we get drunk on the creative possibilities.    

More creatives than ever are deciding to jump ship from corporate jobs and try to make a living from their art or just generally as a creative. Today we’re going to be talking about how to actually be a creative entrepreneur in 2021, i.e how to make money as a creative, artist, crafter, designer, musician, etc. This is a very highly searched for subject on the internet, and many of the popular tips and ideas you find for how to make money are just plain wrong. We’ll be debunking some myths, doling out some tough love, and getting drunk on the creative possibilities. We'll also be talking about the best drinks to have on a budget.

It’s 2021 and we are all ready for a change! To celebrate season 4 of Creative Happy Hour, we’re going to be talking about creative issues and opportunities for creatives, artists, and creative entrepreneurs. We’re going to be getting drunk on all of the creative Possibilities that are open to you in this new year. Being creative means not being stuck in the same old rut.   In this time of pandemic, museums, galleries, music venues, and corporations have gone all-in on virtual events. Startups facilitating virtual events are getting heavily funded. There are pros and cons to virtual events, and unique opportunities but also unique difficulties inherent in the virtual form. How can artists, creatives, and creative entrepreneurs leverage the creative possibilities of virtual events? We’re not only talking about organizing your own virtual events, though of course that’s on the table. We’re talking about how creatives can use opportunities to be part of others’ virtual events to boost their reach, engagement, and income. We’re talking to creatives who have experienced the pros and cons of this new world, we’ll give you some tips on creating your own successful virtual events whether you’re an artist, a musician, or a creative entrepreneur or even a wine or alcohol professional such as Casity Cooper, named by Liquor.com as one of the best virtual wine tasting experiences in 2020, or Fatima Silva, an interior designer who participated in the first ever virtual edition of the SF Decorator Showcase. We’ll also be speaking with Robin Farmanfarmaian, based in Silicon Valley and the author of Facilitating Virtual Events: Driving Participant Engagement & Interaction. We're going to be sipping on the Modern cocktail. Join us and get drunk on the creative possibilities.

Am I f*cked as a creative, as a creative entrepreneur, as a writer, as a coach, and as a person if I can’t meditate? I decided to get to the bottom of this important question because I know I’m not alone in this shameful secret I have, that I’m just plain sh*tty at meditating. And along the way, I found some pretty reassuring information about meditation. In this episode we’ll be discussing crucial questions such as: -Does meditation actually help, or does it suck? -Can you do it wrong? -How do you meditate? -What is the history of meditation? -What do do instead of meditating if you really hate the idea? -What is the link between creativity and meditation? And we discuss this while drinking a "healthy" cocktail, the Sage-rita. Join us and get drunk on the creative possibilities.

This is far from a boring episode! In fact, the subject of boredom is trending in 2020. During the pandemic and through all of our extra time at home, many of us have felt the effects of boredom. We've tried to alleviate that boredom through Netflix, crafting, organizing, and baking...but often, that doesn't work. Why do people get bored? Is there a link between boredom and creativity? Is it possible that boredom is sometimes good? What are some of the most boring activities, and why? What is the most boring art, and should art be boring? Are you bored at work? And what are the ways of getting rid of boredom that actually work? We'll be drinking the most boring of cocktails, the vodka and soda (don't worry, we're gonna tell you how to doctor it!), and getting drunk on the creative possibilities.

Empowering seems to have become something of a keyword in the past few years. Technically, it means to give (someone) the authority or power to do something. What does empowering mean for creatives? How can you empower yourself and others as a creative, an artist, or a creative entrepreneur, and how do you use your creative power for good?    In this episode, we'll discuss these questions and interview special guest Brad Walsh, a photographer who specializes in boudoir photography and uses it and his podcast, Empowerography, as a powerful platform to help empower women.

What do the founder of IKEA, Cher, Richard Branson, Chuck Close, and Justin Timberlake have in common? They all present some form of neurodiversity, from ADHD to Dyslexia to OCD, and they all credit all or part of their success to these learning or processing differences. 35% of entrepreneurs label themselves as dyslexic. Neurodivergence is at the core of creativity.  Innovation has always come from the edges.  We are not saying that people with learning differences are automatically more creative, even though many famous creatives, artists, and creative entrepreneurs did have learning differences. This episode is more about how to set yourself up for creative success when you have a learning difference or neurological differences. We'll be drinking a muddled cocktail, the mojito, while we get drunk on the creative possibilities.      

Leonardo da Vinci declared more than 500 years ago that “Art is never finished, only abandoned.” But in reality, typing "The End" at the end of your manuscript or signing a painting can be one of the most rewarding parts of the process. Setting yourself up to finish your creative work is one of the most important elements of creative success.  In this episode of Creative Happy Hour, we drink a cocktail called The Bitter End and get drunk on the creative possibilities as we discuss why finishing what you started is so important, how to make sure you finish your creative work, and how to know when a creative work is finished. For the writers out there competing in NaNoWriMo, we'll also discuss how to wrap up your story and how to create a compelling ending. 

The mushy middle... sounds pretty bad, doesn't it? The mushy middle, or saggy middle syndrome, refers to what happens when you get stuck slogging through the middle of a creative project, whether it's a you're a writer working on a book, an artist working on a painting, a musician creating a piece of music, or a creative entrepreneur launching a business venture. In this episode, which lands in the particularly challenging third week of NaNoWriMo, we'll be drinking a cocktail aptly named "a Lonely Island Lost in the Middle of a Foggy Sea," and getting drunk on the creative possibilities as your host, Dr Karena Akhavein, PhD, gives you a creative pep talk that will help you to firm up that mushy middle and move your creative project forward.

First impressions matter. In this episode, we'll be we'll be sipping Vesper Martinis and talking about how to make the best impression possible as a creative, an artist, or a creative entrepreneur, and with your creative work, be it writing, art, or a new venture. Also, we'll be celebrating the second week of NaNoWriMo by talking about how to write a compelling first scene for your novel. Join host Karena Akhavein, PhD and get drunk on the creative possibilities.

Have you ever heard of NaNoWriMo? In this episode, we talk about National Novel Writing Month- a creative challenge where you attempt to write a 50,000 word novel in the month of November. Is this a good idea? Why should any creative challenge themselves? What are the right ways and wrong ways of challenging yourself? If you're trying to start NaNoWriMo, how do you even start? And when is it OK to decide to quit? And we discuss all of this while sampling the Vesper Martini in honor of James Bond. Whether you're an experienced author or a new author or even just a writing-curious creative entrepreneur, you'll want to check out this episode and get drunk on the creative possibilities.

Andy Warhol wanted a cool blank gravestone with just the word "Figment" on it. He got a conventional grave in a suburban cemetery in Pennsylvania, next to his parents. A small consolation: the grave is live-streamed 24/7, an art project called "Figment." Frida Kahlo had a super cool funeral procession complete with communist flag and Mexican folk songs, and her ashes were placed in a pre-columbian frog shaped urn that now sits in her museum. Nicolas Cage has already set up his own mausoleum, an epic Illuminati-inspired pyramid placed in a New Orleans cemetery. Steve Jobs' grave is unmarked, not surprising for a creative entrepreneur who left a huge mark despite being a bit of an enigma in life. In this episode, we'll drink whiskey on the rocks and discuss the weird and wonderful creative graves and gravestones of artists and creatives. We'll use that as a jumping-off point for a discussion of creative legacy: how do you shape your own creative legacy and what should you consider? How can you ensure that you do leave behind a creative legacy? Join host Dr Karena Akhavein for an uplifting time that will get you drunk on the creative possibilities.

Anger is normal; nature hardwired into our brains for protection. But here is the paradox: when anger goes out of control, it destroys, yet anger when it is understood and controlled is a constructive force, one that can be used for creativity, change, and growth. Today we’ll be talking about murder & art.   -Which artists, writers, and musicians were murderers? -Which works of art have actually killed people? -The weird world of murderbilia: Which serial killers and murderers produced art and what does it mean? We critique serial killer art. -The murderous life of Caravaggio. -How does rage impact creativity?  -How to channel anger into art and creativity. So grab your drink, and join me, so we can get drunk on the creative possibilities. I’m your host, Doctor Karena Akhavein, a PhD creative and writing coach, educator,  and lover of all things storytelling.  We’ll be drinking the Bloody Murder cocktail 1 tbsp cayenne pepper 2 oz Vodka 3 oz tomato juice Juice of 1 lemon Habanero slice as garnish Celery salt (optional) Dissolve cayenne in half the vodka, add the rest of the ingredients, shake and serve over ice in a Collins glass.

The Dance of Death ...the Danse Macabre... St Vitus' Dance: It's an artistic theme, a creepy historical anecdote, and an allegory that may inspire is to be our best creative selves. In this episode of Creative Happy Hour, host Karena Akhavein, PhD will go over the historical facts behind the Dance of Death and introduce a modern organization using the Dance of Death as a death-positive performance. Next, we'll interview  Damon Mahoney, a gifted artist, writer, designer, and ballet dancer who has played Death onstage and who has a unique insight on the subject, while drinking the corpse reviver cocktail. We’ll also be chatting about how to keep dancing or being creative even as we age or become less able bodied, because after all, being creative is a way of keeping death at bay. So grab your drink and get ready to get drunk on the creative possibilities.

Today we’re talking memento mori, those creepy paintings and objects featuring skulls and death that are supposed to remind you of your own mortality. Why have such a thing? Why have so many artists produced them? What are some famous examples of memento mori? Can reflecting on your own inevitable death boost your creativity and productivity, or are memento mori just creepy, depressing, and dangerous? What are the alternatives? I’ll be interviewing fine artist Linda Cosgrove, who collects and frequently paints memento mori, and I’ll be drinking a cocktail called Satan’s whiskers. I'll also talk Damien Hirst, Cezanne, Picasso, and more.

It's 50 percent carbon, 21 percent oxygen, 17 percent nitrogen, 6 percent hydrogen, and 5 percent sulphur.  It's stronger than copper of the same diameter. It is a relic and a talisman and was made into jewelry by the Victorians. In this episode, we're talking about the incredible power of hair. We'll discuss some creative and historical figures with iconic hair, starting with Andy Warhol, we'll interview The Queen of Heartbreak, a burlesque performer with an incredible wig collection, and go over what to think about when you decide whether you should incorporate a unique hair look into your creative signature style. We'll be drinking some "hair of the dog" as we get drunk on the creative possibilities.